Performance enhancement of a GIS-based facility location problem using desktop grid infrastructure

This paper presents the integration of desktop grid infrastructure with GIS technologies, by proposing a parallel resolution method in a generic distributed environment. A case study focused on a discrete facility location problem, in the biomass area, exemplifies the high amount of computing resources (CPU, memory, HDD) required to solve the spatial problem. A comprehensive analysis is undertaken in order to analyse the behaviour of the grid-enabled GIS system. This analysis, consisting of a set of the experiments on the case study, concludes that the desktop grid infrastructure is able to use a commercial GIS system to solve the spatial problem achieving high speedup and computational resource utilization. Particularly, the results of the experiments showed an increase in speedup of fourteen times using sixteen computers and a computational efficiency greater than 87 % compared with the sequential procedure.     

Locating oil spill response equipment and facilities: A cluster analysis approach

The response to marine accidental spillage of oil requires careful advance planning to ensure that the impact of an oil spill is minimized. In this paper a binary integer mathematical model based on the cluster analysis approach is developed to aid in determining the optimal sites for locating oil spill response equipment and facilities within a semienclosed waterway. The application of the model has been illustrated through a numerical example using hypothetical but representative data to determine optimal sites for locating oil spill response equipment and facilities in the Arabian Gulf region.     

Locating hazardous waste treatment facilities and disposal sites in the State of Yucatan,Mexico

In this work, geographic information systems (GIS) and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) were used in order to identify the appropriate location for hazardous waste (HW) treatment facilities and final disposal sites in the State of Yucatan, Mexico. For HW-treatment facilities, in addition to the distance to generators and treatment facilities, geographic conditions of the site, such as vegetation, soil type, accessibility, distance to urban or rural communities, and all the boundary elements as agricultural or livestock areas, were considered in GIS and MCDA. Final disposal was taken into account only for those HW that could not be avoided or treated. In order to find the most suitable areas, the Mexican Official Norm NOM-055-SEMARNAT-2003 criteria were observed too. It was found that the most suitable zones for HW-treatment facilities were at the centre of the State, whereas the most recommended areas for HW final disposal sites were at the south.     

Assessing the location of public-and-community facilities for the elderly in Beijing, China

The spatial equity of public-and-community facilities (PCFs) is a significant aspect in improving the healthy living environment for the elderly as the elderly population increases rapidly in Beijing, China. This study aims to identify and map the distribution pattern of PCFs in a study area in four neighbouring subdistricts in Beijing and to analyze the spatial equity status of PCFs distributions integrally and respectively. Data for 15 types of PCFs located in the study area were collected. GIS spatial analysis tools, including global and local spatial autocorrelation, were used to analyse the spatial autocorrelation of various types of PCFs. The results show that, integrally, the density of PCFs is in a descending pattern as the distance increases from the city center. Respectively, the distribution pattern shows significant difference among various PCFs and the four subdistricts. The results of this study provide suggestions for future planning of healthy living environment for the elderly residents in a rapidly developing megacity and also shed light on future research on spatial equity of PCFs at the community level.     

Locating suitable sites for the construction of subsurface dams using GIS

Subsurface dams constitute an affordable and effective method for the sustainable development and management of groundwater resources when constructed on suitable sites. Such dams have rarely been constructed in crystalline rock areas and to best of our knowledge, geographic information system (GIS) has never been used in any methodology for locating suitable sites for constructing these dams. This paper presents a new methodology to locate suitable sites for the construction of subsurface dams using GIS software supported by groundwater balance modelling in a study area Boda-Kalvsvik, Sweden. Groundwater resources were calculated based on digitized geological data and assumptions regarding stratigraphic layering taken from well archive data and geological maps. These estimates were then compared with future extractions for domestic water supply using a temporally dynamic water balance model. Suitability analyses for subsurface dams were based on calculated topographic wetness index (TWI) values and geological data, including stratigraphic information. Groundwater balance calculations indicated that many of the most populated areas were susceptible to frequent water supply shortages. Of the 34 sub-catchments within the study area: ten were over-extracted, nine did not have any water supply demand at all, one was self-sufficient and the remaining 14 were able to meet the water supply demand with surplus storage capacity. Six suitable sites for the construction of subsurface dams were suggested in the vicinity of the over-extracted sites based on suitability analysis and groundwater balance estimates. The new methodology shows encouraging results for regions with humid climate but having limited natural water storage capacities. The developed methodology can be used as a preliminary planning step for subsurface dam construction, establishing a base for more detailed field investigations.     

