Interactive GIS Research Articles

Spatio-Temporal Distribution and Trends of Major Agricultural Crops in Romania Using Interactive Geographic Information System Mapping

This research study presents the spatio-temporal distribution of the main agricultural crops in Romania using a modern digitalisation technique, namely interactive GIS mapping. Interactive GIS mapping includes various features specific to the development of sustainable Romanian agriculture, including the arable area of Romania, information on the area (hectares) cultivated with corn, wheat, sunflower, and rape during the 1990–2018 period, the degree of mechanisation, the number of tractors, and information regarding the landforms, a natural factor in relation to cultivated surfaces. Agricultural land should be properly used based on its ability to meet the demands of consumers of traditional Romanian products with an ecological label, but also the needs of the local population, and, at the same time, to ensure the sustainability of the natural environment through the practice of ecological agriculture. The purpose of this research is to provide an overview of the current state of the main agricultural crops in Romania. From a theoretical but also practical point of view, this research presents, for the first time, a retrospective analysis of each county in Romania in terms of the geospatial distribution of major agricultural crops using interactive GIS mapping. Geospatial data were processed in ArcGIS Geographic Information System 10.7.2. The results of this study show that the most extensive cereal areas at the county level in Romania are corn and wheat. The largest areas cultivated with corn and wheat in 2018 were recorded in the Western Plain, the Romanian Plain, and the Moldavian Plateau. For wheat, increases were also recorded in the Dobrogea Plateau. The intensification of labour productivity and the promotion of the sustainability of the natural environment in Romania is presented through the main indicator (the number of tractors) of the degree of mechanisation of agriculture. The higher values of this indicator are in the counties of Bihor, Timiș, and Maramureș. Limitations in Romania’s agricultural data present substantial challenges to the sector’s development and sustainability. Addressing these challenges is essential for informed decision making, policy formulation, and effective resource allocation.

Relevance and potential of the Arctic Sea Routes on the LNG trade

The retreat of the ice around the freezing waters of the Arctic Ocean is opening new waterways where shipping activity could transport commodities between continents. One of the essential products is natural gas - LNG, which is transported in large tankers from exporters to importers. This study aims to explore the dynamics of the LNG trade by using these new tentative routes with conventional sea lanes and estimating the changes in the LNG trade. We utilize Agent-Based Modeling to develop a global LNG model with interactive GIS features, where the agents are the players in the LNG market. The results demonstrate the preponderance of the North-East Passage (NEP, Eurasian Arctic waters) over the North-Western Passage (NWP, the Canadian Arctic) in providing a shortcut connecting Europe with Asia. This passage favors a growing exporter like Russia with exporting facilities in Siberia and future strategic projects to increase liquefaction capacity. The NEP becomes crucial when considering scenarios of a European ban on Russian imports, as European countries are planning due to the crisis with Russia. On the importing side, the Asian Pacific and South Asian importers are the winners with a diverse and shorter LNG supply source. Future Canadian projects may also benefit from these new highways. However, there are also substantial challenges to providing the NEP with the proper infrastructure and systems to make the Polar LNG journeys safe and sound shortly. Beyond that, the Arctic sea corridors may alleviate the high LNG transit through the conventional routes and their chokepoints, but they are not a replacement for the conventional ones, not even with the most favorable conditions.

Потенциал пищевых ресурсов леса в развитии агролесоводства Архангельской области

The problem of food security is always relevant for society, but it is even more acute for the inhabitants of northern territories due to unfavorable agricultural conditions. The use of forest food resources, which are abundant in northern regions, and the development of agroforestry help to solve this problem. Agroforestry in this context is seen as an intensive system of sustainable forest management that has a goal-oriented concept tailored to local ecological and socio-economic conditions and integrates both agricultural and forestry practices. This article aims to explore the potential and role of forest food resources in achieving self-sufficiency for the inhabitants of the Arkhangelsk region, as well as the feasibility of implementing agroforestry practices in forestry. The following objectives were pursued and addressed to achieve the research goal: reviewing journal articles, research results, and statistical data on the use of wild plants; conducting original research to understand and evaluate the role and place of wild plants in the dietary habits of the Arkhangelsk region’s population, as well as the goals and characteristics of plant harvesting; assessing the potential of berry cultivation in the region; identifying challenges and prospects associated with the use and development of forest food resources. The study employed a combination of theoretical, empirical, and comprehensive research methods, including document analysis, marketing research in the form of a survey of Arkhangelsk region residents, and SWOT analysis. The comprehensive study generated conclusions and recommendations regarding the utilization of forest food resources in agroforestry, as well as the need for further research on predictive models for berry yields and interactive maps showcasing the locations of wild plants accessible to the local population. A practical innovation proposed in this study is the development of interactive GIS maps to be used by the region’s inhabitants that display the localization of wild plants based on a network of fixed testing sites. This approach aims to foster sustainable and multifaceted forest management development.

