Human geography and its relationship to GIS: a perspective from the vantage point of GIS

Concern abounds over what is a never ending sequence of paradigm shifts within human geography. One result is the marginalisation of previous work. Considerable concern has been expressed among those working with geographical information systems (GIS) over the relationship of this area of work to human geography. Behind much of this turmoil is the ascendancy of post‐modernism, an approach with which many human geographers are unable to actively engage in debate. At a time when the other social sciences are incorporating space into their research, human geography and GIS are parting company with the two facing very different futures.     

我国人文地理学研究方法多样化问题

从我国地理学研究存在的问题入手,切入我国人文地理学研究的方法和方法论问题。自1970年代以来,欧美人文地理学研究范式和方法论逐步多样化,这可以作为我们发展人文地理学方法的一个参考。正是基于对实证主义地理及其方法论局限性的认识,结构主义(包括马克思主义)、人文主义、女性主义、后现代化主义和后结构主义相继登场。中国作为一个向现代社会全面转型的发展中国家,地理格局异常复杂。结果是现代性问题与后现代问题并肩前行,发达和欠发达有关的问题同时存在。对这样复杂的地理景观所进行的人文地理学研究,较多地采用了基于实证主义方法论的空间科学传统,对塑造这一景观的人未能给予足够的关注。因此,我国的人文地理学研究迫切需要方法论和方法的多元化。     

基于GIS的细胞自动机模型与人地关系的复杂性探讨

探讨人地非线性关系可以揭示地理系统空间复杂性的许多简单本质 ,具有重要的理论意义和实践价值。以地理信息系统 (GIS)为技术支持 ,建立以细胞自动机 (CA)为核心的综合集成模型 ,将成为人地关系复杂性研究的主要方向。建议在CA GIS集成技术的基础上 ,一方面引入人工神经网络、进化算法、多重智能体系 (MAS)以及后现代数学分析方法 ,另一方面面向具体研究对象开发包括自然、人文地理要素在内的集成区域动力学模型 ,据此发展智能化综合集成模型体系 ,形成人地关系复杂性的模拟研究实验室。本文提出了开发智能化CA GIS模拟方法的初步设想。     

Festivals as a subject for geographical research

Festivals are an increasingly common phenomenon. They strongly influence geographical space, and so are studied in depth by geographers. The author shows that festivals are a subject for research in different geographical sub-disciplines. The author also defines the research paradigm of the geography of festivals as a part of human geography. He also establishes the main aspects of festival research in geography: cultural, social, economic and time–space analysis, political, historical, general and theoretical. Finally, he suggests future directions in geographical research on festivals.     

区域生态风险评价研究进展

生态风险评价已进入到区域生态风险评价阶段,评价尺度的扩展反映了人类对自身生命支持系统的关注和对环境进行管理和决策的实践需要。针对区域尺度的生态风险评价,着重从评价区域类型、评价内容、范式、方法、技术、模型等层面进行综述。结果表明:区域生态风险评估的核心和关键是合理选择和表征区域生态风险源和风险受体,科学探讨和量化多风险源和多风险受体的交互作用。面向未来,区域生态风险评价应该在等级斑块动态理论框架指导下,发展一套具体的评价方法,深入进行不确定性分析,加强G IS技术和其他模型、技术的综合运用。     

Anglo‐American Electoral Geography: Same Roots and Same Goals,but Different Means and Ends?*

Electoral geographers in the United States and the United Kingdom have similar goals but pursue these through different means. In part, these reflect differences between the two countries' electoral and political systems, but they also reflect different methodological strategies and desired ends. Drawing on the U.K. experience, this article identifies areas for possible expansion in studies of the electoral geography of the United States, which are expressed as five challenges.     

网上零售企业的空间组织研究——以"当当网"为例

零售商业活动及其空间组织历来是城市和经济地理学研究的重要主题之一.伴随着新的信息和通信技术的应用和普及,一种新的商业业态--网上购物,正在被越来越多的商家和消费者所接受.这一趋势对零售业的价值链、商业模式以及空间组织均产生了不可忽视的影响.本文试图通过对国内主要的电子商务企业之一"当当网"的研究,初步探讨网上零售企业的...     

体制与认同：高校地理院系调整的启示

地理院系调整研究旨在通过对地理学认同产生不利影响的高校地理院系调整的解析,揭示地理学发展存在的学科与体制认同问题。基于对高校地理院系调整的回顾,分析地理院系调整的原因及影响,并结合当前地理院系发展态势阐明其启示。结果显示：学科认同与院系调整互为关联,尽管地理院系调整导致的解体并不表明地理学的终结,一般意义的调整也存在积极影响,但不同类型地理院系调整对地理学（特别是人文地理学）学科认同的不利影响仍然明显,并影响着体制层面的学科再生产。地理院系调整的发生是多因素共同影响的结果,复杂多样的因素及其影响表明地理院系面临竞争,需要地理学者既“正名”（塑造科学性、统一性的学科形象）又“指实”（完整的院系体制建设）;既“向内”（地理院系及地理学家的努力）又“向外”（维护地理学及地理院系的完整性认同）的集体努力,在强化地理学综合性基础上形成“多轨发展”机制,强化地理学学科与体制认同。“跨学科典范”的塑造或许是当前地理院系应努力的现实目标。     

Thinking critically and creatively about focus groups

Focus groups are now widely used by human geographers conducting qualitative research, and are clearly recognised as an established research method within the discipline. Despite this, there is a lack of discussion about the various methodological issues involved in using focus groups. This paper aims to open up discussion by suggesting that there is a need to think critically and creatively about using focus groups in human geography. I draw upon my experience of conducting focus groups with young Muslim men in order to suggest some of the ways in which human geographers might think critically about using focus groups. Some of the issues discussed include group size, location, context and timing, sensitivity of topic, the age of research participants and the positionalities of the researcher.     

