USING SPATIAL SEGREGATION MEASURES IN GIS AND STATISTICAL MODELING PACKAGES

It is generally known that many traditional measures of segregation cannot distinguish different spatial population patterns. Several spatial measures of segregation have been proposed to overcome this problem, but these spatial measures are difficult to use because they require explicit spatial information and complex computation. This paper shows that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can provide the spatial information required by these indices and that statistical packages can offer the complex computation functions needed to calculate the indices. We use ARC/INFO as the GIS package and S-Plus as the statistical package to demonstrate how spatial segregation indices can be calculated by combining the capabilities of these two types of systems.     

Comparing Traditional and Spatial Segregation Measures: A Spatial Scale Perspective1

Measuring the level of segregation often encounters two methodological issues: measures are sensitive to changes in the geographical scale of the data and the effectiveness of the measure in reflecting spatial segregation. Several spatial measures have been suggested to measure spatial segregation, but whether they are more or less sensitive to changes in spatial scale has not been investigated, while some spatial measures are relatively scale-insensitive. Using the 1990 Census data of 30 selected U.S. metropolitan areas, this paper demonstrates that these spatial measures, similar to the aspatial measure, report higher levels of segregation when smaller areal units are used in the analysis. Some spatial measures are even more sensitive to scale changes than aspatial measures. Certain patterns of the scale sensitivity were identified, but no general rules can be formulated. A preliminary explanation of the scale effect on spatial segregation measures is offered.     

空间分析技术与地理信息系统的结合*

空间分析和地理信息系统是两种有效的空间信息分析和处理技术,二者的结合一方面可以大大拓展GIS的空间分析功能,另一方面也可使得迅速发展的空间分析得到GIS的有力支持,文中对此进行了探讨,并分析了二者结合的途径。     

GEOSTATISTICS AS MEASURES OF SPATIAL SEGREGATION

Traditional measures of segregation, such as the index of dissimilarity, have been criticized as aspatial in nature. Spatial measures of segregation have been proposed, but they are difficult to use. Based on the idea that segregation implies a spatial separation of ethnic groups, the degree of spatial correlation among groups can reflect the level of segregation. This paper suggests that several geostatistical measures, especially the standard deviational ellipse, are effective tools for capturing the spatial characteristics of a population group. By comparing the ellipses of different groups, measures of segregation can be derived. The paper demonstrates this approach to measuring segregation by way of both a simulation and a case study. [Key words: spatial segregation, geostatistics, deviational ellipses, spatial correspondence/correlation.]     

Space and exclusion: does urban morphology play a part in social deprivation?

There is currently a growing interest in the spatial causes of poverty, particularly its persistence. This paper presents methodological innovations that have been developed for investigating the relationship between physical segregation and economic marginalization in the urban environment. Using GIS to layer historical poverty data, contemporary deprivation indexes and space syntax measures of spatial segregation, a multivariate system has been created to enable the understanding of the spatial process involved in the creation and stagnation of poverty areas as well as to analyse the street segment scale of configuration.     

A Review of: “Accuracy of Spatial Databases”. Edited by M. Goodchild and S. Gopal. (London: Taylor & Francis, 1989.) [Pp. 290.] Price £35.00.

The integration of multisource heterogeneous spatial data is one of the major challenges for many spatial data users. To facilitate multisource spatial data integration, many initiatives including federated databases, feature manipulation engines (FMEs), ontology-driven data integration and spatial mediators have been proposed. The major aim of these initiatives is to harmonize data sets and establish interoperability between different data sources.

On the contrary, spatial data integration and interoperability is not a pure technical exercise, and there are other nontechnical issues including institutional, policy, legal and social issues involved. Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) framework aims to better address the technical and nontechnical issues and facilitate data integration. The SDIs aim to provide a holistic platform for users to interact with spatial data through technical and nontechnical tools.

This article aims to discuss the complexity of the challenges associated with data integration and propose a tool that facilitates data harmonization through the assessment of multisource spatial data sets against many measures. The measures represent harmonization criteria and are defined based on the requirement of the respective jurisdiction. Information on technical and nontechnical characteristics of spatial data sets is extracted to form metadata and actual data. Then the tool evaluates the characteristics against measures and identifies the items of inconsistency. The tool also proposes available manipulation tools or guidelines to overcome inconsistencies among data sets. The tool can assist practitioners and organizations to avoid the time-consuming and costly process of validating data sets for effective data integration.     

Formulating a General Spatial Segregation Measure*

Most traditional segregation measures, such as the index of dissimilarity D, fail to distinguish spatial patterns effectively. Previously proposed spatial measures modifying D suffer from several shortcomings. This article describes a general spatial segregation index based upon the concept of composite population counts, which are derived from grouping people in neighboring areas together to account implicitly for spatial interaction of groups across unit boundaries. The suggested spatial index can overcome the disadvantages of previous indices and can assess the spatial extent of the segregated clusters. The results offer a more comprehensive depiction of spatial segregation of a region.     

