An Interview With Mladen Stojic
What is in a name? Geo:Connexion Investigates ERDAS, Inc.

Towards SDI In A Small Economy – Greenland
Martin Bjærge Jensen and Karl Brix Zinglersen present the case for Greenland’s national geospatial web Portal

Agroview - GIS Software For EU Farmers
GAF AG’s Agroview assists more than 24,000 farmers in managing agricultural subsidy applications

Cross Domain Spatial Data Infrastructure
Chris Tucker looks at spatial data infrastructure implementation across domains

Author:
Bo Li, Graeme G. Wilkinson & Souheil Khaddaj

Abstract.

Generalization is perhaps the most intellectually challenging task for cartographers. It has proved to be very difficult to automate. In this paper, a cell-based model is applied to GIS generalization, which represents a new methodology within the GIS context. Cellular Automata (CA) has found a place in many interesting real world applications, including the modeling and simulation of numerous systems, across many disciplines. CA has a number of unique advantages in geographical and environmental modeling. Thus, it has attracted growing attention in urban simulation because of its potential in spatial modeling. Geographical phenomena have extremely complex characteristics as a result of interactions among different components in a study area. CA provides a promising new approach to simulate and understand spatial phenomena. In this study, which is based on CA techniques, an extended neighborhood algorithm is used in the cell-based model to automatically generalize raster thematic maps derived from classified satellite images. An example of generalizing a land use map of Lisbon Bay in Portugal is given, which gives satisfactory results.

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http://www.geocomputation.org/2001/papers/li.pdf

Author:

Cheng-Liang Chang,

Jui-Chin Chang

Original Tittle:

Applications of Markov Model and Cellular Automata for Vegetation Recovery Simulation: A Case Study of Mount Jiou Jiou Area

Abstract:

The recovery of vegetation is the most significant landscape in the terrestrial globe. In recent years it has been changed rapidly due to human socio-economic growth and environmental impact. Therefore, many research methods have been applied so as to comprehend and forecast these dynamic changes.  This paper intends to apply some of theses methods and processes to quantify the change of vegetation recovery in Mount Jiou Jiou area. First of all, the graphic data of study area is collected by using the SPOT satellite images of four representative periods (Mar.1999, Oct.1999, Nov.2002 and Nov.2005).  Subsequently the vegetation types and their changes are examined through the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) analysis. Second, the Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is adopted to recognize the distributions of different vegetation types, characteristics of topography and their correlation. Finally, by combining the methods of Markov chains and Cellular automata this study models and simulates the spatio-temporal change of vegetation recovery. The results can be summarized as follow: (1) After 921 earthquake, 80% of vegetation on Mount Jiou Jiou area was destroyed seriously in 1999, therefore the index of NDVI was very low. After that, the vegetation is recovered gradually for recent years under stable weather conditions. (2) The healing situation of vegetation is intensely affected by geomorphologic factors, such as height, slope and aspect. (3).After comparing two models testing, the present study shows that CA-Markov model is more suitable for simulating the change trend of vegetation recovery.

Language:

Chinese

Publisher:

Journal of Geographical Research No.45, November 2006

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Author:

Antonius B. Wijanarto
Geomatics Researcher of BAKOSURTANAL-Indonesia

Abstarct:

Change detection is one of multi temporal analysis in remote sensing that is important for studying the dynamics of environment. Change detection is useful in many applications such as land use changes, habitat fragmentation, rate of deforestation, coastal change, urban sprawl, and other cumulative changes through spatial and temporal analysis techniques such as GIS and Remote Sensing along with digital image processing technique. Markov Change Detection is one
application of change detection that can be used to predict future changes based on the rates of past change. The method is based on probability that a given piece of land will change from one mutually exclusive state to another. These probabilities are generated from past changes and then applied to predict future change.

