Auralie Shapiro, Remote Sensing Specialist in the Conservation Science Program, talks about how GIS and remote sensing are used to study land use change, migration patterns, and natural threats to species to facilitate conservation efforts.
Archive for October, 2009
Podcast: GIS and Remote Sensing for Wildlife Conservation
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Imagery on October 30, 2009 at 12:51 pmLessons from Oil Industry May Help Address Groundwater Crisis
In Environmental Science, Geography, Spatial Analysis on October 30, 2009 at 10:10 am
Declining groundwater in Mississippi has prompted a $1 billion lawsuit against Memphis.
Although declining streamflows and half-full reservoirs have gotten most of the attention in water conflicts around the United States, some of the worst battles of the next century may be over groundwater, experts say – a critical resource often taken for granted until it begins to run out.
Aquifers are being depleted much faster than they are being replenished in many places, wells are drying up, massive lawsuits are already erupting and the problems have barely begun. Aquifers that took thousands of years to fill are being drained in decades, placing both agricultural and urban uses in peril. Groundwater that supplies drinking water for half the world’s population is now in jeopardy.
A new analysis by researchers at Oregon State University outlines the scope of this problem, but also points out that some tools may be available to help address it, in part by borrowing heavily from lessons learned the hard way by the oil industry.
“It’s been said that groundwater is the oil of this century,” said Todd Jarvis, associate director of the Institute for Water and Watersheds at OSU. “Part of the issue is it’s running out, meaning we’re now facing ‘peak water’ just the way the U.S. encountered ‘peak oil’ production in the 1970s. But there are also some techniques developed by the oil industry to help manage this crisis, and we could learn a lot from them.”
Jarvis just presented an outline of some of these concepts, called “unitization,” at a professional conference in Kyoto, Japan, and will also explore them in upcoming conference in Stevenson, Wash., and Xi’an, China. Other aspects of the issue have been analyzed in a new documentary film on the special problems facing the Umatilla Basin of eastern Oregon, a classic case of declining groundwater problems. (DVD copies of the documentary are available free upon request, by calling 541-737-4032.)
The problems are anything but simple, Jarvis said, and are just now starting to get the attention needed.
“In the northern half of Oregon from Pendleton to the Willamette Valley, an aquifer that took 20,000 years to fill is going down fast,” Jarvis said. “Some places near Hermiston have seen water levels drop as much as 500 feet in the past 50-60 years, one of the largest and fastest declines in the world.
“I know of a well in Utah that lost its original capacity after a couple years,” he said. “In Idaho people drawing groundwater are being ordered to work with other holders of stream water rights as the streams begin to dwindle. Mississippi has filed a $1-billion lawsuit against the City of Memphis because of declining groundwater. You’re seeing land subsiding from Houston to the Imperial Valley of California. This issue is real and getting worse.”
In the process, Jarvis said, underground aquifers can be irrevocably damaged – not unlike what happened to oil reservoirs when that industry pumped them too rapidly. Tiny fractures in rock that can store water sometimes collapse when it’s rapidly withdrawn, and then even if the aquifer had water to recharge it, there’s no place for it to go.
“The unitization concept the oil industry developed is built around people unifying their rights and their goals, and working cooperatively to make a resource last as long as possible and not damaging it,” Jarvis said. “That’s similar to what we could do with groundwater, although it takes foresight and cooperation.”
Water laws, Jarvis said, are often part of the problem instead of the solution. A “rule of capture” that dates to Roman times often gives people the right to pump and use anything beneath their land, whether it’s oil or water. That’s somewhat addressed by the “first in time, first in right” concept that forms the basis of most water law in the West, but proving that someone’s well many miles away interferes with your aquifer or stream flow is often difficult or impossible. And there are 14 million wells just in the United States, tapping aquifers that routinely cross state and even national boundaries.
Regardless of what else takes place, Jarvis said, groundwater users must embrace one concept the oil industry learned years ago – the “race to the pump” serves no one’s best interest, whether the concern is depleted resources, rising costs of pumping or damaged aquifers.
One possible way out of the conundrum, experts say, is maximizing the economic value of the water and using it for its highest value purpose. But even that will take new perspectives and levels of cooperation that have not often been evident in these disputes. Government mandates may be necessary if some of the “unitization” concepts are to be implemented. Existing boundaries may need to be blurred, and ways to share the value of the remaining water identified.
“Like we did with peak oil, everyone knows were running out, and yet we’re just now getting more commitment to alternative energy sources,” Jarvis said. “Soon we’ll be facing peak water, the only thing to really argue over is the date when that happens. So we will need new solutions, one way or the other.”
[Source: Oregon State University news release]
Interactions with Aerosols Boost Warming Potential of Some Gases
In Climate Change, Environmental Science on October 30, 2009 at 10:02 am…from NASA…
This map shows the distribution of methane at the surface. New research shows that methane has an elevated warming effect due to its interactions with other substances in the atmosphere. Credit: NASA/Goddard
“For decades, climate scientists have worked to identify and measure key substances — notably greenhouse gases and aerosol particles — that affect Earth’s climate. And they’ve been aided by ever more sophisticated computer models that make estimating the relative impact of each type of pollutant more reliable.
“Yet the complexity of nature — and the models used to quantify it — continues to serve up surprises. The most recent? Certain gases that cause warming are so closely linked with the production of aerosols that the emissions of one type of pollutant can indirectly affect the quantity of the other. And for two key gases that cause warming, these so-called “gas-aerosol interactions” can amplify their impact.
““We’ve known for years that methane and carbon monoxide have a warming effect,” said Drew Shindell, a climate scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York and lead author of a study published this week in Science. “But our new findings suggest these gases have a significantly more powerful warming impact than previously thought.””
Environmental Informatics Liaison Officer, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Oxfordshire
In Environmental Science, GIS on October 30, 2009 at 9:53 am
“The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), is the UK’s Centre of Excellence for research in the terrestrial and freshwater environmental sciences. Its science is delivered through three interdependent science programmes – Biodiversity, Water and Biogeochemistry – with an integrated framework for data management provided by the newly established Environmental Information Data Centre (EIDC).
“An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Informatics Liaison Officer (ILO) based at Wallingford, to play a key role in the management and integration of data collections across CEH in collaboration with the ILO network across the organisation. This will help CEH to deliver national capability in the environmental sciences in order to underpin the NERC research themes and to meet the challenges set out in the current CEH Science Strategy, Integrated Science for our Changing World.”
GIS Specialist Position at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
In Education, Environmental Science, GIS on October 30, 2009 at 9:50 am
Geographic Information Science (GIS) Specialist, Research Associate I, Biological and Environmental Sciences
This position coordinates the application and implementation of GIS principles and technology in a variety of research projects in the Environmental Research and Mapping Facility at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). Responsibilities include:
- Maintaining the Southeastern Watershed Forum data server and provides limited support for their efforts.
- Advancing the progress of the Herbarium Web Server
- Working toward the development of a City of Chattanooga greenprinting website to share information with policy and decisions makers.
- Launching the Herbarium Web Server – write scripts and add Boolean descriptors toward ability to multiquery data, create “cookie” like maps of common queries to speed web server queries for users or develop a script to accomplish this same goal, add corrected GBIF data to database so that a large database can be queried, and launch web server to complete the proof the concept that the large biological datasets can be hosted and searched within a GIS framework (possibly linking this with the SEWF portal).
- Generate a Green Infrastructure and Sustainability Model for the greater Chattanooga Metropolitan Area with a discussion board to generate communication and networking among greenprinting players.
- May require travel to further UTC/NBII relationships and promote work being done at UTC.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- B. S. in Computer related technology or science; or B. S. in Biological or Environmental Science; or B. S. in Business Management or Finance.
- Experience in Information Technology and Computer programming, Business and Scheduling, Web Design, Spatial Sciences (Remote Sensing, GIS, GPS)
- Demonstrated ability to combine GIS (e.g. Arc) with Computer Programming (e.g. Java scripting, Python, Visual Basic), web design/maintenance/monitoring, and remote sensing (e.g. Lecia photogrammetry suite, Erdas-imagine, AUTO-sync) and GPS (e.g. Trimble GPS suite and Arc Pad) technologies.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills.
Send cover letter, application, resume, transcript of the last degree awarded, along with names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three professional references to: UTC Office of Human Resources, Dept 3603, 615 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37403.
To obtain application click here: http://www.utc.edu/Administration/HumanResources/Forms/documents/JobApplication_000.pdf [PDF]
Exploring Geographic Data Using Cartograms
In ESRI, GIS, Geography on October 30, 2009 at 8:22 amNew blog post from the GIS Education Community: Exploring Data Using Cartograms within ArcGIS Desktop at the County and State Scale.
Interactive Map of Swine Flu Cases in the United States
In ESRI, GIS, Geography, Social Science on October 30, 2009 at 8:02 am
Climate Models Confirm More Moisture in Atmosphere Attributed to Humans
In Climate Change, Modeling, Science on October 30, 2009 at 7:28 amWhen it comes to using climate models to assess the causes of the increased amount of moisture in the atmosphere, it doesn’t much matter if one model is better than the other.
They all come to the same conclusion: Humans are warming the planet, and this warming is increasing the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere.
In new research appearing in the Aug. 10 online issue of the Proceedings of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists and a group of international researchers found that model quality does not affect the ability to identify human effects on atmospheric water vapor.
 Total amount of atmospheric water vapor over the oceans on July 4, 2009. These results are from operational weather forecasts of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF). |
“Climate model quality didn’t make much of a difference,” said Benjamin Santer, lead author from LLNL’s Program for Climate Modeling and Intercomparison. “Even with the computer models that performed relatively poorly, we could still identify a human effect on climate. It was a bit surprising. The physics that drive changes in water vapor are very simple and are reasonably well portrayed in all climate models, bad or good.”
The atmosphere’s water vapor content has increased by about 0.4 kilograms per square meter per decade since 1988, and natural variability alone can’t explain this moisture change, according to Santer. “The most plausible explanation is that it’s due to human-caused increases in greenhouse gases,” he said.
More water vapor – which is itself a greenhouse gas – amplifies the warming effect of increased atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide.
Previous LLNL research had shown that human-induced warming of the planet has a pronounced effect on the atmosphere’s total moisture content. In that study, the researchers had used 22 different computer models to identify a human “fingerprint” pattern in satellite measurements of water vapor changes. Each model contributed equally in the fingerprint analysis. “It was a true model democracy,” Santer said. “One model, one vote.”
But in the recent study, the scientists first took each model and tested it individually, calculating 70 different measures of model performance. These “metrics” provided insights into how well the models simulated today’s average climate and its seasonal changes, as well as on the size and geographical patterns of climate variability.
This information was used to divide the original 22 models into various sets of “top ten” and “bottom ten” models. “When we tried to come up with a David Letterman type ‘top ten’ list of models,” Santer said, “we found that it’s extremely difficult to do this in practice, because each model has its own individual strengths and weaknesses.”
Then the group repeated their fingerprint analysis, but now using only “top ten” or “bottom ten” models rather than the full 22 models. They did this more than 100 times, grading and ranking the models in many different ways. In every case, a water vapor fingerprint arising from human influences could be clearly identified in the satellite data.
“One criticism of our first study was that we were only able to find a human fingerprint because we included inferior models in our analysis,” said Karl Taylor, another LLNL co-author. “We’ve now shown that whether we use the best or the worst models, they don’t have much impact on our ability to identify a human effect on water vapor.”
This new study links LLNL’s “fingerprint” research with its long-standing work in assessing climate model quality. It tackles the general question of how to make best use of the information from a large collection of models, which often perform very differently in reproducing key aspects of present-day climate. This question is not only relevant for “fingerprint” studies of the causes of recent climate change. It is also important because different climate models show different levels of future warming. Scientists and policymakers are now asking whether we should use model quality information to weight these different model projections of future climate change.
“The issue of how we are going to deal with models of very different quality will probably become much more important in the next few years, when we look at the wide range of models that are going to be used in the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,” Santer said.
Other LLNL researchers include Karl Taylor, Peter Gleckler, Celine Bonfils, and Steve Klein. Other scientists contributing to the report include Tim Barnett and David Pierce from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography; Tom Wigley of the National Center for Atmospheric Research; Carl Mears and Frank Wentz of Remote Sensing Systems; Wolfgang Brüggemann of the Universität Hamburg; Nathan Gillett of the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis; Susan Solomon of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Peter Stott of the Hadley Centre; and Mike Wehner of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a national security laboratory, with a mission to ensure national security and apply science and technology to the important issues of our time. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.
[Source: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory news release]
Web GIS in Practice VII: Stereoscopic 3-D Solutions for Online Maps and Virtual Globes
In GIS on October 30, 2009 at 6:19 am
International Journal of Health Geographics 2009, 8:59
Maged N. Kamel Boulos, Larry R. Robinson
Because our pupils are about 6.5 cm apart, each eye views a scene from a different angle and sends a unique image to the visual cortex, which then merges the images from both eyes into a single picture. The slight difference between the right and left images allows the brain to properly perceive the ‘third dimension’ or depth in a scene (stereopsis). However, when a person views a conventional 2-D (two-dimensional) image representation of a 3-D (three-dimensional) scene on a conventional computer screen, each eye receives essentially the same information. Depth in such cases can only be approximately inferred from visual clues in the image, such as perspective, as only one image is offered to both eyes. The goal of stereoscopic 3-D displays is to project a slightly different image into each eye to achieve a much truer and realistic perception of depth, of different scene planes, and of object relief. This paper presents a brief review of a number of stereoscopic 3-D hardware and software solutions for creating and displaying online maps and virtual globes (such as Google Earth) in “true 3D”, with costs ranging from almost free to multi-thousand pounds sterling. A practical account is also given of the experience of the USGS BRD UMESC (United States Geological Survey’s Biological Resources Division, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center) in setting up a low-cost, full-colour stereoscopic 3-D system.
- Read the article [PDF]
Quote of the Day
In Design, GIS, Geography, Quotes on October 30, 2009 at 6:19 am“Using geography to better design our world transcends fields, specialties, countries, and cultures.”
–Jack Dangermond
Map of the Day: Tulsa Existing Commuter Shed Statistics
In ESRI, GIS, Map of the Day, Statistics on October 30, 2009 at 6:19 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“In analyzing the potential for passenger rail service, INCOG, the metropolitan planning organization for the Tulsa region, compiled data regarding commuter patterns and employment. This map shows the number of employed residents within suburban communities (3-mile radius) and potential Transit Oriented Development (1-mile radius) “selection areas” along existing rail corridors with potential as high-capacity transit lines. In addition, this map illustrates the number of commuters residing within the selection areas who commute to the Central Business District.
“Courtesy of INCOG.”
Quote of the Day
In Quotes, Science on October 29, 2009 at 11:49 am“It’s always been the goal and desire of we technologists that as we provide capability that computers are good at — number crunching, file storage, massive databases that can be searched — that it would free us up to do the things that humans do so well, like pattern recognition and putting thoughts together, intuition and innovation.”
–Leonard Kleinrock
Happy Birthday
In Science on October 29, 2009 at 11:39 amHappy 40th Birthday, Internet! You don’t look a day over 25!
2009 New Hampshire Joint Water and Watershed Conference Features GIS Track and Hands-on Workshop
In Climate Change, Environmental Science, GIS on October 29, 2009 at 9:41 am
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) invites interested watershed stakeholders to attend the annual 2009 New Hampshire Joint Water and Watershed Conference – Focusing on Water Resources: 2020 Vision, on Friday and Saturday, November 20th and 21st, 2009 from 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Registration is from 8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. and will be held at the Grappone Conference Center located at 70 Constitutional Avenue in Concord, NH. To find out more about the conference, read about the informative sessions and workshops, and to register for the conference, please visit www.nhrivers.org.
The organizing committees of the annual New Hampshire Watershed Conference and the New Hampshire Water Conference have joined forces to offer a single, comprehensive event for 2009. The purpose of the merger is to combine talent, resources, and audiences from both events into a unique, two-day event designed to meet the information and networking needs of lake, river, and watershed groups; environmental organizations; volunteer monitors; municipal board and staff members; elected officials; local and regional planners; policy makers; scientists; educators; consultants and students. In addition to DES, the conference sponsors include Comprehensive Environmental, Inc., Weston & Sampson, the NH Water Resources Research Center at UNH, Public Service Company of NH, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
On Friday, the conference will kick off with a presentation by Dr. Christine Feurt titled “Headwaters – Developing a Collaborative Conservation Approach to Support Land Use Decision-Making”. Dr. Feurt holds dual positions as the Coastal Training Program Coordinator at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve in Wells Maine and the Director of the Center for Sustainable Communities in the Department of Environmental Studies at the University of New England in Biddeford Maine. She has worked for over 40 years as an environmental scientist and educator navigating the interface between science and management. Following the plenary, the conference attendees will then have six concurrent tracks to choose from encompassing 32 sessions including “GIS”, “Stormwater”, “Climate Change”, “Water Infrastructure”, “Watershed Management” and “Land Use/Land Conservation”.
On Saturday, the conference will commence with a session titled “Treading Lightly on the Land: How Growth and Development Can Protect Water Quality” by former Maryland Governor Parris Glendening. Governor Glendening now serves as president of the Smart Growth Leadership Institute and in that capacity he works with local and state government executives to develop innovative and effective approaches to growth and development that protect the environment, ensure economic prosperity and create healthier places to live. In addition to the plenary session, the Saturday conference attendees will have six informative tracks to choose from with 20 sessions including GIS, Stormwater, Climate Change, Organizational Development, Watershed Management, Land Use/Land Conservation.
There is a different audience emphasis each day – Friday’s presentations are designed more for technical/professional audiences while Saturday’s presentations have been developed with lay/volunteer audiences in mind; local officials and state policy makers will find the sessions on both days very informative.
Throughout both days of the conference, attendees will have the opportunity to network with other professionals, policy makers, educators, consultants, local river advisory committees, lake associations, volunteer monitoring groups, watershed associations, and other organizations. In addition, posters and other exhibits from consulting firms, students, and river and lake organizations throughout the state will be on display.
The cost to attend the conference is $35/day or $50 for both days; if you register online before November 13th. There is an additional $20 fee for those who choose to attend the Geographic Information System (GIS) 2-hour hands-on workshops. The registration fee includes light breakfast, the plenary, lunch, two 60-minute sessions, a two-hour hands-on workshop, and display session. Registrants are also provided with an option to join the New Hampshire Rivers Council and the NH Lakes Association at a special rate. This conference provides a state-wide forum for learning and networking about issues related to water resources in New Hampshire. You won’t want to miss this opportunity!
If you would like more information or have any questions regarding the conference, please call Josh Cline, Executive Director of NH Rivers Council at ( 603 ) 228-6472 or email at josh@nhrivers.org, or you can call Laura Weit, Acting Rivers Coordinator at DES at ( 603 ) 271-8811 or email her at laura.weit@des.nh.gov.
THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2009. Late registration will be accepted on the day of the conference at a cost of $45/day or $65 for both days. So, be sure to register early!
As part of this two-day conference, the NH Rivers Council is hosting the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival on Friday evening which will be held at the Red River Theaters, 11 South Main Street in Concord, NH. For more information about this exciting event, please see the NH Rivers website for more details at www.nhrivers.org.
[Source: press release]
Using GIS for Air Quality Management and Air Pollution Assessment: A Bibliography
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS on October 29, 2009 at 9:34 amAddressing Ambient Air Pollution in Jakarta, Indonesia
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall07articles/addressing-ambient-air.html
Air Pollution Sources in South Coast Air Basin—Impacts of Meteorology, Terrain, and Other Sources
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume20/environment4.html
Using GIS to Investigate Children’s Exposure to Air Pollution
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc01/professional/papers/pap841/p841.htm
Managing Air Quality Information in Tehran Using GIS
http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/environment/air/ma07258.htm
Spatial modelling of air pollution in urban areas with GIS: a case study on integrated database development
http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/29/68/14/PDF/adgeo-4-63-2005.pdf
Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Communications Supported by GIS
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0607articles/carbon-dioxide.html
Dust Mapping in Arizona Uses GIS and Satellite Imagery
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0405articles/dust-mapping.html
Mapping Ozone Conditions Across Europe in Real Time
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall07articles/mapping-ozone.html
How GIS Is Changing Loma Linda University Medical Center’s View of the World
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall07articles/loma-linda.html
Automating the Use of Geostatistical Tools for Lake Tahoe Area Study
http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/0807/ga_network.html
Case Study: The Atlanta Environmental Project Problems and Challenges Students Produce GIS Databases
http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/1000/cairo.html
Integrating Computational Models with GIS in Engineering Applications
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1602.html
Method to Compare Maps That Show a Direction Variable
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1507.html
Visualization and Analysis of Multidimensional Data: Atmospheric Data Modeling
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a2081.html
Using ArcGIS in Environmental Monitoring at Idaho National Laboratory
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1298.html
Modeling Air Quality in the Las Vegas Region
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1314.html
TCEQ—Environmental Monitoring Response System, Part 2
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1755.html
Community-Based Evaluation of Air Pollutants Using GIS
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1230.html
Geospatial Modeling of Ship Traffic and Air Emissions
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/session.html
A GIS-Based Kriging Approach for Exploring Air Pollutants and Asthma
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc06/papers/abstracts/a1070.html
Acid Deposition Response to the 1995 Clean Air Act Amendment
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc05/abstracts/a2443.html
Use of GIS Databases in Urban Air Quality Modeling
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc05/abstracts/a1345.html
Fighting Bombs with Social Science
In Geography, Social Science on October 29, 2009 at 8:50 am
…from Wired Magazine…
“In 2005, Col. Steve Fondacaro, then-head of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Task Force in Baghdad, received a laptop filled with software that attempted to map out the country’s cultural landscape. The laptop — designed in part by anthropologist Montgomery McFate — was supposed to help commanders understand the social networks that supported insurgent bombmaking cells.
“He promptly threw the laptop out. But the idea lived. That effort would lead directly to the Human Terrain System, the Army’s controversial effort to tap social science research to support counterinsurgency campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now things are coming full circle: JIEDDO, the organization that jump-started the human terrain program, is planning a major new investment in social science research. Total price tag: $140 million for the upcoming fiscal year.”
The 13th AGILE International Conference on Geographic Information Science
In Conferences, GIS, GIScience on October 29, 2009 at 8:06 am
AGILE 2010: “Geospatial Thinking”
11-14 May 2010 in Guimarães, Portugal
AGILE 2010 builds on the success of previous conferences in this series held in Crete (April 2004), in Estoril (May 2005), Visegrad (April 2006), Aalborg (May 2007), Girona (May 2008) and Hannover (June 2009).
AGILE 2010 will take place in Guimarães, Portugal. Guimarães is one of the Portugal’s UNESCO World Heritage cities recognized by its beauty and historical monuments.
The conference venue will take place at the Vila Flor Cultural Centre. This Cultural Centre was inaugurated in September, 2005, and incorporates the 18th century Vila Flor Palace, with its magnificent gardens and charming architecture, and a new design building added on to hold all types of cultural events.
Call for Papers
On behalf of the AGILE council, we invite you to participate at the 13th AGILE International Conference on Geographic Information Science, scheduled to take place in Guimarães, Portugal.
The program will offer parallel paper presentation sessions, keynote sessions, poster sessions and pre-conference workshops to share your ideas, explore on-going research, future developments, including state-of-the-art applications, and to network with the professionals from academia, industry, and government who are interested in promoting GI teaching and research activities among GI laboratories at the European level.
Conference Topics
Contributions are invited on all topics within the fields of geoinformation, geomatics and geocomputation, including (but not limited to):
- Perception and Representation of Geographic Phenomena
- Cognitive Aspects of Human-Computer Interaction for Geographic Information Systems
- Spatial and Spatiotemporal Data Modelling and Reasoning
- Spatial and Spatiotemporal Data Analysis
- Spatial and Spatiotemporal Data Visualisation
- Spatial and Spatiotemporal Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery
- Spatial Semantics and Spatiotemporal Ontologies
- Semantic Web and GIS
- Web Services, Geospatial Systems and Real-time Applications
- Location Based Services and Mobile GI Applications
- Geospatial Decision Support Systems
- Public Participation GIS and Participatory uses of Geospatial Information Systems and Technologies
- Volunteered Geographic Information
- GIScience Education and Training
- Demographic and Socioeconomic Modelling
- Environmental/Ecological and Urban/Regional Modelling
- Health and Medical Informatics
- Natural Resources Management and Monitoring
- Disaster and Risk Management
- Geosensor Networks
Download call for papers [PDF]
Local Indicators of Geocoding Accuracy (LIGA): Theory and Application
In GIS, GIScience on October 29, 2009 at 7:49 am
International Journal of Health Geographics 2009, 8:60
Geoffrey M Jacquez, Robert Rommel
Background
Although sources of positional error in geographic locations (e.g. geocoding error) used for describing and modeling spatial patterns are widely acknowledged, research on how such error impacts the statistical results has been limited. In this paper we explore techniques for quantifying the perturbability of spatial weights to different specifications of positional error.
Results
We find that a family of curves describes the relationship between perturbability and positional error, and use these curves to evaluate sensitivity of alternative spatial weight specifications to positional error both globally (when all locations are considered simultaneously) and locally (to identify those locations that would benefit most from increased geocoding accuracy). We evaluate the approach in simulation studies, and demonstrate it using a case-control study of bladder cancer in south-eastern Michigan.
Conclusions
Three results are significant. First, the shape of the probability distributions of positional error (e.g. circular, elliptical, cross) has little impact on the perturbability of spatial weights, which instead depends on the mean positional error. Second, our methodology allows researchers to evaluate the sensitivity of spatial statistics to positional accuracy for specific geographies. This has substantial practical implications since it makes possible routine sensitivity analysis of spatial statistics to positional error arising in geocoded street addresses, global positioning systems, LIDAR and other geographic data. Third, those locations with high perturbability (most sensitive to positional error) and high leverage (that contribute the most to the spatial weight being considered) will benefit the most from increased positional accuracy. These are rapidly identified using a new visualization tool we call the LIGA scatterplot. Herein lies a paradox for spatial analysis: For a given level of positional error increasing sample density to more accurately follow the underlying population distribution increases perturbability and introduces error into the spatial weights matrix. In some studies positional error may not impact the statistical results, and in others it might invalidate the results. We therefore must understand the relationships between positional accuracy and the perturbability of the spatial weights in order to have confidence in a study’s results.
- Read the paper [PDF]
The Washington Times: Geographic Awareness Needed
In GIS, Geography, Spatial Analysis on October 29, 2009 at 7:45 am
…from The Washington Times…
“For decades, geographers have noted that the key to better planning for wars, disasters, climate shifts or any other major force of change is a broader understanding of their spatial dimensions. They also have demonstrated time after time that a lack of geographic awareness about the peoples and places affected by war, natural and other disasters often exacerbates the misery and compounds the challenges to effective recovery. New technologies such as geographic information and global positioning systems can help build awareness about changing environments, and they can provide the foundation upon which meaningful spatial analysis, and thus appropriate policy, is created.”
Why Your Doctor Should Know Where You Have Lived
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS on October 29, 2009 at 7:39 am
…from Scientific American…
“Genes and how you live are important to good health—but where you live is also critical, and its importance has been overlooked in the past. At the TED MED conference yesterday, Bill Davenhall, global marketing manager, health and human services solutions at ESRI, a geographic information system developer, made a compelling plea to add a history of places to medical information that doctors review. “TED” is for technology, entertainment, design; the conference runs from October 27 through 30 at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego.”
Map of the Day: Bedrock Geology Map of the Wolfville-Windsor Area
In ESRI, GIS, Map of the Day on October 29, 2009 at 7:27 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“This bedrock geology map of the Windsor-Wolfville area, Nova Scotia, was compiled at a scale of 1:50,000. ArcGIS software was used to digitize the map, design and populate the databases, and produce the cartographic product, including shaded relief illumination of the geology using a digital elevation model.
“The map includes features such as bedrock units, anticlines, synclines, drill holes, faults, mineral occurrences, outcrops, shafts, trenches, quartz veins, structural data, glacial striations, quarries, and karst topography.
“The area comprises a number of important geological terrains in Nova Scotia, including Triassic-Jurassic zeolite-bearing basalt of the North Mountain; Triassic sedimentary rock in the eastern end of the Annapolis Valley; carboniferous rocks of the Windsor Group, containing some of the largest gypsum quarries in the world; Cambro-Ordovician metasediments of the gold-producing Meguma Group; Devonian uranium- and tin-bearing granitic rocks of the South Mountain Batholith; and Devonian to Carboniferous zinc- and barite-bearing rocks of the Horton Group.
“Acknowledgments: GIS databases and cartographic work by Angie L. Ehler, Jeff S. McKinnon, Brian E. Fisher, and other staff members of the Geoscience Information Services Section.
“Courtesy of Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, Mineral Resources Branch.”
Quote of the Day: Lewis Carroll’s Paradox of the Complete Map
In Geography on October 28, 2009 at 10:00 am…from Sylvie and Bruno Concluded, by Lewis Carroll, 1893…
‘That’s another thing we’ve learned from your Nation,” said Mein Herr, “map-making. But we’ve carried it much further than you. What do you consider the largest map that would be really useful?”
“About six inches to the mile.”
“Only six inches!” exclaimed Mein Herr. “We very soon got to six yards to the mile. Then we tried a hundred yards to the mile. And then came the grandest idea of all! We actually made a map of the country, on the scale of a mile to the mile!”
“Have you used it much?” I enquired.
“It has never been spread out, yet,” said Mein Herr: “the farmers objected: they said it would cover the whole country, and shut out the sunlight! So we now use the country itself, as its own map, and I assure you it does nearly as well.”
ESA’s SMOS Satellite to Map Sea Surface Salinity and Monitor Soil Moisture on a Global Scale
In Environmental Science on October 28, 2009 at 8:46 am
European Space Agency’s SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) and Proba-2 (PRoject for OnBoard Autonomy) satellites are scheduled for launch on Monday 2 November at 02:50 CET on a Russian Rockot launcher from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northern Russia.
SMOS, ESA’s water mission, is the first satellite designed both to map sea surface salinity and monitor soil moisture on a global scale, thus contributing to better understanding of the Earth’s water cycle. Proba-2 will perform in-orbit demonstration of 17 advanced satellite technologies, solar observation experiments and plasma environment studies.
The main launch event for SMOS and Proba-2 will be held at ESA’s ESRIN establishment in Frascati, Italy. ESA senior management and programme specialists will be on hand to give explanations and interviews.
Live TV transmission of the launch will provide quality pictures to broadcasters from Plesetsk and from mission control rooms at CNES/Toulouse in France and at ESA’s Redu ground station in Belgium (for further details, see http://television.esa.int).
The general public can also follow a web-streamed video transmission at: http://www.esa.int/smos or http://www.esa.int/proba.
Media representatives wishing to follow the main launch event at ESA/ESRIN or the local launch event at one of the other ESA establishments are requested to fill in the accreditation form linked on the right and fax it back to the venue of their choice.
[Source: ESA press release]
Status of the National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Act (H.R. 2489)
In Imagery on October 28, 2009 at 7:27 amYesterday, 27 October 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Act on a vote of 379 to 33. The bill will now be forwarded to the Senate.
“The National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Act (H.R. 2489) would authorize $100 million over the FY 2010 through 2019 for the Department of Interior to establish a new national land remote sensing outreach program within the U.S. Geological Survey. According to the legislation, the program’s mission would be to “advance the availability, timely distribution, and widespread use of geospatial imagery for education, research, assessment, and monitoring purposes in each State and the lands of an Indian tribe.”"
A summary of the bill can be found here.
Congressional Budget Office cost estimates for the bill can be found here.
Your representative: how did they vote?
Coverage in Prairie Business magazine.
Mapping Iraq’s Ancient Cities
In Geography, Imagery on October 28, 2009 at 7:03 am…from DVIDS…
“While many Soldiers head home in the late hours of the second shift, Sgt. Ronald Peters sits at his desk scanning over imagery, maps and the Internet, sometimes as late as 5 a.m., looking for answers.
“Peters, a geospatial analyst from Fort Lewis, Wash., with Multi-National Corps-Iraq C-7, is undertaking the largest mapping projects of his career. His work is helping to resolve a concern shared by both the U.S. military and the Iraqi government as troops have pulled out of cities and continue the drawdown.”
Take Part in the Population Reference Bureau’s Upcoming Discuss Online: “Does Climate Change Threaten Our Cities?”
In Climate Change on October 28, 2009 at 6:53 am
When: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, 1 – 2 p.m. (EDT) (GMT –4)
Who: Mark Montgomery, professor, Stony Brook University; and senior associate, Population Council’s Poverty, Gender, and Youth Program
Where: Go to http://discuss.prb.org. You may submit questions in advance and during the discussion. A full transcript of the questions and answers will be posted after the discussion.
The cities and towns of developing countries are projected to absorb at least 2.5 billion additional people by 2050. At the same time, these areas will experience global climate change likely to bring floods, droughts, food insecurity, and loss of livelihoods. These converging trends pose mounting health risks for people living in urban areas in developing countries, especially for the poorest residents. Where are the greatest health risks and what can be done to manage them?
Join Mark Montgomery as he answers your questions about urban growth, health, and climate change. He studies the implications of global climate change on urban areas of developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Mark Montgomery is a professor of economics at Stony Brook University, New York, and a senior associate with the Population Council’s Poverty, Gender, and Youth Program. His current research interests include the links between poverty and demographic behavior in the cities of developing countries; measuring poverty and poverty dynamics; and the implications of climate change for the urban areas of developing countries. As co-chair of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences Panel on Urban Population Dynamics, he co-edited the panel’s report, Cities Transformed: Demographic Change and Its Implications in the Developing World. He is the author of the recent PRB Population Bulletin “Urban Poverty and Health in Developing Countries.”
Population Reference Bureau: www.prb.org
Exploration Technology: Retooling for the Digital Data Revolution
In GIS, Visualization on October 28, 2009 at 6:16 am
…from Earth Explorer…
“Although information technology is not a centre-stage strategy in exploration industries grappling with economic and market uncertainties, it remains a key driver for improving effectiveness and results – particularly when you consider the growing data requirements of modern day exploration.
“Explorers continue to raise the bar in the software experience and capabilities they expect, from full 3D visualization to data processing power under the hood, and advanced integration support for multidisciplinary datasets. Furthermore, many exploration organizations are setting stronger corporate standards for the software they use on their exploration projects and how they use and manage their growing digital data resources.”
