A framework for user-generated geographic content acquisition in an age of crowdsourcing

ABSTRACT

Obtaining useful geographic information from the flood of user-generated geographic content (UGGC) data is of significant interest, but comes with challenges in an age of crowdsourcing. To address this issue, we adopt Maslow’s model of human needs to frame UGGC. Synthesizing across literature about volunteered geographic information and participatory GIS, we present a conceptual framework for characterizing collection of UGGC. The framework is composed of multiple dimensions and levels that include perspectives about motivations, participatory methods, and participants. We also articulate four levels of participants (stakeholders, core-engaged participants, semi-core-engaged participants, and engaged citizens) together with four work principles (communication, cooperation, coordination, and collaboration). Finally, a case study describes an example we use to evaluate the conceptual framework for its suitability in design of a UGGC system. We conclude by reflecting on how and why this framework offers a valuable perspective for deriving useful geographic information and offer future research directions.     

Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs), GIS,and Remote Sensing: The West Virginia University Example

Abstract

Remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) scientists and educators in general are utilizing global web sources for information of the latest developments in the use of satellite and GIS approaches, as well as to understand more fully environmental and natural resources processes in various geographic settings. West Virginia University (WVU) has embarked on a pioneering approach (as only the second university worldwide) to archive graduate theses and dissertations in electronic format with worldwide web access. This study illustrates the type of remote sensing and GIS research available through WVU's worldwide web ETD archive, and its potential uses by educators at a variety of levels of the education system for understanding remote sensing and GIS methodologies, as well as environmental and natural resource processes. Keywords: Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, West Virginia University, Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD).     

基于WCF的分布式地理信息系统研究

在研究了微软WCF的基础上,设计了一个基于WCF的适合多种分布式技术的WebGIS框架,实现了常见的地理信息服务,解决了分布式地理信息系统在不同网络和应用环境下的适应性问题.     

当代地理信息系统进展综述

综述当代地理信息技术的发展现状与趋势,涉及地理信息的获取与处理,地理空间数据的管理,地理信息应用服务,地理信息共享技术以及新型GIS如WebGIS、组件GIS、三维GIS和移动GIS等方面的内容。     

Human conceptions of spaces: Implications for GIS

The way people conceptualize space is an important consideration for the design of GIS, because a better match with people's thinking is expected to lead to easier-to-use information systems. Everyday space, the basis to GIS, has been characterized in the literature as being either small-scale (from table-top to room-size spaces) or large-scale (inside-of-building spaces to city-size spaces). While this dichotomy of space is grounded in the view from psychology that people's perception of space, spatial cognition, and spatial behaviour are experience-based, it is in contrast to current GIS, which enable us to interact with large-scale spaces as though they were small-scale or manipulable. We analyse different approaches to characterizing spaces and propose a unified view in which space is based on the physical properties of manipulability, locomotion, and size of space. Within the structure of our framework, we distinguish six types of spaces: manipulable object space (smaller than the human body), non-manipulable object space (greater than the human body, but less than the size of a building), environmental space (from inside-of-building spaces to city-size spaces), geographic space (state, country, and continent-size spaces), panoramic space (spaces perceived via scanning the landscape), and map space. Such a categorization is an important part of Naive Geography, a set of theories on how people intuitively or spontaneously conceptualize geographic space and time, because it has implications for various theoretical and methodological questions concerning the design and use of spatial information tools. Of particular concern is the design of effective spatial information tools that lead to better communication.     

基于BPEL的地理信息服务组合研究与实现

地理信息服务发展是地理信息系统发展的必然趋势,然而,单独的地理信息服务能力有限,需要对其进行组合来满足用户需求。本文在分析了当前国内外基于工作流技术在实现地理信息服务组合的研究成果基础上,提出了一种用户参与组合的地理信息服务组合简化框架,并结合实例详细讲述了基于业务流程处理语言(business process execution language,BPEL)实现地理信息服务组合的过程。最后,对地理信息服务组合的发展思路和进一步的研究路线进行了探讨。     

面向移动设备的地理信息可视化表达

随着Mobile GIS研究的深入和Mobile Computing技术的发展,这两个研究领域间出现一种相互融合的发展趋势,由于应用范围和环境的复杂性,使得移动设备中地理信息的有效利用和表达问题显得越来越突出.总结面向移动设备地理信息可视化表达的特殊性,在此基础上对面向移动设备的地理信息表达方法和手段进行研究.     

The NASA environment remote sensing analysis facility (ERSAF) support for space shuttle earth observations

Abstract

A major concept in urban geography deals with determining the spheres of influence for urban centers. This paper describes an instructional module used in two different geography courses showing students how a model might be developed to measure spheres of influence for multiple urban centers within a given region. A geographic information system (GIS) is employed throughout the development of the model. This module is incorporated into a traditional undergraduate urban geography course and a beginning GIS course. The software packages used are MapViewer and Grapher. The region is the Mississippi Lowlands with five urban centers: New Orlenas, Memphis, Little Rock, Jackson, and Baton Rouge. Keywords: GIS, spheres of influence, MapViewer, urban geography.     

