The Transactions in GIS website can be found here:

http://www.wiley.com/bw/journal.asp?ref=1361-1682

emerging issues and possible futures

An international conference

Cardiff University, 2^nd – 4^th August 2010

Qualitative GIS is an emerging, mixed-method and interdisciplinary research approach that is attracting interest across a range of disciplines. The early literature has highlighted the innovative nature of the Qualitative GIS approach to combining ‘qualitative’ and ‘quantitative’ spatial data and encouraging multiple epistemological approaches to spatial research. The emerging body of Qualitative GIS research calls for further methodological, theoretical and empirical development of this research approach. In August 2010, WISERD will be holding an international conference to consider the emerging issues and possible futures of qualitative GIS.

WISERD (Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods) is a National Research Centre for interdisciplinary social science research. WISERD draws together and builds upon existing expertise and research across Wales in quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods, methodologies and analyses and has embarked upon a programme of data integration, primary research and capacity building.

This conference will bring together interested people from a wide variety of disciplines in order to:

• discuss some of the theoretical and methodological challenges in moving Qualitative GIS forward;
• consider the possibility of an international and collaborative research agenda and working group for Qualitative GIS;
• work towards new and shared outputs related to this research agenda.

The conference will take the form of a series of presentations; round-table discussions; break-out groups and networking sessions through which the group will consider the challenges to progressing qualitative GIS and identify how to move forward in collaboration with one other.

Keynote speakers

Mei-Po Kwan, Distinguished Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences,

Department of Geography, The Ohio State University

Marianna Pavlovskaya, Associate Professor, Department of Geography,

Hunter College, CUNY

Registration details

Registration is opens now.  Places are limited to 60 people.

To register your interest, and receive further details, please contact us using the details below.

WISERD,

Cardiff University, 46 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3VB

Email: wiserd@cardiff.ac.uk (Tel: +44 (0) 2920 879338)    (Fax: +44 (0) 2920 874520)

http://www.wiserd.ac.uk/training-events-2/conferences/qualgisconference/

The abstract of the dissertation appears below:

Marine ecosystems contribute significantly to global biodiversity, yet are under threat from both natural and human induced disturbances. Designing conservation strategies requires, as a first step, mapping these ecosystems. However, in situ mapping can be difficult due to the highly dynamic nature of the marine environment. Because wave exposure is known to play a major role in shaping marine ecosystems, it offers a potentially useful proxy variable for mapping them. However, in situ measurement of wave exposure is logistically difficult over large areas. Additionally, numerical wave models are limited to deep water, and are complex and time consuming to run. A Geographic Information System (GIS) based cartographic wave exposure model that measures the relative exposure of a site on the basis of its fetch length provides a simpler and faster alternative.

The academic literature describes a wide variety of cartographic exposure models, all designed for different purposes and study areas. Despite the fact that these models can be computationally intensive, their sensitivity to parameter setup has yet to be tested. Bringing these together within a common modelling framework where results can be standardised makes it possible to do such testing, and eventually to determine an appropriate model setup for a given study area and purpose. To that end, this study presents a generic modelling framework which integrates and extends existing relative wave exposure modelling tools within the ArcGIS programming environment (GREMO). It then uses this framework to assess the sensitivity of relative wave exposure models to key parameter settings, and outlines a conceptual framework for developing methods for parameter optimisation. The sensitivity analysis demonstrated that relative wave exposure model processing times and wave exposure estimates are influenced by how key model parameters are set in complex ways, and that this varies based on the spatial arrangement of waveblocking obstacles within a study area. This justifies further work to investigate sensitivity to unravel these complex interactions, and to develop tools to help determine optimal, or at least feasible, parameter settings for a given study area. Along with this, the conceptual framework for parameter optimisation outlined a range of tools which could be further developed to assist with this. For example, it may be that conditions across a given study area are not homogeneous, thus requiring division into sub-areas where different parameter settings can be applied. As a new integrated modelling environment for relative wave exposure, GREMO facilitates much needed sensitivity testings of these models as well as promoting the use of a mixed models / model comparison approach. Further development of GREMO that would make it even more useful include: (1) how to reduce its computational demand; (2) how to estimate settings for additional input parameters; (3) implementation of the conceptual framework for parameter optimisation; (4) further model verification, particularly of its spatial aspects; and (5) model validation.

We look forward to receiving your entries for next year!

