Geographic Information System Methodology Research Articles

New York City Panel on Climate Change 2015 Report. Chapter 3: Static coastal flood mapping.

New York City Panel on Climate Change 2015 Report. Chapter 3: Static coastal flood mapping.

The potential of in situ rainwater harvesting in arid regions: developing a methodology to identify suitable areas using GIS-based decision support system

The first step in any rainwater harvesting system involves methods to increase the amount of water stored in the soil profile by trapping or holding the rain where it falls. This may involve small movements of rainwater as surface runoff in order to concentrate the water where it is wanted most. This paper presents a geographic information system (GIS) methodology based on a decision support system (DSS) that uses remote-sensing data, filed survey, and GIS to delineate potential in situ rainwater harvesting areas. The GIS-based DSS implemented as well as evaluated the existing rainwater harvesting structures in the study area. The input into the DSS included a map of rainfall surplus, slope, potential runoff coefficient (PRC), land cover/use, and soil texture. The outputs were map showing potential sites for in situ water harvesting (IWH). The spatial distribution of the suitability map showed that 1.5 and 27.8 % of the study area have excellent and good suitability for IWH, relatively, while 45 % of the area has moderate suitability. Validation of the existing IWH structures was done during a field survey using collected data and the suitability map. The validation depends on comparing rainwater harvesting/recharge dam’s locations in the generated suitability map and the location of the surveyed IWH structures using the proximity analysis tool of ArcGIS 10.1. From the proximity analysis result, all the exiting IWH structures categorized as successful (99 %) were within the good suitable areas.

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.

Exploring bioenergy potentials of built-up areas based on NEG-EROEI indicators

The production of bioenergy is dependent on the supply of biomass. Biomass production for bioenergy may cause large land use conversions, impact agricultural production, food prices, forest conservation, etc. The best solution is to use biomass that does not have agricultural or ecological value. Some of such unconventional sources of biomass are found within urban spaces. We employed Geographic Information System (GIS) and quantitative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies to identify and estimate bioenergy potential of green roofs and other bioenergy options within urban areas. Net Energy Gain (NEG) and Energy Return on Energy Invested (EROEI) were used as indicators to assess the bioenergy potential of urban spaces within the Overijssel province of the Netherlands as a case study. Data regarding suitable areas were geometrically extracted from available GIS datasets, and used to estimate the biomass/bioenergy potential of different species with different yields per hectare, growing under different environmental conditions. We found that potential net-energy gain from built-up areas can meet 0.6–7.7% of the 2030 renewable energy targets of the province without conflicting with socio-ecological concerns, while also improving human habitat.

Spatial Accounting of Environmental Pressure and Resource Consumption Using Night-light Satellite Imagery

Modern societies and economies are highly dependent on fossil energy for their survival. Unfortunately fossil energy resources and minerals are non-renewable and represent finite stocks. Consequently, societies and economies (production, trade and consumption modes) should be reorganized according to the awareness of less resource availability in the future. “Degrowth” and “prosperous way down patterns” have been suggested in order to avoid economic collapse and global societal turmoil and conflicts. This work assesses the dependence of a regional economy (Campania Region, Southern Italy) on non-renewable resources, by means of joint use of spatial modeling and Emergy Accounting. The Emergy method takes into account all the free environmental inputs (such as sunlight, wind, rain, geothermal heat) as well as the input flows of mineral and fossil energy resources, expressed in terms of their solar energy equivalents. Nonrenewable resources used within the regional economy were correlated to nighttime satellite images via GIS (Geographic Information System) methodology, to explore the load of human activities on landscape and ecological communities and to define a human disturbance gradient throughout the Region. This gradient was expressed by means of an emergy-based indicator, the Landscape Development Intensity index (LDI). Results show a high dependence of Campania Region economy from imported resources (about 85% of the total emergy used, U) and a high concentration of non-renewable flows in Napoli and Caserta Provinces. These two regional areas have much higher LDI indices, 44 and 36 respectively, suggesting the need for appropriate land use management actions capable to lower the environmental pressure to more sustainable levels. © 2013 L&H Scientific Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Keywords

Usability of GIS methodology at library service planning: some examples

ABSTRACTIn information era, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are more and more accessible for general application and consequently gaining in importance. GIS information system enables storing and analyzing data, but it differs from other information systems as the data are linked to location. This enables presentation of data in map form. Therefore, the application of GIS is possible also in the field of library services, either for analysis of current services or for planning current or future services. By applying GIS, demographical data can be added to geographical data, which can result in better analysis or planning. In the paper the possibility of GIS application in the field of librarianship is presented, especially acquisition and use of publicly accessible geographical and demographical data. The majority of the needed data already exists, one only needs to find and use them properly. When using the already existing data we contribute to cost effectiveness and to the improvement of efficiency.

