GI_Forum 2013, Volume 1

Scientists dealing with geospatial information usually work with huge sets of heterogeneous geographic data derived from different sources. Without a well-defined and organized structure they face problems in finding and reusing existing spatial data. Due to the increasing amount of collected data, the risk of data redundancy arises, which may cause data inconsistency, space issues and search difficulties. A spatial cataloguing system can facilitate a more efficient spatial data search as well as allowing data exchange with different institutions. Our proposed solution is implementing a spatial cataloguing system along with an automatic rule-based approach metadata generator that processes remote sensing data in Near Real Time (NRT) and simultaneously derives metadata. This paper will further describe how to extract the relevant metadata from the processed data and how we converted this heterogeneous metadata information into a common standardized format. A real-world scenario applied in The European Academy (EURAC) Research Institute for Applied Remote Sensing (IARS) illustrates the procedure of data processing and metadata generation.

Schlagworte:

IDE-OTALEX is the first crossborder spatial data infrastructure between contiguous Portuguese (Alentejo and Centro) and Spanish (Extremadura) regions. IDE-OTALEX was implemented to share official geographic information, from Alentejo and Extremadura, and now Centro region, with everyone. This is the most effective way to have a distributed and flexible system to be used as a territorial observatory for sustainable development and environment protection in these rural and low populated regions. It also contributes to territorial cohesion, one of the tree main pillars of the European Cohesion Policy. IDE-OTALEX is characterized for being a distributed, decentralized, modular and collaborative system, based on standards (OGC, W3C, ISO) and open source technology, developed to guarantee interoperability between the different GIS provided by each project partner. The geoportal is multilingual (Portuguese, Spanish and English) and integrates a Map viewer, Metadata Catalogue and Gazetteer. It consists of central and local nodes which communicate through WMS (Web Map Services), CSW (Catalogue Service Web) and WFS (Web Feature Services). It is now implementing SOS (sensor observation services) and WPS (web map processing). The geographic information available on it results from an extensive work of data harmonisation adapted to INSPIRE Directive (D 2007/2/EC, of the European Parliament and Council, of March 14, 2007). It integrates basic cartography, socio-economic and environmental indicators.

Schlagworte:

The purpose of this paper is to explain and describe the benefits achieved after a three year pilot project “Progettazione Partecipata dei Sottoservizi nei Territori dei Comuni di Milano, Rho, Pero e Arese” (Participated planning of the underground infrastructure in the area of the municipalities of Milano, Rho, Pero and Arese). The project has been financed by Regione Lombardia, and it has been carried out in partnership with the Italian Association for Trenchless Technology and ANCI Lombardia (National Association of the Local Authorities). The project is also under close observation by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development and AGCOM (National Authority for Communication).

Schlagworte:

SUNSHINE – Smart UrbaN ServIces for Higher eNergy Efficiency delivers innovative digital services, interoperable with existing geographic web-service infrastructures, supporting improved energy efficiency at the urban and building level. Specifically, SUNSHINE delivers a smart service platform accessible from both a web-based client and from an App for smartphones and tablets. In parallel to the technical integration a key standardization activity will also result in the definition of the extension of existing data model (CityGML), something very important for the pilots within SUNSHINE and its large scale uptake beyond current locations. SUNSHINE is a European funded project in the competiveness and innovation framework program for the duration of three years with 16 partners from ten countries and it started in January 2013.

Schlagworte:

Open Government Data are data that are published in digital format by administrative bodies. The Open Government Data Guidelines should cover how data have to be published to fulfil the requirements of the linked open data approach. The idea of open linked data is that resources published on the Internet can be interlinked and this combination leads to new information by utilizing semantic web technologies (BIZER et al. 2009). One essential premise to cover linked open data requirements is that the semantics of the data must be published in order to define the meaning of the objects of events represented by the data. At the moment these requirements are not covered within the existing Open Government Data guidelines. Hence, Open Government Data are published in a digital format but they do not follow a certain data specification, nor share a semantic model. Hence, the published data of various administrative bodies can hardly be compared, due to the lack of a standardized data model and missing semantic description. This paper attempts to list current shortcomings of Open Governmental Data and presents data modelling and presentation concepts for Open Governmental Data in order to follow linked data rules (BERNERS-LEE 2006).

Schlagworte:

This paper discusses ways in which GIS can support refurbishment planning in all planning hierarchies and therefore contribute to reach political goals concerning energy demand and efficiency. Results and findings from the European project AlpHouse serve as examples for potential approaches to the matter starting from simple web-mapping tools to customized expert tools and the development of new geographical indicators to the potential of fostering personal involvement and participation of a broader mass of people. The paper shows the importance of both, the availability of suitable data and the necessity of customized presentation and analysis functions. Additionally it gives an insight in how the voluntary geographical information movement could also contribute to this specific topic.

Schlagworte:

Points of Interest (POI) are used for a variety of analysis tasks in planning, navigation, transportation, tourism, and other areas. For these tasks an understanding of the quality of POI data from different sources is essential. This paper reviews the temporal development and relative completeness of POI from proprietary (TomTom, NAVTEQ, ESRI) and free governmental (TIGER/Line) data sources, as well as that of Volunteered Geographic Information (OpenStreetMap). It highlights the pros and cons for each of these data sets in terms of completeness and currentness. It further analyzes for a subset of features how active the OSM community is in editing and updating previously imported POI from alternative data sources.

Schlagworte:

The task of maps is to communicate geographic information, and, along with interactive map applications, the possibilities of offering different kinds of information to map users have become more extensive. Also, there are a wider variety of communication methods available. In this paper, we first describe the user requirements for informative and descriptive map content within the context of hiking. Based on these requirements, audio descriptions along a hiking path in a national park were composed. Elderly users were chosen as a target group for the field study where a mobile map application on an iPhone was used. It was expected that combining audio with visual information would improve the overall accessibility of the information in a hiking context. User experiences were collected during a field study. Based on the studies, we summarise the most important features regarding the information communicated by a mobile map application.

Schlagworte:

Satellite image interpretation requires the assignment of sets of objects (or pixels) that share certain attribute values to object categories. This procedure requires expert intervention and knowledge. An approach has been developed that formalizes expert knowledge in the image interpretation procedure with ontologies. Ontologies provide a definition of object categories and associated attribute values that are known to represent these object categories. A classic ontology has the limitation that the definitions of object categories and their properties need to be crisp, i.e. not overlapping. Practical tests showed that less rigid definitions of class properties make the ontology-based approach more flexible and adaptable to different study areas and satellite images. This paper presents the extension of the ontology-based approach with fuzzy rules and discusses the advantages of this extension.

Schlagworte:

This paper looks at possible ways of modelling the spatial and temporal resolution of a sensor observation. A receptor-centric definition of spatial and temporal support is proposed, and it is suggested that spatial resolution can be equated with the spatial support of the observer, while temporal resolution can be estimated using the temporal support of the observer. A formal specification in the functional language Haskell helps to test the consistency of the ideas proposed.

Schlagworte:

Current satellite-derived land cover products, which are very important for answering many crucial research and policy-related questions, show huge disagreements. In this paper we present a serious game for the iPad with the purpose of improving global land cover data. We describe the game, discuss the design decisions made and outline the challenges faced while developing the game. We evaluate how well the players are able to annotate land cover by comparing the game against expert validations collected using the Geo-Wiki tool and provide evidence that games can be a useful way to increase the quality of global land cover.

