Semantic segmentation of remote sensing images is one of the core tasks of remote sensing image interpretation.With the continuous develop-ment of artificial intelligence technology,the use of deep learning methods fo...Semantic segmentation of remote sensing images is one of the core tasks of remote sensing image interpretation.With the continuous develop-ment of artificial intelligence technology,the use of deep learning methods for interpreting remote-sensing images has matured.Existing neural networks disregard the spatial relationship between two targets in remote sensing images.Semantic segmentation models that combine convolutional neural networks(CNNs)and graph convolutional neural networks(GCNs)cause a lack of feature boundaries,which leads to the unsatisfactory segmentation of various target feature boundaries.In this paper,we propose a new semantic segmentation model for remote sensing images(called DGCN hereinafter),which combines deep semantic segmentation networks(DSSN)and GCNs.In the GCN module,a loss function for boundary information is employed to optimize the learning of spatial relationship features between the target features and their relationships.A hierarchical fusion method is utilized for feature fusion and classification to optimize the spatial relationship informa-tion in the original feature information.Extensive experiments on ISPRS 2D and DeepGlobe semantic segmentation datasets show that compared with the existing semantic segmentation models of remote sensing images,the DGCN significantly optimizes the segmentation effect of feature boundaries,effectively reduces the noise in the segmentation results and improves the segmentation accuracy,which demonstrates the advancements of our model.展开更多
The relationships between soil total nitrogen(STN)and influencing factors are scale-dependent.The objective of this study was to identify the multi-scale spatial relationships of STN with selected environmental factor...The relationships between soil total nitrogen(STN)and influencing factors are scale-dependent.The objective of this study was to identify the multi-scale spatial relationships of STN with selected environmental factors(elevation,slope and topographic wetness index),intrinsic soil factors(soil bulk density,sand content,silt content,and clay content)and combined environmental factors(including the first two principal components(PC1 and PC2)of the Vis-NIR soil spectra)along three sampling transects located at the upstream,midstream and downstream of Taiyuan Basin on the Chinese Loess Plateau.We separated the multivariate data series of STN and influencing factors at each transect into six intrinsic mode functions(IMFs)and one residue by multivariate empirical mode decomposition(MEMD).Meanwhile,we obtained the predicted equations of STN based on MEMD by stepwise multiple linear regression(SMLR).The results indicated that the dominant scales of explained variance in STN were at scale 995 m for transect 1,at scales 956 and 8852 m for transect 2,and at scales 972,5716 and 12,317 m for transect 3.Multi-scale correlation coefficients between STN and influencing factors were less significant in transect 3 than in transects 1 and 2.The goodness of fit root mean square error(RMSE),normalized root mean square error(NRMSE),and coefficient of determination(R2)indicated that the prediction of STN at the sampling scale by summing all of the predicted IMFs and residue was more accurate than that by SMLR directly.Therefore,the multi-scale method of MEMD has a good potential in characterizing the multi-scale spatial relationships between STN and influencing factors at the basin landscape scale.展开更多
Spatial object and spatial relationship are two basic concepts of GIS.Spatial object is the digital representation of geographical entity or phenomenon,which forms the basis for data management and analysis;spatial re...Spatial object and spatial relationship are two basic concepts of GIS.Spatial object is the digital representation of geographical entity or phenomenon,which forms the basis for data management and analysis;spatial relationship is theconnexion between spatial objects when geometric properties are considered.Thecommonly used classification of spatial objects as points,lines and areas is mathe-matically strict,and suitable for data management,but a bit too generalized forrepresenting real entities and extracting spatial relationships.A good classificationmodel should not only be good for representing real entities,but also good for re-vealing spatial relationships,therefore good for formalizing spatial analyses.展开更多
A new concept of characteristic scanning radial (CSR) is proposed for thesegmented image on the basis of two shape-specific points of its shape-objects. Subsequently, twocharacteristic attribute sequences (CAS) of rel...A new concept of characteristic scanning radial (CSR) is proposed for thesegmented image on the basis of two shape-specific points of its shape-objects. Subsequently, twocharacteristic attribute sequences (CAS) of relative distance and relative direction are derived torepresent the spatial orientation relationships among objects of the image. A novel image retrievalalgorithm is presented using these two CASs. The proposed retrieval approach not only satisfies thetransformational invariance, butalso attains the quantitative comparison of matching. Experimentsidentify the effectiveness and efficiency of the algorithm adequately.展开更多