A Geographical Information System (GIS) based methodology for determination of potential biomasses and sites for biogas plants in southern Finland

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to analyse the spatial distribution and amount of potential biomass feedstock for biomethane production and optimal locations, sizes and number of biogas plants in southern Finland in the area of three regional waste management companies. MethodsA Geographical Information System (GIS) based methodology, which also included biomass transport optimisation considering the existing road network and spatially varied biomass sources, was used. Kernel Density (KD) maps were calculated to pinpoint areas with high biomass concentration. ResultsThe results show that the total amount of biomass corresponds to 2.8TWh of energy of which agro materials account for more than 90%. It was found that a total of 49 biogas plants could be built in three case regions with feedstock available within maximum transportation radius of 10 or 40km. With maximum of 10km biomass transportation distance, the production capacity of the planned plants ranges from 2.1 to 8.4MW. If transportation distance was increased to 40km, the plant capacities could also increase from 2.3 to 16.8MW. ConclusionsAs demonstrated in this study, the studied GIS methodology can be used for identification of the most suitable locations for biogas plants by providing the tools for e.g. transportation routes and distances. Practice implicationsThe methodology can further be used in environmental impact assessment as well as in cost analysis.

Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging in an adult cohort following prenatal and early postnatal exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE)-contaminated drinking water

This population-based retrospective cohort study examined Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain in relation to prenatal and early postnatal exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE)-contaminated drinking water on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Subjects were identified through birth records from 1969 through 1983. Exposure was modeled using pipe network information from town water departments, a PCE leaching and transport algorithm, EPANet water flow modeling software, and Geographic Information System (GIS) methodology. Brain imaging was performed on 26 exposed and 16 unexposed subjects. Scans were acquired on a Philips 3T whole body scanner using the ADNI T1-weighted MP-RAGE scan. The scans were processed by FreeSurfer version 4.3.1 software to obtain measurements of specific brain regions. There were no statistically significant differences between exposed and unexposed subjects on the measures of white matter hypointensities (β: 127.5mm3, 95% CI: −259.1, 1514.0), white matter volumes (e.g. total cerebral white matter: β: 21230.0mm3, 95% CI: −4512.6, 46971.7) or gray matter volumes (e.g. total cerebral gray matter: β: 11976.0mm3, 95% CI: −13657.2, 37609.3). The results of this study suggest that exposure to PCE during gestation and early childhood, at the levels observed in this population, is not associated with alterations in the brain structures studied.

Regional energy concepts – based on alternative biomass cultivation for rural areas and its efficient energy usage

In the German electric energy market, the share of regional and decentralized power generation based on renewables has become more and more signifi cant. The following study describes the initiative of the energy and utilities company ‘EnBW Energie Baden-Wurttemberg AG’ (EnBW) in Germany to investigate regional energy concepts based on agricultural biomass. The study focuses on two aspects: the development of more sustainable approaches for energy crops cultivation and the effi cient use of cogeneration heat produced by bioenergy-driven power plants in rural areas. For the development of concepts and tools, a study area including two counties in the South-West of Germany were chosen. This article focuses on the work done on the county of Ravensburg. Geographic information system (GIS) tools are used to collect data about current land use practices related to energy crops. Subsequently, the suitability of new and more sustainable energy crops for biogas production based on current production regimes is investigated by following a modeling approach. The approach followed includes the screening of new agricultural substrates as substitutes for maize, which is currently the dominant energy crop for biogas production in Germany, the modeling of new substrate mixtures, and the measurement of the methane potential of energy crop samples in a biogas laboratory. Bioenergy-driven power plants are usually implemented nearby high biomass potentials—in rural areas, where heat demand is scarce. Optimizing heat use in combined heat and power (CHP) generators is a major issue for the future of bioenergy. The effi cient utilization of residual heat is one of the targets of the upcoming update of the German Renewable Energy Sources Act in 2012. Therefore, the profi table operation of biogas plants increasingly depends on the level of heat use which can be reached. The possibilities for heat supply to potential consumers in rural areas have been investigated using a GIS methodology on an object-based level for residential and tertiary/industry sectors. Building age and type have been used as parameters to estimate the annual heat consumption. Scenarios illustrating a renovation rate of the investigated objects (buildings) have been calculated. For the purpose of verifi cation and calibration, measurements of the heat demand of more than 3,000 houses have been used. Furthermore, on the basis of existing biogas plants, a techno-economic comparison of heat networks with micro gas networks for the distribution of renewable energy to demand sites have been performed.

