A complete classification of spatial relations using the Voronoi-based nine-intersection model

In this article we show that the Voronoi-based nine-intersection (V9I) model proposed by Chen et al. (2001, A Voronoi-based 9-intersection model for spatial relations. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 15 (3), 201–220) is more expressive than what has been believed before. Given any two spatial entities A and B, the V9I relation between A and B is represented as a 3 × 3 Boolean matrix. For each pair of types of spatial entities that is, points, lines, and regions, we first show that most Boolean matrices do not represent a V9I relation by using topological constraints and the definition of Voronoi regions. Then, we provide illustrations for all the remaining matrices. This guarantees that our method is sound and complete. In particular, we show that there are 18 V9I relations between two areas with connected interior, while there are only nine four-intersection relations. Our investigations also show that, unlike many other spatial relation models, V9I relations are context or shape sensitive. That is, the existence of other entities or the shape of the entities may affect the validity of certain relations.     

Analysis of sinkhole occurrences over abandoned mines using fuzzy reasoning: a case study

In Korea most of the old mine workings were worked with room and pillar method or sublevel caving method and today they possess great possibility of surface subsidence especially for shallow depth mines. In most of the cases, mine roadways, rooms and pillars are irregular in shape and information about the local geology is uncertain. For these reasons, it is difficult to standardize the estimating method of subsidence especially sinkhole type over abandoned mine area. This paper describes the application procedure for the fuzzy reasoning techniques to analyze the possibility of sinkhole occurrences over abandoned mines. This technique is implemented in software which can simplify the analysis procedure and present the possibility of sinkhole subsidence without having precise information about local geological/mining conditions. This technique has been applied to forecast sinkhole possibilities at Bonghwa site where a massive sinkhole has already been occurred.     

邻接凸多边形方向关系计算及其推理

在对拓扑邻接凸多边形方向关系计算特殊性分析的基础上,提出了一个邻接凸多边形方向关系计算算法和二维空间方向关系推理方法。与Voronoi图所表达的邻近拓扑关系相结合,该算法可以用于计算离散二维空间目标之间的方向关系     

An optimum vehicular path algorithm for traffic network based on hierarchical spatial reasoning

Human beings’ intellection is the characteristic of a distinct hierarchy and can be taken to construct a heuristic in the shortest path algorithms. It is detailed in this paper how to utilize the hierarchical reasoning on the basis of greedy and directional strategy to establish a spatial heuristic, so as to improve running efficiency and suitability of shortest path algorithm for traffic network. The authors divide urban traffic network into three hierarchies and set forward a new node hierarchy division rule to avoid the unreliable solution of shortest path. It is argued that the shortest path, no matter distance shortest or time shortest, is usually not the favorite of drivers in practice. Some factors difficult to expect or quantify influence the drivers’ choice greatly. It makes the drivers prefer choosing a less shortest, but more reliable or flexible path to travel on. The presented optimum path algorithm, in addition to the improvement of the running efficiency of shortest path algorithms up to several times, reduces the emergence of those factors, conforms to the intellection characteristic of human beings, and is more easily accepted by drivers. Moreover, it does not require the completeness of networks in the lowest hierachy and the applicability and fault tolerance of the algorithm have improved. The experiment result shows the advantages of the presented algorithm. The authors argued that the algorithm has great potential application for navigation systems of large-scale traffic networks.     

3维GIS中位置关系的定性描述与推理

3维空间中位置关系的定性描述和推理是当前城市和矿山GIS界的重要理论课题之一,主要涉及如何用定性距离和方向关系来综合描述目标对象及相对于其参照物的空间位置关系的方法。本文基于投影系统划分空间方向区域,利用解析几何工具表达距离关系和方向关系,建立组合距离和方向关系来描述位置关系的概念框架,导出位置关系组合推理的一般表达式,并通过例子说明一些典型的位置关系定性推理过程和结果。     

The world,the computer,and the mind: how Andrew Frank helped make human language and cognition cornerstones of geographic information science

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, cognitive science was included as one of the key disciplines in the emerging multidisciplinary field of geographic information science (GIScience). One of the key proponents and popularizers of the study of human cognition as part of GIScience – and one of its major researchers – has been Andrew U. Frank. In this essay, we review the history of Andrew Frank’s role as an innovator and champion for cognitive GIScience, and summarize some of his research contributions in this domain. Taken along with his contributions to other areas of GIScience, this review shows that Andrew Frank has been one of the primary figures in modern GIScience, and among its very broadest and intellectually-diverse contributors.     

