What roles does GIS play in scientific research and analysis?

Archive for October 1st, 2009

New Report Forecasts The Market Size Of Global Navigation Satellite Systems, 2008-2011

In Geography on October 1, 2009 at 8:19 pm

Global 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 pm

esricanadaESRI 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

llatimesogoSmall…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 pm

esriInteractive 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

hotspots…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“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

cornell…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

methow…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 am

esriSan 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

sciencenews…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

morrillnatdecrinset…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

Great_Lakes2…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

17080_rel“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 am

header-nac09CHANGE 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…

forestry1_sm

“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.”