Map Calculus in GIS: a proposal and demonstration

This paper provides a new representation for fields (continuous surfaces) in Geographical Information Systems (GIS), based on the notion of spatial functions and their combinations. Following Tomlin's (1990) Map Algebra, the term 'Map Calculus' is used for this new representation. In Map Calculus, GIS layers are stored as functions, and new layers can be created by combinations of other functions. This paper explains the principles of Map Calculus and demonstrates the creation of function-based layers and their supporting management mechanism. The proposal is based on Church's (1941) Lambda Calculus and elements of functional computer languages (such as Lisp or Scheme)

An integrated DRASTIC model using frequency ratio and two new hybrid methods for groundwater vulnerability assessment

Groundwater management can be effectively implemented by mapping groundwater contamination. Intense agricultural activities and land overexploitation have resulted in groundwater contamination, which is becoming a critical issue, specifically in areas where fertilizers are extensively used on large plantations. The goal of this study was to develop an integrated DRASTIC model with a frequency ratio (FR) as a novel approach. Two new hybrid methods namely single-parameter sensitivity analysis (SPSA) and an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) are also implemented for adjusting feature weights to local settings. The FR is used for DRASTIC model rates, whereas both SPSA and AHP are used for DRASTIC weights. The FR-DRASTIC, FR-SPSA and FR-AHP methods are developed; nitrate samples from the same month in different years are used for analysis and correlation (May 2010 and May 2012). The first nitrate samples are interpolated using the Kriging approach. The Kerman plain is used as an example, which is located in south-eastern part of Iran. Additionally, the new methods are employed in the study area to compare with each other and the original DRASTIC model. The validation results exhibited that using FR approach improved the correlation between vulnerability index and nitrate concentrations compared with original DRASTIC vulnerability correlation which was 0.37. The results indicated that the new hybrid methods exhibited higher correlation 0.75 in the FR-DRASTIC model. Correlations of the FR-SPSA and FR-AHP approaches were 0.77 and 0.80. Hence, the new hybrid methods are more effective and provide reasonably good results. Furthermore, quantitative measures of vulnerability offer an excellent opportunity to effectively prevent as well as reduce contamination

Digital soil mapping from conventional field soil observations

We tested the performance of a formalized digital soil mapping (DSM) approach comprising fuzzy k-means (FKM) classification and regression-kriging to produce soil type maps from a fine-scale soil observation network in Risnovce, Slovakia. We examine whether the soil profile descriptions collected merely by field methods fit into the statistical DSM tools and if they provide pedologically meaningful results for an erosion-affected area. Soil texture, colour, carbonates, stoniness and genetic qualifiers were estimated for a total of 111 soil profiles using conventional field methods. The data were digitized along semi-quantitative scales in 10-cm depth intervals to express the relative differences, and afterwards classified by the FKM method into four classes A-D: (i) Luvic Phaeozems (Anthric), (ii) Haplic Phaeozems (Anthric, Calcaric, Pachic), (iii) Calcic Cutanic Luvisols, and (iv) Haplic Regosols (Calcaric). To parameterize regression-kriging, membership values (MVs) to the above A-D class centroids were regressed against PCA-transformed terrain variables using the multiple linear regression method (MLR). MLR yielded significant relationships with R2 ranging from 23% to 47% (P < 0.001) for classes A, B and D, but only marginally significant for Luvisols of class C (R2 = 14%, P < 0.05). Given the results, Luvisols were then mapped by ordinary kriging and the rest by regression-kriging. A 'leave-one-out' cross-validation was calculated for the output maps yielding R2 of 33%, 56%, 22% and 42% for Luvic Phaeozems, Haplic Phaeozems, Luvisols and also Regosols, respectively (all P < 0.001). Additionally, the pixel-mixture visualization technique was used to draw a synthetic digital soil map. We conclude that the DSM model represents a fully formalized alternative to classical soil mapping at very fine scales, even when soil profile descriptions were collected merely by field estimation methods. Additionally to conventional soil maps it allows to address the diffuse character in soil cover, both in taxonomic and geographical interpretations

