Model-based combination of spatial information for stream networks

Evolutionary improvements in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) now routinely allow the management and mapping of spatial-temporal information. In response, the development of statistical models to combine information of different types and spatial support is of vital importance to environmental science. In this paper we develop a hierarchical spatial statistical model for environmental indicators of stream and river systems in the United States Mid-Atlantic Region by combining information from separate monitoring surveys, available contextual information on hydrologic units and remote sensing information. These models are used to estimate the indicators throughout the riverine system based on information from multiple sources and aggregate scales. The analysis is based on information underlying the Landscape Atlas of the mid-Atlantic region produced by the US Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP). We also combine information from two overlapping separate monitoring surveys, the EMAP Stream and River Survey and the Maryland Biological Streams Survey. We present a general framework for comparative distributional analysis based on the concept of a relative spatial distribution. As an application, the spatial model is used to predict spatial distributions and relative spatial distributions for a watershed.     

基于GIS技术及模糊物元分析法的南京市仙林新市区生态安全评价

运用压力-状态-响应模型和层次分析法构建生态安全评价指标体系,综合运用GIS技术及模糊物元分析方法对南京市仙林新市区建设前后(2003和2007年)的生态安全状况进行评价。结果表明,2003—2007年,仙林生态安全状况主要向2个方向发展,生态安全和不安全区域面积均有所增加,占区域总面积比例分别由9.6%和12.9%增加至22.3%和15.0%。由于各区域发展模式不同,生态安全状况区域差异明显。具体表现为仙鹤片区与白象片区生态安全区域面积明显增加,占研究区总面积比例分别由2.6%和3.9%增加至10.1%和9.3%;麒麟片区生态安全状况以临界安全为主,部分片区由临界安全状态向较安全状态转化;青龙片区生态安全状况变化不大。     

快速城市化地区生态安全空间模糊综合评价

以TM遥感影像为数据源、以GIS为平台,构建了基于压力-状态-响应模型的评价指标体系,采用空间模糊评价方法对义乌市生态安全进行了综合评价,并对评价结果在空间上的分布以及时间上的动态变化进行了分析.结果表明,义乌市整体的生态安全状况良好,呈现出从城市中心向边远郊区生态安全指数逐渐降低的生态安全格局;2000年到2007年...     

基于空间马尔科夫链的关中地区生态安全时空演变分析

生态系统内部和生态系统之间都不是封闭的,各要素间均存在着相互作用。利用已获得的陕西关中地区生态安全格网化评价结果数据,运用空间马尔科夫链对该区域的生态安全时空演变进行了分析,得出以下四个结论：①区域背景在关中地区生态安全趋同时空演变过程中起着相当重要作用;②不同区域背景在区域生态安全等级转移中所起的作用也各不相同;③一个区域生态安全等级向上或向下转移的概率与该区域和周围邻居之间的差异程度不成比例;④空间马尔可夫转移概率矩阵为＂区域趋同的时空演变＂现象提供了空间上的解释。实践表明,空间马尔可夫链方法为定量分析地理环境对区域生态安全变化的空间效应提供了方法依据,值得进一步研究和讨论。     

基于PSR模型的松嫩平原西部湿地生态环境评价

以1986年和2000年遥感影像作为信息源，在GIS技术的支持下建立了松嫩平原西部湿地空间信息数据库。以压力一状态一响应(PSR)模型作为研究方法，建立了一套湿地生态环境评价指标体系。通过选取反映压力、状态及响应等的指标，对该区湿地生态环境的动态变化进行了分析。得出基本结论，(1)15年来该区人为干扰压力不断加强，造成人工湿地增加，天然湿地减少，湿地生态环境服务功能下降。(2)15年来该区湿地内部结构和状态发生显著变化，湿地景观异质性在不断增加，湿地破碎化及退化严重。(3)15年来湿地对人类活动干扰的响应是湿地面积在不断减少，人类对湿地变化的响应是建立湿地保护区，保护区的面积在不断增加。     

