Visual-spatial Research Articles

RADIAN – A tool for generating synthetic spatial data for use in teaching and learning

ABSTRACT We describe a Python-based software tool called RADIAN (RAnDom spatIal dAta geNerator) developed with the purpose of generating simple synthetic spatial datasets. These datasets can be used in many contexts such as teaching and learning of GIS, testing of spatial algorithms, testing and visualization approaches. This paper provides a motivation for the need for a tool such as RADIAN along with a survey of other similar approaches. The methodological component of how RADIAN generates synthetic spatial datasets is described. We describe experimental results from the comparison of RADIAN with QGIS, which is the most closely comparable tool available at the time of writing. Finally, we provide some conclusions on the impact and potential of RADIAN with some interesting avenues for future work and development. RADIAN is available as open-source software.

Machine learning in geography education: Evaluating student performance in rural china

The disparity in the development and application of educational resources between urban and rural areas is pronounced, with rural students often encountering significant challenges in acquiring geographic knowledge and developing spatial cognitive skills due to their geographical isolation and limited access to educational resources. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of geography education resource development in rural areas by examining the influence of various educational resource characteristics on students' scores in geography education. Through the application of data analysis and machine learning predictive methods, this research explores the impact of 13 variables, including gender, age, parental education level, family background, internet accessibility, outdoor practical activities, and family outdoor travel frequency. These factors were modeled and assessed using a range of machine learning algorithms. The findings reveal differential impacts of these characteristics on students' scores in geography education, with models such as Random Forest and XGBoost demonstrating superior performance in predicting scores in geography courses. This research provides empirical data and a scientific framework to support the optimization of geography education resources in rural areas, offering theoretical and practical insights for advancing educational equity and fostering local socioeconomic development.

"It's Different for Girls!" The Role of Anxiety, Physiological Arousal, and Subject Preferences in Primary School Children's Math and Mental Rotation Performance.

(1) Background: This study examines the role of subjective anxiety (mathematics and spatial anxiety), along with physiological responses, in mathematics or math and mental rotation performance in 131 German primary school students (65 girls, 66 boys; Mean age = 8.73 years). (2) Method: Students' preference for math vs. German and their subjective anxiety were assessed using standardized questionnaires. Emotional reactivity was measured using the Galvanic Skin Response (GSR). Math performance was evaluated via percentage scored and completion times on number line estimation, word problems, and missing terms tasks. Spatial skills were assessed using a novel mental rotation task (nMRT) incorporating gender-congruent and -neutral stimuli. (3) Results: Girls outperformed boys on percentage scored on the math task but took longer to complete this. No gender differences were found in performance on the nMRT. Girls demonstrated higher math anxiety and were less likely to prefer math over German. Math anxiety predicted math scores and accuracy on the nMRT while gender predicted math performance and mental rotation response time. Subject preference was associated with longer completion times and emotional reactivity with longer response times. Girls' preference for math and lower emotional reactivity was linked to shorter completion times, while lower math anxiety predicted higher scores. In contrast, these factors did not affect boys' math performance. Additionally, subjective anxiety, emotional reactivity, or subject preference did not impact spatial performance for either gender. (4) Conclusions: Supporting mathematical self-efficacy and emotional regulation, especially in girls, is crucial for enhancing STEM outcomes in primary education. Gender-fair assessment in mental rotation reveals equitable spatial performance and reduces the impact of anxiety.

