Future Geographic Information System Research Articles

Landscape values mapping for tranquillity in North York Moors National Park and Howardian Hills AONB

ABSTRACTA key motivation for visiting protected landscapes concerns expectations for tranquil experiences through which visitors’ overall sense of wellness is commonly reported as being enhanced. Yet planning for this expectation is challenging: tranquillity is a nebulous and highly subjective concept, resulting in multiple, often unique interpretations. Adapting research first conducted in Dorset, south England, this study reports on how visitors to two protected areas in Yorkshire, north England, perceive tranquillity. Two hundred and forty research participants were engaged at six survey sites over several weeks. Distinctions amongst the views are determined by age and gender. Sketch map data were combined in geographic information systems (GIS) to produce detailed maps of tranquillity across North York Moors National Park and Howardian Hills AONB. Survey location and key interests appear to influence visitor perspectives on both tranquillity and non-tranquillity. The outcome of this work provides empirical data to inform future GIS modelling efforts aimed at identifying tranquil areas for their continued protection, for their use in tourism marketing, and, ultimately, for the well-being opportunities they are considered to provide to the public as a key component of therapeutic landscapes.

A Unified Indexing Strategy for the Mixed Data of a Future Marine GIS

Spatial indexing technology is widely used in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial databases. As a data retrieval technology, spatial indexing is becoming increasingly important in the big-data age. The purpose of this study is to propose a unified indexing strategy for the mixed data of a future marine GIS. First, data organisation of the system is described. Second, the display condition of each type of data is introduced. These conditions are the basis for the construction of a unified indexing structure. Third, a unified indexing structure for mixed data is presented. The construction process and the search method of the indexing structure are described. Finally, we implement the indexing strategy in our system “Automotive Intelligent Chart Three-dimensional Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems” (AIC 3D ECDIS). Our strategy can provide fast and integrated data retrieval. The spatial indexing strategy we propose breaks through the limitation of data types in our system. It can also be applied in other GIS systems. With the advent of the big-data age, mixed data indexing will become more and more important.

Applications of geographic information systems (GIS) data and methods in obesity-related research.

Geographic information systems (GIS) data/methods offer good promise for public health programs including obesity-related research. This study systematically examined their applications and identified gaps and limitations in current obesity-related research. A systematic search of PubMed for studies published before 20 May 2016, utilizing synonyms for GIS in combination with synonyms for obesity as search terms, identified 121 studies that met our inclusion criteria. We found primary applications of GIS data/methods in obesity-related research included (i) visualization of spatial distribution of obesity and obesity-related phenomena, and basic obesogenic environmental features, and (ii) construction of advanced obesogenic environmental indicators. We found high spatial heterogeneity in obesity prevalence/risk and obesogenic environmental factors. Also, study design and characteristics varied considerably across studies because of lack of established guidance and protocols in the field, which may also have contributed to the mixed findings about environmental impacts on obesity. Existing findings regarding built environment are more robust than those regarding food environment. Applications of GIS data/methods in obesity research are still limited, and related research faces many challenges. More and better GIS data and more friendly analysis methods are needed to expand future GIS applications in obesity-related research.

Mapping User Needs: Detailed GIS Services at the University of Nevada, Reno

GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is now widely observed to be a valuable tool that can be applied to teaching, learning, and research in many disciplines across academic campuses. The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Libraries are offering GIS support in the form of walk-in consultation sessions for the campus community. To learn more about what happens during GIS consultations the UNR GIS team gathered detailed data during the spring 2015 semester about its patrons and the functionality they are using. This knowledge can now be used to reevaluate and improve future GIS tutoring services at UNR Libraries. Lastly, this information is believed to be valuable to other academic libraries providing similar services.

Interoperable cross-domain semantic and geospatial framework for automatic change detection

With the increasingly diverse types of geospatial data established over the last few decades, semantic interoperability in integrated applications has attracted much interest in the field of Geographic Information System (GIS). This paper proposes a new strategy and framework to process cross-domain geodata at the semantic level. This framework leverages the semantic equivalence of concepts between domains through bridge ontology and facilitates the integrated use of different domain data, which has been long considered as an essential superiority of GIS, but is impeded by the lack of understanding about the semantics implicitly hidden in the data. We choose the task of change detection to demonstrate how the introduction of ontology concept can effectively make the integration possible. We analyze the common properties of geodata and change detection factors, then construct rules and summarize possible change scenario for making final decisions. The use of topographic map data to detect changes in land use shows promising success, as far as the improvement of efficiency and level of automation is concerned. We believe the ontology-oriented approach will enable a new way for data integration across different domains from the perspective of semantic interoperability, and even open a new dimensionality for the future GIS.

