No description available.

Most data are associated with a place, and many are also associated with a moment in time, a time interval, or another linked temporal component. Spatiotemporal data (i.e., data with elements of both space and time) can be used to assess movement or change over time in a particular location, an approach that is useful across many disciplines. However, spatiotemporal data structures can be quite complex, and the datasets very large. Although GIS software programs are capable of processing and analyzing spatial information, most contain no (or minimal) features for handling temporal information and have limited capability to deal with large, complex multidimensional spatiotemporal data. A related problem is how to best represent spatiotemporal data to support efficient processing, analysis, and visualization. In the era of "big data," efficient methods for analyzing and visualizing large quantities of spatiotemporal data have become increasingly necessary. Automated processing approaches, when made scalable and generalizable, can result in much greater efficiency in spatiotemporal data analysis. The growing popularity of web services and server-side processing methods can be leveraged to create systems for processing spatiotemporal data on the server, with delivery of output products to the client. In many cases, the client can be a standard web browser, providing a common platform from which users can interact with complex server-side processing systems to produce specific output data and visualizations. The rise of complex JavaScript libraries for creating interactive client-side tools has enabled the development of rich internet applications (RIA) that provide interactive data exploration capabilities and an enhanced user experience within the web browser. Three projects involving time-series tsunami simulation data, potential human response in a tsunami evacuation scenario, and large sets of modeled time-series climate grids were conducted to explore automated web-based analysis, processing, and visualization of spatiotemporal data. Methods were developed for efficient handling of spatiotemporal data on the server side, as well as for interactive animation and visualization tools on the client side. The common web browser, particularly when combined with specialized server side code and client side RIA libraries, was found to be an effective platform for analysis and visualization tools that quickly interact with complex spatiotemporal data. Although specialized methods were developed to for each project, in most cases those methods can be generalized to other disciplines or computational domains where similar problem sets exist. / Graduation date: 2013

The Internet has shifted from the Web 1.0 era to the Web 2.0 era. In the contemporary era of web 2.0, the Internet is being used to build and reflect social relationships among people who share similar interests and activities. This is done through services such as Social Networking Sites (Facebook, Twitter etc.) and the web blogs. Currently, there is a very high usage of Social Networking Sites (SNSs) and blogs where people share their views, opinions, and thoughts. This leads to the production of a lot of data by people who post such content on SNSs. As a result, SNSs and blogs become the ideal platforms for opinion monitoring and the trend analysis. These SNSs and Blogs could be used by service providers for tracking what the public thinks or requires. The reason being, having such knowledge can help in decision making and future planning. If service providers can keep track of such views, opinions or thoughts with regard to the services they provide, they can better their understanding about the public or clients’ needs and improve the provision of relevant services. This research project presents a system prototype for performing opinion monitoring and trend analysis on Facebook. The proposed system crawl Facebook, indexes the data and provides user interface (UI) where end users can search and see the trending of a topics of their choice. The system prototype could also be used to check the trending topics without having to search. The main objective of this research project was to develop a framework that will contribute in improving the way government officials, companies or any service providers and normal citizens communicate regarding services they provide. This research project is premised on the conceptualization that if the government officials, companies or any service providers can keep track of the citizen’s opinions, views and thoughts with regards to services they provide it can help improve the delivery of such services. This research and the implementation of the trend analysis tool is undertaken in the context of the Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL), an Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICTD) intervention for Dwesa marginalized community.

