Literature Based Species Occurrence Data of Birds of Northeast India
ZooKeys, 150 (2011), Special issue: 407-417, e-Infrastructures for Data Publishing in Biodiversity Science
Sujit Narwade, Mohit Kalra, Rajkumar Jagdish, Divya Varier, Sagar Satpute, Noor Khan, Gautam Talukdar, Vinod Mathur, Karthikeyan Vasudevan, Dinesh Singh Pundir, Vishwas Chavan, and Rajesh Sood
“The northeast region of India is one of the world’s most significant biodiversity hotspots. One of the richest bird areas in India, it is an important route for migratory birds and home to many endemic bird species. This paper describes a literature-based dataset of species occurrences of birds of northeast India. The occurrence records documented in the dataset are distributed across eleven provinces of India, viz.: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The geospatial scope of the dataset represents 24 to 29 degree North latitude and 78 to 94 degree East longitude, and it comprises over 2400 occurrence records. These records have been collated from scholarly literature published between1915 and 2008, especially from the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society (JBNHS). The temporal scale of the dataset represents bird observations recorded between 1909 and 2007. The dataset has been developed by employing MS Excel. The key elements in the database are scientific name, taxonomic classification, temporal and geospatial details including geo-coordinate precision, data collector, basis of record and primary source of the data record. The temporal and geospatial quality of more than 50% of the data records has been enhanced retrospectively. Where possible, data records are annotated with geospatial coordinate precision to the nearest minute. This dataset is being constantly updated with the addition of new data records, and quality enhancement of documented occurrences. The dataset can be used in species distribution and niche modeling studies. It is planned to expand the scope of the dataset to collate bird species occurrences across the Indian peninsula.”
Spatial Analysis Methodology for the Relocation of MFB Fire Stations
Proceedings of the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Conference 2011 (SSSC2011), 21-25 November 2011, Wellington, New Zealand
Holly Voller and Trent Curtin
“In order to maintain fit-for-purpose fire stations in Melbourne, the MFB is often forced to relocate fire stations. However, the identification of suitable land in a built-up metropolitan area remains difficult. This increases the likelihood that the MFB will be required to compulsorily acquire land and defend the chosen location in a court of law. A recent fire station relocation demonstrated the need for a methodology that was conceptually and technically robust, transparent and reproducible in order to withstand an increased level of scrutiny.
“Using spatial information technologies, data from AIRS (Australasian Incident Reporting System) and, for the first time, data from the MITM (Melbourne Integrated Transport Model), the MFB has developed a new methodology to support the identification of an ideal geographical area for the relocation of fire stations.
Area of Optimal Performance and Deciles within the Bounding Area
“The methodology comprises two discrete phases, which together narrow the search for potential land candidates. These results provide decision makers with robust information that can be used to ensure that the relocation is optimal for meeting response time benchmarks and provides a sound evidential basis for which site selection and land acquisition can be based. This presentation will detail the newly developed methodology and its underpinning rationale using a recent relocation as a case study.”
- Read the paper [PDF]
Culture and Commerce of Chennai City – A Spatial Analysis of the Relationship between Temples and Retail Activity
Proceedings: Eighth International Space Syntax Symposium, Santiago de Chile, 2012
Sucharita SRIRANGAM and W. FORSYTH
“Chennai, South India, is a city in which historicity and modernity are evident, both culturally and physically. It is a typical example of an Indian city which has many Hindu temples in its urban landscape. Each temple has a variety of commercial activity around it, often in the form of retail activity.
Spatial evaluation of the temple locations: space syntax study.
“This paper explores the spatial context of these varied functional patterns and whether they have any significance. The empirical case‐studies examine the contemporary spatial context of 36 temples and establish how these exemplify the relationship between the temples and retail activity. The study uses Space Syntax analysis, land‐use descriptions and figure‐ground studies, at city and district levels. In conclusion, it presents five spatial typologies, a set of principles that illustrate the spatial relationships between the temples and retail activity. It becomes evident that there is a significant relationship between the historical evolution of the temple locations and the retail land use which occurs and therefore the spatial typologies which are found.”
- Read the paper [PDF]
Geographic Information System and Tools of Spatial Analysis in a Pneumococcal Vaccine Trial
BMC Research Notes, Vol. 5, January 2012
Antti Tanskanen, Leilani T Nillos, Antti Lehtinen, Hanna Nohynek, Diozele Hazel M Sanvictores, Eric A F Simoes, Veronica L Tallo, Marilla G Lucero, and Arivac Consortium
“Background: The goal of this Geographic Information System (GIS) study was to obtain accurate information on the locations of study subjects, road network and services for research purposes so that the clinical outcomes of interest (e.g., vaccine efficacy, burden of disease, nasopharyngeal colonization and its reduction) could be linked and analyzed at a distance from health centers, hospitals, doctors and other important services. The information on locations can be used to investigate more accurate crowdedness, herd immunity and/or transmission patterns.
