Geometric properties and relations play central roles in the description and processing of spatial data. The properties and relations studied by mathematicians usually have precise definitions, but verbal descriptions often involve imprecisely defined concepts such as elongatedness or proximity. The methods used in soft computing provide a framework for formulating and manipulating such concepts. This volume contains eight papers on the soft definition and manipulation of spatial relations and gives a comprehensive summary on the subject.

This book offers a unique multidisciplinary integration of the physics of turbulence and remote sensing technology. Remote Sensing of Turbulence provides a new vision on the research of turbulence and summarizes the current and future challenges of monitoring turbulence remotely. The book emphasizes sophisticated geophysical applications, detection, and recognition of complex turbulent flows in oceans and the atmosphere. Through several techniques based on microwave and optical/IR observations, the text explores the technological capabilities and tools for the detection of turbulence, their signatures, and variability. FEATURES Covers the fundamental aspects of turbulence problems with a broad geophysical scope for a wide audience of readers Provides a complete description of remote-sensing capabilities for observing turbulence in the earth's environment Establishes the state-of-the-art remote-sensing techniques and methods of data analysis for turbulence detection Investigates and evaluates turbulence detection signatures, their properties, and variability Provides cutting-edge remote-sensing applications for space-based monitoring and forecasts of turbulence in oceans and the atmosphere This book is a great resource for applied physicists, the professional remote sensing community, ecologists, geophysicists, and earth scientists.

This book chiefly addresses the analysis and design of geosynchronous synthetic aperture radar (GEO SAR) systems, focusing on the algorithms, analysis, methods used to compensate for ionospheric influences, and validation experiments for Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Further, it investigates special problems in the GEO SAR context, such as curved trajectories, the Earth's rotation, the 'non-stop-and-go' model, high-order Doppler parameters, temporal-variant ionospheric errors etc. These studies can also be extended to SAR with very high resolution and long integration time. Given the breadth and depth of its coverage, scientists and engineers in SAR and advanced graduate students in related areas will greatly benefit from this book.

This book explores how we create deep maps, delving into the development of methods and approaches that move beyond standard two-dimensional cartography. Deep mapping offers a more detailed exploration of the world we inhabit. Moving from concept to practice, this book addresses how we make deep maps. It explores what methods are available, what technologies and approaches are favorable when designing deep maps, and what lessons assist the practitioner during their construction. This book aims to create an open-ended way in which to understand complex problems through multiple perspectives, while providing a means to represent the physical properties of the real world and to respond to the needs of contemporary scholarship. With contributions from leading experts in the spatial humanities, chapters focus on the linked layers of quantitative and qualitative data, maps, photographs, images, and sound that offer a dynamic view of past and present worlds. This innovative book is the first to offer these insights on the construction of deep maps. It will be a key point of reference for students and scholars in the digital and spatial humanities, geographers, cartographers, and computer scientists who work on spatiality, sensory experience, and perceptual learning.

Detailed and accurate information on the spatial distribution of individual species over large spatial extents and over multiple time periods is critical for rapid response and effective management of environmental change. The twenty first century has witnessed a rapid development in both fine resolution sensors and statistical theories and techniques. These innovations hold great potential for improved accuracy of species mapping using remote sensing. Fine Resolution Remote Sensing of Species in Terrestrial and Coastal Ecosystems is a collection of eight cutting-edge studies of fine spatial resolution remote sensing, including species mapping of biogenic and coral reefs, seagrasses, salt and freshwater marshes, and grasslands. The studies illustrate the power of fine resolution imagery for species identification, as well as the value of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery as an ideal source of high-quality reference data at the species level. The studies also highlight the benefit of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data for species identification, and how this varies depending on the species of interest as well as the nature of the context in which the species is found. The broad range of applications explored in the book demonstrates the major contribution of remote sensing to species-level terrestrial and coastal ecosystem studies as well as the potential for future advances. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the International Journal of Remote Sensing.

