Integration of Virtual Map Rooms as a support tool in historical and social research

At the present time almost all map libraries on the Internet are image collections generated by the digitization of early maps. This type of graphics files provides researchers with the possibility of accessing and visualizing historical cartographic information keeping in mind that this information has a degree of quality that depends upon elements such as the accuracy of the digitization process and proprietary constraints (e.g. visualization, resolution downloading options, copyright, use constraints). In most cases, access to these map libraries is useful only as a first approach and it is not possible to use those maps for scientific work due to the sparse tools available to measure, match, analyze and/or combine those resources with different kinds of cartography. This paper presents a method to enrich virtual map rooms and provide historians and other professional with a tool that let them to make the most of libraries in the digital era

Database on coastal vulnerability and exposure

In this document, we report progress on the development of European layers on exposure and vulnerability. This involves the collection and cataloguing of relevant exposure factors (e.g., land use, population, settlements, infrastructures) and vulnerability indicators (coastal flood protection, damage functions) as well as the development and application of tools for the logging, spatial interpolation, statistical analysis and validation of the collected information. All data are available through the The Risk Data hub database the aim of which is to improve the accessibility and dissemination of EU-wide curated risk data for fostering Disaster Risk Management (DRM).JRC.E.1-Disaster Risk Managemen

Managing geography learning objects using personalized project spaces in G-Portal

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G-portal : A map-based digital library for distributed geospatial and georeferenced resources

SingAREN Projec

On organizing and accessing geospatial and georeferenced web resources using the g-portal system

In order to organise and manage geospatial and georeferenced information on the web making them convenient for searching and browsing, a digital portal known as G-Portal has been designed and implemented. Compared to other digital libraries, G-Portal is unique for several of its features. It maintains metadata resources in XML with flexible resource schemas. Logical groupings of metadata resources as projects and layers are possible to allow the entire metadata collection to be partitioned differently for users with different information needs. These metadata resources can be displayed in both the classification-based and map-based interfaces provided by G-Portal. G-Portal further incorporates both a query module and an annotation module for users to search metadata and to create additional knowledge for sharing respectively. G-Portal also includes a resource classification module that categorizes resources into one or more hierarchical category trees based on user-defined classification schemas. This paper gives an overview of the G-Portal design and implementation. The portal features will be illustrated using a collection of high school geography examination-related resources.Published versio

Best Practices for Publishing, Retrieving, and Using Spatial Data on the Web

Data owners are creating an ever richer set of information resources online, and these are being used for more and more applications. With the rapid growth of connected embedded devices, GPS-enabled mobile devices, and various organizations that publish their location-based data (i.e., weather and traffic services), maps and geographical and spatial information (i.e., GIS and open maps), spatial data on the Web is becoming ubiquitous and voluminous. However, the heterogeneity of the available spatial data, as well as some challenges related to spatial data in particular make it difficult for data users, web applications and services to discover, interpret and use the information in large and distributed web systems. This paper summarizes some of the efforts that have been undertaken in the joint W3C/OGC Working Group on Spatial Data on the Web, in particular the effort to describe the best practices for publishing spatial data on the Web. This paper presents the set of principles that guide the selection of these best practices, describes best practices that are employed to enable publishing, discovery and retrieving (querying) this type of data on the Web, and identifies some areas where a best practice has not yet emerged

Integrating Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) with Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) creating a Global GIS platform

Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) are a special category of data hubs that involve technological and human resources and follow well defined legal and technical procedures to collect, store, manage and distribute spatial data. INSPIRE is the EU’s authoritative SDI in which each Member State provides access to their spatial data across a wide spectrum of data themes to support policy-making. In contrast, Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) is one type of user-generated geographic information (GI) where volunteers use the web and mobile devices to create, assemble and disseminate spatial information. There are similarities and differences between SDIs and VGI, as well as advantages and disadvantages to both. Thus, the integration of these two data sources will enhance what is offered to end users to facilitate decision-making. This idea of integration is in its early stages, because several key issues need to be considered and resolved first. Therefore, this chapter discusses the challenges of integrating VGI with INSPIRE and outlines a generic framework for a global integrated GIS platform, similar in concept to Digital Earth and Virtual Geographic Environments (VGEs), as a realistic scenario for advancements in the short term

Search improvement within the geospatial web in the context of spatial data infrastructures

