Day: September 15, 2011

Discovering the Sensor Web through Mobile Applications

/ Matt Artz

8th International Symposium on Location-Based Services, Vienna, Austria. 21-23 November 2011; Springer Lecture Notes in Cartography and Geoinformation

Theodor Foerster, Daniel Nüst, Arne Bröring, and Simon Jirk

“Sensor data is crucial for mobile applications to support the user in the field. Several mobile applications are available for accessing such sensor data. However, a comprehensive approach for discovering such sensor data  in the Sensor Web according to the user’s context (i.e. the location) has not been proposed yet.

Screenshot of the mobile application accessing the available sensors using the described architecture. Map of sensor locations (left) and exemplary sensor description (right).

Screenshot of the mobile application accessing the available sensors using the described architecture. Map of sensor locations (left) and exemplary sensor description (right).

“This article describes an approach for discovering data and services in the Sensor Web through mobile  applications. The approach is demonstrated by an air quality scenario and is implemented based on Free and Open Source Software.”

Correlating Mobile Phone Usage and Travel Behavior: A Case Study of Harbin, China

/ Matt Artz

Computers, Environment and Urban SystemsComputers, Environment and Urban Systems, Available online 6 August 2011

Yihong Yuan, Martin Raubal, and Yu Liu

“Highlights:

  • Three indicators for travel behavior: Movement radii, eccentricity and entropy.
  • All three indicators are significantly correlated to mobile phone usage.
  • Built environment should be considered as an important explanatory factor.
  • There are substantial differences among age groups when exploring the correlation.
  • No substantial differences between gender groups and social temporal order.

“Information and communication technologies (ICTs), such as mobile phones and the Internet, are increasingly pervasive in modern society. These technologies provide new resources for spatio-temporal data mining and geographic knowledge discovery. Since the development of ICTs also impacts physical movement of individuals in societies, much of the existing research has focused on examining the correlation between ICT and human mobility. In this paper, we aim to provide a deeper understanding of how usage of mobile phones correlates with individual travel behavior by exploring the correlation between mobile phone call frequencies and three indicators of travel behavior: (1) radius, (2) eccentricity, and (3) entropy. The methodology is applied to a large dataset from Harbin city in China. The statistical analysis indicates a significant correlation between mobile phone usage and all of the three indicators. In addition, we examine and demonstrate how explanatory factors, such as age, gender, social temporal orders and characteristics of the built environment, impact the relationship between mobile phone usage and individual activity behavior.”

Expert System to Enhance the Functionality of Clearinghouse Services

/ Matt Artz

Computers, Environment and Urban SystemsComputers, Environment and Urban Systems, Volume 35, Issue 2, March 2011, Pages 159-172

Ali Mansourian, Ebrahim Omidi, Ara Toomanian, and Lars Harrie

“Research highlights:

  • Using expert system in geoportals facilitates automatic determination of candidate datasets which can be converted to the users’ required data.
  • Using expert system in geoportals facilitate the conversion of the available data to the users’ required data.
  • Using a schema translator in geoportals provides the capability of finding similar data that might be used in other disciplines or other datasets.
  • Expert system and schema translator provides the capability of better use of the spatial data resources available, even for non-expert users.

“Spatial data clearinghouses are one of the key features of a spatial data infrastructure (SDI). However, recent research indicates that few national clearinghouses function well, as the spatial data resources available cannot be satisfactorily accessed or optimally used. To improve the functionality, we propose that clearinghouses to be complemented with expert systems and semantic matching. The expert system facilitates automatic determination of candidate datasets and the conversion of the available data to the required data. A schema translator is also used to find similar data that might be used in other disciplines or other datasets by semantic matching. In order to accomplish this, we have developed a method of identifying available data and methods for data conversion. The methodology is implemented using standardized map services. Practical tests show that the discovery of available data in the clearinghouse satisfying users’ requirements is substantially increased, which is an important step forward in building future SDIs.”

URISA 2011 Election Results Announced

/ Matt Artz / 1 Comment

URISA is pleased to announce the results of its 2011 Board of Directors Election. J. Allison (Al) Butler will become President-Elect of the association and Tripp Corbin, Cindy Post and Teresa Townsend will begin their terms as members of the Board of Directors at the close of GIS-Pro 2011: URISA’s 49th Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, November 1-4, 2011.

Al Butler, GISP is the Capital Project Manager for the City of Ocoee, Florida. He remarked, “I appreciate being selected by the members and will work hard to fulfill the strategic direction I described in my campaign statement: high value for the dues paid.  URISA needs to make a difference in the lives of its members by building the GIS profession.  I look forward to working with the other Board members, staff, the chapters, and our committees.  I want each member to feel like they can talk to me at any time.”

Three new directors were elected by the URISA membership to serve a three-year term on the URISA Board, also beginning in November. The three new Board members are:

  • Tripp Corbin, MCP, CFM, GISP – eGIS Associates, Duluth, Georgia
  • Cindy Post – University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta Canada
  • Teresa Townsend, AICP – Planning Communities LLC, Raleigh, North Carolina

At the close of GIS-Pro 2011 in Indianapolis the terms of service for these Board members will conclude:

  • Kathrine Cargo, GISP, AICP (Immediate Past President) – Orleans Parish Communication District, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Clare Brown, GISP – New Orleans Regional Planning Commission, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Karen Stewart, GISP – Esri Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Note that the term of recently-deceased Board member, Mike Lovett would have also concluded on November 4.

We thank them all, in advance, for their dedication and service to URISA and anticipate many more years of continued involvement.

[Source: URISA press release]