Spatial Alternatives Research Articles

Spatial Alternatives and Counter-Sovereignties in Israel/Palestine

The securitization of the spaces of Israeli-Palestinian interaction, from checkpoints to the West Bank Separation Wall, continues to intensify and receive attention from journalists, scholars, and activists. Understandably, the focus is on the negative consequences of existing spatial configurations. Receiving far less attention is the development of alternative spatial formations which might advance forms of “desecuritization,” especially in those spaces that are crucial hinges of Israeli-Palestinian interaction (Jerusalem and other mixed cities, the Wall, the Green Line, roads). This article explores whether alternative ways of using, organizing, experiencing, and coexisting in space—especially at the micro level—hold out promise for helping to reframe significant dimensions of Israeli-Palestinian interaction. It seeks to better understand whether disjointed forms of sovereignty that appear—or disappear—across the occupation can be met by counter-sovereignties; whether new spatial counter-realities can be articulated through everyday life; and whether forms of agency, especially contestation, can reset understandings of, and perspectives on, spaces. A range of examples are considered within Jerusalem, mixed cities, the occupied Palestinian territories and at the border, bearing on religious sites, healthcare, gentrification, security infrastructure, popular protest, and festivals.

Improved Lagrange multiplier tests in spatial autoregressions

For testing lack of correlation against spatial autoregressive alternatives, Lagrange multiplier tests enjoy their usual computational advantages, but the (χ2) first‐order asymptotic approximation to critical values can be poor in small samples. We develop refined tests for lack of spatial error correlation in regressions, based on Edgeworth expansion. In Monte Carlo simulations, these tests, and bootstrap tests, generally significantly outperform χ2‐based tests.

Environmental site selection for oil jetty using the analytical network process method case study: Boushehr, Iran

Large amounts of oil pollution are being released to marine and coastal ecosystem and destroying these natural resources daily. So, what is the real scientific and applicable solution for this global disaster? This paper is focused on oil jetties and terminals site selection studies as a stepping stone for preventing this problem and keeping coastal regions safe from this pollution. In fact, it shows how Analytical Network Process (ANP) can be used for finding a logical spatial prioritization which has more consistency to environment. This is the first time that the Analytical Network Process method is applied for this subject. First of all, four spatial alternatives were selected in Boushehr (the Persian Gulf coast lines). Then BOCR values were calculated through “Overall Factor” processes. The necessary criteria were also classified in BOCR merits and were used to compare the alternatives. The results identified Negin Island as the best site for oil jetty's geographical location. Monitoring observations of study area admitted the priority which was extracted from the ANP method. Therefore ANP can be used for environmental planning and environmental site selection of oil jetties which is supposed as the best solution for mitigating oil pollution of coastal area.

Complexities of fisheries and fisheries research: A comment on “Behavior of the Galapagos fishing fleet and its consequences for the design of spatial management alternatives for the red spiny lobster fishery” by . doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2013.03.001

A recent study (Bucaram et al., 2013) provides a contribution on the behavior of the Galapagos fishing fleet for spiny lobster (Panulirus penicillatus and P. gracilis). This comment supplements that study by resolving some gaps in its understanding of existing knowledge on the structure and dynamics of Galapagos fisheries. Specifically, we highlight the literature already available on Galapagos fishing behavior, the breadth and impact of the participatory process contributing to the Galapagos fishery co-management framework, and the relevance of previous fishery policy recommendations. As highlighted in this published literature, there is a need for further studies of fishing behavior in the Galapagos Islands; such studies can be of greatest benefit by building on the current knowledge base on fishing behavior and its management implications.

MIGRATION AS A WAY TO DIVERSIFY: EVIDENCE FROM RURAL TO URBAN MIGRATION IN THE U.S.

ABSTRACTThis paper extends the utility maximization model of migration by introducing income and unemployment‐related uncertainties as determinants of utility, and analyzes the effects of the informational advantages of migrants. The paper maintains that migration would expand an individual's economic choices and opportunities and allow diversification. Consequently, diversification advantages influence the location decisions of migrants, an effect captured by the correlation of incomes at the origin and potential destinations. We use the discrete choice model based on random utility maximization as the framework for our empirical investigation of migration from the United States rural to urban counties. This paper takes advantage of an equivalent relation between the conditional logit model and Poisson regression to study the migration decisions using aggregate data among a large set of spatial alternatives. The results show that the diversification concerns have significant effects on location decisions of the rural‐urban migrants in the United States.

