Study of the attentive behavior of novice and expert map users using eye tracking

The aim of this paper is to gain better understanding of the way map users read and interpret the visual stimuli presented to them and how this can be influenced. In particular, the difference between expert and novice map users is considered. In a user study, the participants studied four screen maps which had been manipulated to introduce deviations. The eye movements of 24 expert and novice participants were tracked, recorded, and analyzed (both visually and statistically) based on a grid of Areas of Interest. These visual analyses are essential for studying the spatial dimension of maps to identify problems in design. In this research, we used visualization of eye movement metrics (fixation count and duration) in a 2D and 3D grid and a statistical comparison of the grid cells. The results show that the users’ eye movements clearly reflect the main elements on the map. The users’ attentive behavior is influenced by deviating colors, as their attention is drawn to it. This could also influence the users’ interpretation process. Both user groups encountered difficulties when trying to interpret and store map objects that were mirrored. Insights into how different types of map users read and interpret map content are essential in this fast-evolving era of digital cartographic products.     

Visual clutter reduction in zoomable proportional point symbol maps

ABSTRACT

Proportional point symbols are commonly used in map displays. However, when such displays are zoomed out, the available map space shrinks and consequently symbols overlap and the display suffers from visual clutter. Therefore, solutions are needed to reduce visual clutter in zoomable map displays that contain proportional point symbols. The authors add to the body of knowledge through the investigation of the performance of three solutions: aggregation of unit areas, the displacement of overlapping symbols, and modified symbolization; four variations of modified symbolization are examined in detail. The original study begins with a consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of the solutions, with an emphasis on information loss. Thereafter, user sessions with 165 participants are arranged to gain empirical evidence of the performance of the solutions. The results reveal that although participants zoom out the map to zoom levels that implement visual clutter reduction techniques, they tend to zoom in the map and pan it to examine specific areas. Moreover, they willingly use the map with aggregated unit areas in cases when the solution facilitates task accomplishment. A certain amount of skepticism attaches to the solution that displaces overlapping symbols.     

减轻山区资源环境承载压力与扶贫的途径探讨——安康市教育扶贫模式实证研究

秦巴山区生态良好,是中国的绿心,但经济极端贫困,且生态保护难度大,对外联系不便,外在形象与内在发展水平矛盾突出.选取秦巴山区腹地安康地区,通过分类问卷调查和座谈的方法进行调研,发现安康市通过教育扶贫,已产生了教育移民效应.高等教育和中等职业教育每年产生永久性移民在1万人左右(0.96万人),间接移民在3万人左右,起到了减轻当地资源承载压力的作用;农民工培训每年产生暂时性移民达63.2万人.安康市的实践经验对解决资源脆弱地区的脱贫致富和环境保护提供了范式.     

The variable projection method for waveform inversion with an unknown source function

This paper compares three alternative algorithms for simultaneously estimating a source wavelet at the same time as an earth model in full‐waveform inversion: (i) simultaneous descent, (ii) alternating descent and (iii) descent with the variable projection method. The latter is a technique for solving separable least‐squares problems that is well‐known in the applied mathematics literature. When applied to full‐waveform inversion, it involves making the source wavelet an implicit function of the earth model via a least‐squares filter‐estimation process. Since the source wavelet becomes purely a function of medium parameters, it no longer needs to be treated as a separate unknown in the inversion. Essentially, the predicted data are projected onto the measured data in a least‐squares sense at every function evaluation, making use of the fact that the filter estimation problem is trivial when compared to the full‐waveform inversion problem. Numerical tests on a simple 1D model indicate that the variable projection method gives the best result; actually producing results in quality that are very similar to control experiments with a known, correct wavelet.     

The sustainable development goals: A case study

The Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs [44] are an ambitious step towards sustainable development, taking a much broader view of sustainability than ever achieved previously, yet practical challenges remain, including how to implement change. The aims of this research were to determine how an influential aquaculture company in Australia - Tassal, Tasmania's largest salmon aquaculture company - perceived the SDGs, and to ascertain the motivations and barriers for Tassal to work towards implementing the goals. Interviews were conducted with leaders, employees and external business partners. Tassal was not aware of the SDGs prior to this project, but were open to considering implementing them in their current sustainability practices. The survey responses were analysed using the Values-Rules-Knowledge (vrk) framework of decision making. Key findings were: 1) corporate and personal values were the key component driving Tassal's positive responses to the SDGs; 2) awareness of the SDGs resulted in Tassal recognising the potential gains from engaging with some of the seemingly less aquaculture-related goals (such as health and wellbeing). These findings demonstrate that businesses can fruitfully engage with the SDGs, even without government requirements or societal expectations, if they are prepared to broaden their interpretation of business sustainability and be reflective about their values. The vrk model is a potentially useful addition to current SDG and sustainability tools, such as those of the UN Global Compact, as a way to diagnose organisational barriers to adopting practices aligned with the SDGs. An emerging area of importance to social, economic and environmental sustainability – social license – was also identified as implicit in many, but not explicit in any of the SDGs.     

