The spatial shopping behaviour of the urban elderly: A review of the literature

The spatial shopping behaviour of the urban elderly has received increasing attention from researchers in a variety of disciplines including geography, marketing, city planning, and social gerontology. Relevant literature from these diverse sources is reviewed within an organizational framework based on two ‘behavioural’ approaches to retail geography: ‘empirical-behavioural’ and ‘cognitive-behavioural’. Overall, the research findings suggest that the elderly represent a distinctive consumer segment with special problems and needs. In particular, many older shoppers are subject to a wide variety of mobility constraints which ultimately restrict their access to shopping opportunities. However, some work has discovered important differences in the spatial behaviours of subgroups of elderly consumers defined on the basis of such characteristics as health, age, household composition, marital status, income level, and residential location. It is suggested that further research needs to explore more fully how these characteristics may impose variable personal and environmental constraints upon the shopping activities of the urban elderly.     

Analysis and Estimation of Natural Processes with Nonhomogeneous Spatial Variation Using Secondary Information

Natural processes encountered in mining, hydrogeologic, environmental, etc. applications usually are poorly known because of scarcity of data over the area of interest. Therefore, stochastic estimation techniques are the tool of choice for a careful accounting of the heterogeneity and uncertainty involved. Within such a framework, a better utilization of all available data concerning the process of interest and all other natural processes related to it, is of primary importance. Because many natural processes show complicated spatial trends, the hypothesis of spatial homogeneity cannot be invoked always, and the more general theory of intrinsic spatial random fields should be employed. Efficient use of secondary information in terms of the intrinsic model requires that suitable permissibility criteria for the generalized covariances and cross-covariances are satisfied. A set of permissibility criteria are presented for the situation of two intrinsic random fields. These criteria are more general and comprehensive than the ones currently available in the geostatistical literature. A constrained least-square technique is implemented for the inference of the generalized covariance and cross-covariance parameters, and a synthetic example is used to illustrate the methodology. The numerical results show that the use of secondary information can lead to significant reductions in the estimation errors.     

ArcGIS空间分析技术在地下水评价中的应用

ArcGIS是目前世界具有代表性的地理信息系统，其强大的空间分析技术，在各行业中得到广泛应用。本文就空间分析技术在地下水评价中的应用进行了探讨，并在实际工作中成功地进行了研究区域的地下水评价，其高效特点使工作强度大大减小，是值得进一步推广的地下水评价方法。     

Combining geographic information system, multicriteria evaluation techniques and fuzzy logic in siting MSW landfills

This study presents a methodology for siting municipal solid waste landfills, coupling geographic information systems (GIS), fuzzy logic, and multicriteria evaluation techniques. Both exclusionary and non-exclusionary criteria are used. Factors, i.e., non-exclusionary criteria, are divided in two distinct groups which do not have the same level of trade off. The first group comprises factors related to the physical environment, which cannot be expressed in terms of monetary cost and, therefore, they do not easily trade off. The second group includes those factors related to human activities, i.e., socioeconomic factors, which can be expressed as financial cost, thus showing a high level of trade off. GIS are used for geographic data acquisition and processing. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is the multicriteria evaluation technique used, enhanced with fuzzy factor standardization. Besides assigning weights to factors through the AHP, control over the level of risk and trade off in the siting process is achieved through a second set of weights, i.e., order weights, applied to factors in each factor group, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, thus taking into account the local site characteristics. The method has been applied to Evros prefecture (NE Greece), an area of approximately 4,000 km². The siting methodology results in two intermediate suitability maps, one related to environmental and the other to socioeconomic criteria. Combination of the two intermediate maps results in the final composite suitability map for landfill siting.     

