Geographic Information System Model Research Articles

An Evaluation of the Impact of Urban Growth on Runoff in Abeokuta, Southwestern Nigeria

Abeokuta is one of the urban areas in Nigeria with high cases of runoff fatalities in recent times, indicating the need for a proper understanding of prominent runoff-generating mechanisms, as well as the causative factors. Consequently, this paper, which is focused on flood-prone settlements, is aimed at providing information on the impact of change in urban land use on runoff in the study area. The specific objectives were to determine the change in average runoff in terms of the Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCN-CN), and to assess the impact of urban growth on runoff in the area. The SCN-CN was derived from the 30m spatial Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model (SRTM DEM). At the same time, land cover change was estimated using Landsat TM+ from 2000 and Landsat 8 OLI from 2018. Data were analysed using the Hydrologic Engineering Centre’s Hydrologic Modelling System (HEC-HMS) and ArcGIS (version 10.1). The results showed a 14% increase (from 39% in 2000 to 53% in 2018) in urban areas of selected catchments; and a relative increase in average CN from 76.9 units in 2000 to 79.9 units in 2018, suggesting an increase in runoff potential relative to the increase in urban/impermeable space in the catchment. Annual discharge depth increased from 891.84mm to 956.9mm, while peak discharge increased from 161.9m3 /s to 196.2m3 /s. Runoff in the study area tends to exhibit spatial variability that is similar to the pattern exhibited by built-up areas across the study area, suggesting that the development of built-up areas can explain runoff exacerbation in part of the area. The use of SCN-CN and satellite images makes the approach reproducible, and the mixed methods of geographic information system and hydrological model revealed the spatial variability typically hidden in stand-alone hydrological models. The paper recommends further studies with the use of less coarse datasets, as well as the implementation of policies that focus on sustainable urban growth in the region, and other cities.

Assessment of geosites as a basis for geotourism development: A case study of the Toplica District, Serbia

Abstract Toplica district represents an area in Southern Serbia with significant forms of geoheritage that have not been valorized yet. The aim of this pioneering study is to systematically analyze and evaluate all manifestations of the geodiversity in the Toplica district. Based on the geological importance, degree of attractiveness, and size, a total of six geosites were selected. The main goal of the study is to emphasize the insufficient utilization of huge geotourism potentials of the Toplica district and to determine the current geotourism development and geotourism potential of evaluated geosites. The geotourism suitability of each geosite is defined through comparative analysis. The Geosite Assessment Model (GAM) is used to assess the current state of the various elements of geodiversity in the study area. Positioning within the GAM matrix is defined by the values of the investigated parameters. Visualization of the distribution of the GAM indicators is an innovative approach for the interpretation of the obtained results. As a projection of the geotourism potential, the study presents the results of the traffic accessibility of geosites using the Geographic Information System (GIS)-based isochronous method. GIS and Digital Terrain Models are used in the visualization of the research area. The results of GAM apostrophize the current tourist value of Devil’s City, while the isochron analysis of GIS highlights the great geotourism potential of publicly little-known and touristically unaffirmed geosites. The results represent a basis that can support the affirmation of geotourism, the improvement of existing, and the development of new geotourism strategies in the Toplica district.

Use of Geographic Information System and Digital Elevation Model to Analyze the Hydro-Morphometric Characteristics of the Tshopo River Sub-Catchments, Democratic Republic of Congo

Use of Geographic Information System and Digital Elevation Model to Analyze the Hydro-Morphometric Characteristics of the Tshopo River Sub-Catchments, Democratic Republic of Congo

A quantitative model to assess the human consequences of a natural gas pipeline rupture in urban distribution networks

Natural gas is known as a hazardous fuel that could cause human casualties, especially in urban areas. For this reason, assessing the consequences of natural gas pipeline ruptures is settled as an important element in determining the potential effects of such ruptures on human health and developing risk management programs for natural gas networks. Several efforts have been made in the literature to establish potential consequence areas; however, there are many limitations on the methodologies proposed so far; or alternatively, consequence analyses have been performed in specific cases using a defined location, but not along a natural gas distribution network. The model proposed in this research consists of two main components: (i) a spatial assessment of gas dispersion through the ALOHA software to obtain the potential impact areas, and (ii), the count of the number of individual people located within the potential impact areas through a geographic information system (GIS) model, which proves to be a valuable tool for assessing the consequences of natural gas distribution networks. The proposed model has been applied on a case study to validate the ability to quantify the number of people exposed per linear meter of pipeline, and provide the opportunity to relatively assess the level of consequences of the pipeline network.

