Volunteered geographic information research in the first decade: a narrative review of selected journal articles in GIScience

ABSTRACT

More than 10 years have passed since the coining of the term volunteered geographic information (VGI) in 2007. This article presents the results of a review of the literature concerning VGI. A total of 346 articles published in 24 international refereed journals in GIScience between 2007 and 2017 have been reviewed. The review has uncovered varying levels of popularity of VGI research over space and time, and varying interests in various sources of VGI (e.g. OpenStreetMap) and VGI-related terms (e.g. user-generated content) that point to the multi-perspective nature of VGI. Content-wise, using latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA), this study has extracted 50 specific research topics pertinent to VGI. The 50 topics have been subsequently clustered into 13 intermediate topics and three overarching themes to allow a hierarchical topic review. The overarching VGI research themes include (1) VGI contributions and contributors, (2) main fields applying VGI, and (3) conceptions and envisions. The review of the articles under the three themes has revealed the progress and the points that demand attention regarding the individual topics. This article also discusses the areas that the existing research has not yet adequately explored and proposes an agenda for potential future research endeavors.     

Characterization of sudden and sustained base flow jump hydrologic behaviour in the humid seasonal tropics of the Panama Canal Watershed

Base flows are important for tropical regions with pronounced dry seasons, which are facing increasing water demands. Base flow generation, however, is one of the most challenging hydrological processes to characterize in the tropics. In many years during the May–December wet season in the Panama Canal Watershed (PCW), base flows in rivers abruptly increase. This increase persists until the start of the December–April dry season. Understanding this unusual base flow jump (BFJ) behaviour is critical to improve water provisioning in the seasonal tropics, especially during droughts and extended dry seasons. This study developed an integrated approach combining piecewise regression on cumulative average base flow and sensitivity analysis to calculate the timing and magnitude of BFJ. Rainfall, forest cover, mean land surface slope, catchment area, and estimated subsurface storage were tested as predictors for the occurrence and magnitude of the BFJs in seven subcatchments of the PCW. Sensitivity analysis on correlated predictors allowed ranking of predictor contributions due to isolated and cross-correlation effects. Correlations between observed BFJs and BFJs predicted by watershed and rainfall-related predictors were 0.92 and 0.65 for BFJ timing and magnitude, respectively. Forest cover was the second most significant predictor after cumulative rainfall for jump magnitude, owing to larger subsurface storage and groundwater recharge in forests than pastures. Catchments in the mountainous eastern PCW always generated larger jumps due to their higher rainfall and greater forest cover than the western PCW catchments. The cross-correlations between predictors contributed to more than 50% of the jump variances. The results demonstrate the importance of rainfall gradient and catchment characteristics in affecting the sudden and sustained BFJs, which can help inform land management decisions intended to enhance water supplies in the tropics. This study underscores the need for more research to further understand the hydrological processes involved in the BFJ phenomenon, including better BFJ models and field characterizations, to help improve tropical ecosystem services under a changing environment.     

River discharge,land use change,and surface water quality in the Xiangjiang River,China

To compare the impacts of river discharge on the surface water quality of the Xiangjiang River in China, 12 surface water quality parameters recorded at 31 sampling sites from January 1998 to December 2008 along the river and its main tributaries were analyzed. Significantly higher concentrations of total nitrogen, ammoniacal nitrogen, and total phosphorus, and biochemical oxygen demand were observed during low‐flow periods than during high‐flow periods, implying a higher risk to local residents drinking untreated water during low‐flow periods. Pollution indexes, including the inorganic pollution index and integrated pollution index (IPI), were negatively related to impervious surface area (ISA) and cropland area (CLA) when ISA (CLA) was less than 160 (3000) km². However, the relationship was positive when ISA (CLA) was larger than 160 (3000) km², which provided a reasonable explanation for the observed spatial patterns of water quality. Distinct increasing temporal trends for two kinds of pollution indexes were also found. The annual ISA was significantly related to the rapid degradation of water quality from 1998 to 2008, with correlation coefficient (r) values of 0.816 (p = 0.002) and 0.711 (p = 0.014) for the organic pollution index (OPI) and IPI, respectively. However, annual rainfall was negatively correlated with the two indexes with r values of 0.785 (p = 0.002) and 0.448 (p = 0.093) for OPI and IPI, respectively. Our study highlights that decision makers should be more aware of recent increases in the pollution of the Xiangjiang River, especially at downriver sites and during low‐flow periods. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chloride source delineation in an urban-agricultural watershed: Deicing agents versus agricultural contributions

