Internet Map Server Research Articles

Transit GIS Applications in Fairfax County, Virginia

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (DOT) manages a fixed-route bus system (the Fairfax Connector) that encompasses 58 routes. To better support the planning, operation, and marketing of this bus system, the Fairfax County DOT and the Fairfax County Department of Information Technology formed a team to develop a pilot project of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) transit applications. These applications would serve as a demonstration to facilitate automation, analysis, accessing, and plotting of transit data. To be successful, the applications had to be cost effective and match users’ technical needs with their abilities.Paramount to the success of this project was having a transit database capable of supporting all the applications identified by the development team. The database had to handle problems such as bus stops serving more than one route and routing varying by time of day. To effectively model the bus routes in GIS, each path had to be uniquely identified even though the same route could travel on different paths. Dynamic segmentation of ARC/INFO v.7.1 was used to develop the route database. A bus stop database, in the format of ARC/INFO coverage, was then related to the route coverage.More than 15 applications were identified for three areas of transit management: planning, operation, and marketing. Planning applications focused on transit service improvement and route restructuring. They included routing adjustment, route demographic and land-use analysis, and reporting of statistics required by the National Transit Database. Operation applications were designed for daily service monitoring and consisted of route running times, loading at bus stops, and emergency service. Marketing applications emphasized functions for public outreach, which included creating specialized route and stop maps and publishing route information on the Internet. Most end-user applications were built in ArcVìew 3.0 using Avenue and Dialog Designer. Some applications were built with ESRIs Map Objects (MO) and Map Objects Internet Map Server.

Using the environmental justice approach to evaluate equitable allocation of urban parks: A case study of main urban area of Nanjing, China

Urban parks have broad benefits in promoting public health of urban residents and advancing urban sustainable development. The equity of urban park spatial allocation has a great significance for maintaining environmental justice. However, the current researches on the equity of urban park spatial allocation still focus on the quantity and geographical equality but pay less attention on the equity of quality and accessibility of spatial allocation. Based on the approach of environmental justice, with the main urban area of Nanjing as an example, we comprehensively analyzed the equity pattern of urban park spatial allocation from the three dimensions (six parameters), including park accessibility, area and quality. Integrated analysis methods were adopted, including internet map service for accessibility analysis, subjective and objective comprehensive quality evaluation, spatial autocorrelation and non-parametric test. The results showed that the spatial allocation pattern of urban parks in the study area had obvious core-edge characteristics. There was a certain degree of inequity in park accessibility, area and quality, with a relatively significant pattern of environmental injustice. There were significant differences in the inequity of six parameters in the three dimensions, with the accessibility score and accessible park area showing the most prominent inequity. The minimum time required to reach the park and the quality of the nearest urban park took the second place in inequity. The quantity of high-quality urban park and minimum time required to reach the high-quality urban park showed relatively small difference. The average values of accessibility score, total area and quality of urban parks accessible to high-income communities were 3.7, 2.7, and 1.6 times that of low-income communities, respectively. The results indicated that high-income communities enjoyed better accessibility, larger area and higher quality in terms of urban parks. Middle-income communities enjoyed the most prominent advantage of green space, while most low-income communities were unable to reach a high-quality urban park within 30 min's walk. Our results could provide a decision-making basis and planning reference for the optimal configuration and rational planning of urban parks in China.

A Geologically Based Indoor-Radon Potential Map of Kentucky.

