An Expert System to Convert Knowledge-Based Geological Engineering Systems into Fortran

A knowledge-based geographic information system (KBGIS) for geological engineering map (GEM) production was developed in GoldWorks, an expert system development shell. Using this shell, the geological engineer is able to develop a rule base for a particular application that results in a valid GEM. However, this implementation failed as a practical production system due to the excessive execution time required to produce a GEM. To solve this problem, a conversion expert system was developed which accepted, as input, a KBGIS and produced, as output, the equivalent Fortran code. Two major objectives are accomplished as a result of this system: GEN production time is dramatically reduced and the versatility of the KBGIS development environment is retained. The conversion expert system was tested by converting the Midwestern KBGIS expert syste

Development of an Expert System to Convert Knowledge-based Geological Engineering Systems into Fortran

A knowledge-based geographic information system (KBGIS) for geological engineering map (GEM) production was developed in GoldWorks, an expert system development shell. GoldWorks allows the geological engineer to develop a rule base for a GEM application. Implementation of the resultant rule base produced a valid GEM, but took too much time. This proved that knowledge-based GEM production was possible but in GoldWorks implementation failed as a practical production system. To solve this problem, a Conversion Expert System was developed which accepted, as input, a KBGIS and produced, as output, the equivalent Fortran code. This allowed the engineer to utilize GoldWorks for development of the rule base while implementing the rule base in a more practical manner (as a Fortran program). Testing of the Fortran program generated by this Conversion System confirmed that the GEMs produced were identical to those from the KBGIS, and execution time was significantly reduced. There was an additional benefit; since use of the Fortran program did not require access to the GoldWorks System, a single GoldWorks package could be used with the Conversion System to develop several Fortran production systems. These systems could then be used at remote production sites. However, each Fortran production system still required access to the Earth Resources Data Analysis System (ERDAS) that supplied the GIS input and output files. Thus, this Conversion System achieved two major objectives; it dramatically reduced GEM production time, and it added versatility

A New High-Resolution Map of World Mountains and an Online Tool for Visualizing and Comparing

Answers to the seemingly straightforward questions “what is a mountain?” and “where are the mountains of the world?” are in fact quite complex, and there have been few attempts to map the mountains of the earth in a consistent and rigorous fashion. However, knowing exactly where mountain ecosystems are distributed on the planet is a precursor to conserving them, as called for in Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 15 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this article we first compare 3 characterizations of global mountain distributions, including a new, high-resolution (250 m) map of global mountains derived from terrain characteristics. We show how differences in conceptual definition, methodology, and spatial resolution of source data can result in differences in the extent and location of lands classed as mountains. For example, the new 250-m resource documents a larger global mountain extent than previous characterizations, although it excludes plateaus, hilly forelands, and other landforms that are often considered part of mountain areas. We then introduce the Global Mountain Explorer, a new web-based application specifically developed for exploration, visualization, and comparison of these maps. This new open-access tool is an intuitive and versatile resource suitable for a broad range of users and applications

A Global Ecological Classification of Coastal Segment Units to Complement Marine Biodiversity Observation Network Assessments

A new data layer provides Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) labels for global coastal segments at 1 km or shorter resolution. These characteristics are summarized for six US Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) sites and one MBON Pole to Pole of the Americas site in Argentina. The global coastlines CMECS classifications were produced from a partitioning of a 30 m Landsat-derived shoreline vector that was segmented into 4 million 1 km or shorter segments. Each segment was attributed with values from 10 variables that represent the ecological settings in which the coastline occurs, including properties of the adjacent water, adjacent land, and coastline itself. The 4 million segments were classified into 81,000 coastal segment units (CSUs) as unique combinations of variable classes. We summarize the process to develop the CSUs and derive summary descriptions for the seven MBON case study sites. We discuss the intended application of the new CSU data for research and management in coastal areas

Development of an expert system to convert knowledge-based geological engineering systems into Fortran

A knowledge-based geographic information system (KBGIS) for geological engineering map (GEM) production was developed in GoldWorks, an expert system development shell. GoldWorks allows the geological engineer to develop a rule base for a GEM application. Implementation of the resultant rule base produced a valid GEM, but took too much time. This proved that knowledge-based GEM production was possible but in GoldWorks implementation failed as a practical production system. To solve this problem, a Conversion Expert System was developed which accepted, as input, a KBGIS and produced, as output, the equivalent Fortran code. This allowed the engineer to utilize GoldWorks for development of the rule base while implementing the rule base in a more practical manner (as a Fortran program). Testing of the Fortran program generated by this Conversion System confirmed that the GEMs produced were identical to those from the KBGIS, and execution time was significantly reduced. There was an additional benefit; since use of the Fortran program did not require access to the GoldWorks System, a single GoldWorks package could be used with the Conversion System to develop several Fortran production systems. These systems could then be used at remote production sites. However, each Fortran production system still required access to the Earth Resources Data Analysis System (ERDAS) that supplied the GIS input and output files. Thus, this Conversion System achieved two major objectives; it dramatically reduced GEM production time, and it added versatility --Abstract, page iii

Emergency department use by recently diagnosed cancer patients in California.