Schlagworte:

This paper explores the use of crowd sourced data on land cover. It compares data collected through the Geo-Wiki system describing cropland land cover with cropland data recorded in global land cover datasets. Using an African case study, local confusion matrices are calculated at discrete locations. At location the strongest correspondences are used to infer which global dataset best describes cropland at each location. Future research areas are suggested.

Schlagworte:

Across the globe, accurate national spatial datasets on cropland extent are lacking. These are necessary for a number of reasons, including accurately monitoring and predicting crop yield, land use, land acquisitions and food security. This study describes the use of crowdsourcing information retrieved over Ethiopia depicting the extent of cropland area. This information has been used to train a classification algorithm in Google Earth Engine to produce a continuous cropland extent map of Ethiopia. Preliminary results of this novel approach are encouraging, with an overall validity of 96%.

Schlagworte:

Land grabbing is a global phenomenon that has radically increased since 2005. Global and national estimates are highly uncertain due to the rapid pace of acquisition and lack of transparency. Here we demonstrate that through the use of the Geo-Wiki crowdsourcing tool and volunteers, we can estimate areas of settlement and cultivation that are part of large-scale land transactions for known areas where land acquisitions have taken place as well as for Ethiopia as a whole.

Schlagworte:

The ecosystem approach offers new holistic perspectives regarding the services humans derive from urban green spaces. These perspectives can be used to develop a deeper understanding of urban ecosystems and improve the efficacy of urban planning and management. The conceptual spatial framework proposed here incorporates a land cover map based on multiple spectral indices derived from Landsat TM imagery, specifically to tackle difficulties in distinguishing land cover within the urban environment. The framework facilitates a novel conceptualisation of multiple ecosystem service performance considering unique spheres of influence, within a complex 3-dimensional urban structure.

Schlagworte:

Monitoring of tropical forests and peat swamp forests becomes increasingly important in order to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. SAR systems are suitable for that purpose due to their weather independence and sensitivity for changes in time series. The TanDEM-X mission delivers global datasets of a single-pass SAR interferometer, which provides more information in comparison to normal X-band SAR acquisitions. In particular the interferometric coherence can be regarded as useful information because it is dependent on tree height and canopy cover representing stand structure, which are important parameters for monitoring of forests.

Schlagworte:

The most practical Geographical Information Systems provide the data based on spatial aspects. They define spatial feature classes with additional thematic attributes. That’s why in practice you find very often different feature classes for one real world object, e.g. one street both as line-object and as polygon-object – and the same attributes are saved two times with inconsistency. But UML (Unified Modelling Language) and all UML-based data structures (among others the INSPIRE data specifications) define an object oriented data management. That means e.g.: * one real object is one information object; * all objects can have more and different geometries; * the geometry is to handle like an attribute; * the handling of generalisations and heredities; * the need to manage versioning and historiography. And the practical use cases require that object oriented structures too. In the following the necessity and innovative solutions should be presented by 5 examples:

Schlagworte:

The analysis and understanding of spatial crime patterns is crucial for law enforcements to improve strategic and tactical decision-making. In this context, generalized linear models, such as count regressions, are commonly applied. These non-spatial models are challenged by spatial autocorrelation effects, contradicting fundamental model assumptions. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to present a spatially explicit approach, which combines a negative binomial model and spatial filtering to explain the spatial distribution of nonviolent offences in Houston, TX, for the year 2010. The results provide evidence that the non-spatial negative binomial model is biased while the supplementary consideration of a spatial filter is capable to absorb these undesirable spatial effects and results in a wellspecified regression model. Moreover, besides the significant importance of space in the explanation of the non-violent crime patterns, only the percentage of renter-occupied housing units and the percentage of Asian population are significantly related to the crime. The former covariate has a stimulating effect while the latter has an inhibiting effect.

Schlagworte:

This research is a follow-up study of LEITNER et al. (2011) who assessed the effect that one natural disaster – Hurricane Katrina – and subsequent population movements have had on crime in the state of Louisiana, U.S. Instead of using autoregressive, integrated, and moving average (ARIMA) models and cumulative percentile maps to analyze spatial and temporal trends of crimes across the study area, this study utilizes a visual analytics approach that integrates self-organizing map, color encoding, and multidimensional visualization. Such an approach is especially useful for the analysis of complex datasets that contain geographic locations, time series, and multiple variables.

Schlagworte:

Background: Extreme heat events (EHE) are of increasing public health concern. In urban areas, micro-urban heat islands (MUHI) raise the possibility of increased mortality risk. This study identified MUHI in the city of Barcelona, Spain, using Landsat 7 thermal infrared imagery and overlaid them onto at-home deaths between 2000-2003, identified from a mortality registry and geocoded using the Google API. Hot days were defined as days with mean minimum temperatures above the 90th percentile of historic temperatures. Data were analyzed using a case-only design, with a logistic regression model adjusted for spatial autocorrelation. Results: In the period 2000-2003, at-home deaths in MUHI were associated with 15% greater odds of dying on hot days than at-home deaths outside of MUHI. Conclusions: MUHI were a risk factor for at-home deaths during EHE in the study period (2000-2003) in the city of Barcelona. In urban areas facing similar conditions (limited use of air-conditioning, among others), residents of MUHI may be at increased mortality risk during extreme heat events.

Schlagworte:

The main aim of this study is to find the best spatialization method to describe spatial differentiation of climatic water balance (CWB) in Poland. Monthly mean values of air temperature and precipitation totals from 60 synoptic stations as well as monthly totals of solar radiation (23 measuring points) were taken into consideration. Source material covered period 1985-2006. Regarding the prior research as well as data availability the potential evapotranspiration data was calculated by Turc formula. CWB modelling was conducted with two methods simultaneously: simple and multiple linear regression (with latitude, altitude and distance from the coast line as variables), and map algebra. Validation proved the map algebra to be the better of the two spatialization methods. Nevertheless the obtained results proved also that except for the method local factors are of the great importance in CWB modelling especially in the mountains and at the coast. To optimize the method it is necessary to reduce the research scale using more insitu data that would enable inclusion of more local variables such as land form and land cover into the analyses.

Schlagworte:

GIS multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods are increasingly being used in landslide susceptibility mapping for the prediction of future hazards, decision making, as well as hazard mitigation plans. However, the uncertainties associated with MCDA techniques are inevitable and model outcomes are prone to multiple types of uncertainty. In this paper, the spatiality explicitly method is employed to assess the uncertainty associated with two methods of GIS-MCDA namely, Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) and Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA). Our methodology consists of three stages. The first-stage analysis makes use of the AHP matrix weights for GIS-MCDA based landslide susceptibility mapping. This phase is based on a multicriteria evaluation which assesses the susceptibility areas and the landslide hazard potentiality by considering causal and diagnostic criteria. In the second stage the sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of the AHP weights is performed using Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) and Global Sensitive Analysis (GSA). Finally, validation of results was performed using the existing landslide inventory. This paper carried out a GIS-MCDA uncertainty analysis and demonstrates a solution for the uncertainty modelling. Through the validation exercise with known existing landslides, the AHP clearly performed best. Results of this research demonstrate that further improvement of the accuracy of GIS-based MCDA can be achieved by employing the spatiality explicitly method and accordingly applying MCS and GSA for sensitivity analysis of the AHP weights.