An advanced application of Geographic Information System (GIS) to rock engineering

Geographic Information System (GIS) is a tool for managing, processing and analyzing the spatial digital data and one of the new information technologies. It has the possibility of solving various difficult problems. Considering the future development of rock engineering, it still remains a lot of problems such as social and environmental engineering problems, which can not be solved using the current technology. In this paper, the state of arts of GIS technology is introduced, and then some advanced application examples in the rock engineering field are shown. Finally, the possibility of GIS applied in the rock engineering is discussed and the future vision of utilizing GIS technology in rock engineering field is mentioned. It is concluded that the environmental impact assessment, the protection of life and properties against the natural disaster and the creation of better environment and health will be the important issues of the rock engineering in the future. In order to solve these difficult problems, the utilization of GIS technology can expect an effective and useful technology for decision making of them. On the future prospect of GIS application to rock engineering, the followings are important: 1) preparation of data, 2) coupling of GIS with various analysis, 3) establishment of synthetic assessment method and 4) temporal and spatial phenomenon analysis in GIS. And, to develop the future GIS application for rock engineering, not only the progress in GIS technology itself, but also the action of the rock engineers and the researchers are also important.

Applying Internet Geographic Information System for Water Quality Monitoring

AbstractThis article explains the fundamental concepts of Internet geographic information system (GIS) technology and illustrates its capabilities using the example of water quality monitoring in San Diego Bay Watershed, California. Internet GIS technology has democratized public access to geographic data and information services, and software applications such as Google Earth provide millions of users with instantaneous access to digital geographic data and tools that, until recently, were only available to GIS specialists. In addition to making geographic data accessible to a large number of potential users, Internet GIS is also a technological vehicle for encouraging public participation in local decision‐making processes. Key developments of Internet GIS technology are highlighted. The links between Internet GIS and public participation are summarized and an application called Common Ground is described. Common Ground delivers data and information about water quality in the San Diego Bay Watershed to the public. The design, architecture, and capabilities of this Internet GIS application are discussed, and the lessons learned and the outlooks for future Internet GIS developments are evaluated.

GIS Mentoring

The implementation and development of effective mentoring is crucial to the growth and success of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) librarianship and staffing. Mentoring is necessary to fill the gaps for all staff members, especially students. I propose that mentoring can assuage many of the staffing obstacles to successful GIS programs. Effective mentoring will create a healthy and productive work environment as well as nurture future GIS librarians and staff members. Although mentoring within librarianship has been discussed in library literature, unfortunately work on the area of GIS mentoring is lacking. This article discusses the benefits of mentoring and demonstrates how the need for GIS mentoring is different from other library mentoring, specifically because of staffing. It also offers strategies for effective GIS mentoring.

Some Requirements for Geographic Information Systems

Some requirements which an ideal geographic information system (GIS) must meet to cope with the challenges of the future are described. We look at data modeling, the integration of geographic information science and photogrammetry, update and refinement of a geospatial database, and data integration. We claim that data modeling needs to be carried out in 3D based on a topologic data structure with the possibility for incorporating change. Photogrammetric operations such as the generation of digital terrain models or the manual and automatic acquisition of vector data from imagery should be considered as modules of future GIS, which should also have efficient mechanisms for incremental updating and versioning. Finally, the integration of all types of data should be possible, e.g., various vector data sets as well as DTMs and images. We illustrate the requirements with the help of three examples, one describing data acquisition and modeling in an interdisciplinary project, one dealing with quality control and update using imagery, and the last one presenting an algorithm for the integration of a 2D data set and a DTM. This paper discusses GIS from a photogrammetric point of view with an emphasis on imaging and data acquisition. While we believe that the discussed requirements are vital for the development of GIS, we are aware of the fact that other issues such as database design, software architecture, visualization, geospatial data infrastructure, and web mapping, only briefly mentioned or not discussed at all in this paper, are of similar importance for the field.

Geographic Information Systems Librarianship: Suggestions for Entry-Level Academic Professionals

Future Geographic Information Systems (GIS) librarians face a number of challenges that other Library and Information Studies (LIS) graduates may not when preparing for a career in academic librarianship. This article discusses these challenges and offers suggestions to help entry-level GIS librarians begin successful and rewarding careers.