A protocol for sampling pastures in hill country

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. 203-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.J. Hutchinson ◽  
D.R. Scobie ◽  
J. Beautrais ◽  
A.D. Mackay ◽  
G.M. Rennie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Random Sampling ◽  
Geographical Information Systems ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Accurate Estimate ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Topographic Complexity ◽  
Hill Country

To develop a protocol to guide pasture sampling for estimation of paddock pasture mass in hill country, a range of pasture sampling strategies, including random sampling, transects and stratification based on slope and aspect, were evaluated using simulations in a Geographical Information Systems computer environment. The accuracy and efficiency of each strategy was tested by sampling data obtained from intensive field measurements across several farms, regions and seasons. The number of measurements required to obtain an accurate estimate was related to the overall pasture mass and the topographic complexity of a paddock, with more variable paddocks requiring more samples. Random sampling from average slopes provided the best balance between simplicity and reliability. A draft protocol was developed from the simulations, in the form of a decision support tool, where visual determination of the topographic complexity of the paddock, along with the required accuracy, were used to guide the number of measurements recommended. The protocol was field tested and evaluated by groups of users for efficacy and ease of use. This sampling protocol will offer farmers, consultants and researchers an efficient, reliable and simple way to determine pasture mass in New Zealand hill country settings. Keywords: hill country, feed budgeting, protocol pasture mass, slope

scholarly journals SOLIS—A Novel Decision Support Tool for the Assessment of Solar Radiation in ArcGIS

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Kazak ◽  
Małgorzata Świąder
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Geographical Information Systems ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Energy Development ◽  
Development Strategies ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Data Conversion ◽  
Support Tool

The global Sustainable Development Goals influence the implementation of energy development strategies worldwide. However, in order to support local stakeholders in sustainable energy development strategies and climate change adaptation plans and the implementation of policies, there is a need to equip local decision makers with tools enabling the assessment of sustainable energy investments. In order to do so, the aim of this study is to create a novel tool for the assessment of solar radiation (SOLIS) in ArcGIS. The SOLIS tool builds on the existing ArcGIS algorithm by including input data conversion and post-processing of the results. This should expand the group of potential users of solar radiation analyses. The self-filtering tool excludes surfaces that are not suitable for solar energy investments due to geometrical reasons. The reduction of the size of the output data is positive for technical reasons (speed of the calculation and occupied storage place) and for cognitive reasons (reduction of the number of objects necessary to analyse by the user). The SOLIS tool limits the requirement for users to insert three-dimensional (3D) models of roofs (with any geometry) and select solar radiation calculation periods. The highlight of this research is to develop the decision support tool for the assessment of solar radiation, which would reduce the requirements for potential users, in order to promote indicator-based assessments among non-Geographical Information Systems (GIS) specialists.

Improving Interior-Design Decision-Making in Daylit Spaces

2017 ◽  
pp. 368-388
Author(s):  
Dalia Hafiz
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Interior Design ◽  
Collaborative Design ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Visual Comfort ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Design Changes ◽  
Traditional Approaches

Case study represents a principle methodology when an in-depth investigation is needed. It can be an alternative to traditional approaches to emphasize the researcher's perspective as central to the process. In an effort to allow for tool application purposefully selected architects and decision-makers were encouraged to apply a new decision-support tool; which that aims at enhancing decision-making though visual comfort evaluation. A selected case study space was used for application: a daylit museum located in Washington DC Metropolitan was examined for visual discomfort problems. Since museums are typically carefully lit because of the sensitivity of exhibits, this case study evaluated the daylighting condition in a museum using a series of illuminance field measurements, simulations and views experienced by occupants along a circulation path through the space. The case study also aimed at understanding how small design changes can affect visual comfort as a tactic for the case studies. A collaborative design effort was used in different stages of the case study.

Data Mining in Decision Support for Bioenergy Production

2010 ◽  
pp. 1091-1108
Author(s):  
Nasser Ayoub ◽  
Yuji Naka
Keyword(s):  
Data Mining ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Bioenergy Production ◽  
Decision Making Problem ◽  
Biomass Resources

This chapter presents Data Mining, DM, as a planning and decision support tool for biomass resources management to produce bioenergy. Furthermore, the decision making problem for bioenergy production is defined. A Decision Support System, DSS that utilizes a DM technique, e.g. clustering, integrated with other group of techniques and tools, such as Genetic Algorithms, GA, Life Cycle Assessment, Geographical Information System, GIS, etc, is presented. A case study that shows how to tackle the decision making problem is also shown.

Data Mining in Decision Support for Bioenergy Production

2010 ◽  
pp. 235-253
Author(s):  
Nasser Ayoub ◽  
Yuji Naka
Keyword(s):  
Data Mining ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Bioenergy Production ◽  
Decision Making Problem ◽  
Biomass Resources

This chapter presents Data Mining, DM, as a planning and decision support tool for biomass resources management to produce bioenergy. Furthermore, the decision making problem for bioenergy production is defined. A Decision Support System, DSS that utilizes a DM technique, e.g. clustering, integrated with other group of techniques and tools, such as Genetic Algorithms, GA, Life Cycle Assessment, Geographical Information System, GIS, etc, is presented. A case study that shows how to tackle the decision making problem is also shown.

scholarly journals DEVELOPING A STANDARDISED APPROACH TO MEASURING THE ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT OF ANTARCTIC RESEARCH STATIONS

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (04) ◽  
pp. 1450037 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHAUN T. BROOKS
Keyword(s):  
Aerial Photography ◽  
Geographical Information Systems ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Environmental Footprint ◽  
Human Footprint ◽  
Antarctic Research ◽  
Antarctic Treaty ◽  
Footprint Area ◽  
The Antarctic

