Site-specific prediction of West Nile virus mosquito abundance in Greater Toronto Area using generalized linear mixed models

Mosquito surveillance programs provide a primary means of understanding mosquito vector population dynamics for the risk assessment of human exposure to West Nile virus (WNv). The lack of spatial coverage and missing observations in mosquito surveillance data often challenge our efforts to predict this vector-borne disease and implement control measures. We developed a WNv mosquito abundance prediction model in which local meteorological and environmental data were synthesized with entomological data in a generalized linear mixed modeling framework. The discrete nature of mosquito surveillance data is accommodated by a Poisson distributional assumption, and the site-specific random effects of the generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) capture any fluctuation unexplained by a general trend. The proposed Poisson GLMMs efficiently account for the nested structure of mosquito surveillance data and incorporate the temporal correlation between observations obtained at each trap by a first-order autoregressive model. In the case study, Bayesian inference of the proposed models is illustrated using a subset of mosquito surveillance data in the Greater Toronto Area. The relevance of the proposed GLMM tailored to WNv mosquito surveillance data is highlighted by the comparison of model performance in the presence of inevitable but quantifiable uncertainties.     

Exploring space-time models for West Nile virus mosquito abundance data

This paper explores variant space-time models for log-transformed West Nile virus (WNv) mosquito data, which explicitly account for both local environmental conditions and complex dependent structures. Four space-time models take various forms to accommodate correlated structure in space and time, nested data, and nonstationarity. The average WNv mosquito abundance is captured by a global trend across all four models, but different model assumptions are imposed on the stochastic component of the proposed models: a simple multivariate linear regression model with independent and identical errors, a site-specific linear mixed model with temporally correlated errors, a week-specific linear mixed model with spatially correlated errors, and a local space-time kriging model. In a case study, the predictive performance of the four models was assessed using data collected in 2007 and 2008 for the Greater Toronto Area by the mosquito surveillance program of Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care: the local space-time kriging model outperforms others, but closely followed by a site-specific linear mixed model with temporal correlation. Our findings suggest that the predictive accuracy of space-time WNv mosquito abundance models can be enhanced by explicitly taking into account spatiotemporal correlation, nonstationarity, and the data collection procedure, such as surveillance design, based on sound understanding of mosquito behavior and population dynamics.     

The potential of old maps and encyclopaedias for reconstructing historic European land cover/use change

Continental to global reconstructions of historic land cover/use are important inputs for many environmental, ecological and biogeochemical studies. While local to regional reconstructions frequently make use of old topographic maps and land use statistics, continental to global reconstructions are mostly model-based reconstructions. As a result they are subject to large uncertainties. A wealth of historic land cover/use maps and statistics have been produced and these are now more accessible due to the ending of copyrights and secrecy statuses, enthusiastic hobby communities and national cartographic institutes or cadastres that have a strategy towards data sharing with society. In this paper we made use of historic statistics and old topographic maps to demonstrate the added value for model-based reconstructions of historic land cover/use for Central Europe back to 1900. We harmonized these diverse data types and different types of historic land data were incorporated into the land use reconstructions. The added value of using these data was evaluated using historical maps by performing a reconstruction with and without the historic information. The accuracy of the land allocation in the historic reconstruction was improved by 16.5% using historic maps. Additionally, historic maps improved the representation of the spatial structure of landscapes. The historic land cover/use statistics used showed a strong agreement with independent estimates, like historic maps.     

Beyond Abstract Map Symbols

Abstract

Crucial aspects of the referent phenomena which provide the subject matter for cartographic symbolism are often overlooked by map interpreters in their haste to “read maps at a glance.” The blame rests largely on those practitioners of the environmental sciences who stress the simple, intuitive nature of maps, while effectively ignoring the true complexity of the cartographic communication process. Those persons who are responsible for traditional map interpretation training programs are also at fault for implying, through long emphasis, that symbol identification, position location, and navigation constitute the essence of map analysis. The intuitive acceptability of map symbols in spite of their abstract character is also a deceptive factor. The fact that there is far “more than meets the eye” to map interpretation is easily demonstrated by looking closely at several basic cartographic symbols. In order to become an effective map user the environmental scientist apparently must go well beyond the mastery of conventional map reading principles and learn to deal with diverse informational dimensions in the context of the map use purpose and the physical/cultural make-up of the geographical region under study.     

