Identification of landing sites for rescue helicopters in mountains with use of Geographic Information Systems

Helicopters are often used in mountain rescue both for rescuers moving in the area of accidents and for evacuating victims, but in steep or forested terrain finding a landing place can be problematic. The main aim of this research is to use Digital Elevation Model(DEM) and cartographic database analysis to select locations that can be used as landing site for the rescue helicopters. Methods were based on GIS analysis;both raster and vector data were used for identifying touchdown points for rescue helicopters. Based on DEM data, locations with a low slope gradient were identified;topographic vector data were used for identifying unforested sites. Then buffer zones for buildings and power lines were excluded, and it was checked whether the areas had any topographic features that prevented helicopter landings. The findings were verified on an orthophotomap. In result, GIS analyses have selected 1232 polygons that fulfilled initial criteria. Their verification on orthophotomap has shown that only 55% of them could be potentially used as landing site. Landing sites can be found mainly on side ridges of mountain ranges and in valley beds, when those on ridges are most important in this research. The greatest difficulties and methodological challenges are posed by: identification of sites having a shape which prevents landing, the obsolescence of data due to environment dynamics, the presence of features that are not shown on maps but prevent helicopter landings. A map of landing sites is a very useful tool to conduct rescue operations, but each use of a given landing site requires both in-field and numerical verification. The analysis demonstrated that GIS toolsare useful in pre-planning of rescue missions, and also showed that such data must be kept up-to-date and in-field verification is needed continuously, the more so as it plays an important role in ensuring the safety of rescuers and victims.

Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Targeted National Recruitment of Community-Dwelling Caregivers Managing Dementia-Related Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms: A Recruitment Approach for a Randomized Clinical Trial

Over 16 million caregivers of people living with dementia require support in a range of issues, including self-care, disease education, and guidance for how to manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Non-pharmacological interventions are needed to address these areas, and online applications have been shown to be safe and effective. To ensure the efficacy of such interventions, racially, ethnically, geographically, and socioeconomically diverse participants must be recruited to increase the generalizability of study outcomes. This protocol paper describes a recruitment plan using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to reach a representative sample of caregivers across the United States for a national Phase III clinical study. Using publicly available census data from the American Community Survey (ACS), combined with location data for local aging resources such as Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), recruitment will be derived from data analysis conducted in ESRI ArcGIS v10.7.1. Datasets including age, gender, income, and education will be assessed nationally at the county and census tract spatial scale in a nine-step process to develop recruitment priority areas containing high concentrations of eligible participants living in the community. Overall, the current protocol will demonstrate the value of GIS in tailoring targeted outreach strategies to recruit community-dwelling populations through local resource institutions. This novel approach may have far-reaching implications in future recruitment initiatives and help to secure racially/ethnically diverse samples.

Combining Geographic Information Systems for Transportation and Mixed Integer Linear Programming in Facility Location-Allocation Problems

In this study, we aimed to assess the solution quality for location-allocation problems from facilities generated by the software TransCAD®?, a Geographic Information System for Transportation (GIS-T). Such facilities were obtained after using two routines together: Facility Location and Transportation Problem, when compared with optimal solutions from exact mathematical models, based on Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP), developed externally for the GIS. The models were applied to three simulations: the first one proposes opening factories and customer allocation in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil;the second involves a wholesaler and a study of location and allocation of distribution centres for retail customers;and the third one involves the location of day-care centers and allocation of demand (0 - 3 years old children). The results showed that when considering facility capacity, the MILP optimising model presents results up to 37% better than the GIS and proposes different locations to open new facilities.

Exploring spatial relationships between stream channel features,water depths and flow velocities during flash floods using HEC-GeoRAS and Geographic Information Systems

Water depths and flow velocities decisively influence the damage caused by flash floods.Geographic Information System(GIS)is a powerful and useful tool,allowing the spatial analysis of results obtained by hydraulic modelling,namely from the HEC-RAS/HEC-GeoRAS software.The GIS spatial analysis performed in this study seeks to explain and quantify the spatial relationships between the stream channel features and flow components during flash flood events.Despite these relationships are generically known,there are few studies exploring this subject in different geographic contexts.A 1D hydraulic model was applied in a small watershed in Portugal,providing good results in the definition of floodable areas,water depths and longitudinal velocities.No direct relationship was found between water depths and velocities in the floodable areas;however,negative strong correlations were found between the two flow components along the stream centerlines.Bed slope,channel and flood width,and roughness prove to be highly relevant on the longitudinal variations of water depths and velocities and on the location of maximum values.Increasing peak discharges and return periods(R;)can change the relationships between water depths and velocities at the same location.Results can be improved with more accurate elevation data for stream channels and floodplains.

