Distinguishing extensive and intensive properties for meaningful geocomputation and mapping

A most fundamental and far-reaching trait of geographic information is the distinction between extensive and intensive properties. In common understanding, originating in Physics and Chemistry, extensive properties increase with the size of their supporting objects, while intensive properties are independent of this size. It has long been recognized that the decision whether analytical and cartographic measures can be meaningfully applied depends on whether an attribute is considered intensive or extensive. For example, the choice of a map type as well as the application of basic geocomputational operations, such as spatial intersections, aggregations or algebraic operations such as sums and weighted averages, strongly depend on this semantic distinction. So far, however, the distinction can only be drawn in the head of an analyst. We still lack practical ways of automation for composing GIS workflows and to scale up mapping and geocomputation over many data sources, e.g. in statistical portals. In this article, we test a machine-learning model that is capable of labeling extensive/intensive region attributes with high accuracy based on simple characteristics extractable from geodata files. Furthermore, we propose an ontology pattern that captures central applicability constraints for automating data conversion and mapping using Semantic Web technology.     

Terrestrial and Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Mapping in Fire Island National Seashore Using High Spatial Resolution Remote Sensing Data

The vegetation communities and spatial patterns on the Fire Island National Seashore are dynamic as the result of interactions with driving forces such as sand deposition, storm-driven over wash, salt spray, surface water, as well as with human disturbances. We used high spatial resolution QuickBird-2 satellite remote sensing data to map both terrestrial and submerged aquatic vegetation communities of the National Seashore. We adopted a stratified classification and unsupervised classification approach for mapping terrestrial vegetation types. Our classification scheme included detailed terrestrial vegetation types identified by previous vegetation mapping efforts of the National Park Service and three generalized categories of high-density seagrass, low-density seagrass coverages, and unvegetated bottom to map the submerged aquatic vegetation habitats. We used underwater videography, GPS-guided field reference photography, and bathymetric data to support remote sensing image classification and information extraction. This study achieved approximately 82% and 75% overall classification accuracy for the terrestrial and submnerged aquatic vegetations, respectively, and provided an updated vegetation inventory and change analysis for the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network of the National Park Service.     

Coastal processes and environmental hazards: the Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Venetian (Italy) littorals

The Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Venice (Italy) coastlands have experienced significant saltwater contamination of the phreatic aquifer, coastal erosion, hydrodynamic changes and relative sea level rise processes due to natural and man-induced factors. These factors expose coastal areas to morpho-hydro-geological hazards, such as soil desertification, frequency and degree of flooding, littoral erosion, and the silting of river mouths and channels. Man-made interventions and actions, such as beach mining, construction of coastal structures and exploitation of aquifers without an adequate knowledge of the hydrology setting and an adequate management program, worsen these natural hazards. Uncontrolled human activity induces environmental damage to the overall coastal plains. The coastal plains play an important role in the social/economic development of the two regions based on land use, such as agriculture, horticulture, breeding, and tourism, as well as industry. Results of investigations on saltwater contamination, sea level rise and morphological changes recently performed in these two coastal areas are presented here.     

云南鲁甸6.5级地震灾害特点浅析

通过对2014年8月3日云南鲁甸6.5级地震震害开展实地调查,对灾区破坏情况进行总体介绍,并就各烈度区特征和建筑物震害、地震地质灾害、工程结构震害进行分析,初步得出本次地震的一些震害特点.一是灾区人口密度大,人员死亡较集中.人员死亡主要集中在Ⅷ和Ⅸ度区.二是地震振动强,灾区破坏严重.本次地震震源深度12km,极震区烈度高达Ⅸ度,震源破裂在11s内集中释放.三是抗震能力弱,房屋破坏严重.灾区属国家级贫困区,农村民居抗震能力弱,且多数民房坐落在河谷陡坡上,边坡效应加重房屋震害,重灾区砖木和土木房屋成片损毁、倒塌.四是灾区条件恶劣,救灾难度大.震区活动断裂密集发育、地质破碎疏松、地形崎岖不平,又恰值雨季,诱发极其严重次生地质灾害,导致人员伤亡,造成灾区大面积交通、通信、电力中断,救援物资与救援力量无法及时发挥作用.     

安徽寿县丁家孤堆遗址自然变形遗迹的发现及特征初探

古遗址、古墓地发掘过程中自然变形现象的识别研究是反演或充实最新构造变形历史记录的重要工作。地震部门会同文物考古部门对安徽寿县丁家孤堆遗址文化层进行宏、微观研究,发现了自然变形痕迹,其主要表现为文化层被砂脉穿切,初步研究显示为地震液化遗迹,发生时代处于龙山晚期至西周时期。研究有助于推动中国东部文化层中地震遗迹的识别。     

Wavelet analysis and interpretation of gravity data in Sichuan-Yunnan region, China

Introduction Sichuan-Yunnan region, located in the east margin of Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetean) Plateau, is a transitional zone between the rapidly upheaving Tibetean Plateau and relatively steady Yangtze Platform. Under the pressure exerted by the northward movement of Indian Plate, Sichuan-Yunnan region has been undergone strong deformation and regmagenesis, becoming one of the regions with the most intensive seismicity in the world. The research on the tectonics and seismicity there is alw…     

山西断裂带断层现今活动特征及与中强震关系浅析

断层的运动方式与滑动速率是断层活动性分析的主要内容,本文利用山西地区的10处 跨断层流动场地和4处定点台站的观测资料,计算了断层垂直升降累积量、断层垂直活动速 率,定量地给出断层现今活动性质与背景活动方式,然后采用主成分分析方法对所有的资料进 行综合分析,给出区域内断层活动的总体活动水平。结果表明：山西断裂带大多数断层活动为 张性正断层活动,南部断层累积活动量较大,中北部相对较小。断层垂直活动速率综合指标反 映出山西断裂带断层总体活动具有较好的趋势性特征,活动规律明显,并且在中强地震前出现 显著异常变化,其与山西地区及周边的5.0级以上地震有较好的对应。断层活动在2013年又 一次出现了破趋势的异常变化,本文认为对此应引起注意并加强跟踪分析。     

门源6.4级、共和7.0级地震前后波速比变化特征

通过来用门源台、湟源台所记录的地震资料，对1986年门源6．4级地震、1990年共和7．0级地震前后进行波速比-时空分析，发现两次地震前后其时间分布形态为持续低值-恢复-发震的现象，空间分布为圆形、椭圆形的异常区，震后异常区消失。     

鲁南地区城市房屋震害预测

在文献调查和现场调查的基础上,对鲁南地震重点监视防御区内城市房屋建筑的抗震能力做了分析,给出了抗震救灾重要房屋的单体预测结果、现有房屋的群体预测结果,并对房屋破坏造成的直接经济损失、人员伤亡进行了预测。文中指出了现有房屋的抗震薄弱环节,为该地区采取防震减灾对策提供了依据。     

哈萨克斯坦地震地下流体监测、预测的现状及其震兆异常特征的分析

40多年来,哈萨克斯坦地震地下流体观测台网历经初期建网、系统清理、政策调整和优化提高4个阶段,目前已形成与中国北京地区流体监测网相当的规模。分析了哈萨克斯坦流体监测台网的地位、台站分布、观测项目、仪器配置及地震分析预测情况。最后,分析了哈萨克斯坦地震地下流体观测资料的特点,并就哈萨克斯坦流体交换资料的震兆异常特征进行了初步总结。