Supporting local health decision making with spatial video: Dengue,Chikungunya and Zika risks in a data poor,informal community in Nicaragua

One challenge facing spatial scientists trying to support public health outreach and intervention in challenging environments is the lack of fine scale spatial data. These data are required to gain a better understanding of both physical and social systems; why disease occurs where it does, and how to disrupt it. While data options exist, including high resolution aerial imagery, remotely sensed data, and even online mapping products like Google Street View, these all come with limitations. One option that has previously been utilized to assess cholera risk is spatial video. Here it is used to map potential mosquito breeding sites in an endemic Dengue and Chikungunya, and emerging Zika impacted community. We show how this method can provide mapping support in the hands of non-specialist public health workers who, working in collaboration with out-of-area geographic information systems (GIS) teams, can identify where to target limited intervention resources. We use a case study of an impoverished informal style Nicaraguan community suffering from a high disease burden to show spatial variation in potential mosquito breeding habitats. A field team collected street-by-street spatial video data to produce fine scale risk maps of standing water and trash locations, which, when interpreted with the associated spatial video imagery, were used to suggest where intervention strategies should be targeted. We also discuss how these same data layers can be used to address other health concerns traditionally found in informal settlements.     

A GIS-based method for flooded area calculation and damage evaluation

1 IntroductionFlooding simulation and damage evaluation has attracted attention in environmental disaster research fields for many years. Since the 1990s, especially in recent years, using geographic information systems (GIS) technology and its powerful functions of spatial analysis and visualization to simulate and display flooded area and to evaluate disaster damage has become a research hotspot. Most of the papers involved in this field are from hydraulic and hydrologic point of view and b…     

Gamma-Ray Data Processing and Integration for Lode-Au Deposits Exploration

A large number of mineral deposits are associated with hydrothermal processes, especially auriferous deposits. In such processes, studies on percolating fluids may indicate the presence of potash (K), among other elements. In this study, aerogammaspectrometric data-processing methodologies are evaluated, especially those methods based on the suppression of the primary contribution of potassium, the result of lithological and soil variations, and to environmental conditions. Resulting maps point out the contribution of hydrothermal K. This processing procedure was used because of the association of hydrothermal K and auriferous mineralizations according to the deposit model defined for the studied region. Intensity maps locate the areas with great influence of hydrothermal K. Data integration required to improve a change in the gammaspectrometric data processing in order to positively correlate hydrothermalised areas. Data integration could distinguish high and medium favorable targets for mineral exploration of lode-Au deposits in the studied region.     

Identifying strengths and limitations of pan-European forest cover maps through spatial comparison

Detailed and harmonized information on spatial forest distribution is an essential input for forest-related environmental assessments, in particular, for biomass and growing stock modeling. In the last years, several mapping approaches have been developed in order to provide such information for Europe in a harmonized way. Each of these maps exhibits particular properties and varies in accuracy. Yet, they are often used in parallel for different modeling purposes. A detailed spatial comparison seemed necessary in order to provide information on the advantages and limitations of each of these forest cover maps in order to facilitate their selection for modeling purposes.

This article confronts the high-resolution forest cover map recently developed by the Joint Research Centre for the year 2000 (FMAP2000) with previously existing maps for the same time period: the CORINE Land Cover 2000 (CLC2000) and the Calibrated European Forest Map 1996 (CEFM1996). The spatial comparison of these three maps was carried out based on forest proportion maps of 1 km derived from the original maps. To characterize differences according to biogeographic regions, two criteria were used: detail of thematic content within each map and local spatial agreement.

Concerning thematic content, CLC2000 displayed a surfeit of non-forested areas at the cost of low forest proportions, while FMAP2000 showed a more balanced distribution likely to preserve more detail in forest spatial pattern. Good spatial agreement was found for CLC2000 and FMAP2000 within about 70% of the study area, while only 50% agreement was found when compared with CEFM1996. The largest spatial differences between all maps were found in the Alpine and Mediterranean regions. Reasons for these might be different input data and classification techniques and, in particular, the calibration of CEFM1996 to reported national statistics.     

