Abstract

More than 60% of older Americans have sedentary lifestyles1 and are recommended more physical activities for health benefit. Nearby outdoor environments on residential sites may impact older inhabitants׳ physical activities there (defined as walking, gardening, yard work, and other outdoor physical activities on residential sites). This study surveyed 110 assisted-living residents in Houston, Texas, regarding their previous residential sites before moving to a retirement community and physical activities there. Twelve environmental features were studied under four categories (typology, motivators, function, and safety). Based on data availability, a subset of 57 sample sites was analyzed in Geographic Information Systems. Hierarchical linear modeling was applied to estimate physical activities as a function of the environments. Higher levels of physical activity were found to be positively related with four environmental features (transitional-areas, connecting-paths, walk-ability, and less paving).

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to serve as a gateway to the world of geographic information systems (GIS), seen as technologies t support decision-making services in libraries and information units. Through the review of various projects that make use of GIS technologies in libraries, the concept of GIS and its synergies with information units is introduced. Finally, the paper points out different contexts and situations, in relation to information units, in which GIS could be used to improve services and products by information professionals.

Abstract

Description and evaluation of the characteristics of MapTiler, software for georeferencing and publishing old maps on the Web. This software can help librarians and archivists publicize, easily and quickly, the cartographic collections of their institutions. Some use cases of MapTiler are cited.

Abstract

Nowadays, there are several services and applications that allow users to locate and move to different tourist areas using a mobile device. These systems can be used either by internet or downloading an application in concrete places like a visitors centre. Although such applications are able to facilitate the location and the search for points of interest, in most cases, these services and applications do not meet the needs of each user. This paper aims to provide a solution by studying the main projects, services and applications, their routing algorithms and their treatment of the real geographical data in Android mobile devices, focusing on the data acquisition and treatment to improve the routing searches in off-line environments. Hoy en día hay varios servicios y aplicaciones que permiten a los usuarios localizar y trasladarse a diferentes zonas turísticas utilizando un dispositivo móvil. Estos sistemas pueden ser utilizados ya sea por Internet o descargar una aplicación en lugares concretos, como un centro de visitantes. A pesar de que estas aplicaciones son capaces de facilitar la localización y la búsqueda de puntos de interés, en la mayoría de los casos estos servicios y aplicaciones no se ajustan a las necesidades de cada usuario. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo proporcionar una solución mediante el estudio de los principales proyectos, servicios y aplicaciones, sus algoritmos de enrutamiento y su tratamiento de los datos reales geográficos en dispositivos móviles Android, centrándose en la adquisición de datos y tratamiento para mejorar las búsquedas de enrutamiento en entornos fuera de línea. Avui dia hi ha diversos serveis i aplicacions que permeten als usuaris localitzar i traslladar-se a diferents zones turístiques utilitzant un dispositiu mòbil. Aquests sistemes poden ser utilitzats ja sigui per Internet o descarregar una aplicació en llocs concrets, com un centre de visitants. Tot i que aquestes aplicacions són capaces de facilitar la localització i la recerca de punts d'interès, en la majoria dels casos aquests serveis i aplicacions no s'ajusten a les necessitats de cada usuari. Aquest treball té per objectiu proporcionar una solució mitjançant l'estudi dels principals projectes, serveis i aplicacions, els seus algoritmes d'encaminament i el seu tractament de les dades reals geogràfics en dispositius mòbils Android, centrant-se en l'adquisició de dades i tractament per millorar les recerques d'enrutament en entorns fora de línia.

Abstract

This paper presents a methodology for urban monitoring using volunteered geographic information (VGI) and journalism data Iraq war logs with network based kernel density estimation (NetKDE). It investigates, using spatio-temporal analysis, the evolution of urban events in Baghdad between 2004 and 2009. The extracted street network is based on the data distributed by OpenStreetMap (OSM). A total of 21,876 logged events, 66,648 network segments, 22,644 gridpoints (200m resolution grid) and 362,304 gridpoints (50m resolution grid) are used for the analysis. The methodology combines and adapts these VGI data and is mainly based on open source and/or publicly available software. It handles very large datasets with multiscale, multi-resolution and temporal perspectives. Fuzzy-set map comparison (FMC) is used to identify level of changes between each period of time. The methodology is already used in other fields of research being biology, urban planning, criminology or economic evelopment. It should help stakeholders in respective domain to analyze the evolution of network constrained events in multiple contexts. This paper is divided in three parts. Firstly, conceptual background of VGI, NetKDE and FMC is presented. Secondly, the methodology is illustrated using data Iraq war logs, OSM data and grids with two different resolutions. Thirdly, spatio-temporal analysis results are presented and discussed. Peer Reviewed

Abstract

In many big cities, the bike-sharing system (BSS) and taxi play critical roles in transportation services. They both offer on-demand transportation options and allow flexible riding scheduling and routing. Previous literature has compared BSS and taxi to other transport modes, such as public transit and private automobile, but little is known about the spatiotemporal factors that influence travel choices between these two alternatives. Understanding travel patterns of BSS and taxi is critical in traffic demand analysis and sustainable transportation planning. Also, an in-depth examination of the patterns of travel behaviors, especially when one would choose BSS over a taxi, will provide valuable insights on human mobility and active living research. In this study, we investigated the spatiotemporal patterns of BSS and taxi trips in Chicago from 2014 to 2016. To model travel choices between BSS and taxi, we applied machine learning techniques to simulate the means of transport based on environmental and temporal factors. Results show seasonal trip variations of the BSS and a declining trend of taxi trips. BSS speed is relatively stable while taxi speed varies primarily because of time and locations. Based on the random forest model, which has demonstrated the best fit with high processing speed, travel distance and the number of parks and recreational facilities seem to be critical spatial predicting factors of the travel choice. Given any time and location, the model can recommend the travel choices between BSS and taxis for users. This study shows the significance of machine learning techniques in urban mobility research. Results of the study may potentially support people's transportation decision-making and facilitate sustainable transportation planning.

Abstract

The residential sector is an example of the challenges that arise when modelling the heterogeneity of the energy system to assess energy policy. Some of the characteristics that influence the supply and demand of energy in the residential sector are the type of consumption, household income, family composition, type of dwelling, the climatic zone of residence, among others. The objective of this research is to characterize the agents of energy consumption in the residential sector of Ecuador. To achieve this goal, this article presents a methodology that combines a national survey (online and door-to-door) with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The survey allows defining the main motivations, investment objectives and decision method of the agents when renewing or maintaining home energy technologies. For this, the agents have been classified based on their income level. GIS allows the agents to be spatially located and to have an estimate of the population that belongs to each agent by income level. The results are presented by income level for each group of agents and the agents are geolocated, characterizing them spatially. The quantitative attributes of each agent are determined in order to be used in energy systems modelling.