We combined 71,930 short‐term (median duration 4 days) home radon test results with 1:24,000‐scale bedrock geologic map coverage of Kentucky to produce a statewide geologically based indoor‐radon potential map. The test results were positively skewed with a mean of 266 Bq/m3, median of 122 Bq/m3, and 75th percentile of 289 Bq/m3. We identified 106 formations with ≥10 test results. Analysis of results from 20 predominantly monolithologic formations showed indoor‐radon concentrations to be positively skewed on a formation‐by‐formation basis, with a proportional relationship between sample means and standard deviations. Limestone (median 170 Bq/m3) and dolostone (median 130 Bq/m3) tended to have higher indoor‐radon concentrations than siltstones and sandstones (median 67 Bq/m3) or unlithified surficial deposits (median 63 Bq/m3). Individual shales had median values ranging from 67 to 189 Bq/m3; the median value for all shale values was 85 Bq/m3. Percentages of values falling above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action level of 148 Bq/m3 were sandstone and siltstone: 24%, unlithified clastic: 21%, dolostone: 46%, limestone: 55%, and shale: 34%. Mississippian limestones, Ordovician limestones, and Devonian black shales had the highest indoor‐radon potential values in Kentucky. Indoor‐radon test mean values for the selected formations were also weakly, but statistically significantly, correlated with mean aeroradiometric uranium concentrations. To produce a map useful to nonspecialists, we classified each of the 106 formations into five radon‐geologic classes on the basis of their 75th percentile radon concentrations. The statewide map is freely available through an interactive internet map service.

Home-based contact immunotherapy with diphenylcyclopropenone improves compliance with the recommended follow-up for patients with alopecia areata: A retrospective cohort study

Home-based contact immunotherapy with diphenylcyclopropenone improves compliance with the recommended follow-up for patients with alopecia areata: A retrospective cohort study

Measuring the Spatial Allocation Rationality of Service Facilities of Residential Areas Based on Internet Map and Location-Based Service Data

The spatial allocation rationality of the service facilities of residential areas, which is affected by the scope of the population and the capacity of service facilities, is meaningful for harmonious urban development. The growth of the internet, especially Internet map and location-based service (LBS) data, provides micro-scale knowledge about residential areas. The purpose is to characterize the spatial allocation rationality of the service facilities of residential areas from Internet map and LBS data. An Internet map provides exact geographical data (e.g., points of interests (POI)) and stronger route planning analysis capability through an application programming interface (API) (e.g., route planning API). Meanwhile, LBS data collected from mobile equipment afford detailed population distribution values. Firstly, we defined the category system of service facilities and calculated the available service facilities capacity of residential areas (ASFC-RA) through a scrappy algorithm integrated with the modified cumulative opportunity measure model. Secondly, we used Thiessen polygon spatial subdivision to gain the population distribution capacity of residential areas (PDC-RA) from Tencent LBS data at the representative moment. Thirdly, we measured the spatial allocation rationality of service facilities of residential areas (SARSF-RA) by combining ASFC-RA and PDC-RA. In this case, a trial strip census, consisting of serval urban residential areas from Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, is selected as research area. Residential areas have been grouped within several ranges according to their SARSF-RA values. Different residential areas belong to different groups, even if they are spatially contiguous. Spatial locations and other investigation information coordinate with these differences. Those results show that the method that we proposed can express the micro-spatial allocation rationality of different residential areas dramatically, which provide a new data lens for various researchers and applications, such as urban residential areas planning and service facilities allocation.

Map data-driven assessment of urban areas accessibility

The study analyzes the existing approaches to assessment of the city territory transport accessibility. The method for the city territory sections connectedness assessment through the personal and public transport was developed. The assessment of transport accessibility is proposed based on an analysis of open cartographic data. The technology of calculation and visualization of urban areas interconnectedness with the use of a street network graph and public transport routes, data obtained from Internet map services have been developed. An example of territory accessibility assessments visualization on an online map is given.

Determining intra-urban spatial accessibility disparities in multimodal public transport networks

Urban rail systems have been added to public transport systems, thereby changing distribution disparities in urban spatial accessibility. These disparities reflect both the ability of the public transport system to meet the needs of residents and the locational pros and cons of public service facilities. In this paper, integrated accessibility metrics are used to assess the disparities in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. This is achieved by dividing the urban space into a multilevel grid that can be easily combined with grid-based population data to facilitate accessibility modeling, calculation, and evaluation. Additionally, an acquisition method for more accurate travel time data in the multimodal public transportation network was developed on the basis of an Internet mapping service. This provides a realistic, multimodal, door-to-door modeling approach that avoids the requirement of building complex traffic networks through Geographic Information System (GIS) software and simplifies road network modeling efforts. The results show that this modeling method can be used to reflect the accessibility disparities in the Nanjing urban space objectively and accurately.

