Understanding movement data quality

© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Understanding of data quality is essential for choosing suitable analysis methods and interpreting their results. Investigation of quality of movement data, due to their spatio-temporal nature, requires consideration from multiple perspectives at different scales. We review the key properties of movement data and, on their basis, create a typology of possible data quality problems and suggest approaches to identify these types of problems

Visual analytics of flight trajectories for uncovering decision making strategies

In air traffic management and control, movement data describing actual and planned flights are used for planning, monitoring and post-operation analysis purposes with the goal of increased efficient utilization of air space capacities (in terms of delay reduction or flight efficiency), without compromising the safety of passengers and cargo, nor timeliness of flights. From flight data, it is possible to extract valuable information concerning preferences and decision making of airlines (e.g. route choice) and air traffic managers and controllers (e.g. flight rerouting or optimizing flight times), features whose understanding is intended as a key driver for bringing operational performance benefits. In this paper, we propose a suite of visual analytics techniques for supporting assessment of flight data quality and data analysis workflows centred on revealing decision making preferences

Preliminary Results on the Structure and Functioning of a Taiga Watershed

Comprehensive research in ecosystem functioning may logically be undertaken in the conceptual and physical context of complete drainage basins (watersheds or catchments). The watershed forms a fundamental, cohesive landscape unit in terms of water movement following initial receipt of precipitation. Water itself is a fundamental agent in energy flux, nutrient transport, and in plant and animal life. The Caribou-Poker Creeks Research Watershed is an interagency endeavor aimed at understanding hydrologic and, ultimately, ecological functioning in the subarctic taiga, the discontinuous permafrost uplands of central Alaska. Initial work includes acquisition and analysis of data on soils, vegetation, local climate, hydrology, and stream quality. Information acquired in the research watershed is summarized here, and implications for future data acquisition and research are considered

Children’s Fitness and Quality of Movement

Introduction: Movement is essential to life and plays a key role in development throughout childhood. Movement can be assessed by its quantity and quality. Movement is important to measure as it can aid early intervention. Current research suggests that global levels of fitness are declining, with a lack of research surrounding children’s natural fitness levels as they get older. Quantity of movement is commonly studied, however quality is becoming increasingly popular. A clear understanding of the methods of technology used to measure quality of movement is important as understanding this area will aid in designing appropriate interventions.Methods: This thesis comprises of two experimental studies. Study one is a repeated measures design using previously collected Swanlinx data to investigate how components of children’s fitness change over a one-year period. Study two is a scoping review investigating the measurement of quality of movement with technology in the form of MEM’s devices, while aiming to gain clarity on the definition of quality.Results: Study one revealed that children’s fitness levels increase across a one-year period, in all components of fitness, except sit and reach. Boys performed significantly better in all fitness components, apart from sit and reach. Study two demonstrated the broad field that is included under the term of quality, showing clarity is needed in this area. A large number of devices, movements and populations are being observed, with multiple definitions of quality which is dependent on the metrics collected.Conclusion: Study one concludes that children’s fitness levels increase over one-year, with boys performing better than girls. This can be used to understand children’s natural fitness levels and aid future interventions in participation. Study two concludes that there are multiple ways to assess quality of movement however a clear definition of the quality should be stated, aiding comparison of quality

New Forms of Public Service Delivery – are they really valuable?

One of the major challenges currently faced by Public Administrations is the creation of more value for both citizens and firms, mainly because of the increasing budgetary constraints and challenging demands from society. In fact, in the last two decades there has been a general movement of public reform in almost all developed countries, and for this reason it became essential to understand how users assess public services’ quality. This paper aims precisely at understanding which the determinants of public services’ quality are. Due to the nature of the research problem, the case-study methodology has been chosen. Thus, this paper presents the case-study of Citizen Shops in Portugal, a recent and innovative channel of public services’ delivery, within a strong relational perspective. This research involved an extensive qualitative and quantitative data collection. The main findings and implications are presented and discussed.public services; Citizen Shops; quality determinants; satisfaction; dissatisfaction

Movement of the human foot in 100 pain free individuals aged 18–45 : implications for understanding normal foot function