Impact of Hot Arid Climate on Optimal Placement of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more commonplace as they cut down on both fossil fuel use and pollution caused by the transportation sector. However, there are a number of major issues that have arisen as a result of the rapid expansion of electric vehicles, including an inadequate number of charging stations, uneven distribution, and excessive cost. The purpose of this study is to enable EV drivers to find charging stations within optimal distances while also taking into account economic, practical, geographical, and atmospheric considerations. This paper uses the Fez-Meknes region in Morocco as a case study to investigate potential solutions to the issues raised above. The scorching, arid climate of the region could be a deterrent to the widespread use of electric vehicles there. This article first attempts to construct a model of an EV battery on MATLAB/Simulink in order to create battery autonomy of the most widely used EV car in Morocco, taking into account weather, driving style, infrastructure, and traffic. Secondly, collected data from the region and simulation results were then employed to visualize the impact of ambient temperature on EV charging station location planning, and a genetic algorithm-based model for optimizing the placement of charging stations was developed in this research. With this method, EV charging station locations were initially generated under the influence of gas station locations, population and parking areas, and traffic, and eventually through mutation, the generated initial placements were optimized within the bounds of optimal cost, road width, power availability, and autonomy range and influence. The results are displayed to readers in a node-link network to help visually represent the impact of ambient temperatures on EV charging station location optimization and then are displayed in interactive GIS maps. Finally, conclusions and research prospects were provided.

Web-GIS based Dashboard for Real-Time Data Visualization & Analysis using Open Source Technologies

Real-time visualization is the requirement for immediacy of decision making, which tends to be role-based. Using maps to visualize data can enable quicker interpretation of complex geographical phenomena, identify patterns, and aid in planning, resource allocations for policy and decision making. In present study, an interactive Web GIS Dashboard is developed with the objectives to display the work progress of Department of Soil & Water Conservation. The data includes activities and schemes undergoing in the department which was validated and geo-tagged with district & block boundary. For real-time data visualization, the graphs for different year, activities and schemes are developed for number of beneficiaries and area benefitted in ha. Various filters i.e. Year, Scheme and District are provided for viewing map. Different levels of User Authentication are provided for uploading new data and updating data

DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERACTIVE WEB GIS APPLICATION TO SIMULATE HOUSING POTENTIAL AND DEMAND

Abstract. On 22.06.2021 the new law i.e., “Gesetz zur Mobilisierung von Bauland” (Baulandmobilisierungsgesetz) entered into force in Germany, enabling municipalities to give priority to building on inner-city open spaces at a higher building density. Especially for rural communities, where there are many underutilized properties and inner-city open spaces, there is great potential for redensification, which is addressed by the new legislation. Depending on the attractiveness of urban areas, many of the surrounding rural communities will experience an influx of population in the coming decades. The goal of this research work is to develop an interactive Web GIS application showing the housing potential and demand according to socio-demographic scenario for such a rural community. This application serves as a decision support system for the stakeholders i.e., the urban planning department of the municipality to re-densify the urban structure in a sustainable way. This work helps to build up a comprehensive geodatabase including all relevant physical, ecological, economic, and social aspects, which further locates and quantifies the potential open spaces and buildings gaps being suitable for redevelopment. Here, the housing potentials are divided into different constructional realization categories, which can be used for a realistic urban planning. The analyzed and calculated results will be visualized in a Web GIS application where the user is able to query and edit on different urban development scenarios.

