Geoinformatics and digital earth initiatives: a German perspective

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of Geoinformatics as a new scientific discipline designed for handling of geospatial information. Depending on the scientific background of the people involved in shaping the emerging discipline, emphasis may be placed on different aspects of Geoinformatics. Applications and developments may address geoscientific, spatial planning, or computer science related matters. The scientific field of Geoinformatics encompasses the acquisition and storing of geospatial data, the modelling and presentation of spatial information, geoscientific analyses and spatial planning, and the development of algorithms and geospatial database systems. It is the position of the author that these tools from Geoinformatics are necessary to bridge the gap between Digital Earth models and the real world with its real-world problems (‘connecting through location’). It is, however, crucial that Geoinformatics represents a coherent integrated approach to the acquisition, storage, analysis, modeling, presentation, and dissemination of geo-processes and not a patchwork solution of unconnected fields of activity. Geoinformatics is as such not a part of Geography, Surveying, or Computer Science, but a new self-contained scientific discipline. The current paper highlights international and national trends of the discipline and presents a number of Geoinformatics initiatives. The research and teaching activities of the newly formed Institute for Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing (IGF) at the University of Osnabrueck serve as an example for these initiatives. All these developments have lead to the long overdue formation of a scientific ‘Society for Geoinformatics’ (German: Gesellschaft für Geoinformatik – GfGI) in Germany.     

Teaching Geographical Information Handling Skills for Lower-income Countries

Geographical Information Systems are seen by many as a quick 'fix' for the problems of lower-income countries and people in those countries have been encouraged to adopt this perception, along with the technology. As teachers of students from LICs, we seek to avoid reproducing a contextless transfer of technical skills and rather aim to promote an education based on the limitations of the technology and on the nature and construction of information. While identifying GIS as one of many components of 'geographical information', we emphasise the importance of including 'non-GIS' staff in the education process. We advocate a 'problem-posing' approach to the teaching of 'Geographical Information for Development' and discuss some of the challenges which this raises, both for teachers and students.     

SDI planning using the system dynamics technique within a community of practice: lessons learnt from Tanzania

There exist major challenges in accelerating the spatial data infrastructure (SDI) planning process in the developing countries as well as advocating for politicians to support the development of SDI, due to the high complexity of SDI, lack of knowledge and experience, and limited insight in the benefits. To address these challenges, a methodology for SDI planning in Tanzania, based on the system dynamics technique and the communities of practice concept, was adopted and applied within a community consisting of experts from stakeholder organizations. The groups gathered to develop an SDI plan, while they shared their knowledge and discussed their ideas that helped their understanding of SDI. By running the system dynamics model, the development of SDI over time could be simulated that gave the planning community an insight about the future effects of today’s plans and decisions. Finally, an optimum model could be developed by refinements and improvements done with the consensus of the SDI stakeholders. This model included the components and policies that are essential for a successful SDI implementation in Tanzania and can be used as a basis for SDI planning and help to gain political support. Lessons learnt from this research were promising regarding the usability of the methodology for SDI planning in comparable countries.     

开源体系在GIS软件开发课程中的应用

商用GIS软件在GIS教学中的应用削弱了学生对原理和算法的认知和探索,有必要采用开源GIS体系进行代替。本文针对GIS软件开发系列课程的教学目标和知识点,对开源GIS软件体系进行了分类,并从许可协议、开发模式等方面提出了一套涉及GIS软件底层开发、桌面端开发、WebGIS开发和移动GIS开发的开源解决方案。通过教学实践证明,本文提出的开源解决方案能够显著提升学生的GIS软件开发技能。     

在“GPS原理与应用”课程中实践研究型教学探讨

通过多年的“GPS原理与应用”课程教学实践,总结出面向研究型教学的几点体会：一是从大量知识的陈述到3个重要原理的凝练;二是从复杂数学模型的推演到简单框图原理的表达;三是从晦涩的学术讲解到与有趣的仪器操作结合;四是从简单的校园实习到野外的实战测网。通过研究型的教学方法使学生们增加学习本课程的兴趣,提高学生理解原理、掌握应用的能力,为以后的工作打下良好的基础。     

测绘地理信息专业创新能力培养研究——以“北斗杯”学科竞赛驱动为例

在国家“新工科”工程教育改革的背景下,开展测绘地理信息专业创新能力培养研究具有重要的理论意义和实践价值。文中研究以“北斗杯”学科竞赛作为驱动因子,分别从项目选拔、教师指导、项目孵化、经费支持和成果显示等角度,有机地融合了创新创业训练项目和CDIO工程教育模式,开展了测绘地理信息专业学生创新能力培养研究。实践结果表明,以学科竞赛作为驱动因子,能够充分调动教师和学生参与多种创新能力培养活动的积极性,有效提升测绘地理信息专业学生创新能力。文中针对测绘地理信息专业学生创新能力培养的总结和讨论,将为相关研究的开展提供实践参考。     