Spatial information remains to be an important topic in geographic information system and in remote sensing fields,and spatial relationships have been increasingly incorporated into the image classification processes....Spatial information remains to be an important topic in geographic information system and in remote sensing fields,and spatial relationships have been increasingly incorporated into the image classification processes.Previous studies have employed multiple occurrences of spatial features(shape,texture,etc.,)to improve classification results.However,less attention has been focused on using higher-level spatial relationships for image classification.In this study,two novel spatial relationships,namely,maximum spatial adjacency(MSA)and directional spatial adjacency(DSA),were proposed to assist in image classification.The proposed methods were implemented to extract buildings,beach,and emergent vegetation land-cover classes according to their spatial relationships with their corresponding reference classes.The promising results obtained from this study suggest that the proposed MSA and DSA spatial relationships can be valuable information in defining rule sets for a more reasonable and accurate classification.展开更多
This paper identifies the employment and housing locations of residents in Shanghai based on mobile phone signaling data, so as to obtain the employment density and commuting data and analyze the development of nine s...This paper identifies the employment and housing locations of residents in Shanghai based on mobile phone signaling data, so as to obtain the employment density and commuting data and analyze the development of nine suburban new towns from the perspective of jobs-housing spatial relationship. Firstly, the paper defines employment-intensive areas and gets the average employment density of each new town according to the employment density data. Then it marks out the scope of the employment influence through analyzing the sources of workers in each new town in accordance with the commuting data. Finally, it analyzes the jobs-housing balance of each new town using independence index, finding that suburban new towns in Shanghai have become main clusters of economic activities, while the scope of employment influence in each new town is still concentrated in its administrative area, with less attraction to residents in other areas. The independence index demonstrates a law that the suburban new town which is farther from the central city sees a higher degree of jobs-housing balance. Among them, new towns located in the outer suburbs with a low independence index indicate their special development situation, the reason of which is worth further study.展开更多
Land-use efficiency is low for the urban agglomeration of China. High-speed transportation construction has been an important factor driving land use change. It is critically important to explore the spatial relations...Land-use efficiency is low for the urban agglomeration of China. High-speed transportation construction has been an important factor driving land use change. It is critically important to explore the spatial relationship between the high-speed transportation superiority degree and land-use efficiency. We built a model to evaluate the benefits of convenient high-speed transportation using the relative density of highways and the distance from high-speed rail stations and airports as a metric. We used 42 counties of the Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration as an example. Land-use efficiency was calculated by a DEA model with capital, labor, economic benefits and environmental benefits as input and output factors. We examined the spatial relationships between high-speed transport superiority degree and land-use efficiency and obtained the following results. First, there are significant spatial differences in the relationships between the high-speed transportation superiority degree and land-use efficiency. Taking the two major cities of Jinan and Qingdao as the hubs, the core surrounding counties show significant spatial relationship between land-use efficiency and the high-speed transportation superiority degree. Spatial correlation declines as the distance from the hubs increases. Land-use efficiency is less than high-speed transportation convenience in areas along the transportation trunks that are distant from the hub cities. Correlation is low in areas that are away from both hub cities and transportation trunk routes. Second, high-speed transportation has a positive relationship with land-use efficiency due to the mechanism of element agglomeration exogenous growth. Third, high-speed transportation facilitates the flow of goods, services and technologies between core cities and peripheral cities as space spillover(the hub effect). This alters the spatial pattern of regional land-use efficiency. Finally, the short-board effect caused by decreased high-speed transport construction can be balanced by highway construction and the proper node layouts of high-speed rail stations and airports, resulting in a well-balanced spatial pattern of land-use efficiency.展开更多
The water adsorption by shale significantly affects shale gas content and its seepage capacity.However,the mechanism of water adsorption by shale is still unclear due to its strong heterogeneity and complicated pore s...The water adsorption by shale significantly affects shale gas content and its seepage capacity.However,the mechanism of water adsorption by shale is still unclear due to its strong heterogeneity and complicated pore structure.The relationship between the adsorbed water content at different relative humidities(RHs)and shale compositions,as well as shale pore structure and the spatial configuration relationship between organic matter(OM)and clay minerals,was investigated to clarify the controlling factors and mechanisms of water adsorption by Longmaxi Formation shale from the Southern Sichuan Basin in China.Consequently,the water adsorption process could be generally divided into three different stages from 0%RH to 99%RH.Furthermore,the