GIS Articles

Design and implementation of an integrated GIS-based cellular automata model to characterize forest ﬁre behaviour

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:54:00 +0000

S. Yassemi
a,S.Dragi ´ cevi ´ ca,∗
, M. Schmidtb
a Spatial Analysis and Modeling Laboratory, Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive,
Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
b Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada

ABSTRACT

The integration of geographic information systems (GIS) and environmental modelling has
been widely investigated for more than a decade. However, such integration has remained
a challenging task due to the temporal changes of environmental processes and the static
nature of GIS. This study integrates GIS and cellular automata (CA) techniques to develop
a ﬁre behaviour model with a ﬂexible and user-friendly end-user interface. The developed
model incorporates topographic, forest fuel and weather variables.

The performance of the implemented ﬁre model is evaluated by comparison with ﬁre spread simulations derived
from Prometheus, the national Canadian ﬁre behaviour modelling tool based on elliptical
wave propagation principles. The developed ﬁre behaviour model was tested using spatial
data from the 2001 Dogrib Fire near Nordegg Alberta, Canada. Results from the simulations
of the CA and wave propagation spread models indicate comparable agreement. This study
shows that the GIS-CAmodel can simulate realistic forest ﬁre scenarios. The developed GIS-
basedmodelling tool enables dynamic animation within the GIS interface. Further, this tool
can be adapted to other CA-based spatio-temporal modelling applications.

A study on cellular automata based on relational databases and spatio-temporal simulations of culture diffusion

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:41:00 +0000

LUO Ping L2, DU Qing-yun 1, HE Su-fang 2, LI Sen 2, MICHAEL Gallaghel 3, NIU Hui-en 3
(1. School of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, P. R. China; 2. Department of Tourism & Geography, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, P. R. China; 3. Shenzhen Graduate School of Town Planning, Shenzhen 518031, P. IL China)

ABSTRACT: This paper presents a development of the extended Cellular Automata (CA), based on relational databases
(RDB), to model dynamic interactions among spatial objects. The integration of Geographical Information System (GIS) and CA has the great advantage of simulating geographical processes. But standard CA has some restrictions in cellular
shape and neighbourhood and neighbour rules, which restrict the CA's ability to simulate complex, real world environments. This paper discusses a cell's spatial relation based on the spatial objeet's geometrical and non-geometrical characteris-
tics, and extends the cell' s neighbour definition, and considers that the cell' s neighbour lies in the forms of not only spatial adjacency but also attribute correlation. This paper then puts forward that spatial relations between two different cells can be divided into three types, ineluding spatial adjacency, neighbourhood and complicated separation. Based on traditional ideas, it is impossible to settle CA's restrictions completely. RDB-based CA is an academic experiment, in which
some fields are designed to describe the essential information needed to define and select a cell's neighbour.

The culture innovation diffusion system has multiple forms of space diffusion and inherited characteristics that the RDB-based CA is
capable of simulating more effectively. Finally this paper details a successful case study on the diffusion of fashion wear
trends. Compared to the original CA, the RDB-based CA is a more natural and efficient representation of human knowl-
edge over space, and is an effective tool in simulating complex systems that have multiple forms of spatial diffusion.
KEY WORDS: spatial relationship; cellular automata; relational database; culture diffusion; spatio-temporal simula-
tion

1 INTRODUCTION
The functionality of spatio-temporal analysis and modelling is a drive for GIS to further applications in various applied fields and digital earth plans. However, current commercial GIS lacks those capabilities for
spatio-temporal distribution, prediction, and simulation of spatio-temporal processes, and especially do not have the ability to simulate complex dynamic interactions among economic, human, cultural and ecological pro-
cesses(ZHANG and CUI, 2000). Thus, there is an urgent requirement for traditional GIS to provide not only spatio-temporal data management services but also tools for scenario generation. The basic thought to study

complex spatial system is to apply the theory of complex systems, combining the essential rules of geography, selecting proper study methods, and designing proper models. As a result, more effective and powerful methods for studying complex systems have begun to be
applied in order to understand geographic systems; for example, system dynamics, neural networks, artificial intelligence, etc. (ZHOU et al., 1999). The integration of GIS and dynamic models has become an important area of research on GIS because it greatly improves the ability
of GIS to support spatial decision-making and simulate geographical processes. The undamental problem, however, is that the conceptual representation of space and
time in dynamic modelling and in GIS are not com

Using Cellular Automata for Integrated Modelling of Socio-environmental Systems

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:34:00 +0000

1) Guy Engelen , 2) Roger White , 1) Inge Uljee and 1) Paul Drazan
1) RIKS Research Institute for Knowledge Systems; P.O. Box 463; 6200 AL Maastricht; The Netherlands
2) Memorial University of Newfoundland; St. John’s; NF; Canada A1B 3X9

Abstract
Cellular automata provide the key to a dynamic modelling and simulation framework that integrates socio-
economic with environmental models, and that operates at both micro and macro geographical scales. An
application to the problem of forecasting the effect of climate change on a small island state suggests that
such modelling techniques could help planners and policy makers design more effective policies --policies
better tuned both to specific local needs and to overall socio-economic and environmental constraints.

Introduction
Town and country planners face the difficult task of dealing with a world that is complex, interconnected,
and ever-changing. Coastal zone management, urban land-use planning, and the design of policies for
sustainable economic development all pose the problem of dealing with systems in which natural and
human factors are thoroughly intertwined. There is growing scientific evidence that a purely macroscopic
approach to these problems does not suffice, because spatial and organizational details are important in
understanding the dynamics of such systems (Allen and Lesser, 1991; Kauffman, 1993; Langton, 1992;
Nicolis et al. 1989).
At the descriptive level, the need for spatial detail is attained in Geographical Information Systems. But,
in order to put forward effective measures for changing --or maintaining-- the organization of socio-
what is where why it is
economic and environmental systems, it is necessary not only to know but also
there
. These systems must be understood and managed as coherent dynamic entities, so that system
integrity is maintained. We present here a dynamic modelling framework and encompassing decision
support shell that is capable of integrating socio-economic and environmental factors at a variety of scales,
while representing spatial dynamics with a high level of geographical detail. This modelling framework is
quite general in terms of the situations to which it can be usefully applied. But we will present it here in
the form of an example --an application concerning the impact of climate change on a small island state.

An example: Exploring the Impact of Climate Change on a Small Island.
macro-scale
Shifting climate conditions, expressed at the in terms of changes in temperature,
precipitation, and storm frequency, are likely to affect productivity levels, demand patterns, and exports
and imports, and will probably cause migration of people and their activities as well (see e.g. Alm et al.,
micro-scale
1993). But all of these effects are actually expressed, on the ground, as phenomena. For
example, an increase in the total export demand for a particular agricultural product will normally mean
that more land will be required. But the consequences will be very different depending on whether the
land is found by converting existing agricultural land or by clearing forested land, especially if the latter is
easily eroded or is itself ecologically significant. Furthermore, changes in productivity that may occur as
other activities are displaced onto more marginal land, or as erosion causes loss of fertility, will in turn
have repercussions on the macro-level economics. In other words, the spatial details of land use are
important in understanding the impact of macro-level changes.
No one model is capable of capturing the whole range of these phenomena, from those operating on a
world scale down to those that threaten strips of beach or affect individual fields. For example, spatial
interaction based models, consisting of sets of linked dynamic equations, are useful for representing
spatial and temporal dynamics at regional scales (White, 1977; Engelen and Allen, 1986; Pumain et al.,
1989), but become computationally impractical when much spatial detail is required (White and Engelen,
1993). On the other hand, models capable of dealing with extreme geographical detail, such as those
available in Geographical Information Systems, lack the dynamics required to represent the processes
operating in the system (Brimicombe, 1993). One solution to the problem is to make use of a modelling
framework consisting of two linked components --one for macro-level processes and another for those
operating at the micro-level. Both components exchange results continuously during the simulation and
get the data relevant for their level of detail from the same geographical database, ideally a GIS (Figure
1).
macro-level
At the , the modelling framework integrates several component sub-models, representing the
natural, social, and economic sub-systems. These are all linked to each other in a network of mutual,
reciprocal, influence (Figure 1, top). The macro level allows for the use of regionalised representations
and for different types of mathematical formulations, thus permitting a more or less detailed modelling of
various aspects of the sub-systems as required for specific applications. For the case of the small
prototypical Caribbean Island, the macro-level is modelled as a single point in interaction with the world
outside.

The application of a cellular automaton model for predicting deforestation: patterns and processes of LULCC in the Ecuadorian, Amazon

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:31:00 +0000

GIS/EM4 No. 92

Joseph P. Messina
Stephen J. Walsh

Abstract

Global change research includes an extensive body of literature covering population-environment interactions focusing on the central issues of migration and demography, environmental site and situation, and socioeconomic structures addressed within a spatially-explicit but temporally dependent form. Quite often this is simply because neither the data nor the modeling methodology combine well to effectively address uncertainty and spatially defined time-series data within a nonlinear context. In this research, a cellular automaton model is proposed as an effective framework for the predictive modeling of landuse/landcover change (LULCC) associated with the spatial pattern and rates of deforestation and agricultural extensification in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The model employs user-defined rules based upon spatially explicit probabilities of LULCC derived from remotely sensed time-series data and both biophysical and socioeconomic regional characteristics to produce an output image of the "anthropomorphized" landscape over time and space.

Keywords

Cellular automata, landscape dynamics, Amazon, deforestation, agricultural extensification, tropical forests, remote sensing, landscape dynamics

Introduction
Environmental modeling often takes the approach that events are static in time and space. The more complex models, attempting to define process over time (e.g. GAP, GCM), rarely if ever include human activity as an integrated process. These human effects are difficult to model and do not follow the mechanistic forms favored by modelers. Further, attempts at mechanistic modeling of human activity have fallen from favor in the scientific literature. The process of land degradation, while in many cases visible to the eye and found throughout human history, has not been modeled to any significant degree (Blaikie and Brookfield, 1987). Redclift (1994) cites three primary flaws in the current paradigm used for the evaluation of LULCC processes: biological determinism, regionalization (fitting society into tight discrete social units for measure), and avoidance of time and space in the modeling process. In the context of the Ecuadorian Amazon, it is readily apparent that individual, social, and structural processes occur at different temporal and spatial scales and do so through feedbacks and thresholds within and across thematic, spatial, and temporal domains. Individuals can choose incorrectly, they may make decisions based upon the decisions of their neighbors or other units of social organization, or decide to satisfy the whims of a society far removed from their own. There are in fact many possible routes that an individual might take in making land use decisions. However, those decisions cluster around a common core. By defining the core decisions and modeling stochastically, it is possible to predict the majority of the decisions made by the regional community and their expression upon the landscape. Also, time-lags in landuse patterns associated with agricultural commodity prices or climatic trends and relationships to local and regional infrastructure affect LULCC decisions and spatio-temporal patterns expressed at the household level, the dominant proximate cause of deforestation in much of the Amazon basin. Within the Ecuadorian Amazon and much of Latin America, the nature of deforestation and farm creation may prove to be consistent enough to permit the development of deterministic models characterizing one or more of the landscape constituents. The changing temporal and spatial location/process of tropical development provides insight into the activities that currently encourage land clearing. In this way, spatial patterns point to a set of factors that can explain recent changes in regional rates of landuse/landcover change and provide focused spatial constructions suitable for modeling. While the output from the Oriente development model characterizes both the pattern and rate of regional deforestation, issues regarding comparative pattern analysis need to be addressed in complex or adaptive system terms.

Background
The research study site in the northeastern Ecuadorian Amazon, known regionally as the Northern Oriente, is significant from a social, biophysical, and geographical basis. Settlers in the Napo and Sucumbios provinces are generally poor in-migrants settling on predefined 50 hectare plots, clearing primary forest to grow subsistence crops, coffee, and later, pasture for cattle (Whitaker 1990). The focus on the Ecuadorian Amazon is significant for environmental and socioeconomic reasons. The western Amazon region, bordering the Andes and lying at the headwaters of the Amazon River basin, possesses several major centers of endemism (Hiroaka and Yamamoto 1980). Despite its global biodiversity and carbon sequestration significance, agricultural settlement and concurrent deforestation threaten the region. The specific site selected for modeling is an intensive study area (ISA) of approximately 90,000 ha located to the northeast of the regional capital and largest central place, Lago Agrio. This area was selected for its rapid development and complex landscape variability (spatial pattern and compositional changes in landuse/landcover). Furthermore, this site serves as an on-going field site for study of forest reserve remnants. The Northern Oriente is also unique in that much of the morphology remains undefined within the literature. Regional elements have been overlooked in the Ecuadorian Amazonian due in part to the region's inaccessibility and in part to the lack of total area with respect to the much more politically popular and economically dominant Brazil. A major advantage of the Oriente over Brazilian rainforests lies in the scale dependent homogeneity of the climate, land surface, and social organization. It is this very homogeneity that supports meso-scale landscape diversity modeling as presented here.