Seven possible states of geospatial data with respect to map projection and definition: a novel pedagogical device for GIS education

ABSTRACT

Conceptually, the theory and implementation of “map projection” in geographic information system (GIS) technology is difficult to comprehend for most introductory students and novice users. Compounding this difficulty is the concept of a “map projection file” that defines map projection parameters of geo-spatial data. The problem of the “missing projection file” appears ubiquitous for all users, especially in practice where data is widely shared. Another common problem is inadvertent misapplication of the “Define Projection” tool that can result in a GIS dataset with an incorrectly defined map projection file. GIS education should provide more guidance in differentiating the concepts of map projection versus projection files by increasing understanding and minimizing common errors. A novel pedagogical device is introduced in this paper: the seven possible states of GIS data with respect to map projection and definition. The seven possible states are: (1) a projected coordinate system (PCS) that is correctly defined, (2) a PCS that is incorrectly defined, (3) a PCS that is undefined, (4) a geographic coordinate system (GCS) that is correctly defined, (5) a GCS that is incorrectly defined, (6) a GCS that is undefined, and (7) a non-GCS. Recently created automated troubleshooting tools to determine a missing map projection file are discussed.     

The Hidden GIS Technocracy

The trend toward geographic information systems that are more powerful, less expensive, and easier to use seems to be unequivocally a democratizing, counter-technocracy trend, but goes hand in hand with a centralization of the geographic modeling programming that underpins the GIS. These paradoxical trends give the illusion of growing democratization of GIS technology, while in reality, there is a growing danger of a hidden GIS technocracy, owing primarily to the lack of recognition that such a technocracy exists. While the decentralization of the technology is likely to prevent any major widespread cataclysms, individual organizations implementing a GIS may experience problems caused by the implementation of geographic modeling programs that may be inappropriate to their needs. The remedy for such problems is awareness of the hidden technocracy and of the potential for trouble. One way to increase this awareness is to promote the use of lineage information for the geographical models embedded in geographic information systems in the same way that the GIS community has pressed for lineage information on databases.     

面向产业发展高端化的测绘地理信息专业人才培养路径

面向测绘地理信息产业发展高端化,高职院校如何培养技能人才成为当前研究的热点。通过开展企业调研,企业对地理信息系统技术及应用(87.5%)、无人机测绘技术(84.7%)、工程测量(79.2%)技能较为重视,学生普遍缺乏测绘及GIS软件操作与应用(68.1%)、测绘仪器使用和维护(65.3%)、操作无人机进行信息采集与处理(56.9%)能力。本文提出“岗课证赛”融通的测绘地理信息人才培养模式,把企业岗位任务、职业认证及技能大赛的能力要求融入课程,使学生具备掌握与未来职业岗位需求相吻合的技能,适应测绘地理信息产业发展高端化。     

关于线状地理特征空间关系的自然语言描述的形式化表达

目前的地理信息系统都使用定量的方法存储和查询空间信息,不能反映人们的定性思维方式,因此它表达地理空间信息的能力受到限制。在关于空间关系的自然语言描述的调查的基础上,本文定义了一组能反映线状物体空间关系的度量指标,结合反映拓扑关系的定量指标,使用决策树的数据挖掘算法,对调查结果进行分析,形式化了描述空间关系的自然语言词汇,建立了模糊的自然语言表达和图形的几何特征之间的联系。自然语言形式化后得到的规则可用于空间关系的自然语言查询系统。     

The role of GIS in Digital Earth education

Abstract

A growing number of educators worldwide have become convinced that geotechnologies – including geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), and remote sensing – are key technologies to prepare students to be tomorrow's decision makers. Grappling with local, regional, and global issues of the 21^st century requires people who think spatially and who can use geotechnologies. Some educators teach geotechnologies as a discipline, emphasising skills. Other educators use geotechnologies as a tool to teach content, such as geography, history, environmental studies, Earth Science, biology, mathematics, economics and other disciplines. Issues such as traffic, population growth, urban sprawl, energy, water, crime, human health, biodiversity and sustainable agriculture are growing in complexity, exist at every scale and increasingly affect people's everyday lives. Each of these issues has a spatial component. Drivers for geotechnology education include educational content standards, constructivism, the school-to-career movement, active learning, citizenship education, authentic practice and assessment, interdisciplinary education, community connections and a sustained, increasing demand for GIS professionals. Digital Earth is an ideal framework for contextualising domains of inquiry. The Digital Earth community can have a significant impact on the growth of geotechnologies in education, and conversely, the growth of geotechnologies in education and society can foster the forward movement of Earth systems concepts.     

