Landscape Development Types in Central Lika 1980−2012 − Applying Spatial and Process-Oriented GIS Model

This paper presents an analysis and definition of development types and subtypes in the landscape of Central Lika, based on processes of change in the period 1980−2012 CORINE Land Cover database data for 1980 and 2012 were used to establish the landscape types in Central Lika in those years. The landscape types in Central Lika were determined according to land cover/land use. Based on the mutual relations between the established landscape types in the two observed years, we established six landscape development types and three subtypes in Central Lika. The spatial distribution of landscape development types and subtypes in Central Lika was determined using the Standard Deviational Ellipse (Directional Distribution) spatial analysis method. The results obtained showed that in the observation period (1980−2012), most of the area of Central Lika (89.46%) belonged to the Stagnation landscape type. Other development types were present to a much lesser extent (about 5.5%) and were found to be Vegetation succession, Agrarisation, Vegetation degradation and Built-up land. We established a spatial gradation of three phases in the process of vegetation succession, that is, development subtypes from the centre to the margins of the research area. At the same time, in the observation period, the process and trend of extensification of land use in Central Lika was twice as present as intensification.

Web Mercator Projection – One of Cylindrical Projections of an Ellipsoid to a Plane

The Web Mercator projection is a projection of a relatively recent date. There has been a lot of controversy about its application. Some believe that this projection is not a projection of either the sphere or the surface of the ellipsoid. Therefore, in this paper, several projections of the surface of a rotational ellipsoid into a plane are investigated and it is shown that the Web Mercator projection is one of such projections. Namely, although the equations of this projection are identical to the equations for the projection of the sphere, the basic difference is in the choice of the area of definition, i.e., the domain of the projection. Furthermore, we have shown that the Web Mercator projection can also be interpreted as double mapping: mapping an ellipsoid to a sphere according to the normals and then mapping the sphere to the plane according to the formulas of the Mercator projection for the sphere. The Web Mercator projection is not a conformal projection, but it is close in properties to the Mercator projection.

Analiza kartografske projekcije karte Nova Lusitania

The map named Carta Geographica de Projecçaõ Espherica Orthogonal da Nova Lusitania ou America Portugueza e Estado do Brazil from 1798, together with its 1795 (?), 1797 and 1803 versions, is undoubtedly one of the cartographic monuments developed by Portuguese cartography from the late eighteenth century. Its organizer was the geographer, astronomer, and frigate captain Antonio Pires da Silva Pontes Leme, who relied on the work of 34 people, including astronomers, geographers, and engineers, who, although only mentioned in the 1798 version, contributed to the creation of all versions. All of them are similar in appearance, but differ in size, content, details, amount, and distribution of toponyms, which will be the subject of another paper. The greatest similarity, however, concerns the defined map projection. The objective of this paper is to analyse and present the possible hypotheses and conclusions about which map projection was adopted for all versions of Nova Lusitania, through the identification of characteristics that allowed to infer and prove the adopted projection. The applied methodology verified that in the bibliographic search, the information about the map structure is insufficient. An article presented by General Djalma Polli Coelho in October 1950 states that the projection suggested by its title, as orthogonal spherical, appeared to be the Sanson-Flamsteed equal-area projection. However, the expression Carta Geographica de Projecçaõ Espherica Orthogonal allows us to infer also the transverse orthographic projection. Through parameters defined for the two projections, it was possible to establish the comparative elements for a cartographic analysis, which would allow us to conclude and prove the structure adopted for the map, allowing to conclude if the adopted projection for the Nova Lusitania was an azimuthal orthographic equatorial projection, or a Sanson-Flamsteed, sinusoidal projection on the meridian 315°, defined west-east, (counterclockwise), from the El Hierro (Ferro) Island. This meridian is referenced approx. –62°39'46" off the Greenwich meridian.

Equidistant, Standard and Secant Parallels

The paper describes a study of equidistant, standard and secant parallels in normal aspect cylindrical and conical projections. First, the explanation of cylindrical and conical projections as projections on cylindrical or conical surfaces is not recommended because it leads to misunderstanding projection properties. Furthermore, equidistant, standard and secant parallels are often assumed to be identical in references. After defining these three types of parallels, it is proved that it is necessary to differentiate them in the theory of map projections and teaching it.