Cellular automata
Cellular automata (CA) were originally conceived by Ulam and von Neumann in the 1940s to provide a formal framework for investigating the behavior of complex, extended systems (von Neumann 1966). Cellular automata are dynamic, discrete space and time systems. A cellular automaton system consists of a regular grid of cells, each of which can be in one of a finite number of k possible states, updated synchronously in discrete time steps according to a local, identical interaction rule. The state of a cell is determined by the previous states of a surrounding neighborhood of cells (Wolfram 1984). The infinite or finite cellular array (grid) is n-dimensional, where n=1,2,3 is used. The identical rule contained in each cell is essentially a finite state machine, usually specified in the form of a transition function or growth rule that addresses every possible neighborhood configuration of states. The neighborhood of a cell consists of the surrounding (adjacent) cells. For 1-D (one-dimensional) CA models, a cell is connected to r local neighbors (cells) on either side, where r is a parameter referred to as the radius (e.g. each cell has 2r+1 neighbors, including itself). The increasing application of cellular automata in general phenomenological modeling is an important indicator of the developmental potential of CA. The ability of a system to grow and then alter its rate of growth and possibly reverse or "die" is a fundamental goal in biological or human system CA modeling. Ermentrout and Edelstein-Keshet (1993) performed CA applications in biological modeling. The systems modeled by Clarke et al. (1996, 1997) and the example presented here both attempt to follow biological patterns of development. The difficulty in modeling population-environment interactions has historically been the necessary dual simulation mode of model construction. Human systems are necessarily stochastic while many natural systems are adequately modeled deterministically. Combining the two methodologically polar components into an effective approximation of reality requires the use of alternative modeling techniques.

Data and methods

Database development

The input data for the model include landuse/landcover layers derived using Landsat Thematic Mapper data from 1986 and 1996 and a 1973 Multi-Spectral Scanner scene rescaled and classified using a hybrid unsupervised/supervised classification scheme with the ERDAS Imagine software package (Messina et al 2000) (Figures 1,2). Class validation and accuracy assessments were performed using transformed divergence and random class fields. Field campaigns conducted in the spring of 1999 and 2000 provided geodetic and thematic control information. Additional data layers include roads digitized from 1:50,000 scale topographic maps, hydrography, elevation and slope from DTED 3 arc second data, as well as socioeconomic data collected at the household and community levels. Soils data are included but have not been tested for accuracy. These data are rescaled (1 bit to 2 byte) in order to optimize space and computing efficiency. Finally, social survey data collected via a 1990 probability sample of 480 farm households and repeated in 1999 for all sites were used in qualitative CA rule evaluation.


Figures 1, 2: 1986 and 1996 B5 Landsat Thematic Mapper Data - Intensive Study Sites in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Model development

The model employs the user-defined rules to produce an output image of the "anthropomorphized" landscape. In order to minimize data transform issues, the ERDAS Imagine Spatial Modeler, an interactive visual tool, was used for model development and implementation and enhanced through the use of the Spatial Modeler Language (SML). In order to better parameterize the image dynamics of the model, the individual growth rules were assembled and tested as discrete elements. Subsequent modeling efforts will be conducted using the IDL programming language as it supports multilevel modeling, integrated statistical tools, and is portable.

Random numbers

The first model component written creates a random number image. The random number generation procedure is vital to successful CA modeling. While CA purists will insist that only local neighborhood rules are necessary for CA modeling, the use of the stochastic component permits growth more closely mimicking reality. By design, the total number must be low, but the low number of random pixels selected necessitates an additive set of rules. In modeling the Oriente, the random number generator creates a random number field by selecting each pixel by row and column, and then applying a random number as a pixel digital number. This pixel digital number is then altered via an adjustable scalar value. The adjustability of the scalar value allows for iterative adjustments in increased or decreased growth rate conditions.

Growth rules

Organic growth spreads outward from existing urban centers and agricultural areas, representing the tendency of the humanized landscape to expand from social nodes of opportunity. Spontaneous growth occurs when a randomly chosen cell falls nearby an already urbanized cell, simulating the influence urban areas have on their surroundings (Clarke et al. 1997). Both organic and spontaneous growth rules are modeled in the first phase of the Oriente model. Focal filters are used to create a field of neighbor effect in order to approximate urban influence and allow the development to expand based upon the location of the random cell. By combining the two components into one section, the random effect is modeled as an additive component to the organic urbanization as a whole. Diffusive growth promotes the random dispersed development of agricultural plots regardless of proximity functions (Clarke et al. 1996). This type of growth component is handled later in the Oriente model with the second application of the random number field. In the Oriente model, the diffusion component is modeled using its own adjustable random number field and by modifying the organic growth routine by applying the focal filter using the maximum value criteria rather than the mean. Random dispersiveness is modeled by using a random number generator: identifying an intermediate image and applying a search function, or by applying a random number table to the focal filter to vary field characteristics. Random non-isotropic spreading is possible with the spreading center assignment acting randomly.

Road influenced growth, the most important driver of landscape alteration in the Oriente, encourages change cells to develop along the transportation network replicating the effects of increased accessibility. The likelihood of settlement and consequent deforestation along a road is high yet variable depending upon access to markets and settlement patterns. Road accessibility growth is currently modeled with another random number image, an adjustable search function, and an adjustable conditional statement. The model component outputs a "roadgrowth" image for visual validation. A corollary to road growth is river influenced growth. In many cases, the initial settlement push into a region is via river system transportation. As such, river growth is modeled using hydrographic information and the same routine as the road growth process. The physical element, slope, is iteratively applied as a categorized topographic relief variable. All the pixels at each step are analyzed with respect to the slope layer. This method seems unnecessarily repetitive, as the slope values themselves do not change, though the effect varies whereby slope constraints can and do change among growth rules. The Oriente model incorporates slope as a separate layer with an adjustable scalar function to modify the slope desirability over time as demand for land changes. In the final phases of model execution, excluded areas are removed, and the original urban extent image is added. It is inevitable that pixels will be incorrectly urbanized during the model run, as water areas and other types of features are not initially removed from consideration; therefore the excluded image is subtracted from the whole. Second, the original seed image is added back into the growth image to account for areas erroneously removed due to slope constraints and topographical data errors (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Oriente CA Model - excluding validation steps

Self-Modification

Self-modification is necessary, as the model would otherwise produce linear or exponential growth (Clarke et al. 1997). The self-modification design element was included to better approximate the S-curve growth rate of urban and agricultural expansion; however, considering the artificial and non-rule based component of this implementation of self-modification, the resulting growth becomes temporally scale dependent. The self-modification criteria can be adjusted interactively; however, the annual iterative decrease is hard-coded. By limiting the areal extent of the region, the model is forced to retard growth to maintain equivalency in growth functionality. Over the course of multiple model runs, the boom and bust cycles likely cancel each other out, minimizing the effect. The agricultural versus urban growth modes vary according to both initial complexity and areal extent.

Validation

This initial calibration follows a comparative model of predicted versus actual change. The actual change is measured through the LULCC data sets created from the remotely sensed data. While the output from the Oriente model is certainly suitable for gross aspatial quantitative analysis, the spatially explicit output from this type of model may be analyzed using alternative techniques. With CA output data, the summary correlations by class tend to be more appropriate (Table 1). As the complexity of the seed image directly influences the shape and pace of growth, complexity may ultimately be the best measure of similarity (Messina et al. 2000). Most existing CA models, after multiple iteration, tend to produce smooth, isotropically consistent output. Standard measures of spatial autocorrelation are not used as they tend to provide false confidence in the results.

Total Area in Hectares				Summary Correlations
-	1986	1996 Predicted	1996 actual	Forested	Urbanized	Agriculture
Forested	48036	30015	31853	70.94%	7.80%	23.08%
Urbanized	1050	3591	3774	2.15%	54.50%	3.94%
Agriculture	27158	45072	43029	26.90%	37.70%	72.98%

Table 1. Total Area and Summary Correlations


Figures 4, 5: Predicted vs. Actual 1996 Landscape

Discussion and conclusions

Upon initial examination, the two images appear quite different (Figures 4,5). However, by comparing the model output with landuse/landcover data of the finest resolution, both the successes and the flaws of the model become apparent. The model predicts the total landscape change within the intensive study area region reasonably well with slight overprediction of agricultural expansion and slight underprediction of urban expansion. The summary correlations are lower than would be seen in a less complex environment due in part to the authors' intent in selecting a subset area of maximum spatial and quantitative change and in part to the diffusive growth limitations of the model. Specifically, the low urban correlation is due in large part to the effects of both roads (only one date of road coverage was used), random oil exploration activities, and the apparent change in social functions; the development of a service economy in and adjacent to market towns where household farms are being subdivided into relatively small parcels for residential development and secondarily the cultivation of commercial crops. The relative regional homogeneity of the biophysical, climatic regimes, and the importance of local farmers in deforestation as a response to the geographic accessibility to towns and the expanding transportation infrastructure permits the wider application of the model to multiple social and physical scales. However, one cannot avoid the fact that the spatial fit is less than ideal. The true measure of spatial complexity as applied in a CA context is one not yet fully realized in the literature and is like the next phase in this research. The tools exist to build complex (in the complicated not complexity sense) models to predict LULCC in a variety of environments and time periods. Without further development of the theoretical underpinnings of complexity theory and spatial pattern - what is a good fit - the models run the very real risk of over-specification. The Oriente, like most places, is surprisingly complex. As snapshots in time, images provide the raw material to assist in the derivation of complex environmental and human processes: in effect, to see patterns instead of isolated points and relationships between different distributions. The challenge of modeling population-environment interactions closely parallels the methodological concerns of much of social science. With improved data handling, the modeling scheme presented here is extensible to a variety of tropical environments and regional contexts, making cellular automata modeling not only a promoter of research into predictive spatial systems but more importantly an effective approach to modeling population-environment interactions across multiple spatial, temporal, and thematic domains. This work combines the historically descriptive aspects of society with remote sensing and landscape ecology towards the development of a Northern Oriente analogue. However, the challenges are many. None the least of which are (a) use of more suitable software for subsequent CA development, (b) integration of endogenous and exogenous factors in the model based upon the theories in human, political, and landscape ecology, (c) extension of the satellite time-series data for model development and calibration, (d) incorporation of time-lags and scale dependence of variables and their effects, (e) development of non-linear statistical tools better suited for CA systems, and (f) updated surfaces that represent proximate causes of deforestation and their hypothesized feedbacks across domains and thresholds of effects framed within a space-time context.

Endnotes

1. Portions of this paper were presented at the UCGIS 2000 Summer Assembly, Portland OR, June 23, 2000. See http://www.ucgis.org/oregon/papers/messina.htm.

References used

Blaikie, P. and Brookfield, H., 1987. Land Degradation and Society. Methuen, London.

Clarke, K.C., L. Gaydos, S. Hoppen, 1997. A Self-Modifying Cellular Automaton Model of Historical Urbanization in the San Francisco Bay Area, Environment and Planning B 24: 247-261.

Clarke, K.C., S. Hoppen, L. Gaydos, 1996. Methods and Techniques for Rigorous Calibration of a Cellular Automaton Model of Urban Growth. Third International Conference/Workshop on Integrating GIS and Environmental Modeling, Santa Fe, New Mexico, January 21-25, 1996. Santa Barbara: National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis.

Ermentrout G. B. and L. Edelstein-Keshet, 1993. Cellular Automata Approaches to Biological Modeling. Journal of Theoretical Biology 160:97-133.

Hiroaka, M, and S. Yamamoto. 1980. Agricultural Development in the Upper Amazon of Ecuador. Geographical Review 70{4}:423-446.

Messina, J.P., K.A. Crews-Meyer, and S.J. Walsh. 2000. Scale Dependent Pattern Metrics and Panel Data Analysis as Applied in a Multiphase Hybrid Landcover Classification Scheme. Proceedings of the 2000 ASPRS Conference.

Redclift, M. and Benton, T. (Editors), 1994. Social Theory and the Global Environment. Routledge, London, 271 pp.

von Neumann, J., 1966. Theory of Self-Reproducing Automata. Edited and completed by A.W. Burks. Illinois: University of Illinois Press.