Application of Geographic Information Systems to Analyses and Modeling of Hydrocarbons Anomaly in Yakla,North Tarim Basin,Xinjiang,China

Yakla area is a very important and typical region in North Tarim, because it is the region that leads to a breakthrough in North Tarim oil/gas exploring. Therefore, a lot of exploration work has been already carried out in the area aiming at assessing the hydrocarbon anomaly and some techniques for anomaly delineation are being suggested. Yakla covers about 312 km 2 and lies 20 km south to Luntai Kuche road and displays as a long rectangular, with the length of 24 km in ENE and the width of 13 km in WSW. The surface is desert covered with saline akali, sand ribbon and sand dune. Samples collected from Yakla were analyzed for their hydrocarbon mass fractions and the spatial distribution of the concentrations of selected hydrocarbons C 1, C 2, C 3, i C 4, n C 4, i C 5, n C 5 and UF365 were estimated from these data sets. Multivariate statistical techniques including Kriging, moving average, factor analyses, cluster analyses and furrier filtering are used. The statistical techniques, spatial data analysis and transformation capabilities of geographic information systems, combined with geophysical and geological data, helped the authors to identify the hydrocarbon anomaly in Yakla.

Malaria Control Mechanisms for Effective Healthcare Delivery in Ghana: The Use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

Malaria is a major health problem facing many tropical countries, including Ghana. The use of modern mechanisms to study environmental factors in malaria occurrence is imperative in malaria control efforts. The aim of this research is to investigate how malaria occurrence is influenced by environmental factors and how Geographical Information Systems (GIS) can be used as a mechanism for improving malaria control in healthcare delivery in Ghana. Environmental factors, elevation, daily temperature and daily rainfall were plotted against prevalence of M and S forms of mosquitoes using ArcGIS 10.1. Prevalence of Anopheles gambiae M was the highest at elevations of 0 m to 200 m and that of S was the highest at elevations between 200 m and 500 m. Prevalence of M was the highest at temperatures between 26.1&degC - 27.6&degC whilst that of S was the highest at temperatures of between 24.5&degC and 26.0&degC. Prevalence of M was the highest at rainfall between 10 mm and 35 mm and S was the highest at rainfall between 26 mm and 36 mm and beyond. M form was positively correlated with temperature and negatively with elevation and humidity. The S form was negatively associated with temperature and positively with elevation and rainfall. GIS models can combine with environmental data to estimate vector prevalence under environmental conditions and therefore its use is recommended in Ghana.

Water Runoff Estimation Using Geographical Information System (GIS) for Alrakhmah Basin Valley Northeast of Iraq

The lack of water resources in many regions is the main challenge for the human being and to extended investigations. Water resources controlling and management is essential in the areas depending on the seasonal rainfall. This research aims to estimate the surface water runoff for Basin of Alrakhmah Valley located in the southwestern part of Kirkuk Province in northeastern of Iraq. Analyzing of Spatial data and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data has been conducted using Geographic Information System (GIS) to estimate the hydrological properties for the watershed valley with 158.5 km2 surface area. The results showed that watershed valley type is from the fifth rank with a longitudinal shape and topography percentage of 0.568. The watershed textures found to be 3.24 and the drain density 1.5 at 3.49 river branching. Finally, the annual estimated surface water retreat according to the morpho-hydro climatic elements found to be 0.01286233 milliard cubic meter.

Changes in snow cover extent in the Central Taurus Mountains from 1981 to 2021 in relation to temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric teleconnections

The snow cover over the Taurus Mountains affects water supply, agriculture, and hydropower generation in the region. In this study, we analyzed the monthly Snow Cover Extent(SCE) from November to April in the Central Taurus Mountains(Bolkar, Aladaglar, Tahtali and Binboga Mountains) from 1981 to 2021. Linear trends of snow cover season(November to April) over the last 41 years showed decreases in SCE primarily at lower elevations. The downward trend in SCE was found to be more pronounced and statistically significant for only November and March. SCE in the Central Taurus Mountains has declined about-6.3% per decade for 2500-3000 m in November and about-6.0% per decade for 1000-1500 m and 3000+ m in March over the last 41 years. The loss of SCE has become evident since the 2000s, and the lowest negative anomalies in SCE have been observed in 2014, 2001, and 2007 in the last 41 years, which are consistent with an increase in air temperature and decreased precipitation. SCE was correlated with both mean temperature and precipitation, with temperature having a greater relative importance at all elevated gradients. Results showed that there is a strong linear relationship between SCE and the mean air temperature(r =-0.80) and precipitation(r = 0.44) for all elevated gradients during the snow season. The Arctic Oscillation(AO), the North Atlantic Oscillation(NAO), and the Mediterranean Oscillation(MO) winter indices were used to explain the year-to-year variability in SCE over the Central Taurus Mountains. The results showed that the inter-annual variability observed in the winter SCE on the Central Taurus Mountains was positively correlated with the phases of the winter AO, NAO and MO, especially below 2000 m elevation.

