GIS Spatial Model Research Articles

Multi–risk quantitative assessment in Reghin city, Transylvania, Romania

Multi–risk assessment supposes an integrated analysis of various processes and phenomena generating risks across the territory, highlighting the individual and cumulative impact at different levels of analysis. This paper aims at creating an assessment model of multi–risk generated by the cumulative effects of landslides and floods, processes considered as significant in the study area, the administrative unit of the city of Reghin in the Transylvanian Basin. To obtain the multi–risk, two GIS spatial analysis models have been created. The first model means to identify the probability of landslide occurrence (built on GIS databases in vector and raster format, correlatively analysed by means of spatial analysis functions and equations), and is adapted according to legislative regulations stipulated in the Government Decision no. 447/2003. The second one is a database regarding the floodable area with a 1% probability in raster format, resulted from a nation–wide model created to identify the flooded areas.The multi–risk map was created using the mediation method, in which every class of individual (geomorphological or hydrological) hazard receives equal weight within the final result. As a consequence of applying the above–mentioned models, we obtained areas with different probabilities for cumulative risk processes, which are rendered as favourable or restrictive in terms of locating different structures (roads, settlements, functional areas, shopping centres). According to the degree of validation, these may be used for a more precise determination of the development areas and for territorial planning.

Integrated Assessment of Natural Hazards, Including Climate Change\u2019s Influences, for Cultural Heritage Sites: The Case of the Historic Centre of Rethymno in Greece

Within the framework of disaster risk management, this article proposes an interdisciplinary method for the analysis of multiple natural hazards, including climate change’s influences, in the context of cultural heritage. A taxonomy of natural hazards applicable to cultural heritage was developed based on the existing theoretical and conceptual frameworks. Sudden-onset hazards, such as earthquakes and floods, and slow-onset hazards, such as wetting–drying cycles and biological contamination, were incorporated into the hazard assessment procedure. Future alteration of conditions due to climate change, such as change in heat waves’ duration, was also taken into account. The proposed hazard assessment framework was applied to the case of the Historic Centre of Rethymno, a city on the northern coast of the island of Crete in Greece, to identify, analyze, and prioritize the hazards that have the potential to cause damage to the center’s historic structures. The assessment procedure includes climate model projections, GIS spatial modeling and mapping, and finally a hazard analysis matrix to enable the sharing of a better understanding of multiple hazards with the stakeholders. The results can facilitate decision making by providing the vulnerability and risk analysis with the nature and spatial distribution of the significant hazards within the study area and its setting.

Vulnerability assessment for flash floods using GIS spatial modeling and remotely sensed data in El-Arish City, North Sinai, Egypt

Egypt suffers from freshwater crisis, and the shortage is predicted to become severe by 2025. Egypt is exposed to flash floods, especially in Sinai governorate, causing rapid rises of water in a short amount of time and can trigger other catastrophic hazards associated with damage, danger to human life, properties and environment. Flash floods may be considered a source of water that can be explored to meet the water shortage problem. In this study, a composite flash floods vulnerability index based on an integrated hydro-climatic and physical vulnerability component was created. The composite index was based on eight parameters including rainfall distribution, elevation and slope, flow direction, streams, geomorphological features, soil type and land cover. The composite index was ranked into three categories: high, moderate and low. The index can help identify the weak and strong points to support the decision-making process concerned with water management as an essential prerequisite for Egypt sustainable development. The results revealed that the urban, vegetation cover, loamy sand, sand dunes, the low elevation and the flat areas are the most affected by the flash floods in EL-Arish City in Sinai governorate. 42% of Wadi El-Arish had low vulnerability, 45% moderate vulnerability and 13% high vulnerability.

