Quality assessment of linear data

This paper presents methods to evaluate the geometric quality of spatial data. Firstly, a point‐based method is presented, adapting conventional assessment methods whereby common points between datasets are compared. In our approach, initial matches are established automatically and refined further through interactive editing. Second, a line‐based method which uses correspondences between line segments is proposed. Here, the geometry of line segments in vector is transformed into a set of rasterized values so that their combination at each pixel can restore their original vector geometry. Matching is performed on rasterized line segments and their matching lengths and displacements are measured. Experimental results show that the line‐based approach proposed is efficient to evaluate the geometric quality of spatial data without requirements of topological relationships among line features.     

Analysis of the spatial relations among point distributions on a discrete space

This paper proposes a method of analyzing spatial relations among point distributions on a discrete space. Spatial topology and proximity are discussed in an integrated framework at both local and global scales. Local relations are described by geographical representations, whereas global relations are visualized by graph representations. The latter also provide a means of classifying the point distributions. The proposed method is applied to school location planning in Japan. The results reveal the appealing properties of the method and provide empirical findings.     

Measuring complexity in OGC web services XML schemas: pragmatic use and solutions

The use of standards in the geospatial domain, such as those defined by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), for exchanging data has brought a great deal of interoperability upon which systems can be built in a reliable way. Unfortunately, these standards are becoming increasingly complex, making their implementation an arduous task. The use of appropriate software metrics can be very useful to quantify different properties of the standards that ultimately may suggest different solutions to deal with problems related to their complexity. In this regard, we present in this article an attempt to measure the complexity of the schemas associated with the OGC implementation specifications. We use a comprehensive set of metrics to provide a multidimensional view of this complexity. These metrics can be used to evaluate the impact of design decisions, study the evolution of schemas, and so on. We also present and evaluate different solutions that could be applied to overcome some of the problems associated with the complexity of the schemas.     

A Nationwide Comparison of Driving Distance Versus Straight-Line Distance to Hospitals

Many geographic studies use distance as a simple measure of accessibility, risk, or disparity. Straight-line (Euclidean) distance is most often used because of the ease of its calculation. Actual travel distance over a road network is a superior alternative, although historically an expensive and labor-intensive undertaking. This is no longer true, as travel distance and travel time can be calculated directly from commercial Web sites, without the need to own or purchase specialized geographic information system software or street files. Taking advantage of this feature, we compare straight-line and travel distance and travel time to community hospitals from a representative sample of more than 66,000 locations in the fifty states of the United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The measures are very highly correlated (r ² > 0.9), but important local exceptions can be found near shorelines and other physical barriers. We conclude that for nonemergency travel to hospitals, the added precision offered by the substitution of travel distance, travel time, or both for straight-line distance is largely inconsequential.     

Urban hypotheses and spatiotemporal characterization of urban growth in the Treasure Valley of Idaho,USA

Spatiotemporal patterns of urban growth can help identify impacts of urbanization, assess conceptual models of that growth, help predict future change, and inform associated urban management policies. Using multi-temporal spatial data (1938-2014), we categorized the newly urbanized area in Treasure Valley, Idaho into four urban growth forms and six urban land use classes. A time series analysis of new development revealed the existence of decadal-scale variability of urbanization at various levels of urban land use. Alternating dominance of dispersion and compaction processes were observed at the urban patch level. A similar periodicity was observed between edge-expansion and infill in terms of growth forms, and between residential and commercial development at the land use level. Our observations also indicate that recent urban densification is occurring in the Treasure Valley, similar to some other metropolitan regions in the United States.     

Developing survey metrics for analysing cross-border proximity

Cross-border innovation cooperation (CBIC) has been heralded as one of the corner stones of innovation-driven growth opportunities for firms located in cross-border regions (CBRs). The success of this cooperation is affected by varying types of proximities identified in the literature as geographical, institutional, cultural, cognitive, technological, organizational and social. Although the topic has been widely discussed, the validation of the concept of proximity vis-à-vis CBIC has been persistently hindered by a lack of readily available empirical metrics. Therefore, this research note attempts to operationalize the varying types of proximity – in relation to CBIC – in the form of a questionnaire tested through pilot studies of two CBRs, at the Finnish–Swedish and Danish–German border, and for two contrasting service industries, namely knowledge-intensive business services and tourism. The findings indicate that the developed survey metrics are effective in depicting the phenomenon of proximity. The foundational work undertaken in this research note provides a platform, and catalyst, for more extensive investigations of the topic.     

产品结构演化的跨界效应研究——基于中国地级市出口产品的实证分析

使用2002~2013年中国(不包括港澳台地区)地级市出口的四位数产品数据,建立高维固定效应模型探究了新产品的出现与邻近地区之间的关系。回归结果显示产品的演化可以在邻近地区之间跨越行政边界发生,但发生的条件是本地要拥有良好的相关产业基础。同时省间分权作用会阻碍跨边界演化过程。除此之外,跨边界演化机制表现出明显的地区差异与行业差异。     

基于地级市尺度的中国外资空间动态与本土产业演化

伴随着全球化不断深入,国际劳动分工体系下全球生产网络逐步形成,推动跨国公司以外资直接投资为途径在全球范围内寻找有利区位。低廉的要素成本、友好的政策制度以及广阔的潜在市场使得发展中国家成为外资活跃的重要地区。外资空间动态不仅涉及发展中国家对接全球生产网络的效果,更关系到其生产格局的演变。而演化理论下的技术邻近度也会对外资空间动态和本土产业演化产生作用,使之呈现出更多样的空间差异。本文基于1998-2008年中国337个地级市的制造业数据,研究内、外资技术邻近度作用下外资空间动态对本土产业演化的影响,研究发现：①外资进入、退出等空间动态显著促进了中国本土产业演化,其中中西部最强,东部最弱,东北地区外资进入作用相对明显。②技术邻近度削弱了外资空间动态对本土产业演化的积极影响,但具体到不同区域也会出现差异。东部地区的技术关联反而有利于外资进入带来的知识溢出和外资退出带来的资源释放,表现为典型的“战略耦合”。而中部、西部和东北地区的技术关联则成为阻碍外资进入、退出促进内资产业发展的重要原因。