Maps Of Territory Research Articles

The power of “mapping the territory”. Why economists should become more aware of the performativity of their models

Economics is not simply about representing reality; it is also about shaping it, an approach encapsulated in Donald MacKenzie’s aphorism that economics is best conceived as an “engine, not as a camera” (MacKenzie and Millo (Am J Sociol 109(1):107–145, 2003). The making and application of economic theories and models contribute actively and intentionally towards the making of our social world, by encouraging, guiding and legitimizing actions and decisions, or discouraging others, and by steering them in certain directions. It follows that economists do not simply draw maps of the economic territory within their compass: they are not straightforwardly the cartographers of the economy, and cannot be seen as the disinterested observers that they commonly represent themselves to be, and indeed are often thought of as. Their theoretical work has or aims at practical consequences for the economy, and indeed for society at large, and their interests and influence are thus by no means confined to academia alone. This article calls for a discussion of the ethical responsibilities of economists, and of economics, and challenges the discipline properly to assume those responsibilities; and it concludes by considering the key questions—what makes a ‘good’ economic model; and what criteria should be used to distinguish the good models, and the ‘good ways’ of handling models and their results, from the bad ones. As far as epistemology, the methodology of research programmes and the relation of theory and (social) practice are concerned, the insights of mainly von Hayek (Br J Philos Sci 6(23):209–225, 1955, The pretence of knowledge. Lecture to the memory of Alfred Nobel, 1974; Individualism and economic order, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 33–56, 1980a; Individualism and economic order, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 57–76, 1980b; The theory of complex phenomena. Readings in the philosophy of social science, MIT Press, Cambridge, 1994) and Popper (e.g. The myth of the framework: in defence of science and rationality, Routledge, New York 1994a; Models, instruments, and truth. The status of the rationality principle in the social sciences, pp 154–184, 1994b) provide the background of my discussion of the mentioned issues.

The influence of cartographic techniques development on the images of the Slovenian territory: from 16th to the 19th century

ABSTRACTPurpose: The paper presents the most important maps of the present-day Slovenian territory from 16th to 19th century contributed by many foreign and local authors. Due to technological, social, political, economic, cultural, and ideological conditions their image was constantly changing. Some of them are highlighting the key turning points in a centuries-long cartographic development.Methodology/approach: The survey is based on the analysis of primary sources held in the Map Collection of the National and University Library as well as in Geographical museum of Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts. The existing secondary sources, particularly the literature and the results of selected projects, are also critically evaluated. From the scientific point of view the paper is interdisciplinary although its content mostly affects the scope of cartography.Results: The inductive method offers conclusions on the role of maps as a medium for transferring different information. Maps are presented either in the light of their communicative value or in the light of using modern cartographic principles. Maps as graphic images captured on paper demonstrate technological development of selected historical periods and characteristics of different countries, their people, and especially the emergence of individual countries and national border changes.Research limitation: Due to limitations in the length of the study text we focus only on the selected items of the cartographic collection and their authors. As usually, we were unable to avoid important cartographers, such as Valvasor, Florjančič and Kozler. The major national cartographic materials held by a two institutions, the National and University Library and GIAM ZRC SAZU Geographical Museum are exposed.Originality/practical implications: The originality of this paper lies mainly in the fact that we deal with maps and their authors together with the impact of technological development on the image of the maps. We also expose their informative value as they reflect not only the cartographer’s views about the world, but also the current values of the society.

Update of normative seismic zoning in the framework of the integrated information system for the seismic safety of Russia

The article deals with updating databases and the general seismic zoning maps of the Russian territory (GSZ-97). Development of new maps (GSZ-2012) is considered. Recommendations on updating the building codes are made. The article reports on the development of the Integrated Information System “Seismic Safety of Russia” that involves operation of the specialized interactive maps of seismic hazard forecast.

Estimation of vegetation cover resilience from satellite time series

Abstract. Resilience is a fundamental concept for understanding vegetation as a dynamic component of the climate system. It expresses the ability of ecosystems to tolerate disturbances and to recover their initial state. Recovery times are basic parameters of the vegetation's response to forcing and, therefore, are essential for describing realistic vegetation within dynamical models. Healthy vegetation tends to rapidly recover from shock and to persist in growth and expansion. On the contrary, climatic and anthropic stress can reduce resilience thus favouring persistent decrease in vegetation activity. In order to characterize resilience, we analyzed the time series 1982–2003 of 8 km GIMMS AVHRR-NDVI maps of the Italian territory. Persistence probability of negative and positive trends was estimated according to the vegetation cover class, altitude, and climate. Generally, mean recovery times from negative trends were shorter than those estimated for positive trends, as expected for vegetation of healthy status. Some signatures of inefficient resilience were found in high-level mountainous areas and in the Mediterranean sub-tropical ones. This analysis was refined by aggregating pixels according to phenology. This multitemporal clustering synthesized information on vegetation cover, climate, and orography rather well. The consequent persistence estimations confirmed and detailed hints obtained from the previous analyses. Under the same climatic regime, different vegetation resilience levels were found. In particular, within the Mediterranean sub-tropical climate, clustering was able to identify features with different persistence levels in areas that are liable to different levels of anthropic pressure. Moreover, it was capable of enhancing reduced vegetation resilience also in the southern areas under Warm Temperate sub-continental climate. The general consistency of the obtained results showed that, with the help of suited analysis methodologies, 8 km AVHRR-NDVI data could be useful for capturing details on vegetation cover activity at local scale even in complex territories such as that of the Italian peninsula.

