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It is well received in the space syntax community that traffic flow is significantly correlated to a morphological property of streets, which are represented by axial lines, forming a so called axial map. The correlation co-efficient (R 2) approaches 0.8 and even a higher value according to the space syntax literature. In this paper, we study the same issue using the Hong Kong street network and the Hong Kong Annual Average Daily Traffic datasets, and find surprisingly that street-based topological representations (or street-street topologies) tend to be better representations than the axial map. In other words, vehicle flow is correlated to a morphological property of streets better than that of axial lines. Based on the finding, we suggest the street-based topological representations as an alternative GIS representation, and the topological analyses as a new analytical means for geographic knowledge discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an assessment of the effectiveness of using Personal Data Assistants (PDA) equipped with Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) in field data collection of tourist movement. On-site questionnaire survey and GPS tracking of the leisurely walk of selective groups of park visitors were conducted between August 2005 and January 2006 at various entry points to the Pokfulam Country Park in Hong Kong. The results were examined by means of mapping, 3D visualization, and statistical analyses. Our results indicated that the time of survey and spatial locations influenced the reception of GPS signals. Environmental factors such as terrain, built structures, and tree canopies played an important role in the positioning accuracy. We managed to illustrate a workable methodology for tracking the flow of tourists and made recommendations on possible uses of such a practice in tourism planning and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hong Kong as an international metropolis is well known for its vibrant urban life, which attracts millions of mass conventional tourists for shopping and business. Recently, ecotourism has flourished and attracts ecotourists who visit the ecological and cultural resources of the rural landscape, country parks and marine parks. Yan Chau Tong, also known as 'Double Haven', is remote from the urban centre, which helps preserve its natural flavour and cultural heritages such as Hakka walled villages. It is noted as an important site for developing ecotourist activities. A symbiosis of humans and nature cannot be achieved without a sound planning and zoning scheme. This paper investigates the use of IKONOS imagery and a geographic information system for rational planning of ecotourist activities and conservation measures. Through image classification of IKONOS and integrated with ecological data, essential habitats can be mapped and a spatial database is established. Suitable sites for recreational activities (including camping, heritage visiting, hiking and snorkelling) and important ecological habitats can both be identified using multiple criteria evaluation techniques. The use of a multiple objective land allocation model helps resolve conflict between recreation and conservation. Sites are generally identified as (a) those where conservation or recreation should receive the highest priority; (b) those that can be treated as additional recreation or conservation sites; and (c) conflict areas that can serve both purposes. The result can assist in planning land resources for ecotourism to satisfy both objectives and attain sustainability in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents preliminary findings of research examining the movement patterns of tourists within a destination. The study focuses on fully independent individual travellers visiting Hong Kong. Little research has been conducted looking at movements within a destination. Macro or inter-destination movement patterns may inform intra-destination movements. Factors affecting tourists' choices of itineraries give reasons to support the shaping of the patterns. These factors include human factors (type of individual, travel party, motivations, etc), physical factors (destination geomorphology), trip factors (main or secondary destination, first-time or repeat visitor, etc) and the time factor (length of stay in destination, total trip duration). Geographic Information System is used for documenting spatial–temporal movements of tourists through mapping.Tourism and Hospitality Research (2007) 7, 39–49. doi:10.1057/palgrave.thr.6050027 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed virtual environments (DVEs) are environments that are not only used for managing and delivering multi-source, multi-dimensional, geographical information, but also enable geographically distributed users to navigate in a 3D space, and to interact with objects and with other online users. In this paper, we design DVEs to disseminate 2D and 3D data and to implement public participation in the management of the country parks in Hang Kong. The system framework, geo-data model, and user's interface are discussed for designing DVEs. Based on the virtual reality modeling language (VRML), Java, and VRML External Authoring Interface (EAI) classes, a balanced client/server architecture is employed. In view of multi-source and multi-dimensional data, the object-oriented approach is utilized to design 3D geo-object models for webbased distribution. Considering the Internet bandwidth and performance of client computers, we adopt multi-block and multi-level approaches to the design of 3D geo-objects. The user's