Schlagworte:

The assessment of temporal probability of landslides occurrence requires understanding the factors that control the stability of slopes. These factors are classified in predisposing (geomorphology, geology, etc.) and triggering factors (precipitation or earthquakes). Some of these factors remain constant over time (like geology), some are in a constant change (like land-use and land-cover) and some are rapidly changing their state (like rainfall intensity). If geology can be mapped in the field and rainfall can be measured with rain gauges, the changes in land-cover related to phenological phases are more difficult to measure and map. For the latter, the use of satellite images has been proven the most reliable solution. The present study uses Landsat archive for modelling the changes of rainfall interception over time as the result of phenological changes in land-cover. Over 300 Landsat scenes from 1973 until 2011 were used to calculate leaf area index (LAI). LAI has an important contribution in the rainfall interception model with direct impact on the landslides hydrological model. The spatial and temporal probability of landslides occurrence is calculated using Bayesian Dynamic Network (BDN). The factors for BDN are mapped or derived with deterministic analyses. The model is running in monthly time steps and the results are validated with recorded landslides, triggered in different time periods. For each occurrence of a landslide the local and temporal conditions (including the modelled and the observed values) are stored and statistically analysed.

Schlagworte:

A trajectory represents an object’s path through space and time. These trajectories are often recorded as a series of spatial positions at discrete time intervals. Depending on the sampling rate employed, there can be a large amount of uncertainty relating to how well the trajectory represents the actual path taken. By using the concept of error ellipses, an adaptive sampling strategy has been developed that allows for the determination of an optimal sampling rate whilst ensuring that a pre-defined uncertainty threshold is not surpassed. This decreasing of uncertainty means that any trajectory derived using the algorithm presented would closely match the actual route taken by the object, thus allowing for more accurate spatial interpretation of the data.

Schlagworte:

Compact settlement structures, an economically operated public transport system and a sufficient provision with basic supply are often considered as a major goal in regional planning leading to a sustainable settlement development. On the other hand living in single-family houses, lower costs of building land and the general wish of living in the green countryside are some driving forces for people to move to the outskirts of bigger cities, or to rural areas. These facts counteract the above mentioned goals in regional planning and also lead to high expenses for households concerning living and mobility in the long-term (this includes monetary costs as well as time expenses, travel distances, and CO2 emissions) and high infrastructure costs. In this article, based on results of the Alpine Space project MORECO (Mobility and Residential Costs), the authors present a thorough GIS-based regional analysis of a research area in Salzburg, tackling the topics of demographic and settlement development, mobility, and travel behaviour. In order to point out long-term effects and follow-up costs at individual residential locations, an approach of a settlement cost calculator for mobility and accessibility calculations in the Salzburg pilot region is also presented in this paper.

Schlagworte:

Automatic feature extraction from satellite imagery is cost effective and fast. An essential issue in this context is the degree of accuracy for thematic correctness obtainable through common pixel-based and object-oriented classification algorithms. By applying two classification algorithms to Landsat 5 TM imagery for the extraction of different morphological river features the thematic correctness of the resulting raster images and the separability of the river features is evaluated. River features of meandering rivers evolve through dynamic avulsion, erosion and deposition processes. Although many studies focus on the analysis of these river environments, diverse methods of GIS and remote sensing based river feature classification methods have not been evaluated and assessed yet. In the literature several techniques to monitor spatio-temporal changes such as lateral river channel migration are already mentioned but the tendency there is to identify the changes by examining time spans rather than a point in time. Besides that the semiautomatic river feature methods described in related studies mainly focus on the identification of a river channel itself and do not consider additional features such as oxbows, scars, relic channels, etc. that in fact are significant characters in riverine environments. Therefore, this paper evaluates the application of a supervised classification using ENVI’s Support Vector Machine and an object based classification using the ArcGIS extension Feature Analyst to extract river features from Landsat 5 TM images including ancillary data files. Furthermore, the results of the classification methods are evaluated with regard to thematic correctness and separability of the various classified river features using accuracy assessment as presented in the specialist literature. Finally the long-time changes in the riverine environments are traced by interpreting the distribution of the classified river features. Accordingly, the approach of this work contributes to on-going research concerning semiautomatic or automatic river feature extraction.

Schlagworte:

City models are extended recently to include utilities infrastructure e.g. CityGML/Utility Network ADE. The 3D geometry representation in these models is utilizing the concept of boundary representation (B-Rep), where planar faces and straight edges enclose the boundary. In case of utilities network, B-Rep would result in an extensive amount of storage space. This paper presents a new data type compatible to the swept representation, as well as the required algorithm to extract the needed information from the 3D utility network object represented as (B-Rep), i.e. centerlines as well as their profile information, and store them in the new custom data type. Another algorithm allows the generation of Brep for visualization purposes. To show the effectiveness of the presented approach we accomplished the export of utility network into CityGML UtiltiyNetworkADE. Several 3D network object types (e.g. pipes, fitting) are exported to the new data type. The tests show the feasibility of the data type to reduce storage space, to create B-rep for visualization as well as to extract a graph for analysis. The new data types as well as the mentioned algorithms are implemented in Spatial-DBMS.

Schlagworte:

This paper describes the development and implementation of a location based service for tsunami evacuation routes. Based on the position of the mobile phone the system provides a real-time calculation for an escape route out of the hazard zone. A smartphone application visualizes the route on a map. Nowadays, tsunami hazard zones are well known and determined with complex simulation models. Evacuation routes in such hazard zones are mostly sign posted along roads and visualized in evacuation plans. People who are inside a tsunami hazard zone have to make themselves familiar with the evacuation plans and have to find their own way out of the zone. The developed concept shows the possibility of a location based service to determine an escape route and visualize the result on a map. In addition, the route is the shortest possible way out of the zone. The concept is implemented for a test area in Christchurch, New Zealand. The developed prototype consists of a three tier architecture. The mobile Android application (client) determines the position of the smartphone and is responsible for the visualization of the result. A calculation program on the server side calculates the shortest route out of the hazard zone. The necessary data for this calculation come from a spatial data base which is the third component in this architecture. The whole system allows the user to calculate an escape route out of the hazard zone at the touch of a button. Implemented in an existing tsunami warning application it would be a life-saving service.

Schlagworte:

Recently, the remains of two historic irrigation channels were re-discovered in the Upper Austrian municipality of Regau. Since the current average precipitation in the region is sufficient to sustain a productive agricultural land use, the irrigation channels raise several questions related to climate variability. To verify different hypotheses such as the construction as a response to a changing climate or the assumed purpose of grassland irrigation, potential coherences are discussed. In addition, remote sensing techniques for the detection of hidden structures overprinted by physical and human activities are outlined. The analysis of available references enables a first assessment of the channels purpose. Several indicators such as the shape and incline of the remaining topographic imprints support the hypothesis of their irrigation function. Furthermore, the qualitative analysis of today’s agro-climatic conditions reveals the general vulnerability of the system to climate changes. Moreover, a dendrochronological analysis shows a phase of remarkable climate variability in conjunction with significant drying periods throughout the 3rd and 4th century. This may have posed a reason for the construction of the irrigation system. Further research is necessary to verify the possible alternative hypothesis, which suggests grassland fertilization as the main irrigation purpose. Therefore, a long term analysis of water nutrient contents is required. Moreover, the application of remote sensing techniques may help to identify the extent of the formerly irrigated area.