PGR – 2 More than Just an EEG; The Role of Neuropsychological Evaluation in Pediatric Seizure Diagnosis with Complex Comorbidities

Abstract Objective Despite the prevalence of epilepsy, diagnosis remains limited by both subjective and objective examination (Urbańska et al., 2024). This is especially true of time-limited Electroencephalogram (EEG) (Baud et al., 2021). Ability to predict who will develop epilepsy after first time seizure is also limited (Drenthen et al., 2021). Neuropsychological changes inform clinical diagnosis and provides deeper understanding of functional limitations in daily life (Tolchin et al., 2020). Method Patient is a 12-year-old left-handed boy with history of in utero drug exposure and neglect prior to adoption at 3-years-old. Evaluation was sought for developmental delays concerning for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Additional concerns included frequent falls, severe migraines, reduced attention and memory, fatigue, and tremor. He had two clinical seizures around 9 years old, though subsequent EEG was normal. Given this and prophylactic treatment with Keppra, likelihood of seizures was thought to be low. Results Cognitive and adaptive skills were in the low range. Results were concerning for atypical developmental progress and a lateralizing profile. Specifically, skills associated with the left hemisphere (verbal abilities) were developing steadily, while skills associated with the right hemisphere (spatial and pattern recognition skills) were weaker. Difficulties with processing speed and higher order executive function were also present. No unifying diagnosis was identified, but addition of Keppra and Topamax resulted in marked improvement in energy, motor functioning, and cognitive functioning. Conclusion Neuropsychological evaluation was able to identify previously undetected seizure activity resulting in significant clinical impairment. Neuropsychological evaluation is invaluable in diagnosing and monitoring epilepsy (Kishk et al., 2022).

Influence of geographic isolation and the environment on gene flow among phenotypically diverse lizards

Lizards in the genus Anolis comprise hundreds of species that display a wide range of phenotypic variation closely related to their environment. One example is the Guadeloupean anole (Anolis marmoratus ssp.) that display extreme phenotypic variation, primarily in adult male color and pattern, with twelve described subspecies on the archipelago. Here we examine the relationship between phenotypic and genetic divergence among five subspecies on the two main islands and test the role of geographic isolation and the environment in reducing gene flow. We also examined two offshore island populations to assess the impact of complete geographic isolation on gene flow. We analyzed color phenotypes by measuring spectral reflectance and genomic diversity using SNPs. Genetic divergence was correlated with dorsolateral head and body color phenotypes, and slope and geographic distance were nearly equivalent at explaining this divergence. There was minimal genome-wide divergence at neutral loci among phenotypically disparate subspecies on the two main islands and their differentiation is consistent with a model of divergence with gene flow. Our spatial visualization of gene flow showed an impact of environmental features consistent with a hypothesis of ecologically driven divergence. Nonetheless, subspecies on the two main islands remain interconnected by substantial gene flow and their phenotypic variation is likely maintained at selection-gene flow equilibrium by divergent selection at loci associated with their color phenotypes. Greater isolation, such as inhabiting a remote island, may be required for reducing gene flow. Our findings highlight the role of the environment, adaptation, and geographic isolation on gene flow.

Strong coupling electron-photon dynamics: A real-time investigation of energy redistribution in molecular polaritons

We analyze the real-time electron-photon dynamics in long- and short-range energy transfer using a real-time quantum electrodynamics coupled cluster model, which allows for spatial and temporal visualization of transport processes. We compute the time evolution of photonic and molecular observables, such as the dipole moment and the photon coordinate, following the excitation of the system induced by short laser pulses. Our simulations show that intermolecular interactions and light-matter strong coupling lead to modified electronic polarization compared to the undressed molecules. The developed method can simulate multiple high-intensity laser pulses while explicitly retaining electronic and electron-photon correlation and is thus suited for nonlinear optics and transient absorption spectroscopies of molecular polaritons. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

PERMAINAN TRADISIONAL MADURA: DARI PERMAINAN TANJAN KE IDE AKTIVITAS SPATIAL SKILLS DALAM PEMBELAJARAN MATEMATIKA

The tanjan game is believed to be one of the cultural games in Madura. In addition to being an enjoyable game, this game also requires spatial skills, as players are able to engage with spatial images directly. This research employs a qualitative approach, with the researcher as a participant. Data were collected through observation, documentation, and a literature review on spatial skills components. The data analysis techniques used are data reduction, data display, and verification. This study has identified eleven spatial skill activities from the traditional tanjan game. These activities are in line with the spatial skill components, starting from before the game starts or when drawing tanjan to when the tanjan game takes place. In addition, this study determines the mathematical elements contained in each spatial skill activity.

