Geographic Phenomena Research Articles

Regional Coverage Maximization: Alternative Geographical Space Abstraction and Modeling

Analysis results are often found to vary with the way we abstract geographical space. When continuous geographic phenomena are abstracted, processed, and stored in a digital environment, some level of discretization is often employed. Information loss in a discretization process brings about uncertainty/error, and as a result research findings may be highly dependent on the particular discretization method used. This article examines one spatial problem concerning how to achieve the maximal regional coverage given a limited number of service facilities. Two widely used geographical space abstraction approaches are examined, the point‐based representation and the area‐based representation, and issues associated with each representation scheme are analyzed. To accommodate the limitations of the existing representation schemes, a mixed representation strategy is proposed along with a new maximal covering model. Experiments are conducted to site warning sirens in Dublin, Ohio. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of the mixed representation scheme in finding high‐quality solutions when the regional coverage level is medium or high.

Exploring the impacts of future tourism development on land use/cover changes

Land use/cover changes (LUCC) are central to tourism because land is used in multiple ways as a resource for tourism-focused activities. Tourism is essentially a geographical phenomenon, encompassing the movement and flow of people (seen as the demand side) and spatial distribution patterns relating to land use consumption (seen as the supply side). However, the impacts of tourism on LUCC are difficult to track and monitor. Contributing factors of this problem include a lack of empirical studies, shortage of micro-level LUCC datasets, and scarce methodological frameworks which can be used for assessments. This paper aims to provide a LUCC modelling approach in order to explore the impacts of tourism development on built-up areas. We developed a Cellular automata model (CA) which integrates Markovian transition probabilities and logistic regression transition suitability maps. LUCC rules for tourism development are framed within the national land use policy guidelines for the development of new tourism accommodation establishments (TAE). This primarily takes into consideration land cover compatibility and the proposed development's proximity to the coastline.Three scenarios were established to explore the impacts of tourism development in LUCC for the year 2020 in a Portuguese coastal region: business as usual (BAU); tourism trends (TOUR); and natural restrictions (NATR). TOUR results indicate that the tourism and urban land use/cover growth is higher and focuses heavily on the coastal region (within 5,000 m) when compared to the other scenarios. The overall results for BAU and NATR show a general convergence with the land use policy guidelines in terms of tourism nucleation and new TAE distance to the coastline.

A 3D multi-threshold, region-growing algorithm for identifying dust storm features from model simulations

ABSTRACTDust storms cause significant damage to health, property, and the environment worldwide every year. To help mitigate the damage, dust forecast models simulate and predict upcoming dust events, providing valuable information to scientists, decision makers, and the public. These simulation outputs are in four-dimensions (i.e., latitude, longitude, elevation, and time) and represent spatially heterogeneous dust storm features and their evolution over space and time. This research investigates and proposes an automatic multi-threshold, region-growing-based algorithm to identify critical dust storm features from 3D dust storm simulations. A multi-threshold scheme is defined for the identification of dust storm features with different dust concentrations. Based on the multi-thresholds, dust storm features are iteratively identified by developing a region-growing algorithm that splits a clustered dust storm feature into multiple sub-features. The proposed approach is compared with three commonly used methods in image processing and thunderstorm identification. The proposed approach outperforms the other three methods in sensitivity and quantitative/qualitative accuracy. This research approach may also be slightly adjusted to identify critical 3D features from simulation outputs for other severe weather and geographical phenomena.

Progress in the micro-perspective studies of economic geography in China since 1980s

Micro-perspective studies on economic geography in China can be classified into geography of the enterprise, geography of the rural household, and small-scale studies on economic activities. Literature on geography of the enterprise includes spatial expansion of the enterprise, industrial location, firm's networks, industrial relocation, industrial clusters, and the relationship between industrial organizations and the environment. Studies on geography of the rural household (GRH) include the theoretical framework of GRH, the locations of rural economic activities, and the interrelation between rural households and geographical environment. Small-scale studies focus on human-land interaction from a land plot perspective, relations between specialized villages and the environment, and regional sustainable development research at site-specific scale. Micro-perspective studies on economic geography attempt to search for the basic unit of economic-geographical landscape, exploring the geographical process and the formation mechanism of geographical phenomena. The exploration of these three perspectives anticipates new approaches to economic-geographical studies with China's special background.