Johnston’s clay mine ral interlayer pore structure model(JCM),the Freundlich model(FM)and the Dubinin-Astakhov model(DAM)were tested to fit the three water adsorption stages from low RH to high RH,respectively.The fitting results of the JCM and FM at lower RHs were far from good,while the fitting results of DAM at higher RHs were acceptable.Accordingly,two revised models(LRHM and MRHM)considering the spatial configuration relationship between OM and clay minerals were proposed for the two stages with lower RHs,and performed better fitting results indicating the pronounced effect of the spatial configuration relationship between OM and clay minerals on the water adsorption process of Longmaxi Formation shale.The outcomes of this study will contribute to clarifying the water distribution characteristics in the pore network of shale samples with variable water contents.展开更多
At present, gas hydrates are known to occur in continental high latitude permafrost regions and deep sea sediments. For middle latitude permafrost regions of the Tibetan Plateau, further research is required to ascert...At present, gas hydrates are known to occur in continental high latitude permafrost regions and deep sea sediments. For middle latitude permafrost regions of the Tibetan Plateau, further research is required to ascertain its potential development of gas hydrates. This paper reviewed pertinent literature on gas hydrates in the Tibetan Plateau. Both geological and ge- ographical data are synthesized to reveal the relationship between gas hydrate formation and petroleum geological evo- lution, Plateau uplift, formation of permafrost, and glacial processes. Previous studies indicate that numerous residual basins in the Plateau have been formed by original sedimentary basins accompanied by rapid uplift of the Plateau. Ex- tensive marine Mesozoic hydrocarbon source rocks in these basins could provide rich sources of materials forming gas hydrates in permafrost. Primary hydrocarbon-generating period in the Plateau is from late Jurassic to early Cretaceous, while secondary hydrocarbon generation, regionally or locally, occurs mainly in the Paleogene. Before rapid uplift of the Plateau, oil-gas reservoirs were continuously destroyed and assembled to form new reservoirs due to structural and thermal dynamics, forcing hydrocarbon migration. Since 3.4 Ma B.P., the Plateau has undergone strong uplift and extensive gla- ciation, periglacier processes prevailed, hydrocarbon gas again migrated, and free gas beneath ice sheets within sedi- mentary materials interacted with water, generating gas hydrates which were finally preserved under a cap formed by frozen layers through rapid cooling in the Plateau. Taken as a whole, it can be safely concluded that there is great temporal and spatial coupling relationships between evolution of the Tibetan Plateau and generation of gas hydrates.展开更多
How to improve the probability of registration and precision of localization is a hard problem, which is desiderated to solve. The two basic approaches (normalized cross-correlation and phase correlation) for image re...How to improve the probability of registration and precision of localization is a hard problem, which is desiderated to solve. The two basic approaches (normalized cross-correlation and phase correlation) for image registration are analysed, two improved approaches based on spatial-temporal relationship are presented. This method adds the correlation matrix according to the displacements in x- cirection and y- directions, and the registration pose is searched in the added matrix. The method overcomes the shortcoming that the probability of registration decreasing with area increasing owing to geometric distortion, improves the probability and the robustness of registration.展开更多
A distance measure that infers to indicate the evolutionary relationship of protein structures has been developed based on spatial preference factors of residues. The spatial preference factor is a reflection of the e...A distance measure that infers to indicate the evolutionary relationship of protein structures has been developed based on spatial preference factors of residues. The spatial preference factor is a reflection of the environment of residues in tertiary structure. Compared with the phyletic relationships derived from sequence homologies and three-dimensional structures, we find that the two lines of evolution are similar in general. This approach is applied to a group of glins here.展开更多
Many commercial database systems maintain histograms to summarize the contents of relations and permit the efficient estimation of query result sizes and the access plan cost. In spatial database systems, most spatial...Many commercial database systems maintain histograms to summarize the contents of relations and permit the efficient estimation of query result sizes and the access plan cost. In spatial database systems, most spatial query predicates are consisted of topological relationships between spatial objects, and it is very important to estimate the selectivity of those predicates for spatial query optimizer. In this paper, we propose a selectivity estimation scheme for spatial topological predicates based on the multi dimensional histogram and the transformation scheme. Proposed scheme applies two partition strategy on transformed object space to generate spatial histogram and estimates the selectivity of topological predicates based on the topological characteristics of the transformed space. Proposed scheme provides a way for estimating the selectivity without too much memory space usage and additional I/Os in most spatial query optimizers.展开更多
基金funded by the Major Scientific and Technological Innovation Project of Shandong Province,Grant No.2022CXGC010609.
