scholarly journals Representing Complex Evolving Spatial Networks: Geographic Network Automata

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor Anderson ◽  
Suzana Dragićević

Many real-world spatial systems can be conceptualized as networks. In these conceptualizations, nodes and links represent system components and their interactions, respectively. Traditional network analysis applies graph theory measures to static network datasets. However, recent interest lies in the representation and analysis of evolving networks. Existing network automata approaches simulate evolving network structures, but do not consider the representation of evolving networks embedded in geographic space nor integrating actual geospatial data. Therefore, the objective of this study is to integrate network automata with geographic information systems (GIS) to develop a novel modelling framework, Geographic Network Automata (GNA), for representing and analyzing complex dynamic spatial systems as evolving geospatial networks. The GNA framework is implemented and presented for two case studies including a spatial network representation of (1) Conway’s Game of Life model and (2) Schelling’s model of segregation. The simulated evolving spatial network structures are measured using graph theory. Obtained results demonstrate that the integration of concepts from geographic information science, complex systems, and network theory offers new means to represent and analyze complex spatial systems. The presented GNA modelling framework is both general and flexible, useful for modelling a variety of real geospatial phenomena and characterizing and exploring network structure, dynamics, and evolution of real spatial systems. The proposed GNA modelling framework fits within the larger framework of geographic automata systems (GAS) alongside cellular automata and agent-based modelling.

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 603-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giedrė Beconytė ◽  
Audrius Kryžanauskas

Information communication technologies are widely used to support sustainable development. As both nature and society exist and develop in the geographic space, a good decision making can hardly be imagined without a prior thorough analysis of spatio‐temporal distribution and spatial correlation of diverse ecological, economical and social parameters. Wherever such geospatial relationships are concerned, the methods of geography as of a geographic information science are commonly applied, among which cartography is the most efficient information communication method. Different levels of representation of geographic information, such as databases, geographic information systems (GIS), maps, atlases and Spatial Data Infrastructures can be easily and conveniently used for different steps of planning. More than that, maps have a hidden potential to reveal unknown spatial patterns and trends and the process does not require any specific technological skills from the user. Therefore it is very important to include geographic/cartographic dimension into regional and national sustainable development strategies, so that spatial structures, diversities, similarities and geographic determination are always taken into account. To facilitate the process of geographic decision making, we develop a uniform model of description of geographic methods that could be used online and provide suggestions on which of the known methods could be efficiently applied. Santrauka Tvarioji plėtra nebūtų įmanoma be informacijos komunikavimo priemonių ir technologijų. Ir gamta, ir visuomenė egzistuoja ir vystosi erdvėje, tad neįmanoma įsivaizduoti tinkamu planavimo sprendimų, kurie nebūtų pagristi išankstine išsamia dalykinės srities erdvės ir laiko ryšių analize, neįvertintų erdvinių sąsajų tarp ekologinių, ekonominių ir socialinių parametrų. Visur, kur svarbus objektų išsidėstymas ir jų tarpusavio ryšiai geografinėje erdvėje ir laike, yra taikomi geografinės informacijos mokslo (šiuolaikines geografijos) metodai. Vienas efektyviausių yra kartografinis metodas, leidžiantis intuityviai pastebėti erdvinius ryšius. Galima nagrinėti skirtingus geografines informacijos organizavimo lygmenis, tokius kaip duomenų bazes, geografines informacijos (GIS) sistemos, žemėlapiai, atlasai bei erdvinių duomenų infrastruktūros. Visas šias sistemas galima patogiai ir nesunkiai naudoti įvairiuose planavimo etapuose. Be to, žemėlapiai turi paslėpta potencialą atskleisti iš anksto nežinomus erdvinius ryšius bei tendencijas. Šis procesas yra intuityvus ir nereikalauja iš naudotojo jokiu specialių technologijų žinių ar įgūdžiu. Todėl labai svarbu į nacionalines ir regionines plėtros strategijas įtraukti ir geografini/kartografini matmenį, atsižvelgti į erdvinio išsidėstymo struktūras, skirtumus, panašumas ir galimus geografinius apribojimus. Straipsnio autoriai pasiūlė ir šiuo metu Vilniaus universitete plėtoja universalų geografinių uždavinių aprašymu modelį, kuris padėtu geografines informacijos naudotojams be specialiu žinių pasirinkti tinkama sprendimų seką ir metodus.


2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 219-228
Author(s):  
Ghulam Dustigeer ◽  
Haidar Ali ◽  
Muhammad Imran Khan ◽  
Yu-Ming Chu

AbstractChemical graph theory is a branch of graph theory in which a chemical compound is presented with a simple graph called a molecular graph. There are atomic bonds in the chemistry of the chemical atomic graph and edges. The graph is connected when there is at least one connection between its vertices. The number that describes the topology of the graph is called the topological index. Cheminformatics is a new subject which is a combination of chemistry, mathematics and information science. It studies quantitative structure-activity (QSAR) and structure-property (QSPR) relationships that are used to predict the biological activities and properties of chemical compounds. We evaluated the second multiplicative Zagreb index, first and second universal Zagreb indices, first and second hyper Zagreb indices, sum and product connectivity indices for the planar octahedron network, triangular prism network, hex planar octahedron network, and give these indices closed analytical formulas.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Merschdorf ◽  
Thomas Blaschke

Although place-based investigations into human phenomena have been widely conducted in the social sciences over the last decades, this notion has only recently transgressed into Geographic Information Science (GIScience). Such a place-based GIS comprises research from computational place modeling on one end of the spectrum, to purely theoretical discussions on the other end. Central to all research that is concerned with place-based GIS is the notion of placing the individual at the center of the investigation, in order to assess human-environment relationships. This requires the formalization of place, which poses a number of challenges. The first challenge is unambiguously defining place, to subsequently be able to translate it into binary code, which computers and geographic information systems can handle. This formalization poses the next challenge, due to the inherent vagueness and subjectivity of human data. The last challenge is ensuring the transferability of results, requiring large samples of subjective data. In this paper, we re-examine the meaning of place in GIScience from a 2018 perspective, determine what is special about place, and how place is handled both in GIScience and in neighboring disciplines. We, therefore, adopt the view that space is a purely geographic notion, reflecting the dimensions of height, depth, and width in which all things occur and move, while place reflects the subjective human perception of segments of space based on context and experience. Our main research questions are whether place is or should be a significant (sub)topic in GIScience, whether it can be adequately addressed and handled with established GIScience methods, and, if not, which other disciplines must be considered to sufficiently account for place-based analyses. Our aim is to conflate findings from a vast and dynamic field in an attempt to position place-based GIS within the broader framework of GIScience.


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