Schlagworte:

This paper presents a way of designing and populating a spatial database for tourism research in the Sultanate of Oman. The recent rapid development of tourism in the Sultanate of Oman has created a strong need for research in this field to which GIS can contribute through analysis, modelling and forecasting (MCADAM 1999). Tourism is a multidisciplinary field for which a database allows integration of quantitative and qualitative data. Here the database is populated from data sources that are freely available on the internet and provide a good quality of geodata for the Sultanate of Oman. A key aspect of this paper presents a spatial model of a Tourism Product. This model is explained, implemented and exemplified for Tourism Products in south Oman. An online metadatabase helps to document all data and related sources and provides an interface for communicating and sharing various kinds of data within the research project team. With the results from this pilot project tourism-related questions can be answered using GIS and structures of tourism in the Sultanate of Oman can further be analysed and visualized in an ongoing research project.

Schlagworte:

Nowadays, the amount of physical activity undertaken by children of school age is decreasing. This is a major concern, as it is linked with growing levels of obesity. This puts children at risk of a number of subsequent health conditions, particularly diabetes. This paper analyses the influence of the school environment on children`s physical activity. The travel mode to school and the distance each student travels to school are taken into account. The analysis draws upon a study carried out in a large number of schools in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) over the course of 3 years, the Children`s Sport Participation and Physical Activity (CSPPA) Study. By combining the spatial distribution of the students` homes and information about the school environment, it was possible to analyse on walking and cycling time by calculating service areas. The results of the analysis illustrate that the distance has an influence on physical activity because students living within 2.4 km of the school are more likely to walk to school than students living further away. The analysis also explored the impact of negative environmental factors.

Schlagworte:

This paper outlines the implementation of a web-based tool for the visualization of climate data in the area of Villach using the Java based virtual globe framework World Wind of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The used climate data is provided by the research project Sensors4All, developed by the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS), School of Geoinformation and Environmental Technologies due to the departments research focus on “Environmental Monitoring” by accomplishing projects concerning Sensor Web Enablement (ANDRAE et al. 2009, ANDRAE & SIMONIS 2011) and sensor data validation (ANDERS & HECKE 2011). The Sensor4All sensor network itself is currently limited to 15 sensors that are situated on the roofs of the CUAS sites in Villach and Feldkirchen, on top of the mountain Dobratsch and on roofs of other well-situated educational institutions in the area of Villach. Since May 2011 they are continuously collecting data of the weather phenomena temperature, precipitation, humidity, air pressure and wind speed (HECKE et al. 2012). The only way of viewing the collected data of the Sensors4All research project in a cartographic manner was to send a request to a GeoServer that returned an interpolated Web Mapping Service (WMS) data layer of the last temperature measurement (DE LA BEAUJARDIERE 2006). This layer could be included in Google Earth to get an idea of the affected area and the temperature profile. Due to the fact that a user could neither view any past measurements, nor choose another phenomenon, the visualization tool was developed. It enables the user not only to decide between different phenomena in a specific time frame, but also to change the height gradient for temperature, precipitation and air pressure, view climate diagrams and exclude measurements of specific sensors from visualization. Additionally the visualized layer can be aggregated by using the maximal, minimal, average or summation of the measured values of the chosen sensors in the specific time frame. The possibility to load external WMS layers was also implemented, so that the previous visualization method of Sensors4All and a certain degree of expandability is provided.

Schlagworte:

For the past 30 years Exelis Visual Information Solutions has been delivering image science tools and solutions to both research scientists and image analysts within the Environment & Natural Resources community. In this paper we present a new capability, the ENVI Services Engine, which exposes ENVI processing functionality as RESTful web services providing online and on-demand image science Apps to the geospatial community. The ENVI Services Engine is interoperable with other middleware and servers, adheres to open standards, can support multiple clients (web, mobile, desktop) and is configurable to thinclient environments, such as the JavaScript. Thus we solved the requirements of today’s geospatial users expecting online, on-demand access to image processing in a client-server enterprise or cloud architecture.

Schlagworte:

GNSS receivers are an essential part of modern technological devices. Mobile phones, digital cameras, and car navigational systems are only some examples for tools using GNSS technology. These sensors can be used to support other tasks as well. A simple example is fleet management where the car navigation systems can provide data on the current position, intended target and selected route of the vehicles. However, utilizing data requires information on its quality, in this case on the positional accuracy of the sensors. This quality was checked for GNSS receivers in different mobile phones and a tracking device. Tracking of vehicles is usually restricted to a navigational network. In many cases, several lines may be in parallel with small lateral distance, e.g., lanes on a street, parallel streets, or parallel rail tracks. In these cases, the lateral quality is of higher importance than the longitudinal quality. Thus we concentrated on this aspect of the quality.

Schlagworte:

In the Digital Age, a wide range of everyday practices is heavily reliant on software.Everyday contexts and activities are permeated by and increasingly rely on digital media. Inmost instances the increasing dependence on computational programmes and processes fordaily activities, such as driving a car, goes unnoticed.

Schlagworte:

GIS has been successful beyond measure around the world. Following Donald Norman, successful technologies disappear; they become infrastructure. Now almost 50 years after its inception and successful disappearance to become an integral foundation for life in the information age, it's time to think of issues in the Post-GIS era. This presentation specifically considers how the growing ubiquity of computing infrastructures around the world open potentials for a new era of discovery in global science and geographic information technologies. Because of the shifts in access and abilities to use digital information, the potential of geographic information is bursting the limits of GIS, which originated at the end of industrial era and still reflects those origins. Research challenges abound. Post-GIS science and technologies hold key importance in facilitating connections between the physical and virtual worlds, melding them into productive arrangements and raising important questions about changing social and cultural arrangements. Regarding science, networked digital infrastructures hold the potential to alter research in fundamental ways. Known as the Fourth Paradigm of science, data intensive science goes hand-in-hand with intensely collaborative large group research that considers location in fascinating new ways. Recent scientific activities show how changes in the geographical organization of our work and conduct of science have already begun to take place. The presentation closes with considerations of central issues for this new age and recent activities that highlight the importance of educating future professionals and scientists for the post-GIS era.

Schlagworte:

When translating the Spatial Citizenship (SPACIT) approach into practical learning environments, an appropriate competence model becomes essential. Based on previous deliberations for preparing SPACIT for curriculum implementation this paper illustrates the systematic production of a competence framework for SPACIT education for teacher training courses. Founded on a content analysis of the scholarly literature on the SPACIT approach, the construction is conducted as a three step method including the consideration of influential international competence models (e.g. the body of knowledge concerning GIScience & Technology, DIGCOMP, CEFR, ITEC) and material from neighbouring domains (e.g. philosophy, communication theory, geography, pedagogy).