This book provides a thoughtful and rigorous guide to coverage modeling, reviewing essential models, solution approaches, and related applications. Since the early developments of the Location Set Covering Problem and the Maximal Covering Location Problem, models based upon some form of coverage have been extended and applied in a number of areas, helping to improve services offered to citizens of large cities and regions. Examples include trauma care services, transit systems design, cell tower location, and many others. The book not only describes the strengths and weaknesses of currently available models, but also presents details on major developments, including solution procedures and applications, making it well suited both as a reference text and a textbook for graduate level courses.

This book covers the basics of processing and spectral analysis of monovariate discrete-time signals. The approach is practical, the aim being to acquaint the reader with the indications for and drawbacks of the various methods and to highlight possible misuses. The book is rich in original ideas, visualized in new and illuminating ways, and is structured so that parts can be skipped without loss of continuity. Many examples are included, based on synthetic data and real measurements from the fields of physics, biology, medicine, macroeconomics etc., and a complete set of MATLAB exercises requiring no previous experience of programming is provided. Prior advanced mathematical skills are not needed in order to understand the contents: a good command of basic mathematical analysis is sufficient. Where more advanced mathematical tools are necessary, they are included in an Appendix and presented in an easy-to-follow way. With this book, digital signal processing leaves the domain of engineering to address the needs of scientists and scholars in traditionally less quantitative disciplines, now facing increasing amounts of data.

Geocomputation is the use of software and computing power to solve complex spatial problems. It is gaining increasing importance in the era of the 'big data' revolution, of 'smart cities', of crowdsourced data, and of associated applications for viewing and managing data geographically - like Google Maps. This student focused book: Provides a selection of practical examples of geocomputational techniques and 'hot topics' written by world leading practitioners. Integrates supporting materials in each chapter, such as code and data, enabling readers to work through the examples themselves. Chapters provide highly applied and practical discussions of: Visualisation and exploratory spatial data analysis Space time modelling Spatial algorithms Spatial regression and statistics Enabling interactions through the use of neogeography All chapters are uniform in design and each includes an introduction, case studies, conclusions - drawing together the generalities of the introduction and specific findings from the case study application - and guidance for further reading. This accessible text has been specifically designed for those readers who are new to Geocomputation as an area of research, showing how complex real-world problems can be solved through the integration of technology, data, and geocomputational methods. This is the applied primer for Geocomputation in the social sciences.

Sundarbans, a UNESCO heritage site, is the world's largest single chunk of mangroves distributed on the Indian and Bangladesh coasts. The mangroves and associated ecosystems are one of the most fertile ecosystems of the earth. Sundarbans Mangrove Systems: A Geo-Informatics Approach portrays different perspectives of studying Sundarbans and mangroves using geospatial analysis. This book highlights the major issues with the Sundarbans mangrove forest, its future conservation strategies and its ecological importance using geo-informatics technology. It explains the usage of remote sensing data for providing information about the present state of mangroves and their tropic status, including assessment in terms of extent, density of community, condition, diversity, identifying potential habitats and heterogeneity. Furthermore, it discusses the use of hyperspectral remote sensing data for species level classification of mangroves, community zonation for biodiversity assessment and for preparing management plans for conservation. KEY FEATURES Exclusively covers the ecological state of Sundarbans (mangrove systems) through geo-informatic studies Describes the application of a combination of geomorphological, biogeochemical and remote sensing methods to the analysis of temporal changes Includes environmental factors affecting the health and decline of mangroves Covers biodiversity and ecological controls in mangroves ecosystems Discusses a remote sensing approach for tropical forested island and mangroves mapping This book is aimed at graduate students and researchers in environmental sciences, ecology, marine sciences, biology, geosciences and GIS/remote sensing areas.

A comprehensive description of the current theoretical and numerical aspects of inverse problems in partial differential equations. Applications include recovery of inclusions from anomalies of their gravity fields, reconstruction of the interior of the human body from exterior electrical, ultrasonic, and magnetic measurement. By presenting the data in a readable and informative manner, the book introduces both scientific and engineering researchers as well as graduate students to the significant work done in this area in recent years, relating it to broader themes in mathematical analysis.