Distribution of the landmarks and road network in the study area Background map: www.openstreetmap.org
“Method: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of an 11-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (11PCV) was conducted in Bohol Province in central Philippines, from July 2000 to December 2004. We collected the information on the geographic location of the households (N = 13,208) of study subjects. We also collected a total of 1982 locations of health and other services in the six municipalities and a comprehensive GIS data over the road network in the area.
“Results: We calculated the numbers of other study subjects (vaccine and placebo recipients, respectively) within the neighborhood of each study subject. We calculated distances to different services and identified the subjects sharing the same services (calculated by distance). This article shows how to collect a complete GIS data set for human to human transmitted vaccine study in developing country settings in an efficient and economical way.
“Conclusions: The collection of geographic locations in intervention trials should become a routine task. The results of public health research may highly depend on spatial relationships among the study subjects and between the study subjects and the environment, both natural and infrastructural.”
- Read the paper [PDF]
UAV-based Sensor Web Monitoring System
International Journal of Navigation and Observation, In Press, 2012
Masahiko Nagai, Apichon Witayangkurn, Kiyoshi Honda, and Ryosuke Shibasaki
“UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)-based monitoring system is developed as an intermediate system between aerial survey and ground survey. All the measurement tools are mounted on the UAV to acquire detailed information from low altitudes which is different from a satellite or a plane. The monitoring is carried out from the sky, but the spatial and temporal resolutions are freely selected near the ground. In this study, the data is easily acquired with safety and mobility by the utilization of a Sensor Web. A Sensor Web is a type of sensor network which is well suited for environmental monitoring. Sensor nodes are spatially distributed and wirelessly communicate with each other. In this study, the UAV-based system is considered as a mobile sensor node. This study proposes a combination of UAV-based monitoring with a ubiquitous sensor network.”
System Architecture
- Read the paper [PDF]
Climate Change and American Bullfrog Invasion: What Could We Expect in South America?
PLoS ONE 6(10), Published 03 October 2011
Javier Nori, J. Nicolás Urbina-Cardona, Rafael D. Loyola, Julián N. Lescano, and Gerardo C. Leynaud
“Background: Biological invasion and climate change pose challenges to biodiversity conservation in the 21st century. Invasive species modify ecosystem structure and functioning and climatic changes are likely to produce invasive species’ range shifts pushing some populations into protected areas. The American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is one of the hundred worst invasive species in the world. Native from the southeast of USA, it has colonized more than 75% of South America where it has been reported as a highly effective predator, competitor and vector of amphibian diseases.
“Methodology/Principal Findings: We modeled the potential distribution of the bullfrog in its native range based on different climate models and green-house gases emission scenarios, and projected the results onto South America for the years of 2050 and 2080. We also overlaid projected models onto the South American network of protected areas. Our results indicate a slight decrease in potential suitable area for bullfrog invasion, although protected areas will become more climatically suitable. Therefore, invasion of these sites is forecasted.
Comparison between results of projections at present and 2080.
“Conclusion/Significance: We provide new evidence supporting the vulnerability of the Atlantic Forest Biodiversity Hotspot to bullfrog invasion and call attention to optimal future climatic conditions of the Andean-Patagonian forest, eastern Paraguay, and northwestern Bolivia, where invasive populations have not been found yet. We recommend several management and policy strategies to control bullfrog invasion and argue that these would be possible if based on appropriate articulation among government agencies, NGOs, research institutions and civil society.”
Abstracts Sought for GIS-Pro 2012: URISA’s 50th Annual Conference for GIS Professionals
URISA is pleased to announce its milestone 50th year of fostering education and professional connections at its annual conference. GIS-Pro 2012: URISA’s 50th Annual Conference for GIS Professionals will take place September 30 to October 4, 2012 in Portland, Oregon.
The committee welcomes the submission of individual papers, complete sessions, luncheon presentations, panels, and lightning talks and has proposed a list of suggested topics for consideration (note that all abstracts received will be reviewed and considered for the conference program regardless of the list below):
Data and Applications of GIS
- Data storage: cloud or in-house; new methods for compression; data de-duplication
- Basemap updating/maintenance
- Maps in the Cloud
- Transportation & Transit (planning/mapping/management)
- Addressing
- Map communication: how to not make the “normal” mistakes
Technical
- Open Source
- Architecture
- Server Technology/Cloud Computing
- Leveraging the Tablet Explosion
- Mobile Applications
Leadership and Management
- GISP Certification
- Esri ArcGIS Certification
- Education: how to cope with reduction in budgets and still keep your people on top of the fast-paced changes
User and Business User
- GIS Return on Investment (ROI)
- Business process reengineering
- GIS in the First Nations /Tribal Agencies
- Reflections on the Past 50 years of URISA
- GIS in the Social Sciences
- “New” Uses for GIS
- Geospatial Future
- GIS in the Pacific Northwest
Abstract submissions will be accepted until Friday, February 17, 2012. Abstract submissions should include a presentation title and descriptive abstract text not to exceed 250 words.
