Identification of objects with implicit spatial localization in spatial modelling and visualization using geographic information systems (GIS)

Spatial Models and Geographic Information Systems

Even just a decade ago having a chapter dedicated to Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in a book on methods in history would have been seen as unusual, but such is the development of digital mapping and spatial technologies over recent years that historians cannot now afford to be without them. This chapter provides an introduction to GIS and its applica- tion and potential for historical study. Given the scope of the chapter it can only be reasonably cursory and aims to show what can be done with GIS in historical research (and teaching), with some pointers for historians on how they might employ GIS and spatial technologies in their own work. It should become clear that GIS is no longer a highly specialised and technical approach to handling spatial and temporal information but an increasingly user-friendly and accessible basis for integrating, analysing and visualising historical and geographical data of a wide variety, both qualitative and quantitative in nature. With this in mind, the chapter sets out: first, what GIS is and how it works; second, why historians might wish to use GIS; thirdly, how GIS is useful for providing insights into the past; and lastly, what the future might be in using GIS for historical research, particularly its problems and challenges. The chapter also provides some directions for further study, including the locations of a growing number of digital online resources that use GIS to disseminate historical material.

Part 1 What is a geographic information system?: geographical information systems - an overview, Duane F.Marble geographical information systems - a new frontier, Roger F.Tomlinson a classification of software components commonly used in geographical information systems, Jack Dangermond GIS versus CAD versus DBMS - what are the differences?, David J. Cowen. Part 2 Examples of practical applications: MAGI - a state-level grid cell system, State of Maryland ARC/INFO - a modern GIS, Environmental Systems Research Institute technical description of the DIME system, US Bureau of the Census prinicpal components of the census bureau's TIGER file, Joel Sobel the Tiger system - automating the geographical structure of the United States, Robert W.Marx current and potential uses of geographical information systems - the north American experience, Roger F.Tomlinson an experiment in land-use allocation with a geographical information system, C.Dana Tomlin and Kevin M.Johnston Integration Of Geological Datasets For Gold Exploration In Nova Scotia, G.F.Bonham-Carter, F.P.Agterberg and D.F.Wright modeling community vulnerability to hazardous materials using geographical information systems, Robert B.McMaster representing and applying knowledge about spatial processes in environmental management, J.R.Davis, P.Whingham, and I.W.Grant. Part 3 Operations and problems of building a database: creating large digital files from mapped data, Hugh W.Calkins manual digitizing systems, E.Alan Cameron interaction between the cartographic document and the digitizing process, Donna J.Peuquet and A.Raymond Boyle a review of digital data commonly available and some of the practical problems of entering them into a GIS, Jack Dangermond efficient digitizing through the combination of appropriate hardware and software for error detection and editing, Nicholas R.Chrisman. Part 4 GIS internals - data representation and analysis techniques: spatial data models - a conceptual framework and comprehensive review, Donna J.Peuquet historical data as an explicit component of land information systems, Ric Vrana it makes me so CROSS, David Douglas the accuracy of map overlays - a reassessment, Nicholas R.Chrisman. Part 5 Design and evaluation of GIS: establishing a geographical information system in relation to its use, a process of strategic choices, W.H.Erik DeMan a conceptual model of the manual digitizing process, Duane F.Marble, Jean P.Lauzon and Matthew McGranaghan performance eval and work-load estimation for GIS, Michael Goodchild and Brian R.Rizzo liability for information, Earl F.Epstein and Howard Roitman.

This study evaluates the suitability of Geographic Information Systems ( GIS ) for analysing Roman communication routes. We will use the Itinerarium Antonini Augusti Route XIX between Lucus Augusti and Asturica Augusta , as a case study. It questions the effectiveness of GIS in reconstructing historical road networks and proposes a methodology to address observed challenges. Applying this methodology reveals new issues and errors, highlighting limitations inherent in GIS tools and the available data. These findings emphasise the complexity of studying historical landscapes and the importance of integrating GIS with interdisciplinary methods. The research contributes to understanding Route XIX , while encouraging critical reflection on GIS ’s broader application in historical studies. Although GIS offers powerful spatial modelling and visualisation tools, its use for studying ancient roadways requires caution and methodological support. The study identifies its constraints as opportunities for refining GIS integration into historical landscape analysis and Roman route studies, fostering further research and critical evaluations.

In this paper, one approach of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) assessment of potential natural hazard areas (excess erosion, landslides, flash floods and fires) is presented. For that purpose Pehchevo Municipality in the easternmost part of the Republic of Macedonia is selected as a case study area because of high local impact of natural hazards on the environment, social-demographic situation and local economy. First of all, most relevant static factors for each type of natural hazard are selected (topography, land cover, anthropogenic objects and infrastructure). With GIS and satellite imagery, multi-layer calculation is performed based on available traditional equations, clustering or discreditation procedures. In such way suitable relatively “static” natural hazard maps (models) are produced. Then, dynamic (mostly climate related) factors are included in previous models resulting in appropriate scenarios correlated with different amounts of precipitation, temperature, wind direction etc. Finally, GIS based scenarios are evaluated and tested with field check or very fine resolution Google Earth imagery showing good accuracy. Further development of such GIS models in connection with automatic remote meteorological stations and dynamic satellite imagery (like MODIS) will provide on-time warning for coming natural hazard avoiding potential damages or even causalities.

