Distinguishing extensive and intensive properties for meaningful geocomputation and mapping

A most fundamental and far-reaching trait of geographic information is the distinction between extensive and intensive properties. In common understanding, originating in Physics and Chemistry, extensive properties increase with the size of their supporting objects, while intensive properties are independent of this size. It has long been recognized that the decision whether analytical and cartographic measures can be meaningfully applied depends on whether an attribute is considered intensive or extensive. For example, the choice of a map type as well as the application of basic geocomputational operations, such as spatial intersections, aggregations or algebraic operations such as sums and weighted averages, strongly depend on this semantic distinction. So far, however, the distinction can only be drawn in the head of an analyst. We still lack practical ways of automation for composing GIS workflows and to scale up mapping and geocomputation over many data sources, e.g. in statistical portals. In this article, we test a machine-learning model that is capable of labeling extensive/intensive region attributes with high accuracy based on simple characteristics extractable from geodata files. Furthermore, we propose an ontology pattern that captures central applicability constraints for automating data conversion and mapping using Semantic Web technology.     

旅游信息系统建设模式探讨——以佛山市为例

作为当前旅游信息系统开发的两种主要基础平台，地理信息系统和多媒体制作系统都存在一定的缺陷。多媒体制作系统缺乏旅游地图的有效管理，空间查询，分析和统计功能，旅游地理信息系统则缺乏旅游信息的多媒体表达能力。从实用性和普及性出发，集合二者优点开发模式具有更大的推广应用价值。因此，论文提出在同一界面下基于GIS和多媒体集成的旅游信息系统开发模式；（1）在GIS中增加多媒体信息表达能力，以关系数据库为核心，把多媒体文件名信息存储在地理信息系统属性库，依靠多媒休段实现多媒体数据与地理信息系统图形和属性的关联，实现查询的基本概念；（2）在多媒体系统中开发部分GIS空间查询功能。以此思路，佛山科技学院GIS技术实验室利用VB进行GIS和多媒体二次开发，成功地完成了佛山旅游信息系统的设计和开发。     

A Pedagogic Framework to Link GIS to the Intellectual Core of Geography

Abstract

This paper aims to develop a new pedagogic framework for teaching GIS at the college and university level using Berry's geographic matrix. By synthesizing different schools of thought, this paper argues that GIS education essentially involves two aspects—how to teach about GIS and how to teach with GIS. Berry's geographic matrix can be used to tie these dual aspects of GIS education together neatly. As an abstract representation of geographical phenomena, the geographic matrix embeds all three entities of GIS—location, attribute, time—and thus can help GIS instructors teach about GIS. As a synthesis of geographical approaches, the geographic matrix can assist GIS instructors teach with GIS. This paper demonstrates that GIS is actually an implementation of Berry's geographic matrix. Furthermore, the 10 approaches to geographical analysis, originally proposed by Berry for the geographic matrix, can be executed routinely in a GIS environment. By incorporating Berry's geographic matrix into GIS education, teachers can enable students to surpass technical issues and to appreciate the conceptual and functional linkages between GIS and geography's intellectual core.     

Metadata and provenance for spatial analysis: the case of spatial weights

Within a CyberGIS environment, the development of effective mechanisms to encode metadata for spatial analytical methods and to track the provenance of operations is a key requirement. Spatial weights are a fundamental element in a wide range of spatial analysis methods that deal with testing for and estimating models with spatial autocorrelation. They form the link between the data structure in a GIS and the spatial analysis methods. Over time, the number of formats for spatial weights implemented in software has proliferated, without any standard or easy interoperability. In this paper, we propose a flexible format that provides a way to ensure interoperability within a cyberinfrastructure environment. We illustrate the format with an application of a spatial weights web service, which is part of an evolving spatial analytical workbench. We describe an approach to embed provenance in spatial weights structures and illustrate the performance of the web service by means of a number of small experiments.     

