Urban Growth Analysis Using Spatial and Temporal Data

Urban growth identification, quantification, knowledge of rate and the trends of growth would help in regional planning for better infrastructure provision in environmentally sound way. This requires analysis of spatial and temporal data, which help in quantifying the trends of growth on spatial scale. Emerging technologies such as Remote Sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS) along with Global Positioning System (GPS) help in this regard. Remote sensing aids in the collection of temporal data and GIS helps in spatial analysis. This paper focuses on the analysis of urban growth pattern in the form of either radial or linear sprawl along the Bangalore - Mysore highway. Various GIS base layers such as builtup areas along the highway, road network, village boundary etc. were generated using collateral data such as the Survey of India toposheet, etc. Further, this analysis was complemented with the computation of Shannon's entropy, which helped in identifying prevalent sprawl zone, rate of growth and in delineating potential sprawl locations. The computation Shannon's entropy helped in delineating regions with dispersed and compact growth. This study reveals that the Bangalore North and South taluks contributed mainly to the sprawl with 559% increase in built-up area over a period of 28 years and high degree of dispersion. The Mysore and Srirangapatna region showed 128% change in built-up area and a high potential for sprawl with slightly high dispersion. The degree of sprawl was found to be directly proportional to the distances from the cities.

Mapping of fuelwood trees using geoinformatics

Rural population of India constitutes about 70% of the total population and traditional fuels account for 75% of the rural energy needs. Depletion of woodlands coupled with the persistent dependency on fuel wood has posed a serious problem for household energy provision in many parts. This study highlights that the traditional fuels still meet 85-95% of fuel needs in rural areas of Kolar district: people prefer fuel wood for cooking and agriculture residues for water heating and other purposes. However, rapid changes in land cover and land use in recent times have affected these traditional fuels availability necessitating inventorying, mapping and monitoring of bioresources for sustainable management of bioresources. Remote sensing data (Multispectal and Panchromatic), Geographic Information System (GIS), field surveys and non-destructive sampling were used to assess spatially the availability and demand of energy. Field surveys indicate that rural household depends on species such as Prosopis juliflora, Acacia nilotica, Acacia auriculiformis to meet fuel wood requirement for domestic activities. Hence, to take stock of fuel wood availability, mapping was done at species level (with 88% accuracy) considering villages as sampling units using fused multispectral and panchromatic data. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Topics in Spatial Econometrics - With Applications to House Prices

Topics in Spatial Econometrics — With Applications to House Prices Spatial effects in data occur when geographical closeness of observations influences the relation between the observations. When two points on a map are close to each other, the observed values on a variable at those points tend to be similar. The further away the two points are from each other, the less similar the observed values tend to be. Recent technical developments, geographical information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS) have brought about a renewed interest in spatial matters. For instance, it is possible to observe the exact location of an observation and combine it with other characteristics. Spatial econometrics integrates spatial aspects into econometric models and analysis. The thesis concentrates mainly on methodological issues, but the findings are illustrated by empirical studies on house price data. The thesis consists of an introductory chapter and four essays. The introductory chapter presents an overview of topics and problems in spatial econometrics. It discusses spatial effects, spatial weights matrices, especially k-nearest neighbours weights matrices, and various spatial econometric models, as well as estimation methods and inference. Further, the problem of omitted variables, a few computational and empirical aspects, the bootstrap procedure and the spatial J-test are presented. In addition, a discussion on hedonic house price models is included. In the first essay a comparison is made between spatial econometrics and time series analysis. By restricting the attention to unilateral spatial autoregressive processes, it is shown that a unilateral spatial autoregression, which enjoys similar properties as an autoregression with time series, can be defined. By an empirical study on house price data the second essay shows that it is possible to form coordinate-based, spatially autoregressive variables, which are at least to some extent able to replace the spatial structure in a spatial econometric model. In the third essay a strategy for specifying a k-nearest neighbours weights matrix by applying the spatial J-test is suggested, studied and demonstrated. In the final fourth essay the properties of the asymptotic spatial J-test are further examined. A simulation study shows that the spatial J-test can be used for distinguishing between general spatial models with different k-nearest neighbours weights matrices. A bootstrap spatial J-test is suggested to correct the size of the asymptotic test in small samples.

