The Second International Workshop on Geographical Information System Held in Beijing,August 9-11,1990

TheThe Second International Workshop on Geographical Information System(2nd IWGIS Beijing’90)was held recently in Beijing under the auspices of the Laboratory of Resources and Environment Information System(LREIS)and cosponsorship of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,National Natural Science Foundation of China,National Remote Sensing Centre of China,Geographical Society of China,and International Development Research Centre of Canada(IDRC).

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.

Landfill Site Suitability Assessment Using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in Butuan City, Philippines

Landfilling is one of the most effective and responsible ways to dispose of municipal solid waste(MSW).Identifying landfill sites,however,is a challenging and complex undertaking because it depends on social,environmental,technical,economic,and legal issues.This study aims to map the optimal sites that were environmentally suitable for locating a landfill site in Butuan City,Philippines.With reference to the policy requirements from DENR Section I,Landfill Site Identification Criteria and Screening Guidelines of National Solid Waste Management Commission,the integration of a Geographic Information System(GIS)model builder and Analytical Hierarchy Process(AHP)has been used in this study to address the aforementioned challenges related to the landfill site suitability analysis.Based on the generated sanitary landfill suitability map,results showed that Barangay Tungao(1131.42967 ha)and Florida(518.48 ha)were able to meet and consider the three(3)main components,namely economic,environmental,and physical criteria,and are highly suit­able as landfill site locations in Butuan City.It is recommended that there will conduct a geotechnical evaluation,involv­ing rigorous geological and hydrogeological assessment employing a combination of site investigation and laboratory techniques.In addition,additional specific social,ecological,climatic,and economic factors need to be considered(i.e.including impact on humans,flora,fauna,soil,water,air,climate,and landscape).

Locating Global System for Mobile Communication(GSM)Base Stations Using Geographic Information System(GIS)

The global system for mobile communication(GSM)is planned to meet the needs of the whole subscribers.The number of subscribers increased as the population increased due to the acceptance of GSM services by the subscribers.Thus,there should be a way to monitor base stations that will meet the increasing demand of subscribers in any area as a population surge will lead to more subscriptions.This will allow GSM network operators to serve their subscribers better and ease network congestion.This work presents a review of mobile evolution from the first generation to the fifth generation.A review of global positioning system(GPS)technology and its applications to geographic information systems(GIS)was done.The coordinates of these base stations were taken using a GPS device.These base station coordinates were then exported to QGIS for the design of the map.Thereafter,the output map was then integrated into the website.The discussions on the results followed and some useful suggestions given will go a long way to help the operators of GSM in Nigeria and in general.If the propositions given are adhered to,it will go a long way to help the operators reduce congestion on their network and thereby increase the satisfaction of the subscribers.

Development of an Integrated System to Enhance Spatial Data Processing & Management for Planning Authorities

In a world where there is constant data generation and processing, the need for an integrated system cannot be overemphasized. The systems that enable storage of large amounts of spatial data and must be made available to multiple users in real time. Studies have shown that standalone desktop spatial systems are often rigid and inflexible to support multiple data processing or demands from multiple users. The integrated spatial management system was designed to address the above highlighted challenges by bringing enhanced possibilities of utilization of spatial data though improving accessibility, visualization, and processing spatial information. The present work employed a mixed approach of qualitative and quantitative techniques to obtain the desired result. Qualitative data collection tools were used to collect field data required to design the prototype. The research sought to establish whether the integrated systems are in use by the targeted institutions, the findings highlighted that 71.4% have no integrated spatial data systems while 28.6% have partial-integrated systems. An overview of the architecture of integrated spatial systems consists of a well distributed database linked to multiple tools and platforms to query both the spatial and non-spatial data. The WEB-GIS and Mobile GIS interfaces were developed to allow multiple users to access information through the web in real time and data collection, respectively.

