Neural nets offer a new strategy for spatial analysis, and their application holds enormous potential for the geographic sciences. However, the number of studies that have utilized these techniques is limited. This lack of interest can be attributed, in part, to lack of exposure, to the use of extensive and often confusing jargon, and to the misapprehension that, without an underlying statistical model, the explanatory power of the neural net is very low. This text attacks all three issues, demonstrating a wide variety of neural net applications in geography in a simple manner, with minimal jargon. The volume presents an introduction to neural nets that describes some of the basic concepts, as well as providing a more mathematical treatise for those wanting further details on neural net architecture. The bulk of the text, however, is devoted to descriptions of neural net applications in such broad-ranging fields as census analysis, predicting the spread of AIDS, describing synoptic controls on mountain snowfall, examining the relationships between atmospheric circulation and tropical rainfall, and the remote sensing of polar cloud and sea ice characteristics. The text illustrates neural nets employed in modes analogous to multiple regression analysis, cluster analysis, and maximum likelihood classification. Not only are the neural nets shown to be equal or superior to these more conventional methods, particularly where the relationships have a strong nonlinear component, but they are also shown to contain significant explanatory power. Several chapters demonstrate that the nets themselves can be decomposed to illuminate causative linkages between different events in both the physical and human environments.

Derived from presentations made at the third annual UK National Conference on GIS Research, this work consists of contributions by leading experts in: geography, mathematics, computing science, surveying, archaeology, planning and medicine.

This third book in the GISDATA series focuses on the widespread use of geographical information systems GIS in European local government. The editors include a wide range of applications carried out by different professional groups, and offer the opportunity of studying the extent to which diffusion of innovations like GIS are sensitive to national issues such as cultural context, institutional setup and the availability of data.; The book answers key questions such as: what can be learnt from research on organizational behaviour in relation to technological innovation?; what are the classical features of the GIS diffusion process?; to what extent is the adoption and utilization of GIS facilitated - or impeded - by the organizational culture within which it takes place?; and what mechanisms can be applied to enhance the diffusion of GIS? The book covers aspects of diffusion in the following European countries: UK, France, Italy, Poland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Germany, Greece and Portugal.

Series Information:
GISDATA Series

This book presents an accessible introduction to the history, principles and techniques of GIS, with a unique focus on socioeconomic applications. With frequent reference to illustrations, this non-technical overview of GIS explores the collection, input, storage, manipulation and output of data in GIS and addresses the needs of students and professionals who must understand and use GIS for the first time.
This second edition builds on the strengths of the first. Taking account of recent advances in GIS development and major new socioeconomic datasets (including new census data), it explores more fully the contribution of GIS to geography and their power in influencing our environment.

Providing an introduction to the crucially important topic of groundwater, this text covers all major fields of hydrogeology and includes outlines of the occurrence of groundwater in various rock types, the movement and storage of groundwater, the formulation of groundwater balances, the development of groundwater chemistry, as well as the practical application of hydrogeology for groundwater development. Following a unique systems approach to describe and connect its various elements, the text also explores a large selection of examples of groundwater cases from various parts of the world. In addition, theoretical sections and examples are illustrated with a number of drawings, photos and computer printouts. Suitable for education in hydrogeology at postgraduate and graduate level, the text is also a useful reference tool for professionals and decision-makers involved in water or water-related activities. In the revised paperback edition more attention is paid to the processes in the unsaturated zone, especially those relating to groundwater recharge. Also, the investigation methods are highlighted in the sections where the related theory is dealt with, and they are not presented in the last chapter on groundwater management. The References and Bibliography section is also extended, some figures are improved, and the inevitable 'typing errors' are corrected as well. In the third edition, a more formal basis for the hydro-chemical processes described in the chapter on groundwater chemistry has been added. Mass balances and the principles of dispersion and retardation are introduced. Additional illustrations are provided, also explaining the processes occurring along streamlines. Consult: http://introductiontohydrogeology.nl/ for additional information on the book, the author and available software.

