Determining the size of spatial clusters in focused tests: Comparing two methods by means of simulation in a GIS

 Based on a four-point evaluation system consisting of accuracy, consistency, power, and chance to commit type I errors, this study compares Tango's minimum p (MinP) and Stone's maximum relative risk (MaxRR) methods for detecting focused cluster size through simulations in GIS. It reveals that the MinP method is more effective than the MaxRR method. The MinP method exhibits higher levels of accuracy and consistency; and its power and chance to commit type I errors are similar to the MinP method. The MaxRR method has a tendency to underestimate the cluster size, while the MinP method tends to overestimate the cluster size, particularly when the clusters are relatively big and have high relative risk levels. In addition, the MinP method seems to be most effective in revealing the size of clusters when clusters are neither too strong nor too weak. The lowest detection rates for clustering occur when the clustering signal is relatively weak, which is easily understandable. In practice, it might be useful to use both the methods to estimate a range of possible cluster sizes, where the MaxRR method indicates the lower estimate, while the MinP method gives the higher estimate of the cluster size. Received: 24 August 2002 / Accepted: 20 December 2002     

Stochastic assessment of GPS carrier phase measurements for precise static relative positioning

 Global positioning system (GPS) carrier phase measurements are used in all precise static relative positioning applications. The GPS carrier phase measurements are generally processed using the least-squares method, for which both functional and stochastic models need to be carefully defined. Whilst the functional model for precise GPS positioning is well documented in the literature, realistic stochastic modelling for the GPS carrier phase measurements is still both a controversial topic and a difficult task to accomplish in practice. The common practice of assuming that the raw GPS measurements are statistically independent in space and time, and have the same accuracy, is certainly not realistic. Any mis-specification in the stochastic model will inevitably lead to unreliable positioning results. A stochastic assessment procedure has been developed to take into account the heteroscedastic, space- and time-correlated error structure of the GPS measurements. Test results indicate that the reliability of the estimated positioning results is improved by applying the developed stochastic assessment procedure. In addition, the quality of ambiguity resolution can be more realistically evaluated. Received: 13 February 2001 / Accepted: 3 September 2001     

Prediction of surface horizontal displacements, and gravity and tilt changes caused by filling the Three Gorges Reservoir

 Horizontal displacements, and gravity and tilt changes induced by filling the Three Gorges Reservoir are modeled using elastic loading Green functions. When the water surface reaches its highest level, the effects become maximum on the reservoir banks. The longitudinal and latitudinal components of the horizontal displacements reach −8.2 and 7.7 mm respectively, gravity is increased by up to 3.4 mGal, and the prime vertical and meridian components of the tilt changes are −7.8 and −17.5 arcseconds respectively. Accordingly, the filling of the reservoir will influence values observed from global positioning system (GPS), gravimetry and tilt measurements in the area. The results given can be used to provide important corrections for extracting earthquake-related signals from observed data. Received: 19 January 2001 / Accepted: 3 September 2001     

Conjoint modeling of residential group preferences: A comparison of the internal validity of hierarchical information integration approaches

 In this paper, two approaches for measuring residential group preferences, based on the method of Hierarchical Information Integration (HII), are compared. In particular, the hypothesis that group-based preference models estimated from integrated HII experiments better predict group preferences than part individual-based group models estimated from classical HII experiments is tested. To that effect, the models' ability to predict group preferences for new residential alternatives is compared in a study of residential preferences of co-ops. Results indicate that integrated HII group experiments indeed result in better predictions of residential preferences.     

Geostatistical incorporation of spatial coordinates into supervised classification of hyperspectral data

 This paper presents a methodology to incorporate both hyperspectral properties and spatial coordinates of pixels in maximum likelihood classification. Indicator kriging of ground data is used to estimate, for each pixel, the prior probabilities of occurrence of classes which are then combined with spectral-based probabilities within a Bayesian framework. In the case study (mapping of in-stream habitats), accounting for spatial coordinates increases the overall producer's accuracy from 85.8% to 93.8%, while the Kappa statistic rises from 0.74 to 0.88. Best results are obtained using only indicator kriging-based probabilities, with a stunning overall accuracy of 97.2%. Significant improvements are observed for environmentally important units, such as pools (Kappa: 0.17 to 0.74) and eddy drop zones (Kappa: 0.65 to 0.87). The lack of benefit of using hyperspectral information in the present study can be explained by the dense network of ground observations and the high spatial continuity of field classification which might be spurious. Received: 12 April 2001 / Accepted: 7 September 2001     

Toward micro-scale spatial modeling of gentrification

 A simple preliminary model of gentrification is presented. The model is based on an irregular cellular automaton architecture drawing on the concept of proximal space, which is well suited to the spatial externalities present in housing markets at the local scale. The rent gap hypothesis on which the model's cell transition rules are based is discussed. The model's transition rules are described in detail. Practical difficulties in configuring and initializing the model are described and its typical behavior reported. Prospects for further development of the model are discussed. The current model structure, while inadequate, is well suited to further elaboration and the incorporation of other interesting and relevant effects. Received: 1 November 2001 / Accepted: 12 April 2002 Town centres data were made available by kind permission of the UK Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.     