Satellite images acquired at night provide a visually arresting perspective of the Earth and the human activities that light up the otherwise mostly dark Earth. These night-time light satellite images can be compiled into a geospatial time series that represent an invaluable source of information for both the natural and social sciences. Night-time light remote sensing has been shown to be particularly useful for a range of natural science and social science applications, including studies relating to urban development, demography, sociology, fishing activity, light pollution and the consequences of civil war. Key sensors for these time-series include the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's Operational Linescan System (DMSP/OLS) and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership Satellite's Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite Day/Night Band (Suomi NPP/VIIRS DNB). An increasing number of alternative sources are also available, including high spatial resolution and multispectral sensors. This book captures key methodological issues associated with pre-processing night-time light data, documents state of the art analysis methods, and explores a wide range of applications. Major sections focus on NPP/VIIRS DNB processing; inter-calibration between NPP/VIIRS and DMPS/OLS; applications associated with socio-economic activities, applications in monitoring urbanization; and fishing activity monitoring. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the International Journal of Remote Sensing.

The book provides an overview of the state-of-the-art of map construction algorithms, which use tracking data in the form of trajectories to generate vector maps. The most common trajectory type is GPS-based trajectories. It introduces three emerging algorithmic categories, outlines their general algorithmic ideas, and discusses three representative algorithms in greater detail. To quantify map construction algorithms, the authors include specific datasets and evaluation measures. The datasets, source code of map construction algorithms and evaluation measures are publicly available on http://www.mapconstruction.org. The web site serves as a repository for map construction data and algorithms and researchers can contribute by uploading their own code and benchmark data. Map Construction Algorithms is an excellent resource for professionals working in computational geometry, spatial databases, and GIS. Advanced-level students studying computer science, geography and mathematics will also find this book a useful tool.

This volume comprises the proceedings of the 2010 International Symposium of the ICA Commission on the History of Cartography. The nineteen papers reflect the research interests of the Commission which span the period from the Enlightenment to the evolution of Geographical Information Science. Apart from studies on general cartography, the volume, which reflects some co-operation with the ICA Commission on Maps and Society and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), contains regional studies on cartographic endeavours in Northern America, Brazil, and Southern Africa.

The ICA Commission on Maps and Society participated as its field of study often overlaps with that of the ICA Commission on the History of Cartography. The USGS which is the official USA mapping organisation, was invited to emphasise that the ICA Commission on the History of Cartography is not only interested in historical maps, but also has as mandate the research and document the history of Geographical Information Science.

The ICA Commission on Maps and Society participated as its field of study often overlaps with that of the ICA Commission on the History of Cartography. The USGS which is the official USA mapping organisation, was invited to emphasise that the ICA Commission on the History of Cartography is not only interested in historical maps, but also has as mandate the research and document the history of Geographical Information Science."

Monitoring continuous phenomena by stationary and mobile sensors has become a common due to the improvement in hardware and communication infrastructure and decrease in it's cost. Sensor data is now available in near real time via web interfaces and in machine-readable form, facilitated by paradigms like the Internet of Things (IoT). There are still some obstacles in the usability of the data since the positions (in space and time) of observation and the positions of interest usually do not coincide. Interpolation is the technique to fill such gaps and there are manifold methods to perform it. To actually operate a monitoring system, there are problems like unambiguous identification of interpolation method and associated parameters, appropriate interface to store observations and retrieve interpolated data, continuous update of the interpolation model for real time monitoring, compression and progressive retrieval of observational data and critical states definition and notification by using aggregation of values. This book proposes a general system architecture that addresses these problems. It is not confined to details about particular interpolation methods but rather takes a holistic view on the problem of monitoring. State-of-the-art technologies like geostatistics, sensor web enablement and field data types are introduced and applied in order to provide a viable toolset for the problem domain. The focus is on the overall organization of the monitoring and the architectural design of the software system and the associated simulation framework that is used to systematically evaluate different monitoring approaches. The whole cycle of a monitoring entailing observation, interpolation, discretization, storage, retrieval and notification is covered. Concrete solutions for several common problems in this context are provided.