Ecological linkages: Marine and estuarine ecosystems of Central and Northern California

Three of California’s four National Marine Sanctuaries, Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones, and Monterey Bay, are currently undergoing a comprehensive management plan review. As part of this review, NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) has collaborated with NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) to conduct a biogeographic assessment of selected marine resources using geographic information system (GIS) technology. This report complements the analyses conducted for this effort by providing an overview of the physical and biological characteristics of the region. Key ecosystems and species occurring in estuarine and marine waters are highlighted and linkages between them discussed. In addition, this report describes biogeographic processes operating to affect species’ distributional patterns. The biogeographic analyses build upon this background to further understanding of the biogeography of this region. (PDF contaons 172 pages)

Benthic habitat mapping in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary: Classification of side scan sonar data from survey HMPR-108-2002-01: Version I

In September 2002, side scan sonar was used to image a portion of the sea floor in the northern OCNMS and was mosaiced at 1-meter pixel resolution using 100 kHz data collected at 300-meter range scale. Video from a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV), bathymetry data, sedimentary samples, and sonar mapping have been integrated to describe geological and biological aspects of habitat and polygon features have been created and attributed with a hierarchical deep-water marine benthic classification scheme (Greene et al. 1999). The data can be used with geographic information system (GIS) software for display, query, and analysis. Textural analysis of the sonar images provided a relatively automated method for delineating substrate into three broad classes representing soft, mixed sediment, and hard bottom. Microhabitat and presence of certain biologic attributes were also populated into the polygon features, but strictly limited to areas where video groundtruthing occurred. Further groundtruthing work in specific areas would improve confidence in the classified habitat map. (PDF contains 22 pages.)

Panama City Fisheries Resources Office: FY 2006 Annual Report

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FY 2006 1. Captured and tagged 475 Gulf sturgeons in five Florida rivers and one bay. 2. Documented Gulf sturgeon marine movement and habitat use in the Gulf of Mexico. 3. Assisted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with the collection of Gulf sturgeon, implantation of acoustic tags, and monitoring of fish in a study to examine movement patterns and habitat use in Pensacola and Choctawhatchee bays post-Hurricane Ivan. 4. Provided technical assistance to Jon “Bo” Sawyer in completing a study – Summer Resting Areas of the Gulf Sturgeon in the Conecuh/Escambia River System, Alabama-Florida – for acquiring a Degree of Master of Science at Troy University, Alabama. 5. Coordinated tagging and data collection with NOAA observers aboard trawlers while collecting Gulf sturgeon during dredging operations in the coastal Gulf of Mexico. 6. Hosted the 7th Annual Gulf Sturgeon Workshop. 7. Implemented Gulf Striped Bass Restoration Plan by coordinating the 23rd Annual Morone Workshop, leading the technical committee, transporting broodfish, coordinating the stocking on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) river system, and evaluating post-stocking success. 8. Continued updating and managing the Freshwater Mussel Survey Database, a Geographic Information System (GIS) database, for over 800 unique sites in the Northeast Gulf (NEG) drainages in Alabama (AL), Georgia (GA), and Florida (FL). 9. Formed a recovery implementation team for listed mussels in the ACF river basin and oversaw grant cooperative agreements for 14 listed and candidate freshwater mussels in the NEG watersheds. 10. Initiated a project in the Apalachicola River to relocate mussels stranded as a result of drought conditions, and calculate river flows at which mussels would be exposed. 11. Initiated a project in Sawhatchee Creek, Georgia to determine the status of threatened and endangered (T&E) freshwater mussels and target restoration projects, population assessments, and potential population augmentation to lead toward recovery of the listed species. 12. Initiated a study to determine the age and growth of the endangered fat threeridge mussel (Amblema neislerii). 13. Provided technical assistance to the Panama City Ecological Services office for a biological opinion on the operations of Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam and its effects on the listed species and designated and proposed critical habitat in the Apalachicola River, Florida. 14. Assisted with a multi-State, inter-agency team to develop a management plan to restore the Alabama shad in the ACF river system. 15. Conducted fishery surveys on Tyndall AFB, Florida and Ft. Benning, Georgia and completed a report with recommendations for future recreational fishery needs. 16. Provided fishery technical assistance to four National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) (i.e., Okefenokee NWR, Banks Lake NWR, St. Vincent NWR, and St. Marks NWR). 17. Initiated an Aquatic Resources and Recreation Fishing Survey on Department of Defense facilities located in Region 4. 18. Identified 130 road-stream crossings on Eglin AFB for rehabilitation and elimination of sediment imputs. 19. Continued the Aquatics Monitoring Program at Eglin AFB to assess techniques that determine current status and sustainability of aquatic habitat and develop a measure to determine quality or degradation of habitat. 20. Assisted Eglin AFB Natural Resource managers in revising the installation’s Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) and its associated component plans. 21. Coordinated recovery efforts for the endangered Okaloosa darter including population/life history surveys, stream restoration, and outreach activities. 22. Initiated a comprehensive status review of the Okaloosa darter with analyses performed to assess available habitat, preferred habitats, range expansions/reductions/fragmentations, population size, and probability of extinction. 23. Assisted the Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) under a Memorandum of Agreement to develop conservation strategies, implement monitoring and assessment programs, and secure funds for aquatic management programs in six watersheds in northwest Florida and southeast Alabama. 24. Entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Air Force to encourage the conservation and rehabilitation of natural resources at Hurlburt Field, Florida. 25. Multiple outreach projects were completed to detail aquatic resources’ conservation needs and opportunities; including National Fishing Week, Earth Day, several festivals, and school outreach.

