Ontologies to interpret remote sensing images: why do we need them?

The development of new sensors and easier access to remote sensing data are significantly transforming both the theory and practice of remote sensing. Although data-driven approaches based on innovative algorithms and enhanced computing capacities are gaining importance to process big Earth Observation data, the development of knowledge-driven approaches is still considered by the remote sensing community to be one of the most important directions of their research. In this context, the future of remote sensing science should be supported by knowledge representation techniques such as ontologies. However, ontology-based remote sensing applications still have difficulty capturing the attention of remote sensing experts. This is mainly because of the gap between remote sensing experts’ expectations of ontologies and their real possible contribution to remote sensing. This paper provides insights to help reduce this gap. To this end, the conceptual limitations of the knowledge-driven approaches currently used in remote sensing science are clarified first. Then, the different modes of definition of geographic concepts, their duality, vagueness and ambiguity, and the sensory and semantic gaps are discussed in order to explain why ontologies can help address these limitations. In particular, this paper focuses on the capacity of ontologies to represent both symbolic and numeric knowledge, to reason based on cognitive semantics and to share knowledge on the interpretation of remote sensing images. Finally, a few recommendations are provided for remote sensing experts to comprehend the advantages of ontologies in interpreting satellite images.     

Assisted network governance: An inclusive innovation to mitigate extreme water scarcity

We study a local innovation of natural resource governance in Chile in times of extreme water scarcity. Through the issuance of a scarcity decree, the government obliges local water user associations (WUAs) to reach viable water redistribution agreements in order to avoid being overruled by the state. In the Aconcagua River, the government together with the WUAs created the Executive Committee, where only the WUAs have a vote, but private and public stakeholders participate in the process of negotiating water use agreements. Grounded on thematic coding of the detailed minutes of over 80 committee meetings since its inception, we examine the workings of a new local model of Assisted Network Governance (ANG). Based on content and social network analysis of over 1,000 directed interactions among committee members, we find that ANG, as an element of broader hybrid governance, has not only produced viable agreements for immediate water redistribution, but has also facilitated longer-term system improvements by building mutual understanding, resolving conflicts, and mobilizing external resources to improve infrastructure. We conclude that ANG helps accomplish common objectives in the field of natural resources under conditions of extreme water scarcity.     

A Spatiotemporal Data Model on Relational Databases for Coastal Dynamic Research

Spatiotemporal information is currently among the most significant data used in Geographical Information Systems (GIS), especially for modeling dynamic coastal areas. As the design of the data model is the most fundamental issue for representing spatiotemporal data, this article focuses on the basic solution of how to represent spatial, attribute, and temporal information in an integrated form. By presenting a data model on relational databases, together with an object-oriented model for system development, it is expected to provide both theoretic and technical support to the spatial and temporal analyses in GISs for various applications.     

Determining Semantic Similarity of Behaviour Using Natural Semantic Metalanguage to Match User Objectives to Available Web Services

Natural Semantic Metalanguage specifies a set of semantic primitives identified by linguists since the 1970s as being present in all analysed languages and not capable of further reduction. In this article, the 63 semantic primitives are used to define the semantics of user objectives and web services in the form of semantic explications, which are then compared to determine whether the web services are likely to be helpful in meeting the user objective. The comparison of the user objectives and web services is a two stage process. Firstly, the content is compared by classifying the semantic primitives from the candidate web service and user objective on the basis of whether the primitives are common or similar. On the basis of these classifications, the percentage match and semantic relationship (subset, superset, overlaps, disjoint, identical) are determined. Secondly, the order of the semantic primitives is compared and the edit distance determined as a measure of semantic similarity. The method is tested using two examples: a comparison of spatial relations and a comparison of a user objective and three geospatial web services. The results show that the method is able to determine which concepts are broadly semantically similar and which are not.     

Towards economic geographies beyond the Nature-Society divide

This article suggests an approach to economic-geographic quantification that is relevant to engaging the socionatural blurring of an Anthropocene. It develops representations of commodities and of economies that draw upon concepts of absolute, relative, and relational space to help move beyond legacies of the Nature-Society divide in economic-geographic thought. To supplement familiar ways of knowing commodities as bounded objects with associated single values (prices), the piece rereads input-output approaches, providing accounts of how commodities enfold relations among socionatural phenomena. It quantifies and maps the activities and flows of the global economy in 2007 in terms of their embodied carbon emissions, labor times, and harvested land areas alongside their monetary values. Comparing the perspectives that result, it identifies empirical and theoretical challenges that a political-industrial ecology could help address.     