Do pupils attend the nearest elementary school to their homes? Factors in school choice in the urban environment of Liberec, Czechia

Traditionally, the spatial organization of elementary education was based on the concept of school catchment districts. Uneven regional development and population changes contributed to the destabilization of some regional education systems and led to the modification of catchment area boundaries. In the West, the neo-liberal policies of the 1980s led to the decentralization of school systems, allowed schools to focus on specific subjects, and gave parents the possibility to choose schools based on criteria other than school catchment area. The aim of this paper is to discuss the importance of factors influencing elementary school choice in an urban environment, using the Czech city of Liberec as an example. We will attempt to answer the following research questions: What percentage of pupils from a given catchment area is enrolled at the elementary school closest to their place of residence? What factors influence school choice? How do school choice–related motives differ based on the socioeconomic characteristics of specific areas in an urban space? This study combines GIS spatial modeling methods with questionnaire surveys conducted in selected schools. The results demonstrate that in choosing schools parents base their decisions on many factors. School location is still one of the most important, even though Czech pupils are no longer required to attend their district school. In our study, attendance of the closest elementary school is influenced by the school's macro-location within the city, that is, mainly by the location of each school in relation to the center and outlying areas of the city.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: The application researches of visualized data mining technique in urban underground space based on GIS

This article conducted researches of city ground spatial data mining system based on GIS, including several critical algorithms, technologies, and design approaches. Breaking through GIS technology and spatial data model, it proposed a kind of support vector machines mining method which was based on CBR case study undertaking previews and space fields differentiation. By the simulation of comparing the machines’ learning time, this method, in a way, shortened the studying time of machines, and can improve spatial mining data efficiency with huge data volume. Besides, aimed for Spatial clustering analysis methods, it proposed that replacing statistical distance with Euclidean distance can decline the false differentiation effects which was brought by the data itself.

Quantitative evaluation of the risk induced by dominant geomorphological processes on different land uses, based on GIS spatial analysis models

Maramures Land is mostly characterized by agricultural and forestry land use due to its specific configuration of topography and its specific pedoclimatic conditions. Taking into consideration the trend of the last century from the perspective of land management, a decrease in the surface of agricultural lands to the advantage of built-up and grass lands, as well as an accelerated decrease in the forest cover due to uncontrolled and irrational forest exploitation, has become obvious. The field analysis performed on the territory of Maramures Land has highlighted a high frequency of two geomorphologic processes — landslides and soil erosion — which have a major negative impact on land use due to their rate of occurrence. The main aim of the present study is the GIS modeling of the two geomorphologic processes, determining a state of vulnerability (the USLE model for soil erosion and a quantitative model based on the morphometric characteristics of the territory, derived from the HG. 447/2003) and their integration in a complex model of cumulated vulnerability identification. The modeling of the risk exposure was performed using a quantitative approach based on models and equations of spatial analysis, which were developed with modeled raster data structures and primary vector data, through a matrix highlighting the correspondence between vulnerability and land use classes. The quantitative analysis of the risk was performed by taking into consideration the exposure classes as modeled databases and the land price as a primary alphanumeric database using spatial analysis techniques for each class by means of the attribute table. The spatial results highlight the territories with a high risk to present geomorphologic processes that have a high degree of occurrence and represent a useful tool in the process of spatial planning.

SPATIAL MODELING OF TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT OF FOREST AREA AND THEIR POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS

Permanentattributesoftimberharvestingareanumberofpotentialenvironmentalrisks, eachofwhichcancausesignificantdamagetotheenvironment. The intensive development of technology and the improvement of industrial production processes have led to a significant increase in technogenic impact both on increasing catastrophic natural disasters and on the global climate change formation. The adoption of the World Environmental Constitution by all the states would be an effective means of regulating and minimizing these negative processes. Timber harvesting is one of the most dangerous types of technogenic impact on the forest environment, as the forest stand, young growth, natural watercourses and soil are damaged during logging and transportation. However, the degree of the negative impact of timber harvesting can be reduced to an ecologically acceptable level, and technical indicators of the use of timber-hauling machinery can be brought to economically feasible values by properly assessing the intensity of the environmental risk of taking a decision on certain technical and technological issues and the implementation of environmental management of this process. The article presents some approaches to the creation of GIS spatial planning model of transport development of forest-exploitation area based on the cost estimation of timber skidding considering technogenic impact of forest machines. The development of the model of forest transportation planning is a complex task. In order to solve this task, the system under investigation should be divided into separate interconnected modules, each acting as its own model: the models for forest transportation planning, the database, formulation of the task, the results of modeling, an analysis of transport movement possibilities, an analysis of environmental damage, the assessment and improvement of the existing forest road network. Concerning the proposed model and methodology that is based on the analysis of potential environmental risks associated with the rutting and cost-assessment of timber skidding, we have obtained the model map of environmentally-acceptable types of timber-hauling machines for a real forest exploitation area, the Rozhanka forest district, the Slavsk State Forestry Enterprise in particular. The proposed model makes it possible to substantiate environmentally safe and economically feasible ways of skidding, estimate the ratio of transport development of a forest area using various terrestrial technical means (wheeled and crawler tractors or cable systems), as well as to outline the possible occurrence, intensity and spread of environmental hazards associated with timber harvesting.