利用地震P波确定煤层瓦斯富集带的分布

查明煤层瓦斯富集区域,对可能的瓦斯突出点进行预报,是当前煤矿生产中亟待解决的重要课题。利用地震P波对裂缝性地层所表现出的方位各向异性特征,根据地震属性随方位角变化可以预测裂隙发育方向和密度的基本原理,应用多种地震P波方位属性预测裂隙发育带。通过对淮南张集煤矿西三采区三维地震P波资料的处理,获得6个方位地震数据体,从中提取多种与煤层和围岩裂隙相关的地震属性,并计算出裂隙的发育方向和密度,为确定瓦斯富集带的分布提供了一种新的途径。     

Earthquake-induced landslide hazard and vegetation recovery assessment using remotely sensed data and a neural network-based classifier: a case study in central Taiwan

A catastrophic earthquake with a Richter magnitude of 7.3 occurred in the Chi-Chi area of Nantou County on 21 September 1999. Large-scale landslides were generated in the Chiufenershan area of Nantou County in central Taiwan. This study used a neural network-based classifier and the proposed NDVI-based quantitative index coupled with multitemporal SPOT images and digital elevation models (DEMs) for the assessment of long-term landscape changes and vegetation recovery conditions at the sites of these landslides. The analyzed results indicate that high accuracy of landslide mapping can be extracted using a neural network-based classifier, and the areas affected by these landslides have gradually been restored from 211.52 ha on 27 September 1999 to 113.71 ha on 11 March 2006, a reduction of 46.24%, after six and a half years of assessment. In accordance with topographic analysis at the sites of the landslides, the collapsed and deposited areas of the landslide were 100.54 and 110.98 ha, with corresponding debris volumes of 31,983,800 and 39,339,500 m³. Under natural vegetation succession, average vegetation recovery rate at the sites of the landslides reached 36.68% on 11 March 2006. The vegetation recovery conditions at the collapsed area (29.17%) are shown to be worse than at the deposited area (57.13%) due to topsoil removal and the steep slope, which can be verified based on the field survey. From 1999 to 2006, even though the landslide areas frequently suffered from the interference of typhoon strikes, the vegetation succession process at the sites of the landslides was still ongoing, which indicates that nature, itself, has the capability for strong vegetation recovery for the denudation sites. The analyzed results provide very useful information for decision-making and policy-planning in the landslide area.     

Locating the sources of potential fields in areal data using the singularity method

In an effort to develop and improve potential geophysical field interpretation we suggest that the singularity method should be extended toward areal data. This procedure enables mass and fast calculation of singularities in area and stable solutions. Studying the behavior of model fields and localization of singularities in the phase planes of vector fields permits the use of findings in interpreting geopotential fields. Model and real-life cases of this procedure as applied to tectonic dislocations and local geologic features are exemplified. We show that the proposed procedure significantly enhances the application of the singularity method to interprete geopotential fields.     

From micro scale to boundary value problem: using a micromechanically based model

Acta Geotechnica - A 3D multi-scale approach is presented to investigate the mechanical behavior of a macroscopic specimen consisting of a granular assembly, as a boundary value problem. The core...     