Retail Food Environment for SNAP Recipients in Rural Tennessee: A Case Study

ObjectivesThe retail food environment can contribute to high rates of obesity, especially in low-income rural areas. The objectives of this work were to 1) explore food access for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in a high-obesity rural county, and 2) create an educational resource for the county’s SNAP recipients to both understand their retail food environment and locate healthy food options covered by SNAP benefits. MethodsWe first identified all SNAP-authorized retailers in the county, using the United States Department of Agriculture data source. Later, we identified the locations of retailers, using Google Maps. We verified these data with our on-the-ground team members in the county. We then separated out the list into retailers that sell fresh produce and those that do not. Using this information, we utilized ArcGIS Online to create an interactive map of county food resources, identifying which retailers sell fresh produce. We also mapped relevant sociodemographic factors (race, income, and vehicle access) by census tract, to assess within-county differences. ResultsOur interactive GIS map provided a visualization of the county’s retail food environment and relevant sociodemographics. Median income in each census tract ranged from $34,388 to $44,688, well below the national average of $69,560. The racial composition of the county was mixed, with percentage black ranging from 8% to 51.1%. Vehicle access was low in central areas of the county, where roughly 10% of households lack access to a vehicle. In this fairly large county, with 670 square miles of area, we identified 25 stores that accept SNAP benefits (about 30% of the total retailers). Of these 25 stores, only 5 sell fresh produce. Access to these retailers, particularly those which sell fresh produce, is limited for most residents. Some residents of the county have to travel upwards of 20 miles to reach a store that both accepts SNAP and sells fresh produce. ConclusionsOur illustration of factors limiting food access can inform community development projects by identifying areas of need in the county. Also, our publicly available interactive map can educate residents about available food resources in their county. Funding SourcesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Ways to improve interactivity of Internet GIS

The essential feature of Internet GIS is the interactivity between the users and the spatial data. Interactive GIS can offer interactive maps rather than static map images on the Web. Users can work with the maps interactively by performing conventionalGIS functions such as zoom, pan, search, etc. However, the interactivity of many InternetGIS is quite limited so far. In this paper, we propose to use AJAX to improve the interactivity of Internet GIS. AJAX design patterns that can be used to this aim are described in the paper. We present the architecture of the Internet GIS with AJAX-based user interface and integration with GIS web services.

Computer interactive GIS “The coastal zone of the Sevastopol region of Crimea”

The information system based on the results of the study of the coastal zone of the Sevastopol region was developed in order to provide the available data to specialists who make decisions on the development of the region and the prevention of the destructive impact of the sea on land. The system presents materials obtained in the course of long-term monitoring, observations using space and aerial photography, including drones. It includes a detailed description of all sections of the coastline, the consequences of their transformation over a period of more than 100 years, assessment of the hydrometeorological and geomorphological conditions of the region, the results of ensuring coastal protection measures in certain areas and a detailed description of the coastal protected areas. Examples of the results of the cadastral assessment of recreational resources of beaches, developed earlier, are also given. GIS formats made it possible to implement quantitative statistics on individual objects, systematize landslide-prone areas in detail, and characterize the consequences of their occurrence. Special attention is paid to the description of the ecosystem conditions of numerous Sevastopol bays and the few estuaries of regulated rivers. Interactive GIS realization is providing access to the information in a visual interactive cartographic version.

Towards resilient and smart cities: A real-time urban analytical and geo-visual system for social media streaming data

Cities worldwide are vulnerable to unpredictable extreme events such as disasters and public health crises. Urban big data and data-driven technologies have played an increasingly important role in building smart and resilient cities that can respond rapidly to these perturbations. However, many existing approaches had limited capabilities for processing big data, which has led to time-consuming and costly decision-making. Thus, we develop a real-time data-driven analytical and geo-visual system to enable smart and rapid responses to urban extreme events. The system is built on ArcGIS’s GeoEvent Server and Apache Spark and processes streaming data from social media with high speed, massive volume, and multiple modalities. The system employs online topic modeling and domain-adaptive sentiment analysis to track small-scale, undefined events, visualizes their spatial and semantic dynamics, and provides early alerts for crises and emergencies via an interactive online GIS platform. The proposed system has been applied during a large-scale hurricane and demonstrated effectiveness and agility in tracking and reporting emerging small-scale crises. The developed system can be applied in various urban scenarios to enable timely situation awareness and rapid response. This research contributes to the smart city safety and building rapidity of resilient cities.

Collection weeding: Innovative processes and tools to ease the burden

Evaluating collections and ultimately removing content poses a variety of difficult issues, including choosing appropriate deselection criteria, communicating with stakeholders, providing accountability, and managing the overall timetable to finish projects on time. The Science and Engineering librarians at Brigham Young University evaluated their entire print collection of over 350,000 items within one year, significantly reducing the number of items kept on the open shelves and the physical collection footprint. Keys to accomplishing this project were extensive preparation, tracking progress and accountability facilitated by Google Sheets and an interactive GIS stacks map, and stakeholder feedback facilitated by a novel web-based tool. This case study discusses guidelines to follow and pitfalls to avoid for any organization that is considering a large- or small-scale collection evaluation project.