Contextualized property market models vs. Generalized mass appraisals: An innovative approach

The present research takes into account the current and widespread need for rational valuation methodologies, able to correctly interpret the available market data. An innovative automated valuation model has been simultaneously implemented to three Italian study samples, each one constituted by two-hundred residential units sold in the years 2016-2017. The ability to generate a "unique" functional form for the three different territorial contexts considered, in which the relationships between the influencing factors and the selling prices are specified by different multiplicative coefficients that appropriately represent the market phenomena of each case study analyzed, is the main contribution of the proposed methodology. The method can provide support for private operators in the assessment of the territorial investment conveniences and for the public entities in the decisional phases regarding future tax and urban planning policies

GIS-Based Wind and Solar Power Assessment in Central Mexico

In Mexico, the economic and industrial development is in the center and north; this represents more than 50% of the country’s total consumption. Data on population and energy consumption will be obtained from the following sources: the National Institute of Geography and Statistics (INEGI), and the Energy Information System. Regarding meteorological data, two databases are used: the Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) (for solar irradiance data) and the MERRA-2 reanalysis data (for wind data). These data will be analyzed for use in a geographic information system (GIS) using kriging interpolation to create maps of solar and wind energy. The area studied includes the following states: Mexico City, Puebla, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Morelos, Zacatecas, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Guanajuato, Aguascalientes and Tlaxcala. The results showed that the areas with the highest solar potential are Hidalgo, Estado de México, Morelos, northern Puebla, southern Queretaro, northwestern Guanajuato, and northern Zacatecas, with 5.89 kWh/m2/day, and the months with the highest solar potential are March, April, May, and June. Regarding wind potential, the maximum wind power density is in Puebla, with 517 W/m2, and the windy season in central Mexico spans June, July, August, September, October, and November

Solar Radiation Estimation Using Data Mining Techniques for Remote Areas-A Case Study in Ethiopia

High quality of solar radiation data is essential for solar resource assessment. For remote areas this is a challenge, as often only satellite data with low spatial resolution are available. This paper presents an interpolation method based on topographic data in digital elevation model format to improve the resolution of solar radiation maps. The refinement is performed with a data mining method based on first-order Sugeno type Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System. The training set contains topographic characteristics such as terrain aspect, slope and elevation which may influence the solar radiation distribution. An efficient sampling method is proposed to obtain representative training sets from digital elevation model data. The proposed geographic information system based approach makes this method reproducible and adaptable for any region. A case study is presented on the remote Amhara region in North Shewa, Ethiopia. Results are shown for interpolation of solar radiation data from 10 km x 10 km to a resolution of 1 km x 1 km and are validated with data from the PVGIS and SWERA projects

Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Modelling Potentials and Bottlenecks

Series: Discussion Papers of the Institute for Economic Geography and GIScienc

A Review of 21st-Century Studies

PM10 prediction has attracted special legislative and scientific attention due to its harmful effects on human health. Statistical techniques have the potential for high-accuracy PM10 prediction and accordingly, previous studies on statistical methods for temporal, spatial and spatio-temporal prediction of PM10 are reviewed and discussed in this paper. A review of previous studies demonstrates that Support Vector Machines, Artificial Neural Networks and hybrid techniques show promise for suitable temporal PM10 prediction. A review of the spatial predictions of PM10 shows that the LUR (Land Use Regression) approach has been successfully utilized for spatial prediction of PM10 in urban areas. Of the six introduced approaches for spatio-temporal prediction of PM10, only one approach is suitable for high-resolved prediction (Spatial resolution < 100 m; Temporal resolution ¤ 24 h). In this approach, based upon the LUR modeling method, short-term dynamic input variables are employed as explanatory variables alongside typical non-dynamic input variables in a non- linear modeling procedure