GIS Application in Urban Flood Risk Analysis: Midar as a Case Study

The significance of this study lies in its exploration of the advanced applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in assessing urban flood risks, with a specific focus on Midar, Morocco. This research is pivotal as it showcases that GIS technology is not just a tool for mapping, but a critical component in urban planning and emergency management strategies. By meticulously identifying and mapping flood-prone areas in Midar, the study provides invaluable insights into the potential vulnerabilities of urban landscapes to flooding. Moreover, this research demonstrates the practical utility of GIS in mitigating material losses, a significant concern in flood-prone urban areas. The proactive approach proposed in this study, centered around the use of GIS, aims to safeguard Midar’s population and infrastructure from the devastating impacts of floods. This approach serves as a model for other urban areas facing similar challenges, highlighting the indispensable role of GIS in disaster preparedness and response. Overall, the study underscores the transformative potential of GIS in enhancing urban resilience, making it a crucial tool in the fight against natural disasters like floods.

On the Range of Action of Adult Culex pipiens s.l.

Mosquitoes are an interesting topic due to their medical importance, as they play an active role in the transmission of many pathogens and parasites, acting as vectors for various pathologies that are deadly to humans, such as dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, West Nile virus, encephalitis and malaria, among many others that are less common. In terms of morbidity and mortality caused by vector-borne diseases, mosquitoes are the most dangerous animals for humanity and, although they also play a role in the ecosystem as a food source for other organisms, their importance for public health cannot be overlooked. As highly efficient vectors, they put more than three billion people at risk, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions as well as in Europe, since heat waves and flooding are becoming more frequent and severe, and summers are getting longer and warmer, accelerating mosquito development, biting rates, and the incubation of the pathogens within their bodies. Female mosquitoes bite to acquire proteins for the development of their ovaries and eggs and, in the process, acquire pathogens and/or parasites from one vertebrate host and transmit them to another, usually after a short period of replication. Three of their four life stages are lived in still freshwater, so it is crucial to understand their range of action when they reach adulthood and leave the water, in order to plan and implement local prevention measures. A set of georeferenced abundance data collected in mainland Portugal over seven years was linked to cartographed water bodies in a geographic information system to estimate the distances at which Culex pipiens s.l. had a significant presence, with criteria based on the size of the catches. The result allows for an estimate of the fly range of those mosquitoes, which can be used to focus countermeasures.

Computational Quantification of Map Projection Distortion by Fractal Dimension of Coastlines

Maps, essential tools for portraying the Earth’s surface, inherently introduce distortions to geographical features. While various quantification methods exist for assessing these distortions, they often fall short when evaluating actual geographic features. In our study, we took a novel approach by analyzing map projection distortion from a geometric perspective. We computed the fractal dimensions of different stretches of coastline before and after projection using the divide-and-conquer algorithm and image processing. Our findings revealed that map projections, even when preserving basic shapes, inevitably stretch and compress coastlines in diverse directions. This analysis method provides a more realistic and practical way to measure map-induced distortions, with significant implications for cartography, geographic information systems (GIS), and geomorphology. By bridging the gap between theoretical analysis and real-world features, this method greatly enhances accuracy and practicality when evaluating map projections.