Photovoltaic Geographical Information System module for the estimation of solar electricity generation: A comparative study in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan

Renewable energy resources are safe and easy to access giving solution to the problems caused by non-renewable energy resources (fossil fuels etc.) and can balance the increasing demand of the electricity generation in Pakistan. The aim of this study was to utilize PVGIS module to estimate the solar electricity generation at six districts (such as Dir, Mansehra, Peshawar, Buner, Dera Ismail Khan (DIK) and Chitral) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. PVGIS is a web based interactive GIS system provided database (based on meteorological geostationary satellites e.g., Meteosat & GOES) which include monthly and yearly average values of the global solar irradiation on horizontal and inclined surfaces, as well as climatic parameters (i.e.; Linke atmospheric turbidity, the ratio of diffuse to global irradiation). Based on the PVGIS module, monthly averages of global irradiation were utilized to estimate the solar electricity generation at six locations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The results showed that the daily as well as monthly electricity production (Ed and Em) and global irradiance (Hd and Hm) for all the districts are maximum in the months of March until October and minimum during January, February, November and December. The acquired results of the estimated electricity production (kWh) and the estimated irradiations (kwh/m2) per year from a PV system for the six districts exhibited that Dera Ismail Khan (DIK) district has highest estimated electricity production as well as estimated irradiations followed by Buner, Dir and Peshawar districts. It is concluded that PVGIS datasets can be used for the estimation of solar electricity generation and as a support system for the policy-making in the region.

AtmoSwing: Analog Technique Model for Statistical Weather forecastING and downscalING (v2.1.0)

Abstract. Analog methods (AMs) use synoptic-scale predictors to search in the past for similar days to a target day in order to infer the predictand of interest, such as daily precipitation. They can rely on outputs of numerical weather prediction (NWP) models in the context of operational forecasting or outputs of climate models in the context of climate impact studies. AMs require low computing capacity and have demonstrated useful potential for application in several contexts. AtmoSwing is open-source software written in C++ that implements AMs in a flexible way so that different variants can be handled dynamically. It comprises four tools: a Forecaster for use in operational forecasting, a Viewer to display the results, a Downscaler for climate studies, and an Optimizer to establish the relationship between predictands and predictors. The Forecaster handles every required processing internally, such as NWP output downloading (when possible) and reading as well as grid interpolation, without external scripts or file conversion. The processing of a forecast requires low computing efforts and can even run on a Raspberry Pi computer. It provides valuable results, as revealed by a 3-year-long operational forecast in the Swiss Alps. The Viewer displays the forecasts in an interactive GIS environment with several levels of synthesis and detail. This allows for the provision of a quick overview of the potential critical situations in the upcoming days, as well as the possibility for the user to delve into the details of the forecasted predictand and criteria distributions. The Downscaler allows for the use of AMs in a climatic context, either for climate reconstruction or for climate change impact studies. When used for future climate studies, it is necessary to pay close attention to the selected predictors so that they contain the climate change signal. The Optimizer implements different optimization techniques, such as a semiautomatic sequential approach, Monte Carlo simulations, and a global optimization technique, using genetic algorithms. Establishing a statistical relationship between predictors and predictands is computationally intensive because it requires numerous assessments over decades. To this end, the code was highly optimized for computing efficiency, is parallelized (using multiple threads), and scales well on a Linux cluster. This procedure is only required to establish the statistical relationship, which can then be used for forecasting or downscaling at a low computing cost.

A GIS Integrational Framework for Poorly Resourced Schools

This paper proposes an integration framework for an interactive GIS tutor (IGIST) application in poorly resourced schools. A content analysis of 35 countries, a national online survey (n=222) as well as teacher interviews (n=10) informed this study. Models such as the Technology Integration Planning model (TIP), Rogers’s diffusion model and the Technological, Pedagogical and Content Knowledge model (TPACK) provided the theoretical background. After the said framework was theoretically evaluated, a quasi-experiment was performed in nine classes. Focus group interviews (n=6), teacher interviews (n=6) and evaluation forms (n=149) evaluated the viability of the IGIST integration framework.