BackgroundImproving the quality of cancer care and reducing preventable health system use are goals of increasing importance to health practitioners and policy makers. Emergency department (ED) visits are often cited as a source of preventable health system use, however, few studies have described the incidence of ED use by recently diagnosed cancer patients in population-based samples, and no study has addressed the full spectrum of cancer types.ObjectiveTo describe ED use by recently diagnosed cancer patients.MethodsCalifornia Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development data and the California Cancer Registry were used to describe ED use in the year after a cancer diagnosis (2009-2010). The incidence of ED use was tabulated by cancer type. Logistic regression and recycled predictions were used to examine ED use adjusting for confounding factors.ResultsMost ED visits (68%) occurred within 180 days of diagnosis. The incidence of ED use for all cancer types examined was 17% within 30 days, 35% within 180 days and 44% within 365 days of diagnosis. ED use varied by cancer type (5%-39% within 30 days of diagnosis; 14% -62% within 180 days; and 22%-69% within 365 days). Patterns of ED use by cancer type remained similar after accounting for demographic and socioeconomic factors.LimitationsThose common to administrative and registry datasets. Specifically, we were unable to account for ED visits in relation to cancer treatment dates and comorbid conditions.ConclusionsCancer patients use EDs at higher rates than previously reported, with considerable variability by cancer type. Future research should examine reasons for ED visits by cancer type and identify predictors of ED use, including treatment and comorbid conditions

A New High-Resolution Map of World Mountains and an Online Tool for Visualizing and Comparing Characterizations of Global Mountain Distributions

Answers to the seemingly straightforward questions “what is a mountain?” and “where are the mountains of the world?” are in fact quite complex, and there have been few attempts to map the mountains of the earth in a consistent and rigorous fashion. However, knowing exactly where mountain ecosystems are distributed on the planet is a precursor to conserving them, as called for in Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 15 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this article we first compare 3 characterizations of global mountain distributions, including a new, high-resolution (250 m) map of global mountains derived from terrain characteristics. We show how differences in conceptual definition, methodology, and spatial resolution of source data can result in differences in the extent and location of lands classed as mountains. For example, the new 250-m resource documents a larger global mountain extent than previous characterizations, although it excludes plateaus, hilly forelands, and other landforms that are often considered part of mountain areas. We then introduce the Global Mountain Explorer, a new web-based application specifically developed for exploration, visualization, and comparison of these maps. This new open-access tool is an intuitive and versatile resource suitable for a broad range of users and applications

A global ecological classification of coastal segment units: To complement marine biodiversity observation network assessments

A new data layer provides Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) labels for global coastal segments at 1 km or shorter resolution. These characteristics are summarized for six US Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) sites and one MBON Pole to Pole of the Americas site in Argentina. The global coastlines CMECS classifications were produced from a partitioning of a 30 m Landsat-derived shoreline vector that was segmented into 4 million 1 km or shorter segments. Each segment was attributed with values from 10 variables that represent the ecological settings in which the coastline occurs, including properties of the adjacent water, adjacent land, and coastline itself. The 4 million segments were classified into 81,000 coastal segment units (CSUs) as unique combinations of variable classes. We summarize the process to develop the CSUs and derive summary descriptions for the seven MBON case study sites. We discuss the intended application of the new CSU data for research and management in coastal areas

A global ecological classification of coastal segment units : To complement marine biodiversity observation network assessments

A new data layer provides Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) labels for global coastal segments at 1 km or shorter resolution. These characteristics are summarized for six US Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) sites and one MBON Pole to Pole of the Americas site in Argentina. The global coastlines CMECS classifications were produced from a partitioning of a 30 m Landsat-derived shoreline vector that was segmented into 4 million 1 km or shorter segments. Each segment was attributed with values from 10 variables that represent the ecological settings in which the coastline occurs, including properties of the adjacent water, adjacent land, and coastline itself. The 4 million segments were classified into 81,000 coastal segment units (CSUs) as unique combinations of variable classes. We summarize the process to develop the CSUs and derive summary descriptions for the seven MBON case study sites. We discuss the intended application of the new CSU data for research and management in coastal areas