Utilizing serverless framework for dynamic visualization and operations in geospatial applications

ABSTRACT While substantial efforts have been invested in the development of Discrete Global Grid Systems (DGGS) spatial operations and their potential applications in the geospatial domain, it has become evident that there is a demand for an efficient and scalable system to handle the visualization of large-scale DGGS data. This study demonstrated the potential of DGGS in conjunction with the serverless framework for dynamic visualization at various resolutions, which is based on data storage and effective querying using PostgreSQL integrated into Amazon Aurora Serverless. The use of Amazon Web Services (AWS) Lambda for on-the-fly generation of hexagon geometries significantly reduced the storage requirements and improved the speed of the visualization process. In addition, we implemented on-the-fly spatial operations including point binning, thresholding, aggregation, and neighborhood operations in the DGGS, highlighting the capabilities of DGGS in vector and raster processing. The proposed system has shown promising results in terms of efficiency, scalability, and adaptability, making it a viable solution for large-scale geospatial data processing and visualization. Case studies using flood risk data and terrain data further illustrate the system’s practical applicability in on-the-fly spatial operations and rapid visualization.

BUDAYA TELLASEN TOPAK: DARI KETUPAT KE IDE AKTIVITAS SPATIAL SKILLS DALAM PEMBELAJARAN MATEMATIKA

Tellasen topak, which is identical to ketupat, is a culture of choosing, weaving, and processing janur into a medium for ketupat food. This culture is full of spatial skills activities, because it turns two-dimensional objects into space objects (three-dimensional). The purpose of this study is to explore the idea of spatial skills activities from ketupat in mathematics learning. The research method is qualitative research. Data collection techniques are observation, documentation, and internet search. Data analysis is in the form of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion. The results concluded that in choosing, weaving, and processing janur into a medium for ketupat food, there are spatial skills activity ideas in the form of spatial visualization, spatial orientation and spatial rotation. In math learning, these ideas play a role in explaining the concepts of geometry, measurement and number. The results of this study contribute to mathematics learning, namely in developing culture-based teaching modules.

The role of active and passive music engagement in cognitive development: A systematic review

The aim of this study is to provide a systematic review of the effects of active and passive music engagement on cognitive development. Out of the 66 studies uncovered by the initial search, methods, and conclusions of 12 quantitative, 2 qualitative, and 12 review studies were analyzed. The present review shows active music engagement may improve cognitive skills in near transfer domains, such as verbal and motor skills, as well as auditory discrimination. Improvements in distant transfer domains have also been reported, such as enhanced general IQ, memory skills, numeracy and spatial skills, executive skills, and problem-solving. Benefits for affective and social skill development have also been shown for both active and passive music engagement, while passive engagement is specifically beneficial in clinical settings. However, there are studies that don’t report significant effects. Potential sources of bias are further explored, suggesting that this field may be victim to confirmation and publication bias. Method variety in measurements, sample size, and intervention length, along with the lack of methodological rigor and control groups, prevent us from concluding a direct causal relationship between music engagement and cognitive development. Implications for controlling confounding factors and identifying potential moderator mechanisms are discussed.

Spatial Orientation Assessment in the Elderly: A Comprehensive Review of Current Tests.

Spatial orientation and navigation are complex cognitive functions that integrate sensory information, attention, and memory, enabling individuals to locate themselves in their environment. These abilities decline with age, signaling cognitive impairment in neurological patients, and significantly limit the autonomy of the elderly. Current neuropsychological assessments fall short in accurately measuring everyday wayfinding abilities, particularly in borderline cases of cognitive decline. This paper reviews various neuropsychological assessments, including Benton's Judgment of Line Orientation Test, the Almeria Spatial Memory Recognition Test, the Spatial Span subtest from the Wechsler Memory Scale, and the Spatial Orientation in Immersive Virtual Environment Maze Test, evaluating their effectiveness in delineating spatial orientation and navigation skills. The review identifies significant gaps in the validity and reliability of these tests, particularly in their shortened versions, and highlights the potential of virtual reality environments as promising tools for improving diagnostic precision. The findings underscore the need for further research to refine these tools, ensuring they accurately capture cognitive decline and improve the differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease. Such advancements hold promise for enhancing the quality of care and autonomy for the elderly.