Planning of the installation of offshore renewable energies: A GIS approach of the Portuguese roadmap

Abstract The present paper presents the methodology and development of a planning tool for the installation of marine renewable energy systems, which enables the identification of suitable areas for this purpose. The marine spatial planning is one of the challenges of the offshore renewable energies. This is one of the reasons to write this paper, because there are areas where the energy potential is great but with real limitations for installing an offshore renewable energy farm. This methodology is based on the development of automated and interactive GIS tools in order to enable the user to change inputs according to his research objectives. The developed tools are applied to a case study referring to the Portuguese coast and the obtained results enable the identification of several areas, suitable for the development of marine renewable energies projects. The methodology and the developed tools intend to be a contribution for the Maritime Spatial Planning of the Portuguese coast and can be applied to other countries as well whenever the necessary information is available.

RWRE–A WEB BASED OPEN SOURCE GIS TOOL FOR ROOF WATER RUNOFF ESTIMATION

In rural areas of low rainfall, roof top rainwater harvesting is an ideal method for collecting rainwater because it helps not only in meeting at least a part of the water requirement but also prevents storm runoff and flooding during heavy rains. Individual houses and buildings are the best units for collecting the roof water. In this work an interactive web-based GIS tool named RWRE (Roof Water Runoff Estimator) has been developed to estimate the runoff from the rooftops of the buildings. REWE tool was designed using open source geospatial development tools like Geoserver and OpenLayers. The developed tool provides a polygon drawing tool to delineate the rooftop of individual buildings. The area of rooftop of each building is listed. The runoff coefficient for each building is also taken as input. The annual average rainfall is required to calculate the total amount of water available from the rooftops of all the delineated buildings. For the testing and development of RWRE, the municipal area of Bhopal city of Madhya Pradesh was taken. This tool can be configured to be used for any rural or other area and can be of great help in planning and designing of the roof water harvesting structures as it quickly and accurately estimates the volume of water available from the buildings.

A Social Environmental Sensor Network Integrated within a Web GIS Platform

We live in an era where typical measures towards the mitigation of environmental degradation follow the identification and recording of natural parameters closely associated with it. In addition, current scientific knowledge on the one hand may be applied to minimize the environmental impact of anthropogenic activities, whereas informatics on the other, playing a key role in this ecosystem, do offer new ways of implementing complex scientific processes regarding the collection, aggregation and analysis of data concerning environmental parameters. Furthermore, another related aspect to consider is the fact that almost all relevant data recordings are influenced by their given spatial characteristics. Taking all aforementioned inputs into account, managing such a great amount of complex and remote data requires specific digital structures; these structures are typically deployed over the Web on an attempt to capitalize existing open software platforms and modern developments of hardware technology. In this paper we present an effort to provide a technical solution based on sensing devices that are based on the well-known Arduino platform and operate continuously for gathering and transmitting of environmental state information. Controls, user interface and extensions of the proposed project rely on the Android mobile device platform (both from the software and hardware side). Finally, a crucial novel aspect of our work is the fact that all herein gathered data carry spatial information, which is rather fundamental for the successful correlation between pollutants and their place of origin. The latter is implemented by an interactive Web GIS platform operating oversight in situ and on a timeline basis.

How are biodiversity and dispersal of species affected by the management of roadsides? A systematic map

BackgroundIn many parts of the world, roadsides are regularly managed for traffic-safety reasons. Hence, there are similarities between roadsides and certain other managed habitats, such as wooded pastures and mown or grazed grasslands. These habitats have declined rapidly in Europe during the last century. For many species historically associated with them, roadsides may function as new primary habitats or as dispersal corridors in fragmented landscapes. Current recommendations for roadside management to promote conservation values are largely based on studies of plants in semi-natural grasslands, although such areas often differ from roadsides in terms of environmental conditions and disturbance regimes. Moreover, roadsides provide habitat not only for plants but also for many insects. For these reasons, stakeholders in Sweden have emphasised the need for more targeted management recommendations, based on actual studies of roadside biodiversity.MethodsThis systematic map provides an overview of the available evidence on how biodiversity is affected by various forms of roadside management, and how such management influences the dispersal of species along roads or roadsides. We searched for literature using 13 online publication databases, 4 search engines, 36 specialist websites and 5 literature reviews. Search terms were developed in English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Norwegian, Spanish and Swedish. Identified articles were screened for relevance using criteria set out in a protocol. No geographical restrictions were applied, and all species and groups of organisms were considered. Descriptions of included studies are available in an Excel file, and also in an interactive GIS application that can be accessed at an external website.ResultsOur searches identified more than 7000 articles. The 207 articles included after screening described 301 individual studies considered to be relevant. More than two-thirds of these studies were conducted in North America, with most of the rest performed in Europe. More than half of the studies were published in grey literature such as reports from agencies or consultants. The interventions most commonly studied were herbicide use, sowing and mowing, followed by soil amendments such as mulching and fertiliser additions. The outcomes most frequently reported were effects of interventions on the abundance or species richness of herbs/forbs, graminoids and woody plants. Effects on insects and birds were reported in 6 and 3% of the studies, respectively.ConclusionsThis systematic map is based on a comprehensive and systematic screening of all available literature on the effects of roadside management on biodiversity and dispersal of species. As such it should be of value to a range of actors, including managers and policymakers. The map provides a key to finding concrete guidance for conservation- and restoration-oriented roadside management from published research. However, the map also highlights important knowledge gaps: little data was found for some geographical regions, research is heavily biased taxonomically towards plants, and no study was found on how species dispersal was affected by roadside management. The map could therefore be a source of inspiration for new research.