A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR VIRTUAL GEOGRAPHIC ENVIRONMENTS KNOWLEDGE ENGINEERING

Abstract. VGE geographic knowledge refers to the abstract and repeatable geo-information which is related to the geo-science problem, geographical phenomena and geographical laws supported by VGE. That includes expert experiences, evolution rule, simulation processes and prediction results in VGE. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for VGE knowledge engineering in order to effectively manage and use geographic knowledge in VGE. Our approach relies on previous well established theories on knowledge engineering and VGE. The main contribution of this report is following: (1) The concepts of VGE knowledge and VGE knowledge engineering which are defined clearly; (2) features about VGE knowledge different with common knowledge; (3) geographic knowledge evolution process that help users rapidly acquire knowledge in VGE; and (4) a conceptual framework for VGE knowledge engineering providing the supporting methodologies system for building an intelligent VGE. This conceptual framework systematically describes the related VGE knowledge theories and key technologies. That will promote the rapid transformation from geodata to geographic knowledge, and furtherly reduce the gap between the data explosion and knowledge absence.

A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR VIRTUAL GEOGRAPHIC ENVIRONMENTS KNOWLEDGE ENGINEERING

VGE geographic knowledge refers to the abstract and repeatable geo-information which is related to the geo-science problem, geographical phenomena and geographical laws supported by VGE. That includes expert experiences, evolution rule, simulation processes and prediction results in VGE. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for VGE knowledge engineering in order to effectively manage and use geographic knowledge in VGE. Our approach relies on previous well established theories on knowledge engineering and VGE. The main contribution of this report is following: (1) The concepts of VGE knowledge and VGE knowledge engineering which are defined clearly; (2) features about VGE knowledge different with common knowledge; (3) geographic knowledge evolution process that help users rapidly acquire knowledge in VGE; and (4) a conceptual framework for VGE knowledge engineering providing the supporting methodologies system for building an intelligent VGE. This conceptual framework systematically describes the related VGE knowledge theories and key technologies. That will promote the rapid transformation from geodata to geographic knowledge, and furtherly reduce the gap between the data explosion and knowledge absence.

La escala geográfica como concepto integrador en la comprensión de problemas socio-ambientales

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to contribute to the knowledge of the concept of scale for an integrated geographical understanding of socio-environmental problems in Mexico. This objective is accomplished by comparing the same scalar dimensions of two different problems: the first one is adaptation to climate change policies in Mexico, and the second is deforestation. This paper presents the main elements that have been discussed in recent years in the Anglo literature on the concept of scale, particularly the extent, resolution, level, hierarchy, the problem of modifiable area unit and spatial fallacies. The properties of geographical concepts emerge and can be observed according to the combination of scalar elements. The most fundamental scalar principles discussed in the field refer to identify the combination of elements in which it is possible to observe each geographical phenomena's variability, characteristics and properties. One of the most relevant problems of the scalar thinking refers to the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP), which stems from the data aggregation; the relevant values represented for each spatial unit relate to each other in different ways according to how they organized within a hierarchical structure. Data aggregation affects how the variability and heterogeneity of a phenomenon can be observed, given that the change of scale may show or hide specific properties of the dataset in a change of resolution. This problem is relevant for the inferences that stem from the data, given that individualistic or ecological fallacies may emerge if the dataset characteristics are not correctly interpreted in terms of representation, similarity or heterogeneity.Applying these principles to the comparison between two different geographical problems of different epistemological nature, we show the importance of this concept for the geographical thought; the comparison highlights the need to generate systematic reflections in this regard for the Geography produced in Spanish language.Regarding the socio-environmental problems addressed, the climate change adaptation policies in Mexico show a lack of conceptual and programmatic integration in different levels; the lack of an adequate concurrent relationship between them creates a problem to generate effective results for adaptation. We identify three policy levels (global, national and local), in which we briefly examine the relevant policy instrument and actor(s) that negotiate, design and/ or implement it in each level. For the international level we briefly present the role of the Mexican government on the negotiation and adoption of the Kyoto Protocol principles and goals; for the national level, we examine the approach and jurisdiction of the Special Program of Climate Change and the related juridical field; for the local level, we discuss the Municipal Climate Action Programmes, their design and scope, as well as the lack density that has prevented these instrument to influence other policy levels. This section discusses the hierarchies between these levels, the extension (jurisdiction) under which each of them are relevant and the importance of each scalar level for visualizing the main characteristics of the different adaptation policies.Regarding deforestation and land use change, the scale analysis reveals that might be direct (proximate) and indirect (underlying) and operate on multiple levels; also, its consequences are manifested in different scales of space and time. The spatial heterogeneity of land use change reveals the combination of biophysical and social, economic and political conditions, so the deforestation rate and causes change with observation scale. The implication of scale is that important land use processes could remain undetected, thus not monitored by traditional tools and aggregated land use categories typically applied. On the other hand, the choice of the time scale could undetect economic or social processes that change from year to year, which obscure the underlying causes of deforestation. It is therefore necessary to see change in land use with a view hierarchies.