Factor analysis and geographic information system for determining probability areas of presence of illegal landfills

Fault system is a significant evidence of tectonic movement during crust tectonic evolution and may play an more important role in oil-gas accumulation process than other tectonic types in sedimentary basin. Carboniferous surface faults in Junggar Basin developed well and varied in size and distribution. There are about 200 faults in Carboniferous, and 187 of them are thrust faults. Chaos-fractals theories have been widely investigated and great progress has been made in the past three decades. One of the important conception-fractal dimension had become a powerful tool for describing non-linearity dynamical system characteristic. The clustered objects in nature are often fractal and fault system distribution in space is inhomogeneous, always occurs in groups, so we can describe spatial distribution of faults from the point of fractal dimension. Fractal dimension of fault system is a comprehensive factor associated with fault number, size, combination modes and dynamics mechanism, so it can evaluate the complexity of fault system quantitatively. The relationship between fault system and oil-gas accumulation is a focus and difficulty problem in petroleum geology, and fractal dimension is a new tool for describing fault distribution and predicting potential areas of hydrocarbon resources. Geographic Information System (GIS) is a kind of technological system collecting, storing, managing, computing, analyzing, displaying and describing the geospatial information supported by computer software and hardware. In the last 15-20 years, GIS have been increasingly used to address a wide variety of geoscience problems. Weights-of-evidence models use the theory of conditional probability to quantify spatial association between fractal dimension and oil-gas accumulation. The weights of evidence are combined with the prior probability of occurrence of oil-gas accumulation using Bayes'rule in a loglinear form under an assumption of conditional independence of the dimension maps to derive posterior probability of occurrence of oil-gas accumulation. In this paper, we first vectorize the fault system in Carboniferous of Junggar Basin in GIS software and store it as polyline layer in Geodatabase of GIS to manage and analyze, then calculate the fractal dimension of three types which are box dimension, information dimension and cumulative length dimension using spatial functions of GIS, in the last use weights-of-evidence model to calculate the correlation coefficients in GIS environment between oil-gas accumulation and three types of fractal dimension in order to quantity the importance of fault system.

The technical skills of using geographical information systems (GIS) are often taught in different higher education disciplines apart from geocapabilities or geographic disciplinary expertise. Theorised to include capabilities such as spatial thinking, geographical imagination and structured ways to explore places, the concept of geocapabilities has been developed from educator perspectives but student perspectives have yet to be empirically examined. Drawing upon recommendations that students can better acquire geocapabilities through research and authentic problem‐solving, this study examines how 27 higher education students' perceptions of geocapabilities evolved as they learnt technical skills of web mapping through investigating real‐world issues with ArcGIS StoryMaps. Content analyses of students' pre‐ and post‐class reflections suggest that students' perceptions aligned with existing theorisations of geocapabilties in areas such as spatial thinking and geographical imagination. However, students also perceived that geographers need curiosity, interest, enthusiasm, and love for geography, and generic skills for working and living in the world that are not geography‐related. Through making story maps with GIS, students' perceptions of geocapabilities shifted significantly in the areas of geographical practice and application, geographical imagination and interdisciplinarity. The implications of these findings for higher education teaching of GIS and how it informs the theorisation of geocapabilities are discussed. Practitioner notes What is already known about this topic Walkington et al. conceptualized geocapabilities from educator perspectives, characterizing it by geographical imagination, ethical subject‐hood, integrative thinking about society and environment, spatial thinking, and structured exploration of place. This has not been investigated empirically from students' perspectives. There is preponderant evidence that the use of geographical information systems (GIS) such as ArcGIS Online and other geospatial technologies can improve students' spatial thinking skills and subject knowledge but how it may develop other geocapabilities have not been examined. What this paper adds There were shifts in undergraduates' conceptions of geocapabilities as they learnt ArcGIS StoryMaps by researching and producing story maps about real‐world issues through flipped classrooms. Like Walkington et al., students conceived geocapabilities to include spatial thinking and geographical imagination but they perceived the other geocapabilities as interdisciplinarity and geographical practice and application. Students also perceived geographers as needing curiosity, interest, enthusiasm and love for geography, and generic capabilities to manoeuvre different tools and skills for working, ways of thinking and ways of working. Implications for practice and/or policy Students' and educators' view could be synthesized and better defined to create a more comprehensive and inclusive framework of geocapabilties. Students can better develop insights about different geocapabilities when they learn GIS technologies through researching real‐world issues. GIS teachers can use flipped classrooms to synthesize teaching and learning about GIS and teaching and learning with GIS.