Schlagworte:

It is widely accepted that to produce a map students need to be able to think spatially. This article does not question the importance of spatial thinking, but it argues that to produce a geographically sound map, that is a map that does not only show where things are, but that tries to answer a geographical question, it is also relevant to be able to think geographically. In its empirical part it shows that students who are half-way through their studies to become teachers often lack this ability which inevitably has repercussions for school geography.

Schlagworte:

Although Spatial Citizenship is rooted deeply in critical theories and is based on ideas of reflexivity, the link to Critical Thinking has not been systematically developed yet. Nevertheless, intersections of both concepts are considered likely due to the closeness of the semantic fields around them. Identifying such overlaps is expected to significantly contribute to advancing the theoretical depth of Spatial Citizenship. Additionally, Critical Thinking – an influential and field-tested approach – may provide valuable insights, particularly with regard to the practical application of the notion of Spatial Citizenship in educational environments. This paper draws on previous research conducted at the CIDTFF (University of Aveiro) and within the framework of the EU-funded SPACIT project. The paper seeks (i) to identify theoretical/conceptual overlaps between both concepts and (ii) to distil key elements of Critical Thinking theory that can usefully complement the concept of Spatial Citizenship and associated educational approaches. The analysis rests on a content analysis of selected journal papers. The resulting intersection framework confirms the closeness of the two concepts, yet also highlights the divergent theoretical and normative foundations.

Schlagworte:

In the last years the way how we communicate and exchange information has undergone significant changes. The relevant processes are increasingly Web 2.0-mediated and enable reflective and participatory practices. As part of this development, the use of geomedia in everyday life (both in work life and private life) has gained in importance. The intrusion of new communication channels and media is closely related to discussions and research on topics such as geo-communication, spatially enabled society and spatial citizenship. A competent handling of geomedia requires everyone to develop new and/or more sophisticated capabilities and abilities. While very recently school education has started to impart geomedia competencies, opportunities for (Geo-)ICT empowerment for adults are rather rare. Suitable activities on adult education and learning should be established for various reasons (e.g. social inclusion, information access). This is in line with efforts of the European Union to address the demand to increase and intensify approaches to adult education and learning. Facing the existing gap between adults’ geomedia literacy on one hand and the promises of a spatially-enabled society on the other, this paper discusses the topic of how everyone in society can become spatially literate, i.e. how adults can develop and strengthen their geomedia competencies. This discussion is illustrated with experiences from the pilot course “Geomedia 55+” (held in cooperation with the “University 55+” at Salzburg University, Austria) that aims at teaching geomedia skills for elderly people.

Schlagworte:

Using game design elements in non-game contexts is an established concept. Gamification is all about improving actual user engagement with the system, making users contribute more time and resources than they have intended, by rewarding them with status, access, power and stuff (SAPS). In this review paper we give an overview of gamification, and user motivations for playing games, and we discuss basic game design elements. We also compare existing services, like Foursquare, Waze and Ingress that use game design elements in geographic data collection processes. Services are compared in the context of the SAPS model and actual used game mechanics, including points, levels, leaderboards, badges and challenges. Gamification can be applied to geographic data collection processes as shown by the services analysed in this article. Current research of gamification applied to geographic data collection gives no definite conclusions. We plan to focus our further research on gamification in the context of geographic data collection, particularly in the realm of volunteered geographic information.

Schlagworte:

Media rich geographical environments and mobile Geomedia are suspected to change the way we encounter cartographic material. Thereby, commercial geomedia such as Google Earth promise to work as devices that not only facilitate the access to geographical material, but provide interactive platforms that makes it easier to handle and comprehend spatial relationships, and, at the same time, reconfigure our understanding of space and location. The paper argues that these developments demand an overall shift from the fixed functional approach of map use studies to a more dynamic view on geomedia usage that becomes inevitable through new practices such as geobrowsing. This claim is reviewed, drawing on Science and Technology Studies, and, in particular their research branch Actor-Network-Theory, to give further insights in the handling of geomedia, against the backdrop of the sociotechnical context in which the objects influence our everyday encounters with the outside world.

Schlagworte:

The Internet was designed to be nuclear war and future-proof. Probably unexpectedly, these two issues supported each other. Indeed, the need to create a decentralized large digital network made it open-ended the way we have come to know the internet through the last years. The changes are also relevant to specific developments of spatial data infrastructures and their future. Our focus is on the practical and empirical aspects of the internet and related infrastructures, as they have become part of our present and future prospects.

Schlagworte:

Much user generated content (UGC) is produced or reproduced by volunteers. Many UGC platforms exist nowadays to facilitate the process of co-production. The majority of them, however, show a gender imbalance of their contributors’ communities, including platforms for collecting Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI). Causes of this gender imbalance have not yet been elaborated sufficiently. In order to identify some of these factors which influence women’s participation in UGC platforms, case studies were carried out to compare different spatially explicit, spatially implicit, and non-spatial UGC projects. The case study analysis is based on a conceptual framework used to analyse participants’ motivations for contributing VGI in reference to gender. The findings suggest several criteria related to the imbalance of female and male contributors in the field of VGI.

Schlagworte:

The intrinsic logic of cities (LÖW) is a theoretical concept to define urban space based on a socio-spatial network approach. The concept is based on the assumption that highly specific and typical features and tacit processes have substantial influence in the re-production of places. LÖW´s concept of space focuses on orderings of living entities and social goods and highlights the constitution of space in processes of perception, recall or ideation to manifest itself as social structure. This paper links theories and methods to describe and visualise the attribution of meaning to a city. It introduces a mapping approach to visualise socio-spatial networks, trying to partially counter criticism by social theorists who discussed the ontological incompatibility of society-space relation and the spatial approach embodied in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Schlagworte:

This paper presents a concept for an innovative teaching and learning project which combines core topics from Physical Geography with adventure and media pedagogy by providing settings for multimedia education in the field. Locations are used as learning spaces and spatial information is integrated in a direct context. The objective of the project is to take e-learning to the field by expanding it for mobile, flexible, location-based learning processes. Learning resources and outdoor activities are combined to get original nature experiences with its varied spatial and temporal dimensions. Mobile tagging, Quick- Response Codes (QR-Codes) and mobile applications are used to access the project results with mobile devices in the field. The benefits and challenges for embedding mobile devices in the curriculum are discussed by presenting a practical example and implementation of mobile field trips and eGeo-Riddles. Target audience of the final products are Bachelor students. The focus of the project is on the supply of teaching and learning content to support the holistic understanding of spatial concepts and to create curiosity and awareness for environmental processes.

Schlagworte:

This work introduces concepts from usability engineering and user centered design into software development in the educational context. As still most digital geomedia on the educational market are based on classical GIS principles made for professionals there is a need for usable tools that fit the needs of students and teachers. A prototype WebGIS application for schools to present various geospatial datasets with an intuitive user interface will be presented. The used technologies and GUI elements are described. Usability tests with secondary school students are conducted and are used to assess the performance of the prototype web application in a realistic environment.

Schlagworte:

In a research project on the spatial behaviour of young people we implemented the idea of creating temporary artworks and messages using physical space itself as a drawing surface. We conducted GPS drawing actions with secondary school students in the city of Vienna. In small groups, students developed concepts for their pieces of GPS art during the arts class at school and were later asked to draw this idea “into the city” by walking a GPS track. The contents of their work provide a valuable insight into the perception and meaning of space from a different point of view. By using a simple GPS device as a “pen” and a cityscape as the corresponding “paper” the students interacted with space in a new way. They experienced different facets of familiar spatial settings and places and thus also rethought these spaces in a new way.