TRIZ:研究人地关系问题的一种新的理论与方法

我国地理学家认为应该加强人地关系问题的综合集成研究。目前我国人地关系问题研究, 在技术设计解决问题上尚属空白, 为此, 引入TRIZ.TRIZ解决问题的基本观点有技术系统、技术矛盾、创新等级、理想状态;解决系统中矛盾问题的理论基础是技术系统演变的8个法则。TRIZ解决问题的方法主要是使用分析工具和知识库, 分析工具主要包括矛盾矩阵、物-场模型与标准解法、ARIZ、需求功能分析;知识库主要包括40个创新原理、解决矛盾问题的原则、76个标准解、效应数据库。TRIZ解决问题的程序主要是识别问题、选择工具和方法、解决矛盾问题的方案评估。以武汉市青山区为案例, 探讨了TRIZ解决区域人地关系矛盾问题的思路、理论、方法和强大功能, 构建了TRIZ理论解决区域人地关系问题的逻辑范式。结论指出, TRIZ不仅适用于技术领域, 也适用于非技术领域, 将为今后人地关系问题研究提供一种新视野、新理论、新方法。     

欧美景观地理学的新进展及其启示

文章从文化景观、景观概念、景观解释、景观与文化、景观政治学等方面阐述了欧美景观地理学的新进展。目前,欧美文化地理学正在重新整合,文化景观研究是其核心。针对景观的不同用法(艺术上的,社会科学上的),提出了4种专业化的景观解释模型。景观政治学是新文化地理学的关键建设领域,甚至有人把它当作景观解释的中心。地理学者对文学的兴趣日益增加,并将不同的文学形式看作是研究景观意义的途径。     

1912—1949年中国地理学者的发展特征分析

本文基于多种资料,梳理了1912—1949年中国地理学者姓名、生卒年、籍贯、领域、教育与工作经历等数据,从来源、增长、结构3个层面讨论当时中国地理学者发展进程。研究发现1912—1949年间：① 地理学者在来源层面可分舆地学者、外聘地理学者、现代学制培养地理学者（含有交集关系的国内培养学者、留学培养学者、跨学科学者）3种类型,不同类型群体对地理学者发展的影响差异明显;② 地理学者数量发展可分1912—1927年波动增长,1928—1939年持续增长,1940—1941年急速增长和1942—1949年放缓增长4个时期;③ 中国地理学者学科结构、领域结构、学缘结构、地域结构、年龄结构、性别结构等方面均表现为失衡但失衡程度趋于降低的态势;④ 地理学者发展与地理教学、研究机构发展关系密切,特别是高等地理教学机构对地理学者发展有多重影响。1912—1949年中国地理学者的发展为中国科学地理学的持续进步奠定了人才基础,其过程同时是中国近现代地理学转型的一个侧面。     

Interdependent development? Problems of aggregation and implementation in the Brandt report

This paper argues that the Brandt Report's central concept of ‘mutuality’ is too imprecise and too impotent to serve as a useful guide to practical action on behalf of the Third World's poor. It is suggested that these shortcomings result from three, related, flaws in the Report's construction—a conceptual flaw, a modelling flaw, and a political flaw. To the extent that these failings are reproduced, too, in the wider geographical paradigm of interdependent development, geographers might draw a useful lesson from a critique of the Brandt Report.     

试论地理信息科学

通过阐述地理信息科学的定义,及其地理学传统和技术驱动机制,论证地理信息科学是地理学信息革命和范式演进的结果,是从信息机理的角度研究地球表层人地关系系统的地理学科,并提出其内容框架和学科体系。     

对自然地理区划方法的认识与思考

在研习和继承前人区划研究工作与成果的基础上, 着重于自然地理区划方法论及其体系的探讨。首先, 深入阐述了自然地理区划的内涵, 认为: 自然地理区划既是区域划分的结 果, 也是区域划分的方法与过程, 同时还是认识地理特征和发现地理规律的一种科学方法。 第二, 假设性认为自然地理区划是客观存在的, 针对不同的区划目的和采用不同的区划原则 所形成了不同类型的自然地理区划, 如部门区划与综合区划、区域区划与类型区划等, 则构 成了对区划对象的多角度认识, 并且这些区划间存在内在联系, 具有一定的一致性和可转换性。第三, 在分析总结各种自然地理区划方案研究的基础上, 提出了包括区划本体、区划原 则、区划等级系统、区划模型和区划信息系统的自然地理区划范式, 其中自然地理区划原则、等级系统和区划模型构成了区划方法的核心, 并且通过区划模型, 实现区划原则、指标体系 和单位等级系统的综合。最后, 论文对自然地理区划信息系统研究所涉及的主要科学问题和 主要功能作了简要的说明和讨论, 并指出: 在地理空间单元理论的指导下, 可以实现在统一 的科学框架下的各种自然地理区划的集成, 并为开展综合区划研究提供可用的技术方法。     

