A machine learning approach for predicting computational intensity and domain decomposition in parallel geoprocessing

ABSTRACT

High performance computing is required for fast geoprocessing of geospatial big data. Using spatial domains to represent computational intensity (CIT) and domain decomposition for parallelism are prominent strategies when designing parallel geoprocessing applications. Traditional domain decomposition is limited in evaluating the computational intensity, which often results in load imbalance and poor parallel performance. From the data science perspective, machine learning from Artificial Intelligence (AI) shows promise for better CIT evaluation. This paper proposes a machine learning approach for predicting computational intensity, followed by an optimized domain decomposition, which divides the spatial domain into balanced subdivisions based on the predicted CIT to achieve better parallel performance. The approach provides a reference framework on how various machine learning methods including feature selection and model training can be used in predicting computational intensity and optimizing parallel geoprocessing against different cases. Some comparative experiments between the approach and traditional methods were performed using the two cases, DEM generation from point clouds and spatial intersection on vector data. The results not only demonstrate the advantage of the approach, but also provide hints on how traditional GIS computation can be improved by the AI machine learning.     

黑河中游夏季昼夜水汽同位素特征及水汽来源分析

基于2012年6~8月的实测水汽同位素数据及相关气象数据，对黑河中游夏季昼夜的同位素基本特征、水汽来源方向及潜在蒸发源地进行了研究。结果表明：空气水汽线斜率白天大于夜晚和水汽过量氘值白天大于夜晚，综合说明白天局地蒸发较夜晚强烈；夏季受西风水汽影响显著。其中，6月主要受西风水汽和北冰洋水汽影响，7、8月主要受西风水汽和东南方向水汽影响，且8月受东南方向水汽影响最为明显；水汽运移路径上下垫面地形和气压带移动会影响水汽后向轨迹高度，西北方向上水汽输送通道较顺畅，风速较大，有利于水汽的输送；水汽蒸发源地主要集中在研究区周围及以东、以北部，其次是西北部。绿洲是主要的水汽蒸发源地，其次是城市和河流，白天较夜晚局地蒸发强烈且面积大。     

Spatial variation of the relationship between transport accessibility and the level of economic development in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China

As an important component of China' transportation systems, for a long time, the insufficient performance of transport in QinghaiTibet Plateau(QTP) was a bottleneck restricting the economic growth and social development in this area. Nevertheless, the implementation of the western development strategy has accelerated the preliminary construction of comprehensive transport network since 2000. Due to the large area and significant geographical heterogeneity, there is a growing need to understand the relationship between transportation and economic development based on the perspective of spatial difference. By using GIS-based raster analysis and Geographically Weighted Regression(GWR) model, we investigated the spatial-temporal distribution of highway, railway and airport accessibility, respectively, and estimated the correlation and heterogeneity between transport accessibility and the level of economic development. Results revealed that:(1) Transport accessibility in the QTP improved by 53.38% in the past 15 years, which is specifically embodied in the improvement of both highway and railway.(2) Accessibility presented prominent differentiation in the space, increasing from west to east and reducing with the rise of elevation, specifically, the best accessibility area of the highway is below 4000 m above sea level, while the area with an altitude of over 4000 m has the lowest aviation time cost.(3) In general, the long weighted average time cost to critical transport facilities posed significantly negative effect on county economic growth in QTP, more positively, the adverse effect gradually weakened over time.(4) Obvious heterogeneity exists at the influence of different transport accessibility factors on the level of economic development, reflecting both in the horizontal space and altitudinal belt. Therefore, region-specific policies should be addressed for the sustainable development of transport facilities as well as economy in the west mountain areas.     