Mapping RMS Titanic With GIS: Implications for Forensic Investigations

AbstractSince its loss 100 years ago, RMS Titanic continues to captivate people worldwide as an epic story of tragedy at sea and as an iconic shipwreck with many mysteries still to be unraveled from its physical remains on the ocean bottom. RMS Titanic, Inc., has completed eight expeditions to RMS Titanic in its capacity as salvor-in-possession. These efforts include the first comprehensive remote-sensing survey of the shipwreck site in 2010. During this time, the company’s focus has evolved from marine salvage to treatment of RMS Titanic as an archaeological site. An important tool in archaeological interpretation of historic shipwrecks is a geographic information system (GIS).In 2006, RMS Titanic, Inc., formally initiated the GIS-based Titanic Mapping Project. Components of the Titanic Mapping Project include data rescue, digital transfer of film media, design of GIS methodology, verification and rectification of positioning data from original field records, preparation of detailed profiles for all recovered artifacts, development of GIS attribute tables for recovered artifacts and key in situ site features, and integration of remote-sensing data from Titanic Expedition 2010. With information on over 5,500 accessioned artifacts organized within the GIS, the company looks forward to making substantive contributions to deepwater archaeological research and forensic investigations of the shipwreck site. In combination with current architectural- and engineering-related knowledge of RMS Titanic, new light can be cast on such topics as the wrecking event during that fateful night in 1912.

Tailoring groundwater quality monitoring to vulnerability: a GIS procedure for network design

Monitoring networks aiming to assess the state of groundwater quality and detect or predict changes could increase in efficiency when fitted to vulnerability and pollution risk assessment. The main purpose of this paper is to describe a methodology aiming at integrating aquifers vulnerability and actual levels of groundwater pollution in the monitoring network design. In this study carried out in a pilot area in central Italy, several factors such as hydrogeological setting, groundwater vulnerability, and natural and anthropogenic contamination levels were analyzed and used in designing a network tailored to the monitoring objectives, namely, surveying the evolution of groundwater quality relating to natural conditions as well as to polluting processes active in the area. Due to the absence of an aquifer vulnerability map for the whole area, a proxi evaluation of it was performed through a geographic information system (GIS) methodology, leading to the so called "susceptibility to groundwater quality degradation". The latter was used as a basis for the network density assessment, while water points were ranked by several factors including discharge, actual contamination levels, maintenance conditions, and accessibility for periodical sampling in order to select the most appropriate to the network. Two different GIS procedures were implemented which combine vulnerability conditions and water points suitability, producing two slightly different networks of 50 monitoring points selected out of the 121 candidate wells and springs. The results are compared with a "manual" selection of the points. The applied GIS procedures resulted capable to select the requested number of water points from the initial set, evaluating the most confident ones and an appropriate density. Moreover, it is worth underlining that the second procedure (point distance analysis [PDA]) is technically faster and simpler to be performed than the first one (GRID + PDA).

Groundwater prospect map of Egypt's Qena Valley using data fusion

Groundwater is a precious resource of limited extent in arid and hyper-arid regions. Over the last few years, the demand for water supply has increased because of increasing population, urbanisation and agricultural activities. This is particularly true in developing countries like Egypt. In this article, an integrated approach of remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) methodologies was used to delineate groundwater potential zones. The selected location is Qena Valley (Wadi Qena) in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Landsat enhanced thematic mapper and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission data were employed to prepare a groundwater prospection map. This was done by integrating slope, drainage, geology–geomorphology and lineament density maps through GIS techniques. These thematic maps were integrated after assigning weight factors to identify features in each case depending on infiltration properties. This resulted in classifying the region into six categories of groundwater potentiality from excellent to very low. The alluvial and flood plains consisting of thick sand and gravel strata were proven to be the most favourable zones for groundwater exploration. Field information and existing geophysical data were employed to validate the groundwater potential map. The overall results demonstrate that RS and GIS techniques provide powerful tools for better assessing, planning and monitoring of water resources in arid regions.