Background: Understanding motion in the normal healthy foot is a prerequisite for understanding the effects of pathology and thereafter setting targets for interventions. Quality foot kinematic data from healthy feet will also assist the development of high quality and research based clinical models of foot biomechanics. To address gaps in the current literature we aimed to describe 3D foot kinematics using a 5 segment foot model in a population of 100 pain free individuals. Methods: Kinematics of the leg, calcaneus, midfoot, medial and lateral forefoot and hallux were measured in 100 self reported healthy and pain free individuals during walking. Descriptive statistics were used to characterise foot movements. Contributions from different foot segments to the total motion in each plane were also derived to explore functional roles of different parts of the foot. Results: Foot segments demonstrated greatest motion in the sagittal plane, but large ranges of movement in all planes. All foot segments demonstrated movement throughout gait, though least motion was observed between the midfoot and calcaneus. There was inconsistent evidence of movement coupling between joints. There were clear differences in motion data compared to foot segment models reported in the literature. Conclusions: The data reveal the foot is a multiarticular structure, movements are complex, show incomplete evidence of coupling, and vary person to person. The data provide a useful reference data set against which future experimental data can be compared and may provide the basis for conceptual models of foot function based on data rather than anecdotal observations

Embodied Narratives: The Influence of Dance/Movement Therapy on the Mood of Hospitalized Children

The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to understand how my Blanche Evan’s based dance/movement therapy treatment influenced mood for children on my case load in an inpatient general medical pediatrics unit. Patients participated in a minimum of one dance/movement therapy (DMT) session based on: availability, schedule of the subjects’ other medical treatments, and discharge date. Data collection methods included researcher journaling and audio recorded semi-structured interviews with participants and their caretakers following a one-hour dance/movement therapy session. Data was analyzed using thematic narrative analysis with a focus on the conversation between interview data and journal entries. Through these experiences, I gained a better understanding of what DMT was providing for them in their current reality and how it affected their mood. It revealed evidence of themes such as coping, mood, self-perception, socialization, stressors, and quality of life associated with the hospital setting. Each participant’s narrative was written as a creative short story to illuminate the unique experiences and essence of each case while bringing understanding to the use of Evan’s based dance/movement therapy for hospitalized children. 90 pages

The Dancing Imagination: How Does Imaginative Imagery Facilitate Movement Qualities in Dance Training and Performance?

The purpose· of this case study was to explore how imagery facilitates movement quality in dance training and performance. A literature review on classifications of direct and indirect imagery and imagery in relation to neuroscience, was investigated to firstly define imagery. The confusion over defining movement quality led to a literature review on Kinesiology and Gaga methods and how these dance-training methods utilise imagery in different ways to enhance the movement quality of dance in training and performance. Qualitative research methodology was used in this case study. The case study used a purposeful sample of eight subjects who were undergraduate and post gradate dance students in Australia. The data was gathered with the aid of a questionnaire via email whereby subjects recorded their views and returned information via email. A questionnaire was devised to discover which imagery-based methods dance students used, in training and performance and how they might be applied. Through content analysis, the questionnaire revealed three main areas connected to the use of imagery in facilitating movement: anatomical understanding; learning and developing technique and the quality of movement. It was found that imagery was useful in relation to the alignment of the skeletal structure in combination with tactile aid to activate and re-pattern certain muscle groups and assist with ease and efficiency of movement. Imagery was also useful as a tool for learning and developing as a dancer in developing a strong mind-body connection that is supported by recent brain research on neuroplasticity. Imagery was also viewed as a useful tool to enhance the quality of movement in aesthetic, sensory, emotive and authentic ways. Overall, imagery connected to physical alignment appeared to be the most popular using. It was revealed the defining movement quality is almost impossible to measure because of subjectivity of interpretation not only from the dancer as a performer, but also due to how the audience views and understands the movement. Further research is recommended to further define movement quality in more specific terms and from different points of view and cultures

What Drives Long-Distance Dispersal? A Test of Theoretical Predictions

Long-distance dispersal (LDD) may contribute disproportionately to species persistence in fragmented landscapes, non-native invasions, and range shifts in response to climate change. However, direct data on LDD are extremely limited, leaving us with little understanding of why it occurs. I used six years of mark–recapture data on the stream salamander Gyrinophilus porphyriticus to test theoretical predictions of how variation in habitat quality affects LDD. Frequency of LDD was quantified using the kurtosis of yearly movement distributions from recaptured animals in a 1-km headwater stream. Temporal and spatial variation in habitat quality were quantified with spatially explicit data on the body condition and dispersion of individuals throughout the study stream. Using information-theoretic model selection criteria, I found that LDD increased during periods of low average body condition and low spatial variation in body condition. Consistent with basic theory, my results indicate that temporal variation in habitat quality is critical to initiating dispersal, and that LDD increases when animals must move farther to encounter higher-quality habitat. This suggests that information on how habitat quality varies in time and space can be useful for predicting LDD. More broadly, this study highlights the value of direct data on animal movement for testing dispersal theory