Digital Commons Network^™

Population Survey (Census) Of Stray Dog Population In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Rahul Sehgal, Sunil Chawla, Jack Reece

Stray and Feral Animal Populations Collection

Ahmadabad, the biggest city of Gujarat with a human population of approximately, 6 million. The rapidly expanding population of Ahmadabad means that the metropolitan region extends far outside from the confines of the old city. However, the development is rapid but uncontrolled. Therefore, there are a large number of areas that are prone to stray dogs and these areas are constantly increasing. The old methods of population control by strychnine poisoning or electrocution employed by the municipal corporations have not proved effective in controlling street dog populations, as new dogs soon migrate into the areas, where the local dog population …

Functional Upgrading Through Research And Development In The Czech Automotive Industry, Petr Pavlinek, Jan Ženka, Pavla Žížalová

Geography and Geology Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

Based on firm-level research and development (R&D) data, we evaluate the extent of functional upgrading in the Czech automotive industry between 1998 and 2008. The analysis draws on a unique database of 476 Czech-based automotive firms with 20 and more employees in the broadly defined automotive industry, a survey of 274 automotive firms and twenty-five in-depth company interviews. In addition to assessing changes in the extent of automotive R&D, we analyze the most important locational factors of automotive R&D in Czechia and its regional distribution in the country. We examine changes in the spatial concentration of automotive R&D between 1998 …

Subaerial Freshwater Stromatolites In Deer Cave, Sarawak – A Unique Geobiological Cave Formation, Joyce Lundberg, Donald A. Mcfarlane

WM Keck Science Faculty Papers

A suite of distinctive freshwater subaerial phosphatic stromatolites is developed close to the northeastern entrance of Deer Cave, Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, in conditions of very low light but ample supply of nutrients from guano. These stromatolites are not particulate; they are composed of alternating layers of more porous and more dense amorphous hydroxylapatite. This biomineralization occurs as moulds of coccoid (the majority) and filamentous (less abundant) cyanobacteria. Mineralization occurs at a pH of ~ 7.0 in the extracellular sheaths and in micro-domains of varying carbonate content in the surrounding mucus of the biofilm. The most recent surfaces …

Colorado's Large Snow Events' Impact On Tree Ring Growth And Dillon Reservoir, Katrina Leona Marzetta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Meteorological observations from 1894 through 2010 suggest that 17 historically large snow events occurred in the mountains of Colorado within Denver's water supply region. Of these 16 events, 14 can be identified in precipitation sensitive tree ring records as positive climatic pointer years. If these storms were to occur today, they would have the potential to fill reservoirs in Denver Water's supply system, even after years of sustained drought. These "drought busters" have the potential to refill Dillon Reservoir by increasing average yearly inflow up to 146% of the previous year's inflow. Such drought busters can help Denver recover from …

Epoxi: Comet 103p/Hartley 2 Observations From A Worldwide Campaign ; Astrophysical Journal Letters, K. Meech, M. A'Hearn, J. Adams, P. Bacci, J. Bai, L. Barrera, M. Battelino, J. Bauer, E. Becklin, B. Bhatt, N. Biver, D. Bockelee-Morvan, D. Bodewits, H. Bohnhardt, J. Boissier, B. Bonev, W. Borghini, J. Brucato, E. Bryssinck, M. Buie, H. Canovas, D. Castellano, S. Charnley, W. Chen, P. Chiang, Y. Choi, D. Christian, Y. Chuang, Anita Cochran, P. Colom, M. Combi, I. Coulson, J. Crovisier, N. Russo, K. Dennerl, K. Dewahl, M. Disanti, M. Facchini, T. Farnham, Y. Fernandez, H. Floren, U. Frisk, T. Fujiyoshi, R. Furusho, T. Fuse, G. Galli, D. Garcia-Hernandez, A. Gersch, Z. Getu

Physics Faculty Works

Earth- and space-based observations provide synergistic information for space mission encounters by providing data over longer timescales, at different wavelengths and using techniques that are impossible with an in situ flyby. We report here such observations in support of the EPOXI spacecraft flyby of comet 103P/Hartley 2. The nucleus is small and dark, and exhibited a very rapidly changing rotation period. Prior to the onset of activity, the period was ~16.4 hr. Starting in 2010 August the period changed from 16.6 hr to near 19 hr in December. With respect to dust composition, most volatiles and carbon and nitrogen isotope …

Geography Is Not Just For Memorizing Capitals, Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

A Little Essay On Big: Towards A History Of Canada's Size, Alan Maceachern

History Publications

No abstract provided.