Crafting Better Decisions: Creating a Link between Belief Networks and GIS
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS on October 28, 2009 at 6:13 am
…from the Fall 2009 issue of ArcUser…
“Considerable research has led to an increased understanding of how human activity influences the landscape and has provided more options for managing forests in an ecologically sound manner. With advances in GIS technology, decision-making techniques, and environmental protection policies, more effective and integrated management approaches are available.
“The Comparative Risk Assessment Framework and Tools (CRAFT), one such approach, has been developed by the U.S. Forest Service’s Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center (EFETAC) to improve the quality of decisions for forest and natural resource managers. CRAFT is designed to help planning teams focus on the most important issues, organize their analyses, and use the right tools and data in a facilitated environment.”
Quote of the Day
In Quotes, Science on October 28, 2009 at 6:13 am“Science progresses best when observations force us to alter our preconceptions.”
–Vera Rubin
Map of the Day: Top 12 States for Harvested Corn Acreage
In ESRI, GIS, Map of the Day on October 28, 2009 at 6:09 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“This map illustrates the predominance of corn grown throughout the midwestern United States in comparison to all other crops and noncrop land-cover categories. Harvested corn includes corn for grain/silage, sweet corn, popcorn, and ornamental corn.
“The categorized Cropland Data Layer (CDL) imagery shown on the map was produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The CDL is used within NASS to generate supplemental acreage estimates of commodities for major agricultural states.
“Courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service.”
Ph.D. Scholarship in Geostatistics/Ore Reserve Estimation
In Education, Modeling, Statistics on October 28, 2009 at 6:07 am
SUSTAINABLE MINERALS INSTITUTE – WH BRYAN MINING & GEOLOGY RESEARCH CENTRE
The mining resources within the Sustainable Minerals Institute have been consolidated under the WH Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre (BRC). This new mining research initiative has effectively brought together significant intellectual and operational skills which offers integrated thinking across the mining value chain. The centre’s expertise include Mass Mining, blasting fundamentals, geotechnical engineering, ore body modelling, geometallurgy, optimisation in mine design and planning as well as applied blast engineering. The BRC’s strategy is to focus on providing solutions for complex, large scale mining operations. The BRC is one of six SMI research centres of The University of Queensland, it provides high quality research, technical innovation and technology transfer to the mining industry.
The Role: We are seeking a PhD candidate to join the AMIRA P843A Geometallurgical Mapping and Mine Modelling (GeMIII) project and become part of a unique multi-disciplinary team with resource estimation, blasting, mine planning, geological, geotechnical, mineral processing and mathematical modelling backgrounds. Resource estimation is one of the core themes of the GeMIII project and fundamental work is required in the areas of modelling non-grade attributes. This exciting industry funded project will allow the candidate to interact with national and international sponsors and may involve domestic and international travel for field work.
The person: Applicants should have a background in geostatistics, ore reserve evaluation or related disciplines. Experience with ore reserve modelling practices are essential. International applicants are welcome.
Remuneration: The stipend is valued from $ 26,669 to $41,669 (tax free) per year depending on skills and experience. The Scholarship will be awarded for 3 years.
Contact: Further information regarding the project can be obtained by contacting the project leader Prof Alan Bye (07) 3346 4072 or a.bye@smi.uq.edu.au.
Applications: Please send a cover letter and curriculum vitae outlining your interest and suitability for this position to Lauren Stafford, Manager WH Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre (BRC), The University of Queensland St Lucia Brisbane Qld 4072 or l.stafford@uq.edu.au.
Applications close: 27th November 2009
Reference Number: 3018313
A Dynamic Social Network Model for Disease Transmission
In Education, GIS, Modeling on October 27, 2009 at 7:08 am
This year’s joint e-seminar series will return to the topic of dynamic modelling in a GIS environment.
Date: 28th Oct at 1700 GMT
Title: A dynamic social network model for disease transmission.
Speaker: Ling Bian (Buffalo)
Chair: Kirk Harland (Leeds)
The seminars are open to all. For details of how to join the e-seminar using the Marratech™ video conferencing environment, and further seminars in the same series, see: http://www.wun.ac.uk/ggisa/seminars.html
Dave Unwin (d.unwin@wun.ac.uk) WUN Global GISc Academy Coordinator
Steve Carver (s.j.carver@leeds.ac.uk) University of Leeds
The Vision of a Purposefully Designed Future: Understanding the Importance of GeoDesign
In Design, ESRI, GIS on October 27, 2009 at 6:57 am
…from the Fall 2009 issue of ArcUser…
“The theme for the 29th Annual ESRI International User Conference was GIS: Designing Our Future. Here, ESRI president Jack Dangermond explains GeoDesign and its importance.
“This year’s conference emphasized the interesting relationship between design and GIS, with particular emphasis on the concept of “GeoDesign.”
“Today, GIS professionals work with geographic information to manage many aspects of our world and disseminate their good works. Design is a discipline and process where people deliberately create. Design is about purpose and intentions; it’s about seeing in our mind’s eye what could be, then creating it. GIS can also be used to integrate geographic science with design. I like to refer to this as the field of GeoDesign.”
GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 5: Disaster Management
In Citizen Science, ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Geography on October 27, 2009 at 6:08 amCyclone Leaves Its Mark on the Map: Analyzing and Monitoring Myanmar’s Damaged Rice Production Regions
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall09articles/cyclone-leaves.html
Mass Casualty GIS Data Management System (from Complaint to Grave)
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1866.html
Planning for Disaster by Pinpointing Populations Vulnerable to Hazards
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1194.html
Storm Surge and Flood Vulnerability in Cumberland County, NJ
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1618.html
Using the U.S. National Grid for Preparedness and Response
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1634.html
Managing Spatial Information to Utilize Disaster Records for Community Safety
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1331.html
13-County Houston—Galveston Region: Population Inside the 100 Year Floodplain (2035)
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume24/safety5.html
Combining GIS and Statistical Analyses to Support Global Pandemic Preparations
http://www.esri.com/library/newsletters/healthygis/healthygis-winter2007.pdf
Evaluating HIV/AIDS Programs: Mapping Affected Populations Fills Information Gap
http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/0706/hiv1of2.html
GIS for Medical Emergency Preparedness: Siting Medical Distribution Centers in an Emergency
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume23/safety4.html
Hurricanes on the U.S. Gulf Coast
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume23/safety6.html
Rhode Island Critical Resources—Preliminary Flood Vulnerability Analysis
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/state1/ri2.html
Capacity Building Workshop on GIS-Based Hazard Risk Information Systems
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1572.html
Determining Flood Event Evacuation Areas & Floodwater Inundation with GIS
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1556.html
Disaster Response Application for Non-governmental Organizations
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1571.html
FEMA-ERT-N Geospatial Intelligence Unit: GIS and Disaster Response
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a2069.html
Hazards Analyst: North Carolina’s New Tool for Disaster Preparation/Response
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1673.html
Key Investment Pays Worthwhile Dividends
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1155.html
Long Term Recovery and GIS
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1361.html
Providing Real-time Spatial Data for Flood Response
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1187.html
Risk Analysis and ArcGIS Schematics – California Delta Levees
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1675.html
Special Population Planner 4: An Open Source Release
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1374.html
Constructing COP of EOC at Niigata-ken Chuetsuoki Earthquake, 2007
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1798.html
Development of DSS for Mitigation of Flood Related Damage
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1730.html
Disaster Mitigation Models for the City of Redlands
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1405.html
Flood Mitigation Using GIS
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1540.html
GIS in Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1304.html
Lee County, Florida, ArcGIS Server Mobile Damage Assessment Tools
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1717.html
Mapping Successful Incident Response
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1564.html
Registration & Repatriation of Disaster Evacuees: A Geospatial Approach
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1062.html
Using Mobile GIS in Assessing Impacts of Historic Iowa Flood
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1581.html
Web Based Geographic Intelligence for Emergency Management Practitioners
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1649.html
Application of Multi-objective Shortest-Path and Allocation Analysis for Flood Prevention
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1992.html
Embedding GIS in Disaster Simulation
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1847.html
Estimating Evacuation Ratio in the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1934.html
Geospatially-Enabled Geographic Response Plans
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1840.html
GIS Improves Community Readiness Saving Lives During Emergency Disaster
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1376.html
GIS in Severe Weather Impact Analysis
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a2012.html
A GIS Tool to Determine Affected Population
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1716.html
Levee Inspection and Reporting System
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1587.html
Harris County Flood Control District Custom Map Book Series
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume22/public.html
Tsunami Inundation Zones
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume22/public4.html
Disaster and Recovery: The Impacts of Hurricane Katrina on Gulfport, Mississippi
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume22/public6.html
Enhanced DFIRM
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume22/public7.html
The Asia Pacific Natural Hazards and Vulnerabilities Atlas
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume22/public9.html
Harris County Storm Surge Inundation Zones
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume22/public11.html
Ground Elevations Compared to Static Base Flood Elevations for the City of Seabrook
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume22/public12.html
Sarasota County, Florida—An Assessment of Disaster Vulnerability
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume21/public_safety4.html
Kyoto City Multi-Hazard Maps
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume21/public_safety6.html
Rhode Island Critical Resources—Preliminary Flood Vulnerability Assessment
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume21/public_safety7.html
Mapping Flood Risk and Vulnerability in the Lower Mekong Basin
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume20/safety2.html
FEMA and Local Governments Battle Hazards with a New GIS Tool
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/summer04articles/fema-and-local.html
GIS Supports Indian Ocean Tsunami Disaster Relief
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/spring05articles/gis-supports.html
Turkish Government Bases National Emergency Response System on GIS
http://lbs360.directionsmag.com/articles/index.php?article_id=696
South Carolina Devises Earthquake Preparedness Plan with GIS
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0203articles/south-carolina-devises.html
Urban Information Systems for Earthquake-Resistant Cities
http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/0702/earthquake.html
In Japan, Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake Damage Assessment Data Is Gathered More Efficiently Using GIS
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0506articles/in-japan.html
Bibliographies in this series:
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 1: Climate Science
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 2: Carbon Management
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 3: Renewable Energy
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 4: Sustainability
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 5: Disaster Management
Mapping the Solar Potential of Rooftops: Germany’s SUN-AREA Research Project Uses GIS
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Green Technologies on October 27, 2009 at 6:08 am
…from the Fall 2009 issue of ArcNews…
Highlights:
- Using ArcGIS Desktop tools, researchers identified all necessary rooftop data.
- ArcGIS Desktop ModelBuilder was used to determine the solar potential of all roof areas.
- The ModelBuilder application gave the team an intuitive interface.
“The solar age has dawned in Germany. About 20 percent of the country’s rooftops are suitable for solar power production, according to recent results from the SUN-AREA Research Project. The project aims to determine how solar energy resources can be optimized by placing photovoltaic panels on rooftops around the country.
“The SUN-AREA project is sponsored by the University of Osnabrück and the TOPSCAN topographical information company. It is led by geomatics engineer Martina Klärle and researchers Dorothea Ludwig and Sandra Lanig.
“Preliminary findings of the SUN-AREA project estimate that, at full potential, solar power could meet the entire energy needs of homes throughout Germany. The team began its work with an examination of the northern German city of Osnabrück.”
Global Tree Death Patterns Reveal Emerging Climate Change Risks for Forests
In Climate Change, Environmental Science, Spatial Analysis on October 26, 2009 at 5:31 pmRecent tree loss, largely driven by climate stress, in forests around the world could portend increased tree mortality under climate change, according to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) report recently released online in the journal Forest Ecology and Management.
The USGS-led review suggests that many of the world’s forests are sensitive to climate-related drought and heat stress, raising the concern that forests may become increasingly vulnerable to future mortality, even in environments that are not normally considered water-limited. The results suggest risks to ecosystem services that are valuable to forests and societies around the world.
“Trees can die much more quickly than they grow,” said Craig D. Allen, USGS scientist and lead author of the report. “The widespread examples of drought and heat-induced tree mortality that we document illustrate how climate can drive abrupt, broad-scale impacts to essential forest services ranging from timber and protection of watersheds and biodiversity to recreational, aesthetic and spiritual benefits.”
Although tree mortality episodes occur in the absence of climate change, the report’s results are consistent with projections of future increases in tree mortality due to climate-related stresses. These heat and drought stresses could fundamentally alter the composition, structure and biogeography of forests in many regions, as well as affect how forests sequester carbon.
“This work by USGS underscores multiple risks that climate change poses to our forests and our world,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “It also illuminates the importance of our efforts to develop practical, on-the-ground land management strategies that will help us adjust to the stresses that climate change is placing on our forests.”
The report details 88 cases of significant tree mortality around the world associated with heat and drought since 1970, documenting climate-induced tree losses from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.
“From northern forests of spruce, pine or oak to tropical savannas and rainforests, many forest types appear vulnerable to such climate-driven mortality and to forest pests that are also highly sensitive to temperature,” Allen said.
The report also identifies key information gaps and scientific uncertainties that currently hinder our ability to identify climate-related trends in tree mortality and to predict future losses in response to climate change, including lack of species-specific knowledge about tree water and temperature stress limits and the absence of a globally coordinated observation system.
However, in conjunction with other recent observational and experimental studies indicating that higher temperatures can drive increases in tree mortality, this article highlights risks that tree mortality could become more frequent and extensive as global climate change progresses.
[Source: USGS news release]
GIS Forestry Tool Lowers Costs of Finnish Forest Management
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS on October 26, 2009 at 10:30 amTapio Deploys ESRI’s Software and Tieto Solution for Forest Data Collection, Management, and Analysis
Forestry Development Centre Tapio of Finland is using ESRI’s ArcGIS software and a solution designed by Tieto, an ESRI business partner, to meet Forestry Centres’ goal to decrease forest inventory costs by 40 percent. The solution is designed to improve productivity, cost efficiency, and cooperation between organizations, including data procurement and two-way dataflow. It will also increase Forestry Centres’ customer use of Forestry Centre services and advice.
Working with Finland’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Tapio supports forest management planning for the country’s 13 regional Forestry Centres by providing them with information systems. To make operative planning more effective, Tapio deployed Tieto’s solution, which is built on ArcGIS 9.3, ESRI’s geographic information system (GIS) software. ArcGIS has been used to support forest management solutions for decades. The system enables Forestry Centres to maintain an up-to-date, high-quality forest resource database for the entire country.
“GIS makes geographic information easier to use and increases the value of the data produced by Forestry Centres and other organizations,” says Kirsi Valanne, geographic information specialist at Tapio. “Eventually, we will expand the system to support other operations performed by Forestry Centres.”
Finland is a significant contributor to the world’s commercial production of sawn goods and pulp production. With 66 percent of Finland’s land use dedicated to productive forests, Forestry Centres have a lot of data to manage. Tapio project manager Henry Schneider notes, “With this new system, Forestry Centres can increase the amount of annually collected forest resource data and, at the same time, reduce the costs of data collection per hectare.” The new GIS is designed to support a new concept for field data procurement based on laser scanning and aerial photographs. This dramatically reduces the need for fieldwork.
Each Forestry Centre provides information that plays a key role in promoting regional development projects, building cooperation between forest organizations, and counseling forest owners. Tapio’s GIS will enhance this ability via a centralized database that contains forest resource data and forest management planning data. This includes proposed cuttings and silvicultural work; key biotopes required by the Forest Act; cadastral data; aerial photographs; laser scanning data; and external geographic data such as topographic maps, groundwater areas, protected areas, and prehistoric monuments.
In the initial phase to be completed by 2010, Tapio anticipates that 400 users will interact with the data. Eventually it hopes to expand the user group to 850 people who will access GIS for forestry law supervision, forest extension service (through public funding), forest management planning, and forest improvement projects.
The client application is built on ArcGIS Desktop 9.3 tools. An Oracle database is connected by ArcGIS Server using SQL*Net (or Net8) protocol. GIS interfaces with Tapio’s PDA field data collection program, forest data calculation application, customer relationship management (CRM) system, financial management applications, and data transfer service. Users will be able to connect to map servers via the Internet.
Tieto has full responsibility for the delivery of the project. Its strong experience in implementing large geographic information solutions and its in-depth knowledge about the wood-processing value chain will aid the development and implementation of this project. ESRI’s distributor ESRI Finland Oy is providing the GIS software for the project via an enterprise license software purchasing agreement as well as maintenance, support services, and training.
[Source: ESRI news release]
China Expected to Complete World’s First Land Cover Map of Antarctica
In Geography, Imagery, Science on October 26, 2009 at 9:25 am…from China View…
“Chinese scientists from the country’s 26th Antarctic expedition are expected to complete the world’s first land cover map of the Antarctica at the end of this year.
“It will be the most accurate map of the continent, presenting various land features, they told Xinhua correspondent aboard Xuelong (Snow Dragon) icebreaker in a recent interview.
“The research team will conduct wide range of field spectral collection on the Antarctica to provide data for the map.
“The map, with the application of high resolution remote sensing technology, will for the first time in the history show the distribution of key features on the continent, including sea ice, snow, blue ice, rocks, soil marshes, lakes and ice crevasse.”
GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 4: Sustainability
In Climate Change, ESRI, Earth Systems Science, Environmental Science, GIS, Geography, Green Technologies on October 26, 2009 at 8:40 amBuilding an Oasis in the Desert: GIS Helps Ensure that Masdar City Meets Its Carbon-Neutral, Zero-Waste Goals
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall09articles/building-an-oasis.html
Sumatra—Forest Cover and Change 1990–2000
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume23/conservation1.html
Mapping Ecosystem Services in the Sierra Nevada, California
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume24/conservation5.html
Global Gap Analysis—August 2003, First Iteration
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume20/conservation10.html
Global Population Density Estimates for 2015
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume21/sustainable_dev1.html
Combined Suitability of Land for Rainfed Crops and Pastures
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume21/sustainable_dev2.html
3D Population Distribution in the Bay Area in 2000
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume22/sustain_dev1.html
Food Insecurity and Vulnerability in Sekhukhune, Republic of South Africa
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume22/sustain_dev2.html
Key Drivers of Food Insecurity and Vulnerability in the Greater Sekhukhune Municipality, Republic of South Africa
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume22/sustain_dev3.html
Back to the Future
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume23/sustainabledev3.html
Reducing the Impact of Transportation on the Human Footprint
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume24/sustainable5.html
Regional Conservation Priorities for Upper Guinean and Congo Basin Forests
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume19/conservation1.html
Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Priorities
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume19/conservation2.html
The Nature Audit—Cumulative Human Footprint
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume19/conservation6.html
Atlas of the Biodiversity of California
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/state1/ca3.html
Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act Priority Project Lists I–XIII
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/state1/la7.html
Wetland Mitigation: Restoring Montana’s Wetlands
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/state1/mt1.html
GIS Mapping of the Yields of Ohio’s Aquifers
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/state1/oh1.html
Rhode Island Land Suitability Analysis for Development Intensity and Conservation
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/state1/ri1.html
Narragansett Bay Coastal Wetland Trends Analysis 1950s–1990s
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/state1/ri3.html
Adapting to Climate Change: The Global Adaptation Atlas
http://www.rff.org/News/ClimateAdaptation/Documents/Adaptation%20Atlas%20-%20Project%20Overview.pdf
FORMA = Forest Monitoring for Action: Tracking Deforestation, One Regression at a Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2XVCS9OleQ&feature=player_embedded
CITYgreen Calculates Environmental Benefits of Trees and Green Space
http://www.americanforests.org/productsandpubs/citygreen/
Visualizing Priority Conservation Areas in Western North America
http://tncclimate.esri.com/TNC/ClimateChange.html
Changing Vegetation and Challenges to Borders of Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1709.html
Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1763.html
Climate Change Impacts on Watersheds in Mesoamerica and the Caribbean
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1143.html
Westchester County’s Green Map Aids County Global Warming Task Force Plans
http://www.esri.com/news/arcwatch/0808/green-map.html
Delta Habitat Opportunities – Assessing Risks with Climate Change
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1088.html
Developing the Next Generation of Climate Action Plans
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1825.html
Influence of Climate Change on Outbreak of Leaf Spot Disease
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1034.html
Local Climate Change GIS—Data-Based Visioning Tools for Community Decision-Making
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1603.html
Transportation Modeling and Climate Change Analysis
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1824.html
Conserving Bolivia’s Critical Resources
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/spring08articles/conserving-bolivias.html
Ecosystem Vulnerability to Climate Change in Panama
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1800.html
Modeling Landscape Connectivity in the Southern Appalachians under Climate Change
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1970.html
Philippine Tarsiers Conservation Program Streamlined with GIS
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0304articles/philippine-tarsiers.html
For Puget Sound, Washington, GIS and Modeling Are Protecting and Restoring Shorelines and Open Spaces
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0506articles/for-puget-sound.html
Kenya’s Kiunga Marine National Reserve Studies Sustainable Fisheries and Marine Conservation with GIS
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0203articles/kenyas-kiunga-marine.html
Mapping Benthic Habitats: The Marine GIS Challenge
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/spring05articles/mapping-benthic.html
The Charlotte, North Carolina, Urban Area Now Has a “Green Theme”
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/summer04articles/charlotte-northcarolina.html
Rangeland Health Data Collection and Analysis Improved with Mobile GIS
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/spring08articles/rangeland-health.html
U.S. Department of Agriculture Produces Objective and Accurate Global Assessments with GIS
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0304articles/usda-produces.html
Spreading Data Improves Crop Yield
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0607articles/spreading-data.html
International Coffee Marketing and Certification Aided With GIS
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0304articles/international-coffee.html
Sri Lanka Uses GIS for Planning and Management of Irrigation Systems
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0304articles/sri-lanka.html
Formulating a Sustainable Development Land Use Scenario Using GIS
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall02articles/formulating-sustainable.html
Colorado’s North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization Makes Ride Sharing Easier with GIS
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0506articles/colorados-north-front.html
Supporting Island Land Conservation
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0607articles/supporting-island.html
Traditional Knowledge Meets New Tools
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/summer06articles/traditional-knowledge.html
Bibliographies in this series:
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 1: Climate Science
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 2: Carbon Management
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 3: Renewable Energy
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 4: Sustainability
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 5: Disaster Management
Panel Discussion: What’s Next? A Fascinating Discussion about GIS
In GIS, Video on October 26, 2009 at 8:37 am
Map of the Day: Sound and Safety Analysis at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Map of the Day on October 26, 2009 at 7:14 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“Using ArcGIS 3D Analyst in conjunction with Google Earth, Federal Aviation Administration regulations regarding allowable building heights can be better displayed for modeling purposes. In addition, with the assistance of ATAC Corporation’s tools, aircraft noise can be modeled to show the extent of areas most prone to aircraft over flight for both existing and proposed development.
“Courtesy of City of Mesa, Arizona.”
Quote of the Day
In Science on October 26, 2009 at 7:14 am“Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.”
–Carl Sagan
Preserving Species Diversity: GIS helps New York Screen Projects for Potential Impacts
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS on October 26, 2009 at 7:13 am
…from the Fall 2009 issue of ArcUser…
“The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has developed a custom GIS application that assists its staff in preserving biodiversity in the state by answering spatial questions related to threatened and endangered species.
“There is increasing concern over the loss of biodiversity. Species are declining or becoming extinct at a greater rate than at any other time in the history of life on earth. Today, many species are severely threatened by the reduction of available habitat caused by changing land use. This leads to the isolation of these species’ populations and higher mortality rates for them.
“This threat has become increasingly problematic in New York’s Lower Hudson Valley/Catskill Region. In this unique area of the state, several ecozones are clustered in a relatively small geographic area. The region’s diverse habitat types support a correspondingly high degree of wildlife diversity with 90 percent of the more than 400 birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians native to New York found in this 4,700-square-mile area. Fifteen of these species are either threatened or endangered and classed as Listed Species.”
Can Geographic Information Keep You Healthy? TEDMED 2009
In ESRI, GIS, Social Science on October 26, 2009 at 7:04 am
Bill Davenhall, ESRI’s Global Marketing manager for Health and Human Services Solutions, will be presenting “Can Geographic Information Keep You Healthy?” at TEDMED this week. Bill’s talk is during Session 1 (5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.) on Tuesday, 27 October 2009 at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, California. TEDMED 2009 is sold out, and I’m unable to find any information about streaming video from the conference. I’ll post a link to the video once they add it to the TEDMED web site.
Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Ninh Discusses Climate Change at ESRI
In Climate Change, ESRI, Environmental Science on October 23, 2009 at 7:56 pm
IPCC member and Nobel Prize winner Dr. Ninh discussed climate change at the ESRI auditorium, Redlands CA, 23 October 2009.
GeoDesign Summit Web Site Now Live
In Design, ESRI, GIS on October 23, 2009 at 2:35 pm
“Advance the Pairing of GIS and Design
“Join us at the world’s first GeoDesign Summit January 6–8, 2010, at ESRI in Redlands, California. This is a pioneering gathering of professionals and academics involved in transforming technology, engineering, and planning in a rapidly changing world. And this is your chance to be part of the first generation of GeoDesign concepts, technologies, and tools which will advance how our global society approaches design.”
GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 3: Renewable Energy
In Climate Change, ESRI, Earth Systems Science, Environmental Science, GIS, Geography, Green Technologies on October 23, 2009 at 6:22 amAssessing Economic Biomass Resource Potential for Bioenergy and Biobased Products
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume23/environmental7.html
Wind Resources of the Western United States, 2007–2008 Edition
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume24/electric2.html
New Mexico Renewable Energy Resource Potential with Existing Energy Transmission Lines
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume24/electric4.html
Developing Wind Farms: Screening for Potential Sites
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume24/electric6.html
Atlas of UK Marine Renewable Energy Resources
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume24/mining1.html
Renewable Energy Siting: Collocating Wind Energy and Ethanol Production in Kansas
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume22/electric2.html
Renewable Energy: GIS and the Science Behind Tapping Wind Power Offer Insight on the Resource’s Feasibility
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall09articles/renewable-energy.html
Mapping the Solar Potential of Rooftops: Germany’s SUN-AREA Research Project Uses GIS
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall09articles/mapping-the-solar.html
Assessing Economic Biomass Resources in California with GIS
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall09articles/assessing-economic.html
GIS to Meet Renewable Energy Goals: Searching for Suitable Sites
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall09articles/gis-to-meet.html
GIS to Meet Renewable Energy Goals: Determining Resource Potential
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall09articles/gis-to-meet.html
GIS to Meet Renewable Energy Goals: Airflow Analysis for Wind Power
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall09articles/gis-to-meet.html
GIS to Meet Renewable Energy Goals: Attracting Renewable Investors
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall09articles/gis-to-meet.html
GIS to Meet Renewable Energy Goals: Environmental Impact Assessment of Proposed Wind Turbines
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall09articles/gis-to-meet.html
GIS to Meet Renewable Energy Goals: Economic and Government Considerations of Wind Resources
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall09articles/gis-to-meet.html
GIS—A Common Tool for Sustainable Wind Development
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1894.html
Impact of Future Wind Farm Development on the Avesnois Park Landscape
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume22/environment5.html
The Los Angeles County Solar Mapping Portal
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1805.html
Geothermal Map of North America, 2004
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume20/mining2.html
Development of the Biomass Energy Use Business Evaluation GIS Software
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1159.html
Siting a Solar Power Project
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume23/sustainabledev7.html
GIS-Based Renewable Resource Supply Curves for the ReEDS Model
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1893.html
GIS in Support of the Concentrating Solar Power Program
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume23/sustainabledev1.html
Micro-climate Solar Modeling over Complex Terrain
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc07/papers/abstracts/a1904.html
The Big Sky State Taps Wind Resources
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/summer08articles/the-big-sky-state.html
Ethanol Buzz Fuels GIS Planning by Colonial Pipeline Company
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall08articles/ethanol-buzz.html
Boston Showcases Solar Power Potential with Web GIS
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall08articles/boston-showcases.html
Measuring the Economics of Biofuel Availability
http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/1006/biomass1of2.html
Bibliographies in this series:
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 1: Climate Science
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 2: Carbon Management
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 3: Renewable Energy
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 4: Sustainability
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 5: Disaster Management
Quote of the Day
In Geography, Quotes on October 23, 2009 at 6:22 am“What the world has now are new cities with young populations and old cities with old populations. How the dialogue between them plays out will determine much of the nature of the next half-century.”
–Stewart Brand
Map of the Day: Atlas of UK Marine Renewable Energy Resources
In ESRI, GIS, Green Technologies, Map of the Day on October 23, 2009 at 6:19 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“The Atlas of UK (United Kingdom) Marine Renewable Energy Resources stands as an example of an interactive data-management system, delivered across a range of GIS enabled formats: hard-copy maps, desktop application, and Web application. The range of delivery platforms has enabled the Renewables Atlas to become a highly regarded data resource outlining the potential opportunities within the UK marine renewable energy sector (tide, wind, and wave) for stakeholders and developers alike. The atlas now represents the most detailed regional description of potential marine energy resources in UK waters ever completed at a national scale and is being used to help guide policy and planning decisions for future site leasing rounds.
“Crown copyright. This project was commissioned by the Department of Energy and Climate Change.”
Web Map as Time Machine: An Ancient Story of Conquest is Heard Again
In ESRI, GIS, Geography on October 23, 2009 at 6:16 am
…from the Fall 2009 issue of ArcUser…
“Lienzos are maps that tell the story of a place. The story of the Lienzo de Quauhquechollan, one of the oldest of these maps, is being told on the Web 500 years after the events it records occurred. A responsive and intuitive Web site developed by the Universidad Francisco Marroquín (UFM) and Geosistemas y Tecnología Avanzada, S.A. (Geosistec), ESRI’s distributor in Guatemala, using the recently implemented ArcGIS API for Microsoft Silverlight, has made sharing this cartographic treasure with potentially millions around the world possible.
“For the peoples of Mesoamerica, place and past were inseparable. Lienzos not only recorded the details of a geographic location but also communicated what happened there in a form of mapping now described as historical cartography. Graphic symbols designate people, places, and dates while stylized images of plants, animals, rivers, roads, and other features indicate where the story took place.
“Lienzos were not meant to be studied silently by individuals but were performed aloud for groups by a narrator who brought to life the events shown on the map. The story was recited to audiences assembled at market days and other community gatherings.”
- Read the article
Former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey to Speak at ESRI Campus in Redlands
In ESRI, Education on October 22, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Free Talk Will Launch New Educational and Cultural Series Sponsored by ESRI and the University of Redlands
Former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey, who ran for president of the United States in 1992 and served as Nebraska’s governor, will speak at 5:00 p.m. on October 30 at ESRI, 350 New York Street, in Redlands.
Kerrey’s talk, which will be free and open to the public, will inaugurate an ongoing educational and cultural series of speeches, performances, and programs that ESRI and the University of Redlands Town & Gown organization will cosponsor. The events will be held in ESRI’s new state-of-the-art auditorium.
Kerrey, 66, was Nebraska’s governor from 1983 to 1987 and later served as the state’s U.S. senator from 1989 to 2001. He left the Senate to become president of the New School, a university in New York City that was founded on strong democratic ideals and daring educational practices. Throughout his career in public service, Kerrey has strongly advocated for increased education spending. He continues to do so today, recognizing that democratic life flourishes when all citizens are properly educated and given every chance to participate in the political process.
Kerrey’s talk will be followed by a short reception, allowing people the opportunity to talk with him in person.
Upcoming speakers will include Earl E. Devaney, chairman of the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board; Willie Smits, biologist and founder of Borneo Orangutan Survival; and Larry Burgess, local historian and director of the A.K. Smiley Library in Redlands. Future programs will include films; musical and theatrical performances; and talks by business leaders, government officials, and environmentalists.
ESRI president Jack Dangermond said the diverse slate of speakers and programs will pique the interests of people of all ages. “We look forward to bringing the community the caliber of events that will start a dialog on important topics of interest in the Inland Empire, as well as nationally and internationally.”
Stuart Dorsey, president of the University of Redlands, said the university is proud to cosponsor a series of programs he describes as an “ongoing education.” “It’s a way that the university and ESRI can give back to the community that so strongly supports us.”
Advance reservations are required. Visit www.esri.com/culturalseries and click the Reservations link or call the University of Redlands at 909-748-8011.
Series Schedule for 2009:
October 30, 5:00 p.m.: Former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey
November TBA, 5:00 p.m.: Willie Smits, biologist and founder of Borneo Orangutan Survival, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting orangutans and their habitats
December 9, 5:00 p.m.: Earl E. Devaney, chairman of the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, which oversees spending of the funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the stimulus package passed by Congress
December 13, 3:00 p.m.:Larry Burgess, local historian and director of the A.K. Smiley Public Library, in a talk about early Christmases, California style
British Scientists Unveil New Climate Change Map Showing Likely Effects of Continued Carbons Emissions
In Climate Change, Environmental Science, Geography on October 22, 2009 at 9:08 am…from The Guardian…
“The British government today raised the political stakes on climate change when it published a new map of the world that details the likely effects of a failure to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
“The map shows the impact of an average 4C rise in global temperature, which John Beddington, the government’s chief scientist, said would be “disastrous”. A study by the Met Office last month said that such a 4C rise could come as soon as 2060 without urgent and serious action to reduce emissions.
“The map was launched to coincide with the London Science Museum’s new Prove it climate change exhibition by David Miliband, foreign secretary and his brother Ed Miliband, energy and climate change secretary. It comes in advance of key political talks on climate change in December in Copenhagen, where British officials will push for a new global deal to curb emissions.”
GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 2: Carbon Management
In Climate Change, ESRI, Earth Systems Science, Environmental Science, GIS, Geography, Green Technologies, Science on October 22, 2009 at 8:54 amNational Carbon Sequestration (NatCarb)
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume23/environmental10.html
City of Irvine’s GHG GIS Protocol
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1826.html
The Plains CO2 Reduction Partnership Region
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume23/environmental6.html
GIS Contributes to Groundbreaking Carbon Emissions Inventory
http://www.esri.com/library/newsletters/giseducator/gised-winter08.pdf
Predicting the Vegetation Distribution and Terrestrial Carbon-Fluxes Using MC1 Model
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1479.html
Generalized Contours of the Sauk Sequence for Characterization of Saline Aquifers for CO2 Sequestration
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume19/environment3.html
ESRI Commits to Clinton Global Initiative with Carbon Reduction Solution
http://www.esri.com/news/releases/09_4qtr/global_initiative.html
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/sep2009/2009-09-28-03.asp
New Zealand Enlists GIS to Monitor Greenhouse Gas
http://www.esri.com/news/releases/09_3qtr/new_zealand_greenhouse.html
Enhanced Oil Recovery Revives Petroleum Fields and Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions
http://www.esri.com/news/arcwatch/0209/salt-creek.html
ESRI Commits to Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy
http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2009/09/17/norway-lauds-guyana%E2%80%99s-forestry-initiative/
http://opnew.op.gov.gy/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=722:esri-commits-to-guyana-&catid=34:bulletins&Itemid=70
Illinois Basin Coal GIS Datasets for Coal Bed Methane, Carbon Sequestration, and Coal Resource Studies
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume21/mining4.html
Measuring the Carbon Content of Forests: The Carbon Measurement Collaborative
http://www.clintonfoundation.org/what-we-do/clinton-climate-initiative/our-approach/forests/measuring-carbon
Forestry Carbon Trading Opportunities Explored with GIS
http://www.esri.com/library/newsletters/environment/envobs-winter2009.pdf#page=8
Baselining CO2 Emissions of Las Vegas Residential Streets
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1013.html
Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Communications Supported by GIS
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0607articles/carbon-dioxide.html
Carbonfootprinting on the CSUN Campus Using ArcGIS
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1462.html
Carbon Nation: Automated GIS Process is Creating a Snapshot of Biomass and Carbon in U.S. Forests
http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/1008/carbon.html
Web-GIS for Managing Agroforestry for Carbon Sequestration in East-Africa
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1485.html
Bibliographies in this series:
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 1: Climate Science
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 2: Carbon Management
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 3: Renewable Energy
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 4: Sustainability
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 5: Disaster Management
GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 1: Climate Science
In Climate Change, ESRI, Earth Systems Science, Environmental Science, GIS, Geography, Science on October 22, 2009 at 8:42 amAnalyzing Sea Level Potential and Temperature Extremes within a GIS Environment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4GfnC6lK1Y
Shoreline Change History of Louisiana’s Gulf Shoreline: 1800s to 2005
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume23/environmental1.html
Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Southern Florida
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume23/environmental3.html
Coastal Change and Glaciological Map of the Larsen Ice Shelf Area, Antarctica: 1940–2005
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume23/environmental4.html
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume23/environmental9.html
DOI Demonstrates Climate Change with ArcGIS Explorer: Visualizing Environmental Impacts Shows Need for New Strategy
http://www.esri.com/news/releases/09_4qtr/climate-hail.html
Houston Ozone and Ozone Precursor Monitoring Network
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume24/environment8.html
Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map, Including Arctic Research Stations
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume24/environment11.html
Arctic Conservation Area Topographic Map
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume22/conservation6.html
A Long-Term Seamless Daily Precipitation-Temperature Geodatabase for the Continental US (CONUS)
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1938.html
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume22/sustain_dev4.html
Forest Dynamics in the Southern Lake Tahoe Basin, 1940–2002
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume21/forestry3.html
Shrinking Forests of Kilimanjaro—The Impact of Fire and Climate Change
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume20/conservation2.html
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume20/conservation3.html
Global Warming: The Bering Glacier Retreat and Sea Level Rise
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1172.html
Air Pollution Sources in South Coast Air Basin—Impacts of Meteorology, Terrain, and Other Sources
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume20/environment4.html
Predicted Potential Natural Vegetation of New Zealand
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume20/forestry4.html
Spatial Patterns of Climatic Factors Using GIS and PRISM, Korea
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1482.html
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume19/forestry2.html
Using ArcGIS to Evaluate Weather Warnings
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1961.html
100+ Years of Land Change for Coastal Louisiana
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume19/mining3.html
Using ArcGIS to Analyze Climate Patterns and Climate Change
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1168.html
Investigating Temperature Extremes in the United States
http://edcommunity.esri.com/arclessons/lesson.cfm?id=409
The Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) GEOportal
http://www.geoportal.org/web/guest/geo_home
NOAA Climate Services Portal: Climate Data and Statistics
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc09/uc/abstracts/a1882.html
NCAR Publishes Climate Change Models in ESRI GIS Format
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0405articles/ncar.html
Characteristics of Atlantic Tropical Storms from Long-Term Observations
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a1254.html
Amongst the Icebergs, GIS Innovation Aids Antarctic Research
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall04articles/amongst-the-icebergs.html
ClimateWizard: A Web-based GIS Tool for Practical Climate Change Analysis
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a2230.html
Long-Term Environmental Monitoring at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, Supported With GIS
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall04articles/long-term-environmental.html
Polar Climate Change: Shrinking Arctic Ice in a Temporal Context
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc08/papers/abstracts/a2124.html
Mapping the Ayles Ice Shelf Break
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/spring07articles/mapping-ayles.html
CASI Data Provides Better Picture of Coral Reef Threats
http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/0506/casi1of2.html
Bibliographies in this series:
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 1: Climate Science
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 2: Carbon Management
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 3: Renewable Energy
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 4: Sustainability
- GIS for Climate Change Bibliography, Part 5: Disaster Management
Call for Workshops and Tutorials: GIScience 2010 in Zurich, Switzerland
In Conferences, GIS, GIScience on October 22, 2009 at 8:14 amZurich, Switzerland, September 14-17, 2010
This year GIScience will host one-day workshops and tutorials on the 14th of September, immediately prior to the conference.
Workshops
Workshops should provide a platform for presenting and discussing ideas in a less-formal and more open way than is possible in a conference setting. Thus, they should provide an exce llent opportunity for young researchers to present work and obtain detailed feedback, and should have ample time allocated for discussion and participation by all attendees. Workshops are welcome in all topics of interest to GIScience attendees, with the proviso that new and emerging areas of research are especially welcome. Workshop organisers are responsible for compilation of PDF workshop proceedings. If these are received, as a single volume, by 21st of July, they will be included in the electronic conference proceedings for distribution to workshop and conference attendees.
Workshop proposals should be less than 1500 words, and must include the following:
- Title of the workshop
- Description of topics
- Scope and novelty of the workshop
- Workshop organiser(s) and their qualifications
- Format of workshop (1/2 day, 1 day)
- Intended Programme Committee if relevant
- Highlights (e.g. keynotes, panels, other modes of discussion)
- Expected number of participants
- Details of any previous related workshops
- Draft call for papers indicating the relevant topics
Tutorials
Tutorials are an innovation for GIScience. A tutorial should cover a single topic in detail, lasting either a full (two sessions of three hours) or half (one session of three hours) day. A tutorial may cover a particular GIScience topic in depth, or introduce emerging research areas. Tutorial organisers are responsible for compilation of tutorial readers. If these are received by the 21st of July, they will be included in the electronic conference proceedings for distribution to tutorial and conference attendees.
Tutorial proposals should be less than 2000 words, and must address all of the following issues:
- Title of the tutorial
- Description of topics and relevance to GIScience community
- Tutorial organiser(s) and their qualifications
- Format of tutorial (1/2 day, 1 day)
- Tutorial outline, indicating overall learning objective s and individual course elements
- Intended audience (introductory, advanced) and any background knowledge or skills required
- Required materials (e.g. will you need internet access, lab access, specific software installed?)
- Expected number of participants
MundoGeo Interview with Dr. Michael Goodchild
In Education, GIS, GIScience, Geography, Interviews on October 22, 2009 at 7:29 amMundoGeo has posted an interview with Dr. Michael Goodchild, professor of geography at the University of California, Santa Barbara and “the father of GIScience”.
Call for Participation: Space-Time Modeling and Analysis Workshop
In ESRI, GIS, Science, Spatial Analysis, Temporal Analysis on October 22, 2009 at 7:21 amScientists to Gather for Inaugural Redlands GIS Week in February 2010
Scientists working on understanding the integration of space and time will gather in California February 22–23, 2010, to attend the Space-Time Modeling and Analysis Workshop. The workshop will be part of the first Redlands GIS Week—a gathering of thought leaders from academia, government, and industry to advance the science and application of geospatial technologies. The remainder of Redlands GIS Week 2010 will be dedicated to informal networking activities, demonstrations, and technical tours.
The Space-Time Modeling and Analysis Workshop will feature keynote presentations, lightning talks, and small group discussions, as well as opportunities for informal brainstorming with leading geospatial thinkers and implementers. Researchers are invited to submit 500-word abstracts describing the work that they would present as either a keynote or lightning (focused 10-minute) talk. Preference will be given to abstracts describing concrete results to concrete problems, and software demonstrations are encouraged.
Redlands GIS Week will be held at ESRI’s headquarters as well as nearby sites in Redlands, California. The event is cosponsored by the University of Southern California, ESRI, the Association of American Geographers (AAG), and the University of Redlands. After the workshop, a publication will share the event’s results with a larger audience.
For more information and to view the Call for Participation, visit www.redlandsgisweek.org.
[Source: ESRI news release]
Renewable Energy: GIS and the Science Behind Tapping Wind Power Offer Insight on the Resource’s Feasibility
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Green Technologies on October 22, 2009 at 7:18 am
…from the Fall 2009 issue of ArcNews…
Highlights:
- ArcGIS improves the quality and accessibility of data to maximize the efficiency of decision making.
- Nearly all the wind power facility layouts can be done with GIS.
- Locating the right site can be done quickly and accurately with publicly available data and GIS technology.
“When Miguel de Cervantes wrote of the impetuous and noble hero Don Quixote 400 years ago, he could not have imagined that one day environmental scientists and energy analysts would “dream the impossible dream” of stocking the electric grid with the power of the wind. Nor could he have envisioned the hulking giants that now line many a horizon, the 400-foot-tall wind turbines each wielding three 130-foot steel blades and weighing 8.5 tons. When he talked of tilting at windmills, the Spanish literary master would not have guessed that public utilities, private companies, and investors would someday look to the wind to “beat the unbeatable foes” of waning fossil fuel supply and deleterious carbon emissions.
“Wind energy now accounts for 1 percent of the United States’ power supply, and forecasts from the U.S. Department of Energy say that figure could reach 20 percent by 2030. While wind farms crop up across the country’s windiest terrain, critics point to the need for new transmission lines and the variability of the wind. Many citizens support the idea as long as it’s “not in my backyard.”"
Quote of the Day
In Quotes on October 22, 2009 at 7:18 am“The fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright Brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown.”
–Carl Sagan
Map of the Day: Biodiversity and Perspectives on Oil, Gas, and Mining Exploitation in Guinea-Bissau
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Map of the Day on October 22, 2009 at 7:15 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“This map shows the effects of various activities on biodiversity. The United Nations Environment Programme—World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) partnered with in-country experts from Guinea-Bissau to develop a synthesis map highlighting the potential pressures from oil and gas industry activities on the biodiversity of Guinea-Bissau. Such partnerships are leading to more accurate assessment of environmental pressures. A five-day workshop in Cambridge, United Kingdom, funded by World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF), resulted in combining UNEP-WCMC data with oil and gas exploration data from IHS Energy and data contributed by the visiting in-country experts. The combination of these data sources plus local knowledge and cartographic expertise at UNEP-WCMC has produced a powerful poster map that enables decision makers to incorporate key biodiversity information into their planning and development processes.
“Copyright United Nations Environment Programme—World Conservation Monitoring Centre; Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Areas; International Union for Conservation of Nature; IHS Energy; and the Office of Coastal Planning, Guinea-Bissau.
“Data sources for this poster map included BISSA-SIG Database (GPC/INEP/UICN/IBAP/Geomer Laboratory CNRS-Brest); IBAP: Managing Biodiversity for Secure Development, 2006; protected areas (WDPA): UNEP-WCMC, January 2007; J. Caldecott and L. Miles, 2005 (gorilla and chimpanzee data); GEBCO Digital Atlas bathymetry data, published by the British Oceanographic Data Centre on behalf of the International Oceanographic Commission (of UNESCO) and the International Hydrographic Organisation, 2003; and Petroleum Exploration & Production data: IHS, copyright 2007.
“Disclaimer: The contents of this map do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP-WCMC or contributory organizations. The designations employed and the presentations do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP-WCMC or contributory organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area or its authority, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.”
Cyclone Leaves Its Mark on the Map: Analyzing and Monitoring Myanmar’s Damaged Rice Production Regions with GIS
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS on October 21, 2009 at 6:27 pm
…from the Fall 2009 issue of ArcNews…
Highlights:
- ArcGIS software-based maps provide a detailed perspective of where remediation efforts are needed.
- Remote sensing and GIS are used to analyze global crop production capacity.
- Post-Cyclone Nargis GIS maps of Myanmar monitor the ongoing flood recovery.
“With winds of 132 miles per hour, Cyclone Nargis, a category 3 tropical storm, struck the low-lying and heavily populated Myanmar coastline on May 2, 2008. The intense storm produced a 12-foot sea wave that flooded an approximate 2,000-square-mile area with a population of 24 million. Nargis left behind 90,000 fatalities and 56,000 missing persons in Myanmar, the country once known as Burma.
“Adding to the tragedy of the human lives lost, the cyclone destroyed much of Myanmar’s agricultural economy. The provinces of Ayeyardwady, Yangon, Bago, and Mon, which produce 58 percent of the country’s rice crop—or roughly 6.2 million tons on a milled basis—were inundated with saltwater from the flood. In addition to the cropland damage, many villages were destroyed, along with much of their food stocks, livestock, and farming supplies.”
NOAA Awards $243,000 to Prepare New Hampshire Watershed for Climate Change and Population Growth
In Climate Change, Geography on October 21, 2009 at 7:06 amSyntectic International LLC and Antioch University New England to partner with stakeholders
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded Syntectic International, LLC of Portland, Oregon; Antioch University New England of Keene, New Hampshire; the Lake Sunapee Protective Association of Sunapee, New Hampshire; and partners, $243,000 to prepare the Lake Sunapee watershed for climate change and population growth.
The partners’ objectives are to protect a community comprised of vulnerable stormwater and drinking-water systems, and disseminate results to promote safe communities nationwide. The study accomplishes a key recommendation of the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report: providing decision-support for implementation of stakeholder-driven adaptation. By developing a reliable, local-scale adaptation protocol, the project seeks to maintain historical flood protection levels for the study site and other communities facing significant impacts from climate change and population growth.
Funded by NOAA’s Climate Program Office, the interdisciplinary team includes Latham Stack of Syntectic International; Michael Simpson, Jim Gruber, and Colin Lawson of Antioch University New England (AUNE); Dr. Robert Roseen of the University of New Hampshire Storm Water Center; Thomas Crosslin of Climate Techniques in Portland, Oregon; Robert Wood of the Lake Sunapee Protective Association; and internationally recognized adaptation expert Joel Smith of Stratus Consulting in Boulder, Colorado. Five of the eight researchers are either AUNE faculty members or alumni.
The project will study a region that, like many others, is experiencing an unusual and ongoing period of extreme or record rainfalls. These significantly diverge from the historical climate pattern. Previous studies by the team at other sites found that portions of existing stormwater drainage systems are currently undersized as a result of already-changed rainfall patterns.
“Recent experience and scientific studies are clear,” said Latham Stack, CEO of Syntectic. “Storm patterns are worsening and it is no longer prudent to delay action. We will never have perfect science, however sufficient science is available now. This project will protect the community with adequately reliable, local-scale information to support informed decisions.” By encouraging the participation of local stakeholders, the project will empower citizens to choose adaptation plans that are best for their towns. For example, Low Impact Development methods can minimize runoff and significantly reduce the need for more expensive drainage system upgrades.
According to Michael Simpson, director of AUNE’s Resource Management and Conservation program, “The availability of reliable and economical solutions can make the difference between returning to historical protection levels, or continuing to expose people and assets to worsening hazards.” Simpson explained that stormwater engineers and planners have always needed to cope with uncertainty and change, and the construction of water systems designed using best-available knowledge has always proceeded in parallel with the development of theory. “The past was not as certain as we like to think, and problems posed by population growth and climate change are actually not that different from previous challenges,” said Simpson.
The project will be broadly transferable, according to Stack. The team hopes to catalyze similar work nationwide, reducing further loss of life and damage from worsening storms. By demonstrating a practical protocol for action, this study will provide urgently needed decision-support to leaders seeking to maintain historical protection levels in their communities.
[Source: Syntectic news release]
Diverting Sediment-rich Water Below New Orleans Could Lead to Extensive New Land
In Climate Change, Environmental Science, Modeling, Science on October 21, 2009 at 6:59 am
Openings in Mississippi levees could build new land in sinking delta
Diverting sediment-rich water from the Mississippi River below New Orleans could generate new land in the river’s delta in the next century.
The land would equal almost half the acreage otherwise expected to disappear during that period, a new study shows.
For decades, sea-level rise, land subsidence, and a decrease in river sediment have caused vast swaths of the Mississippi Delta to vanish into the sea.
The anticipated build-up of new land in a portion of the delta, as simulated by a computer model, could compensate for a large fraction of the expected future loss, protect upriver areas from storm surges, and create fresh-water habitat, the researchers say.
“What this model shows is that we can, to a large degree, match future land loss by making these diversions,” says David Mohrig, a geologist at the University of Texas (UT)-Austin who is also affiliated with the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics at the University of Minnesota.
He and Wonsuck Kim, also a geologist at UT-Austin, led the study. Its results are reported in today’s issue of Eos, the weekly newspaper of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).
“These authors present the possibility that through numerical modeling, coordinated with river channel diversions on the Mississippi Delta, we can begin to restore wetlands and build new land,” says H. Richard Lane, program director in NSF’s division of earth sciences, which funded the research.
The delta of the Mississippi River has been losing land to the sea at an average rate of about 44 square kilometers (17 square miles) per year since around 1940.
The natural equilibrium between soil loss and sediment deposition has been altered by the levees the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built below New Orleans to prevent the Mississippi from flooding.
The confined waters at the end of the river’s course flow faster and drop their sediments over the continental platform, draining into the Gulf of Mexico.
History recorded in the river deposits shows that the main channel of the Mississippi moved roughly every 1,000 years to a new lowland area, Kim and Mohrig say. The engineering of the levees, they believe, has kept the river from entering lowland areas and depositing sedimentation.
The model looks at potential effects of an existing proposal to divert Mississippi River water through a pair of cuts made opposite each other in the levees 150 kilometers (93 miles) downstream from New Orleans.
Nearly half of the river’s flow would spill out through the cuts, taking sediment with it and depositing it to each side of the river channel.
Despite sea level rise, increased land sinking rates, and a drop in the river’s sediment supply, the diversions would create an amount of new land equal to up to 45 percent of the area that would otherwise be lost to the sea in the coming century, the model predicts.
Enough flow would remain in the main channel of the river to allow navigation there, the researchers report.
Other scientists studying coastal restoration had previously proposed creating these two diversions to allow water and sediment to exit the enclosed river, and build two lobes of new land in adjacent shallow-water sections of Breton Sound and Barataria Bay.
But critics say that dams in the upper sections of the Mississippi River have reduced the water’s sediment content so much that there isn’t enough raw material left to rebuild the delta. Also, detractors argue that future sea level rise and the current high sinking rate of the delta would make restoration impossible.
“Until we put together this model, there was a lot of debate that wasn’t substantiated by anything but by intuition,” says Mohrig. “We needed to move from having very soft impressions of what could be done to making predictions that can actually be tested.”
The modelers used a conservative sediment supply rate, subsidence (sinking) rates from one to 10 millimeters per year, and rates of sea level rise that went from zero to four millimeters per year.
In their calculations, the authors considered diverting only 45 percent of the water to ensure that the section of the river below the diversions remained open to navigation.
The model predicts that the two diversions would create between 701 square kilometers (about 271 square miles) and 1,217 square kilometers (470 square miles) of new land over a century, partially offsetting land loss.
Kim and Mohrig calculate the engineered new delta lobes would make up for 25 to 45 percent of the area expected to vanish throughout the delta between now and 2110.
“Diversions are really the only cost-effective way of building land,” Mohrig says.
The researchers verified their model by running a simulation of the evolution of another delta influenced by an existing diversion of the Mississippi River: the Old River Control Structures.
These structures divert water from the Mississippi to the Atchafalaya River, which also empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
The Atchafalaya River is currently building new land both in the Atchafalaya Delta and its subsidiary, the Wax Lake Delta. The model was able to accurately predict the amount of land that has been built since 1980.
Mohrig and Kim collaborated on the model with scientists from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge; the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
[Source: National Science Foundation press release]
Thetus Unveils Semantic Modeling and Analysis Solution
In ESRI, Geography, Modeling on October 21, 2009 at 6:52 amSavanna brings a new standard of user experience and model-driven analysis tools to cultural, geo-cultural and human terrain analysis
Thetus Corporation, a pioneer of semantic knowledge modeling and discovery software, delivers a new standard of solutions to address complex modeling and analysis challenges. The Savanna solution builds upon the proven foundation of the Thetus Publisher, a semantic modeling platform, to provide an off-the-shelf analysis solution designed for rapid integration and customization.
Savanna provides users with a model-centric environment that is optimized for analysis involving multiple perspectives, confidence and detailed lineage tracking. The solution provides extension points at every level of the architecture, allowing customers to adapt models, analysis tasks and user experience to meet their individual needs. “We recognize that users have unique needs, and we believe that the analysis environment should be as dynamic as the challenges our customers face,” said Philip Pridmore-Brown, Vice President of Product Services at Thetus.
“Savanna is a great development for our customers and partners,”
“The Savanna solution changes the way we model and understand complex analysis challenges by using flexible knowledge models uniquely suited to cultural, geo-cultural and Human Terrain analysis,” noted Pridmore-Brown. “We are excited to be able to bring together the best products available in the Savanna framework.”
The Savanna solution framework includes out-of-the-box connectors to leading providers of content management, entity extraction, geospatial analysis and temporal analysis products including MarkLogic, Janya, MetaCarta, and ESRI. These integrations deliver a new level of deployment speed and ease to customers and enable Savanna to address a broad range of structured and unstructured data typical of today’s intelligence process.
“Savanna is a great development for our customers and partners,” said Craig Abod, President of Carahsoft Technology Corporation, a government solutions provider and Thetus Savanna reseller. “The Savanna solution leverages the strengths of numerous products in our portfolio in an integrated and open platform that delivers substantial value to the customer.”
Savanna couples a powerful data harmonization and ingestion pipeline with a browser-based front end that gives users access to search, models, geospatial tools, temporal visualizations and link charting. Savanna changes the analysis process by providing unique contextualization views and dynamic document and report assembly capabilities. The Savanna solution will be demonstrated at the 2009 GeoInt Symposium in San Antonio at the Thetus booth, #249.
[Source: Thetus news release]
Texas A&M Oceanographer Receives Grant to Study Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone
In Education, Environmental Science, Science on October 21, 2009 at 6:46 am
Oceanographer Steve DiMarco of Texas A&M University, a leading authority on the Gulf of Mexico’s “dead zone,” and his team of researchers have been awarded $725,467 for the first year of a five-year, $3.72 million project that seeks to better understand and predict where and when the dead zone will happen each year. This new project builds on six prior years of funding.
The Northern Gulf of Mexico Ecosystems and Hypoxia Assessment Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently announced first-year funding for a new study under DiMarco titled “Mechanisms Controlling Hypoxia: Integrated Causal Modeling,” which is expected to continue for the next five years.
Dead zones, or hypoxia, occur when oxygen in water drops below 2 milligrams per liter. Severe hypoxia levels can result in fish kills and adversely affect many types of marine life.
DiMarco and his team have examined dead zones off the Louisiana and Texas coasts to track the size and frequency of these occurrences and, more importantly, identify key factors that contribute to them.
The official size of the dead zone found in 2008 off the coast of Louisiana, as measured by a group of investigators in Louisiana, was 7,988 square miles, the second largest since measurements began in 1985. This represents a land area greater than the state of Massachusetts.
The 2009 dead zone was predicted to be among the largest ever recorded, but actual observations showed it instead to be the fourth smallest on record. The predictions were based largely on the amount of nutrients entering the Gulf via the Mississippi River. The low levels of oxygen in dead zones are caused primarily by nutrient pollution from farm fertilizers and other sources as they empty into rivers and eventually into the Gulf of Mexico.
DiMarco and colleagues have found, however, that other factors such as wind and current reversals, low waves, summer heat and upwelling from coastal marshes and estuaries also contribute to hypoxia.
“This year’s forecast, which did not do a very good job of predicting the actual size of the dead zone, underscores the importance of our research at Texas A&M,” DiMarco said. “Unraveling the complex system of processes that create dead zones will lead us in the direction of better predictions. This has always been the overarching premise of our team’s research. We also look forward to the continuation of our research efforts and working with other researchers around the Gulf on this important issue.”
DiMarco is program manager and principal investigator for this new round of funding from NOAA, of which Texas A&M and Texas A&M University at Galveston will receive $501,398 this year and $2.82 million over five years, pending Congressional approval. Collaborating researchers at the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium and Virginia Institute for Marine Sciences will receive the remaining funds.
Five other oceanography faculty and one Galveston faculty member are co-principal investigators for the study. Other principal investigators are from Dalhousie University, Coastal Carolina University, Louisiana State University, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium and Virginia Institute for Marine Sciences.
DiMarco’s earlier hypoxia studies were funded by NOAA from 2003 through 2009. With this most recent funding, the researchers plan to continue pursuing their quest to develop models that can predict when and where hypoxic, or dead, zones may occur.
Together with Oceanography Professor Tom Bianchi, DiMarco discovered a Texas-created dead zone area off the Texas coast in August 2007, a result of unusually heavy rains that poured water into the Brazos River. This first proven dead zone area that originated from Texas rivers was created where the water emptied into the Gulf.
In completing 16 research cruises and collaboratively sharing data with other programs, the Texas A&M researchers have already collected tens of thousands of data points through their hypoxia studies. More than 50 Texas A&M graduate students have participated in the project, logging more than 1,000 student days at sea. The work has also led to collaborative studies of hypoxia in other regions of the world, specifically the Yangtze and Huanghe (Yellow) rivers in China.
[Source: Texas A&M University news release]
Map of the Day: California’s Agricultural Land Cover—2007 Cropland
In ESRI, GIS, Map of the Day on October 21, 2009 at 6:31 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“This map focuses on crop-specific land cover by identifying over forty crop categories and also includes major noncrop categories. The categorized Cropland Data Layer imagery shown on the map was produced by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“A decision-tree classification approach was applied using ground-truth data from NASS and the USDA Farm Service Agency; a combination of satellite imagery from Indian Remote Sensing Advanced Wide Field Sensor, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer sensors; and ancillary data sources.
“Courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service.”
Spatial Trends of Breast and Prostate Cancers in the United States, 2000 and 2005
In GIS, Geography, Science, Spatial Analysis, Statistics on October 21, 2009 at 6:31 am…from the International Journal of Health Geographics 2009, 8:53…
Rakesh Mandal, Sophie St-Hilaire, John G Kie, DeWayne Derryberry
“Background
“Breast cancer in females and prostate cancer in males are two of the most common cancers in the United States, and the literature suggests that they share similar features. However, it is unknown whether the occurrence of these two cancers at the county level in the United States is correlated. We analyzed Caucasian age-adjusted county level average annual incidence rates for breast and prostate cancers from the National Cancer Institute and State Cancer Registries to determine whether there was a spatial correlation between the two conditions and whether the two cancers had similar spatial patterns.
“Results
“There was a significant correlation between breast and prostate cancers by county (r =0.332, p<0.001). This relationship was more pronounced when we performed a geographically- weighted regression (GWR) analysis (r =0.552) adjusting for county unemployment rates. There was variation in the parameter estimates derived with the GWR; however, the majority of the estimates indicted a positive association. The strongest relationship between breast and prostate cancers was in the eastern parts of the Midwest and South, and the Southeastern U.S. We also observed a north-south pattern for both cancers with our cluster analyses. Clusters of counties with high cancer incidence rates were more frequently found in the North and clusters of counties with low incidence rates were predominantly in the South.
“Conclusion
“Our analyses suggest breast and prostate cancers cluster spatially. This finding corroborates other studies that have found these two cancers share similar risk factors. The north-south distribution observed for both cancers warrants further research to determine what is driving this spatial pattern.”
- Read the article [PDF]
Assessing Economic Biomass Resources in California with GIS
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Green Technologies on October 21, 2009 at 6:29 am
…from the Fall 2009 issue of ArcNews…
“California has a large and diverse biomass resource base that could potentially provide the state with renewable energy, according to research from the California Biomass Collaborative. Feedstock for biomass energy production in California comes from forestry and forest products; agriculture; and urban sources, such as municipal wastes. Biomass may also emerge in the form of new crops as the state moves to reduce consumption of fossil fuels and petrochemical feedstock and use more sustainable and renewable resources for energy and products.
“In a recent report, the California Energy Commission asserted that dedicated biomass crops for energy, fuels, chemicals, and other bioproducts may develop given sufficient market incentives or in association with new agronomic practices.”
Quote of the Day
In Quotes on October 21, 2009 at 6:29 am“Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road.”
–Stewart Brand
Disease Mapping: GIS Helps in Pandemic Preparation
In ESRI, GIS, Science on October 20, 2009 at 3:51 pm…from Western Australia Today…
“New technologies will allow corporations to gain a much better understanding of how a pandemic would affect the smooth running of their businesses. Interestingly, a technology known as geographic information systems being developed for use by modern corporations to understand where disease clusters are located has its origins in the 19th century.
““Disease mapping developed during the 1830s cholera outbreak in the UK. Post-epidemic, information from doctors about the number of cases that presented at their surgeries was collected, which was used to develop maps with dots representing cholera cases. The maps tracked the spread of the illness over time and clearly showed disease clusters around ports like Liverpool and Manchester, and also accounted for ancillary factors such as how the disease spread through the British canal system,” explains Francisco Urbina, manager of business development strategy at location intelligence company, ESRI Australia, which develops GIS solutions.
“Although GIS technology has come a long way since the mapping techniques used in the 1830s, the principles behind disease mapping remain the same.”
Greenprint Priority for Microsoft Surface: New Demo from ESRI’s Application Prototype Lab
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Video on October 20, 2009 at 1:12 pm“The following demonstration uses the Surface to display a map of an area and instructs a remote mapping server to perform intensive suitability analysis. The parameters for the analysis are on the right hand side of the screen and the results are displayed on the left. This demonstrates how the Surface can be used to perform “what if” environmental analysis.”
“Earth Science, Web 2.0+, and Geospatial Applications” to be Presented at ScienceOnline2010
In Climate Change, Environmental Science, GIS, Geography, Science, Visualization on October 20, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Jacqueline Floyd and Chris Rowan will co-chair a session titled “Earth Science, Web 2.0+, and Geospatial Applications” at the ScienceOnline2010 conference at Research Triangle Park, NC, which will be held 14 to 17 January 2010. “We will discuss online and mobile applications for earth science research, including solid earth, ocean, and atmosphere subtopics. Current topics planned for discussion are Google Earth for geospatial applications, iPhone and other mobile applications, collaboration tools such as Google Wave, and cloud computing platforms such as Amazon’s EC2 for computationally intensive applications such as seismic tomography or climate modeling. Also, we’ll discuss web analytics: defining and measuring what makes a science website or online application successful.”
Cartogram of Global CO2 Emissions in ArcGIS
In Climate Change, ESRI, GIS on October 20, 2009 at 12:29 pm…reposted from the ESRI GIS Education Community blog…
Cartograms, because they distort our normal view of things, are wonderfully rich research and teaching tools. A distance cartogram shows relative travel times and directions within a network. An area cartogram is a map in which some variable is used instead of the land area in each polygon to compute the size of that polygon. Many of us remember using graph paper to make rectangular area cartograms as undergraduates (but perhaps I am dating myself). Today, one can use Web GIS and desktop GIS to create cartograms. For example, nearly 700 variables can be mapped on www.worldmapper.org, and the data can be downloaded as Excel spreadsheets and analyzed within ArcGIS.
To dig deeper and make your own cartograms, with the ability to do bivariate analysis within a GIS environment, use the ArcScript cartogram tool that Tom Gross in the ESRI Applications Prototype Lab created, on: http://arcscripts.esri.com/details.asp?dbid=15638. How can a GIS, which focuses on the accurate spatial representations of features, be used to create cartograms? Try this script and find out!
Once you install the cartogram tool, inside ArcMap, access ArcToolbox. Create a toolset, add the cartogram tool, and run it. The intuitive interface allows specifying input and output, and even comes with a nice assortment of international population and other variables to practice on. You can distort the base layers so that your cartogram can include the distorted layers for reference. I did this for cities, a 30-degree world grid, and a satellite image of the Earth to see these reference layers overlaid on my cartogram.
In this example, I chose to map the total CO2 emissions by country in 2004, in millions of metric tons, from the US Energy Information Agency. What patterns do you notice?
The cartogram map layer has to be written into a geodatabase, but otherwise, the tool has few restrictions. I am very pleased cartographically with the results, and the methodology of how the cartograms are generated is well documented.
What other variables and scales could you map and analyze as cartograms?
Virginia Space Grant Consortium Project to Build Geospatial Technology Web Portal
In Education, GIS on October 20, 2009 at 11:16 amThe Virginia Space Grant Consortium has been awarded a grant of $894,228 by the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program (NSF-ATE) for the Geospatial Technician Education through Virginia’s Community Colleges (GTEVCC) project. Project partners include the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), John Tyler Community College, Tidewater Community College, Virginia Western Community College, and the Virginia Geospatial Extension Program at Virginia Tech.
The vision of the GTEVCC project is to establish academic pathways in geospatial technology (technologies such as geographic information systems/global positioning systems/remote sensing) at three community colleges in the VCCS that will provide Virginia employers with a larger pool of skilled geospatial technicians. These academic pathways will serve as model programs for other community colleges.
The GTEVCC project will include educational materials development, adaptation, and implementation, and will provide professional development and mentoring for faculty and high school teachers. Each college will develop a certificate program in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and update their existing GIS courses and programs to better reflect the employer’s needs. The curriculum developed through the GTEVCC project will be driven by the needs of business and industry in the Commonwealth.
The project team will create and maintain a geospatial technology web portal to serve as a repository for pathway models, curriculum, professional development materials, career awareness materials and other resources. The project team will also develop geospatial technology career awareness resources and materials to be shared statewide.
“We’re delighted with this NSF grant that will allow our colleges to remain at the cutting-edge of an exciting and growing field, “said Dr. Glenn DuBois, Chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges. “It’s yet another example of the partnerships that our colleges build with one another, business and industry, and higher education institutions. Most importantly, this continuing partnership with the Virginia Space Grant Consortium will lead individuals to jobs, and it will reap increasing rewards and workforce development opportunities for communities and businesses across Virginia,” said Dr. DuBois.
