Pre-census mapping in Lesotho

Lesotho may be taken as a classic case of how African countries have attempted to cope with the demands of census operations. This paper discusses in respect of Lesotho the existing cartographic base for census mapping; census organization; methodology of census taking in Lesotho; geographical planning and specific strategies evolved in census mapping for the recent 1986 population census; some of the basic problems encountered in enumeration area mapping during the 1986 census; and also the use of census enumeration areas as a frame for national household survey capability programme and post-census cartographic activities.     

The history of the development of procedures for the rapid assessment of environmental conditions to aid the urban regeneration process at London Docklands

A process of urban regeneration of the former industrial dock area of east London by the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) recognised the importance of geotechnical and geoenvironmental information. A systematic programme of data collection was implemented and stored in a series of bespoke computer database systems and cartographic registers. These allowed retrieval and manipulation of the data to provide rapid site assessments. The understanding of the natural setting of the area was enhanced as a consequence of the collation exercise. The data stored included geotechnical and environmental information on soil and groundwater. The hydrogeological regime was modelled by computer to determine the consequences of development on groundwater movement. In addition, a cartographic register of historic land use was developed. This gave instant detail on the potential for contamination of a site and became a fundamental tool in the UK planning process of the area. The information from the separate systems was finally combined into a geographic information system.     

Transected folds with opposite patterns in Terena Formation (Ossa Morena Zone,Portugal): anomalous structures resulting from sedimentary basin anisotropies

The Terena Formation is located in the central part of the Ossa-Morena Zone (OMZ) and outcrops in the core of a latter (D3) first order syncline. This Formation is a Lower Devonian flysch and shows an unusual “Z” shape, with a central sector trending nearly N-S, and the tips trending NW-SE. This central sector is crossed by the cleavage (NW-SE) showing an apparent dextral (clockwise) transection pattern, anomalous and opposite to the regional widespread sinistral (anti-clockwise) transpression. The same sector with cartographic dextral transection, shows at outcrop scale, mesoscopic folds with a sinistral transection. During the Lower Devonian a N-S trending basin was developed as an effect of an early tectonic deformation phase. This trough was filled with turbidites and its elongated geometry determined the shape of the main syncline. We propose that the dextral transection pattern, at cartographic scale, result from the superposition of the NW-SE upright S3 cleavage on this major regional structure controlled by a sedimentary trough. The mesoscopic folds, observed on the upper levels of the sedimentary sequence were not influenced by the topographic anisotropy of the basin, and therefore they developed a left transection, according to the regional deformation mechanisms.

The “Z” shape of the syncline could be explained as a consequence of two major tectonic shear zones situated along the north and south boundaries of the OMZ, respectively the Tomar-Badajoz-Cordoba Shear Zone and the South Iberian Suture, lined by the Beja-Acebuches Ophiolitic Complex. Both shear zones have a sinistral transpressive character and were active during late Variscan tectonic events.     

Interpreting geology at Portreath, Cornwall: a resource for geological education

The geology of Portreath preserved both in the natural outcrop and as building stones is assessed as a potential resource for visiting educational groups. Portreath is a former mining port, its expansion and historical development being closely associated with local and regional geology. A fieldwork programme and complementary literature search revealed that this location contains a wide range of accessible rock types suitable for student analysis.     

Decision-support systems for groundwater protection: innovative tools for resource management

Governmental authorities are forced by law to make decisions within the framework of European, national and regional directives in the fields of spatial planning, groundwater and environmental protection. These tasks can be supported by a decision-support system, which integrates data from various sources and helps to make decision processes more effective and transparent. Basic work for such a decision support system has been done in a transnational and interdisciplinary project (Interreg II C: KATER), including metadata definition, metadata system, cartographic tools and GIS tools. The direct integration of these tools and information in the decision process will be implemented in the next few years (project KATER II).     

Between social and spatial convergence and divergence: an exploration into the political geography of European contact areas

The European continent, the motherland of nationalism, and the part of the world where political borders and different territorial and cultural identities are mostly interrelated, is now facing new challenges regarding how best to represent its numerous interests within one system. With the increase of international integration European countries began to devote greater attention to the development problems of their border areas that had to be helped to undertake certain functions in the international integration process. The fostering of a more balanced regional development also resulted in a strengthening of regional characteristics, which the new model could no longer ignore. Regional characteristics in turn have always been preserved in Europe by persistent historical and cultural elements of ethnic and linguistic variety. Therefore, it is not surprising that the process of European integration based on the new regional development model was accompanied by a parallel process of ethnic or regional awakening of minorities and other local communities. The key question for contemporary European (though of course this is not limited to Europe) political geography is, then, how the process summarised under the twin labels of social convergence and deterritorialisation will effect the persistent maintenance of regional identities and the corresponding divergence of regional spaces. Or, in other words: is the ‘unity in diversity’ European programme ever practicable and exportable on a world-wide scale or are we to be absorbed by a new global ‘melting pot’?     

