Reaching the limits: a geographic approach for understanding food insecurity and household hunger mitigation strategies in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, USA

Research on hunger and food security in the Global South and the Global North has often emphasized different factors and scales of analyses. Unlike newer monitoring systems in the Global South, which evolved substantially following critiques by Amartya Sen, US food security research has rarely combined the two dimensions of food availability and food access. Furthermore, this research has paid scant attention to household coping strategies. This study responds to this lacuna in US hunger research by developing a spatial model for predicting risk to food insecurity based on proxy measures for access (three demographic variables) and availability (grocery store density). The study then employs qualitative methodologies (surveys and semi-structured interviews) to understand household coping strategies in two ethnically distinct areas in Minneapolis-Saint Paul at risk to food insecurity. One neighborhood is dominated by Southeast Asian and East African immigrants and the other by African-Americans. This approach should allow for better targeting of food aid and programs that help alleviate food insecurity.     

地学e-Science研究与实践——以东北亚联合科学考察与合作研究平台构建为例

地学e-Science被认为是继理论分析、实验观察和模拟计算之后的地学科研方法,将促进传统地学科研模式的变革,提升地学研究的效率和水平.由于地学e-Science的研究刚刚起步,国内外学者对其本质、内容、技术架构和未来发展,还缺乏一个统一、清晰的认识.认为地学e-Science的实质就是支撑地学研究的信息化环境及其在此...     

Mineral potential mapping for rare earth elements mineralization with AHP method in the Kerman-Kashmar Tectonic Zone,Central Iran

One of the major strengths of a GIS is the ability to integrate and combine multiple layers of geoscience data for producing mineral potential maps showing favorable areas for mineral exploration. Once the data is prepared properly, the GIS, jointly with other statistical and geostatistical software packages, can be used to manipulate and visualize the data in order to produce a mineral prospectivity map. Many spatial modeling techniques can be employed to produce mineral potential maps. This paper demonstrates a technique to define favorable areas for REE mineralization with AHP technique using geological, geochemical, geophysical, alteration and faults density spatial data in the Kerman-Kashmar Tectonic Zone of central Iran. The AHP is a powerful and flexible multi-criteria decision-making tool for dealing with complex problems where both qualitative and quantitative aspects need to be considered. This approach is knowledgedriven method and can be applied in other areas for conventional use in mineral exploration.     

Spatial sampling considerations and their applications to characterizing fractured rock and karst systems

Assessing the existence, location, and mapping of geologic anomalies, such as fractures and cavities within soil and rock, are common to both engineering and hydrologic project needs. There are numerous measurement techniques available to detect, map, and characterize fractures and cavities. A summary of the common methods available for fracture and cavity detection and mapping are presented along with their spatial sampling capabilities. The remote sensing and geophysical methods are but a small part of this list but provide a wide range of tools to attack the problem. They include some of the most effective methods for locating and mapping fractures and cavities and cover the complete range of spatial sampling, from regional to no more than the surface of a borehole wall. An understanding of all of the tools available and their spatial sampling limitations is a necessary part of planning and carrying out an effective fracture/cavity investigation.     

Towards a geocomputational landscape epidemiology: surveillance,modelling, and interventions

The ability to explicitly represent infectious disease distributions and their risk factors over massive geographical and temporal scales has transformed how we investigate how environment impacts health. While landscape epidemiology studies have shed light on many aspects of disease distribution and risk differentials across geographies, new computational methods combined with new data sources such as citizen sensors, global spatial datasets, sensor networks, and growing availability and variety of satellite imagery offer opportunities for a more integrated approach to understanding these relationships. Additionally, a large number of new modelling and mapping methods have been developed in recent years to support the adoption of these new tools. The complexity of this research context results in study-dependent solutions and prevents landscape approaches from deeper integration into operational models and tools. In this paper we consider three common research contexts for spatial epidemiology; surveillance, modelling to estimate a spatial risk distribution and the need for intervention, and evaluating interventions and improving healthcare. A framework is proposed and a categorization of existing methods is presented. A case study into leptospirosis in Sri Lanka provides a working example of how the different phases of the framework relate to real research problems. The new framework for geocomputational landscape epidemiology encompasses four key phases: characterizing assemblages, characterizing functions, mapping interdependencies, and examining outcomes. Results from Sri Lanka provide evidence that the framework provides a useful way to structure and interpret analyses. The framework reported here is a new way to structure existing methods and tools of geocomputation that are increasingly relevant to researchers working on spatially explicit disease-landscape studies.     

