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Depictions of movement in Late Postclassic and early Colonial Mesoamerican art, maps, and documents show a multi-faceted conception of movement as not only a means of physical travel through the landscape of the mundane world, but also a means to reach the cosmic realms of divine forces. In this thesis, I explored the intersection of movement and ritual in Late Postclassic Oaxaca by modelling a hypothetical ritual circuit around the Manialtepec Lagoon: a bioluminescent lagoon near Oaxaca's Pacific Coast that is significant in oral histories of the Indigenous Chatinos. The Manialtepec Basin lacks the level of continuous occupation or historic documentation that have proven integral in reconstructing prehispanic landscapes in other regions of Oaxaca. In a step towards determining whether sacred landscapes of Late Postclassic Oaxaca can be confirmed or predicted by a Geographic Information System (GIS), this project created a network of Least Cost Paths and natural features to predict ritual circuits and the sanctuaries visited along those circuits. Using a portion of the Nochixtlán Valley and the region of the Valley of Oaxaca containing the city of Mitla as well-studied test regions, the model's predictive capabilities were compared to the findings of archaeological surveys. The model predicted locations that coincided with ceremonial-use archaeological sites slightly better than archaeological sites in general, and twice the rate at which it predicted the locations of a spatially random dataset of polygons. Using the generated paths as well as ones that exist today, I proposed a hypothetical ritual circuit around the Manialtepec Lagoon. The circuit, as well as the predictive model itself, are demonstrative as proof-of-concept. Based on promising initial prediction results, this project will serve as inspiration for improved models and eventual use in recreating Postclassic Oaxacan landscapes and providing spatial focus for non-site archaeological surveys.

This project laid the groundwork for an Internet-delivered Public Participation Geographic Information System to facilitate exploration and discovery of the past communities of the Mammoth Cave Park area. The emergence of Internet Web 2.0 design along with distributed GIS services allows for anyone to interact with and add to the information found on central Internet sites. Historical geography often relies upon public participation from individuals outside the academic world to provide narrative descriptions, photographs and manuscripts of past places and events to augment information held by institutions and academia. A public-participation website for the Mammoth Cave Historic GIS (MCHGIS) created a central Internet location for dispersed and disparate data related to pre-park communities to be presented with a geographic context. The MCHGIS project allowed for visualization of the pre-park communities in unique ways and contributed new understandings of this pre-park area.

Volunteered geographic information (VGI) has received increased attention as a new paradigm for geographic information production, while light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data is widely applied to many fields. This study quantitatively compares LiDAR data and user-generated 3D building models created using Google Building Maker, and investigate the potential applications of the quantitative measures in support of rapid disaster damage assessment. User-generated 3D building models from Google Building Maker are compared with LiDAR-derived building models using 3D shape signatures. Eighteen 3D building models are created in Fremont, California using the Google Building Maker, and six shape functions (distance, angle, area, volume, slope, and aspect) are applied to the 18 LiDAR-derived building models and user-generated ones. A special case regarding the comparison between LiDAR data and building models with indented walls is also discussed. Based on the results, several conclusions are drawn, and limitations that require further study are also discussed.

