Evaluating the fitness for use of spatial data sets to promote quality in ecological assessment and monitoring

This article proposes and illustrates a practical methodological framework to evaluate the fitness for use of spatial data sets for environmental and ecological applications, focusing on user requirements for specified application contexts. The methodology is based on the use of metadata to analyze similarity between the data characteristics and the user’s needs or expectations for several quality indicators. Additionally, the concept of ‘critical factors’ is introduced in this framework, allowing users to define which quality indicators have greater importance given their own requirements or expectations and the specified application contexts. The proposed methodology further allows integrating and interconnecting the spatial data quality (SDQ) evaluation methodology with metadata geoportals in WebGIS platforms, facilitating its operation by users from non-spatial disciplines and with often limited expertise on this subject. Examples of the evaluation of fitness for use for specific application contexts within the project BIO_SOS (‘Biodiversity Multi-SOurce Monitoring System: From Space To Species’ FP7 project) are presented. By providing a prompt and straightforward evaluation tool, the proposed methodology can encourage the implementation of SDQ evaluation routines in ecological assessment and monitoring programs, promoting a more adequate use of geospatial data and ultimately contributing to well-supported policy and management decisions.     

Tagging-the-triangle algorithm for partitioning features with inconsistent boundaries

In spatial data sets, gaps or overlaps among features are frequently found in spatial tessellations due to the non-abutting edges with adjacent features. These non-abutting edges in loose tessellations are also called inconsistent boundaries or slivers; polygons containing at least one inconsistent boundary are called inconsistent polygons or sliver polygons. The existing algorithms to solve topological inconsistencies in sliver polygons suffer from one or more of three major issues, namely determination of tolerances, excessive CPU processing time for large data sets and loss of vertex history. In this article, we introduce a new algorithm that mitigates these three issues. Our algorithm efficiently searches the features with inconsistent polygons in a given spatial data set and logically partitions them among adjacent features. The proposed algorithm employs the constrained Delaunay triangulation technique to generate labelled triangles from which inconsistent polygons with gaps and overlaps are identified using label counts. These inconsistent polygons are then partitioned using the straight skeleton method. Moreover, each of these partitioned gaps or overlaps is distributed among the adjacent features to improve the topological consistency of the spatial data sets. We experimentally verified our algorithm using the real land cadastre data set. The comparison results show that the proposed algorithm is four times faster than the existing algorithm for data sets with 200,000 edges.     

Geospatial spreadsheets with microscale air quality visualization and synchronization for supporting multiple-scenario visual collaboration

A major obstacle of the interdisciplinary communications for decision-making is that each participant prefers the solution from their own area because current collaboration systems cannot effectively mediate among many alternatives. If a visual collaboration system could display multiple alternatives in a single visual presentation, users would be able to compare alternatives with only a few variables, where all other parameters are fixed, at least from a visual perspective. In this study, we developed a visualization tool to support a microscale air quality (MSAQ) management group, the members of which often need to compare the effects of many alternative control methods. The main achievements of this study are: (1) three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the MSAQ using a 3D city model and (2) development of a geospatial spreadsheet (GS) to facilitate visual comparisons, thereby improving decision-making by making it easy to compare differences based on realistic visual display items. A questionnaire-based survey showed that use of the GS could generate a shared perspective and provide a spatiotemporal context for the participants, thereby making it easy to compare, mediate and reach decisions when confronted with many alternatives.     

高光谱遥感土地质量指标信息提取研究进展

高光谱遥感技术已成为提取土地质量指标的前沿技术之一。该文回顾了国内外高光谱遥感技术在土地质量指标提取中的研究进展,总结归纳了作为土地生态系统载体的土壤属性质量指标和反映生态系统结构功能的质量指标中的土壤有机质、全氮、土壤水分、铁氧化物、土壤重金属、土壤质地、土壤盐分、植被覆盖度、生物量、指示种10个指标的提取、敏感波段选择与反演方法,指出研究中存在的问题,最后展望了高光谱遥感技术在土地质量指标提取研究中的应用前景。     

能见度气象监测数据质量检查方法初探

运用河北省境内103套交通气象监测站逐分钟的能见度气象监测数据,结合气象台站自动站和人工观测资料,探讨了能见度气象监测数据的质量问题和质量检查方法。归纳出3类能见度监测数据的质量问题,提出允许值检查、时间一致性检查、内部一致性检查、空间一致性检查、人为识别法等几种可用于能见度气象监测数据的质量检查方法,同时给出了雾和强降雨造成的低能见度数据质量检查和控制指标。     

不确定度在多波束测深数据质量评估中的应用

在海道测量中,由于无法对测量数据进行多余和重复观测,因而不能精确测定各种误差,同时也几乎没有测量成果质量的控制指标,这正是多波束测深数据质量评估所面临的现实且急需解决的难题。基于国际海道测量规范S-44(5th)的要求,研究了不确定度在多波束数测深数据质量评估中的应用。通过实例分析可知,测量结果的可用性在很大程度上取决于其不确定度的大小,不确定度越小,说明测量结果质量越高,越具有可靠性。因此,将不确定度充分合理地应用于多波束测深数据处理和评估是一种最为理想的途径。     

基于ECDIS的多数据源支持技术分析

利用多源地理空间数据集成和融合理论,研究了基于ECDIS的多数据源支持技术。介绍了常用的多源海图数据及其使用原则,分析了ECDIS多数据源支持技术的特点及内涵,总结了国内外常用多源海图数据集成方法,从数据可用性角度探讨了提高国产电子海图系统适用性的措施。     

船舶定线制在海图上的表示方法分析

详细介绍了船舶定线制的起源以及在国内的应用情况,结合实例分析船舶定线制的完整体系,提出自己的分类方法,重点探讨船舶定线制这种复杂要素在海图上的表示原则和方法,以及如何在航海通告中明确表述该要素。     

海洋测量成果质量控制的探讨

结合实际测量过程中出现的问题,对提高海洋测量成果质量的几个关键环节进行了思考,从标准规范、规章制度到人员素质等三个方面提出了相应的建议,对于提高技术人员的基本素质、严格执行标准规范和规章制度、全面提高测量成果质量具有一定的参考意义。     

水下荧光光谱探测装置控制系统的设计与实现

海水中有色可溶性有机物(CDOM,Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter,常称之为黄色物质)是影响海洋水色的三大成分之一,海水中CDOM的研究具有重要的意义。本文针对CDOM水下原位探测激光诱导荧光光谱探测装置开发了一套控制系统,该控制系统分为水上甲板控制和水下数据采集两部分,水上甲板控制部分通过8芯电缆与水下数据采集部分实现供电及通信,水下数据采集部分以PC104嵌入式工控机为核心,控制整体采集部分的工作,甲板控制部分通过远程控制软件来操控PC104以实现水下数据的采集和存储。实验室环境测试及近海现场实验表明,该系统能够可靠完成水下荧光光谱装置的控制和数据的采集及通信需求,实现海水中有色可溶性有机物的水下原位探测。