基于GIS技术的甘肃省区位优势度分析

区位优势度是反映区域经济、社会发展的重要指标。基于网格评分的思想,建立区位优势度模型,利用GIS技术对甘肃全省范围进行无缝网格的定量分析。确立交通网络密度、交通干线影响度和城镇影响度三个评价指标,分析甘肃省境内综合区位优势状况。结果表明：省内大部分区域区位优势度处于较低水平,占省域面积的86.88%。只有极少数地区较高,占省域面积的0.5%,中等区位优势度地区占面积12.62%,甘肃省综合优势度区域差异显著,兰州区位优势度最高,为0.86,阿克塞哈萨克族自治县区位优势度最低,接近0。综合区位优势度较高区域依然沿陇海-兰新线和主要交通干线分布,中东部地区优势度明显高于西部廊道区域。中东部主要以兰州为中心,在陇海-兰新线东西方向上的区位优势逐渐延伸并减弱,向西途经武威、金昌、张掖等城镇,向东经定西市和天水市,以及向东北方向的白银市;西部主要以酒嘉地区为核心,向东延伸至张掖、金昌等城镇,向西至瓜州县,并向敦煌南向延伸。     

Optimal location of additional exploratory drillholes using afuzzy-artificial bee colony algorithm

In most research studies, the problem of locating additional drillhole is simplified, and the ore body is considered as a 2d object. In this study, location of additional drillholes are optimized by considering the third dimension of the ore body, the azimuth and the dip of additional drill holes. A new objective function is defined to address the effect of rock type in locating new drillholes. The optimization problem is solved using a novel fuzzy-artificial bee colony algorithm, called FABC. The parameters of the FABC algorithm is dynamically adjusted using a designed fuzzy inference system with three performance measures as inputs and two outputs. The comparison performance with state-of-the-art optimization algorithm, using a nonparametric hypothesis test, indicates higher performance of the FABC algorithm. The results indicate significantly a decrease of kriging variance by introducing additional drillholes.     

Locating a point on a spherical surface relative to a spherical polygon of arbitrary shape

An algorithm for determining if any given point,P, on the surface of a sphere is located inside, outside, or along the border of an arbitrary spherical polygon,S, is described. The polygon is described by specifying coordinates of its vertices, and coordinates of some pointX which is known to lie withinS. The algorithm is based on the principle that an arc joiningX andP will cross the border ofS an odd number of times ifP lies outsideS, and an even number of times ifP lies withinS. The algorithm has been implemented as a set of FORTRAN subroutines, and a listing is provided. The algorithm and subroutine package can be used with spherical polygons containing holes, or with composited spherical polygons.     

Plain strain problem of poroelasticity using eigenvalue approach

A plain strain problem of an isotropic elastic liquid-saturated porous medium in poroelasticity has been studied. The eigenvalue approach using the Laplace and Fourier transforms has been employed and these transforms have been inverted by using a numerical technique. An application of infinite space with concentrated force at the origin has been presented to illustrate the utility of the approach. The displacement and stress components in the physical domain are obtained numerically. The results are shown graphically and can be used for a broad class of problems related to liquid-saturated porous media.     

Solving the kriging problem by using the Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization

This paper presents an approach to solve the kriging problem, defined in terms of projections, by using Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization. The Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization allows us to find an optimal approximationY* in then-dimensional subspaceH _n of any vectorY element of a Hilbert spaceH. This approach requiresO(n ³) multiplication operations to obtain an orthogonal basis, andO(n ²) multiplications needed to calculate kriging solution for a given point.     

蒙特卡洛法与有限元结合搜索边坡临界滑动面

把蒙特卡洛随机搜索法与有限元法相结合,搜索边坡的临界滑动面及其对应的最小安全系数.通过随机跳跃法生成一定数量的初始试算滑动面,根据有限元分析的应力和孔隙水压力结果计算给定滑动面的安全系数,利用随机走步法不断更新试算滑动面,使试算滑动面安全系数不断减小,最终确定边坡临界滑动面及其对应的最小安全系数.本方法通过随机搜索,克服了大多数常规优化方法易陷入安全系数局部极小的问题.数值算例分析说明了本文提出的确定边坡临界滑动面的方法的有效性和优越性.     

