Many modern mobile communication devices are equipped with a GPS receiver and anavigation tool. These devices are useful when a user seeks to reach a specified destinationas soon as possible, but may not be so when he/she only needs to arrive at thedestination in time and wants to focus on some activities on the way. To deal with thislatter situation, a method and device called “Space Time Alarm Clock” is presented forhelping the user reach the destination by a specified deadline and inform the user aboutthe consequences of his/her decisions. It does so by continuously and efficiently computinghow much more time the user may stay at his/her current location without failing toreach the destination by the deadline. Furthermore, it determines the possible movementchoices that a user can make with regards to an underlying road network, it computesthe shortest travel time associated with each choice and informs the user about the consequencesof his/her decisions. Advantage of this approach is that it works completelyin the background so that the user‘s en-route activities will never be interfered with. The“Space Time Alarm Clock” was implemented for Stockholm, where it was tested.

In this thesis work the accuracy of the spherical harmonic synthesis and analysis are investigated, by simulated numerical studies.The main idea is to investigate the loss of accuracy, in the geopotential coeffcients, by the following testing method. We start with a synthesis calculation, using the coefficients(EGM2008), to calculate geoid heights on a regular grid. Those geoid heights are then used in an analysis calculation to obtain a new set of coeffcients, which are in turn used to derive a new set of geoid heights. The difference between those two sets of geoid heights will be analyzed to assess the accuracy of the synthesis and analysis calculations.The tests will be conducted with both point-values and area-means in the blocks in the grid. The area-means are constructed in some different ways and will also be compared to the mean value from 10000 point values as separate tests. Numerical results from this investigation show there are signifi…cant systematic errors in the geoid heights computed by spherical harmonic synthesis and analysis, sometimes reaching as high as several meters. Those big errors are most common at the polar regions and at the mid-latitude regions.

The area at and around the Falun copper mine has always been of great interest. To begin with it was the valuable ore that drew people to the area. Now it is the historical, archaeological and environmental aspects that draw researchers from different fields of study to Falun. Peat cores were taken in several peatlands throughout an area extending toward about 2 kilometres to the west, southwest and south of the Falun mine. One core was selected for more extensive studies including plant macrofossil analysis, loss on ignition (LOI) and 14C – analysis. These methods are combined to give a picture of the environmental conditions at different periods in time, using plants and their preferred growth environment as an aid. The untouched environment changing into the well-known mining landscape that prevailed in the hey-day of the mine, with the change being the focal point, is the reason for this study.The cores presented in this thesis generally show lake areas drying up and transforming into peatlands, some peatlands may however have been formed in other ways. The location chosen for further studies is now almost transformed to a forest floor. This study provides a solid foundation for further studies as well as adds more information to existing knowledge. However, more research is needed to fully understand how the environment changed due to the opening of the mine. / Området vid och runt Falu koppargruva har alltid varit av stort intresse. Till en början var det den dyrbara malmen som lockade människor till platsen. Numer är det de historiska, arkeologiska och miljörelaterade aspekterna som lockar forskare från olika forskningsfält hit. Torvkärnor togs från flera torvmarker inom ett område som sträcker sig ungefär 2 kilometer i väst-, sydväst-, och sydlig riktning från Falu gruva. En torvkärna valdes ut för mer omfattande undersökningar, dessa inkluderar växt-makrofossil-analys, LOI och 14C – analys. Dessa metoder kombineras för att få en bild av de rådande miljöförhållandena vid olika tidpunkter, genom att använda växters föredragna växtplats som hjälp. Det är hur den orörda naturen förändrats till det välkända gruvlandskapet som rådde under gruvans storhetstid, med förändringen i centrum, som är anledningen till denna studie.Torvkärnorna som visas i denna rapport visar i stort sett hur sjömiljöer torkat ut och förändrats till våtmarker, vissa våtmarker kan dock ha utvecklats på annat sätt. Den plats som valdes ut för vidare studier har idag nästan helt omvandlats till skogsmark. Denna studie ger en stadig grund för vidare studier och tillför viss information till den redan befintliga. Det behövs dock mer forskning för att fullt ut förstå de miljöförändringar som gruvdriften medförde.

