Detailed Geographic Data Research Articles

Carbon emission reduction model for sewage heat recovery and utilization in a northern Chinese city

The reduction of carbon emissions from buildings has become crucial in the context of global warming. Sewage heat is gradually becoming valued as a clean energy source; however, its efficient use remains to be studied. This study explored the potential of sewage heat recovery in reducing carbon emissions in an urban built environment and proposed a carbon emission reduction model for sewage heat recovery and utilization. The relationship between various sizes of sub-catchments and different types of heat use buildings was evaluated using detailed geographic and demographic data. The results of this study suggest that the strategic placement of recovery systems can minimize carbon emissions. For instance, when the proportion of residential buildings in an urban sewage pipe network sub-catchment area exceeds 60 %, retail and office buildings are the most ideal heat recovery subjects, achieving carbon reduction rates greater than 0.6. However, when the proportion of residential buildings in a sub-catchment was <30 %, retail buildings showed better results than those of office buildings. Through the proposed method and its application, retail buildings should be considered first in terms of urban sewage heat recovery and utilization, followed by office buildings. The combined simulations and scenario analyses in this study provide a reference for enhancing the sustainability of urban heating practices using underutilized sewage heat.

Applications of Lidar Technology in Urban Geophysical Surveys

This research examines the utilization of mobile LiDAR technology for comprehensive urban geophysical surveys, with a specific emphasis on monitoring infrastructure and urban planning. The study challenge focuses on the requirement for precise and detailed geographical data to assist in making informed urban development and management decisions. The approach utilized a transportable LiDAR device with a laser pulse frequency of 200,000 pulses per second at 1,200 meters. Data collection employed precise GPS and IMU for positional and orientation accuracy, respectively. Statistical analysis included noise filtering and classification metrics to evaluate data quality. Results from the study demonstrated the significant capabilities of LiDAR technology: the survey captured over 10.000 points per square meter with a point accuracy of 0.150 meters. Noise filtering processes retained an average of 85% of data points, with ground classification achieving accuracies above 95%. Statistical tools included standard deviation calculations for elevation models, revealing mean elevations ranging from 13.750 to 19.400 meters across surveyed areas. In addition, LiDAR technology could identify structural deformations of up to 0.200 meters in metropolitan buildings. The study highlights the efficacy of LiDAR in offering accurate and extensive geospatial data for urban planning and infrastructure management. This research adds to the current understanding by showing how LiDAR may be used to improve decision-making and increase the ability of cities to withstand and recover from challenges.

Investigating Catchment‐Scale Daily Snow Depths of CMIP6 in Canada

AbstractAccurate modeling of snow depth (SD) processes is critical for understanding global energy balance changes, affecting climate change mitigation strategies. This study evaluates the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) model performance in simulating daily SD across Canada. We assess CMIP6 outputs against observed data, focusing on daily SD averages, snow cover durations, and rates of accumulation and depletion, alongside annual SD peaks for 11 major Canadian catchments. Our findings reveal that CMIP6 simulations generally overestimate daily SD by 57.7% and extend snow cover duration by 30.5 days on average. While three models (CESM2, UKESM1‐0‐LL and MIROC6) notably align with observed annual SD peaks, simulation biases suggest the need for enhanced model parameterization to accurately capture snow physics, particularly in regions with permanent snow cover and complex terrains. This analysis underscores the necessity of refining CMIP6 simulations and incorporating detailed geographical data for better SD predictions.

