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Coordinate transformations refer to mathematical processing that enables overlay of digital maps that use different coordinate reference systems, that is, map projections. The transformation from geographical to map (plane) coordinates is the conventional practice in cartography, which is called forward transformation. The inverse transformation, which yields geographical coordinates from map coordinates, is a more recent development, due to the need for transformation between different map projections, especially in geographic information systems (GIS). The combination of the inverse and forward transformation from one projection to another, which may be called grid-on-grid or map-to-map transformation, can be necessary for some custom applications in GIS and in automated cartography. Many different approximation algorithms can be used for this problem on desktop computers. In this paper a new local transformation method called a non-Sibsonian transformation, which uses non-Sibson local coordinates, is suggested for map-to-map transformation or for improving geometrical accuracy of scanned maps. A case study is performed using the Lambert conformal conic projection and is presented with results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adaptive composite map projection technique changes the projection to minimize distortion for the geographic area shown on a map. This article improves the transition between the Lambert azimuthal projection and the transverse equal-area cylindrical projection that are used by adaptive composite projections for portrait-format maps. Originally, a transverse Albers conic projection was suggested for transforming between these two projections, resulting in graticules that are not symmetric relative to the central meridian. We propose the alternative transverse Wagner transformation between the two projections and provide equations and parameters for the transition. The suggested technique results in a graticule that is symmetric relative to the central meridian, and a map transformation that is visually continuous with changing map scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is a public health emergency of international concern that caused disaster consequences all over the world. To mitigate and manage the pandemic, geographical information systems (GIS)-based spatial analysis has been used in a key role. To this aim, many GIS-based maps are produced by many national and international institutions. However, the produced maps are prepared by conventional methods and the features in these maps representing by their areal size. This paper proposes the diffusion-based cartograms for visualization of the COVID-19 outbreak. In the study, daily country-level data of the first 150 days of the COVID-19 outbreak were obtained from WHO, and the spread and spatial patterns of the epidemic were presented according to the number of confirmed cases and deaths. As a result of the study, it was observed that the cartogram is a powerful visualization tool and superior to the classical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annals of the American Association of Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Geospatial data are now widely available to the general public thanks to geoportals and online mapping platforms. However, creating a map involves more than just combining data layers. Thus we develop cartographic functions for geoportals to support better visual hierarchy in user map mashups. This includes a couple of preparatory steps followed by a smart cartographic background symbolization derived from the original layer style. We evaluate different approaches to background symbolization: greyscale, desaturation, and smart background. The different background symbolization methods are analysed with two concrete map examples and evaluated with a survey. The smart background symbolization developed in this work improves the visual hierarchy of the map mashup by reducing the visual importance of the background layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trajectory analysis has attracted growing attention in the research field of geography. Beyond traditional moving object trajectories, another type of trajectory exists in which the coordinates are object attributes rather than geographical coordinates. In this paper, a framework to analyse these so-called attribute trajectories is proposed that uses four techniques typically employed in the analysis of moving object trajectories: the Reeb graph, the similarity matrix, the convoy and the mega-convoy. The Reeb graph provides the ability to visualise the temporal dynamics of attribute similarities. The similarity matrix is a supplement of the Reeb graph whose purpose is to visualise the pairwise similarities among the attributes. Moreover, the similarity matrix forms a basis for clustering. The convoy highlights objects whose attributes remain similar for a sufficiently long period. The mega-convoy reduces the number of convoys and reveals their evolutionary histories by merging overlapping convoys. A small real-world meteorological dataset is used as an example to illustrate the attribute trajectory analysis framework and the techniques. This paper aims to form a starting point for applying trajectory analysis techniques in many research fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Formatio Circumiectus is the property of Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rolniczego im. Hugona Kollataja w Krakowie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Geology is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology has become one of the major remote sensing methods in the last few years. There are several areas, where the scanned 3D point-clouds can be used very efficiently. In our study we review the potential applications of LiDAR data in military historical reconstruction. Previously we defined the major steps of the entire reconstruction process and the - mostly archive - useful data sources. Obviously the base of this kind of investigations must be archive data, but it is an interesting challenge