《地理信息系统》课程教学改革研究

山东理工大学《地理信息系统》课程于1999年被确定为山东省教学改革试点课程,课程组经过几年的不懈努力,提高了师资队伍水平,改善了教学条件,确定了适合本专业的课程体系和课程内容,提出了开放式教学、现场教学、案例教学、课外阅读、论文交流、专家讲座等多种方式相结合的教学模式,完善了实验课程体系,制定了完整的一体化的实验教学内容。     

基于网格虚拟组织的空间数据基础设施探讨

网格(Grid)是新型高效的分布式计算和资源管理基础设施。分析了空间数据基础设施(Spatial Data In-frastructure,SDI)与网格技术的集成需求,扩展了传统SDI层次体系,提出一种新的SDI—基于网格虚拟组织的SDI(Virtual Organization SDI,VOSDI)。VOSDI突破原有SDI以明确的地区或地域分类分层组织的方式,通过VO对地理上分布的人员、资料及空间信息进行有效组织和整合,具有灵活高效的特性。对VOSDI的功能、特性进行探讨后,进一步提出VOSDI的概念模型,并指出VOSDI实施中可能存在的问题。     

基于开放互操作标准的分布式地理空间模型共享研究

传统的单机环境和封闭式网络环境由于有限的资源利用能力, 难以充分支持分散地学数据、模型等资源的共享与应用集成。基于网络环境的信息交换特点, 提出了分布式地理空间模型共享的服务体系。该体系以数据、模型、元数据等互操作要素为核心, 通过网络将数据、模型等网络节点进行开放式耦合。针对地理空间模型服务的互操作问题, 提出了分布式环境下的模型共享服务交互接口, 该接口定义了模型服务元数据、模型服务的交互操作、模型服务的通讯方式等交互规则, 尽可能地降低模型服务与模型终端之间在数据交换、功能调用等方面的互操作困难。为了降低将模型共享为模型服务的实现难度, 设计和开发了地理空间模型共享平台, 并介绍了在该平台上发布地理空间模型的2种方法。最后介绍了研究成果在Prairie生态模型共享方面的应用实践。     

开源软件辅助下“微波遥感”实践教学改革与探索

针对“微波遥感”教学中存在的学生动手能力差、实践能力培养欠缺等问题,探索利用开源软件进行实践教学辅助的教学改革。分析了开源软件在实验教学中的优缺点,介绍了微波遥感中常用的开源软件及主要功能。在此基础上,构建了一套开源软件辅助下的“微波遥感”实践教学项目,建立了标准实验数据集,编写了实验指导材料,并通过百度云盘等方式实现了网络共享。通过教学改革,拓展了学生的实践教学途径,提高了学生的实践动手能力及微波遥感数据处理能力。     

From data to decision-making – experiences in Integrated Earth Observation (IEO)

Within the confines of Earth Observation Scientific Knowledge and Technology Transfer in Hungary (EKAT) titled ESA PECS project we gained forum for utilization of our earth observation (EO) knowledge and possibility for further development of experiences. The project aims the horizontal preparation of Hungary for ESA membership – for a dynamically developing sphere in the common part of science, technology and business. For the efficient transfer and dissemination, we preconceived target groups and principles to reach main take-up points and to open new forums of information exchange. Nowadays, user-friendly service, complex supply and real-validation process all have great importance. Joining units of suitable data choice, entire ingestion–processing chains and ergonomic interfaces can only offer a timely and professional solution for the challenges of industry and business sectors. It has to be clearly seen, that information and communication technologies (ICT) and information control becomes a more and more significant part of EO services.     

SURVEYING TECHNIQUES FOR NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

Several articles which deal with instruction in surveying at the university have appeared recently in the E.S.R., notably ones by P. N. Ray (xii, 89, 104–110), A. Stephenson (xii, 91, 217–222)and K. R. Peattie (xii, 94, 376–379). Particular attention is given in them to courses for engineering students. It may be of interest to readers of this Journal to hear of a survey course for geography students. Although the pattern varies at different universities, it is common to find instruction, for all geography students, in simple surveying, with practice in chain and compass surveys and the use of the plane table, while Honours students may select surveying at a late stage in the course as one of the branches of the subject in which they are to specialize. Below are set out details of a course given at University College, Ibadan, Nigeria.     