Constructed wetland technology and mosquito populations in Arizona

Constructed wetlands and other aquatic habitat creation or restoration efforts offer both potential benefits and problems for arid areas. An unintentional consequence of these efforts has been the potential for an increase in local adult mosquito populations. Shallow water-emergent plant zones may provide ideal conditions for mosquito larval growth, and areas of high humidity, dense vegetation, and abundant birds and other wildlife may provide ideal conditions for adult mosquitoes. Three constructed wetlands in southern Arizona were studied over a period of years before and after they were constructed and operational. Mosquito populations were sampled using a variety of methods, primarily trapping of adults with CO₂-baited traps. Populations apparently increased, sometimes by several orders of magnitude, after wetlands became operational. Several methods of mosquito abatement were initiated and their results are discussed. However, no definitive conclusions can be drawn because no untreated areas were available for comparison and many factors that may have affected mosquito populations also changed. Based on the experience gained at these three sites, mosquito control is an especially important design and management component for constructed wetlands in arid environments with low background populations of mosquitoes.     

A GIS-based method for flooded area calculation and damage evaluation

Using geographic information system to study flooded area and damage evaluation has been a hotspot in environmental disaster research for years. In this paper, a model for flooded area calculation and damage evaluation is presented. Flooding is divided into two types: ‘source flood’ and ‘non-source flood’. The source-flood area calculation is based on seed spread algorithm. The flood damage evaluation is calculated by overlaying the flooded area range with thematic maps and relating the result to other social and economic data. To raise the operational efficiency of the model, a skipping approach is used to speed seed spread algorithm and all thematic maps are converted to raster format before overlay analysis. The accuracy of flooded area calculation and damage evaluation is mainly dependent upon the resolution and precision of the digital elevation model (DEM) data, upon the accuracy of registering all raster layers, and upon the quality of economic information. This model has been successfully used in the Zhejiang Province Comprehensive Water Management Information System developed by the authors. The applications show that this model is especially useful for most counties of China and other developing countries.     

Ventures into Viral Cartography: Waffle House,Educational Attainment,and the Social Life of Maps

Viral maps—ones that are shared widely on social media and media outlets—have become an increasingly common part of online conversations about a range of issues. Despite the increasing prevalence of these viral maps, only a few academic researchers have examined the factors leading to their popularity or their social use and effect. In this article, we analyze two case studies of viral maps, a viral tweet about the August 2017 total eclipse and an interactive tool for exploring educational attainment by neighborhood in the United States. By reflecting on our experience as authors of these maps and analyzing the reactions they elicited, we identify several key elements of these maps and their circulation. First, viral maps act as a form of phatic communication, allowing users to restate and react to shared social identities. Second, maps are read from specific times and places, and this spatiotemporal context significantly shapes the reactions of map readers. Finally, viral maps illustrate gaps or improvements in trust between mapmakers and map readers, including questions about map accuracy or the intentions behind the map. We close by considering implications for future research and viral cartography. Key Words: online maps, social networks, viral cartography.     

土地利用/土地覆被时空分布100年数字重建——以大庆市杜尔伯特蒙古族自治县为例

长时间序列的土地利用/ 土地覆被数据是开展全球变化、可持续发展及生态安全等各项研究的重要基础。然而,早期的土地利用/ 土地覆被数据,特别是卫星遥感数据出现之前 的土地利用/ 土地覆被信息通常很难获取。利用TM、MSS 遥感影像数据和地形图、气候、地质、地貌、土壤、植被、水文等自然环境背景图件以及数据,社会经济统计数据等多源数 据,选择大庆市杜尔伯特蒙古族自治县作为典型案例区,在GIS 技术支持下建立了土地利用/ 土地覆被数字重建模型,再现了典型研究区20 世纪30 年代和50 年代土地利用/ 土地覆被空间分布状况。通过野外调查和历史文献资料对土地利用数字重建结果进行精度评价并初步得到以下结论：① 采用逐个图斑跟踪记录的方法对研究区各个时期土地利用/ 覆被变化的敏感 性进行分析,有利于揭示区域土地利用/ 土地覆被变化的规律;② 在定量、定位分析环境背景对土地利用/ 土地覆被分布及其变化的影响基础上,综合判断各种土地利用/ 土地覆被分布概率,其结果可为土地利用数字重建提供依据;③ 对1:10 万地形图提取土地利用信息的可行性与可信度分析表明,地形图中土地利用信息完全能够达到一级土地利用分类精度,同时疏林地、灌木林、沼泽地、盐碱地、沙地等二级分类信息也能获取。     

