Summary
In the past, mobile communication devices (such as cell phones) have not been utilized in flood forecasting and warning due to limitations in technology that have limited the ability of forecasters to gather and interpret geographical data in near real-time. This paper presents a prototype that integrates a GIS (geographic information system) with a hydrological model. It is a mobile mapping application for J2ME-enabled mobile communication devices that allows those in the flood forecasting, prevention, and related fields to execute programs and run mapping functions from a server using their mobile device. The proposed client-server network application uses mobile devices to connect to a server via the Internet. This study also evaluates the usability of the system using an in-lab tests.

- Objective
- To make more information available to remote-sensing systems using autonomous or semi-autonomous   robotic solutions.

- Specifically, provide higher-resolution shape and slope characteristics of terrain than currently offered.
- Strategy
- Intelligently collect changes in terrain using robotic technology.

ABSTRACT

A model was developed within a GIS environment using the transverse spread pattern and GPS driving track
during spreading to map actual fertilizer application at any point in a paddock. The spreading vehicle required a GPS of sufficient accuracy in order to provide proof of placement and guidance assistance to the driver. The method was used to assess the effect of field size and shape on actual application rate and application variation. At a target application rate of 80 kg ha−1, measured application rates ranged from 51.8 to 106.7 kg ha−1 of urea (46% N) fertilizer over 102 paddocks on four farms. Average field variation calculated over all paddocks was 37.9%. Irregular-shaped paddocks were found to have higher application variation (40.8%) compared to regular-shaped paddocks (35.9%). Hot spot analysis was performed to identify areas receiving statistically significant high and low application rates.

ABSTRACT
India can improve its per capita income ranking through better management of its rich resources by the use of Geo Information technologies. GIS, Remote Sensing, GPS, Cartography and other related technologies have emerged as highly complementary tools of providing integrated and total solutions. Liberalisation process started in 1991 and the initiatives of Department of Space in granting recognition to a host of private companies provided a boost to privatisation in GI field in India. Massive investments in cadastral surveys thematic mapping infrastructure and agriculture sectors are expected to generate over 21,000 million rupees worth of GI related work in the coming 5 years. Beginning from 1927 the use of Arial Photography evolved from simple manual techniques to the modern softcopy systems. Photogrammetry served the country in mapping on standard scales of 1:25,000 ; 1:50,000 and 1:250,000. GIS applications are operational both in the government and private sectors, thanks to the indigenously available IRS data with spatial resolution of 6 meters with stereo ability.

ABSTRACT
Mobile terrestrial mapping systems have seen remarkable developments recently. Fueled by an unprecedentedly strong demand for high-resolution and accurate 3D geospatial data, these systems serve the probably fastest growing market segment: city modeling. In particular, the recent introduction of powerful mobile laserscanning systems is of main interest, as the direct acquisition of 3D data greatly simplifies downstream processing, where until now stereobased extraction was the most widely used feature extraction tool, requiring significantly more complex processing compared to the straightforward processing of explicit LiDAR data. This paper reviews the recent developments in Mobile Mapping Technologies with a special focus on the mobile laserscanner sensor component.

Abstract. Accurate information about organic/mineral soil occurrence is a prerequisite for many land resources management applications (including climate change mitigation). This paper aims at investigating the potential of using geomorphometrical analysis and decision tree modeling to predict the geographic distribution of hydromorphic organic landscapes in unsampled area in Denmark. Nine primary (elevation, slope angle, slope aspect, plan curvature, profile curvature, tangent curvature, flow direction, flow accumulation, and specific catchment area) and one secondary (steady-state topographic wetness index) topographic parameters were generated from Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) acquired using airborne LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) systems.

Abstract:

The procedure of processing and utilising the soil information entering the SOTER system is tested on the pilot area of the Litoměřice district. The reliability of the archive data is examined, the archive data being updated by a new soil survey, modern (geo)statistical methods, and pedotransfer rules. Using the SOTER methodology, a soil map of the district with the scale of 1:50 000 has been developed. Proposals for the adjustments to the currently valid soil classification system are processed.