Rethinking the Smart City as an Intelligent City Archway

Urban intelligence is the ability to understand and navigate the physical and digital dimensions of “connected complex urban places”. For example, new infrastructures (e.g., sensors, Internet of Things {IoT} devices like smart lamp posts) are needed to capture and represent places in software platforms and on the Internet. New spatial skills and spatial thinking are needed to navigate these new interfaces and networks of places. This paper aims at understanding urban intelligence by exploring variations in how smart cities have been conceptualized; how citizens have been placed within the smart city; and how Canada’s smart cities initiative has placed on urban (and highly spatial) problems over digital technologies. The metaphor of the Roman arch is used to describe the interdependency of the building blocks of smart cities. Components (building blocks) of the smart city, be they openness, resilience or inclusion, must all be present, and build towards what we argue is the keystone of urban intelligence. We discuss how these components lead to a new consideration of the smart city, the Intelligent City.

Validation of the Pediatric Spatial Hearing Questionnaire.

Spatial hearing is necessary for adequate sound awareness and speech perception abilities; however, research indicates that children have difficulties on these spatial hearing tasks that affect functioning in their daily environment. The purpose of this study was to validate a pediatric version of the Spatial Hearing Questionnaire (P-SHQ) for determining binaural hearing benefits and spatial hearing ability in children. We recruited parents and guardians of 68 children ages kindergarten through eighth grade to participate. Parents completed the P-SHQ, the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale-Parent version, and a demographic questionnaire. To determine the factor structure of the P-SHQ, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis and reliability was assessed by calculating correlation coefficients. Three factors emerged during factor analysis: Factor 1 = sound localization, Factor 2 = speech-in-noise perception, and Factor 3 = speech perception in quiet. The P-SHQ has good internal consistency reliability (α = .97), and high item-total correlations were found. The correlation between scores from the P-SHQ questionnaire and the SSQ-Spatial subscale questionnaire provides evidence for the construct validity of the P-SHQ. The P-SHQ is a reliable and valid questionnaire to assess spatial hearing ability in children. This quick-to-administer tool can be incorporated into audiological care to determine the spatial hearing skills of a child and assist in counseling, making it a valuable assessment for hearing health care professionals.

Using Household Dietary Diversity Score and Spatial Analysis to Inform Food Governance in Chile.

This study explores how the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) and spatial visualization can inform food governance in Chile, focusing on socio-demographic and geographical determinants affecting food consumption patterns. A national household database (n = 4047), including households from 2019 (n = 3967; 98.02%) and 2020 (n = 80; 1.98%), provided by the "Family Support Program of Food Self-Sufficiency" (FSPFS) of the Ministry of Social Development and Family, was analyzed. The findings revealed that Chilean vulnerable households were led mostly by women (86.6%), with an age average of 55.9 ± 15.6 years old, versus 68.9 ± 12.9 years in the case of men. The intake frequency analysis showed that dairy, fruits, and vegetables were below the recommended values in at least half of the households, and that fats and sugars were above recommended levels. Regarding the HDDS (0-189), the national average was 91.4 ± 20.6 and was significantly influenced by the number of minors in the households, water access, food access issues, and residing in the Zona Sur. Finally, the spatial visualization showed that the Zona Central had higher consumption of fruits and vegetables, while the extreme zones Norte Grande and Zona Austral showed higher intakes of fats and sugars. These findings emphasize the importance of leveraging data insights like the HDDS and spatial visualization to enhance food security and inform food governance strategies.