小波变换理论的线状要素制图综合研究

空间数据的多尺度表达问题已成为G IS研究的重点,也是地图自动综合的瓶径,如何解决智能化的多尺度表达是迫切需要解决的问题。基于小波分析原理和制图综合原理,利用线状要素的极角变化,对线状要素进行平滑和综合,实现了线状要素数据的制图综合。     

地理学研究进展与前沿领域

现代地理学涵盖自然地理学、人文地理学和地理信息科学，其发展趋势是：相邻学科的交叉、渗透与融合，加强地理学内部的综合研究，地理过程的微观研究进一步深化，结合实践拓宽应用研究领域，实验与研究手段的现代化，理论思维模式的转变。地理学应在陆地表层过程与格局、全球环境变化及其区域响应、自然资源保障与生态环境建设、区域可持续发展及人地系统的机理与调控、地理信息科学和数字地球战略等前沿领域开拓创新，为促进地球系统科学的发展、协调人地关系等做出积极的贡献。     

对《中国古地理图集》制图设计的认识

《中国古地理图集》(下面简称《图集》)属於概略性古地理图,是一本八开本的综合性图集,由多种专业类型的全国性图件和地区性图件123幅及20万文字说明和英文摘要组成。《图集》从设计、编绘、制版、印刷历时数年,经地质人员、制图人员、制印人员、出版工作者等多方通力协作,现已正式出版发行。本文希望通过总结与探讨《图集》制图设计与编制工作中的某些有关问题,能有助于小比例尺大区域岩相古地理图的编制工作。     

Remote sensing cartography

It is the aim of the author to show the general geo-scientific audience how they can profit from the specific view of cartographers when using remote sensing data. Leading from the explanation of cartography's tasks and the technically unique cartographic view on remote sensing data, it links up to the cartographic use of the data material. The author describes the direct and indirect applications with regard to topographic and thematic maps and reports from various practical projects in order to illustrate the main points. Finally the future dimension of remote sensing cartography within the field of developing geographical information systems (GIS) is pointed out.     

Landslide-dam paleolakes in the Central Pyrenees,Upper Gállego River Valley,NE Spain: timing and relationship with deglaciation

The production of a cartographic landslide inventory in the glaciated headwaters of the upper Gállego River, Axial Zone of the Spanish Pyrenees, revealed several paleolakes. These relict lake basins are related to the blockage of drainages by postglacial earthflows and slides, mainly developed on Paleozoic slates. The paleolakes are recorded either by non-dissected infilled basins or by hanging and incised lacustrine terraces that persisted for thousands of years. The development of lakes upstream of landslides, was favored, despite their erodibility, by high-displacement rates and the occurrence of paired landslides on both sides of the valley. Radiocarbon and single-grain optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages obtained on the lake sediments range between 41.5?±?3.9 ka and 15.1?±?0.3 ka. These chronologies indicate prolonged landslide activity long after the early deglaciation in the upper Gállego River Valley. The landslide-lake dating results support the interpretation that the regional maximum ice extent (MIE) in the Pyrenees occurred during the marine isotope stage 4 (MIS 4), long before the global Last Glacial Maximum (LGM).     

Analyzing spatial disparities in access to health care: A methodology with application in Bangladesh

This paper develops a methodology for analyzing spatial disparities in access to health care in situations where the data base is limited, and applies it in the context of Bangladesh. The proposed indirect measures of inpatient and outpatient service utilization, and of quality of available services, seem to provide reasonably accurate, consistent, and interpretable results; these indices are combined into a composite index of relative access to health care. The form of the composite index and its components permits the incorporation of Sopher's disparity index into the methodology for measuring urban-rural disparities in relative access to health care. The empirical analysis based on subdivision level data revealed that Bangladesh's health care delivery system is, in general, characterized by extremely low level of access and a high degree of disparity in favor of urban areas, especially in terms of inpatient services. Spatial patterns of relative access and urban/rural disparity were perused through cartographic and statistical analyses; although clear-cut regional patterns did not emerge, the considerable spatial variations could be explained largely with reference to urbanization and density of population. Assuming improved level of access and minimal urban/rural disparity as basic policy goals a method to prioritize spatial units for future allocation of health sector resources is recommended.The author gratefully acknowledges the helpful comments on an earlier draft of this paper by Dr. S. M. Bhardwaj, Professor of Geography, Kent State University.     

Subsurface thermal conductivity assessment in Calabria (southern Italy): a regional case study

Determining the suitability of a local area at a regional or local scale for the geothermal application of low enthalpy systems requires the knowledge of rock thermal conductivity values to evaluate the possibility of low-enthalpy heat exchange. A digital cartographic tool is also needed to synthesize the thermal properties of the underground. This tool should be easily accessible and upgradeable and thus suitable for territorial planning and environmental control. In order to address these key issues, a methodological approach was developed within the framework of the national VIGOR Project, dedicated to evaluating the geothermal potential in southern Italy. In this paper the region of Calabria was selected as a case study. Around 70 samples that were representative of the main geological formations were collected from all over the area. Thermal property tests were carried out both in dry and wet conditions, using a thermal device in accordance with the modified transient plane source method. The thermal conductivity values were then compared with data from the international literature. In order to consider the influence of the entire stratigraphic sequence on the thermal conductivity parameters, a geostatistical analysis of the available lithostratigraphic data was performed using the MATLAB toolbox Modalstrata, specially developed for this purpose. A comprehensive geothermal subsurface characterization of Calabria was thus obtained.     