Spatial Optimization for Energy Island Location and Cable Routing Considering Offshore Zoning

The energy hub concept presents a compelling opportunity to channel electricity from offshore wind farms to the grid, facilitating cross-border energy trading and conversion. However, one of the main challenges lies in the strategic identification of a suitable energy island location and the establishment of an interconnected cable routing path. Part of the complexity arises from the need to navigate offshore zoning regulations and accommodate various spatial uses within the offshore area. This paper exhibits a case study to explore the spatial optimization for a potential offshore energy hub in the North Sea. It aims at finding out an optimal spatial configuration of the offshore energy hub, such that the island location and the associated cable routing do not infringe upon keep-out zones while strategically positioning the hub closer to high-capacity wind farms. To achieve this goal, detailed geographical data incorporating offshore zoning information is leveraged for spatial optimization. The Dijkstra’s algorithm is then applied to identify the optimal island location and cable routing path. The effectiveness of this spatial optimization methodology is demonstrated through a case study involving offshore wind farm sites in the North Sea. Given the real geographical data, simulation results underscore the efficacy of the Dijkstra’s algorithm in determining the optimal energy hub layout. In particular, an optimal spatial design is achieved, based on cable lengths, asset capacities, offshore zoning and island/platform location for a potential offshore energy hub in the North Sea while ensuring compliance with keep-out zoning regulations.

Targeted Tick-Borne Disease Recognition: Assessing Risk for Improved Public Health.

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a rapidly growing threat to public health. The incidence of TBDs is on the rise, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors beyond demographic considerations. This brief report combines a preliminary review of the literature with geographical case mapping to identify the various factors influencing TBD risk. The report highlights the vulnerability of outdoor workers, the importance of outdoor activities, and the role of education in adopting preventive behaviors. Pet ownership and interactions with animals are also associated with an increased risk. The state of Illinois is used as a case study for this report, revealing regional variations in TBD incidence, and linking them to agricultural practices, forested areas, and park accessibility. These findings inform recommendations for targeted prevention strategies, emphasizing the need for detailed geographical data to enhance public health efforts in curbing TBD incidence and risk.

Catalog of the Chrysomelinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) deposited in the entomological collections of the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (MPEG) and the Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA), Belém, Brazil

A comprehensive catalog is provided for most leaf beetles belonging to the Chrysomelinae subfamily, which are housed in the collections of two institutions in the state of Pará, located in northern Brazil: The Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (MPEG) and the Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA). The catalog includes detailed geographic distribution data for all species, along with new records and photographs (including two paratypes of Cryptostetha pereirai Bechyně, 1958, with descriptions of the aedeagus and spermatheca). Furthermore, information is provided on host plants, parasites, parasitoids, and predators associated with certain species.

Studies on the Genus Habroloma Thomson from China (5)-A Faunal Survey of Jiangxi Province and Descriptions of Three New Species (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Tracheini)

This paper is the fifth in a series of studies on the genus Habroloma Thomson from China. It presents the results of a collecting survey of the fauna in Jiangxi province, China. Altogether, 31 species were collected and identified from 48 collecting localities. Detailed geographical distribution data are presented for all species recorded from Jiangxi, of which three new species are herein described and illustrated: Habroloma flavopilosulum sp. nov.; H. shengi sp. nov. and H. tianpaishanensis sp. nov., 10 species are regarded as new to Jiangxi Province.

Personal Care Aides: Assessing Self-Care Needs And Worker Shortages In Rural Areas.

Previous research has documented shortages of personal care aides who provide Medicaid home and community-based services, but there are few detailed geographic data to determine the areas of greatest need and assess the availability of personal care aides nationwide. Using 2013-17 data from the American Community Survey and the Office of Management and Budget, we analyzed potential need for personal care aide services among adults and the supply of aides across the US. Areas with the highest percentages of adults with self-care disability were mainly in the South, and the gap between the potential need for personal care aide services and the aide supply was greatest in southern states. Within states, there were fewer personal care aides per 1,000 adults with self-care disability in the more rural and most rural areas than in the least rural areas. Wage and benefit increases, improved training and career opportunities, increased flexibility in state Medicaid policies on paid family caregiving, incentives and compensation for travel, and increased data collection and government tracking of workforce data could help boost the supply of personal care aides in rural America.