Master of Arts / Department of Geography / Richard Marston / Slope failures play a significant role as a mass movement hazard in the deglaciated mountain canyons in Grand Teton National Park. The park’s geologic and glacial histories are unique in comparison to other areas in the Rocky Mountain range. However, few detailed maps and statistical analyses of slope failures as hazards exist for park officials and visitors. The purpose of this study is to produce a comprehensive map of slope failures in five of the most accessible and commonly used canyons of the park: Cascade, Death, Garnet, Granite, and Paintbrush. This project combined fieldwork, LiDAR imagery, and GIS mapping to document five main categories of slope failures—rock slides, rock/debris flows, rock falls, and snow avalanches, as well as complex slope failures involving a combination of these categories. Summary statistics, maps, and histograms of average slope gradient, aspect, and curvature conditions as well as precipitation conditions at the “source” area of slope failures were generated for individual canyons as well as the entire study area. Snow avalanche source areas where debris flows were not readily present occurred most commonly on north and northeast facing slopes, slopes averaging a 40% gradient, and slightly convex slopes. Debris flow source areas occurred most commonly on south and southeast facing slopes, slopes with an average 42% gradient, and on slightly convex slopes. Rock fall source areas were most common on north facing slopes, slopes of an average 55% gradient, and a mostly flat curvature. Rock slide source points were most common on north facing slopes, slopes of an average 54% gradient, and flat to slightly concave slopes. Rock Mass Strength (RMS) values were sampled at a rate of every 0.5 kilometers on the hiking trail of each canyon to provide an introductory insight into rock stability conditions in each canyon. Slope failures not only impact the physical landscape of canyons in Grand Teton National Park but can affect human structures as well. Physical attributes and locations of slope failures were compared to locations of camping zones and hiking trails in the Park to determine areas of common human usage that were most susceptible to past movement events.

The Mpumalanga escarpment hosts a series of stonewalled settlements that occur along a narrow belt between Carolina and Ohrigstad. These sites are unique as they have networks of linking roads, vast areas of terracing as well as large cattle kraals which do not occur in combination or to such an extent anywhere else in southern Africa. Furthermore these settlements occur at an altitude unfavourable for living or agricultural purposes. With the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) layers of data relating to the Mpumalanga escarpment and the settlements within the area over the past five hundred years are viewed and compared in order to further understand the placement and structure of these settlements.

A tendência de utilização de dados voluntários e colaborativos no contexto de fenômenos naturais é crescente. Esse fato, aliado aos alagamentos e inundações que ocorrem na cidade de São Paulo, traz a possibilidade de exploração sobre o modo voluntário e colaborativo de geração e transmissão do dado geográfico de forma dinâmica. Isso é proporcionado por tecnologias acessíveis à população, como a Internet, o GPS (Global Positioning System) e demais sistemas de localização embarcados em celulares. A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo a proposta de um esquema conceitual para um sistema dinâmico e colaborativo de mapeamento dos pontos alagados, cuja fonte de dados advém das pessoas equipadas com aparelhos celulares que permitem a sua localização. Os resultados apresentados correspondem aos esquemas conceituais do sistema, bem como ao protótipo Pontos de Alagamento - mapa disponibilizado via web com os pontos de alagamento da cidade, fornecidos no momento da ocorrência do evento por pessoas comuns. O protótipo foi desenvolvido por meio da plataforma livre e de código aberto Crowdmap/Ushahidi. O sistema foi avaliado através de um questionário respondido por usuários, os quais opinaram sobre a viabilidade do mesmo, bem como os ajustes que devem ser realizados para o uso efetivo da população. Constatou-se a complexidade e as particularidades da aplicação para alagamentos e inundações, em especial com relação à questão temporal. / The trend of using volunteered and crowd data in natural phenomenon contexts is growing. This fact coupled with flooding that occurred in the city of São Paulo, brings the possibility of exploration about the voluntary and collaborative approach to the generation and transmission of the geographic data dynamically. And these are provided by technologies accessible to the population, such as internet, GPS (Global Positioning System) and other positioning systems embedded in cell phones. This research aims to propose a conceptual scheme for a dynamic and collaborative mapping system of flooding, whose source of data corresponds to those equipped with mobile devices that enable location. The results correspond to the conceptual schemes of the system as well as the prototype Points of Flooding available map on the web with the points of flooding, provided at the time of the event by people. The prototype was developed through the free and open source platform Crowdmap/Ushahidi The system was evaluated by a questionnaire answered by users, who opined about the viability of this as well as the adjustments that must be done for the effective use by population. There has been a thoughtful analysis of the complexity and particularities of the application to flooding, particularly related to temporal issue.