Schlagworte:

This paper aims to present a methodological approach to create the sound maps with students. This work is based on several linking themes like sonic geography, sonic mapping and related educational issues. At the crossroads of different themes, it tries to show graphical representations of sounds obtained during fieldwork and it provides mapping choices that help the student map them as legibly as possible. The paper shows how it is possible to introduce sonic geography and sonic cartography into student learning at different levels. It also focuses on relationships between university and school mapping. Educational challenges have arisen in relation to these issues, including the beliefs of students in terms of knowledge and acquisition of skills.

Schlagworte:

New web technologies allow conveying spatial information to the public using versatile means. In a new project developing a virtual field trip for young students various degrees of interaction in different kinds of spatial representations are established to fully exploit the advantages of virtual field trips in education.

Schlagworte:

Visiting the federal capital of Vienna is compulsory in most Austrian secondary schools, especially in the 8th grade. In general, this “sightseeing tour” lasts one week. Generally speaking, as a teacher you can choose between two forms of organising this project week: Either you take advantage of the so-called “Wien Aktion”, which is a programme run by the Austrian government. They set the structure for your tour through Vienna and plan your intinarary. However, you may also arrange your project week yourself, which involves lots of intensive preparation beforehand, especially in class. During the project week, your selfplanned programme is a mixture of booked tours (e.g. St. Wiener Stephansdom, ORF = Austrian television broadcaster, Vienna International Airport, Technisches Museum Wien) and self-organised sightseeing activities. The principle “from learning facts to activityoriented working” is a guideline for the preparation time as well as all the activities during the project week. This paper shows how planning this project week can be supported by geomedia.

Schlagworte:

The increasing interest in the educational potential of digital geomedia has heightened the need for a better understanding of how the integration of this technology can be enhanced. Previous research has generated a great discussion about the reasons for the low levels of digital geomedia integration in educational contexts, despite its recognized pedagogical interest by teachers. Being teacher training largely mentioned as an essential tool to help improving digital geomedia pedagogical integration, after the training course is over, the question arises: Are teachers integrating this technology in their teaching practice? How? The most widely accepted conceptual framework for assessing the level of pedagogical technology integration is TIM (Technology Integration Matrix). As result from an exchange initiative between previous research from CIDTFF (University of Aveiro) and the Institute of Geoinformatics (University of Münster), a questionnaire is conceived, based on TIM´s levels, and applied to several case studies of German teachers who attended different kinds of teacher training courses related to digital geomedia. First results show a rather high level of technology integration und positive correlations with the number of attended trainings.

Schlagworte:

The opportunities for using GIS in schools are numerous. KOGEKA, a community of six secondary schools in Belgium, has been working with GIS for about 10 years now and is running a GIS Mobility project in some of their schools. In this project the secondary school pupils work together with pupils from primary schools in the neighbourhood, on school mobility and traffic safety. This paper reports about KOGEKA’s experiences with the GIS mobility project and describes (i) the added value that the use of GIS can offer in a project like this, (ii) how GIS can support the development of spatial thinking in pupils, (iii) what potential this kind of projects can have to contribute to achieve learning objectives described in curricula and (iv) how the project encourages pupils take up their role as active citizens. We conclude with some general thoughts to consider for schools that think of running similar projects.

Schlagworte:

The project FIS – Fernerkundung in Schulen (German for ‘Remote Sensing in Schools’) – aims at a better integration of remote sensing in school lessons. In addition to the contribution to natural science education and working on present questions, the use of satellite images in class offers further advantages, e.g. demonstrating ways for problem-oriented working, the improvement of spatial orientation competence, methodological competence, as well as analysis and practice skills. Respectively, the overall objective is to teach pupils from primary school up to high-school graduation basics and applications of remote sensing. For this reason, a comprehensive and well-structured learning portal was established. Here, we present the functions of the FIS learning portal, describe its learning management functionalities and show how E-learning can encourage pupils to work with satellite imagery in the context of natural science education.

Schlagworte:

A group of Mathematics teachers from a Digital-Earth.eu partner school have come across new technologies and integrated geo-media software to teach simple daily tasks in Mathematics and Geography, within the Portuguese national curriculum. We aimed at portraying Portuguese History, namely since the discoveries in the 15th century, showing the importance of Mathematics in the invention of navigation and mapping tools until the present day, resorting to the possibilities of using this software.

Schlagworte:

Strongly connected to the change in key media from the “Gutenberg-Galaxy” to the “Internet- Galaxy” is also the hope, to break new ground and more successful ways within competence building in the area of spatial orientation. This paper deals with two questions: Which influence on competence building in the area of spatial orientation does the different identification and collecting possibilities within the work with digital geomedia have compared to the traditional work with paper maps? Furthermore, the study is concerned with the influence of different work instructions for the pupils on the learning environment. By means of an interdisciplinary study combining the two fields of mathematics and geography, these questions will be addressed. The empirical research, which the study is based on, has been conducted with four fifth-grade classes of a comprehension school in buildings of the University of Koblenz-Landau. In this contribution, the subject specific background and the test design of the study will be explained as well as the first results presented. These points to some differences of the competence building process between the work with digital media and the work with paper maps.

Schlagworte:

Today’s world is overwhelmed with statistics. Virtually, every economic and scientific activity relies to it. And with the modern technology it’s easy to visualize these statistics in figures, graphs, charts and maps – making analyses of information even easier. But in education the use of statistics is statistics is taught as part of mathematics often without context or meaning, or is used merely to show a result instead of doing real analysis and investigation. Research suggests that, while teachers are willing to use statistics, they feel their students experience greater difficulties in statistics than in other topics, and they consider themselves not well prepared to help their students face these difficulties. The aim of the I-Use project is to create an in-service teacher training course that will deal with how to make sense of information through different presentation forms and media.

Schlagworte:

The special workshop “Earth observation for ecosystem and biodiversity monitoring – best practices in Europe and globally, at GI_Forum 2013, focused on the outcomes of the EUfunded projects MS.MONINA and BIO_SOS and related activities that highlight the potential of Earth observation data and technologies in support of biodiversity and ecosystem monitoring. In Europe, nature conservation rests upon a strong, yet ambitious policy framework with legally binding directives. Thus, geospatial information products are required at all levels of implementation. With advances in Earth observation data availability and the forthcoming of powerful data analysis tools we enter a new dimension of satellitebased services. Recent achievements of such endeavours were showcased and challenges discussed, using best practice examples from both inside and outside Europe. This article summarizes the state-of-the-art of satellite-based habitat mapping and accommodates the paper contributions in the current scientific discourse.

Schlagworte:

Focusing on the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) and the recently proposed General Habitat Categories (GHCs) classifycation system, this paper illustrates how expert knowledge concerning class spatial arrangement in the scene at hand class, class phenology and class spectral signature in multitemporal EO images can fill the gaps between the two classification systems and provide LC/LU to habitat translation. An application to a Natura 2000 site in Southern Italy which includes a wetland costal area is discussed.