基于饱和渗透系数空间变异结构的斜坡渗流及失稳特征

以往研究一般采用单随机变量方法（SRV）或基于水平或垂直方向波动范围生成的空间变异随机场来模拟岩土参数的空间变异性,对具有倾斜定向特征的空间变异随机场未有涉及.基于条件模拟相关理论和非侵入式随机有限元的理论框架,提出了利用序贯高斯模拟方法进行斜坡参数条件随机场模拟并运用有限元方法进行斜坡渗流和稳定性分析的方法.针对理想边坡,对各向同性和几何各向异性的共7种空间变异结构的饱和渗透系数（K_s）各进行了200次条件随机场模拟,基于条件随机场模拟结果进行了有限元渗流和稳定性计算,对每种空间变异结构多次计算结果进行了统计分析.结果表明:本文所提出的方法不仅再现了研究区域参数的空间二阶统计特性,通过设定变异函数参数进行不同空间变异类型、变异程度、变异定向性的随机场模拟,同时利用现场观测数据对随机场模拟结果进行条件限制,从而提高了随机场的赋值精度;K_s的空间变异结构对孔隙水压力的分布规律、地下水位线变化范围、稳定性系数和最危险滑动面分布特征均有一定程度的影响.本研究为库岸斜坡稳定性评价提供方法支撑.      

Perception of urban retailing environments: An empirical analysis of consumer information and usage fields

This article reports on an empirical analysis of consumer information and usage fields in the city of Eindhoven. The main purposes of this study are to investigate the distance, sectoral and directional biases of these fields, to analyse whether the degree of biases is related to personal characteristics of consumers and to identify the factors of the basis on which a model which predicts the probability that a shopping centre will be known by consumers can be developed. The findings of the study suggest that strong distance, sectoral and directional biases are present in the information and usage fields of consumers and that no systematic relationships exist between these characteristics of information and usage fields and personal variables of consumers. Finally, the present studies suggests that a model which describes the formation of consumer choice sets should include spatial factors such as distance, size, intervening opportunities and direction towards the city centre.     

Geo-information tools for participatory spatial planning: Fulfilling the criteria for ‘good’ governance?

The last few decades have seen increasing attempts to foster ‘collaborative’ and ‘participatory’ approaches to spatial planning and decision-making, with a more sophisticated conceptualisation of the contested term, participation. Participatory, ‘bottom-up’ geo-information technologies have been concurrently developing and these are expected to strengthen participatory spatial planning; important among these has been the transformation of conventional mapping and GIS tools into Participatory GIS (PGIS). In this paper we explore the potential contributions of participatory geo-information tools towards participatory spatial planning, in terms of the principles and criteria of good governance. We discuss five fundamental principles of ‘good’ governance: accountability, legitimacy, respect, equity, and competence, and the potential of geo-information tools to contribute to, and detract from, such principles; although we focus especially on participation and the recognition and validation of local knowledge. We derive criteria for the five principles, and we identify a range of evaluation questions which can be operationalised so as to interrogate the criteria for judging the contribution of participatory tools and participatory spatial planning activities. We conclude by summarily assessing the potentials of participatory geo-information tools, particularly participatory mobile GIS, participatory 3-dimensional modelling, and visualisation features in PGIS.     

A PDF-based analysis of the spatial structure of retailing

The present paper proposes a new method for analyzing the spatial structure of retailing, using microscale locational data of individual retail stores. The method is based on the probability density function (PDF) of stores estimated from their locational data, and consequently it is applicable to both micro- and macro-scale retail analyses. The PDF approach provides a set of quantitative methods that permit us (1) to measure the degree of agglomeration, (2) to classify spatial patterns of store location, (3) to analyze the relationship between the size and function of retail agglomerations, and (4) to analyze the spatial structure of retail agglomeration. An empirical study is performed to test the validity of the method, and some empirical findings are shown. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Assessment of seismic risk scenarios for Bucharest,Romania

In this paper, seismic risk scenarios for Bucharest, the capital city of Romania, are proposed and assessed. Bucharest has one of the highest seismic risk levels in Europe, and this is due to a combination of relatively high seismic hazard and a building stock built mainly before the devastating Vrancea 1977 earthquake. In this study, the seismic risk of Bucharest is assessed using the most recent information regarding the characteristics of the residential building stock. The ground motion amplitudes are evaluated starting from random fields obtained by coupling a ground motion model derived for the Vrancea intermediate-depth seismic source with a spatial correlation model. The seismic risk evaluation method applied in this study is based on the well-known macroseismic method. For several structural typologies, the vulnerability parameters are evaluated based on a damage survey performed on 18,000 buildings in Bucharest after the March 1977 earthquake. Subsequently, the risk metrics are compared with those from other studies in the literature that apply a different risk assessment methodology in order to gain a better view of the uncertainties associated with a seismic risk study at city level. Finally, the impact of several Vrancea intermediate-depth earthquake scenarios is evaluated and the results show that the earthquake which has the closest epicenter to Bucharest appears to be the most damaging.

