Advanced Geographic Information Systems Research Articles

Visualizations Out of Context: Addressing Pitfalls of Real-Time Realistic Hazard Visualizations

Realistic 3D hazard visualizations based on advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) may be directly driven by hydrodynamic and wind model outputs (e.g., ADCIRC, the ADvanced CIRCulation Model) and hazard impact modeling (e.g., predicting damage to structures and infrastructure). These methods create new possibilities for representing hazard impacts and support the development of near-real-time hazard forecasting and communication tools. This paper considers the wider implications of using these storm visualizations in light of current frameworks in the context of landscape and urban planning and cartography that have addressed the use of realistic 3D visualizations. Visualizations used outside of engagement processes organized by experts risk misleading the public and may have consequences in terms of feelings of individual self-efficacy or perception of scientists behind the visualizations. In addition to summarizing the implications of using these visualizations outside of recommended practices, a research agenda is proposed to guide the development of real-time realistic and semi-realistic visualizations for future use in hazard communication. Development of a clearer use-case for real-time visualization capabilities is an essential first step if such work is to continue.

A didactic approach to models of habitat suitability (HS) and the potential distribution of biological species

ABSTRACT The aim of the present assay is to provide a simple algorithm as well as a didactic theoretical framework that may serve as an introduction to understanding modern habitat suitability (HS) modelling techniques in Ecology and Biogeography. The proposal is built on classical descriptive statistics and classical ecological theories. Shelford’s theory of a bell-shaped curve of tolerance is used to assign suitability values to individual sites, according to their deviations from the optimal requirements of a hypothetical biological species. Liebig’s law of the minimum is applied to assess the overall suitability given a multivariate set of environmental factors. To illustrate the algorithms, hypothetical examples are given with small sets of values simulating data extracted from maps with environmental information. The reader/lecturer is invited to reproduce these small-scale examples using common spreadsheet software or to apply them at a large scale using raster datasets in any advanced geographic information system. As didactical outcomes, this algorithm allows introducing students to the general form and applications of bell-shaped exponential equations (with mu and sigma parameters), understanding the convenience of the law of the minimum when analysing multivariate datasets and the philosophical understanding of certainty/uncertainty when working with the multidimensional niche theory.

Predicting urban growth of Arriyadh city, capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, using Markov cellular automata in TerrSet geospatial system

This study aimed to predict urban expansion in Arriyadh city over a 30-year period, from 2017 to 2047. In the target year 2047, several changes are expected to occur in Arriyadh. The predicting was based on the revealed outputs of urban change within the last 30-year period, from 1987 to 2017. This study aimed to clarify the extent of urban expansion that would occur in the future to compare the expected future expansion with the present expansion in the city by using spatial dimension software. Several different software programs with advanced geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing techniques were used: for example, ArcGIS, ERDAS, and Markov cellular automata in TerrSet. Using the US Geological Survey (USGS) site, we uploaded imagery (LANDSAT) for the study period from 1987 to 2017 and used the data and information from this period as a basis for drawing conclusions for predicting the urban area in 2047; we then carried out the analysis and adjusted it, such as for classification, editing, mosaic, geometric correction, and entry of geographical factors that we saw as having an impact on the future urban growth of the city. From the analysis and results drawn, the dimension of the physical changes during the 2017–2047 study period in the urban area is expected to be around 38%. The study also makes recommends using the expansion of urban studies as a tool to support decisionmakers in managing cities and to build databases to include demographic, economic, and environmental data. All this information and techniques can help in carrying out urban growth prediction accurately and clearly.

A geographical information systems-based approach to health facilities and urban traffic system in Belgrade, Serbia.

We studied the geospatial distribution of health facilities in Belgrade, the capital of the Republic of Serbia, in relation to the public transport system. Analyses in this research were based on advanced geographical information systems using numerical methods. We calculated accessibility to health centres as based on public transport properties accounting for the movement of citizens, as well as patients, through the city. Based on results, the city of Belgrade has a moderate connectivity. Public health centres and a group of other health centres in the central-east part of the city have a better connectivity. Also, in this paper we estimated that the average time necessary to reach health facilities on foot is 100 minutes and by public transport vehicles such as buses, trams and trolleys is 42 minutes.