The development and increased use of geographic information systems (GIS) in policing has intensified the demand for public access to digital spatial information. For example, those in the academic arena require access to spatial information to augment their learning, teaching and research endeavours, while the general public need spatially related crime information related to their local area or region to inform decisions that impact upon their everyday living (for example, safety precautions, choice of residential suburb). Much of this information exists, such as the 2001 Census from Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, 2003), crime data available on the Queensland Police Service (QPS) website (http://www.police.qld.gov.au/), and the Atlas of Crime in Australia 2000 (AIC, 2000), yet often the information is not in a form that is easily accessible or comprehendable, requiring an understanding of and access to relatively complex commercial GIS packages. In recent years, police and researchers have worked closely together to develop publicly accessible web-based GIS applications for crime mapping, crime analysis, community mapping and information sharing (see, e.g., Police Foundation, 2001; Shyy et al., 2005; Chainey and Smith, 2006). Dragicevic (2004) highlights how web-based GIS has enhanced the open use of GIS in three main directions including: spatial data access and dissemination; spatial data exploration and geovisualization; and spatial data processing, analysis and modelling.

GIS and Types of GIS Education Programs

The application of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology in education is becoming increasingly vital for enhancing digital literacy and spatial analysis skills. Rahmatullah Lempake Islamic Boarding School in Samarinda is one of the educational institutions with significant potential to utilize this technology in supporting the management of its environment and local resources. The initiative aims to provide students with training in GIS, enhancing their knowledge and skills in spatial data management and geographic analysis. The training employed a combination of lectures, discussions, and practical sessions using GIS software. It was attended by students aged 12 to 15 and covered foundational topics, such as an introduction to GIS, mapping applications, and data analysis techniques. The results of this training demonstrated a notable improvement in the students' understanding and basic GIS skills, as well as increased awareness of the technology's potential applications in their local environment. The integration of GIS into the educational process offers significant benefits, particularly in enhancing students' technological literacy and spatial analysis capabilities, which can be applied to environmental management activities within the Islamic boarding school. In conclusion, the GIS training at Rahmatullah Lempake Islamic Boarding School has effectively developed the students' foundational skills in technology and geographic analysis, offering practical benefits for future resource management and environmental planning endeavors.

This review article aims to discuss the current status and future potential of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in map-based technology of tsunami risk management, especially in seismically active, well-known tsunami regions of the world. It presents GIS technologies for hazard mapping, risk assessment, and information generation for disaster-response operations. These are important tools for accurately mapping vulnerable areas by integrating real-time and historical data to develop accurate forecasts for possible tsunamis. Demographic and geographic data were also analyzed by GIS to determine the optimum route to develop evacuation strategies. A set of case studies demonstrates how GIS improves community resilience by supporting informed decision-making. In addition, suggestions are made for how future steeps as the integration of machine learning techniques as emerging tools for analyzing and classifying complex and vast datasets, which may enhance GIS applications in tsunami risk management to improve the accuracy and utility of these tools.

Descriptions of the spatial locations of disappeared objects are often recorded in eyewitness records, travel notes, and historical documents. However, in geographic information system (GIS), the observer-centered and vague nature of the descriptions causes difficulties in representing the spatial characters of these objects. To address this problem, this paper proposes a Fuzzy Spatial Region Extraction Model for Object’s Vague Location Description from Observer Perspective (FSREM-OP). In this model, the spatial relationship between the observer and the object are represented in spatial knowledge. It is composed of “phrase” and “region”. Based on the spatial knowledge, three components of spatial inference are constructed: Spatial Entities (SEs), Fuzzy Spatial Regions (FSRs), and Spatial Actions (SAs). Through spatial knowledge and the components of FSREM-OP, an object’s location can be inferred from an observer’s describing text, transforming the vagueness and subjectivity of location description into fuzzy spatial regions in the GIS. The FSREM-OP was tested by constructing a group of observers, object position relationships and vague descriptions. The results show that it is capable of extracting the spatial information and presenting location descriptions in the GIS, despite the vagueness and subjective spatial relation expressions in the descriptions.

Spatial modeling of the geographic distribution of wildlife populations: a case study in the lower Mississippi River region

Geographic information systems (GIS) are defined and discussed both in general and specifically with reference to their applications in three distinct modalities. These are, firstly, the application of computer mapping and spatial analysis technologies encompassed by the term GIS in counter terrorism. Secondly, the potential for misuse of GIS technologies in both terrorism in general and more specifically the unique vulnerabilities of these suites of complex programs and the huge and sophisticated datasets that are managed by GIS programs to exploitation and damage by cyber terrorists. Lastly the ways in which these terrorist threats to geo-spatial infrastructure can be detected, avoided and minimized will be discussed.