Spatio-Temporal Differentiation of Urban-Rural Equalized Development at the County Level in Chengdu

Urban-rural equalized development (URED) is recognized as strongly contributing to the narrowing of societal, economic, life, and environmental gaps between urban and rural areas and is also an effective way to solve the “three rural issues” of rapid industrialization and urbanization in China. This paper explores the spatio-temporal patterns of URED in the state-designated experimental zone of Chengdu at a county level by using quantitative survey data from 2004 to 2013. The major findings are as follows: (1) the regions that are closer to the central city of Chengdu had a more optimistic urban-rural equalized development outlook (i.e., the three-tier geographical distribution phenomenon); (2) this distribution characteristic was gradually broken up in the process of urban and rural integration, and the differences between the three tiers has been narrowing; and (3) the gap between urban and rural areas has been significantly improved and exhibited a higher dynamic degree in the second and third tiers than in the first tier, which suggests a new development mode that exhibits better quality and higher sustainability. Given these results, the development orientation and strategy of each tier are discussed according to the characteristics of urban and rural equalized development.

Spatial Cluster Detection in Spatial Flow Data

As a typical form of geographical phenomena, spatial flow events have been widely studied in contexts like migration, daily commuting, and information exchange through telecommunication. Studying the spatial pattern of flow data serves to reveal essential information about the underlying process generating the phenomena. Most methods of global clustering pattern detection and local clusters detection analysis are focused on single‐location spatial events or fail to preserve the integrity of spatial flow events. In this research we introduce a new spatial statistical approach of detecting clustering (clusters) of flow data that extends the classical local K‐function, while maintaining the integrity of flow data. Through the appropriate measurement of spatial proximity relationships between entire flows, the new method successfully upgrades the classical hot spot detection method to the stage of “hot flow” detection. Several specific aspects of the method are discussed to provide evidence of its robustness and expandability, such as the multiscale issue and relative importance control, using a real data set of vehicle theft and recovery location pairs in Charlotte, NC.

A bat-inspired approach to define transition rules for a cellular automaton model used to simulate urban expansion

ABSTRACTA new metaheuristic approach is presented to discover transition rules for a cellular automaton (CA) model using a novel bat movement algorithm (BA). CA is capable of simulating the evolution of complex geographical phenomena, and transition rules lie at the core of these models. An intelligence algorithm based on the echolocation behavior of bats is used to discover explicit transition rules for use in simulating urban expansion. CA transition rules are formed by links between attribute constraint items and classification items. The transition rules are derived using the BA to optimize the lower and upper threshold values for each attribute. The BA-CA model is then constructed for the simulation of urban expansion observed for Nanjing City, China. The total accuracy of newly formulated BA-CA model for this application is 86.9%, and the kappa coefficient is 0.736, which strongly suggest that the interactions of bats are effective in capturing the relationships between spatial variables and urban dynamics. It is further demonstrated that this bat-inspired BA-CA model performs better than the null model, the particle swarm optimization-based CA model (PSO-CA), and the ant colony optimization-based CA model (ACO-CA) using the same dataset. The model validation and comparison illustrate the novel capability of BA for discovering transition rules of CA during the simulation of urban expansion and potentially for other geographic phenomena.

Geographical and modern technologies

It is the modern techniques that are used in modern geographical science in scientific applications three Systems is a technology GIS Gis (Geograbhical InFormation System), sensor system technology remote R.S (Remoote Sensing), GPS system technology (Global Positioning System) These three systems contributed to the great scientific revolution in all geographic modern science and its applications, as the GIS GIS technology is a way to organize or style of geographical and non-geographical information by computer and linked to geographical their positions depending on the specific coordinates. Coordinates are therefore a way to link the geographical phenomena scattered on the surface of the ground coordinates of the system and stored in computer memory and link the metadata associated with these phenomena through a database and analyzed and reflected a specific scale, and then print them The sensor system technology remote RS and its use in modern applications in geographical science is represented a set of processes that allow access to information for some geographical characteristics of the phenomena on the surface of the earth without no direct contact between the geographical phenomenon and the sensor (capture device information). Can be arranged remote sensors on a wide variety of platforms air or space and at different heights, turning the initial information received by the sensor either to directly usable products such as photographs air or space visualizations or store this information in a private devices can refer to it when needed in the future

A comparative study of existing multi-scale maps: what content at which scale?