This thesis develops and applies an integrated method of environmental assessment that couples a geographic Information system (GIS) to Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA), using bioenergy combustion and CHP sites as a case study. A literature review to identify the gaps in knowledge with respect to spatial MCA and GIS-based approaches to support decision-making and sustainability assessments shows the need for an approach to identify suitable locations for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants using bioenergy combustion and to analyse spatial aspects. CHP plants can improve the efficiency and sustainability of bioenergy generation because they are capable of producing and utilising both electrical and thermal energy. Identifying suitable locations for these, typically decentralised, plants is crucial but challenging because proximity to both feedstock supply and heat demand has to be considered. The thesis develops and applies a novel GIS-based approach to identify suitable locations for CHP bioenergy plants and to analyse spatial aspects. This work stands out as the principal novel contribution of the research presented in this thesis. The science-based technical assessment can be integrated in a formal and structured decision support framework (DSF) which could aid environmental decision-making. There is no single right way to conduct a decision-making process because every process is limited by resources and timelines. The environmental assessment case study described in this thesis uses a modified version of the MCA framework proposed by the Department for Communities and Local Government (2009). The GIS-based approach is integrated in this DSF to couple GIS to MCA. Additionally, specific attention is given to reviewing and selecting sustainability aspects (covering Criteria and Indicators) and MCA methods. These processes are also integrated in the DSF and can be seen as being part of the problem structuring phase of the DSF used in the research presented in this thesis. It is shown how the DSF is applied to assess alternatives for centralised and decentralised generation in a research case study region. By applying the different stages of the DSF, including the GIS-based approach, the selection processes and a selected MCA method (Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)), it can be concluded that the decentralised alternatives should be preferred in the research case study scenarios if regional sustainable bioenergy generation wants to be archived. In the first scenario, the second alternative (A2) clearly dominates with an overall score of 71.82% (A1: 28.18%). However, the results are relatively close in the second scenario (A3: 56.62%, A4: 43.38%), which is mainly due to the similarity of the alternatives in the scenario. The sensitivity analyses show that the rankings of alternatives do not change in both scenarios unless major criteria weight variations or performance adjustments are made.

Tian Huan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-134). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Part I: --- Demography in Space --- p.13 / Chapter Chapter One: --- Understanding the Data --- p.13 / Chapter 1.1 --- Formation of the administrative structure in late Qing and its GIS representation --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2 --- Population data reconsidered --- p.19 / Chapter Chapter Two: --- Documenting the Demographic Patterns --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1 --- Economic Patterns --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Population density --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Area of cultivated land --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Ratio of urban dwellers to rural dwellers --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- " Ratio of commercial (industry, agricultural) population" --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2 --- Ethnic Patterns --- p.48 / Chapter 2.3 --- Distribution pattern of schools --- p.54 / Chapter 2.4 --- Distribution of political elite (guan and shi) --- p.55 / Chapter Part II: --- Markets in Space --- p.60 / Chapter Chapter Three: --- Trade Patterns in Geographic Context --- p.60 / Chapter 3.1 --- Trade of Grains --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2 --- Cotton and cotton cloth --- p.69 / Chapter 3.3 --- Trade of fur and livestock --- p.82 / Chapter 3.4 --- Trade of Herbal Medicines --- p.88 / Chapter 3.5 --- Trade of Oil and Wine --- p.90 / Chapter 3.6 --- Overview of the Xinjiang markets in space --- p.93 / Chapter Chapter Four: --- Trades within and without Xinjiang --- p.95 / Chapter 4.1. --- Foreign commercial relations --- p.95 / Chapter 4.2. --- Local marketing system: the relationship between the economies of South and North Xinj iang --- p.102 / Chapter 4.3 --- Trade with the China Proper --- p.107 / Conclusion --- p.113 / The economy and trade of Xinjiang: issues of integration and sinicization --- p.113 / Methodological implication: GIS for historical regional research --- p.119 / Appendixes --- p.121 / Glossary --- p.121 / Place Names --- p.121 / Personal Names and Terms --- p.122 / Place Name of Hanyu Pinyin and English --- p.123 / A map sample in Jiukan Xingjiang yutu --- p.124 / Bibliography --- p.125