基于Virtual Globe的地质灾害监测数据集成及可视化

应用Virtual Globe技术和面向服务的软件构架SOA模型.通过综合分析地质灾害的空间数据和业务数据的特点,确定了不同数据类型之间的联系与服务方式.构建了一个地质灾害监测预警三维可视化数据集成框架,实现地质灾害空间数据和业务数据的集成和地质灾害相关信息的三维可视化显示.开发了基于B/S模式的华蓥山地质灾害监测预警...     

Bayesian Maximum Entropy Analysis and Mapping: A Farewell to Kriging Estimators?

The Bayesian Maximum Entropy (BME) method of spatial analysis and mapping provides definite rules for incorporating prior information, hard and soft data into the mapping process. It has certain unique features that make it a loyal guardian of plausible reasoning under conditions of uncertainty. BME is a general approach that does not make any assumptions regarding the linearity of the estimator, the normality of the underlying probability laws, or the homogeneity of the spatial distribution. By capitalizing on various sources of information and data, BME introduces an epistemological framework that produces predictive maps that are more accurate and in many cases computationally more efficient than those derived by traditional techniques. In fact, kriging techniques can be derived as special cases of the BME approach, under restrictive assumptions regarding the prior information and the data available. BME is a more rigorous approach than indicator kriging for incorporating soft data. The BME formulation, in fact, applies in a spatial or a spatiotemporal domain and its extension to the case of block and vector random fields is straightforward. New theoretical results are presented and numerical examples are discussed, which use the BME approach to account for important sources of knowledge in a systematic manner. BME can be useful in practical situations in which prior information can be used to compensate for the limited amount of measurements available (e.g., preliminary or feasibility study levels) or soft data are available that can be combined with hard data to improve mapping significantly. BME may be then viewed as an effort towards the development of a more general framework of spatial/temporal analysis and mapping, which includes traditional geostatistics as its limiting case, and it also provides the means to derive novel results that could not be obtained by traditional geostatistics.     

QMorphoStream: processing tools in QGIS environment for the quantitative geomorphic analysis of watersheds and river networks

The quantitative geomorphic analysis is a powerful tool for the study of geomorphology and landforms, as it provides objective methods to describe the main properties of drainage basins by means of an appropriate set of parameters. Over the last decades, GIS techniques and processing tools have been widely applied to the geomorphic analysis, and specific applications were developed, essentially using commercial software. In the present paper, the first experimental version of QMorphoStream, an originally developed set of processing tools for quantitative geomorphic analysis in QGIS environment, is presented. Besides the obvious advantage in terms of cost reduction, the choice of an open source development environment allowed us to integrate original algorithms with both QGIS built-in functions and processing tools available in the developers’ community.     

Web-oriented GIS system for monitoring, conservation and law enforcement of the Brazilian Amazon

A web GIS (WGIS) system for the Brazilian Amazon, named ImazonGeo and based on open source and public domain data, is presented. ImazonGeo was built following three principles. First, the system is based on Spatial Data Infrastructure architecture and web interface built using free software and public domain data. Second, we went beyond visualization of maps and spatial queries by providing information obtained with spatial analysis models. To do that, we designed a database that stores the results of previously defined spatial analyses and developed customized reports and query tools to facilitate fast access of information by end-users. Finally, the system is application-oriented in the areas of forest monitoring, conservation and forest law enforcement, meaning that it aims to contribute to support the protection of Brazilian Amazon forests. We illustrate these principles by presenting ImazonGeo’s technology, architecture, content and tools. Moreover, we present two successful cases to demonstrate how the system is being used. We conclude the paper discussing the challenges and potential solutions to turning our WGIS-SDI system into an internet hub of geo-information about the Brazilian Amazon.     

宁芜盆地白象山矿区人工神经网络 三维成矿定位预测研究

本文基于三维地质环境,综合白象山矿区积累的地质资料和物探成果,首先开展三维地质建模工作,详细刻画了白象山矿区的三维地质结构;在三维地质模型基础上,利用三维空间分析手段对三维控矿因素进行定量挖掘,提取了多种三维控矿因素;最后采用人工神经网络方法进行三维成矿定位预测。预测结果显示,人工神经网络三维成矿定位预测能很好的定位出已知矿体,同时显示,在已知矿体北部及东部的深边部具有较高的成矿概率,可作为开展进一步找矿勘探的靶区。因此,人工神经网络三维成矿定位预测对于白象山矿区的应用是有效的,可服务于新老矿区的深边部三维成矿定位预测,同时可为隐伏矿、盲矿的成矿预测和优选靶区提供定量、定位新的方法和途径。     

Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process and GIS for predictive Cu porphyry potential mapping: a case study in Ahar–Arasbaran Zone (NW, Iran)

Selection of potential areas for mineral exploration is a complex process and needs many diverse criteria. Combining analytic hierarchy process (AHP) modeling with geographic information system (GIS) provides an effective means for studies of mineral potential mapping evaluation. Fuzzy AHP is an extension of conventional AHP and by using fuzzy theory is obtained the advantage rather AHP method. In this paper to provide, potential mapping for Cu porphyry mineralization used fuzzy AHP and GIS in the Ahar–Arasbaran areas, several criteria, such as geology, geochemical and geophysical data, alteration, and faults were used. Each criterion was evaluated with the aid of fuzzy AHP and mapped by GIS. The method allowed a mixture of quantitative and qualitative information with group decision. The results and its validation demonstrate the acceptable outcomes for copper porphyry exploration.     