Integrating spatial data analysis functionalities in a GIS environment: Spatial Analysis using ArcGIS Engine and R (SAAR).

Spatial data analysis (SDA) tools to efficiently handle and explore spatial data have become readily available. Although these SDA tools have their own strengths and purposes, they suffer from limited support in terms of a development environment offering easy customization and high extensibility, a strength of open source software. This paper presents a stand-alone software package for SDA in a geographic information systems (GIS) environment, called Spatial Analysis using ArcGIS Engine and R (SAAR), which provides an integrated GIS and SDA environment. A set of SDA tools in SAAR utilize functions in R using R.NET, while other tools were developed in .NET independent of R. SAAR provides an efficient working environment for both general and advanced GIS users. For general GIS users with limited programming skills, SAAR furnishes advanced SDA tools in a popular ArcGIS environment with graphical user interfaces. For advanced GIS users, SAAR offers an extensible GIS platform to help them customize and implement SDA functions with relatively little development effort. This paper demonstrates some functionalities of SAAR using census data for Texas counties.

Measuring high-density built environment for public health research: Uncertainty with respect to data, indicator design and spatial scale.

Uncertainty with respect to built environment (BE) data collection, measure conceptualization and spatial scales is evident in urban health research, but most findings are from relatively lowdensity contexts. We selected Hong Kong, an iconic high-density city, as the study area as limited research has been conducted on uncertainty in such areas. We used geocoded home addresses (n=5732) from a large population-based cohort in Hong Kong to extract BE measures for the participants' place of residence based on an internationally recognized BE framework. Variability of the measures was mapped and Spearman's rank correlation calculated to assess how well the relationships among indicators are preserved across variables and spatial scales. We found extreme variations and uncertainties for the 180 measures collected using comprehensive data and advanced geographic information systems modelling techniques. We highlight the implications of methodological selection and spatial scales of the measures. The results suggest that more robust information regarding urban health research in high-density city would emerge if greater consideration were given to BE data, design methods and spatial scales of the BE measures.

Geographic information system algorithms to locate prospective sites for pumped hydro energy storage

Pumped hydro energy storage is capable of large-scale energy time shifting and a range of ancillary services, which can facilitate high levels of photovoltaics and wind integration in electricity grids. This study aims to develop a series of advanced Geographic Information System algorithms to locate prospective sites for off-river pumped hydro across a large land area such as a state or a country. Two typical types of sites, dry-gully and turkey’s nest, are modelled and a sequence of Geographic Information System-based procedures are developed for an automated site search. A case study is conducted for South Australia, where 168 dry-gully sites and 22 turkey’s nest sites have been identified with a total water storage capacity of 441 gigalitres, equivalent to 276 gigawatt-hours of energy storage. This demonstrates the site searching algorithms can work efficiently in the identification of off-river pumped hydro sites, allowing high-resolution assessments of pumped hydro energy storage to be quickly conducted on a broad scale. The sensitivity analysis shows the significant influences of maximum dam wall heights on the number of sites and the total storage capacity. It is noted that the novel models developed in this study are also applicable to the deployments of other types of pumped hydro such as the locations of dry-gully and turkey’s nest sites adjacent to existing water bodies, old mining pits and oceans.

A spatial data pre-processing tool to improve the quality of the analysis and to reduce preparation duration

Abstract Spatial data analysis allows for a better understanding of environmental effects on the performance of an organization’s activities. One of the first steps required to process such an analysis is to gather all of the spatialized data corresponding to the elements that might influence the activities. Then, a series of treatments must be processed on those datasets to make them ready to be used in classical data mining tools. Those pre-processing steps are complex and time consuming tasks that may require advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) skills. Moreover, the choices involved in this process influence the quality of analysis results. With the aim of addressing those issues, we developed a tool that automatizes several steps of spatial data pre-processing tasks. To allow for reproducibility, the specifications of our approach, tools, architectures and techniques required are presented in detail. To support the effectiveness of our approach, a case study is presented that focuses on an evaluation of the processing time that is saved and the improvement of the quality of analysis.