Distribucion del genero Anodontites (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Mycetopodidae) en Uruguay

Distribution of the genus Anodontites (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Mycetopodidae) in Uruguay. Seven species of the freshwater mussel genus Anodontites were recorded from Uruguay. The populations of these bivalves suffer the negative effects of invasive bivalves, damming, industrial and urban discharges, and agrotoxic runoff. The distribution of these species is generally characterized at the level of basin or politic divisions, and precise geographic records are scarce. In order to detail the distribution of those species, the most representative collections of Uruguay were examined, the material of Anodontites was identified (612 records) and geographic coordenates were assigned at each locality (213 localities), using Geographic Information System (GIS) to obtain a distribution map for each species. Most of the localities with Anodontites were located in the left margin of Uruguay River and southwest of Uruguay, mainly in Soriano, Artigas, Salto and Colonia departments. The Salto Grande basin presented the highest species richness. The species with a highest number of records was A. patagonicus, which was also recorded in all basins. A. trapesialis and A. tenebricosus had a wide distribution and a high number of records. A. lucidus and A. ferrarisii, had a wide distribution (more than 6 basins) but comparatively lower number of records. Finally A. trapezeus and A. trigonus showed a limited distribution. There is a critical lack of samples in Merín Lagoon, Atlantic and Upper Negro River basins. It is necessary to carry out new sampling considering many variables in order to evaluate the current distribution and the ecologic preferences for each species.

Limited resources? Let the habitat priority planner help!

In this time of scarce resources, coastal resource managers must find ways to prioritize conservation, land use, and restoration efforts. The Habitat Priority Planner (HPP) is a free geospatial tool created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coastal Services Center that has received wide praise for its ease of use and broad applicability to conservation strategic planning, restoration, climate change scenarios, and other natural resource management actions. Not a geographic information system (GIS) user? Don’t worry―this tool was designed to be used in a team setting. One intermediate-level GIS user can push the buttons to show quick results while a roomful of resource managers and stakeholders provide input criteria that determine the results. The Habitat Priority Planner is a toolbar for ESRI’s ArcGIS platform that is composed of three modules: Habitat Classification, Habitat Analysis, and Data Explorer. The tool calculates basic ecological statistics that are used to examine how habitats function within a landscape. The tool pre‐packages several common landscape metrics into a user‐friendly interface for intermediate GIS users. In addition, HPP allows the user to build queries interactively using a graphical interface for demonstrating criteria selections quickly in a visual manner that is useful in stakeholder interactions. Tool advocates and users include land trusts, conservation alliances, nonprofit organizations, and select National Estuarine Research Reserves and refuges of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Participants in this session will learn the basic requirements for HPP use and the multiple ways the HPP has been applied to geographies nationwide. (PDF contains 5 pages)