Spatial video and GIS

GIS elemental unit representations of spatial data are often defined in terms of points, lines and areas. However, another type of spatial data that is becoming frequently captured, but as yet is largely ignored in GIS, is that of video. While digital video recording is a commonly encountered medium in modern society and encompasses many forms, from simple personal camcorders through to sophisticated survey and surveillance systems, its geographical representation in a GIS has not been fully examined or realised. In the majority of cases the video footage is usually captured while the device and/or the objects being viewed are in motion. What is of particular interest is when video streams can be, or have been, associated with spatial data such as location and orientation to create geographically referenced videographic data, which, for simplicity, will be defined as spatial video. Fundamentally, the nature of video is to record space, so when spatial properties can be accurately acquired and associated with this footage, an important geographical element can be considered for integration and analysis within a GIS.

Existing spatial video systems, both commercial and research, are predominantly used in survey or LBS roles and are usually bespoke and application specific. These systems do not model spatial video to any recognised standards that is generalised to be both data and platform independent. They do not support GIS integration and/or analysis from a purely spatial content perspective. A video-image/remote-sensing centric approach prevails where usage options range from simple visualisation interfaces to interactive computer vision systems. What has been largely overlooked is a spatial approach where the inherent geographical extent recorded in each video frame can be modelled and used in a geo-spatial analysis context. While this modelling approach has not been fully realised, it does exist in a GIS form based on Open Geospatial Consortium standards, where the spatial context of video is defined in a structure called a ViewCone. However, a ViewCone only defines a 2D model of the geographical extent of each frame and is restricted to a three-or-five sided polygon representation.

Thus, this article examines the potential of modelling spatial video through the use of elemental data types within GIS; gives some examples of using this approach; describes some problems in using spatial video within GIS; and then demonstrates how these problems are being solved. This is done in three stages: Firstly, a detailed overview of spatial video in its current GIS role is provided – this is achieved through a complete introduction to the distinct elements of spatial video followed by a review of its use in both commercial and academic application areas. Secondly, a brief theoretical overview of an alternative GIS-constrained ViewCone data structure is given that defines a more flexible spatial video model for both 2D and 3D GIS analysis and visualisation. Thirdly, a selective sample of results is presented based on an implementation of this approach being applied to a constrained spatial video data source in a specific study area.     

国内外社会空间分异测度研究综述

社会空间分异作为一个具有社会性及空间性的概念,其测度研究直接关系到隔离等级划分的合理性和有效性。本文根据不同历史时期空间分异测度研究所关注的视角,将社会空间分异测度研究分为早期萌芽阶段、多维度群体评估阶段、空间转向阶段、多模型多视角阶段等4个阶段,介绍了社会空间分异测度指标在各阶段的演变特点和主要测度指标,并对其中26个主要指数进行比较和分类,阐述各指数的适用范围和优缺点。分析国内社会空间分异相关研究现状,指出其存在多维度指标使用较少且多为实证性研究,空间分异测算方法缺少理论基础的不足。移动互联网和社交网络空间快速发展,对社会空间分异的测算方法提出新的要求;基于地理位置信息的个人行为空间交互数据和基于虚拟网络的赛博空间交互数据,为社会空间分异研究提供了新的研究视角。     

Connecting Local to Global: Geographic Information Systems and Ecological Footprints as Tools for Sustainability

Tools that support public engagement with sustainability are essential for local sustainability planning. This research investigates the ability of two geographic information system (GIS)-based tools to promote discussion of sustainability in a suburban context. A local ecological footprint tool and a community environmental atlas (an environmentally themed online mapping system) were created for seven suburban boroughs of Montreal. Variations of both tools have been used to support sustainability efforts, but their use has not been widely evaluated. Working from a public participation GIS (PPGIS) framework that recognizes the powerful influence of data representation, this research uses focus groups to evaluate how well these tools address three criteria that have emerged from the literature on public engagement in sustainability: interdependency across systems, reflexivity about personal and social decision making, and interactions across spatial scales. Whereas the atlas remains advantageous for discussing local spatial specifics, it was found that the ecological footprint helped people see the interconnections among systems, integrate local and global aspects of sustainability, and reflect on the values and assumptions underlying current social and economic structures.     

基于空间数据库技术的地籍管理系统研究

随着GIS应用的深入发展,以文件管理空间数据的方式已不能满足当前GIS应用的需要,而空间数据库技术正是为解决GIS应用的企业化和社会化问题而发展起来的新技术,空间数据库技术及其应用研究是当前GIS技术研究的热点。本文分析了空间数据对象、空间数据库、空间数据库技术及其实现,研究了基于空间数据库技术的地籍管理系统在空间数据共享、海量数据管理、大范围查询检索、分布式空间数据处理与维护、地籍制图、数据安全控制等方面的应用实现,通过具体应用系统建设,提出了基于空间数据库技术的地籍管理信息系统的解决方案。     