Optical Properties and Remote Sensing of Inland and Coastal Waters discusses the methodology and the theoretical basis of remote sensing of water. It presents physical concepts of aquatic optics relevant to remote sensing techniques and outlines the problems of remote measurements of the concentrations of organic and inorganic matter in water. It also details the mathematical formulation of the processes governing water-radiation interactions and discusses the development of bio-optical models to incorporate optically complex bodies of water into remote sensing projects.
Optical Properties and Remote Sensing of Inland and Coastal Waters derives and evaluates the interrelationships among inherent optical properties of natural water, water color, water quality, primary production, volume reflectance spectra, and remote sensing. This timely and comprehensive text/reference addresses the increasing tendency toward multinational and multidisciplinary climate studies and programs.

A revision of Openshaw and Abrahart's seminal work, GeoComputation, Second Edition retains influences of its originators while also providing updated, state-of-the-art information on changes in the computational environment. In keeping with the field's development, this new edition takes a broader view and provides comprehensive coverage across the field of GeoComputation. See What's New in the Second Edition: Coverage of ubiquitous computing, the GeoWeb, reproducible research, open access, and agent-based modelling Expanded chapter on Genetic Programming and a separate chapter developed on Evolutionary Algorithms Ten chapters updated by the same or new authors and eight new chapters added to reflect state of the art Each chapter is a stand-alone entity that covers a particular topic. You can simply dip in and out or read it from cover to cover. The opening chapter by Stan Openshaw has been preserved, with only a limited number of minor essential modifications having been enacted. This is not just a matter of respect. Openshaw's work is eloquent, prophetic, and his overall message remains largely unchanged. In contrast to other books on this subject, GeoComputation: Second Edition supplies a state-of-the-art review of all major areas in GeoComputation with chapters written especially for this book by invited specialists. This approach helps develop and expand a computational culture, one that can exploit the ever-increasing richness of modern geographical and geospatial datasets. It also supplies an instructional guide to be kept within easy reach for regular access and when need arises.

Developments in Geographic Information Technology have raised the expectations of users. A static map is no longer enough; there is now demand for a dynamic representation. Time is of great importance when operating on real world geographical phenomena, especially when these are dynamic. Researchers in the field of Temporal Geographical Information Systems (TGIS) have been developing methods of incorporating time into geographical information systems. Spatio-temporal analysis embodies spatial modelling, spatio-temporal modelling and spatial reasoning and data mining. Advances in Spatio-Temporal Analysis contributes to the field of spatio-temporal analysis, presenting innovative ideas and examples that reflect current progress and achievements.

Geosphere-biosphere interaction of certain elements and compounds is a major factor in global environmental change. This guide to the role of geographical monitoring in ecosystem modelling contains papers presented at the International Geographical Union Seminar on monitoring geosystems.

Airborne laser scanning (ALS) has emerged as one of the most promising remote sensing technologies to provide data for research and operational applications in a wide range of disciplines related to management of forest ecosystems. This book provides a comprehensive, state-of-the-art review of the research and application of ALS in a broad range of forest-related disciplines, especially forest inventory and forest ecology. However, this book is more than just a collection of individual contributions - it consists of a well-composed blend of chapters dealing with fundamental methodological issues and contributions reviewing and illustrating the use of ALS within various domains of application. The reviews provide a comprehensive and unique overview of recent research and applications that researchers, students and practitioners in forest remote sensing and forest ecosystem assessment should consider as a useful reference text.

This open access volume contains the proceedings of the 5th Symposium on Terrestrial Gravimetry: Static and Mobile Measurements (TG-SMM2019) held in St. Petersburg, Russia, October 1 – 4, 2019. The symposium was hosted by the State Research Center of the Russian Federation Concern CSRI Elektropribor, JSC and was attended by 75 participants from 15 different countries. 32 oral and 20 poster contributions were presented in four different topical sessions: Terrestrial, shipboard and airborne gravimetry, Absolute gravimetry, Relative gravimetry, gravity networks and applications of gravimetry and Cold atom and superconducting gravimeters, gravitational experiments.