Spatial analysis of the mining and transport of rock minerals (aggregates) in the context of regional development

Rock minerals such as dimension and crushed stones and sands and gravels (aggregates) are indispensable materials for the building and construction industries. The growth in demand for these resources causes intensification of mining operations (and their consequent environmental impacts) and transport problems in regions abundant in rock minerals. The balanced management of these resources by regional policy-makers is difficult as it requires, among other things, comprehensive and up-to-date information on the spatial distribution and temporal changes of available reserves, demand, production, and transport. This information can be provided by means of spatial and temporal analyses through geographic information systems (GIS). In this research, the focus is on the following aspects of rock mineral (aggregates) resources and mining management in the context of regional spatial planning in the example region of Lower Silesia in Poland: the spatial and temporal changes in distribution and intensity of mining, the availability of economic reserves in active mines, the magnitude and distribution of road transport flows of aggregates, the potential of railways as an alternative means of transport, and the valorisation of undeveloped aggregates deposits to assess their suitability for future use. For the purposes of this study, cartographic models have been developed using GIS to facilitate analyses of these mineral resources, mining, and transport. The results of these analyses provide current and comprehensive information on the state of aggregates mineral resources, production and transport in the Lower Silesia region. They also give an insight into availability of rock mineral resources for the future. Knowledge of these processes is important for spatial development planning, especially physical infrastructure, conducted by national, regional, and local governments.     

Recent changes in the pace of population deconcentration in Britain

This paper uses the official annual population estimates to examine changes in the scale of urban-rural shift in the distribution of the British population since the 1960s. These reveal that the level of population deconcentration at regional and more local scales stood at its highest at the beginning of the 1970s and that since the mid 1970s the rate of population loss experienced by London and several other large cities has diminished markedly. An analysis of the components of population change reveals that trends in net migration have been primarily responsible, though generally reinforced by trends in natural change rates. It is concluded that, contrary to the impression of counterurbanisation being largely a feature of the 1970s as has generally been conveyed by the decennial analyses of Census data, most of that decade featured the downwave of a longer cycle of decentralisation which had its origins at least as early as the first half of the 1960s. Explanations for the rise of counterurbanisation in Britain should be sought primarily in this earlier decade, whereas the circumstances of the 1970s now appear more appropriate for explaining the subsequent slowdown in the process. This paper puts forward five sets of factors which seem to accord with this temporal pattern and which are believed to form a suitable starting point for its fuller explanation.     

Retail enterprise across American regions: the role of black population size in the late nineteenth-century United States

Building on the idea that small-scale entrepreneurship often takes place in peripheral regions, the present study examines retail enterprise in the late nineteenth-century U.S., focusing on ethnic group differences across the North, South, and West. Applying theories of middleman minorities and internal colonialism, the study proposes that European immigrants and native whites had their highest retail enterprise levels in the South, where large, oppressed black populations were compelled to patronize non-black merchants, owing to a dearth of black retail proprietors. Multiple regression analyses of Census data support this proposition, calling attention to the importance of black population size as a heretofore neglected factor in regional variation in retail enterprise among European immigrants and native whites in late nineteenth-century America.     

Geochemical Atlas of Finland: preliminary aspects

During 1984 and 1985, the Geological Survey of Finland carried out regional geochemical mapping of till, at a scale of 1:2,000,000, as part of a programme to produce data for the first Geochemical Atlas of Finland. The Atlas is designed to give comprehensive background information on the distribution of elements in rocks, soils, and the surficial environment.     

Urban growth and quality of life: inter-district and intra-district analysis of housing in NCT-Delhi, 2001–2011–2020

One out of three people in India is urban. In 2011, there were about 53 urban agglomerations larger than 1 million population as against only 35 in 2001. Much of this urban expansion has been occurring in the country’s largest metropolises including the National Capital Territory of Delhi which has expanded horizontally and vertically both. This has also added to overall decline in its already dilapidated housing stock and quality of life. Delhi, a historical hub for regional, national, and international commerce, and a place for the socio-political elites, has failed to provide basic life amenities to its average citizens. This research critiques the (un)sustainable elements of Delhi’s urbanization and concomitant decline in basic amenities pertaining to quality-of-life by examining the growth and expansion of its urban-built-up areas during 2001–2011–2020 and provides nuanced insights into its ‘livability’ by examining select quality-of-life attributes. The LANDSAT imageries for 2010 and 2020 are used to measure NDB-Index that assesses its built-up area and change, which are later corroborated with Census household data to examine change in its ‘livable’ and ‘dilapidated’ housing structures. Significant sub-regional disparity exists in the availability of good and livable homes, with almost 20–30% of several districts still without drinking water source inside premises. However, significant progress is also noted for basic amenities like lighting, latrine and bathing facilities, and majority of Delhi’s built-up area has expanded along newer developments and transportation corridors. This calls for goal-oriented strategic interventions by policymakers to help achieve the SDG-11 on Sustainable Cities.