An approximate method for evaluating the shear band thickness in saturated soils

A formula for the thickness of a shear band formed in saturated soils under a simple shear or a combined stress state has been proposed. It is shown that the shear band thickness is dependent on the pore pressure properties of the material and the dilatancy rate, but is independent of the details of the combined stress state. This is in accordance with some separate experimental observations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

GPS/LEO掩星观测的变分同化技术

在简单介绍GPS/LEO掩星探测大气的发展历史和科学意义之后,详细阐述了反演的基本原理;分析了标准反演中存在的问题,并说明一维变分同化(1DVAR)在反演方法中的重要性;给出了一维变分同化中价值函数的求解,以及各种同化因子;简单介绍了对当前气象学中普遍使用的四维变分同化(4DVAR);重点讨论了各种同化方法,以及使用各种同化因子的优缺点。最后,通过CHAMP卫星的观测实例分析,验证了GPS数据在数值天气预报(NWP)中的作用,以及相对于标准反演法一维变分对气象要素的改进。     

Approach to Mountain Hazards in Tibet, China

Tibet is located at the southwest boundary of China. It is the main body of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the highest and the youngest plateau in the world. Owing to complicated geology, Neo-tectonic movements, geomorphology, climate and plateau environment, various mountain hazards, such as debris flow, flash flood, landslide, collapse, snow avalanche and snow drifts, are widely distributed along the Jinsha River (the upper reaches of the Yangtze River), the Nu River and the Lancang River in the east, and the Yarlungzangbo River, the Pumqu River and the Poiqu River in the south and southeast of Tibet. The distribution area of mountain hazards in Tibet is about 589,000 km^2, 49.3% of its total territory. In comparison to other mountain regions in China, mountain hazards in Tibet break out unexpectedly with tremendously large scale and endanger the traffic lines, cities and towns, farmland, grassland, mountain environment, and make more dangers to the neighboring countries, such as Nepal, India, Myanmar and Bhutan. To mitigate mountain hazards, some suggestions are proposed in this paper, such as strengthening scientific research, enhancing joint studies, hazards mitigation planning, hazards warning and forecasting, controlling the most disastrous hazards and forbidding unreasonable human exploring activities in mountain areas.     

Optical monitoring of the quasar 4C 38.41

The results of a photometric monitoring of the quasar 4C 38.41, performed at the optical R and B bands in 2002 February–March, are presented. With a 60/90 cm Schmidt telescope at the Xinglong station of the National Astronomical Observatories of China, we observed the source exhibiting amplitude variations of up to 0.78 mag in both bands during the whole campaign. Intraday and even intranight variations are detected as well. A typical variability time-scale of about 36 d is derived from our 2-month observations at the optical bands, which is identical to that found at a radio wavelength of 92 cm, suggesting a common origin for the variations in 4C 38.41 from optical to radio bands.     

SIMULATION AND PREDICTION OF DEBRIS FLOW USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK

Debris flow is one of the most destructive phenomena of natural hazards. Recently, major natural haz-ard, claiming human lives and assets, is due to debris flow in the world. Several practical methods for forecasting de-bris flow have been proposed, however, the accuracy of these methods is not high enough for practical use because of the stochastic and non-linear characteristics of debris flow. Artificial neural network has proven to be feasible and use-fill in developing models for nonlinear systems. On the other hand, predicting the future behavior based on a time se-ries of collected historical data is also an important tool in many scientific applications. In this study we present a three-layer feed-forward neural network model to forecast surge of debris flow according to the time series data collect-ed in the Jiangjia Ravine, situated in north part of Yunnan Province of China. The simulation and prediction of debris flow using the proposed approach shows this model is feasible, however, further studies are needed.     

The FAST/SKA site selection in Guizhou province

Many karst depressions with diameters of 300 m to 500 m, suitable for constructing Arecibo-style radio telescopes, were identified in the south of Guizhou Province by Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies together with field investigations. Fundamental topography and landform databases were established for 391candidate depressions, and using GIS the3-dimensional images of depressions, at a scale of 1:10000, were then simulated to fit a spherical antenna. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

简单分段法在地层划分中的应用

本文简介海南省1:5万坝王岭、猴狝岭幅区域地质调查的地球化学简单分段法在地层划分中的应用。根据对下古生界变质岩与白垩系红层两条地层实测剖面的地球化学资料整理,用简单分段法进行划分、其效果较好。它的地球化学组分基本能反映原始沉积物的特点和其沉积环境,且与岩石地层的划分相互印证。