Whitaker, M. D. 1990. The Human Factor and Agriculture. in Whitaker, M. D., and D. Colyer Eds. Agriculture and Economic Survival: The Role of Agriculture in Ecuador's Development. Westview Press Inc.

Wolfram, S., 1984. Cellular Automata as Models of Complexity. Nature 311:419-424.

Web cellular automata: a forest fire modeling approach and prototype tool.

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:05:00 +0000

Publication: Cartography and Geographic Information Science

Rapid advances in computer processing and visualization capabilities, coupled with the decreasing costs of personal computers, have allowed a wider end-user group to access advanced GIS, spatial modeling, and visualization technologies. Consequently, the development of and on...

...GIS-based applications environmental models standalone desktop computers and workstations within small networks has become an established practice for small businesses, consulting companies, governments, and academics. However these standalone applications and models suffer from many limitations that include platform dependence, limited end-user access, and inefficient data and information dissemination.

The use of Internet technology can overcome many limitations of stand-alone GIS applications and environmental models (A1-Sabhan et al. 2003). The Internet is an interconnected system of net works linking computers around the globe, regardless of geographic location. Internet technology has evolved rapidly during the last decade, and the Internet and world wide web (WWW) are now firmly recognized as effective means of exchanging geospatial data (Rohrer and Swing 1997; Doyle et al. 1998).

GIS applications on the Internet can be traced back to the second half of the 1990s. Internet GIS is a network-based GIS utilizing both the wired and wireless Internet to provide access to remote geospatial data and geo-processing tools (Peng 1999). The structure is based on a client/ server arrangement with functions for presentation, program logic, and database management distributed between the client and server computers. The world wide web is a networking and an information-sharing application based on the HTTP protocol that extends the Internet framework. Most Internet GIS applications use the web to exchange data, perform limited spatial analysis, and visualize results. Hence, the term Web-based GIS or Web GIS is often used for this kind of GIS extension (Peng and Tsou 2003).

Deploying GIS applications on the Internet is more advantageous than using stand-alone applications (Xie and Yapa 2006; Bellasio and Bianconi 2005; Al-Sabhan et al. 2003). Models on the Internet can be accessed by multiple users at different geographical locations, thus leading to increased involvement of stakeholders in the decision-making process. This in turn allows further communication and collaboration in decision-making (Dragicevic and Balram 2004; Mustajoki et al. 2004; Li 2006). Remote databases can be accessed in different geographical locations as well as in real time. Data security and integrity can be maintained more efficiently on data servers, by specifying varying degrees of permission for different users. Moreover, there is no need for specific GIS or modeling software on the client computer, thereby allowing application and database upgrades and debugging from a central location. By providing a consistent and user-friendly interface with essential tools and functionality for the specific application, the end-user is more focused on the tasks and goals for solving the problem. Furthermore, GIS applications and models are not dependent on a specific hardware or operating system platform; an Internet connection and web browser are the only prerequisites for accessibility.

There exists a wide range of proprietary Web GIS software that is engrained within the GIS user and developer community. Examples software include Autodesk's MapGuide (Autodesk, Inc. 2007), ESRI's ArcIMS (ESRI 2007), ER Mapper's Image Web Server (ER Mapper 2007), GE SmallWorld's Internet Application Server (GE Energy 2007), Intergraph's Geomedia Web Map (Intergraph 2007) and MapInfo's MapXtreme (MapInfo 2007). Traditional Web GIS has been mainly limited to web mapping applications that serve static maps as raster images as well as more interactive vector-based thematic maps. Specifically, the functionality of Web GIS software technology is limited to common tasks such as pan and zoom, geo-coding and buffering, spatial queries, and feature extraction. Hence, more advanced GIS analysis functionality and spatio-temporal modeling capabilities are not yet fully established as mainstream Web GIS technologies.

In parallel with the increased use of web-based GIS, the past decade has seen more active research on web-based spatial modeling and spatial decision support systems (SDSS). Increasingly, researchers are now making their spatial models accessible over the web, with examples including: oil spill modeling (Xie and Yapa 2006), simulation of industrial accidents and atmospheric dispersion (Bellasio and Bianconi 2005), land evaluation for agricultural soil protection (De la Rosa et al. 2004), exploratory data analysis of river water quality parameters (Halls 2003), management of urban soils (Hossack et al. 2004), river systems (Chang and Chang 2002), watersheds (Choi et al. 2005; Huang and Worboys 2001), hydrological land-use change impact assessment (Choi et al. 2005), flood prediction (Al-Sabhan et al. 2003), floodplain management (Stigumaran et al. 2000), livestock grazing (Mohtar et al. 2000), and soil contaminant transport (Zeng et al. 2002).

There are several challenges related to implementing models that can handle spatial and temporal components of the change process over the web. The computational load between client and server must be balanced for optimal performance. There must be sustained bidirectional communication between the client and server during the modeling process so as to update the displayed results at each time step (Huang 2003). As well, the lack of temporal GIS capabilities is an ongoing challenge facing web-based modeling efforts because the integration of Web GIS and dynamic models still needs to be adequately addressed.

Given the advantages of deploying spatial models over the web, one application area that can particularly benefit from the new web functionalities is natural hazard/disaster management and response, where both rapid information dissemination of real time data and collaborative decision making are of paramount importance (USGS 2007). Forest fire is one such natural hazard. Forest fires serve an integral role in maintaining the health and diversity of many forest ecosystems (Johnson and Miyanishi 2001), but they may also have negative socio-economic impacts linked to public health, safety, property, and resource depletion.

There are many fire models and decision support systems in existence or in continuous development (Pastor et al. 2003; Andrews and Queen 2001). Accessing these models and decision support tools over the web can provide valuable assistance to fire management agencies and stakeholders involved in making more effective management decisions in real time. Important benefits include the prevention of loss of life and property, as well as reducing the adverse effects on natural resources.

Deployments of fire-related applications over the web such as forest fire risk mapping (CFS 2007), real-time and forecast weather (Rocky Mountain Research Station 2007), hot spot detection (MODIS 2007), and burnt area mapping (NorthTree Fire International 2007) have been reported in the literature. However, the challenges associated with extending spatio-temporal fire simulation models over the web has not been adequately addressed (Eklund 2001). In this study, we argue that making such simulation capability accessible over the web (especially using a thin client web interface) can be of immense value for fire disaster management and evacuation. Fire managers and decision makers can use PDAs or handheld computers at any place with an Internet connection (e.g., fire base station) and can run simulations of the progress of fire, based on the most up to date data (e.g.,...

Bluetooth GPS Receiver Review

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 04:08:00 +0000

by: John Applin

This is a tiny bluetooth GPS receiver which I bought from Mobile Fun Ltd, I bought this to connect to my O2 XDA 2i PDA and it cost around £40. I was intially looking on google for cheap GPS receivers and this came up as the cheapest. I thought at that price they'll be a catch, and the catch usually being poor performance, but I was pleasantly surprised! This thing really does work, and works well!

After searching for initial reviews on this device I came up with very little other than the reviews from Mobile Fun Ltd, which I was reluctant to trust for fear of them being somewhat biased. I thought for £40 I'll take a chance and so bought it, all credit to Mobile Fun the receiver arrived the very next morning. Upon opening the box I was a little disappointed, all the there was by means of instructions was a small sheet of paper that had been loosely translated from Japanese to English by a dyslexic toddler. You can download the user manual from here and the Tomtom pairing manual from here. After following these instructions you will have it set up in no time. Another thing I noticed was that there is no manufaturer's name or marks anywhere on the device or the packaging, which makes searching for support quite difficult.

A nice touch with this little device is that it is supplied with a battery that is common to a lot of Nokia phones (3.7V 850mAh Li-polymer battery, BL-5C), a quick search on ebay means that you can get replacement batteries for these receivers for about £4 which is good to know should you need one.

What's In The Box?

Bluetooth GPS Receiver x1
12v In Car Adapter (USB) x1
Basic Instructions x1
Battery x1
USB Charging Cable x1

Installation

Provided you follow the limited instructions for pairing with your device, and the Tomtom setup instructions, you should be up and running in less than 5 minutes. I have only charged the receiver once since I bought it about 2 months ago, the battery just seems to last forever! The supplied in car charger and USB cable means that the receiver can be charged on the move from a 12v source and can also be charged from any PC or laptop. From cold start up the receiver aquires a usuable GPS signal exremely quickly, quicker than most of the really expensive GPS receivers that I've come in contact with. The device is extremely small and can easily fit into any space in your car, or even your pocket if you're using it for walking or cycling.

One small problem I did have is that when using it with my XDA 2i the Tomtom software would often freeze and cause me to stop the car, reboot my phone, then carry on my journey. At first I thought this was the result of the XDA losing its connection with the bluetooth receiver and hence confirming my fears about the price of this product. It quickly became apparent that this was not the case and it was in fact an issue with my PDA and the Tomtom software.

I quickly discovered a workaround for this issue between the Tomtom software and my XDA that enables the whole system to work flawlessly. I shall write a 'how to' on this workaround shortly as I'm sure many other XDA 2i users share the same problem.

I do know that there is a known issue when using any bluetooth GPS receivers with the O2 XDA 2 (note not XDA 2i) due to the bluetooth stack settings that are shipped with the phone, please be aware of this before buying this device as you are sure to encounter problems.

Key Features

Compatible with TomTom, Navicore, and all major GPS software packages.
12 parallel satellite-tracking channels for fast acquisition and reacquisition.
Provides superior navigation performance in city environments.
Built-in rechargeable Lithium-polymer battery provides more than 10 hours of constant use.
Unit can be charged with the included car charger while still in use.
Mini-USB charger compatiblty, charge not only the Bluetooth GPS Receiver but also compatible PDAs & Smart Phones with the same charger.
3 colours LED to show the status of Bluetooth/GPS/Power activities of this device.

Specifications

GPS receiver: L1, C/A code, 12 channels
Tracking sensitivity: –152dBm (average) or better
Acquisition sensitivity: –139dBm (average) or better
TTFF (Time to First Fix): Cold Start: 50s (average) / 60s (95 possibility)
Hot Start: 2s (minimum) / 6s (95% possibility)
Positioning accuracy: Standard Positioning Service (SPS), WAAS (optional) 2DRMS: approx. 5m
Measurement data output: Update time: 1 second
NMEA output protocol: V.3.01
Baud rate: 38400 bps (8-N-1)
Datum: WGS-84
Type: GGA, GSA, GSV, RMC
Power consumption: 75mA (average)
Bluetooth: Bluetooth version 1.2 compliant
Class 2 operation (up to 10 metre range)
Serial Port Profile (SPP)
Output terminal: Type B Mini-USB (TTL Level)
Antenna Type: Built in Patch Antenna
Battery: 3.7V 850mAh Li-polymer battery, built-in charger
LED: Power (red), GPS (green), Bluetooth (blue)
Dimension: 64(L) x 39(W) x18.5(H) mm
Operating temperature: -20°C ~ +60°C
Storage temperature: -20°C ~ +60°C; Battery: -20°C ~ +45°C

Conclusion

A great little device that performs well beyond its price range. Check if there is any known issues with your device and bluetooth GPS receivers before purchase as this will save you a lot of headaches. The only thing that lets this product down is a lack of documentation and online support, other than this well worth the buy!

Cell Phones Give You So Many Benefits For Communication

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 04:07:00 +0000

by: Daryl Plaza

Cell phones have become a staple in homes and business around the world. Businessmen and women have grown dependant on this form of tele- communication. Whether you are at work or out shopping, it is important that you keep in touch with your family. Having a cell phone means that you are accessible in case of an emergency even if you are out on the road. There are many different cellular phone plans that you can choose from, whether you want a prepaid cell phone or one that has options.

The Cell phone has become a multi-billion dollar industry and it is expanding every day. More and more people are becoming technology minded and choose to purchase a cell phone.

The Use of Cell Phones in Emergencies

Perhaps the greatest benefit to owning a cell phone is the security of knowing that they can call for assistance anytime or anywhere they need too. In past decades, millions of people were stranded on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere because their car broke down. Not being able to get help and having to rely on the kindness of strangers who passed by. It was not only frustrating it was also very dangerous.

There are still people out there who do not want to own a mobile phone. They do not want to pay for a wireless phone plan. For those people, a prepaid cell phone is the perfect gift. They can use the phone in emergencies only. With a prepaid cell phone, you do not receive a monthly bill and you do not have to sign any contracts.

