Day: December 4, 2009

Representing Reality: Imagery in the Cognitive, Social and Natural Sciences–12-15 May 2010, University at Buffalo

/ Matt Artz / 1 Comment

A Conference presented by the University at Buffalo IGERT in GIScience

Deadline for submitting an abstract is 31 January 2010

“The use of imagery in representing reality has become pervasive throughout our world. With the advent of publicly-available geographic services such as Google Maps, advanced medical technologies for rendering genes and cells, and a multitude of satellites amassing data from remote locations, spaces and objects that were once abstractions can now be perceived in new and tangible ways.

“The GIScience IGERT at the University at Buffalo will be hosting a conference May 12-15, 2010 at the Adams Mark Hotel in downtown Buffalo, NY to address the theory and application of imagery across academic disciplines. In particular, this conference aims to attract Ph.D. students and faculty from IGERT programs, as well as researchers from a wide range of subjects, who incorporate innovative image resources into their research or address the conceptualization of reality as a digital format. The agenda will include featured speakers, research presentations, poster sessions and specialized breakout discussions.

“Additional target objectives of the conference include providing a forum for future multi-disciplinary collaborations in this genre and facilitating discussions on the advantages and disadvantages of an interdisciplinary approach to image analysis. The unique challenges and opportunities facing interdisciplinary researchers in an academic workforce will also be addressed.”

From 2D Cross-Sections to a 3D Model: A Toolset for Integrated Data Management, Modeling, and Visualization

/ Matt Artz

…from the 2009 Three-Dimensional Geologic Mapping Workshop held by the Illinois State Geological Survey…

Nat Voorhies, Scott Bowen, Tom Battenhouse, Rob Porges, and Tax Fox

“Two-dimensional (2D) cross-sections are a common aid in understanding three-dimensional (3D) subsurface conditions for purposes including environmental restoration, water resource evaluation, and resource extraction. This case study describes translation of the institutional knowledge and interpretations captured on existing 2D hydrogeologic cross-sections into an integrated, dynamic 3D hydrogeologic framework model that flexibly supports site goals. A premium is placed on automation and structured data management, allowing geoscientists to focus on visualization and analysis rather than on data manipulation and model assembly.”

Evaluation of Regional Groundwater Quality using PCA and Geostatistics in the Urban Coastal Aquifer, East Coast of India

/ Matt Artz

…in International Journal of Environment and Waste Management 2010 – Vol. 5, No.1/2 pp. 163 – 180…

Y.R. Satyaji Rao, Ashok K. Keshari, and A.K. Gosain

“A systematic groundwater quality-monitoring program was conducted, and a total of 201 groundwater samples were collected. Multivariate and geostatistical techniques were employed to investigate major contamination types and its spatial characteristics in the study area. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) reveals that salinity (Factor 1) and nutrient (Factor 2) are very predominant contaminants in the shallow coastal aquifer. The factor (F1 and F2) scores of each well during three seasons were indicated a spatial correlation of salinity factor (F1) up to 10 km and no spatial correlation were found for nutrient factor (F2).”

Map of the Day: Analysis of Susceptibility for Threat (Removal) in Mass in the Locality of Santa Fe, Bogotá

/ Matt Artz

…from the ESRI Map Book, Volume 24…

environment2_sm

“This map shows the risk for mass removal and the susceptibility level for trees. It contains city blocks and shadow relief created on the Bogotá digital elevation model (DEM). Mass removal occurs when large quantities of ground slide and shift after earthquakes, tremors, or heavy rains. Mass removal seriously damages urban infrastructures and, in many cases, threatens human life.

“The map indicates trees located in zones of risk for mass removal as well as the relief of the zone. The map is a valuable tool for the entities responsible for preventing and responding to mass removal. It shows the places where they have to intervene.

“Courtesy of Jardín Botánico José Celestino Mutis.”