Ecological land classification: A survey approach

A landscape approach to ecological land mapping, as illustrated in this article, proceeds by pattern recognition based on ecological theory. The unit areas delineated are hypotheses that arise from a knowledge of what is ecologically important in the land. Units formed by the mapper are likely to be inefficient or irrelevant for ecological purposes unless he possesses a sound rationale as to the interactions and controlling influences of the structural components of ecosystems. Here is the central problem with what have been called objective multivariate approaches to mapping based on grid units and the sometimes arbitrary attributes thereof; they tend to conceal the importance of ecological theory and the necessity for theory-based supervision of pattern recognition. Multivariate techniques are best used iteratively to verify and refine map units initially recognized and delineated by theoretical considerations. These ideas are illustrated by an example of a reconnaissance survey in the Northwest Territories of Canada.     

ANALYSIS OF UNCERTAINTY IN FLOOD PLAIN MAPPING1

ABSTRACT: Components contributing to uncertainty in the location of the flood plain fringe of a mapped flood plain are identified and examined to determine their relative importance. First-order uncertainty analysis is used to provide a procedure for quantifying the magnitude of uncertainty in the location of the flood plain fringe. Application of the procedure indicated that one standard deviation of uncertainty in flood plain inundation width was about one third of the mean computed inundation width for several flood population-flood geometry combinations. Suggested mapping criteria, which directly incorporate uncertainty estimates, are given. While these criteria are more suitable for use in developing areas than in flood plains that have had extensive development, the analysis procedure can be used to accommodate property owners who challenge the validity of estimated flood fringe boundaries. Use of uncertainty analysis in flood plain mapping should enhance the credibility of the final plan.     

STEPPED WEIR ON AN ANISOTROPIC DRAINED STRATUM OF FINITE DEPTH1

Using Schwarz-Christoffel transformation, an analysis is presented for finding the pressure distribution and exit gradients for a weir on an anisotropic drained stratum.     

Use of Radar Remote Sensing (RADARSAT) to Map Winter Wetland Habitat for Shorebirds in an Agricultural Landscape

Many of todays agricultural landscapes once held vast amounts of wetland habitat for waterbirds and other wildlife. Successful restoration of these landscapes relies on access to accurate maps of the wetlands that remain. We used C-band (5.6-cm-wavelength), HH-polarized radar remote sensing (RADARSAT) at a 38° incidence angle (8-m resolution) to map the distribution of winter shorebird (Charadriiformes) habitat on agricultural lands in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon. We acquired imagery on three dates (10 December 1999, 27 January 2000, and 15 March 2000) and simultaneously collected ground reference data to classify radar signatures and evaluate map accuracy of four habitat classes: (1) wet with 50% vegetation (considered optimal shorebird habitat), (2) wet with > 50% vegetation, (3) dry with 50% vegetation, and (4) dry with > 50% vegetation. Overall accuracy varied from 45 to 60% among the three images, but the accuracy of focal class 1 was greater, ranging from 72 to 80%. Class 4 coverage was stable and dominated maps (40% of mapped study area) for all three dates, while class 3 coverage decreased slightly throughout the study period. Among wet classes, class 1 was most abundant (30% coverage) in December and January, decreasing in March by 15%. Conversely, class 2 increased dramatically from January to March, likely due to transition from class 1 as vegetation grew. This approach was successful in detecting optimal habitat for shorebirds on agricultural lands. For modest classification schemes, radar remote sensing is a valuable option for wetland mapping in areas where cloud cover is persistent. Also, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA     

STATIC WATER LEVEL MAPPING IN EAST CENTRAL MICHIGAN1

ABSTRACT: This paper presents a methodology for preparing a static water level map using a sample of water level measurements obtained from the well log records of private wells that are finished in glacial drift. The test was conducted in Tyrone Township, located in east central Michigan. A variety of selection criteria were examined and the resulting maps were compared with a ground truth map that was prepared from water level measurements obtained in the field. The map prepared from a random sample of wells at a density of two points per section best approximates the ground truth map. Using a sample of records from the Michigan Statewide Groundwater Database to create static water levels that are used in community ground water vulnerability analyses will provide a more accurate map than using the complete dataset or other selection criteria based on temporal groupings or seasonality.     