Geo-Pragmatics for the Geospatial Semantic Web

Geo‐Pragmatics is introduced here as an enhanced representation for ontologies in which geospatial, geographical and geoscientific concepts are not only defined, but their pragmatic context is also captured and potentially reasoned with. A framework for representing such context is developed using three core aspects: dimensions, agents and roles. Dimensions consist of a concept's origins, uses and effects; these are generated by the interaction of human, machine and natural agents, and involve entities with roles developed from method‐driven perspectives and epistemic‐driven versions. The relationship between these core aspects is explored conceptually and implications for geoscientific ontologies are discussed, including identification of a basic ontological type, the situated concept, whose meaning is defined by its geographical‐historical context. Geo‐pragmatics should help geoscientists evaluate the scientific merit, and fitness for scientific use, of geoscientific ontologies in emerging e‐science initiatives.     

基于优序图法的可拓学理论在马吉水电站岩体质量评价中的应用

文中结合可拓学理论在工程实际中的应用, 将其应用到马吉水电站坝肩某高程平硐的岩体质量评价中。基于可拓学的相关理论, 同时, 引入优序图法确定各评价指标的权重系数, 建立了硐室岩体质量评价的物元模型, 并利用该模型对PD105各硐段岩体进行了可拓学的岩体质量评价, 结果符合现场观察规律。对比之前的RMR评价方法, 认为可拓学理论在岩体质量评价中能够很好地反应水电工程岩体的工程地质特性。     

Development of a GIS-based monitoring and management system for underground coal mining safety

Coal mine safety is of paramount concern to mining industry. Mine accidents have various causes and consequences including catastrophic failure of mine, substantial economic losses and most notably loss of lives. Therefore, any initiative in mine monitoring is of vital importance for progressing safety surveillance and maintenance.This paper presents the development of a geographic information system (GIS)-based monitoring and management system for underground mine safety in three levels as constructive safety, surveillance and maintenance, and emergency. The developed model integrates the database design and management to the monitoring system implementation which encompasses query and analysis operations with the help of web and desktop applications. Interactive object-oriented graphical user interfaces (GUIs) were developed to visualize information about the entities gathered from the model and also to provide analysis operations based on the graphical representations and demonstrations using data tables and map objects.The research methodology essentially encompasses five main stages: (i) designing a conceptual database model; (ii) development of a logical model in terms of entity-relationship (ER) diagrams; (iii) development of a physical model based on physical constraints and requirements; (iv) development of GUIs and implementation of the developed model, analysis and queries; (v) verification and validation of the created model for Ömerler underground coal mine in Turkey. The proposed system is expected to be an efficient tool for improving and maintaining healthy standards in underground coal mines which can possibly be extended to a national GIS infrastructure.     

On the Relationship Between Queer and Feminist Geographies

Despite their diverse and contested characters, queer and feminist geographies have much in common historically, theoretically, empirically, and politically. Following a brief discussion of their connections and divergences, I discuss the distinctive contributions of queer geographies and their potential, in continuing conversation and alliance with feminist geographies, to enliven and enrich geographical inquiry more broadly. I focus particularly on the potential of feminist‐inspired and allied queer geographies to rethink a variety of spatial (and other) ontologies, including space, place, placelessness, movement, gender, homophobias and heterosexisms, generational cultures, and cultural politics.     

Relational distance,neoliberalism and the regulation of animal health

Using quantitative and qualitative data, this paper contributes to debates on the uneven geographies of neoliberal animal disease regulation. Specifically, the paper analyses the impacts of neoliberal reforms to animal disease regulation in Great Britain. Focussing on the case of bovine tuberculosis (bTB), the paper analyses how changes to ‘relational distance’ in animal disease regulation have led to closer relationships between regulators (veterinarians) and regulatees (farmers) which in turn has led to a departure from standardised disease regulation to approaches that emphasise greater flexibility and judgement. The paper presents quantitative analysis of bTB testing data revealing the gradual erosion of government control of bTB regulation and significant variations in disease diagnosis between vets in the private and public sectors. Drawing on interviews with senior veterinarians in Government and veterinary organisations, the paper shows how these regulatory structures evolved and came to be accepted despite their limitations. The paper concludes by considering how relational distance contributes to an understanding of the nature of disease and its implications for the wider regulation of animal disease.