Locating the Eureka Stockade : Use of a Geographical Information System (GIS) in a historiographical research context
- Authors: Harvey, Jack
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Computers and the Humanities Vol. 37, no. 2 (2003), p. 229-234
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- Description: GIS methodology was used for the purpose of locating the disputed site of a historically significant battle, which took place in 1854 when miners on an Australian gold field staged an armed uprising against government forces. The route of the first survey of the area (1854) and the earliest known contour map (1856-1857) were overlaid on a modern street grid. Other features such as the vantage points of illustrators and the authors of eyewitness accounts were also incorporated. The resulting composite map was used as the key reference framework for comparing and critically evaluating a large body of primary and secondary written accounts, and for reaching a conclusion concerning the site. © 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000367
Spatial differentiation of landscape values in the Murray River region of Victoria, Australia
- Authors: Zhu, Xuan , Pfueller, Sharron , Whitelaw, Paul , Winter, Caroline
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Environmental Management Vol. 45, no. 5 (2010), p. 896-911
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- Description: This research advances the understanding of the location of perceived landscape values through a statistically based approach to spatial analysis of value densities. Survey data were obtained from a sample of people living in and using the Murray River region, Australia, where declining environmental quality prompted a reevaluation of its conservation status. When densities of 12 perceived landscape values were mapped using geographic information systems (GIS), valued places clustered along the entire river bank and in associated National/State Parks and reserves. While simple density mapping revealed high value densities in various locations, it did not indicate what density of a landscape value could be regarded as a statistically significant hotspot or distinguish whether overlapping areas of high density for different values indicate identical or adjacent locations. A spatial statistic Getis-Ord Gi* was used to indicate statistically significant spatial clusters of high ! value densities or "hotspots". Of 251 hotspots, 40% were for single non-use values, primarily spiritual, therapeutic or intrinsic. Four hotspots had 11 landscape values. Two, lacking economic value, were located in ecologically important river red gum forests and two, lacking wilderness value, were near the major towns of Echuca-Moama and Albury-Wodonga. Hotspots for eight values showed statistically significant associations with another value. There were high associations between learning and heritage values while economic and biological diversity values showed moderate associations with several other direct and indirect use values. This approach may improve confidence in the interpretation of spatial analysis of landscape values by enhancing understanding of value relationships.
Pre-European distribution, structure and composition of semi-arid woodlands of the Victorian Mallee
- Authors: Callister, Katrina , Westbrooke, Martin
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria Vol. 118, no. 2 (2006), p. 245-258
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- Description: The semi-arid woodlands of the Victorian Mallee have been subject to extensive change since European settlement. To better understand the nature and extent of change, and to assist in planning restoration, research was undertaken to investigate (1) the likely pre-European distribution, structure and composition of semi-arid woodland in north-west Victoria, and (2) the extent of change since European settlement. Information on semi-arid woodlands from historical survey plans was entered into a Geo-graphical Information System (GIS). Historical data were compared with recent data from field surveys and vegetation maps to assess change. Data obtained from survey plans enabled the pre-European extent of semi-arid woodlands to be mapped. Historical tree density ranged from less than one to more than 500 trees per hectare, however, an overall decline in the density of remnants is apparent throughout. It is estimated that more than 260 000 ha (19% of the study area) originally supported semi-arid woodland species. Of this, more than 80% has been cleared within agricultural areas surrounding the Murray-Sunset National Park, highlighting the need for conservation and management to ensure regeneration within remaining areas.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003004784
Spatial infrastructure, information access and knowledge building
- Authors: Thompson, Helen , MacLeod, Andrew , Dahlhaus, Peter
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings
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- Description: Most decisions involve a spatial component, though few people realise its significance (Williamson & Wallace, 2006). Recent advances in web-based geographical information systems (GIS) are bringing the spatial component to the forefront. As a result new opportunities are available for getting decision useful information and data into an environment where it can be shared with and accessed by organisations and members of the general public (Geomatic Technologies, 2008). This paper explores the emerging area of web-based GIS and its impact. Barriers which often limit spatial information access and knowledge building are identified. Recent advances in spatial infrastructure are introduced. A potential model for stimulating the dissemination and use of spatial information is presented. Early implementation activities and associated results are detailed. Future work and parallel research focussed on establishing the value and contribution of spatial information to regional planning outcomes are then briefly described. Copyright © 2008 COSI.