Simulated transport time and distance from nuclear power plant to nearest university hospital in Korea

Background: Nuclear accident has a possibility of many injured people and requires urgent transfer to hospital. We investigated simulated transport time and distance from nuclear power plant to nearest university hospital by motor vehicle in Korea.Methods: This study was based on scenario design. Transport time and distance was measured on internet mapping service. We decided less than one hour is optimal on estimated arrival by motor vehicle.Results: Four nuclear power plants and twenty four nuclear reactors are operating in Korea. Each estimated arrival time to nearest university hospital is 37 min, 47 min, 1 hour 32 min and 2 hours 37 min, respectively (Gori, Wolsung, Yeonggwang and Uljin). Measured distance is 25, 27, 69 and 157 kilometers, respectively.Conclusions: Gori and Wolsung nuclear power plants require other hospital in close location or more rapid transport system.

Application of GIS

Surveillance and exchange of gathered information guides emergency response as well as long-term planning. In this paper we have discussed about the Open GIS, which can be very well utilized during different health hazards and in response to that some immediate actions can be taken up based on the available latest information in the said system. Open Source Web GIS software systems have reached a stage of maturity, sophistication, robustness and stability, and usability and user friendliness rivaling that of commercial, proprietary GIS and Web GIS server products. The Open Source Web GIS community is also actively embracing OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium) standards, including WMS (Web Map Service). WMS enables the creation of Web maps that have layers coming from multiple different remote servers/sources. Here we present one easy to implement .Web GIS server solution that is based on the Open Source Map Server. With the help of step-by-step instructions, interested readers running mainstream machines and with no prior technical experience in Web GIS or Internet map servers will be able to publish their own health maps on the Web and add to those maps additional layers retrieved from Remote WMS servers. All problems with planning and management are related to location, they are geographically referenced and require spatial analysis and presentation, an Open GIS on any compatible GIS platform will be very helpful tool for planning and decision making in emergency management. The geographical information system (GIS) is a tool used generically for any computer based capability for manipulating geographical data. The hardware and software functions of GIS include data input, data storage, data management (data manipulation, updating, changing, exchange) and data reporting (retrieval, presentation, analysis, combination, etc.).All of these actions and operations are applied to GIS as a tool that forms its database. The paper describes the types of the GIS data formats (vector, raster), database object definitions, relationships, geometric features, and the data organization structure. Some GIS applications and examples are given for better understanding of how GIS data can be used in GIS applications, with the respect to data formats, including surface elevation and slope from Digital Elevation Model data (DEM), with the applicability in water industry.

A comprehensive open package format for preservation and distribution of geospatial data and metadata

The complexities of the intricate geospatial resources and formats make preservation and distribution of GIS data difficult even among experts. The proliferation of, for instance, KML, Internet map services, etc, reflects the need for sharing geodata but a comprehensive solution when having to deal with data and metadata of a certain complexity is not currently provided. Original geospatial data is usually divided into several parts to record its different aspects (spatial and thematic features, etc), plus additional files containing, metadata, symbolization specifications and tables, etc; these parts are encoded in different formats, both standard and proprietary. To simplify data access, software providers encourage the use of an additional element that we call generically “map project”, and this contains links to other parts (local or remote). Consequently, in order to distribute the data and metadata refereed by the map in a complete way, or to apply the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) standard to preserve it for the future, we need to face the multipart problem. This paper proposes a package allowing the distribution of real (comprehensive although diverse and complex) GIS data over the Internet and for data preservation. This proposal, complemented with the right tools, hides but keeps the multipart structure, so providing a simpler but professional user experience. Several packaging strategies are reviewed in the paper, and a solution based on ISO 29500-2 standard is chosen. The solution also considers the adoption of the recent Open Geospatial Consortium Web Services common standard (OGC OWS) context document as map part, and as a way for also combining data files with geospatial services. Finally, and by using adequate strategies, different GIS implementations can use several parts of the package and ignore the rest: a philosophy that has proven useful (e.g. in TIFF).