Cellular phones have come a long way since their inception. Constant improvements have brought them into the twenty first century. With today cell phones, GPS systems are a standard accessory. There are even phones that allow you access the Internet to have directions sent right to your phone.

How Do Cell Phones Enhance Business?

You may be asking yourself what is the big deal with a business cell phone? The answer of course is that any type of business that has on the road salesmen, the office knows how difficult it is to contact their salesman. In the past they would have to wait until he or she called into the office. With a cell phone, they can be contacted anytime.

Cell phones not only allow the corporate office to keep in contact with employees, it also allows salespeople to contact their clients at a moments notice if a deal of a lifetime pops up suddenly. Cell phones can also cut down on land line phone bills because most plans allow the callers to make calls to other people who have the same carrier. So a salesman can call the corporate office even if he or she is a thousand miles away and not be charged any long distance charges.

People are fascinated with gadgets, and those who own mobile cell phones are no different. There are many accessories for cell phones, and almost everyone wants to own them. Whether it is a hands free headset or voice messaging, cell phone gadgets are incredible. The prices for each gadget are different, and depending on the accessory, compatible with specific model phones.

Cell phones are most popular with real estate agents. This is because many now advertise their businesses and business listings online. It is here where the real estate agent places a special number on the website for prospective buyers to inquire about specific properties by text messaging the Real Estate Agent.

Wireless Phones and Legal Matters?

Cellular phones have also become useful in legal matters. It is possible to access all cell phone records online, and in doing so, many criminals have been convicted because of the evidence.

Adding Kids Into the Equation

Kids and phones go hand in hand. As parents of teenagers, you know how difficult it can be to get him or her off the phone. This is when a cell phone can become your best friend. By supplying your child with a prepaid cell phone you are taking back the landline. You will not only have access to your own phone; you will not have to listen to the constant babbling of your kids.

Cell phones are not only for communication, they can also teach your child how to be responsible. If your child is pre pubescent, you may be able to instill responsibility in him or her.

The Elderly and Cellular Phones

When cell phones were first developed, they were big and clunky. They were hard to use and calls were often dropped. Today, cell phones are sleek and slender, and you can barely notice them however the features are phenomenal. Some would say that the more advanced the cell phone is, the more complicated it is to use. Small screens and buttons can be maddening to use, especially if you have large hands.

Pushing the Envelope of Entertainment

Mobile phones today come equipped with cameras, and music, ring tones and even Internet access. Camera phones are great because after you take the picture, you can instantly send it to anyone in the world who has a cell phone.

Higher end cell phones also come equipped with video recording software. You can record up to two minutes of video and also send it to anyone in the world. Calendars and day planners can also be found on higher end cell phones.

Cell phones today are extraordinary and they are being upgraded every day. Soon, the cell phones of today will become obsolete and will be replace with new and innovative phones that can do anything.

Rear Projection LCD TV

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 04:05:00 +0000

by: Linda Harrison

The least expensive type of large TV is a rear-projection LCD TV. Some projection TVs have three cathode-ray picture tubes (CRTs), which are like smaller versions of the tubes used in conventional sets. The images from those small tubes are projected onto the back of a 40 inch to 60 inch plus screen, giving them the name rear projection TV. Other rear projection TV sets use LCD, digital light processing (DLP), or liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) technology in place of CRTs. These high tech rear projection TV sets are thinner, lighter, and as a result more expensive than comparable CRT-based sets – but they produce a higher-quality picture.

Major brands of rear projection LCD TV sets include Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Philips, RCA, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba. The most popular models are HD capable, and there are three basic types of HD TVs.

So how do you choose the right rear projection LCD TV for you and your viewing needs?

First, consider the space you have available before you worry about the screen size itself. Most rear projection LCD TVs have screens measuring from 42 to well over 60 inches. You might be tempted to purchase one of the biggest screens, which can span as much as 70 inches or more, but first determine how much floor space you can spare, and plan to view the TV from around 7 to 10 feet away for optimal picture quality.

Also consider depth and price. Once you know how much room you have, decide whether size or price is more important. CRT-based sets are floor-standing models with deep cabinets mounted on casters. Some take up as much space as an armchair or loveseat. Many rear projection LCD TV sets are tabletop units, or you can buy a separate stand for a few hundred dollars.

Then focus on picture quality. The best rear projection LCD TV sets deliver very good picture quality with HD content and good picture quality for DVDs and regular TV programming. Rear projection LCD TV screens provide much better picture quality than CRT models.

Also check the viewing angle. Some rear projection LCD TV sets display a better image from off-center than older sets did, which is important if your TV will be watched by several people at the same time. Before buying a particular model, see how the picture looks if you step off to the side or move up and down. With some rear projection LCD TV sets you'll see a dimmer, washed-out image as your viewing position angles away.

Once you’ve made your choice, it pays to think about whether you want an extended warranty on your rear projection LCD TV. While extended warranties may not be worth it for most products, they may be for high-priced TVs. Because rear projection LCD TV sets are expensive, check into the cost of a service plan. Find out whether in-home service is covered and whether a replacement is provided if your rear projection LCD TV can't be repaired.

Enhancing a GIS Cellular Automata Model of Land Use Change: Bayesian Networks, Influence Diagrams and Causality

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:15:00 +0000

Authors: Kocabas, Verda1; Dragicevic, Suzana2
Source: Transactions in GIS, Volume 11, Number 5, October 2007 , pp. 681-702(22)
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing

Cellular Automata (CA) models at present do not adequately take into account the relationship and interactions between variables. However, land use change is influenced by multiple variables and their relationships.

The objective of this study is to develop a novel CA model within a geographic information system (GIS) that consists of Bayesian Network (BN) and Influence Diagram (ID) sub-models. Further, the proposed model is intended to simplify the definition of parameter values, transition rules and model structure. Multiple GIS layers provide inputs and the CA defines the transition rules by running the two sub-models. In the BN sub-model, land use drivers are encoded with conditional probabilities extracted from historical data to represent inter-dependencies between the drivers. Using the ID sub-model, the decision of changing from one land use state to another is made based on utility theory. The model was applied to simulate future land use changes in the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD), Canada from 2001 to 2031. The results indicate that the model is able to detect spatio-temporal drivers and generate various scenarios of land use change making it a useful tool for exploring complex planning scenarios.

Flash/SWF for GIS

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:12:00 +0000

Flash/SWF for GIS
By Chris Goad , The Map Bureau

The advent of programmable vector graphics in web browsers has major implications for GIS on the web.Vector-based web maps can include many forms of interactivity that are handled at the web browser with minimal need for refreshes from the server.

These range from simple zooming and panning, through interactive selection of the data to displayed, up to animated display of temporal processes.Indeed, the online map of the future will present a much richer weave of data and interaction than is currently found even in the user interfaces of GIS systems, let alone in the typical online map experience of the present day - an experience which is typically characterized by a frustrating back-and-forth between viewing of a static map and waiting for the server to download an update.

The event calendar which appears weekly in the DirectionsMag newsletter illustrates the use of this technology for a simple but novel application:

More examples are referenced at the bottom of the article.

Vector capability has been available in principle in the form of Java applets for many years, but for whatever reason, has not been widely used in online GIS applications.The more recent vector graphics technologies for web browsing are Macromedia Flash and SVG.Whether knowgingly or not, nearly every user of the web has been exposed to Flash in the form of the animated illustrations and banner ads.SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is a standard recently developed by the World Wide Web consortium (W3C).A recent article in this publication described GIS applications of SVG in some detail.The current article concentrates on Flash, and its advantages and disadvantages as a vector technology for GIS.More precisely, the comparison is between SWF - the file format used in Flash, and SVG, and between the available technologies for rendering and authoring the two formats.

SWF and SVG are in many respects similar technologies, and both satisfy the basic technical requirements needed to support a rich GIS experience on the web.These requirements are: (1) vector (rather than raster) representation of 2D geometrical objects (2) availability of event handling primitives that allow flexible design of interactivity (3) full access from a programming or scripting environment to the geometric and event models, so that arbitrary kinds of animation and interaction can be programmed, and (4) the ability to query the server as needed for incremental updates to the map.SWF and SVG are similar not only in the fact that they both meet these requirements, but in how they represent geometrical data: their primitives for modeling and manipulating the geometrical world correspond closely, though not exactly.

In areas other than geometrical representation, there are significant differences between SWF and SVG.In SVG's favor is its status as an XML language developed under the auspices of the W3C. SVG draws heavily on a variety of XML-related technologies, such as DOM, XLINK, and SMIL, for much of its functionality.A number of practical advantages flow from this, including excellent integration with other web technology, applicability of standard XML tools, familiarity to the large XML community, assurance of long-term stability, and the probability if not certainty of wide-spread adoption.On the downside, the aggregation of all of the standards and technology involved in full SVG functionality is dauntingly complex.

SWF was designed by Macromedia as a lightweight technology with priority given to the requirements for wide-spread adoption.Chief among these was a small plugin for swift downloading, and extensive support for authors and developers to speed the creation of compelling content.The Macromedia SWF authoring tools are particularly effective in three areas: support for creating animation and interaction without programming, integration of sound and video, and integration with server-side applications and development tools, both those of Macromedia and others.

Macromedia has been successful in its efforts: the Flash plugin for Internet Explorer on Windows is 383KB versus 2.3MB for the Windows version of the widely used SVG plugin from Adobe.There are more than one million Flash developers.The Flash player is present in more than 400 million web browsers, recently estimated at more than 96% of the online population.SVG, on the other hand, is a new standard which has not yet achieved ubiquity.

Although SWF is proprietary in the sense that its design is under the control of one company, specification of the format itself is publically available on the web, and tools for generating SWF are available from several sources.A free C++ SDK for writing SWF files is available for download from Macromedia.No royalties are involved in generating or distributing SWF content.The Flash player supports calls to and from scripts running in the browser, making integration with other kinds of web content easy to accomplish.

Where does all of this leave the GIS community? The standards-based approach of SVG makes it highly attractive as a sharable representation of interactive maps for use within the industry, and SVG is already being rapidly adopted for this role.However, there is another purpose for interactive maps: communicating geographical information to the web-browsing public at large.Several applications of this kind are well established, such as route finding services and weather maps. These established applications can be improved in performance and usability with vector-based technology, and there are exiting new possibilities as well.

It is in this role that SWF is an attractive alternative.SWF has the compelling advantage of needing no download of a plugin for most viewers.Requiring a 2.3MB download of an SVG player to view a map is not a realistic way to reach the web masses. If and when the standard installations of popular browsers include support for SVG, and these new browsers have propagated out to the public, this advantage will be reduced.However, the Flash authoring tools and Flash development community will continue to weigh in the balance, and Flash is likely to continue its rapid evolution.

In conclusion, the advent of programmable vector graphics in web browsers will lead to a revolution in the way geographic information is presented online over the next few years.More people on the web can be reached right now with Flash/SWF than with SVG.SVG, on the other hand, fits fully into the W3C world of standards, which will be a decisive advantage for many applications.In any case, we are lucky to have two technologies to support the revolution.

Examples of SWF in mapping applications

Weather maps
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/

City maps
http://www.urhere.com/

Temporal maps from Map Bureau
http://www.mapbureau.com/mapgallery/

Map of a cross-country trip with photographs every mile, developed by Second Story Interactive for Kodak
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/features/onTheRoad/home/index.shtml

Maps of ski resorts
http://www.ifyouski.com/pics/flashmaps/

Map gallery from FreshMaps, including interactive trade show and real estate maps
http://www.freshmaps.com/FreshMaps/gallery/gallery.asp

Layered interactive map of the Middle East
http://www.equatorgraphics.com/temp/Mideast/MiddleEast.html

Educational map building tool from Maps.com
http://www.maps.com/learn/mapkit/

Animation of the build-out of the University of Oregon campus from the U of O InfoGraphics Laboratory
http://geography.uoregon.edu/infographics/CampusBuildout/uobuildout.html

About Flash/SWF technology

The Flash home site
http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/

The SWF file format
http://www.openswf.org/

A detailed technical comparison between SWF and SVG.
http://www.carto.net/papers/svg/comparison_flash_svg.html

Ubuntu Muslim Edition (ME)

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 08:21:00 +0000

UbuntuME stands for Ubuntu Muslim Edition. Ubuntu Muslim Edition is a free, open source operating system based on the popular Ubuntu Linux.

What is Ubuntu Muslim Edition?
Ubuntu Muslim Edition is a set of packages that customizes the Ubuntu distro by installing islamic software (prayer times, Quran study tool, web content filtering tool etc.) and by changing its design.

