Mobile GIS

The modernisation of the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) has brought about significant changes in the methods of positioning and navigation. More recently, countries are adopting the continuous observation and measurements using a network of GNSS receivers called Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) as the standard. For example, Nigeria has established 11 permanent GNSS Network (NIGNET) or CORS since 2008, which has provided the incentive for the adoption of the geocentric datum in all its geodetic activities. Unfortunately, the spatial coverage of the Nigerian CORS stations on a distance of more than 300km (between the stations) seems inadequate based on the global station densification standard of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). This study explores the CORS network and determines the suitability of improving the density of the existing CORS stations with a view to extending their spatial coverage in Nigeria. Data obtained from various sources are processed and analysed using buffer and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) techniques. The result shows that the existing CORS stations in Nigeria only covers about 25% of the country. Therefore, the study proposes new CORS stations that improve the distribution and the spatial coverage of the existing stations (to about 96%) in line with the ITRF's standard.

This paper aims at establishing changes in land use and land cover in Igbokoda municipality using Geographic Information System and remote sensing techniques. Three satellite images for three different epochs 1986, 1999 and 2013 were used to produce a land use/land cover map classification for Igbokoda. In determining the extent of land use/land cover changes in the township from 1986 through 1999 to 2013, Landsat images of the town were downloaded from the United State Geological Survey online archive. The images were analyzed using change detection technique (NDVI differencing) along with SRTM 90m DEM of the study area to generate the extent of the changes that have occurred. Ground trotting was carried out to ascertain the accuracy of data and the major changes in the land use/land cover. Results show that vegetation has decreased from 75.04% in 1986 to 46.81% in 2013 which was due to increase in population and rapid urbanization. In 1996 the Built-up area covers 19.6321 km2 of the study area but has increased rapidly to 39.1505 km2 in the year 1999 with an average annual increment of 2.025Km2/year. By the year 2013, the built-up area has increased to 64.1520Km2. Also in the same vein, the bare surface area which was 13.28029km2 in 1986 was increased to 39.6053 and 50.240Km2 in 1999 and 2013 respectively. On the contrary, the vegetated area of Igbokoda reduced from 196.3046Km2 in 1999 to 122.4680Km2 in 2013. This study has demonstrated that remotely sensed data and GIS based approach is timely and cost effective than the conventional method of analysis, classification of land use pattern effective for planning and management. It further shows that If the rapid change in land use is not properly manage, the situation poses a serious threat to Igbokoda town by increasing surface runoff and susceptibility to flooding.

Floods are one of the most common and widely distributed natural risks to life and property. Due to such hazards associated with flooding as disruption of services, health impacts, famine and disease, flood protection must be taken into account in almost all development projects. Feasibility study of flood and evaluating the sensitive places prone to flood is the main step for controlling and managing the flood and utilizing it. Kaleybar Chay basin, that is located in East Azerbaijan province, is one of the areas which has experienced several floods during the last years and because of mismanagement, it has caused several life and property losses to the residents of this area. In this study, the effective factors which impact on flooding, from physical, hydrological and environmental factors were explored through executing the ANP model. Through the present research, the ETM + image of the Landsat satellite and the ANP model were used considering their abilities in analyzing the criteria and coefficient of their results with their real world. The results of the study showed that in ANP method, 20 percent of the area which is in the north areas of the basin has the high risk from flooding aspect; the results of the study were supplied for recognizing the area with high possibility of flooding in Kaleybar Chay basin and the provided maps will be used in executive organizations (such as governorate, natural resources) for logistics planning and controlling the flood.

Opportunities for developing innovative approaches in teaching and learning geography have been increasing very rapidly in recent years. This is in part because of the spread of new technologies that allow access to geographic information and geographic geo-media resources. Technological applications and user tools are readily available and this book examines aspects of their use in the classroom. These new tools that offer broad access to information and open data sources have revolutionised the way in which teachers of geography—in higher education, but also in primary and secondary education—can do their work with pupils and students. Education for Digital Earth, as conceived by Al Gore 20 years ago is now possible. The exclusive use of traditional approaches to the teaching of geography is no longer reasonable today.

The existence of wetlands in central Biqā‘ has been reported by various textual sources ranging between the Hellenistic and Medieval periods. Intensive large-scale drainage work operated by the Mamluks in the 14th century C.E. has led to an important loss of its expanse. The aim of the following study is to initially establish a new predictive model of these wetlands by cross-referencing the geographical data provided by textual sources with remote sensing surveys and geographic information system. The territorial landscape of the Biqā‘ in the Roman period will then be revisited and discussed at a second stage. These wetlands seem to have formed a buffer zone between the territory of the Roman colony of Berytus located in northern Biqā‘ and Sidon in the South.