Publisher:

Jurnal Ilmiah Geomatika Vol. 12, No. 1 Agustus 2006

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Author:

G.P. Patil

Center for Statistical Ecology and Environmental Statistics
Department of Statistics
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
http://www.stat.psu.edu/~gpp

Content:

1. Multiple and Single Raster Map Analysis

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Setting the Geospatial Raster Stage

1.3 Digital FrontierMovement in Federal Government

1.4 Digital ResearchMovement in Academic Community

1.5 Prospectus

1. Inhouse Prototype Studies and Interactive Case Studies
2. Ecosystem Health Assessment of Landscapes and Watersheds with Remote
   Sensing Data
3. Landscape Patterns and Their Comparison
4. Classified Raster Map Modeling and Simulation with Hierarchical Markov
   Transition Matrix Models
5. Classified Raster Map Analysis for Assessment of Accuracy and Change Detection
   of Landcover and Landuse Maps
6. Analyzing Spatial Variation in Quantitative Data and Determining Contexts
   of Temporal Changes and Class Errors Using Echelon Analysis
7. Integrated Regional Assessment, Model Prediction and Regional Scale Comparison
   Involving Classified Raster Maps
8. Information Visualization, Understanding and Communication
9. Pattern-Based Compression of Remotely Sensed Multi-band Image Data
10. Synergistic Workplan
11. Knowledge Sharing and Technology Transfer
12. References

Publisher:

stat.psu.edu

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Author:

Nelley Kovalevskaya and Vladimir Pavlov

Abstract:

Environmental maps show the probable environmental states of different types of land use or development of landscape in a geographic context. Remotely sensed data are particularly efficient for environmental mapping in order to outline major environmental types. Multiple schemes of image classification used in environmental mapping are either traditionally statistical or heuristic. While the former methods do not take account of spatial variability in space and aerial data, the latter ones does not lend themselves to optimal solutions we present.  Novel probabilistic models of piecewise-homogeneous images are used in environmental mapping to segment real images. The models consider both an image and a land cover map. Such a pair constitutes an example of a Markov random field specified by a joint Gibbs probability distribution of images and maps. Parameters of the model are estimated by using a stochastic approximation technique. Its convergence to the desired values is studied experimentally. Addition of spatial attributes appears to be necessary in most areas where the differences in spatial data between regions in the image occur. Experiments in generating the pairs of images and environmental maps and in segmenting the simulated as well as real images are discussed.

Publisher:

Journal of Environmental Quality 31:1462-1470 (2002)
© 2002

Article Credit:

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Author:

1. CLAUDIA MARIA DE ALMEIDA
2. ANTONIO MIGUEL VIEIRA MONTEIRO
3. GILBERTO CAMARA
4. BRITALDO SILVEIRA
5. SOARES-FILHO
6. GUSTAVO COUTINHO CERQUEIRA
7. CASSIO LOPES PENNACHIN
8. MICHAEL BATTY

Abstract:

This paper is concerned with building up methodological guidelines for modelling urban land-use change through Geographical Information Systems, remote sensing imagery and Bayesian probabilistic methods. A medium-sized town in the west of Sa˜o Paulo State, Bauru, was adopted as a case study. Its urban structure was converted into a 100m6100m resolution grid and transition probabilities were calculated for each grid cell by means of the ‘weights of evidence’ statistical method and upon the basis of the information related to the technical infrastructure and socio-economic aspects of the town. The probabilities obtained from there fed a cellular automaton simulation model—DINAMICA—developed by the Centre for Remote Sensing of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (CSR-UFMG), based on stochastic transition algorithms. Different simulation outputs for the case study town in the period 1979–1988 were generated, and statistical validation tests were then conducted for the best results, employing a multiple resolution fitting procedure.  This modelling experiment revealed the plausibility of adopting Bayesian empirical methods based on the available knowledge of technical infrastructure and socio-economic status to simulate urban land-use change. It indicates their possible further applicability for generating forecasts of growth trends both for Brazilian cities and cities world-wide.