A Technique for Building Representation in Oblique View Maps of Modern Urban Areas

Abstract

This paper presents a technique for creating oblique view maps of urban areas. We identify and apply cartographic and cognitive principles to develop a solution in the context of state-of-art geographic information systems. The gap in the ability of these systems to render three-dimensional buildings into maps is addressed. At the core of our solution is a building facade modelling approach that supports varying degrees of abstraction. This is achieved by introducing a concept of 'facade waveforms' and representing building facades as combinations of these waveforms. A Fourier series approximation of the waveforms is used during the rendering processes resulting in an elegant solution to anti-aliasing. The formulation retains the semantic information in the representation that enables meaningful extensions like night time facade generation. The solution is implemented as a pixel shader and therefore leads to a large reduction in texture memory requirement compared with existing building rendering techniques. Additionally, in the case of web based systems, there is significant reduction in bandwidth requirement. We highlight the features of the proposed solution by generating demonstrative maps and images.     

Semantic Enablement for Spatial Data Infrastructures

Building on abstract reference models, the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) has established standards for storing, discovering, and processing geographical information. These standards act as a basis for the implementation of specific services and Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI). Research on geo‐semantics plays an increasing role to support complex queries and retrieval across heterogeneous information sources, as well as for service orchestration, semantic translation, and on‐the‐fly integration. So far, this research targets individual solutions or focuses on the Semantic Web, leaving the integration into SDI aside. What is missing is a shared and transparent Semantic Enablement Layer for SDI which also integrates reasoning services known from the Semantic Web. Instead of developing new semantically enabled services from scratch, we propose to create profiles of existing services that implement a transparent mapping between the OGC and the Semantic Web world. Finally, we point out how to combine SDI with linked data.     

Whither goes the “maps” course? Maintaining map-use concepts,skills, and appreciation in GIS&T curricula

Popular and professional interest in maps and map-making has never been greater. Despite this engagement, introductory skills courses in “map use” have largely disappeared in undergraduate geography and cartography programs at US universities, with research indicating that both map-use course enrollments and the existence of such courses themselves are on the decline. While the map-use course and its content may have been replaced by, repackaged as, or incorporated into an integrated geographical information systems-cartography–remote sensing foundations course, how do we ensure that an understanding of maps and their unique characteristics is not lost in the mix? This essay describes a recent course redesign experience incorporating information literacy, technology fluency, and spatial thinking principles to maintain map-use concepts, skills, and appreciation in an introductory geographic information science and technology (GIS&T) foundations course, meeting both GIS&T and general education curricular goals.     

国际地理信息经济效益定量估算初步研究

对美国、加拿大、澳大利亚、新西兰、英国、荷兰等国的地理信息经济效益定量估算内容、方法和结果进行了研究和综述。当前,国际发达国家主要对空间信息基础设施、地理信息产业产值和地理信息的经济影响进行了估算,主要综合采用了自下而上、按比例放大、条件价值评估和一般均衡模型法等方法。从研究结果看,虽然目前地理信息产业产值占各国的GDP比例不到1%,但是,其经济影响在有的国家已超过20倍。本文在研究国际有关情况的基础上,提出了开展我国地理信息经济效益定量估算的有关建议。     

A Network Perspective on Spatial Data Infrastructures: Application to the Sub-national SDI of Flanders (Belgium)

In order to provide a basis for quantitative and qualitative assessment of SDI-performance, a clear definition and a theoretical framework for SDI are needed. From the various definitions and frameworks of SDI available in the literature, the productional and the geographic information process perspective were selected, combined and extended. From the productional perspective, SDI-development is a dynamic process in which suppliers and users of spatial data interact to add value to the data by using them in applications and processes. The geographic information process perspective incorporates the "information acquisition – delivery – usage" chain. The extension proposed in this article leads to a network perspective on SDI. The nature of this perspective is described for the Flemish SDI. Its applicability to characterise and underpin the assessment of SDI is tested using a Social Network Analysis (SNA) focusing on the network structure parameters "density", "distance" and "centrality". The SNA confirms the applicability, usability and extensibility of the network perspective to characterize the SDI, to describe the data flows between stakeholders and to analyse the behaviour of the different (types) of stakeholders within the network. We conclude that SNA should likely be complemented by an impact analysis of different SDI setups on business processes which will provide a good basis for a holistic SDI-performance assessment.     

测绘工程专业开放式实验教学体系探索

实验教学是测绘工程专业教学过程中非常重要的一环,开放式实验教学是培养具有创新思维和创新能力的新一代大学生的有效途径。从开放式实验教学体系的概念出发,阐述开放式实验教学体系的内涵。结合测绘工程专业学科特点,从突出培养学生的创造能力和动手解决实际工程问题的能力出发,探索构建测绘工程开放式实验教学体系。