Criminal spatial analysis has long benefited
from a consistently high level of research and applications by
prominent figures in academia. Environmental criminology is a
culmination of a number of historical and current criminal spatial
theories and applications. As a result, there exist many sophisticated
types of analyses which could be performed on criminal spatial
data. However, reality shows us that very little of these advanced
spatial techniques are being practiced in law enforcement organizations.
The valuable exploration of socioeconomic variables are particularly
lacking in application. Practice of all forms of criminal spatial
analysis, in fact, follows academia by several years. This lapse
is explained through models of technological innovation. Data
sharing, government initiatives and partnerships with the community
and researchers must be encouraged as a means to stimulate the
growth of spatial criminal analysis in law enforcement organizations.
Although the research can be applied to any law enforcement organization,
police departments in the province of British Columbia, Canada
are examined as a case study.
The visualisation of spatio temporal changes
has been a challenge and topic of research for GIS for the last
few decades. Recent advancements in technology have permitted
the development of multi-dimensional modelling which can be accomplished
through the integration of GIS with virtual reality. This research
will build on the work of Hogeweg (2000), looking at the most
effective way to show changes in water quality in an immersive
environment. This project will address the feasibility of modelling
two interdependent variables using a GIS and immersive environments
and then will assess the effectiveness of the presentation. A
test site, Frenchman’s Creek in Fort Erie, Ontario was used
for the research.
The visualisation was created in the world view
as defined by Verbree (1999) and showed the changes over time
in a vegetative buffer and water quality over a four year period.
Vector files were imported into a virtual reality software and
photo-realistic still frame images and video clips created. The
images were incorporated into an intranet viewer with the use
of hyperlinks.
An independent review of the visualisations
was conducted to provide a preliminary evaluation of the research.
The results of the review indicate that the visualisation of the
changes in the buffer and the still images was very effective.
As Bertin (1983) indicated, some graphics involved a two step
process of assessment. This study explores the symbolization of
a quantitative variable and examines the way that the brain processes
the meaning of the variable. It was found that it is essential
that the user have a clear understanding of the scientific data
and its criteria in order to understand the meaning of the changes
in the water quality variable. The level of education of the participant
may affect the level of understanding of the visualisation. There
was not a clear consensus as to the most effective type of presentation
(still frames or video clip) but both mediums were considered
effective. This lack of consensus suggests that the medium favoured
by the reviewer may be related to personal preference and style
of learning.
Location based services and technologies are
now beginning to develop in the mobile information field. Landmarks,
on the other hand, are identifiable fixed positions. The challenge
is to support these new services with the appropriate Data. Questions
like how often Landmarks have to be updated, in order to provide
a quality service, or how often these landmarks should be updated.
These issues are yet to be answered.
In this study we identified that there are two
main types of uses of landmarks in LBS.
(1) Services that based on landmark information like “find
me the nearest landmark” that can not exist without landmark
information and (2) services that landmarks will add value to
the results, like “Routing Directions”.
The study took place in the Greek market. In
Greece there is lack of data in general and especially in the
landmarks data, which qualifies the Greek market as a study area.
For this reason, search in the related literature
has been conducted and four interviews have taken place. The interviewees
were people from LBS provider companies. The results from these
two sources have been compared to lead to conclusions. Interesting
is the fact that both sources agreed in almost 100% of the matters.
The main advantage of landmarks in LBS is that
they increase the ability of understanding space. The main disadvantage
in Greece is the lack of data. In order to update landmark information,
all companies have to invest in money effort and time.
Concluding, all interviewees agreed that it
is worth to update landmark information, to achieve high service
quality. Although the cost for updating is high, quality service
will increase the loyalty of the customers and income. Alternative
uses of landmark data have to be found in order to divide the
cost. These can be: (1) Cooperation with other companies that
provide data for a specific group of landmarks could decrease
the cost for updating landmarks and (2) cooperation with companies
that wish to advertise using LBS, like chains of stores could
increase the income.
