Abstract Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) among children is of a particular importance in Finland, where its incidence is the highest in the world and still increasing. However, the aetiology of T1DM is not fully known. According to current knowledge, both genetic and environmental factors operate together, leading to an attack by the immune system on the insulin-producing beta cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the geographical variation in the incidence of T1DM among children aged up to 14 years in Finland. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Bayesian spatial statistics were applied in a search for unusual spatial patterns and risk factor associations. The incidence of T1DM among children aged up to 14 years showed clear geographical variations in Finland. Living in a rural environment increased the risk for T1DM, and the risk was particularly high among children living in rural heartland areas. There was no association between the variation in T1DM incidence and the zinc and nitrate concentrations of drinking water. A male excess in the incidence of T1DM was seen in the low-incidence areas. The geographical variation in the risk of T1DM was marked only among children aged up to 9 years. Because genetics is a necessary but not a sufficient cause of T1DM, it could be hypothesized that there are some thus far unknown environmental risk factors affecting particularly younger children in Finland. Some of those factors may be related to a rural environment. The geographical variation in the M/F ratio of T1DM was a challenging observation and warrants more analytical study.

Floods are caused by extreme meteorological and hydrological changes that are influenced directly or indirectly by human activities within the environment. The flood trends show that floods will reoccur and shall continue to affect the livelihoods, property, agriculture and the surrounding environment. This research has analyzed the riverine flood by integrating remote sensing, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and hydraulic and/or hydrological modeling, to develop informed flood mapping for flood risk management. The application of Hydrological Engineering Center River Analysis System (HEC RAS) and HEC HMS models, developed by the USA Hydrologic Engineering Center of the Army Corps of Engineers in a data-poor environment of a developing country were successful, as a flood modeling tools in early warning systems and land use planning. The methodology involved data collection, preparation, and model simulation using 30m Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Model (DEM) as a critical data input of HEC RAS model. The findings showed that modeling using HEC-RAS and HEC HMS models in a data-poor environment requires intensive data enhancements and adjustments; multiple utilization of open sources data; carrying out multiple model computation iterations and calibration; multiple field observation, which may be constrained with time and resources to get reasonable output.

For communities in urban and rural areas, access to healthcare facilities is a very significant concern of service delivery to both public policy makers and urban planners. Many healthcare systems set one of their primary objectives to achieve equity and ease of access to healthcare facilities for the populations that they serve. Spatial distribution of population, transport infrastructure, as well as spatial distribution of healthcare facilities are key characteristics that influence the disparities in spatial accessibility to healthcare facilities. Regardless of the permanent interest in transport accessibility, it is often uncertain how different types of accessibility measures relate to one another and which conditions are best for applications. In general, the current study undertakes a statistical comparison among three spatial accessibility measures (representing the main categories of spatial accessibility models) to determine whether they are comparable and/or interchangeable. Specifically, this study aims to use a geographical information system based approach combined with spatial accessibility measures, in a case study, derived from fine spatial resolution datasets, to characterise and divulge spatial variations in individual’s access to healthcare facilities and identify deprived locations/local communities in a selected District Municipality of the Western Cape, South Africa. Results indicate that the main categories of spatial accessibility measures provide different interpretations of accessibility that cannot be reproduced by each other. However, the accessibility measures show a significant similar trend in variations of individual’s accessibility to healthcare services for the communities of Cape Winelands District Municipality. The study establishes that within the Cape Winelands there exist spatial variations in the distribution of accessibility to healthcare and characterises these variations.

The first chapter of this thesis reviews applications of satellite remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS) in wildlife studies. The simpler uses of remote sensing are for habitat mapping, often using satellite imagery classified for other natural resources. More sophisticated applications incorporate remotely sensed data into a GIS for the digital manipulation of data planes. The most advanced applications are those which use remote sensing and GIS in models predicting habitat quality or population levels. The second chapter reports how brightness values of six Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) bands were used in multiple linear regressions to predict percent cover of six rangeland components. Regression equations were applied to TM imagery to create cover maps for live shrub, dead and live shrub, sagebrush, forb/grass, forb, and bare ground/rock. Accuracy was assessed at two levels and ranged from 55 to 90%. The third chapter presents results of sage grouse surveys used with satellite data and GIS to assess habitat use patterns. Habitats used by grouse were compared to availability in the landscape for continuous images of rangeland cover variables, for discrete images of rangeland classes, and for habitat diversity values. Overall, results were comparable to those in studies using traditional methods.

