Computer Mapping System Research Articles

Zonificación edafoclimática para el cultivo de Jatropha curcas L., en Tabasco, México

The exponential growth of energy demand worldwide, the depletion of oil reserves and the severe pollutants problems caused by industry that favors greenhouse effect, evidence the need to increase the supply of oils for biodiesel production. This sets a new overview for studying non-edible oilseeds species. An alternative is barbados nut or piñón (Jatropha curcas) crop, perennial bush that is native from Mexico and Central America, grows in most of tropical countries, and it is considered like one of the non-conventional oilseed crops with great expectations for obtaining biodiesel.The barbados nut (Jatropha curcas) seeds have an outstanding characteristic: their high oil content allows converting it to liquid biofuel, and also the shell can be transformed into biogas and biofertilizers. Jatropha curcas is a green option to reforest degraded soils and to control erosion, as well as an option to diversify agricultural systems (crop rotation). On the other hand, in several scientific studies it is reported a wide variation in yields, due lack of study of plant's genetics, the agronomic handling, as well to the misunderstanding that exists in some countries in the field of zones with best agroecological ability to set the crop. The agroecological zoning (zae) refers to a división of land surface and weather into smaller units, that have similar characteristics related to its ability, potential yield and environmental impact.The aim of this paper is to define the zones with different agroecological abilities to set the Jatropha curcas crop, in the state of Tabasco. In order to accomplish this, four types of abilities were defined: optimal, proper, marginal by thermal or water deficit, and marginal by thermal or water excess. The agroecological zoning (zae) proposed in this paper defines zones based on combinations of soil, physiography weather characteristics of temperature, rainfall and growth rate.An agroclimatic zoning is a zone with characteristics related to weather and crop systems, for our study the database of eric iii (Extractor Rápido de Información Climatológica) was used, reporting for Tabasco a total of 93 meteorological stations. Nevertheless, only 35 stations were selected, since the other had inconsistencies in their information. From those 35 stations, a weather database was created, considering the information of historical series in a daily basis, like minimum and máximum temperatures, rainfall and evaporation (1950 – 2003 period).The edaphoclimatic zoning consisted in assessing the soil resource based in the units and subdivisions of soil from fao/unesco system. In order to fulfill the zoning, cartographic data of soils subunits was consolida-ted, including texture, slope, soil depth, and its fertility, whose edaphological properties were compared to fao's Jatropha curcas crop requirements and optimal level was assigned.The tool used for cartography elaboration was ArcMap gis Software, which consists of computer mapping system that relates locations with agroclimatic information equal to Jatropha curcas crop requirements, which were defined like áreas with ability, and according to this maps were prepared at a scale of 1:250 000 of every climatic element. The interpolation for the calculation of isolines was made by Kriging method, embedded within ArcMap software, which ease the handling and superposition of theme information layers of weather and soil.The yearly average analysis of temperature corroborated that whole Tabasco state has optimal ability and the rainfall analysis showed a surface of 2 229 631 ha with optimal ability. About soil resource there were detected 37 subunits of soil with optimal ability, adding a surface of 945 462 ha. After analyzing the maps between optimal characteristic abilities (temperature, rainfall and growth rate) and edaphological, there were detected 833 181 ha with optmial agroecological ability, therefore in the state of Tabasco is feasible the crop of this oilseed to produce biofuels.

BETWEEN CONSERVATION AND ACCESS: IMPLEMENTATION OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ETHNOLOGY, OSAKA, JAPAN

The National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan – Minpaku houses an extensive collection of artifacts from all over the world. The basic method of display is the 'open display' system, meaning that most of the exhibits are not presented in cases, and those within visitors' reach are touchable. Different initiatives have been undertaken to implement integrated pest management (IPM). As a preventive measure, an IPM inspection is performed daily while pest monitoring using insect traps is carried out four times yearly. To analyse the results of the trap investigations, a specially customized computer programme and mapping system were introduced in 2004 and completely revised in 2007. To develop safe control measures, in 2007 a new heating/freezing chamber was constructed and the existing fumigation chamber was improved by changing it into a multi-function chamber that enables non-toxic methods (anoxia with nitrogen, carbon dioxide treatment, and the eventual use of heat) to be used.