文摘Semantic segmentation of remote sensing images is one of the core tasks of remote sensing image interpretation.With the continuous develop-ment of artificial intelligence technology,the use of deep learning methods for interpreting remote-sensing images has matured.Existing neural networks disregard the spatial relationship between two targets in remote sensing images.Semantic segmentation models that combine convolutional neural networks(CNNs)and graph convolutional neural networks(GCNs)cause a lack of feature boundaries,which leads to the unsatisfactory segmentation of various target feature boundaries.In this paper,we propose a new semantic segmentation model for remote sensing images(called DGCN hereinafter),which combines deep semantic segmentation networks(DSSN)and GCNs.In the GCN module,a loss function for boundary information is employed to optimize the learning of spatial relationship features between the target features and their relationships.A hierarchical fusion method is utilized for feature fusion and classification to optimize the spatial relationship informa-tion in the original feature information.Extensive experiments on ISPRS 2D and DeepGlobe semantic segmentation datasets show that compared with the existing semantic segmentation models of remote sensing images,the DGCN significantly optimizes the segmentation effect of feature boundaries,effectively reduces the noise in the segmentation results and improves the segmentation accuracy,which demonstrates the advancements of our model.
基金financially supported by the Research Project of Shanxi Scholarship Council of China (2017– 075)the Natural Science foundation for Young Scientists of Shanxi Province (201801D221103)the Innovation Grant of Shanxi Agricultural University (2017ZZ07)
文摘The relationships between soil total nitrogen(STN)and influencing factors are scale-dependent.The objective of this study was to identify the multi-scale spatial relationships of STN with selected environmental factors(elevation,slope and topographic wetness index),intrinsic soil factors(soil bulk density,sand content,silt content,and clay content)and combined environmental factors(including the first two principal components(PC1 and PC2)of the Vis-NIR soil spectra)along three sampling transects located at the upstream,midstream and downstream of Taiyuan Basin on the Chinese Loess Plateau.We separated the multivariate data series of STN and influencing factors at each transect into six intrinsic mode functions(IMFs)and one residue by multivariate empirical mode decomposition(MEMD).Meanwhile,we obtained the predicted equations of STN based on MEMD by stepwise multiple linear regression(SMLR).The results indicated that the dominant scales of explained variance in STN were at scale 995 m for transect 1,at scales 956 and 8852 m for transect 2,and at scales 972,5716 and 12,317 m for transect 3.Multi-scale correlation coefficients between STN and influencing factors were less significant in transect 3 than in transects 1 and 2.The goodness of fit root mean square error(RMSE),normalized root mean square error(NRMSE),and coefficient of determination(R2)indicated that the prediction of STN at the sampling scale by summing all of the predicted IMFs and residue was more accurate than that by SMLR directly.Therefore,the multi-scale method of MEMD has a good potential in characterizing the multi-scale spatial relationships between STN and influencing factors at the basin landscape scale.
文摘Spatial object and spatial relationship are two basic concepts of GIS.Spatial object is the digital representation of geographical entity or phenomenon,which forms the basis for data management and analysis;spatial relationship is theconnexion between spatial objects when geometric properties are considered.Thecommonly used classification of spatial objects as points,lines and areas is mathe-matically strict,and suitable for data management,but a bit too generalized forrepresenting real entities and extracting spatial relationships.A good classificationmodel should not only be good for representing real entities,but also good for re-vealing spatial relationships,therefore good for formalizing spatial analyses.