Typology of Regions and Cities of Russia by Causes of Death

The problem of the high mortality rate, in comparison with countries with similar living standards, is extremely urgent in Russia. It is especially noticeable at the regional level, where differences in mortality and its structure are enormous. The regions of Russia are at different stages of epidemiological transition. This is expressed in differences in their mortality rates and differences in the structure of causes of death. The regions and largest cities of the country are sometimes diverge radically, which greatly complicates research. This paper presents a typology of regions and large cities of the Russian Federation according to the main classes of causes of death in 2015 and its cartography. The spatial features of mortality according to the main causes of death are determined separately for men and women. The assessment was carried out using classification by demographic indicators (causes of mortality: some infectious and parasitic diseases; tumours; diseases of the circulatory system; respiratory diseases; diseases of the digestive system; external causes of death). The dataset included 250 territorial units: 85 regions (including cities of federal significance) and 165 large cities with populations of over 100,000. Based on the primary statistics, standardised mortality rates were calculated. The classification was carried out according to an algorithm developed by one of the authors. The classification presented allows us to highlight the specific characteristics of individual groups of regions and analyse them with a greater degree of accuracy.

Structural Characteristics of Patches in the Central Lika Landscape – Application of Spatial and Regression Analysis

This paper analyses the structural characteristics (shape, position and condition) of landscape patches in Central Lika according to landscape types and for the landscape of Central Lika as a whole. A set of indicators for the landscape structure was used along with GIS technology. Interrelation of the structural characteristics of landscape patches were determined using regression analysis. When determining the landscape types of Central Lika, a method based on land cover/land use was applied. For this purpose, data from the CORINE database for the year 2012 were used. At the level of the landscape type in Central Lika and the landscape of Central Lika as a whole, a set of indicators for the landscape structure were used, based on a variety of spatial analysis methods: Mean Shape Index – for the landscape patch shapes; Core Area Index – for the condition of the landscape patches, and Average Nearest Neighbour – for the position of the landscape patches. The most important result of this paper was to confirm the correlation between the shape and condition, and between the shape and position of the landscape patches of Central Lika, while no correlation between the condition and position of the landscape patches of Central Lika was found.

The Historical Development of Cartography in Albania

The aim of this expert paper is to show development in the area of cartography in chronological order from the time when Albania first appeared on maps by well-known Venetian cartographers (with toponyms in Albanian). An overview of various topographic maps and maritime charts is presented, along with the relevant local and international institutions whose main activities were cartography and geoinformation during different periods. An expert opinion is expressed on the current state of cartographic and geoinformation data as a scientific discipline, with a special emphasis on alignment with international standards.

Vincenc Vinko Hlavinka and his Significance for Croatian Geodesy and Czechoslovak-Croatian Relationships

The civil engineer and geodesist Vincenc Vinko Hlavinka (1862-1934) worked in Zagreb for 23 years after studying in Vienna. His pedagogical activities and projects are described, along with his significance for the development of geodesy and technology in Croatia and his activities after he returned to Czechoslovakia, where he was a professor at the Higher Technical School in Brno, among other things. Hlavinka was actively engaged after his return in the development of Czechoslovak-Croat relationships, and his efforts for the Czechoslovak-South Slavic League were particularly noted. As its president, he organised trips to Yugoslavia for individuals and groups, initiated the establishment of the South Slavic College in Brno, and helped the Croatian minority in southern Moravia.

Approaches and Solutions for Creating Atlases in Geographic Information Systems

The features, advantages and disadvantages of using QGIS, ArcGIS and MapInfo Pro when creating atlases of various types (geographic, complex and thematic) are considered in this paper. Schemes for their potential organization are presented and technological schemes for their automated creation in these geographic information systems are proposed. As a result, approaches and solutions for improving geographic information software can be formulated. Algorithms and modules were developed, primarily aimed at formalizing the structure of atlases and automating the design process of their mathematical basis. The development of functionality was implemented using built-in developer tools implemented in MapInfo as the MapBasic language, and in ArcGIS and QGIS in the Python programming language. A summary table was compiled, which presents the basic functionalities required to create atlases in GIS and their implementation in the appropriate software. These proposals will ensure the fulfillment of all requirements necessary for atlas design, primarily at the regional mapping level.

Search Activity in Google as an Indicator of Interest in the Issue of Climate Change in Cities

Growing climate threats require adequate action from the world community and individual countries. Therefore, today it is extremely important for international and national sustainable development policies to obtain reliable data on the attitude of the public in different countries to the issue of climate change. An increase in the level of awareness of the world's population regarding climate change may be used as a reliable indicator of this issue. A promising tool for studying it is the Google Trends search query counting service. The article presents a comparative analysis of interest in climate change in the cities of the world and actual climate variability in these cities. To illustrate the processes of climate change, the temperature variability ratings for the largest cities of the world and Russia for a period of 36 years between 1980 are 2016 are given. It is shown that for Russia, climate problems become more urgent with the occurrence of significant negative consequences. Climate issues are becoming more important for Russia, but the awareness of significant negative consequences is negligible. As a result, there is a low correlation between global search and temperature trends.