The Spatial Dimensions of Health

Session abstract

There is little doubt that geography and health are linked. Whether geography is considered in terms of the ‘geographies’ of individuals; communities and neighbourhoods; services and resources; or diseases- the linkage persists. In light of this, Gatrell and Elliot (2009) state ‘the subject of “health” is a rich source of material that bears study by the geographer’ (p.3). The importance of such study is highlighted by the steadfast presence of spatial disparities in health and healthcare nationally. The intention of this session is to bring together research on the spatial dimensions of health, for the purpose of highlighting ongoing and nascent challenges within the diverse spectrum of health and health geography. The session organisers invite proposals for papers that present empirical contributions within the spatial dimensions of health, ideally with focus on the UK. We welcome proposals that explore:

• The spatial dimensions of health inequalities and health behaviours

• Place, community and neighbourhood health and healthcare

• Spatial methods for developing health statistics

• Web 2.0 and health mapping

Reference

Gatrell, A. C. and Elliot, S. J. (2009) “Geographies of Health: An Introduction”, 2nd Edition, Wiley-Blackwell, Chicester

Keywords: Health, behaviour, inequality, quantitative, space.

Deadline for submitting abstracts is Monday 1st February 2010. Please send abstracts up to a maximum of 250 words and proposed titles (clearly stating name, institution, and contact details) to Daniel Lewis (d.lewis@ucl.ac.uk) and/or Catherine Jones (kate-emma.jones@ucl.ac.uk)

Details of other calls by the GHRG can be found here.

Date: 28th Oct at 1700 GMT

Title: A dynamic social network model for disease transmission.

Speaker: Ling Bian (Buffalo)

Chair: Kirk Harland (Leeds)

The seminars are open to all. For details of how to join the e-seminar using the Marratech™ video conferencing environment, and further seminars in the same series, see: http://www.wun.ac.uk/ggisa/seminars.html

Dave Unwin (d.unwin@wun.ac.uk) WUN Global GISc Academy Coordinator
Steve Carver (s.j.carver@leeds.ac.uk) University of Leeds

Convenors: Dr. Hanif Rahemtulla (hanif.rahemtulla@mail.mcgill.ca) and Dr. Muki Haklay (m.haklay@ucl.ac.uk)

This session will examine the participatory governance potential of the Geoweb and, in particular, its capacity to enable a two-way dialogue between government officials and the public. From a practical perspective, we will explore how different levels of governments can use the Geoweb as a platform that could build upon current PPGIS/PGIS practices and broaden public engagement. From a theoretical standpoint, we propose to address the scientific, technical, and participatory issues that challenge the accomplishment of this vision.

Please contact convenors for more information.

The GIScRG is pleased to announce the following sessions:

(click on the titles for more details. Please contact the session conveners with any questions)

Enhancing Complex Social Simulations with Automata Systems

Conveners: Dr Alison Heppenstall (a.j.heppenstall@leeds.ac.uk), Dr Linda See, (l.m.see@leeds.ac.uk).

This session aims to bring together researchers to report on progress in diverse types of automata systems in social simulation. We encourage the submission of theoretical, experimental, methodological and application papers related to Cellular Automata (CA) and Agent-Based Modelling (ABM).

GIS for Environmental Modelling

Convener: Dr Katherine Arrell (k.arrell@leeds.ac.uk).

This session aims to bring together researchers to report on state of the art environmental modelling applications. This session seeks to attract papers reporting GIS modelling applications for environmental sciences.

Postgraduate Session: Analysing and Visualising Social Change

Conveners: James Cheshire (james.cheshire@ucl.ac.uk), Dr Muki Haklay (m.haklay@ucl.ac.uk).

The data and tools that are used for analysing, visualising and understanding social change have become increasingly accessible and sophisticated in recent years. GIScience has been at the forefront of these advances, developing tools, providing new visualisations and communicating the results to wider audiences. This session seeks to attract postgraduate researchers from all areas of GIScience, Geovisualisation and wider geography who are concerned with monitoring and visualising social change. Submissions are especially welcome from those researching geovisualisation, modeling, geodemographics, migration and other aspects of social change.

Details of online submission can be found at:

http://www.rgs.org/AC2010

Important Dates

Deadline for abstracts:  5 February 2010

Notification of Acceptance: 26 February 2010

For any questions related to this session, please contact any of the conveners.

Special Session(s): Modeling Geographic Complexity.

Click here for FULL DETAILS.