Utilization of GIS Model Mapping to Detect Fault Segments in Mesopotamian Foredeep Basin

The Mesopotamia Basin is widely recognized as a significant aggradation geomorphological entity, characterized by the dominance of fluvial, lacustrine, and aeolian landforms. The geographical scope of this study spans a specific region within the Mesopotamian Basin, specifically including Nasiriyah and Basrah located in the southern region of Iraq. It comprises a collection of Joint and fault systems that serve as indicators of various tectonic occurrences that have influenced the Arabian plate from the pre-Cambrian era up till the present day. The major goal of this model is to mapping and detects fault segments to get information about the large faults existing which is not recognized by prior work. A Geographic Information System (GIS) model was employed to create three digital layers, namely Lineament, drainage patterns, and lithological contact. These layers were established using several sources of information. The initial step of the GIS demonstration includes the input information, and the subsequent includes the selection of the equation for this model to specify the vulnerability of faulting segments in the research sector. Moderate to large lineaments (fault lines) were identified the results suggest an additional (26,15) new fault segment line numbers for the areas Nasiriyah and Basrah respectively which were not known by the fault map over the research sector, these fault lines reflect crustal structures (large length lineaments), as well as analysis lineaments from satellite images, enables obtaining a miscellany of terrain applications, such as the selection of landfill sites, determining terrain stability, dam sites, and many other applications

Utilization of Augmented Reality Technique for Sewer Condition Visualization

Wastewater pipelines are largely buried underground, and techniques for assessing and visualizing their condition are critical for planning and rehabilitation. This paper introduces a framework for integrating Geographic Information System (GIS), 3D-creation platform, augmented reality (AR) techniques, and machine learning algorithms for the dynamic visualization of the condition of sewer networks. A sewer network in Ålesund City, Norway, was used as a case study, and the developed framework was implemented on an Android OS and Microsoft HoloLens. The results show the potential applications of the integrated framework of GIS, AR, and 3D models for sewer condition visualization. The positioning accuracy of the application for 2D objects is equivalent to that of well-designed GPS receivers (approximately 1–3 m), depending on the handheld device used. Loading and locating 3D objects will be limited by the performance of the devices used.

Study on environmental factors affecting the quality of codonopsis radix based on MaxEnt model and all-in-one functional factor

Owing to the increasing market demand of Codonopsis Radix, the cropper blindly cultivates to expand planting area for economic benefits, which seriously affects the quality of Codonopsis Radix. Therefore, this study synthesized 207 batches of Codonopsis Radix and 115 ecological factors, and analyzed the suitable planting areas of Codonopsis pilosula under current and future climate change based on Geographic Information System (GIS) and MaxEnt model. Secondly, we evaluated the quality of Codonopsis Radix based on the all-in-one functional factor including chromatographic fingerprint, the index components, the effective compounds groups, the nutritional components, and the nutritional elements, and the quality regionalization of Codonopsis Radix was analyzed. Finally, the ecological factors affecting the accumulation of effective components of Codonopsis Radix were analyzed. This study found for the first time that the highly suitable area of Codonopsis pilosula was mainly distributed in the Weihe River system and the Bailongjiang River system in Gansu Province. There were differences in the quality of Codonopsis Radix from different ecologically suitable areas based on the all-in-one functional factors, and the comprehensive high-quality area of Codonopsis Radix was mainly distributed in Longnan and Longxi district of Gansu Province. The precipitation, temperature and altitude play a key role in the accumulation of chemical components in the 10 ecological factors affecting the distribution of Codonopsis pilosula. Under future climatic conditions, the highly suitable area of Codonopsis pilosula is decreased.