With the foreseeable increase in traffic frequency to and from orbit, the safe operation of current and future space vehicles at designated spaceports has become a serious concern. Due to their high explosive energy potential, operating those launch vehicles presents a real risk to: (1) the spaceport infrastructure and personnel, (2) the communities surrounding the spaceport and (3) the flying aircrafts whose routes could be relatively close to spaceport launch and reentry routes. Several computer models aimed at modeling the effects of the different hazards generated by the breakup of such vehicles (e.g., fragmentation of debris, release of toxic gases, propagation of blast waves, etc.) have been developed, and are used to assist in Go-No Go launch decisions. They can simulate a total failure scenario of the vehicle and, estimate a number of casualties to be expected as a result of such failure. However, as all of these models - which can be very elaborate and complex - consider only one specific explosion hazard in their simulations, the decision of whether or not a launch should occur is currently based on the evaluation of several estimates of an expected number of casualties. As such, current practices ignore the complex, nonlinear interactions between the different hazards as well as the interdependencies between the estimates. In this study, we developed a new framework which makes use of information fusion theory, hazards' dispersion modeling and, geographical statistical analysis and visualization capabilities of geographical information systems to assess the risk generated by the operation of space launch vehicles. A new risk metric, which effectively addresses the lack of a common risk metric with current methods, is also proposed. A case study, based on a proposed spaceport in the state of Oklahoma showed that the estimates we generate through our framework consistently outperform estimates provided by any individual hazard, or by the independent combination of those hazards. Furthermore, the study revealed that using anything else than fusion could provide seriously misleading results, with potentially catastrophic consequences.

<p>The purpose of this dissertation was to use an integrative theoretical framework to examine the individual and environmental factors associated with leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) for persons living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Using a systematic approach, three studies were conducted to: (1) survey the accessibility and availability of physical activity facilities for Canadians living with mobility disabilities, (2) test an integrative, theoretical framework for understanding LTPA among people with SCI, and (3) implement a theory-based intervention that focuses on helping beginner exercisers living with SCI cope with salient individual and environmental LTPA barriers. </p> <p>Study 1 involved two sub-studies. Study lA used a modified version of the AIMFREE instrument (Rimmer et al., 2004) and provided evidence of the limited accessibility of fitness and recreational facilities (n=44) for persons with mobility disabilities. Study lB applied a geographical technique, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), to develop an objective proximity measure specific to persons with SCI. Results indicated a small, negative association between the objective presence of physical activity facilities and L TPA in a sample of persons with SCI (n=50), suggesting that living in close proximity to a facility which provides adaptive programming and equipment does not necessarily translate into greater LTPA for persons with SCI.</p> <p>As an extension of Study 1, Study 2 used structural equation modeling to conduct a cross-sectional examination of whether an environmental factor --neighbourhood perceptions--could enhance the Theory of Planned ehaviour's (TPB; Ajzen, 1985) ability to explain LTPA intentions and behaviour in persons with SCI (n=246). Results indicated a small, negative association between perceived wheeling infrastructure and LTPA intentions. However, perceptions of neighbourhood aesthetics and wheeling infrastructure did not explain significant variance in either L TPA intentions or behaviour, beyond that accounted for by the TPB constructs, suggesting that these eighbourhood factors do not enhance the TPB's ability to explain LTPA behaviour.</p> <p>Lastly, Study 3 used a randomized, controlled design to examine the effects of a 10-week action and coping planning intervention on enhancing LTPA and coping self efficacy in exercise intenders living with SCI (n=47). Results indicated greater LTPA for participants who formed action plans and coping plans (A+C condition) than for the participants who only formed action plans (A condition). Furthermore, the A+C condition had greater confidence to schedule their L TPA and overcome L TPA-related barriers than the A condition. These findings provide evidence of the benefits of supplementing action plans with coping plans for enhancing L TP A and coping self-efficacy beliefs among exercise intenders living with SCI. </p> <p>Together, these three studies provide a broader understanding of L TPA correlates and determinants in people with SCI, and provide evidence of the efficacy of multiple planning strategics for promoting L TPA in persons with SCI. The results provide an impetus for extending the scope of the research on the physical environment and LTPA towards persons with mobility disabilities. Moreover, the findings demonstrate the value of theory-based research for identifying the multidimensional correlates and determinants of LTPA, and for designing effective LTPA-enhancing interventions in persons with SCI. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

No description available.

