Exploratory analysis of OpenStreetMap for land use classification

In the last years, volunteers have been contributing massively to what we know nowadays as Volunteered Geographic Information. This huge amount of data might be hiding a vast geographical richness and therefore research needs to be conducted to explore their potential and use it in the solution of real world problems. In this study we conduct an exploratory analysis of data from the OpenStreetMap initiative. Using the Corine Land Cover database as reference and continental Portugal as the study area, we establish a possible correspondence between both classification nomenclatures, evaluate the quality of OpenStreetMap polygon features classification against Corine Land Cover classes from level 1 nomenclature, and analyze the spatial distribution of OpenStreetMap classes over continental Portugal. A global classification accuracy around 76% and interesting coverage areas’ values are remarkable and promising results that encourages us for future research on this topic

a framework to explore correlations between space-based and place-based user-generated content

Tang, V., & Painho, M. (2023). Content-location relationships: a framework to explore correlations between space-based and place-based user-generated content. International Journal Of Geographical Information Science, 37(8), 1840–1871. https://doi.org/10.1080/13658816.2023.2213869 ---The authors acknowledge the funding from the Portuguese national funding agency for science, research and technology (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia – FCT) through the CityMe project (EXPL/GES-URB/1429/2021; https://cityme.novaims.unl.pt/) and the project UIDB/04152/2020 - Centro de Investigação em Gestão de Informação (MagIC)/NOVA IMS.The use of social media and location-based networks through GPS-enabled devices provides geospatial data for a plethora of applications in urban studies. However, the extent to which information found in geo-tagged social media activity corresponds to the spatial context is still a topic of debate. In this article, we developed a framework aimed at retrieving the thematic and spatial relationships between content originated from space-based (Twitter) and place-based (Google Places and OSM) sources of geographic user-generated content based on topics identified by the embedding-based BERTopic model. The contribution of the framework lies on the combination of methods that were selected to improve previous works focused on content-location relationships. Using the city of Lisbon (Portugal) to test our methodology, we first applied the embedding-based topic model to aggregated textual data coming from each source. Results of the analysis evidenced the complexity of content-location relationships, which are mostly based on thematic profiles. Nonetheless, the framework can be employed in other cities and extended with other metrics to enrich the research aimed at exploring the correlation between online discourse and geography.publishersversionpublishe

An overview of techniques associated with remote sensing

Paige, M., & Painho, M. (2015). Detection of exogenous floating marine debris: An overview of techniques associated with remote sensing. In Water Resources Management VIII (Vol. 196, pp. 537 - 548). (WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment). DOI: 10.2495/WRM150461Exogenous floating marine debris (EFMD) is a worldwide concern and its ubiquitous characteristics and long-term threat have raised calls for new venues to enable easier and prompt detection at large. The main focus of this paper is to evidence search and detection methods for EFMD using remote sensing techniques. This paper contributes to update research information in the topic under scrutiny and to screen for possible gaps to mitigate EFMD impacts. Several needs for research were found, and, before any work to establish the ground truth could take place, a spectral library model for EFMD going through several stages of biofouling must be created using passive or active research methods. Search methods need to be automated using empirical models based on stratified set-ups previously tested. Several sensors show potential for an indirect search for EFMD, but direct detection of EFMD using multispectral and radar instruments still needs further research through integration with conceptual and empirical modeling techniques.publishersversionpublishe

Exploring the relationships between perceived neighborhood boundaries and street network orientation

Tang, V., & Painho, M. (2023). Exploring the relationships between perceived neighborhood boundaries and street network orientation. Transactions in GIS, 27(3), 877-899. https://doi.org/10.1111/tgis.13058 --- Funding: The authors acknowledge the funding from the Portuguese national funding agency for science, research, and technology (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia—FCT) through the CityMe project (EXPL/GES-URB/1429/2021; https://cityme.novaims.unl.pt/).The neighborhood is a core unit of analysis in urban research, planning, and policy-making. However, perceptual and historical processes oftentimes result in neighborhoods that are not tied to sub-urban jurisdictions. For instance, historic neighborhoods might lack official spatial definitions, hampering neighborhood-based tasks in local offices. In this case, urban practitioners can benefit from readily available spatial proxies, such as the local street network. In this study, we conducted an exploratory analysis that combines neighborhood mapping and street network modeling. By retrieving participants' sketched boundaries and quantifying spatial orientations of sketched polygons and local network patterns, we were able to measure and compare the relationships between the urban fabric and the perceived extents of two historic neighborhoods in Lisbon, Portugal. The results provided insights for enhancing existing definitions of non-official neighborhoods, outlining new urban districts as well as for discussions about the role of the urban form in shaping people's perceptions.publishersversionpublishe