A New Method to Predict Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate with Natural Geographical Factors and Location by Case-based Reasoning: A Case Study of China

Reference values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)are the key to interpret ESR blood test in clinic.The common local reference ESR values are more accuracy in blood test that are established with natural geographical factors by using the multiple linear regression(MLR)model and the artificial neural network(ANN).These knowledge-based methods have limitations since the knowledge domains of ESR and natural geographical factors are limited.This paper presents a new cases-depended model to establish reference ESR values with natural geographical factors and location using case-based reasoning(CBR)since knowledge domain of ESR and geographical factors is weak.Overall 224 local normal ESR values of China that calculated from 13623 samples were obtained,and the corresponding natural geographical factors and location that include altitude,sunshine hours,relative humidity,temperature,precipitation,annual temperature range and annual average wind speed were obtained from the National Geomatics Center of China.CBR was used to predict the unseen local reference ESR values with cases.The average absolute deviation(AAD),mean square error(MSE),prediction accuracy(PA),and Pearson correlation coefficient(r)between the observed and estimated data of proposed model is 33.07%,9.02,66.93% and 0.78,which are better than those of ANN and MLR model.The results show that the proposed model provides higher prediction accuracy than those of the artificial neural network and multiple linear regression models.The predicted values are very close to the observed values.Model results show significant agreement of cases data.Consequently,the model is used to predict the unseen local reference ESR with natural geographical factors and location.In spatial,the highest ESR reference areas are distributed in the southern-western district of China that includes Sichuan,Chongqing,Guangxi and Guizhou provinces,and the reference ESR values are greater than 23 mm/60 min.The higher ESR reference values are distributed in the middle part and northern-eastern of China which include Hubei,Henan,Shaanxi,Shanxi,Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces,and the reference ESR values are greater than 18 mm/60min.The lowest ESR reference values are distributed in the northern-western of China that includes Tibet and Xinjiang,and the reference ESR values are lower than 5 mm/60min.     

基于云推理的年降水量预测

预测未来年的降水量是对旱情做出预警并采取合理抗旱措施的重要前提,但如何获得准确的预测值一直是研究的热点。降水随时间的变化通常具有随机性和模糊性,而云模型是在传统模糊数学和概率统计的基础上建立起来的,能够实现不确定概念与定量数值之间的自然转化,通过年降水量历史数据及当前趋势挖掘并制定出相应规则,从而推理获得未来年份的降水量。在此基础上,提出了基于小波消噪预处理和理论频率曲线修正的云推理预测模型,并将其运用到了西安市年降水量的预测当中。从所得结果来看,降水量预测值能较好的反映其年际变化规律,模型预测精度得到了很大提高,基本可将误差控制在30%以内。     

An evidential reasoning-based sustainability index for water resources management

ABSTRACT

Evidential reasoning (ER) is introduced as a new basis for developing and implementing sustainability indices (SI). The ER-based evaluations keep the merits of previous well-known sustainability indices and provide added values such as more accurate grade-based assessment and aggregation of performance criteria. The proposed modifications significantly improve the capability of the SI to scrutinize and differentiate various water-supply conditions. Available data from Gorganrud-Qaresou basin, northern Iran, are used to evaluate the applicability and efficiency of the sustainability index. The results of the proposed method are compared with two water resources sustainability indices with similar concepts but different bases. It is shown that the ER-based SI can better distinguish undesirable water-supply scenarios.     

Ecological performance and possible origin of a ubiquitous but under-studied gastropod

Invasions by non-indigenous species (NIS) have been suggested to alter local, regional and global biota on unprecedented scales. To manage NIS, it is pivotal to identify whether a species is introduced or native, but even today the geographical origin of thousands of species worldwide remain uncertain. Most of these ‘cryptogenic species’ are inconspicuous and rare, but in a few instances, they can also be abundant and conspicuous species, with large impacts on community structure. The identification of cryptogenic species, and summarizing information on their most likely origin, is an important task in invasion biology, and can highlight the need for research and management. Here, we document that the gastropod Batillaria australis in the Swan River estuary (Perth, Western Australia) is a conspicuous species of uncertain origin. A literature review combined with new survey data revealed that all evidence point to a recent human-mediated transfer; for example, it is absent from the fossil record, was first collected in 1954, has a low parasite diversity, has increased its population size dramatically in recent times, is separated by >3000 km from conspecifics, has no long-distance dispersal mechanisms, and existing ocean currents run against a natural range extension. Surprisingly, despite political and scientific focus on NIS hardly any ecological data have been published on this species from Western Australia. We show that B. australis is highly abundant in both seagrass beds (424 ± 29 ind m⁻²) and on unvegetated sand flats (92 ± 22 ind m⁻²) being orders of magnitudes more abundant than any native gastropod in the Swan River. Experiments showed that high resistance to predation and environmental stress potentially explains its success. From our survey data, we calculated that >3.6 billion invasive snails today occupy the Swan River. This large snail populations support other organisms; for example, almost 1 billion macroalgae are found attached to living B. australis and >100 million hermit crabs occupy its empty shells. Given Battilaria’s high abundance, wide distribution, large size, persistent shells that support other organisms and bioturbating behavior, it seems inescapable that this potential invader has impacted the ecosystem functioning of the Swan River. We argue that the search for abundant species of uncertain origin should continue, and that these species generally should be treated with the same interest as high status invaders to mitigate impacts in already invaded systems and to avoid secondary spread into neighboring ecosystems.