The Use of Environmental Features on Tactile Maps by Navigators Who Are Blind

Maps designed for and used by sighted audiences benefit from map symbol standardization and convention but, with very limited exception (most notably two European projects), neither standardization nor convention guides the design and use of symbols for tactile maps. In this project, we developed and field tested symbolization for and use of tactile street maps. The development process included consultation with the literature as well as with field experts (orientation and mobility teachers, Braillists, and teachers working with students who are blind or have low vision). Following development, we undertook a three-year field testing and validation phase, in which we conducted pilot testing and formal testing with travelers who are blind or have low vision. Research results reveal not only a discriminable and useful tactile symbol set but also environmental feature use by travelers who are blind or have low vision.     

Maps on Acid: Cartographically Constructing the Acid Rain Environmental Issue, 1972–1980

This article traces how maps aided the conceptualization and ensuing debate over one of the first inherently spatial and multiscale environmental issues, acid rain. Through interviews with early acid rain ecologists and a critical cartographic analysis of printed maps, we show that mapping was central for constructing this environmental issue. Rather than static representations of a scientific reality, acid rain maps were interconnected and relational processes that operated within political and economic discourses. Accordingly, we suggest that increased critical engagement and participation with the process of mapping can productively aid dialog on many issues, including other current multiscale environmental issues, such as climate change.     

建立沙漠化环境监测信息系统图形数据库专题系列地图的编辑与制图

沙漠化专题系列地图是沙漠化环境信息系统图形数据库的主要信息内容, 目的在于为系统进行空间分析提供数据。沙漠化系列图的编制, 因制图工具是具有图形编辑软件的计算机系统, 地图载体已改变为磁性记录媒体, 制图程序与常规方法差别甚大。本文结合机助制图特点, 介绍了制图编辑中的有关问题, 主要内容包括：(1)用于沙漠化环境监测信息系统专题地图的设计; (2)专题系列地图的制图分类; (3)图形数据库中专题系列图的统一协调; (4)系统中沙漠化专题系列图的编辑特点; (5)沙漠化环境信息系统中系列图件的时间序列。     

Spatial and environmental patterns of off-road vehicle recreation in a semi-arid woodland

Outdoor recreation is a widely recognized cultural ecosystem service. Ensuring that appropriate, high quality recreation opportunities are available requires, among other factors, knowledge of the environmental preferences of recreation users and spatial indicators of where those environmental features exist on the landscape and offer the potential to meet recreation goals. Diverse types of outdoor recreation exist, and different forms of recreation may be associated with different environmental features. The focus of this study is off-road vehicle (ORV) recreation. We demonstrate how readily available spatial environmental datasets, including high resolution image data provided within GoogleEarth, can be used to develop a cost-effective, objective indicator of ORV recreation across a landscape, which can inform management to provide desired recreation opportunities while protecting ecologically sensitive areas.ORV recreational tracks were delineated from GoogleEarth imagery throughout our study area in the Great Western Woodlands of Western Australia. In this region, ORV use is a popular recreation activity and a growing concern of conservation organizations, but is not yet actively managed. Most recreational ORV tracks in the study area are informal and user-created. Mapped ORV recreation tracks were used to model and map the environmental associations of ORV recreation. The pattern of existing tracks indicated associations between recreation and noteworthy environmental amenities in the study area such as the shores of salt lakes and rock outcrops with high ecological and cultural value. However, one of the most important determinants of ORV track presence was accessibility, especially proximity to a road. Access infrastructure, such as proximity to roads, is often used to proxy demand and use in expert-based spatial assessments of ecosystem services. The results of our empirical model underscore the importance of incorporating patterns of both supply (i.e., desired natural amenities) and demand (i.e., access) into ecosystem service assessments. In addition, when integrated with maps of environmental sensitivity and more detailed information about human use, the predictive map of areas providing potential recreation experiences can be used for comprehensive spatial planning of sustainable ORV recreation. One possibility suggested by our results is that careful planning and management of access routes may be an effective means to achieve sustainable ORV recreation.     