文摘A new concept of characteristic scanning radial (CSR) is proposed for thesegmented image on the basis of two shape-specific points of its shape-objects. Subsequently, twocharacteristic attribute sequences (CAS) of relative distance and relative direction are derived torepresent the spatial orientation relationships among objects of the image. A novel image retrievalalgorithm is presented using these two CASs. The proposed retrieval approach not only satisfies thetransformational invariance, butalso attains the quantitative comparison of matching. Experimentsidentify the effectiveness and efficiency of the algorithm adequately.
基金This research is partially supported by a NSERC Discovery Grant awarded to Dr.Jinfei Wang,University of Western Ontario.
文摘Spatial information remains to be an important topic in geographic information system and in remote sensing fields,and spatial relationships have been increasingly incorporated into the image classification processes.Previous studies have employed multiple occurrences of spatial features(shape,texture,etc.,)to improve classification results.However,less attention has been focused on using higher-level spatial relationships for image classification.In this study,two novel spatial relationships,namely,maximum spatial adjacency(MSA)and directional spatial adjacency(DSA),were proposed to assist in image classification.The proposed methods were implemented to extract buildings,beach,and emergent vegetation land-cover classes according to their spatial relationships with their corresponding reference classes.The promising results obtained from this study suggest that the proposed MSA and DSA spatial relationships can be valuable information in defining rule sets for a more reasonable and accurate classification.
文摘This paper identifies the employment and housing locations of residents in Shanghai based on mobile phone signaling data, so as to obtain the employment density and commuting data and analyze the development of nine suburban new towns from the perspective of jobs-housing spatial relationship. Firstly, the paper defines employment-intensive areas and gets the average employment density of each new town according to the employment density data. Then it marks out the scope of the employment influence through analyzing the sources of workers in each new town in accordance with the commuting data. Finally, it analyzes the jobs-housing balance of each new town using independence index, finding that suburban new towns in Shanghai have become main clusters of economic activities, while the scope of employment influence in each new town is still concentrated in its administrative area, with less attraction to residents in other areas. The independence index demonstrates a law that the suburban new town which is farther from the central city sees a higher degree of jobs-housing balance. Among them, new towns located in the outer suburbs with a low independence index indicate their special development situation, the reason of which is worth further study.
基金Major Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.41590840,No.41590842.
文摘Land-use efficiency is low for the urban agglomeration of China. High-speed transportation construction has been an important factor driving land use change. It is critically important to explore the spatial relationship between the high-speed transportation superiority degree and land-use efficiency. We built a model to evaluate the benefits of convenient high-speed transportation using the relative density of highways and the distance from high-speed rail stations and airports as a metric. We used 42 counties of the Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration as an example. Land-use efficiency was calculated by a DEA model with capital, labor, economic benefits and environmental benefits as input and output factors. We examined the spatial relationships between high-speed transport superiority degree and land-use efficiency and obtained the following results. First, there are significant spatial differences in the relationships between the high-speed transportation superiority degree and land-use efficiency. Taking the two major cities of Jinan and Qingdao as the hubs, the core surrounding counties show significant spatial relationship between land-use efficiency and the high-speed transportation superiority degree. Spatial correlation declines as the distance from the hubs increases. Land-use efficiency is less than high-speed transportation convenience in areas along the transportation trunks that are distant from the hub cities. Correlation is low in areas that are away from both hub cities and transportation trunk routes. Second, high-speed transportation has a positive relationship with land-use efficiency due to the mechanism of element agglomeration exogenous growth. Third, high-speed transportation facilitates the flow of goods, services and technologies between core cities and peripheral cities as space spillover(the hub effect). This alters the spatial pattern of regional land-use efficiency. Finally, the short-board effect caused by decreased high-speed transport construction can be balanced by highway construction and the proper node layouts of high-speed rail stations and airports, resulting in a well-balanced spatial pattern of land-use efficiency.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41972145)National Science and Technology Major Project of China(No.2017ZX05035—002)+1 种基金the Foundation(No.PRP/indep-2-1904,PRP/indep-3-1707 and No.PRP/indep-3-1615)of State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting from China University of Petroleum in Beijingfundamental Research Funds for China University of Geosciences under Award Number 35832019035。
文摘The water adsorption by shale significantly affects shale gas content and its seepage capacity.However,the mechanism of water adsorption by shale is still unclear due to its strong heterogeneity and complicated pore structure.The relationship between the adsorbed water content at different relative humidities(RHs)and shale compositions,as well as shale pore structure and the spatial configuration relationship between organic matter(OM)and clay minerals,was investigated to clarify the controlling factors and mechanisms of water adsorption by Longmaxi Formation shale from the Southern Sichuan Basin in China.Consequently,the water adsorption process could be generally divided into three different stages from 0%RH to 99%RH.Furthermore,the Johnston’s clay mine ral interlayer pore structure model(JCM),the Freundlich model(FM)and the Dubinin-Astakhov model(DAM)were tested to fit the three water adsorption stages from low RH to high RH,respectively.The fitting results of the JCM and FM at lower RHs were far from good,while the fitting results of DAM at higher RHs were acceptable.Accordingly,two revised models(LRHM and MRHM)considering the spatial configuration relationship between OM and clay minerals were proposed for the two stages with lower RHs,and performed better fitting results indicating the pronounced effect of the spatial configuration relationship between OM and clay minerals on the water adsorption process of Longmaxi Formation shale.The outcomes of this study will contribute to clarifying the water distribution characteristics in the pore network of shale samples with variable water contents.