Extant literature indicates that web-based blended learning will become the most accepted mode of delivery in the near future as an alternative to traditional face-to-face instruction particularly in the higher education landscape due to its potential to provide increased access to education for more people, increased student engagement with the tutor, rich learning resources, peers, and external experts, and flexibility beyond the limits of classrooms without compromising quality. The study focused on developing a web-based blended learning model that could help reap the benefits of blended learning at the University of Botswana (UB). With this in mind, the research question, "How can a web-based blended learning environment be designed, developed and implemented at the University of Botswana?" was formulated. In order to address the research question, a six-dimensional model called LAPTEL was developed. The six dimentions are: Digital Leadership, Equitable Access, Active Participation, Authentic Tasks, Intellectual Engagement and Learning (LAPTEL); the first five dimentions are requisites to enable studnets to progress towards successful learning which is the sixth dimension. The LAPTEL model depicts guidelines on how to ensure equitable access for students to learning contexts, motivate and enable them to participate in meaningful educational processes, design and develop effective online as well as classroom learning materials (tasks), and engage students in active 'communityes of practice' in order to help them construct their own knowledge (learning) collaboratively under proper leadership. The Researcher considers it essential to have a complex interplay between the three components - active participation, authentic tasks and intellectual engagement to facilitate active, non-linear learning, and it will be catered for in the design, development and delivery of courses based on the LAPTEL model. The fact that these three dimensions have got features of both face-to-face and onlilne learning, integrated seamlessly, makes the LAPTEL a Web-based learning model. The overall aim was to develop a model of curriculum (re)design based on the student-centred pedagogical approaches that combine synergistically the effectiveness of traditional classroomwith technologically enhanced socialization and active learning oppotunities of the online environment in order to support student learning more effectively than what is possible in a typical lecture room. In a case study to evaluate the effectiveness of the LAPTEL model in the context of UB, the Researcher found that it could provide students with opportunity for increased interactive engagement (more than that is normally possible in 'face-to-face-only' or 'online-only' environments), flexibility and cognitive scaffolding that enhanced their learning experience. The Researcher concludes that the LAPTEL model fits well in the UB context, and it may be adopted by other institutions working under similar contexts. / Teacher Education / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Extant literature indicates that web-based blended learning will become the most accepted mode of delivery in the near future as an alternative to traditional face-to-face instruction particularly in the higher education landscape due to its potential to provide increased access to education for more people, increased student engagement with the tutor, rich learning resources, peers, and external experts, and flexibility beyond the limits of classrooms without compromising quality. The study focused on developing a web-based blended learning model that could help reap the benefits of blended learning at the University of Botswana (UB). With this in mind, the research question, "How can a web-based blended learning environment be designed, developed and implemented at the University of Botswana?" was formulated. In order to address the research question, a six-dimensional model called LAPTEL was developed. The six dimentions are: Digital Leadership, Equitable Access, Active Participation, Authentic Tasks, Intellectual Engagement and Learning (LAPTEL); the first five dimentions are requisites to enable studnets to progress towards successful learning which is the sixth dimension. The LAPTEL model depicts guidelines on how to ensure equitable access for students to learning contexts, motivate and enable them to participate in meaningful educational processes, design and develop effective online as well as classroom learning materials (tasks), and engage students in active 'communityes of practice' in order to help them construct their own knowledge (learning) collaboratively under proper leadership. The Researcher considers it essential to have a complex interplay between the three components - active participation, authentic tasks and intellectual engagement to facilitate active, non-linear learning, and it will be catered for in the design, development and delivery of courses based on the LAPTEL model. The fact that these three dimensions have got features of both face-to-face and onlilne learning, integrated seamlessly, makes the LAPTEL a Web-based learning model. The overall aim was to develop a model of curriculum (re)design based on the student-centred pedagogical approaches that combine synergistically the effectiveness of traditional classroomwith technologically enhanced socialization and active learning oppotunities of the online environment in order to support student learning more effectively than what is possible in a typical lecture room. In a case study to evaluate the effectiveness of the LAPTEL model in the context of UB, the Researcher found that it could provide students with opportunity for increased interactive engagement (more than that is normally possible in 'face-to-face-only' or 'online-only' environments), flexibility and cognitive scaffolding that enhanced their learning experience. The Researcher concludes that the LAPTEL model fits well in the UB context, and it may be adopted by other institutions working under similar contexts. / Teacher Education / D. Ed. (Didactics)

A expansão urbana resultante do rápido progresso das cidades é um grande desafio para o desenvolvimento sustentável. Deste modo a concepção de modelos computacionais adequados que permitam a simulação, visualização espacializada e análise do processo de crescimento urbano é fundamental. Políticas de gestão de bairros e tipos de crescimento urbano são constituídos por equipamentos representados por diferentes tipos de alvarás ou concessões para abertura e funcionamento de negócios. Também por sistemas viários, sistemas de transporte, limites políticos e administrativos, zoneamento e arruamento. Estes mecanismos podem ser evidenciados em um banco de dados espacial por (a) dados abertos georreferenciados, um termo que caracteriza elementos humanos, informações demográficas, socioeconômicas, infraestrutura, condições ambientais e históricas, (b) diferentes geometrias (ponto, linha e polígono) e (c) utilização de funções espaciais para representar relações topológicas, direcionais ou métricas entre os equipamentos. Para construção e implementação do modelo proposto neste trabalho são utilizados os itens acima descritos (a, b, c) e um conjunto de perguntas elaboradas por especialistas na área de urbanismo, apontadas como conceitos primordiais à área de crescimento urbano. Em relação ao objetivo e a modelagem as mais relevantes contribuições encontram-se: (1) na representação por meio de um pequeno conjunto de primitivas em banco de dados com extensão espacial, (2) na elaboração de um vocabulário ou atribuição de uma semântica ao modelo, (3) na interação entre diferentes conceitos associados ao processo de crescimento urbano, (4) na possibilidade de ampliação e integração de outros domínios de dados georreferenciados e abertos e (5) no tempo de execução inferior a 10 segundos para 70% das consultas espaciais. As contribuições em relação ao experimento com os usuários, considerado a interface web desenvolvida neste trabalho, encontram-se: (1) no fato de que a ferramenta atende as necessidades no tocante a geração e visualização espacializada de dados para 4 de 5 usuários, (2) na interação com dados georreferenciados de alvarás de funcionamento, divisa de bairros e ruas e (3) na visualização dos dados do ponto de vista histórico e espacial. / The resulting urban expansion from the rapid development of cities is a major challenge for sustainable development. Thus, the design of appropriate computational models that enable the simulation, spatialized visualization and analysis of the process of urban growth is critical. Neighborhood Management policies and types of urban growth are made up of equipment represented by different types of permits or concessions for opening and business operation. Also for road systems, transportation systems, political and administrative boundaries, zoning and street layout. It can be demonstrated in a spatial database by (a) georeferenced open data, a term that characterizes human elements, demographic, socio-economic, infrastructure, environmental and historical conditions, (b) different geometries (point, line and polygon) and (c) use of spatial functions for topological relations, directional or metrics between devices. Construction and implementation of the proposed model in this paper are used the above items (a, b, c) and a set of questions prepared by experts in the planning area, identified as primordial concepts to urban growth area. In relation to the goal and modeling the most relevant contributions are: (1) the representation by means of a small set of primitives in a database with spatial extension, (2) the development of a vocabulary or assigning a semantic the model, (3) the interaction between different concepts associated with the process of urban growth, (4) the possibility of expansion and integration of other areas of georeferenced data and open and (5) in the lower run time to 10 seconds to 70% spatial queries. Contributions in relation to the experiment with users, considered the web interface developed in this work: (1) on the fact that the tool covers the needs as regards the generation and spatialized visualization of data for 4 of 5 users, (2 ) interacting with georeferenced data of business licenses, neighborhoods and streets boundary and (3) in the data visualization from the historical and spatial point of view.