Urban Neighborhood Information Systems: Crime Prevention and Control Applications

0 VER the last fifteen years, advances in computer technology have begun to significantly influence the way criminologists and policy makers think about crime and justice. One ofthe more influential technological advances has been the development of computer mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIs). The adoption of computer mapping technology by many criminal justice agencies and academics has helped to move criminal justice policy and research in a direction that places increasingemphasis on the relationship betweencrime and the environmental context in which it occurs. This direction has also been supported by other important trends Sampson such as the growing body of research demonstrating a link between BunikmdGrasmick crime and the environment and the shift in policing philosophy to a Swam TaylormdHamll more communityor problem-oriented approach. These forces have created an abundance of opportunities to use the latest mapping technology in powerful ways to assist those interested in addressing Goldsmithet al. Harries 1999 public safety issues in local communities. To support community-based research, many agencies have developed some Geographic Information Systems (GIs) capacity. A basic GIs system includes individual andfor area-level data with geographic indicators along with mapping software capable of producing geographic displays of information. Some systems also include statistical tools for advanced spatial analysis. There is a

Mapping and ablation of ventricular tachycardia with the aid of a non-contact mapping system

OBJECTIVETreatment of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in coronary heart disease has to date been limited to palliative treatment with drugs or implantable defibrillators. The results of curative treatment with catheter ablation...

Deconstruction of Fractals and its Implications for Cartographic Education

The research reported here was designed for two reasons: firstly, to involve anyone with an interest in cartographic visualization to participate in eliciting cartographic knowledge and to provide them with the opportunity to contribute their practical knowledge and opinions; and secondly, to inform the design of algorithms for line generalization. In the past, there has been some resistance to such mining and codification of expert knowledge. However, many cartographers now welcome highly interactive computer graphics, computer mapping, and virtual reality systems as providing them with new opportunities for launching cartography into a new creative age. Despite nearly thirty years of research on line generalization algorithms, the available algorithms are somewhat simplistic. This research, undertaken under the auspices of the BCS Design Group, explored the behavioural tendencies of cartographers engaged in line filtering. The result show that a carefully contrived, even if obviously artificial, exercise on the deconstruction of lines into meaningless forms can prompt cartographers to observe, record, and discuss their own cognitive processing.

Deconstruction of Fractals and its Implications for Cartographic Education

The research reported here was designed for two reasons: firstly, to involve anyone with an interest in cartographic visualization to participate in eliciting cartographic knowledge and to provide them with the opportunity to contribute their practical knowledge and opinions; and secondly, to inform the design of algorithms for line generalization. In the past, there has been some resistance to such mining and codification of expert knowledge. However, many cartographers now welcome highly interactive computer graphics, computer mapping, and virtual reality systems as providing them with new opportunities for launching cartography into a new creative age. Despite nearly thirty years of research on line generalization algorithms, the available algorithms are somewhat simplistic. This research, undertaken under the auspices of the BCS Design Group, explored the behavioural tendencies of cartographers engaged in line filtering. The result show that a carefully contrived, even if obviously artificial, exercise on the deconstruction of lines into meaningless forms can prompt cartographers to observe, record, and discuss their own cognitive processing.

Computer‐assisted environmental design system: Regional information visualizer

The author has been developing computer‐assisted environmental design systems. One is a computer mapping system. Another is a landscape simulation system. This paper reports only a computer mapping system on account of space considerations. The computer mapping system deals with a wide area, based on a small‐scale map drawn on a scale of 1:25 000. This system is combined with a commercially available CAD system, database management (DBM) system, and databases to visualize the regional information in Keihanna Science City (KSC) and the lower reaches of Yodo River (LRYR), Japan. It is emphasized that a three‐dimensional representation of the digital terrain model has been generated. The visualized data can be imported and exported among some application programs using a standard CAD data format. Thus, CG techniques such as texture mapping can be used easily. Consequently, the system expands the visualization of the regional information in cooperation with some platforms. This paper reports the developing process of the system and the conversion process of the visualized data.

Application Of Geographic Information System (GIS) To Analyze Metropolitan And Non-Metropolitan Distribution Patterns Of Nutrition Risk In A Survey Of 11891 Older Persons