An integrated assessment of tropical cyclone risks in mainland China by considering hazard, exposure, vulnerability and mitigation

Abstract Tropical cyclones (TCs) cause devastating losses of lives and properties every year across the globe. This paper makes use of detailed geographic data on historical TCs and socio-economic conditions for both coastal and inland regions to assess the TC risk in China. Specifically, the mitigation capacity is integrated into the ‘Hazard–Exposure–Vulnerability’ (HEV) framework, and the TC risks are calculated by using the multiplicative/divisive and additive/subtractive formulae based on indicators of hazards, exposure, vulnerability and mitigation. The estimated TC risks are furthermore validated by using the data of direct economic losses and casualties. The results show that coastal areas in China are generally dominated by high TC risks and that inland areas also suffer considerably due to TC-induced secondary disasters. The TC risks calculated by the additive/subtractive formula can better capture the density of direct economic losses and casualties compared with those calculated by the multiplicative/divisive formula. TC hazard plays an important role in determining TC risks in South China, whereas exposure and mitigation play a critical part in determining TC risks in North China. Overall, the consideration of mitigation capacity makes the calculated TC risks more consistent with the magnitude of direct economic losses and casualties.

Studies on the Genus Habroloma Thomson from China (4) - A Faunal Survey of Fujian Province and Descriptions of Five New Species (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Tracheini)

This paper is the fourth in a series on the genus Habroloma Thomson from China. It presents the results of a collecting survey to the fauna of Fujian province of China. Altogether, 25 species and subspecies were collected and identified from 34 collecting localities in the province, and detailed geographical distribution data are recorded, of which, five new species are herein described and illustrated: Habroloma compactiforme sp. nov., H. exsertipennis sp. nov., H. latipectum sp. nov., H. vermiculum sp. nov., and H. wupingensis sp. nov., 12 species are recorded as new to Fujian Province.

The case of electoral polling station data for geocoding in facilitating accessibility to social, economic and cultural opportunities in Ghana

ABSTRACT It is widely acknowledged that geographic data in Ghana and most of Sub-Sahara Africa is patchy, and lack geographic coverage and detail. This has implications for mobility and access to socioeconomic, and cultural opportunities which require address and location data typically provided through geocoding. A critical component of geocoding is a reference database to lookup matching address and location information. Accordingly, we investigate the suitability of, and the use of electoral polling stations to build a reference database for geocoding. This was undertaken by mapping their geographic coordinates, analyzing their geographic spread and detail, and outlining the database structure for building the reference database. Using the 2020 electoral polling station data for the Greater North area of Ghana, we found that 93% of the geographic coordinates can be obtained from open data sources. Also, there is high proximity with a nearest neighbor distance of 663 m, a reasonable service area of 4300 m, and a median distance of 3700 m from a community location. The widespread availability, large geographic spread and moderate detail, make polling stations a creditable data source for geocoding. It is recommended the polling station data be augmented with a detailed geographic data like those from landmarks and paratransit service.

Measurement of contagion spatial spread probability in public places: A case study on COVID-19

The scale and scope of the COVID-19 epidemic have highlighted the need for timely control of viral transmission. This paper proposed a new spatial probability model of epidemic infection using an improved Wasserstein distance algorithm and Monte Carlo simulation. This method identifies the public places in which COVID-19 spreads and grows easily. The Wasserstein Distance algorithm is used to calculate the distribution similarity between COVID-19 cases and the public places. Further, we used hypothesis tests and Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the spatial spread probability of COVID-19 in different public places. We used Snow's data to test the stability and accuracy of this measurement. This verification proved that our method is reliable and robust. We applied our method to the detailed geographic data of COVID-19 cases and public places in Wuhan. We found that, rather than financial service institutions and markets, public buildings such as restaurants and hospitals in Wuhan are 95 percent more likely to be the public places of COVID-19 spread.