Research Regarding the Soil Characteristics and their Influence on Forest Productivity in the Mociar Forest, Mureş County

The Mociar Forest Reserve has a great scientific interest due to the age of the oaks ranging from 400-500 years, which is why it is included in the protected area category. Over time, a series of studies have been carried out on the occurrence of the oak drying phenomenon in the Mociar Forest in order to develop plans for measures to prevent and combat oak drying. The main reason for this was to analyze the physical and chemical properties of soils. Considering the direct influence of soil characteristics on the development of forest species within the Mociar Forest, we proposed the creation of nine soil profiles located in areas considered representative of the studied area and the identification of the main physical and chemical parameters in the laboratory stage (the soil pH, the nitrogen amount, the total humus and C:N ratio variation). According to the four factors analysed a GIS spatial analysis model has been developed in order to identify the favourability and soil restriction for forest species in the studied area. It was also sought to obtain an overall picture of the distribution of these parameters on their qualitative classes as well as on the distribution classes of specific, dominant forest species. This was made possible by the use of G.I.S. technology and specific geospatial interpolation and spatial analysis tools.

A gis spatial analysis model for landslide hazard mapping application in alpine area

A gis spatial analysis model for landslide hazard mapping application in alpine area

Suitability Analysis of Water Pan Sites for Pastoralists: A Case Study of Kajiado County in Kenya

The paper looks into the analysis of water spatial accessibility by pastoralists in Kajiado County. Since it's a pastoralist area, the demand for water is essential, but due to climate change, the area experiences erratic rains, extreme temperatures and cyclic and prolonged droughts. The need to access improved water supply is considered to boost economic development poverty alleviation. With inadequate water harvesting structures, integrated journal positions the need to excavate more water pans which require a systematic study to come up with the suitable positions where excavation will occur. To come up with a commendable finding and analysis, the paper gives a methodology for data collection identifying relevant factors affecting citing of water. The factors incorporated in questionnaires were slope, soils, location of pastures, villages, existing water points and grazing routes. Therefore, both critical and descriptive discussion of the field's issues is warranted. From the suitability analysis, of the county's land mass 3.06% is in very highly suitable, 28.67% is highly suitable, 67.98% is moderately suitable and 0.29% is not suitable. The comparative analysis shows that the new water pans are established in moderately suitable area. The study concludes by crediting the need to attributed GIS analysis and spatial modeling for the purpose of helping the County Government effort to provide sustainable water pans to its people.

Building the 3D Geological Model of Wall Rock of Salt Caverns Based on Integration Method of Multi-source data

In order to analyse the geological characteristics of salt rock and stability of salt caverns, rough three-dimensional (3D) models of salt rock stratum and the 3D models of salt caverns on study areas are built by 3D GIS spatial modeling technique. During implementing, multi-source data, such as basic geographic data, DEM, geological plane map, geological section map, engineering geological data, and sonar data are used. In this study, the 3D spatial analyzing and calculation methods, such as 3D GIS intersection detection method in three-dimensional space, Boolean operations between three-dimensional space entities, three-dimensional space grid discretization, are used to build 3D models on wall rock of salt caverns. Our methods can provide effective calculation models for numerical simulation and analysis of the creep characteristics of wall rock in salt caverns.