The Bergslagen ore province, located in the Fennoscandian shield in the south-central part of Sweden hosts several metallic mineral deposits, one of them being the Källfallsgruvan iron-oxide deposit in the Riddarhyttan ore field, situated in a high-strain shear belt denoted as the West Bergslagen Boundary Zone (WBBZ).  An accurate 3D geological model of the Källfallsgruvan iron-oxide deposit has been generated to aid understanding of the ore body geometries and calculating volume and tonnage. The methodology of this study consisted of assessing existing data in the form of legacy mine maps and to integrate new data from field work, drill core logging and 3D geological modelling. The work has resulted in structural interpretations that are put in the context of the regional structural framework in Bergslagen consisting of three deformation events (D1, D2 and D3) and two metamorphic events (M1 and M2). The field work resulted in six rock units being defined used to construct a geological map, in addition the structural measurements resulted in a hypothetical semi-regional fold and evidence of ductile strike-slip/dip-slip shearing. Logging of drill cores resulted in three rock units being defined, two of them related to the mineralization and one characterizing the host rock (± local variations), correlating to the observed host rock from the field work. The rock units discovered from both the field work and drill core logging are all interpreted to be the metamorphic products of volcanic rocks subjected to alteration of varying degree. Based upon geological field observations with subsurface data and 3D geological modelling it is concluded that, 1) The deposit comprises multiple ore bodies that jointly resemble an S-shaped synform that is steeply inclined-upright, moderately-steeply plunging towards the southwest with an axial plane striking northeast-southwest. The deposit is interpreted to be geometrically controlled by an F2 fold, possibly displaying an interference pattern of type 1, favouring progressive shearing and deformation solely related to D2, 2) Evidence of at least one generation of transpressional tectonic regime exists, interpreted to be D2, 3) The estimated tonnage of 4 938 610 tons of the massive magnetite and semi-massive mineralization revealed that a deposit of such tonnage is presently not economically viable. However, if the Källfallsgruvan iron-oxide deposit or similar is determined to have a significant REE content, such deposit may then be of economic interest and, 4) Possible mineral exploration indicators around Källfalls-like deposits are intensely altered rocks related to magnesium alteration, consisting dominantly of quartz, biotite (increasing towards mineralization), muscovite, chlorite, anthophyllite and cordierite, affected by parasitic folding. / Bergslagen malmprovins, belägen i den Fennoskandiska skölden i sydcentrala delen av Sverige innehåller flera metall mineralfyndigheter, varav en av dem är Källfallsgruvan järnoxidfyndighet i Riddarhyttan malmfält, belägen i en skjuvzon kallat för ”West Bergslagen Boundary Zone (WBBZ)”. En representativ 3D geologisk model av Källfallsgruvan järnoxidfyndighet har genererats för att öka förståelsen av malmkroppens geometrier samt beräkna volym och tonnage. Metodiken bestod av att bedöma existerande data så som gruvkartor och integrera nya data genom fältarbete, borrkärnekartering och 3D geologisk modellering. Arbetet resulterade i strukturella tolkningar som sattes i kontexten av den regionala strukturella bilden i Bergslagen bestående av tre deformations event (D1, D2 och D3) och två metamorfa event (M1 och M2). Fältarbetet resulterade i att sex bergartsenheter definierades som användes för att konstruera en geologisk karta samt så har de strukturella mätningarna resulterat i ett hypotetiskt semi-regionalt veck och bevis för duktil strike-slip-/normal-skjuvning. Borrkärnekarteringen resulterade i att tre bergartsenheter definierades, varav två var relaterade till mineraliseringen och en kännetecknade värdbergarten (± lokala variationer) som korrelerar med den observerade värdbergarten från fältarbetet. Bergartsenheterna som upptäcktes från både fältarbetet och borrkärnekarteringen har tolkats vara metamorfa produkter av vulkaniska bergarter som omvandlats i varierande grad. Baserat på de geologiska fältobservationerna med underjordsdata och 3D geologisk modellering dras följande slutsatser, 1) Fyndigheten består av multipla malmkroppar som gemensamt liknar en S-formad synform som är brant lutande-upprätt, måttligt-brant stupande mot sydväst med ett axialplan som stryker nordost-sydväst. Fyndigheten tolkas vara geometriskt kontrollerat av ett F2 veck, som möjligtvis påvisar ett interferensmönster av typ 1 bildat genom progressiv skjuvning och deformation endast relaterat till D2, 2) Bevis för minst en generation av transpressionstektonisk miljö existerar vilket tolkats vara D2, 3) Det estimerade tonnaget på 4 938 610 ton för den massiva magnetit och semi-massiva mineraliseringen visade att en fyndighet av sådant tonnage är för nuvarande inte ekonomiskt hållbart. Om Källfallsgruvan järnoxidfyndighet eller liknande fyndighet bestäms att ha ett betydande REE innehåll så skulle en sådan fyndighet vara av ekonomiskt intresse och, 4) Möjliga prospekteringsindikatorer runt Källfalls-liknande fyndigheter är intensivt omvandlade bergarter relaterad till magnesiumomvandling främst bestående av kvarts, biotit (ökar mot mineraliseringen), muskovit, klorit, antofyllit och kordierit, påverkad av parasitisk veckning.

