From ‘There’ to ‘Here’: An investigation of the initial settlement experiences of Ethiopian and Somali refugees in Toronto

Very little research exists on the resettlement of refugees in Canada. This is particularly so in the case of refugees from African countries, albeit there are significant numbers of them in Canada. Drawing on both qualitative and quantitative data, this paper contributes to the scanty geographical literature on refugee research by examining the initial settlement needs and experiences of Ethiopian and Somali refugees in Toronto. Analysis suggests that most Ethiopians and Somalis encounter considerable difficulties during the initial stages of resettlement in Canada. They face social exclusion and multiple forms of disadvantage including high unemployment, underemployment, and overcrowding, as well as frustrations and despair that sometimes result in suicidal behaviours, particularly among the young males. Host language incompetence and recency of immigration are some explanatory factors, but it is clear that systems of institutional and everyday racism have created very formidable barriers for Ethiopians and Somalis as they integrate into their new country. For Ethiopian and Somali newcomers settling in Toronto, information on (initial) settlement assistance tends to come from sources other than the government. Majority of respondents obtained such information through their personal network of friends, family, and compatriots. Ethnic origin does not discriminate between Ethiopian and Somali refugees in regard to the difficulties they face in Toronto, in that it does not show any statistically significant relationship with almost all the variables examined in the study. Understanding how refugees attempt to reconstruct their social geographies in the most multicultural and cosmopolitan Canadian city will contribute to a better understanding of their settlement needs and assist in the provision of higher quality services and programmes, besides informing policy decision-making on immigration and settlement in Canada. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Quantifying the spatio-temporal patterns of settlement growth in a metropolitan region of Ghana

Retrospective understanding of the magnitude and pace of urban expansion is necessary for effective growth management in metropolitan regions. The objective of this paper is to quantify the spatial–temporal patterns of urban expansion in the Greater Kumasi Sub-Region (GKSR)—a functional region comprising eight administrative districts in Ghana, West Africa. The analysis is based on Landsat remote sensing images from 1986, 2001 and 2014 which were classified using supervised maximum likelihood algorithm in ERDAS IMAGINE. We computed three complementary growth indexes namely; Average Annual Urban Expansion Rate, Urban Expansion Intensity Index (UEII) and Urban Expansion Differentiation Index to estimate the amount and intensity of expansion over the 28-year period. Overall, urban expansion in the GKSR has been occurring at an average annual rate of 5.6 %. Consequently, the sub-region’s built-up land increased by 313 km² from 88 km² in 1986 to 400 km² in 2014. The analysis further show that about 72 % of the total built-up land increase occurred in the last 13 years alone, with UEII value of 0.605 indicating a moderate intensity of urban expansion. Moreover, the metropolitan-core of the sub-region, being the focal point of urban development and the historical origins of expansion, accounted for more than half of the total built-up land increase over the 28-year period. Over the last decade and half however, urban expansion has spilled into the neighbouring peripheral districts, with the highest intensity and fastest rate of expansion occurring in districts located north and north east of the sub-regional core. We recommend a comprehensive regional growth management strategy grounded in effective strategic partnerships among the respective administrative districts to curb unsustainable urban expansion.     

Locating and determining the orientation of underwater research equipment: Acoustic range and range rate data

A formulation is presented for evaluating the performance of acoustic data systems to determine the location and orientation of underwater research apparatus. The variables to describe the position of the underwater research apparatus are referenced to a surface ship, and represent the straight-line distance from the stern of the ship to a point on the apparatus (R), the angular distance down from the sea surface (Phi), and the angular distance from the direction of motion of the ship (Theta). The three orientation variables on the apparatus are the angle between thezandz'axes (i), the angle between thexandx'axes in thex'-y'plane (Omega), and the angle which locates thex'axis in thex'-y'plane (omega). A simple model for the sound velocity variation with depth is included in the range data analysis, while the Doppler data are shown not to need that further complication in the analysis. An error model is constructed and applied to three geometries which represent common underwater research devices. Accuracy goals for possible applications of these devices are discussed, and performance requirements for an acoustic system which would meet the goals are derived.     

Comments on the figure of the moon from apollo landmark tracking

Optical observations were made from the orbiting spacecraft to craters on the lunar surface during Apollo missions 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15. Very accurate selenographic locations for 31 craters have been obtained from these data. The estimated radius values, with respect to the center of mass of the Moon, for the near side maria were smaller than the nominally accepted value of 1738 km. Gross figure of the Moon estimates were obtained for both a sphere and a constrained ellipsoid. These data appear to provide some proof that there is a displacement between the center of figure and the center of mass of the Moon.     

Northwest Atlantic REX inverted echo sounder location: Acoustic range data

The Northwest Atlantic Regional Energetics Experiment (REX) will study the dynamics and energetics of the Gulf Stream and associated rings. Bottom‐moored inverted echo sounders with pressure gauges (IES/PGs) will collect in situ data which both complement and augment the GEOSAT altimeter measurements in the Northwest Atlantic. The primary objective of these data will be the intercomparison of satellite and IES/PG measured fluctuations in sea surface topography and mean ther‐mocline depth. However, more detailed and absolute intercom‐parisons of these data would be available if the IES/PG could be positioned in an inertial reference frame while the measurements were taken. This paper presents an error model for computing the accuracy of positioning with a bottom beacon of the IES/PG type. Equations for studying the use of acoustic range data for locating an IES/PG with respect to a ship's track are developed and presented. The ship's track is assumed to be located in inertial space to the 1‐ to 2‐m level by application of the GPS (Mohan, 1983, 1984). Effects of depth‐dependent acoustic speed are included. Although IES/PGs as presently deployed would have to be modified to function as the type of ranging device described in this paper, the representative parameter values that have been calculated for the Northwest Atlantic REX show that sub‐1‐meter accuracy in location determination can be expected. A crucial factor is the measurement pattern, and recommendations for optimal patterns are presented.