HORIZONTAL AIR TEMPERATURE CHANGES AS A BASIS FOR THE REGIONAL CLIMATE DIFFERENTIATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

General natural environmental characteristics of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of some of its regions are defined on a full annual level primarily by the influences of different physical and geographical elements and factors whose modifying influence is defined by highly complex mutual relationships existing within a number of various spatial and temporal scales. This paper presents the basic quantitative and qualitative characteristics of horizontal and altitudinal changes of air temperature as the basis for the spatial thermo-climatic differentiation of Bosnia and Herzegovina into its continental and Mediterranean regions. The conducted analyzes and the interpretation of general physical-conditions determining the spatial position of the aforementioned thermic limit have used a GIS spatial thermic model and the longitudinal and transverse thermic profiles as a basis for defining the horizontal temperature changes.

Organic Matter Modeling at the Landscape Scale Based on Multitemporal Soil Pattern Analysis Using RapidEye Data

This study proposes the development of a landscape-scale multitemporal soil pattern analysis (MSPA) method for organic matter (OM) estimation using RapidEye time series data analysis and GIS spatial data modeling, which is based on the methodology of Blasch et al. The results demonstrate (i) the potential of MSPA to predict OM for single fields and field composites with varying geomorphological, topographical, and pedological backgrounds and (ii) the method conversion of MSPA from the field scale to the multi-field landscape scale. For single fields, as well as for field composites, significant correlations between OM and the soil pattern detecting first standardized principal components were found. Thus, high-quality functional OM soil maps could be produced after excluding temporal effects by applying modified MSPA analysis steps. A regional OM prediction model was developed using four representative calibration test sites. The MSPA-method conversion was realized applying the transformation parameters of the soil-pattern detection algorithm used at the four calibration test sites and the developed regional prediction model to a multi-field, multitemporal, bare soil image mosaic of all agrarian fields of the Demmin study area in Northeast Germany. Results modeled at the landscape scale were validated at an independent test site with a resulting prediction error of 1.4 OM-% for the main OM value range of the Demmin study area.

Spatial expansion and potential of construction land use in the Yangtze River Delta

Based on remote sensing data of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) in the years of 1991, 2001 and 2008, the paper built an index system of land use potential restraint factors in YRD, according to geological condition, terrain condition, water area, natural reserve area and basic farmland, and evaluated construction land potential based on the platform of GIS spatial analysis model. The results showed that: (1) the construction land increased rapidly since 1991 and reached 24,951.21 km2 in 2008, or 21.27% of the total area. Among all the cities in the YRD, Shanghai took the greatest percentage, followed by Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Spatially, areas where government departments are located became the growth center of construction land. Prefecture-level cities were the fastest growth region and the changing trend showed circle layered characteristics and significant increase with Shanghai and Suzhou as the core. (2) The higher the quality of construction land potentials (CLP), the smaller the number of CLP units. High sensitive area accounted for the largest percentage (40.14%) among all types of constraint regions and this was followed by medium sensitive region (31.53%) of the whole region. (3) The comprehensive CLP in the YRD was 24,989.65 km2, or 21.76% of the total YRD. The land use potential showed spatial distribution imbalance. CLP of Zhejiang was obviously larger than that of Jiangsu. CLP was insufficient in regional central city. Moreover, CLP in the YRD formed a circle layered spatial pattern that increasingly expanded centered in prefecture-level cities. Low potential area expanded from north to south. High potential area was mainly located in south YRD. Areas with zero potential in the YRD formed a northwest-southeast “Y-shaped” spatial pattern in north Hangzhou Bay. (4) CLP per capita in YRD was 0.045 ha/person and also unevenly distributed. Some 25.57% of the study units at county level nearly had no construction land and 8.24% of the units had CLP per capita below the national average level. CLP per capita in less than 25% of the county-level units was larger than the YRD average level, which were mainly located in Zhejiang. Therefore, research on the construction potential area in YRD was favorable for analysis of the development status and potential space of this region under the background of rapid urbanization and industrialization.