Increased water demand attributed to population expansion and reduced freshwater availability caused by saltwater intrusion and drought, may lead to water shortages. These may be addressed, in part, by use of recycled water. Spatial patterns of recycled water use in Florida and California during 2009 were analyzed to detect gaps in distribution and identify potential areas for expansion. Databases of recycled water products and distribution centers for both states were developed by combining the 2008 Clean Water Needs Survey database with Florida’s 2009 Reuse Inventory and California’s 2009 Recycling Survey, respectively. Florida had over twice the number of distribution centers (n 1/4 426) than California (n 1/4 228) and produced a larger volume of recycled water (674.85 vs. 597.48 mgd (3.78 mL/d1/4 1 mgd), respectively). Kernel Density Estimation shows the majority of distribution in central Florida (Orlando and Tampa), California’s Central Valley region (Fresno and Bakersfield), and around major cities in California. Areas for growth were identified in the panhandle and southern regions of Florida, and northern, southwestern, and coastal California. Recycled water is an essential component of integrated water management and broader adoption of recycled water will increase water conservation in water-stressed coastal communities by allocating the recycled water for purposes that once used potable freshwater.

Background: Brucellosis is a common zoonotic disease and remains a major burden in both human and domesticated animal populations worldwide. Few geographic studies of human Brucellosis have been conducted, especially in China. Inner Mongolia of China is considered an appropriate area for the study of human Brucellosis due to its provision of a suitable environment for animals most responsible for human Brucellosis outbreaks. Methods: The aggregated numbers of human Brucellosis cases from 1951 to 2005 at the municipality level, and the yearly numbers and incidence rates of human Brucellosis cases from 2006 to 2010 at the county level were collected. Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS) and ecological niche modeling (ENM) were integrated to study the distribution of human Brucellosis cases over 1951-2010. Results: Results indicate that areas of central and eastern Inner Mongolia provide a long-term suitable environment where human Brucellosis outbreaks have occurred and can be expected to persist. Other areas of northeast China and central Mongolia also contain similar environments. Conclusions: This study is the first to combine advanced spatial statistical analysis with environmental modeling techniques when examining human Brucellosis outbreaks and will help to inform decision-making in the field of public health.

Two peccary species, Mylohyus elmorei and Prosthennops serus are described from the medium-bodied fauna of the Gray Fossil Site (GFS) of northeastern Tennessee. This site, recognized as an oak-hickory forest, is latest Hemphillian or earliest Blancan based on mammalian biochronology, with an estimated age of 4.9-4.5 Ma. The GFS represents the only site outside the Palmetto Fauna of Florida with M. elmorei, greatly expanding the species range north over 920 km, well into the Appalachian region. This is also the first Appalachian occurrence of the relatively widespread P. serus. Our understanding of intraspecific variation for both M. elmorei and P. serus is expanded due to morphological and proportional differences found in cranial and dental material from the GFS, Tyner Farm locality, Palmetto Fauna, and within the literature. The GFS M. elmorei material represents the most complete mandible and second cranium for the species, and preserve intraspecific variation in the length of the diastema, dental proportions, and the complexity of the cuspules of the hypoconulid complex. Similarly, mandibular material from the GFS for P. serus exhibited larger dentitions and a greater degree of robustness than currently recognized for the species.