Analyses (n = 525) of chloride (Cl⁻), bromide (Br⁻), nitrate as nitrogen (NO₃-N), sodium (Na⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺) and potassium (K⁺) in stream water, tile-drain water and groundwater were conducted in an urban-agricultural watershed (10% urban/impervious, 87% agriculture) to explore potential differences in the signature of Cl⁻ originating from an urban source as compared with an agricultural source. Only during winter recharge events did measured Cl⁻ concentrations exceed the 230 mg/L chronic threshold. At base flow, nearly all surface water and tile water samples had Cl⁻ concentrations above the calculated background threshold of 18 mg/L. Mann–Whitney U tests revealed ratios of Cl⁻ to Br⁻ (p = .045), to NO₃-N (p < .0001), to Ca²⁺ (p < .0001), and to Na⁺ (p < .0001) to be significantly different between urban and agricultural waters. While Cl⁻ ratios indicate that road salt was the dominant source of Cl⁻ in the watershed, potassium chloride fertilizer contributed as an important secondary source. Deicing in watersheds where urban land use is minimal had a profound impact on Cl⁻ dynamics; however, agricultural practices contributed Cl⁻ year-round, elevating stream base flow Cl⁻ concentrations above the background level.     

Collaborative Governance and Conflict Management: Lessons Learned and Good Practices from a Case Study in the Amazon Basin

Abstract

Given the linkages between natural resources and social conflicts, evidence increasingly shows that successful natural resource management requires conflict mitigation and prevention. However, there may be a gap in practice between knowing what processes and tools need to be used to manage conservation conflicts and how to actually implement them. We present learning from a practice-based case study of conflict management in the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve in the Peruvian Amazon that aimed to develop natural resource governance institutions and build stakeholder capacity, including of indigenous groups, to navigate existing conflict resolution mechanisms. Through applying good practices in conservation conflict management and collaborative governance, we generated important lessons on the practical considerations involved in collaborative conservation. These lessons, while specific to our case, could be applied to a variety of protected areas facing complex social-ecological systems dynamics and wicked problems.     

喀斯特地区地表温度空间降尺度方法初探

喀斯特地区地形起伏大,常规的降尺度方法及所选择的因子对其不适用。该文根据喀斯特地区的特点,选取反射率、遥感指数及高程因子为尺度因子,通过随机森林模型建立MODIS第31、32波段辐射亮度数据和尺度因子之间的非线性关系,构建适合喀斯特地区的随机森林(Karst Random Forest,KRF)模型,成功将空间分辨率为1 km的热红外辐射亮度降至100 m,最后利用劈窗算法反演得到空间分辨率为100 m的地表温度。将KRF方法与仅考虑常规因子的多因子随机森林回归模型(MTVRF)和热锐化算法(TsHARP)对比,结果表明:1)在不同高差的喀斯特地区,KRF方法可较大程度提高地表温度降尺度精度,均方根误差(RMSE)在遵义市西北部和贵阳市以南地区分别为2.46 K和1.45 K,较MTVRF模型分别降低了0.1419 K和0.2928 K,较TsHARP算法分别降低了0.6204 K和0.6953 K,且在地形起伏度较低的喀斯特山区城市(贵阳市以南)表现更好;2)在喀斯特地区不同地类上,KRF方法效果也较好,其中植被区域最优,RMSE为1.41 K,破碎的裸土区域RMSE为1.84 K。研究显示,考虑特殊尺度因子的KRF方法可提高喀斯特地区地表温度的降尺度精度,为该地区以地表温度为基础的研究提供更精细可靠的地表温度产品。     