Design for geospatially enabled climate modeling and alert system (CLIMSYS):A position paper

The paper brings the focus on to multi-disciplinary approach of presenting climate analysis studies, taking help of interdisciplinary fields to structure the information. The system CLIMSYS provides the crucial element of spatially enabling climate data processing. Even though climate change is a matter of great scientific relevance and of broad general interest, there are some problems related to its communication. Its a fact that finding practical, workable and cost-efficient solutions to the problems posed by climate change is now a world priority and one which links government and non-government organizations in a way not seen before. An approach that should suffice is to create an accessible intelligent system that houses prior knowledge and curates the incoming data to deliver meaningful results. The objective of the proposed research is to develop a generalized system for climate data analysis that facilitates open sharing, central implementation, integrated components, knowledge creation, data format understanding, inferencing and ultimately optimal solution delivery, by the way of geospatial enablement

Geographical patterns of the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer in mainland Portugal municipalities (2007-2011)

Free PMC Article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6542026/Background: Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. In Portugal, colorectal cancer is one of the most incident cancers; thus, it is crucial to act to fight it. Knowledge of the geographical distribution of the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer can facilitate the execution of these actions and make them more effective. Methods: Our paper aims to describe and discuss the geographical patterns of colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in mainland Portugal municipalities (2007–2011). We used the Besag, York and Mollié (BYM) model to compute the relative risk (RR) and posterior probability (PP). We performed a cluster analysis with Global Moran’s Index and Local Moran’s Index (LISA). We ran a geographically weighted regression (GWR) to compare incidence and mortality patterns. Results: Incidence and mortality have different distributions of RR values. The interval of RR concerning incidence was higher than the interval of RR concerning mortality. PP values reinforce the finding of higher heterogeneity of the incidence of colorectal cancer. The comparison of the cluster maps for incidence and mortality shows a few municipalities classified with the same cluster type in both maps. Additionally, the GWR results show that the percentage of RR mortality explained by RR incidence differs throughout mainland Portugal. From the comparison of our results with the prevalence of risk factors (at NUTS II level), the need to be aware of smoking habits, alcohol consumption and the unhealthy diet of the Portuguese population stands out. Conclusions: There are differences in the geographical distribution of the RR incidence and RR mortality of colorectal cancer in mainland Portugal municipalities. Likewise, it is relevant to highlight the cluster of two municipalities with high RR values concerning colorectal cancer’s incidence and mortality. Future research is necessary to explain the geographical differences in the distribution of colorectal cancer in mainland Portugal municipalities. Based on our findings, it may be interesting to examine the influence of smoking, alcohol consumption, diet and screening on colorectal cancer in greater detail. Additionally, it may be relevant to develop an analysis focused on municipalities where the incidence values explain the mortality values poorly (or well).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Using Ambient Geographic Information (AGI) in Order to Understand Emotion & Stress within Smart Cities