An Efficient Parallel Map Visualization Framework for Large Vector Data

With the tremendous development of surveying and mapping technologies, the volume of vector data is becoming larger. For mapping workers and other GIS scientists, map visualization is one of the most common functions of GIS software. But it is also a time-consuming process when processing massive amounts of vector data. Especially in an Internet map service environment, large numbers of concurrent users can cause major processing delays. In order to address this issue, this paper develops an efficient parallel visualization framework for large vector data sets by leveraging the advantages and characteristics of graphics cards, focusing on storage strategy and transfer strategy. The test results demonstrate that this new approach can reduce the computing times for visualizing large vector maps.

3D City Modelling with Oblique Photogrammetry Method

Abstract The urbanization is increasing exponentially all over the world. Technology-based devices and services such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, vehicle navigation systems and internet map services have been observed in a rapid growth of urbanization. The ability to extend two-dimensional analytical functionality into the third dimension is one of the most significant developments in GIS technology. Modelling objects in 3D (three-dimension) has been very useful for some urban applications such as planning, management, representation of the urban sceneries etc. Nowadays, 3D city models play a more and more important role in GIS. Also 3D city modelling is one of the most growing research topics in the technology of photogrammetry. This paper presents first and initial studies in Turkey of creating 3D city model from aerial images using oblique photogrammetry method. For this project, a 3D city model of Konya city in Turkey, is prepared in three level of detail (LoD). The fourth, also the last, level (LoD4) is used to texture interior of the buildings for only 5 historical, touristic and religious buildings: Mevlana Museum, Selimiye Mosque, Serafettin Mosque, Aziziye Mosque, Ince Minareli Madrasa (Museum). This is also the first application example on 3D city modelling by using oblique photogrammetry in Turkey.

Audio jack based miniaturized mobile phone electrochemical sensing platform

We demonstrated a mobile phone sensing platform, MoboSens, with integrated plug-n-play microelectronic ionic sensor that performs electrochemical measurement by using audio jack of a smartphone. This platform was used to measure nitrate concentration using few microliter liquid samples on field along with providing geospatial map locations through wireless network. This compact MoboSens platform (∼65g) based on smartphone is able to detect nitrate concentration in water with a limit of detection of 0.2ppm within 1min. The nitrate ion detection on MoboSens platform is performed by a microfabricated microfluidic sensor utilizing cyclic voltammetry based electrochemical process. The stability of the measurements was verified by performing the experiments under varying temperature, pH and ion interference conditions. The mobile phone app reports the quantitative nitrate sensing results along with user's input metadata. The results can be automatically saved on secure cloud servers or can be pushed on public social media, e.g. Twitter. Finally, the digital sensing information can be retrieved with geospatial information tagged on an internet map service, e.g. Bing Map for public sharing and viewing. We tested this lab-on-a-chip mobile sensing platform for field water quality measurement and confirmed our mobile sensing results with other existing analytical testing methods.

전력선 통신을 이용한 인터넷 맵 연동 전자계량기 모니터링 시스템 구현

본 논문에서는 가정용 계량기의 데이터를 PC로 모니터링할 수 있도록, 전력선 통신(PLC : Power Line Communication) 모뎀과 인터넷맵 기반의 데이터 수집장치를 GUI모니터링 시스템으로 구현하였다. 전력선 통신 모뎀은 기존의 전력선에 데이터를 실어 보내는 기술로 별도의 신호선 설치에 대한 부담을 줄인다. 본 논문에서 제안하는 GUI모니터링 시스템은 인터넷맵 정보를 활용하여 가정용 개량기의 전, 현 월 사용 전력량을 인터넷 맵에서 시각적으로 편리하게 모니터링 할 수 있다. 이 구현은 일반인(비전문가)도 PC상에서 쉽게 전기사용정보를 확인하도록 하여 요금 관리 및 고장 관리에 편의를 제공하도록 한다. This paper deals a watt-hour meter monitor system applying a Power Line Communication (PLC) MODEM and a Data Concentrator Unit (DCU) which can apply to Internet map based Graphical User Interface (GUI). The PLC MODEM is profitable by saving the cost of installing dedicated wiring, and Internet map GUI also is able to contribute an easy access to monitoring system for non export users. This system makes it possible to monitor the amount of electricity of previous/ current month metering data via Internet mapping service. The implement system can easily apply a PC-management for the electric charges and maintenance with gathering the metering data.