基于脱钩模型的湖北省乡村人—耕—居变化关联模式分析

乡村人口、耕地和居民点(人—耕—居)是农村社会经济发展的核心要素,其变化反映了农村特定时期的人地关系。该文综合运用热点分析和脱钩模型,探讨2009-2017年湖北省县域乡村人—耕—居动态演化特征和时空关联模式,揭示乡村人—耕—居发展的内在关系与规律。结果表明:1)湖北省乡村人—耕—居整体以“人减耕减居增”变化为主,空间上未呈现典型的高低值集聚特征,但武汉市及其周边区域是人口和居民点变化的冷热点集聚区。2)强复钩和衰退复钩分别是湖北省乡村人口与居民点变化及人口与耕地变化的最主要类型,农村居民点粗放利用趋势明显,城镇发展与耕地保护的矛盾依然突出。3)湖北省县域乡村人—耕—居变化共有7种时空关联模式,不同类型分布体现了城镇化和社会经济发展的地域分异性,人—居强复钩与人—耕衰退复钩组合是最主要类型,湖北省县域多数乡村发展尚处于快速城镇化的自然衰退期。研究成果有助于深入理解快速城镇化期乡村人地关系,能够为乡村振兴分类、分标准施策提供借鉴。     

南昌市厚田沙地蔓荆灌丛沙堆的形态与沉积特征

为探究亚热带湿润地区河湖周边发育的灌丛沙堆形态与沉积特征,以南昌市厚田沙地为研究区,对其优势种蔓荆（Vitex trifolia）所形成的灌丛沙堆开展野外调查,通过对不同部位的沉积物进行采样与分析,研究沙堆形态、沉积特征及其与植被特性之间的关系。结果表明：蔓荆灌丛沙堆形态大多为盾形,水平尺度大,高度矮,坡度缓。沙堆沉积物以中沙为主,分选性较差,呈正偏和窄峰态分布,沙源来自附近平沙地和丘间地,为近源沉积。平均粒径从迎风坡底部至背风坡底部呈现为先变细后变粗的趋势,体现了灌丛沙堆的防风滞沙功能和对沙粒的重新分选作用。灌丛与沙堆的各形态参数（灌丛高度除外）均存在高度的正相关性（P＜0.01）,说明各形态参数在沙堆发育过程中得以协调发展。受植被类型和区域环境的影响,与干旱-半干旱地区直立生长且分支少的灌丛形成的椭球形或圆锥形沙堆形态不同,蔓荆匍匐生长且高度较矮的形态常形成低矮且范围较大的灌丛沙堆。亚热带湿润地区风力资源不丰富及厚田沙地沙源不足使沉积物主要来源于附近平沙地与丘间地,但不同坡位沉积规律与干旱-半干旱地区相同。     

土地整治与乡村振兴——土地利用多功能性视角

长期以来乡村土地利用功能的供需不平衡是造成乡村问题的主要原因之一。论文基于土地利用多功能性视角,以“供给—需求”“要素—结构—功能”为主线,阐释了农村土地整治与乡村振兴的互馈关系,探讨了如何通过农村土地整治实现乡村土地利用功能的供需平衡,进而促进乡村振兴。研究结果如下：① 综合土地整治是一种多功能的土地利用方式,是当前解决乡村问题、促进乡村振兴的重要手段,其本质是从以经济效益为主的生产主义向兼顾社会、经济、环境等的非生产主义的转变。② 乡村土地利用具有生产、生活、生态、文化等4种主要功能,满足乡村振兴在经济、社会、环境、文化等方面的需求,其中生产功能分为农业、商业、工业生产功能,生活功能分为居住、就业和公共服务功能。③ 农村土地整治沿整合土地利用要素、重组土地利用结构、优化土地利用功能的路径,从供给侧因地制宜地平衡乡村发展对土地利用多功能的需求。④ 今后,农村土地整治与乡村振兴的研究应该考虑不同空间尺度下土地整治对于乡村振兴的作用机制与模式,定量分析土地整治影响下土地利用的多功能供给以及不同类型乡村发展对土地利用功能的需求,从而为土地利用和乡村振兴规划的制定和实施提供科学依据。     

基于大数据的城市地质环境智能监管思路与方法

随着城市化进程加速,城市范围迅猛扩大,人口急剧膨胀,高层建筑林立,地下空间开发规模化,面临着水资源贫化、地质环境恶化和地质灾害频发等巨大挑战.为了有效地应对挑战,迫切需要在城市多要素地质环境调查并建立完善的信息系统的基础上,开展面向“智慧城市”的精细、全息三维地质建模,即建立新型的城市“玻璃国土”,实现城市地质环境时空透视,然后利用传感器、物联网和云技术,建立城市地质资源、地质环境和地质灾害动态监测数据链,最后基于地质科学大数据的同化、融合和挖掘技术,进行智能预警和管控.