A expansão urbana resultante do rápido progresso das cidades é um grande desafio para o desenvolvimento sustentável. Deste modo a concepção de modelos computacionais adequados que permitam a simulação, visualização espacializada e análise do processo de crescimento urbano é fundamental. Políticas de gestão de bairros e tipos de crescimento urbano são constituídos por equipamentos representados por diferentes tipos de alvarás ou concessões para abertura e funcionamento de negócios. Também por sistemas viários, sistemas de transporte, limites políticos e administrativos, zoneamento e arruamento. Estes mecanismos podem ser evidenciados em um banco de dados espacial por (a) dados abertos georreferenciados, um termo que caracteriza elementos humanos, informações demográficas, socioeconômicas, infraestrutura, condições ambientais e históricas, (b) diferentes geometrias (ponto, linha e polígono) e (c) utilização de funções espaciais para representar relações topológicas, direcionais ou métricas entre os equipamentos. Para construção e implementação do modelo proposto neste trabalho são utilizados os itens acima descritos (a, b, c) e um conjunto de perguntas elaboradas por especialistas na área de urbanismo, apontadas como conceitos primordiais à área de crescimento urbano. Em relação ao objetivo e a modelagem as mais relevantes contribuições encontram-se: (1) na representação por meio de um pequeno conjunto de primitivas em banco de dados com extensão espacial, (2) na elaboração de um vocabulário ou atribuição de uma semântica ao modelo, (3) na interação entre diferentes conceitos associados ao processo de crescimento urbano, (4) na possibilidade de ampliação e integração de outros domínios de dados georreferenciados e abertos e (5) no tempo de execução inferior a 10 segundos para 70% das consultas espaciais. As contribuições em relação ao experimento com os usuários, considerado a interface web desenvolvida neste trabalho, encontram-se: (1) no fato de que a ferramenta atende as necessidades no tocante a geração e visualização espacializada de dados para 4 de 5 usuários, (2) na interação com dados georreferenciados de alvarás de funcionamento, divisa de bairros e ruas e (3) na visualização dos dados do ponto de vista histórico e espacial. / The resulting urban expansion from the rapid development of cities is a major challenge for sustainable development. Thus, the design of appropriate computational models that enable the simulation, spatialized visualization and analysis of the process of urban growth is critical. Neighborhood Management policies and types of urban growth are made up of equipment represented by different types of permits or concessions for opening and business operation. Also for road systems, transportation systems, political and administrative boundaries, zoning and street layout. It can be demonstrated in a spatial database by (a) georeferenced open data, a term that characterizes human elements, demographic, socio-economic, infrastructure, environmental and historical conditions, (b) different geometries (point, line and polygon) and (c) use of spatial functions for topological relations, directional or metrics between devices. Construction and implementation of the proposed model in this paper are used the above items (a, b, c) and a set of questions prepared by experts in the planning area, identified as primordial concepts to urban growth area. In relation to the goal and modeling the most relevant contributions are: (1) the representation by means of a small set of primitives in a database with spatial extension, (2) the development of a vocabulary or assigning a semantic the model, (3) the interaction between different concepts associated with the process of urban growth, (4) the possibility of expansion and integration of other areas of georeferenced data and open and (5) in the lower run time to 10 seconds to 70% spatial queries. Contributions in relation to the experiment with users, considered the web interface developed in this work: (1) on the fact that the tool covers the needs as regards the generation and spatialized visualization of data for 4 of 5 users, (2 ) interacting with georeferenced data of business licenses, neighborhoods and streets boundary and (3) in the data visualization from the historical and spatial point of view.