Chris Carter, VSGC Assistant Director, states, “The VSGC is honored to lead the GTEVCC effort on behalf of the VCCS, the partnering community colleges, and the Virginia Geospatial Extension Program. The VCCS has a strong commitment to geospatial technology education and meeting the needs of employers across the Commonwealth. Virginia is lucky to have such a large and dedicated group of professionals and educators in the geospatial technology field. I am very proud of the collaboration and effort of the GTEVCC team that has already accomplished so much through our planning grant. I look forward to the next three years working with this team.”
The benefits of this partnership are recognized by business and industry representatives. Russell Minich, Principal with the Timmons Group has been a participant on the project since the planning team first met several years ago. “The NSF-funded GTEVCC project is GREAT news for the partnering community colleges, the VCCS and the Commonwealth. I really look forward to serving on the advisory committee and providing the business community prospective. We are the major consumers of the community college product, a trained workforce,” Minich stated.
NSF’s ATE program supports the development of technicians in emerging fields, recognizing the need to inspire, motivate, and empower students to develop and achieve career goals. NSF funds ATE projects that focus on developing partnerships between community colleges, other higher education institutions and employers to provide workforce development and education of science and engineering technicians at the undergraduate and secondary school levels.
[Source: Virginia Space Grant Consortium announcement]
Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources Receives Award for GIS Use
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS on October 20, 2009 at 10:48 am
National Non-Profit Uses ESRI Technology to Improve Environmental Risk Management of First Nation Fuel Storage Tanks and Waste Sites
ESRI Canada today presented an Award of Excellence to the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) for leveraging geographic information system (GIS) technology to establish an environmental risk reporting system and promote the use of GIS within First Nations. The award was presented at the 2009 ESRI Regional User Conference in Winnipeg.
“ESRI Canada’s solutions have been helping organizations in public and private sectors for 25 years to make more informed environmental decisions and achieve sustainability,” said James Wickson, Vice President of Sales and Professional Services, ESRI Canada. “We commend CIER for its leadership and vision in using GIS technology to monitor, protect and preserve First Nation resources and increasing collaboration among communities and governments.”
CIER is a First Nations environmental non-profit charity established in 1994 by First Nation leaders from across Canada to develop and implement sustainable solutions to address environmental issues affecting First Nations lands and resources. CIER initiated the Fuel Storage Tank and Waste Site Inventory Assessment Project in 2007 focusing on First Nations in Ontario, with federal funding from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). The goals of the project are to: obtain a complete assessment of fuel storage tanks and waste sites in First Nations in Ontario; assess the environmental risk and dollar value associated with this risk for fuel storage tanks and solid waste disposal sites; draft management policies on storage tanks and waste sites; and establish 3- and 10-year action plans to meet these policies. The project commenced in Spring 2007 and will be completed in Spring 2010, with all 135 First Nations in Ontario having been investigated for inclusion in the inventory.
CIER required a comprehensive GIS to collect global positioning system (GPS) points and add spatial data for fuel storage tanks and waste disposal sites in each First Nation and its respective reserve. CIER chose ESRI ArcGIS technology because it delivers a complete suite of GIS software that provides a scalable platform for spatial analysis, data management and mapping. It also supports the sharing of geographic information and GIS capabilities on servers, desktops, mobile devices and over the Web.
CIER partnered with Map It Out Inc. and KGS Group to develop the necessary tools, and used ArcGIS to build an inventory collection and risk-reporting system. This involved gathering spatial, qualitative and quantitative data, conducting data quality assurance testing, entering spatial information into a Web-based application powered by ArcGIS, and assigning symbols representing each site’s condition. The resulting application supports the prioritization and development of action plans for site remediation and replacement of at-risk fuel storage tanks. All of the data collected is accessible to INAC and First Nations through a website, providing pertinent and current information that can be used to support decision-making related to the management of these sites.
“Being able to make decisions based on spatial data has significantly enhanced decision-making in our organization,” said Steven DeRoy, Research Associate and GIS Specialist, CIER. “ESRI GIS has improved our capacity to help First Nations understand, analyze and act on the environmental issues affecting them. The success of this project opens up many opportunities to apply GIS in other areas of our operations.”
ArcGIS has also enabled CIER to automate data entry, significantly reducing the costs of site inspections from $7,000 to $3,500 per site.
The fuel tanks and waste disposal sites assessment project has become a model for future CIER projects to draw upon in the areas of housing, drinking water and wastewater management. CIER also plans to expand the geographic scope of site inventories to enable risk monitoring of First Nation reserves across Canada using a single GIS application.
[Source: ESRI Canada news release]
LizardTech Introduces Free MrSID Plug-in for ArcGIS 3D Analyst
In ESRI, GIS, Imagery on October 20, 2009 at 10:45 amLizardTech, a division of Celartem Inc. and a provider of software solutions for managing and distributing geospatial content, announced the release of the MrSID Plug-in for ArcGIS 3D Analyst at the GEOINT 2009 Symposium in San Antonio, Texas, hosted by the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) October 19-21, 2009. LizardTech is exhibiting in booth #517.
Until now, LizardTech’s customers, who widely use ArcGIS 3D Analyst, were not able to load point cloud datasets that were compressed to MrSID Generation 4 using LiDAR Compressor into ESRI’s 3D Analyst product. However, with the release of this free plug-in, 3D Analyst users can load point cloud datasets compressed to MrSID Generation 4 to create surfaces for use in line-of-sight and terrain modeling, visualization, and spatial analysis.
“LizardTech’s goal is to give customers tools for using their point cloud data compressed with LiDAR Compressor in the applications they use every day,” said Jon Skiffington, LizardTech director of marketing. “Many of our customers use ArcGIS, but were not able to use it with MrSID files created in LiDAR Compressor. Now our customers can easily load point cloud datasets compressed to MrSID Generation 4 into ESRI’s 3D Analyst product.”
The free MrSID Plug-in for ArcGIS 3D Analyst is available for download here: http://www.lizardtech.com/MrSID.html
Computer Science Corporation Wins Information Technology Contract from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
In Environmental Science, GIS on October 20, 2009 at 10:39 amComputer Science Corporation (CSC) announced today that it is one of seven companies awarded a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) for information technology (IT) support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The BPA has a seven-year performance period and an estimated maximum total ceiling value of $955 million for all firms. Awarded to CSC during the company’s second quarter fiscal year 2010, which ended on October 2, 2009, this contract follows and is incremental to the Information Technology Solutions EPA contract CSC has held since 2002.
Under the terms of the agreement, CSC will compete for task orders to provide services, including server and storage management, high-performance computing, geospatial support, IT security, call center operations, telecommunications and video conferencing.
“We understand that cost-effective IT infrastructure support is crucial to the EPA’s mission of protecting human health and the environment,” said Tom Anderson, president of CSC’s North American Public Sector Civil and Government Health Services Group. “CSC has a 30-year track record of successful service delivery to the EPA and an ongoing commitment to innovation. We look forward to playing an instrumental role in helping the agency increase efficiency, effectiveness and integration, while reducing IT services costs.”
For more information about CSC’s environmental solutions, visit csc.com/environment.
[Source: CSC news release]
USGS Seeks Proposals to Build the National Spatial Data Infrastructure
In GIS, Geography, SDI on October 20, 2009 at 10:36 amUSGS and the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) formally announced their request for proposals to support the 2010 National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Cooperative Agreements Program (CAP). With over $1.3 million spread across seven categories, the 2010 NSDI CAP will award an estimated 31 innovative projects in the geospatial data community. The goals of the awarded projects will be to develop partnerships and to build new and improve existing geospatial infrastructure necessary to effectively discover, access, share, manage and use geospatial assets.
In 2009, NSDI CAP awarded a total of 25 projects, totaling close to $1.3 million. One of the 2009 categories is helping States develop strategic and business plans that will support the coordination of programs, policies, technologies, and resources related to all aspects of geospatial information. See the full list of the 2009 NSDI CAP projects online.
To date the annual NSDI CAP awards have supported metadata creation and service, outreach and coordination, standards implementation, partnership development, State strategic and business plan development, map and geospatial data services deployment, geo-enablement of data, and NSDI training. All levels of government, academia, and private sector have participated in this national effort to implement the NSDI. Since 1994 CAP awards have played a substantial role in advancing and propagating the tenets of the NSDI to thousands of practitioners.
2010 NSDI CAP proposals need to be submitted via Grants.gov by January 7, 2010. The awarded projects scheduled to be announced by USGS/FGDC contracts officer in February 2010 with obligated work to begin on each project by September 30, 2010. More information is available at the FGDC proposal submissions site. To apply go to grants.gov.
The FGDC, which is hosted by the USGS, sponsors the NSDI CAP to promote the technologies, standards, best practices and organizational collaboration vital to data integration, partnerships for data investment and speedy delivery of geospatial products to support government.
For more information on this program, please contact Gita Urban-Mathieux: burbanma@usgs.gov or 703-648-5175. For further information on FGDC NSDI CAP Grants: www.fgdc.gov; contact the FGDC Secretariat, c/o U.S. Geological Survey, 590 National Center, Reston, VA 20192; fax 703-648-5755.
[Source: USGS news release]
GIS to Meet Renewable Energy Goals
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Green Technologies on October 20, 2009 at 10:17 am
…from the Fall 2009 issue of ArcNews…
“Throughout the developed world, there is ongoing interest in renewable energy as a replacement for traditional fossil fuel. Wind farms are cropping up around the world, and the sunniest spots are slated for solar power potential, while additional significant strides are being made to expand geothermal, tidal, biomass, and other types of generation. Motives for renewable energy development vary from place to place, but the recurring theme is a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions—a smaller carbon footprint. All agree on the need to tread more lightly, and with GIS technology, the path to renewable energy is becoming clearer.
“The identification of areas technically suitable for renewable generation involves the collection of existing information, such as historical wind speed and direction, terrain and slope information, and solar radiation. Data must be analyzed for currency, accuracy, and completeness. Further data collection may be required.”
ESRI Brings GIS to the Public with Mapping for Everyone Web Site
In Citizen Science, ESRI, GIS, Visualization on October 20, 2009 at 10:16 am
Online Resource Offers Three Simple Ways to Make Maps for Free
ESRI has launched a Web site that allows users to create maps for free with simple geographic information system (GIS) tools. Called Mapping for Everyone, the Web site includes tools that cover a range of mapping needs, such as embedding an interactive demographic map into a Web site, creating custom applications using Web Mapping APIs, and using a 2D/3D globe viewer on the desktop.
Mapping for Everyone contains the following mapping resources:
Make a Map—The Make a Map feature includes a simple interactive Web map showing seven different U.S. demographic layers. Visitors can zoom in to an area of interest, select a demographic layer, then embed the map into their own Web pages simply by copying and pasting the automatically generated HTML.
Web Mapping APIs—Visitors can access or download ArcGIS Web Mapping APIs to make their maps. Web Mapping APIs allow users to develop rich, interactive applications using JavaScript, Flex, and/or Silverlight. The page includes step-by-step instructions for installing the APIs, samples to help visitors get started, free map layers, and a gallery of live user sites where visitors can get ideas from applications other people have built. Web Mapping APIs are free for noncommercial use.
Virtual Globe Viewer—A third mapping option is ArcGIS Explorer, ESRI’s free virtual globe viewer. Using ArcGIS Explorer, users can explore the world in 2D and 3D using both their own data and free available data from the ESRI Web site. In addition to the ArcGIS Explorer download, the virtual globe page gives visitors easy access to map layers that they can add to ArcGIS Explorer, such as topographic maps, shaded relief, and world transportation. Once visitors become familiar with ArcGIS Explorer, they can also visit this page to find free add-ins that extend the software’s capabilities.
Mapping for Everyone also includes a Community section where visitors can ask questions and collaborate with others. This section also provides access to ESRI’s ArcGIS Explorer and Web Mapping API blogs.
Visit www.esri.com/mapping to get started making your free maps.
[Source: ESRI news release]
Building an Oasis in the Desert: GIS Helps Ensure that Masdar City Meets Its Carbon-Neutral, Zero-Waste Goals
In Climate Change, ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Green Technologies on October 20, 2009 at 6:07 am
…from the Fall 2009 issue of ArcNews…
Highlights:
- Every facet of designing and building the city will be analyzed with ArcGIS.
- Asset management using ArcGIS means all systems can be visualized, maintained, and tracked efficiently.
- An enterprise geodatabase will be used throughout the city’s life cycle.
“Many of us are interested in decreasing our carbon footprint, whether one individual, one family, or one organization at a time. Imagine living in an entire city specifically designed to meet the ambitious goals of zero waste; sustainable living; and, ultimately, carbon neutrality. This is the vision of Masdar City, which is being designed and constructed in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multifaceted initiative advancing the development, commercialization, and deployment of renewable and alternative energy technologies and solutions. Masdar, which means “the source” in Arabic, integrates the full technology life cycle—from research to commercial deployment. The Masdar company aims to create renewable energy solutions.”
Variable Selection for Spatial Random Field Predictors Under a Bayesian Mixed Hierarchical Spatial Model
In Geography, Modeling, Science, Spatial Analysis, Statistics on October 20, 2009 at 6:04 am
…in Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Epidemiology, Volume 1, Issue 1…
Ji-in Kim, Andrew B. Lawson, Suzanne McDermott, C. Marjorie Aelion
“A health outcome can be observed at a spatial location and we wish to relate this to a set of environmental measurements made on a sampling grid. The environmental measurements are covariates in the model but due to the interpolation associated with the grid there is an error inherent in the covariate value used at the outcome location. Since there may be multiple measurements made on different covariates there could be considerable uncertainty in the covariate values to be used. In this paper we examine a Bayesian approach to the interpolation problem and also a Bayesian solution to the variable selection issue. We present a series of simulations which outline the problem of recovering the true relationships, and also provide an empirical example.”
Quote of the Day
In Quotes on October 20, 2009 at 6:04 am“Mystery creates wonder, and wonder is the basis for man’s desire to understand. Who knows what mysteries will be solved in our lifetime, and what new riddles will become the challenges of the new generations?”
–Neil Armstrong, 1969
Map of the Day: Geological Map of Trans-Altai Gobi
In ESRI, GIS, Map of the Day on October 20, 2009 at 6:02 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“Mongolia is a country of enormous mineral potential that attracts geologists and mining companies from all over the world. This creates a large demand for high-quality geological maps.
“The Trans-Altai Gobi is a remote desert area of the southwestern wedge of Mongolia along the border with China. Part of the Trans-Altai Gobi belongs to the Great Gobi Protected Area, which was established in 1975 to protect a largely undisturbed part of the vast Gobi Desert and to provide a refuge for the ancient terrestrial fauna of Central Asia. In 1991, the United Nations designated the Great Gobi as an international biosphere reserve.
“One of the projects of a long-standing geological cooperation between Mongolia and the Czech Republic was oriented toward the geological mapping and geochemical reconnaissance of the Trans-Altai Gobi at a scale of 1:200,000. The map of the Trans-Altai Gobi at a scale of 1:500,000, published by Czech Geological Survey in 2008, is the summation of this work. All data was maintained in ESRI geodatabase format and cartographically processed in the ArcGIS environment.
“Courtesy of Czech Geological Survey.”
Quote of the Day
In Science on October 19, 2009 at 7:58 am“There are good things to see in the tide pools and there are exciting and interesting thoughts to be generated from the seeing.”
–Ed Ricketts
Modelling Individual Space–time Exposure Opportunities: A Novel Approach to Unravelling the Genetic or Environment Disease Causation Debate
In Geography, Science, Spatial Analysis, Temporal Analysis on October 19, 2009 at 7:53 am…in Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Epidemiology, Volume 1, Issue 1…
Clive E. Sabel, Paul Boyle, Gillian Raab, Markku Löytönen, Paula Maasilta
“The aetiology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is uncertain. While around 10% is assumed to be inherited, the relative influence of genetic versus physical or social environmental factors (or some combination of the two) has yet to be determined.
“A previous study identified significant clustering of ALS at the time of birth in south-east Finland and this could support either a genetic or an environmental hypothesis. We know that south-east Finland is an environmentally degraded area, but the population in this region may also be genetically susceptible to this condition.
“We therefore extend this research by comparing the lifetime residential histories of 1000 ALS cases and 1000 controls matched by birth date, sex and municipality of birth. By focusing on those who originated in the south-east, and comparing the subsequent residential mobility of these two groups, we test whether remaining in south-east Finland is more common among cases than controls and, hence, whether there may be an environmental or genetic influence on ALS associated with that region. Our results indeed suggest that the cases were more likely to remain in south-east Finland after birth, compared to the geographically matched controls. This suggests that moving away is protective, and points towards a risk factor after birth being implicated in the aetiology of the disease.”
Map of the Day: National Commodity Crop Productivity Index
In ESRI, GIS, Map of the Day on October 19, 2009 at 6:55 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“The National Commodity Crop Productivity Index (NCCPI) is a model that uses inherent soil properties, landscape features, and climatic characteristics to assign ratings for dry-land commodity crops such as wheat, cotton, sorghum, corn, soybeans, and barley. The model arrays Soil Survey Geographic Database map unit components from 0.01 to 1.0; components with the most desirable soil properties, landscape features, and climatic characteristics will display larger NCCPI values than soils with less desirable traits. The maps presented above are part of the Detailed Soil Survey Atlas, a national collection of state-centered maps prepared at a scale of 1:500,000 derived from U.S. Department of Agriculture soil geographic databases.
“Courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.”
Quote of the Day
In Quotes, Science on October 17, 2009 at 4:11 pm“The nations of the world, seeking a basis for their own futures, continually pass judgment on our ability as a nation to make decisions, to concentrate effort, to manage vast and complex technological programs in our own interest. It is not too much to say that in many ways the viability of representative government and of the free enterprise system in a period of revolutionary changes based on science and technology is being tested in space . . . [Society has] reached a point where its progress and even its survival increasingly depend on our ability to organize the complex and do the unusual. We cannot do these things except through large aggregations of resources and power. [It is] revolution from above.”
–James Webb, former NASA Administrator, 16 November 1963
Linking Health and Environmental Data in Geographical Analysis: It’s So Much More than Centroids
In ESRI, GIS, GIScience, Geography, Social Science on October 16, 2009 at 10:52 am…in Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Epidemiology, Volume 1, Issue 1…
Linda J. Young, Carol A. Gotway, Jie Yang, Greg Kearney, Chris DuClos
“Programs and studies increasingly use existing data from multiple sources (e.g., surveillance systems, health registries, or governmental agencies) for analysis and inference. These data usually have been collected on different geographical or spatial units, with each varying from the ones of interest. Combining such disparate data creates statistical challenges. Florida’s efforts to move toward implementing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) program aptly illustrate these concerns, which are typical of studies designed to measure the association between environmental and health outcomes. In this paper, we develop models of spatial associations between myocardial infarctions (MIs) and ambient ozone levels in Florida during August 2005 and use these models to illustrate the problems that can occur when making inferences from aggregated data, the concept of spatial support, and the importance of correct uncertainty assessment. Existing data on hospital discharges and emergency department visits were obtained from Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration. Environmental data were obtained from Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection; sociodemographic data were obtained from the US Census Bureau; and data from CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used to provide additional information on other risk factors. We highlight the opportunities and challenges associated with combining disparate spatial data for EPHT analyses. We compare the results from two different approaches to data linkage, focusing on the need to account for spatial scale and the support of spatial data in the analysis. We use geographically weighted regression, not as a visual mapping tool, but as an inferential tool designed to indicate the need for spatial coefficients, a test that cannot be made by using the majority of Bayesian models. Finally, we use geostatistical simulation methods for uncertainty analysis to demonstrate its importance in models with predicted covariates. Our focus is on relatively simple methods and concepts that can be implemented with ESRI’s ArcGIS software.”
California Governor Schwarzenegger Praises GIS at Oracle Openworld
In GIS on October 16, 2009 at 10:01 am
…from California Governor Schwarzenegger’s remarks at the 2009 Oracle Openworld Conference…
“Now working together, I know that the sky is the limit for you and also your employees. And of course I love seeing all this great action in the private sector. But let’s not forget that’s not the only place where there should be action. Also in the public sector there should be action. The only thing is that six years ago when I became governor, the state of California’s IT was in the dark ages, let me tell you. IT infrastructure was stale and it was outdated, so I hired Teri Takai, who was the head of IT in Michigan and made Michigan be the number one in IT, and we now are moving our way up. First we were not even in the top 20 percent — in the top 20 — now we — then we moved to 15th, then to tenth, now we’re in the top five, and within the next few years we will be also number one in this particular area. So as she –
“The perfect example of the progress that we’re making is if you look at GIS, which is the Geographic Information Systems — I’ve seen that firsthand. GIS is a form of digital mapping technology that our fire departments are now using. So many times when there are big fires, people are wondering why did they have helicopters, you know, at the airport, and why are they not taking off and dumping fire retardant? Well, when there is a lot of fire and there is a lot of smoke and no wind, they cannot see the ground, and therefore they cannot go and dump the fire retardant at that time. They’re waiting for a little wind to take that smoke away.
“But now through this technology, digital mapping technology, our fire departments are using this continuously and through big firestorms it allows firefighters to see through that smoke, giving them more accurate and realtime view of the conditions on the ground. Think for a second about the awesome power of this technology. That information could quite literally make the difference between life and death, make the difference between a home burning or not. And like I said, I’ve seen it firsthand, the kind of advantages that the fire departments have. And of course, California’s — we have already the best trained and the most courageous firefighters in the world, but with the great technology that they have it makes them literally the best in the world. There’s no two ways about that.
“So as you can see, technology not only is some abstract concept. If it is where they’re saving homes from a fire, or saving lives through medical technology, or cleaning the air that our children breathe, or making our businesses more efficient, technology’s impact is in flesh and blood. All across this state and all around the world I’ve seen the infinite limits of technology. I’ve seen the infinite limits of the human potential, and that is why even though that we are in the midst of a crisis, of an economic crisis, and we’re going through tough times, I’ve never seen — been more confident about the future. I am confident about the future because of all of you, because while it is true that we face enormous challenges in the next ten, 15 or 20 years, but stop for a moment and just think back 30 years ago. Could you have imagined the progress that we have made in these last 30 years? Computers, the internet, DNA, GPS, catalytic converters, global networking, email, the cell phones that are the size of a fist, and so on. The list goes on and on.”
Visualizing Climate Change with ArcGIS Explorer
In Climate Change, ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Science, Visualization on October 16, 2009 at 7:20 amArGIS Explorer shows extreme hail (yellow), tornados (red), winds storms (green), and hurricanes (blue).
Map of the Day: The Plains CO2 Reduction Partnership Region
In Climate Change, ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Map of the Day on October 16, 2009 at 4:53 am…from the Map Book, Volume 23…
“Although uncertainty still clouds the science of climate change, there is a strong indication that the signficant reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is needed. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) offers a promising set of technologies through which carbon dioxide (CO2) and potentially other GHGs can be stored in sinks represented by biologic materials and geologic formations. Within central North America, the Plains CO2 Reduction (PCOR) Partnership is investigating CCS technologies in order to provide a safe, effective, and efficient means of managing carbon dioxide emissions across the center of the continent.
“The PCOR Partnership confirmed that while there are numerous large stationary CO2 sources, the region also has a variety of sinks that represent a tremendous capacity for CO2 sequestration.
“The map was created to provide an understanding of the number and extent of large stationary CO2 sources in central North America. The map also depicts the distribution and extent of oil fields and major sedimentary basins in this region. Many oil fields and deep strata in the basins are suitable targets for the safe, long-term sequestration of CO2.
“Courtesy of University of North Dakota, Energy & Environmental Research Center, 2008.”
Quote of the Day
In Environmental Science, Quotes, Science on October 16, 2009 at 4:53 am“You have noticed how, quite suddenly, everybody has become seriously concerned to protect the natural environment. It happened almost overnight, and one can understand how one can ask the question, ‘Where did this idea come from?’ You could say, of course, from biologists, from conservationists, from ecologists, but after all, they’ve really been saying these things for many years past, and previously they’ve never even got on base. Something new has happened to create a worldwide awareness of our planet as a unique and precious place. It seems to me more than a coincidence that this awareness should have happened at exactly the moment man took his first step into space.”
–Fred Hoyle, Astrophysicist, after Apollo 11
Comparison of Tests for Spatial Heterogeneity on Data with Global Clustering Patterns and Outliers
In GIS, Geography, Spatial Analysis on October 16, 2009 at 4:52 am
…from the International Journal of Health Geographics 2009, 8:55…
Monica C Jackson, Lan Huang, Jun Luo, Mark Hachey, Eric Feuer
“Background
“The ability to evaluate geographic heterogeneity of cancer incidence and mortality is important in cancer surveillance. Many statistical methods for evaluating global clustering and local cluster patterns are developed and have been examined by many simulation studies. However, the performance of these methods on two extreme cases (global clustering evaluation and local anomaly (outlier) detection) has not been thoroughly investigated.
“Methods
“We compare methods for global clustering evaluation including Tango’s Index, Moran’s I, and Oden’s I*pop; and cluster detection methods such as local Moran’s I and SaTScan elliptic version on simulated count data that mimic global clustering patterns and outliers for cancer cases in the continental United States. We examine the power and precision of the selected methods in the purely spatial analysis. We illustrate Tango’s MEET and SaTScan elliptic version on a 1987-2004 HIV and a 1950-1969 lung cancer mortality data in the United States.
“Results
“For simulated data with outlier patterns, Tango’s MEET, Moran’s I and I*pop had powers less than 0.2, and SaTScan had powers around 0.97. For simulated data with global clustering patterns, Tango’s MEET and I*pop (with 50% of total population as the maximum search window) had powers close to 1. SaTScan had powers around 0.7-0.8 and Moran’s I has powers around 0.2-0.3. In the real data example, Tango’s MEET indicated the existence of global clustering patterns in both the HIV and lung cancer mortality data. SaTScan found a large cluster for HIV mortality rates, which is consistent with the finding from Tango’s MEET. SaTScan also found clusters and outliers in the lung cancer mortality data.
“Conclusions
“SaTScan elliptic version is more efficient for outlier detection compared with the other methods evaluated in this article. Tango’s MEET and Oden’s I*pop perform best in global clustering scenarios among the selected methods. The use of SaTScan for data with global clustering patterns should be used with caution since SatScan may reveal an incorrect spatial pattern even though it has enough power to reject a null hypothesis of homogeneous relative risk. Tango’s method should be used for global clustering evaluation instead of SaTScan.”
- Read the article [PDF]
New Peer-reviewed Scientific Journal: Spatial and Spatio-temporal Epidemiology
In GIS, Geography, Science, Social Science, Spatial Analysis, Temporal Analysis on October 15, 2009 at 12:50 pmElsevier, a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services announced today the launch of a new peer-reviewed scientific journal, Spatial and Spatio-temporal Epidemiology (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/sste). The first issue was published in September 2009 and will be a primary forum for academics and scholars in the growing fields of graphical information systems, epidemiology, exposure science, and spatial statistics.
Spatial and Spatio-temporal Epidemiology will publish a broad range of topics relating to geospatial health methodology. The journal focuses on answering epidemiological questions where spatial and spatio-temporal approaches are appropriate to help advance our understanding of infectious and non-infectious diseases in humans. Veterinary topics will also be included. The journal places special emphasis on spatio-temporal aspects of emerging diseases (e.g., avian flu, SARS), development of spatial statistical and computational methods, and novel applications of geospatial technology (e.g., GPS, GIS) for shedding insights on exposure and disease processes.
The Editorial Board will be led by the internationally recognized scholar Professor Andrew B. Lawson, Division of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, USA.
“Spatial and Spatio-temporal Epidemiology is the premier vehicle for novel developments and advances in the area of geospatial health methodology,” commented Professor Andrew B. Lawson, “In this outlet we hope to attract state of the art papers describing the latest advances in methodology in application to spatial and spatio-temporal epidemiology.”
Jane Ma, Executive Publisher at Elsevier commented; “H1N1 is one of the world’s greatest challenges for public health. It requires experts from a number of specialties to ensure this challenge is dealt with effectively. Spatial and Spatio-temporal Epidemiology uniquely draws together key research from across the medical, social science and statistics disciplines to address key health issues such as H1N1, Avian ‘flu and cancer clustering in an effort to provide a more holistic approach to epidemiological questions and how space and time impact on these.”
[Source: Elsevier news release]
DOI Demonstrates Climate Change with ArcGIS Explorer: Visualizing Environmental Impacts Shows Need for New Strategy
In Climate Change, ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS on October 15, 2009 at 10:49 amSecretary of the Interior Ken Salazar recently signed an order to establish a coordinated strategy within the United States Department of the Interior (DOI) to improve response to climate change. During the press conference announcing the order, DOI staff used ESRI geographic information system (GIS) technology to demonstrate the current and future impacts of global climate change.
“I’m issuing the order because the Department of Interior must continue to change how it does business and to respond to the energy and climate change challenges which I consider to be the signature issues of the twenty-first century,” said Salazar.
Science adviser Kit Batten and enterprise geographic information management lead Robert R. Pierce, Ph.D., used ArcGIS Explorer to show where on the globe climate change is taking place and what that change looks like. “This is a live demonstration,” said Batten. “It demonstrates how Interior’s scientific expertise, data resources, and geospatial analysis and visualization capabilities help us understand, anticipate, and deal with the impacts of climate change.”
Batten used ArcGIS Explorer to show a 3D globe indicating increases in surface temperatures around the world and where warming negatively impacts the United States. Map points indicated incidents of extreme weather, such as large hail and strong tornados, and lines showed the paths of intense hurricanes.
Batten also explained that as greenhouse gases continue to warm the environment and cause glaciers and permafrost to melt, scientists anticipate sea-level rises of up to one meter by the end of the century. The ArcGIS Explorer globe showed potential impacts to coastal communities. “This information is imperative for designing strategies to protect our low-lying coastal communities,” she said.
To better manage these and many other environmental impacts, Secretary Salazar’s order includes establishing a Climate Change Response Council and Regional Climate Change Response Centers, creating a network of Landscape Conservation Cooperatives, overseeing the DOI Carbon Storage Project, and lowering the department’s carbon footprint.
DOI will continue to leverage its investment in GIS technology for complex data analysis, data sharing, and collaboration with government agencies to address the vast nature of climate change challenges.
To see the demonstration, visit www.doi.gov/climatechange. To learn more about ArcGIS Explorer, visit www.esri.com/arcgisexplorer.
[Source: ESRI news release]
Satellite Images of Nighttime Lights Give Clues to GDP
In Geography, Imagery, Social Science on October 15, 2009 at 7:24 am
…from gajitz.com…
“Economists are always interested in tracking the economic progress of countries around the world. However, that’s a difficult thing to do in undeveloped countries where records are rarely kept. Many countries do not even appear in the Penn World Tables, one of the most trusted compendiums of world economic data. Researchers at Brown University think that they’ve come up with an ingenious way of tracking the gross domestic product (GDP) of developing countries: they’ll do it from space.”
Cutting-Edge Mobile GIS Resources for Forestry: Free Webinar, 04 November 2009
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS on October 15, 2009 at 7:20 amWednesday, 04 November 2009, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time
Cutting Edge Mobile GIS Resources for Forestry
Each quarter, the ESRI Forestry Group (EFG) hosts a free Webinar for EFG members. These online events help forestry professionals worldwide improve efficiencies and lower costs in forestry and land management organizations of all sizes. Join us and learn the latest in mobile GIS software.
See the Business Value of Mobile GIS for Your Organization
Whatever your GIS experience, you’ll take away ideas and tools you can put to work immediately. From senior executives to GIS professionals, this Webinar will help you widen the scope of your GIS investment. Take advantage of this chance to explore practical solutions and hear mobile GIS success stories firsthand from your peers.
What You’ll Experience
• Get updated on how mobile GIS is being used in the forest industry including furthering field data collection activities, enhancing interoperability, and optimizing the management of inventory infrastructure.
• See real-world, insightful user presentations and learn how others have integrated mobile GIS into their existing business systems and solved problems, addressed issues, and improved decision making.
• Connect with ESRI staff and solutions providers and pose your questions.
Featured speakers include:
• Mark Books, CF Remote Sensing/GIS Forester and EFG President Fort A.P. Hill, VA
• Elizabeth Martinez Dir GIS / IT and EFG Vice-President, The Forestland Group Chapel Hill, NC
• Christopher W. Gerecke Director of Enterprise Solutions, Timmons Group Richmond, VA
• Myles Sutherland Mobile Product Manager, ESRI Redlands, CA
• Jim Skillings Vice President, Business Division, DeLorme Yarmouth, ME
View the FREE one-hour Webinar right from your desktop.
Free Data Set: Greenhouse Gas Flux Between the Land and Atmosphere for Major Regions of the World
In Climate Change, Environmental Science, Science on October 15, 2009 at 7:13 am“The atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) are increasing substantially. These increases are expected to result in global warming and changes in precipitation patterns, and may directly affect terrestrial ecosystems. Our understanding of the contemporary fluxes of these gases between the land and atmosphere is incomplete. There are large regions of the earth for which we have very little information on trace gas fluxes. Furthermore, for no region do we fully understand how global change, including land-use change, will affect gas fluxes. The United States Trace Gas Network (TRAGNET) is meant to accomplish the following two goals: document contemporary fluxes of CO2, CH4 and N2O between regionally important ecosystems and the atmosphere, and determine the factors controlling these fluxes and improve our ability to predict future fluxes in response to ecosystem and climate change. Part of this research is supported by the National Science Foundation. Abstract from website http://www.nrel.colostate.edu/projects/tragnet/.”
Quote of the Day
In Climate Change, ESRI, Environmental Science, Quotes on October 15, 2009 at 7:12 am
“People today are very nervous about what is happening on Wall Street and what I am more concerned about is ecological sustainability and global warming issues on the planet, because they are not something that you can go to the bank and borrow more money from. The real sustainability issue and the real economic foundation is nature’s capital, it is not artificial money capital.”
–Jack Dangermond, 2008
Evaluating Geographic Imputation Approaches for ZIP Code Level Data: An Application to a Study of Pediatric Diabetes
In GIS, GIScience on October 15, 2009 at 7:12 am…from the International Journal of Health Geographics 2009, 8:54…
James D. Hibbert, Angela D. Liese, Andrew Lawson, Dwayne E. Porter, Robin C. Puett, Debra Standiford, Lenna Liu, Dana Dabelea
“Background
“There is increasing interest in the study of place effects on health, facilitated in part by geographic information systems. Incomplete or missing address information reduces geocoding success. Several geographic imputation methods have been suggested to overcome this limitation. Accuracy evaluation of these methods can be focused at the level of individuals and at higher group-levels (e.g., spatial distribution).