The national Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) promotes screening of older people to assess potential nutrition risk and resulting intervention needs. When large numbers of people are screened in many geographically distinct areas, interpretation of data and recommended needs for each of the several areas becomes a challenge. Geographic information system (GIS) is a computer mapping system which graphically places data on a map, pinpointing where specific conditions or variables exist geographically. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of utilizing GIS as a tool to analyze and compare, through a visual mapping system, the prevalence of risk factors associated with malnutrition among older people participating in either congregate meal programs or home delivered meal programs in the 9 metropolitan and 83 non-metropolitan counties of Indiana. The sixteen planning and service areas (PSAs). providers of nutrition services (including congregate/community and home-delivered programs), surveyed their participants during National Nutrition Month 1993. Registered dietitians, cooperative extension specialists, meal site managers and meal delivery employees assisted participants in completing the survey containing the NSI DETERMINE Your Nutritional Health Checklist. Data were analyzed to show frequencies of responses for the entire state and for each of the 16 PSAs. GIS was utilized to present visually the nutrition risk data for all 92 counties, identified as either metropolitan or non-metropolitan, and to interface with selected 1990 US Census Bureau data. Of the entire 11891 respondents, 33.4% were identified as having characteristics which were indicators of high nutrition risk. Those receiving home delivered meals had a greater nutrition risk level than the congregate meal participants. GIS analysis provided visual information about each of the 92 counties and revealed distinct differences between metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties. Metropolitan counties had a greater proportion of all participants in the high nutrition risk category, with similar distribution in both the homebound and congregate meal categories. In contrast, non-metropolitan counties had a proportionately greater number of homebound meal participants in the high nutrition risk category. In conclusion. GIS provides a technologically advanced tool for interpreting extensive data of people dispersed over finite geographic areas GIS provides a method to graphically comprehend and present small and large scale data and analyze needs of various areas such as metropolitan and non-metropolitan communities. This analysis provides a method to determine needs for nutrition-related services. Further. GIS is a powerful tool which can be used for interfacing nutrition and health data with other data bases such as U.S Census Bureau data

THE SFASU ARBORETUM WOODY AND HERBACEOUS PLANT EVALUATION PROGRAM: PLANTS WITH PROMISE

The mission of the SFASU Arboretum is to promote the conservation, selection, and use of the native plants of Texas and to encourage diversity in the urban landscape philosophy of the region. A decade since its inception, the 10-acre arboretum features many uncommon, unusual, and difficult-to-find species and cultivars, many deserving greater use in the region. The living collection has been acquired through botanical gardens, arboretums, private collections, the nursery industry, and expeditions. The list of promising plants that have surfaced includes many that are not easily available in the trade. The issues involved in woody and herbaceous plant evaluation include computer mapping and record keeping constraints, the long-time frame for evaluation with many woody plants, and difficulties in propagation. The arboretums's plant acquisition policy and record keeping and computer mapping system is currently tracking more than 2500 taxa in the living collection. An overview of the first decade of plant performance and a strategic plan for acquisition, propagation, evaluation, distribution, and promotion are presented.

Some Implications of Climatic Change for Agriculture in Europe

Initial results are reported of a study to evaluate the broad-scale sensitivity of agriculture in Europe to climatic change. The study relates an agroclimatic index, effective temperature sum (ETS), to the cultivable limits of grain maize. A computer mapping system for the European region is adopted to map ETS on the basis both of present-day and of possible future mean temperatures. In this way, changes in climate can be depicted as geographical shifts of the limit of potential grain maize cultivation. The results indicate that a mean annual temperature increase of only 1 °C (within the present-day range of inter-annual variability) would open up large areas in southern England, the Low Countries, eastern Denmark, northern Germany, and northern Poland to potential grain maize cultivation. An increase of 4°C would move the limit into central Fennoscandia and northern Russia. The latter changes are similar to those projected by general circulation models (GCMs) for an equivalent doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and represent rates of northward shift of approximately 200–350 km/°C in western Europe and 250–400 km/°C in eastern Europe. Results using information from GCM transient-response experiments indicate that such shifts could occur as soon as the 2050s if the current exponential growth in emission rates of greenhouse gases were to continue unabated. The rate of shift of the grain maize limit implied for this high (and improbable) emissions scenario is in the order of 150–200 km per decade over the next 70 years, slower than this during the next few decades, but faster thereafter. It is probable that the actual rate will be lower than this, but even values of half those calculated, if sustained, would still represent rates of shift in agroclimatic potential that are unprecedented in the historical record.

Climatic warming and crop potential in Europe: Prospects and uncertainties

Climatic warming due to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is likely to lead to largescale shifts in the pattern of agricultural potential. This article reports the results of a study to Investigate the broad-scale sensitivity of crop potential to climatic change in Europe. A simple agroclimatic index, effective temperature sum (ETS), has been related to the minimum requirements for the successful cultivation of three crops: grain maize, sunflower and soya bean. With the aid of a computer mapping system, ETS has been mapped across Europe on the basis of present climate and of scenarios of future climate. In this way, the effects of changes in climate can be expressed as spatial shifts in the limits of crop potential, and the uncertainities in the estimates can be interpreted in terms of the likelihood of particular regions becoming climatically suitable for crop cultivation. The estimates point to a considerable dislocation of agricultural potential occurring over a matter of only several decades.

