Towards knowledge-based geovisualisation using Semantic Web technologies: a knowledge representation approach coupling ontologies and rules

ABSTRACT

Geovisualisation is a knowledge-intensive art in which both providers and users need to possess a wide range of knowledge. Current syntactic approaches to presenting visualisation information lack semantics on the one hand, and on the other hand are too bespoke. Such limitations impede the transfer, interpretation, and reuse of the geovisualisation knowledge. In this paper, we propose a knowledge-based approach to formally represent geovisualisation knowledge in a semantically-enriched and machine-readable manner using Semantic Web technologies. Specifically, we represent knowledge regarding cartographic scale, data portrayal and geometry source, which are three key aspects of geovisualisation in the contemporary web mapping era, coupling ontologies and semantic rules. The knowledge base enables inference for deriving the corresponding geometries and portrayals for visualisation under different conditions. A prototype system is developed in which geospatial linked data are used as underlying data, and some geovisualisation knowledge is formalised into a knowledge base to visualise the data and provide rich semantics to users. The proposed approach can partially form the foundation for the vision of web of knowledge for geovisualisation.     

小波变换及其在影像表示中的应用和其方向选择性算法的改进

小波理论是研究多分辨率信号处理的理论,目前被公认为有前途的新理论。金字塔结构的影像处理、影像理解,现代GIS处理多比例尺的要求以及地形、场论中的逼近均需有关这一理论的支持。本文利用小波变换分解原始影像以实现影像的小波表示,并发展为任意方向的小波变换、逆变换,利用它检测航片中建筑物及其阴影的公共边缘。这种表示方式可为某些影像特征或识别目标提供较为经济的分辨率,该表示方式使影像中具有一定层次的结构更易于发现和利用。实验结果证明了此方法是有效的。     

基于网络的空间信息表达研究

本文结合我国目前“数字省区”空间信息共享建设对于空间信息网络表达的需求,深入分析了空间信息共享系统中多种空间信息的网络表达问题,以及实现共享空间信息网络表达所需要解决的3个基本问题。研究了基于XML的空间信息网络表达实现技术。该研究对于空间信息共享系统中实现空间信息网络分布式表达和系统共享空间信息的潜在价值有重要意义。最后通过“数字省(区)”建设的实践,实现了该研究成果的应用系统。     

选择专题地图表示方法的推理研究

分析了地图制图知识的表达与应用方法,研究了专题地图制图知识中应该考虑的因素,提出了一种选择专题地图表示的推理方法.     

Web环境下地理空间数据的开放式表达体系研究

对Web环境下的适合分布式异构地理空间数据表达的地理空间数据模型进行了研究 ,在此基础上提出了虚拟地图、实体地图以及可视化地图的概念 ,并分别基于XML、GML以及SVG创建了开放式地理空间数据的三层表达体系 ,该体系的建立为开放式WebGIS的数据互操作奠定了基础。     

中国1∶400万沼泽图的编制研究

中国 1∶4 0 0万沼泽图是我国第一幅大范围的沼泽图件。本图及其附图以地图图像的形式 ,形象地、系统地总结和反映了我国有关单位近 4 0年来在沼泽方面的研究成果 ,表现了我国及主要典型区的沼泽及诏泽化土地的类型、特征、形成及其分布规律。重点反映适合我国沼泽特点并具有新观点的分类体系和分区体系。全国沼泽分类体系被分为四级 :类 (第一级 )、亚类 (第二级 )、型 (第三级 )、组 (第四级 )。全国沼泽化土地的分类系统也相应分为四级。主图表示沼泽和沼泽化土地的前三级类型 ,在作为插图 (2幅 )和附图 (4幅 )的典型区沼泽图 (1∶2 0万～ 1∶15 0万 )上侧重表示第四级类型。另一幅插图为《中国沼泽分区图》(1∶2 5 0 0万 ) ,全国被分为 8个沼泽区和 4 0个沼泽亚区。中国 1∶4 0 0万沼泽图采用综合图型 ,范围法与符号法 (分级定位符号 )相结合的表现方法 ,室内制图资料综合分析利用与野外验正和缩编相结合的编绘方法。     