Potencialidades da cidade do Rio de Janeiro no contexto da política global do clima: um enfoque em árvores urbanas

Este trabalho objetivou traçar um percurso analítico da base institucional e material da gestão da arborização na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, visando a adoção de procedimentos para a quantificação do carbono armazenado nas árvores na malha urbana para possibilitar o conhecimento sobre o arboreto e o estabelecimento de objetivos quantificáveis, reportáveis e verificáveis de redução de emissões de gases de efeito estufa. Com a instituição da obrigatoriedade em nível nacional da metas de redução das emissões de gases de efeito estufa, através da Lei n 12.187/09, o município do Rio de Janeiro oficializou legalmente, com a Lei Muncipal n 5.248/11, o compromisso de adoção de medidas e programas de incentivo para reduzir as emissões de gases de efeito estufa na cidade. Entretanto, a única ação de mitigação controlada pelo município, com procedimentos regulamentados, é a compensação de emissões nas construções através do plantio de árvores. O acompanhamento da execução dos plantios de árvores, exigidos no licenciamento das construções é a atual forma de estabelecer objetivos quantificáveis, reportáveis e verificáveis de redução de emissões antrópicas de gases de efeito estufa no Município. De forma específica, foi realizada uma análise dos recursos institucionais e materiais disponíveis e potenciais à disposição do sistema de planejamento e gestão ambiental do município, com a proposição de criar um sistema de banco de dados (SGBD) da arborização urbana. O banco de dados estruturado ao longo da pesquisa, foi utilizado em um sistema de informação geográfico (SIG), onde foi possível realizar um estudo exploratório da estimativa de estoque de carbono em árvores em logradouros. A investigação desta pesquisa teve dupla expectativa: contribuir para a eficácia das ações de manejo e controle do arboreto urbano, com base no monitoramento contínuo dos serviços ambientais das árvores; e consolidar critérios analíticos habilitados para quantificar as alterações de fitomassa do arboreto urbano, em uma proposta de um plano de arborização para a cidade, até agora inexistente, que foi delineado ao final do trabalho, que seguramente irá garantir significativos benefícios ambientais, econômicos e sociais à sociedade.

Avaliação de sistemas de informações geográficas na internet através de teste de software.

A utilização de sistemas de informações geográficas via Web (Sigweb) tem crescido nos últimos anos pela facilidade na manipulação e visualização de informações de diferentes lugares através da Internet. O objetivo deste estudo é realizar testes de sistemas de informações geográficas na Internet com ênfase na técnica funcional para avaliar a funcionalidade, usabilidade, a navegabilidade dos programas conhecidos como Sigweb prontos para usar. Para tanto, foi necessária a identificação dos casos de uso dos programas propostos para o estudo. Como resultado se pode conferir o comportamento dos sistemas durante os testes, além de distinguir as características de cada SigWeb e as dificuldades encontradas.

Nuevos restos viarios romanos en el norte de Burgos. ¿Vía "Flaviobriga-luliobriga"? Intento de reconstrucción del trazado por medio de sistemas de información geográficos

Este artículo forma parte de la investigación realizada en el marco de la tesis de licenciatura de su autora: "La red viaria romana en el norte de Burgos. Valles de Mena, Losa y Sotoscueva. Vía Pisoraca- Flauiobriga. Via Flauiobriga-Iuliobriga. Vías secundarias", leída en el Departamento de Estudios Clásicos de la Facultad de Filología, Geografía e Historia de la UPV/EHU el 9 de octubre de 1996.