The application of spatial data processing to land use conflict resolution in the lal lal water catchment of the Ballarat growth corridor: a case study from chapter one of the Buninyong planning scheme

Land use conflict within the Lal Lal Water Catchment is between landowners, the Shire, the Water Board and those directing regional pressures for development. It is exacerbated by inconsistency in building permit appraisal outcomes. The deliberations involved would clearly have benefited from access to spatial data sets through use of a Geographical Information System (GIS) during applications appraisal, in that inconsistencies are most obvious when mapped in relation to the criteria applied. GIS methodologies would ensure that information of a high standard was produced. Three strategic points are identified for the implementation of GIS: at the planning scheme formulation stage; the permit application stage; and the formal conflict resolution stage. Reference to GIS at the first two stages presupposes the existence of a local government area (LGA) spatial data base and a GIS/LIS that can output overlay maps. Application of GIS at the third stage is somewhat ‘after the event’. This study suggests that without such a regional review of the spatial patterns of permit appraisal criteria (including overland flow modelling) each appeal or negotiation is likely to yield an outcome that is inconsistent in relation to other cases. An LGA planning office maintaining a GIS with all layers relating to these criteria will have assembled its spatial data according to the requirements of its planning scheme and will make most use of it in a GIS at the permit appraisal stage.     

Java环境下基于Hibernate的GIS数据库访问策略

全关系型数据存储模式将GIS数据的空间数据和属性数据统一存储于关系数据库中,分析Java应用程序通过JDBC和SQL语言访问关系数据库中存储的GIS数据的不足,提出基于。Hibernate的解决方案,并给出地理信息共享系统的开发实例。     

MapMosaic: dynamic layer compositing for interactive geovisualization

GIS software applications and other mapping tools enable users to correlate data from multiple layers and gain insight from the resulting visualizations. However, most of these applications only feature basic, monolithic layer compositing techniques. These techniques do not always support users effectively in their tasks, as we observed during interviews with GIS experts. We introduce MapMosaic, a novel approach based on dynamic visual compositing that enables users to interactively create and manipulate local composites of multiple vector and raster map layers, taking into account the semantics and attribute values of objects and fields in the compositing process. We evaluate MapMosaic ’s interaction model against that of QGIS (a widely used desktop GIS) and MAPublisher (a professional cartography tool) using the ‘Cognitive Dimensions’ framework and through an analytical comparison, showing that MapMosaic ’s model is more flexible and can support users more effectively in their tasks. We also report on feedback obtained from experts, which further confirms the potential of this highly dynamic approach to map layer compositing.     

社会脆弱性概念、分析框架与评价方法

社会脆弱性作为脆弱性的维度之一,是脆弱性与可持续性科学研究领域的新兴热点问题.在分析对国内外社会脆弱性研究文献的基础上,从概念内涵、分析框架与评价方法3 方面对社会脆弱性研究进行了评述.目前学者们对社会脆弱性概念有不同的理解,尚未形成统一的概念体系与内涵特征;系统性的社会脆弱性分析框架尚未形成,现有成果多是在脆弱性框架基础上的延伸和拓展,主要从政治经济学视角、社会—生态视角和综合视角开展研究;多元化的评价方法在社会脆弱性的应用研究中仍较少见,已有研究的评价指标体系尚不完善.未来,应进一步拓展社会脆弱性研究内容,促进多学科交叉融合;逐步统一社会脆弱性概念和分析框架,深化社会脆弱性的理论研究;加强社会脆弱性评价方法与指标体系的完善,促进多元化评价方法的应用;加强社会脆弱性减缓与调控对策研究,整合社会脆弱性与适应性框架,为提高社会适应能力与可持续发展提供科学依据.     

Ecosystem health assessment based on analysis of a land use database

Data resources and assessment frameworks are two keys to ecosystem health assessment (EHA). Application of the land use database together with the Pressure–State–Response (PSR) model in EHA provides better precision relative to traditional data resources and assessment frameworks for EHA at the county scale. The raw data are taken from The Anlu County Annals, The Soil Records of Anlu County, and The Statistical Yearbook of National Economy in Anlu County. The spatial and attribute data are partly extracted from the database of current land use in Anlu City using the MAPGIS platform. Based on the results from principal component analysis (PCA), a total of eleven indicators were selected to build an indicator system designed to assess the ecosystem health at the county scale. According to the PSR model, the scores from three indices (press index, state index, and response index) and a comprehensive assessment index (CAI) were calculated, and an assessment map was constructed. The results from the index scores and spatial analysis display a large range for the state of ecosystem health due to the evolution of natural ecosystems and human activities at the county scale. The precision of the current land use database (scale of 1:10,000) makes it a better candidate for evaluating ecosystem health than the traditional data resources. This study also demonstrates the numerous benefits of combining land use databases with GIS functions to assess ecosystem health at the county scale.     