Aboriginal mappers constitute the fastest growing
group of GIS users in BC (Johnson, 1995), yet their specific education
needs have never been addressed by education institutions. Application
of GIS to support treaty negotiations and post-treaty resource
stewardship requires a body information including Aboriginal Traditional
Knowledge, Cultural Sensitivity, and data acquisition methods
that have heretofore not been included in any GIS oriented curriculum.
Institutions offering nationally accredited programs for technician
and technologist education are limited in Aboriginal oriented
content in their programs, as this body of information is not
included in Canadian Technology Standards (CTS). Defining of the
body of information, hereafter referred to as “Aboriginal
Competencies” and its inclusion CTS will allow education
institutions to offer it as an integral part of their curricula.
The thesis outlines the process of research and development that
led to the creation of Aboriginal Competency Definitions.
Although the international pigging industry
has unquestionably made major advances in its scope and expertise
over the intervening years, it is nevertheless apparent that the
industry is not yet fully efficient. The Tracking of Intelligent
Pigs in real-time will enhance future pipeline operations to ensure
a higher level of technology at vastly reduced costs for both
installation and operations.
It is necessary for pipeline operators to monitor all facets of
their operations even though this means the introduction of new
procedures within the pigging industry. A custom-built technology
solution that tracks, monitors and communicates with remote and
mobile assets anytime and anywhere is vital. A few bytes of vital
information or a short critical message can be pivotal to making
business decisions that will enhance productivity or avoid losses.
This vital information is sent from the
base-stations to Low Earth Orbit Satellite Systems that maintain
near-real-time messaging capabilities for users throughout much
of the world. Messages are than sent to the nearest Gateway Earth
Station that quickly sends the critical data via the Internet
to a Tracking Server. Once the Tracking Server receives real-time
data, it is saved to a file and possibly retransmitted in a standard
format to Web and desktop GIS clients.
Integrating new or existing legacy back-office
services, businesses in the pigging industry will be able to gain
a competitive edge by more effectively managing remote and mobile
assets using multiple technologies conveniently and efficiently
everywhere in the world.
Conducting Transport Appraisals for new road
developments requires the use of many types of qualitative and
quantitative analysis, these include bespoke software packages,
user experience and government guidance. Existing analysis methodology
incorporates a level of subjectivity that can ultimately affect
the final outcome of a Transport Appraisal.
The main aim of this thesis was to develop GIS
spatial modelling protocols that can reduce the level of subjectivity
involved with conducting a Transport Appraisal. The development
of a methodology to be utilised by Transport Planners is intended
to boost objectivity and standardise conclusions when used in
conjunction with existing governmental guidance, thus providing
a further decision making tool that is not open to subjective
opinion.
This thesis investigated the main types of GIS
modelling that could be used to model the environmental impact
section of a Transport Appraisal, focusing on the objectives set
by the Scottish Executive’s Scottish Transport Appraisal
Guidance (STAG). A soft systems approach was used to identify
the modelling requirements for Multi Criteria Evaluation Model
for Transport Appraisals (MCEMTA). A conceptual model was tested
using a case study which assessed a number of route alternatives
for a new by pass in Derbyshire. The resulting methodological
analysis identified a set of cartographic models that can be used
for further studies.
The results from the MCEMTA case study analysis
was compared to the existing findings from a Transport Appraisal
produced by Derbyshire County Council for a new by-pass. It was
found that the choice of ideal route alternative differed between
the two methodologies. This was due to the MCEMTA incorporating
much more detail in its analysis, differing data sets used and
the utilisation of local specialists in Derbyshire County Council’s
analysis.
It was recommended that future research
should strengthen the relationship between MCEMTA and the use
of local specialists. This will incorporate important information
into the appraisal which is unavailable to analysts unfamiliar
with the area of study. The thesis also identified the potential
of forecast transportation and environmental data/software so
that future ‘what if?’ scenarios can be integrated
into MCEMTA models.
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