Why a "Muslim Edition"?
Ubuntu is a great distro, easy to use for a novice user, with the most-used Office, Internet, Graphics and Video applications already installed but we think that for Muslim users it would be great to have “out of the box” Islamic software and tools installed as well.

O2 Xda Comet 3G Windows Mobile phone launched by O2 Germany

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:48:00 +0000

Found in:O2, XDA, Pocket PC, Mobile News, Devices

O2 Germany has just expanded the portfolio of Windows Mobile phones in Germany with the launch of O2 Xda Comet. But there is one catch and this is the lack of unlimited flat rate for mobile internet access in O2 pricelist, so probably not many people will use the HSDPA feature of this phone.

O2 Xda Comet Specifications:

* primary camera: 2 megapixel with macro function but no autofocus
* secondary camera: VGA resolution camera for 3G video calling
* processor: Intel PXA 270 XScale 624 MHz
* FM radio
* support for 3G: UMTS and HSDPA (unknown yet which HSDPA speed is supported - 1.8 Mbit/second or 3.6 Mbit/second)
* connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, infra-red, USB
* memory card: miniSD
* display: 2.7 inch, 240x320 pixels
* quad-band
* dimensions: 106x58x18 mm
* weight: 148 g
* stand-by: 8 days
* availability: beginning of October, at O2 Germany (unknown yet whether it will come also to O2 UK and O2 Asia)

VECTOR CELLULAR AUTOMATA BASED GEOGRAPHICAL ENTITY

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 06:34:00 +0000

by : 1 Hu Shiyuan and 2. Li Deren
1. School of Resource and Environmental Science , Wuhan University, 129 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, China, 430079
2. School of Remote Sensing Information Engineering, Wuhan University, 129 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, China, 430079

Abstract
Cellular automata (CA) are simple mathematical systems that exhibit very complicated
behaviour. The integration of GIS and CA shows tremendous capability in simulating
spatio-temporal dynamic process in geography world. But standard CA has some
restrictions in cellular shape, spatial resolution, precision, quantity, neighbor and
rule, which restrict the CA’s abilities of simulating real world and other applications.

This paper discusses the relation between geography phenomenon and cellular automata, extends the constitutes of standard CA such as cell and states, neighborhoods, local transition rule and discrete time and so on, and builds a extended CA model based on geographical entity in irregular geographical spaces, where cells are no longer regular tessellations, and cellular neighborhoods vary from place to place, and are no longer based on physically adjacent cells. In addition, a general integrated framework of GIS and vector cellular automata based geographical entity (VCA) is brought forward in the paper.

INTRODUCTION
Cellular automata (CA) are mathematical models for systems in which many simple
components act together to produce complicated patterns of behavior (Wolfram, 1985).CA
have close associations with complexity theory and have been employed in the exploration
of a diverse range of urban phenomena. Urban applications of CA range from traffic
simulation and regional-scale urbanization to land-use dynamics, historical urbanization,
and urban development. The integration of GIS and CA will accelerate GIS’s ability of
simulating geographical process greatly especially (Zhou et al., 2001).
CA models are usually based on fine regular tessellations such as a grid, in which every cell
is identical, has identical relations with each of its neighbors, and has a standard
neighborhood of cells in which these relations operate. These neighborhoods are strictly
local in that they are based on physically adjacent cells. In geographic and urban models,
this may be over-simplistic (O'Sullivan, 2000), and it has some restrictions in cellular
shape, neighborhood and neighbor rules,which restrict the CA’s ability to simulate real
world.The standard CA exists some problems mainly as follows: (1) Space partition,
namely determination of space pixel. Each kind of graphical object has itself space scale in
the system which plenty of graphical entities exist together. In addition, graphical entity
represents different behavior in different space scale. It is a problem how to determinate a
uniform spatial resolution. (2) Precision & Quantity. CA models are usually based on fine
regular tessellations, cell is similar to the grid of grid data in GIS, it exists some problems
such as imprecise locating and tremendous quantity. (3) Cell space is divided into regular
tessellations on abstract space in standard CA. Every cell is identical, has identical relations
with each of its neighbors. This kind of CA can expose local reciprocity among cells. But geographical system is a typical complex system, which is a compound system consisted of
physical, social and economic subsystems. The complexity is an essential characteristic of
Geo-Spatial System for its complexity properties such as non-equilibrium, multi-scale,
indeterminacy, hierarchy, self-organizing, self-similarity, randomicity, iterativeness, and so
forth. So regular space system exists hardly in real world.
This paper will explore the relation between geographical space and cellular automata,and
build a extended CA model based on geographical entity in irregular geographical spaces.
In addition, this paper will explore the integrated pattern of GIS and CA.

STUDY OF CELLULAR AUTOMATA MODELS FOR URBAN GROWTH

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 06:29:00 +0000

by: Nagaratna P Hegde, *Dr I V MuraliKrishna, **Dr K V ChalapatiRao
Associate Professor, CSE Dept, Vasavi College Of Engineering, HYDERABAD-500031,
E-Mail:nagaratnaph@yahoo.com
*Director, R & D, JNTU, HYDERABAD-500075, E-Mail : ivm@ieee.org
** Rtd Professor, OU, HYDERABAD E-Mail : kvchalapatirao@yahoo.com

Abstract :
Differential equations, partial differential equations and in some instances,
empirical equations have been the underlying mathematical tools behind spatial
simulation models. Approaches based on cellular automata models are proposed
herein to replace the conventional tools. Issues such as the definition of transition rules, computer implementation with raster geographical information systems and model verification are discussed.

Cellular automata (CA) models consist of a simulation environment represented
by a grid of space (raster), in which a set of transition rules determine the
attribute of each given cell taking into account the attributes of cells in its
vicinities. These models have been very successful in view of their operationality,
simplicity and ability to embody both logics- and mathematics-based transition
rules. It is thus evident that even in the simplest CA, complex global patterns can
emerge directly from the application of local rules, and it is precisely this property
of emergent complexity that makes CA so fascinating and their usage so
appealing.

Keywords Geographic Information Systems; Simulation ,CellularAutomata

INTRODUCTION
Cellular Automata (CA) models were originally conceived by Ulam and Von
Neumann in the 1940s to provide a formal framework for investigating the
behavior of complex, extended systems. CA are dynamic, discrete space and
time systems. A cellular automaton system consists of a regular grid of cells,
each of which can be in one of a finite number of k possible states, updated
synchronously in discrete time steps according to a local, identical interaction

INTEGRATION OF CELLULAR AUTOMATA AND GIS FOR SIMULATING LAND USE CHANGES

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 06:23:00 +0000

by : Nagaratna P Hegde, * Dr I V MuraliKrishna, **Dr K V ChalapatiRao
Associate Professor, CSE Dept, VCE, HYDERABAD-500031,E-Mail:nagaratnaph@yahoo.com
*Director, R & D, JNTU, HYDERABAD-500075, E-Mail : ivm@ieee.org

** Rtd Professor, Osmania University, HYDERABAD E-Mail: kvchalapatirao@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT:
Cellular automata have been used as a simulation technique in the study of an impressively wide range of urban phenomena, including regional growth, urban sprawl, gentrification, residential growth, population dynamics, economic activity and employment, historical urbanization, land use evolution, and polycentricity to name but a few.

A spatial model consists of a collection of processes performed on spatial data that will produce information, usually in the form of a map. These models can often be represented as process flow diagrams, like showing how the output from one process can be the input to a subsequent process. C A are ideal for simulating static entities in spatial models and processes that operate by diffusion. They are ideal for encoding spatial structures into simulation models.

The application of CA in land use/land cover/ urban modeling can give insights into a wide variety of urban phenomena. Urban CA
models have better performance in simulating urban growth than conventional urban models because they are much simpler than
complex mathematical equations, but produce results that are more meaningful and useful. Temporal and spatial complexities of
urban systems can be well modeled by properly defining transition rules in CA models. CA simulation provides important
information for understanding urban theories, such as the evolution of forms and structures. GIS is a technology that is used to view
and analyze data from a geographic perspective. The spatial representation of an object and its related non-spatial attribute are
merged into a unified data file. In practice the area under study is covered by a fine mesh or matrix of grid cells and particular
ground surface attribute value of interest occurring at the center of each cell point is recorded as the value for that cell. It should be
noted that while some raster models support the assignment of values to multiple attribute per discrete cell, others strictly to a single
attribute per cell structure

Enabling High - Quality C/C++ Software, Automatically-Coverity Prevent

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:15:00 +0000

What Is It?

Coverity Prevent SQS™ is the market-leading automated approach to identify and resolve the most critical defects in C, C++, and Java source code. By providing a complete understanding of your build environment, source code, and development process, Prevent SQS sets the standard in enabling high-quality software across organizations worldwide.

Prevent SQS for C/C++ automatically analyzes large, complex C and C++ code bases and detects critical, must-fix defects that could lead to system crashes, memory corruption, security vulnerabilities, unpredictable behavior, and performance degradation.

Prevent SQS features:

• 100% path coverage: Prevent SQS for C/C++ analyzes 100% of the paths through your source code, ensuring that all possible execution branches are followed, while avoiding impossible paths to maintain fast execution.

• Low false positive rate: Prevent SQS for C/C++ maintains a very low false positive rate , ensuring that developers’ time spent inspecting defects will result in noticeable quality improvements.

• Highly scalable: Prevent SQS for C/C++ analyzes millions of lines of code in a matter of hours, easily integrating into your regular build process with little or no additional hardware and no disruption to your development process.

What Makes It Great?

Unlike other C/C++ analysis tools that focus on programming style and syntax-based checks, Prevent SQS for C/C++ performs deep, interprocedural analysis to uncover the critical, must-fix defects that matter most to developers. Prevent SQS for C/C++ leverages multiple analysis engines to uncover hard-to-find defects including:

• Path Flow Engine understands the control flow through each function in your code base, allowing Prevent SQS to analyze 100% of the paths through your code.

• Statistical Engine tracks behavioral patterns throughout your entire code base, allowing Prevent SQS to infer correct behavior based on previously observed behavior.

• Interprocedural Summary Engine enables Prevent SQS to perform a whole program analysis of complex call chains at any depth across files and modules in a form that is most similar to the eventual executing Binary. This result in the highest-fidelity results available.

• False Path Engine solves each branch condition to determine if it will be true, false, or unknown on the current path. This allows Prevent SQS to efficiently remove obvious false positives from the set of defects reported.

A sample of the critical defects reported by Prevent SQS for C/C++ include:

Concurrency Issues

• Double locks, missing locks.

• Locks acquired in incorrect order.

• Locks held by blocking functions.

Memory Corruption and
Mismanagement

• Resource leaks.

• Calls to freeing functions using invalid arguments.

• Excessive stack use in memory constrained systems.

Crash-causing pointer errors

• Dereference of null pointers.

• Failure to check for null return values.

• Misuse of data contained within wrapper data types.

C++ Specific Errors

• Misuse of STL iterators.

• Failure to de-allocate memory by destructors.

• Incorrect override of virtual functions.

• Uncaught exceptions.

Window/COM Specific Errors

• Incorrect memory allocation with COM interfaces.

• Incorrect type conversions.

Security Vulnerabilities

• Buffer overruns.

• SQL injection.

• Cross-site scripting.

• Integer overflows.

About Coverity

Coverity (http://www.coverity.com) is the market leader in improving software quality and security. Coverity’s groundbreaking technology automates the approach to identifying and resolving critical defects and security vulnerabilities in C/C++ and Java source code. More than 300 leading companies have chosen Coverity Prevent SQS because it scales to tens of millions of lines of code, has the lowest false positive rate in the industry and provides total path coverage. Companies like Ericsson, HP, Samsung, EMC, and Symantec work with Coverity to eliminate security and quality defects from their mission-critical systems.
Coverity also has customers like Symbian, RIM (Blackberry), Juniper networks, Cisco, Texas instruments and is also used by the Department of Homeland security to scan lots of open source projects.

Free trial

Coverity offers a free trial of Prevent SQS that will detect a wide range of crash-causing defects in your code base within hours. No changes to your code are necessary, there are no limitations on code size, and you will receive a complimentary report detailing actionable analysis results. Register for the on-site evaluation at: http://www.coverity.com .

About The Author
Coverity (http://www.coverity.com) is the market leader in improving software quality and security. Coverity’s groundbreaking technology automates the approach to identifying and resolving critical defects and security vulnerabilities in C/C++ and Java source code. More than 300 leading companies have chosen Coverity Prevent SQS because it scales to tens of millions of lines of code, has the lowest false positive rate in the industry and provides total path coverage. Companies like Ericsson, HP, Samsung, EMC, and Symantec work with Coverity to eliminate security and quality defects from their mission-critical systems.