Specification Surveying of Time-of-Flight Cameras for Multi-dimensional Real-time Data Acquisition

Because of the rising popularity of the 3D Internet map services, the acquisition of real-time spatial information has become more important. This study has proposed a new sensor called ‘ToF Camera’ as one solution to acquire multidimensional real-time data. For this, the range acquisition mechanism and advantages & disadvantages of ToF cameras have been investigated based on previous studies. In addition, the specifications of ToF cameras so far have been summarized. To analyze the specifications of ToF cameras, data under special cases have been acquired, and the results were examined. Then, this study has attempted to propose the usability of ToF cameras for acquisition of multidimensional real-time spatial data.

Development of the Arctic Research Mapping Application (ARMAP): Interoperability challenges and solutions

Ensuring interoperability between WebGIS applications is essential for maximizing access to data, data sharing, and data manipulation. Interoperability is maximized through the adoption of best practices, use of open standards, and utilization of spatial data infrastructure (SDI). While many of the interoperability challenges like infrastructure, data exchange, and file formats are common between applications, some regions like the Arctic present specific challenges including the need for presenting data in one or more polar projections. This paper describes the Arctic Research Mapping Application (ARMAP) suite of online interactive maps, web services, and virtual globes (the ARMAP suite; http://armap.org/) and several of the interoperability challenges and solutions encountered in development to date. ARMAP is a unique science and logistic tool supporting United States and international Arctic science by providing users with the ability to access, query, and browse information and data. Access to data services include a text-based search utility, an Internet Map Server client (ArcIMS), a lightweight Flex client, ArcGIS Explorer and Google Earth virtual globes, and Open Geospatial Consortium ( OGC) compliant web services, such as Web Map Service (WMS) and Web Feature Service (WFS). Through the ARMAP suite, users can view a variety of Arctic map layers and explore pertinent information about United States Arctic research efforts. The Arctic Research Logistics Support Service (ARLSS) database is the informational underpinning of ARMAP. Avoiding duplication of effort has been a key priority in the development of the ARMAP applications. The ARMAP suite incorporates best practices that facilitate interoperability such as Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) metadata standards, web services for embedding external data and serving framework layers, and open standards such as Open Geospatial Consortium ( OGC) compliant web services. Many of the features and capabilities of ARMAP are expected to greatly enhance the development of an Arctic SDI.

Internet and Tourism–Part XXIX: Google Maps

This article reviews Google Maps (URL: http://maps.google.com) which is an Internet mapping service technology and application provided by Google, one of the major search engines in the world. This...

Interactive visualization of marine pollution monitoring and forecasting data via a Web-based GIS

This work implements a Web-based Geographic Information System (Web GIS) for an existing oil spill monitoring and forecasting service, developed in the framework of the MARCOAST project. This is achieved by remotely presenting the results of the oil spill forecasting module via a dedicated Web GIS, which allows authenticated end users to view the simulation results in a geographical context. A number of Web GIS technologies for presentation of dissimilar types of semi-dynamic geographic data are applied and their respective capabilities for publishing and remote presentation of interactive geospatial information, such as oil spill spread animation overlaid on background data (terrain elevation data, satellite imagery, etc.), are described. More specifically, technologies like ESRI ® ArcIMS ® (Arc Internet Map Server) and Open Source GeoServer with OpenLayers client library are implemented. The capabilities of the system for visualization and mapping are illustrated by specific applications concerning the spreading scenarios of oil spills in two selected areas of the Aegean Sea, Greece. The presented Web GIS offers added value in the form of providing the end user with comprehensive and synthetic, both spatial and temporal, environmental information through a remotely customizable user-friendly graphical interface. In this context, its integration to a marine pollution monitoring and forecasting system could result in an enhanced pollution awareness and emergency management tool.

