Usability dimensions in collaborative GIS

Collaborative GIS requires careful consideration of the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Usability aspects, given the variety of users that are expected to use these systems, and the need to ensure that users will find the system effective, efficient, and enjoyable. The chapter explains the link between collaborative GIS and usability engineering/HCI studies. The integration of usability considerations into collaborative GIS is demonstrated in two case studies of Web-based GIS implementation. In the first, the process of digitising an area on Web-based GIS is improved to enhance the user's experience, and to allow interaction over narrowband Internet connections. In the second, server-side rendering of 3D scenes allows users who are not equipped with powerful computers to request sophisticated visualisation without the need to download complex software. The chapter concludes by emphasising the need to understand the users' context and conditions within any collaborative GIS project. © 2006, Idea Group Inc

Utility of collaborative GIS for maritime spatial planning: Design and evaluation of Baltic Explorer

Maritime spatial planning (MSP) needs tools to facilitate discussions and manage spatial data in collaborative workshops that involve actors with various backgrounds and expertise. However, the reported use of spatial tools in real‐world MSP is sparse. A better understanding is needed of how geographic information systems (GIS) can effectively support collaboration in MSP. We studied the utility of GIS tools for collaborative MSP in five steps: first, identifying shortcomings in available GIS for supporting collaborative MSP; second, defining requirements for an effective collaborative GIS (CGIS) for MSP; third, designing and developing a prototype CGIS, Baltic Explorer; fourth, demonstrating the system; and fifth, evaluating the system. In a real‐world MSP workshop, we demonstrated that the functionalities of Baltic Explorer can support and facilitate discussions in collaborative work. We also found that more research is needed about the use of spatial data in collaborative MSP and integration of model‐based geospatial analysis into CGIS

Public involvement and civic rationalism in local authority planning and decision making

This work considers the potential contribution of rational actor and behaviouralist models of political and participatory culture, in understanding specific contemporary issues within the topic of public participation in the decision making activities of UK local authorities. The basis for the research was a range of disruptive or confounding phenomena reported in various literatures, that either generate antipathy during schemes or create negative pre-conceptions that could affect future projects. It is suggested that an appreciation of these confounding factors, when viewed in the context of streamlining local authorities and a rationally acting public, can help us understand issues such as non-participation, apparent apathy in public involvement and certain participatory dynamics. It is argued that understanding these issues is vital, especially given the emergence of the Modernisation Agenda in the UK which places a great deal of importance on the consultative activities of local authorities. The research draws upon Almond and Verba’s Civic Culture theory (1963) and the work of the Public Choice school of political economics, especially the work of James Buchannan and Gordon Tullock, to address issues of political culture and rationalised political activity among both the public and authorities. These provided a framework for a multiple case study research design, looking at public involvement policies and schemes in two English local authorities, against a particularly dynamic policy background. The thesis identifies a range of issues that are linked to the public’s inclination to participate, that are additional to the traditionally quoted issues of apathy or unequal access to democracy. These issues are linked to the perceived effectiveness of participation and its methods, to individuals who are already acting subjectively on the basis of their values and material interests. This work offers and discusses the term ‘Civic Rationality’ to describe this mix of rationales in a participatory culture

Map-based decision support tools for collaborative land use planning

Rietveld, P. [Promotor]Janssen, R. [Copromotor

Reprezentacja nauki o geoinformacji w wybranych językach informacyjno-wyszukiwawczych