Zoning of Nitrite and Nitrate Concentration in Groundwater Using Geografic Information System (GIS), Case Study: Drinking Water Wells in Yazd City

Studies have demonstrated that the presence of nitrate and nitrite in drinking water can cause some disease such as cancer and blu baby in the infant. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has since adopted the 10 mg/L standard as the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for nitrate-nitrogen and 1 mg/L for nitrite-nitrogen for regulated public water systems. Given the importance of nitrate and nitrite in drinking water as well as GIS ability in spatial analysis of various factors in the groundwater, this study aimed to evaluate concentration of nitrate and nitrite in the drinking water wells of Yazd using two IDW (Inverse Distance Weighting) and Kriging models. In this descriptive study, the applied data on the water quality of underground water of Yazd Environmental Health Office and the average annual nitrate and nitrite in 2015 were related to 24 wells in the studied area. The nitrate and nitrite rate in groundwater in wells was compared to the standard amount of Institute of Standard and Industrial Researches and then was analyzed via Arc GIS software using IDW and Kriging interpolation methods. The mean concentration of nitrate was 17.62 ± 3.08 mg/l and for nitrite was 0.011 ± 0.003 mg/l in the wells. In the all studied zone, the nitrate and nitrite rate was in the standard range according to the National Standard of Iran (No. 1053). In this study, Kriging interpolation method was more efficient than IDW method.

Authoritative and Unbiased Responses to Geographic Queries

A protocol for processing geographic data is proposed to guarantee authoritative and unbiased responses to geographic queries, without the need to rely on trusted third parties. The integrity of the proposed authoritative and unbiased geographic services (AUGS) protocol is guaranteed by employing novel hash tree based authenticated data structures (ADS) in conjunction with a blockchain ledger. Hash tree based ADSes are used to incrementally compute a succinct dynamic commitments to AUGS data. A blockchain ledger is used to record 1) transactions that trigger updates to AUGS data, and 2) the updated cryptographic commitments to AUGS data. Untrusted service providers are required to provide verification objects (VOs) as proof-of-correctness of their responses to AUGS queries. Anyone with access to commitments in ledger entries can verify the proof.

An Assessment and Geostatistics of Land-Use and Selected Physico-Chemical Properties of Soils in the Mount Cameroon Area

This work investigated the land-use/land-cover and some physico-chemical properties of the soils of Mt Cameroon and presented same in maps. ArcGIS Pro mapping software, Landsat images, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) coordinates collected from the field combined with updated shape files from competent services were used to produce the location and land-use/land-cover maps. Sixteen topsoil samples (0 - 20 cm) were collected, 4 from each land use/cover category: farmland, forest, plantation and settlement, and analysed for soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), bulk density, moisture content and soil texture, in the laboratory using standard analytical procedures. This data was used to produce spatial distribution maps using ordinary kriging, in ArcGIS Pro. The main terrestrial land use/cover categories comprised of the forest (mangrove, lowland, montane and sub-montane), agroforestry, plantations, grassland, settlement, cropland, shrubby savannah, and bare lava. Bulk density showed the highest values in settlement areas and least values under forest land-use categories. Soil moisture content exhibited a reverse trend compared to that of soil bulk density. Forest soils were the sandiest while soils in plantation agricultural land were the most clayey. The soils were slightly acidic to neutral with soils from agricultural land being more acidic (pH(water) = 5.43). It is discernible from the results that the conversion from forest to other land use/cover classes enhances soil degradation and that soil physico-chemical properties adequately serve as indicators of soil quality in the Mt Cameroon area.

Route Search Method for Railway Replacement Buses Adopting Ant Colony Optimization

In recent years, Japan, and especially rural areas have faced the growing problems of debt-ridden local railway lines along with the population decline and aging population. Therefore, it is best to consider the discontinuation of local railway lines and introduce replacement buses to secure the transportation methods of the local people especially in rural areas. Based on the above background, targeting local railway lines that may be discontinued in the near future, appropriate bus stops when provided with potential bus stops were selected, the present study proposed a method that introduces routes for railway replacement buses adopting ant colony optimization (ACO). The improved ACO was designed and developed based on the requirements set concerning the route length, number of turns, road width, accessibility of railway lines and zones without bus stops as well as the constraint conditions concerning the route length, number of turns and zones without bus stops. Original road network data were generated and processed adopting a geographic information systems (GIS), and these are used to search for the optimal route for railway replacement buses adopting the improved ACO concerning the 8 zones on the target railway line (JR Kakogawa line). By comparing the improved ACO with Dijkstra’s algorithm, its relevance was verified and areas needing further improvements were revealed.

