M.J. Smith

Bio: M.J. Smith is an academic researcher from Kingston University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Geovisualization & Spatial analysis. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 7 citations.

3.11 Geovisualization

Abstract: Geovisualization involves the depiction of spatial data in an attempt to facilitate the interpretation of observational and simulated datasets through which Earth's surface and solid Earth processes may be understood. Numerous techniques can be applied to imagery, digital elevation models, and other geographic information system data layers to explore for patterns and depict landscape characteristics. Given the rapid proliferation of remotely sensed data and high-resolution digital elevation models, the focus is on the visualization of satellite imagery and terrain morphology, where manual human interpretation plays a fundamental role in the study of geomorphic processes and the mapping of landforms. A treatment of some techniques is provided that can be used to enhance satellite imagery and the visualization of the topography to improve landform identification as part of geomorphological mapping. Visual interaction with spatial data is an important part of exploring and understanding geomorphological datasets, and a variety of methods exist ranging across simple overlay, panning and zooming, 2.5D, 3D, and temporal analyses. Specific visualization outputs are also covered that focus on static and interactive methods of dissemination. Geomorphological mapping legends and the cartographic principles for map design are discussed, followed by details of dynamic web-based mapping systems that allow for greater immersive use by end users and the effective dissemination of data.

Editorial : Summary of activities 2015

Abstract: MASSIVE! The year that was, is now slowly coming to an end and with it completion of a big step forward for the Journal of Maps (JoM). It is hard to believe that we enter our third year in partners...

Using geovisualization to assess lead sediment contamination in Lake St. Clair

Abstract: Many communities depend on Lake St. Clair for drinking water and recreational uses. In addition, it is an important transport route for natural resources and manufactured products. The St. Clair River, which flows into the lake from the northeast, is a major source of sediment. The upstream area is known as “chemical valley” due to a large amount of industrial activity located along the river. Sediment sampling surveys were conducted in 1970, 1974, and 2001 by Environment Canada as part of a continuing monitoring program. Two approaches to the representation, analysis, and visualization of lead contamination were used: a two-dimensional Geographic Information System-based approach using kriging and a three-dimensional approach that utilized the interpolated kriging surfaces overlaid on bathymetry data. The results of combining this analytical method with a three-dimensional representation appear to show that Lake St. Clair generally has lower levels of sediment contamination away from the main flow and circulation patterns leading to its Detroit River outlet. Lead levels declined below the threshold effect level in 2001 compared with the higher concentrations seen in 1970 and 1974. In addition, lake-wide spatial distributions are better visualized using the kriging spatial interpolation results when they are overlaid on the bathymetry data. L'emploi d'outils de geovisualisation pour evaluer la contamination par le plomb des sediments dans le lac Sainte-Claire De nombreuses communautes utilisent les eaux du lac Sainte-Claire a des fins d'approvisionnement (eau potable) et recreatives. De meme, il sert d'axe principal pour le transport des ressources naturelles et des produits transformes. La riviere Sainte-Claire, qui se jette dans le lac depuis le nord-est, deverse d'importantes quantites de sediments. La zone situee en amont abonde de produits chimiques en raison des nombreuses activites industrielles en operation de part et d'autre de la riviere. Des echantillons de sediments ont ete preleves par Environnement Canada en 1970, 1974 et 2001 dans le cadre d'un programme de surveillance continue. Deux demarches ont ete mises en œuvre en vue de representer, analyser et visualiser la contamination par le plomb : une premiere s'appuie sur un systeme d'information geographique a deux dimensions utilisant une modelisation par krigeage, et une seconde a trois dimensions utilisant les surfaces d'interpolation obtenue par krigeage superposees aux donnees bathymetriques. Cette methode d'analyse conjuguee avec une representation en trois dimensions permet d'observer une diminution generale du degre de contamination sedimentaire du lac Sainte-Claire en retrait du courant du chenal principal menant a la decharge de la riviere Detroit. En 2001, les concentrations de plomb ont baisse au-dessous du niveau de l'effet de seuil par rapport aux valeurs plus elevees observees en 1970 et 1974. En outre, une meilleure visualisation des repartitions spatiales du plan d'eau est obtenue grâce aux resultats tires de l'interpolation spatiale par krigeage lorsque ceux-ci sont superposes aux donnees bathymetriques.

Editorial: Summary of activities 2013

Abstract: MASSIVE! The year that was, is now slowly coming to an end and with it completion of a big step forward for the Journal of Maps (JoM). It is hard to believe that we enter our third year in partners...

‘A Picture Is Worth 10,000 Words’: A Module to Test the ‘Visualization Hypothesis’ in Quantitative Methods Teaching

Abstract: Inadequate quantitative methods (QM) training provision for undergraduate social science students in the United Kingdom is a well-known problem. This paper reports on the design, implementation and assessment of an induction module created to test the hypothesis that visualization helps students learn key statistical concepts. The induction module is a twelve-week compulsory unit taught to first year social science students at a UK university, which they complete prior to a more traditional statistical, workshop-based QM module. A component of the induction module focuses on the use of visualization through Geographic Information Systems (GIS), to teach the process of hypothesis generation to students while they also are introduced to the basics of QM research design and univariate and bivariate forms of data analysis. Self-reflexive evaluation indicates that visualization could assist students with more advanced QM statistical skills.

Editorial: Geoscience communication ??? planning to make it publishable

Abstract: . If you are a geoscientist doing work to achieve impact outside academia or engaging different audiences with the geosciences, are you planning to make this publishable? If so, then plan. Such investigations into how people (academics, practitioners, other publics) respond to geoscience can use pragmatic, simple research methodologies accessible to the non-specialist or be more complex. To employ a medical analogy, first aid is useful and the best option in some scenarios, but calling a medic (i.e. a collaborator with experience of geoscience communication or relevant research methods) provides the contextual knowledge to identify a condition and opens up a diverse, more powerful range of treatment options. Here, we expand upon the brief advice in the first editorial of Geoscience Communication (Illingworth et al., 2018), illustrating what constitutes robust and publishable work in this context, elucidating its key elements. Our aim is to help geoscience communicators plan a route to publication and to illustrate how good engagement work that is already being done might be developed into publishable research.