A Geopolitical and Geovisualization Challenge: Increasing the Awareness of Global Environmental Change through Postage Stamp Issues

Global environmental change is one of the major distinguishing features associated with the contemporary world political map. It is significant not only because it illustrates the intersections between geopolitics and environmental change, but also because identifying the major environmental features and solving existing and future problems are primarily political in nature. Key features of global environmental change include global warming impacts on the poleward shifts in biodiversity and agricultural patterns, rising sea levels and human adjustments, changing coastal habitats, and promoting increased environmental awareness especially in urban clusters, where most people live. In the contemporary geopolitical and environmental world, visualization is a key feature not only used to inform both planetary inhabitants, environmental organizations and governments, but also serves as an effective policy, that is, to “show” or demonstrate effective changes and the need for action. States are key institutions in this thinking as they can both inform and address the impacts of global environmental change through various images: maps, earth-based photographs, satellite coverage, websites and educational venues including curriculum content and stamps. Visual geopolitics is already recognized as being an important source influencing public opinion, as evidenced in the attractive visible layouts, graphics, colors, often “seductive” designing of official websites. Postage stamps is an additional important and “informing” visible way that states inform both insiders and outsiders about how they “see” their place in the world. They also provide a view into how a state sees its “own” place in the world of environmental change and how it sees “the world beyond its own borders”. I introduce the concept of “visual geopolitics” and use recent postage stamp issues about global environmental change from a number of countries to illustrate how they are informing views of their own and the world about pressing environmental issues.

Geovisualization: A Newer GIS Technology for Implementation Research in Health

Use of GIS in public health is currently limited to tracking immunizations, disease surveillance, and establishing new service areas. The potential of GIS to improve planning, implementation and monitoring of programs and to inform policymaking processes for universal access to healthcare is grossly underutilized. Major reasons for restricted use are paid access to GIS software and difficult interpretation for non-GIS professionals. WebGIS technologies present an opportunity for non-GIS public health professionals to present complex data and findings in simpler manner. Conventional GIS methods and Geovisualization are compared and contrasted in this paper using data from the MATIND project in the Gujarat state of India. In-depth literature review on GIS techniques used in health implementation research was conducted. In this paper, MATIND data have been used for comparing conventional GIS methods with a newer web based GIS tool-Geovisualization. GIS software is more useful for analytical purposes;whereas web based geovisualization techniques are much better for visualization and easy interpretation of results by non GIS public health researchers. As the images are easy to interpret, interactive/dynamic and not much technical expertise is required to perform basic analysis, the tool is useful for policy makers and planners. Geovisualization provides a user-friendly tool for presenting large scale community based survey data. Increased use of this tool will help to present implementation research in a creative way to the program planners and policy makers. For program managers, it is a useful tool to monitor implementation and impact of a program to improve health of population.

Geovisualization with immersive virtual environments in theory and practice

Virtual reality(VR)is a frequently emphasized issue on the Digital Earth(DE)agenda.While current DE research is more engaged in the technical aspects of VR applications,this paper focuses on what is possible with immersive virtual environments(IVE)from the user’s perspective.After a brief discussion of spatial presence and embodiment in the context of IVE,both concepts will be merged into a geovisualization immersion pipeline(GIP)as a framework with which to systematically link technical and cognitive aspects of IVE.We will then analyze the general criteria that must be met by IVE in order to facilitate the experience of spatial presence.Adapting these criteria to the special requirements of geospatial data,a definition of geovisualization immersive virtual environments(GeoIVE)is formulated.Finally,the theoretical considerations of this paper are set into practice,using a GeoIVE of a coral reef ecosystem as an example.As we shall see,while GIS do not provide data models or data compatibility for direct visualization of GeoIVE on VR output devices,game engines can serve as middleware to fill this gap.