URISA is pleased to welcome the Northwest GIS Users’ Group as co-host of GIS-Pro 2012.
The link to the Call for Presentations and general conference information is: http://www.urisa.org/gispro2012
[Source: URISA press release]
International Journal of Remote Sensing, Vol. 33, No. 4, 20 Feb 2012
Enton Bedini
“The Malmbjerg molybdenum deposit in central East Greenland is a world-class porphyry molybdenum deposit. The porphyry molybdenum deposit occurs within a granite stock intruded into sedimentary rocks. The Malmbjerg molybdenum deposit is associated with a pronounced zone of hydrothermal alteration. The reflectance spectra of rock samples from the Malmbjerg alteration assemblage show absorption features of a number of minerals including topaz, jarosite, goethite, muscovite, phengite, epidote, chlorite and smectite. This study investigated the Malmbjerg alteration assemblage using airborne imaging spectrometer data recorded by the HyMap imaging system. The HyMap data were analysed using an unsupervised classification based on Kohonen self-organizing maps and partial spectral unmixing based on the matched filter algorithm. The mapping results show the spatial distribution of jarosite, goethite, phengite, epidote/chlorite, smectite, topaz and non-altered sediments. The remote-sensing mapping results bring new information for the alteration assemblage at Malmbjerg, especially for the occurrence and the spatial distribution of a phengite zone in the altered sediments overlying the molybdenum deposit and for the propylitic alteration zone. The study is an example of detailed characterization by imaging spectrometry of alteration assemblages associated with porphyry molybdenum deposits. This research also shows the potential of imaging spectrometry as a tool for geological mapping and exploration in the Arctic regions of East Greenland.”
International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, Volume 11, Issue 1, 2012
Hokey Min
“With malaria emerging as one of the deadliest infectious diseases for young children and women in Sub-Saharan African countries, a growing number of healthcare organisations and government authorities have increased their relentless efforts to control malaria epidemics in Africa. One of the causes for malaria epidemics is the lack of accessibility to anti-malarial drugs that results from archaic logistics infrastructure, inefficient distribution channels and disruptive black markets in Africa. This paper identifies factors that either enhance or hinder the accessibility of anti-malarial drugs to African population sectors vulnerable to malaria epidemics. In addition, it develops a comprehensive supply chain map that reveals the labyrinths of the African logistics infrastructure, distribution channels, government regulations and business customs. Based on this supply chain map, this paper proposes various supply chain strategies that improve the access of anti-malarial drugs and reduce the possibility of drug supply chain disruptions.”
Estimation of Epidemic Model Parameters: A Spatial Analysis using Bayesian Techniques
Dissertaion, Doctor of Philosophy, Biostatistics, Emory University, 2011
Jeffrey M. Switchenko
“Infectious disease models attempt to evaluate the effects on the spread and transmission of disease. One particular model, the susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) model, places individuals into classes of disease progression, where a series of differential equations tracks the rates of transmission and recovery for a given disease through a susceptible population. Two parameters, the transmission parameter and the recovery parameter, drive the dynamics of the model, and their ratio, R0, is the average number of cases caused by one infectious individual within a completely susceptible population. R0 is seen as one of the most important quantities in the study of epidemics, and signals how quickly a particular disease can spread amongst a susceptible population. Previous analyses have focused primarily on tracking these epidemic disease parameters over time, and classifying individuals due to baseline differences which reflect heterogeneity within the population. For example, these differences can be based on age, gender, vaccination status, or behavior.
Estimates for R0 across Baltimore using the following set of xed R0 values: f1:0; 1:1; 1:2g, f1:3; 1:4; 1:5g, f1:6; 1:7; 1:8g, f1:9; 2:0; 2:1g
“However, we choose to quantify the spatial heterogeneity that exists in spatially-referenced data in an effort to define core areas of disease rates and transmission. We first consider geographically weighted regression (GWR) models in an effort to assess the spatial variability that exists between disease rates and baseline tract- level characteristics which can define core disease areas. Next, we build hierarchical Bayesian models which incorporate random effects structures, inducing correlation in local estimates of disease transmission with exchangeable random effects, which smooth local estimates based on global averages, and conditionally autoregressive (CAR) random effects, which smooth local estimates based on neighboring estimates. We extend a chain binomial model to predict the spread of disease, while considering two different parameterizations of the chain binomial model, and simulate outbreaks to assess model performance. In addition, we extend a general epidemic model, which incorporates aspects of frailty models in assessing heterogeneity within the population. Through our modeling approaches, we are able to identify cores areas for the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Baltimore, Maryland from 2002-05.”
- Read the dissertation [PDF]