Intercontinental cross-linking of power supply - calculating an optimal power line corridor from North Africa to Central Europe

BackgroundAn oversupply of solar radiation in Northern Africa as well as high energy consumption in the economic centers of Central Europe give reason to an international cross-linking of regenerative power supply. A fundamental precondition for this purpose is the development of high-capacity power lines. By this means only, the energy can be economically transferred from the sites of its production to the far-off centers of energy consumption. To date, however, there is little knowledge about how to identify the ideal course of the power line corridor. This study therefore presents a method enabling spatial optimization of the power transfer between North Africa and Europe.MethodsIn this research project, the key spatial factors for the planning of power line corridors were identified and depicted using geographic information systems. Besides focusing on the usage of already existing corridors - e.g., lines running along railways, which could be upgraded to high voltage direct current - attention was paid to the identification of spatial alternatives. In order to obtain insight into these questions, it is necessary firstly to identify centers of power consumption. Secondly, exclusion factors for the planning of power line corridors must be defined, and the corresponding restriction areas need to be visualized.ResultsIt can be stated that the most favorable way of constructing a power line corridor is through flat barren lands and that it grows more expensive with the extent of the slopes and the share of woodland and utilized agricultural or marine areas passed by the power line. Furthermore, socio-economic cost factors such as labor costs, which are specific for each respective country, lead to a strong spatial diversification.ConclusionsThe presented method enables a technical and ecological structuring of the area of interest, which is the basis for the identification of optimal power line corridors. In retrospect, the project's main challenge was to harmonize the numerous geodata available in greatly differing quality.

Behavior of the Galapagos fishing fleet and its consequences for the design of spatial management alternatives for the red spiny lobster fishery

The two most profitable fisheries in the Galapagos Islands, red spiny lobster (Panulirus penicillatus) and sea cucumber (Isostichopus fuscus), are facing steep declines in abundance and may be on the verge of collapse. This state of affairs has emerged in part because of command and control fisheries policies that neglected the importance of the behavior of the fishing fleet itself. Here we attempt to describe and explain the factors influencing the fishing behavior of the Galapagos red spiny lobster fishing fleet. We estimated a set of econometric models based on a random utility maximization process to forecast how changes in the immediate circumstances (economic, biological, climatic and oceanographic) impact voluntary fishing choices via the personal costs and benefits of various decisions. We focused on the factors that affect not only the decision to participate in fishing but also the decision of where to fish. We then use these models to determine the revenue elasticities for each fishing zone and to analyze the overall response of the Galapagos fleet to hypothetical closures of fishing zones. Our results provide some empirical benchmarks from which it is possible to identify in advance problems related to the spatial management of the red spiny lobster fishery and their potential solutions. For example, we found that fisherman from San Cristobal Island have a strong preference for fishing sites on Floreana Island, which is geographically closer to Santa Cruz Island. This could lead to conflicts between the San Cristobal and Santa Cruz fishing fleets if rights-based fishery management were implemented. We expect that our analysis will be valuable to policy makers when designing new types of management plans for Galapagos fisheries.

Digital spatial data as support for river basin management: The case of Sotla river basin

Many real-world spatially related problems, including river-basin planning and management, give rise to geographical information system based decision making, since the performance of spatial policy alternatives were traditionally and are still often represented by thematic maps. Advanced technologies and approaches, such as geographical information systems (GIS), offer a unique opportunity to tackle spatial problems traditionally associated with more efficient and effective data collection, analysis, and alternative evaluation. This paper discusses the advantages and challenges of the use of digital spatial data and geographical information systems in river basis management. Spatial data on social, environmental and other spatial conditions for the study area of 451.77 km2, the Slovenian part of the Sotla river basin, are used to study the GIS capabilities of supporting spatial decisions in the framework of river basin management.