干旱区生态安全问题及其评价原理——以新疆为例

普遍的生态敏感性和整体的生态退化趋势,使干旱区成为社会适应和经济适度极端脆弱区,其生态安全问题的典型性和突出性,为完善区域生态安全评价理论体系提供了理想靶区。根据生态安全评价的一般原理和目标,通过剖析新疆绿洲区生态安全问题的驱动、压力和响应机理,主要利用地带性共扼和非地带性耦合分析方法,从哲学观和生态系统、景观生态、土地类型及其稳定性格局层面,初步构建了干旱区生态安全评价的基本原理,得出确保有效的生态需水和生态水位,协调水生态及水安全功能,是干旱区生态安全评价的基础;基于生态承载和再生恢复禀赋的合理、适度利用优势资源,是绿洲开发的生态安全保障;维护天然绿洲和荒漠的“生态标本”价值,引导土地利用的生态化转向,是绿洲生态安全评价的客观依据;通过系统的生态规划和景观设计,保持异质景观的竞争性统一和生态圈层结构的动态稳定性,是干旱区生态安全评价的核心内容。     

A GIS-based approach to spatio-temporal analysis of environmental pollution in urban areas: A case study of Prague's environment extended by LIDAR data

Environmental pollution of urban areas is one of key factors that state authorities and local agencies have to consider in the decision-making process. To find a compromise among many criteria, spatial analysis extended by geostatistical methods and dynamic models has to be carried out. In this case, spatial analysis includes processing of a wide range of air, water and soil pollution data and possibly noise assessment and waste management data. Other spatial inputs consist of data from remote sensing and GPS field measurements. Integration and spatial data management are carried out within the framework of a geographic information system (GIS). From a modeling point of view, GIS is used mainly for the preprocessing and postprocessing of data to be displayed in digital map layers and visualized in 3D scenes. Moreover, for preprocessing and postprocessing, deterministic and geostatistical methods (IDW, ordinary kriging) are used for spatial interpolation; geoprocessing and raster algebra are used in multi-criteria evaluation and risk assessment methods. GIS is also used as a platform for spatio-temporal analyses or for building relationships between the GIS database and stand-alone modeling tools. A case study is presented illustrating the application of spatial analysis to the urban areas of Prague. This involved incorporating environmental data from monitoring networks and field measurements into digital map layers. Extra data inputs were used to represent the 3D concentration fields of air pollutants (ozone, NO₂) measured by differential absorption LIDAR. ArcGIS was used to provide spatial data management and analysis, extended by modeling tools developed internally in the ArcObjects environment and external modules developed with MapObjects. Ordinary kriging methods were employed to predict ozone concentrations in selected 3D locations together with estimates of variability. Higher ozone concentrations were found above crossroads with their heavy traffic than above the surrounding areas. Ozone concentrations also varied with height above the digital elevation model. Processed data, spatial analysis and models are integrated within the framework of the GIS project, providing an approach that state and local authorities can use to address environmental protection issues.     

Spatial information in ecosystem service assessment: data applicability in the cascade model context

Spatial information and geographical information systems (GISs) are widely used in ecosystem service research, but both the information and the methods need to be properly understood in order to make coherent analyses. We discuss the practical challenges of incorporating spatial data to ecosystem service assessment in an agricultural landscape and apply the ecosystem service cascade model to put different data into context. We review the prerequisites and practices for successful ‘ecosystem service GIS’ and provide a structured view of the information and data needed in the assessment of ecosystem services at a regional scale. Due to the heterogeneity of the spatial data, the regional characteristics should be considered in environmental decision-making through ethnographic research on local expertise to make optimal choices in using spatial information.     

GIS and geostatistics: Essential partners for spatial analysis

Initially, geographical information systems (GIS) concentrated on two issues: automated map making, and facilitating the comparison of data on thematic maps. The first required high quality graphics, vector data models and powerful data bases, the second is based on grid cells that can be manipulated by suites of mathematical operators collectively termed map algebra. Both kinds of GIS are widely available and are taught in many universities and technical colleges. After more than 20 years of development, most standard GIS provide both kinds of functionality and good quality graphic display, but until recently they have not included the methods of statistics and geostatistics as tools for spatial analysis. Recently, standard statistical packages have been linked to GIS for both exploratory data analysis and statistical analysis and hypothesis testing. Standard statistical packages include methods for the analysis of random samples of cases or objects that are not necessarily co-located in space—if the results of statistical analysis display a spatial pattern then that is because the underlying data also share that pattern. Geostatistics addresses the need to make predictions of sampled attributes (i.e., maps) at unsampled locations from sparse, often expensive data. To make up for lack of hard data geostatistics has concentrated on the development of powerful methods based on stochastic theory. Though there have been recent moves to incorporate ancillary data in geostatistical analyses, insufficient attention has been paid to using modern methods of data display for the visualization of results. GIS can serve geostatistics by aiding geo-registration of data, facilitating spatial exploratory data analysis, providing a spatial context for interpolation and conditional simulation, as well as providing easy-to-use and effective tools for data display and visualization. The value of geostatistics for GIS lies in the provision of reliable interpolation methods with known errors, methods of upscaling and generalization, and for supplying multiple realizations of spatial patterns that can be used in environmental modeling. These stochastic methods are improving understanding of how errors in models of spatial processes accrue from errors in data or incompleteness in the structure of the models. New developments in GIS, based on ideas taken from map algebra, cellular automata and image analysis are providing high level programming languages for modeling dynamic processes such as erosion or the development of alluvial fans and deltas. Research has demonstrated that these models need stochastic inputs to yield realistic results. Non-stochastic tools such as fuzzy subsets have been shown to be useful for spatial analysis when probabilistic approaches are inappropriate or impossible. The conclusion is that in spite of differences in history and approach, the linkage of GIS, statistics and geostatistics provides a powerful, and complementary suite of tools for spatial analysis in the agricultural, earth and environmental sciences.     

Integrated maritime policy for the European Union — consolidating coastal and marine information to support maritime spatial planning

Launch of the Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union in 2007 served as important factor that stimulates consolidation of coastal and marine information to support policy implementation. Policy’s action plan provides approaches for maritime governance, research and planning relevant to information. In particular, roadmap for maritime spatial planning stimulates development of coastal and marine GIS. Article reviews the current general status of coastal and marine systems and puts them in the context of the policy actions. Main focus is on formation of geospatial information platform for integrated assessment and ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine areas. Recent developments in data, indicator and information systems are summarized in European perspective: better characterization of maritime space and marine ecosystems, development of GMES Marine Core service and related in situ data collection; data harmonisation, interoperability and access, promoted by Shared Environmental Information System principles.     

基于遥感与GIS的土壤侵蚀强度快速估测方法

针对土壤侵蚀问题,提出了一种基于遥感数据、气象数据、土壤数据的区域土壤侵蚀快速估测方法。首先,通过对土壤侵蚀问题形成原因和影响因素的分析,确定土壤侵蚀敏感性因子;其次,利用遥感(RS)、GIS技术提取土壤侵蚀敏感性因子信息;然后,在GIS系统支持下,运用主成分分析方法,进行土壤侵蚀强度分级;以北京密云水库周边区域为例,进行了土壤侵蚀估测方法的应用,并对该区域的土壤侵蚀空间特征进行分析。研究结果表明:(1)区域土壤侵蚀快速估测方法与实际情况有较好的一致性;(2)密云水库周边地区土壤侵蚀以微度和轻度侵蚀为主,所占面积比例为67.51%,中度以上侵蚀仅占面积的1.46%;(3)土壤侵蚀受坡度、地貌影响明显,中度侵蚀主要发生在低山、丘陵区以耕地为主的土地利用上以及坡度在大于25°的阳坡地带。     

Using geospatial business intelligence paradigm to design a multidimensional conceptual model for efficient coastal erosion risk assessment

One of the main challenges in Coastal Erosion Risk Assessment (CERA) is integrating and analysis of conflicting data in various time periods and spatial scales through dissimilar environmental, social, and economic criteria. Currently, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are widely used in risk assessment despite their drawbacks and limitations as transactional systems for multi-scales, multi-epochs, and multi-themes analysis. Hence, an analytical conceptual framework is proposed in this paper based on geospatial business intelligence paradigm to develop a Spatial Multidimensional Conceptual Model (SMCM) to assess coastal erosion risk. The model is designed based on Spatial On-Line Analytical Processing (SOLAP) platform, on the top of both analytical and transactional paradigms, to allow fast synthesis of cross-tabulated data and easy comparisons over space, scales, epochs, and themes. This objective is achieved through a comprehensive integration of multiple environmental, social, and economic criteria as well as their interactions at various scales. It also takes into account multiple elements at risk such as people, infrastructure, and built environment as different dimensions of analysis. Using this solution allows decision makers to benefit from on-demand, interactive, and comprehensive information in a way that is not possible using GIS alone. The developed model can easily be adapted for any other coastal region through the proposed framework to perform risk assessment. The advantages and drawbacks of the proposed framework are also discussed and new research perspectives are presented.     

三峡库区生态系统服务功能重要性评价及其空间分布研究

以长江上游重点生态脆弱区三峡库区(重庆段)为研究区,结合RS和GIS软件,选取生物多样性维护功能、水源涵养功能和水土保持功能为评价指标,采用植被净初级生产力(vegetation net primary productivity,NPP)定量指标评估法,综合分析研究区2020年生态系统服务功能的重要性程度以及空间分异特...     

Prioritizing Conservation Effort through the Use of Biological Soil Crusts as Ecosystem Function Indicators in an Arid Region

Abstract: Conservation prioritization usually focuses on conservation of rare species or biodiversity, rather than ecological processes. This is partially due to a lack of informative indicators of ecosystem function. Biological soil crusts (BSCs) trap and retain soil and water resources in arid ecosystems and function as major carbon and nitrogen fixers; thus, they may be informative indicators of ecosystem function. We created spatial models of multiple indicators of the diversity and function of BSCs (species richness, evenness, functional diversity, functional redundancy, number of rare species, number of habitat specialists, nitrogen and carbon fixation indices, soil stabilization, and surface roughening) for the 800,000‐ha Grand Staircase‐Escalante National Monument (Utah, U.S.A.). We then combined the indicators into a single BSC function map and a single BSC biodiversity map (2 alternative types of conservation value) with an unweighted averaging procedure and a weighted procedure derived from validations performance. We also modeled potential degradation with data from a rangeland assessment survey. To determine which areas on the landscape were the highest conservation priorities, we overlaid the function‐ and diversity‐based conservation‐value layers on the potential degradation layer. Different methods for ascribing conservation‐value and conservation‐priority layers all yielded strikingly similar results (r= 0.89–0.99), which suggests that in this case biodiversity and function can be conserved simultaneously. We believe BSCs can be used as indicators of ecosystem function in concert with other indicators (such as plant‐community properties) and that such information can be used to prioritize conservation effort in drylands.     

邻近油砂活动的鱼类性能指标：对邻近油砂开采活动的阿尔伯塔省Steepbank河中粘杜父鱼性能指标的响应

自2009年以来，加拿大和阿尔伯塔省政府一直在制定Athabasca河下游及其支流（2010-2013年）地表水质量和水量的监测计划。这项对鱼类监测计划的贡献的目标是1）评估该河支流中鱼类的当前状态，2）识别上游参考物和油砂沉积物暴露位点之间存在的差异，和3）识别鱼类性能指标相对于历史研究的趋势和变化。本研究考察了阿尔伯塔省Steepbank河中粘杜父鱼（Cottus cognatus）在生长、性腺大小、生长状况和肝脏7-乙氧基甲氧基甲酰胺基脱氢酶（EROD）活性方面的鱼类性能指标，以此作为暴露于油砂相关化合物的指标。采样程序遵循历史采样方法（1999-2000年），随着开发的进展，随着时间的推移提供可比数据，同时增加一个上游参考位点（n=2）。2010年至2013年，从油砂矿床（n=2）内的Steepbank河下游收集的杜父鱼中记录到了一致的变化。杜父鱼的数据显示，肝脏增大的同时相应的EROD活性诱导与历史数据一致，与生殖发育和性腺类固醇生产能力相关的能量投资减少。没有一致的证据表明，随着露天采矿开发的增加使得鱼类性能指标发生了变化，特别是在Steepbank河中段附近。尽管在过去15年里，Steepbank河流域的物理开发有所增加，但这些结果与历史数据一致，表明开发区附近的水环境的响应程度没有改变。     

北京河流大型底栖动物空间格局及其环境响应研究

大型底栖动物群落结构及多样性对于区域河流环境状况具有重要的指示意义。基于2014年5月—2015年8月间北京市河流大型底栖动物群落结构调查数据,分析底栖动物的生物多样性特征和空间格局。调查共发现大型底栖动物151种(或分类单元),隶属于5门9纲67科127属,水生昆虫占绝对优势。聚类分析表明76个采样点可被分为4组,组1主要包含北部山区的潮白河水系,具有较为典型的山溪型河流底栖动物特征,组2主要包含永定河山峡段和北运河水系的清河,组3主要包含大清河水系和北运河水系的温榆河、北沙河、南沙河等,二者具有城市河流兼有山溪型河流底栖动物的特征,组4主要包含北运河水系,具有典型的城市河流底栖动物特征。优势种分析表明:组1的优势种为热水四节蜉(Baetis thermicus)、秀丽白虾(Exopalaemon modestus)和网栖石蛾(Cheumatopsyche sp.),组2为直突摇蚊(Orthocladius sp.)、钩虾(Gammarus sp.)和长足摇蚊(Tanypus sp.),组3为摇蚊科幼虫(larvae of Chironomidae)和寡毛类(Oligochaeta),组4是以中华摇蚊(Chironomus sinicus)为代表的摇蚊幼虫。功能摄食类群研究表明:组1以收集者和滤食者占绝对优势,相对丰度分别为60%和29.6%;组2、组3、组4均以收集者占绝对优势,相对丰度分别为97.7%、90%、97.5%。物种数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数和Margalef丰富度指数的组间差异性显著(P0.05)。研究表明,北京河流大型底栖动物受河流自然环境变化的影响显著,形成了典型的山区-城市底栖动物空间格局,山区河流中保持了较高的生物多样性,城市河流及其过渡区的大型底栖动物退化明显,大型底栖动物能够明显指示环境状况的变化并可指导河流环境的保护与恢复。     

