Combination of historical maps and satellite images of the Banat region—Re-appearance of an old wetland area

The area of Banat, a historical region shared by Romania and Serbia, has been hit by a centennial flood event in spring 2005. The Temes (Tamiš/Timiş) River flooded several hundred km², with many settlements. The extent of the flood was partly unexpected, especially in positional sense. In order to achieve a better understanding of the phenomenon, we analysed the SRTM digital elevation model as well as historical maps. Several historical maps, dating back to the 16th century, indicate marshland or even a large lake in the area, not existing today but almost exactly coinciding with the extent of the 2005 flood.The historical and archive maps document the water regulation measures taken since the early 19th century. The actual flood is found to be a sort of a restoration of the original natural conditions. Via the analysis of the DEM and historical maps the unexpected extent of the flood scenario can be explained and understood. We suggest that an analysis of historical and archive maps, combined (geo-referenced) with high-resolution DEMS in other flood-endangered areas, should be used in order to be better prepared for decadal or centennial flood events induced by climatic change.     

圣保罗大都市区社会空间分异研究——多元统计方法在城市连绵区的应用

空间数据和地理信息系统在城市规划和决策中应用的重要性日见凸显。主要原因在于：重要的人口数据和社会变动经常表现出一定的空间特性,这种特性可以通过空间分析和统计方法被认识和解释。应用多元分析的空间分类方法编制圣保罗大都市区社会分异地图并进行相关分析。研究的主要数据来自2000年巴西全国人口普查,其中包括了圣保罗大都市的所有行政区和39个自治市的21774个人口普查区。为了把都市连绵区从数据全集中分离出来,我们采用混合技术进行互补分析,即在2000年4月30日的陆地卫星7号图像中绘制一个个多边形,这些被识别出来的多边形就是人口普查区。然后,通过目视解译出假彩色多边形集合。应用空间分类评分程序将这些多边形分成五类,并建立人口普查区的数目、覆盖的面积和都市连绵区之间的关系。这种多元分析方法是基于变量的均衡化来生成易于用分级统计图描述平均值,以促进可视化和后续的空间分布分析。基于多元分析的空间分类方法研究,清楚地展现了圣保罗大都市最重要的社会特征,也说明城市社会地图方法和多元分析的空间分类方法在大都市区的管理、公共政策规划和复杂决策中具有重要的应用价值。     

Competitive Learning Approach to GIS Based Land Use Suitability Analysis

This paper uses the expected utility under risk hypothesis to develop a new approach to GIS modeling for land use suitability analysis with competitive learning algorithms (CLG-LUSA). It uses Kohonen’s Self Organized Maps (SOM) and Linear Vector Quantization (LVQ) among other tools to create comprehensive ordering of high number of options. The model uses decision makers preferred locations and environmental data to construct a manifold of the decision’s attribute space. Then, decision and uncertainty maps are derived from this manifold. An application example is provided using the selection of suitable environments for coconut development in a municipality of Cuba. CLG-LUSA model was able to provide accurate visual feedback of key aspects of the decision process, making the methodology suitable for personal or group decision making.     

1:10000地形图航摄成图外业生产关键技术研究

介绍了目前1∶10 000地形图航摄成图的主要技术方案和像控测量的发展,提出了在1∶10 000地形图航摄成图外业生产的技术关键,并结合实际进行了分析、比较与总结。     

Probability maps of landslide reactivation derived from tree-ring records: Pra Bellon landslide, southern French Alps

Probability maps of landslide reactivation are presented for the Pra Bellon landslide located in the southern French Alps based on results obtained with dendrogeomorphic analysis. Spatiotemporal patterns of past landslide activity was derived from tree-ring series of 403 disturbed mountain pine trees growing in the landslide body. In total, 704 growth disturbances were identified in the samples indicating 22 reactivation phases of the landslide body between 1910 and 2011. The mean return period was 4.5 years. Given the spatiotemporal completeness of the reconstruction, probabilities of landslide reactivation were computed and illustrated using a Poisson distribution model and for 5, 20, 50, and 100 years. Probability of landslide reactivation is highest in the central part of the landslide body and increases from 0.13 for a 5-year period to 0.94 for a 100-year period. Conversely, probabilities of reactivation are lower at its margins. The proposed method differs from conventional approaches based on statistical analyses or physical modeling that have demonstrated to have limitations in the prediction of spatiotemporal reactivation of landslides. Our approach is, in contrast, based on extensive data on past landslides and therefore allowed determination of quantitative probability maps of reactivation derived directly from the frequency of past events. This approach is considered a valuable tool for land managers in charge of protecting and forecasting people and their assets from the negative effects of landslides as well as for those responsible for land use planning and management. It demonstrates the reliability of dendrogeomorphic mapping that should be used systematically in forested shallow landslides.     

Minnesota—A Sketch

Abstract

This article reports the results of an exploratory project to determine the abilities of Grade 6 children to work with digital data. The research questions dealt with understanding what is digital data, understanding what is a pixel, and how digital data can be used, making a digital map, and using pixels to determine area on maps. The results of the project showed that the children in this study were able to work with digital data, and that there is potential for using digital data on the Grade 6 level in geography instruction.     

Illustrative Materials for Geography

Abstract

Studies dealing with characteristics of housing and settlement have been based almost entirely on field observation or aerial photographs. However, this report uses information from the Department of Census and Statistics of Ceylon to plot the distribution of dwellings with specific construction material characteristics for Ceylon, thus indicating an aspect of rural housing characteristics and settlement. Use of dwelling construction materials such as mud, clay, stone, brick, cadjan, and thatch can be related to physical characteristics of the area involved, availability of building materials, and level of living and culture of the inhabitants. Cost of construction material must also be considered. If similar housing data, but more complete and of greater scope, were available from the census of every nation, much could be achieved rapidly in the geography of settlement.     

Chinese Items

Abstract

Arroyos and Environmental Change in the American South-West. By Ronald U. Cooke and Richard W. Reeves. Oxford Research Studies in Geography. London and New York: Clarendon Press, Oxford University Press, 1976. Pp. xii + 213, $18.75.

Uganda: The Asian Exiles. By Thomas and Margaret Melady. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1976. Pp. 86, $6.95.

Urban Japan: Its Foundations and Growth. By David Kornhauser. The World's Landscapes, ed. J. M. Houston. London and New York: Longman, 1976. Pp. xiii + 180, $15.00 and $7.50.

Our Landed Heritage: The Public Domain, 1776–1970. 2nd ed. By Roy M. Robbins. Lincoln, Nebr.: University of Nebraska Press, 1976.

The North American City. By Maurice Yeates and Barry Garner. 2nd ed. New York: Harper &; Row, 1976. Pp. xxv + 512, $13.95.

The Reasons for the Seasons: The Great Cosmic Megagalactic Trip Without Moving from your Chair. By Linda Allison. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 1975. Pp. 128, $6.95 and $3.95.