A importância da caraterização geoambiental para elaboração de planejamento territorial ambiental: o exemplo do primeiro distrito do município de Rio Bonito (RJ)

O crescimento populacional acelerado e a imposição do mercado regional e global no município de Rio Bonito (RJ) proporcionaram alterações no seu espaço territorial. As observações cotidianas e a análise dos mapas e imagens de satélites do município trouxeram questionamentos sobre a organização territorial em face de novos empreendimentos e a situação ambiental. Com essas demandas diferenciadas surge a necessidade de estudos integrados para se caracterizar em escala local as problemáticas com o uso e cobertura da terra e tentar oferecer possibilidades de reorganização numa visão holística de todo o processo, que é dinâmico. A caracterização com uma perspectiva sistêmica, nesse estudo, recebe o nome de Geoambiental. O município de Rio Bonito está localizado no Estado do Rio de Janeiro e possui uma área total de 456,45 km2. É dividido em três distritos: Sede, Boa Esperança e Basílio. O trabalho em questão busca um entendimento sobre as condições ambientais das unidades de paisagem no Primeiro Distrito, a fim de subsidiar alternativas de um desenvolvimento sustentável. A pesquisa teve como objetivo principal demonstrar a importância da Caracterização Geoambiental para realização de planejamento territorial em consonância com a preservação ambiental. Além disso, buscou-se realizar análise do uso e cobertura da terra, identificar vulnerabilidades e estabilidades das Unidades Geoambientais e identificar alternativas viáveis para as questões socioambientais e que tenham como base a compreensão da dinâmica local, as relações sociais e passivos ambientais. A metodologia utilizada consistiu na determinação das Unidades Geoambientais com base na revisão bibliográfica, observação de campo, análise de imagens de satélite, dos mapas geomorfológicos, de drenagem e altimétricos. As informações obtidas foram analisadas para geração de banco de dados digitais no Sistema de Informações Geográficas (SIG), associadas com informações socioeconômicas. A disponibilidade do banco de dados possibilitou a geração de camadas temáticas pela aplicação de rotinas computacionais específicas, permitindo a sua atualização constante. As informações referentes à geologia, geomorfologia, hidrografia, clima, solo, vegetação, recursos minerais foram selecionadas e sistematizadas para a análise das Unidades Geoambientais. A análise do uso e cobertura do solo do Primeiro Distrito revelou que em 2011 as pastagens ocupavam 14.610 ha (67,89%), seguido da floresta com 4.039 ha (18,76%), vegetação secundária e pastagem com 1.848 ha (8,58%) e ocupação urbana de média e baixa densidade, somadas, com 999 ha (4,63%). A caracterização do uso e cobertura do solo é indispensável para compreensão da organização espacial e planejamento de uma gestão ambiental, considerando que a implantação do Complexo Petroquímico do Rio de Janeiro (COMPERJ) demandará aumento de população e conseqüente sobrecarga na infraestrutura básica municipal. A análise do uso e cobertura demonstrou que os principais problemas das Unidades Geoambientais são decorrentes do uso inadequado da terra em relação as suas potencialidades. O estudo demonstrou, portanto que, a realização de estudos integrados do espaço geográfico pode ser efetuada, sendo necessário lembrar a relevância de se compreender a dinâmica do ambiente para a realização de projetos municipais com vistas a um planejamento territorial sustentável.

Deepwater and Other Sharks of the U.S. Atlantic Ocean Exclusive Economic Zone

Fifty-one deepwater and other shark species of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, which currently are not included in any Federal fishery management plan, are described, with a focus on primary distribution. Many of these shark species are not well known, while others which are more common may be of particular interest. Owing to concerns regarding possible increases in fishing effort for some of these species, as well as possible increases in bycatch rates as other fisheries move farther offshore, it is important that these sharks be considered in marine ecosystem management efforts. This will necessitate a better understanding of their biology and distribution. Primary distribution maps are included, based on geographic information system (GIS) analyses of both published and unpublished data, and a review of the literature. The most recent systematic classification and nomenclature for these species is used.