GIScience 2016 Short Paper Proceedings A comparative study of existing multi-scale maps: what content at which scale? Marion Dumont 1 , Guillaume Touya 1 , Cecile Duchene 1 Laboratoire COGIT, IGN, 73 avenue de Paris, 94165 Saint-Mande Cedex, France Email: {marion.dumont; guillaume.touya; cecile.duchene}@ign.fr Abstract This paper presents a comparative study of existing topographic multi-scale maps, regarding relations between display scale and level of abstraction (LoA) of the map content. The general trends in zoom levels distribution across scale and the original patterns in transitions between LoAs are especially highlighted. 1. Objectives Multi-scale maps are displayed in mapping applications, i.e. websites where a multi-scale navigation in topographic maps is available. Each producer chooses the display scale and the map content for each zoom level. When users zoom in or out, they actually change the displayed zoom level in the multi-scale map. In some multi-scale maps, the difference of content between two consecutive zoom levels can be strong, partly due to the change of scale. Mackaness (2007) explains that map scale also relates to a level of abstraction (LoA) of the map. It represents the amount of complexity of the map content: which geographic phenomena are represented, and with how much detail? Due to these changes, we believe that general users may have difficulties to recognize the depicted location or the different representations of a same object across zoom levels. Figure 1. Zoom levels of this multi-scale map (IGN France) present large differences To build knowledge from multi-scale maps specifications, we study sixteen existing multi-scale maps, provided by national mapping agencies, private companies or collaborative communities. In this paper, we study the correlation between zoom levels, display scale and level of abstraction of the map content, in general (section 2), then focusing on a particular geographic theme: the settlement areas (section 3). 2. How Zoom Levels, Display Scale and Map Content Are Related? To compare the distribution of zoom levels across scale between multi-scale maps, we first need to define and measure the scale of each zoom level. Besides, most national mapping agencies build their multi-scale map from their topographic paper map series, where each map is designed for a specific printing scale. This map can then be displayed at one or more

Russia’s Coastal Zone as a Social and Geographic Phenomenon: Conceptualisation and Delimitation

Russia’s Coastal Zone as a Social and Geographic Phenomenon: Conceptualisation and Delimitation

Research on the Spatial Distribution and Its Influencing Factors of China Provincial Innovation Output

In recent years, due to the development of spatial econometrics, to study the innovation agglomeration with the view of space angle is attracting more attention. Based on 31 provinces in mainland China in 2004-2013 of the patent grant data using spatial econometric knowledge to analyze spatial agglomeration of innovation output, the results showed that: The innovation output is imbalance, the eastern coastal region innovation level is far greater than the Midwest, and the polarization phenomenon aggravates gradually; from the Moran’s I index, innovation output is positive related in the space, and the geographical agglomeration phenomenon is not a random distribution, but there are specific rules; Durbin model shows that the area around the region has a significant impact on innovation output, and further calculates the strength of the influence of space effect. At last, this paper puts forward policy suggestions to improve innovation ability and make the balanced development of regional innovation.

Sensitivity Analysis of Spatial Autocorrelation Using Distinct Geometrical Settings

Inferences based on spatial analysis of areal data depend greatly on the method used to quantify the degree of proximity between spatial units - regions. These proximity measures are normally organized in the form of weights matrices, which are used to obtain statistics that take into account neighbourhood relations between agents. In any scientific field where the focus is on human behaviour, areal datasets are greatly relevant since this is the most common form of data collection (normally as count data). The method or schema used to divide a continuous spatial surface into sets of discrete units influences inferences about geographical and social phenomena, mainly because these units are neither homogeneous nor regular. This article tests the effect of different geometrical data aggregation schemas - administrative regions and hexagonal surface tessellation - on global spatial autocorrelation statistics. Two geographical variables are taken into account: scale (resolution) and form (regularity). This is achieved through the use of different aggregation levels and geometrical schemas. Five different datasets are used, all representing the distribution of resident population aggregated for two study areas, with the objective of consistently test the effect of different spatial aggregation schemas.

Multiculturalism in current tourism: Can tourism and travelling help to improve tolerance and understanding?

The article focuses on one of the most important issues of the beginning of the 21st century, which is unprecedented move of people. This political, sociological, geographical and psycho-linguistics phenomenon needs qualitatively new approaches in meeting races, cultures, religions, customs and habits. What are the possibilities of cohabitation of people in these new political, cultural and economic conditions? The way can be intercultural exchange characterised by mutual respect and the will to understand otherness and other values.