Access, distribution and processing of Geographic Information (GI) are basic preconditions to support strategic environmental decision-making. The heterogeneity of information on the environment today available is driving a wide number of initiatives, on both sides of the Atlantic, all advocating both the strategic role of proper management and processing of environme- related data as well as the importance of harmonized IT infrastructures designed to better monitor and manage the environment. The extremely wide range of often multidimensional environmental information made available at the global scale poses a great challenge to technologists and scientists to find extremely sophisticated yet effective ways to provide access to relevant data patterns within such a vast and highly dynamic information flow. In the past years the domain of 3D scientific visualization has developed several solutions designed for operators requiring to access results of a simulation through the use of 3D visualization that could support the understanding of an evolving phenomenon. However 3D data visualization alone does not provide model and hypothesis-making neither it provide tools to validate results. In order overcome this shortcoming, in recent years scientists have developed a discipline that combines the benefits of data mining and information visualization, which is often referred to as Visual Analytics (VA).

This book studies the increasing use of data analytics and technology in urban planning and development in developing nations. It examines the application of urban science and engineering in different sectors of urban planning and looks at the challenges involved in planning 21st-century cities, especially in India. The volume analyzes various key themes such as auditory/visual sensing, network analysis and spatial planning, and decision-making and management in the planning process. It also studies the application of big data, geographic information systems, and information and communications technology in urban planning. Finally, it provides data-driven approaches toward holistic and optimal urban solutions for challenges in transportation planning, housing, and conservation of vulnerable urban zones like coastal areas and open spaces. Well supplemented with rigorous case studies, the book will be of interest to scholars and researchers of architecture, architectural and urban planning, and urban analytics. It will also be useful for professionals involved in smart city planning, planning authorities, urban scientists, and municipal and local bodies.

This book studies the increasing use of data analytics and technology in urban planning and development in developing nations. It examines the application of urban science and engineering in different sectors of urban planning and looks at the challenges involved in planning 21st-century cities, especially in India. The volume analyzes various key themes such as auditory/visual sensing, network analysis and spatial planning, and decision-making and management in the planning process. It also studies the application of big data, geographic information systems, and information and communications technology in urban planning. Finally, it provides data-driven approaches toward holistic and optimal urban solutions for challenges in transportation planning, housing, and conservation of vulnerable urban zones like coastal areas and open spaces. Well supplemented with rigorous case studies, the book will be of interest to scholars and researchers of architecture, architectural and urban planning, and urban analytics. It will also be useful for professionals involved in smart city planning, planning authorities, urban scientists, and municipal and local bodies.

Mapping Paradigms in Modern and Contemporary Art defines a new cartographic aesthetic, or what Simonetta Moro calls carto-aesthetics, as a key to interpreting specific phenomena in modern and contemporary art, through the concept of poetic cartography. The problem of mapping, although indebted to the "spatial turn" of poststructuralist philosophy, is reconstructed as hermeneutics, while exposing the nexus between topology, space-time, and memory. The book posits that the emergence of "mapping" as a ubiquitous theme in contemporary art can be attributed to the power of the cartographic model to constitute multiple worldviews that can be seen as paradigmatic of the post-modern and contemporary condition. This book will be of particular interest to scholars in art history, art theory, aesthetics, and cartography.

This book analyzes the drawing data and methods of the Chinese ancient maps that are neglected by the previous researches, and reevaluates the drawing theories and methods, the influences, and accuracy of the maps that represents the scientificity of Chinese ancient cartographic drawings.