- Description: 2003006851
Predictive mapping of powerful owl (Ninox strenua) breeding sites using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in urban Melbourne, Australia
- Authors: Isaac, Bronwyn , Cooke, Raylene , Simmons, Dianne , Hogan, Fiona
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Landscape and Urban Planning Vol. 84, no. (2008), p. 212-218
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- Description: Urban expansion is a principal process threatening biodiversity globally. It is predicted that over half of the world's population will reside in urban centres by 2010. If we are to conserve biodiversity, a shift in perspective from traditional ecological studies based in natural environments, to studies based in less natural environments is paramount. To effectively conserve species which occur in urban environments, comprehensive analysis is necessary to determine the processes that are driving this urban usage. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology provides a valuable tool for efficient spatial analysis and predictive mapping of species distributions. This study used GIS to analyze current breeding sites for the powerful owl, a vulnerable top order predator in urban Melbourne, Australia. GIS analysis suggests that a number of ecological attributes were influencing powerful owl usage of urban environments. Using these ecological attributes, predictive mapping was undertaken, which identified a number of potential breeding sites for powerful owls within urbanized Melbourne. Urban environments are traditionally perceived as “the wastelands” of natural environments, however, this study demonstrates that they have the potential to support apex predators, an important finding for the management of rare and threatened species.
An optimal transportation routing approach using GIS-based dynamic traffic flows
- Authors: Alazab, Ammar , Venkatraman, Sitalakshmi , Abawajy, Jemal , Alazab, Mamoun
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings
- Full Text: false
- Description: This paper examines the value of real-time traffic information gathered through Geographic Information Systems for achieving an optimal vehicle routing within a dynamically stochastic transportation network. We present a systematic approach in determining the dynamically varying parameters and implementation attributes that were used for the development of a Web-based transportation routing application integrated with real-time GIS services. We propose and implement an optimal routing algorithm by modifying Dijkstra’s algorithm in order to incorporate stochastically changing traffic flows. We describe the significant features of our Web application in making use of the real-time dynamic traffic flow information from GIS services towards achieving total costs savings and vehicle usage reduction. These features help users and vehicle drivers in improving their service levels and productivity as the Web application enables them to interactively find the optimal path and in identifying destinations effectively.
Children's route choice during active transportation to school : Difference between shortest and actual route
- Authors: Dessing, Dirk , de Vries, Sanne , Hegeman, Geerje , Verhagen, Evert , van Mechelen, Willem , Pierik, Frank
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Vol. 13, no. 1 (2016), p. 1-11
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- Description: Background: The purpose of this study is to increase our understanding of environmental correlates that are associated with route choice during active transportation to school (ATS) by comparing characteristics of actual walking and cycling routes between home and school with the shortest possible route to school. Methods: Children (n = 184; 86 boys, 98 girls; age range: 8-12 years) from seven schools in suburban municipalities in the Netherlands participated in the study. Actual walking and cycling routes to school were measured with a GPS-device that children wore during an entire school week. Measurements were conducted in the period April-June 2014. Route characteristics for both actual and shortest routes between home and school were determined for a buffer of 25 m from the routes and divided into four categories: Land use (residential, commercial, recreational, traffic areas), Aesthetics (presence of greenery/natural water ways along route), Traffic (safety measures such as traffic lights, zebra crossings, speed bumps) and Type of street (pedestrian, cycling, residential streets, arterial roads). Comparison of characteristics of shortest and actual routes was performed with conditional logistic regression models. Results: Median distance of the actual walking routes was 390.1 m, whereas median distance of actual cycling routes was 673.9 m. Actual walking and cycling routes were not significantly longer than the shortest possible routes. Children mainly traveled through residential areas on their way to school ( > 80 % of the route). Traffic lights were found to be positively associated with route choice during ATS. Zebra crossings were less often present along the actual routes (walking: OR = 0.17, 95 % CI = 0.05-0.58; cycling: OR = 0.31, 95 % CI = 0.14-0.67), and streets with a high occurrence of accidents were less often used during cycling to school (OR = 0.57, 95 % CI = 0.43-0.76). Moreover, percentage of visible surface water along the actual route was higher compared to the shortest routes (walking: OR = 1.04, 95 % CI = 1.01-1.07; cycling: OR = 1.03, 95 % CI = 1.01-1.05). Discussion: This study showed a novel approach to examine built environmental exposure during active transport to school. Most of the results of the study suggest that children avoid to walk or cycle along busy roads on their way to school. © 2016 Dessing et al.