Within the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings, momentum has been building to define and manage the human footprint of research stations in Antarctica. This has been reflected by national operators and researchers offering varied approaches to measuring "footprint". By not having a standard method, comparative measurements have shown great disparity. By formulating a standard approach, this study delivered a method that enables comparison. To achieve this, recognition was needed of the vastly different environments in which Antarctic stations are situated. To aid this, defining what to measure, resources consumed, and location descriptors were developed to represent the actual impact of the footprint. The model was then tested on Australia's Davis Station. Inspection of aerial photography and mapping with geographical information systems was supported by field measurements. The model was found to be applicable, with on-the-ground measurements detecting additional footprint area not obvious from the desktop methods. While open to refinement, this study offers a standardised and comparable approach to measuring the footprint of Antarctic research stations.

scholarly journals Delivering Tourism Sustainability and Competitiveness in Seaside and Marine Resorts with GIS

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 312
Author(s):  
Egidijus Jurkus ◽  
Julius Taminskas ◽  
Ramūnas Povilanskas ◽  
Vytė Kontautienė ◽  
Eglė Baltranaitė ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Survey Team ◽  
United Nations General ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
United Nations General Assembly ◽  
Indispensable Tool ◽  
Maritime Spatial Planning

In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly identified 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by the year 2030. The study’s main objective is to identify the necessary conditions and potential for ensuring both the sustainability and competitiveness of tourism in seaside and marine resorts located in or at coastal and marine protected areas on the example of Karklė (Lithuania). Based on the results of a benchmarking study of five South Baltic resorts using the Delphi technique, the survey team identified the main deficiencies of Karklė as a seaside and marine resort of an international scale. We address the deficiencies by applying a geographical information system as a decision-support tool for the Littoral Regional Park where Karklė is located. We conclude that for ensuring both the sustainability and competitiveness of tourism in seaside and marine resorts, it is expedient to combine the Delphi-based tourism benchmarking with integrated coastal management and maritime spatial planning, for which GIS is an indispensable tool.

scholarly journals Incorporating Multiple Perspectives Into the Development of an Electronic Survivorship Platform for Head and Neck Cancer

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talya Salz ◽  
Rebecca B. Schnall ◽  
Mary S. McCabe ◽  
Kevin C. Oeffinger ◽  
Stacie Corcoran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck Cancer ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Clinical Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Clinic Visit ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Clinical Decision Support Tool

Purpose To improve the care of survivors of head and neck cancer, we developed the Head and Neck Survivorship Tool: Assessment and Recommendations (HN-STAR). HN-STAR is an electronic platform that incorporates patient-reported outcomes into a clinical decision support tool for use at a survivorship visit. Selections in the clinical decision support tool automatically populate a survivorship care plan (SCP). We aimed to refine HN-STAR by eliciting and incorporating feedback on its ease of use and usefulness. Methods Human-computer interaction (HCI) experts reviewed HN-STAR using think-aloud testing and the Nielsen Heuristic Checklist. Nurse practitioners (NPs) thought aloud while reviewing the clinical decision support tool and SCP and responded to an interview. Survivors used HN-STAR as part of a routine visit and were interviewed afterward. We analyzed themes from the feedback. We described how we addressed each theme to improve the usability of HN-STAR. Results Five HCI experts, 10 NPs, and 10 cancer survivors provided complementary usability insight that we categorized into themes of improvements. For ease of use, themes included technical design considerations to enhance user interface, ease of completion of a self-assessment, streamlining text, disruption of the clinic visit, and threshold for symptoms to appear on the SCP. The theme addressing usefulness was efficiency and comprehensiveness of the clinic visit. For each theme, we report revisions to HN-STAR in response to the feedback. Conclusion HCI experts provided key technical design insights into HN-STAR, whereas NPs and survivors provided usability feedback and clinical perspectives. We incorporated the feedback into the preparation for additional testing of HN-STAR. This method can inform and improve the ease of use and usefulness of the survivorship applications.

scholarly journals PostGeoOlap: an Open-Source Tool for Decision Support

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Colonese ◽  
Rodrigo Soares Manhães ◽  
Sahudy Montenegro González ◽  
Rogério Atem De Carvalho ◽  
Asterio Kiyoshi Tanaka
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
On Line ◽  
Analytical Processing ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Application Developers

This work describes PostGeoOlap, a decision support tool that integrates OLAP (On-Line Analytical Processing) and GIS (Geographical Information System) technologies in a single application. PostGeoOlap is an open source and a general-purpose tool to be used by application developers to easily develop their decision support applications. This tool works on the PostGreSQL DBMS using its spatial extensions (PostGIS) and performs the analytical and geographical functionalities using data warehouses.

Potential of GIS and Spatial Knowledge in Health Care and Public Safety

2013 ◽  
pp. 734-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eilon Blanc ◽  
Iris Reychav
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Geographical Information Systems ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Spatial Simulation ◽  
Health Care Environment ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Care Services

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are a relatively new tool in health care services and organizations. However, health-care professionals who know how to utilize GIS and other spatial tools get a powerful decision support tool. This chapter presents an overview of the GIS and spatial simulation in the health care environment. In the first section, an introduction to the situation is provided. Then, in the second section, the key terms are introduced: access in health care, GIS, and spatial simulation. In the third section, different cases where GIS supports decision making in the health care services are shown. In the fourth section, two examples of spatial simulation are shown. Finally, future research directions and conclusions are discussed.

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