文化地理学概念、理论的逻辑关系之分析——以“学科树”分析近年中国大陆文化地理学进展

梳理近年中国大陆文化地理学进展,需要说明近年代表性的研究课题或著述与文化地理学学科体系之间的关系。1990-2005年中国大陆文化地理学主要从五个文化地理学主题开展研究。然而这五个主题之间的逻辑关系不十分清晰,也没有说清主要概念和理论之间的关系。因此本文首先搭建文化地理学的“学科树”。地理学的主要研究对象是“地方和区域”,文化地理学的目标是从文化的角度分析“地方”的形成机制。本文将这个研究目标作为文化地理学“学科树”的主干,此外建立了“层间关系”和“尺度转换”两个分支,它们是探究地方性的两类方法。本文其次将文化地理学涉及的主要概念和理论分别挂在主干和两个分支上,并努力呈现出主要概念和理论出现的先后顺序,揭示文化地理学的发展进程。本文最后用“学科树”,分析了中国大陆主要文化地理学研究者自己提出的代表性著述。分析的结果是：第一,关于地方形成机制的案例类型多样,多是基于结构主义认识论的分析。第二,关于层间关系的研究已经突破了自然与文化两层关系的分析,延展到文化各层之间的关系。第三,在不同尺度文化区转换的领域研究较薄弱。     

Using Electronic Mail (E-mail) Surveys for Geographic Research: Lessons from a Survey of Russian Environmentalists*

The expansion of the Internet and e-mail access around the globe, especially into less-developed areas, raises the question of how geographers might use this technology for research purposes and the development of appropriate methodologies. This paper identifies three ways in which the use of e-mail surveys for geographic research differs from traditional mail surveys. First, there are substantial differences in selecting an appropriate sample population. Second, electronic medium considerations such as alphabet character translation, survey format, and receiving end conditions pose unique data collection challenges. Third, ascertaining that e-mail addresses to be included in a survey are operative is discussed as a useful means of maximizing the potential of an e-mail survey. Examples from an e-mail survey of environmentalists in Russia illustrate these points.     

Context in Human Geography: A Multilevel Approach to Study Human–Environment Interactions∗

One of the shortcomings of quantitative methods in human geography is an overreliance on models that can only account for the average outcomes of spatial events. Although methodological advancements in the form of multilevel models now allow human geographers to account for average outcomes as well as deviations about average outcomes of spatial events, it is not without question that such models can fully account for the cultural, political, and social contexts that affect human behavior. In this article I argue for the adoption of a multilevel approach to the study of human behavior to address some of the criticisms of quantitative methods in human geography. Using a transportation geography research agenda as an example, I discuss how a multilevel approach can complement qualitative methods. Such mixed research methods offer human geographers the opportunity to identify the appropriate role for quantitative methods and explore how context affects behavior.     

Employment Trends in Geography,Part 1: Enrollment and Degree Patterns*

This paper is the first in a series of three papers dealing with the current and future labor market for geographers. It is based on a report prepared by the Association of American Geographers' (AAG) Employment Forecasting Committee to the National Research Council's (NRC) Rediscovering Geography Committee. This report provides a data-based analysis of the past and future supply of geographers, the current labor market conditions in the field, and the factors likely to influence the future demand for geographers (faculty hiring, geographic education initiatives, trends in private-sector jobs, etc.). Each year some 4,000 individuals receive degrees in geography from America's institutions of higher education. They, or some portion of them, make up the new supply of geographers entering the labor market. In the near future (up to five years), the availability of new geographers is related to the number of geography students now in the educational pipeline. Their current specialties, and the specialties of the programs from which they come, tell us about the types of skills and the kinds of interests to be held by future labor force entrants. In the longer term (five to ten years), the number of new geographers will be influenced by geographic education initiatives at the precollegiate level. More and better geographic instruction in elementary and secondary schools will expose more students to geography as a field of study and as a potential career path. The purposes of this paper are to (1) review degree and enrollment trends in geography, (2) assess the “trickle-up” effects of geographic education initiatives at the precollegiate level, and (3) investigate the characteristics of future supply as evidenced by the types of occupations for which geography departments are now preparing students.     

On some faulty concepts in Soviet urban studies

"The authors attack what they call 'superurbanism' and 'agglocentrism,' an excessive preoccupation among some Soviet geographers with urbanization and the formation of urban agglomerations. The authors advocate what is known in Soviet geography as a 'unified system of settlement,' meaning a harmonious blend of both urban and rural forms. The 'agglocentrists' are said to derive their ideas from Western models, and the authors [note the growing] disenchantment with excessive urbanism in the West."