Schlagworte:

The BIO_SOS project (www.biosos.eu) focuses on developing a robust system for habitat mapping and monitoring, named EODHaM, with this based on prior generation of land cover/use (LC/LU) and change map maps and their subsequent translation to categories of habitat appropriate to support conservation agencies and land managers in decisions relating to protection of Natura 2000 sites. The input data sources are multi-seasonal EO measurements and on-site data, including ancillary information and in-field measurements. For this purpose, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Land Cover Classification Scheme (LCCS) and the General Habitat Categories (GHCs), from which Annex I Habitats can be defined, have been proposed for describing LC/LU and habitat categories.

Schlagworte:

We have created an indicator system whose main aim is to assess significant changes in the habitats existing in Sierra Nevada Natura 2000 site. This system is able to automatically download, process and analyse raw data from two MODIS products (snow cover and vegetation indexes). Besides, the system calculates automatically several indicators useful to assess different ecological functions of Sierra Nevada habitats: phenology, seasonality of biomass production, duration of snow cover, etc. We also calculate trends in those indicators. These indicators are aggregated into composite indexes that allow the identification of habitats suffering significant changes in both their ecological functions and physical context. Finally we created an ontology that adds semantic meaning to the whole dataset. This allows the formulation of complex questions regarding the changes observed in habitats.

Schlagworte:

The growth in data availability and in the number of users from non-spatial disciplines has increased the concern with spatial data management and spatial data quality. This reality contextualizes the need and importance of data quality management throughout the spatial data cycle related to data editing and sharing in the context of knowledge networks. The development of standard concepts, procedures and tools may foster important advances in the improvement of spatial dataset production, use and management practices. The implementation of environmental monitoring programs implies a growing number and diversity of users with specific capabilities and responsibilities. In this context, spatial data quality evaluation and management promotes communication, optimizes processes of analysis and spatial modelling, and in this sense improves research and political and technical decisionmaking and action. This paper focuses on the methods and tools currently available to evaluate the external quality of datasets for environmental and ecological monitoring. A novel framework is presented that allows integrating and interconnecting spatial data quality evaluation with metadata geoportals in WebGIS platforms, facilitating evaluation by users with often limited expertise in this field. The advances achieved in this research highlight the relevance of developing capacities for different users to improve data collection, data models, spatial data processing and modelling, but also the need to inform and report on spatial data quality using adequate tools.

Schlagworte:

In this paper, we tested a relatively new version of the Partial Least Square (PLS) method called the Sparse Partial Least Square Discriminant Analysis (SPLSDA). This improved method performs variable selection and classification in a one-step procedure and has been successfully applied in the field of bioinformatics (LÊ CAO et al. 2011). We are applying the method on remote sensing data for the classification of natural and semi-natural habitats in a Natura 2000 site located in Southern France. The work has been performed in the framework of the MS.MONINA FP7 project which is using the potential of GMES for the development of a multi-scale mapping service aimed at monitoring European protected habitats and species at the local, regional and continental scales.

Schlagworte:

Within the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2020 (EC 2011), the Green Infrastructure (GI) is introduced as one supporting tool to increase spatial and functional connectivity between natural protected and un-protected areas, and to improve landscape permeability (DG ENV. 2012). Natura 2000 (N2K) sites network, designated under the “Habitat” Directive (EC, 1992) and the “Bird” Directive (EC 2010), will form the backbone of GI. Connectivity is defined as a combined product of structural and functional connectivity, i.e. the effect of physical landscape structure and the actual species use of the landscape.

Schlagworte:

One of the core European Union environmental policies is the creation and monitoring of the Natura 2000 network of protected areas. This network has been explicitly established for the preservation of conservation priority habitat types and species. Still the concept of habitat is a key concept for ecologists that remains ill defined and is notoriously hard to quantify and measure. Several classification schemes have been put forward, but their relative strengths and weaknesses remain less well examined. In this study we analyzed 8 different Natura 2000 sites (3 Greek, 2 Italian, 2 Portuguese, 1 British). Our study sites reflect a variety of ecosystems, most of them are Mediterranean (7 of the 8) and most of them are wetlands (6 of the 8). In each site, we classified habitats according to 4 different classification schemes (Annex I of the Habitats Directive, Corine Biotopes, EUNIS and General Habitat categories). Also, we used three other widely used land cover classification schemes (namely Corine Land Cover, FAO Land Cover Classification System and IGBP DIS scheme). We found that the different schemes produced considerably different values of landscape diversity leading even to different ranking of the sites according to their diversity. Furthermore, when comparing the landscape composition among sites according to the different schemes, they led to different inferences. Our results imply that the classification scheme used for estimating habitat composition plays an important role for the monitoring of protected areas, perhaps more important than previously assumed.

Schlagworte:

As part of the Biodiversity Multi-Source Monitoring System (BIO_SOS), a new approach to the classification of Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) classes from very high resolution (VHR) remote sensing data has been developed. These classes are also translated to General Habitat Categories (GHCs). Examples of the classification are presented for Cors Fochno in Wales but can be generated for any site where appropriate remote sensing data have been acquired. The system has been developed for operational monitoring of protected areas and their surrounds.

Schlagworte:

Key is the challenge to develop a biodiversity observation system that is transmissible and cost effective. Measuring and reliable reporting of trends and changes in biodiversity requires that data and indicators are collected and analysed in a standard and comparable way. LiDAR is an alternative remote sensing technology that allows to increase the accuracy of biophysical measurements and to extend spatial analysis into the third dimension. The BIO_SOS project shows alternatives to measure habitat diversity as a proxy for biodiversity on the basis of plant life forms. The objective of our study is to assess to what extent LiDAR can be used to map and monitor plant life forms and associated General Habitat Categories (GHCs). The conclusions are that LiDAR provides accurate height measurements on shrubs and trees, even in early spring when no leaves are present. Canopy height models as derived from LiDAR and in combination with very high resolution satellite imagery provides a powerful tool with for the identification of plant life forms and as a direct input for spatial modelling of species distribution. Since LiDAR data are not everywhere available, finding alternatives for height feature extraction from optical imagery for might be worthwhile.

Schlagworte:

Ontology based applications offer big opportunities in data management in regard to interoperability of spatial datasets. This work demonstrates a data management application, which mainly focuses on the semantics of biodiversity monitoring data. It suggests a possibility of interoperable data management of remote sensing based biodiversity data with the help of semantic formalization and ontological inference.

Schlagworte:

The EU project MS.MONINA (Multi-scale Service for Monitoring NATURA 2000 Habitats of European Community Interest, www.ms-monina.eu) – a GMES project funded within the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) – is developing remote sensing based services to observe and manage the state of Natura 2000 sites and other precious habitats to reduce the loss of biodiversity. One objective of the project is the provision of ready-to-use information to public authorities on European, national and local level in a multi-scale approach. Within this context the information layer concept has been introduced to provide specific and standardized information as an intermediate product to support further analysis activities (e.g. expert based interpretations, input for habitat modelling activities, etc.). This study examines the potential for calculating such an information layer of forest disturbances based on satellite imagery of different time slices in alpine forest habitats.