interface provides capabilities for implementing 2D and 3D view, data query and analysis, object addition/removal, and 3D avatar-based and text-based communication. This paper presents a case study of the Shing Mun Country Park in Hong Kong, where a prototype DVE, called "VirtualPark," was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins have historically inhabited the northern waters off Lantau Island, Hong Kong; however their numbers have significantly decreased over the past decade, while human pressure has simultaneously increased. Based on a spatio-temporal analysis using a Geographic Information System (GIS), this study aims to assess the cumulative human impacts of local activities on this dolphin population since 1996. After introducing and discussing the multiple approaches, difficulties, and limitations to cumulative effects assessments (CEA), this paper outlines our proposed CEA methodology. Our methodology involves mapping and analysis of anthropogenic marine impacts in relation with historical dolphin distributions in the area. Local scale results show evidence of a relationship between the addition of new high-speed ferry (HSF) routes into the cumulative environment and the decrease in dolphins in a specific region known as the Brothers Islands. These results coincide with past research showing that whales and dolphins are significantly disrupted in the presence of high vessel traffic, which continues to grow in the northern waters off Lantau Island, Hong Kong and in many other places around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Urban renewal is a significant issue in developed urban areas, with a particular problem for urban planners being redevelopment of land to meet demand whilst ensuring compatibility with existing land use. This paper presents a geographic information systems (GIS)-based decision support tool (called LUDS) to quantitatively assess land-use suitability for site redevelopment in urban renewal areas. This consists of a model for the suitability analysis and an affiliated land-information database for residential, commercial, industrial, G/I/C (government/institution/community) and open space land uses. Development has occurred with support from interviews with industry experts, focus group meetings and an experimental trial, combined with several advanced techniques and tools, including GIS data processing and spatial analysis, multi-criterion analysis, as well as the AHP method for constructing the model and database. As demonstrated in the trial, LUDS assists planners in making land-use decisions and supports the planning process in assessing urban land-use suitability for site redevelopment. Moreover, it facilitates public consultation (participatory planning) by providing stakeholders with an explicit understanding of planners'' views. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper describes a novel method using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to investigate the “wall effect” caused by proliferation of high-rise buildings along the coast in Kowloon Peninsula of Hong Kong. The research utilises the concept of building frontal area index which is calculated based on three dimensional buildings in 100m grid cells. The main ventilation pathways across the urban area are located using Least Cost Path analysis in a raster GIS and validated by field measurements. Field measurements were also taken in front of windward and leeward buildings. Results show that winds are forced by high frontal area values, to deviate around coastlines with blocks of “wall effect” buildings parallel to the coast. Average wind speeds of 10.5ms−1 were observed on the windward side of “wall effect” buildings defined according to a southeasterly wind direction, while average wind speeds immediately to the lee side of “wall effect” buildings as well as further inland, were approximately 2.5ms−1 (four times lower). To confirm the “wall effect” hypothesis, scenario analysis was performed by removing these buildings from the model and re-running it. This revealed a 5% increase of air ventilation to urban areas inland, since more fresh onshore air is able to penetrate from the coast. This improvement is significant since only 0.05% of buildings in the study area were removed. Overlay of the ventilation pathways over a thermal satellite image representing Heat Island Intensity (HII) indicated significantly lower HII values, and reduced extent of the core HII areas, around the ventilation paths. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The dramatic enhancement of computation power, rapid development in Geographic Information System (GIS), three-dimensional (3D) computer graphic and virtual reality technology; and the wide availability of digital topographic and mapping data have facilitated the substantial advancement in road traffic noise assessments and data presentation in Hong Kong. Two-dimensional (2D) and even 3D noise mapping over a large geographical area has now become a more manageable task. In Hong Kong, very often roads are in close proximity to the sky-scrapers and 2D noise mappings are simply inadequate in accurately portraying the noise exposure environment. Traditional commercially available noise modelling tools are incapable of handling the complex topography, building geometry and noise screening structures of Hong Kong. 3D presentation tools integrating noise modelling, GIS and computer graphics are needed to portray the noise environment in the unique high-rise townscape of Hong Kong. This paper outlines the development of advanced 3D GIS tools, information technologies and how they were put into trials and implementation in Hong Kong. Particular attention is given to the dissemination of noise information to the community, be it for public education, engagement or consultation; and recent advances in the availability of such information interactively, and in a user-friendly manner, through the internet. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper describes urban wind ventilation mapping, using the concept of “building frontal area index”, and uses the Kowloon peninsula of Hong Kong as an example of a dense, sub-tropical urban environment where ventilation is critical for human health. The frontal area index is calculated for uniform 100 m grid cells, based on three dimensional buildings in each cell, for eight different wind directions. The frontal area index is then correlated with a land use map, and the results indicate that high density commercial and industrial areas with large building footprints had higher values than other urban land use types. Using the map of frontal area index, the main ventilation pathways across the urban area are located using least cost path analysis in a raster GIS. Field measurements of urban winds confirmed the significance and functionality of these modelled ventilation paths. Comparison of the pathways with a map of the urban heat island suggests that ventilation is a key parameter in mitigating heat island formation in the study area. Planning and environmental authorities may use the derived frontal area index and ventilation maps as objective measures of environmental quality within a city, especially when temperatures in the inner city are a major concern. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents a landslide-inventory-based and GIS-based framework for systematic landslide hazard analysis by employing historical landslide data in Hong Kong, coupling with geological, geomorphological, population, climatic, and rainfall data. Based on 1448 landslide data from 1984 to 1998, the diurnal and seasonal distributions of landslides are established and compared with the seasonal rainfall variation. The cumulative fatalities and injuries caused by landslides increase with the cumulative rainfall in Hong Kong, indicating a strong correlation between rainfall and landslide consequences. The average annual fatality and injury rates in Hong Kong caused by landslide are 11.35 and 11.63, respectively. In terms of being hit by a landslide, squatter areas and roads on Hong Kong Island are at the highest risk. A frequency–volume relation for Hong Kong Island was established, and, using this relation, it was estimated that the return period of a 26,000 m3 landslide (the size of 1995 Shum Wan Road Landslide) is about 3.12 years. A hazard zonation map for Hong Kong Island is established by using historical data. The potential use of GIS technology to incorporate various layers of information is illustrated using Hong Kong Island as an example. Both landslide hazard and risk maps are proposed using raster calculation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study uses global positioning systems (GPS) technology to compare and contrast the behaviour patterns of first-time and repeat visitors to Hong Kong. The use of GPS recorders, coupled with an analysis using Geographical Information System (GIS) software produces highly accurate, fine-grained information concerning the spatial and time–space patterns of the visitors. The study findings build on existing knowledge that first-timers tend to travel more widely throughout the destination while repeat visitors tend to confine their actions to a smaller number of locations. However, the data also revealed that first-timers and repeaters spend different amounts of time at the same attractions and visit during different times of the day. First-time visitors also tend to make one long, extended day trip from the hotel, while repeaters tend to make a number of shorter forays, returning to the hotel intermittently during the day. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) by climatologists, environmentalists and urban planners for three dimensional modeling and visualization of the landscape is well established. However no previous study has implemented these techniques for 3D modeling of atmospheric aerosols because air quality data is traditionally measured at ground points, or from satellite images, with no vertical dimension. This study presents a prototype for modeling and visualizing aerosol vertical profiles over a 3D urban landscape in Hong Kong. The method uses a newly developed technique for the derivation of aerosol vertical profiles from AERONET sunphotometer measurements and surface visibility data, and links these to a 3D urban model. This permits automated modeling and visualization of aerosol concentrations at different atmospheric levels over the urban landscape in near-real time. Since the GIS platform permits presentation of the aerosol vertical distribution in 3D, it can be related to the built environment of the city. Examples are given of the applications of the model, including diagnosis of the relative contribution of vehicle emissions to pollution levels in the city, based on increased near-surface concentrations around weekday rush-hour times. The ability to model changes in air quality and visibility from ground level to the top of tall buildings is also demonstrated, and this has implications for energy use and environmental policies for the tall mega-cities of the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using geographic information system (GIS) in teaching and learning geography is an important direction in the secondary geography curriculum in Hong Kong. In the present