How to derive a geovisualization from an application data model: an approach based on Semantic Web technologies

While ontological modelling and Semantic Web technologies are sometimes used to describe knowledge domains with a spatial component,there is still a lack of semantics to describe how to present this knowledge geovisually to the end user and how to automatize the process.In this paper,we first present vocabularies to describe at a high level the elements that make up a geovisualization.We then propose a method that describes at a semantic level how to obtain a geovisualization from an existing data model.This method is based on our vocabularies and on a set of semantic rules encoding rich and complex operations on data.This leads to the derivation of ontological knowledge,ready to be exploited to automate the creation of a geovisualization.The method is implemented in a framework that uses Semantic Web technologies.The singularity and the strength of our proposal is that it enables to describe a geovisualization through a RDF specification file,which once loaded in our system makes the geovisualization directly available for use from a Web browser.This result is obtained by extending a priori an application data model with ad hoc geovisualization semantics features and rules.

Identification of altitude profiles in 3D geovisualizations:the role of interaction and spatial abilities

Three-dimensional geovisualizations are currently pushed both by technological development and by the demands of experts in various applied areas.In the presented empirical study,we compared the features of real 3D(stereoscopic)versus pseudo 3D(monoscopic)geovisualizations in static and interactive digital elevation models.We tested 39 high-school students in their ability to identify the correct terrain profile from digital elevation models.Students’performance was recorded and further analysed with respect to their spatial abilities,which were measured by a psychological mental rotation test and think aloud protocol.The results of the study indicated that the influence of the type of 3D visualization(monoscopic/stereoscopic)on the performance of the users is not clear,the level of navigational interactivity has significant influence on the usability of a particular 3D visualization,and finally no influences of the spatial abilities on the performance of the user within the 3D environment were identified.

Flood Forecasting GIS Water-Flow Visualization Enhancement (WaVE): A Case Study

Riverine flood event situation awareness and emergency management decision support systems require accurate and scalable geoanalytic data at the local level. This paper introduces the Water-flow Visualization Enhancement (WaVE), a new framework and toolset that integrates enhanced geospatial analytics visualization (common operating picture) and decision support modular tools. WaVE enables users to: 1) dynamically generate on-the-fly, highly granular and interactive geovisual real-time and predictive flood maps that can be scaled down to show discharge, inundation, water velocity, and ancillary geomorphology and hydrology data from the national level to regional and local level;2) integrate data and model analysis results from multiple sources;3) utilize machine learning correlation indexing to interpolate streamflow proxy estimates for non-functioning streamgages and extrapolate discharge estimates for ungaged streams;and 4) have time-scaled drill-down visualization of real-time and forecasted flood events. Four case studies were conducted to test and validate WaVE under diverse conditions at national, regional and local levels. Results from these case studies highlight some of WaVE’s inherent strengths, limitations, and the need for further development. WaVE has the potential for being utilized on a wider basis at the local level as data become available and models are validated for converting satellite images and data records from remote sensing technologies into accurate streamflow estimates and higher resolution digital elevation models.

An efficient flood dynamic visualization approach based on 3D printing and augmented reality

Flood visualization is an effective and intuitive tool for representing flood information from abstract spatiotemporal data.With the growing demand for flood disaster visualizations and mitigation,augmented flood visualizations that support decision makers’perspectives are needed,which can be enhanced by emerging augmented reality(AR)and 3D printing technologies.This paper proposes an innovative flood AR visualization method based on a 3D-printed terrain model and investigates essential techniques,such as the suitable size calculation of the terrain models,the adaptive processing of flood data,and hybridizing virtual flood and terrain models.A prototype experimental system(PES)based on the proposed method and a comparison experimental system(CES)based on a virtual terrain are developed to conduct comparative experiments,which combine the system performance and questionnaire method to evaluate the efficiency and usability of the proposed method.The statistical results indicate that the method is useful for assisting participants in understanding the flood hazard and providing a more intuitive and realistic visual experience compared with that of the traditional AR flood visualization method.The frame rate is stable at 60 frames per second(FPS),which means that the proposed method is more efficient than the traditional AR flood visualization method.