“Methods
“We evaluated the accuracy of eight geo-imputation methods for address allocation from ZIP codes to census tracts at the individual and group level. The spatial apportioning approaches underlying the imputation methods included four fixed (deterministic) and four random (stochastic) allocation methods using land area, total population, population under age 20, and race/ethnicity as weighting factors. Data included more than 2,000 geocoded cases of diabetes mellitus among youth aged 0-19 in four U.S. regions. The imputed distribution of cases across tracts was compared to the true distribution using a chi-squared statistic.
“Results
At the individual level, population-weighted (total or under age 20) fixed allocation showed the greatest level of accuracy, with correct census tract assignments averaging 30.01% across all regions, followed by the race/ethnicity-weighted random method (23.83%). The true distribution of cases across census tracts was that 58.2% of tracts exhibited no cases, 26.2% had one case, 9.5% had two cases, and less than 3% had three or more. This distribution was best captured by random allocation methods, with no significant differences (p-value > 0.90). However, significant differences in distributions based on fixed allocation methods were found (p-value < 0.0003).
“Conclusion
“Fixed imputation methods seemed to yield greatest accuracy at the individual level, suggesting use for studies on area-level environmental exposures. Fixed methods result in artificial clusters in single census tracts. For studies focusing on spatial distribution of disease, random methods seemed superior, as they most closely replicated the true spatial distribution. When selecting an imputation approach, researchers should consider carefully the study aims.”
- Read the article [PDF]
U.S. DOE’s Renewable Energy Lab Maps Wind Resources with GIS
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Green Technologies on October 15, 2009 at 7:11 am
These maps show how wind resources in Indiana increase with height.
…from the Spring 2009 issue of ArcNews…
Highlights:
- Using ArcGIS Desktop software, the NREL team can determine the most favorable locations for wind farms.
- GIS-based modeling enables analysis of terrain, which significantly impacts the quality of wind at a particular site.
- The primary audience for these maps is government decision makers.
Map of the Day: Determination of Potential Aquifer Recharge Zones Based on Soil Permeability and Slope, Butte County
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Map of the Day on October 15, 2009 at 7:11 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“Some of the feature characteristics of potential aquifer recharge zones are soil permeability values and steepness of slope. In other words, water will tend to sink into the ground more readily in areas where the soil is more permeable and the slope is level or nearly level.
“Soil permeability values and slope steepness values can be represented as layers in a GIS for further analysis. A new layer (Potential Aquifer Recharge Zones) can be created by combining the soil permeability values with the slope steepness values.
“Courtesy of the California Department of Water Resources.”
Arctic Now Traps 25 Percent of World’s Carbon, But That Could Change
In Climate Change, Earth Systems Science, Environmental Science on October 14, 2009 at 2:41 pmThe arctic could potentially alter the Earth’s climate by becoming a possible source of global atmospheric carbon dioxide. The arctic now traps or absorbs up to 25 percent of this gas but climate change could alter that amount, according to a study published in the November issue of Ecological Monographs.
In their review paper, David McGuire of the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Alaska at Fairbanks and his colleagues show that the Arctic has been a carbon sink since the end of the last Ice Age, which has recently accounted for between zero and 25 percent, or up to about 800 million metric tons, of the global carbon sink. On average, says McGuire, the Arctic accounts for 10-15 percent of the Earth’s carbon sink. But the rapid rate of climate change in the Arctic – about twice that of lower latitudes – could eliminate the sink and instead, possibly make the Arctic a source of carbon dioxide.
“This study is another example of the important role played by USGS and its partners in providing the scientific research that must be the backbone of any actions related to climate change,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.
 |
| This figure shows the mean extent of permafrost in the Arctic, estimated for (a) the years 1990-2000 and (b) the years 2090-2100. In (c), the estimation of loss of permafrost by 2100 is overlaid on estimates for the year 2000. Credit: A. David McGuire, USGS (click on the image to see the full size version) |
Carbon generally enters the oceans and land masses of the Arctic from the atmosphere and largely accumulates in permafrost, the frozen layer of soil underneath the land’s surface. Unlike active soils, permafrost does not decompose its carbon; thus, the carbon becomes trapped in the frozen soil. Cold conditions at the surface have also slowed the rate of organic matter decomposition, McGuire says, allowing Arctic carbon accumulation to exceed its release.
But recent warming trends could change this balance. Warmer temperatures can accelerate the rate of surface organic matter decomposition, releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Of greater concern, says McGuire, is that the permafrost has begun to thaw, exposing previously frozen soil to decomposition and erosion. These changes could reverse the historical role of the Arctic as a sink for carbon dioxide.
“In the short term, warming temperatures could release more Arctic carbon to the atmosphere,” says McGuire. “And with permafrost thawing, there will be more available carbon to release.”
On the scale of a few decades, the thawing permafrost could also result in a more waterlogged Arctic, says McGuire, a situation that could encourage the activity of methane-producing organisms. Currently, the Arctic is a substantial source of methane to the atmosphere: as much as 50 million metric tons of methane are released per year, in comparison to the 400 million metric tons of carbon dioxide the Arctic stores yearly. But methane is a very potent greenhouse gas – about 23 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide on a 100-year time scale. If the release of Arctic methane accelerates, global warming could increase at much faster rates.
“We don’t understand methane very well, and its releases to the atmosphere are more episodic than the exchanges of carbon dioxide with the atmosphere,” says McGuire. “It’s important to pay attention to methane dynamics because of methane’s substantial potential to accelerate global warming.”
But uncertainties still abound about the response of the Arctic system to climate change. For example, the authors write, global warming may produce longer growing seasons that promote plant photosynthesis, which removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Also, the expansion of shrubs in tundra and the movement of treeline northward could sequester more carbon in vegetation. However, increasingly dry conditions may counteract and overcome these effects. Similarly, dry conditions can lead to increased fire prevalence, releasing even more carbon.
McGuire contends that only specific regional studies can determine which areas are likely to experience changes in response to climate change.
“If the response of the arctic carbon cycle to climate change results in substantial net releases of greenhouse gases, this could compromise proposed mitigation efforts for controlling the carbon cycle,” he says.
The article, Sensitivity of the Carbon Cycle in the Arctic to Climate Change, was published online today in Ecological Monographs. The coordinating lead author is David McGuire, USGS, and the co-authors include internationally renowned scientists from Canada, Germany, Sweden, and the United States. This study was sponsored by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program, the Climate in the Cryosphere Program, and the International Arctic Science Committee.
[Source: USGS news release]
NASA Accepting Applications from U.S. Undergrads for Spring and Summer Internships
In Education, Science on October 14, 2009 at 1:14 pm
“The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Undergraduate Student Research Program (USRP) offers undergraduates across the United States mentored internship experiences at NASA Centers and research support facilities. The NASA Undergraduate Student Research Program is NASA’s largest nationwide internship program.
“NASA USRP is an internship program that offers NASA research and development opportunities to undergraduate students. USRP internship opportunities give students the ultimate workforce preparatory experience for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). USRP is one of most highly comprehensive internship programs for undergraduate students within the STEM majors. Students work on practical problems that will see real applications in aerospace or on future NASA missions. These immersive NASA opportunities combine scientific research with professional hands-on engineering. A USRP internship will be the first step toward a career at NASA, or within the science and engineering workforce.
“The USRP experience is a NASA internship that places qualified undergraduates with outstanding NASA mentors in a challenging working environment. Students from around the country work on a NASA project developed to meet the needs and goals of the NASA Center and Mission Directorate. Through the USRP website students apply for the internship program and NASA mentors select students for available project positions. The USRP website is also a valuable resource of information in regards to NASA internships and NASA Centers and NASA research focus areas. Research NASA’s wide variety of scientific and technical research areas through the USRP website and find your career vision through a NASA USRP internship.”
Uganda to Host Conference On Geoinformation Science
In Climate Change, Conferences, Environmental Science, GIS, GIScience on October 14, 2009 at 9:41 am
…from AllAfrica.com…
“Uganda will this month host a geoinformation science conference. The global meet is part of efforts to address challenges of climate change, land degradation and natural resource degradation.
“The conference, which will focus on contemporary technologies of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems is set for October 26-30 and will will also address business intelligence.
“GIS expert Mr Yazidhi Bamutaze, a Makerere University lecturer in the Department of Geography yesterday said the conference entitled “Geospatial Information and Sustainable Development in Africa: Facing Challenges of Global Change,” will take place at Speke Resort, Munyonyo.”
GIS Contributes to Groundbreaking Carbon Emissions Inventory
In Climate Change, ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS on October 14, 2009 at 7:56 am
By C. C. Miller, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
Researchers from Purdue University’s Project Vulcan developed processes for aggregating carbon emissions data from multiple sources and formats. Valuable GIS support for this project came from an unlikely source: the university’s library.
Vulcan is a two-year-old project funded by theNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and led by Kevin Gurney, assistant professor of earth and atmospheric sciences at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Its mission is to quantify North American fossil fuel carbon dioxide (C02) emissions at higher spatial and temporal scales than ever before.
The project’s spatial component called for significant amounts of geoprocessing. The majority of these operations, accomplished with ArcGIS, resolve input geographies (points, roads, counties) with 10-kilometer square grid cells. GIS was also used to place surrogate emissions into grid cells using population, land-use, or some other meaningful proxy when necessary. [Emissions surrogates are used as indicators of emissions activity. The spatial distributions are assumed to be representative of the geographic distribution of emissions sources.] Software, custom-built by team members, could then process all input data at a common unit of geography and an hourly temporal scale for an entire year.
The purpose of the Vulcan project is to quantify North American fossil fuel carbon dioxide (C02) emissions at higher spatial and temporal scales than ever before.
Although much of the Vulcan workflow was ripe for GIS input, GIS was late to the party. Purdue University Libraries hired its first GIS librarian in late 2006 to help push new efforts to apply library science expertise to data and information problems facing researchers in labs and centers across campus. Faculty librarians at Purdue were encouraged to assist any department—Communications, Agronomy, Hospitality, and Tourism Management—with data and information problems. The nature of GIS meant these librarians were likely to find work in all these areas.
Response from collaborating faculty and teams has been swift. Purdue librarians have been welcomed onto teams and into collaborations
not traditionally inclined to allocate a portion of grant funds for librarians’ salaries. In particular, information and data—geodata especially—is so unruly and fluid that apparently researchers appreciate the benefits of having a librarian around who knows GIS, is familiar with the geodata, and can handle classic and developing technologies in GIS and geoinformatics.
Consequently, in late 2006, Vulcan project team members who needed to visualize some county data approached the libraries. Just as traditional library reference transactions tend to do, these requests evolved. Requestors asked increasingly complex questions: What could GIS do with data from multiple sources and programs? How could it represent C02 emitters in different formats? As more questions were answered using GIS, the librarian became part of the Vulcan workflow, supplying GIS support to the team and nagging about the importance of metadata and data archiving.
The rest would have been history, but the response to the initial release of Vulcan data, as well as an emerging sister program at Purdue University, the Hestia project, indicates there is plenty of additional work for all parties. [Hestia combines diverse data about the flow and metabolism of the energy-emissions-climate nexus in an intuitive, interactive, photorealistic, three-dimensional visualization of the Earth.]
Contributing GIS and geospatial technologies to an atmospheric sciences project was not accomplished without some disruption. The lexicons that atmospheric scientists and librarians use to communicate do not always equate, nor do the dictionaries of GIS and atmospheric modeling. In addition, the small Vulcan team is required to move large datasets from place to place.
There has not been time to fully develop all the infrastructure needed to automate and streamline the project’s work. However, as part of the academic trend toward more interdisciplinary scholarship and research, Vulcan is already producing valuable data and tools. Atmospheric science has been the primary beneficiary; computer graphics, geoinformatics, and data librarianship will also benefit from the labor dedicated to and lessons learned from Project Vulcan.
The project is funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and led by Kevin Gurney, assistant professor of earth and atmospheric sciences at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
While all Vulcan’s components are scheduled for improvement, the data used to surrogate emission sources and the automated spot-check mapping infrastructure used to quickly examine model output will be among the first enhanced. Future additions to the project will include intelligent, automated data archiving and online interaction with data. These additions will ensure that—while the computer scientists, computer graphics specialists, and atmospheric scientists will have their hands full with software, visualizations,
and important new analysis—there will still be plenty of work for the resident librarian.
Some geoinformatic aspects of Vulcan were used in an inaugural geoinformatics course taught by Purdue faculty members (including the author of this article) in spring 2008. Project members expect that successful models for working with and disseminating Vulcan data will filter into other initiatives for improving accessibility to geodata across the Purdue campus.
For more information, contact:
C. C. Miller, Assistant Professor of Library Science, Geographic Information Systems Specialist (GIS Librarian),
Purdue University Libraries
Tel.: 765-496-9474
E-mail: ccmiller@purdue.edu
Web: gis.lib.purdue.edu (department) or
www.purdue.edu (institution)
(This article originally appeared in the Winter 2008 issue of GIS Educator.)
Geographical Variations in the Correlates of Blood Donor Turnout Rates: An Investigation of Canadian Metropolitan Areas
In GIS, Geography, Social Science, Spatial Analysis on October 14, 2009 at 7:35 am…from the International Journal of Health Geographics 2009, 8:56…
Pj Saberton, Antonio Paez, K. Bruce Newbold, Nancy M Heddle
“Background
“Like other countries, Canada’s population is aging, and the implications of this demographic change need to be better understood from the perspective of blood supply. Analysis of donor data will help to identify systematic patterns of donation and its correlates. Data Geo-coded blood donor and donor clinic data are provided by Canadian Blood Services. Blood donor data is provided for the fiscal year 2006-2007 indicating the total number of donors for each Canadian postal code, excluding the province of Quebec. Potential correlates of blood donation are selected based on social and economic characteristics, as well as descriptors of city size and geographical location in the urban hierarchy measures of accessibility, and capacity of donor clinics.
“Methods
“Data is aggregated to n=3,746 census tracts in 40 Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA) across the country. The number of donors per population in a census tract is regressed against the set of potential donation correlates. Autocorrelation is tested for and results adjusted to provide parsimonious models.
“Results
“A number of factors are found to influence donation across the country, including the proportion of younger residents, English ability, proportion of people with immigrant status, higher education, and a population-based measure of accessibility.
“Conclusions
“While a number of correlates of blood donation are observed across Canada, important contextual effects across metropolitan areas are highlighted. The paper concludes by looking at policy options that are aimed toward further understanding donor behaviour.”
- Read the article [PDF]
The Evolution of the Water Distribution Capital Improvement Planning Template
In ESRI, GIS, Spatial Analysis on October 14, 2009 at 7:27 am…from the ESRI Water Utilities Blog…
“As you may have seen, we released the Water Distribution Capital Improvement Planning (CIP) Template a last week. First, we wanted to say a big thank you to all of our users and business partners who helped us to refine the initial geoprocessing models and the toolset also shared their workflows for capital planning.
“We’ve already had a few questions about why we chose the term Capital Improvement Planning (CIP) to describe this template, since not all utilities use that term. So when we use the term CIP, what we mean is the long term plans of a utility to manage their assets and/or to expand their system, what you may also call a “Capital Plan”, “Long Term Plan” or “5 year plan”.”
Vital Statistics: Summary of a National Research Council Workshop
In Books, Geography, Social Science, Statistics on October 14, 2009 at 6:39 am
…a new report from the Committee on National Statistics from the National Research Council…
“Vital statistics, the records of birth and death, are a critical national information resource for understanding public health. Over the past few decades, the specific program that gathers the data has evolved into a complex cooperative program between the federal and state governments for social measurement. The Vital Statistics Cooperative Program (VSCP) is currently maintained by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
“The U.S. vital statistics system relies on the original information reported by myriad individuals, channeled through varying state and local information systems, and coordinated and processed by a federal statistical agency that has experienced relatively flat funding for many years. The challenges facing the vital statistics system and the continuing importance of the resulting data make it an important topic for examination.
“A workshop, held by the National Academies and summarized in this volume, considered the importance of adequate vital statistics. In particular, the workshop assessed both current and emerging uses of the data, considered the methodological and organizational features of compiling vital data, and identified possible visions for the vital statistics program.”
Visualizing the U.S. Electric Grid
In GIS, Geography, Green Technologies, Science on October 14, 2009 at 6:33 am
…from NPR…
“The U.S. electric grid is a complex network of independently owned and operated power plants and transmission lines. Aging infrastructure, combined with a rise in domestic electricity consumption, has forced experts to critically examine the status and health of the nation’s electrical systems.”
Map layers include the U.S. electric grid, sources of power, power plants, solar power, and wind power.
A Global Map of Human Impacts to Marine Ecosystems
In Environmental Science, GIS on October 14, 2009 at 6:26 am“What happens in the vast stretches of the world’s oceans – both wondrous and worrisome – has too often been out of sight, out of mind.
“The sea represents the last major scientific frontier on planet earth – a place where expeditions continue to discover not only new species, but even new phyla. The role of these species in the ecosystem, where they sit in the tree of life, and how they respond to environmental changes really do constitute mysteries of the deep. Despite technological advances that now allow people to access, exploit or affect nearly all parts of the ocean, we still understand very little of the ocean’s biodiversity and how it is changing under our influence.
“The goal of the research presented here is to estimate and visualize, for the first time, the global impact humans are having on the ocean’s ecosystems.”
Free Data Set: Carbon and Nitrogen Response to Elevated CO2 in Terrestrial Systems
In Climate Change, Environmental Science, Geography, Science on October 14, 2009 at 6:25 am“We compiled data from 104 published papers that study C and N dynamics at ambient and elevated CO2. The compiled database contains C contents, N contents, and C:N ratio in various plant and soil pools, and root:shoot ratio. Averaged C and N pool sizes in plant and soil all significantly increase at elevated CO2 in comparison to those at ambient CO2; ranging from a 5% increase in shoot N content to a 32% increase in root C content. Parts of this data set are copyrighted by the Ecological Society of America. Luo, Yiqi, Dafeng Hui, and Deqiang Zhang. 2006. Elevated CO2 stimulates net accumulations of carbon and nitrogen in land ecosystems: a meta-analysis. Ecology 87:53-63. Ecological Archives E087-001.”
Quote of the Day
In Quotes on October 14, 2009 at 6:23 am“The most profound technologies are those that disappear. They weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it.”
–Mark Weiser, 1991
Map of the Day: Downtown San Diego—2030 Commute Cost Analysis
In ESRI, GIS, Map of the Day on October 14, 2009 at 6:23 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“These maps display the forecasted cost of a morning trip to downtown San Diego. The first three panels display costs for three modes: single occupant auto, high occupancy auto, and walk-access transit. Auto trip cost is calculated by using forecasted trip length and trip time data from the transportation model multiplied by cost factors for auto maintenance, tire degradation, fuel consumption, toll road use, and value of time.
“A fixed fee for parking is also added to all trips ending in the central business district which included a carpool incentive discount for high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) trips. Free use of planned managed lane facilities, along with trip time savings from use of dedicated HOV facilities, gives carpools an added cost savings over single auto travel. Transit trip cost is calculated by using forecasted transit trip length and trip time data (including access and transfers) from the transportation model which is multiplied by cost factors for transit fare and value of time.
“The fourth panel shows transit value areas by comparing the cost of single occupant auto travel to transit. The green areas shown on this map are neighborhoods in the San Diego region where the total cost of using transit is 15 percent less than driving solo in an automobile. Eighteen cities and the county government comprise SANDAG, the San Diego Association of Governments, which serves as a forum for regional decision making.
“Courtesy of Joaquin Ortega, San Diego Association of Governments.”
Digital Distribution Maps of Birds of the Western Hemisphere
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS on October 13, 2009 at 2:14 pm“Habitat for birds and other animals is disappearing quickly from the Earth’s surface. Conservationists are in a race against time to protect remaining habitat to stem the loss of biodiversity. Critical to these conservation efforts is focusing on-the-ground actions on the places where threatened species are found. To aid conservationists in determining where these species occur, NatureServe formed part of a consortium of conservation organizations that joined forces to develop a digital library of the distributions of the birds and mammals of the Western Hemisphere. The goal of the project was to make these maps easily accessible to conservation planners and other interested users. The data presented here represents an updated version of major product of this collaboration—a digital map library of the distributions of the birds of the Western Hemisphere, now covering 4,273 species. The maps are annotated to indicate sources, migratory status, historic versus current ranges, origin (native or introduced) and taxonomic decisions. The migratory status indications are particularly detailed, distinguishing where birds are permanent residents, breeding residents, non-breeding residents, or passage migrants. These maps are presented as a free resource for conservationists, researchers, and the general public. To view the map for each species, visit our InfoNatura website, search for the species you are interested in, and click on “Range Map.” To download the map files in ArcView format, see below. The map files can be viewed using ESRI ArcExplorer software, which can be downloaded for free from ESRI’s website. Please contact ESRI, not NatureServe, for any support needs related to the software.”
ESRI Health GIS Conference Participants Present Solutions for Improving Human Health and Well-Being
In Conferences, ESRI, GIS, Science, Social Science on October 13, 2009 at 1:59 pmIdentifying deficiencies in health and human services delivery and achieving better outcomes using geographic information system (GIS) technology were major themes during the 2009 ESRI Health GIS Conference, held September 21–23 in Nashville, Tennessee. More than 200 health and human services professionals from more than 34 states and 10 nations gathered to discuss the use of GIS technology to understand and improve public health and medical care delivery.
Conference speakers included researchers and program directors who are leaders in the use of GIS and information technology in health and human services applications, including keynote speaker David Goodman, M.D., Dartmouth Medical School professor of pediatrics and community and family medicine and coprincipal investigator of the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care.
“The science of health care delivery will provide the greatest gains in terms of improving the health and well-being of populations,” said Goodman. “Changes need to be aligned with patient preferences, developing more efficient delivery systems, and being able to use findings to generalize on ways to make our health delivery system sustainable.”
Goodman described how GIS analyses contribute by identifying the variables that correlate with better-quality health care delivery and health outcomes or, alternatively, by identifying unwarranted variations in health care delivery that reveal inefficiencies. Results provide policy makers with new kinds of information for improving health care quality and cost.
Featured speaker Kim Pemble, executive director, Wisconsin Health Information Exchange (WHIE), described the use of health information exchange networks to organize access to electronic health records and other kinds of health data. “Exchanges provide a way for health professionals to have real-time communication about a patient, regardless of where the encounter occurred, which ultimately helps improve the care for the patient.” Pemble added, “Geography is of paramount importance to how we are thinking about health care delivery into the future. The primary goal of a health information exchange is to improve patient outcomes in a clinical encounter. In the case of WHIE, because we have this data centralized, we know about encounters that are occurring in a broad geography, so it is also a tremendously useful tool for public health surveillance purposes in that it provides them [health professionals] with strictly de-identified data.”
Focused on improving the lives of children in Alabama by connecting communities with information, featured speaker Chris McInnish, Alabama Department of Children’s Affairs liaison to the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center, is using GIS technology to support the Alabama Resource Management System (ARMS). In his presentation, McInnish described how ARMS, based on ESRI’s ArcGIS Server, gives online access to 109,000 layers of information ranging from demographic and juvenile crime data to state statistics relevant to child services. Its innovative dashboard viewer gives state legislators and community partners focused access and easy tools for viewing the data in graphs, maps, or reports. McInnish concluded, “We are teaching our decision makers to think spatially.”
Other highlights of the conference included focused seminars, technical presentations addressing ESRI software innovations, 60 professional scientific paper presentations, a hands-on GIS software learning center, and the biannual meeting of the ESRI Health User Group (HUG).
In the closing session, Stephanie Bailey, M.D., chief of public health practice, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, “All the data is in, but how do we analyze it?” Bailey recognized GIS as a technology that, through exploration of spatial relationships, promotes understanding that can help in the alignment of health indicators with health resources and help public health organizations take actions that protect the public they serve.
ESRI software is used by all 50 U.S. state health departments, 97 national health ministries, the World Health Organization, and more than 350 hospitals and medical centers worldwide. For more information on the conference, visit www.esri.com/healthgis.
Canadian Research Network Awards $1.1 Million for Geospatial Cyberinfrastructure for Environmental Sensing Project
In Environmental Science, GIS, Science on October 13, 2009 at 1:16 pm
CANARIE, Canada’s Advanced Research and Innovation Network, is pleased to announce at the Summit 09 international cyber infrastructure conference, the second-round of winners in CANARIE’s flagship IT research funding program. These nine winners, from research facilities across Canada, represent some of the very best and brightest IT research initiatives in the country.
CANARIE has awarded nine projects with an impressive $10.5 million in funding, in addition to providing CANARIE’s dedicated, high-speed network for these researchers to facilitate data-sharing and collaboration.
One of the winners, Cybera Inc., was awarded $1.1 million for the Geospatial Cyberinfrastructure for Environmental Sensing (GeoCENS) project. GeoCENS will be an online portal for biogeoscientists to access and share both historical and real-time environmental data from a variety of remote locations. This portal will allow researchers to better analyze Canada’s climate, species, water systems and how its biosphere is changing over time.
[Source: CANARIE news release]
Earth Science Week 2009
In ESRI, Earth Systems Science, Environmental Science, GIS, Geography, Science on October 13, 2009 at 9:58 amOctober 11-17 is Earth Science Week (“ESW”), organized by the American Geological Institute. The purpose is to encourage people to learn about the natural world and examine the geosciences. This year, particular attention is being given to climate. ESRI is proud to be a sponsor and supporter of ESW. Educators can acquire an ESW Toolkit, which includes a CD from ESRI.
Meanwhile, there are also materials available for download and interaction right from the ESRI EdCommunity ESW page. We’ve broken it down into a quick presentation about what’s GIS, about the use of GIS to study earth science, and the use of GIS to study climate in particular. You’ll find a series of videos, produced and narrated by Joseph Kerski, introducing landscapes in the field plus a couple of explorations of climate and weather patterns. You can see examples of lessons that you can do with ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Explorer, AEJEE, or even just a web browser. The most recent lesson (highlighted in this blog a month ago) uses ArcGIS Explorer and sea surface temperature observations from NASA to begin seeking patterns over time. A classic lesson, of great concern to those in low-lying coastal regions, is found in the “Water World” lesson in Module#7 of Book#2 from the Our World GIS Education series.
It’s easy to think that humans rule the world. One need only watch the headlines for the latest storm, earthquake, or tsunami to recognize that we don’t control everything. And, while events at local scales may not generate big headlines, a solid grasp of earth science is tied intimately to personal lives and to living in a sustainable fashion. Using GIS is key to understanding the relationships between and integration of natural processes with human conditions.
- Charlie Fitzpatrick, ESRI Schools Program Manager
Silvilaser 2009: 9th International Conference on Lidar Applications for Assessing Forest Ecosystems
In Conferences, Environmental Science, Geography, Imagery on October 13, 2009 at 9:34 am
14-16 October 2009
Texas A&M University
Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building (ILSB)
College Station, TX, USA
Map of the Day: 2007 Corn for Grain Yield per Harvested Acre by County and Ethanol Plants
In ESRI, GIS, Green Technologies, Map of the Day on October 13, 2009 at 7:24 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“Ethanol producing plants as well as those plants under construction are shown along with the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) county estimates for corn for grain yield per harvested acre by county. Driven by growing ethanol demand, U.S. farmers planted over 15 percent more corn acres in 2007. The NASS Annual County Estimates Program provides for the collection of crop data through cooperative agreements with each state. NASS field offices set annual county estimates for crop acreage, yield, and production and submit them to headquarters for official dissemination.
“Courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service.”
New Web Site Features Resources for Cave Mapping and Analysis
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Interviews on October 13, 2009 at 7:05 amBern Szukalski is ArcGIS product manager and technology evangelist at ESRI. Earlier this year, I spoke to Bern at length about visualization and ArcGIS Explorer, which resulted in a two-part blog post (see “A Conversation with Bern Szukalski about Geospatial Visualization,” Part I and Part II). What didn’t come out in that interview is Bern’s deep-seated interest in exploring—and mapping—the world’s caves. I recently spent a few minutes with Bern to talk about the launch of his new web site, which features mapping and GIS resources for cavers.
Matt: What was the impetus for putting this web site together?
Bern: The site in general combines more than a “hobby” with the other thing I love to do—make maps and use mapping software. Digital mapping of caves is somewhat unique, involving specialized software, procedures, and techniques. One of the driving reasons for the site is that many people have asked me for help, examples, or about how to implement things, so this is a place that I can point out examples.
Matt: Is cave mapping difficult?
Bern: Cave mapping, for the most part, is still done the old fashioned way – with a compass, clinometers, and tape. Nowadays the old reel tapes have been replaced by laser rangefinders, which provide not only greater accuracy and ease of use, but are also friendlier on the caves, as you don’t have to worry about the tape snagging formations as you wind it up. And it also eliminates the need to physically go to places to pull the tape; you just use the laser to beam distant walls. So you can keep on a single trail if you’re surveying a delicate cave.
The Hidden River Cave survey data has been georeferenced and exported to DXF format using Compass cave survey software. Using ArcGIS the cave passage is symbolized and is shown here in ArcScene, a component of the ArcGIS 3D Analyst.
Matt: So how is the data collected?
Bern: Well, you set stations as you go through the cave and measure the distance, azimuth, and inclination between each station. You also measure to the left, right, above, and below each station. That goes in your survey book, along with a detailed sketch. Some folks use handhelds to record the data.
Matt: So how does that get into a GIS?
Bern: Several cavers have developed cave survey programs that are used to manage the survey data, and create lineplots and even passage wall models and more. These are actually quite sophisticated, and can even import DRGs and so forth. The one I use is called Compass, and is authored by Larry Fish, a Denver area caver who has an excellent Web site where you can download the software. Years ago, there wasn’t a way to get the Compass data into a GIS format, at least not easily. I was doing some volunteer work in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, and the cave resources specialist there–Bobby Camara–was using ArcView 3. He also used Compass, and asked me if there was a way to get the Compass cave survey data into ArcView. At the time I was on the ArcView team and knew it could be done, and spent most of my volunteer time there working on writing an extension for ArcView that would import the Compass cave survey data and create shapefiles. So, while my caving buddies and wife went cave surveying, I’d be in front of the laptop writing Avenue code. That extension was called CaveTools, and was the way many cavers and cave resource specialists originally got their cave survey data into ArcView. Since then Larry has added direct support in Compass for shapefiles, as well as KML, and it’s an easy way to integrate the cave survey data into GIS.
Matt: So what can you say about people using cave survey data and GIS now?
Bern: Many of the federal cave resource managers do a lot of their own GIS work with cave data, or use their park or regional GIS staff for their GIS work. Most of the applications focus on integrating not only the locations of caves and other karst features, but integrating the cave survey data and even final maps, and managing the inventory data and other information that is collected about them. There’s not quite as much GIS analysis being used specifically for caves, but certainly a lot of analysis has been used to manage groundwater in karst areas and things like that. I think the State of Kentucky is a great example of using GIS for managing karst data, and even publishes their sinkhole database online. And there’s many more. There is some excellent work going on and great examples using GIS in this specialized application area. The ESRI cave and karst site links to a bunch of examples.
This map series was created for an article on Bermuda caves and the Bermuda Cave and Karst Information System (BeCKIS) project.
Matt: Any general trends you see, or comments about how this is working?
Bern: One interesting thing I have noticed about my experience with this over the years is that people either don’t know how easy some of this can be or they tend to over-engineer things. I’ve seen a few projects struggle over the years because they’ve gotten too complex, and when staff or interests shift it’s hard to keep things going. My philosophy in general is: less is more, simpler and sustainable trumps an elegant technical implementation, and don’t use a jackhammer when a small tack hammer will do. And so most of my examples represent “easy” rather than “examples of technical elegance,” but they should always also fit well into an existing context, if there is one. But nowadays it’s pretty simple to get cave survey data into a GIS where you can do some really interesting things.
Matt: Are caves in danger? Can GIS help?
Bern: One of the hot issues right now in the US caving community is something called White Nose Syndrome, or just WNS. It’s a fungus that’s affecting bats, stirring them out of hibernation and causing millions to die and threatening several species. It’s called “white nose” because of the distinctive fungal ring around the bats’ noses. It was first identified in the northeast United States, and has since spread and been identified in other states. Many caves are now closed by the state agencies that manage them, and some are closed voluntarily by cavers, to avoid spreading the fungus to other areas. It’s not quite fully understood, so there are lots of precautions being taken. Many of the agencies in the affected areas are using GIS in their work. One of the first maps published about White Nose was a GIS map by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Bat Conservation International, who also got a significant grant from ESRI to support their work, has used ArcGIS in their work to support the various states, and a recent ArcWatch article was written about that.
Quote of the Day
In Science on October 13, 2009 at 6:51 am“Science these days has basically turned into a data-management problem.”
–Jimmy Lin, associate professor at the University of Maryland
Call for Presentations: Rocket City Geospatial Conference, Huntsville, Alabama, 17 November 2009
In Conferences, GIS, SDI on October 13, 2009 at 6:50 am
“Directions Media will join with GITA to co-host the 2009 Rocket City Geospatial Conference on November 17th in Huntsville, Alabama.
“Our keynote speaker is Learon Dalby, National States Geographic Information Council president and GIS Program Manager for the State of Arkansas.
“We invite you to participate by submitting a presentation on a broad spectrum of topics related to geospatial technology with particular emphasis on issues important to the Southeastern U.S. Topics of special interest include:
- Spatial Data Infrastructure
- Infrastructure Management
- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Initiatives
- Sustainable Development and “Smart Growth Strategies”
- Critical Infrastructure Protection
Present Your GIS Story at ESRI’s 2010 User Conference
In Conferences, ESRI, GIS on October 12, 2009 at 10:39 amAbstract Submission Deadline for the ESRI International User Conference Extended to November 6, 2009
ESRI invites users to tell their GIS story by sharing their experiences with GIS and presenting during a moderated session at the 2010 ESRI International User Conference (ESRI UC). The deadline for abstract submissions has been extended to November 6, 2009.
The ESRI UC is the world’s largest GIS event, providing an ideal forum for the global ESRI user community to communicate its innovative projects. Presenters can choose from more than 40 tracks covering different industries, technologies, and science and modeling.
“Playing an active role in the conference adds value to your experience,” says ESRI president Jack Dangermond. “It’s an opportunity to share what we’re all looking for—how to do things better.”
Presentation resources available at the conference include presentation room equipment and Internet access as well as the on-site Speaker Coaching Lab. Terry Richard, a GIS analyst for the City of Burnaby in Canada, said, “As a first-time presenter, I was impressed with ESRI and its multimedia staff. Their assistance enabled my group to experience a successful presentation.”
The 2010 ESRI UC will be held July 12–16 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Submission guidelines for ESRI software users and business partners are available online. Abstracts can be submitted at www.esri.com/ucpapers.