Using integrated GIS and hydrological analysis for sizing culverts of multiple channel crossings at the flooded section of the Daboya-Mankarigu Road (IR10) in Ghana

A culvert is an important structure in Road construction to allow the conveyance of Channels crossing the road. Culverts are sized for a road to accommodate the volume of water crossing the road network to avoid flooding. Ghana Highways has a standard manual for culvert sizing at channel crossing. This manual serves as a guide for the proper sizing of culverts, however, lots of culverts have been found to have failed. Among the reasons for the failure of culverts could be under-sizing, urbanization, climate change, lack of maintenance, etc. The Daboya-Mankarigu Road is situated in the Savanah Region of Ghana in the North Gonja District. The section of the road from Chainage 9 + 075 to 10 + 200 has been experiencing flooding from 2020 to 2021 with a flood depth of 3.315 m in 2020 and 2.00 m in 2021. This study seeks to use integrated GIS and hydrological-based methods to propose new culverts to supplement the existing culverts to control flooding at section (9 + 075 to 10 + 200) of Daboya-Mankarigu Road (IR10). Geographic Information system (GIS) model (SWAT), Hydrological and hydraulic models were used to determine the peak flow at the catchment to Propose new culverts to supplement the existing culverts. Using a design period of 25 years for culverts, the modified rational method was used to determine the Peak flow of the catchment. A 25-year peak flow of 367.155 m3/s was determined and used for hydraulic analysis of the existing culverts. From the study, the existing culvert structures at the section had a hydraulic capacity of 78.732 m3/s which could not accommodate the remaining flow of 288.423 m3/s in the catchment. An observation was made that the changes in the rainfall can cause a change in rainfall intensity. An increase in built-up areas in the catchment can also increase the runoff coefficient which can result in higher peak flow in the catchment. Climate change, change in slope, and Land use in the catchment were also determined to have a huge influence on the adequacy of culverts since the peak flow is dependent on these parameters in the catchment as the years go by. A 4No. 4 m × 4 m box culvert, 3No. 3.5 m × 3.5 m box culvert, and 13 No. 1200 mm pipe culverts with 2 each at different chainages were proposed at suitable locations to supplement the existing culverts using the HDS-5 equations in AutoCAD Civil 3D. A recommendation is made to consider the installation of these new culverts at the flood section to control flooding and avoid overtopping of water on the IR10 road section (Daboya-Mankarigu) in the north Gonja District.

Quantifying the land and population risk of sewage spills overland using a fine-scale, DEM-based GIS model.

Accidental releases of untreated sewage into the environment, known as sewage spills, may cause adverse gastrointestinal stress to exposed populations, especially in young, elderly, or immune-compromised individuals. In addition to human pathogens, untreated sewage contains high levels of micropollutants, organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus, potentially resulting in aquatic ecosystem impacts such as algal blooms, depleted oxygen, and fish kills in spill-impacted waterways. Our Geographic Information System (GIS) model, Spill Footprint Exposure Risk (SFER) integrates fine-scale elevation data (1/3 arc-second) with flowpath tracing methods to estimate the expected overland pathways of sewage spills and the locations where they are likely to pool. The SFER model can be integrated with secondary measures tailored to the unique needs of decision-makers so they can assess spatially potential exposure risk. To illustrate avenues to assess risk, we developed risk measures for land and population health. The land risk of sewage spills is calculated for subwatershed regions by computing the proportion of the subwatershed's area that is affected by one modeled footprint. The population health risk is assessed by computing the estimated number of individuals who are within the modeled footprint using fine-scale (90 square meters) population estimates data from LandScan USA. In the results, with a focus on the Atlanta metropolitan region, potential strategies to combine these risk measures with the SFER model are outlined to identify specific areas for intervention.

Abstract 380: Prehospital Ground and Helicopter-Based Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR) Reduce Barriers to ECPR: A GIS Model

Introduction: Evidence suggests that ECPR can improve survival rates for nontraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, over 50% of potential ECPR candidates are unable to qualify in the current hospital-based system due to geographic limitations. This study employs a Geographic Information System (GIS) model to estimate the number of ECPR eligible patients within the U.S. in the current hospital-based system, a prehospital ECPR ground-based system, and a prehospital ECPR HEMS-based system (Figure 1). Methods: We constructed a GIS model to estimate ground and helicopter transport times. Time-dependent rates of ECPR eligibility were derived from the Resuscitation Outcome Consortium (ROC) database, while the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) registry determined the number of OHCA patients meeting ECPR criteria within designated transportation times. EMS response time, ECPR candidacy determination time, and on-scene time were modeled based on data from the EROCA trial (Figure 1). The combined model was used to estimate the total ECPR candidates in each system. Results: The CARES registry recorded 736,066 OHCA patients from 2013 to 2021. After applying clinical eligibility criteria, 24,661 (3.4%) patients were eligible for ECPR. When considering overall ECPR eligibility within 45 minutes from OHCA to initiation, only 11.76% of clinically eligible patients qualified in the current hospital-based system. The prehospital ECPR HEMS-based system exhibited a four-fold increase in ECPR eligibility (49.3%), while the prehospital ground-based system showed a more than two-fold increase (28.4%). Conclusions: The study demonstrates a two-fold increase in ECPR eligibility for a field-deployable ground-based system and a four-fold increase for a prehospital ECPR HEMS-based system compared to the current hospital-based OHCA system. This novel GIS model can inform future ECPR implementation strategies, optimizing systems of care.