     

The vulnerability of the elderly to hurricane hazards in Sarasota, Florida

Although the elderly are commonly thought to be disproportionately vulnerable to natural hazards, the elderly populations of coastal communities are continuing to grow. Because there is little to no empirical hazards work specifically addressing the vulnerable elderly in coastal communities, this paper uses Sarasota County, Florida, as a case study to analyze how vulnerable the elderly are to hurricane hazards and whether all elderly people are equally vulnerable. To explore the spatial variations in degree and composition of vulnerability among this population, the analysis maps physical exposure to hurricane storm-surge inundation and precipitation-induced flooding and creates social vulnerability indices by applying principal components analysis to census block group data in a geographic information system. The results show that elderly inhabitants of barrier islands face a considerable physical threat from hurricane-induced storm surge and flooding but are less socially vulnerable because of their wealth; the elderly living inland are far less physically vulnerable but are poorer and consequently demonstrate high socioeconomic sensitivity and limited adaptive capacity to these hurricane hazards. The paper concludes that the elderly are not equally vulnerable: there are many different types of elderly living in many different locations, and their vulnerability varies by type and over space. Effective vulnerability reduction measures should account for these differences between the elderly populations.     

Changes in drilling density and discovery rates through time

An alternative to time sequence evaluation of field size distributions is presented. Oil fields are ranked in relation to level of prior exploration in the vicinity of discovery wells. Field size distribution patterns for discoveries at sequential levels of prior exploration are evaluated independently from the time sequence of discoveries within the region. Interregional comparisons are made in terms of field discoveries at equivalent levels of prior exploration. The study area covers a large region (approximately 78,000 Km ² ) of central and northwest Kansas.     

Generalized spline-approximation problem formulation for spatial data modeling in geosciences

The discussed spline approximation in spatial data modeling for geosciences implies formulation of the variational problem in terms of functional minimization and allows simultaneous inversion for several surfaces. This modeling employs the following basic elements: stabilizers to define the common properties of unknown surfaces; differential operators to describe the unknown surfaces and their relation with the known fields; data specified locally at test points; partial differential equations similar to equations of mathematical physics for the properties of the surfaces of interest; elements of regression analysis, with the regression coefficients being calculated while solving the principal modeling problem; arbitrary amounts of direct or indirect information which is incorporated additionally into the functional on the basis of approximate conditions using weight coefficients as control parameters.The suggested generalized formulation includes the concepts of global and local equations, and strict and nonstrict relationships. This formulation, realized in the GST software, may apply to many surface modeling problems to be solved using second-order partial differential equations, with multiple criteria optimization of results and with the use of different auxiliary datasets.     

中国白垩纪矿床时空分布的分形分析

分形概念应用在地球科学中来刻画地质变量与地质体自相似特征。研究表明分形模型常常提供有力工具来刻画地质变量和地质体的基本空间分布结构。许多地质现象的频度和大小之间的分布具有尺度不变性, 如岩石碎片、断层、地震、火山喷发、矿藏和油井等。中国白垩纪的矿床大量地分布在东北、阴山-燕山、华北地台、秦岭-大别山、扬子地台和东南沿海等6个矿集区, 它们是中国白垩纪矿床分布的重要地区, 而西北和西南地区已知的白垩纪矿床尚少; 中国白垩纪矿床分布具有在时间上集中于早白垩世, 在空间上集中于东北和华南的分形特性。以中国白垩纪金矿床为例, 对金矿床空间分布进行了分形建模与预测, 该方法不仅适用于金矿床, 而且还适用于其它矿床, 具有普遍的意义。      

Enhancing the credibility of ecology: Is interdisciplinary research for land use planning useful?