Publisher:

International Journal of Remote Sensing
Vol. 26, No. 4, 20 February 2005, 759–774

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Abstract:

In this thesis a tectono-sedimentary forward model has been presented, devised to simulate sediment erosion and deposition in a coupled drainage basin - foreland system, as well as accumulating a three-dimensional stratigraphy.

The aim of the research was to investigate which features recorded in the foreland basin architecture are diagnostic of the balance and interplay between two main external forcings: repeated tectonic activity and eustatic sea-level variation. Special attention has been paid to differences in stacking patterns of fluvial depositional systems and the character of the sequence-bounding unconformities.

The sediment yield generated by fluvial bedrock erosion in the orogenic drainage basins has the typically asymmetrical shape of a response curve (Chapter 2). Yield gradually increases during tectonic activity, and declines exponentially during tectonic quiescence. Syn-tectonic yields are increasing, but they are not sufficient to completely fill the accommodation space created in the adjacent foreland basin due to flexural response upon active tectonic thrust loading. As a result and counter-intuitively, deposition of alluvial fan gravels in the foreland basin retreats during tectonic activity, whereas progradation is characteristic of phases of tectonic quiescence and reduced flexural subsidence. A history of pulsating tectonic activity is reflected in the alluvial architecture of the basin as a succession of coarsening-up, prograding gravel sheets that laterally connect during quiescence, and alternate with basin-wide onlap of fine-grained sediments marking renewed tectonic activity.

The experiments of Chapter 3 show that there are two contrasting types of sequence boundaries developed in the alluvial stratigraphy when a eustatic sea-level variation is superposed upon the alternation of tectonic activity and subsidence:

A) During intervals of tectonic activity, eustatic fall and rise of sea level form prograding, shallowing up sequences, which are bounded by Type-2 unconformities and subsequent flooding surfaces. The syn-tectonic, high flexural subsidence rates prohibit the sea level to drop below the delta break in slope, safeguarding the stratigraphy from severe incision.
B) During intervals of tectonic quiescence, Type-1 unconformities are formed, because eustatic falls now drop below the delta break in slope, as they are no longer compensated by the subsidence component in relative sea level. Because multiple eustatic sea-level cycles may occur during a quiescence interval, the resulting Type-1 unconformity at the base of the delta-top sheet sandstone can be a composite and therefore poor time marker.

The suites of amalgamating, axial channel belts that characterize this delta top sheet sandstone have a preference for the depression between the basin-margin alluvial fans and the conical delta surface that was formed during a previous tectonic phase.

Similar suites of amalgamating axial channel belts are created when the foreland basin is detached from its substratum by a hinterland-dipping sole thrust and transformed into a thrust-sheet top basin (Chapter 4). In the light of these model results the Eocene Castissent Formation in the Pyrenean Tremp Basin, previously interpreted as a incised valley system, is explained as a phase of moderate tectonic reduction of the accommodation space. This mechanism explains the continuous marine influence on the delta plain simultaneous with a forced regression and increased sandstone interconnectedness at the cost of fine-grained intervals.

Publisher: Three-dimensional modelling of thrust-controlled foreland basin stratigraphy / Quintijn Clevis - [S.l.] : [s.n.], 2003 - Tekst. - Proefschrift Universiteit Utrecht

NBC: 38.41: sedimentatie

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Author:

Ngyyen Kim Loi
Watershed and Environmental Management,
Nong Lam University (NLU), Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNA

Abstract:

Decision makers today need to be able to rapidly find good solutions to increasingly complex problems. Optimization based on decision support system (DSS) can help decision makers to meet this challenge. Building such systems, however, is expensive and time consuming.The use of decision support system (DSS), linear programming (LP), and geographic information system (GIS) for sustainable watershed management in Dong Nai watershed is presented. A general statement of system requirement for DSS has been conceptualized to provide a set of core requirement and behavior for DSS for mutil-criteria decision
making in sustainable watershed management. Classes of decision elements for the analysis of decision problems and of other DSS components are identified. This paper investigated also how demographic (socioeconomic) and land-use (physical and environmental) data can be integrated within a multi-scaled decision
support system framework to formulate and evaluate land-use planning scenarios. A case study approach is undertaken using ‘what-if’ planning scenarios for a Dong Nai Watershed, Vietnam. This paper has not only briefly outlined the three future land use scenarios comprised within the framework but also has generally methodology in developing decision support system (DSS) for sustainable land use allocation. Scenario A - ‘Future trend scenario’ is based on existing socio-economic trends. Scenario B – ‘Maximization land allocation scenario’ will be derived using maximizing modelling of land valuation data. Scenario C –
‘Sustainable Development’ will be derived using a number of environmental layers and assigning weightings of importance to each layer using a multiple criteria analysis (MCA) approach. The ‘what-if’ planning scenarios was expected through the use of maps and tables within a geographical information system (GIS), which delineate future possible land-use location - allocations. Each of the scenarios and their underlying model will be applied to the Dong Nai watershed, Vietnam.

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Author : Kazuo Oki, Yoshifumi Yasuoka, and K. Tokumura

Content:

• Chlorophyll-a Estimation Model,
• Spectral Reflectance at Lake,
• Measurement of Spectral Reflectance,
• Remove the Effect of Specular Reflection,
• Specular Reflection Model,

Abstract A remote sensing method to estimate distribution of rich chlorophyll concentration in takes or inland seas in proposed. First, the basic relationship the chlorophyll concentration and the spectral reflectance of water was investigated. As a result, chlorophyll estimation model was derived using the ratio of spectral reflectance at two different wavelengths of 675 nm (red range) and 700 nm (near-infrared range). It was found that the spectral signature of near infrared range is investigate the behaviour of the proposed model was used in rich chlorophyll water types. Furthermore, the amount of specular reflection from the water surface was assessed based on the spectral signature data measured above and below the water surface. The percentage of specular reflection was evaluated at least 20% of the total radiance at the surface within the range of 400nm. Finally a method to remove the effect of specular reflection at the water surface was investigated for the proposed model. The model for specular reflection was proposed to eliminate its effect and to improve chlorophyll estimation accuracy.

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Author:
ZUBAIR, AYODEJI OPEYEMI

ABSTRACT
This project examines the use of GIS and Remote Sensing in mapping Land Use Land Cover in Ilorin between 1972 and 2001 so as to detect the changes that has taken place in this status between these periods. Subsequently, an attempt was made at projecting the observed land use land cover in the next 14 years. In achieving this, Land Consumption Rate and Land Absorption Coefficient were introduced to aid in the quantitative assessment of the change. The result of the work shows a rapid growth in built-up land between 1972 and 1986 while the periods between 1986 and 2001 witnessed a reduction in this class. It was also observed that change by 2015 may likely follow the trend in 1986/2001. Suggestions were therefore made at the end of the work on ways to use the information as contained therein optimally.

A PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY,
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE
AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (MSc) DEGREE IN
GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS
OCTOBER, 2006

Free Donwload Link to Article: http://www.gisdevelopment.net/thesis/OpeyemiZubair_ThesisPDF.pdf

Author :

Achilleas Psomas, Niklaus E. Zimmermann, Mathias Kneubühler, Tobias Kellenbergerand Klaus Itten