Spatial structure induced by marine reserves shapes population responses to catastrophes in mathematical models

Catastrophic events such as oil spills, hypoxia, disease, and major predation events occur in marine ecosystems and affect fish populations. Previous evaluations of the performance of spatial management alternatives have not considered catastrophic events. We investigate the effects of local and global catastrophic events on populations managed with and without no-take marine reserves and with fishing mortality rates that are optimized accounting for reserves. A spatial population dynamics model is used to explore effects of large, catastrophic natural mortality events. The effects of the spatial spread, magnitude, probability of catastrophe, and persistence of a catastrophic event through time are explored. Catastrophic events affecting large spatial areas and those that persist through time have the greatest effects on population dynamics because they affect natural mortality nonlinearly, whereas the probability and magnitude of catastrophic events result in only linear increases in natural mortality. The probability of falling below 10% or 20% of unfished abundance was greatest when a no-take marine reserve was implemented with no additional fishing regulations and least when a no-take marine reserve was implemented in addition to the maintenance of optimal fishing mortality in fished areas. In the absence of implementation error, maintaining abundance across space using restrictions on fishing mortality rates, regardless of the existence of a no-take marine reserve, decreased the probability of falling below 10% or 20% of unfished abundance.

Protecting old fish through spatial management: is there a benefit for sustainable exploitation?

Summary 1. Spatially defined restrictions on fishing activity are considered to be important for biodiversity conservation in marine ecosystems. However, it is uncertain whether such restrictions also benefit wider populations of exploited fish species, in terms of a reduced risk of overexploitation. Since fishing leads to contraction of the age structure, one potential benefit of protection is recovery of the highly fecund older age classes, potentially leading to higher recruitment levels. This investigation explores the benefits of protecting older fish and how spatial management can be used to adjust the age structure and improve the sustainability of the catch (productivity). 2. We use a non-spatial equilibrium model accounting for biomass growth, mortality and recruitment to describe the relationship between mean age of the population and productivity for the South African deepwater hake Merluccius paradoxus trawl fishery. Our results indicate that management measures capable of increasing the mean age at which fish are caught may be of benefit. Furthermore, although the contribution of older fish to recruitment is important, the biomass growth of individuals before they are caught is responsible for the most significant productivity benefit of an older population age structure. 3. Older M. paradoxus are found in deeper water, so that distinct age classes can be defined spatially using empirical data. We describe a non-equilibirum model to examine spatial management alternatives for adjusting the age structure by targetting these different age classes. We investigate the benefits of protecting either older or younger fish, with results suggesting that it is more important to limit fishing on the younger (shallow) sections of the population if productivity benefits are to be realized. 4.Synthesis and applications. We conclude that the age structure of a population can be modified through spatially managed targeting of different age classes, and that, contrary to previous assumptions for M. paradoxus, protecting older fish has a negative consequence for the age structure of the resource. Instead, younger sections of the population should be protected through limitations on fishing in shallower waters, if older age classes are to recover.

Quantification of receptor–ligand binding potential in sub-striatal domains using probabilistic and template regions of interest

Sub-striatal regions of interest (ROIs) are widely used in PET studies to investigate the role of dopamine in the modulation of neural networks implicated in emotion, cognition and motor function. One common approach is that of Mawlawi et al. (2001) and Martinez et al. (2003), where each striatum is divided into five sub-regions. This study focuses on the use of two spatial normalization-based alternatives to manual sub-striatal ROI delineation per subject: manual ROI delineation on a template brain and the production of probabilistic ROIs from a set of subject-specific manually delineated ROIs. Two spatial normalization algorithms were compared: SPM5 unified segmentation and ART. The ability of these methods to quantify sub-striatal regional non-displaceable binding potential (BPND) and BPND % change (following methylphenidate) was tested on 32 subjects (16 controls and 16 ADHD patients) scanned with the dopamine D2/D3 ligand [18F]fallypride. Probabilistic ROIs produced by ART provided the best results, with similarity index values against subject-specific manual ROIs of 0.75–0.89 (mean 0.84) compared to 0.70–0.85 (mean 0.79) for template ROIs. Correlations (r) for BPND and BPND % change between subject-specific manual ROIs and these probabilistic ROIs of 0.90–0.98 (mean 0.95) and 0.98–1.00 (mean 0.99) respectively were superior overall to those obtained with template ROIs, although only marginally so for BPND % change. The significance of relationships between BPND measures and both behavioural tasks and methylphenidate plasma levels was preserved with ART combined with both probabilistic and template ROIs. SPM5 virtually matched the performance of ART for BPND % change estimation but was inferior for BPND estimation in caudate sub-regions. ART spatial normalization combined with probabilistic ROIs and to a lesser extent template ROIs provides an efficient and accurate alternative to time-consuming manual sub-striatal ROI delineation per subject, especially when the parameter of interest is BPND % change.