Schlagworte:

Mangrove ecosystems are rapidly disappearing worldwide at a rate of 1-2 % annually due to a combination of climate change and increased anthropogenic pressure and if the current trend continues unabated, mangrove forests may vanish completely within the next 100 years (DUKE et al. 2007). In an extensive review of the status of the world’s mangroves between 1980 and 2005, the FAO (2007) calculated a decrease in mangrove forest area of approximately 20 %. The nation of Senegal, in cooperation with Oceanium (a local NGO) and the Livelihoods Fund (a carbon investment fund), has been supporting the replanting of mangrove forests around vulnerable coastlines in the Sine Saloum and Casamance estuaries within the framework of a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The difficulty that the Livelihood Fund faces is the continual monitoring of these plantations, allowing investors to track the value of their investment as the forest grows. Presently, solely ground based sampling schemes are used to collect the necessary information which is both expensive and limited by accessibility. A remote sensing based approach, using satellite imagery, can potentially provide wall-to-wall coverage of the plantation areas and increase the level of efficiency in which the project is evaluated by optimizing the amount of field data needed for an accurate assessment of the plantations. To-date, the monitoring of young mangrove reforestation efforts has not been performed with remote sensing based techniques (FIELD 1999). The main objective of the current study is to consider the potential for using TerraSAR-X for the routine monitoring of young mangrove plantations, between 1 and 5 years old, and to determine if tree density (number of tree per hectare) can be accurately derived from the data. In addition, the acquisition mode of TerraSAR-X was examined to determine the optimum data parameters. The study investigated 3 groups of plantations, established between 2008 and 2012, in the Casamance estuary near the communities of Thiobon, Cap Skiring and Ziguinchor in south western Senegal, located between 12° 15’ and 13° 06’ North and 16° 15’ and 16° 48’ West.

Schlagworte:

This work aimed to investigate the potential of remote sensing to provide information on the spatial distribution of habitats in the Alpine region. Specifically, the performances of different classification methods, namely Maximum Likelihood (ML), Decision Tree (DT) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) were investigated for land-cover mapping using multitemporal RapidEye data. Results showed that SVM (85 % overall accuracy) outperformed ML (80 % overall accuracy) and DT (79 % overall accuracy). The resulted land-cover classes were subsequently reclassified into habitat classes using a spatial kernel approach. Findings suggest that the inclusion of solar radiation layers in the classification procedure as well as the use of multi-temporal images improves the classification accuracy by 4 % and 10 %, respectively.

Schlagworte:

Riparian forests are sensitive habitats with a rich biodiversity and an important function as corridors for movement of wildlife. In Europe, many of these precious habitats are protected sites within the Natura 2000 network, where monitoring results have to be reported every six years. Satellite imagery provides key benefits for monitoring nature protection areas where political borders, rough terrain and large and/or complex monitoring areas handicap a harmonized assessment (VANDEN BORRE et al. 2011). NAGENDRA et al. (in press) name four critical aspects of assessment: changes in habitat extent and landscape structure, habitat degradation, alteration in biodiversity and tracking of pressures and threats within and outside protected areas. As silviculture inside Natura 2000 sites can influence these aspects, a targeted monitoring is needed. For this purpose, an Earth observation-based workflow has been developed within the MS.MONINA project (http://www.ms-monina.eu) to monitor riparian forests in the Natura 2000 site Salzachauen. It includes (1) a habitat delineation based on visual interpretation and semi-automated object-based image analysis and (2) an assessment of habitat quality using structural indicators (cf. STRASSER et al. in review). In this paper, we focus on the second part of this workflow. We used landscape metrics to assess the overall habitat quality of the entire area and differentiated between three subregions with a different degree of silvicultural intensity to reveal potential influence of forest management on the habitat quality.

Schlagworte:

Pressures and threats to an ecosystem and its function need to be predicted and quantified: only knowing them, actions can be taken to avoid them. This is particularly true when the pressures are created by human actions and decisions. Part of these pressures causes changes in a) the water (and sediment) regime, b) the input of water and sediment into given parts of an ecosystem and c) water availability. These impacts can be estimated by means of a simple runoff-erosion model, easy to use and to understand and linked to a spatially distributed description of the landscape where the ecosystem to protect and conserve is located.

Schlagworte:

A key success factor of the Copernicus programme is to ensure the acceptance of services by users. This acceptance and further adoption is based on high quality products that meet the specific information requirements of the user. In the realm of biodiversity monitoring and reporting on conservation status of Natura 2000 habitats, such products must meet different needs of local site manager and national environmental agencies, up to European authorities. Hence, the quality of these upcoming Earth observation based technologies must be validated in a pre-operational phase. The case of the MS.MONINA project shows the necessity to streamline the role of different stakeholders in the whole service delivery process. This process is described in depth, taken from the service validation in Sierra Nevada and Andalusia (Spain), showing potentials and limitations of the developed validation protocol and highlighting methodological, technical and scientific achievements obtained during this process.

Schlagworte:

The analysis of EO data is generally either pixel- or object-based, but this paper outlines a hybrid approach which maximises the information content of the image at its finest spatial resolution (the pixel) and then analyses this information at the scale of landscape features (objects). This approach is useful where the characteristics within features are important to their assessment and is highly relevant in the current context of habitat legislation which focuses on changes in condition as well as extent. A vital component of the approach is local expert knowledge to improve both the results and the engagement of key user communities in the process. Examples are provided for monitoring a 5 year wetland restoration programme where it was aimed to demonstrate a viable operational workflow.

Schlagworte:

The EODHaM system offers the right mix of site specific configurability and pre-engineered processing modules and workflows, which allow to offer a habitat monitoring service, particularly suited to support the multi-annual monitoring of Natura 2000 sites. The service provisioning foresees for each site an inception phase, during which the service provider collaborates with domain experts from the site in order to setup together the optimal service chain and processing configuration, customizing the workflow steps from the range of prebuilt, configurable processing modules.

Schlagworte:

At a global level, protected sites have been established for the primary purpose of conserving biodiversity, with survey and monitoring of habitats undertaken largely within their boundaries. However, because of increasing human populations with greater access to resources, there is a need to now consider monitoring anthropic activities in the surrounding landscapes as pressures and disturbances are impacting on the functioning and biodiversity values of many protected sites. Earth Observation (EO) data acquired across a range of spatial and temporal scales offer new opportunities for monitoring biodiversity over varying time-scales, either through direct or indirect mapping of species or habitats. However, Land Cover (LC) and/or Land Use (LU), rather than habitat maps are generated in many national and international programs and, whilst the translation from one classification to the other is desirable, differences in definitions and criteria have so far limited the establishment of a unified approach. Focusing on both natural and non-natural environments associated with Natura 2000 sites in the Mediterranean, this paper considers the extent to which three common LC/LU taxonomies (CORINE, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Land Cover Classification System (FAO-LCCS) and the IGBP) can be translated to habitat taxonomies with minimum use of additional environmental attributes and/or in situ data. A qualitative and quantitative analysis based on the Jaccard’s index established the FAOLCCS as being the most useful taxonomy for harmonizing LC/LU maps with different legends and dealing with the complexity of habitat description and as a framework for translating EO-derived LC/LU to habitat categories. As demonstration, a habitat map of a wetland site is obtained through translation of the LCCS taxonomy.

Schlagworte: