SUBWATERSHED SPATIAL ANALYSIS TOOL: DISCRETIZATION OF A DISTRIBUTED HYDROLOGIC MODEL BY STATISTICAL CRITERIA1

ABSTRACT: Complex hydrologic models, designed for simulating larger watersheds, require a huge amount of input data. Most of these models use spatially distributed data as inputs. Spatial data can be aggregated or disaggregated for use as input to a model, which can impact model outputs. Although, it is efficient to minimize data redundancy by aggregating the spatial data, upscaling reduces the detail/resolution of input information and increases model uncertainty. On the other hand, a large number of model inputs with high degrees of disaggregation take more computer time and space to process. Hence, a balance between striving for a maximum level of aggregation and a minimum level of information loss has to be achieved. This study presents a definition of an appropriate level of discretization, derived by establishing a relationship between a model's efficiency and the number of subwater‐sheds modeled. An entropy based statistical approach/tool called Subwatershed Spatial Analysis Tool (SUSAT) was developed to find an objective choice of an appropriate level of discretization. The new approach/tool was applied to three watersheds, each representing different hydrologic conditions, using a hydrologic model. Coefficients of efficiency and entropy estimated at different levels of discretization were used to validate the success of the new approach.     

LANDSAT MID-INFRARED DATA AND GIS IN REGIONAL SURFACE SOIL-MOISTURE ASSESSMENT1

ABSTRACT: Landsat satellite Thematic Mapper (TM) data were used to assess regional soil moisture conditions. The mid-infrared (MIR) data of TM band 7 were overlain onto four principal land-use categories (Agricultural/Irrigated, Urban/Clearings, Forest/ Wetlands, Water) using a geographic information system (GIS). M data were used to assess four qualitative surface soil-moisture conditions (water/very wet, wet, moist, and dry) within each land-use category of a 208,354 ha southwestern Florida study area. The MIR response was inversely related to the qualitative surface soil-moisture content. Integration of Landsat TM MIR data with land use through GIS appears to be a useful technique for high-resolution regional soil moisture assessment, and further research to reline this technique is recommended.     

DEVELOPMENT OF WATERSIIED MODELS FOR TWO SIERRA NEVADA BASINS USING A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM1

ABSTRACT: Techniques were developed using vector and raster data in a geographic information system (GIS) to define the spatial variability of watershed characteristics in the north-central Sierra Nevada of California and Nevada and to assist in computing model input parameters. The U.S. Geological Survey's Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System, a physically based, distributed-parameter watershed model, simulates runoff for a basin by partitioning a watershed into areas that each have a homogeneous hydrologic response to precipitation or snowmelt. These land units, known as hydrologic-response units (HRU's), are characterized according to physical properties, such as altitude, slope, aspect, land cover, soils, and geology, and climate patterns. Digital data were used to develop a GIS data base and HRIJ classification for the American River and Carson River basins. The following criteria are used in delineating HRU's: (1) Data layers are hydrologically significant and have a resolution appropriate to the watershed's natural spatial variability, (2) the technique for delineating HRU's accommodates different classification criteria and is reproducible, and (3) HRU's are not limited by hydrographic-subbasin boundaries. HRU's so defined are spatially noncontiguous. The result is an objective, efficient methodology for characterizing a watershed and for delineating HRU's. Also, digital data can be analyzed and transformed to assist in defining parameters and in calibrating the model.     

Using state administrative data to study nonfatal worker injuries: challenges and opportunities

PROBLEM: Administrative data from states have the potential to capture broader representation of worker injury, facilitating examination of trends, correlates, and patterns. While many states use their workers' compensation (WC) data to document frequency and type of injury, few conduct in-depth examinations of patterns of injury and other etiologies. Administrative data are generally an untapped resource. METHOD: Comparisons are made among four state databases used in a study linking worker injuries and patient outcomes in hospitals and nursing homes. RESULTS: Worker injury data varies in terms of inclusion criteria, variables, and coding schemes used. Linkages to organizational level characteristics can be difficult. CONCLUSIONS: Despite limitations, data can be used to study injury patterns and etiologies. Users must be knowledgeable and recognize how database characteristics may influence results.     

我国地震应急指挥技术体系初探

地震应急指挥技术系统是防震减灾建设的核心内容。”十五”期间,将建设中国地震应急指挥技术系统。目前我国在这方面的研究和建设尚处于初级阶段,其体系结构,关键构成、设计和实现还有许多问题值得进一步研究和探讨。根据所从事的项目建设过程,对地震应急指挥技术系统的体系结构进行了阐述,介绍了在此基础上开展的首都圈地震应急指挥系统建设工作,并就今后的发展进行了讨论。     

A model testing study for the transfer of radioactivity to fruit

This paper compares predictions of the foodchain model SPADE with experimental data for the transfer of (134)Cs and (85)Sr to strawberry plants following acute foliar and soil contamination. The transfer pathways considered in this exercise included direct deposition to fruit, leaf-to-fruit, soil-to-leaf and soil-to-fruit transfers. Following foliar contamination, the difference between predicted and measured radionuclide activity values varied between a factor of 0.5-10 for fruit and 4.5-7 for leaf. Following soil contamination, the difference between predicted and measured values varied between a factor of 3-74 for fruit and 32-44 for leaf. In all cases the difference between measured and predicted values was smaller for (85)Sr than (134)Cs. Measured and predicted activities were higher for leaf than fruit. Both measured and predicted (134)Cs concentrations in fruit and leaf are higher when deposition occurs at ripening than at anthesis. These results confirm the need for more data on fruit, even for Cs and Sr, to support models in predicting the transfer of radionuclides to fruit crops. Ongoing research projects funded by the UK Food Standards Agency aim to provide some data on radionuclide transfer to herbaceous, shrub and tree fruits, which will help improve radiological assessment models in order to provide better protection for consumers.     

青藏铁路列车运行控制系统的安全性分析

分析了青藏铁路中多种不利因素对轨道电路参数的影响 ;提出了在青藏铁路不宜采用现行基于轨道电路的列车运行控制系统 ,而应选择基于通信的列车运行控制系统的理由 ;给出了系统的基本结构及提高系统可靠性的措施 ;与此同时 ,就人们关心的无线传输列车控制数据的可靠性和安全性难题 ,通过建立马尔可夫模型的方法进行了分析     

中国可持续发展信息共享现状和展望

本文阐述了开展可持续发展信息共享的的意义和存在的障碍,介绍了信息共享的现状和中国持续发展信息网的成就,提出了深入开展信息共享的对策建议。     

交通事故再现技术研究现状与发展趋势

道路交通事故再现不仅是交通事故责任鉴定和原因分析的重要方法,也是交通事故防治的重要内容。在详细介绍国内外事故再现计算机仿真技术的基础上,分析目前事故再现系统开发中事故现场数据采集技术、碰撞前后速度估算的技术、碰撞过程进行模拟的虚拟现实技术的研究现状与存在的问题,提出进一步优化的方向,进而达到完善交通事故模拟再现的目的。最后指出我国交通事故再现技术进一步研究的内容和发展趋势。