Coverity also has customers like Symbian, RIM (Blackberry), Juniper networks, Cisco, Texas instruments and is also used by the Department of Homeland security to scan lots of open source projects.

Complete Overview of Linux

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:13:00 +0000

This article will discuss the differences between the Linux and Windows operating software’s; we discuss some of the pro’s and con’s of each system.

Let us first start out with a general overview of the Linux operating system. Linux at its most basic form is a computer kernel. The Kernel is the underlying computer code, used to communicate with hardware, and other system software, it also runs all of the basic functions of the computer.

The Linux Kernel is an operating system, which runs on a wide variety of hardware and for a variety of purposes. Linux is capable of running on devices as simple as a wrist watch, or a cell phone, but it can also run on a home computer using, for example Intel, or AMD processors, and its even capable of running on high end servers using Sun Sparc CPU’s or IBM power PC processors. Some Linux distro’s can only run one processor, while others can run many at once.

Common uses for Linux include that of a home desktop computing system, or more commonly for a server application, such as use as a web server, or mail server. You can even use Linux as a dedicated firewall to help protect other machines that are on the same network.

A programmer student named Linus Torvalds first made Linux as a variant of the Unix operating system in 1991. Linus Torvalds made Linux open source with the GNU (GPL) (General Public License), so other programmers could download the source code free of charge and alter it any way they see fit. Thousands of coders throughout the world began downloading and altering the source code of Linux, applying patches, and bug fixes, and other improvements, to make the OS better and better. Over the years Linux has gone from a simple text based clone of Unix, to a powerful operating software, with full-featured desktop environments, and unprecedented portability, and a variety of uses. Most of the original Unix code has also been gradually written out of Linux over the years.

As a result of Linux being open source software, there is no one version of Linux; instead there are many different versions or distributions of Linux, that are suited for a variety of different users and task. Some Distributions of Linux include Gentoo, and Slackware, which due to the lack of a complete graphical environment is best, suited for Linux experts, programmers, and other users that know their way around a command prompt. Distributions that lack a graphical environment are best suited for older computers lacking the processing power necessary to process graphics, or for computers performing processor intensive task, where it is desirable to have all of the system resources focused on the task at hand, rather than wasting resources by processing graphics. Other Linux distributions aim at making the computing experience as easy as possible. Distributions such as Ubuntu, or Linspire make Linux far easier to use, by offering full-featured graphical environments that help eliminate the need for a command prompt. Of course the downside of ease of use is less configurability, and wasted system resources on graphics processing. Other distributions such as Suse try to find a common ground between ease of use and configurability.

“Linux has two parts, they include the Kernel mentioned previously, and in most circumstances it will also include a graphical user interface, which runs atop the Kernel” reference #3. In most cases the user will communicate with the computer via the graphical user interface.

(ref #6) Some of the more common graphical environments that can run on Linux include the following. The KDE GUI (Graphical user interface). Matthias Ettrich developed KDE in 1996. He wanted a GUI for the Unix desktop that would make all of the applications look and feel alike. He also wanted a desktop environment for Unix that would be easier to use than the ones available at the time. KDE is a free open source project, with millions of coders working on it throughout the world, but it also has some commercial support from companies such as Novell, Troltech, and Mandriva. KDE aims to make an easy to use desktop environment without sacrificing configurability. Windows users might note that KDE has a similar look to Windows. Another popular GUI is (ref #7) GNOME. GNOME puts a heavy emphasis on simplicity, and user ability. Much like KDE GNOME is open source and is free to download. One notable feature of GNOME is the fact that it supports many different languages; GNOME supports over 100 different languages. Gnome is license under the LGPL license (lesser general public license). The license allows applications written for GNOME to use a much wider set of licenses, including some commercial applications. The name GNOME stands for GNU Network object model environment. GNOME’s look and feel is similar to that of other desktop environments. Fluxbox is another example of a Linux GUI. With less of an emphasis on ease of use and eye candy, Fluxbox aims to be a very lightweight, and a more efficient user of system resources. The interface has only a taskbar and a menu bar, which is accessed by right clicking over the desktop. Fluxbox is most popular for use with older computers that have a limited abundance of system resources.

Although most Linux distributions offer a graphical environment, to simplify the user experience, they all also offer a way for more technically involved users to directly communicate with the Kernel via a shell or command line. The command line allows you to run the computer without a GUI, by executing commands from a text-based interface. An advantage of using the command prompt is it uses less system resources and enables your computer to focus more of its energy on the task at hand. Examples of commands include the cd command for changing your directory, or the halt command for shutting down your system, or the reboot command for restarting the computer ect.

Now that we are more familiar with the Linux operating system, we can note the many ways in which Linux differs from the worlds most popular OS, Microsoft Windows. From this point forward we will discuss some of the more prominent ways in which Linux deferrers from Windows.

For starters there is only one company that releases a Windows operating system, and that company is Microsoft. All versions of Windows, weather Windows XP Home, Business, or Vista, all updates, security patches, and service patches for Windows comes from Microsoft. With Linux on the other hand there is not one company that releases it. Linux has millions of coders and companies throughout the world, volunteering their time to work on patches, updates, newer versions, and software applications. Although some companies, charge for TECH support, and others charge for their distribution of Linux, by packaging it with non-free software, you will always be able to get the Linux Kernel for free, and you can get full-featured Linux desktops with all the necessary applications for general use, for free as well. The vendors that charge money for their distribution of Linux are also required to release a free version in order to comply with the GPL License agreement. With Microsoft Windows on the other hand you have to pay Microsoft for the software, and you will also have to pay for most of the applications that you will use.

Windows and Linux also differ on TECH support issues. Windows is backed by the Microsoft Corporation, which means that if you have an issue with any of their products the company should resolve it. For example if Microsoft Windows is not working right, then you should be able to call Microsoft and make use of their TECH support to fix the issue. TECH support is usually included with the purchase of the product for a certain amount of time, maybe a two year period, and from there on you may be charged for the service. Although IBM backs their Linux products, for the most part if you use Linux you are on your own. If you have a problem with Ubuntu Linux you cannot call Ubuntu and expect any help. Despite the lack of professional help, you can however receive good TECH advice, from the thousands or millions of Linux forums that are on the web. You ca also get great help from social networking sites such as Myspace, by posting questions in the many Linux groups. You can usually receive responses for your questions in a matter of hours form many qualified people.

Configurability is another key difference between the two operating software’s. Although Windows offers its control panel to help users configure the computer to their liking, it does not match the configuring options that Linux provides especially if you are a real TECH savvy user. In Linux the Kernel is open source, so if you have the know how, you can modify it in virtually any way that you see fit. Also Linux offers a variety of Graphical environments to further suit your needs. As mentioned earlier Linux is capable of running full-featured graphical environments like KDE, or more lightweight and resource friendly GUI’s like Fluxbox, or Blackbox, to suit users with older computers. There are also versions of Linux that are designed to emulate the Windows look and feel as closely as possible. Distributions such as Linspire are best suited for users that are migrating over from the Windows world. There are also distributions that include no graphical environment at all to better suit users that need to squeeze out all of the computing power that they can get for various computing activities, and for users that are more advanced than others. All of this configurability can be problematic sometimes, as you will have to make a decision on which desktop is right for you, and to make things easier on yourself you will need to only install applications that are native to your distribution and graphical environment.

(ref #1) The cost effectiveness of Linux is another way it separates itself from Windows. For home use Linux is cheap and in most cases completely free, while Windows varies in cost depending on which version you buy. With Linux most of the applications will also be free, however for Windows in the majority of cases you are suppose to pay for the applications. For most cases, with Linux there is no need to enter a product activation key when performing an installation, you are free to install it on as many computers as you’d like. With Windows you are only allowed to install it on one computer and Microsoft uses product activation software to enforce this rule. When installing Window’s you must enter a product activation key, which will expire after so many uses. If you wish too, you can purchase Linux from a variety of vendors, which will include a boxed set of CDs, Manuals, and TECH support for around 40-130$. Of course If you purchase a high-end version of Linux used for servers it may cost any where from 400$- 2000$. “In 2002 computer world magazine quoted the chief technology architect at Merrill Lynch in New York, as saying “the cost of running Linux is typically a tenth of the cost of running Unix or Windows alternatively.” (ref#1)

(ref #1) Installation of Windows is generally easier, than installing Linux. “With Windows XP there are three main ways to install. There is a clean install, in which you install Windows on a blank hard drive. There is also an upgrade install, in which you start with an older version of Windows and “upgrade” to a newer one. An advantage of upgrading is that all of the files on the older system should remain intact throughout the process. You can also perform a repair install, in which case you are installing the same version of Windows on top of itself in order to fix a damaged version of Windows. There is also a recovery, which Technically is not an install; it is used to restore a copy of Windows back to its factory settings. The disadvantage of recovering Windows is the fact that you will loose all of your data, which resides on the damaged copy of Windows.” (ref#1) Also with Windows you can rest assured that your hardware will most likely be supported by the operating software, although this is not much of a problem with Linux you cant be sure if Linux will support all of your hardware. With Linux installation varies greatly from Distro to Distro. You may be presented with a graphical installer or it may be a text-based installer, these variations make Linux a bit more difficult and unpredictable to install than is Windows, (although the difficulty is disappearing). You may perform a clean install of Linux or dual boot it, to co-exist with another operation software. With Linux rather than having to buy an upgrade Cd, you can install updates by downloading and then installing them while your desktop is running. With Linux it is also not necessary to reboot your computer after most upgrades, It is only necessary to reboot after an upgrade to the kernel. It is also possible to run Linux without ever needing to install it on a hard drive; there are many distributions of Linux that will allow you to run it straight off of a live cd. The advantage of this is that you do not need to alter your system in order to

try Linux. You can run Linux off of the CD so you do not have to damage your Windows partition. Other advantages include the ability to rescue a broken Linux system. If your Linux computer will not boot, then you may insert a live cd and boot off it, so you can repair the damaged version of Linux. Also you may use a Linux live cd to recover files from a damaged Windows computer that will no longer boot up. Since Linux is capable of reading NTFS files you may copy files form a Windows computer to a USB flash drive or floppy drive ect.

Another major difference between Linux and Windows is the applications that you will use with either OS. Windows includes a much wider abundance of commercially backed applications than does Linux. It is much easier to find the software that you are looking for with Windows than it is with Linux, because so many software vendors make their products compatible with Windows only. With Linux you will for the most part be forced to let go of the familiar applications that you have grown accustomed to with Windows, in favor of lesser-known open source apps that are made for Linux. Applications such as Microsoft office, Outlook, Internet Explorer, Adobe Creative suite, and chat clients such as MSN messenger, do not work natively with Linux. Although with Linux you can get Microsoft office and Adobe creative suite to work using software from codeWeavers called cross Over Office. Instead of using these applications you will need to use Linux apps such as open office, The Gimp Image Editor, The ThunderBird email client, Instead of the MSN messenger you can use the GAIM messenger, and you can use Firefox as your web browser. Also with Linux it can be difficult to install software even if it is made for Linux. This is due to the fact that Linux has so many different versions. Software that is made to install on one version probably will require some configuration in order to install on another version. An example would be if you were trying to install software that was made for the KDE graphical environment, on the GNOME GUI, This app would not easily install on the GNOME GUI, and would require some configuring on your part to successfully install it.

The type of hard ware that Linux and windows runs on also causes them to differ. Linux will run on many different hardware platforms, from Intel and AMD chips, to computers running IBM power Pc processors. Linux will run on the slowest 386 machines to the biggest mainframes on the planet, newer versions of Windows will not run on the same amount of hardware as Linux. Linux can even be configured to run on apples, Ipod’s, or smart phones. A disadvantage of Linux is when it comes to using hardware devices such as Printers, Scanners, or Digital camera’s. Where as the driver software for these devices will often be easily available for Windows, with Linux you are for the most part left on your own to find drivers for these devices. Most Linux users will find comfort in the fact that drivers for the latest hardware are constantly being written by coders throughout the world and are usually very quickly made available.