Assessing water quality in the Ceyhan River basin (Turkey) with the use of aquatic macrophytes

As a major biotic component of many lotic ecosystems, macrophytes consist a major component of running waters are often used as indicators within the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) to establish ecological quality. In this study, we investigated macrophyte community structure (e.g. composition, abundance and diversity) in Ceyhan River Basin located in the Southeastern Anatolian Region in Turkey. Data was collected during 2014–2015 from river sites located throughout the basin to evaluate the relationship between aquatic vegetation and river physico-chemical factors. The ecological status of the river basin was also calculated based on Macrophyte Biological Index for River (IBMR). In total, 33 macrophyta taxa were observed. According to their biological classification (life form), filamentous algae (FA), free floating (FF), floating leaved (FL) and submersed (S) macrophytes reached their maximum abundance value in summer, while emergent (E) macrophytes were at their maximum abundance in both summer and autumn. The ecological status of the Ceyhan River basin ranged from moderate to bad. The values found are reasonably comparable to IBMR scores recorded in rivers of other Mediterranean countries. IBMR index may be suitable to some extent to establish a basis for ecological quality assessment in Turkish River systems.     

Using GIS for siting artificial reefs—Data issues, problems and solutions: ‘Real World’ to ‘Real World’

As GIS becomes an increasingly more ‘user-friendly’ tool, and more people recognize the benefits of the technology in their work environment, inevitably greater use will be made of it for a wide range of applications. The ease with which a GIS can now be used often overshadows the complexity underlying this technology and the potential difficulties that can (and do) arise when this is not fully understood. In practice, there are two routes open to the application of GIS technology for environmental studies. The first is to commission new data for the research. The second is to make use of existing data sets. Data are at the heart of any GIS application. A detailed knowledge about the data sources, the method of collection, capture, scale and sampling strategy, especially if the data are to be used in any analysis, modelling or simulation studies, is fundamental to any application. Unfortunately, information about data (metadata) is seldom available, especially for archival or legacy data sets. Furthermore, although it is now relatively easy to acquire digital data, to input, store, manipulate and display this data, and to output the results of any GIS analysis in the practical sense, little consideration is given to the problems associated with data quality and how this will ultimately affect present and future analyses and use of the output for planning and decision-making. The need to raise awareness about data quality for applications is set in the context of the development of an environmental database for the Moray Firth. Northeast Scotland, and more specifically the use of selected data sets from the database to aid in the proposed siting of an artificial reef. Using this example, this contribution explores the problems associated with the use of both existing analog and digital data sets as the basis for environmental applications, the problems of data acquisition, data quality, data standards, error and how these can affect the operational use of the data in GIS analyses. The solution to such problems appears to lie with improved error assessment and reporting. The outcome of this contribution is an attempt to offer guidance and solutions to researchers and applications specialists undertaking similar studies, by suggesting to what extent studies, such as the artificial reef siting, can safely make use of existing data sets without risking the problems associated with judgements based on inadequate information, and generated or inherent error.     

Environmental indicators GIS of the Catalan coast

This paper describes the environmental indicators GIS of the Catalan coast, Spain. The spatial data model is based on vector and raster layers with three main modules: the biodiversity, the general biophysical and the socioeconomic. Presently, the database has a number of pressure and impact indicators that have been used to model the components and structure of the system and are suggested to build ecological resilience. Special interest has been given to the analysis of functional groups of species that are relevant to the dynamics of the coastal system, and preliminary results are presented. This system constitutes a user-oriented analytical and monitoring tool for coastal zone managers and researchers. Although, the system is under development it is expected that resulting spatial indicators of environmental condition can be used to promote more sustainable coastal strategies and actions in the Catalan coast.