Food outlet availability, deprivation and obesity in a multi-ethnic sample of pregnant women in Bradford, UK

The obesogenic environment model would suggest that increased availability or access to energy dense foods which are high in saturated fat may be related to obesity. The association between food outlet location, deprivation, weight status and ethnicity was analysed using individual level data on a sample of 1198 pregnant women in the UK Born in Bradford cohort using geographic information systems (GIS) methodology. In the non South Asian group 24% were obese as were 17% of the South Asian group (BMI > 30). Food outlet identification methods revealed 886 outlets that were allocated into 5 categories of food shops. More than 95% of all participants lived within 500 m of a fast food outlet. Women in higher areas of deprivation had greater access to fast food outlets and to other forms of food shops. Contrary to hypotheses, there was a negative association between BMI and fast food outlet density in close (250 m) proximity in the South Asian group. Overall, these women had greater access to all food stores including fast food outlets compared to the non South Asian group. The stronger association between area level deprivation and fast food density than with area level deprivation and obesity argues for more detailed accounts of the obesogenic environment that include measures of individual behaviour.

A new GIS modelling of coastal dune protection services against physical coastal hazards

Coastal dune management presents a unique problem to coastal scientists, not only because of the dynamic and complex nature of coastal dune systems but also because of the protection service against many coastal hazards such as storm surges in low and flat coastal countries, shoreline retreat, and aeolian erosion. In order to evaluate such a service, a new GIS modelling of a coastal dune protection service has been carried out on Noirmoutier Island. It is based upon geoinformation coming from LIDAR, Spot satellite and aerial photography data processing. This paper discusses the Geographic Information System (GIS) methodology used for data acquisition and analysis and presents a methodology developed (i) to characterise and map dune shapes using geoindicators in order to highlight aeolian deflation, marine coastal erosion and marine submersion over the long-term and (ii) to set up a transferable and synthetic methodology. This methodology is based upon spatial syntheses computed in regular 50 m*400 m boxes built up landward from the shoreline. Each variable is integrated within each box. This allows to quantify (i) spatial occurrence of each variable and (ii) spatial coincidence of many variables within each box. Each protection service is underlying by a set of variables. The state of the protection service is then discussed and quantified and can be used by stakeholders to manage dunes in a safe way for society stakes.

Availability, accessibility and promotion of smokeless tobacco in a low-income area of Mumbai

ObjectiveTo examine the role of accessibility, product availability, promotions and social norms promotion, factors contributing to the use of smokeless tobacco (ST) products in a typical low-income community of Mumbai...

Comparison between two different methods for evaluating rumen papillae measures related to different diets

Although the Geographical Information System (GIS), which integrates computerized drawing computer assisted design (CAD) and relational databases (data base management system (DBMS)), is best known for applications in geographical and planning cartography, it can also use many kinds of information concerning the territory. A multidisciplinary project was initiated since 5 years a multidisciplinary study was initiated to use GIS to integrate environmental and ecological data with findings on animal health, ethology, and anatomy. This study is chiefly aimed at comparing two different methods for measuring the absorptive surface of rumen papillae. To this scope, 21 female sheep (Ovis aries) on different alimentary regimes (e.g., milk and forage mixed diet, early herbaceous diet, dry hay diet, and fresh hay diet at the maximum of pasture flowering and at the maximum of pasture dryness) were used; after slaughtering, 20 papillae were randomly removed from each sample collected from four indicator regions of rumen wall, placed near a metric reference and digitally photographed. The images were developed with the ArcGIS™ software to calculate the area of rumen papillae by means of GIS and to measure their mid-level width and length to calculate the papillae area as previously performed with a different method. Spatial measurements were analyzed using univariate and multivariate methods. This work demonstrates that the GIS methodology can be efficiently used for measuring the absorptive surface of rumen papillae. In addition, GIS demonstrated to be a rapid, precise, and objective tool when compared with previously used method.

Assessment of Acacia koa forest health across environmental gradients in Hawai'i using fine resolution remote sensing and GIS.