(ref #1) One of the most notable differences between the two operating software’s is Windows legendary problems with malicious code, known as Viruses and Spy ware. Viruses, Spy-ware and a general lack of security are the biggest problems facing the Windows community. Under Windows Viruses and Spy-ware have the ability to execute themselves with little or no input from the user. This makes guarding against them a constant concern for any Windows user. Windows users are forced to employ third party anti virus software to help limit the possibility of the computer being rendered useless by malicious code. Anti virus software often has the negative side effect of hogging system resources, thus slowing down your entire computer, also most anti virus software requires that you pay a subscription service, and that you constantly download updates in order to stay ahead of the intruders. With Linux on the other hand problems with viruses are practically non-existent, and in reality you do not even need virus protection for your Linux machine. One reason why Viruses and Spy-ware are not a problem for Linux is simply due to the fact that there are far fewer being made for Linux. A more important reason is that running a virus on a Linux machine is more difficult and requires a lot more input from the user. With Windows you may accidentally run and execute a virus, by opening an email attachment, or by double clicking on a file that contains malicious code. However with Linux a virus would need to run in the terminal, which requires the user to give the file execute permissions, and then open it in the terminal. And in order to cause any real damage to the system the user would have to log in as root, by typing a user name and password before running the virus. Foe example to run a virus that is embedded in an email attachment the user would have to, open the attachment, then save it, then right click the file and chose properties form the menu, in properties they can give it execute permissions, they would then be able to

open the file in the terminal to run the virus. And even then the user would only be able to damage his or her home folder, all other users data will be left untouched, and all root system files would also remain untouched, because Linux would require a root password to make changes to these files. The only way the user can damage the whole computer would be if he or she logged in as root user by providing the root user name and password to the terminal before running the virus. Unlike Windows in Linux an executable file cannot run automatically, It needs to be given execute permissions manually this significantly improves security. In Linux the only realistic reason you would need virus protection is if you share files with Windows users, and that is to protect them not you, so you are not to accidentally pass a virus to the Windows computer that you are sharing files with.

The above was a general over view of some differences between the Windows operating system, and Linux. To recap we started with the fact that Windows has only one vendor that releases the software, while Linux comes from millions of different coders throughout the world. We also commented on the fact that the Linux Kernel and much of the applications used with it are completely free of charge, where as with windows you are forced to pay for most of the software. Unlike Widows Linux is often lacking in professional Tech support, and Linux users are often left on their own to solve Technical issues. Linux users can either pay for Tech support or rely on the many Linux Forums and groups available on the Internet. Due to the fact that the kernel is open source, Linux has a huge advantage over Windows in configurability. You can configure Linux to run almost any way you see fit by manipulating the Kernel. Installing the Windows Operating software and applications is easier due to the fact that it has a universal installer. Also finding applications for Windows is easier because of its popularity most apps are available for Windows only, and are made easily available. Linux will run on a greater variety of hard ware than does Windows, from mainframe super computers running multiple IBM Power PC Chips, to a small laptop running an AMD processor. And of course the biggest difference in this writer’s opinion is the fact that Linux does not suffer from an onslaught of Viruses and other malicious code, unlike Windows which is plagued by countless number of malicious code that can easily destroy your system if not properly guarded against.

In conclusion we will conclude that the Linux OS really is the superior software. Other than a few minor nuisances, linux out performs Windows in most categories. The fact that Linux is more secure is the tipping point, that tilts the scales in the favor of Linux. Windows simply suffers from far to many security vulnerabilities for it to be considered the better over all desktop environment.

References

http://www.michaelhorowitz.com/Linux.vs.Windows.html Reference #1

http://www.theinquirer.net/en/inquirer/news/2004/10/27/linux-more-secure-than-windows-says-study Reference #2

http://www.linux.com/whatislinux/ reference number 3

http://www.linux.org/info/

Reference #4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux%5Fkernel Reference #5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KDE Reference #6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNOME Reference #7

About The Author
Matthew Gebhardt is a proud linux user that runs his own dedicated linux website http://www.alinuxworld.com

A History Into Microsoft Products

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:10:00 +0000

Microsoft Windows is the name of several families of software operating systems by Microsoft. Microsoft first introduced an operating environment named Windows in November 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces (GUIs). The most recent client version of Windows is Windows Vista. The current server version of Windows is Windows Server 2008.

Windows 1.0 (1985)

The first version of Windows provided a new software environment for developing and running applications that use bitmap displays and mouse pointing devices. Before Windows, PC users relied on the MS-DOS® method of typing commands at the C prompt (C:\). With Windows, users moved a mouse to point and click their way through tasks, such as starting applications.

In addition, Windows users could switch among several concurrently running applications. The product included a set of desktop applications, including the MS-DOS file management program, a calendar, card file, notepad, calculator, clock, and telecommunications programs, which helped users, manage day-to-day activities.

Windows 2.0 (1987)

Windows 2.0 took advantage of the improved processing speed of the Intel 286 processor, expanded memory, and inter-application communication capabilities made possible through Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). With improved graphics support, users could now overlap windows, control screen layout, and use keyboard combinations to move rapidly through Windows operations. Many developers wrote their first Windows–based applications for this release.

Windows 3.0 (1990)

The third major release of the Windows platform from Microsoft offered improved performance, advanced graphics with 16 colors, and full support of the more powerful Intel 386 processor. A new wave of 386 PCs helped drive the popularity of Windows 3.0, which offered a wide range of useful features and capabilities, including:

Program Manager, File Manager, and Print Manager.

A completely rewritten application development environment.

An improved set of Windows icons.

Windows NT 3.1 (1993)

When Microsoft Windows NT® was released to manufacturing on July 27, 1993, Microsoft met an important milestone: the completion of a project begun in the late 1980s to build an advanced new operating system from scratch.

Windows NT was the first Windows operating system to combine support for high-end, client/server business applications with the industry's leading personal productivity applications.

Windows for Workgroups 3.11 (1993)

A superset of Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups 3.11 added peer-to-peer workgroup and domain networking support. For the first time, Windows–based PCs were network-aware and became an integral part of the emerging client/server computing evolution.

Windows for Workgroups was used in local area networks (LANs) and on standalone PCs and laptop computers. It added features of special interest to corporate users, such as centralized configuration and security, significantly improved support for Novell NetWare networks, and remote access service (RAS)

Windows NT Workstation 3.5 (1994)

The Windows NT Workstation 3.5 release provided the highest degree of protection yet for critical business applications and data. With support for the OpenGL graphics standard, this operating system helped power high-end applications for software development, engineering, financial analysis, scientific, and business-critical tasks.

Windows 95 (1995)

Windows 95 was the successor to the three existing general-purpose desktop operating systems from Microsoft—Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups, and MS-DOS. Windows 95 integrated a 32-bit TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) stack for built-in Internet support, dial-up networking, and new Plug and Play capabilities that made it easy for users to install hardware and software.

The 32-bit operating system also offered enhanced multimedia capabilities, more powerful features for mobile computing, and integrated networking.

Windows NT Workstation 4.0 (1996)

This upgrade to the Microsoft business desktop operating system brought increased ease of use and simplified management, higher network throughput, and tools for developing and managing intranets. Windows NT Workstation 4.0 included the popular Windows 95 user interface yet provided improved networking support for easier and more secure access to the Internet and corporate intranets.

Windows 98 (1998)

Windows 98 was the upgrade from Windows 95. Described as an operating system that "Works Better, Plays Better," Windows 98 was the first version of Windows designed specifically for consumers.

With Windows 98, users could find information more easily on their PCs as well as the Internet. Other ease-of-use improvements included the ability to open and close applications more quickly, support for reading DVD discs, and support for universal serial bus (USB) devices

Windows 98 Second Edition (1999)

Windows 98 SE, as it was often abbreviated, was an incremental update to Windows 98. It offered consumers a variety of new and enhanced hardware compatibility and Internet-related features.

Windows 98 SE helped improve users' online experience with the Internet Explorer 5.0 browser technology and Microsoft Windows NetMeeting® 3.0 conferencing software. It also included Microsoft DirectX® API 6.1, which provided improved support for Windows multimedia, and offered home networking capabilities through Internet connection sharing (ICS)

Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me) (2000)

Designed for home computer users, Windows Me offered consumers numerous music, video, and home networking enhancements and reliability improvements.

Windows Me was the last Microsoft operating system to be based on the Windows 95 code base. Microsoft announced that all future operating system products would be based on the Windows NT and Windows 2000 kernel.

Windows 2000 Professional (2000)

Windows 2000 added major improvements in reliability, ease of use, Internet compatibility, and support for mobile computing.

Among other improvements, Windows 2000 Professional simplified hardware installation by adding support for a wide variety of new Plug and Play hardware, including advanced networking and wireless products, USB devices, IEEE 1394 devices, and infrared devices.

Windows XP (2001)

With the release of Windows XP in October 2001, Microsoft merged its two Windows operating system lines for consumers and businesses, uniting them around the Windows 2000 code base.

With Windows XP, home users can work with and enjoy music, movies, messaging, and photos with their computer, while business users can work smarter and faster, thanks to new technical-support technology, a fresh user interface, and many other improvements that make it easier to use for a wide range of tasks

Windows VISTA

Windows Vista is a line of operating systems developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, Tablet PCs, and media centers.

Windows Vista contains many changes and new features, including an updated graphical user interface and visual style dubbed Windows Aero, improved searching features, new multimedia creation tools such as Windows DVD Maker, and redesigned networking, audio, print, and display sub-systems

About The Author
Mehmet Onatli

Discover more about computers and http://www.registryheal.com/ from his website. He shares some of his things he learned in 10 years experience.

5 Essential Ingredients of a Successful Online Work at Home Business

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:00:00 +0000

The internet changes daily as far as what works and what doesn't when it comes to making money online.

If you are new to work at home online businesses, your head can spin with all the hype, sales pitches , and outright lies as far as the reality of starting up an online home based business.

There are however a few things to look for in your search for a work at home business that can become some nice additional income, or even better, your "job". Working at home, generating $1000 a day is far from what I call a "job".

To help ease your frustration, and point you in the right direction for what you should be looking for in today's online marketplace, the following summarizes the 5 essential ingredients in a winning work at home online business opportunity.

Later in this brief overview, I will offer a "secret" to online success that is rarely mentioned in the many articles written on the subject.

1. SYSTEM- This may be the most crucial item to your success. You need a System that generates prospects, educates them on your business opportunity, sorts and weeds out those that are not interested in your offer, then closes the sale at a conversion rate that ensures profitability. The System must be as automated as possible so you aren't spending hours cold calling or following up with people that are probably not interested, then trying to use your sales closing skills to make a sale.

Think of the successful off line businesses such as McDonalds, Tim Hortons or Subway. Do you think they could duplicate those businesses all over the country, setting up new franchise owners to run these businesses, without a SYSTEM that works?

2. BIG Profits- This is important as the advertising needed to result in sales can be quite costly. For some $1000 price point business programs, it isn't unusual to spend $200, $400 or even $600 to make that $1000 sale. Of course, there are ways to also spend $0 in advertising, but the reality is advertising is often on the range where to make $1, you may need to spend $0.40. Your profit is still $0.60. Would you do that over and over if you had a automated system in place to make this happen? Big Profits allows enough profit so your advertising cost is well covered by your selling price. You can't do much advertising to make a profit on selling a $20 ebook for example.

3. Hot Products- Yes, the product must be tangible and have use and value. There are many new business opportunities that offer $75,000 or more worth of downloadable products that sell for $1000. That's pretty HOT, and full of value. Having a product that can be downloaded, means NO shipping. Now that is just way too easy.

4. Leads and Traffic- This is probably the most perplexing for most new work at home business owners. An online business will never make any money without a source of leads (prospects). The key to providing leads to an online business is they need to be targeted.

This means you need to advertise to a niche market of people looking for exactly what your offers. Seems so simple a concept, but so may people struggle in building their prospect list.

5. Support and Training- as with any business start up, you need to learn your work at home online business program.Make sure that your business program has ample training and resources so you know exactly what to do to get those prospects to your System. This is not always easy to figure out when doing your due diligence on an offer.

As a suggestion, make sure you ask for examples of where and how you will advertise. Also ask where will you get the wording for the ads,who will write the ad copy and the followup messages, what the conversion rates are for your system. If your sponsor can't provide good answers, then they may not be that successful themselves.

This is just a brief overview of what today's online business programs need to cut through the many offers out there and make your business stand out to others.

Earlier I mentioned I'd offer a "secret" to successful online work at home business programs that is rarely mentioned in the various sales pitches. The true secret just might be you.

Most people do not realize they are starting up a real business. There will be ups and downs, profitability may not come overnight, or you may expect riches in the first few days.

I am sure some people have had such success, but most starting out, very likely start with leads, no prior list of prospects, and a small advertising budget. You then need to make good decisions to leverage your sales to grow your business.