A Parallel Computing Approach To Fast Geostatistical Areal Interpolation, Qingfeng Guan, Phaedon Kyriakidis, Michael Goodchild

Geography Program: Faculty Publications

Areal interpolation is the procedure of using known attribute values at a set of (source) areal units to predict unknown attribute values at another set of (target) units. Geostatistical areal interpolation employs spatial prediction algorithms, i.e., variants of Kriging, which explicitly incorporate spatial autocorrelation and scale differences between source and target units in the interpolation endeavor. When all the available source measurements are used for interpolation, i.e., when a global search neighborhood is adopted, geostatistical areal interpolation is extremely computationally intensive. Interpolation in this case requires huge memory space and massive computing power, even with the dramatic improvement introduced by …

Nature, Domestic Labor, And Moral Community In Susan Fenimore Cooper's Rural Hours And Elinor Wyllys, Richard M. Magee

English Faculty Publications

Cooper's argument for a domestic ideal situated within a rural setting reinforces the importance of community connections through a shared sense of morality, as well as understanding of the natural world. Community alone—the human connections—never seems to be enough in Cooper's formulation, but must always exist with an awareness of the world outside the narrow confines of one's own domestic sphere. Concern for one's fellow-beings necessitates a concern for the world in which these beings live, and Cooper understands that when any bonds are broken—such as the bonds that connect us to the natural world—other bonds are threatened. Thus, when …

Evaluation Of Species Distribution Model Algorithms For Fine-Scale Container-Breeding Mosquito Risk Prediction, C. Khatchikian, Florencia Sangermano, D. Kendell, T. Livdahl

Geography

The present work evaluates the use of species distribution model (SDM) algorithms to classify high densities of small container-breeding Aedes mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) on a fine scale in the Bermuda Islands. Weekly ovitrap data collected by the Department of Health, Bermuda for the years 2006 and 2007 were used for the models. The models evaluated included the algorithms Bioclim, Domain, GARP (genetic algorithm for rule-set prediction), logistic regression and MaxEnt (maximum entropy). Models were evaluated according to performance and robustness. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate each model's performance, and robustness was assessed according …

Social Disorganization And Sex Offenders In Minneapolis, Mn: A Socio-Spatial Analysis, Joseph Koncur

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Using a combination of techniques stemming from the spatial analysis approach of Geography, structural-functionalist theory in Sociology, and an ecological perspective of Criminology, this thesis addresses where sex offenders reside and why. Analyses were performed using the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota as a typical urban setting. The study fuses multiple disciplines work on the complex social problem of released risk level III sex offender management in a spatially-conscious, micro-scale analysis attempting to understand the distribution of released offenders and the relevance of social disorganization theory in explaining their distribution. Socio-economic status and family disruption are tested …

Minnesota River Basin Flood Mapping And Impact Assessment, Willy J. Mekeel

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

South Central Minnesota has experienced frequent flooding in the past because of the relatively flat topography, low elevation, and large amounts of snow melt in the spring. When these events happen, there is a large economic impact and potential health hazards to residents of the area. Having up-to-date flood zone maps can help residents be better prepared for emergency situations. Using Geographic Information Science (GIS), flood zone maps can be updated frequently in a more time efficient and inexpensive manner. Using a 30-meter digital elevation model (DEM) Compound Topographic Index (CTI) and Stream Power Index (SPI) layers were calculated for …

Mapping Time, Edward L. Ayers

History Faculty Publications

Our tools for dealing with terrestrial space are well-developed and becoming more refined and ubiquitous every day. GIS has long established its dominion, Google permits us to range over the world and down to our very rooftops, and cars and cell phones locate us in space at every moment. It is hardly surprising that geography and mapping suddenly seem important in new ways. Historians have always loved maps and have long felt a kinship with geographers. The very first atlases, compiled six hundred years ago, were historical atlases. But space and time remain uncomfortable—if ever-present and ever-active—companions in the human …

Gis Will Affect The Political Landscape For The Next Decade And Beyond, Mark Salling

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

No abstract provided.