Oliveira, T. H., & Painho, M. (2015). Using Ambient Geographic Information (AGI) in Order to Understand Emotion & Stress within Smart Cities. In F. Bação, M. Y. Santos, & M. Painho (Eds.), AGILE 2015 : 18th AGILE International Conference on Geographic Information Science: Geographic Information Science as an Enabler of Smarter Cities and Communities AGILE.Since one of the main ambitions of a smart city is to improve urban functions and provided services, it is often perceived as a living urban fabric, in which connected urban citizens, acting as active sensors, have the capacity to contribute even more efficiently to the spatial intelligence of cities. This “immaterial” dimension is related with the need that smart cities have to assess their citizen’s feelings, perception and well-being, giving rise to an emotion-aware city. Mapping emotion builds on a tradition of studies in cognitive mapping, evaluative mapping, environmental preference and environmental affect, adding an approach in which people experience, evaluate and describe their environment “in situ” through social media. This paper aims to present an Ambient Geographic Information (AGI) approach to assemble geo-tagged data from Twitter, Flickr, Instagram and Facebook related with people’s perception and feelings regarding Lisbon (Portugal), and therefore characterize its emotional dimension, by comparing these subjective observations with objective measurements (such as socio-demographic statistics, questionnaires and data retrieved from biometric sensors). With this vision of a smart city, that is capable to interpret and harnessing the emotional states of its citizens, it is essential to find new methods and techniques to sensing affect in an urban context.publishersversionpublishe

Sense of place and the city: the case of non-native residents in Lisbon

Tang, V., Acedo, A., & Painho, M. (2021). Sense of place and the city: the case of non-native residents in Lisbon. Journal of Spatial Information Science, Special Issue: Special Feature on Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Place(23), 125-155. https://doi.org/10.5311/JOSIS.2021.23.165 ------------------------------Funding Information: This work was supported by the Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies (Geotech), an Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJMD) consortium under the EU’s Erasmus+ program.When immigrants move to a new city, they tend to develop distinct relationships with the urban landscape, which in turn becomes the new setting of their routine-based activities that evolve over time. Previous works in environmental psychology have quantitatively examined non-native residents' development of sense of place towards their new environment. In this paper, we introduce the spatial perspective into studying the sense of place experienced by non-natives in an urban context. We study the person-place bonds, relationships, and feelings cultivated by non-native residents living in the city of Lisbon (Portugal) through an online map-based survey. Then, we carried out spatial analysis aimed at distinguishing and visualizing the different facets of sense of place developed by two participant groups: short-term residents and long-term residents. Results showed that while short-term residents reported bonds with places, long-term residents' senses of place were more intense and broader throughout the city. The correlations, associations, and relationships between participant groups and the dimensions of sense of place allowed us to observe features and patterns that were previously described in the literature, although adding the spatial lenses can potentially provide better insights for urban planning, community development, and inclusive policies.publishersversionpublishe

perspectives from Mozambican institutions

Amade, N., Oliveira, T., & Painho, M. (2020). Understanding the determinants of GIT post-adoption: perspectives from Mozambican institutions. Heliyon, 6(5), [e03879]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03879This study aims to understand the determinants of geographical information technologies at the scale of post-adoption use and intention to increase the level of use in Mozambican institutions. Three known theories (diffusion of innovation theory, technology – organisation – environment framework, and institutional theory) have been used in order to accomplish the study. The data analysis showed that the variables compatibility, geographical scope, expansion opportunities, and normative pressure contribute to explaining GIT use. Relative advantage, complexity, coercive pressure, and mimetic pressure contribute to explaining the intention to increase GIT levels of use. The model revealed substantial power of explanation for GIT post-adoption.publishersversionpublishe

Comparative study of Land Use/Cover classification using Flickr photos, satellite imagery and Corine land cover database

Ponencias, comunicaciones y pósters presentados en el 17th AGILE Conference on Geographic Information Science "Connecting a Digital Europe through Location and Place", celebrado en la Universitat Jaume I del 3 al 6 de junio de 2014.Volunteered Geographic Information has been increasing exponentially over the last years, capturing the attention of the scientific community. Researchers have been very active exploring a vast amount of initiatives and trying to develop methodologies and possible real applications for this new source of geographic information. Land Use/Cover production is one of the areas where this type of geographic information might be very useful. In this paper we evaluate if geo-referenced and publicly available photos from the Flickr initiative can be used as a source of geographic information to help Land Use/Cover classification. Using the Corine Land Cover nomenclature, we compare the classification obtained for selected photo locations, against the classification obtained from high resolution satellite imagery for the same locations. We conclude that this source cannot be used alone for the purpose of Land Use/Cover classification but we also believe that it might contain helpful information if combined with other sources