Koa (Acacia koa) forests are found across broad environmental gradients in the Hawai‘ian Islands. Previous studies have identified koa forest health problems and dieback at the plot level, but landscape level patterns remain unstudied. The availability of high-resolution satellite images from the new GeoEye1 satellite offers the opportunity to conduct landscape-level assessments of forest health. The goal of this study was to develop integrated remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) methodologies to characterize the health of koa forests and model the spatial distribution and variability of koa forest dieback patterns across an elevation range of 600–1,000 m asl in the island of Kaua‘i, which correspond to gradients of temperature and rainfall ranging from 17–20 °C mean annual temperature and 750–1,500 mm mean annual precipitation. GeoEye1 satellite imagery of koa stands was analyzed using supervised classification techniques based on the analysis of 0.5-m pixel multispectral bands. There was clear differentiation of native koa forest from areas dominated by introduced tree species and differentiation of healthy koa stands from those exhibiting dieback symptoms. The area ratio of healthy koa to koa dieback corresponded linearly to changes in temperature across the environmental gradient, with koa dieback at higher relative abundance in warmer areas. A landscape-scale map of healthy koa forest and dieback distribution demonstrated both the general trend with elevation and the small-scale heterogeneity that exists within particular elevations. The application of these classification techniques with fine spatial resolution imagery can improve the accuracy of koa forest inventory and mapping across the islands of Hawai‘i. Such findings should also improve ecological restoration, conservation and silviculture of this important native tree species.

Public Participation GIS: A new method for national park planning

This paper describes research to evaluate the use of a public participation geographic information system (PPGIS) methodology for national park planning. Visitor perceptions of park experiences, environmental impacts, and facility needs were collected via an internet-based mapping method for input into a national park planning decision support system. The PPGIS method presupposes that consistent with the dominant statutory framework, national parks should be managed for both visitor enjoyment and natural and cultural resource protection. This paper: (1) describes the PPGIS method used in a 2009 park planning study conducted for national parks in the Greater Alpine region of Victoria, Australia; (2) presents and evaluates selected results of the Greater Alpine study and provides examples of how PPGIS data can be used for decision support in park planning; (3) provides a summary of lessons learned including a discussion of future implementation constraints. The results demonstrate that an internet, participatory mapping method, though not without limitations, can be effective in measuring visitor experiences, environmental impacts, and facility needs for a variety of park planning processes. PPGIS expands a park agency's repertoire of methods to engage the public in planning and can help build and sustain trust in a park agency's planning process and decisions.

Quantitative Determination of Soil Erosion and Prioritization of Micro-Watersheds Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Soil erosion which occurs at spatially varying rate is a widespread threat to sustainable resource management at watershed scale. Thus estimation of soil loss and identification of critical area for implementation of best management practice is central to success of soil conservation programme. The present study focuses application of most widely used Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) to determine soil erosion and prioritization of micro-watersheds of Upper Damodar Valley Catchment (UDVC) of India. Annual average soil loss for the entire basin is 23.17 t/ha/yr; for micro-watersheds. High soil loss is observed in 345 micro-watersheds, medium in 159 micro-watersheds and low soil loss is observed in 201 micro-watersheds. It is found that, out of 705 micro-watersheds of UDVC, 453 micro-watersheds are in agreement with AISLUS suggested priority which is based on observed sediment yield, 116 micro-watersheds under predict and 136 micro-watersheds over predict the priority. Geographic Information System (GIS) is applied to prepare various layers of USLE parameters which interactively estimate soil erosion at micro-watershed level. The main advantage of the GIS methodology is in providing quick information on the estimated value of soil loss for any part of the investigated area.

Introduction to Historical GIS and the Study of Urban History

Over the past decade or so geographic information systems (GIS) methodology has become an accepted tool in historical research (Gregory and Ell 2007; Knowles 2008). Although often regarded as a mapping tool, GIS is perhaps better thought of as a type of database. What makes a GIS database unique is that a location is stored for each item of data, with this location taking any of a variety of forms: a point, a line, a polygon representing an area or zone, or, in the case of a raster system, a pixel. GIS can then present instantly on the screen a map showing the distribution of any variable or combination of variables in any of the chosen locational formats. This electronic display of information becomes an analytic tool, allowing the refinement of research questions, with answers displayed instantly: GIS creates a display of information once visible only in paper form, drawn slowly and expensively first by cartographers and then by vector plotters. GIS and its associated tools transform mapping into a dynamic exploratory process.