Assessing Collaborative Conservation: A Case Survey of Output,Outcome, and Impact Measures Used in the Empirical Literature

Abstract

Much existing research on collaborative conservation has focused on process, even as researchers have called for greater attention to explaining what results these processes yield. It is time to take stock of collaborative conservation research by mapping what kinds of variables researchers are including in analyses. Here we conduct a case survey from the SCAPE database of environmental decision-making cases. We include cases involving collaboration across government, environmental protection, and resource exploitation interests in western democratic countries. Results reveal patterns in what researchers include in their outputs, outcomes, and impacts measures of collaborative conservation. While there is little difference by publication type (peer-reviewed journals, scholarly book chapters, or gray literature) or over time, we find significant differences in explicit measures across variable types. In particular, variables more proximate to process in a logic chain are more often measured, as are social rather than ecological variables.     

中国各省市区开放型经济水平比较研究

改革开放以来,中国不断深化发展开放型经济。十七大报告明确提出"拓展对外开放广度和深度,提高开放型经济水平"。由于受地缘、人缘、政府宏观调控、跨国公司产业配置、国际分工、生产要素全球流动等因素影响,各省市区开放型经济水平存在差异。在前人研究的基础上设计了评价国内各省市区开放型经济水平的指标体系,并采用2004—2008年连续5年的相关数据,用主成分分析法测算出我国各省市区开放型经济水平。最后,对计算结果进行综合评价和分类比较得出若干结论。     

我国主体功能区划研究进展与展望

主体功能区划是对我国经济社会发展和环境保护空间框架的约束性重构,是以经济增长、人口发展和制度公平三者之间的有机协调为基本诉求的包容性增长战略在空间上的体现。通过从理论基础、方法论和管治3个方面系统总结与分析我国主体功能区划研究现状及存在问题,认为,加强主体功能区划空间定位、主体功能区划过程相对标准化、主体功能区划动态调整机制、主体功能区外部效应等方面研究,是今后我国主体功能区划研究的重点领域和趋势。     

Parametric investigation of lateral spreading of gently sloping liquefied ground

This paper investigates the main parameters affecting the anticipated maximum surface displacements due to earthquake-induced lateral spreading of mildly sloping ground. The main tool used for this purpose is a numerical methodology employing a bounding surface plasticity model implemented in a finite difference code, which has been thoroughly validated against 16 published centrifuge lateral spreading experiments. This study shows that important problem parameters are the mean ground (surface) acceleration, the duration of strong shaking following the onset of liquefaction, the corrected SPT blowcount, the depth to the sliding plane, the inclination of the ground surface and the fines content of the liquefied soil layers. A new approximate multi-variable relation is proposed for the estimation of ground surface displacements due to lateral spreading in gently sloping ground, which includes the foregoing parameters. The form of the relation builds upon sliding block theory, but its final formulation is based on statistical analysis of the input data and the results from 120 parametric analyses performed with the validated numerical methodology. Comparison of the predictions of the proposed relation for ground surface displacement against pertinent field data (from 256 case histories) and centrifuge test measurements shows satisfactory accuracy. Furthermore, the variation of lateral displacements with depth is explored and distinct displacement patterns are proposed for uniform, 2-layer and 4-layer ground profiles.     

Northward-shift of temperature zones in China’s eco-geographical study under future climate scenario

Despite the well-documented effects of global climate change on terrestrial species’ ranges, eco-geographical regions as the regional scale of ecosystems have been poorly studied especially in China with diverse climate and ecosystems. Here we analyse the shift of temperature zones in eco-geographical study over China using projected future climate scenario. Projected climate data with high resolution during 1961–2080 were simulated using regional climate model of PRECIS. The number of days with mean daily temperature above 10℃ and the mean temperature of January are usually regarded as the principal criteria to indicate temperature zones, which are sensitive to climate change. Shifts due to future climate change were calculated by comparing the latitude of grid cells for the future borderline of one temperature zone with that for baseline period (1961–1990). Results indicated that the ranges of Tropical, Subtropical, Warm Temperate and Plateau Temperate Zones would be enlarged and the ranges of Cold Temperate, Temperate and Plateau Sub-cold Zones would be reduced. Cold Temperate Zone would probably disappear at late this century. North borderlines of temperature zones would shift northward under projected future climate change, especially in East China. Farthest shifts of the north boundaries of Plateau Temperate, Subtropical and Warm Temperate Zones would be 3.1°, 5.3° and 6.6° latitude respectively. Moreover, northward shift would be more notably in northern China as future temperature increased.