This unique text/reference presents a unified approach to the formulation of Gestalt laws for perceptual grouping, and the construction of nested hierarchies by aggregation utilizing these laws. The book also describes the extraction of such constructions from noisy images showing man-made objects and clutter. Each Gestalt operation is introduced in a separate, self-contained chapter, together with application examples and a brief literature review. These are then brought together in an algebraic closure chapter, followed by chapters that connect the method to the data - i.e., the extraction of primitives from images, cooperation with machine-readable knowledge, and cooperation with machine learning. Topics and features: offers the first unified approach to nested hierarchical perceptual grouping; presents a review of all relevant Gestalt laws in a single source; covers reflection symmetry, frieze symmetry, rotational symmetry, parallelism and rectangular settings, contour prolongation, and lattices; describes the problem from all theoretical viewpoints, including syntactic, probabilistic, and algebraic perspectives; discusses issues important to practical application, such as primitive extraction and any-time search; provides an appendix detailing a general adjustment model with constraints. This work offers new insights and proposes novel methods to advance the field of machine vision, which will be of great benefit to students, researchers, and engineers active in this area.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and their associated technologies have advanced by leaps and bounds in the nine years since the first edition of this book was published. The concept of survey has changed, especially in the disciplines of geomatics and geoinformatics. This revised and updated second edition provides a thorough understanding of the basic principles and techniques of GNSS, analyzes all four active systems, and explains clearly how each of these systems works. Because of its straightforward treatment of the subject, readers will gain an insight into the techniques, trends, and applications of GNSS and develop knowledge on selecting an appropriate GNSS instrument. Written for students and practitioners in geoinformatics, geomatics engineering, surveying, and remote sensing and GIS, this introductory and practical book includes questions and exercises in each chapter. Key Features: * Furnishes detailed information on GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and other regional and augmented systems * Provides practical guidance for surveying, mapping, and navigation with GNSS * Sheds light on the latest developments and modern trends of GNSS * Includes a detailed glossary of related terms * Contains many illustrations that complement the text * Exercises for each chapter * MCQ, solution manual for mathematical problems, and PPT as online resources

Klaus-Peter Schwarz, lAG President The University of Calgary The Scientific Assembly of the International Association of Geodesy (lAG) was held from September 3 to 9, 1997 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in conjunction with the 18th Brazilean Congress of Carthography. This was the first time that one ofthe major lAG meetings took place in Brazil. It provided an opportunity to showcase the progress of geodetic work in South America through campaigns such as SIRGAS. It also provided an opportunity for a large group of international experts to present the state of the art in ge- odesy and geodynamis and to interact with their hosts on possibilities of future coopera- tion. For the lAG, it continued a trend, started in Beijing four years ago, to hold major geodetic meetings outside of Europe and North America. The International Geoid School which was held in Sao Paulo following this meeting showed another facet of this grow- ing internationalization ofIAG activities and services. The scientific program of the meeting consisted of three symposia and two special ses- sions, namely Symposium 1 : Advances in Positioning and Reference Frames Symposium 2: Gravity and Geoid Symposium 3: Geodynamics Special Session 1: lAG Services Special Session 2: Geodesy in Antartica. Papers presented at the first symposium are published in volume 1 of these proceedings, while papers of symposia 2 and 3 as well as special session 2 are contained in volume 2. Papers presented at special session 1 will be published separately.