Mini buses are deployed on the University of Ghana Campus to facilitate movements of students and other users. Tracking systems are not very popular in Ghana and also virtually non-existent on the University campus. Moreover, the related work reviewed in this paper lacks visual display on a mobile phone and in most cases web visualization. Our approach seeks to develop a tracking system which is cheaper and integrates the real time visualization on web and mobile phones. The system aimed at disseminating information available to management and users of the bus service. The system consists of three modules namely, data logging system (tracking hardware), web-mapping application and mobile application. The tracking hardware (made up of an Arduino Uno Microcontroller, a SIM 900 GSM/GPRS module and a GPS shield) is placed on a mini bus to log the coordinates into a database. The location of the shuttle can be viewed on an Android phone by users. The distance between the shuttle's position and the position of the user can be determined. The route can be traced on the map for users to see. The user can make decisions based on the information gathered to access the shuttle. This project would help students cut down the cost incurred when boarding taxis to their destinations on campus. On the side of management of the Mini buses, the system tracks mini buses on campus regularly. This project can offer a cost-effective approach to vehicle tracking in developing countries.

All periods of Egyptian history are represented at Gebelein and it encompasses many kinds of archaeological site found in the Nile valley (that is, cemeteries, settlements, fortifications, temples, rock quarries etc.). The area was a significant centre in the history of ancient Egypt, but its exact role and the reasons for its importance still awaits explanation. That is why the Gebelein Archaeological Project was initiated. The field survey of Gebelein, which started in 2014, aims to recognise the topography of the area and the degree of destruction of the sites and to locate archaeological remains as well as to determine their interpretation and dating. This report outlines the results of work conducted during seasons 2014, 2015 and 2016, which encompassed the archaeological and epigraphic field surveys, geophysical prospection as well as work conducted in the rock-cut chapel of Hathor.

Ever since field survey has become an important method in researching ancient communities we can observe improvement of its technological and theoretical aspects. Nowadays, rapid urban sprawl and intensified agriculture lead to the increasing destruction of sites and archaeological landscapes throughout the globe. Thus, an adequate low budget strategies is needed, that will able help to document, preserve, study and manage all what is left. The introduction of GIS and GNSS mobile applications opened a such possibility. At the 2017 CAA meetings in Atlanta, the authors organized a session entitled "Mobile GIS in archaeology current possibilities, future needs", at which the current issues and possibilities were discussed. The session resulted in this summary paper. The main aim of the paper is to re-evaluate the contemporary concept of the survey that was introduced due to a rapid increase of GPS accuracy and development of mobile technology.

In recent years, digital technologies applied to archaeology have led to considerable changes in fieldwork. However, the use of mobile GIS for fieldwork has not been widespread, especially in countries where GIS is not yet entrenched within the field of archaeology. Over the last decade, the technological context associated with mobile GIS has changed. In this text, these changes are discussed based on a case study developed in Catamarca (Argentina), in which the possibilities of a more generalized use of mobile GIS-based on free, open, and available resources (software, data, devices)-are discussed. This article assesses the main problems faced and describes the basic steps taken to implement a field recording system based on mobile GIS.

This paper describes history and archaeological topography of the Norther Necropolis of Gebelein that was partly reconstructed using data from archival materials and results of current field surveys.

Gebelein is located in southern Egypt, ca. 28km southwest from Luxor, and was subject of numerous archaeological works since 1885. Most of them were not published or their results were presented in very limited way.

Several extraordinary tombs were discovered at the Northern Necropolis of Gebelein. Worth mentioning is an Old Kingdom mastaba with burials made not only in its shafts, but also within its walls. The so called Tomb of Unknowns, that of the General Iti II and his wife Neferu, who was local priestess of Hathor, are well known, but their archaeological contexts were until now poorly known. There were also other tombs discovered at the site, which locations were forgotten. Thanks to the current study their locations were re-discovered and archaeological topography and history of the eastern part of the Northern Necropolis of Gebelein was reconstructed.

The cemetery was developing since the predynastic times (4th millennium BCE)  and the latest burials are dated to the Greco-Roman Period (332 BCE – 395 AD). The necropolis presents the development of a significant, provincial burial ground of a local elite. An analysis of its history can contribute to the reconstruction of the history of the region. Worth to note features of the cemetery are Nubian influences on local funerary customs, Middle Kingdom tombs re-used during the 1st millennium BCE, and previously not mentioned in publications animal mummies discovered at the site.