This book aims to offer research at the cutting edge. The individual chapters are fully revised and updated versions of contributions to the first focused scientific symposium on research in geographic information systems (GISRUK). The book provides the reader with a comprehensive outline of the full range and diversity of innovative research programmes in the science of GIS. Chapters address key issues such as computational support; spatial analysis and error; and application and implementation.

This book gathers selected and expanded contributions presented at the 4th Symposium on Space Optical Instruments and Applications, which was held in Delft, the Netherlands, on October 16-18, 2017. This conference series is organized by the Sino-Holland Space Optical Instruments Laboratory, a cooperative platform between China and the Netherlands. The symposium focused on key technological problems regarding optical instruments and their applications in a space context. It covered the latest developments, experiments and results on the theory, instrumentation and applications of space optics. The book is split into five main sections: The first covers optical remote sensing system design, the second focuses on advanced optical system design, and the third addresses remote sensor calibration and measurement. Remote sensing data processing and information extraction are then presented, followed by a final section on remote sensing data applications.

Sea Ice Image Processing with MATLAB addresses the topic of image processing for the extraction of key sea ice characteristics from digital photography, which is of great relevance for Artic remote sensing and marine operations. This valuable guide provides tools for quantifying the ice environment that needs to be identified and reproduced for such testing. This includes fit-for-purpose studies of existing vessels, new-build conceptual design and detailed engineering design studies for new developments, and studies of demanding marine operations involving multiple vessels and operational scenarios in sea ice. A major contribution of this work is the development of automated computer algorithms for efficient image analysis. These are used to process individual sea-ice images and video streams of images to extract parameters such as ice floe size distribution, and ice types. Readers are supplied with Matlab source codes of the algorithms for the image processing methods discussed in the book made available as online material. Features Presents the first systematic work using image processing techniques to identify ice floe size distribution from aerial images Helps identify individual ice floe and obtain floe size distributions for Arctic offshore operations and transportation Explains specific algorithms that can be combined to solve various problems during polar sea ice investigations Includes MATLAB (R) codes useful not only for academics, but for ice engineers and scientists to develop tools applicable in different areas such as sustainable arctic marine and coastal technology research Provides image processing techniques applicable to other fields like biomedicine, material science, etc

This book addresses opportunities for observation of earth surface processes using remote sensing from space. It should provide a data source for scientists studying global change. The challenges created by global environmental change demand research approaches that are worldwide in scope and interdisciplinary in application. This book is a response to the need for the interchange of ideas and experiences between researchers from those sciences studying the land surface of the earth, its form, and features, and remote sensing specialists. It is founded on the premise that attention should focus on the analysis of specific components of the earth system and on the synthesis of the findings of individual disciplines in terms of how the earth and its atmosphere function as an open system. Earth system science aims to identify how this system changes (both over human and geological timescales) and how such changes can be predicted. Reliable prediction requires scientific understanding, which in turn requires models, theories and data. Remote sensing is capable of providing such data on appropriate temporal and spatial scales.

A temporal GIS is an information system designed to describe spatial change over time. As yet, there are no temporal GISs, although the seeds exist. This book examines the conceptual, logical and physical design of a temporal GIS. It provides a broad survey of research on spatiotemporality, the philosophy of time, temporal databases and spatial data structuring. The book also describes an investigation of spatiotemporal data structuring and accessing possibilities.

Today the world's largest economies and corporations trade in data and its products to generate value in new disruptive markets. Within these markets vast streams of data are often inaccessible or untapped and controlled by powerful monopolies. Counter to this exclusive use of data is a promising world-wide "open-data" movement, promoting freely accessible information to share, reuse and redistribute. The provision and application of open data has enormous potential to transform exclusive, technocratic "smart cities" into inclusive and responsive "open-cities". This book argues that those who contribute urban data should benefit from its production. Like the city itself, the information landscape is a public asset produced through collective effort, attention, and resources. People produce data through their engagement with the city, creating digital footprints through social medial, mobility applications, and city sensors. By opening up data there is potential to generate greater value by supporting unforeseen collaborations, spontaneous urban innovations and solutions, and improved decision-making insights. Yet achieving more open cities is made challenging by conflicting desires for urban anonymity, sociability, privacy and transparency. This book engages with these issues through a variety of critical perspectives, and presents strategies, tools and case studies that enable this transformation.