Map of the Day: Zoonoses Disease Monitoring with GIS
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Science on October 12, 2009 at 6:11 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“Zoonoses are diseases that are transmissible from animals to humans directly or through ingestion of contaminated foodstuff. Since 2004, according to the former Directive 92/117/EEC, European Union member states submit zoonoses data using an online reporting system and a central data repository developed and maintained by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA).
“Data collected covers over eleven zoonotic agents and zoonoses that include salmonella, verotoxin producing E. coli, tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis, trichinella, and rabies. The data entered is compiled and analyzed in a yearly Community Summary Report on trends and sources of zoonoses. Maps showing the distribution of zoonoses are an integral part of this report. Further, with the advent of ArcGIS Server technology and with the necessary confidentiality and data comparability precautions, the Web system offers a straightforward way to visualize and communicate the information, helping identify questions and hypotheses on the pattern and trends of diseases and their possible causes.
“Besides the zoonoses data collection, EFSA investigates issues related to the origin and development of other epidemics, such as the Bluetongue virus in 2006. In this mandate, GIS tools and spatial analysis methods play a fundamental role.
“Courtesy of Francesca Riolo, European Food Safety Authority.”
Quote of the Day
In ESRI, GIS, Geography, Science on October 12, 2009 at 6:07 am“A good friend of mine once said, ‘For each new advance, each new technology, it’s both a technical advance but it’s also an advance in method.’ This science theorem really rings home as we expand the analytic language of what we can do with geography.”
–Jack Dangermond
ACM SIGSPATIAL GIS 2009: Call for Research Papers, Demos, and PhD Showcases
In GIS on October 11, 2009 at 10:14 am
17th ACM SIGSPATIAL International Conference on Advances in Geographic Information Systems (ACM SIGSPATIAL GIS 2009)
Call for Research Papers, Demos, and PhD Showcases PDF ASCII
November 4-6, 2009
Seattle, WA, USA
The ACM SIGSPATIAL International Conference on Advances in Geographic Information Systems 2009 (ACM SIGSPATIAL GIS2009) is the seventeenth event of a series of symposia and workshops that began in 1993 with the aim of bringing together researchers, developers, users, and practitioners carrying out research and development in novel systems based on geo-spatial data and knowledge, and fostering interdisciplinary discussions and research in all aspects of geographic information systems. The conference provides a forum for original research contributions covering all conceptual, design, and implementation aspects of GIS ranging from applications, user interface considerations, and visualization down to storage management and indexing issues. This year’s conference builds on last year’s conference great success and on being the premier annual conference of the ACM Special Interest Group on Spatial Information (ACM SIGSPATIAL). Researchers, students, and practitioners are invited to submit their contributions to this year’s ACM GIS.
Topics of Interest
Suggested topics include but are not limited to:
- Cartography and Geodesy
- Computational Geometry
- Computer Vision Applications in GIS
- Distributed, Parallel, and GPU algorithms for GIS
- Earth Observation
- Geographic Information Retrieval
- Human Computer Interaction and Visualization
- Image and Video Understanding
- Location-based Services
- Location Privacy, Data Sharing and Security
- Performance Evaluation
- Photogrammetry
- Similarity Searching
- Spatial Analysis and Integration
- Spatial and Spatio-temporal Information Acquisition
- Spatial Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery
- Spatial Data Quality and Uncertainty
- Spatial Data Structures and Algorithms
- Spatial Data Warehousing, OLAP, and Decision Support
- Spatial Information and Society
- Spatial Modeling and Reasoning
- Spatial Query Processing and Optimization
- Spatio-temporal Data Handling
- Spatio-temporal Sensor Networks
- Spatio-temporal Stream Processing
- Spatio-textual Searching
- Standardization and Interoperability for GIS
- Storage and Indexing
- Systems, Architectures and Middleware for GIS
- Traffic Telematics
- Transportation
- Urban and Environmental Planning
- Visual Languages and Querying
- Wireless, Web, and Real-time Applications
Awards
An award will be given to the best paper submitted to the conference. Also, another award will be given to the best accepted poster. A separate award will be given to the best student paper. Papers eligible for this award must have a student listed as the first author, and the majority of the authors must be students. Such submissions must be marked as student papers at the time of submission.
Paper Format
Authors are invited to submit full, original, unpublished research papers that are not being considered for publication in any other forum. Manuscripts should be submitted in PDF format and formatted using the ACM camera-ready templates available at:
http://www.acm.org/sigs/pubs/proceed/template.html
Papers cannot exceed 10 pages in length. In addition to the regular full-length papers, the Program Committee may accept some as poster papers which may be requested to be shortened. All submitted papers will be refereed for quality, originality, and relevance by the Program Committee. The acceptance/rejection of papers will be based on review results. All questions should be addressed to the Program Committee Chairs. Some accepted submissions may receive a best paper/poster award.
Ph.D. Dissertation Showcase Paper Format
Ph.D. students are encouraged to submit their Ph.D. research contributions and work-in-progress. Submissions cannot exceed 6 pages — Add (Ph.D. Showcase) to the title. Student authors of the accepted papers will be given an opportunity to present a summary of their research at the conference. Successful Ph.D. showcase papers will appear in the ACM SIGSPATIAL Newsletter.
Industrial Paper Format
Authors are invited to submit industrial experience papers that describe their original industrial experiences, challenges, and applications to be presented during the conference. Industrial paper submissions cannot exceed 10 pages — Add (Industrial Paper) to the title. The accepted industrial experience papers will appear in the Conference Proceedings.
Demonstration Paper Format
Authors are invited to submit demo papers that describe their original demonstrations to be presented during the conference. Demo paper submissions cannot exceed 2 pages — Add (Demo Paper) to the title. The demo papers will appear in the Conference Proceedings.
Submission
Submissions will be made electronically and online only at:
One author per accepted paper, poster, PhD. Dissertation showcase, industrial paper, or demo is required to register and attend the conference and to present the accepted submission . Otherwise, the accepted submission will not appear in the published conference proceedings or in the ACM Digital Library version of the conference proceedings. All questions should be addressed to the Program Committee Chairs.
Important Dates (Research, Ph.D, and Demo papers)
| Abstract Submission: | June 25, 2009, 11:59 PM EST [Extended] |
| Full Paper Submission: | July 2, 2009, 11:59 PM ES [Extended] |
| Notification of Acceptance: | Aug. 31, 2009 |
| Camera Ready Copy: | Sept. 13, 2009 |
| Conference Date: | Nov. 4-6, 2009 |
Transportation Research Board Invites Participation in GIS-T Research Road Map
In GIS, GIScience, Science on October 11, 2009 at 10:08 am
ABJ60 is developing a strategic vision for the next 20 years of GIS-T research. Members, friends and anyone with an interest are invited to participate.
We live in an increasingly crowded and connected world. Transportation systems are facing unprecedented challenges in the 21st century with respect to infrastructure renewal, congestion, safety, security, equity, energy use and the environment. These challenges cannot be met using traditional planning, design and investment methods. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and related geospatial technologies can allow for monitoring, analysis and simulation of transportation systems at levels of detail and scope that were unimaginable even a short time ago. However, we need to determine the way forward, particularly as geospatial technologies become much more powerful ad pervasive over the next 20 years.
The Transportation Research Board Committee on Geographic Information Science and Applications (ABJ60) is involved in a multiyear effort to identify the research needed over a 10–20 year time frame for developing new geospatial science and technologies to meet the grand challenges facing transportation systems in the 21st century.
The foundations of this activity have been laid over the past 2-3 years, in a series of focused workshops. We received input from experts in GIS, transportation and computer science. We identified a need for sustained and directed research in GIS-T, and—borrowing from other successful initiatives in transportation—conceptualized a “Road Map” as the way forward.
The next task is to build the Road Map. We invite your input in this important process to conceptualize the future of GIS-T. Think big, think small, think about the problems you want to solve today, 3-5 years from now, and 10-20 years from now. Also think about all aspects of transportation: all modes and all business functions.
Call for Papers: GIScience Applied to Hazard and Climate Change Research, Salzburg, Austria 6-9 July 2010
In Climate Change, Conferences, GIS, GIScience, Spatial Analysis on October 11, 2009 at 9:56 amSpatial assessment and analysis of vulnerability
GIScience applied in the interdisciplinary domain of hazard and climate change research
Workshop within the framework of GI_Forum 2010
July 6-7, 2010
This theme is expected to highlight different developed and currently investigated methodologies to spatially assess vulnerability. It will specifically address the issue of vulnerability assessment, independent from conceptual discussions. The focus will be on the review and discussion of different methods of GIScience employed to assess, quantify and represent vulnerability as integrated spatial phenomena. Within a workshop session, current achievements and future research challenges will be identified and formulated.
Topics
- Assessments in the domain of disaster risk reduction, climate change, natural
hazards and human security domain - Methods on indicator selection and index construction
- Scale issues in vulnerability assessments
- Validation and accuracy of vulnerability assessments
- Spatio-temporal visualisation of complex indicators
- The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, July 6 and Wednesday, July 7, 2010 and will be followed by the annual GI_Forum. Next to presentations ranging from different scholarly schools of vulnerability the workshop will focus on output oriented discussion sessions.
The papers will be peer-reviewed and published in a book.
Schedule
- Deadline for submission of full papers for oral presentation and publication in the
conference proceedings 1 February 2010
- Notification about accepted contributions 17 March 2010
Author Information and Guidelines [PDF]
Scientific committee
- Susan L. Cutter, University of South Carolina (Keynote Speaker)
- Mark Pelling, King’s College London
- Thomas Loster, Munich Re Foundation
- Fabrice Renaud, United Nations University (EHS)
- Klaus Steinnocher, Austrian Institute of Technology
- Melanie Gall, Louisiana State University
- Peter Zeil, Centre for Geoinformatics – University of Salzburg
- Stefan Kienberger, Centre for Geoinformatics – University of Salzburg
Contact: Stefan Kienberger
GIS Professor Opening at South Dakota State University
In Climate Change, Education, Environmental Science, GIS, Modeling on October 9, 2009 at 2:09 pm
…from the GIS in Education blog…
“The Geographic Information Science Center of Excellence (GISCE) at the South Dakota State University is in need of an Associate Professor or Full Professor to fill up its faculty position vacancy.
“An Associate or Full Professor with research interests in quantitative remote sensing, large-area terrestrial monitoring and/or modeling is sought for a position with the Geographic Information Science Center of Excellence. Specialization in one of the following areas is preferred: 1) land/atmosphere interactions and climate modeling, 2) active sensors (radar and/or lidar) for vegetation characterization, 3) modeling the dynamics of coupled human-environmental systems. The position workload is 80% research, 10% teaching, and 10% service. Research includes securing externally funded grant awards and recruiting and supervising grant-funded researchers. Teaching responsibilities include instructing one course per year and recruiting and advising students in the Geospatial Science and Engineering doctoral program. Service to international and/or national research organizations, the University, and the Center is expected. The successful candidate will hold academic rank at SDSU in Geography and/or other appropriate department. The successful candidate will be expected to train and advise graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and research assistants.”
Simulations and Ancient Magnetism Suggest Mantle Plumes May Bend Deep Beneath Earth’s Crust
In Earth Systems Science, Modeling on October 9, 2009 at 12:10 pm…from the University of Rochester…
“Computer simulations, paleomagnetism and plate motion histories described in today’s issue of Science reveal how hotspots, centers of erupting magma that sit atop columns of hot mantle that were once thought to remain firmly fixed in place, in fact move beneath Earth’s crust.
“Scientists believe mantle plumes are responsible for some of the Earth’s most dramatic geological features, such as the Hawaiian islands and Yellowstone National Park. Some plumes may have shallow sources, but a few, such as the one beneath Hawaii, appear to be rooted in the deepest mantle, near Earth’s core.”
Solving the Puzzle: Researching the Impacts of Climate Change Around the World
In Climate Change, Science on October 9, 2009 at 10:37 am
…a new report from the National Science Foundation…
“This report addresses some of the major questions facing climate change researchers, and how those puzzles are being addressed by NSF-funded activities. Complex computer models are being developed and refi ned to predict Earth’s future climate. Observations of climate conditions from observatory networks distributed in Earth’s oceans, polar regions, land masses, and near-Earth orbit improve the accuracy of the climate models. Records of Earth’s past climate provide important insights into the mechanisms involved in climate cycles of the past, and can help to refine computational models by allowing researchers to simulate past climate. But understanding climate is only part of the story—as we improve our knowledge of how Earth’s climate is changing, we also improve our ability to cope with the impacts of global climate change and variability. Through social, economic, and behavioral science, researchers are learning how human behavior factors into climate change—and how human behavior can be modifi ed to ameliorate our impact on Earth’s climate. Physical scientists and engineers are developing alternative ways of creating, storing, and using energy to reduce the amount of carbon that human activities contribute to the atmosphere. Researchers are also building the scientific foundation for the tools that humanity may need in the future to counteract the eff ects of global climate change.”
- Download the report [PDF]
Apply Now for the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship
In Education, Science on October 9, 2009 at 10:16 am
Apply now for the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship, a paid fellowship for K-12 math, science, and technology teachers. Einstein Fellows spend a school year in Washington, D.C. serving in a federal agency or on Capitol Hill.
To be considered for an Einstein Fellowship for the 2010-11 school year, apply and submit three letters of recommendation online by January 13, 2010.
Apply online at http://www.einsteinfellows.org/application.html. For more information about the program, visit www.einsteinfellows.net or contact Program Manager Kathryn Culbertson at culbertsonk@triangle-coalition.org.
NASA Video: Global Transportation of Carbon Monoxide Pollution
In Environmental Science, Geography, Science, Video on October 9, 2009 at 9:35 am
“Data from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on NASA’s Aqua satellite were used to create this short video showing plumes of carbon monoxide being transported in Earth’s atmosphere around the globe. These observations track carbon monoxide at about 5.5 kilometers (3.4 miles) above the surface of Earth. In the movie, carbon monoxide emissions from large fires and large urban and industrial areas like northeastern China are visible, and are transported around the globe by weather fronts. The video is narrated by AIRS Science Team Member Wallace McMillan of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.”
- View animation [.MOV file]
Automating Counts of Photographed Indiana Bats Using the ArcGIS Feature Analyst Extension
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Imagery on October 9, 2009 at 7:53 am
“The Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) is a Federally listed endangered species found in the Midwest and eastern United States. Its population has profound implications for forest management throughout its range. Declining populations could lead to timber harvest restrictions and changes to other land management practices in Midwestern and eastern forests. The Forest Plan and Biological Opinion of the Hoosier National Forest (Indiana) require hibernacula (i.e., winter hibernation sites) occupied by the Indiana bat to be monitored regularly to assess changes in population numbers. State and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists survey the bats every other winter while the bats are hibernating. Because management decisions and recovery action priorities are based on the population estimates and trends determined from these surveys, it is critical that they are accurate. During the surveys, individual bats and small clusters are counted directly, but those in larger clusters are estimated by multiplying the approximate area of the cluster by an assumed bat packing density. Unfortunately, estimates derived by these techniques can be highly inaccurate. In many hibernacula, using a digital camera to document bat numbers could reduce stress to the bats and also increase the accuracy of the population estimate by allowing the bats to be counted manually on a computer screen in an office setting. Nevertheless, this is a very tedious and labor-intensive task that some state and federal agencies cannot afford. An accurate, rapid, and more cost-effective way to count photographed bats is needed. With sponsorship from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Remote Sensing Steering Committee, the Remote Sensing Applications Center conducted a study to investigate the feasibility of rapidly deriving accurate counts of photographed bats using Feature Analyst, an extension for ArcGIS. Counts derived with Feature Analyst were typically within one to nine percent of manually interpreted counts and processing times of less than four minutes per photo were achieved. This represents a significant improvement over traditional in-cave estimates and has the potential for high-volume use, which could further reduce the per photo processing time.”
- Read the report [PDF]
Hot Spot Analysis – An ArcGIS Tutorial
In ESRI, GIS, Spatial Analysis, Statistics on October 9, 2009 at 3:59 am
“In this 9.3/9.3.1 tutorial, 911 Emergency call data is investigated and analyzed using the Hot Spot Analysis tool (Getis-Ord Gi* statistic). The tutorial begins by setting the scenario: Authorities in your community are spending a large portion of public resources responding to 911 emergency calls. They want to better understand the distribution of 911 calls in order to more effectively allocate emergency response resources. This tutorial guides you through the process of building a Hot Spot Analysis model tool. You will learn how to aggregate incident data, select appropriate parameter settings, and display results.”
Quote of the Day
In Design, Quotes on October 9, 2009 at 3:59 am“Design may have its greatest impact when it’s taken out of the hands of designers and put in to the hands of everyone.”
–Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO
Video: Analyzing Field Science Data using a 3D GIS
In ESRI, GIS, Science, Video on October 9, 2009 at 3:58 am
NASA Flies to Antarctica for Largest Airborne Polar Ice Survey
In Environmental Science, Geography on October 9, 2009 at 3:58 am
NASA begins a series of flights Oct. 15 to study changes to Antarctica’s sea ice, glaciers and ice sheets. The flights are part of Operation Ice Bridge, a six-year campaign that is the largest airborne survey ever made of ice at Earth’s polar regions.Researchers will work from NASA’s DC-8, an airborne laboratory equipped with laser mapping instruments, ice-penetrating radar and gravity instruments. Data collected from the mission will help scientists better predict how changes to the massive Antarctic ice sheet will contribute to future sea level rise around the world.
The plane, crew and scientists depart Oct. 12 from NASA’s Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., and fly to Punta Arenas, Chile, where they will be based through mid-November. Seelye Martin of the University of Washington in Seattle leads the mission, with nearly 50 scientists and support personnel involved. The team is planning 17 flights over some of the fastest-changing areas in western Antarctica and its ice-covered coastal waters.
Data collected during the campaign also will help bridge the data gap between NASA’s Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite, known as ICESat, which has been in orbit since 2003, and NASA’s ICESat-II, scheduled to launch no earlier than 2014. ICESat is nearing the end of its operational lifetime, making the Ice Bridge flights critical for ensuring a continuous record of observations.
“A remarkable change is happening on Earth, truly one of the biggest changes in environmental conditions since the end of the ice age,” said Tom Wagner, cryosphere program manager at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “It’s not an easy thing to observe, let alone predict what might happen next. Studies like Ice Bridge are key.”
Because airborne observations lack the continent-wide coverage a satellite provides, mission planners have selected key targets to study that are most prone to change. Sea ice measurements will be collected from the Amundsen Sea, where local warming suggests the ice may be thinning. Ice sheet and glacier studies will be flown over the Antarctic Peninsula and West Antarctica, including Pine Island Glacier, an area scientists believe could undergo rapid changes.
The payload on the DC-8 includes the Airborne Topographic Mapper, a laser altimeter developed at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. It produces elevation maps of the ice surface and previously was flown over the Antarctic in 2002, 2004, and 2008 aboard a Chilean Navy P3 aircraft. By retracing some of those flights, as well as the tracks covered by ICESat, researchers can compare the data sets and determine changes in ice elevation.
Other instruments flying include the Multichannel Coherent Radar Depth Sounder from the University of Kansas, which measures ice sheet thickness and the varied terrain below the ice. The Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor, developed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., maps large areas of sea ice and glacier zones. A gravimeter from Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, N.Y., will give scientists their first opportunity to measure the shape of the ocean cavity beneath floating ice shelves in critical spots of Antarctica. A University of Kansas snow radar will measure the thickness of snow on top of sea ice and glaciers.
NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.; NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif.; and the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks also are providing support for the campaign.
NASA also is funding complementary airborne surveys as part of Operation Ice Bridge, including surveys of Alaskan glaciers by scientists from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks and an extensive survey of remote regions of East Antarctica by scientists from the University of Texas in Austin, the University of Edinburgh and the Australian Antarctic Division.
The Antarctic flights follow the first Operation Ice Bridge airborne campaign earlier this year over Greenland and the Arctic Ocean. The mission will map key areas in each polar region once a year. Arctic flights resume in spring 2010.
For more information about Operation Ice Bridge, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/ice_bridge
To follow Operation Ice Bridge on Twitter, visit: http://twitter.com/IceBridge
For more information about NASA, visit: http://www.nasa.gov
[Source: NASA news release]
USGS Used To Map And Prioritize Mudslide Danger After L.A. Wildfire
In Environmental Science, GIS, Geography on October 9, 2009 at 3:56 am
…from the Los Angeles Times…
“The miles of trees and other hillside vegetation scorched away by the recent wildfire here has left the towns and homes in the area vulnerable to mud and debris slides in the coming rainy season, warns a report from the US Geological Survey (USGS) released Wednesday.
“The so-called Station fire blazed across 250 square miles of hillside in L.A. County last month. And without the natural barrier of trees, mud, rocks, and other debris could pour down the steep slopes to cover a football field 60 ft. deep, according to the report.
“The USGS study estimated the probability and volume of debris-and-mud flow caused by a three-hour rainstorm – which has 100 percent chance of occurring every year – a one-hour rainstorm, and a 12-hour rainstorm, which is only likely to occur once in two years.”
GIS Maps San Jose State University’s Botany Garnden
In Education, Environmental Science, GIS, Science on October 8, 2009 at 9:31 am
…from the Spartan Daily…
“For the hummingbirds that dance about the flora, the squirrels that hide their acorns amid the deer grasses and the sunlight that flashes through the expansive branches of white California buckeye trees – the SJSU botany garden has been nature’s secret since the 1980s.
“A collection of 42 families and 91 species of native California plants is almost hidden behind a solid wall of white fence and is closed-off by a holly bush hedge in front of Duncan Hall, said Nishanta Rajakaruna, an assistant professor of biological sciences.
“A GIS map – a geographic information system that integrates hardware, software and data for managing all forms of geographically identified information – is being created to identify all the plants in the botany garden, Rajakaruna said.”
Regression Analysis – An ArcGIS Tutorial
In ESRI, GIS, Statistics on October 8, 2009 at 8:27 am
“This 9.3/9.3.1 tutorial demonstrates how regression analysis has been implemented in ArcGIS, and explores some of the special considerations you’ll want to think about whenever you use regression with spatial data. The tutorial begins by setting the scenario: Authorities in your community are spending a large portion of public resources responding to 911 emergency calls. Projections indicate population in the area is going to double over the next 10 years. If you can better understand some of the factors contributing to high call volumes now, perhaps you can recommend strategies to help reduce 911 calls in the future.”
Call for Papers: Geoinformatics Forum, 6-9 July 2009, Salzburg, Austria
In Climate Change, Conferences, GIS, SDI, Spatial Analysis on October 8, 2009 at 7:45 am
The Geoinformatics Forum (GI_Forum) focuses on an international audience that shares an interest in Applied Geoinformatics. This Call for Papers aims at researchers who design, develop and apply advanced methods and techniques of Geoinformatics to a broad range of application domains.
GI_Forum solicits contributions on emerging topics and research outcomes related to current Geoinformatics methodology, and especially wishes to attract submissions pertaining to the following topics:
• Advances in Geovisualization and Cartography (in cooperation with InterCarto-InterGIS)
• Spatial Data Infrastructure
• Mobile GIS and Location Based Services
• Digital Terrain Representation and Analysis
• Digital Cities and Urban Sustainability
• Global Change: Monitoring and Modelling
• Vulnerability: Spatial Assessment and Analysis
• Learning with Geoinformation
GI_Forum 2010 gives authors choices about the type of submission they want to make in order to accommodate a variety of interdisciplinary contributions. Submissions are expected in English language according to the formatting guidelines published on the conference website.
Deadline for submission of full papers for oral presentation and publication in the conference proceedings and extended abstracts for discussion sessions is 01 February 2010.
Getting to the Bottom of Chesapeake Bay
In Environmental Science, GIS, Science on October 8, 2009 at 7:32 am…from the Chesapeake Bay Journal…
“On board the Bay Hydro II and other survey vessels, though, crew members are focused on raw data. They specialize in technology, not biology-armed with specialized knowledge of computer systems, GIS and spatial analysis.
“”The technology has really matured, but there’s a lot more out there,” Davidson said. “This field is always pushing the envelope.”"
Maps Link Clean Water, Sanitation, and Poverty for Uganda’s Development
In Environmental Science, GIS, Geography, Social Science, Spatial Analysis on October 8, 2009 at 7:30 am
…fromt eh World Resources Institute…
“A new set of maps illustrating levels of clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, and poverty in Uganda will help guide national development planning.
“Limited access to clean water and sanitation threatens not only the health of Ugandans but also their education opportunities,” said Disan Ssozi, assistant commissioner at Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment, co-author of Mapping a Healthier Future: How Spatial Analysis Can Guide Pro-Poor Water and Sanitation Planning in Uganda – a new report released today in Kampala. “The maps and data in this report will help inform Uganda’s water infrastructure planners and protect the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.”
“In 2004, Uganda’s central government set national targets to increase access to clean water and sanitation to 100 percent in urban areas and 77 percent in rural districts by 2015.
“So far, Uganda’s investment plans, which are expected to cost approximately US $1.4 billion, have helped improve drinking water coverage in rural sub-counties, from 25 percent in the early 1990s to 65 percent in 2009. However, work remains to be done to ensure that all areas meet national targets.”
Quote of the Day
In Quotes, Science on October 8, 2009 at 7:01 am“I now see scientific accomplishments as a path, not an end; a path leading to and disappearing in mystery.”
–Charles Lindbergh, 1969
Invasive Autumn Olive Species Studied with GIS
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Spatial Analysis on October 8, 2009 at 7:00 am
A STUDY OF ELAEAGANS UMBELLATA DISPERSAL BASED ON THE AGES AND RELATIVE LOCATIONS OF INDIVIDUALS IN A STAND
Mame Redwood, Derek Evans , Chris Evans, David J. Gibson.
Presented at the 36th Natural Areas Conference, “Living on the Edge: Why Natural Areas Matter”, Vancouver, Washington, USA, September 15-18, 2009.
This study examines the spread of the invasive species Elaeagans umbellata (Autumn Olive) based on the ages and relative locations of 76 individuals in a 2.95 hectacre stand. All individuals of E. umbellata in the stand were mapped using GPS in a 20 meter grid with locations subsequently mapped using ESRI ArcGIS. The locations of younger individuals were compared to locations of older individuals to examine dispersal routes and test the null hypotheses that age was homogenous across the stand. The age and diameter of each individual was recorded to allow investigation of the age-to-diameter ratio. Analysis of the ages and diameters showed no consistent age: diameter ratio. Analysis of the relative ages of nearest neighbors indicated a non-random age-class structure (χdf=9 = 56.38, p < 0.0001). Individuals aged 1-4 years most often had 5-9 year old neighbors. Individuals aged 5-9 most often had neighbors of the same age. Individuals aged 10-14 most often had neighbors aged 15+, and individuals aged 15+ most often had neighbors aged 9-14. A map presenting the ages and relative locations of individuals showed a cluster of older individuals which appear to be the founder plants during colonization of the stand.
Video: Layers of Our World
In ESRI, GIS, Geography, Imagery on October 8, 2009 at 7:00 amIn this salute to GIS Day ESRI uses ArcGlobe 3D Analyst and ArcMap to provide multiple perspectives of Earth. Special thanks to Digital Globe and EarthSat for their images used in this video.
Map of the Day: Statistical Areas of the United States and Puerto Rico, November 2007
In ESRI, GIS, Geography, Social Science on October 8, 2009 at 6:59 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“The Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas of the United States and Puerto Rico wall map (left) shows metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas (also known as core-based statistical areas), shows metropolitan divisions, and identifies their component counties. The Combined Statistical Areas of the United States and Puerto Rico wall map (right) shows combined statistical areas and identifies their component metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas. The printed map measures 55.5-by-36 inches. The boundaries and titles depicted on this map reflect the definitions issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in November 2007. The area definitions are based on the application of the 2000 Standards for Defining Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas to Census Bureau population estimates for incorporated places and selected minor civil divisions for 2005 and 2006, and in specified circumstances, local opinion.
“Courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division.”
Marine Geospatial Ecology Tools for ArcGIS
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Modeling, Statistics on October 7, 2009 at 10:48 am
“Marine Geospatial Ecology Tools (MGET), also known as the GeoEco Python package, is an open source geoprocessing toolbox designed for coastal and marine researchers and GIS analysts who work with spatially-explicit ecological and oceanographic data in scientific or management workflows. MGET includes over 180 tools useful for a variety of tasks, such as converting oceanographic data to ArcGIS formats, identifying fronts in sea surface temperature images, fitting and evaluating statistical models such as GAMs and GLMs by integrating ArcGIS with the R statistics program, analyzing coral reef connectivity by simulating hydrodynamic larval dispersal, and building grids that summarize fishing effort, CPUE and other statistics. Currently under development are tools for identifying rings and eddy cores in sea surface height images, for analyzing connectivity networks, for estimating fishing effort when no effort data are available, for predicting hard bottom habitat from coarse grain bathymetry, and much more.”
Latest Research on Oregon’s Oceanic “Dead Zones” and How Climate Change May Be Promoting Them
In Climate Change, Environmental Science, Science on October 7, 2009 at 10:13 amYet another ecological scourge may earn a place on the ever-lengthening list of problems associated with climate change: the formation of some types of so-called “dead zones”–marine expanses covering hundreds, or even thousands, of square miles that become too oxygen-starved during the summer to support most life forms.
Armed with new analyses of Oregon’s 2009 dead zone season, Jack Barth of Oregon State University will explain how climate change may be promoting the development of Oregon’s dead zones, summarize the ecological impacts of dead zones, discuss why scientists believe that dead zones are now regular summer fixtures in Oregon’s coastal waters, and describe his research team’s pioneering methods for studying dead zones in Oregon and Chile.
Oregon’s marine dead zones are a particularly timely topic because: 1) the Earth currently has more than 400 dead zones–with the count doubling every ten years; 2) scientists suspect that dead zones off the Oregon and Washington coasts may be caused by climate change, unlike the overwhelming majority of dead zones, which are caused by pollution; 3) the Pacific Northwest’s dead zones are located in one of the nation’s most important fisheries; and 4) the Pacific Northwest’s dead zones, which have appeared every summer since 2002, are a relatively new phenomenon.
In addition to hosting the webcast with Jack Barth on October 8, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will also release on October 8 a multi-media package about the Pacific Northwest’s dead zones, entitled Dead Zones: Mysteries of Ocean Die-Offs Revealed. The multimedia package will be posted on NSF’s Web site at http://www.nsf.gov.
| Who: | Jack Barth, an expert on Oregon’s dead zones from Oregon State University. |
| What: | Media teleconference and webcast to discuss Oregon’s Dead Zones. |
| When: | Thursday, October 8, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time. |
How to Participate: Reporters are invited to participate in a live video teleconference hosted by NSF with Jack Barth of Oregon State University on Thursday, October 8, at 1:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Reporters in the United States may participate by teleconference or Internet. To participate by teleconference, call (800) 779-5386. To obtain the password to participate in the teleconference and to obtain the URL and password to access the webcast, email Lily Whiteman at lwhitema@nsf.gov. During the event, email questions for Jack Barth to webcast@nsf.gov.
[Source: NSF press release]
A New Look Beneath the Waves: Ocean Observatories Initiative Gets Underway
In Earth Systems Science, Environmental Science, Geography, Science on October 7, 2009 at 10:11 amGiving scientists never-before-seen views of the world’s oceans, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Consortium for Ocean Leadership (COL) have signed a Cooperative Agreement that supports the construction and initial operation of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI).
OOI will provide a network of undersea sensors for observing complex ocean processes such as climate variability, ocean circulation, and ocean acidification at several coastal, open-ocean and seafloor locations.
Continuous data flow from hundreds of OOI sensors will be integrated by a sophisticated computing network, and will be openly available to scientists, policy makers, students and the public.
“Through the Recovery Act, we are putting people to work today to find answers to some of the major scientific and environmental challenges that we face,” said Arden L. Bement, Jr., director of NSF.
“The oceans drive an incredible range of natural phenomena, including our climate, and directly impact society in myriad ways,” Bement explained. “New approaches are crucial to our understanding of changes now happening in the world’s oceans. OOI will install the latest technologies where they can best serve scientists, policymakers and the public.”
Added Julie Morris, NSF division director for ocean sciences, “Moving a large project to the construction phase requires rigorous planning. Remarkable cooperation and commitment from the OOI team is translating a long-held dream into a new reality for the ocean sciences research community.”
Advanced ocean research and sensor tools are a significant improvement over past techniques. Remotely operated and autonomous vehicles go deeper and perform longer than submarines. Underwater samplers do in minutes what once took hours in a lab. Telecommunications cables link experiments directly to office computers on land. At sea, satellite uplinks shuttle buoy data at increasing speeds.
Sited in critical areas of the open and coastal ocean, OOI will radically change the rate and scale of ocean data collection. The networked observatory will focus on global, regional and coastal science questions. It will also provide platforms to support new kinds of instruments and autonomous vehicles.
“OOI is an unprecedented opportunity for, and whole new approach to, advancing our understanding of how the ocean works and interacts with the atmosphere and solid Earth,” said Robert Gagosian, president and CEO of COL. “It will allow scientists to answer complex questions–questions only dreamed of a few years ago–about the future health of our planet, such as the ocean’s role in climate change. It’s very exciting to be part of this huge step forward in the ocean sciences.”
The five-plus-year construction phase, funded initially with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 funds, will begin this month.
The first year of funding under the Cooperative Agreement will support a range of construction efforts, including production engineering and prototyping of key coastal and open-ocean components (moorings, buoys, sensors), award of the primary seafloor cable contract, completion of a shore station for power and data, and software development for sensor interfaces to the network.
Subsequent years of funding will support the completion of coastal, deep-ocean, and seafloor systems, with initial data flow scheduled for early 2013 and final commissioning of the full system in 2015.
The OOI is managed and coordinated by the OOI Project Office at the Consortium for Ocean Leadership in Washington, D.C., with three major implementing organizations responsible for the construction of the components of the full network:
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and its partners, Oregon State University and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, are responsible for coastal and global moorings and their associated autonomous vehicles. Raytheon will also serve as a WHOI partner and provide project management and systems engineering support.
- The University of Washington is responsible for cabled seafloor systems and moorings on the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate.
- OOI’s cyberinfrastructure component is being implemented by the University of California at San Diego.
In 2010 the program will add an education and public engagement team as the fourth implementing organization; it will take advantage of the technology and combined science and education vision of the OOI.
“This award represents the fulfillment of more than a decade of planning and hard work by hundreds of ocean scientists, and reflects the commitment of the National Science Foundation to new approaches for documenting ocean processes,” said Tim Cowles, OOI program director at the Consortium for Ocean Leadership.