A formal framework for the representation of stack-based terrains

This paper presents a formal framework for the representation of three-dimensional geospatial data and the definition of common geographic information system (GIS) spatial operations. We use the compact stack-based representation of terrains (SBRT) in order to model geological volumetric data, both at the surface and subsurface levels, thus preventing the large storage requirements of regular voxel models. The main contribution of this paper is fitting the SBRT into the geo-atom theory in a seamless way, providing it with a sound formal geographic foundation. In addition we have defined a set of common spatial operations on this representation using the tools provided by map algebra. More complex geoprocessing operations or geophysical simulations using the SBRT as representation can be implemented as a composition of these fundamental operations. Finally a data model and an implementation extending the coverage concept provided by the Geography Markup Language standard are suggested. Geoscientists and GIS professionals can take advantage of this model to exchange and reuse geoinformation within a well-specified framework.     

OpenCIS—Open Source GIS‐based web community information system

Geographic Information System (GIS) technology has many applications and plays a vital role in the majority of the daily operations by government and public administration. However, due to its technical complexity and cost, communities lacking the expertise and resources cannot benefit from this technology. The OpenCIS project, a user‐friendly free Open Source GIS‐based Web Community Information System, seeks to address this issue by bridging the gap between a simple map viewer and full GIS, representing one of the first steps towards the goal of grassroots empowerment through GIS technology.     

基于.NET反射技术的插件式GIS软件设计原理与实现

当前主流的GIS软件开发方式--组件式开发已难以适应日益复杂多变的GIS应用需求,尤其表现在GIS应用软件的扩展和维护方面.该文在分析当前流行的插件技术的基础上,给出在.NET 平台上开发插件式GIS应用软件的一种有效解决方案,运用该技术设计了一款插件式GIS软件:DotMap Desktop,通过整合一些开源GIS组件能够完成常见的GIS任务且具有良好的扩展性.采用该方案设计的插件式GIS软件能够方便地运行在各种主流的操作系统上.     

城市山洪灾害多目标评估方法探讨

本文针对目前城市山洪灾害的突出问题, 分析了国内外研究状况和发展趋势; 探讨了城市 山洪灾害多目标评估系统方法,包括山洪灾害泛滥范围的危险区划、城市易损性分析、城市山洪 灾害损失评估和风险评价四个主要内容。关于山洪孕灾环境、致灾因子和承灾体的社会经济状 况, 本研究提出一套基于GIS 的从数据采集→空间属性数据库建立→评价指标体系选择→预测 评价分析→山洪灾害危险性评价与风险区划的技术路线和方法体系。山洪灾害危险区划采用地 貌学和数值模拟方法; 以高分辨率遥感卫星影像为数据源, 分析了城市土地覆盖类型, 应用GIS 进行了山洪灾害损失评估和风险评价。山洪灾害多目标评估可用于指导城市洪泛区不同危险、风 险地带的土地利用规划与决策, 从而达到规避风险和减灾的目的, 并为山洪灾害影响区的居民提 供灾害风险信息, 以作为避难和防洪的依据。     

Bibliography of Journal Articles on Educational Media 1956-1966

Abstract

Many universities are introducing courses to teach students the principles of geographic information systems (GIS). In addition to lectures, exercises with commercial GIS software are offered to show basic operations. Although students learn to execute such operations, the software may hide their internal structure and logic. We propose using a spreadsheet program as a teaching tool for raster operations such as filter and overlay. Spreadsheets offer a practical way to demonstrate and experiment with raster operations, because the raster structure is captured in the form of rows and columns. With this tool, students are able to perform and visualize operations as well as to see how the data are processed by the algorithms. Our approach is new in that we concentrate on the algorithms of operations. We make explicit which raster functions are actually evaluated when performing a particular operation. We conclude that there are good reasons for using spreadsheets in comparison to traditional GIS software when teaching raster operations. These are demonstration in class, simple user interface, familiarity to students, low cost, flexibility of changing cell values, ease of changing parameters, easy programming environment, and the possibility to look behind the scenes of operations by viewing the code.     