基金supported by Re-search Project No.200420140001 of China Geological Survey
文摘At present, gas hydrates are known to occur in continental high latitude permafrost regions and deep sea sediments. For middle latitude permafrost regions of the Tibetan Plateau, further research is required to ascertain its potential development of gas hydrates. This paper reviewed pertinent literature on gas hydrates in the Tibetan Plateau. Both geological and ge- ographical data are synthesized to reveal the relationship between gas hydrate formation and petroleum geological evo- lution, Plateau uplift, formation of permafrost, and glacial processes. Previous studies indicate that numerous residual basins in the Plateau have been formed by original sedimentary basins accompanied by rapid uplift of the Plateau. Ex- tensive marine Mesozoic hydrocarbon source rocks in these basins could provide rich sources of materials forming gas hydrates in permafrost. Primary hydrocarbon-generating period in the Plateau is from late Jurassic to early Cretaceous, while secondary hydrocarbon generation, regionally or locally, occurs mainly in the Paleogene. Before rapid uplift of the Plateau, oil-gas reservoirs were continuously destroyed and assembled to form new reservoirs due to structural and thermal dynamics, forcing hydrocarbon migration. Since 3.4 Ma B.P., the Plateau has undergone strong uplift and extensive gla- ciation, periglacier processes prevailed, hydrocarbon gas again migrated, and free gas beneath ice sheets within sedi- mentary materials interacted with water, generating gas hydrates which were finally preserved under a cap formed by frozen layers through rapid cooling in the Plateau. Taken as a whole, it can be safely concluded that there is great temporal and spatial coupling relationships between evolution of the Tibetan Plateau and generation of gas hydrates.
文摘How to improve the probability of registration and precision of localization is a hard problem, which is desiderated to solve. The two basic approaches (normalized cross-correlation and phase correlation) for image registration are analysed, two improved approaches based on spatial-temporal relationship are presented. This method adds the correlation matrix according to the displacements in x- cirection and y- directions, and the registration pose is searched in the added matrix. The method overcomes the shortcoming that the probability of registration decreasing with area increasing owing to geometric distortion, improves the probability and the robustness of registration.
文摘A distance measure that infers to indicate the evolutionary relationship of protein structures has been developed based on spatial preference factors of residues. The spatial preference factor is a reflection of the environment of residues in tertiary structure. Compared with the phyletic relationships derived from sequence homologies and three-dimensional structures, we find that the two lines of evolution are similar in general. This approach is applied to a group of glins here.
基金This work is supported by University IT Research Center Project in Korea
文摘Many commercial database systems maintain histograms to summarize the contents of relations and permit the efficient estimation of query result sizes and the access plan cost. In spatial database systems, most spatial query predicates are consisted of topological relationships between spatial objects, and it is very important to estimate the selectivity of those predicates for spatial query optimizer. In this paper, we propose a selectivity estimation scheme for spatial topological predicates based on the multi dimensional histogram and the transformation scheme. Proposed scheme applies two partition strategy on transformed object space to generate spatial histogram and estimates the selectivity of topological predicates based on the topological characteristics of the transformed space. Proposed scheme provides a way for estimating the selectivity without too much memory space usage and additional I/Os in most spatial query optimizers.