Homestead National Monument, Vegetation Classification [Map], United States National Park Service

United States National Park Service: Publications

Color graphic vegetation map of Homestead National Monument of America in Beatrice, Nebraska, USA. Created as part of the Homestead NM of America Vegetation Mapping Project in April and May 2011. Includes a color-coded vegetation classification.

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Vegetation Mapping Project [Poster], Kelly Kindscher, Hayley Kilroy, Jennifer Delisle, Quinn Long, Hillary Loring, Kevin Dobbs, Jim Drake

United States National Park Service: Publications

The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve encompasses 10,894 acres in eastern Kansas, just north of Strong City. This park unit was created on November 12, 1996, and is the first to protect a nationally significant example of the once vast tall grass prairie ecosystem. Of the 400,000 square miles of tall grass prairie that once covered the North American continent, less than four percent remains, prin1arily in the Flint Hills. The park unit is primarily rocky upland prairies and deep-soiled prairies in the lowlands. It also contains some wet prairie ravines, riparian forests and some former cropland and restored prairie. These …

Development Of A Web-Based Geographic Information System For Arctic Science, George Walker Johnson

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Environmental science is a large field of study that requires the acquisition of data for decision making in solving environmental issues. Leveraging desktop geographic information systems (GIS) and web-based GIS (WebGIS) systems for assisting in the problem solving processes can benefit both the research community and policy makers for decision making activities. Ensuring interoperability between desktop, web, and server GIS is essential for maximizing access, sharing and manipulation of data. Interoperability is maximized through the adoption of best practices, use of open standards, and utilization of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI). While many of the interoperability challenges such as infrastructure, data …

Geography Newsletter, 2010-2011, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Geography.

Geography Newsletter

Inside this issue:

-- Student Research - AAG Student Presenters
-- Department News - Department Pride Day
-- Student Experiences
-- GTU Inductees
-- Scholarships
-- 2011 Awards Banquet
-- UNI Geography Outstanding Alumnus Award

Our Theories, Ourselves: Hierarchies Of Place And Status In U.S. Academia, Karen M. Morin, Tamar Rothenberg

Faculty Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

The Geography Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Within Urban Areas Of India, Jochen Albrecht, Peter Marcotullio, Andrea Sarzynski

Publications and Research

This paper examines the patterns of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from urban areas in India—a rapidly growing and urbanizing nation. It uses a new dataset, Emission Dataset for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) to estimate the urban share of national GHG emissions. It presents a geographic picture of emission variation by urban form (urban population size, area size, density, and growth rate), and economic (GDP and GDP per capita), geographic (location of emissions released: 20, 40, and 80 km from urban areas), and biophysical (ecosystem and climate: cooling degree days) characteristics. Dependent variables include emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), …

Public Participation Gis Implementation And The Transformation Of Us Planning Practice, Laxmi Ramasubramanian

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Determining Exurbia: Is It Really Its Own Entity Or Merely An Extension Of Americas Growing Suburbia, Thomas A. Green

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose for studying exurbanization is to evaluate the spatial spread of metropolitan areas into their immediate hinterlands through remote sensing satellite imagery. This includes addressing scholar's inability to define exurbia, along with plausible reasons people move into exurbia. In addition, determination will include consideration on the possibility that exurbia has become an extension of America's growing and increasingly independent suburbia or; recognize that exurbia exists, but within various geographic locations. In return to the former, an analytical approach was taken to investigate scholar's inability to provide a definition to this phenomena; as well as inconsistent results on the push …

Gis Maps And The Amazon Borderlands, David S. Salisbury

Geography and the Environment Faculty Publications

With training, GIS can be used by all sectors of Latin American society and is the mapping tool of choice for institutions ranging from the Inter-American Development Bank to remote communities in the Amazon rain forest. Geographic information systems are thus a tool of the powerful and the marginalized and the official and the unofficial. [...] In this chapter, we see how GIS maps can improve our ability to analyze conflict over resources and allow additional participation in the process of mapping, but we also confront some of the many political and technical challenges that must be overcome to construct …