Computer Mapping for Monitoring and Assessment of Surface Water Reservoirs

ABSTRACT A flow-through, water quality monitoring system, designed to evaluate the spatial heterogeneity of water quality in reservoirs (Grimshaw, 1987), was used to sample Lake Thunderbird, a reservoir near Norman, Oklahoma. Field testing was conducted to evaluate the operational feasibility of monitoring several water quality parameters along multiple transects, in a real-time manner. Results were processed and interpolated using two computer mapping systems and synoptic maps were generated. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons of the two mapping techniques were made. A synoptic map of turbidity, generated from Landsat Multispectral Scanner Band 3 (700–800 nm) data was compared to results obtained from both computer mapping techniques. With the exception of pH and turbidity, the synoptic maps provided similar estimates of lake area within selected intervals, but differed in the degree of detail revealed. Landsat-based turbidity estimates were higher than those measured directly in the littoral zone.

Climatic change and future agroclimatic potential in Europe

AbstractIn this paper, initial results are reported of a study to evaluate the broad‐scale sensitivity of agriculture to climatic change in Europe. The study employs an agroclimatic index, effective temperature sum (ETS), to relate temperature patterns to the cultivable limits of grain maize (Zea mays). A computer mapping system for the European region is adopted to map ETS on the basis both of present‐day and of possible future mean temperatures. In this way, changes in climate can be depicted as geographical shifts of the limit of potential grain maize cultivation.The results indicate that a mean annual temperature increase of only 1°C (within the present‐day range of interannual variability) would open up large areas in southern England, the Low Countries, eastern Denmark, northern Germany and northern Poland to potential maize cultivation. An increase of 4°C would move the limit into central Fennoscandia and northern Russia. These represent rates of northward shift of approximately 200–350 km °C−1 in western Europe and 250–400 km °C−1 in eastern Europe. Comparison of these shifts with those estimated on the basis of general circulation model (GCM) projections of future temperatures suggests that a 1°C warming will be achieved well before the time the global climate responds fully to an equivalent doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide, possibly as early as 2010. Shifts comparable with those for a 4°C warming are achieved under all the GCM scenarios of doubled CO2, occurring perhaps as soon as 2050 if the current growth in emission rates of greenhouse gases were to continue unabated. The rate of shift of the grain maize limit implied for this (high) emissions scenario is in the order of 150–200 km per decade over the next 70 years, slower than this during the next few decades, but faster thereafter.Such shifts would offer new opportunities for farmers in different regions of northern Europe. However, given the possible rapidity of the shifts, in order for these opportunities to be exploited successfully immediate attention should be directed towards more detailed assessments of crop potential in regions identified as currently marginal for grain maize.

Origin, evolution, and distribution of shoreface sand ridges, Atlantic inner shelf, U.S.A.

A computer mapping system was employed to document the location of 259 shoreface-attached and detached sand ridges in water <20 m deep and the temporal and spatial distribution of 309 historical and active tidal inlets along the U.S. Atlantic coast (Montauk Point, New York, to Miami Beach, Florida). This database was compiled through the analysis of over 600 historical maps, 50 bathymetric charts, and other published data. A genetic relationship between the location of certain historical and active tidal inlets and shoreface-attached sand ridges is documented. It is inferred that ebb-tidal deltas provided the initial sand source for the development of many shoreface-attached sand ridges. Although shoreface-attached sand ridges appear to have several different modes of formation, a two-step process for the development of most shoreface-attached and detached sand ridges along U.S. Atlantic barrier island and cape coastlines is proposed: (1) sand is deposited as ebb-tidal deltas or river deltas along the lower shoreface and/or inner continental shelf prior to or during transgression, followed by (2) further transgression, which reworks the deltaic sand bodies into linear sand ridges at the base of the shoreface by shelf processes. The best-developed shoreface sand ridge fields along the U.S. Atlantic shelf lie adjacent to shorelines characterized by all of the following: (1) transgression, (2) mixed energy, wave-dominated barrier islands, and (3) laterally migrating tidal inlet systems. Tidal inlet systems are natural sediment sinks that capture sand carried by longshore sediment transport. Ebb-tidal delta deposits associated with these migrating tidal inlets provide the initial sand body for the development of shoreface-attached sand ridges. The oblique orientation and linear form of shoreface-attached sand ridges appear to be a function of shoreline transgression, lateral inlet migration, and wave reworking of ebb-tidal delta deposits concentrated along an ebb-tidal delta retreat path. Shelf processes act as modifying agents in the evolution of sand ridges during and after ebb-tidal delta deposition. In general, shoreface-attached sand ridges are poorly developed or absent along eroding headlands, spits, and barrier island shorelines characterized by naturally stabilized tidal inlets. These latter inlets and shoreline types are dominated or influenced by one or all of the following: (1) antecedent topography, (2) higher tidal ranges, (3) larger tidal prisms, (4) lower wave energies, or (5) finer grain sizes. The coupling of shoreline and shallow marine sedimentary processes during a transgression is critical to the origin, evolution, and distribution of shoreface sand ridges in the study area. Modern shoreface-attached sand ridges are also known to occur in different coastal and shelf settings where large amounts of sediment were supplied to the shoreface and inner shelf during, or immediately before, transgression. Commonly observed vertical and lateral interrelationships of Holocene shoreface-attached sand ridges and tidal inlets or distributary channels have important ramifications for the development of shelf sandstone facies models. In addition, the geometric relationship documented in this study provides predictive petroleum and hard mineral exploration models of the spatial and temporal distribution of shoreface and shelf sand ridges.