ABSTRACT

In the current study we proposed a new band ratio combination by using Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) image. The new proposed band ratio hasbeen tested for its effectiveness in four regions in the study area. This proposedband ratio (5/3, 3/1, 7/5 in RGB respectively) with the help of supervisedclassification technique were succeeded in discrimination of different types ofrock units. The results revealed that by using the proposed band ratio it was soeffective to discriminate different granitic phases (Kadabora region); serpentinitesfrom metasediments and sheared granites (El Mayite region); mollase type Hammamat sediments from metavolcanics and metasediments (Wadi El-Miyahregion); and serpentinites from metavolcanics (El-Baramiya region). The resultsdemonstrate the accuracy and suitability of using this band ratio as a powerfultool in lithological mapping and the data was verified by field investigation andprevious studies.

A b s t r a c t

Management of river salt loads in a complex and highly regulated river basin such as the San Joaquin River Basin of California presents significant challenges for current Information Technology. Computerbased numerical models are used as a means of simulating hydrologic processes and water quality withinthe basin and can be useful tools for organizing Basin data in a structured and readily accessible manner. These models can also be used to extend information derived from environmental sensors within existing monitoring networks to areas outside these systems based on similarity factors – since it would be cost prohibitive to collect data for every channel or pollutant source within the Basin. A common feature of all hydrologic and water quality models is the ability to perform mass balances. This paper describes the use of a number of state-of-the-art sensor technologies that have been deployed to obtain water and salinity mass balances for a 60,000 ha tract of seasonally managed wetlands in the San Joaquin River Basin of California.

ABSTRACT
LANDSAT ETM and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data from the coastal areas of Algeria were investigated in order to detect traces of earlier tsunami events. Digital image processing methods used to produce morphometric maps - such as hillshade, slope, minimum and maximum curvature maps based on the SRTM DEM data - contribute to the detection of morphologic traces that might be related to catastrophic tsunami events. These maps combined with LANDSAT ETM and seismotectonic data in a GIS environment allow the delineation of areas with potential tsunami risk. The evaluations of LANDSAT ETM imageries merged with digitally processed and enhanced SRTM data clearly show areas that must have been flooded in earlier times. In some cases morphological traces of flood waves as curvilinear scarps open to the seaside or traces of abrasion are clearly visible.

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG
Fernerkundungsdaten aus dem optischen und dem Mikrowellenbereich wurden hinsichtlich der Klassifizierung von Landnutzung und –degradation sowie der Siedlungserkennung ausgewertet, um damit einen flächenhaften und aktuellen Beitrag zu wasserwirtschaftlichen Problemen im südlichen Afrika zu  leisten. Neben der Entwicklung eines GIS-basierten Decision Support Systems unter Berücksichtigung von Wasserangebot, -qualität, -bedarf und - zuteilung der unterschiedlichen Nutzergruppen stand dabei die Simulation von Wasser- und Stoffflüssen unter Verwendung von physikalisch basierten Modellen mit Fernerkundungsinput im Vordergrund. Das Resultat, ein integriertes System zur nachhaltigen Wasserbewirtschaftung, ist ein innovatives computerbasiertes System, bestehend aus getesteten, validierten und dokumentierten Prozeduren, die die oben genannten Technologien umfassen.

Abstract:

Karas (Aquilaria malaccensis) is well known for producing gaharu, a fragrant material which is extremely valuable for cosmetic products manufacturing. Due to its un-permitted harvesting, there is an alarming depletion in the natural forests, which requires some forms of quick monitoring in near real time. A study on the spatial distribution of Karas trees in Bukit Nanas F.R., Federal Territory (FT) was therefore conducted to identify, quantify and map its geospatial distribution using an airborne hyperspectral sensor. Using a Sobel filter and Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) processing techniques, a digital geospatial distribution map with an accuracy of 89.47% showing 38 individual Karas trees was developed. This study demonstrated that individual Karas trees can be easily counted and mapped with an airborne hyperspectral sensor which may lead to possible estimation of gaharu production for its future sustainable management and conservation efforts in FT, Malaysia.