Site Identification, Delineation, And Evaluation Through Quantitative Spatial Analysis : Geostatistical And Gis Methods To Facilitate Archaeological Resource Assessment, James Scott Cardinal

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This thesis presents a brief overview of quantitative spatial analysis in archaeology with a discussion of the theoretical and methodological issues involved, and describes a set of methods for using Geographic Information System (GIS) software and spatial statistics for the assessment of archaeological resources. GIS has become a nearly ubiquitous and indispensable tool in many fields of resource management including archaeology. It is, however, applied by archaeologists most frequently for basic cartographic representations, large-scale regional analyses, or resource management data warehousing. Such applications underutilize the scale-independence of GIS, which is equally potent for intra-project data assessment. This thesis describes a …

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Vegetation Classification [Map], United States National Park Service

United States National Park Service: Publications

Colo vegetation map of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Strong City, Kansas, USA, from the Tallgrass Prairie NP Vegetation Mapping Project, created between April and June 2011. Includes a color-coded vegetation classification.

Homestead National Monument, Vegetation Mapping Project [Poster], Kelly Kindscher, Hayley Kilroy, Jennifer Delisle, Quinn Long, Hillary Loring, Kevin Dobbs, Jim Drake

United States National Park Service: Publications

Homestead National Monument was created in 1936 to celebrate the significance of the Homestead Act of 1862, which granted 160 acres of free land to claimants. This was one of the most significant and enduring events in the westward expansion of the United States. The site is the first tract homesteaded under the act by Daniel Freemen, and encompasses 184 acres in Gage County, west of Beatrice, Nebraska.

This unique site also hosts the oldest prairie restoration in the National Park system and the second-oldest tallgrass prairie restoration known. This park unit also has a small remnant of native tallgrass …

Introduction To Gis Using Open Source Software, 1st Ed, Frank Donnelly

Open Educational Resources

This tutorial was created to accompany the GIS Practicum, a day-long workshop offered by the Newman Library at Baruch College CUNY that introduces participants to geographic information systems (GIS) using the open source software QGIS. The practicum introduces GIS as a concept for envisioning information and as a tool for conducting geographic analyses and creating maps. Participants learn how to navigate a GIS interface, how to prepare layers and conduct a basic geographic analysis, and how to create thematic maps. This tutorial was written using QGIS version 1.5 "Tethys", a cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux) desktop GIS software package.

A Synergetic Use Of Satellite Imagery From Sar And Optical Sensors To Improve Coastal Flood Mapping In The Gulf Of Mexico, Naira Chaouch, Marouane Temimi, Scott Hagen, John Weishampel, Stephen Medeiros, Reza Khanbilvardi

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

This work proposes a method for detecting inundation between semi-diurnal low and high water conditions in the northern Gulf of Mexico using high-resolution satellite imagery. Radarsat 1, Landsat imagery and aerial photography from the Apalachicola region in Florida were used to demonstrate and validate the algorithm. A change detection approach was implemented through the analysis of red, green and blue (RGB) false colour composites image to emphasise differences in high and low tide inundation patterns. To alleviate the effect of inherent speckle in the SAR images, we also applied ancillary optical data. The flood-prone area for the site was delineated …

Spatio-Temporal Analysis Of Crime Hotspots By Trajectories And Self-Organizing Maps, Marco Helbich, Julian Hagenauer, Michael Leitner

Faculty Publications

The exploration of spatial relationships between crime incidents, the socio-economic characteristics of neighborhoods, as well as physical and structural compositions of the urban landscape is an ongoing research issue in Geographic Information Science. Spatial data mining tools improve the ability to gain knowledge from geographic data and help to understand spatio-temporal processes that contribute to the presence or absence of criminal offenses. However, most of the currently available tools focus either on the spatial, the temporal, or a combination of both aspects. But crime has a spatial and temporal component in a multidimensional attribute space. Therefore, it is reasonable to …

A Gis Analysis Of The Pre-Columbian Chaco Landscape: Applying New Tools To Old Problems, Aaron Clark, Joy Fritschle

Geography & Planning Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.