Geographical queries reformulation using a parallel association rules generator to build spatial taxonomies

Geographical queries need a special process of reformulation by information retrieval systems (IRS) due to their specificities and hierarchical structure. This fact is ignored by most of web search engines. In this paper, we propose an automatic approach for building a spatial taxonomy, that models’ the notion of adjacency that will be used in the reformulation of the spatial part of a geographical query. This approach exploits the documents that are in top of the retrieved list when submitting a spatial entity, which is composed of a spatial relation and a noun of a city. Then, a transactional database is constructed, considering each document extracted as a transaction that contains the nouns of the cities sharing the country of the submitted query’s city. The algorithm frequent pattern growth (FP-growth) is applied to this database in his parallel version (parallel FP-growth: PFP) in order to generate association rules, that will form the country’s taxonomy in a Big Data context. Experiments has been conducted on Spark and their results show that query reformulation using the taxonomy constructed based on our proposed approach improves the precision and the effectiveness of the IRS

Automated synthesis of biodiversity knowledge requires better tools and standardised research output

As the impact of anthropogenic activity on the environment has grown, research into biodiversity change and associated threats has also accelerated. Synthesising this vast literature is important for understanding the drivers of biodiversity change and identifying those actions that will mitigate further ecological losses. However, keeping pace with an ever-increasing publication rate presents a substantial challenge to efficient syntheses, an issue which could be partly addressed by increasing levels of automation in the synthesis pipeline. Here, we evaluate the potential for automated tools to extract ecologically important information from the abstracts of articles compiled in the Living Planet Database. Specifically, we focused on extracting key information on taxonomy (studied species names), geographic location and estimated population trend, assessing the accuracy of automated versus manual information extraction, the potential for automated tools to introduce biases into syntheses, and evaluating if synthesising abstracts was enough to capture the key information from the full article. Taxonomic and geographic extraction tools performed reasonably well, although information on studied species was sometimes limited in the abstract (compared to the main text) preventing fast extraction. In contrast, extraction of trends was less successful, highlighting the challenges involved in automating information extraction from abstracts, such as deficiencies in the algorithms, linguistic complexity associated with ecological findings, and limited information when compared to the main text. In light of these results, we cautiously advocate for a wider use of automated taxonomic and geographic parsing tools for ecological synthesis. Additionally, to further the use of automated synthesis within ecology, we recommend a dual approach: development of improved computational tools to reduce biases; and enhanced protocols for abstracts (and associated metadata) to ensure key information is included in a format that facilitates machine-readability

THE IFC FILE FORMAT AS A MEANS OF INTEGRATING BIM AND GIS: THE CASE OF THE MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF UNDERGROUND NETWORKS

Abstract. The construction sector is undergoing an important digital revolution. The integration between Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Geographical Information System (GIS) is a key component of this revolution and is increasingly discussed. Although benefits are already recognised, several challenges still remain. The purpose of this paper is to present the method proposed by the GEOBIMM project to overcome the existing barriers towards the integration between BIM and GIS domains and to present the first results applied to the maintenance of underground networks. The results are a set of guidelines essential for the integration of BIM files in GIS platforms within the GEOBIMM domain, to ensure: the appropriate geometric description of the elements; the correct georeferencing; the geospatial semantic and topological interoperability between the two systems; the appropriate definition of the information parameters. These pillars are further used to develop a guideline for planners and construction companies supporting them in developing compliant BIM models