An Application of Spatial Econometrics in Relation to Hedonic House Price Modeling

This paper applies spatial econometrics in relation to hedonichouse price modeling. Some basic spatial model alternatives areused for a battery of relevant tests. Geographically-weightedregression, semiparametric analysis, and the mixed spatialDurbin model are also applied. The purpose is to detect missingspatial variables, misspecified functional form, and spatialheterogeneity in estimated parameters. Such misspecificationshave been shown to give spurious results in relation to somefrequently used directional based tests. Significant modelimprovement is achieved, so the paper should be of generalinterest as an example of practical econometric modeling withinthe field.

Spatial regulations and endogenous consideration sets in fisheries

The implementation of spatial regulations has become a mainstay in fisheries management. These regulations have generated a sizable economics literature focused on the spatial behavior of fishermen. Fundamental to these studies is the consideration set (spatial alternatives) assumed by the researcher to be possessed by the decision agent. Often times this consideration set is assumed to be the entire spatial extent of the fishery. This research proposes the use of finite mixture modeling to endogenously estimate the formation of consideration sets and the method is applied to a unique spatial decision environment, the Atka mackerel fishery in the Aleutian Islands. Consideration sets are modeled using different macro-definitions of spatial regions to focus the micro-level spatial decision making within the fishery and to investigate the sensitivity of the results to alternative macro-level spatial definitions. Results illustrate the biases associated with traditional consideration set assumptions by estimating fishermen's valuations for different high-value sites within the Aleutian Islands under alternative consideration set assumptions. Furthermore, our results demonstrate how a model that assumes some structure on potential consideration sets reduces the dimensionality problems associated with other endogenous approaches to choice set definition.

GIS‐based multicriteria spatial modeling generic framework

Multicriteria analysis is a set of mathematical tools and methods allowing the comparison of different alternatives according to many criteria, often conflicting, to guide the decision maker towards a judicious choice. Multicriteria methods are used in spatial context to evaluate and compare spatial decision alternatives, often modeled through constraint‐based suitability analysis and represented by point, line, and polygon features or their combination, and evaluated on several space‐related criteria, to select a restricted subset for implementation. Outranking methods, a family of multicriteria methods, may be useful in spatial decision problems, especially when ordinal evaluation criteria are implied. However, it is recognized that these methods, except those devoted to multicriteria classification problems, are subject to computational limitations with respect to the number of alternatives. This paper proposes a framework to facilitate the incorporation and use of outranking methods in geographical information systems (GIS). The framework is composed of two phases. The first phase allows producing a planar subdivision of the study area obtained by combining a set of criteria maps; each represents a particular vision of the decision problem. The result is a set of non‐overlapping spatial units. The second phase allows constructing decision alternatives by combining the spatial units. Point, line and polygon feature‐based decision alternatives are then constructed as an individual, a grouping of linearly adjacent or a grouping of contiguous spatial units. This permits us to reduce considerably the number of alternatives, enabling the use of outranking methods. The framework is illustrated through the development of a prototype and through a step‐by‐step application to a corridor identification problem. This paper includes also a discussion of some conceptual and technical issues related to the framework.