滑坡灾害空间智能预测展望

滑坡灾害危险性区划是在滑坡编录和灾害敏感性分析结果的基础上,应用定性分析和定量分析、确定性模型和随机性模型相结合对滑坡灾害易发程度进行分区表示.随着地理信息系统和人工智能技术在滑坡灾害区划中的广泛应用,JP2]灾害危险性的定量研究得到进一步的深化和发展.在评述了滑坡灾害危险性区划主要定量模型的基础上,分析了未来滑坡灾害区划的发展趋势,并提出了基于空间数据挖掘的滑坡灾害空间智能预测框架.     

Remote sensing and mapping of Earth resources

Detailed knowledge of the natural resources of any nation is a pre-requisite for its economic development. In most developing countries, this knowledge is scarce or lacking. Acquiring the needed information by conventional means may require a large investment in time, personnel, and therefore, in cost. In the meantime, space-age technology provides the necessary tools to conduct surveys of natural resources in a timely manner. Such are the means to obtain the required data by digital sensors, radar imaging systems, and stereo cameras. These data can be utilized in mapping structures that may contain oil and gas deposits, recognizing high concentrations of economic minerals, discovering regions with fertile soils and good potential for groundwater, and monitoring cyclical climatic changes, particularly in arid lands. Such applications warrant greater use of remote sensing methods and techniques by the international scientific community, particularly for the development of natural resources in the Third World. This paper represents a general review of the available, and easily interpretable space-borne data that are useful in the mapping of such resources.     

航空电磁法在水文地质调查中的应用

为了对水文地质调查提供多方法、多深度和多参数解释,提高航空电磁法在水文地质调查中的应用效果,以河北曹碑店地区、定陵—北京十三陵水库地区、黑龙江宝清地区、澳大利亚桥维拉地区、山东黄河口地区的航空电磁资料为基础,建立了利用航空电磁法研究海侵程度、水质填图、寻找浅层淡水的定性和定量解释方法。结果表明: 航空电磁法可以快速高效地研究不同深度的地下水及海侵程度空间分布特征,快速计算地下水矿化度,尤其可为大范围水文地质调查提供多层次的海侵底界面和水平界线、含水层和隔水层分布及水质分布信息,在多个研究区取得了较好的水文地质勘查效果。     

Seasonal variation in food web composition and structure in a temperate tidal estuary

Seasonal variation in aquatic food web structure at Mad Island Marsh, Matagorda Bay, Texas, was examined using dietary information obtained from the analysis of gut contents from large samples of fish and crustacean specimens. Unique aspects of this study include the use of large samples of consumer gut contents (n=6,452), long-term sampling (bimonthly surveys over 18 mo), and standard methods of data collection and analysis facilitating comparisons with other aquatic food webs. Dietary data were partitioned for analysis into warm (summer) and cold (winter) seasons. Most consumers fed low in the food web, with trophic levels ranging from about 2 to 3.5 during both summer and winter. Vegetative detritus was more important in macroconsumer diets than live algae and macrophytes. Low trophic levels of consumers reflected the important role of abundant detritivores (e.g., striped mulletMugil cephalus, Gulf menhadenBrevortia patronum, and macroinvertebrates) in linking detritus to top predators via short food chains, a finding consistent with many other estuarine food web studies. Despite changes in community composition and population size structure of certain species, most food web properties revealed comparatively little seasonal variation. The summer food web had more nodes (86), more links (562), a higher density of links as indicated by connectance (0.08), and a slightly higher predator: prey ratio (0.51) compared to the winter food web (75 nodes, 394 links, connectance = 0.07, predator: prey ratio = 0.47). Proportions of top (0.06–0.07), intermediate (0.75–0.76), and basal (0.19) species did not vary significantly between seasons, but mean trophic level was higher during summer. Addition of feeding links based on information from the literature increased connectance to 0.13 during both seasons; other web parameters had values similar to those obtained for our directly estimated food webs. Seasonal variation in food web structure was influenced by changes in community composition (e.g., influxes of postlarval estuarine-dependent marine fishes during winter), availability of resources (e.g., more submerged macrophytes and amphipods during summer), and size structure and ontogenetic diet shifts of dominant consumer taxa. Our findings suggest that some basic properties of estuarine food web are resilient to seasonal changes in population and community structures and food web architecture.     