“The OOI project team is excited to play a role in implementing this unique suite of observing assets. We’re building an infrastructure that will transform ocean sciences.”
[Source: NSF press release]
Did Climate Change Cause the Maya to Disappear?
In Climate Change, Environmental Science, Modeling, Science on October 7, 2009 at 10:05 am
…from Science@NASA…
“A major drought occurred about the time the Maya began to disappear. And at the time of their collapse, the Maya had cut down most of the trees across large swaths of the land to clear fields for growing corn to feed their burgeoning population. They also cut trees for firewood and for making building materials.
“They had to burn 20 trees to heat the limestone for making just 1 square meter of the lime plaster they used to build their tremendous temples, reservoirs, and monuments,” explains Sever.
“He and his team used computer simulations to reconstruct how the deforestation could have played a role in worsening the drought. They isolated the effects of deforestation using a pair of proven computer climate models: the PSU/NCAR mesoscale atmospheric circulation model, known as MM5, and the Community Climate System Model, or CCSM.
“”We modeled the worst and best case scenarios: 100 percent deforestation in the Maya area and no deforestation,” says Sever. “The results were eye opening. Loss of all the trees caused a 3-5 degree rise in temperature and a 20-30 percent decrease in rainfall.”
Apply Now for 2010 Teachers Teaching Teachers GIS Institute
In ESRI, Education, GIS on October 7, 2009 at 8:07 amESRI will host another one-week institute for educators in June 2010. The 2009 Teachers Teaching Teachers GIS Institute was so successful that ESRI intends to make it an annual event. More than one participant last summer told us that the experience changed their lives and boosted their confidence to conduct effective GIS trainings.
Participants will be expected to practice their new skills by building a lesson, conducting a hands-on GIS training event, and presenting the results of their work during the year following the T3G Institute.
The Institute will be limited to 30 attendees, so each participant will enjoy plenty of opportunities for individual assistance, professional networking, and sharing ideas.
Completed applications must be received by November 30, 2009.
Visit the institute’s Web page, http://edcommunity.esri.com/t3g for more information and to download the application instructions.
An Analysis of Simulated California Climate Using Multiple Dynamical and Statistical Techniques – Final Report
In Climate Change, Modeling, Statistics on October 7, 2009 at 8:00 am
“Four dynamic regional climate models (University of California, Santa Cruz” RegCM3; the University of California, San Diego’s RSM; the National Center for Atmospheric Research’s WRF-RUC; and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/University of California, Berkeley’s WRF-CLM3) and one statistical downscaling approach (the University of California, San Diego’s CANA) were used to downscale 10 years of historical climate in California. To isolate possible limitations of the downscaling methods, initial and lateral boundary conditions from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction global reanalysis were used. Results of this downscaling were compared to observations and to an independent, fine-resolution reanalysis (the North American Regional Reanalysis). This evaluation is preparation for simulations of future-climate scenarios, the second phase of this California Energy Commission climate projections project, which will lead to probabilistic scenarios. Each model has its own strengths and weaknesses, which are summarized here. In general, the dynamic models perform as well as other state-of-the-art dynamical regional climate models, and the statistical model has comparable or superior skill, although for a very limited set of meteorological variables. As is typical of dynamical climate models, there remain uncertainties in simulating clouds, precipitation, and snow accumulation and depletion rates. Hence, the weakest aspects of the dynamical models are parameterized processes, while the weakest aspect of the statistical downscaling procedure is the limitation in predictive variables. However, the resulting simulations yield a better understanding of model spread and bias and will be used as part of the California probabilistic scenarios and impacts.”
Quote of the Day
In Environmental Science, Quotes on October 7, 2009 at 6:17 am“What nature does in the course of long periods we do every day when we suddenly change the environment in which some species of living plant is situated.”
— Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, 1809
GIS Used to Study Invasive Weed Abundance in Wisconsin Watershed
In Environmental Science, GIS, Spatial Analysis on October 7, 2009 at 6:16 am
WETLAND PHALARIS ARUNDINACEA ABUNDANCE AS A FUNCTION OF WATERSHED SOIL AND LAND COVER ATTRIBUTES
Nina Borchowiec and Amanda Little.
Presented at the 36th Natural Areas Conference, “Living on the Edge: Why Natural Areas Matter”, Vancouver, Washington, USA, September 15-18, 2009.
P. arundinacea is a weed that grows invasively across North America. It suppresses native vegetation, ultimately reducing ecological diversity. Knowing how P. arundinacea responds to landscape attributes will help determine how to monitor and manage it. We related P. arundinacea abundance from a statewide data layer created by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. ArcGIS 9.2 was used to calculate the proportions of different soil surface textures, drainage classes, and land-cover types in each watershed to determine NRCS 12-digit watershed characteristics that influenced the abundance of P. arundinacea in wetlands of the Lower Chippewa River Watershed, Wisconsin, USA.
To reduce the number of covarying attributes, we used non-metric multidimensional scaling to create composite variables. We used multiple linear regression to relate these variables to wetland P. arundinacea abundance, as a percentage of wetland land cover dominated by P. arundinacea.
One surface texture and one drainage class variable predicted P. arundinacea abundance (log(y) = 1.23 + 0.467drainvar1 – 0.166surftexvar2, R2 = 29.5%, P < 0.001). Synthetic land cover variables were not significant predictors. Relationships between individual predictors and synthetic variables indicate that P. arundinacea is more abundant in wetland watersheds with more wetland-type muck soils and less abundant with substantial open water. These findings indicate that agriculture may not be a strong driver of P. arundinacea abundance at the watershed level. P. arundinacea is not found in watersheds with somewhat excessively drained fine sandy loam, although it‘s uncertain whether this is a function of the soil properties or associated topographic constraints.
Video: Using GIS to Analyze Sea Level Potential and Temperature Extremes
In Climate Change, ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Science, Video on October 7, 2009 at 6:16 amAnalyzing Sea Level Potential and Temperature Extremes within A GIS Environment. Prepared for Earth Science Week 2010.
New Book: Research Trends in Geographic Information Science
In Books, GIS, GIScience, Geography, Science on October 7, 2009 at 6:16 am
In June/July 2008, the Institute for Geoinformation and Cartography at the Vienna University of Technology organized a scientific colloquium where 15 well-known scientists presented their ideas on research for the upcoming decade. This book contains papers prepared by the participants as well as by other researchers. The eighteen papers in this book reflect the opinion of a core group of Geoinformation scientists about future research topics. Dealing with these topics poses multiple research questions for the coming years.
Papers include:
- Ontology, Epistemology, teleology: Triangulating Geographic Information Science
- Geonoemata Elicited: Concepts, Objects, and Other Uncertain Geographic things
- Virtue Ethics for GIS Professionals
- Why Is Scale an Effective Descriptor for Data Quality? The Physical and Ontological Rationale for Imprecision and Level of Detail
- Semantic Engineering
- A Common Spatial Model for GIS
- Computation with Imprecise Probabilities
- Spatial Data Quality: Problems and Prospects
- Latent Analysis as a Potential Method for Integrating Data Concepts
- Stereology for Multitemporal Images with an Application to Flooding
- Modeling Spatiotemporal Paths for Single Moving Objects
- Moving Objects in Databases and GIS: State-of-the-Art and Open problems
- The Degree of Distribution of Random Planar Graphs
- Geographical Information Engineering in the 21st Century
- Towards Visual Summaries of Geographic Databases Based on Chorems
- Intelligent Spatial Communication
- Training Games and GIS
- Cadastre and Economic Development
Map of the Day: Environmental and Geotechnical Engineering Applications of GIS
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Map of the Day, Science on October 7, 2009 at 6:15 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“This map summarizes some of the major GIS developments in the past few years of AECOM Asia. It illustrates the customization work done by using the MapObjects and ArcObjects techniques. Customized GIS applications for habitat mapping, natural landslide searching, air pollutant monitoring, and utility map printing were developed to facilitate engineering work. Also presented are 3D geological and landscape simulation results for different study areas in mainland China and Hong Kong.
“Courtesy of AECOM Asia.”
GPS Innovator and Educator Honored as Cal State Fullerton’s Outstanding Professor for 2009
In Geography, Science, Spatial Analysis on October 6, 2009 at 10:33 am
A noted educator and internationally recognized authority on satellite global positioning has been named Cal State Fullerton’s Outstanding Professor for 2009.
Mohinder Grewal, professor of electrical engineering and a faculty member since 1975, was stunned when faculty members and administrators led by CSUF President Milton A. Gordon walked into a meeting about satellite communications to present him with the award.
“Each year, one of the university’s 2,000 faculty is chosen as the best,” Gordon said as he walked over to stand next to the honoree. “Guess who it is this year? Professor Grewal!”
The two dozen students at the meeting loudly applauded as Gordon presented the professor with a crystal trophy engraved with a picture of a communications satellite and words declaring Grewal the 2008-09 Outstanding Professor Award honoree.
“I’m not going to read the list of his accomplishments,” said Gordon, brandishing several printed pages. “It’s two pages long!”
“Congratulations, Dr. Grewal. This award is probably 20 years overdue, but that makes it all the more special,” said Raman Unnikrishnan, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Grewal, who earned his doctorate at USC, enjoys an international reputation for contributions to the development of the space-based positioning, navigation and timing systems that lie at the heart of the increasingly common global positioning technology found in everything from smart phones to navigation systems. He holds two patents with a third patent application pending, all for algorithms related to global positioning and navigation.
Dorota Huizinga, former associate dean of ECS and now associate vice president for graduate studies and research, added: “I’m so happy for you. I have to tell you, whenever I hear my GPS talking to me, giving me directions, I think of you.”
“Your accomplishments are so wonderful, so impressive and you’re a wonderful teacher,” added last year’s Outstanding Professor Award recipient Stella Ting-Toomey, professor of human communication studies.
Scott Hewitt, chair of the Academic Senate and professor of chemistry and biochemistry, said, “This honor is deserved, and your membership is a credit to the Academic Senate.”
“I’m surprised and stunned,” Grewal said, clearly struggling for control. “I have to give credit to my students, staff and colleagues. This would not have happened without their support all this time. Thank you, thank you.”
Recipients of the award must demonstrate a record of superlative teaching and distinguished scholarship on a national or international scale, have contributed to the stature of the university and to the California State University system and been of service to the campus and the community in ways related to their teaching.
Crediting the Support of Students and Peers
Grewal is quick to credit students and colleagues for his achievements.
“I have had so many good ones, and they made me think and delve. They asked questions I couldn’t answer, and in trying to find answers, I was sent in new directions. As they developed, they worked with me, and many of them now are successful at places like Raytheon and Boeing and other corporations, and as educators. I still work on projects with some of them.”
His students and colleagues are just as quick to return the favor.
Former students and alumni, like Laura Cheung (M.S. electrical engineering ’01), principal systems engineer for Raytheon Co. who has known Grewal for a decade as a student, a mentor and a colleague, was lavish in her praise: “As his student at Cal State Fullerton, I benefited greatly from Dr. Grewal’s instruction. His exemplary work in developing and teaching GPS and Kalman filtering classes has made CSUF one of just a few universities in North America to offer such high-quality and valuable GPS instruction.”
Satinder Singh (M.S. engineering-electrical ’87), president and chief executive officer of the California-based international company Future Computer Solutions Inc., said studying with Grewal changed his outlook. “I had the pleasure of being in three of his courses, and I found Dr. Grewal to be not only most interesting and engaging in his lecture but, more importantly, I found him inspiring. He ignited a deep interest in everything he touched and drew me into what were, for me, uncharted territories.
“Moreover, his mentorship did not terminate when I completed my studies and moved into the corporate world,” Singh said. ”He made himself readily available. I availed of it freely when I found myself up against a formidable problem. He continued to be generous with his guidance.”
Grewal’s positive relationship with his students has continued unabated over the years. Master’s in electrical engineering graduates from 2008, Malia Harris, chief engineer, and Kenny Dang, systems engineer, in the California division of Texas-based of DRS Sensors and Targeting Systems, co-authored a letter of recommendation for Grewal, citing his roles as teacher and mentor.
“Over the last three years, we have taken many courses with Dr. Grewal. We feel he surpasses most instructors in his passion for his work and his ability to engage others,” they noted. “His excitement for his work is contagious [and], he also is extremely supportive of the students around him and encourages them to challenge themselves.”
Phyllis Harn, an administrative support coordinator in the Electrical Engineering Department for more than two decades before retiring in 2007, sang the professor’s praises with obvious enthusiasm. “There are many great educators at CSUF. However, to be an Outstanding Professor, you need something special,” Harn said. ”I believe when you combine the professional accomplishments of Dr. Grewal with the utmost respect he has earned from everyone, you have that winning combination.”
“Dr. Grewal’s student evaluations are among the highest in the department; in fact they are always in the top two … He is the sole adviser of all new graduate students who apply to our program and does the initial evaluation and advising for every single applicant to our master’s in software engineering program,” noted Mostafa Shiva, chair and professor of electrical engineering. “Dr. Grewal has earned national and international recognition by his scholarly activities, research and publications. His performance is exceptional in all areas. He is a one-of-a-kind teacher who achieves the highest levels of excellence.”
Professional Accolades
Gerard Lachappelle, professor of geomatics engineering and chair of the Wireless Location Department at Shuclich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and a two-decade industry veteran in navigation research and development, contends that Grewal’s contributions to the field of satellite and inertial navigation have made him “without question one of the academic leaders in this field worldwide.
“His book ‘Kalman Filtering Theory and Practice Using MATLAB’ has become one of the few standard books for students and research engineers in the field of navigation. His book ‘Global Positioning Systems, Inertial Navigation and Integration’ has equally been accepted in our community. And he has contributed massively to the training of professionals through regular and high-quality short courses,” said Lachappelle.
The Orange County Engineering Council honored Grewal last spring with the Excellence in Engineering Education Award, its highest award for an educator. The council acts as the umbrella organization for the technology-rich county, which includes dozens of engineering groups, corporations and educational institutions.
Roboticist Sam Rokni (B.S., M.S. electrical engineering ’05, ’07), now an engineering lecturer at Cal State Fullerton, said Grewal showed him connections to robotics he hadn’t yet considered. Incorporating GPS and space-based navigation, like those used for airplanes, package tracking and cell phones, was a big one. “He helped me see how it could apply to my field.”
GPS World named Grewal one of the “50+ Leaders to Watch” in the world in 2007 and 2008 for advancements in space-based positioning, navigation and timing systems. In addition to his two co-edited books, he has authored and co-authored dozens of articles and papers on navigation and global positioning and has given many presentations, lectures and seminars internationally.
Recognition at Commencement
As the 2008-09 Outstanding Professor Award recipient, Grewal will be recognized at the university’s May 22 Honors Convocation and will lead the faculty at the May 23 and 24 commencement ceremonies. He will receive a $4,000 cash award from the President’s Associates and will present a public lecture next spring.
Zvi Drezner, professor of information systems and decision sciences and the recipient of the 2005-06 Outstanding Professor Award, chaired the Outstanding Professor Selection Committee.
Grewal resides in Anaheim Hills and is currently on sabbatical pursuing research in inertial navigation.
[Source: Cal State Fullerton press release]
Make Your Own Interactive U.S. Demographic Map and Share on the Web or in an Email
In ESRI, GIS, Geography, Social Science on October 6, 2009 at 10:28 amESRI has launched a new “Make a Map” application on its web site which lets you make–and share–interactive U.S. demographic maps.
Professor Receives $1 Million NSF Grant for School Attendance Boundary Project
In Education, GIS, Social Science, Spatial Analysis on October 6, 2009 at 9:54 am“Salvatore Saporito, an associate professor of sociology at William & Mary, has received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to create a new database of school attendance boundaries for the country’s largest school districts.
“The grant funds two years of work on the School Attendance Boundary Information System (SABINS). Saporito will build the SABINS database in conjunction with Stuart Hamilton, director of William & Mary’s Center for Geospatial Analysis, and Petra Noble and Rob Warren of the Minnesota Population Center at the University of Minnesota. With the assistance of William & Mary undergraduate student researchers, the team will use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to map school attendance boundaries for 800 of the largest school districts nationwide. Elementary, middle and high school attendance boundaries delineate the geographic areas from which schools draw their students.”
Researchers Use High-tech Tools to Map Ocean Floor
In Environmental Science, GIS, Geography on October 6, 2009 at 9:44 am…from fosters.com…
“The scientists charting the world’s seafloors have come a long way from the days when sailors would head out on ships and tie a lead sinker to a line to measure ocean depths.
“The use of rapid-fire sonar technologies and computer programs developed at the University of New Hampshire has revolutionized seafloor mapping and drastically improved the accuracy of nautical charts.
“And while the science behind it is complicated, former UNH graduate student and research ship commander Shepard Smith said his days out on a hydrographic survey vessel provide the data necessary to create “road maps for the ocean.”"
Fifth International Workshop on “Geographical Analysis, Urban Modeling, Spatial Statistics” in Fukuoka, Japan, 23-26 March 2010
In Conferences, GIS, Modeling, Science, Spatial Analysis, Statistics on October 6, 2009 at 9:31 am(in conjunction with the 2010 International Conference on Computational Science and its Applications)
During the past decades the main problem of geographical analysis was the lack of spatial data availability. Today the wide diffusion of electronic devices containing geo-referenced information generates a great production of spatial data. Volunteered geographic information activities (e.g. Wikimapia, OpenStreetMap), public initiatives (e.g. Spatial Data Infrastructures, Geo-portals) and private projects (e.g. Google Earth, Microsoft Virtual Earth, etc.) produced an overabundance of spatial data which in many cases does not help the efficiency of decision processes. The increase of geographical data availability has not been fully coupled by an increase of knowledge to support spatial decisions. The inclusion of spatial simulation techniques in recent GIS software favoured the diffusion of these methods, but in several cases led to the mechanism of which buttons to press without having geography in mind. Spatial analytical techniques, geographical analyses and modelling methods are therefore required in order to analyse data and to facilitate the decision process at all levels. Old geographical issues can find an answer thanks to new methods and instruments, while new issues are developing, challenging the researchers for new solutions. This workshop aims at contributing to the development of new techniques and methods to improve the process of knowledge acquisition.
United Nations Cartographic Sections Seeks GIS Intern
In Education, GIS, Geography on October 6, 2009 at 8:57 am
The United Nations Cartographic Section belongs to the Department of Field Support (DFS) within the UN Secretariat and is located in UNHQ in New York. Its main task is to provide geographic and cartographic support to the UN Secretariat as well as to the different Peacekeeping Missions throughout the world. For the time period of 2-4 month, starting in November 2009 we are looking for a GIS Intern to support the Cartographic Section’s GIS activities with special regards to international boundaries and geo-database development.
Tasks
- Support of geo-database management
- Data quality control and assurance
- Research on international boundaries
- Support of GIS application development
Requirements
- Student in Geography, Cartography, Geo-Informatics or similar
- Very good knowledge of GIS (e.g. ArcGIS)
- Good knowledge of remote sensing
- Very good command of English
Model: It’s Raining Rocks on Exoplanet
In Modeling, Planetary GIS on October 6, 2009 at 8:56 am…from futurity.org…
“An exoplanet discovered last February by the COROT space telescope is close enough to its star that its “day-face” is hot enough to melt rock. Theoretical models suggest the planet has a gaseous-rock atmosphere and boiling oceans on its surface.
“According to models by scientists at Washington University in St. Louis, COROT-7b’s atmosphere is made up of the ingredients of rocks and when “a front moves in,” pebbles condense out of the air and rain into lakes of molten lava below.
“The work, by Laura Schaefer, research assistant in the Planetary Chemistry Laboratory, and Bruce Fegley Jr., professor of earth and planetary sciences, appears in the Oct. 1 issue of the Astrophysical Journal.”
Video: Analyzing Earth Science Data Using GIS on the Web
In ESRI, GIS, Science, Video on October 6, 2009 at 6:37 am
Creating a New 3D Map of Space
In Science on October 6, 2009 at 6:36 am…from Wired magazine…
“A new project to create a 3D map of space so large that scientists can find a 500 million-light-year-size remnant from the early universe inside it began operation last month.
“The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey opened its eyes to the universe, taking in data from hundreds of galaxies and quasars in the constellation Aquarius, from its perch on the Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico. Eventually, it will image two million galaxies and quasars.”
Map of the Day: U.S. Center of Population, 1790–2000
In ESRI, GIS, Geography, Social Science on October 6, 2009 at 6:36 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“Each decade, as part of its tabulation and publication activities following the decennial census, the U.S. Census Bureau calculates the country’s center of population. The center is determined as the place where an imaginary, flat, weightless, and rigid map of the United States would balance perfectly if all residents were of identical weight. For Census 2000, the mean center of population was in Phelps County, Missouri, approximately 2.8 miles east of the rural community of Edgar Springs.
“Historically, the movement of the center of population has reflected the expansion of the country, the settling of the frontier, waves of immigration, and migration west and south. Since 1790, the center of population has moved steadily westward, angling to the southwest in recent decades.
“Courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division.”
Quote of the Day
In GIS, Quotes on October 6, 2009 at 6:35 am“The early days of GIS were very lonely. No-one knew what it meant.”
–Roger Tomlinson
Technology Drives Climate Science: A GIS-based Action Plan
In Climate Change, Design, Earth Systems Management, Earth Systems Science, Environmental Science, GIS, Geography, Modeling, Science, Spatial Analysis, Visualization on October 5, 2009 at 12:52 pmOur world faces unprecedented challenges, and only one technology is poised to collect, manage, and analyze the myriad of physical, biological, and cultural data describing the past, present, and future of Earth. That technology is geographic information systems (GIS), commonly used today to view and manage information about geographic places, analyze geographic relationships, and model geographic processes.
GIS technology has proven to be invaluable in driving intelligent decision making, and its application to climate science is a natural fit. In fact, extensive work has already been done over the last 40 years to apply GIS technology to address subjects such as land use inventory, data model development, climate model integration, carbon accounting, and climate change visualization.
We are at a point in the evolution of the technology and its broad application where the next logical step is development of a GIS-based framework for earth systems modeling and global design. Such a system would cross academic, scientific, and industrial domains and political boundaries to serve as a platform for a comprehensive climate monitoring, modeling, and management system.
There are several actions we can take now to establish a framework that leverages mature GIS technology to advance climate science.
- Create a Comprehensive Climate Information System. A GIS-based platform for modeling and managing earth systems will help us identify climate trends, understand the effects of climate change, design mitigation plans, predict possible outcomes, monitor results, and provide feedback for an adaptive response.
- Create a Climate Data Infrastructure. A global spatial data infrastructure for climate change studies—a loosely-coupled, decentralized directory of all types of climate and map data and imagery—will serve as the basis for earth systems modeling and global design projects conducted in the Climate Information System.
- Integrate Earth Systems Modeling. A thorough inventory of climate change related spatial data models and sharing of best practices on interoperability will be of tremendous value as we build a Climate Information System for analyzing impacts and alternative futures at a comprehensive, global scale.
- Develop a Global Climate Dashboard. A Global Climate Dashboard would summarize information from the Climate Information System, providing “executives” and citizens alike with real-time geographic visualization of various earth systems parameters, enabling a more responsive, iterative, and adaptive response to climate change.
- Move towards Global Design. A GIS-based geodesign framework will provide a robust set of tools for design professionals to support the design and evaluation of alternate futures for our earth and its systems.
We are only beginning to understand the complex issues posed by climate change. Only through careful observation of the data, application of scientific principals, and leveraging of modern technology can we hope to grasp the intricacies of the exceedingly complex systems that comprise our planet. A GIS-based framework for climate science offers the best chance at gaining a scientific understanding of earth systems at a truly global scale and for making thoughtful, informed design decisions that ultimately allow humans and nature to coexist more harmoniously.
UN Chief Ban Ki-moon: IT ‘Vital’ in Climate Change Fight
In Climate Change, GIS on October 5, 2009 at 10:09 am…from Yahoo!News…
“Information and communication technologies are “vital” in tackling climate change, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said Monday, urging the industry to think up fresh ideas to harness technology and usher in a green economy.
“Opening one of the industry’s biggest fairs, ITU Telecom World, Ban said: “ICTs are … very vital to confronting the problems we face as a planet: the threat of climate change.”"
Report Shows Future Growth, Current Challenges for Carbon Software Market
In Climate Change on October 5, 2009 at 7:29 am…from ClimateBiz.com…
“Regulatory shifts in climate change policy around the world will spur companies to ditch the simple Excel spreadsheets they’ve been using to track their emissions in favor of carbon management software. The trend will lead to an explosion within the market, pushing its value from at least $20 million now to more than $250 million in 2012, a new report found.
“But as companies make the transition from spreadsheets, they often find themselves confused by the ever-growing selection of carbon management software on the market, according to Verdantix, the U.K.-based research firm that published the report today, titled “Green Quadrant: Carbon Management Software.”"
Living, Meandering River Constructed: Vegetation and Sand Essential in Stream Life
In Design, Earth Systems Engineering, Environmental Science on October 5, 2009 at 7:21 amIn a feat of reverse-engineering, Christian Braudrick of University of California at Berkeley and three coauthors have successfully built and maintained a scale model of a living meandering gravel-bed river in the lab. Their findings point to the importance of vegetation to reinforce the banks and, surprisingly, to the importance of sand in healthy meandering river life.
The significance of vegetation for slowing erosion and reinforcing banks has been known for a long time, but this is the first time it has been scientifically demonstrated as a critical component in meandering. Sand is an ingredient generally avoided in stream restoration as it is known to disrupt salmon spawning. However, Braudrick and his colleagues have shown that it is indispensable for helping to build point bars and to block off cut-off channels and chutes–tributaries that might start and detract from the flow and health of the stream.
The model is a first for the delicate balance of ingredients of the model flood plain, gravel (sand), fine sediment, vegetation and water to come together in such a way that the stream took life and behaved in the way its healthy counterparts in nature would at 50 to 100 times the size and on the scale of hours instead of years.
In 130 hours after being set into motion, this train-set size (6m x 17m) river eroded its banks and built point bars by depositing model sand and gravel moving around in its environment the way parts of the Mississippi River would over five or seven years.
In nature, this behavior not only achieves a “picture perfect” waterway with pleasing bends, but it yields what earth scientist Braudrick calls “more biological bang for the buck.”
“Meandering” generally occurs in streams with moderate slopes and is a common form of river between canyon-bound rivers in the mountains and deltas near the ocean. The physics and geology of meandering streams combine to yield both shallow portions as well as deeper pools. The diversity of habitat is a more hospitable environment to sustain a higher diversity of species. This is in contrast to another stream type with many islands but more uniform and shallower water called “braided streams.”
Stream restoration is an extremely complex and delicate science. Because there is no formula to create meandering streams. Successful stream restorers almost require a sixth sense to get everything right and set a sustainable environment into motion, and not every restored stream lasts. Some form extra channels becoming braided streams; some stagnate.
Braudrick and his colleagues hope to shed light on the necessary conditions for sustained meandering in coarse bedded rivers. They have used a clever combination of painted sand that stands in for gravel, a light weight plastic that looks like sugar for sand, and alfalfa sprouts that stand in for the deep rooted vegetation, such as cottonwoods or willows that grow along many meandering rivers in the wild.
The research was funded in part by the National Science Foundation and appears in the Sept. 28, 2009 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
[Source: National Science Foundation press release]
Map of the Day: Reducing the Impact of Transportation on the Human Footprint
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Map of the Day, Science on October 5, 2009 at 6:46 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“Transportation is one of the most significant factors of human influence on our planet. This map of the human footprint shows the gradient of human impact within the state of Oregon. This map is a unique view of human impact that demonstrates the Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) dedication to renewable energy.
“It takes 45,000 megawatt hours of electricity annually to run Oregon’s state transportation system. This energy is used for signals, illumination, buildings, ramp metering, and more. Historically this energy comes from mostly nonrenewable sources. ODOT supports efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and is planning for the transition to alternative, renewable fuels that will be required for the future.
“Oregon’s governor has directed state agencies to secure 100 percent of their electricity from renewable sources, and ODOT is responding by developing the nation’s first solar highway. With 16,000 lane miles of right of way and many other properties under its ownership, ODOT buildings and lands provide a ready asset for the development of solar energy. ODOT also has active projects involving electric vehicle charging stations, alternative fueling sites, and an environmental data management system to help preserve natural and cultural resources.
“Courtesy of the Oregon Department of Transportation, Geographic Information Services.”
Unfolding the Earth: Myriahedral Projections
In GIS, Geography, Science on October 5, 2009 at 6:41 am
…Jarke J. van Wijk, Eindhoven University of Technology, has posted some nice information (including a video) about myriahedral projections…
“Mapping the earth is a classic problem. For thousands of years cartographers, mathematicians, and inventors have come up with methods to map the curved surface of the earth to a flat plane. The main problem is that you cannot do this perfectly, such that both the shape and size of the surface are depicted properly everywhere. This has intrigued me for a long time. Why not just take a map of a small part of the earth, which is almost perfect, glue neighboring maps to it, and repeat this until the whole earth is shown? Of course you get interrupts, but does this matter? What does such a map look like? To check this out, we developed myriahedral projections.”
Free Webinar: Climate Change Legislation and its Implications for your Business
In Climate Change on October 5, 2009 at 6:28 amIn a webcast on September 29, 2009, TerraPass and panelists from ICF International, the Climate Action Registry, and Expedia.com explored the continual evolution of climate legislation, its implications for your business, and what actions you can take today. If you missed it, the presentations are archived online.
Remnant Prairie Tracts in Arkansas Studied with GIS
In Environmental Science, GIS on October 5, 2009 at 6:24 amTHE SEARCH FOR TALLGRASS PRAIRIE REMNANTS, GRASSLAND BIRDS, ORNATE BOX TURTLE, AND AROGOS SKIPPER IN THE ARKANSAS VALLEY OF ARKANSAS
Jennifer Akin, William C. Holimon, Michael D. Warriner, C. Theo Witsell, and William H. Baltosser.
Presented at the 36th Natural Areas Conference, “Living on the Edge: Why Natural Areas Matter”, Vancouver, Washington, USA, September 15-18, 2009.
Tallgrass prairie is one of Arkansas‘ rarest community types resulting from centuries of conversion to agricultural use and urban development. Grassland dependent species have also declined dramatically due to this large scale habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation. Despite this loss, prairie remnants remain scattered across the state with the largest tracts of unplowed prairie found in the Arkansas Valley Ecoregion. The area supports several relatively large tracts of protected prairie and other remnant prairie tracts of unknown status on privately owned land. Two years of surveys to determine the size and quality of prairie remnants and potential remnants were conducted in conjunction with surveys for wintering and breeding grassland birds and rare grassland dependent animal species: the
Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata ornata) and the Arogos Skipper (Atrytone arogos). Potential remnants were mapped based on aerial photography, soil maps, and site surveys from the 1980s and 1990s. Permission was granted to access privately owned tracts, remnant size was estimated using GIS, and floristic inventories were conducted to assess quality. Remnants were ranked based on presence of prairie grasses (Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, Panicum virgatum) and presence of conservative forbs restricted to unplowed prairies. A combination of survey methods was used to determine the distribution and abundance of grassland birds, population size of the Ornate Box Turtle, and distribution of the Arogos Skipper. The results are discussed and will provide critical data for conservation action strategies and focus conservation efforts to high priority areas.
Quote of the Day
In Environmental Science, Quotes on October 5, 2009 at 6:24 am“If I were entering adulthood now instead of in the environment of fifty years ago, I would choose a career that kept me in touch with nature more than science. … Too few natural areas remain; both by intent and by indifference we have insulated ourselves from the wilderness that produced us.”
— Charles Lindbergh, 1967
Video: Using Web GIS for Earth Science
In ESRI, Education, GIS, Science, Video on October 5, 2009 at 6:16 amUsing NationalAtlas.Gov and “This Dynamic Planet” to explore data. Prepared for Earth Science Week 2010.
Internship in Wyoming: Manage Wildlife Habitat, Learn ArcGIS
In ESRI, Education, Environmental Science, GIS on October 4, 2009 at 7:27 pmSeedskadee National Wildlife Refuge is located along a 37 mile stretch of the Green River, encompassing 27,230 acres of riverine, riparian, wetland and high desert habitat types. Cokeville Meadows NWR is located along the upper reach of the Bear River and contains riparian and wetland habitat. You will assist with daily refuge operations and programs to gain experience in wildlife habitat management and public service.
Conduct surveys for swans and raptors; collect vegetation data; control invasive weeds through mechanical or chemical means; install and/or repair various structures, signs and fences; assist with environmental education programs and public use activities and events; and other duties as assigned.
Training: Trimble GPS units; ArcGIS software; ATV use; vegetation and wildlife identification skills; fencing; weed whip; defensive driving.
Victoria Leading the Way for a Low-Carbon Future
In Climate Change, Environmental Science on October 4, 2009 at 6:13 pmThe South Australian state of Victoria has become the first in the world to effectively inventory the amount of carbon stored in its public forests, parks and reserves using a carbon accounting system proposed by the Australian government’s cap-and-trade system.
“This new information will help Victorian landowners to enter the carbon market, identify reforestation sites and measure carbon on their own land,” said Victoria Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings.
Releasing the research in Los Angeles at the California Governor’s Climate Change Summit, Mr. Jennings encouraged his own government to consider this new evidence about the carbon storage and emissions from public land in the design of Australia’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and international climate change negotiations in Copenhagen in December.
The modelling results show that Victoria’s public land holds the equivalent of 3,031 million (U.S.) tons of carbon dioxide—or 23 years of Victoria’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
“The Victorian Government strongly supports the Commonwealth’s proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme,” Mr. Jennings said. “By measuring our state’s carbon with the Commonwealth’s proposed carbon accounting system, we can make more informed decisions about our natural resources and reforestation projects in Victoria in the future.
” The Vic LandCarbon project takes into account how bushfire, fuel-reduction burning and harvesting impact levels of carbon stored on public land.
“In the past we have estimated the carbon dioxide emissions from large scale bushfires, but we now can pinpoint how much carbon is emitted by bushfires compared with the carbon that is captured during the regeneration process,” Mr. Jennings added.
From this Australia-first modelling, Victoria officials now know that carbon dioxide emissions generated from the February 2009 bushfires on public land exceeded 9.4 million (U.S.) tons.
“The modelling also shows that bushfires in Victoria over the last decade have emitted over 70 million tonnes (77 tons) of carbon dioxide,” Mr. Jennings added.
The results found that over an extended period of time, planned burning can reduce the severity of bushfires, lessening the amount of emissions generated by bushfire.