ABSTRACT
Dry grasslands in Switzerland are species-rich habitats resulting from a traditional agricultural land use. Almost 40% of plant and in some cases over 50% of the animal species present on dry grasslands are included in the red lists, and are classified as endangered or threatened.  Furthermore, it is estimated that about 90% of dry grassland in Switzerland have been transformed to other land cover types over the past 60 years. Existing grasslands are managed differently depending on the region and the lower-altitude communities range from very dry and nutrient-poor to mesic and nutrient-rich conditions. There is a need to better understand the seasonal variation of the reflectance properties of these grassland ecosystems in order to develop efficient and reliable tools for mapping, evaluating and monitoring within the framework of a national inventory. In this study, we examined the potential use of remote sensing for monitoring the development of these grasslands during their growing season. In addition, we investigated the optimal points in time during the growing season for discriminating the different grassland types spectrally. For this purpose a field spectrometer, the Analytical Spectral Devices (ASD) FieldSpec Pro FR, was used to collect reflectance data from 12 sample fields (4 grassland types) in 12 time steps at the Cantons of Aargau and Chur. The measurements examined were from the beginning of March until the beginning of October 2004. The 4 grassland types cover the wetness / nutrient gradient. The revisiting period of the sample areas was approximately 10-14 days depending on the weather conditions. Analysis for statistically significant differences in reflectance was performed between the vegetation types during the growing season. Continuum removal analysis was used as a spectral transformation method in addition to the original reflectance spectra. After the statistical significant bands between the grassland types were found, Classification and Regression Trees (CART) were used to select the bands that could optimally be used to discriminate the different types. Finally, using the bands selected from the CART analysis, the separability of the grassland types during the season was estimated using the Jeffries-Matusita (JM) distance. Our results demonstrate that there is seasonal variation in the spectral reflectance of the grasslands. Furthermore, the potential of using spectral information for discriminating different grassland types changes during the growing period.

Download Link (pdf): http://www.wsl.ch/staff/niklaus.zimmermann/articles/EARSeL05_APsomas.pdf (89.8 KB)

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EARSeL eProceedings

By : Chaichoke Vaiphasa

Content :

• Remote sensing for mangrove studies
• Hyperspectral remote sensing for mangrove discrimination
• Burdens of hyperspectral data
• Dimensionality problems
• Noise levels
• mangrove-environment relationships
• Hyperspectral Data for Mangrove Discrimination
• Acquisition of hyperspectral data
• Spectral Smoothing
• Smoothing techniques (Moving average, Savitzky-Golay)
• Hyperspectral data collection
• Experimental use of smoothing filters (Statistical comparisons , Spectral separability analysis)
• Ecological Data Integration (Ecological data collection, Mangrove sampling)
• Input data for the post-classifier (Soil pH interpolation, Plant-environment relationships, The classified image)
• The post-classifier
• Hyperspectral data for mangrove discrimination
• Utilizing mangrove-environment relationships

Abstract :

Mangroves, important components of the world’s coastal ecosystems, are threatened by the expansion of human settlements, the boom in commercial aquaculture, the impact of tidal waves and storm surges, etc.  Such threats are leading to the increasing demand for detailed mangrove maps for the purpose of measuring the extent of the decline of mangrove ecosystems. Detailed mangrove maps at the community or species level are, however, not easy to produce, mainly because mangrove forests are very difficult to access. Without doubt, remote sensing is a serious alternative to traditional field-based methods for mangrove mapping, as it allows information to be gathered from the forbidding environment of mangrove forests, which otherwise, logistically and practically speaking, would be extremely difficult to survey. Remote sensing applications for mangrove mapping at the fundamental level are already well established but, surprisingly, a number of advanced remote sensing applications have remained unexplored for the purpose of mangrove mapping at a finer level. Consequently, the aim of this thesis is to unveil the potential of some of the unexplored remote sensing techniques for mangrove studies.  Specifically, this thesis focuses on improving class separability between mangrove species or community types. It is based on two important ingredients:
(i) the use of narrow-band hyperspectral data, and
(ii) the integration of ecological knowledge of mangroveenvironment relationships into the mapping process.
Overall, the results of this study reveal the potential of both ingredients. They show that delicate spectral details of hyperspectral data and the spatial relationships between mangroves and their surrounding environment help to improve mangrove class separability at the species level. Despite the optimism generated by the overall results, it was found that appropriate data treatments and analysis techniques such as spectral band selection and noise reduction were still required to harness essential information from both hyperspectral and ecological data. Thus, some aspects of these data treatments and analysis techniques are also presented in this thesis. Finally, it is hoped that the methodology presented in this thesis will prove useful and will be followed for producing mangrove maps at a finer level.