Many specialists are becoming increasingly interested in protecting and consciously shaping the landscape. The reason for that is a decline of the condition of surroundings, its aesthetics, and at the same time the decline of the quality of life. Negative landscape changes are caused mainly by the development of civilization and inappropriate spatial management. It causes an increased interest in new technologies which support landscape evaluation and protection, especially in the most valuable landscapes that ontribute to preserving the individual character of geographic environment. This book presents chosen methods of landscape classification and evaluation in the context of its usefulness for the implementation of European Landscape Convention. Presented methods can become a part of landscape audit. The solutions available in spatial information systems allow for implementation of the aims of European Land Convention and for the automation of the process. Animportant result of the research is the case study for each lakeland in north-east of Poland. Moreover, the book covers an analysis of the data on ecological land in Poland, which was particularly of detailed in koszaliński district and in the city of Koszalin. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were used for the research. The results show current discrepancies between various data bases. The book presents also the uses of Web Map Service for the inventory of elements comprising touristic space at the level of a community such as: cultural heritage and natural values. The conclusion shows that spatial information and web services may actively impact its users.We observe the development of Internet services, particularly in coding techniques that facilitate the creation of more interactive web applications. The research shows chosen computer tools measuring the range of the impact of web applications, the results of the monitoring on the basis of internet application related to local spatial plan in Tomice municipality, and spatial informa-tion system of kujawsko-pomorskie Province built on the basis of the junctions of web infrastructure analysed on the levels of the existing administrative division.
Key words: geoportal, spatial information system, INSPIRE, landscape protection, ecological land, European Landscape Convention, agritourism cluster.

Słowo wstępne (fragmenty): Otaczająca nas przestrzeń podlega ciągłym zmianom. W racjonalnym gospodarowaniu przestrzenią poszukuje się sposobów optymalnego jej wykorzystania, zarówno z punktu widzenia potrzeb człowieka, jak i wymogów ochrony środowiska.W procesie tym ważną rolę odgrywa informacja, w tym informacja przestrzenna, w ramach której systemy GIS są narzędziami gromadzenia, przetwarzania i udostępniania danych. Systemy te umożliwiają optymalne wykorzystanie przestrzeni oraz jej modelowanie. Należy zauważyć, że obecnie dynamicznie rozwijają się nowe środki i formy przekazu, w tym Internet. Rozwój Internetu przejawia się nie tylko w dostępie do nowoczesnej infrastruktury sieciowej, lecz także w odniesieniu do technik programistycznych umożliwiających tworzenie coraz to bardziej interaktywnych aplikacji sieciowych. Jednymi z częściej gromadzonych danych tematycznych w ramach GIS są dane o środowisku przyrodniczym oraz dane krajobrazowe. Myślą przewodnią prezentowanej monografii jest ukazanie znaczenia geoportali w rozwoju regionów, zwłaszcza w aspekcie ochrony środowiska przyrodniczego, krajobrazu i turystyki. Zebrano rozważania dotyczące charakterystyki działania i budowy infrastruktury informacji przestrzennej, w tym znaczenia i roli dyrektywy INSPIRE, przykłady serwisów internetowych wykorzystujących informację przestrzenną, wybrane rejestry danych przestrzennych o znaczeniu regionalnym i krajowym oraz problematykę interoperacyjności systemów informacji przestrzennej. Monografia zawiera przemyślenia odnoszące się do możliwości wykorzystania geoportali na przykładzie wybranych obiektów, w tym komponentów środowiskowych, a także zagadnienia dotyczące koncepcji wprowadzania i aktualizacji danych Centralnego Rejestru Form Ochrony Przyrody (CRFOP) z uwzględnieniem georeferencji z innych baz danych. Czytelnicy zapoznają się także z możliwiościami i przykładami wykorzystania serwisów WMS na potrzeby inwentaryzacji walorów i atrakcji turystycznej z punktu widzenia tworzenia klastra agroturystycznego. Niniejsza monografia zawiera również rozważania na temat społecznej roli geoinformacji, w tym geomarketingu oraz budowy marki w Internecie w ujęciu strategicznym i technologicznym.

Archaeological field surveys, even the most intensive and systematic ones, cannot be considered flawless methods of acquiring data. Archaeological landscapes’ state of preservation, surface collection methods and agenda, visibility and personal preferences can affect the final results. It is not simply just the registration of observations, but a process of continuous interpretation starting from where to survey, what to collect, and how.

Research conducted in the 1990s and early 2000s found  increasing precision in mapping and in the resolution of surveys  to be a solution to the most pressing problems in settlement pattern studies and landscape archaeology. Today, mapping precision does not seem to be a problem thanks to widely available portable GNSS equipment and specialized software dedicated to field data acquisition (Mobile GIS). Or is it? Reflection is needed on the technological advances of the past decades. What have archaeological  studies gained thanks to these technological achievements, and what are the implications of new, higher resolution data for crucial topics in scientific debate, such as complex societies?

Currently, it is difficult to conduct field research because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is possible to step back and reflect on its theoretical and technical aspects of this methodology. The aim of this session is to continue the discussion of the changes that are happening in archaeological field prospection today, which we have been pursuing since CAA 2017 in Atlanta, through the Mobile GIS sessions.

This session invites papers discussing broad interpretive and methodological aspects of landscape archaeology, settlement pattern studies, field survey (micro and macro scale) and Mobile GIS, theoretical or technical papers, and case studies from around the world. When submitting please specify if you want to present a long (15 minutes) or short (10 minutes) paper.

This session will conclude with a roundtable discussion.