Improving the level of seismic hazard parameters in Saudi Arabia using earthquake location

Saudi Arabia is characterized as largely aseismic; however, the tectonic plate boundaries that surround it are very active. To improve characterization of seismicity and ground motion hazard, the Saudi Arabian Digital Seismic Network (SANDSN) was installed in 1998 and continues to be operated by the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). This article describes research performed to improve seismic hazard parameters using earthquake location and magnitude calibration of the high-quality SANDSN data. The SANDSN consists of 38 seismic stations, 27 broadband, and 11 short period. All data are telemetered in real time to a central facility at KACST in Riyadh. The SANDSN stations show low background noise levels and have good signal detection capabilities; however, some stations show cultural noise at frequencies above 1.0 Hz. We assessed the SANDSN event location capabilities by comparing KACST locations with well-determined locations derived from ground truth or global observations. While a clear location bias exists when using the global average iasp91 earth model, the locations can be improved by using regional models optimized for different tectonic source regions. The article presents detailed analysis of some events and Dead Sea explosions where we found gross errors in estimated locations. New velocity models we calculated that should improve estimated locations of regional events in three specific regions include (1) Gulf of Aqabah—Dead Sea region, (2) Arabian Shield, and (3) Arabian Platform. Recently, these models were applied to the SANDSN to improve local and teleseismic event locations and to develop an accurate magnitude scale for Saudi Arabia. The Zagros Thrust presents the most seismic hazard to eastern Saudi Arabia because of the frequent occurrence of earthquakes. Although these events are 200 km or further from the Arabian coast, wave propagation through sedimentary structure of the Gulf causes long-duration ground motions for periods between 3 and 10 s. Such ground motions could excite response in large engineered structures (e.g., tall buildings and long bridges) such as was experienced after the November 22, 2005 Qeshm Island earthquake off the southern coast of Iran.     

Expanding a network of public facilities with some fixed supply points

Conclusions In general terms, this paper has demonstrated how the expansion of public facilities can be phased and implemented within the framework of certain policy objectives. Given an existing network of hospitals, for instance, it is possible to plan and implement the provision of additional facilities in a manner that enhances the spatial efficiency of the expanded network. The expansion can be executed in such a way that with the addition of each new facility, not only is aggregate travel minimized, but also a specified proportion of the population can be brought within easy reach of hospital services. This method is a particularly useful one because in planning the location of facilities, authorities hardly ever start off with a clean slate. Usually some facilities of the same kind might already be occupying some locations which may or may not be optimal. But whether or not the already existing network is optimal, the overall efficiency of the expanded network can be enhanced by proceeding in the manner outlined above.This method can be applied to a wide range of public facilities, like schools for instance. But its application depends, among other things, on the clear definition of locational and policy objectives. Different objectives could produce different locational patterns. Even variations in the measures of distance used can produce different locational patterns.     

Accuracy and precision of network-based RTK techniques as a function of baseline distance and occupation time

Turkey established the TUSAGA-AKTIF CORS Network in May 2009. Network software and central server were updated in 2016. With this update, GLONASS message type was determined for Flächen Korrektur Parameter (FKP), Master Auxiliary Concept (MAC) and Virtual Reference Station (VRS) network-based real time kinematic (NRTK) techniques. A 64 bit central server and the Trimble Pivot Platform network software were also acquired with this update. To the best of our knowledge, there has not been a comprehensive accuracy and precision test of the new system yet. In this paper, we aimed to create empirical accuracy and precision model of FKP, MAC and VRS NRTK techniques of the updated system as a function of baseline distance and occupation time. It is intended that surveyors can perform mission planning according to the requirements of accuracy and precision using these models. Seven test points and two check points were chosen to conduct the experiment. The baseline lengths with respect to the closest continuously operating reference stations (CORS) station were determined as 5-20-40-50 km approximately. Three thousand epochs with 2-s sampling interval were obtained for northing, easting and ellipsoidal height coordinate components of NRTK techniques at each point. Assumed true coordinates of each test point were determined by static survey using the GAMIT/GLOBK scientific software. In terms of accuracy and precision, our results show that empirical accuracy model depends only on the occupation time while empirical precision model depends on both the baseline length with respect to the closest CORS station and the occupation time for each NRTK technique. The results indicate that estimated accuracy and precision models can be safely used for mission planning purposes.