Müllerian mimicry and the coloration patterns of sympatric coral snakes

Abstract Coral snakes in the genus Micrurus are venomous, aposematic organisms that signal danger to predators through vivid coloration. Previous studies found that they serve as models to several harmless species of Batesian mimics. However, the extent to which Micrurus species engage in Müllerian mimicry remains poorly understood. We integrate detailed morphological and geographical distribution data to investigate if coral snakes are Müllerian mimics. We found that coloration is spatially structured and that Micrurus species tend to be more similar where they co-occur. Though long supposed, we demonstrate for the first time that coral snakes might indeed be Müllerian mimics as they show some convergence in coloration patterns. Additionally, we found that the length of red-coloured rings in Micrurus is conserved, even at large geographic scales. This finding suggests that bright red rings may be under more substantial stabilizing selection than other aspects of coloration and probably function as a generalized signal for deterring predators.

The Quaternary Hippopotamus records from Italy

ABSTRACT The genus Hippopotamus dispersed from Africa to Europe during the Pleistocene and the taxon is testified from different Italian localities. Despite the large number of available specimens, Hippopotamus is mainly documented by fragmentary remains and detailed stratigraphic and/or geographic data are often absent or uncertain. In Italy, hippopotamuses are recorded in at least 100 fossiliferous localities spanning from the late Early Pleistocene to the Late Pleistocene. At present, three different Pleistocene species are recognised: H. antiquus from Early to Middle Pleistocene, H. amphibius from Middle to Late Pleistocene and H. pentlandi from late Middle-early Late Pleistocene Sicilian localities. Upper Valdarno basin (Tuscany), Chiusi basin (Tuscany), Colfiorito basin (Umbria), Sant’Oreste (Latium), Puntali Cave (Sicily) and Acquedolci (Sicily) are just a few fossiliferous Italian sites where significative findings of Hippopotamus were collected during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Life Cycle Assessment of Two Alternative Plastics for Bottle Production.

The article characterizes selected issues related to the method of performing environmental impact analyses. Particular attention was paid to the need for identifying environmental effects associated with the process of shaping beverage bottles. This study concerns the analysis of selected stages of the machine’s life cycle environmental impact in the specific case of the blow molding machine used in the production of bottles. Life cycle assessment analysis was performed using the SimaPro 8.4.0 software (The Dutch Company Pre Consultants). The CML 2 and ReCiPe2016 methods were chosen to interpret the lists of chemical emissions. Impact categories specific to the CML 2 model are: abiotic depletion, acidification, eutrophication, global warming, ozone layer depletion, human toxicity, fresh water aquatic ecotoxicity, marine aquatic ecotoxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity, and photochemical oxidation. Among all the considered impact categories, marine aquatic ecotoxicity was characterized by the highest level of potential harmful effects occurring during the bottle production process. A new aspect of the research is to provide updated and more detailed geographic data on Polish bottle production.

On a clustering-based mining approach with labeled semantics for significant place discovery

With the rapid increase in GPS data collection through pervasive use of mobile devices, it has become an important problem to discover significant places of moving objects from complex spatial and temporal trajectories. This problem is challenging mainly because such trajectory data suffer from several issues including incompleteness, low quality, high redundancy, and oftentimes trajectory points do not follow Gaussian distribution. We propose a clustering-based method with temporal and spatial semantics, referred to as Stops and Moves of Trajectories using Attribute Selection (SMoTAS), whose technical advantages are multifold. Firstly, it improves data availability by using a self-adaptive algorithm to correct the deviation in traditional speed-based methods. Secondly, it improves place mining accuracy by filtering multi-label clustering results when there is a lack of detailed geographic data. Thirdly, it employs feature selection to exploit the core attributes of clustering and simplify the clustering results with Grubbs criterion. Experimental results on real-life datasets show that SMoTAS not only achieves substantial improvement of accuracy over existing methods in discovering significant places, but also exhibits superior adaptability to different trajectories and application scenarios.

Individual, household and neighborhood risk factors for malaria in the Democratic Republic of the Congo support new approaches to programmatic intervention.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains one of the countries most impacted by malaria despite decades of control efforts, including multiple mass insecticide treated net (ITN) distribution campaigns. The multi-scalar and complex nature of malaria necessitates an understanding of malaria risk factors over time and at multiple levels (e.g., individual, household, community). Surveillance of households in both rural and urban settings over time, coupled with detailed behavioral and geographic data, enables the detection of seasonal trends in malaria prevalence and malaria-associated behaviors as well as the assessment of how the local environments within and surrounding an individual's household impact malaria outcomes. Participants from seven sites in Kinshasa Province, DRC were followed for over two years. Demographic, behavioral, and spatial information was gathered from enrolled households. Malaria was assessed using both rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and seasonal trends were assessed. Hierarchical regression modeling tested associations between behavioral and environmental factors and positive RDT and PCR outcomes at individual, household and neighborhood scales. Among 1591 enrolled participants, malaria prevalence did not consistently vary seasonally across the sites but did vary by age and ITN usage. Malaria was highest and ITN usage lowest in children ages 6-15 years across study visits and seasons. Having another member of the household test positive for malaria significantly increased the risk of an individual having malaria [RDT: OR=4.158 (2.86-6.05); PCR: OR=3.37 (2.41-4.71)], as did higher malaria prevalence in the 250m neighborhood around the household [RDT: OR=2.711 (1.42-5.17); PCR: OR=4.056 (2.3-7.16)]. Presence of water within close proximity to the household was also associated with malaria outcomes. Taken together, these findings suggest that targeting non-traditional age groups, children >5 years old and teenagers, and deploying household- and neighborhood-focused interventions may be effective strategies for improving malaria outcomes in high-burden countries like the DRC.

The Incidence of Land Use Regulations

I study the welfare consequences of land use regulations for low- and high-skilled workers within a city. I use detailed geographic data for Cook County and Chicago in 2015-2016, together with a spatial quantitative model with two types of workers and real estate developers who face regulations. For identification, I use the 1923 Zoning Ordinance, which was the first comprehensive ordinance in Chicago. I find that an increase of 10 percentage points in the share of residential zoning in a block group, relative to block groups with more commercial zoning, leads to a 1.7% increase in housing prices, a 2.6% decrease in wages and a higher concentration of high-skilled residents. Welfare changes can be decomposed into changes in housing prices, sorting, wages and land rents. Results suggest that more mixed-use zoning and looser floor-to- area limits lead to welfare improvements, especially for low-skilled residents, and to a reduction in welfare inequality.

Inference on the Surveying Methods at the 8th Century in Japan

Ancient regional records on geography named Fudoki were compiled in Japan at the 8th century. There were about 60 provinces at that time, but only 5 Fudoki (transcripts) have remained at present. Among them, Izumo Fudoki (edited in 733) is not only almost complete, but also contains detailed geographic data (surveying data) not found in the others. The surveying data are distances between major points, heights and sizes of mountains, sizes of lakes and isles etc. However, there are many differences when comparing these surveying data with actual sites. The Fudoki researchers had tried many times to interpret the relationships between the two, but many unclear points have remained. During the time, we civil engineers had little interest in the Fudoki. In this paper, we estimated the surveying methods by comparing the Fudoki data with map data and confirming the sites, then obtained the following conclusions. The distances were almost correct, the heights of the mountains were converted using the number of steps, the perimeters of the mountains were calculated with the trails as diameters, and the sizes of the lakes and isles were the lengths of the waterways. The surveying methods at that time were simple, but the results obtained were practical. We think that these ancient surveying methods were widely used, not in one region or one period.

An Evaluation of Anonymization Methods for Creating Detailed Geographical Data

An Evaluation of Anonymization Methods for Creating Detailed Geographical Data