Predicting Effects of Climate Change on Habitat Suitability of Red Spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of the USA: Understanding Complex Systems Mechanisms through Modeling

Alpine, subalpine and boreal tree species, of low genetic diversity and adapted to low optimal temperatures, are vulnerable to the warming effects of global climate change. The accurate prediction of these species’ distributions in response to climate change is critical for effective planning and management. The goal of this research is to predict climate change effects on the distribution of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), eastern USA. Climate change is, however, conflated with other environmental factors, making its assessment a complex systems problem in which indirect effects are significant in causality. Predictions were made by linking a tree growth simulation model, red spruce growth model (ARIM.SIM), to a GIS spatial model, red spruce habitat model (ARIM.HAB). ARIM.SIM quantifies direct and indirect interactions between red spruce and its growth factors, revealing the latter to be dominant. ARIM.HAB spatially distributes the ARIM.SIM simulations under the assumption that greater growth reflects higher probabilities of presence. ARIM.HAB predicts the future habitat suitability of red spruce based on growth predictions of ARIM.SIM under climate change and three air pollution scenarios: 10% increase, no change and 10% decrease. Results show that suitable habitats shrink most when air pollution increases. Higher temperatures cause losses of most low-elevation habitats. Increased precipitation and air pollution produce acid rain, which causes loss of both low- and high-elevation habitats. The general prediction is that climate change will cause contraction of red spruce habitats at both lower and higher elevations in GSMNP, and the effects will be exacerbated by increased air pollution. These predictions provide valuable information for understanding potential impacts of global climate change on the spatiotemporal distribution of red spruce habitats in GSMNP.

Multitemporal soil pattern analysis with multispectral remote sensing data at the field-scale

This research proposes a new model for the generation of basic soil information maps for precision agriculture based on multitemporal remote sensing data analysis and GIS spatial data modelling. It demonstrates (i) the potential of multitemporal soil pattern analysis (ii) to generate functional soil maps at field scale based on soil reflectance patterns and related soil properties and (iii) how to improve these soil maps based on the identification of static homogenous soil patterns by excluding temporal influences from the developed prediction model. Principal components and per-pixel analyses are used for the separation of static soil pattern from temporal reflectance pattern, influenced by (vital and senescent) vegetation and land management practices. The potential of the proposed algorithm is investigated using multitemporal multispectral RapidEye satellite imagery at a demonstration field “Borrentin” field in Northeast Germany.

Using models and spatial analysis to analyze spatio-temporal variations of food provision and food potential across China's agro-ecosystems

In order to better regionalize and discuss the rationality/irrationality of the spatial patterns China’ food provision, food production and population data was collected and GIS spatial analysis and modeling methods were used. Multi-level spatial analysis and contrast between North and South China was carried out from three aspects: (1) Ecosystem food provision potential (EFPP). Step-by-step-modifying models were constructed to assess EFPP, parameters including solar radiation, temperature, humidity, topography, soil, and landuse. (2) Conversion ratio of the EFPP (CRFP), representing the ratio of actual food production to the EFPP. High EFPP and low CRFP means high remaining food potential for future exploration (or protecting, increasing). (3) Population pressure of food provision (PPFP). PPFP was calculated based on food production, population, nutrition ingredient, and consumption standards. High PPFP means food deficiency. Results: (1) The EFPP in South and Southeast China is much higher than in the North regions, while the CRFP is the opposite; this means the South and Southeast China has more remaining food potential to explore (or to protect). CRFP in Northeast China is the highest (81%), indicating the food provision in Northeast China is approaching its maximum potential. In the future it is not wise to rely solely on food provision increases in North China, which may aggravate some problems like water shortage and ecosystem deterioration. (2) PPFP in the South and Southeast of China is much greater than in the North and has been rising, indicating that South and Southeast China have deficiency in food supply and is more and more dependent on food transportation from North China. It is necessary to preserve the fertile and high-yielding croplands as well as reclaim new food resources in the southern and eastern to improve its food self-sufficiency. From the above results, we can derive that the “North Grain to South” (NGS) pattern of China is irrational. This is in opposition to the present pattern of NGS but consistent with some other studies of domain experts, who also claim the NGS pattern may need adjustment.