Digital Map of Posterior Cerebral Artery Infarcts Associated With Posterior Cerebral Artery Trunk and Branch Occlusion

Knowledge of the extent and distribution of infarcts of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) may give insight into the limits of the arterial territory and infarct mechanism. We describe the creation of a digital atlas of PCA infarcts associated with PCA branch and trunk occlusion by magnetic resonance imaging techniques. Infarcts were manually segmented on T(2)-weighted magnetic resonance images obtained >24 hours after stroke onset. The images were linearly registered into a common stereotaxic coordinate space. The segmented images were averaged to yield the probability of involvement by infarction at each voxel. Comparisons were made with existing maps of the PCA territory. Thirty patients with a median age of 61 years (range, 22 to 86 years) were studied. In the digital atlas of the PCA, the highest frequency of infarction was within the medial temporal lobe and lingual gyrus (probability=0.60 to 0.70). The mean and maximal PCA infarct volumes were 55.1 and 128.9 cm(3), respectively. Comparison with published maps showed greater agreement in the anterior and medial boundaries of the PCA territory compared with its posterior and lateral boundaries. We have created a probabilistic digital atlas of the PCA based on subacute magnetic resonance scans. This approach is useful for establishing the spatial distribution of strokes in a given cerebral arterial territory and determining the regions within the arterial territory that are at greatest risk of infarction.

Determining depleted uranium (DU) contamination in soils and salt marsh sediments in the vicinity of DU munitions testing sites in SW Scotland and NW England, UK

first of all, such changes manifest themselves in the extent of the impact of operating plants upon the environment and the air basin. This atmo-geochemical research was performed through studying natural depositing medium snow cover, as the composition of its insoluble fraction is identical to that of solid constituent of air pollutants. The solid phase was analyzed through the method of quantitative spectral analysis for a wide set of heavy metals. Based on the data on heavy metal contents in separate samples, specialized geochemical maps of the city's territory were produced applying GIS ArcView 3.2 a. These initial data allow to calculate in-day dust load per square kilometer -38.3 kg/sq, km*day, respectively, for the whole of the city's territory (225 sq. kin) -8.6 tons. Data on element contents in dust allow to calculate the load of separate elements throughout the city landscape; so in-day load of Zn is 2.3 kg, Cu 1.1 kg. The determined contents of heavy metals are standardized by the element background and the following ranked geochemical series of heavy metal contents in ambient dust throughout the city was made up: Mo-Ag-Sn-Zn-Ni-Cu-Cr-Pb. The maps clearly reflect the morphology and extent of pollution zones and the structure of pollution. To characterize complex pollution, we have calculated a Summary Index of Pollution (SIP) that represents the sum of heavy metal contents in samples standardized by the background. For the city's territory, the summary index varies from 44 to 129. The research results show that dust in ambient air is simultaneously contaminated with several heavy metals. Comparing data on SIP with sanitary-standardized indices for heavy metal contents in dust allows to attribute pollution of the city's air basin with heavy metals to middle-level one. SIP for heavy metals in dust can be used as a geoindicator to characterize the intensity of man-made geochemical stream in the atmosphere.

Visualising India's geo-body: Globes, maps, bodyscapes

This article focuses on the national longing for cartographic form by exploring the deployment of globes, maps, and bodyscapes in patriotic visual practices in colonial and postcolonial India. I suggest that popular cartography is marked by the convergence of two modalities of seeing India—a disenchanted geographic habit in which its territory is visualised as a geo-body, and an enchanted somaticism in which India is the affect-laden body of Bharat Mata. Patriotic cartography transforms the nation's territory into an object of visual piety, even as it makes more visible a hitherto unfamiliar entity—the map of India. But most of all, popular patriotic cartography encourages the citizen-beholder to engage the nation's territory corporeally, affectively, and interestedly, so that it is not some empty social space, but the motherland) worth dying for. Patriotism in modernity requires peculiarly novel technologies of persuasion. Maps of the national territory are among the most intriguing—and compelling—of these.

