Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University / The purpose of this thesis is to conduct a study of the elements which cause difficulty in the reading of maps, charts, and graphs and the effect which the elements have on programming the reading of maps, charts, and graphs for instruction. The experiment was made to determine (1) if work of this kind is profitable for students and (2) which elements cause the greatest difficulty for students: (a) types of graphic aids used; (b) the numbers of aids used: (c) the depth of thought required to answer the questions.

A presente pesquisa analisou a acurácia posicional horizontal das bases do Bing Maps, Google Maps e da World Imagery da Esri quando utilizadas como referência espacial on-line em um Sistema de Informação Geográfica no Município de São Paulo (MSP). A metodologia adotada foi a baseada no Decreto Federal no 89.817/84 e na Análise Estatística proposta por Merchant (1982). A análise da acurácia foi desenvolvida a partir das diferenças entre as coordenadas de 240 pontos nas cartas 1:1.000 do Mapa Digital da Cidade de São Paulo (MDC) em relação às coordenadas homólogas nas três bases, considerando separadamente as coordenadas do eixo Norte e Este. A base do Google Maps para o MSP foi dividida em duas (mosaico de ortofotos na área central e mosaico de imagens de satélite nas regiões periféricas), devido à grande diferença de acurácia entre os dois produtos. Para classificar cada base a partir do Decreto 89.817 foi definida a escala na qual somente 10% das discrepâncias tivessem seu valor superior ao PEC, e a escala na qual o Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) da amostra das discrepâncias fosse igual a 60,8% do PEC. A escala final selecionada foi a menor (menos detalhada) entre as definidas em cada um dos processos. A Análise Estatística foi baseada nos testes de tendência e precisão. Como as três bases apresentaram tendência, a escala definida pelo teste de precisão não foi considerada no cômputo final das escalas, devido à dificuldade de se eliminar a tendência nessas bases quando utilizadas no SIG. As escalas finais obtidas, relativas à classe A, foram: Google Maps (imagens de satélite): 1:12.400; Google Maps (ortofotos): 1:3.588; Bing Maps: 1:10.881 e Word Imagery da ESRI: 1:8.420. Concluiu-se que os três produtos com escalas próximas a 1:10.000 apresentam acurácia para serem utilizados como bases em SIGs nos estudos para planejamento urbano e que o Google Maps (ortofotos, com escala próxima a 1:4.000) pode ser igualmente utilizada para planejamento, mas em função de sua acurácia maior, pode servir também para a gestão de serviços urbanos. A principal limitação encontrada para as bases no uso como referência espacial em SIGs foi a inclinação das feições distantes do nadir da imagem ou da ortofoto e o consequente recobrimento de áreas adjacentes a essas feições. Entretanto, essa limitação se mostrou quase desprezível para as escalas definidas para as bases na análise da acurácia. / This research has analyzed the horizontal positional accuracy of basemaps Bing Maps, Google Maps and ESRIs World Imagery when used as an online spatial reference within a Geographic Information System for the municipality of São Paulo. The methodology was based on criteria defined by Brazil Federal Decree 89817/84 and in the analysis proposed by Merchant (1982). The accuracy analysis was developed observing the discrepancies between coordinates of selected 240 points from the 1:1000 digital map of São Paulo compared to corresponding points in the three basemaps, (coordinate directions North and East were considered separately). The Google Maps basemap for the city of São Paulo was divided in two (ortophoto mosaic for the central area and satellite images mosaic in the remainder peripheral areas), due to the considerable differences in their accuracy patterns. In order to classify each basemap as per Federal Decree 89.817, we have defined a scale in which only 10% of discrepancies were above the LMAS90 and the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of the discrepancies sample was equal to 60,8% of LMAS90. The final selected scale was the smallest (less detailed) of those obtained in each of the processes. The statistical analysis was based on the test of bias error and by a test of precision. Because the three basemaps have presented biases, the final scales defined by the precision test were not considered in the results, for it is difficult to eliminate biases in these basemaps when used in a GIS. We have obtained the following final scales to class A of the Brazilian Decree: Google Maps (area covered by satellite images): 1:12.400; Google Maps (area covered by ortophotos): 1:3.588; Bing Maps: 1:10.881 and ESRIs Word Imagery: 1:8.420. In conclusion, (a) the three products with scales around a 1:10.000 present accuracy to be used as basemap in GIS for urban planning studies and (b) Google Maps (area covered by ortophotos, scale around 1:4.000) can be equally used for planning studies, as well as urban services manager, due to its greater accuracy. The key limitations for the use of such basemaps as spatial references in GIS was the inclination of features which are distant from the image or ortophoto nadir (off-nadir effects) and the consequent shadowing of adjoining areas. However, this limitation is almost irrelevant to the scales defined for the basemaps in the accuracy analysis.