Mixed reality emergency management:bringing virtual evacuation simulations into real-world built environments

Computer-based evacuation simulations are important tools for emergency managers.These simulations vary in complexity and include 2D and 3D GIS-based network analyses,agent-based models,and sophisticated models built on documented human behaviour and particle dynamics.Despite the influential role of built environments in determining human movement,a disconnect often exists between the features of the real world and the way they are represented within these simulation environments.The proliferation of emergency management location-aware mobile devices,along with a recent infatuation for augmented reality(AR),has resulted in new wayfinding and hazard assessment tools that bridge this gap,allowing users to visualize geospatial information superimposed on the real world.In this paper,we report research and development that has produced AR geovisual analytical systems,enabling visual analysis of human dynamics in multilevel built environments with complex thoroughfare network infrastructure.We demonstrate prototypes that show how mixed reality visual analysis of intelligent human movement simulations built in virtual spaces can become part of real space.This research introduces a fundamentally new way to view and link simulations of people with the real-world context of the built environment:mixed reality crowd simulation in real space.

The contribution of maps to the challenges of risk communication to the public

Risk communication is a significant challenge in risk management.It serves different purposes;an important one is to improve the public risk awareness and mitigation.Because of the strong spatio-temporal component of natural hazards,maps can play a decisive role in communicating risk information.The application and design of maps for risk communication especially to the public has not been investigated comprehensively.Specific constraints and challenges of risk communication have not been considered systematically in the map design process so far.This study aims at developing a frame for the application and design of interactive risk and hazard maps for the public which is based on the specific constraints and challenges of risk communication.In a literature review it introduces concepts and methods from social sciences and psychology,which have been assessed as important for communicating risk information.The concepts and methods are adapted to map-mediated risk communication according to the approaches of Activity Theory.Communication objectives and tasks which are essential to improve risk mitigation are identified and geovisualization methods for information presentation are related according to the degree which they are able to serve them.Based on this,some principles for map-based risk communication are established.

The global climate monitor system:from climate data-handling to knowledge dissemination

This paper summarizes our work on building a data model and a geovisualization tool that provides access to global climate data:the Global Climate Monitor Web Viewer.Linked to this viewer,a complete set of climate-environmental indicators capable of displaying climate patterns on a global scale that is accessible to any potential user(scientists and laypeople)will be built and published using the same online application.The data currently available correspond to the CRU TS3.21 version of the Climate Research Unit(University of East Anglia)database–a product that provides data at a spatial resolution of half of a degree in latitude and longitude,spanning January 1901 to December 2012,on a monthly basis.Since January 2013,the datasets feeding the system have been the GHCN-CAMS temperature dataset and the Global Precipitation Climatology Centre(GPCC)First Guess precipitation dataset.Climatologists,hydrologists,planners and non-experts users such as media workers,policymakers,non-profit organizations,teachers or students,can access useful climatological information through the Global Climate Monitor system.

Quantitative data graphics in 3D desktop-based virtual environments-an evaluation

3D desktop-based virtual environments provide a means for displaying quantitative data in context.Data that are inherently spatial in three dimensions may benefit from visual exploration and analysis in relation to the environment in which they were collected and to which they relate.We empirically evaluate how effectively and efficiently such data can be visually analyzed in relation to location and landform in 3D versus 2D visualizations.In two experiments,participants performed visual analysis tasks in 2D and 3D visualizations and reported insights and their confidence in them.The results showed only small differences between the 2D and 3D visualizations in the performance measures that we evaluated:task completion time,confidence,complexity,and insight plausibility.However,we found differences for different datasets and settings suggesting that 3D visualizations or 2D representations,respectively,may be more or less useful for particular datasets and contexts.