Numerical and functional representations of regional heat flow in South America

A summary of heat flow data acquired over recent years in several areas in the eastern (Brazil and Paraguay) and western (Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador) parts of South American continent are presented. The improvements in the database have allowed numerical representations of heat flow for southeastern and central segments of the Precambrian fold belts in Brazil, Central Andean cordilleras in Chile and Bolivia, Southern Volcanic arc in Peru, Neuquén Province in southwestern Argentina, Chaco basin in Paraguay, Oriente basin in Ecuador and the system of pericratonic basins in north central Colombia. The maps reveal considerable variability in heat flow, not only between the main tectonic units but also within them. The intra-regional variations seem to originate mainly from complexities in local geologic structures while the inter-regional ones seem to point to action of deep-seated tectonic processes. The cordilleran regions are, in general, characterized by relatively high heat flow (>70 mW/m²), compared with the coastal regions to the west and the Pre-cordilleran basins to the east. In the eastern part of the continent, heat flow is low to normal (<60 mW/m²), the exceptions being the Mesozoic rift basins, areas of Cenozoic alkaline intrusions and some isolated belts of overthrust tectonics in the central parts of Brazil. There are indications that heat flow is high in the Patagonian Platform relative to that found in the Brazilian Platform.In addition, polynomial methods were employed for examining large-scale variations of heat flow over the continent. Specifically, a general-purpose least square solution was used to determine the coefficients of up to fourth order in latitude and longitude. Some of the large-scale trends seen in low order polynomial representations seem to be indicative of the nature of deep-seated heat transfer processes. The systematic increase in regional heat flow in the north-south direction is an example. It is considered as the consequence of thermal blanketing effect of the continental segment of the South American lithosphere. Trends seen in higher order polynomials seem to be associated with regional tectonic patterns and subduction-related magmatism. Prominent among these are east-west trending belts of low heat flow in northern Peru and in central Chile, as well as the high heat flow belts in northern Chile, Altiplano of Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. Limitations arising from low data density and uneven geographic distribution warrant higher degree polynomial representations.     

矢量GIS空间方向关系的演算模型

空间方向关系是描述空间目标间位置分布的一类基本空间约束，在GIS中是由形式化模型描述的。但现有模型由于简化假设过多，其描述分辨率较低。以点／点空间方向关系的计算量为基础，在综合考虑空间目标的几何构成和分布关系后，提出了定量化演算空间方向关系的一种新模型。利用该模型的结果，根据定量表达与定性描述之间的转换函数，可以得到相应的定性描述结果。理论分析和算例表明，新模型对目标间距离和目标本身的形状等影响方向关系的参数更为敏感，因而比现有模型有更高的描述分辨率。     

空间信息的结构、表达及其理解机制

在分析传统地理信息系统理论主要缺陷的基础上,将语言学引入地理信息系统,提出了数字环境下空间信息结构与表达的认识模型——空间信息的语言学模型,探讨了空间信息的语言学特征,主要是语言单位、语法及语义机制,并就其对地理信息系统各环节特别是空间信息的智能化数据处理所产生的影响进行了讨论。     

Formulation of discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) — an implicit discrete element model for block systems

Continuum-based numerical methods have played a leading role in the numerical solution of problems in rock mechanics and engineering geology. However, for fractured rocks, a continuum assumption often leads to difficult parameters to define and over-simplified geometry to be realistic. In such case, discrete representations of fractures and individual blocks must be adopted. In this paper, a newly emerged member in the family of discrete element methods (DEM), the discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA), is presented, including its variational principle, governing equations, solution techniques and contact representation and detection algorithms. Its relative advantages and shortcomings are compared with the explicit distinct element method and the finite element method. An example of the analysis of tunnel stability is provided to demonstrate the capability of this new method.