我国《地方病与环境图集》编制研究

《中华人民共和国地方病与环境图集》是一部展示人类疾病与生态环境关系的新型地图集。本文重点论述它的编制意义、原则、特点和方法。     

Application of Mineral Exploration Models and GIS to Generate Mineral Potential Maps as Input for Optimum Land-Use Planning in the Philippines

The inherent problems of classifying or inventorying potential mineral resources (as opposed to known mineral resources) pose specific challenges. In this paper, the application of a conceptual mineral exploration model and GIS to generate mineral potential maps as input to land-use policy decision-making is illustrated. We implement the criteria provided by a conceptual exploration model for nickeliferous-laterites by using a GIS to classify the nickeliferous-laterite potential of an area in the northeastern part of the Philippines. The spatial data inputs to the GIS are geological map data, topographic map data, and stream sediment point data. Processing of these data yields derivative maps, which are used as indicators of nickeliferous-laterite potential. The indicator maps then are integrated to furnish a nickeliferous-laterite potential map. This map is compared with present land-use classification and policy in the area. The results indicate high potential for nickeliferous-laterite occurrence in the area, but the zones of potential are in places where mineral resources development is prohibited. The prohibition was imposed before the nickeliferous-laterite potential was assessed by this study. Mineral potential classification therefore is a critical input to land-use policy-making so that prospective land is not alienated from future mineral resource development.     

Knowledge discovery from soil maps using inductive learning

This paper develops a knowledge discovery procedure for extracting knowledge of soil-landscape models from a soil map. It has broad relevance to knowledge discovery from other natural resource maps. The procedure consists of four major steps: data preparation, data preprocessing, pattern extraction, and knowledge consolidation. In order to recover true expert knowledge from the error-prone soil maps, our study pays specific attention to the reduction of representation noise in soil maps. The data preprocessing step has exhibited an important role in obtaining greater accuracy. A specific method for sampling pixels based on modes of environmental histograms has proven to be effective in terms of reducing noise and constructing representative sample sets. Three inductive learning algorithms, the See5 decision tree algorithm, Naïve Bayes, and artificial neural network, are investigated for a comparison concerning learning accuracy and result comprehensibility. See5 proves to be an accurate method and produces the most comprehensible results, which are consistent with the rules (expert knowledge) used in producing the soil map. The incorporation of spatial information into the knowledge discovery process is found not only to improve the accuracy of the extracted knowledge, but also to add to the explicitness and extensiveness of the extracted soil-landscape model.     

Geoinformational Mapping of Landscapes in the Northwestern Part of Western Siberia Using the Hansen Mosaic Dataset

Presented are the technique and results of studying the landscape structure of the north-west of Western Siberia on the basis of the Hansen mosaic dataset consisting of elements covering the entire territory of the Earth. To study this area used a synthesis of classical methods of thematic system mapping as described in the doctrine of geosystems of V. B. Sochava, and automated interpretation of remote sensing data and mapping using GIS technologies. The method of geoinformational mapping of the landscape structure with the use of MultiSpec and Quantum GIS software programs for the purpose of drawing up real-time raster landscape maps is shown. In drawing up the map and the legend, the principle of geomic system-hierarchical representation of the territory as a complex multi-level “bottom-up” structure from topological-level geosystems (groups and classes of landscape facies) to regional-level geosystems (geoms, groups and classes of geoms) was used. Compilation of operational raster landscape maps of the north-west of Western Siberia involved multilevel automated interpretation of the Hansen mosaic dataset and mapping of areas (clusters) on images with different brightness characteristics, with the landscape structure of key areas and stationary physical and geographical profiles. A characteristic of this approach also implies using a dynamic classification of geosystems based on the study of their variable states. Such an approach permits a monitoring of changes in landscape structure and its areas and the intensity of anthropogenic impacts on forest and marsh landscapes, and determination of permissible pressure on geosystems in areas with high technogenic pressure of the oil and gas complex represented by the north-west of Siberia. An automated processing of data based on a supervised classification of territorial objects allows for the elimination of inaccuracies arising in visual image interpretation. Raster landscape maps can be used both for a further generation of vector maps and as a real-time information base for purposes of environmental management and protection.