Geoinformation science deals with problems related to acquisition, collection, storage, analysis, interpretation, processing, dissemination, transmission, practical application, and use of geoinformation, i.e. the information obtained by means of interpreting spatial data on spatial objects connected with the Earth’s surface. The aim of the dissertation is to propose an update on vocabulary representing the science of geoinformation in selected information retrieval languages applying an original authorial method for updating dictionaries. This method, embedded in the theoretical framework of the science of geoinformation, has been developed to update vocabulary used in different disciplines and areas of expertise because the dynamic development of science, which has been observed for many years now, contributes to coining many new terms which – after being accepted by the user community who employ them – begin to appear in scientific and professional publications. To improve the quality of descriptions in the aforementioned publications in catalogues and bibliographic databases, it is necessary to introduce an effective method for updating the vocabulary used in information retrieval languages and applied to indexing. An analysis of dictionaries of selected information retrieval languages has been carried out to determine whether the existing representation of the area of knowledge in question (the science of geoinformation) is sufficient in relation to the body of knowledge. The research covered selected languages of three types: languages of subject headings – KABA, the language of subject headings; languages of descriptor headings – the GEMET thesaurus; and languages of keywords – the language of SYNABA system. In the dissertation, the proposal of updating dictionaries of information retrieval language in the field of geoinformation has been implemented in three stages: an analysis of the terminology found in the subject literature from the area of knowledge in question in terms of the following: the names of data categories, names of information categories, names of information system categories, and names of the field of knowledge; an analysis of a document presenting both the scope of knowledge within the studied area of knowledge and periodicals published within the area of knowledge, according to the method for updating dictionaries proposed by the author, which constitutes the authorial original method of collecting vocabulary in order to update dictionaries of information retrieval languages; an analysis of interdisciplinary connections in the area of knowledge. The dissertation consists of an introduction, four chapters and a conclusion. The first chapter presents problems referring to terminology and concepts found in the science of geoinformation. The analysis of geoinformation terminology has been carried out taking into account the terms relating to names of the following categories: data, information, information systems, and the names of the field of knowledge. In each of the aforesaid ranges of category names, there occur a multiplicity and ambiguity of terms used in names; therefore, definitions have been created and interdependence between terms has been pointed out. Further, the concept of space has been introduced, the characteristics of geoinformation as a specific category of information have been discussed, the sources of geoinformation, geoinformation systems and geoinformation infrastructure have been characterised, and the thematic structure of geoinformation science has been presented. The prepared characteristics facilitates the understanding of concepts and is useful in the analysis of problems relating to geoinformation science, assessment of its representation in information retrieval languages, and collection of vocabulary in order to update dictionaries of information retrieval languages. The second chapter presents the results of an analysis carried out in order to illustrate the current state of representation of geoinformation science in the selected information retrieval languages. In order to assess the state of representation, a comparison has been made of terms appearing in the existing representation with the expressions from Zasobu wiedzy w zakresie nauki o geoinformacji (The Body of Knowledge in the Field of Geoinformation Science), as well as with the terms related to such category names as: data, information, information systems, and the names of the area of knowledge. Moreover, the characteristics of the information retrieval languages selected for the study has been carried out and the information retrieval language has been presented as a tool for the organization of information and knowledge. The third chapter presents the results of vocabulary collection process carried out for the purpose of updating dictionaries of information retrieval languages. The authorial original method of gathering vocabulary, proposed in the dissertation, has been described and its assessment has been made by comparison with other methods of compiling vocabulary. The chapter also sets out rules for selecting Polish and foreign periodicals (from the field of geoinformation) for research. One of the stages in the proposed method, i.e. the bibliometric analysis of the vocabulary, has allowed to present proposals for vocabulary update in the dictionaries of information retrieval language in the field of geoinformation science. Additionally, the bibliometric analysis of interdisciplinary connections in the field of geoinformation science has been carried out. The fourth chapter describes the issue of updating dictionaries of information retrieval languages and proposes an update on the representation of geoinformation science in the selected information retrieval language. Identified based on the analysis of terminology in the scope of names of data categories, information categories, categories of information systems and field of knowledge, the analysis of the document presenting both the scope of knowledge within the studied area of knowledge and published periodicals, and the analysis of interdisciplinary connections, the proposed vocabulary has been compared with the existing state of representation, thus allowing to obtain the final proposal of lexical units for inclusion into the dictionaries of selected information retrieval languages. As an illustration of the proposed method of updating the vocabulary, a list of vocabulary and dictionary articles has been proposed for the selected information retrieval languages and a proposal for a dictionary of language controlled keywords has been designed

Towards a desing method for 3D collaborative GIS

Our thesis work focuses on collaborative 3D GIS and considers two main aspects governing their implementation: a conceptual framework for an approach to design these systems and a technical framework dealing with the main issues of integration of multiple data sources from different partners in a 3D collaborative database