The intensive use of limited water resources, the growing population rates and the various increasing human activities put high and continuous stresses on these resources. Major problems affecting the water quality of rivers, streams and lakes may arise from inadequately treated sewage, poor land use practices, inadequate controls on the discharges of industrial waste waters, uncontrolled poor agricultural practices, excessive use of fertilizers, and a lack of integrated watershed management. This study explores the impact of these pollution problems and the water quality degradation of irrigated agricultural watersheds. When the watersheds have a complex physical basis of interacting water bodies such as canals, drains and coastal lagoons as in the case of irrigated watersheds in coastal river Deltas, and when these environments are 'data scarce environments', the problems of managing water quality becomes more obvious and the need for reliable solutions becomes an urgent requirement.

This title was first published in 2003. With the increasing use of GIS in industrialised and developing countries, the availability of spatial data has become an issue that affects many public and private sector organisations. They are faced with the high cost and substantial effort involved in the generation of spatial data and so the sharing of this data is increasingly being seen as a way of overcoming expense and easing availability and access. But this can provide a way of using GIS effectively only if the key players involved in the use and supply of spatial data are willing to share. This book employs a theory from social psychology as an organising framework to systematize the determinants of organisations' spatial data sharing behaviour. It develops a model which explains the likely willingness of key individuals within organisations to engage in spatial data exchanges across organisational boundaries and then tests this on a survey based in South Africa.

This work focuses on integrating land-use location science with the technology of geographic information systems (GIS). The text describes the basic pronciples of location decision and the means for applying them in orer to improve the real estate decision.

One quarter of the world's population lives in karst terrains, yet karsts are highly vulnerable to stresses caused by human activity. This book surveys human impact on karst water, showing that the increasing pollution of the environment has, to a great extent, spoiled sensitive karst ecosystems. This text examines such consequences and offers proposals for future solutions and strategies. Part One provides an overview of the functioning of karsts and of human interaction with karst environments over several millennia. Part Two consists of a systematic examination of the major areas of human activity affecting karst waters, such as agriculture, industry, mining and water exploitation. Finally, Part Three views the effects on karst groundwater within a broader societal and legislative perspective and considers possible changes of methodology and approach.

Explore how imagery and remote sensing power modern GIS. With The ArcGIS Imagery Book, you will roll up your sleeves and quickly begin putting imagery to smarter, more skillful use with your GIS. Even armchair geographers will appreciate this book and its electronic companion www.thearcgisimagerybook.com for the wealth of gorgeous, inspiring, and occasionally troubling images and links to powerful web apps and maps that weave interesting stories about our planet and the issues we face. Appropriate for those very familiar with geographic information systems and those who have never heard of the term.

Uganda's Nakivubo swamp has been receiving wastewater from Kampala for over 30 years and consists of a floating root mat. It's potential to remove nutrients and pathogens from wastewater in a sustainable way, while maintaining ecological quality and biodiversity, is investigated in this work.

The TransNav 2011 Symposium held at the Gdynia Maritime University, Poland in June 2011 has brought together a wide range of participants from all over the world. The program has offered a variety of contributions, allowing to look at many aspects of the navigational safety from various different points of view. Topics presented and discussed at the Symposium were: navigation, safety at sea, sea transportation, education of navigators and simulator-based training, sea traffic engineering, ship's manoeuvrability, integrated systems, electronic charts systems, satellite, radio-navigation and anti-collision systems and many others. This book is part of a series of six volumes and provides an overview of Navigational Systems and Simulators and is addressed to scientists and professionals involved in research and development of navigation, safety of navigation and sea transportation.