Various activities and phenomenon in environment such as transportation, land resources exploitation and oceanic oil pollution can be analyzed and monitored by using GIS. But those will evolve when time elapses. In order to realize changes and implicit meaning in evolution, we can manage and analyze time-stamping geographic data (spatial-temporal data) in a temporal GIS. It is important to set up a spatial-temporal data model before building a temporal GIS. So, the focus of this research is the design of a relational spatial-temporal data model. The major type of storing time of geographic data in the relational database of a GIS is to stamp each record with time (tuple-timestamping), so this method will be used in this research. The objective of this research is the development of a temporal GIS and makes the track of land use zoning change more convenient. The management and track of change of land use zoning data of Kaoshioung city is the case study in this research. The ArcView 8.x software is used to develop a temporal GIS and spatial data and attribute data will be exported to geodatabase in it. Building spatial-temporal queries with ArcObject is the development of a temporal GIS in this research.

The cognitive factors of spatial ability, human-computer interaction, problem solving ability, and geographic attitude have been recognized as relevant to teaching and learning GIS. The goal of this research was to examine these cognitive abilities in university students taking an introductory course in GIS; examine any changes in these abilities after completing the class; and examine the relationship between those abilities and the students’ grades in the class. It was hypothesized that students with higher cognitive ability scores would have higher grades than students with lower cognitive ability scores. Nine different self-report surveys were used to assess the students’ spatial, computer, problem solving, and geographic cognitive abilities. The surveys were administered at the beginning and end of the two academic semesters. Analysis of the students’ scores revealed a significant improvement on four of the nine cognitive ability surveys; one that measured computer experience and three that measured spatial ability. Bivariate correlations and multiple regression analyses were used to measure the relationship between the students’ scores on the cognitive ability surveys and the students’ grades. Students received grades on lecture exams, lab exercises, individual projects, and an overall grade. Only two of the bivariate correlations were statistically significant: the factors of geography attitude and learning style were significantly correlated with the students’ project grade. Multiple regression analysis also revealed a very weak relationship, explaining less than 20 percent of the variance between the scores on the cognitive ability surveys and the students’ lecture grade, lab grade, and overall grade. However, a much stronger relationship, explaining more than 45% of the variance, existed between the cognitive ability surveys and the students’ project grade. These findings suggest that cognitive processes utilized for traditional classroom learning to pass lecture exams are different than those utilized to learn the software skills necessary to complete a GIS project. Therefore, it was concluded that the cognitive ability scores are poor predictors of grades related to traditional classroom learning such as lecture exams; however, these scores are more useful as predictors of the grades on a GIS project.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is focusing on towards two paradoxical directions especially after the oil-boom. The first is the contemporary architectural development, while the second is the conservation of traditional dwellings and historical sites in the country. It is obvious that the management and planning towards the first direction are fully integrated and highly précised to be implemented efficiently, thus, unveiling a new façade of contemporary lifestyle to the world. But the second direction is lacking good strategic efforts for conservation, preservation methods and tourism promotion, especially among different authorities that are in charge of either management or implementation of conservation techniques. Therefore, the country started looking for solutions that initiate the right management strategy to be followed and improve the use and promotion of tangible heritage. In this research, I am taking the case of the city of Al-Ain since it has started taking the path and has established an agreement with UNESCO. Geographical Information Systems is used in this research as a tool to implement the major objectives and solutions for issues discussed in the agreement. In this research, the main issues that were discussed in the agreement were segregated and studied separately in terms of geographic extent, then, spatially represented on the map. Furthermore, they were analyzed using the different techniques in the Geographical Information Systems software ArcGIS to demonstrate each issue and problem and study its expected results. It was clear from this research that these issues were clearly presented using the software and will aid in the decision making process, especially for stakeholders and different entities in the city of Al Ain.

The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify estuarine and marine wetland and shore changes circa Galveston Bay Estuary (GBE) from 1995 to 2002 by using aerial photography and GIS mapping techniques. Aerial photographs in digital format were acquired from Texas Natural Resource Information System (TNRIS) and the Houston Galveston Area Council (HGAC); these photographs were selected because the images were taken at the time period desired, existed in digital formats at resolutions of 1 m or greater, and were in coordinate systems that were already in or could be properly aligned and georeferenced. Maps for each of thirty quadrangles that include estuarine and/or marine habitats around the GBE were created, depicting wetlands and shorelines for the years 1995 and 2002 as well as changes between the two time periods. Polygons representing different habitats in 1995 were drawn while working at a scale of 1:4,000 or greater. Maps of habitats in 2002 and maps showing changes from 1995 to 2002 were produced by modifying individual 1995 polygons to document boundary shifts or habitat changes from 1995 to 2002. All resulting maps were constructed at 1:24,000 scale in UTM NAD 83 coordinate system to match USGS quad maps. Areas of each habitat in 1995 and 2002 and changes between the two years were calculated in acres and comparisons were made. There were four objectives developed to be examined by the creation of the new set of maps for GBE. They were to determine habitat changes during the time period in question, effectiveness of mapping technique, where differences in change occurred, and what type (i.e. erosion, development, accretion, etc.) of change occurred. My analyses of these maps indicated that there were 117,670 acres of estuarine wetlands and 21,983 acres of unconsolidated estuarine and marine shores present in 1995. In 2002, these values changed to 116,534 acres of estuarine wetlands and 21,630 acres of estuarine and marine shores. The rate of wetland loss was estimated as 162 acres per year or 0.1% of all wetlands annually from 1995 to 2002. This rate has slowed from the previous rate of 405 acres per year or 0.4% in 1979 and remained the same as the 161 acres per year or 0.1% reported in 1993 for the GBE. Further, the results of my analyses indicated that losses from direct human influences (e.g. development, dredging, and filling) were less than losses associated with natural processes like erosion and subsidence.