Mapping potential areas for groundwater storage in the High Guir Basin(Morocco):Contribution of remote sensing and geographic information system

Identification of water potential areas in arid regions is a crucial element for the enhancement of their water resources and socio-economic development. In fact, water resources system-planning can be used to make various decisions and implement manage- ment of water resources policies. The purpose of this study is to identify groundwater sto- rage areas in the high Guir Basin by implementing Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing methods. The required data for this study can be summarized into five critical factors: Topography (slope), lithology, rainfall, rock fracture and drainage. These critical factors have been converted by the GIS into thematic maps. For each cri- tical parameter, a coefficient with weight was attributed according to its importance. The map of potential groundwater storage areas is obtained by adding the products (coeffi- cient × weight) of the five parameters. The results show that 50% to 64% of the total area of the High Guir Basin is potentially rich in groundwater, where most of fracture systems are intensely developed. The obtained results are validated with specific yield of the aqui- fer in the study area. It is noted that there is a strong positive correlation between excel- lent groundwater potential zones with high flows of water points and it diminishes with low specific yield with poor potential zones.

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.

Epidemiologic Evolution Platform Using Integrated Modeling and Geographic Information System

At the international level, a major effort is being made to optimizethe flow of data and information for health systems management. The studiesshow that medical and economic efficiency is strongly influenced by the levelof development and complexity of implementing an integrated system of epidemiological monitoring and modeling. The solution proposed and describedin this paper is addressed to all public and private institutions involved inthe fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, using recognized methods andstandards in this field. The Green-Epidemio is a platform adaptable to thespecific features of any public institution for disease management, based onopen-source software, allowing the adaptation, customization, and furtherdevelopment of “open-source” applications, according to the specificities ofthe public institution, the changes in the economic and social environment andits legal framework. The platform has a mathematical model for the spreadof COVID-19 infection depending on the location of the outbreaks so thatthe allocation of resources and the geographical limitation of certain areascan be parameterized according to the number and location of the real-timeidentified outbreaks. The social impact of the proposed solution is due to theplanned applications of information flow management, which is a first stepin improving significantly the response time and efficiency of people-operatedresponse services. Moreover, institutional interoperability influences strategicsocietal factors.

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.

Bioenergy Crops as a Promising Alternative to Fossil Fuels in Louisiana: A Geographic Information System (GIS) Perspective

Rising greenhouse gas emissions are causing climate change, and the world’s focus has shifted to the need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. There has been a rise in the published literature on the utilization of crops for bioenergy production in Louisiana. However, very few scholarly documents have used Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map the distribution of potential bioenergy crops in Louisiana. This study seeks to fill the void by evaluating the potential of bioenergy crops in Louisiana for energy production using GIS. Given this objective, the agricultural census data for 1999, 2009, 2019, and 2020 obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture were used in the analysis. The quantities of various crops produced in the state were loaded into an attribute table and joined to a shapefile using ArcGIS software. The symbology tool’s graduated option was used to create five maps representing each of the bioenergy crops in Louisiana. The findings of the GIS analysis show that some of the parishes, such as Franklin produced the most bushels of corn (13,795,416), Iberia produced the most tons of sugarcane (1,697,980), East Carroll produced the most bushels of soybean (8,237,991), Tensas harvested the most bales of cotton (80,898) and Avoyelles produced the most bushels of sorghum (630,694). The abundance and availability of crops as raw materials for energy production will translate into lower prices in terms of energy use, making bioenergy crops a promising alternative to fossil fuels. In addition, gasoline price data from 1993-2022 was obtained from U.S. Energy Information Administration. A regression model for the average annual gasoline price over the years was constructed. The results show that the average annual gasoline price variation with respect to years is statistically significant (p 0.05). This suggests that gasoline prices will generally rise despite a price drop over the years. The paper concludes by outlining policy recommendations in the form of assessing the availability and viability of other crop types, such as wheat, oats, and rice, for energy production in the state.

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.

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.