Abstract 244: Geospatial Access to Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in the United States

Introduction: Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a form of complete cardiopulmonary support which has been associated with improved survival in both severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and refractory cardiac arrest. ECMO is a resource-intensive therapy limited to specialized centers in urban environments, restricting its availability in suburban and rural areas. We examined the proportion of the U.S. population within a 15-minute, 30-minute, and 45-minute drivetime area to an ECMO-capable center. Methods: Using geographic information systems (GIS), we created shapefiles with polygons representing 15, 30, and 45-minute drivetime areas to ECMO-capable centers. Census block group centroids were then overlaid to determine the proportion of the population with access to ECMO-capable centers. Results: We found that 22%, 52%, and 67% of the U.S. population live within 15, 30, and 45 minutes of ECMO-capable centers, respectively. One hundred and ten million people, more than one third of the U.S. population, live further than 45 minutes away from an ECMO-capable center. Puerto Rico, Wyoming, North Dakota, and Alaska have 0% population access. Texas, California, and Florida have the highest number of people with low access (9, 8, and 5 million, respectively). Conclusion: Population access to ECMO-capable centers in the U.S. is highly variable and limits time-dependent interventions, which are essential for successful deployment of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in refractory cardiac arrest. Our GIS model can be used for future planning of ECMO systems to optimize access for the U.S. population or to comparatively evaluate proposals to improve access.

Socio-spatial Inequities of Fire and Rescue Services in Sweden: An Analysis of Real and Estimated Response Times

Lowering the response times of fire and rescue services (FRS) can reduce costs and the risk of fatalities in emergencies. Ensuring everyone can be reached by the FRS as quickly as possible is therefore a key objective for planners, who often rely on estimated response times to know where response times are long. To be reliable, such estimations need to be validated against real response times. Therefore, this study investigates the spatial patterns of FRS in Sweden in 2018, and compares how estimated and real response times correspond, as well as what factors explain under- or overestimation of the real times. Network analysis performed in a Geographical Information System (GIS) and regression modelling underpin the methodology. In most FRS events (81.3%), estimated response times are shorter than real response times with an average of 83.6 s. Both real and estimated response times are highest in rural municipalities. However, on average, underestimations are larger in urban municipalities. Response times also tend to be underestimated in municipalities with formalized cooperation agreements. Joint organization of FRS resources is thus not necessarily an effective way to reduce response times, with implications for the way FRS is delivered. This study highlights the heterogeneous spatial patterns of difference between estimated and real response times, and shows the importance of being event and area specific when planning the FRS system.

Designing residential areas using geospatial modelling

The subject of the paper is design using modelling methods of geographic information system (GIS). The authors propose using GIS modelling as a method to solve the actual problem of designing housing estates in a big city. The purpose of the paper is to design a model of a residential area with a complete infrastructure and all necessary elements. In the paper, the following tasks are solved: 1) developing design of a digital geoinformation model of a projected residential area; 2) formalization of the process of designing residential areas by developing a design algorithm; 3) creation of a visual two-dimensional model of a residential area. The method used in the paper is geoinformation modelling of real estate objects using two-dimensional models in a geodatabase, and software implementation using the ArcMap application. As a result of the research, the authors obtained the following results: a centric approach to planning a semi-autonomous region was chosen as the most rational and effective for urban planning. To solve the problem, the geographic information system ArcGIS was used, and a geodatabase was created to analyse the existing territory of the city of Kharkiv and select a construction site. The developed geographic information system ArcGIS and the created geodatabase help in solving the issues of further designing the location of buildings and infrastructure elements of the area. Namely, “buffer zones” were used for further accommodation of schools, kindergartens, and shops. The use of “buffer zones” made it possible to optimally place these establishments depending on the number of potential visitors. The authors chose blocks for the division and development of the projected area, considering the historical aspects of the city of Kharkiv. This enabled to develop a GIS in which each block would have its urban ecosystem. The authors have also developed an algorithm for performing design tasks of residential areas. The algorithm can be applied when creating projects for residential areas not only in Kharkiv, but also in other cities of Ukraine and the world. Results of the research made it possible to use the capabilities of geoinformation systems in designing new types of residential areas with a highly developed social and transport infrastructure, harmonious development, as well as attractive features for stakeholders and future residents. Thus, the developed GIS visualization will enable a visual representation on the map of all spatial objects, which are necessary for analysis, and to reflect spatial patterns of the placement of all necessary infrastructure facilities.