ISBN: 90-8504-353-0
ITC Dissertation Number: 129
International Institute for Geo-information Science & Earth Observation,
Enschede, The Netherlands
© 2006 Chaichoke Vaiphasa

Free Download Link: http://library.wur.nl/wda/dissertations/dis3897.pdf (1.55 MB)

Below are some of Free Journal GIS and Remote Sensing Article compile from GISAP

Ross, L.G., Mendoza QM, E.A., & Beveridge, M.C.M. 1993. The application of geographical information systems to site selection for coastal aquaculture: an example base on salmonid cage culture. Aquaculture, 112, 165-178.	Download (PDF)
Aguilar-Manjarrez, J. and Ross, L.G. 1993. Aquaculture development and Geographical Information Systems. Mapping Awareness and GIS Europe. 7 (4) 49-52.	Download (PDF)
Ross, L.G. and Beveridge, M.C.M. 1995. Is a better strategy necessary for development of native species for aquaculture? A Mexican case study. Aquaculture and Fisheries Management. 26: 539-547.	Download (PDF)
Aguilar-Manjarrez, J., and Ross, L.G. 1995. Managing Aquaculture Development: The role of GIS in environmental studies for aquaculture. GIS World. 8: (3), 52-56.	Download (PDF)
Nath, S.S, Bolte, J.P., Ross, L.G. and Aguilar-Manjarrez, J. 2000. Applications of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) For Spatial Decision Support in Aquaculture. Aquacultural Engineering. 23: 233-278.	Download (PDF)
M. Abdus Salam, Ross, L.G. and Beveridge, M.C.M. 2000. Eco-tourism to protect the reserve mangrove forest of the Sundarbans and its flora and fauna. Anatolia. 11: (1), 56-66.	Download (PDF)
Pérez, O.M., Telfer, T.C., Beveridge, M.C.M. and Ross, L.G. 2002. Geographical information systems (GIS) as a simple tool to aid modelling of particulate waste distribution at marine fish cage sites. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 54: 761-768.	Download (PDF)
Perez, O.M., Telfer, T.C and Ross, L.G. 2002. Optimización de la acuicultura marina de jaulas flotantes en Tenerife, Islas Canarias, mediante el uso de modelos basados en Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG). Revista AquaTIC. 17: October 2002.	Download (PDF)
Salam, M. A., Ross, L.G., and Beveridge, M.C.M. 2003. A comparison of development opportunities for crab and shrimp aquaculture in South-western Bangladesh, using GIS modelling. Aquaculture. 220: 477-494.	Download (PDF)
Pérez, O.M., del Campo Barquin, L.M., Telfer, T.C. and Ross, L.G. 2003. Water quality requirements for marine fish cage site selection in Tenerife (Canary Islands): predictive modelling and analysis using GIS. Aquaculture. 224: 51-68.	Download (PDF)
Pérez, O.M., Telfer, T.C. and Ross, L. G. 2003. On the calculation of wave climate for offshore cage culture site selection: A case study in Tenerife (Canary Islands). Aquacultural Engineering. 29: 1-21.	Download (PDF)
Pérez, O. M. Telfer, T. C. and Ross, L. G. 2003. Use of GIS-based models for integrating and developing marine fish cages within the tourism industry in Tenerife (Canary Islands).	Download (PDF)
Pérez, O.M., Telfer, T.C. and Ross, L.G. 2005. Geographical information systems-based models for offshore floating marine fish cage aquaculture site selection in Tenerife, Canary Islands. Aquaculture Research. 36: 946-961.	Download (PDF)
Corner, R.A., Brooker, A., Telfer, T.C. and Ross, L.G. 2006. A fully integrated GIS-based model of particulate waste distribution from marine fish-cage sites. Aquaculture. 258, 299-311.	Download (PDF)