The Victoria government is building information and science to consider the carbon asset of its public land to drive green jobs and future investment in carbon storage on both public and private land.
“Victoria’s forests will continue to deliver the resources we depend on such as timber, biodiversity and recreation, while reducing the state’s carbon footprint to deliver a healthy future,” Mr. Jennings said.
For more information visit: www.climatechange.vic.gov.au
- FAQ [PDF]
[Source: Australian government press release]
Norway Sets Basis for Forest Protection Aid to Guyana
In Climate Change, Environmental Science on October 4, 2009 at 6:11 pm…from Stabroek News…
“Norway is prepared to provide performance-based, “substantial and sustained” compensation for the progress Guyana makes in limiting emissions from deforestation and further decreasing forest degradation.
“A joint statement following a meeting between President Bharrat Jagdeo and Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg in Oslo on Tuesday and posted on the Norwegian Prime Minister’s Website said that the two countries pledged to establish closer cooperation on climate and forest issues. Jagdeo was in that country to discuss those topics and the two leaders agreed to establish a partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation. The goal is to establish mechanisms on deforestation and forest degradation to be included in a post-2012 climate change agreement, the Prime Minister’s website said.”
DigitalGlobe Satellite Imagery Helps Expose Atrocities Around the Globe
In Imagery, Science on October 4, 2009 at 6:05 pm…from the Longmont Times-Call…
“Human rights violators around the globe, take note: You’re being watched.
“In Darfur, for example, groups such as Amnesty International have used satellite imagery to track atrocities, providing visual evidence contradicting claims that no crimes have been committed.
“Lars Bromley, the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s project director for its science and human rights program, said his organization provides ‘geo-spatial support’ to groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.”
Students Conduct Research at the “Icy Edge” of Climate Change in the Peruvian Andes
In Climate Change, Environmental Science, GIS on October 2, 2009 at 1:22 pm
…from UC Santa Cruz…
“High in the Peruvian Andes, undergraduate Galen Licht was slipping and sliding on the surface of a glacier. Using ground-penetrating radar to measure the depth of the ice as part of a climate-change research expedition, he was having the time of his life.
“It was a perfect job for Licht, who had yearned for an opportunity to work on the front lines of climate change since his first quarter at UCSC.
“Licht spent a year working on related projects in preparation for the trip. He used geographic information systems (GIS) technology to generate a digital elevation model of the region that Bury used in the field. The National Science Foundation provided funds for the trip through its Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program.”
Lidar and GIS Technologies Aid in Record-Breaking Tree Discovery
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS on October 2, 2009 at 1:15 pm
…from International Forest Industries…
“A true giant of the tree world has been discovered in Australia using a combination of cutting technologies that are aiding foresters in general, everyday forest management.
“”This discovery was basically a by-product of our sustainable forest management,” Luke Ellis, GIS manager of Forestry Tasmania, said. The company has the statutory responsibility of managing more than 9.1 Mha of state forest land, public land that contains about 39% of Tasmania’s forests. About half the forests managed by Forestry Tasmania are available for sustainable timber production, and a network of formal and informal reserves on the state forests helps the company protect the environmental quality of its forests including flora, fauna, soil, water, and cultural heritage.
“Located in Hobart, the capital of Australia’s southern island state of Tasmania, Forestry Tasmania announced last fall that it had found the only known standing hardwood tree to be more than 100 m tall. The swamp gum tree, nicknamed Centurion (a Roman officer in charge of 100 soldiers), was subsequently climbed and accurately measured at 99.6 m high and 4.05 m in diameter. While tantalisingly short of the 100 m-mark, this makes Centurion the world’s tallest eucalyptus tree and tallest flowering plant. It is topped only by a number of California coast redwood trees, the tallest of which reaches 115 m. Redwoods are softwood trees and grow to be taller than hardwoods, but botanists do not classify them as flowering plants. Centurion was found about 80 km southwest of Hobart in a state forest, conveniently near the Tahune AirWalk tourist attraction boasting picnic areas, swinging bridges, and a visitor’s centre.”
- Read the article [PDF]
Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Statement on Creation of Nation’s Largest Carbon Sequestration Project
In Climate Change on October 2, 2009 at 11:05 amGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after Sierra Pacific Industries announced the creation of the nation’s largest carbon sequestration project:
“Last week California adopted important accounting rules for capturing carbon through improved forestry practices and this week Sierra Pacific is using those rules to sequester more than one million tons of carbon dioxide. This agreement and the partnerships formed at this summit will help people around the world reduce the 20 percent of global warming emissions that come from deforestation.”
This announcement follows the California Air Resources Board’s adoption of the Forest Project Protocol 3.0 – a set of guidelines establishing accounting rules for determining the climate benefits of forest carbon sequestration projects. The updated protocol removes some of the barriers to participation, such as the requirement for conservation easements and now opens up the voluntary offsets market to private landowners, public lands and out-of-state projects.
These guidelines have allowed Sierra Pacific Industries, California’s largest private landowner and Equator, LLC, a natural resources asset management firm, to enter into a contract creating the nation’s largest carbon sequestration project. This agreement consists of four projects that will be implemented over five years – spanning approximately 60,000 acres of forest across the Sierra.
Under this agreement, Equator, LLC, will purchase carbon dioxide equivalent offsets from Sierra Pacific that will result in the sequestration of 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide – equivalent to taking 300,000 cars off the road for a year.
[Source: State of California press release]
USGS Maps Show Mismatch between Locations of U.S. Carbon Dioxide Production, Sequestration Sites
In Climate Change, Environmental Science, GIS on October 2, 2009 at 9:12 am“There is a mismatch between the largest sources and the largest oil and gas traps. To process, transport, and store CO2, industrial infrastructure larger than the size of the current U.S. natural gas and petroleum industry infrastructure may be required (illustrated in the map comparison below):”
Eastern Indonesia More Prone to Great Quakes
In Environmental Science on October 2, 2009 at 9:04 am
…from VIVAnews…
“An earthquake expert from the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) says that Indonesia’s eastern areas have much greater potential of being hit by earthquakes compared to the western area such as Sumatra.
““In Papua and Maluku, the potential of earthquakes and Tsunamis is twice bigger than in Sumatra,” LIPI earthquake expert Dr Danny Hilman Natawidjaya told VIVAnews in Jakarta on Friday, October 2.”
How Earth’s Hum Could Help Us Map Mars
In Planetary GIS, Science on October 2, 2009 at 8:59 am
…from Wired Science…
“The once-mysterious planetary hum of the Earth is getting put to use by scientists mapping the planet’s interior.
“Ocean wave interactions, primarily along the Pacific coast of North America, generate a vibration with a frequency of about 10 millihertz, the background buzz of the globe.
“As the hum moves through the Earth’s crust, it speeds up and slows down in response to the different materials it moves through. Scientists know from many experiments tracking how earthquake waves move through the Earth that colder, denser materials tend to speed waves up and hotter ones tend to slow them down. By looking at those changes, a team led by Kiwamu Nishida of the University of Tokyo generated a map of the interior of the planet, as reported Thursday in the journal Science.”
EnVision: USGS Energy Resources Program Online Mapping Application
In ESRI, GIS, Visualization on October 2, 2009 at 8:52 am“USGS Energy Resources Program (ERP) clients have become accustomed to using NOGA Online, World Energy Online and other single-purpose internet applications to access and discover ERP oil and gas assessment maps, geospatial data, and publications. These applications, designed and built in-house, rely on a variety of data storage models and are tailored to meet specific Project delivery needs. The applications function as separate portals to the respective project data assets; they have little commonality; and they require users to learn unique navigation systems to access the maps, data, and publications.
“The individual map applications, although successful for their initial purpose, have become outdated and inefficient, expensive to maintain, and difficult to migrate to new technology. They also have limited ability to integrate more accessible service-oriented technologies and map service formats adopted in the Energy Science Center. In addition, World Wide Web (WWW) user preferences have changed and require adoption of high-performance, easy to use (single-click), single-entry map applications that are flexible to work across multiple computing platforms and internet browsers. Users also want an efficient web portal that can be customized for their use, graphically organize data in a browser, and provide access to a wider variety of map information. In short, the NOGA Online, World Energy Online, and other project applications require a major overhaul and transition to a more flexible data access and delivery framework in order to continue providing access to ERP products and meet client data delivery requirements.
“To address these issues, the ERP Data Management Project developed a data management strategy to transition our existing map applications to a service-oriented and flexible data access and delivery environment. This strategy is based on three primary aspects; (1)consolidate data and publications from multiple oil and gas assessments applications into a singular assessment data model; (2)develop a single map viewer portal that is flexible to accommodate the variety of maps, data and services employed in the Energy Program; and (3) consolidate and translate existing ESRI map services into an Open Geospatial Consortium (WMS, WFS) data exchange format.”
Climate Change Poses Grave Threat to U.S. National Parks: New Report Identifies Top Threats and Recommendations to Protect Parks
In Climate Change, Environmental Science on October 2, 2009 at 8:26 am
Climate change from human activity is the leading threat to wildlife, plants, water and ice in 25 of America’s national parks, according to a new report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Rocky Mountain Climate Organization (RMCO).
The report, NationalParks in Peril, comes on the heels of the introduction of clean energy and climate legislation in the U.S. Senate, as well as Ken Burns’ national parks series on PBS, which has put parks in the center of America’s national conscience.
“As a country, we need to ensure that our parks have a future that is as promising as their past,” said Theo Spencer, senior advocate for the Climate Center at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Clean energy legislation is now moving in Congress that would help preserve our national treasures, while creating more jobs, economic growth and national security.”
The report outlines climate-related threats in 25 parks spanning 22 states. The top risks include: loss of snow and water, rising seas, more extreme weather, loss of plants and wildlife, and more pollution.
“Climate disruption is the greatest threat ever to our national parks. We could lose entire national parks for the first time, as Everglades, Ellis Island, and other parks could be submerged by rising seas,” said Stephen Saunders, president of the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization and the report’s principal author. “To preserve our parks, we need to reduce the heat-trapping gases that are threatening them, and begin managing the parks to protect resources at risk.”
Remedies, which are outlined in the report, include enacting comprehensive clean energy legislation, including reducing carbon pollution by at least 20 percent below current levels by 2020; increasing investment in energy efficiency; and accelerating the development of clean energy technologies. The National Parks Service also needs to prioritize this issue by enacting policies to mitigate the impacts of global warming; and should have more funding for research and to reduce the effects of climate change.
Bill Wade, chair of the executive council of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees (CNPSR) and former superintendent of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, said: “National parks are often referred to as the ‘canaries in the mine shafts’ when it comes to climate change. By their very characteristics and locations, impacts and effects of climate change are noticed in national parks first and are a forewarning about what will happen elsewhere. That’s why this report is particularly important.”
For the full report, including the list of the National Parks, visit the RMCO site.
More information about national parks and global warming is also available at www.nrdc.org/land/parksinperil/
[Source: NRDC press release]
GIS Is Key to 21st Century Skills
In ESRI, Education, GIS on October 2, 2009 at 8:19 am…from the GIS Education Community blog…
“Educational researchers and policymakers increasingly call for “21st Century skills.” What exactly are these skills, and why are they important for education? One advocacy organization focused on this is the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, which since 2002 has brought together business, education, and policy leaders to define these skills and indicate how they can be applied to education. These skills include information and communication, thinking, problem-solving, interpersonal and self-direction, global awareness, economic and business literacy, entrepreneurial, and civic literacy. The Partnership’s belief is that “every child in America needs 21st Century knowledge and skills to succeed as effective citizens, workers, and leaders” and that a gap exists between this knowledge and skill set and what students are currently learning in school.”
Quote of the Day
In Geography, Quotes, Science on October 2, 2009 at 8:08 am“The atmosphere on edge presents a striking sight. You see many distinct layers, all a different shade of iridescent blue. Through binoculars, I have counted six. The most amazing aspect of this view is how thin this life-preserving blanket is when compared to the full extent of the planet. Like an orbital eggshell, our atmosphere looks so frail that it might crack and be gone in an instant, rendering earth as barren and lifeless as any other baked hunk of rock orbiting the sun.”
–Don Pettit, Science Officer, International Space Station, 2002-2003
iMapInvasives: Web-based Invasive Species Mapping Tool
In Environmental Science, GIS on October 2, 2009 at 8:07 amIMAPINVASIVES: A WEB-BASED APPROACH TO INVASIVE SPECIES DATA AGGREGATION, MAPPING, DECISION-MAKING AND ACTION!
Mandy Tu.
Presented at the 36th Natural Areas Conference, “Living on the Edge: Why Natural Areas Matter”, Vancouver, Washington, USA, September 15-18, 2009.
A crucial part of invasive species prevention, early detection and management is having good location information. The New York Natural Heritage Program, the Florida Natural Areas Inventory, The Nature Conservancy and NatureServe are working together to develop an online, GIS-based mapping tool to assist on-the-ground land managers and others working on invasive species. This national prototype will allow users to enter quality-controlled data online, search and view data, run analyses, and create maps and reports. Learn how iMapInvasives serves the needs of those working on invasive species and how you and your partners can participate at a statewide scale
MESSENGER Flyby to Capture Additional Images of Mercury
In Imagery, Planetary GIS, Science on October 2, 2009 at 8:07 am
…from Science@NASA…
“As the spacecraft approaches Mercury, cameras will photograph previously unseen terrain, and as the spacecraft departs it will take high-resolution images of the southern hemisphere. Scientists expect the spacecraft’s imaging system to take more than 1,500 pictures. So far, more than 90 percent of the planet’s surface has been photographed. These new pictures will fill in some of the gaps and provide high-resolution imagery of targets of interest.”
Map of the Day: Fugro Robertson Limited’s Plate Wizard
In ESRI, Earth Systems Science, GIS, Map of the Day on October 2, 2009 at 8:06 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“This map displays an overview of Fugro Robertson Limited’s Plate Wizard project, which encompasses detailed global plate definitions, a dynamic model of plate reconstruction through geological time, a unique deformable plates methodology, geological control information, and a GIS front-end.
“The project has as its starting point detailed global plate definitions, including defined rigid cores and deformable margins. These are based on the detailed regional plate models developed at Fugro Robertson Limited (FRL) over the last ten years, together with a comprehensive analysis of the near global passive margins and oceans gravity and magnetics dataset compiled by Fugro Gravity and Magnetics. This has been used in conjunction with FRL’s global geological database to define a consistent global set of continent-ocean boundary definitions.
“A key aspect of Plate Wizard is the development of a deformable-plates methodology for both convergent and divergent environments. Plate Wizard represents a major advance over the rigid plate models, with all their inherent problems, that have been available so far. The geological control information aspect of the project is feature linked in GIS to supporting databases, including geological control information and references. Finally, the GIS front-end allows full access to the plate polygons and rotation files, detailed browsing, access, reconstruction and deformation of both Plate Wizard and third-party data.
“Copyright Fugro Robertson Limited, 2009.”
NOAA Visualization of Land and Ocean Surface Temperature: August 2009 One of the Warmest Months on Record
In Climate Change, Environmental Science, Visualization on October 2, 2009 at 8:05 am
“The world’s ocean surface temperature was the warmest for any August on record, and the warmest on record averaged for any June-August summer season, according to NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. World-wide records began in 1880. Shown here is a visualization of the August global temperature anomalies–or in other words, how the average temperature in August differs from the average climate of 1961-1990. Notice that in some areas, such as the central United States, temperatures were much cooler than average. But overall, land and ocean temperatures were several degrees above normal.”
[Source: NOAA News story about the August 2009 climate analysis by NCDC]
New Report Forecasts The Market Size Of Global Navigation Satellite Systems, 2008-2011
In Geography on October 1, 2009 at 8:19 pmGlobal Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) are satellite navigation systems providing geo-spatial analysis. These systems provide location parameters, which include geographical coordinates and altitude, and trajectory parameters such as speed and direction. These systems are used in the positioning, navigation, synchronization, detection, and security of the aerial, land, water, and space objects. Application of GNSS includes mobile phone communication and in-vehicle navigation. Further, Geo-tagging, machine control, and timing & synchronization are expected to have the highest growths. APAC and European markets are characterized by maximum adoption by the consumers of GNSS-based communications applications. North American market provides opportunities for in-vehicle navigation applications.
The report forecasts the market size of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) over the period 2008-2011. Further, the total market is segmented into various geographic regions. The report talks about the segmentation of global revenue in the GNSS market. It also discusses the market trends and challenges that characterize the GNSS market.
This report can help IT vendors identify target geographies. Further, the sales drivers can be used to penetrate the identified vertical or increase the current share of the customer’s wallet.
District of North Vancouver Receives ESRI Canada’s Award of Excellence in GIS for Improving Public Access to Spatial Information
In ESRI, GIS on October 1, 2009 at 8:15 pmESRI Canada recently presented an Award of Excellence to the District of North Vancouver for its success and continued commitment in providing the public with access to spatial information using geographic information system (GIS) technology. The award was presented at the 2009 ESRI Regional User Conference in Vancouver.
“Geographic information is an important resource, not only for government staff but for the entire community,” said James Wickson, Vice President of Sales and Professional Services, ESRI Canada. “We commend the District of North Vancouver for recognizing this early on, and for its consistent effort in enhancing GIS capabilities and developing GIS applications to better serve its citizens.”
The District of North Vancouver has been leveraging ESRI GIS software for spatial analysis to support its internal operations since 1992. The District established an enterprise GIS by 2000 and worked to make GIS more accessible to the community. In June 2001, the District launched GeoWeb, a Web-based portal that provides public access to spatial information and includes applications for searching and obtaining information on property and parks in the District. GeoWeb has become an important tool for addressing the District’s corporate and community mapping and information needs and receives more than 150,000 visits annually.
In November 2009, the District will unveil a completely redesigned GeoWeb to the public. This new version of GeoWeb will include a variety of simple yet powerful applications that will provide information on every property in the District; the District’s construction projects; census data for every neighborhood; natural hazards such as floods, wildfires, and landslides; and a look back at the history of the District of North Vancouver. The new GeoWeb will continue to provide access to open data. Virtually all of the District’s spatial data and maps, refreshed every week, are free to download from the web site.
The new release of GeoWeb will fully leverage ESRI ArcGIS Server, a complete and integrated server-based GIS that enables organizations to distribute maps and GIS capabilities over the Web, desktop and mobile devices to improve internal workflows, communicate vital issues and engage stakeholders. ArcGIS Server will also provide the District with a solid platform for developing GIS applications. The District will use ArcGIS API for Flex to add GIS functionality to its rich Internet applications and interactive maps.
“ESRI’s latest software has enabled us to become more efficient in our internal operations and allows us to provide better information services to our citizens,” said Shawn McLeod, GIS Manager, District of North Vancouver. “This recognition signifies the importance of GIS in our organization and the positive working relationship we have with ESRI Canada. It also shows our dedication to harnessing GIS technology so we can deliver greater service to our community.”
For more information about the District of North Vancouver’s GeoWeb, visit http://www.geoweb.dnv.org.
California timber firm to Market its Forests as Weapon Against Global Warming
In Climate Change, Environmental Science on October 1, 2009 at 8:10 pm
…from the Los Angeles Times…
“Sierra Pacific’s announcement comes less than a week after the Schwarzenegger administration pushed through new rules allowing the company to sell carbon credits.
“The state’s largest timber company Wednesday announced a groundbreaking agreement to begin marketing its vast forests as a weapon in the fight against global warming.
“Sierra Pacific Industries’ announcement comes less than a week after the administration of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pushed through new rules that allow the firm to sell its trees’ ability to absorb harmful carbon dioxide from the air.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-logging-deal1-2009oct01,0,3972470.story
ESRI ArcGIS Powers New Recovery.gov Map
In ESRI, GIS on October 1, 2009 at 8:02 pmInteractive Web Map Shows Detailed Account of Where Stimulus Funds Are Going
The United States Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board recently launched the redesigned Recovery.gov Web site with a new interactive Web map based on ESRI geographic information system (GIS) software. The dynamic map shows where American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds have been awarded as well as recipient information.
Smartronix, the professional solutions provider heading up the redesign, uses ESRI’s ArcGIS Server to manage recovery data from federal agencies and display it on the map. ArcGIS Online services provide the basemap, and the ArcGIS API for Flex delivers easy navigation. In just a few clicks, visitors can see where stimulus funds have been invested in neighborhoods across the nation. Selecting a point on the map reveals information about each award such as amount, description, and award number.
During October, recovery fund recipients will begin reporting their use of funds to the government. By mid-to-late October, this information will be available in the interactive Recovery.gov map. Moving forward, the map will continue to show updated spending information to facilitate the transparency and accountability the legislation requires.
“The map on Recovery.gov makes it easy to understand vast amounts of information on investments around the country,” said Jack Dangermond, president, ESRI. “We are so pleased that the Recovery Board and Smartronix used GIS to integrate this important information and present it in a way that supports better analysis.”
To see a video of Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board chairman Earl Devaney discussing the updated Recovery.gov site, click here. The Recovery.gov map is a customized version of sample templates ESRI provides for stimulus reporting. Visit www.esri.com/recovery for more information.
[Source: ESRI press release]
Adapting to Climate Change: The Global Adaptation Atlas
In Climate Change, ESRI, Environmental Science, Geography on October 1, 2009 at 2:30 pm
…from Resources for the Future…
“Threats posed by climate change bring current development challenges into sharper focus. Even if we successfully avert the most severe predicted impacts, local changes will complicate the already-demanding tasks of finding clean water, combating disease, and sustaining livelihoods around the world. Successfully prioritizing, implementing, tracking, and evaluating such projects will require extraordinary new ways of coordinating and disseminating data to understand: What are the critical impacts we need to address? What are our options for responding? Have our efforts been effectively targeted over time?
“To answer these questions, this initiative is creating a dynamic new online tool: The Global Adaptation Atlas*. This project, building on RFF’s long history and expertise in environmental research, policy evaluation, and spatial analysis, will employ mapping software including ArcGIS Server and Google Earth to capture ever-evolving information on both climate impacts and adaptation activities. The Atlas will enable a global community of scientists, policymakers, and citizens to visualize what impacts are likely to affect their regions, what responses are underway, and what gaps need to be filled.
“Successful adaptation depends on site-specific attention and effective large-scale coordination. Without both we run the risk of investing in adaptation measures that could undercut one another. Decision makers require information not only on how their local climate could change, but also on what all parties in the area are doing in response. Right now, no central clearinghouse exists to accessibly and comprehensively combine these data. With the Atlas, RFF aims to bridge this gap.
“We gratefully acknowledge funding and support from the Mistra Foundation Climate Policy Research Program (Clipore), Resources for the Future, Goldman Sachs, and ESRI.”
ESRI Canada Health Informatics Research Chair/Health Informatics Institute Scientific Director Opening at Algoma University
In ESRI, Education, GIS, Geography, Science on October 1, 2009 at 1:14 pm
“Algoma University invites applications for the position of ESRI Canada Health Informatics (HI) Research Chair. The successful candidate would have 7-10 years of research experience post-Ph.D and direct experience working with primary healthcare professionals. The appointee will be tenure-track with flexibility on the academic department of appointment. Possible departments of appointment include Computer Science, Biology, Geography and/or Psychology. Flexible terms of appointment (e.g., duration, position-sharing) will be considered. The start date is negotiable, but is nominally January 1, 2010.
“The Chair will be expected to (a) facilitate significant local, national and international collaboration in HI, (b) foster HI-related research in Northern Ontario, (c) build an HI research program based on the community’s strengths, (d) pursue an active research program, and (e) while chair, teach two half-courses per year. Accordingly, a successful applicant will demonstrate an exceptional track record as a funded collaborative researcher, educator and team builder.
“The Chair will undertake fundamental and applied research that enables health system innovation and improved patient-centered care. The research focus of the institute is in the area of Primary and Community Care Informatics and the incumbent will engage local expertise in the applications of geospatial technologies, health system management and serious games for health, e.g., for training, health promotion and rehabilitation.
“The Chair will work in consultation with the HI Institute’s Board of Directors. As the Institute’s Scientific Director, the Chair will provide strategic leadership, identify and secure research funding, facilitate collaborative research programs, and coordinate resource acquisitions and allocations. The community of Sault Ste. Marie is host to the Group Health Centre (GHC), Ontario’s longest established alternatively funded primary care organization, nationally recognized for advanced leadership in the use of health IT.
“The community is also host to the Sault Area Hospital, soon to relocate to a new state-of-the-art facility currently under construction, and the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, internationally recognized for its work in GIS Public Health and Human Services.”
Cornell-Ithaca College Team to Develop Web GIS Covering Cypriot Architecture and Archaeology
In GIS, Social Science on October 1, 2009 at 11:15 am
…from the Cornell Chronicle…
“A Cornell-Ithaca College (IC) team of interdisciplinary researchers will use 21st-century technology to study relationships among architecture, social interaction and social change in an early civilization on Cyprus that rose and fell more than 3,000 years ago.
“The four-year collaborative project will result in peer-reviewed journal publications, conferences, public lectures and a Web site featuring a geographic information system (GIS)-based architectural and archaeological database.”
Seeing the Forest AND the Trees
In Environmental Science, GIS on October 1, 2009 at 10:49 am
…from the Methow Valley News… an interview with Peter Morrison, founder of the nonprofit Pacific Biodiversity Institute.
“We’ve focused on integrating landscape-level view and analysis with field-based studies. We actually use mobile GIS – where we can bring up the same kind of information we have on the computer screen in the field. When you’re on the ground, it’s hard to see the forest for the trees – you see the details. More and more, in conservation biology and ecology, people are trying to step back more and see the big picture, too. It’s gotten almost as though too many people are just looking at it from space and don’t have that field-based experience. A lot of stuff done now is off in the theoretical realm, just looking at the data on computers.”
“Through computer analysis, are you looking to see if you find what you expect, in terms of wildlife and habitat?”
“Yes, and to look at things like landscape fragmentation and connectivity, because almost all of our species and ecosystems really depend on being connected with something. They don’t just exist in a vacuum. That’s one of the biggest challenges that a lot of the species and plants face, that their habitat has been fragmented so much by human development and activity that they can’t move around.”
ESRI Commits to Clinton Global Initiative with Carbon Reduction Solution
In Climate Change, ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Green Technologies on October 1, 2009 at 8:49 amSan Francisco GreenRoutes Project Set to Reduce Fleet Emissions with ESRI ArcLogistics and NAVTEQ Data GIS Solution
The City and County of San Francisco is working with ESRI and NAVTEQ to implement a pilot program that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. This project is part of a commitment with the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). By using ESRI’s ArcLogistics software, San Francisco will optimize its fleet operations and reduce its carbon footprint. NAVTEQ’s highly detailed map data, which is essential for efficient route planning, is built into the ESRI routing solution.
The project is a result of ESRI, NAVTEQ, and San Francisco’s participation in CGI, with a goal to reduce carbon emissions. The William J. Clinton Foundation launched the Clinton Global Initiative to create and advance solutions to the core issues driving climate change, including reducing carbon emissions. At the CGI 2009 Annual Meeting, held in New York City September 22–25, ESRI President Jack Dangermond announced ESRI’s commitment to the CGI endeavor and described San Francisco’s pilot program. This commitment includes a grant of ESRI’s route optimization software ArcLogistics to local governments in large metropolitan areas. San Francisco is the pilot participant in this national project.
“ESRI’s ArcLogistics software is being used in San Francisco’s GreenRoutes pilot program,” notes San Francisco’s Mayor Gavin Newsom. “It will create more efficient routes for the ‘city’s fleet vehicles, thereby helping decrease municipal fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions. We are pleased to be partnering with ESRI on this innovative program.”
Prior to this project, San Francisco’s fleet did not use a route calculation technology product. Using ArcLogistics and NAVTEQ map data, San Francisco fleet managers will be able to organize work assignments into routes based on actual street drive time and miles. The route scheduling function will further reduce fleet carbon emissions by suggesting an optimized stop sequence.
The pilot project includes an emissions analysis. Fleet managers will identify candidate fleets to be used in the project, and analysts will determine each fleet’s current carbon emission level. They will then deploy ESRI’s routing technology and, after one operational year, calculate the emission reductions realized. San Francisco will publish its findings so that government fleet managers around the nation can better assess the value of fleet routing software for emission reduction.
ESRI and NAVTEQ have made a 10-year commitment to supply San Francisco with ArcLogistics Desktop software, ArcLogistics Navigator software, and NAVTEQ map data.
ArcLogistics software users typically report fleet-related cost savings of 15–20 percent. This is attributable to the software’s route-solving ability to include time windows, vehicle capacity, and the nature of the street network. It also enables dispatchers to provide drivers with barrier information, such as road closures, construction, or traffic incidents, so they can meet scheduled appointments. The application fully integrates with GPS.
NAVTEQ map data includes the latest street geometry with navigational attributes that facilitate turn-by-turn directions and enable in-dash vehicle and portable navigation devices, route planning, route optimization, and map display.
Learn more about ArcLogistics at www.esri.com/arclogistics and about NAVTEQ at www.navteq-connections.com/enterpriseamericas.
[Source: ESRI press release]
Researchers Find Excreted Tamiflu in Japanese Rivers
In Environmental Science on October 1, 2009 at 8:19 am
…from ScienceNews…
“The premier flu-fighting drug is contaminating rivers downstream of sewage-treatment facilities, researchers in Japan confirm. The source: urinary excretion by people taking oseltamivir phosphate, best known as Tamiflu.
“Concerns are now building that birds, which are natural influenza carriers, are being exposed to waterborne residues of Tamiflu’s active form and might develop and spread drug-resistant strains of seasonal and avian flu.
“For their new study, Gopal Ghosh and his colleagues at Kyoto University sampled water discharged from three local sewage treatment plants and water at several points along two rivers into which the treated water flowed. Sampling started early in December 2008, as flu season got underway. The researchers sampled again at the height of the seasonal flu’s onslaught in early February and again as infection rates waned.”
Large Quakes Weaken Fault Zones Worldwide
In Earth Systems Science, Geography, Science on October 1, 2009 at 6:26 am…from futurity.org…
“The massive 2004 earthquake that triggered killer tsunamis throughout the Indian Ocean appears to have weakened at least a portion of California’s famed San Andreas Fault, according to a new report by U.S. seismologists.
“The findings suggest the Earth’s largest earthquakes can weaken fault zones worldwide and may trigger periods of increased global seismic activity.”
Mapping Natural Population Decreases in the United States
In GIS, Geography, Social Science on October 1, 2009 at 6:22 am
…from NewGeography.com…
“For an advanced capitalist society, the United States has a quite high birth rate, and substantial natural increase. Yet despite this, almost a third experienced natural decrease, an excess of deaths over births, over the recent 2000-2007 period. Some counties with natural decrease still grow in population because of sufficient in-migration, but more typically, natural decrease is associated with high levels of out-migration and with long term population decline.”
Map Synthesizes Threats to Great Lakes
In Environmental Science, Geography on October 1, 2009 at 6:22 am
…from futurity.org…
“Researchers are developing the first regional “threat map” of the Great Lakes. The project, which focuses on the effects of human activity, is designed to help planners and conservation groups in the United States and Canada make decisions and prioritize activities for years to come.
“”Building on previous efforts to map each threat and priority individually, for the first time we now have the ability to generate synthetic maps of threats and their predicted impacts for the entire Great Lakes basin,” says David Allan, professor of aquatic sciences at the University of Michigan and the project’s lead researcher.”
Scientists Join Forces to Explain HIV Spread in Central and East Africa
In GIS, Geography, Science, Social Science on October 1, 2009 at 6:15 am
“Scientists studying biology and geography may seem worlds apart, but together they have answered a question that has defied explanation about the spread of the HIV-1 epidemic in Africa.
“Writing in the September issue of AIDS, a research team led by scientists at the University of Florida explained why two subtypes of HIV-1 — the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS — held steady at relatively low levels for more than 50 years in west central Africa before erupting as an epidemic in east Africa in the 1970s.”
Quote of the Day
In Environmental Science, Quotes on October 1, 2009 at 6:14 am“Perhaps going to the Moon and back in itself isn’t all that important. But it is a big enough step to give people a new dimension in their thinking–a sort of enlightenment. After all, the Earth itself is a spacecraft. It’s an odd kind of spacecraft, since it carries its crew on the outside instead of inside. But it’s pretty small. . . . From our position on the Earth it is difficult to observe where the Earth is and where it’s going, or what its future course might be. Hopefully, by getting a little farther away, both in the real sense and the figurative sense, we’ll be able to make some people step back and reconsider their mission in the Universe, to think of themselves as a group of people who constitute the crew of a spaceship going through the Universe. If you’re going to run a spaceship, you’ve got to be pretty cautious about how you use your resources, how you use your crew, and how you treat your spacecraft.”
–Neil Armstrong
Calculating Forest Land Cover Change in Laos with GIS
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS on October 1, 2009 at 6:14 amCHANGE IN ECOSYSTEM SERVICE OF PHONGSALY NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AREAS LAO PDR
Chanhda Hemmavanh and Somchay Inthavong.
Presented at the 36th Natural Areas Conference, “Living on the Edge: Why Natural Areas Matter”, Vancouver, Washington, USA, September 15-18, 2009.
Land Use Changes were traced during 10 years from 1992 to 2002 in Phongsaly National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA), one of the most important NBCA and rich in biodiversity in Lao PDR, based on satellite image interpretation and field verification in order to identify causes of the changes. The dynamic information of the forest land cover change during 10 years was calculated by the map algebra in ArcGIS 9.2. Based on the theory of ecosystem service function and the service function value of global different ecosystem services values (ESV) provided by Costanza et al, the value of the six forest cover and land use categories in the Study Areas was worked out. Ecological environment effect that the regional land cover change produced in study period was calculated. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to quantitatively study driving forces of forest land use change. Results showed that forest land cover declined 15463.35 ha about 12.39% from 1992 to 2002, resulted that in a $31050406.80 net decline in ecosystem services of forest category respectively. The economic and population factors were the principal driving forces of forest cover change in the study area. ESV, PCA were a suitable method for investigating driving forces of forest land cover change and finally policy concerning to biodiversity and sustainable use of the natural resources were developed.
Map of the Day: Beydagi Forest Map
In ESRI, Environmental Science, GIS, Map of the Day on October 1, 2009 at 6:13 am…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…
“This is a forest stand-type map produced for one of the 1,308 subdistricts of Turkey’s forest management plan. These plans are renewed every ten years. Aerial photos are combined with the field work to create final forest maps. The database structure, standards, and symbols are developed for Turkey.
“Courtesy of Umut Adigüzel, General Directorate of Forestry.”