An IEEE value loop of human-technology collaboration in geospatial information science

Geosensing and social sensing as two digitalization mainstreams in big data era are increasingly converging toward an integrated system for the creation of semantically enriched digital Earth.Along with the rapid developments of AI technologies,this convergence has inevitably brought about a number of transformations.On the one hand,value-adding chains from raw data to products and services are becoming value-adding loops composed of four successive stages–Informing,Enabling,Engaging and Empowering(IEEE).Each stage is a dynamic loop for itself.On the other hand,the“human versus technology”relationship is upgraded toward a game-changing“human and technology”collaboration.The information loop is essentially shaped by the omnipresent reciprocity between humans and technologies as equal partners,co-learners and co-creators of new values.The paper gives an analytical review on the mutually changing roles and responsibilities of humans and technologies in the individual stages of the IEEE loop,with the aim to promote a holistic understanding of the state of the art of geospatial information science.Meanwhile,the author elicits a number of challenges facing the interwoven human-technology collaboration.The transformation to a growth mind-set may take time to realize and consolidate.Research works on large-scale semantic data integration are just in the beginning.User experiences of geovisual analytic approaches are far from being systematically studied.Finally,the ethical concerns for the handling of semantically enriched digital Earth cover not only the sensitive issues related to privacy violation,copyright infringement,abuse,etc.but also the questions of how to make technologies as controllable and understandable as possible for humans and how to keep the technological ethos within its constructive sphere of societal influence.

Application of geovisual analytics to modelling the movements of ruminants in the rural landscape using satellite tracking data

Geovisual analytics provides a framework for the development of decision support tools for landscape design,analysis and optimisation.An important application is modelling the spatial-temporal movements of ruminants and their grazing behaviour using global positioning system(GPS)collar units.This study describes the mapping and analysis of spatial distributions of animal waste products(which correlate with farm nitrogen[N]emissions)and also determination of animal feeding preferences(which correlate with animal welfare and production).Segmentation of local regions of animal N emissions provides support in meeting targets for local and international N leaching and greenhouse gas emissions.An agent-based model was used for prescreening in order to gain insights into the clustering behaviour of sheep during feeding activities.Subsequent spatial analysis demonstrated that livestock excreta are not always randomly located,but concentrated around highly localised animal gathering points,separated by the nature of the excretion.In a separate study,the statistical significance of feeding choices was determined by testing a null hypothesis on animal boundary transitions between adjacent pastures using the binomial approximation.The analysis also included compensation for the precision of the GPS sensor,which produced a fuzzy decision boundary.

Interpreting map usage patterns using geovisual analytics and spatiotemporal clustering

Extracting meaningful information from the growing quantity of spatial data is a challenge.The issues are particularly evident with spatio-temporal data describing movement.Such data typically corresponds to movement of humans,animals and machines in the physical environment.This article considers a special form of movement data generated through human–computer interactions with online web maps.As a user interacts with a web map using a mouse as a pointing tool,invisible trajectories are generated.By examining the spatial features on the map where the mouse cursor visits,a user’s interests and experience can be detected.To analyse this valuable information,we have developed a geovisual analysis tool which provides a rich insight into such user behaviour.The focus of this paper is on a clustering technique which we apply to mouse trajectories to group trajectories with similar behavioural properties.Our experiments reveal that it is possible to identify experienced and novice users of web mapping environments using an incremental clustering approach.The results can be used to provide personalised map interfaces to users and provide appropriate interventions for completing spatial tasks.

Geo-Coordinated Parallel Coordinates (GCPC): Field trial studies of environmental data analysis

The large number of environmental problems faced by society in recent years has driven researchers to collect and study massive amounts of data in order to understand the complex relations that exist between people and the environment in which we live.Such datasets are often high dimensional and heterogeneous in nature,with complex geospatial relations.Analysing such data can be challenging,especially when there is a need to maintain spatial awareness as the non-spatial attributes are studied.Geo-Coordinated Parallel Coordinates(GCPC)is a geovisual analytics approach designed to support exploration and analysis within complex geospatial environmental data.Parallel coordinates are tightly coupled with a geospatial representation and an investigative scatterplot,all of which can be used to show,reorganize,filter,and highlight the high dimensional,heterogeneous,and geospatial aspects of the data.Two sets of field trials were conducted with expert data analysts to validate the real-world benefits of the approach for studying environmental data.The results of these evaluations were positive,providing real-world evidence and new insights regarding the value of using GCPC to explore among environmental datasets when there is a need to remain aware of the geospatial aspects of the data as the non-spatial elements are studied.