GPS network monitors the Western Alps' deformation over a five-year period: 1993–1998

  The Western Alps are among the best studied collisional belts with both detailed structural mapping and also crustal geophysical investigations such as the ECORS and EGT seismic profile. By contrast, the present-day kinematics of the belt is still largely unknown due to small relative motions and the insufficient accuracy of the triangulation data. As a consequence, several tectonic problems still remain to be solved, such as the amount of N–S convergence in the Occidental Alps, the repartition of the deformation between the Alpine tectonic units, and the relation between deformation and rotation across the Alpine arc. In order to address these problems, the GPS ALPES group, made up of French, Swiss and Italian research organizations, has achieved the first large-scale GPS surveys of the Western Alps. More than 60 sites were surveyed in 1993 and 1998 with a minimum observation of 3 days at each site. GPS data processing has been done by three independent teams using different software. The different solutions have horizontal repeatabilities (N–E) of 4–7 mm in 1993 and 2–3 mm in 1998 and compare at the 3–5-mm level in position and 2-mm/yr level in velocity. A comparison of 1993 and 1998 coordinates shows that residual velocities of the GPS marks are generally smaller than 2 mm/yr, precluding a detailed tectonic interpretation of the differential motions. However, these data seem to suggest that the N–S compression of the Western Alps is quite mild (less than 2 mm/yr) compared to the global convergence between the African and Eurasian plate (6 mm/yr). This implies that the shortening must be accomodated elsewhere by the deformation of the Maghrebids and/or by rotations of Mediterranean microplates. Also, E–W velocity components analysis supports the idea that E–W extension exists, as already suggested by recent structural and seismotectonic data interpretation. Received: 27 November 2000 / Accepted: 17 September 2001     

藏北高原陆面过程的模拟试验

利用NCAR陆面过程模式(Land Surface Model)和1998年"青藏高原能量与水分观测实验"加强观测期(GAME/Tibet IOP)的观测资料对青藏高原地区陆面过程进行了模拟研究.结果表明,在观测资料的强迫下模式能够较好地模拟出地表特征量的变化趋势,深层的土壤温度的模拟对初始场在0℃左右的变化敏感.模拟的感热通量、潜热通量以及地表反射的太阳辐射较观测值偏大.在高原地区地表类型分布状况的真实描述及植被、土壤参数的选取可能是提高该地区效果的首要问题;草地下垫面的陆面特征有待进一步研究;对土壤水热运动的真实描述,及冻土过程的加入对大气环流模式(GCM)跨季节的数值模拟会有所改进.     

北京地区春末-秋初气溶胶理化特性的观测研究

分析了1997年5～9月和1998年4～9月北京整层大气气溶胶光学厚度、近地面气溶胶粒子数浓度的日变化、季节变化及其与气象要素的关系,还分析了 1997年5月16日、7月21日和8月2日收集的北京单个气溶胶粒子样品的形态、大小和化学元素组成.结果显示,北京地区春末-秋初整层大气气溶胶光学厚度在0.1～1.6之间变化;气溶胶数浓度(D>0.3μm)为几～几百个/cm3;整层大气气溶胶光学厚度的日变化型式与近地面气溶胶数浓度呈现相反的走向;气溶胶光学厚度和数浓度的日、季节变化显示了整层大气和近地面大气气溶胶与该地区气象、气候条件的关系.气溶胶数浓度与大气相对湿度呈正相关,与风向的关系是偏东风数浓度大,西、西南风数浓度小.电子显微镜分析的结果表明:颗粒物的形态以不规则形、丸形、液态滴形和方形为主;颗粒物化学元素组成有Si、K、S、Al、Mg、Ca、Fe等元素;人类活动排放的Zn、P、Ti、pb、Ba等元素也探测到;北京近地面粒子的一个显著特点是富含Ca和K元素,它们可能分别来自建筑粉尘和有机物的燃烧;给出了一个典型的碳黑粒子和一个粒子经过凝结过程的"卫星"滴环绕的矿物粒子的照片和元素谱图.