Data- and knowledge-driven mineral prospectivity maps for Canada's North

Data- and knowledge-driven techniques are used to produce regional Au prospectivity maps of a portion of Melville Peninsula, Northern Canada using geophysical and geochemical data. These basic datasets typically exist for large portions of Canada's North and are suitable for a “greenfields” exploration programme. The data-driven method involves the use of the Random Forest (RF) supervised classifier, a relatively new technique that has recently been applied to mineral potential modelling while the knowledge-driven technique makes use of weighted-index overlay, commonly used in GIS spatial modelling studies. We use the location of known Au occurrences to train the RF classifier and calculate the signature of Au occurrences as a group from non-occurrences using the basic geoscience dataset. The RF classification outperformed the knowledge-based model with respect to prediction of the known Au occurrences. The geochemical data in general were more predictive of the known Au occurrences than the geophysical data. A data-driven approach such as RF for the production of regional Au prospectivity maps is recommended provided that a sufficient number of training areas (known Au occurrences) exist.

An assessment of South China tiger reintroduction potential in Hupingshan and Houhe National Nature Reserves, China

Human-caused biodiversity loss is a global problem, large carnivores are particularly threatened, and the tiger (Panthera tigris) is among the world’s most endangered large carnivores. The South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) is the most critically endangered tiger subspecies and is considered functionally extinct in the wild. The government of China has expressed its intent to reintroduce a small population of South China tigers into a portion of their historic range as part of a larger goal to recover wild tiger populations in China. This would be the world’s first major tiger reintroduction program. A free-ranging population of 15–20 tigers living in a minimum of 1000km2 of habitat was identified as a target. We assessed summer and winter habitat suitability of two critical prey species, wild boar (Sus scrofa) and Sika deer (Cervus nippon), using GIS spatial models to evaluate the potential for tiger reintroduction in one likely candidate site, the 1100km2 Hupingshan–Houhe National Nature Reserve complex in Hunan and Hubei Provinces, China. Our preliminary analysis estimates that for wild boar, potential summer and winter habitat availability is 372–714km2 and 256–690km2, respectively, whereas for Sika deer, potential summer and winter habitat availability is 443–747km2 and 257–734km2, respectively. Our model identifies potential priority areas for release and restoration of prey between 195 and 790km2 with a carrying capacity of 596–2409 wild boar and 468–1929 Sika deer. Our analysis suggests that Hupingshan–Houhe could support a small population of 2–9 tigers at a density of 1.1–1.2 tigers/100km2 following prey and habitat restorations. Thus, current habitat quality and area would fall short of the target recovery goal. We identify major challenges facing a potential tiger reintroduction project and conclude that restoring the habitat and prey base, addressing concerns of local people, and enhancing coordination across park boundaries are significant challenges to meeting the broader goals of supporting a reintroduced wild tiger population. Tiger range states have committed to doubling the world’s wild tigers by 2022. The results of this study have implications for China’s commitment to this goal and for the future of tiger and other large carnivore reintroduction efforts in Asia and globally.

Sustainability indicators for agricultural land use based on GIS spatial modeling in North of Sinai-Egypt

Sustainable agriculture focuses on production that renews resources. Egypt has a lot of sustainability constraints such as salinity and alkalinity, lack of infrastructure and credit utilization. The current study focuses on assessment of sustainability factors for agricultural utilization through integrated biophysical, economic viability and social acceptability in the North Sinai area. Sustainable agricultural spatial model (SASM) was developed using Arc GIS 10 to identify and classify the area, according to sustainability degree of agricultural utilization, where the factors of productivity, security, protection, economic viability, and social acceptability in the different mapping units were assessed. The investigated area is classified into three different classes, I, II, are covered in about 7% of the total area where land management practices are marginally below the threshold for sustainability located in the northern part of the study area, where the sustainability values are ranging between 0.1 and 0.3. The areas characterized as class III do not meet sustainability requirements where the sustainable values <0.1. The current work shows how the decision-makers can increase the land sustainability classes I, II to 10% of the total area by controlling just two factors: social and economic factors.