Interdisciplinary approaches involving inputs from both the natural and social sciences represent one operational and social response to the complexity of today's environmental and land use problems. The resulting amalgam can be useful to both science and society, given the right mix of ingredients. Important steps in the planning and conduct of interdisciplinary research include problem indentification; definition of a precise scientific theme derived from the social demand; choice of relevant disciplines; selection of study area and spatial scale; ensuring that the project is adaptable to changing circumstances; obtaining the involvement of scientists, planners and local people; developing a continuum of actions from basic and applied research through to training and information diffusion; early and explicit definition of the criteria for evaluation. Though interdisciplinary approaches have shown their worth, they founder easily. Obstacles include the behavioural and psychological characteristics of individual scientists, differences in scientific method, and bottlenecks of a more administrative, institutional, political and financial nature.The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the authors' employers.     

基于GIS的空间数据和空间数据库浅谈

在数字城市、数字省区等数字工程建设和各个部门信息化建设迅速开展的时候，大量甚至海量空间数据的存储和管理成为地理信息系统建设工作者们面临的重要问题，研究空间数据和空间数据库变得非常迫切。简要介绍了空间数据的概念、特征和空间数据结构模型，并对空间数据库的设计做了简单阐述。     

The new retail trade and services and their emerging location pattern in St. Petersburg

The system of factors affecting the spatial distribution of the retail trade and service establishments has changed dramatically since socialist times. The administrative regulation lost its almost complete dominance and turned into one of the market forces. In contrast, the impact of the urban environment under very free market conditions substantially increased. We show the main directions of this influence. Two generalized indicators that we use describe macro trends in the development of the spatial system of retail trade and services. One of them, which we call the urban morphology, is of a concentric effect, another – transportation pattern – adds the sectoral component to the retail trade and services geography. Five systems of spatial attractions differently affect the distribution of different branches.     

基于组件式GIS工具MapX的煤炭资源开发条件评价系统

在研究GIS开发组件MapX特点和功能的基础上,利用可视化语言Visual Basic 6.0开发了矿井煤炭资源开发条件评价系统。该系统利用MapX进行图形的绘制及空间分析,并集成多级模糊评价模型,能够对评价区煤炭资源作出较为客观的评价。      

基于GML的地质图空间数据库交换体系

如何提高地质图空间数据库信息交换体系的可扩展性和互操作能力是这一领域中的研究热点.首先研究了ISO/OGC空间信息共享的规范和标准, 并建立了具有服务能力的空间信息集成模块, 在此基础上研究具有一致性的空间信息共享与服务体系, 形成独立于软件、适用于地质空间信息互操作的表达模式, 提供一个可用于异构和分布式体系下的数据描述机制, 使得应用管理地质空间数据成为可能.提出了以地理置标语言(geography markup language, GML) 模型为框架, 给出一种地质空间信息交换的机制.针对地学应用需求, 提出了专业应用数据的模式, 为地质空间信息交换提供了一种可行的方法.      

Assessment of seismic risk scenarios for Bucharest,Romania

In this paper, seismic risk scenarios for Bucharest, the capital city of Romania, are proposed and assessed. Bucharest has one of the highest seismic risk levels in Europe, and this is due to a combination of relatively high seismic hazard and a building stock built mainly before the devastating Vrancea 1977 earthquake. In this study, the seismic risk of Bucharest is assessed using the most recent information regarding the characteristics of the residential building stock. The ground motion amplitudes are evaluated starting from random fields obtained by coupling a ground motion model derived for the Vrancea intermediate-depth seismic source with a spatial correlation model. The seismic risk evaluation method applied in this study is based on the well-known macroseismic method. For several structural typologies, the vulnerability parameters are evaluated based on a damage survey performed on 18,000 buildings in Bucharest after the March 1977 earthquake. Subsequently, the risk metrics are compared with those from other studies in the literature that apply a different risk assessment methodology in order to gain a better view of the uncertainties associated with a seismic risk study at city level. Finally, the impact of several Vrancea intermediate-depth earthquake scenarios is evaluated and the results show that the earthquake which has the closest epicenter to Bucharest appears to be the most damaging.