The shortage-surplus paradox : a literature review of primary health care accessibility
- Authors: Terry, Melissa , Terry, Daniel , Hoang, Ha , Hannah, Chona
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 1, no. 3 (2013), p. 40-50
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- Description: The National Primary Health Care Strategy in Australia recommends primary health care services need to be clinically and culturally appropriate and delivered in a timely and affordable manner. However simultaneously recognised, access is still inequitable in among various population groups and many areas of Australia. Geographical Information System (GIS) have been used to explore geographical health disparities, planning health care service delivery and provide data in a meaningful way to inform public health strategies. Moreover, GIS has also been used to spatially analyse, measure and provide insight into a population’s accessibility to health care services. A literature search was conducted to identify studies which examined primary health care accessibility using GIS techniques among various urban and rural populations. A limited number of studies demonstrated in addition to distance; time; and location, low socioeconomic status, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background among other factors influences health care access. In addition, other factors were identified to impact health care access, which is an individualised process, influenced by individual characteristics, beliefs, attitudes, and an individual’s activity space. As health care accessibility becomes more prominent within policy, among practitioners and increasingly researched, it has the potential to move beyond recognising areas of poor accessibility among individuals and communities. With a greater integration of both spatial and aspatial data, the process has the likelihood, to provide greater insight into patient behaviour, public perception, amelioration service quality and improve population health and wellbeing.
FedUni Spatial groundwater bore database
- Authors: Dahlhaus, Peter
- Date: 2006 -
- Type: Text , Dataset
- Full Text: false
- Description: The FedUni Spatial groundwater bore database is part of an interoperable web-GIS maintained by the University of Ballarat. It records data on groundwater research and monitoring bores that are either owned, maintained or monitored by the University for groundwater research projects. The UB Spatial website was initially developed with funding support from the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and contained four environmental datasets: groundwater bores, salinity, erosion and landslides, covering the Corangamite region. The FedUni Spatial groundwater bore database contains information on bore location, bore ownership, bore construction details, aquifer parameters, groundwater level monitoring, groundwater chemistry and isotopes, bore lithology and stratigraphy. It includes links to images, documents, datafiles and weblinks that are relevant to individual bore records. The UB spatial groundwater bore database is also used to clean and enhance data, most of which is then revised in the Victorian Groundwater Management System owned and managed by the Department of Sustainability and Environment. The UB Spatial groundwater bore data is also included in the Visualising Victoria's Groundwater web-portal www.vvg.org.au
- Description: The UB Spatial groundwater bore database is part of an interoperable web-GIS maintained by the University of Ballarat. It records data on groundwater research and monitoring bores that are either owned, maintained or monitored by the University for groundwater research projects. The UB Spatial website was initially developed with funding support from the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and contained four environmental datasets: groundwater bores, salinity, erosion and landslides, covering the Corangamite region. The UB Spatial groundwater bore database contains information on bore location, bore ownership, bore construction details, aquifer parameters, groundwater level monitoring, groundwater chemistry and isotopes, bore lithology and stratigraphy. It includes links to images, documents, datafiles and weblinks that are relevant to individual bore records. The UB spatial groundwater bore database is also used to clean and enhance data, most of which is then revised in the Victorian Groundwater Management System owned and managed by the Department of Sustainability and Environment. The UB Spatial groundwater bore data is also included in the Visualising Victoria's Groundwater web-portal www.vvg.org.au