This thesis is concerned with a domain of linearizability, otherwise known as a Siegel disc, around an irrationally indi erent fixed point of a complex analytic map. In particular, we investigate the existence of Siegel discs and examine the properties of their boundary curves for golden mean rotation number. The key tool used is the idea of a renormalization operator acting on a space of functions. Firstly, a computer-assisted proof is discussed and verified, which establishes the existence of a fixed point of the relevant renormalization operator. In particular, the proof yields a ball of functions around an approximate fixed point that is guaranteed to contain the true fixed point. The rigorous computational techniques which allow computers to be used for this purpose are then discussed. Given the existence of the renormalization fixed point, we verify certain topological conditions, known as the necklace hypotheses, on the action of the maps making up the fixed point. This proves the existence of a Siegel disc having a Holder continuous (invariant) boundary curve for all maps attracted to the fixed point. Further, it is shown that the motion on the boundary is conjugate to a pure rotation, that the boundary curve passes through a critical point of the map, and that the conjugator is not differentiable on a dense set of points. Finally, by viewing the invariant curve as the limit set of an iterated function system (IFS), a further investigation is made to get rigorous bounds on the fractal dimension of the Siegel disc boundary. This involves calculating bounds on the contractivities and coercivities of the maps of the IFS and solving corresponding partition equations. In particular, a rigorous upper bound on the dimension of 1.08523 is obtained.

This thesis examines the programme of mapping produced on silk, and other fabric, by MI9 to facilitate the escape and evasion of British military personnel during World War II. It considers the creation of MI9 in December 1939, the rationale for the new military intelligence branch and the context of the history of military mapping on silk. The map production programme is described, together with its progress and the challenges faced. The various groups of maps are identified and described, together with the source maps on which they were based. This description is developed in nine appendices produced as an integral part of the research to provide a comprehensive carto-bibliography of the 234 individual maps which have been identified. Location details of extant copies in British map collections are also provided. The ingenious methods of smuggling the maps into the camps, with other escape aids, in apparently innocuous leisure items are described. The maps were then copied and reproduced to support the escapes. Coded correspondence with the camps is discussed, and a successful deciphering of some of that correspondence is provided. The implications for the escape and evasion programme were considerable, but so too were the implications of the passage of intelligence from the camps to aid the war effort, a factor apparently largely overlooked in previous studies of the wartime role of the intelligence branches. Three case studies are provided to demonstrate the role and importance of the contribution made by the maps to the escape and evasion programme. The conclusion assesses the significance of this little known episode in British historical cartography of the twentieth century which essentially provides the latest chapter in the story of military mapping on silk, and other fabric, through the ages.

Humic materials were chlorinated with sodium hypochlorite in basic solutions. The varied production of chloroform obtained from these compounds led to an investigation on the structure of humic substances. High pressure hydrogenation of a humic acid utilizing molybdenum-sulfide as a catalyst resulted in only a 26% yield of non-gaseous products. Spectral analysis of the residue indicated it to be composed of a mixture of highly aliphatically substituted aromatic oils. Separation of the components was unsuccessful via conventional techniques. The apparent destruction of the molecule led to an investigation of intact humic substances utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Proton NMR analysis of underivatized humic acids was complicated by the presence of paramagnetic iron. Removal of the iron resulted in poorly defined spectra. ¹³C NMR analysis resulted in absorptions from all the known functional groups of humic acids. The availability of ash free humic and fulvic acids led to the use of basic solutions as solvents in obtaining NMR spectra. The free radical nature of these solutions resulted in a study of ortho-quinone precursors by ¹³C NMR. Broadening of lines, loss of intensity, and shifting or absence of absorptions was noted in the basic ¹³C NMR spectra of catechol, catechin, quercetin, rutin, tannic acid, and fulvic acid when compared to the corresponding neutral spectra. Electron spin resonance studies indicated the existence of a quinone-radical equilibrium in the model compounds. The drastic differences observed upon introduction of the radical perturbs interpretation of ¹³C-NMR spectra on basic solutions of humic substances. Solid-state ¹³C-NMR analysis on humic substances appeared as an auspicious alternative. Magic-angle spinning alone proved useless with all but the most molecularly mobile solids such as polyisoprene. Since hydroxyl functionally plays an important role in the chemical properties of humic substances, derivatization with subsequent ¹³C-NMR analysis of these functional groups was undertaken. A dimethylation procedure utilizing first diazomethane followed by methyl iodide and sodium hydride was found to give complete methylation. This derivatization with ¹³C-enriched methyl precursors labels hydroxyl groups, eliminates hydrogen bonding and enhances signal assignment in the ¹³C-NMR spectra. Estimation of functional group types can also be inferred from integral absorptions. Since this method is direct and nondegradative, ¹³C-NMR relaxation studies can be used to give information on molecular size. The long T₁ values determined on methylated fulvic and humic acids are not characteristic of high molecular weight compounds, but are more appropriate for an aggregate of small units. This procedure completely characterizes hydroxyl functionality in these amorphous molecules and can therefore be used to characterize a whole range of oxygen containing macromolecules such as coal, shale oil, and lignins.

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