study, interviews were conducted individually with 28 geography teachers from different secondary schools in Hong Kong, with a view to finding their views on the inclusion of GIS in the secondary geography curriculum and the current state of GIS implementation in their schools. The study reveals that the level of use of GIS in geography teaching in Hong Kong was low, despite the fact that teachers generally found GIS to be an important geographical skill. In addition, teachers' understanding of how GIS could be used in teaching to enhance student learning in geography was limited. There is evidence that basic conditions, in terms of hardware and software, for using GIS in geography teaching were present in schools, and that teacher commitment was a critical factor determining whether or not GIS would be used. Teacher commitment was found related to teachers' sense of preparedness to implement GIS, the perceived practicality of its use in teaching and whether GIS use was mandated in the curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: While access and utilization form core components in assessing the effectiveness of a health service, the concept of coverage is often neglected. In this study we propose to develop a GIS-based methodological framework for the measurement of district-based geographic coverage to examine the service effectiveness of methadone treatment programme (MTP) in Hong Kong on a regular basis. Methods: To overcome the incompatibility of spatial units, population data and data of heroin addiction of the year 2001 are interpolated by population-weighted and area-weighted algorithms. Standard overlay and proximity analytical functions are used to delineate altogether 20 accessible zones around each methadone clinic at a fixed 1.5 km Euclidean distance. Geographic coverage here is defined as the percentage of heroin addicts covered by a methadone clinic within the accessible zone by district. Results: A total of 6413 out of 11000 reported heroin addicts are found geographically covered. The average geographic coverage in Hong Kong is 44.6%, with the figure varying from 0% to 96% by district. One district having no clinic results in 0% coverage whereas another without a clinic yields 15.3% coverage from the clinic in adjacent district. Maps illustrating district-based geographic coverage are generated. Conclusion: As continuous data collection is required for a monitoring system, the simplified approach facilitates the handling of large volume data and relevant data analysis. It is concluded that the number of methadone clinics is as important as their locations. Geographic coverage could become an important consideration for monitoring harm reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) Technical Commission II (TCII) symposium held in Hong Kong Polytechnic University on May 26-28, 2010 is presented. It notes that the symposium covered several topics, including the development of GeoSpatial Information Science (GIScience), geospatial technology and space-time autoregressive (STAR) model. It states that convention had scheduled keynote sessions on the subject of spatial modeling.

Background: Relationships between several built environment factors and physical activity and walking behavior are well established, but internationally-comparable built environment measures are lacking. The Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (MAPS)-Global is an observational measure of detailed streetscape features relevant to physical activity that was developed for international use. This study examined the inter-observer reliability of the instrument in five countries. Methods: MAPS-Global was developed by compiling concepts and items from eight environmental measures relevant to walking and bicycling. Inter-rater reliability data were collected in neighborhoods selected to vary on geographic information system (GIS)-derived macro-level walkability in five countries (Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Hong Kong-China, and Spain). MAPS-Global assessments (n = 325) were completed in person along a ≥ 0.25 mile route from a residence toward a non-residential destination, and a commercial block was also rated for each residence (n = 82). Two raters in each country rated each route independently. A tiered scoring system was created that summarized items at multiple levels of aggregation, and positive and negative valence scores were created based on the expected effect on physical activity. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was computed for scales and selected items using one-way random models. Results: Overall, 86.6% of individual items and single item indicators showed excellent agreement (ICC ≥ 0.75), and 13.4% showed good agreement (ICC = 0.60–0.74). All subscales and overall summary scores showed excellent agreement. Six of 123 items were too rare to compute the ICC. The median ICC for items and scales was 0.92 with a range of 0.50–1.0. Aesthetics and social characteristics showed lower ICCs than other sub-scales, but reliabilities were still in the excellent range (ICC ≥ 0.75). Conclusion: Evaluation of inter-observer reliability of MAPS-Global across five countries indicated all items and scales had “good” or “excellent” reliability. The results demonstrate that trained observers from multiple countries were able to reliably conduct observations of both residential and commercial areas with the new MAPS-Global instrument. Next steps are to evaluate construct validity in relation to physical activity in multiple countries and gain experience with using MAPS-Global for research and practice applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]