Karst rocky desertification is a progressive process of land degradation in karst regions in which soil is severely, or completely, eroded. This process may be caused by natural factors, such as geological structure, and population pressure leading to poor ecosystem health and lagging economic development. Karst rocky desertification is therefore a significant obstacle to sustainable development in southwest China. We applied a radial basis function network model to assess the risk of karst rocky desertification in northwest Guangxi, a typical karst region located in southwest China. Factors known to influence karst rocky desertification were evaluated using remote sensing and geographic information systems techniques to classify the 23 counties in the study area from low to extreme risk of karst rocky desertification. Counties with extreme or strong karst rocky desertification risk (43.48%, nearly half of the study area) were clustered in the north, central and southeast portions of the study area. Counties with low karst rocky desertification (30.43%) were located in the west, northeast and southwest of the study area. The spatial distribution of karst rocky desertification was moderately correlated to population density.

The carbon-isotope and palynological record through 580 m thick almost continuous brown coal in southeast Australia's Gippsland Basin is a relatively comprehensive southern hemisphere Middle Eocene to Middle Miocene record for terrestrial change. The carbon isotope δ13Ccoal values of these coals range from - 27.7‰ to - 23.2. This isotopic variability follows gymnosperm/angiosperm fluctuations, where higher ratios coincide with heavier δ13C values. There is also long-term variability in carbon isotopes through time. From the Eocene greenhouse world of high gymnosperm-heavier δ13Ccoal values, there is a progressive shift to lighter δ13Ccoal values that follows the earliest (Oi1?) glacial events around 33 Ma (Early Oligocene). The overlying Oligocene-Early Miocene brown coals have lower gymnosperm abundance, associated with increased %Nothofagus (angiosperm), and lightening of isotopes during Oligocene cooler conditions. The Miocene palynological and carbon-isotope record supports a continuation to the Oligocene trends until around the late Early Miocene (circa 19 Ma) when a warming commenced, followed by an even stronger isotope shift around 16 Ma that peaked in the Middle Miocene when higher gymnosperm abundance and heavier isotopes prevailed. The cycle between the two major warm peaks of Middle Eocene and Middle Miocene was circa 30 Ma long. This change corresponds to a fall in inferred pCO2 levels for the same period. The Gippsland data suggest a link between gymnosperm abundance, long-term plant δ13C composition, climatic change, and atmospheric pCO2. Climatic deterioration in the Late Miocene terminated peat accumulation in the Gippsland Basin and no further significant coals formed in southeast Australia. The poor correspondence between this terrestrial isotope data and the marine isotope record is explained by the dominant control on δ13C by the gymnosperm/angiosperm abundance, although in turn this poor correspondence may reflect palaeoclimate control. From the brown coal seam dating, the coal appears to have accumulated during a considerable part of the allocated 30 Ma Cenozoic time period. These brown coal carbon isotope and palynological data appear to record a more gradual atmospheric carbon isotope change compared to the marine record.

Aim: Identifying how climate change, habitat loss, and corridors interact to influence species survival or extinction is critical to understanding macro-scale biodiversity dynamics under changing environments. In North America, the ice-free corridor was the only major pathway for northward migration by megafaunal species during the last deglaciation. However, the timing and interplay among the late Quaternary megafaunal extinctions, climate change, habitat structure, and the opening and reforestation of the ice-free corridor have been unclear. Location: North America. Time period: 15–10 ka. Major taxa studied: Woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius). Methods: For central North America and the ice-free corridor between 15 and 10 ka, we used a series of models and continental-scale datasets to reconstruct habitat characteristics and assess habitat suitability. The models and datasets include biophysical and statistical niche models Niche Mapper and Maxent, downscaled climate simulations from CCSM3 SynTraCE, LPJ-GUESS simulations of net primary productivity (NPP) and woody cover, and woody cover based upon fossil pollen from Neotoma. Results: The ice-free corridor may have been of limited suitability for traversal by mammoths and other grazers due to persistently low productivity by herbaceous plants and quick reforestation after opening 14 ka. Simultaneously, rapid reforestation and decreased forage productivity may have led to declining habitat suitability in central North America. This was possibly amplified by a positive feedback loop driven by reduced herbivory pressures, as mammoth population decline led to the further loss of open habitat. Main conclusions: Declining habitat availability south of the Laurentide Ice Sheet and limited habitat availability in the ice-free corridor were contributing factors in North American extinctions of woolly mammoths and other large grazers that likely operated synergistically with anthropogenic pressures. The role of habitat loss and attenuated corridor suitability for the woolly mammoth extinction reinforce the critical importance of protected habitat connectivity during changing climates, particularly for large vertebrates.