What is the impact of active management on biodiversity in boreal and temperate forests set aside for conservation or restoration? A systematic map

Abstract Background The biodiversity of forests set aside from forestry is often considered best preserved by non-intervention. In many protected forests, however, remaining biodiversity values are legacies of past disturbances, e.g. recurring fires, grazing or small-scale felling. These forests may need active management to keep the characteristics that were the reason for setting them aside. Such management can be particularly relevant where lost ecological values need to be restored. In this review, we identified studies on a variety of interventions that could be useful for conserving or restoring any aspect of forest biodiversity in boreal and temperate regions. Since the review is based on Swedish initiatives, we have focused on forest types that are represented in Sweden, but such forests exist in many parts of the world. The wide scope of the review means that the set of studies is quite heterogeneous. As a first step towards a more complete synthesis, therefore, we have compiled a systematic map. Such a map gives an overview of the evidence base by providing a database with descriptions of relevant studies, but it does not synthesise reported results. Methods Searches for literature were made using online publication databases, search engines, specialist websites and literature reviews. Search terms were developed in English, Finnish, French, German, Russian and Swedish. We searched not only for studies of interventions in actual forest set-asides, but also for appropriate evidence from commercially managed forests, since some practices applied there may be useful for conservation or restoration purposes too. Identified articles were screened for relevance using criteria set out in an a priori protocol. Descriptions of included studies are available in an Excel file, and also in an interactive GIS application that can be accessed at an external website. Results Our searches identified nearly 17,000 articles. The 798 articles that remained after screening for relevance described 812 individual studies. Almost two-thirds of the included studies were conducted in North America, whereas most of the rest were performed in Europe. Of the European studies, 58 % were conducted in Finland or Sweden. The interventions most commonly studied were partial harvesting, prescribed burning, thinning, and grazing or exclusion from grazing. The outcomes most frequently reported were effects of interventions on trees, other vascular plants, dead wood, vertical stand structure and birds. Outcome metrics included e.g. abundance, richness of species (or genera), diversity indices, and community composition based on ordinations. Conclusions This systematic map identifies a wealth of evidence on the impact of active management practices that could be utilised to conserve or restore biodiversity in forest set-asides. As such it should be of value to e.g. conservation managers, researchers and policymakers. Moreover, since the map also highlights important knowledge gaps, it could inspire new primary research on topics that have so far not been well covered. Finally, it provides a foundation for systematic reviews on specific subtopics. Based on our map of the evidence, we identified four subtopics that are sufficiently covered by existing studies to allow full systematic reviewing, potentially including meta-analysis.

Spatiotemporal Land Use Change Analysis Using Open-source GIS and Web Based Application

Spatiotemporal changes are very important information to reveal the characteristics of the urbanization process. Sharing the information is beneficial for public awareness which then improves their participation in adaptive management for spatial planning process. Open-source software and web application are freely available tools that can be the best medium used by any individual or agencies to share this important information. The objective of the paper is to discuss on the spatiotemporal land use change in Iskandar Malaysia by using open-source GIS (Quantum GIS) and publish them through web application (Mash-up). Land use in 1994 to 2011 were developed and analyzed to show the landscape change of the region. Subsequently, web application was setup to distribute the findings of the study. The result show there is significant changes of land use in the study area especially on the decline of agricultural and natural land which were converted to urban land uses. Residential and industrial areas largely replaced the agriculture and natural areas particularly along the coastal zone of the region. This information is published through interactive GIS web in order to share it with the public and stakeholders. There are some limitations of web application but still not hindering the advantages of using it. The integration of open-source GIS and web application is very helpful in sharing planning information particularly in the study area that experiences rapid land use and land cover change. Basic information from this study is vital for conducting further study such as projecting future land use change and other related studies in the area.