Exploring the effectiveness of geomasking techniques for protecting the geoprivacy of Twitter users

With the ubiquitous use of location-based services, large-scale individual-level location data has been widely collected through location-awareness devices. Geoprivacy concerns arise on the issues of user identity de-anonymization and location exposure. In this work, we investigate the effectiveness of geomasking techniques for protecting the geoprivacy of active Twitter users who frequently share geotagged tweets in their home and work locations. By analyzing over 38,000 geotagged tweets of 93 active Twitter users in three U.S. cities, the two-dimensional Gaussian masking technique with proper standard deviation settings is found to be more effective to protect user\u27s location privacy while sacrificing geospatial analytical resolution than the random perturbation masking method and the aggregation on traffic analysis zones. Furthermore, a three-dimensional theoretical framework considering privacy, analytics, and uncertainty factors simultaneously is proposed to assess geomasking techniques. Our research offers insights into geoprivacy concerns of social media users\u27 georeferenced data sharing for future development of location-based applications and services

Energy aware and privacy preserving protocols for ad hoc networks with applications to disaster management

Disasters can have a serious impact on the functioning of communities and societies. Disaster management aims at providing efficient utilization of resources during pre-disaster (e.g. preparedness and prevention) and post-disaster (e.g. recovery and relief) scenarios to reduce the impact of disasters. Wireless sensors have been extensively used for early detection and prevention of disasters. However, the sensor\u27s operating environment may not always be congenial to these applications. Attackers can observe the traffic flow in the network to determine the location of the sensors and exploit it. For example, in intrusion detection systems, the information can be used to identify coverage gaps and avoid detection. Data source location privacy preservation protocols were designed in this work to address this problem. Using wireless sensors for disaster preparedness, recovery and relief operations can have high deployment costs. Making use of wireless devices (e.g. smartphones and tablets) widely available among people in the affected region is a more practical approach. Disaster preparedness involves dissemination of information among the people to make them aware of the risks they will face in the event of a disaster and how to actively prepare for them. The content is downloaded by the people on their smartphones and tablets for ubiquitous access. As these devices are primarily constrained by their available energy, this work introduces an energy-aware peer-to-peer file sharing protocol for efficient distribution of the content and maximizing the lifetime of the devices. Finally, the ability of the wireless devices to build an ad hoc network for capturing and collecting data for disaster relief and recovery operations was investigated. Specifically, novel energy-adaptive mechanisms were designed for autonomous creation of the ad hoc network, distribution of data capturing task among the devices, and collection of data with minimum delay --Abstract, page iii

Morfologia de aldeias tradicionais no planalto central iraniano: estudo analítico para a compreensão do seu património

Tese de doutoramento em Architecture (especialidade em Architectural Culture)As aldeias encontram-se entre as primeiras formas de organização humana. A sua configuração tem sido moldada sob a influência de vários fatores, de modo a servir os seus habitantes. Assim, o presente estudo procura investigar o meio em que se construíram as aldeias tradicionais iranianas localizadas no planalto central e compreender o valor do seu legado. Através de uma análise detalhada, este trabalho tem como objetivo destacar as características únicas destes lugares, a sua importância histórica e cultural, e contribuir para a preservação e promoção dos seus patrimónios. Num primeiro momento foi levada a cabo a revisão da literatura, que enfatiza os aspetos chave da morfologia urbana, a história das formas de urbanização, e os fatores que influenciaram o seu desenvolvimento no Irão. Apesar do papel crucial desempenhado pelas aldeias na formação das cidades históricas no Irão, a literatura existente tem-se dedicado sobretudo aos centros de maior dimensão e conhecimento, ignorando as comunidades mais pequenas. Os diferentes fatores que contribuíram para a sua morfologia não têm também sido adequadamente considerados. Utilizando uma variedade de métodos e parâmetros para selecionar os estudos de caso, as aldeias escolhidas foram classificadas em três categorias principais: montanha, deserto, e fortificação, cada uma com características singulares. Em seguida, foi realizada uma análise minuciosa de três aldeias - Abyaneh, Qehi, Ghourtan - com base nos principais elementos da morfologia urbana, juntamente com uma abordagem qualitativa que considerou fatores ambientais e não ambientais. Essa análise envolveu ainda levantamentos, trabalho de campo e entrevistas. Para um maior entendimento, foram produzidos desenhos em diferentes escalas e resoluções para cada estudo de caso. Os resultados desta pesquisa não só estabelecem um caminho para estudos futuros, mas também introduzem de forma clara uma metodologia de análise dos fatores influentes. Esta abordagem oferece um modo mais eficaz de investigar estas aldeias, permitindo uma compreensão dos principais fatores que influenciaram o seu desenvolvimento. Este conhecimento é, portanto, essencial para a compreensão do património histórico destas aldeias e relevante para o planeamento e esforços de conservação destinados ao seu desenvolvimento sustentável. Em última análise, este trabalho tem como objetivo poder impactar na perceção estratégica deste património, atribuindo-lhe um papel instrumental no bem-estar das comunidades locais.Villages are among the first human settlements. Their traditional form has been shaped under the influence of various factors to meet the needs of the residents. The purpose of this research is to investigate the built environment of traditional villages located in the Iranian central plateau with the main objective of gaining a thorough understanding of their heritage value. Through a detailed analysis, this study aims to uncover the unique features, cultural and historical significance of the villages, and contribute to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage. To begin with, a comprehensive review of the literature is conducted, emphasizing the key elements of urban morphology, the history of urban form, and the factors that have influenced settlements in Iran. Despite the crucial role played by villages in shaping historical cities in Iran, the existing body of research has primarily focused on larger and well-known cities, disregarding smaller communities and villages. Furthermore, the various factors that shaped these villages have not been adequately considered thus far. Using a range of methods and parameters for selecting case studies, the chosen villages have been classified into three main categories: mountain, desert, and fortress, each with unique built features. A detailed examination was then conducted to three villages - Abyaneh, Qehi, Ghourtan - based on the main elements of urban morphology schools together with a qualitative approach that considers environmental and non-environmental factors. This analysis further involved surveys, fieldwork and interviews. To facilitate the analysis, different drawings were produced for each case study, varying in scales and resolutions. The findings of this research not only establish a comprehensive framework for future studies but also transparently introduce a methodology to analyse influential factors. This approach offers an enhanced and more effective means of researching these villages, thus facilitating a clear understanding of the primary factors that have influenced their development. This knowledge is essential for understanding the historical heritage of these villages and beneficial to consider in planning and conservation efforts aimed at their sustainable development. Ultimately, this work aims to impact the strategic perception of heritage, positioning it as an instrumental role for the overall well-being of local communities

Human experience in the natural and built environment : implications for research policy and practice

22nd IAPS conference. Edited book of abstracts. 427 pp. University of Strathclyde, Sheffield and West of Scotland Publication. ISBN: 978-0-94-764988-3

Privacy-by-design in big data analytics and social mining

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