The contribution of scenic views of, and proximity to, lakes and reservoirs to property values

AbstractWater is arguably the world's most critical resource, although its aesthetic and recreational functions typically receive less attention than its consumptive uses. Views of, and access to, attractive water resources are capitalized into property prices in the form of sales price and rental premiums, measured since the 1970s with the hedonic pricing technique. This study synthesizes the evidence to date with respect to the value of lakes and reservoirs as aesthetic and recreational resources to nearby residents. Findings are reported relating to the effects of scenic views of, and proximity, to reservoirs and large artificial lakes, the North American Great Lakes, and other smaller inland lakes. Of the 44 distinct reviewed studies that included tests of statistical significance, only two failed to produce any significant findings in the directions anticipated (i.e., a positive impact of water frontage or view and/or negative impact of increasing distance). Improvements in methodological approaches—from early studies employing anecdotal observation and visual comparison to more recent investigations employing advanced geographical information systems and rigorous spatially explicit regression techniques—are traced. The potential implications of climate variability and changes for property values are addressed, as is the growing movement towards the adoption of green infrastructure. The need to consider changes to aesthetic and recreational values, in addition to outcomes for more traditional consumptive uses during cost–benefit analyses associated with proposed (re)developments, is emphasized.

The effect of rivers, streams, and canals on property values

AbstractRivers, streams, and canals support a variety of critical agricultural, industrial, transportation, ecological, and household uses. They also provide important aesthetic, recreational, and sociocultural benefits. This review paper synthesizes the evidence to date regarding the value of these linear water features as aesthetic and recreational resources to adjacent and nearby residents. Specifically, it summarizes 25 studies that have used the hedonic pricing method to calculate the effects of views of and proximity to rivers, streams, and canals on surrounding residential property values. The majority of studies indicated that significant positive property price effects are associated with river, stream, and canal view and proximity, though these effects appear less definitive in rural than urban settings. Implications of the body of evidence for planning, management, and development are discussed, and potential effects of climate change and diversion policies are highlighted. Improvements in measurement facilitated by advanced geographic information systems and rigorous spatially explicit regression techniques are noted.

Identification of the optimal integration of the hydrologic model with meteorology data using the advanced GIS object-oriented programming

An object-oriented framework called GIS and Hydrologic Information System Modeling Object (GHISMO) that is tightly coupled with a prototype geographic information system (GIS), is presented in this research. The proposed GHISMO framework is used to simulate a hydrologic system on the base of the storage-release concept and with multiple weather data such as gage and NEXRAD data. Both quantitative and qualitative results of simulation for the Pleasant Run Creek and Little Buck Creek watersheds in Indiana (USA) demonstrate the method prospects.

Least‐cost path analysis and multi‐criteria assessment for routing electricity transmission lines

The classical approach for transmission line (TL) routing based on paper maps, aerial photographs and field visits can generate inconsistent results, besides being a time consuming and intensive labour activity. The application of methodologies based on geographic information system (GIS) combined with multi-criteria assessment (MCA) methods can generate time and cost savings on the planning step. However, this methodology still must be better assessed for its applicability and improvements can be made. Therefore, this study aims at verifying the applicability of a GIS methodology for TL routing using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) for weighting criteria. In addition, the effectiveness of AHP method is evaluated comparing the previously attained results with a route modelled using monetary values to weight the criteria. To achieve the objectives, the methodology is applied for an area in the northern region of Brazil (state of Para) where a 230 kV TL is already implemented: the TL Vila do Conde-Castanhal. As a result, routes with lower length and lower total cost than the implemented TL were obtained, which suggest the potential benefits of applying the proposed methodology compared with traditional route planning, which does not use quantitative MCA and more advanced GIS tools.

