Spatio temporal modeling and simulations in GIS –

The Principles

Tomáš Hlásny,Forest Research Institute ZvolenSLOVAKIA

“In reality any system is infinitely complex and we can only analyse some system after we abstracted from the real system“. Harvey D., 1969: Explanation in geography, London: Edward Arnold, 521 p.

Terminology

A Model

Modelling and simulation

Computer simulation

Basic Principles

Projection Abstraction, discretisation, tessellation Uncertainty – natural consequence of modelling (Foody and Atkinson 2002, eds., Zhu 1997, Brown 1998, Agumya and Hunter 1999).

Linking spatial and temporal modelling capabilities

TimeGIS –defined principles, terminology and data structures for storing and analysing spatio-temporal data

Spatio-temporal Geostatistics – goes much deeper in analytical techniques and philosophical issues

TimeGIS The area developed recently to specify the philosophy, terminology and data structures for storing spatio-temporal information

ChrononGranularity of timeTemporal reference frameSnapshot model, Temporal Map Set Model, Spatio Temporal Object Model, Event Based Spatial Temporal Data Model , etc.

Snapshot model

Modern spatio-temporal geostatistics

Derives from the classical geostatistics but differs in the following aspects

Full integration of spatial and temporal dimensionsThe shift from inductive framework to ontological and epistemic status of stochastic analysis

Spatio-Temporal Random Fields

The Rn x T spatio-temporal continuum as reference frame is consideredField conceptThe Complementarity Idea

ConclusionMissing integrated environment for complex spatio-temporal analyses“Artificial” integration of statistical Time Series Analyses technique into existing GIS environmentsRecent development of new branches of spatial science integrating effectively spatial and temporal dimensions