Spatio-Temporal Pattern of Breast Cancer - Case Study of Southern Karnataka, India.

Spatio-ecological study of disease provides a framework to study the interaction of genetic, environmental, social, cultural and behavioural factors on people's health. The occurrence and interaction of these factors are different in different places, giving rise to distinct geographic or spatial variation. Diseases like breast cancer have variation both spatially and temporally. Public health practitioners can use Geographic Information System (GIS) as a visualization tool to effectively present geographic phenomenon and depict it in maps that might remain otherwise undiscovered in tabular form. To demonstrate how GIS can be used to understand and communicate breast cancer data through spatial visualization techniques. (i) To visualize the Spatial Distribution of Breast cancer incidences by a point map. (ii) To visualize the Temporal distribution of breast cancer incidences by thematic maps for the study period of 2007 -2011. Total 1090 breast cancer case records collected for the year 2007-2012 were segregated taluk wise for the 29 taluks and geocoded using the address of the patient, creating a point map. ArcGIS 10.2 software was used to prepare thematic map of breast cancer cases. The taluk wise aggregated breast cancer incidence from the year 2007 to 2011 was then attributed into polygon map representing taluks (Base Map). Natural break data classification technique was used to classify the breast cancer incidence data and breast cancer incidences were classified as low, moderate, high and very high. Spatial distribution of breast cancer incidences using thematic mapping methods high incidences were reported in MY_ T24 (Hunsur), MY_ T25 (KR Nagar), MY_27 (Nanjangud), CH_T1 (Chamrajnagar) and CH-T2 (Gundlupet). Temporal maps prepared for the study from 2007 to 2011 showed that Mysore Taluk had very high Incidence level and the same was observed throughout the study period. The taluks which have high and moderate intensities seem to be fluctuating. However, 25 taluks do not fall into very high category during the study period. Taluks such Gundlupet (CH_T2), K R Nagar (MY_T25), Kollegal (CH_T3) have been observed to enter high intensity category during the year 2011 from moderate intensity. It is also observed that Nanjangud (MY_T27) is in high intensity category throughout the study period which might be due to its proximity to Mysore urban. Analysis of Breast Cancer in southern Karnataka using GIS has revealed that urban areas of Mysore has the highest risk of breast cancer and the temporal trends reveal that even rural areas with moderate risk are moving towards high risk areas.

Territorialidad cooperativa y campesina del Movimiento de los trabajadores rurales Sin Tierra (MST) de Brasil

En enero de 1984, en el municipio de Cascavel, situado en la región más occidental del estado de Paraná (Brasil), se constituyó formalmente el Movimiento de los trabajadores rurales Sin Tierra, el MST. Su relevancia geográfica, histórica, económica y social queda cristalizada en su dinámica de territorialización, protagonizada por los asentamientos de reforma agraria, las cooperativas de producción y comercialización, y sus agroindustrias, así como por sus escuelas de formación. Se potencia con todo ello la defensa y viabilidad de una agricultura familiar y campesina, asentada en la práctica de la agroecología. El devenir de este proceso conforma un fenómeno geográfico de extraordinaria magnitud hacia la producción de una alternativa social y espacial.

Brief Discussion of Surveying Technology of Three-dimensional Digital Topographic Map

3D digital Topographic drawing adopts 3D profile technology and demonstrates geographic space phenomenon to users, reflects the space features of geographic entity in an integrated and accurate manner and thus realizes even more complete, accurate and straight-forward expression of the objective world. It can not only express the plane relationship between space objects, but also accurately describe and express the ground elevation and geometric object height which upgrade the space expression ability and measuring level of digital map and enhance the space acknowledge ability and analytic ability of map. This article aims to elaborate on 3D digital topographic drawing in three aspects: surveying, mapping and application; mainly introduce the mapping methods of 3D topography and geometric object, integrated matching technologies of topographic model and geometric object model and application of 3D digital topographic drawing. It is expected to have a positive promotion role in the development of 3D GIS.

The Curious Case Of 2½ D

Abstract Some geographical phenomena are continuous and exist in whole number dimensions. Topography, for example. Other phenomena, such as population density, depend heavily on the area used in their computation. Some refer to this as existing in 2½ dimensions. Is the difference just because it is a computed, rather than an observed quantity? I argue the case for considering treatment of discrete geographic data as continuous.