Spatial optimization as a generative technique for sustainable multiobjective land‐use allocation

In this paper, we examine the applicability of spatial optimization as a generative modelling technique for sustainable land‐use allocation. Specifically, we test whether spatial optimization can be used to generate a number of compromise spatial alternatives that are both feasible and different from each other. We present a new spatial multiobjective optimization model, which encourages efficient utilization of urban space through infill development, compatibility of adjacent land uses, and defensible redevelopment. The model uses a density‐based design constraint developed by the authors. The constraint imposes a predefined level of consistent neighbourhood development to promote contiguity and compactness of urban areas. First, the model is tested on a hypothetical example. Further, we demonstrate a real‐world application of the model to land‐use planning in Chelan, a small environmental amenity town in the north‐central region of the State of Washington, USA. The results indicate that spatial optimization is a promising method for generating land‐use alternatives for further consideration in spatial decision‐making.

Assessing Spatial Dependence in Count Data: Winsorized and Spatial Filter Specification Alternatives to the Auto‐Poisson Model

The auto‐Poisson probability model furnishes an obvious tool for modeling counts of geographically distributed rare events. Unfortunately, its original specification can accommodate only negative spatial autocorrelation, which itself is a rare event. More recent alternative reformulations, namely, the Winsorized and spatial filter specifications, circumvent this drawback. A comparison of their performances presented in this article reveals some of their relative advantages and disadvantages.

T-Taxol and the Electron Crystallographic Density in β-Tubulin

[chemical structure: see text]. T-Taxol has been proposed as the bioactive conformation on beta-tubulin and subsequently utilized in the design of a series of highly active bridged taxane analogues. A modified T-form with a reversed C-13 side chain orientation has recently been proposed as an equally plausible bioactive shape. A comparison of the two spatial alternatives within the tubulin binding site electron crystallographic density suggests strongly that T-Taxol is the bioactive conformation.

DIRECT MULTI-SCALE ORDINATION WITH CANONICAL CORRESPONDENCE ANALYSIS

Gradient analysis uses ordination methods to study the structure of biotic communities caused by biotic processes operating in a heterogeneous environment. This structure has two spatial components: spatial processes within the community create au- tocorrelation, and the spatial structure of environmental factors creates spatial dependence. Ordination methods, however, do not make use of spatial information. Spatial alternatives are available in multivariate geostatistics, but are not compatible with important ordination methods used in gradient analysis, correspondence analysis and canonical correspondence analysis (CA, CCA). This paper shows how CA and CCA can be partitioned by distance (indirect and direct multi-scale ordination) and integrated with geostatistics. A diagnostic tool enables ecologists to partition ordination results by distance, to distinguish between components of spatial dependence and of spatial autocorrelation, and to check assumptions of independent residuals, stationarity, and scale-invariant correlation. The application is illustrated with a well-known data set of oribatid mites. Empirical chi-square variograms of individual species, their pair-wise cross variograms, and the variogram of the total inertia are defined and summarized in a variogram matrix, which leads to a spatial partitioning of the eigenvalues. The empirical variogram matrix provides a link to coregionalization anal- ysis that may be used to simultaneously model spatial dependence and spatial autocorre- lation. This will be useful for answering questions about the organism-specific scale of response to the environment, the optimal spacing of sampling units, or the scale-dependent effect of environmental factors.

Industrial Location Modeling: Extending the Random Utility Framework*

Abstract. Given sound theoretical underpinnings, the random utility maximization‐based conditional logit model (CLM) serves as the principal method for applied research on industrial location decisions. Studies that implement this methodology, however, confront several problems, notably the disadvantages of the underlying Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives (IIA) assumption. This paper shows that by taking advantage of an equivalent relation between the CLM and Poisson regression likelihood functions one can more effectively control for the potential IIA violation in complex choice scenarios where the decision maker confronts a large number of narrowly defined spatial alternatives. As demonstrated here our approach to the IIA problem is compliant with the random utility (profit) maximization framework.

A Tractable Approach to the Firm Location Decision Problem

The conditional logit model based on random utility maximization has provided an adequate framework to model firm location decisions. However, in practice, the implementation of this methodology presents problems when one has to handle complex choice scenarios with a large number of spatial alternatives. We posit the Poisson regression as a tractable solution to these problems. We demonstrate that by taking advantage of an equivalence relation between the likelihood function of the conditional logit and the Poisson regression we can, under certain circumstances, easily estimate a conditional logit model regardless of the number of choices. This insight should be particularly useful for studies of economic location.