O processo de verticalização do bairro Jardim Anália Franco apresenta-se como marco de modernidade da cidade, fruto do avanço técnico-científico e da capacidade de mobilização de vários atores sociais. No entanto, através da análise empírica de tal processo, verifica-se que sua materialidade no espaço pode se apresentar como vetor de fragmentação do território. O SIG, com seus modernos recursos de sensoriamento remoto, oferece possibilidade de estudo sistemático de tal fenômeno. Acredita-se que, a partir da cartografia, possa-se analisar configurações espaciais que apoiarão futuros estudos no campo da geografia urbana. / The verticalization process of Jardim Anália Franco neighborhood present itself as a mark of the modenity of the city, product from de technical advance and capacity of mobilization from many social actors. However, through the empirical analysis of that process, it appears that its materiality in space can be presented as vector of the territory. The GIS, with its modern resources of remote sensing, offers possibility of systematic study of this phenomenon. Its believed that, from the mapping, can be examined spatial configurations that will support future studies in the field of urban geography.

[pt] A integração de informação geográfica e mapas digitais nos Sistemas de Informação Geográfica (SIGs) produz soluções para vários grupos de usuários. Vem crescendo o número de usuários não especializados que utilizam SIGs na Web ou em desktop para localizar endereços, planejar rotas, planejar viagens, encontrar lugares, e assim por diante. Estas aplicações menos complexas e destinadas a qualquer pessoa carecem fundamentalmente de avaliação, pois da qualidade da interação depende seu sucesso comercial. Apesar desta necessidade, praticamente não encontramos pesquisas sobre como avaliar estas aplicações mais simples de SIGs. Neste trabalho propomos um método de Inspeção Semiótica para Interfaces baseadas em Mapas (o ISIM) capaz de analisar o efeito de representações usadas nestas interfaces na comunicação da informação geográfica. O ISIM combina técnicas analíticas e empíricas. As técnicas analíticas são usadas para definir contextos de uso e perfis de usuários, bem como para interpretar observações empíricas. Técnicas empíricas são usadas em testes e entrevistas com usuários, para comparar parte dos dados obtidos com as técnicas analíticas. O ISIM, que inicialmente abrange dos SIGs apenas as interações baseadas em mapas, identifica uma classe de problemas básicos deste tipo de interação e, como é o caso de vários outros métodos semióticos, dá indicações sobre possibilidades de solução para eles. / [en] The integration of digital maps and geographical information into Geographical Information Systems (GIS) produces solutions for several groups of users. There is an increasing number of non experts that use GIS on the Web or in desktop applications to locate addresses, plan routes and trips, find places, and so on. Less complex applications designed for general use critically need evaluation, because their commercial success depends heavily on the quality of human-computer interaction. In spite of such critical need, it is very hard to find research about how to evaluate these kinds of simpler applications. We propose a semiotic inspection method (whose acronym in Portuguese is ISIM) that analyzes the effect of representations in map-based interfaces to communicate geographic information. ISIM combines analytic and empirical techniques to carry out evaluations. Analytic techniques are used to define contexts of use and users' profiles, as well as to interpret empirical observations. ISIM also uses an empirical technique of tests and interviews with users. ISIM, whose scope encompasses only GIS map-based interaction, can identify a class of basic problems of interaction and, as is the case with many semiotic methods, hint at design solutions for them.

<p>This thesis presents Pixgis; a novel application for map-centric management of photographs. In short Pixgis is an interactive environment in which photographs may be discovered, viewed and managed through maps. With Pixgis finding photographs from a specific location or of a particular structure is as easy as finding the location or structure on a map. As Pixgis simultaneously displays maps, photographs and spatial metadata it also enables users to analyze photographs in new manners. This thesis work illustrates the benefits of applications for map-centric management of photographs, exposes the problems one faces when implementing such applications and presents novel solutions to many of these problems. The thesis also elaborates on spatial metadata and methods for acquisition of photographs with embedded spatial metadata.</p>