Zoning Before Zoning: Land Use and Density in Mid-Nineteenth-Century New York City

Not until the beginning of the twentieth century did U.S. city governments turn to comprehensive zoning to gain control of their land use and built environment. Nineteenth-century cities had comparatively unregulated land-use systems, where proprietors and builders found minimal restrictions to their choices to develop urban land. This article exploits newly digitized geographic information systems (GIS) data, at the level of building footprints, made available by the New York Public Library, to study the land-use geography of mid-nineteenth-century Manhattan, the Western world's then third largest city. We ask: What was the spatial order of the nineteenth-century city? Beyond the case, what can we learn about land use in a political economy where market forces operated with much greater freedom? Addressing these issues, we introduce a variety of advanced GIS methods to the original data set. Specifically, we examine the separation and mixing of the three basic land-use types of commerce, industry, and residence, by the spatial units of both blocks and streets. In addition, we measure at a new level of precision the enormous variations in residential density and crowding that defined the growing sociospatial inequalities of nineteenth-century cities. Documenting systematically and in detail these spatial patterns, including their socially undesirable outcomes, helps understand how nineteenth-century cities developed and the conditions they produced to warrant increasing land-use controls, from building codes to government-mandated zoning.

Connect for Health: Design of a clinical-community childhood obesity intervention testing best practices of positive outliers

BackgroundThe Connect for Health study is designed to assess whether a novel approach to care delivery that leverages clinical and community resources and addresses socio-contextual factors will improve body mass index (BMI) and family-centered, obesity-related outcomes of interest to parents and children. The intervention is informed by clinical, community, parent, and youth stakeholders and incorporates successful strategies and best practices learned from ‘positive outlier' families, i.e., those who have succeeded in changing their health behaviors and improve their BMI in the context of adverse built and social environments. DesignTwo-arm, randomized controlled trial with measures at baseline and 12months after randomization. Participants2–12year old children with overweight or obesity (BMI ≥85th percentile) and their parents/guardians recruited from 6 pediatric practices in eastern Massachusetts. InterventionChildren randomized to the intervention arm receive a contextually-tailored intervention delivered by trained health coaches who use advanced geographic information system tools to characterize children's environments and neighborhood resources. Health coaches link families to community-level resources and use multiple support modalities including text messages and virtual visits to support families over a one-year intervention period. The control group receives enhanced pediatric care plus non-tailored health coaching. Main outcome measuresLower age-associated increase in BMI over a 1-year period. The main parent- and child-reported outcome is improved health-related quality of life. ConclusionsThe Connect for Health study seeks to support families in leveraging clinical and community resources to improve obesity-related outcomes that are most important to parents and children.

Economic Assessment of Opportunities for Managed Aquifer Recharge Techniques in Spain Using an Advanced Geographic Information System (GIS)

This paper investigates the economic aspects of Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) techniques considered in the DINA-MAR (Depth Investigation of New Areas for Managed Aquifer Recharge in Spain) project. This project firstly identified the areas with potential for MAR for the whole of the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands of Spain using characteristics derived from 23 GIS layers of physiographic features, spanning geology, topography, land use, water sources and including existing MAR sites. The work involved evaluations for 24 different types (techniques) of MAR projects, over this whole area accounting for the physiographic features that favor each technique. The scores for each feature for each type of technique were set based on practical considerations and scores were accumulated for each location. A weighting was assigned to each feature by “training” the integrated score for each technique across all the features with the existing MAR sites overlay, so that opportunities for each technique could be more reliably predicted. It was found that there were opportunities for MAR for 16% of the area evaluated and that the additional storage capacity of aquifers in these areas was more than 2.5 times the total storage capacity of all existing surface water dams in Spain. The second part of this work, which is considered internationally unique, was to use this GIS methodology to evaluate the economics of the various MAR techniques across the region. This involved determining an economic index related to key physiographic features and applying this as an additional GIS overlay. Again this was trained by use of economic information for each of the existing MAR sites for which economic data and supply or storage volume were available. Two simpler methods were also used for comparison. Finally, the mean costs of MAR facilities and construction projects were determined based on the origin of the water. Maps of potential sites for Managed Aquifer Recharge (or “MAR zones”) in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands of Spain and the results of the previous economic studies developed at the beginning of the project were used as the foundation for the economic analysis. Based on these data, a new specific mapping of the total expected costs for all “MAR zones” (€/m3) was proposed based on the techniques that were considered most appropriate for each Spanish study case. Capital costs ranged from Euro 0.08–0.58 per m3/year. Overall, this study investigates the opportunity and economic feasibility of implementing new MAR projects and provides support to decision makers in Spain. The novel mapping provides valuable guidance for the future development of Managed Aquifer Recharge projects for water managers and practitioners.