DESCRIPTION:

Understanding geographical systems represents one of the greatest challenges of our time. Complexity has emerged as a useful paradigm to effectively study linked human, socioeconomic and biophysical systems at a variety of different spatial and temporal scales. As a result, descriptive and predictive models of various levels of sophistication and using mostly agents, genetic algorithms, cellular automata and neural networks are now beginning to regularly appear in the geographic literature. However, there still remains many unresolved conceptual, technical and application challenges associated with these complexity based models. The goal of this session is to focus on the following themes:

1. Conceptual: shared and unique complexity signatures in geographic systems; existing and emerging geographical and complexity theories; epistemological and ontological influences; complexity based model designs; networks and hybrid models; linking classical and spatial statistics in complexity studies.

2. Technical: space-time patterns and dynamics; standardizing the development and representation of complex systems; rule selection and implementation; multiple-scale interactions and structure, system evolution and self-organization; learning and adaptation; calibration, validation and verification; path-dependence; non-linearity.

3. Applications: effectiveness of complexity models when embedded in political, institutional and socio-economic systems; human-environment interactions; earth systems science; land use science; landscape ecology; sustainability analysis.

In order to widely disseminate the ideas emerging from this session, the organizers of the session are exploring the possibility for a special issue of a journal and /or an edited book so that authors will have the opportunity to suitably revise their presentations for publication. Priority will be given for work that has not been published, in review or in press.

Please e-mail the abstract and key words with your expression of intent to Andrew Crooks <acrooks2@gmu.edu> by October 19^th, 2009.

]]> http://giscience.org.uk/2009/09/04/aag-2010-call-for-papers/feed/ 0 http://giscience.org.uk/2009/09/01/rgs-annual-conference-2009/ http://giscience.org.uk/2009/09/01/rgs-annual-conference-2009/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:54:36 +0000 James http://giscience.org.uk/?p=100 We have uploaded the presentations from the “Enhancing Complex Social Simulations with Automata Systems” held at the 2009 RGS Annual Conference. This session aimed to bring together researchers to report on progress in diverse types of automata systems in social simulation.

Session 1

Title: MEME: An Integrated Tool For Advanced Computational Experiments
Author(s): Rajmund Bocsi (AITIA International Inc) Gabor Ferschl (AITIA International Inc) László Gulyás (AITIA International Inc / Loránd Eötvös University) Attila Szabó (AITIA International Inc / Loránd Eötvös University, Hungary)
Presenter: László Gulyás (Loránd Eötvös University, Hungary)

Title: Creating an Agent-Based Model of Consumer Behaviour
Author(s): Alison Heppenstall (University of Leeds) and Kirk Harland (University of Leeds)
Presenter: Kirk Harland (University of Leeds)

Title: An agent-based framework for modelling social activities and travel
Author(s): Nicole Ronald (Einhoven University of Technology, Holland), Theo Arentze (Einhoven University of Technology, Holland), Harry Timmermans (Eindhoven University of Technology, Holland)
Presenter: Nicole Ronald (Eindhoven University of Technology, Holland)

Title: Impacts of Network Topology on Tax Evasion in a Complex Artificial Social System
Author(s): Attila Szabó (AITIA International Inc / Loránd Eötvös University, Hungary), László Gulyás (AITIA International Inc / Loránd Eötvös University, Hungary), István János Tóth (Hungarian Chamber of Commerce)
Presenter: Atilla Szabo (AITIA International Inc / Loránd Eötvös University, Hungary)

Title:Agent-based simulation of the spatial evolution of the historical population in China
Author(s): Jing Wu (Chinese Academy of Sciences) and Zheng Wang (Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Presenter: Jing Wu (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Session 2

Title: Modelling the role of neighbourhood support in regional climate change adaptation
Author(s): Friedrich Krebs (University of Kassel, Germany), Sascha Holzhauer (University of Kassel, Germany) and Andreas Ernst (University of Kassel, Germany)
Presenter: Friedrich Krebs (University of Kassel, Germany)

Title: Validation of an Agent-based Model of Shifting Agriculture
Author(s): The An Ngo (University of Leeds), Linda See (University of Leeds), Frances Drake (University of Leeds)
Presenter: The An Ngo (University of Leeds)

Title: Cellular automata with non-linear transition rules for simulating land cover change
Author(s): Katarzyna Ostapowicz (Jagiellonian University, Poland)
Presenter: Katarzyna Ostapowicz (Jagiellonian University, Poland)

Title: Waves of Change – Modelling the Nicobars in the after-math of the 2004 Tsunami and beyond
Author(s): Martin Wildenberg (University of Klagenfurt, Austria)Simron Singh (University of Klagenfurt, Austria)
Presenter: Martin Wildenberg ( University of Klagenfurt, Austria)