Effectiveness of a minecraft education intervention for improving spatial thinking in primary school children: A mixed methods two-level cluster randomised trial

BackgroundSpatial thinking plays a crucial role in STEM success. Minecraft Education, a digital game-based learning platform, provides opportunities for developing students’ spatial thinking while supporting curricular content. AimThis study evaluated the effectiveness of a Minecraft Education intervention, integrated into the curriculum, in improving spatial thinking and creativity. SampleFifth and sixth year primary school students (Mage = 11.53, SDage = 0.58) and their teachers. MethodsThe study used a mixed-methods, two-level cluster randomised-controlled trial design. Thirty-two classes (N = 885 students) were randomly assigned to the intervention or education-as-usual control group. Assessments of spatial thinking and creativity were completed at pre-test, post-test and 6-week follow up. Teacher interviews were conducted to understand their experiences of the intervention. ResultsWhile no overall intervention-related improvements in spatial thinking were found, subgroup analyses revealed that 5th year demonstrated improved spatial thinking compared to 6th year at post-test. This may be attributable to 5th year students’ higher levels of engagement in the intervention. Unexpectedly, creativity scores were higher in the control group at post-test. Qualitative interviews identified four themes: 1) Improving spatial thinking, 2) Improving creativity, 3) Engagement, and 4) Difficulties implementing the programme. ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of increasing student engagement in spatial interventions to improve their spatial skills. Finally, the study suggests that sustained practice is required to maintain the benefits of spatial instruction/training.

Unreliable association between self-reported sense of direction and peripheral vestibular function.

Uni- or bilateral peripheralvestibular impairment causes objective spatial orientation deficits, which can be measured using pen-and-paper-tests or sensorimotor tasks (navigation or pointing). For patients' subjective orientation abilities, questionnaires are commonly used (e.g., Santa Barbara sense of direction scale [SBSODS]). However, the relationship between subjective assessment of spatial skills and objective vestibular function has only been scarcely investigated. A total of 177 patients (mean age 57.86±17.53 years, 90 females) who presented in our tertiary Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders underwent neuro-otological examinations, including bithermal water calorics, video head impulse test (vHIT), and testing of the subjective visual vertical (SVV), and filled out the SBSODS (German version). Correlation analyses and linear multiple regression model analyses were performed between vestibular test results and self-assessment scores. Additionally, groupwise vestibular function for patients with low, average, and high self-report scores was analyzed. Forty-two patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for bilateral vestibulopathy, 93 for chronic unilateral vestibulopathy (68 unilateral caloric hypofunction and 25 isolated horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex deficits), and 42 patients had normal vestibular test results. SBSODS scores showed clear sex differences with higher subjective skill levels in males (mean score males: 4.94±0.99, females 4.40±0.94; Student's t-test: t-3.78, p<.001***). No stable correlation between objective vestibular function and subjective sense of spatial orientation was found. A multiple linear regression model could not reliably explain the self-reported variance. The three patient groups with low, average, and high self-assessment-scores showed no significant differences of vestibular function. Self-reported assessment of spatial orientation does not robustly correlate with objective peripheral vestibular function. Therefore, other methods of measuring spatial skills in real-world and virtual environments are required to disclose orientation deficits due to vestibular hypofunction.

Using BioRender for Active Learning: Exploring Learning-Style Preference and Visual-Spatial Ability in Undergraduate Students.

Visual-spatial reasoning has been considered a predictor of performance success in STEM courses, including engineering, chemistry, biology, and mathematics. Little is known, however, about whether visual-spatial ability predicts success for non-STEM students in general education neuroscience courses. In the following study, we investigate how scores on tests of visual-spatial object rotation relate to student performance on illustrative and content exams in a large non-major undergraduate neuropharmacology course. To help students understand content visually, the course provided students with homework assignments that allowed them to create illustrations of lecture content using the online scientific illustration software, BioRender. Findings suggest that percent completion of BioRender assignments was a greater predictor of student performance than tests of innate visual-spatial ability. In addition, we show that visual learning style preference was not correlated with visual-spatial ability, as measured by the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test-Visualization of Rotations. Neither did learning style preference predict student success. The following paper suggests practice illustrating neuroscience concepts, or perhaps content practice in general, had a greater impact on student learning independent of learning style preference or innate visual-spatial ability.

