Policy Document on Earth Observation for Urban Planning and Management: State of the Art and Recommendations for Application of Earth Observation in Urban Planning

A policy document on earth observation for urban planning and management resulting from a workshop held in Hong Kong in November 2006 is presented. The aim of the workshop was to provide a forum for researchers and scientists specializing in earth observation to interact with practitioners working in different aspects of city planning, in a complex and dynamic city, Hong Kong. A summary of the current state of the art, limitations, and recommendations for the use of earth observation in urban areas is presented here as a policy document

Impaired chronotropic response to 6-min walk test and reduced survival in interstitial lung disease

SummaryBackgroundReduced chronotropic response to maximal exercise has been associated with poor survival in people without respiratory disease. The contribution of chronotropic response to exercise limitation and survival in interstitial lung disease (ILD) is not well defined. This study investigated the relationships between chronotropic response during 6-min walk test, exercise capacity and survival in ILD.MethodsEligible participants had ILD, were ambulant and free of heart failure and beta blocker therapy. Chronotropic response during the 6-min walk test was defined as peak heart rate (HR) minus resting HR. Survival was recorded at four years.ResultsSixty-two participants (40 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) were included, with mean (SD) TLCO 50(18)% predicted and 6-min walk distance (6MWD) 377 (127) metres. A smaller chronotropic response was associated with reduced 6MWD (r = 0.65, p < 0.001). Independent predictors of 6MWD were chronotropic response, peak oxygen uptake on cardiopulmonary exercise test; right ventricular systolic pressure on echocardiogram; and age. This model explained 83% of the variance in 6MWD, with 24% of the variance attributable to chronotropic response. A chronotropic response during 6-min walk test of less than 20 beats per minute was an independent predictor of death at four years (odds ratio 10.71, 95% confidence interval 2.67–42.94) in a model that also included oxygen desaturation and forced vital capacity.ConclusionsImpaired chronotropic response to 6-min walk test is associated with reduced 6MWD and reduced survival in ILD, independent of physical fitness and pulmonary hypertension. Investigation of the mechanisms underlying attenuated HR response to exercise in ILD is warranted

Preface: the 2020 edition of the XXIVth ISPRS congress

International audienc

Global geospatial data from Earth observation: status and issues

Data covering the whole of the surface of the Earth in a homogeneous and reliable manner has been accumulating over many years. This type of data became available from meteorological satellites from the 1960s and from Earth-observing satellites at a small scale from the early 1970s but has gradually accumulated at larger scales up to the present day when we now have data covering many environmental themes at large scales. These data have been used to generate information which is presented in the form of global data sets. This paper will give a brief introduction to the development of Earth observation and to the organisations and sensors which collect data and produce global geospatial data sets. Means of accessing global data sets will set out the types of data available that will be covered. Digital elevation models are discussed in a separate section because of their importance in georeferencing image data as well as their application to analysis of thematic data. The paper will also examine issues of availability, accuracy, validation and reliability and will look at future challenges