ONTOLOGIE GEOGRAFICHE NEL DOMINIO SPAZIALE URBANO E DEL PATRIMONIO COSTRUITO

Il presente lavoro ha lo scopo di presentare un’articolata ricognizione della letteratura passata e attuale, inerente le ontologie informatiche, con particolare attenzione a quelle connesse al dominio spaziale urbano e del patrimonio culturale architettonico costruito. Da un punto di vista generale, il documento offre una descrizione di definizioni, classificazioni e approcci e metodi per la creazione di ontologie nel campo del Web Semantico, dalle prime nozioni emerse negli anni Novanta alla loro evoluzione negli ultimi due decenni. Nel settore del patrimonio costruito, l'interesse, il bisogno di conoscenza e l'uso di ontologie sono cresciuti per rispondere alle necessità di condivisione e scambio di dati spaziali e alla crescente adozione di infrastrutture geografiche. Queste stanno infatti riscontrando problemi di interoperabilità tecnica, geometrica e semantica nell'integrazione di database geografici e urbani multi-scala che richiedono pertanto l'adozione di standard condivisi e linguaggi comuni. ------ This paper aims to report a review in the past literature about computer science ontologies, with a special view on the ones connected to the spatial domain of urban data and built heritage. From a general point of view the paper offers a write up of definitions, classifications and design approaches and methods for ontologies as they have emerged since the nineties and evolved in the last two decades. In the built heritage domain, the interest, the need of knowledge and the use of ontologies have grown to face the wide exchange of digital spatial data and the extensive adoption of spatial data infrastructures, which faced problems related to the interoperability among spatial databases, and specifically the integration of geographical and urban databases involving the adoption of standards

Mapping deep-sea biodiversity and good environmental status in the Azores: assisng with the implementaon of EU Marine Strategy Framework Direcve

Tese de Doutoramento, Ciências Biológicas, 26 de junho de 2023, Universidade dos Açores.ABSTRACT: One of the major shortfall of biodiversity knowledge steams from an incomplete description of the geographical distribution of species. Overcoming this shortfall is essential for conserving nature and its services and it is a required first step to tackle more complex ecological processes (e.g. dispersal, speciation, disturbance, biotic interactions, etc.) in remote and poorly studied regions such as the deep sea. In a region such as the Azores (NE Atlantic), where the deep sea represents a dominant component of the seascape, it is essential to characterize patterns and processes of deep-sea biodiversity. In fact, only by understanding how species and marine resources distribute it is possible to correctly inform area- and ecosystem-based management and achieve the goals of policies aiming at reversing the cycle of decline in ocean health. In particular, the European Commission has adopted a number of policies to grant a sustainable use of nature space and resources which include the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MFSD) and the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD). The overall goal of this thesis is to bring together existing and new biodiversity data from recent scientific surveys to deepen our understanding of biodiversity and biogeographic patterns of deep-sea Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) indicator taxa. The focus is on deep-sea hard-substrate communities of the Azores and, in particular, on ecosystem engineer species of the Phyla Cnidaria and Porifera. Four major environmental drivers of deep-sea benthic engineer species are recognized in the Azores: (i) a latitudinal gradient in primary production strongly influenced by the Azores Current-Azores Front (AzC-AzF) system; (ii) the depth-wise succession of the regional water masses and their stratification into different isopycnal (vertical) layers; (iii) the spatial distribution of prominent geomorphic features such as seamounts ridges and island slopes; (iv) the availability of hard substrate for attachment. The recognition of these environmental drivers sets an interesting background for future ecological research, ecosystem-based management and spatial monitoring. The response of deep-sea species to these environmental drivers is explored in detail in the different chapters of the present manuscript

Cross-Cultural Communication Strategies That Engage Employees and Increase Productivity.

AbstractLow employee engagement can negatively impact productivity for small fast-food restaurants in the United States. Small fast-food restaurant managers who do not engage employees experience decreased employee productivity. Grounded in Hofstede\u27s cross-cultural dimensions theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies managers of small fast-food restaurants managers use to improve employee engagement. Participants were four small fast-food restaurants manager within the southern region of the United States who used cross-cultural strategies to successfully engage employees. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and internal company documents and were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: (a) developing relationships, (b) empathy, (c) mindfulness and respect for others, and (d) training and communicating. A key recommendation is for managers to implement cross-cultural communication training for employees. The implication for positive social change includes the potential to enhance economic growth that supports family well–being in local communities