Automatic Spectral Rule-Based Preliminary Classification of Radiometrically Calibrated SPOT-4/-5/IRS, AVHRR/MSG, AATSR, IKONOS/QuickBird/OrbView/GeoEye, and DMC/SPOT-1/-2 Imagery—Part II: Classification Accuracy Assessment

In Part I of this paper, an operational fully automated Landsat-like image spectral rule-based decision-tree classifier (LSRC), suitable for mapping radiometrically calibrated seven-band Landsat-4/-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) and Landsat-7 Enhanced TM+ (ETM+) spaceborne images [eventually synthesized from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) imaging sensor] into a discrete and finite set of spectral categories, has been downscaled to properly deal with spaceborne multispectral imaging sensors whose spectral resolution overlaps with, but is inferior to Landsat's, namely: 1) Satellite Pour l'Observation de la Terre (SPOT)-4/-5, Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS)-1C/-1D/-P6 Linear Imaging Self-Scanner (LISS)-III, and IRS-P6 Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS); 2) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Meteosat Second Generation (MSG); 3) Environmental Satellite (ENVISAT) Advanced Along-Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR); 4) GeoEye-1, IKONOS-2, QuickBird-2, OrbView-3, TopSat, KOrean MultiPurpose SATellite (KOMPSAT)-2, FORMOsa SATellite (FORMOSAT)-2, Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Advanced Visible and Near Infrared Radiometer type 2 (AVNIR-2), RapidEye, WorldView-2, PLEIADES-1/-2, and SPOT-6/-7; and 5) Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC), IRS-P6 LISS-IV, and SPOT-1/-2. LSRC, together with its five downscaled versions, identified, respectively, as the four-band SPOT-like SRC (SSRC), the four-band AVHRR-like SRC (AVSRC), the five-band AATSR-like SRC (AASRC), the four-band IKONOS-like SRC (ISRC), and the three-band DMC-like SRC (DSRC), form the so-called integrated SRC system of systems. In this paper, first, the classification accuracy and robustness to changes in the input data set of SSRC, AVSRC, AASRC, ISRC, and DSRC are assessed, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in comparison with LSRC's. Next, ongoing and future SRC applications are presented and discussed. They encompass: 1) the implementation of operational two-stage stratified hierarchical Remote Sensing (RS) image understanding systems discussed in Part I of this paper; 2) the integration of near real-time satellite mapping services with Internet map servers; and 3) the development of a new approach to semantic querying of large-scale multisensor image databases. These experimental results and application examples prove that the integrated SRC system of systems is operational, namely, it is effective, near real-time, automatic, and robust to changes in the input data set. Therefore, SRC appears eligible for use in operational satellite-based measurement systems such as those envisaged by the ongoing international Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) Programme and the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) system project.

Fire Information for Resource Management System: Archiving and Distributing MODIS Active Fire Data

Technological advances have driven all aspects of Earth observation data, including improvements realized in sensor characteristics and capabilities, global data processing, near real-time monitoring, value-added products, and the distribution of global products. In particular, the growth of the World Wide Web is contributing to an increase in the global user base. The synergy of remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), Internet, and mobile phone technologies is revolutionizing the way in which satellite-derived information is archived and distributed to users. The Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), a NASA-funded application, is just one of many examples that illustrate the increasing ease with which Earth observation data are accessible to a broad range of users. This paper describes how the delivery of satellite-derived fire information has evolved over the last six years. By understanding user requirements and taking advantage of recent developments in areas such as information management, search, access, visualization, and enabling technologies, FIRMS has expanded the number and range of users that are able to access and utilize satellite-derived fire information. Specifically, we describe how satellite remote sensing and GIS technologies have been integrated to deliver MODIS active fire data to natural resource managers using Internet mapping services and customized e-mail alerts to users in more than 90 countries. We also describe how this web-based desktop application has been transitioned to a mobile service in South Africa to deliver fire information to field staff to warn of fires that may be potentially damaging to both natural resources and infrastructure.