Master GIS Applications on Modelling and Mapping the Risks of Diseases Infections transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, triatomine bugs, sandflies, and black flies cause significant rates of death and disease, especially in developing countries. Why are certain places more susceptible to vector-borne diseases? Modelling Interactions Between Vector-Borne Diseases and Environment Using GIS reveals how using geographic information systems (GISs) can provide a greater understanding of how vector-borne diseases are spread and explores the use of geographical techniques in vector-borne disease monitoring, management, and control. This text provides readers with a better understanding of the vector-borne disease problem and its impact on public health. Introduces New Spatial Approaches Based on Location and Environment The book exposes readers to information on how to identify vector hotspots, determine when and where they can occur, and eliminate vector breeding sites. Utilizing simple illustrations based on real data, as well as the authors' more than 20 years of experience in the field, this text combines key spatial analysis techniques available in modern GIS with real-world applications. It offers step-by-step instruction on developing vector-borne disease risk models at different spatial and temporal scales and helps practitioners formulate disease causation hypotheses and identify areas at risk. In addition, it addresses medical geography, GIS, spatial analysis, and modelling, and covers other factors related to the spread of vector-borne diseases. This book: Gives an overview of common vector-borne diseases, GIS-based mapping and modelling, impacts of climate change on vector distributions, and availability and importance of accurate epidemiologically relevant spatial data Describes modelling and simulating the prevalence of vector-borne diseases around the world Summarizes some key spatial techniques and how they can be used to aid in the analysis of geographical and attributed data Defines the concept of establishing and characterizing spatial data systems, including their quality, errors, references, and issues of scale, and building such a system from often quite separate, disparate sources Shows how to develop weather-based predictive modelling, which can be used to predict the weekly trend of vector abundance Provides a GIS case study for modelling the future potential distribution of vector-borne disease based on different climatic change scenarios Modelling Interactions Between Vector-Borne Diseases and Environment Using GIS combines spatial analysis techniques available in modern GIS, together with real-world applications to provide you with a better understanding of ways to map, model, prevent, and control vector-borne diseases.

M. Verstraete (1) and M. Menenti (2, 3) (1) Space Applications Institute, Ispra, Italy, (2) The Winand Staring Centre for Integrated Land, Soil and Water Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands and (3) Universite Louis Pasteur, Illkirch, France. The European Network for the development of Advanced Models to interpret Optical Remote Sensing data over terrestrial environments (ENAMORS) is a consortium of academic and research institutions involved in methodological research and in applications of remote sensing techniques for Earth Observation. It was supported initially through a Concerted Action from the Environment and Climate Research and Technology Development Program in the 4th Framework Program of the European Commission. Its activities include the organization of international scientific conferences, the first of which took place in Tuusula, Finland, from September 17 to 19, 1997. This book contains the proceedings of that conference and effectively summarizes the discussions and conclusions reached by the participants. The title of this meeting was 'Optical Remote Sensing of Terrestrial Surfaces: New Sensors, Advanced Algorithms, and the Opportunity for Novel Applications'. It aimed at assembling representatives from the policy maker, remote sensing research and end-user communities, as well as from national and international space agencies and aerospace industries. Together, they discussed the need for R&D support, as well as the contents and priorities of such a program in this economic sector during the period covered by the 5th Framework Program (1999--2002)."

Disease Mapping: From Foundations to Multidimensional Modeling guides the reader from the basics of disease mapping to the most advanced topics in this field. A multidimensional framework is offered that makes possible the joint modeling of several risks patterns corresponding to combinations of several factors, including age group, time period, disease, etc. Although theory will be covered, the applied component will be equally as important with lots of practical examples offered. Features: Discusses the very latest developments on multivariate and multidimensional mapping. Gives a single state-of-the-art framework that unifies most of the previously proposed disease mapping approaches. Balances epidemiological and statistical points-of-view. Requires no previous knowledge of disease mapping. Includes practical sessions at the end of each chapter with WinBUGs/INLA and real world datasets. Supplies R code for the examples in the book so that they can be reproduced by the reader. About the Authors: Miguel A. Martinez Beneito has spent his whole career working as a statistician for public health services, first at the epidemiology unit of the Valencia (Spain) regional health administration and later as a researcher at the public health division of FISABIO, a regional bio-sanitary research center. He has been also the Bayesian Hierarchical Models professor for several seasons at the University of Valencia Biostatics Master. Paloma Botella Rocamora has spent most of her professional career in academia although she now works as a statistician for the epidemiology unit of the Valencia regional health administration. Most of her research has been devoted to developing and applying disease mapping models to real data, although her work as a statistician in an epidemiology unit makes her develop and apply statistical methods to health data, in general.