地理信息系统应用于油气勘探开发的历史、现状与发展趋势

地理信息系统（GIS）是处理空间数据的软件系统,其基本模块包括空间数据的组织、查询、可视化及空间关系分析与决策支持,主要功能为空间数据的获取、管理、分析及可视化表达。作为地理信息科学的重要组成部分,地理信息系统在社会生活的各领域已得到了越来越广泛的应用,它的广泛应用为油气勘探开发研究中的古构造重建、储层研究、油气运移路径分析及资源评价等提供了新的信息处理辅助手段和工具。本文分析了地理信息系统在油气勘探开发中的地位和作用,详细介绍了它在油气勘探开发中的应用的历史和现状,并结合当前地理信息系统领域的研究热点和油气勘探开发研究的实际,探讨了其在油气勘探开发领域应用的前景及发展方向。     

澳大利亚塔斯马尼亚地学数据属性描述与GIS空间数据库的集成管理

地学数据种类极为繁多,它既包括定量信息,也包括定性信息。数字地质信息结构的研制工作所面临的困难是以何种方式保存现有的模拟数据的重要内容,使得在ＧＩＳ中能够进行各种有效的查询和处理。澳大利亚斯马尼亚地调局为了对地质图信息和地球化学进行编码而研制了数据结构。在地质和地球化学数据结构中对于一系列相关表格中的属性进行编码,而这些表格利用“一对多”和“多对多”的关系有效而准确地阐明了原始数据之间的相互关系。     

Possibilities of remote sensing technologies in coastal studies

Remote sensing techniques are a valuable tool to obtain specific information of the spatial and temporal characteristics of the coastal zone. This holds not only for mapping and GIS purposes, but also for more process-oriented developments in the physical and social systems of this zone. This paper addresses particularly the possibilities of remote sensing techniques for the hydro- and morphodynamics of the coastal zone s.s. An integrated approach combining remote sensing data and specific hydrodynamic modelling has opened interesting new possibilities for obtaining quantitative information on determining coastal process parameters. This reflects: bottom topographical data, the wave climate, wave predictions, real time flow calculations and inventories of available sand mining prospects. Such developments are in an early stage at the moment. However rapid progress is expected in the near future.     

A distributed runoff model for the mountainous region of the Heihe River Basin (China) based on the spatial modeling environment (SME) I: model structure and equations

A shortage of water has limited the socio-economic development of the Heihe River Basin in northwestern China and has led to many ecological and economic problems. Only the development and application of integration tools can effectively represent the functionality of the watershed and aid in strategic decision making. In the framework of SME, modular and hierarchical model building can simplify the research work. According to the main ideas and key processes commonly used in distributed hydrological models, and combined with the spatial characteristics of the mountainous region of the Heihe River Basin, a unit hydrological model was developed using stella, which was an icon-based software package specifically designed for dynamic systems modeling, and an algorithm for spatial distribution in SME was introduced. This paper describes only the model structure and basic equations, whereas in the next paper, model calibration results using the data measured at meteorological stations, together with land use data and soil data, will be further introduced.     

基于连通性恢复的潜流带生态修复研究进展

潜流带是流域生态修复的关键区域之一, 潜流带修复的根本目标是恢复水系间的能量流通、物质传递和信息流动, 即恢复潜流带的连通性。对于潜流带连通性恢复而言, 应统筹考虑水文连通性、生态连通性和功能连通性等多层次的内容。潜流带生态修复相关研究主要基于流体动力学、地质学和生态学等基础理论, 剖析潜流驱动的生物地球化学耦合机制, 研发可促进潜流交换和恢复生物多样性的生态修复技术, 实现潜流带水文条件的改善与生物物种的恢复, 进而达到潜流带生态系统结构和功能综合性修复的目的。本文从潜流带水文连通性、生态连通性和功能连通性等多层次出发, 从潜流带流体动力学性能、介质性能、生物群落组成、食物网结构及环境生态功能等方面, 综述基于生态修复目标的潜流带连通性恢复理论与技术进展, 以实现潜流带生态系统整体稳定性的提升。在未来潜流带生态修复理论与应用研究中, 需发挥多学科交叉的优势, 耦合多组学方法对潜流带生态过程进行微观探索, 系统探究时间和空间尺度上潜流带生态修复过程的演替规律, 进一步构建多因素作用下的潜流带生态修复框架体系。