Mapping leafy spurge (euphorbia esula) infestations using aerial photography and geographic information systems

Abstract

Leafy spurge is a troublesome weed on the northern Great Plains of the United States that chemicals and grazing management have not controlled. Remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) technology have been used to detect and monitor numerous grassland related problems. The objectives of this study were to use both technologies to map and quantify the extent of leafy spurge within Theodore Roosevelt National Park and to provide information for managing the infestation. Analysis of the data indicated that 702 ha of the 18,680 ha park were infested by leafy spurge; however, leafy spurge populations occurring under dense woody canopies, in deep stream channels, and on steep slopes were not always detected. Infestations were especially dense in the western and southeast portions of the park. Most infestations were restricted to riparian zones and smaller drainage channels. Leafy spurge infestations decreased exponentially as distance from stream channels increased (r²=0.98). The significant association of leafy spurge with drainage channels suggests that the weed might be effectively managed on a watershed sub‐basin level. The joint use of GIS and remote sensing proved to be a powerful combination of tools which provided previously unavailable information about the extent and spatial dynamics of leafy spurge within the park. The results of this study will contribute to the development of a comprehensive leafy spurge management plan for Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit).     

基于GeoServer的移动GIS旅游系统设计与实现

在对移动GIS技术和框架分析的基础上,选取GeoServer地理信息发布平台,进行移动GIS旅游系统功能设计;采用OGC提出的空间数据互操作规范WMS、WFS实现地理信息数据交换;以七台河旅游数据作为专题数据,实现移动端旅游景点查询与语音导游系统。     

基于互联网的地理信息系统

讨论了基于互联网的地理信息系统的技术构成与解决方案 ,它将成为GIS发展的大势所趋     

顾及学校特色与学生能力的GIS专业人才培养模式——以北京建筑大学GIS专业为例

随着地理信息科学（GIS）专业技术的飞速发展,该技术已经应用到社会各个方面,使人们的生产、生活发生了巨大变化,我国不少行业和研究领域开始应用GIS来解决科研、生产,以及经济与社会发展中的实际问题。面对当前社会多层次应用的需求,迫切需要一大批既掌握GIS技术,又懂管理,且能够将GIS技术深化应用的复合型人才。然而相对社会需求的新特点,我国高校GIS专业培养的毕业生面临诸多限制和不足,很难满足社会的需求。这就需要高校改革现有的GIS专业培养模式,从社会多层次需求出发,结合当前社会发展的客观实际,建立突出学校特色与学生能力的GIS专业人才培养模式。     

Assessing professional benefits of GIS certification

ABSTRACT

The certification of geographic information system (GIS) professionals remains a contentious topic. After more than 25 years, the GIS community remains divided over the need to formally recognize GIS professionals who maintain standards of professional competency and conduct. Unfortunately, few studies have examined individuals who have become certified or the professional benefits of certification. This study explores GIS certification through a survey of 1731 geospatial professionals who became geographic information systems professionals (GISPs) between 2003 and 2014. A web-based questionnaire asked GISPs about the certification process, its influence on their compensation and advancement, and other issues. Quantitative and qualitative findings suggest that perceptions about certification fall along a wide spectrum with GISPs employed in private industry seeing fewer benefits compared with those employed in government or not-for-profit organizations. While a large number of respondents conveyed pride in completing the certification process, others expressed frustration over the program’s lack of visibility, standards that have enabled less qualified peers to become certified, and the slow progress at which GIS certification has achieved respect compared with programs administered in other fields such as engineering and planning.     

A Perspective on the Fundamentals of Fuzzy Sets and their Use in Geographic Information Systems

The development of fuzzy sets in geographic information systems (GIS) arose out of the need to handle uncertainty and the ability of soft computing technology to support fuzzy information processing. An overview of the fundamentals of fuzzy sets is used to illustrate its use in GIS. The use of some terms within both the GIS and fuzzy information processing community is clarified. Since one of the key problems when applying fuzzy sets to GIS problems is in the specification of grades of membership, the many methods used to specify memberships in fuzzy sets in GIS applications are presented. The α–cut is defined and shown to be of increasing importance in GIS. Non–compensatory and compensatory connectives are compared. Aggregation operators are reviewed and shown to be useful in a number of GIS studies. Fuzzy relations and fuzzy control systems are briefly discussed with reference to their use in GIS and in relation to the development of modern soft computing technology. Several features of fuzzy sets make that paradigm attractive for use in GIS. It is concluded that as GIS–related applications increase in their levels of complexity and sophistication fuzzy sets will play a major, cost effective role in their development.     

GIS技术在煤田地质信息资源管理领域应用探讨

提出了GIS技术应用服务于煤田地质信息资源管理领域的背景,以煤田地质信息资源管理相关部门应用需求为基础,提出了基于GIS技术的煤田地质信息资源管理地理信息服务系统架构、网络运行环境和硬件结构、数据库、功能等设计。最后结合煤田地质信息资源管理地理信息服务试验系统设计与开发,展示了试验系统特色部分开发内容。