空间数据挖掘的地理案例推理方法及试验

从空间数据挖掘的角度谈地理案例推理方法,认为地理案例推理是面向问题的一种空间数据挖掘方法。针对这一思想进行了基于地理案例的空间数据挖掘具体算法介绍。首先在明确地理案例具体定义的基础上,给出了面向问题的空间数据挖掘地理案例界定和组织方法;其次,鉴于地理空间的自然地带性和区域分异性规律的影响,深入探讨了地理案例自身或其间所可能存在的相互依赖和相互制约关系,并给出了采用粗糙集方法进行地理案例内蕴空间关系的定量挖掘方法;第三,针对地理案例表达时考虑的空间特征和空间关系的不同,给出了三种状况下的空间相似性计算模型;最后,以土地利用这一典型的地学现象为例,给出具体实例,一方面进行土地利用问题的定量分析与推测;另一方面,通过实例展示地理案例推理方法在地学问题求解以及空间数据定量分析上的特点和优势。     

西安市二环内表层土壤重金属空间分布特征

采集西安市二环内78处表层土壤样品,研究西安二环内城市表层土壤中Co、Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni、Pb、Zn、V的空间分布特征,并采用相关分析、因子分析和聚类分析等多元统计方法探究西安市二环内城市表层土壤中8种重金属元素的来源.结果表明,西安市二环内表层土壤中Co、Cr、Cu、Pb、Zn具有明显的高值带和高值区,而Mn、N...     

基于GIS的广州城市商业空间分析模型研究

随着计算机和互联网的普及,GIS也得到了发展.据估算,超过80%的商业经济数据具有空间特性或者与空间位置有关,合理有效地开发和利用这些空间教据,不仅可以优化资源配置,降低商业运行成本,同时还可用于规划、监测、改善区域商业和经济环境.通过GIS空间分析方法,借助于城市空间数据,实现了基于GIS模型的城市商业空间Buffer分析、最佳路径分析、资源配置分析,同时分析了城市商业空间影响的主要驱动力机制及形成因素.     

Decisions of the U. S. Board of Geographic Names. June 5, 1900, To January 8, 1902 II

ABSTRACT

Spatial literacy is a new frontier in K–12 education. This article describes a place-based introductory GIS/GPS middle school curriculum unit in which students used measuring tools, GPS units, and My World GIS software to collect physical and spatial data of trees to create a schoolyard tree inventory. Maine students completed “memory maps” of their schoolyards as a pre/post exercise assessment. A statistically significant increase in students’ spatial awareness was documented. A technology-based curriculum can significantly increase students’ spatial awareness especially in a place and context relevant to each student.     

空间数据分析与空间模型

虽然GIS已在各个领域得到广泛应用,但它相对较弱的空间分析功能正在限制其应用的广度和深度。文中系统论述了空间数据的基本特征,GIS中空间数据分析的基本需求,空间统计分析,空间数据探索分析以及空间模型,探讨了GIS与空间模型结合的必要性,结合途径以及结合中的问题与对策。     

A review of volunteered geographic information quality assessment methods

With the ubiquity of advanced web technologies and location-sensing hand held devices, citizens regardless of their knowledge or expertise, are able to produce spatial information. This phenomenon is known as volunteered geographic information (VGI). During the past decade VGI has been used as a data source supporting a wide range of services, such as environmental monitoring, events reporting, human movement analysis, disaster management, etc. However, these volunteer-contributed data also come with varying quality. Reasons for this are: data is produced by heterogeneous contributors, using various technologies and tools, having different level of details and precision, serving heterogeneous purposes, and a lack of gatekeepers. Crowd-sourcing, social, and geographic approaches have been proposed and later followed to develop appropriate methods to assess the quality measures and indicators of VGI. In this article, we review various quality measures and indicators for selected types of VGI and existing quality assessment methods. As an outcome, the article presents a classification of VGI with current methods utilized to assess the quality of selected types of VGI. Through these findings, we introduce data mining as an additional approach for quality handling in VGI.     

Multistop-based measurements of accessibility in a GTS environment

Abstract

The opportunities available at a demand location are usually measured as the costs of reaching a specified critical number of facilities from that location. This method does not however, account for multistop trips nor for differences in the diversity of supply at the level of individual facilities. In this paper we introduce an alternative measurement method that overcomes these shortcomings. In this method the probability of successfully visiting a specific facility is assumed to be a function of the diversity of supply provided. Trip routes are constructed that have an acceptable probability of success. Then, the expected costs of travelling the optimum route are determined as an indicator of spatial opportunities. The proposed method has been implemented in a GIS environment, using typical GIS data and GIS tools for spatial analysis and display. The results of a case study indicate that the new method, compared to current methods, may lead to different evaluations of the level of opportunities at demand locations.     

Observational Work for Children

Abstract

Geographic information systems (GIS) are computer-based tools for geographic data analysis and spatial visualization. They have become one of the information and communications technologies for education at all levels. This article reviews the current status of GIS in schools, analyzes the requirements of a GIS-based learning environment from constructivist perspectives, and discusses the major issues in the design of a constructivist GIS-based learning environment based on experience from the development of World Explorer, a GIS-based learning environment that provides a theme-oriented data and information base, supports multiple representations and multiple linkages of information, and facilitates interactive learning and knowledge construction.