Application and Development of Firefighting Technologies in Industrial Heritage: Experiences and Insights from Macau

Due to the irreversible nature of the consequences of fire, fire protection is a major challenge and source of problems for all types of built heritage. This study aims to establish sustainable fire protection technology strategies by generalizing fire prevention and control technologies and measures against extended burns. This study aims to explore Macau’s industrial heritage’s historical development and technological applications in the field of fire protection using literature analysis, field investigation, and spatial information visualization methods. It will be carried out using the industrial heritage of Macau as the object and systematic analyses from the screening and processing of fire protection historical data, fire risk assessment, and the migration of fire protection focus. The results show that (1) the fire protection of the industrial heritage of Macau has gone through a total of three phases: passive fire protection, transition of fire protection methods, and active fire protection, and the relied-upon fire protection technologies have been iterated and renewed continuously during this period. (2) When the fire load factors of industrial heritage increase, the fire vulnerability assessment substantially changes, and the center of gravity of heritage fire protection shifts from controlling the scope of disaster to reducing the fire risk. (3) The construction of a suitable and effective ecological model of fire protection technology can provide appropriate fire protection solutions for the preservation and reuse of Macau’s industrial heritage in a complex cultural context. Therefore, this study will help to solve the current dilemma of sustainable application and development of fire protection technology for industrial heritage. This study hopes to provide ideas and strategies for reference on industrial heritage fire protection issues in the development of similar world heritage cities.

Evaluating 3D Apparel Simulation Technology's Performance of Creative Pattern-Cutting Techniques with the Assist of ASVT

Three-dimensional (3D) simulation technologies have experienced a significant rise in popularity in the fashion industry. Analyzing the efficacy of such technologies aids in pinpointing areas that require enhancement. While previous studies mostly focused on evaluating the fit and appearance of 3D simulation technologies with simple clothing styles, this research aims to assess the effectiveness of 3D fashion simulation software in producing digital designs that include creative pattern-cutting techniques known for their intricate structures and design complexities. Four designs were chosen to exemplify different design characteristics, and 95 people were recruited to assess the effectiveness of two cuttingedge 3D fashion simulation programs. Furthermore, the researchers utilized the apparel spatial visualization tests (ASVT) to examine whether the participants’ spatial visualizing aptitude would impact their assessment outcomes. The findings offer suggestions for enhancing the existing 3D simulation technology and provide instructions for the assessment procedure.

The Effects of Augmented Reality Geometry Learning Applications on Spatial Visualization Ability for Primary School Pupils

Geometry is considered a fundamental component to be mastered in the elementary school mathematics curriculum. Lower primary school pupils frequently experience obstacles because of the abstract nature of geometric concepts and the requirement for spatial visualization skills, which are necessary for strengthening their conceptual understanding. Augmented reality (AR) technology offers a promising solution by providing visual representations of geometric shapes. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of AR technology in primary school education on pupils’ spatial visualization abilities in geometry. Employing a quasiexperimental pre- and post-test research design, this study involved 61 second-grade pupils from two Northern Malaysian primary schools. The selection of schools followed cluster sampling techniques, while intact groups were utilized to select samples. Data were collected from two groups: an experimental group that utilized the LearnGeoAR applications and a control group that employed conventional teaching methods to learn geometric shapes. This study used the spatial visualization ability test (SVAT) instrument, grounded in Van Hiele’s theory of geometric thinking. The findings revealed that the experimental group, which utilized AR applications, exhibited a higher mean score in pupils’ spatial visualization ability in geometry compared to the control group. Additionally, the experiment demonstrated a moderate effect on both groups. This finding highlights the potential of AR technology in enhancing pupils’ spatial visualization skills in geometry instruction, providing valuable insights for instructional methodologies.