The Elbow Sand Hills and the adjacent South Saskatchewan and QuAppelle River valleys in south-central Saskatchewan have long been recognized as the locus of extensive precontact Plains cultural settlement throughout the post-glacial period. The objectives of this geoarchaeological investigation are to identify the extent to which 1) Holocene environmental changes and landscape evolution impacted precontact settlement patterns and archaeological site preservation and visibility, and 2) to investigate the relationship between archaeological site location and the environmental elements on a Northern Plains landscape using a Geographical Information System (GIS). The lithostratigraphic record suggests that this region experienced significant Holocene climatic changes with repetitive alternations between arid and humid climatic conditions over the past 5,000 years. Holocene climatic conditions influenced settlement patterns as indicated by extensive occupations of the study area, particularly in the aeolian sand dunes, during prolonged humid climatic intervals that are recorded by paleosols. Precontact cultural groups departed the Elbow Sand Hills and the adjacent uplands for the nearby South Saskatchewan and QuAppelle River spillways during extended arid climatic intervals characterized by aeolian activity and sand dune development. <p>GIS analyses reveal that precontact cultural settlement patterns were focused on certain environmental characteristics according archaeological site distribution. Precontact cultural groups apparently concentrated their settlement activities within the glacial meltwater spillways and aeolian sand dunes, which are topographically complex and situated in close proximity to water resources where natural resources were abundant and diverse. The glaciofluvial plains and glaciolacustrine plains are topographically subdued landforms, and along with the hummocky moraine, are distal to permanent water resources. These landforms are characterized by a lower intensity of occupation because of a consequence of lower resource availability and diversity. Archaeological site visibility and preservation varies within the region with the hummocky moraine and glaciolacustrine plains displaying the greatest degree of site visibility and preservation. The aeolian sand dunes, meltwater spillways, and glaciofluvial plains were physiographic elements that exhibit the lowest site visibility and preservation potential. These landforms were more strongly influenced by post-glacial climatic conditions, geomorphic processes, and the recent formation of the Lake Diefenbaker reservoir.

This study aimed to examine how the characteristics of the road network and the built environment influence the frequency of pedestrian-vehicle crashes. Pedestrian crashes (2000 – 2007) on major roads in DeKalb County of Georgia were obtained from Georgia Department of Transportation. Hotspot analysis was performed on locations with frequent pedestrian incidents to determine their built environment characteristics. Using Geographic Information Systems, the built environment was characterized using road grade, curvature, population density, the amount stores and restaurants, bars, and public transit stops nearby. A negative binomial regression model was used to examine the influence of the built environment characteristics on pedestrian crashes. The results showed that all the variables except for road grade were positively associated with increased number of pedestrian crashes. Findings provided insights into the influence of built environment characteristics which is important for injury prevention to improve pedestrian safety.

The Elbow Sand Hills and the adjacent South Saskatchewan and QuAppelle River valleys in south-central Saskatchewan have long been recognized as the locus of extensive precontact Plains cultural settlement throughout the post-glacial period. The objectives of this geoarchaeological investigation are to identify the extent to which 1) Holocene environmental changes and landscape evolution impacted precontact settlement patterns and archaeological site preservation and visibility, and 2) to investigate the relationship between archaeological site location and the environmental elements on a Northern Plains landscape using a Geographical Information System (GIS). The lithostratigraphic record suggests that this region experienced significant Holocene climatic changes with repetitive alternations between arid and humid climatic conditions over the past 5,000 years. Holocene climatic conditions influenced settlement patterns as indicated by extensive occupations of the study area, particularly in the aeolian sand dunes, during prolonged humid climatic intervals that are recorded by paleosols. Precontact cultural groups departed the Elbow Sand Hills and the adjacent uplands for the nearby South Saskatchewan and QuAppelle River spillways during extended arid climatic intervals characterized by aeolian activity and sand dune development. <p>GIS analyses reveal that precontact cultural settlement patterns were focused on certain environmental characteristics according archaeological site distribution. Precontact cultural groups apparently concentrated their settlement activities within the glacial meltwater spillways and aeolian sand dunes, which are topographically complex and situated in close proximity to water resources where natural resources were abundant and diverse. The glaciofluvial plains and glaciolacustrine plains are topographically subdued landforms, and along with the hummocky moraine, are distal to permanent water resources. These landforms are characterized by a lower intensity of occupation because of a consequence of lower resource availability and diversity. Archaeological site visibility and preservation varies within the region with the hummocky moraine and glaciolacustrine plains displaying the greatest degree of site visibility and preservation. The aeolian sand dunes, meltwater spillways, and glaciofluvial plains were physiographic elements that exhibit the lowest site visibility and preservation potential. These landforms were more strongly influenced by post-glacial climatic conditions, geomorphic processes, and the recent formation of the Lake Diefenbaker reservoir.

The past three years have witnessed unprecedented growth of user-generated volunteered geographic information (VGI) on the Web. Although scholars, decision makers, and citizens have recognized the potential value of VGI in emergency management, there exists no rigorous study on the availability, quality, and feasibility of VGI for applications related to emergency management. This dissertation applies methodologies of GIScience and computer science to present an overview of VGI and explore its value in emergency management with the goal of developing a wiki GIS approach for community emergency preparedness. This dissertation research concludes that VGI and wiki GIS represent new development in public participation in the production and use of geographic information. In emergency management, VGI and wiki GIS suggest a new approach to incorporate the general public in emergency response activities. By incorporating VGI in emergency management, official agencies and the general public gain better situational awareness in emergency management.

Thesis (M.S.)--Youngstown State University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-78). Also available via the World Wide Web in PDF format.

Thesis (M.S.)--California Polytechnic State University, 2009. / Title from PDF title page; viewed on January 11, 2010. Major professor: Franz Kurfess, Ph.D. "Presented to the faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo." "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree [of] Master of Science in Computer Science." "December 2009." Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-72).

Thesis (Ph. D.) in Spatial Information Science and Engineering--University of Maine, 2001. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-117).

Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 107 p. : ill. (some col.), maps (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 100-107).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2001. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xiv, 234 p.; also contains graphics (some col.). Includes abstract and vita. Advisor: Morton E. O'Kelly, Dept. of Geography. Includes bibliographical references (p. 225-234).

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 137 p. : ill. (some col.), col. maps. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 104-105).