Vehicle Miles Traveled and the Built Environment: Evidence from Vehicle Safety Inspection Data

This study examines the linkage between household vehicle usage and their residential locations within a metropolitan area using a newly available administrative dataset of annual private passenger vehicle safety inspection records (with odometer readings) and spatially detailed data on the built environment. Vehicle miles travelled (VMT) and a set of comprehensive built-environment measures are computed for a statewide 250 × 250 m grid cell layer using advanced geographic information systems and database management tools. We apply factor analysis to construct five factors that differentiate the built-environment characteristics of the grid cells and then integrate the built-environment factors into spatial regression models of household vehicle usage that account for built environment, demographics, and spatial interactions. The empirical results suggest that built-environment factors not only play an important role in explaining the intraurban variation of household vehicle usage, but may also be underestimated by previous studies that use more aggregate built-environment measures. One-standard-deviation variations in the built-environment factors are associated with as much as 5000-mile differences in annual VMT per household. This study also demonstrates the potential value of new georeferenced administrative datasets in developing indicators that can assist urban planning and urban management.

The use of geographic information system in local government's modernisation

PurposeDespite a number of studies that have demonstrated the potential of geographic information sharing and analysis in enabling the delivery of modernised e‐government services, there is a growing need for an evaluation of the use of geographic information systems (GIS) in local governments. The purpose of the paper is to explore the possibilities in this regard by establishing an evaluative framework based on e‐government development models. In addition, the paper will provide some preliminary findings of a case study from the northwest of England, where the framework was used.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents an evaluation framework which connects GIS use in local governments, with e‐government development models. Semi‐structured interviews were used in a case study of some local governments in the northwest of England. The findings are then compared and contrasted with findings from a critical literature review.FindingsThe framework is considered as useful in evaluating the development and use of GIS in local governments under the e‐government banner. The results illustrate a wider use of GIS in local governments in the northwest of England and its close connection with the e‐government strategy. The study also indicates many local governments are still facing social, technological and organisational challenges in different stages of the development of advanced GIS use.Originality/valueThe paper presents an evaluation framework designed for a new and specific perspective regarding the connection of e‐government and the use of GIS. Developing benchmarks with the framework should help politicians and other stakeholders to compare their initiatives with similar ones in other local governments. The paper would also help practitioners and decision makers to understand possible challenges in achieving such modernisation and the potential solutions at different stages development.

A Creative Way to Teach and Learn Advanced Technical Concepts in Geographic Information Systems

