Integrating a three-level GIS framework and graph model to track, represent, and analyze the dynamic activities of tidal flats

Keywords: three-level GIS framework, graph model, dynamic activities, lifecycle, tidal flats
Session Type: Virtual Paper
Day: Wednesday
Session Start / End Time: 4/7/2021 01:30 PM (Pacific Time (US & Canada)) - 4/7/2021 02:45 PM (Pacific Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 24

Abstract

Tidal flats (non-vegetated area) are soft sediment habitats which are alternately submerged and exposed to the air by changeable tidal levels. Currently, the tidal flat dynamics research mainly utilizes the cell-level comparisons between the consecutive snapshots, but the in-depth study requires more diversified information. To better track, represent, and analyze the dynamic activities of tidal flats, this study proposes an integrated approach of a three-level GIS framework and a graph model. In the three-level GIS framework, the contiguous cells are assembled as the objects, and the objects on different time steps are linked as lifecycles by tracking the predecessor-successor relationships. Furthermore, eleven events are defined to describe the dynamic activities throughout the lifecycles. The graph model provides a better way to represent the lifecycles, and graph operators are utilized to facilitate the event analysis. The integrated approach is applied to the dynamic activities of tidal flats in the southwest tip of Florida Peninsula from 1984 to 2018. The results suggest that the integrated approach provides an effective way to track, represent, and analyze the dynamic activities of tidal flats, and offers a novel perspective to examine other dynamic geographic phenomena with large spatiotemporal scales.