RURAL ADDRESSING AND COMPUTER MAPPING IN NEW MEXICO

Specifying the location of a rural residence is a common geographic problem. Most addressing systems are designed for urban areas and are not applicable to rural areas. The mile marker addressing system meets all of the requirements for a rural addressing system. With the addition of computer mapping techniques, rural addressing can be done efficiently and can provide the basis for a county's computer mapping system. Projects in New Mexico provide several examples of computerized rural addressing projects.

The Application of Computer Mapping System to Construction of Depth Data File

The Application of Computer Mapping System to Construction of Depth Data File

Evaluation Criteria for the Selection of Computer Mapping Systems

Evaluation Criteria for the Selection of Computer Mapping Systems

COMPUTER-ASSISTED MAPPING OF IRRIGATION WATER REQUIREMENTS FOR VANCOUVER ISLAND BASED ON SOIL AND AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITY SURVEY DATA

The methodology is presented for computer assisted mapping of volumetric irrigation water requirement, as applied to the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Soil and agricultural capability maps at 1:20 000 scale were digitized and the corresponding field and laboratory data were stored in a computer mapping system. An algorithm generates the volume of water required for each polygon by multiplying an area by a depth. The area is the number of arable hectares in the polygon. The depth is calculated as a weighted average of the individual irrigation depths for the arable soils within the polygon, where arability is tied to the attributes of each soil as compared to agricultural capability criteria. Using a water requirement model, the irrigation depth for a given soil is defined as a function of available water storage capacity, estimated to an assumed rooting depth for various crops, or to a root restricting layer; level of risk; and depth to the water table. On the resulting maps, polygons needing water are displayed, with a label depicting the required volume. Tabular summaries are provided on a polygon and mapsheet basis. The relative effects of using different definitions of arability (either agricultural capability classes 1 through 4 or agricultural capability classes 1 through 5), different rooting depths (0.5 or 1.0 m, depending upon proposed crops), and different levels of risk (one of 10, 20, or 50%) can be assessd by developing a set of scenarios. Key words: Irrigation, computer mapping

Computer production of soil maps, II. Interactive map display

A microcomputer system for interactive display of soil maps is described. The maps are stored and manipulated as finely spared run-length encoded grids and are displayed on a colour VDU console. Maps of considerable complexity can be viewed at any desired scale using a combination of foreground and background colours with a specific printing character to represent each displayed map unit. Storage of maps on floppy discs makes it possible to store large numbers of maps of any given area and these maps may be “overlaid” to produce composite maps. The entire system for displaying and overlaying these maps is implemented on a microcomputer with no specialized equipment except for a colour VDU console which adds only about US $1000 (over the price of a monochrome VDU) to the total system cost. The algorithms used are presented and can be efficiently implemented on any microcomputer with sufficient mass storage to hold the required map files (typically less than 10 k byte/ map). The microcomputer is used as a stand-alone device and does not depend on datalines or any other computer. Although the system was developed for manipulation and retrieval of computer-generated thematic maps produced by a computer mapping system under development at our laboratory it could equally well be used for suitably reformatted maps derived from any source.

The Soil Conservation Service's interest in Geographic Information Systems

The Soil Conservation Service (SCS) has used two computer mapping and analysis systems in in-house projects: one polygon, one grid. Both have shown strengths and weaknesses. Cooperative efforts with other organizations have also been useful in defining the characteristics of the more efficient system which SCS hopes to develop. Users inside and outside SCS could benefit.