El trabajo desarrollado en esta tesis doctoral demuestra que es posible mejorar la búsqueda en el contexto de las Infraestructuras de Datos Espaciales mediante la aplicación de técnicas y buenas prácticas de otras comunidades científicas, especialmente de las comunidades de la Web y de la Web Semántica (por ejemplo, Linked Data). El uso de las descripciones semánticas y las aproximaciones basadas en el contenido publicado por la comunidad geoespacial pueden ayudar en la búsqueda de información sobre los fenómenos geográficos, y en la búsqueda de recursos geoespaciales en general. El trabajo comienza con un análisis de una aproximación para mejorar la búsqueda de las entidades geoespaciales desde la perspectiva de geocodificación tradicional. La arquitectura de geocodificación compuesta propuesta en este trabajo asegura una mejora de los resultados de geocodificación gracias a la utilización de diferentes proveedores de información geográfica. En este enfoque, el uso de patrones estructurales de diseño y ontologías en esta aproximación permite una arquitectura avanzada en términos de extensibilidad, flexibilidad y adaptabilidad. Además, una arquitectura basada en la selección de servicio de geocodificación permite el desarrollo de una metodología de la georreferenciación de diversos tipos de información geográfica (por ejemplo, direcciones o puntos de interés). A continuación, se presentan dos aplicaciones representativas que requieren una caracterización semántica adicional de los recursos geoespaciales. El enfoque propuesto en este trabajo utiliza contenidos basados en heurísticas para el muestreo de un conjunto de recursos geopesaciales. La primera parte se dedica a la idea de la abstracción de un fenómeno geográfico de su definición espacial. La investigación muestra que las buenas prácticas de la Web Semántica se puede reutilizar en el ámbito de una Infraestructura de Datos Espaciales para describir los servicios geoespaciales estandarizados por Open Geospatial Consortium por medio de geoidentificadores (es decir, por medio de las entidades de una ontología geográfica). La segunda parte de este capítulo desglosa la aquitectura y componentes de un servicio de geoprocesamiento para la identificación automática de ortoimágenes ofrecidas a través de un servicio estándar de publicación de mapas (es decir, los servicios que siguen la especificación OGC Web Map Service). Como resultado de este trabajo se ha propuesto un método para la identificación de los mapas ofrecidos por un Web Map Service que son ortoimágenes. A continuación, el trabajo se dedica al análisis de cuestiones relacionadas con la creación de los metadatos de recursos de la Web en el contexto del dominio geográfico. Este trabajo propone una arquitectura para la generación automática de conocimiento geográfico de los recursos Web. Ha sido necesario desarrollar un método para la estimación de la cobertura geográfica de las páginas Web. Las heurísticas propuestas están basadas en el contenido publicado por os proveedores de información geográfica. El prototipo desarrollado es capaz de generar metadatos. El modelo generado contiene el conjunto mínimo recomendado de elementos requeridos por un catálogo que sigue especificación OGC Catalogue Service for the Web, el estandar recomendado por deiferentes Infraestructuras de Datos Espaciales (por ejemplo, the Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE)). Además, este estudio determina algunas características de la Web Geoespacial actual. En primer lugar, ofrece algunas características del mercado de los proveedores de los recursos Web de la información geográfica. Este estudio revela algunas prácticas de la comunidad geoespacial en la producción de metadatos de las páginas Web, en particular, la falta de metadatos geográficos. Todo lo anterior es la base del estudio de la cuestión del apoyo a los usuarios no expertos en la búsqueda de recursos de la Web Geoespacial. El motor de búsqueda dedicado a la Web Geoespacial propuesto en este trabajo es capaz de usar como base un motor de búsqueda existente. Por otro lado, da soporte a la búsqueda exploratoria de los recursos geoespaciales descubiertos en la Web. El experimento sobre la precisión y la recuperación ha demostrado que el prototipo desarrollado en este trabajo es al menos tan bueno como el motor de búsqueda remoto. Un estudio dedicado a la utilidad del sistema indica que incluso los no expertos pueden realizar una tarea de búsqueda con resultados satisfactorios

Spatial Data Management of Temporal Map Series for Cultural and Environmental Heritage

This research focuses on the exploitation of real-time navigation of territory over time. This allows one to extract and compare multi-scale maps in order to verify spatial data management potentials of temporal map series. This paper discusses contributions to the knowledge, conservation, valorisation, awareness rising, and divulgence of cultural and environmental heritage at both regional and urban levels. The main aim is to promote the progressive involvement of historic maps within the planning processes, from the analysis to the governmental plan of addressing the territory, through sustainability projects and interventions. In addition, the systematic collection of temporal map series comparisons should contribute to a better knowledge of complex environmental sites of inland water basins and of the landscape in general, as well as of historic sites. In the former case, they could support the development of hydro-morphologic models and hydro-geologic risk analysis. In the latter, they could be integrated into conservation, restoration, and redevelopment projects. To fulfil these aims and to support a progressive adoption by different actors at a sustainable cost, an open-source geo-portal was developed following the geospatial community standards defined by Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) and compliant with concepts of user-defined Web services. This is hosted by the Web platform available at www.atlantestoricolombardia.it (‘Atl@nte dei Catasti Storici e delle carte Topografiche della Lombardia’ - Atlas of historical cadastres and topographic maps of Lombardy) that is an ongoing project that aims to build up, collect, and manage historic georeferenced cadastral and current topographic maps of this region. In particular, some sets of maps covering areas along artificial and natural water axes are now accessible through an online geo-portal. These maps date back to the late 18th and 19th centuries. Cultural and environmental heritage needs to be analyzed using a case-by-case methodology. With regard to INSPIRE directive, these categories are supported by the ‘protected sites’ theme. The paper addresses the need for shared and standard approaches that need to be considered by the geospatial data community