Satellites and the New War on Infection: Tracking Ebola in West Africa

Satellite technologies are increasingly being deployed to manage infectious disease outbreaks. Although there is a substantive literature concerned with the geopolitics of space and the ethical issues raised by the use of remote sensing in warfare and counterinsurgency, little study has been made of the critical role played by satellites in public health crises. In this paper, we focus on the 2014–2015 Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic in West Africa, which saw the widespread use of public and commercial satellite-derived data, to investigate how overhead orbital and close-up viewpoints enabled by satellites are shaping attitudes to disease and determining responses to infectious threats. We argue that high-resolution satellite imagery is acting as a spur to a new spatio-temporal targeting of disease that parallels the ever more vertical dimension of contemporary warfare. At the same time, this new visualization of disease is promoting a broader ecological perspective on pathogen emergence. How can these divergent perspectives be reconciled? In addressing this question, we analyze the different uses to which satellite imagery has been put in tracking and mapping Ebola ‘hotspots’ across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. We also consider the institutional contexts that have enabled the acquisition of this imagery. Given the rapid integration of space technologies in epidemiology and health logistics, there is now a need to examine how and with what consequences remote-sensing and communication technologies may be reconfiguring the practices and scope of global health.     

Geo-questionnaires in urban planning: recruitment methods,participant engagement,and data quality

ABSTRACT

Recent focus on sustainable urban development and livability has increased the demand for new data sourcing techniques to capture experiences and preferences of urban dwellers. At the same time, developments of geospatial technologies and social media have enabled new types of user-generated geographic information and spatially explicit online communication. As a result, new public participation GIS methods for engaging large groups of individuals have emerged. One such method is geo-questionnaire, an online questionnaire with mapping capabilities, which has been used to elicit geographic data in variety of topics and geographical contexts. This article presents two recent cases, in which geo-questionnaires have been used in Polish cities to obtain public input on quality of life and development preferences in local land use planning. The article evaluates participant recruitment methods focusing on sample representativeness, participant engagement, and data quality. Recruitment via social media was found to increase bias towards younger population. Paper questionnaires used along the online version provided for better representation of target population’s age structure, but did not reduce bias related to educational attainment. We discuss how these issues relate to data usability and generalizability in the context of digital divide, and suggest directions for future research.     

From networks to uses patterns: the digital divide as seen from Africa

This paper gives an account of the work carried out in the AFRICA’NTI research network, which gathered together a hundred, mostly African, researchers. The results were presented at the conference on “the North–South Digital Divide” in 2003 and 2004 (see www.africanti.org). From network to uses patterns, it first questions the way in which the subject is defined. This is a controversial question; should we speak of a “ditch” rather than of “fracture”? This depends on the point of view, but also on the geopolitical situation, and is difficult to measure. The digital divide may be less important than it is usually believed. This paper presents several types of approaches dealing with the opportunities of new technologies for Africa, geographical aspects stressing the diversity of the situations considered, and the importance of a multilevel systemic analysis based on case studies. It is shown that a slow down in the dynamics of equipment has been observed in Africa for both mobile telephony and the Internet. This then raises the question of a risk of regression for the continent, based on the idea that inequalities in access and uses of ICTs matter less than whether these uses improve the living conditions of the poor people concerned.     

关于白于山是否存在完全地下水分水岭的探讨

同一含水系统中在至少两个排泄区(点)之间有足够的地下水补给源情况下,两个排泄区(点)之间才能形成地下水分水岭.白于山中段和西段的洛河组含水层深埋于白垩系下部,在地层结构和地质构造控制下,基本上没有补给,在泾河最低排泄区控制下,洛河组地下水穿过白于山由北向南径流.因此,白于山中段和西段只是浅层地下水分水岭,对下层洛河组地下水流无控制作用,不是完全的地下水分水岭.     

Exploring the Digital Divide in an Australian Regional City: a case study of Albury

The ‘digital divide’ is generally considered to be the gap between people who have access to information and communication technologies (ICT) and those who do not, and an issue of significant social justice. This paper presents findings from research that explored the digital divide within the regional city of Albury. The study focused on assessing whether there was a digital divide; identifying strategies to address any divide; and developing a methodology that could be used to explore the digital divide in other contexts. Data were gathered using semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and a telephone survey of city residents. Findings demonstrated that a digital divide existed in that there were differences in computer access in relation to income and different locations within the city, and for access to the Internet by age, education and income levels. Overall, the patterns indicated that those with lower education and income and the elderly reported lower levels of access to ICT. Drawing on the research findings we suggest some practical ways of addressing the digital divide that could be applied to other similar locations where a digital divide exists, such as providing technical support and training, improved access to and awareness of ICT services, and facilitating access to ICT services such as the provision of appropriate hardware and software for disadvantaged groups. Our view is that the mixed-method approach we employed provided helpful, reliable information at reasonable cost and could be considered by other researchers and local governments.     

河南省地热资源开发与保护浅析

河南省地热资源丰富,以洗浴为主的直接利用量较大,利用水平低,浪费严重,保护意识淡薄。分析了地热开发利用现状及存在的主要问题,指出利用应以供暖为主,实行总量控制开发。根据利用现状及地热地质条件,全省划分了五个地热资源开发保护区,提出了编制规划、推行回灌、加强勘查、提高利用水平等保护措施。     

松辽分水岭的水文地质特征及其对生态环境的影响

晚更新世以来形成的松辽分水岭是松辽平原新构造运动中最重要的地质事件之一,也是松辽平原西部脆弱生态环境恶化的重要地质因素.通过对松嫩平原分水岭的形成演化、地质及水文地质特征的研究,论述松辽分水岭的形成对松辽平原西部生态环境的影响,认为松辽分水岭是通榆、长岭、乾安、双辽一带水资源缺乏及生态环境恶化的重要地质因素,治理和保护生态环境应考虑到这一新构造运动的影响.     

三峡水利枢纽库区巫山县城新址地质环境质量预断评价

在系统分析新址地质环境条件、预断评价的目标、环境要素的构成基础上,选用敏感因子综合评价模型对新址地质环境质量进行了预断评价,分析了评价成果,提出了新城建设-地质环境系统调控措施,可作为合理制定新城规划、进行建设和环境保护的依据。