Random vectors and spatial analysis by geostatistics for geotechnical applications

Geostatistics is extended to the spatial analysis of vector variables by defining the estimation variance and vector variogram in terms of the magnitude of difference vectors. Many random variables in geotechnology are in vectorial terms rather than scalars, and its structural analysis requires those sample variable interpolations to construct and characterize structural models. A better local estimator will result in greater quality of input models; geostatistics can provide such estimators: kriging estimators. The efficiency of geostatistics for vector variables is demonstrated in a case study of rock joint orientations in geological formations. The positive cross-validation encourages application of geostatistics to spatial analysis of random vectors in geoscience as well as various geotechnical fields including optimum site characterization, rock mechanics for mining and civil structures, cavability analysis of block cavings, petroleum engineering, and hydrologic and hydraulic modelings.     

Comparison of two techniques for applying disjunctive kriging: The Gaussian anamorphosis model versus the direct statistical inference of the bivariate distributions

Indicator cokriging is an alternative to disjunctive kriging for estimation of spatial distributions. One way to determine which of these techniques is more accurate for estimation of spatial distributions is to apply each to a particular type of data. A procedure is developed for evaluation of disjunctive kriging and indicator cokriging for such an application. Application of this procedure to earthquake ground motion data found disjunctive kriging to be at least as accurate as indicator cokriging for estimation of spatial distributions of peak horizontal acceleration. Indicator cokriging was superior for all other types of earthquake ground motion data.     

Research on regional comprehensive development in developed regions —The case of Shanghai-Nanjing-Hangzhou area

The developed regions are faced with the problems of regional comprehensive development, and the research on regional comprehensive development has become a trend in the world. To optimize regional industrial structure and to select and determine scientifically the spatial development strategy of regional industries are the central themes to be solved for the research on regional comprehensive development in the developed regions. This paper proposed the basis for optimizing regional industrial structure, and the main factors of selecting and determining the regional leading industries. Based on this, the paper puts forward the leading industries and the spatial development strategy in Shanghai-Nanjing-Hangzhou area in the future ten or more years. Combined with the situation of Shanghai-Nanjing-Hangzhou area, the paper also discusses some problems of locating superior developing axis to benefit the rational distribution of regional productive forces.     

COUNTERURBANIZATION IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY*

Since Berry argued in 1976 that counterurbanization had replaced urbanization in the U.S., a debate has ensued as to whether the phenomenon also exists in Western Europe. Proponents of a developmental theory of counterurbanization contend that the phenomenon should be evident in countries which have achieved a very high level of socioeconomic development, including the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). Most of the German and English language literature on the topic suggests the contrary for the FRG. Here urbanization and counterurbanization are restricted to specific geographic meanings, i.e., spatial agglomeration and deglomeration. Results from four interrelated tests show a trend toward counterurbanization evident as early as the 1960s in the post-war regional demographic data of the FRG.     

REVIEWS OF GEOGRAPHIC SOFTWARE

Geographic Software Reviewed in this article: THE DIFFUSION GAME . Christopher J. Lovelock and Charles B. Weinberg . MAPIT . Raymond J. Kalush , Jr . SIMODEL . Peter A. Williams and A. Stewart Fotheringham . WEATHER FRONTS . P. C. Moyer . WORLD DYNAMICS . Mark Lewis Baldwin     

Intertidal macroalgae and macroinvertebrates: Seasonal and spatial abundance patterns along an estuarine gradient

Quantitative sampling of the dominant intertidal epibiota was conducted seasonally along an estuarine gradient within the Great Bay Estuary System, New Hampshire, U.S.A. The abundance and zonation of the dominant macroorganisms varied with distance into the estuary. Replacement of marine by estuarine species occurred, and overall abundance and species richness decreased along the estuarine gradient. Zonation patterns within the inner estuary were primarily allied with substrata. Maximum abundance of invertebrates occurred in the mid-intertidal zone where a dense fucoid canopy provided habitat heterogeneity. Densities of epibiotic organisms decreased toward low water, especially in the inner estuary where hard substratum was limiting. Settlement blocks, introduced into the low intertidal zone, were dominated by barnacles and fucoid algae; after 16 months, the species composition on the settlement blocks resembled the adjacent community. Semibalanus balanoides settled in the spring, while Fucus vesiculosus var. spiralis exhibited low but constant settlement. Despite the physical rigors of the estuarine environment, only Semibalanus balanoides, Ilyanassa obsoleta and Spartina alterniflora showed significant seasonal changes in density. Thus, there are predictable and persistent epibiotic species assemblages within the intertidal zone of the Great Bay Estuary System.     

Stochastic geometry in petroleum geology

Many aspects of the generation, migration, trapping, and discovery of petroleum, as well as its primary and enhanced recovery, depend upon geometry. The scale of the relevant geometric features varies all the way from that of continental margins and basins down to the pores and fissures in reservoir rocks. Because the spatial complexity is so great for each of these processes, it is reasonable to describe them statistically. The primary purpose of this paper is to survey possible ways in which statistical or stochastic geometry enters and might be used in petroleum geology and engineering. While it offers some new theory, this paper does not directly suggest any specific new methods for the estimation of hydrocarbon resources or reserves. This deficiency is mainly due to the current lack of relevant data. When data are available the point of view explained herein will be fruitful. The survey ties together many topics in a novel way.     

Modelling and Mapping Damage to Forests from an Ice Storm Using Remote Sensing and Environmental Data

An extreme ice storm in January 1998 deposited up to 100 mm of ice and resulted in significant forest damage across eastern North America. Average crown loss of over 75% was recorded in large areas of eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. A primary question that arose following the storm was: can forest damage be effectively assessed using remote sensing and other available environmental data? This paper presents two contrasting studies to address this question. The first involves damage modelling at a local scale in an unmanaged forest using spectral and spatial information in high-resolution airborne imagery. Results of field data analyses are also given that show relations between damage and forest structure and composition as well as changes in forest structure that occurred in the years following the storm. The second study involves regional scale damage mapping in managed and unmanaged forests of eastern Ontario using medium resolution satellite imagery and other environmental data. In comparison of several image classification and data interpolation methods, the best damage map was produced using a neural network classifier and a mix of Landsat and environmental data. The methods and results presented in this paper form the basis for ongoing long-term temporal study of damage impacts on forest condition.     

通用电子政务平台开发及其在“数字城市”中的应用

本文系统地论述了目前电子政务和"数字城市"的建设要求,提出了开发通用电子政务平台来快速构建各类城市管理部门的电子政务应用系统,形成"数字城市"各专业应用的思路,并介绍经过多年开发和应用的通用电子政务平台NetOffice特点,最后以地房籍管理信息系统为例来阐述了电子政务平台在"数字城市"的重要组成部分———国土资源和房产管理的应用情况。