Kurzfassung: Dieser Arbeitsbericht entstand im Rahmen der COST 340 Aktion „Entwicklung des Transitverkehrs-Systems und dessen Auswirkungen auf die Raumnutzung in der Schweiz.“. Er gibt einen Überblick über die am häufigsten angewendeten Methoden zur Erfassung räumlicher Statistik. Der erste Teil diskutiert 4 verschiedene multivariate Modelle, wird deren wichtigste Unterschiede herausarbeiten und die häufigstem Anwendungsbereiche aufzeigen. Ein zweiter Teil geht detailliert auf die Panel-Daten Modellierung ein. In einem dritten Teil werden sodann einige Modelle zum Beschrieb von Landnutzung- und Verkehrsentwicklung beschrieben. Schlagworte Räumliche Daten; Statistik; Schweiz; ETH Zürich; Institut für Verkehrsplanung und
Transportsysteme (IVT).

Research Information

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CSIS Discussion Paper No. 91

Mizuki Kawabata*, Rajesh Bahadur Thapa**, and Takashi Oguchi*
*Center for Spatial Information Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
** Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan
September, 2008

Cooperation among different fields of study is important in developing a systematic method of GIS education. We examined inter-field cooperation, particularly that between geography-related and computer/information-related fields for education programs at US colleges and universities that award GIS-related degrees or certificates. Academic fields were classified using ten major classes of the Dewey Decimal Classification system. In the 2007-08 academic year, about 40% of GIS education programs were based on cooperation between two or more different fields, and about 20% involved cooperation among more than three fields. Approximately 10% of GIS education programs were based on cooperation between geography-related and computer/information-related fields, most of which also involved some other fields in various disciplines. Inter-field cooperation in GIS education in the US is considerably more advanced than that in Japan.

The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology

The Institute has changed considerably over the last few years and the past three Presidents have aptly captured the scenarios in their messages: ‘Gathering speed’, ‘Diligence, learning and patience’, and ‘Change, progress – the future’. So where are we today? Working alongside the new Board of Trustees (BoT) the President’s role has changed under our new governance structure. But before I give you a synopsis of my year, I do believe it worth revisiting history and I thought some of my own observations on the Institute in the ‘good old days’ of Mark Lane could be pertinent to the present.

Résumé

Les surfaces forestières de la Côte d’Ivoire reculent depuis les années 1960 au profit des espaces cultivés,
essentiellement à des fins commerciales, par l’implantation de parcelles de café ou de cacao. Ce phénomène a été accentué par la forte croissance de la population et son exode des villes vers les campagnes, lors des crises économiques.

Johan OSZWALD, Jean-Marie KOUACOU ATTA, Claude KERGOMARD et Marc ROBIN

Laboratoire IRISA/INRIA/Universit´e de Rennes 1

Résumé
Cet article se situe dans un contexte de génération de modèles 3D d’environnements urbains. La méthodologie présentee doit permettre le recalage initial d’un modèle SIG avec une vid´eo, de fac¸on automatique. Elle se d´ecompose en deux parties. Tout d’abord, un recalage approximatif est effectué grâce aux données GPS disponibles et en utilisant la théorie de la géométrie épipolaire. Ensuite, la pose (position et orientation de la caméra dans le rep`ere du SIG) ainsi que des correspondances 3D/2D sont estimées simultanément à l’aide d’une méthode basée RANSAC. Les tests sur deux séquences réelles ont validé cette approche et montré des résultats de recalage satisfaisants.

Gestion d’amers naturels dans un SIG pour la navigation autonome

• Définition du problème
• Information cartographique
• Amers pour la navigation
• Enrichissement des BDD cartographiques pour la navigation
• Apprentissage
• Navigation
• Conclusion

Status of Satellite Remote Sensing efforts

Summary:

- Still mostly speculative work
- Strong level of interest
- Demanding on time - to go from here requires dedicated post
- Have a strong proposal in to ESA for high res. NRT MERRIS
- MI influencing future mission design via Marine Board