Assessment of the Retail Food Environment Using Integrated GIS and Modified Measures in Wuhan, China

The retail food environment (RFE) has a significant impact on people’s dietary behavior and diet-related outcomes. Although RFE research has received a lot of attention, there are very few studies that shed light on the foodscape and assessment methodologies in the China context. Based on open data obtained from Dianping.com and AutoNavi map, we classified all food outlets into six types. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques were employed to create two network buffer areas (1-km and 3-km) and calculate the absolute measures and relative measures (i.e., mRFEI and Rmix). We modified the calculation of relative measures by adding items and assigning weights. The mean mRFEI using the 1-km and 3-km buffer sizes across the communities were 10.45 and 20.12, respectively, while the mean mRmix of the two buffer sizes were 20.97 and 58.04, indicating that residents in Wuhan have better access to fresh and nutritious food within 3-km network buffers. Residents in urban areas are more likely to be exposed to an unhealthy food environment than those in rural areas. Residents in Xinzhou and Qiaokou districts are more likely to be subjected to unfavorable neighborhood RFE. The open data-driven methods for assessing RFE in Wuhan, China may guide community-level food policy interventions and promote active living by shifting built environments to increase residents’ access to healthy food.

Uncovering Patterns Beneath the Surface:A Glimpse into the Applications of Algebraic Topology

This paper explores the significant impact of algebraic topology on diverse real-world applications.Starting with an introduction to the historical development and essence of algebraic topology,it delves into its applications in neuroscience,physics,biology,engineering,data analysis,and Geographic Information Systems(GIS).Remarkable applications incorporate the analysis of neural networks,quantum mechanics,materials science,and disaster management,showcasing its boundless significance.Despite computational challenges,this study outlines prospects,emphasizing the requirement for proficient algorithms,noise robustness,multi-scale analysis,machine learning integration,user-friendly tools,and interdisciplinary collaborations.In essence,algebraic topology provides a transformative lens for uncovering stowed-away topological structures in complex data,offering solutions to perplexing problems in science,engineering,and society,with vast potential for future exploration and innovation.

Identifying anthropogenic and natural causes of wildfires by maximum entropy method-based ignition susceptibility distribution models

Turkey has a high potential for wildfires along its Mediterranean coast because of its dense forest cover and mild climate.An average of 250 wildfires occurs every year with more than 10,000 hectares destroyed due to natural and human-related causes.The study area is sensitive to fires caused by lightning,stubble burning,discarded cigarette butts,electric arcing from power lines,deliberate fire setting,and traffic accidents.However,52%of causes could not be identified due to intense wildfires occurring at the same time and insufficient equipment and personnel.Since wildfires destroy forest cover,ecosystems,biodiversity,and habitats,they should be spatially evaluated by separating them according to their causes,considering environmental,climatic,topographic and forest structure variables that trigger wildfires.In this study,wildfires caused by lightning,the burning of agriculture stubble,discarded cigarette butts and power lines were investigated in the provinces of Aydin,Mugla and Antalya,where 22%of Turkey’s wildfires occurred.The MaxEnt method was used to determine the spatial distribution of wildfires to identify risk zones for each cause.Wildfires were used as the species distribution and the probability of their occurrence estimated.Additionally,since the causes of many wildfires are unknown,determining the causes is important for fire prediction and prevention.The highest wildfire occurrence risks were 9.7%for stubble burning,30.2%for lightning,4.5%for power lines and 16.9%by discarded cigarette butts.In total,1,266 of the 1,714 unknown wildfire causes were identified by the analysis of the cause-based risk zones and these were updated by including cause-as signed unknown wildfire locations for verification.As a result,the Area under the ROC Curve(AUC)values were increased for susceptibility maps.

Understanding the Dynamics Location of Very Large Populations Interacted with Service Points

This paper offers preliminary work on system dynamics and Data mining tools. It tries to understand the dynamics of carrying out large-scale events, such as Hajj. The study looks at a large, recurring problem as a variable to consider, such as how the flow of people changes over time as well as how location interacts with placement. The predicted data is analyzed using Vensim PLE 32 modeling software, GIS Arc Map 10.2.1, and AnyLogic 7.3.1 software regarding the potential placement of temporal service points, taking into consideration the three dynamic constraints and behavioral aspects: a large population, limitation in time, and space. This research proposes appropriate data analyses to ensure the optimal positioning of the service points with limited time and space for large-scale events. The conceptual framework would be the output of this study. Knowledge may be added to the insights based on the technique.

Estimation of ammonia nitrogen load from nonpoint sources in the Xitiao River catchment, China

Ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) is one of the three main forms of total nitrogen (TN). Most studies have estimated the load of TN from nonpoint sources instead of one specific form. The relationship between land use and concentrations of NH4+-N in runoff was analyzed using the hydraulic analysis functions of a Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and the annual loads of NH4+-N in the Xitiao River catchment were estimated according to model results. The results suggested that the calculated annual loads of NH4+-N...