to integrate a cutting edge method into such tasks. LiDAR technology can be very useful, especially in vegetation covered areas, where the conventional remote sensing technologies are mostly inefficient. We shall summarize how laser scanned data can support the different parts of reconstruction work and define the technological steps of LiDAR data processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ‘comparative tableau of mountains and rivers’ is a recently ‘rediscovered’ cartographic layout, aiming to illustrate the size distributions of the world's highest mountains and longest rivers. Its ‘river’ component is basically a barplot of the rivers’ unbent shapes, retaining a ‘thick’ cartographic description of their immediate hinterland. This display was a common feature of French and Anglo-American atlases during most of the 19th century, before it fell totally into disfavour, supplanted by more watershedcentred approaches. The paper is a critical assessment of the design principles of this visualization, via a modern emulation based on generic GIS rubbersheeting algorithms. A recreation of the chart of the world's longest rivers allows for a showcasing of the characteristics of the layout, its intellectual framing, and its political uses. Beyond a discussion of the approach's limitations, its innovative merits are demonstrated with two mapping applications on the evolution of landcover and administrative zonings alongside the Garonne River (southwest France), highlighting complex relationships of human societies along the streams of ‘their’ rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated generalization, rooted from conventional cartography, has become an increasing concern in both geographic information system (GIS) and mapping fields. All geographic phenomenon and the processes are bound to the scale, as it is impossible for human being to observe the Earth and the processes in it without decreasing its scale. To get optimal results, cartographers and map-making agencies develop set of rules and constraints, however these rules are under consideration and topic for many researches up until recent days. Reducing map generating time and giving objectivity is possible by developing automated map generalization algorithms (McMaster and Shea, 1988). Modification of the scale traditionally is a manual process, which requires knowledge of the expert cartographer, and it depends on the experience of the user, which makes the process very subjective as every user may generate different map with same requirements. However, automating generalization based on the cartographic rules and constrains can give consistent result. Also, developing automated system for map generation is the demand of this rapid changing world. The research that we have conveyed considers only generalization of the roads, as it is one of the indispensable parts of a map. Dehradun city, Uttarakhand state of India was selected as a study area. The study carried out comparative study of the generalization software sets, operations and algorithms available currently, also considers advantages and drawbacks of the existing software used worldwide. Research concludes with the development of road network generalization tool and with the final generalized road map of the study area, which explores the use of open source python programming language and attempts to compare different road network generalization algorithms. Thus, the paper discusses the alternative solutions for automated generalization of linear objects using GIS-technologies. Research made on automated of road network generalization, which is summarized in this paper, was conducted in IIRS, Dehradun, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the relationship between disturbance and forest community dynamics is a key factor in sustainable forest management and conservation planning. The study aimed to determine the main factors driving unusual differentiation of forest vegetation into four communities, all coexisting on the same geological substrate. The fieldwork, conducted on the fluvioglacial sand area in Central Poland, consisted of vegetation sampling, together with soil identification and sampling, up to depths of 150 cm. Additional soil parameters were measured in the laboratory. A Geographical Information System was applied to assess variables related to topography and forest continuity. Vegetation was classified and forest communities identified. Canonical Correspondence Analysis indicated significant effects of organic horizon thickness, forest continuity, soil disturbance and soil organic matter content on vegetation composition. We found that the coexistence of four forest communities, including two Natura 2000 habitats, a Cladonia-Scots pine forest and an acidophilous oak forest (codes–91T0 and 9190 respectively), resulted from former agricultural use of the land followed by secondary succession. The lowest soil-disturbance level was observed within late-successional acidophilous oak forest patches. Nearly complete soil erosion was found within the early-successional Cladonia-Scots pine forest. We propose that both protected habitat types may belong to the same successional sere, and discuss the possibility of replacement of the early- and late-successional forest habitat types in the context of sustainable forest management and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the spatial patterns of non-work activities for 34 drivers in the Southeast Michigan region. Capitalizing upon a unique global positioning systems (GPS) dataset and GIS visualization techniques, this study quantifies the spatial distributions of non-work activities for drivers with different commuting distances, and for non-work activities that are chained in different types of travel (commute travel vs. non-commute travel). We find a strong dependence of non-work activity locations on commuting distances, and an influence of commuting routes on non-work activities chained in all types of travel. The results underline the importance of commuting routes in shaping the spatial configuration of non-work activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]