体绘制技术在地学3D GIS 可视化中的应用研究

体绘制技术是目前科学计算可视化研究的一个重要组成部分，对地质体内部属性分布的可视化有重要意义。该文针对地学研究中几何建模和属性建模同样重要的特点，基于一种矢栅一体化的混合数据模型，对地质体表面采用三角面片描述几何形状，对地质体内部采用基于八叉树的自适应网格剖分技术描述内部属性特征。对网格剖分后的体数据，采用体元投射的体绘制技术进行地质体内部属性可视化，显示出很好的效果，具有实际应用意义。     

GIS‐based DSS for priority setting in humanitarian mine‐action

Mine contamination is one of the main obstacles to economic recovery and other types of progress in mine‐affected countries. Therefore, the primary goal of humanitarian demining operations is to clear all suspected minefields and restore them so as to make them available for their previous use. The customary financial shortfall results in the need for priority setting in the mine removal process. This paper describes and investigates a new approach to priority setting within mine action, with the introduction of a hierarchic GIS‐based decision support system (DSS). The proposed DSS is aimed at determining the objective priorities required to reduce the risks stemming from mine contamination. DSS is based on a combination of GIS analysis and a multicriteria method in order to enable efficacious mine action management, namely setting humanitarian demining priorities in order to optimally reduce the risk caused by mines. GIS is outlined as a powerful tool for the generation of aggregated information used in multicriteria analysis, as is the link between hierarchic decision levels in the proposed DSS. The results of a demonstration of the proposed GIS‐based DSS on mine‐affected water resources in Croatia are supplied.     

土地利用变化研究中的GIS空间分析方法及其应用

土地利用变化研究尤其是空间变化研究 ,离不开 GIS的空间分析方法。该方法的数据基础主要是矢量格式的土地利用图件和遥感解译制图成果 ;模型基础包括 GIS的时空数据模型、属性数据模型和提取土地利用变化特征的原理模型 ;而数据处理过程则涉及GIS系统的数据转换功能、编辑功能、空间分析功能、数据库操作功能、空间统计分析功能以及图形显示功能等。本文结合北京市土地利用变化的实例分析 ,从上述三方面详细阐述了 GIS的空间分析方法及其在土地利用变化研究中的应用。     

Developing and testing of an error propagation model for GIS overlay operations

Abstract

This study examines the propagation of thematic error through GIS overlay operations. Existing error propagation models for these operations are shown to yield results that are inconsistent with actual levels of propagation error. An alternate model is described that yields more consistent results. This model is based on the frequency of errors of omission and commission in input data. Model output can be used to compute a variety of error indices for data derived from different overlay operations.     

我国环境生态形势研究的一种方法

在分析国内外环境生态形势研究现状的基础上,结合我国的环境生态形势特征,综合自然、社会、经济因素,构建了评价我国环境生态形势的指标体系,建立各指标计算的数学模型,在地理信息系统和数据库管理系统支持下以全国县域为单元进行多因素综合性定量研究,采用指标权重的地域计算方法来反映区域差异,得出了全国各县的环境生态形势指标值,并绘制出我国环境生态形势图。     

Issues in GIS development: adapting to research and policy-needs for management of wet grasslands in an Environmentally Sensitive Area

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) represent a rapidly changing technology, and awareness of their capabilities outside the GIS arena has grown rapidly during the last few years. As part of a wide-ranging ecological research programme on wetlands in Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (ITE) developed a GIS for the examination of lowland wet grassland landscapes, and the potential for their restoration (the 'Wetlands GIS'). A flexible approach to the development of the GIS was necessary to accommodate changes in technology and in the needs and interests of the key 'stakeholders' in the project: the research ecologists who supplied much of the data for the GIS and the policy-makers concerned with the application of research findings to land-management problems. This paper explains the rationale behind the use of GIS in the context of ESA-management and its evolution over a three year period. Examples of output are used to demonstrate the benefits of map displays for encouraging communication between developers and users, the data-storage, handling and analytical capabilities of the GIS and its role in matching the needs of researchers and policy-makers.