AbstractThis paper presents a creative case-based modern-style pedagogical approach for teaching and learning advanced technical concepts in geographic information systems (GIS) using classroom observations covering an eight-year study period, 2004-2011. Assessment data was collected and analyzed to provide useful insights about this approach. Included in this paper are results of specific case studies that were analyzed using a sample of students between 2004 and 2006. The assessment data and respondents consistently indicated that a case study approach offered them an excellent and enabling environment to learn advanced technical concepts. These findings support the use of a case-based modern-style pedagogical method because it does not only promote a student's desire to learn and discover new concepts, but also allows them to be actively involved in finding real world GIS solutions. The teaching method encourages, engages, and provokes students to think critically of the technical subject matter. Besides, the method creates an interesting learning experience, simulates learning, and promotes interactive dialogue between the instructor and the students. Findings in this study have implications on the learning process and the adoption of this creative approach could help provide a meaningful learning experience for educators involved in teaching advanced technical concepts.Keywords: GIS education, Pedagogical approaches, Technology education, Active learning, GIS instructional strategies, Geography education1. IntroductionTeaching geographic information systems (GIS) courses can be challenging because of its breadth and interdisciplinary nature (Wikle, 1998; Doering, 2004; Baker and White, 2003; Kerski, 2003; Johansson and Pellikka, 2005; Favier and Van Der Schee, 2012). Both the teacher and student must cope with constant changes particularly new software applications and emerging areas of interest. Learning outcomes should be aligned to reflect any rapid technical changes so as to provide students with relevant GIS knowledge and job market skills. This dynamic situation creates a serious demand upon curriculum and instructional strategies, thus there is a consistent need to adjust learning goals and objectives to fit new challenges, which can at times, can be overwhelming for new GIS instructors. As a way of resolving some of these challenges, this paper proposes a more creative way to teach advanced GIS based on observations collected over an eight-year study period. As a GIS instructor, I first thought about this teaching idea in May 2000 following my participation in Case Studies in a Science Teaching Workshop organized by the University at Buffalo's National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, with support from the National Science Foundation. Participants involved in this workshop were supposedly the guinea pigs for a case studies teaching project. Professor Clyde F. Herreid, the Principal Investigator (PI) tested his case studies on workshop participants. During the workshop three important aspects on the use of case-based approaches were taught: (1) how to develop and write cases; (2) how to teach with case studies; and (3) how to assess learning outcomes with cases (Herreid, 1994).Following this workshop I was inspired to think about my own teaching and how I could use the experience to improve the teaching of advanced GIS concepts. I realized the significance of using learning approaches which emphasize a collaborative case-based approach (Wheatley, 1986; Boehrer and Linsky, 1990; Williams, 1992; Barnes et al., 1994; Herreid, 1994; Lantz and Walczak, 1997).1.1 Conceptual frameworkThe Geography program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) offers a range of GIS and Remote Sensing Courses; in which GIS is one of three concentrations for both undergraduate and graduate students. We have witnessed an increase in enrollment and strong interest among students since 2003 after a major overhaul of the curriculum design. …

Advancement of three-dimensional noise mapping in Hong Kong

The dramatic enhancement of computation power, rapid development in Geographic Information System (GIS), three-dimensional (3D) computer graphic and virtual reality technology; and the wide availability of digital topographic and mapping data have facilitated the substantial advancement in road traffic noise assessments and data presentation in Hong Kong. Two-dimensional (2D) and even 3D noise mapping over a large geographical area has now become a more manageable task. In Hong Kong, very often roads are in close proximity to the sky-scrapers and 2D noise mappings are simply inadequate in accurately portraying the noise exposure environment. Traditional commercially available noise modelling tools are incapable of handling the complex topography, building geometry and noise screening structures of Hong Kong. 3D presentation tools integrating noise modelling, GIS and computer graphics are needed to portray the noise environment in the unique high-rise townscape of Hong Kong. This paper outlines the development of advanced 3D GIS tools, information technologies and how they were put into trials and implementation in Hong Kong. Particular attention is given to the dissemination of noise information to the community, be it for public education, engagement or consultation; and recent advances in the availability of such information interactively, and in a user-friendly manner, through the internet.

Juggling Points and Polygons: GIS Researchers’ Metadata and Search Needs

This article discusses the results of a focus group analyzing advanced and intermediate Geographic Information System (GIS) researchers’ metadata needs and information-finding behavior while using the online GIS Lookup at North Carolina State University (NCSU) Libraries, as well as a metadata normalization project that resulted from study findings. Information was gathered on what metadata is important to GIS researchers for resource discovery, how researchers want to be able to search for data sets, and the importance of controlled vocabulary for GIS keywords.