Using drones to help earthquake victims in Nepal

To assist earthquake victims in Nepal, Canadian relief team have used drones to capture high-resolution aerial images and videos to locate areas where aid is required so that emergency responders can act efficiently. The Canadian made drones, used by the Toronto based humanitarian organization called GlobalMedic, have taken thousands of high-resolution images that are cross-stitched onto maps. It is amazing to see how GIS based technologies are being used for natural disaster relief causes. Read more on CBC news.

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Modelling the dispersion of vehicular carbon monoxide pollution along Deerfoot Trail in Calgary

Abstract (MGIS Thesis)

The main objective of this study is to model the dispersion pattern of vehicular carbon monoxide along Deerfoot Trail in Calgary by using CALINE4 software combined with GIS techniques. A road network (14.28 km long), extending from south-east to north-east Deerfoot Trail, is considered as the road segment under study. The study is broadly divided into three parts viz. CALINE4 analysis, GIS analysis and S-PLUS analysis. The CALINE4 analysis involves two different run type models to calculate 1-hour average CO concentrations at the receptors under ‘Standard’ run type model and then 8-hour average CO concentration under ‘Multi-Run/WorstCase hybrid’ model. A typical day (June 1, 2006) is chosen to calculate 1-hour average CO concentration at the receptors from 7:00 am to 6:00pm. The predicted CO is used to evaluate the model by comparing to the observed values of CO at south-east monitoring station. The output from standard run type model shows that the predicted CO concentration is mainly dependent on wind speed and wind direction. The R-square value of 0.47 suggests that the model explained 47% of the original variability in the data. The predicted 8-hour average CO concentration from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm is used for interpolating the surface to predict the values of CO at unknown locations within the study area. The predicted CO concentrations at the receptors are interpolated using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW), Global Polynomial (GP), Ordinary Kriging (J-Bessel model) and Universal Kriging (Spherical model) interpolation methods. The Oridnary Kriging model is statistically more significant than the Universal Kriging model with lower Root Mean Square (RMS) value of 0.32 and higher RMS standardized value of 0.92. However, the Trend Surface Analysis shows the presence of first order trend in the data and the Geometric Anisotropy shows the presence of anisotropy in the data. Therefore, Ordinary Kriging model uses a biased estimator and is not reliable. The Universal Kriging model accounts for both trend and anisotropy in the data. As such, it is the best model that can be used reliably for decision-making purposes. This model has RMS and RMS standardized values of 0.33 and 0.87 respectively. The S-PLUS analysis is used to validate the statistical significance of the GIS analysis and perform Universal kriging. The Universal kriging model shows CO concentration ‘hot-spots’ especially around the areas close to the highway.

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Poster Presentation of MGIS Thesis (awarded as the best MGIS Poster from The Department of Geography at University of Calgary in 2010)

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GIS Habitat modelling of Bufo Calamita on Ainsdale Sand Dunes National Nature Reserve

Abstract (M.Sc. Thesis)

The main objective of this study is to model the habitats of Bufo Calamita in Ainsdale Sand Dunes National Nature Reserve (North-west England) by using GIS habitat modelling techniques. There are various GIS techniques used in this study viz. Multi-Criteria-Evaluation (MCE) analysis, Neighbourhood analysis, Overlay analysis and 3D views of the models. The results derived from the Neighbourhood analysis is the most effective and has greater potential from management perspective. The neighbourhood analysis results were overlaid with the assigned values of the land cover class in the Overlay analysis to obtain the sites suitable for restoration/preservation. The 3D views of the models were used to give a clear scenario of the models in a 3 dimensional form. The study revealed that GIS techniques are efficient in creating a predictive model of the Bufo Calamita's habitat in Ainsdale Sand Dunes. The habitat modelling of Bufo Calamita is a daunting task as there are several factors/variables to consider that affects their habitat. Moreover, habitat suitability for Bufo Calamita differ between seasons. The evaluation of the model was done by preparing a set of questionnaires to the experts from Ainsdale Sand Dunes regarding the model‟s efficiency. It was acknowledged that the results obtained from this study have a great practical implications especially in prioritizing the potential sites suitable for restoration and preservation, which is crucial in decision making process from the management perspective. Read entire thesis

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Advanced Spatial Analysis of Blue-winged Teal habitat in Canadian Prairie Pothole Region

‘The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North America is the primary breeding ground for many ducks; about 80% of the Region is in Canada’ (Batt et al. 1989 cited in Greenwood et al., 1995). ‘The region is characterized by a high density of shallow, productive wetlands that support an abundance of waterfowl and other water birds’ (Kantrud et al., 1989 cited in Austin et al., 2000). ‘The PPR of Canada (Fig. 1) is composed of about 480,000 km2 and spreads across southeastern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, and southwestern Manitoba with a flat to gently rolling landscape dissected by several rivers’ (Greenwood et al., 1995).

‘The Blue-winged teal is one of the migratory North American waterfowl scientifically known as Anas discors’ (Sandilands 2005). According to Ducks Unlimited Canada (2008), ‘the blue-winged teal ranks fourth in numbers among North American ducks but their numbers have dropped as low as three million or less in recent years from a high of more than 5 million in the 1950s.’ They found out that the Blue-winged teal populations are highly sensitive to drought and removal of their habitat and its conversion by humans to other uses such as agriculture, suburban expansion and road-building. 

The decline of Blue-winged teal with several other migratory ducks in the Canadian PPR is an area of big concern and is the main reason behind carrying out this study. The Bluewinged teal’s habitat is taken into account by considering its population density, which is the main dependent variable, and factors such as precipitation, pond density, conserved soil moisture and land cover suitability are considered as the independent variables. 

This study makes use of secondary data from various websites. The nature and scope of this study is huge and it is almost impossible to capture all the factors that affect the population density of species such as the Blue-winged teal. However, the initiation of this study is crucial to understand the factors contributing to the decline of this species and provides a sound basis for further studies linked broadly with similar objectives set out in this study. Read entire article

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Modeling the dispersion of vehicular carbon-monoxide pollution in Kathmandu valley

Modeling the dispersion of vehicular carbon-monoxide pollution in Kathmandu valley, Nepal: A CALINE4 approach combined with GIS Techniques

Abstract

Kathmandu valley is more vulnerable to air pollution than other rapidly growing Asian cities because of the bowl like structure of the valley and poor wind speed inside the valley. The main objective of this study is to model the dispersion pattern of vehicular carbon monoxide in Kathmandu valley by using CALINE4 software combined with GIS techniques. CALINE4 uses vehicular count, pollution and meteorological data to predict the carbon monoxide (CO) concentration. A typical day (15th of February 2007) is chosen to calculate 1-hour average CO concentration at the receptor points during peak hour (8:00 – 9:00 am). A road network extending from Maitighar to Koteshwor, which is approximately 4 km in length, is considered as the main road network. Ninety receptor points are created within the 500 meters buffer area of the main road network and CALINE4 is used to predict CO concentration at these points. The predicted CO concentration at the receptor points are then interpolated using K-Bessel universal kriging. The resulting map is reclassified to create ‘hot-spots’ where the areas are classified based on the predicted CO concentration. Root mean square error (RMSE) method is carried out to evaluate the model performance by comparing the predicted and observed CO concentration within 10 meters buffer from the study site. The RMSE value is found to be 0.77 and the accuracy of the model performance as 74%. Read entire article

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