This article offers the results of creative research: (1) Suggestions on a research structure for data mining visulization with GIS. (2) A search for the distribution of various population groups in society using the census 2000 as research background. In single-parent families, aborigines and the elderly have long been considered disadvantaged social classes, and their widening problems will have a tremendous impact and influence on society. This study aims to apply data mining techniques to investigate the demographic features of socially disadvantaged groups in Taipei, Kaohsiung and Los Angeles County by using population data collected in the 2000 census to provide reference for social welfare decision makers in understanding these groups and forming policy. The demographic features, marital features and educational attainment of the heads of household in single-parent families and poverty lives were investigated. The demographic features, educational attainment and marital status of aborigines were analyzed. The marital features, educational attainment, care and life patterns of the elderly were studied.

In Haiti's largely agrarian society as well as in many other islands in the Caribbean, deforestation has become an issue that has long term, negative consequences for the livelihood of farmers and the ability of the nation as a whole to rebound after natural disasters, a frequent occurrence in Haiti. I examine past reforestation attempts in Haiti through a literature review using a political ecological framework, and I explore experiences with bamboo as a reforestation crop and its potential in the Haitian context. Drawing on this research, I conduct a GIS analysis of potential reforestation sites using bamboo in Haiti by (1) investigating and categorizing the ecological, economic and social conditions that are favorable for bamboo production, and, based on this research, (2) identifying areas particularly suitable for reforestation programs using bamboo. I conclude by providing planning and policy recommendations for appropriate production of bamboo for reforestation in Haiti. / text

The practice of linking Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and natural resource models has greatly increased in the recent past. Cheaper and more powerful computing resources have allowed us to build systems that minimize the effort and labor involved in parameterizing simulation models. However, by using computerized means to minimize the effort needed to facilitate model parameterization we have increased the complexity in these links between the two components. We have also increased the amount of knowledge required to build the link and have increased the need to understand the consequences of building the links between two systems. The practice of linking these two components creates new issues that affect both the GIS analyst and the researcher. The goal of this research project has been to develop an application linking GIS-based geo-processing tools developed in the Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment (AGWA) tool to an internet-based map interface. The application allows a user to develop a management scenario by delineating a watershed based on one or more outlet points. The application uses the delineation and other input data sets to develop input parameter files for a hydrologic model, which then runs and produces output for the user. The development of the application produced many interesting issues, but the one identified as most important in terms of this dissertation research was an issue related to using current software development tools such as the Universal Modeling Language (UML) and software design patterns as a way to communicate about system requirements and system functions between programmers and project stakeholders. This research will examine how these software development tools were used to develop DotAGWA, the consequences of using the tools and an analysis of why these tools may be an important component in developing natural resource projects that rely heavily on GIS tools.

Solar energy replacing conventional non-renewable energy has been widely implemented around the world. Currently, one of the most challenging problems is how to improve the efficiency of producing solar energy. Before installing solar panels, assessing where solar panels should be placed can significantly benefit panel performance. This study aims to conduct a site selection analysis for solar panel installation using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). The University of Waterloo main campus and the City of Waterloo were selected as study areas for micro-scale and macro-scale, respectively. The focus of the micro-scale analysis is on building rooftop installations, while the macro-scale analysis considers ground-mounted installation at the city-level. Knowledge about solar gains incident on different land cover types (e.g., urban and farmland) is useful for assessing potential solar energy installation sites in a local area. In this study, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) data were applied to automatically derive accumulated solar radiation energy under clear-sky and overcast conditions at the micro-scale level from which ideal sites for solar panel placement on building rooftops were determined. Macro-scale solar radiation maps were based on Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data using ArcGIS software. Optimal ground-mounted solar panel installation sites were determined using a multi-criteria analysis approach that considered various environmental and socioeconomic factors. A questionnaire survey was distributed to select solar power companies in Southern Ontario to assess current solar panel installation practices, which were then used to better inform and modify the GIS multi-criteria approach. Finally, a feasibility assessment was performed with ground truth information to verify selected sites.

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In certain rural areas of Manitoba, the character of the rural residential population has changed. People have built or bought houses around land that had been previously used exclusively for agriculture. These rural residents have invested in their property and are very sensitive to any activity that may interfere with their “rural lifestyle” or affect the value of their property. In the past, livestock production, in particular hog production was generally one component of mixed farming operation. Livestock production in Manitoba has undergone significant changes in recent years, both in size of operation and production method. It has now become a specialized industry where operations have become much larger and more capital intensive than farms of thirty years ago. These factors have resulted in situations where land use conflicts have and continue to occur. Typically, regulatory zoning, in conjunction with manual review of land cover overlay and topographic maps have been used to select sites for livestock operations. This approach can be time consuming and expensive. An alternative approach is the development of a geographic information system (GIS) to define optimal locations for livestock operations and non-farm rural residents. The use of such a model has the capability to reduce the number of rural land use conflicts. This study starts by documenting the significant changes in recent years of rural residential development and the size as well as the production method of hog operations in Manitoba. It then draws on a series of interviews to gain insight into the complex land use conflicts within the study area and to inform the creation of a geographic information system (GIS) model. This practicum explores “smart” land use analysis using a combination of GIS and Land Use Conflict Identification Strategy (LUCIS) modeling to represent the spatial consequences of land use decisions. This research has resulted in the development of a GIS model to be used as a decision support tool in developing policy surrounding future development and land use; including appropriate locations of any new or expanding livestock operations and rural non-farm residents within the Rural Municipality (RM) of St. Andrews, MB.