Natural gamma radiation map (MARNA) and indoor radon levels in Spain

During the last decade, the Department of Applied and Medical Physics has been involved in the development of a radiation protection programme. In the framework of this programme, measurements of indoor radon, principally, have been carried out nationwide. Geometric mean radon concentrations of 45 Bq m(-3) in the whole country and 130 Bq m(-3) in the high natural radiation area have been estimated. On the other hand, the so-called MARNA Project is developed into the framework of an agreement subscribed between the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) and the National Uranium (ENUSA), the first phase of which has been the elaboration of the Natural Gamma Radiation Map of Spain on the scale of 1:1,000,000 using radiometric data generated in the 30 years of the lifetime of the ancient National Uranium Exploration and Investigation Plan mainly through airborne, carborne, and by foot surveys, within the MARNA Project itself. The lowest averaged dose rate from external gamma radiation (19.3 nGyh(-1)) was found in carbonate bedrock and the highest (87.7 nGyh(-1)) was found in granite and clay bedrock. This paper summarizes the main results obtained from the measurements performed in both projects, with special interest in those concerning the correlation between the data reported in order to conclude about the potential benefit of the MARNA maps in the definition of affected areas in the country.     

生态单元制图在国外自然保护和城乡规划中的发展与应用

生态单元制图作为景观生态学研究方法之一,能够提供研究区域内基础详细的、保护或规划定向的、便于使用的生物学和生态学信息,该方法已经成为一些国家自然保护和城乡规划工作的基本工具。论文首先简明介绍了生态单元的定义和功能以及制图的两种主要方法。着重探讨了生态单元制图在国外30多年不同阶段的发展历程,并分析了生态单元制图在自然保护和城乡规划中应用的3个方面:物种和生境保护、土地利用规划和管理以及不同尺度景观规划和管理。另外,论文还对生态单元制图中存在的问题和不足以及深入研究的思路进行探讨。目前生态单元制图研究中存在的问题主要集中在生态单元调查的主观性、制图比例尺和G IS技术等方面。最后分析了生态单元制图在我国的研究现状以及生态单元制图在我国自然保护和城乡规划中应用的前景。     

城市洪水风险图编制研究——以福州为例

洪水风险图是标识区域洪涝成因、量级、特性、危及对象及应急对策等风险信息分布特征的一系列图的总称,当前已成为国内外城市防洪减灾工作中重要的非工程类措施之一。针对我国对洪水风险图的多元化需求,从不同服务目的出发对洪水风险图编制工作进行研究。提出了洪水风险图分层编制技术,将洪水风险图划分为实际洪水淹没图、洪水风险预测图和水灾风险评价信息等3个层次,并根据分层设计原则对编制不同类型洪水风险图所需的既往洪水信息、洪水风险预测信息、水灾风险评价信息做了详细论述。提出将洪涝仿真模拟技术应用于城市洪水风险图编制工作之中,针对洪水风险图的应用目的合理选定计算模型的初始条件、边界条件与运行控制方式等,经模拟计算获取编制洪水风险图所需的洪水风险信息。     

Recentralisation through regionalisation in the implementation of Rural Development Policy in Scotland

In environmental policy, good governance is pertinent when inclusive decision making is recurrently associated with effective outcomes. This paper explores the European Union's good governance principles and the extent to which these have been adopted in the Rural Development Policy in Scotland. For the programme period 2007–2013 Scotland's Rural Priorities scheme has moved towards decentralisation by introducing regional decision-making committees. This study assesses the impact of this scheme on multi-level stakeholder relationships and the implications on policy outcomes. To do so, the study adopts a mixed method approach, applying a stakeholder mapping technique, to quantify perceptions of influence and interest and triangulate with data from in-depth semi-structured interviews. Results indicate that the attempts to widen decision making has resulted in a number of stakeholders perceiving themselves as less empowered. This analytical approach can provide the baseline against which governance improvements can be measured in the formulation of future policies.     

地理信息系统、桌面地图信息系统与环境管理信息系统

通过对地理信息系统、桌面地图信息系统及其技术表现的介绍和分析比较,以实例描述了环境管理信息系统在不同的软硬件环境中的设计和开发特点。