Mapping Socio-Economic Vulnerability to Rob Flood Hazards in Coastal Cities, North Pekalongan District, Pekalongan City

Climate change brings danger to several areas, especially in coastal urban areas. One of them is the tidal flood which experienced inundation. Tidal floods pose a serious threat to the sustainability of social life and economic growth. Assessment of social and economic vulnerabilities is needed to overcome the risk of disaster hazards due to climate change in the form of coastal tidal floods in cities. This research is expected to be able to describe socio-economic vulnerability through the variables of population density, age, gender, occupation, and level of education to tidal floods that have occurred in 42% of the area. The research method used is quantitative analysis, scoring, and geographic information system modeling with village analysis units. The results showed that Panjang Baru Village was the most vulnerable area because of the high density and low-income levels of the people, most of whom were fishermen and farmers households. It also indicates the contribution of population density, level of education, and employment to the level of vulnerability. This study states that the socio-economic aspect is an important factor that must be considered for the sustainability of life and community adaptation to the threat of climate change, especially tidal floods.

Scan to BIM Mapping Process Description for Building Representation in 3D GIS

This paper introduces a novel approach for mapping process description with Scan data to Building Information Modeling (BIM) in a 3D Geographic Information System (GIS). The methodology focuses on automatically generating building mass and facade information on the GIS platform using Point Cloud Data (PCD) of Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS). Advanced scanning techniques capture detailed geometry from the physical site and generate high-resolution point clouds, which are processed to create 3D models for GIS integration. The critical contribution of this research lies in a scalable Scan to BIM mapping process, which can be used for generating building footprints and masses, including attributes, on 3D GIS. The resulting integrated BIM–GIS dataset provides an accurate building mass, facade information, facility asset management, and architectural design and facilitates improved decision-making in urban planning based on enhanced visualization, analysis, and simulation. This study suggests a flexible Scan to BIM mapping process description based on use cases, including algorisms. Through prototype development, a case study demonstrates the effectiveness of the process approach, the automatic generation of BIM on a 3D GIS platform, and reducing the manual efforts. The proposed method automatically creates DEM, SHP, GeoJSON, IFC, and coordinate system information from scan data and can effectively map building objects in 3D GIS.

Population-Level Access to Breast Cancer Early Detection and Diagnosis in Nigeria.

Mammography, breast ultrasound (US), and US-guided breast biopsy are essential services for breast cancer early detection and diagnosis. This study undertook a comprehensive evaluation to determine population-level access to these services for breast cancer early detection and diagnosis in Nigeria using a previously validated geographic information system (GIS) model. A comprehensive list of public and private facilities offering mammography, breast US, and US-guided breast biopsy was compiled using publicly available facility data and a survey administered nationally to Nigerian radiologists. All facilities were geolocated. A cost-distance model using open-source population density (GeoData Institute) and road network data (OpenStreetMap) was used to estimate population-level travel time to the nearest facility for mammography, breast US, and US-guided biopsy using GIS software (ArcMAP). In total, 1,336 facilities in Nigeria provide breast US, of which 47.8% (639 of 1,336) are public facilities, and 218 provide mammography, of which 45.4% (99 of 218) are public facilities. Of the facilities that provide breast US, only 2.5% (33 of 1,336) also provide US-guided breast biopsy. At the national level, 83.1% have access to either US or mammography and 61.7% have access to US-guided breast biopsy within 120 minutes of a continuous one-way travel. There are differences in access to mammography (64.8% v 80.6% with access at 120 minutes) and US-guided breast biopsy (49.0% v 77.1% with access at 120 minutes) between the northern and southern Nigeria and between geopolitical zones. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive evaluation of breast cancer detection and diagnostic services in Nigeria, which demonstrates geospatial inequalities in access to mammography and US-guided biopsy. Targeted investment is needed to improve access to these essential cancer care services in the northern region and the North East geopolitical zone.