Cartographic Encounters: Perspectives on Native American Mapmaking and Map Use

List of Illustrations Series Editor's Note by James Akerman Editor's Preface by G. Malcolm Lewis Introduction by G. Malcolm Lewis Ch. 1: Frontier Encounters in the Field: 1511-1925 G. Malcolm Lewis Ch. 2: Encounters in Government Bureaus, Archives, Museums, and Libraries, 1782-1911 G. Malcolm Lewis Ch. 3: Hiatus Leading to a Renewed Encounter G. Malcolm Lewis Ch. 4: Recent and Current Encounters G. Malcolm Lewis Ch. 5: Maps of Territory, History, and Community in Aztec Mexico Elizabeth Hill Boone Ch. 6: Inland Journeys, Native Maps Barbara Belyea Ch. 7: Native Mapping in Southern New England Indian Deeds Margaret Wickens Pearce Ch. 8: Eighteenth-Century Arkansas Illustrated: A Map within an Indian Painting? Morris S. Arnold Ch. 9: Indian Maps of the Colonial Southeast: Archaeological Implications and Prospects Gregory A. Waselkov Ch. 10: Debriefing Explorers Amerindian Information in the Delisles' Mapping of the Southeast Patricia Galloway Ch. 11: Orientations from Their Side: Dimensions of Native American Cartographic Discourse Peter Nabokov Ch. 12: Future Encounters in New Contexts G. Malcolm Lewis About the Contributors Index

The basis of future thermal standard of buildings in Algeria

In this work, it will be presented the preliminary phases as well as the tools and methods that will be used to set the future thermal standard of buildings in Algeria. The actual state of building sector is briefly presented as well as national potentialities to improve thermal quality. Processing of most significant meteorological data was carried out in order to establish climatic maps of territory and calculate ambient base temperatures for heating and cooling needs. The thermal exigences are of two orders: comfort and energy savings. Calculations will be directed towards use of dynamic tools and development of simplified methods. TRNSYS code constitutes way to validate them or to determine technical solutions.

TRENDS OF THE THOUGHT IN GEOGRAPHY IN JAPAN FROM THE 1870'S TO THE 1920'S: A PERSONAL VIEW

The author outlines the major trends of the thought in geography from the beginning of the Meiji Period, to the end of the Taisho Period. The account does not list the scientific achievements or works published during the period, but concentrates on clarifying the academic background or climate in Japan's geographical circles. 1. Japanese Geography for the Public and in Education Japan's geography began with the Fudoki, written in the eighth century ; and later from the 12th to the 14th centuries, rough maps of the whole territory were drawn. Geographical accounts of foreign countries increased after the arrival of the Europeans in Japan in the six-teenth century. Knowledge of this kind, however, was limited to the intellectuals of the Imperial court or of the samurai class. Commoners' conception of the world, dating from the medie-val age, was that consisting of the three countries : Japan, China and India. This belief lasted until the arrival of the “black ships” of Commodore Perry in 1853. After the opening of the country, it became necessary for the samurai class and govern-ment officials to have an adequate knowledge of world geography and recent history a diplo-matic and political tools, for the Opium War of 1840-42 had provided a warning of the danger of colonisation by the Europeans. Thus numerous European and American books, firstly on geo-graphy and history, and then, on munitions engineering and modern military organisation were introduced, some being in translation from Chinese translations or in direct translations. For old countryf olk or for children, accounts of world geography easy to understand and to memorise their verse form appeared and spread widely. The Sekai-Kuni-Zukushi (Countries of the World Without Exception) by Yukichi Fukuzawa, an eminent writer of the early Meiji Period and the founder of Keio University, was the first book of this kind. In school educa-tion, at both the primary and secondary levels, geography has remained to be an important subject up to the present When a modern education system was set up in 1872, the Ministry of Education published lengthy textbooks of Japanese and world regional geography for teachers' use, and later numerous publishers produced pupils' textbooks. All books for school use have been examined and approved by the Ministry of Education from the beginning of this century to the present day. With the establishment of geography and history courses in the Higher Normal School in 1897, geography teaching was centred on regional geography, both domestic and foreign, and lessons in geography qenerally meant the memorisation of place names with figures for population and products. It was an unattractive school subject. Moreover, detailed syllabuses were established and there was little to choose from among published textbooks. It was almost impossible to introduce any variation in descriptions due to the government policy of the times. At one period, international co-operation was emphasised in textbooks, while at another, nationalistic sentiments were stressed. Geography teachers for middle schools were fostered at four national higher normal schools and a number of private schools, all of which taught the same course, and they had to pass an annual, licensing, examination conducted by the Ministry of Education. They were trained to follow the contents of the textbooks without any special individual thought. In the latter half of the 1920's, however, two journals of academic geographical associations, were inau-gurated as well as a geography teaching magazine by a private publisher. These provided school teachers with materials for study The situation improved with the successive publication of a complete series of systematic geographical work from 1929-30 onwards.