Development and application of a GIS-based artificial neural network system for water quality prediction: a case study at the Lake Champlain area

Artificial Neural Network(ANN)models have been extensively applied in the prediction of water resource variables,and Geographical Information System(GIS)includes powerful functions to visualize spatial data.In order to provide an efficient tool for environmental assessment and management that combines the advantages of these two modules,a GIS-based ANN water quality prediction system was developed in the present study.The ANN module and ArcGIS Engine module,along with a dynamic database,were imbedded in the system,which integrates water quality prediction via the ANN model and spatial presentation of the model results.The structure of the ANN model could be modified through the graphical user interface to optimize the model performance.The developed system was applied to a real case study for the prediction of the total phosphorus concentration in the Lake Champlain area.The prediction results were verified with the monitoring data,and the performance of the developed model was further evaluated through graphical techniques and quantitative statistical methods.Overall,the developed system provided satisfactory prediction results,and spatial distribution maps of the predicted results were obtained,which coincided with the monitored values.The developed GIS-based ANN water quality prediction system could serve as an efficient tool for engineers and decision makers.

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.

Modelling Land Use/Land Cover Change of River Rwizi Catchment, South-Western Uganda Using GIS and Markov Chain Model

Analysis of catchment Land use/Land cover (LULC) change is a vital tool in ensuring sustainable catchment management. The study analyzed land use/land cover changes in the Rwizi catchment, south western Uganda from 1989-2019 and projected the trend by 2040. Landsat images, field observations, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data. Changes in cropland, forestland, built up area, grazing land, wetland and open water bodies were analyzed in ArcGIS version 10.2.2 and ERDAS IMAGINE 14 software and a Markov chain model. All the LULC classes increased in area except grazing land. Forest land and builtup area between 2009-2019 increased by 370.03% and 229.53% respectively. Projections revealed an increase in forest land and builtup area by 2030 and only built up area by 2040. LULCC in the catchment results from population pressure, reduced soil fertility and high value of agricultural products.

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.

Quantifying River Bank Erosion and Accretion Patterns along the Gorai River in Kushtia, Bangladesh: A Geospatial Analysis Utilizing GIS and Remote Sensing Techniques

River bank erosion is a natural process that occurs when the water flow of a river exceeds the bank’s ability to withstand it. It is a common phenomenon that causes extensive land damage, displacement of people, loss of crops, and infrastructure damage. The Gorai River, situated on the right bank of the Ganges, is a significant branch of the river that flows into the Bay of Bengal via the Mathumati and Baleswar rivers. The erosion of the banks of the Gorai River in Kushtia district is not a recent occurrence. Local residents have been dealing with this issue for the past hundred years, and according to the elderly members of the community, the erosion has become more severe activities. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to quantify river bank erosion and accretion and bankline shifting from 2003 to 2022 using multi-temporal Landsat images data with GIS and remote sensing technique. Bank-line migration occurs as a result of the interplay and interconnectedness of various factors such as the degree of river-related processes such as erosion, transportation, and deposition, the amount of water in the river during the high season, the geological and soil makeup, and human intervention in the river. The results show that the highest eroded area was 4.6 square kilometers during the period of 2016 to 2019, while the highest accreted area was 7.12 square kilometers during the period of 2013 to 2016. However, the erosion and accretion values fluctuated from year to year.

中波应急广播覆盖网构建方案

通过对中波频段的特性分析,提出一种创新的中波应急广播覆盖网构建方案。基于信号传播理论和通信工程原理,结合地理信息系统(Geographic Information System,GIS)技术,优化中波发射台布局,提高应急广播信号的覆盖范围和稳定性。采用先进的调制解调技术和功率控制策略,有效克服信道传播中的多径效应和信号衰减,提升应急广播系统的抗干扰性。通过在不同地理环境下的仿真实验,验证所提出构建方案的可行性和效果,为中波应急广播系统的建设提供有力的技术支持,为应对突发事件提供可靠的通信保障。