Landslide Susceptibility Mapping in Jurangjero and Kampung Villages, Ngawen Sub-District, Gunung Kidul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Jurangjero and Kampung villages are one of the areas in the Ngawen sub-district, Gunung Kidul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The research area is located in the Southern Mountain regionally, especially the Baturagung Sub-Zone. This area is part of The Baturagung Hills, dominated by weathered andesite breccia, tuff, sandstone, and limestone. The topography of these hills can be divided into three slopes, 15-30%, 30-45%, and more than 45%. A soil movement event happened in Jurangjero Village, the biggest, on January 15, 2020, which caused heavy damage to people’s homes, road damage, and breaking bridges. Geographic Information System (GIS) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model were applied to identify landslide conditioning factors and produce the landslide susceptibility map. Four conditioning factors including slope, lithology, faults to distance, and land use, were combined using ArcGIS 10.8 to create the landslide susceptibility map of the research area. The research area is divided into four landslide susceptibility zone very low, low, moderate, and high, with each zone of 36%, 20%, 41%, and 3%, respectively. A significant percentage (3%) of the research area with high landslide susceptibility is located along the steep slope, showing the landslides’ locations.

Site suitability analysis for waste to energy facility in Jos Metropolis, Plateau State, Nigeria

Solid waste management has emerged as a significant environmental challenge in developing countries, primarily driven by population growth, rapid urbanization, and the absence of effective sustainable strategies and policies. The city of Jos is not immune to these issues, as limited funding and expertise have hindered the local municipalities' ability to manage municipal solid waste efficiently. This study attempted to identify suitable sites for a waste-to-energy facility in Jos Metropolis, Plateau State, Nigeria. The study focused on estimating the amount of waste generated and determining a suitable site for siting a waste-to-energy facility in the study area. The data used were geographic coordinates of existing dumpsites which were acquired using Garmin eTrex R 20x Handheld GPS, topographic map which was obtained from Landsat (Glovis) website, landuse/landcover map which was obtained from Sentinel-2 ESRI website, road and waterbody data which were obtained from Open Street Map and administrative map of Jos metropolis which was obtained from ministry of lands, survey and town planning, Plateau state. Multi-criteria analysis, waste estimation formula, population projection formula, and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in conjunction with a Geographic Information System (GIS) model were employed for analysis. The results revealed that an estimated 221 tons of waste is generated per day in Jos metropolis with a projected increase to 299 tons by 2032, reflecting a 35.29% growth in a decade. The multicriteria analysis revealed that only 2.8% (23.3 km²) of the area exhibited high suitability for a WtE facility, with Kuru 'A' identified as the optimal choice due to its advantageous proximity to power substations, well-established road networks, existing dumpsites, and minimal risks to people and economic activities. Based on the findings, the study recommends improving data collection efforts, expanding the suitability criteria, and involving stakeholders in decision-making processes to enhance waste management effectiveness.

Biocultural mapping: unpacking the myth of an unsuitable Country in the arid zone, Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area, Australia

Defining spaces and places in retrojective Geographical Information Systems (GIS) of land use and occupancy is not an easy task. Research into the areas described as suitable for land use and occupancy need to incorporate multiple perspectives of what makes a land use patch useful or salient ecologically. The effect of the concept of 'Terra Nullius' and European colonisation is deeply apparent in the current GIS models of historical land use and occupancy of Aboriginal communities within arid zones in Australia. Biocultural zones of land use and occupancy zones omit spaces and places of habitation due to European bias of what a suitable ecological or hydrological land use zone should look like. This article employs Exploratory GIS methods to interrogate the data layers within the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area, NSW, Australia. This work conclusively demonstrates that there are ranges of areas and land suitability zones prior to colonisation in the nineteenth century. In turn, these Exploratory GIS models of an active Country comprehensively address the question of why visually salient areas of hydrological and ecological Indigenous land use and occupancy continue to be ignored, destroyed, and damaged by settlements in semi-arid regions. Biocultural GIS mapping unpacks the myth that areas were empty or uninhabited by Aboriginal communities and underlines the need for biocultural GIS mapping tools to understand the habitable spaces and places of the arid zone.

Heavy Metal Occurrence, Pathways, and Associated Socio-ecological Risks in Riverine Water: Application of Geographic Information System, Multivariate Statistics, and Risk Assessment Models

Heavy Metal Occurrence, Pathways, and Associated Socio-ecological Risks in Riverine Water: Application of Geographic Information System, Multivariate Statistics, and Risk Assessment Models