The best way to accomplish an online business start up is with the very best automated SYSTEM. Then you can spend most of your time on advertising and growing your prospect list- leaving the rest to the system to close sales which will deliver you paying customers. Then you can train your new customers to do what you know how to do!

For more information on automated systems, please take a look at our main business review website.

To your success!

http://www.businessreviews4you.com

About The Author
Stan Tomaszewski offers his unique services to assist you the newbie in starting a profitable home based business.

http://www.businessreviews4you.com

Web Development And The Big Time Out

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:58:00 +0000

One of the great debilitators in online business is simply the perceived (or real) lack of time. Business owners are used to moving forward. An online web presence can make them feel tied to an office chair learning skills they aren’t sure they want to know.

It’s not uncommon for those who deal in full time web design to have individuals contact them for a site design, but have absolutely no idea what they want. Furthermore when the designer questions them the response might be, “I don’t know, just make it look nice.” Let’s not forget the core values or mission of the business. Many business owners have no idea how to answer those kinds of questions. They may stare blankly for a moment or two and there’s no more time for further deep thought so they go back to action – without answers. In many cases it is possible to answer some of the questions needed, but it may require taking time away from a familiar setting. It may also require more time than you think you want to give. If you can get to a place of concentrated contemplation you are likely to find yourself stripping ideas to their core to find out what your business is trying to accomplish and what your ultimate goals might be. As with almost any project you can turn frustration around if you will just take the time to come to terms with your vision. Sometimes we spend so much time ‘doing’ we never stop to ask the question, “Why?” This process can be a bit like taking a bus that drives around the park. You keep looking at the flowers and the park bench and long to sit in the quiet shade of a tree and just absorb the calming atmosphere. You know they will have a positive effect on you, but for some reason you just can’t seem to find the energy to get off the bus. It seems to me there are some sites that are misguided or rarely guided that could benefit from the process of self-evaluation. These sites may look nice, but there is a sense of disconnection that may not be easy to identify, but it’s fairly obvious to visitors. Creative energy is at a minimum while business owners simply tackle what seem to be the most urgent details. As more people gravitate to online business there needs to be a shift in the thinking of how one goes about doing business online. In many ways it can’t be approached in the same way a traditional business is developed, yet that is typically the way many new web commerce ventures choose to tackle the subject. You may discover your business will be more successful if you take some time for rigorous reflection. The time set aside can be a bit like an architect that takes the time to develop plans for a new building. You wouldn’t expect the architect to simply tell a construction crew to, “Go out there and build – something.” Work at ‘building’ your online business in a comprehensive way. Your effort can develop a firm foundation for long-term success.

About The Author

Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. Make your own website in just 5 minutes with HighPowerSites at: http://www.highpowersites.com/ or Build A Website at: http://www.buildagreatsite.com/. Start your own ebook business with BooksWealth at: http://www.bookswealth.com/

Advantages of a Custom Website versus using a Website Builder Tool

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:57:00 +0000

The internet has revolutionized business all around the globe. Almost every competent new or existing business wishes to exploit the incredible potential of the internet, and the first step is to have a web site designed done and maintained by a professional web site design service or build and maintain it yourself. One of the first things to consider is your computer ability. If you despise computers and software and find them confusing and frustrating then building your own website can be quite a task.

One that you may not want to undertake. However, if you enjoy working with computers and learning new things or if you just have the patience to stick with it, then building a website is within your grasp. You may also decide to do it yourself to save cost. If you still feel that you want to build your own site you should choose software that is easy to use and user friendly. Your website should be as unique as you and your business. You should select the website that is specialized in what will meet all your needs, both now and in the future. Custom based websites are for those who already have a website but are looking for those special finishing touches that quality custom graphics can provide. Designer graphics can make your website stand out above the rest and a custom website specializes in taking your original graphic or photo and turning it into a unique work of art. Quality graphics make an incredible difference in the visual appeal of your website. Actual site "content" continues to be essential to the success of a website. More often than not though, visual appeal is the determining factor as to whether or not a client or customer will remain on a website long enough, to actually see the product or service the business is providing. Custom websites are for those who don’t have the time to design or create, but want to get things mush better and fast with a nice graphics. Web site builders are online tools which anyone can use to build a professional looking Web site without programming and have it hosted instantly. No software to buy, no code to learn, all you need is to be a little Internet savvy and know how to click your mouse. Most business owners today know that having a web site is an essential component of marketing. In the past, the choices were to hire a professional web designer, hire a local teenager to create a site for mall money, or learn to do it yourself. The last two options, are the least expensive, and were the preferred method for small businesses. The results are often not what businesses need to grow, reach, and impress new potential customers, however. They seem good at the start but quickly become limiting. If you operate or manage a business, you surely must realize the increase in e-commerce taking place today. Many businesses find themselves searching for the best way to increase their exposure on the internet, and for most a website is the first course of action. As most businesses operate on firm budgets, finding cost effective solutions are usually one of the first thoughts when looking to make new purchases. When it comes to creating a website there are many affordable software programs that can produce professional results. Business software should be capable of handling your needs today and in the future. Business are always changing, adding new products, changing or removing old products, offering specials, having sales, etc. By choosing a business website builder over a professional web designer you will be able to make changes to your website whenever you want to. Another benefit is that you will be avoiding the high costs associated with developing the website and costs for making any necessary changes. Website Builder tools advantages to you are increased revenue, cost control, caters to the large demand existing for web designing in the SME sector and can increase the client base without adding to your overhead. The advantage that your customers gets is a professional quality website, up and running in minutes and a User friendly and easily customizable interfaces that gives a complete website with all its frills and features and a nice attractive design. The downside is that you are limited to the look and functions of the tool and the templates or designs they provide. On of the advantage of a custom website design is that the web site will look and function exactly as you want. A custom made web site can promote your brand and increase sales. The functionality and design of your website is important, because the images and text on the screen can make an indifferent visitor turn into a keen client, and the goal is to optimize your site to evolve maximum traffic conversion. As more and more people are starting their own small home business many are finding that having a website is an important factor to consider. When one starts to consider building a website, especially the novice, many questions arise including…. can I create a website myself or should I hire a professional? Hiring a professional is a great way to go if you can afford it. Although there are several things to keep in mind: how much will it cost? How much will ongoing maintenance cost? What will changes cost? How long will changes take? etc. As a result, many people opt to build their own website and begin searching for software that can easily help them. As you start searching for an easy web site builder, there are some factors that you should take into consideration so that your new software will serve you now and the future. There is quite a variety of easy web site building software and content management(CMS) based websites on the market today. In addition, some of the software available today is very expensive, geared more for the professional web designer, and come with a huge learning curve. The options for small businesses to get a site developed have changed from the past. There are now sophisticated "site builder" tools available to small business owners, bundled with many web hosting packages. By using templates, and a content management system to manage updates to the site, it became easier to set up and maintain a web site, and many development companies have canned this functionality, for a fee. Hosting providers are increasingly offering tools to automate the web site building process, and with good reason. This new option has many benefits, as long as the business owner recognizes that there are trade offs and limitations to getting a web site this way. Some of the downsides are…the design is limited to their predefined templates. The functionality is limited to the tool. Also, in most website builder tools it is hard to perform search engine optimization, which is essential for a site to be found in the major search engines. One of the biggest attractions for site building tools is the cost. It won't necessarily cost less to get your site this way, but it does provide a way to spread the cost over time. The cost for a custom website varies as per the feature and function it carries with itself. Many people are concerned with building their own website, fearing boring designs and complexity. However, it is now becoming apparent that there are many custom web site builder software products on the market that promise dynamic layouts, professional templates, and user friendly web design tools. The professional web designers know there are a few more things to know, but sometimes they find some irony in the fact that web developers, in their quest to improve and better the web, have made themselves "optional". Most site building tools today are very robust, making it simple to add forms, searching, maps, guest books, calendars, and a whole variety of elements to a web site. Even better, the hosting company sometimes offers an entire suite of services - the site builder, email marketing, search engine optimization and statistics, all in one package along with the hosting. There is also a possibility that the service will require you to keep some branding on the site telling people that you used their website designs and tools. This is more common with the free site builders - which pay for themselves by putting ads on your site. If your goal is to build a business web site, it's really not worth sacrificing your professional image by getting something free, which screams CHEAP. Low quality websites sometimes attempt to sell expensive products or services. These websites cannot succeed. Studies reveals people spend more time on a well designed web page than on a low quality web page. There is a comparative relationship between the amount of time that an average visitor will spend on a web page and the amount of time that was spent building the web page. Websites are an important aspect of online businesses. They are the first face of interaction between the user and the business. The website creates the first impression on the user and hence needs to be effective and impressive too. It is the job of web design services to make the website user friendly and search engine friendly too, so that it can serve the purpose of both effectively. A tool can make things happen - but if you don't know what to make happen, it is either a useless tool or a dangerous one. There is a learning curve in knowing how to present information online (called information architecture in the profession), as well as for using the site builder. In other word, the fuller featured the tool; the more there is to learn. If you aren't familiar with color theory, use of typography, information architecture, navigation and interface design, and page layout and design, you can potentially make something that will hurt your business more than help it. So, unless you are already computer and web savvy, figuring out all the features within your web hosting and site builder package can be time consuming and frustrating. In the end there are ways that a business can take advantage of these new options and still create a functional and professional web site. One way is simply take your time and research the available website templates, and find the one that has the most features and flexibility, that meet your functional requirements. In other words, spend the time to learn the things a seasoned pro would bring to the table. The internet is a massive library of "how to" information, where you can literally teach yourself anything - and with enough time spent, you could potentially learn how to layout information, what colors and fonts work well together, how to conduct your marketing online and optimize the site for search engines. The second is choosing the best suitable custom website design company and work with them to build a professional website that meets your needs get your imaginations carried and make business a greta success. About HostChart.com HostChart, a Web Hosting Company Resource, is a leading web hosting directory website that has been in business for over 5 years. They provide numerous web hosting articles and tutorials as well as news, interviews, and reviews. You can use their extensive set of tools to research and evaluate your current or future web hosts. HostChart is a Property of Advantage1 Web Services, which also operates ResellerConnection.com, a a href="Reseller" class="hft-urls">http://www.resellerconnection.com">Reseller Web Hosting Resource, HostingKnowledge.net, and FoundHost.com, a a href="Budget" class="hft-urls">http://www.foundhost.com">Budget Hosting Resource.

About The Author
Rodney Ringler is President of Advantage1 Web Services, Inc., which owns a network of Web Hosting Informational Websites including HostChart.com, ResellerConnection.com, FoundHost.com, ResellerForums.com, and HostingKnowledge.net. Rodney has over 15 years industry experience from programming to internet marketing.

A Guide on RSS Tool

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:55:00 +0000

RSS is an abbreviation that has evolved into the following, depending on their versions: • RDF Site Summary (also known as RSS 0.9; the first version of RSS) • Rich Site Summary (also known as RSS 0.91; a prototype) • Really Simple Syndication (also known as RSS 2.0) Today, RSS stands for 'Really Simple Syndication', and it has the following 7 existing formats or versions: • 0.90 • 0.91 • 0.92 • 0.93 • 0.94 • 1.0 • 2.0 RSS tools refer to a group of file formats that are designed to share headlines and other web content (this may be a summary or simply 1 to 2 lines of the article), links to the full versions of the content (the full article or post), and even file attachments such as multimedia files.

RSS is an abbreviation that has evolved into the following, depending on their versions: • RDF Site Summary (also known as RSS 0.9; the first version of RSS) • Rich Site Summary (also known as RSS 0.91; a prototype) • Really Simple Syndication (also known as RSS 2.0) Today, RSS stands for 'Really Simple Syndication', and it has the following 7 existing formats or versions: • 0.90 • 0.91 • 0.92 • 0.93 • 0.94 • 1.0 • 2.0 RSS tools refer to a group of file formats that are designed to share headlines and other web content (this may be a summary or simply 1 to 2 lines of the article), links to the full versions of the content (the full article or post), and even file attachments such as multimedia files. All of these data is delivered in the form of an XML file (XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language), which has the following common names: • RSS feed • Webfeed • RSS stream • RSS channel They are typically shown on web pages as an orange rectangle that usually has the letters XML or RSS in it. RSS feeds can be used to deliver any kind of information. Some of these 'feeds' include: • Blogs feed - each blog entry is summarized as a feed item. This makes blog posts easier to scan, enabling 'visitors' to zoom in on their items of interest. • Article feed - this alerts readers whenever there are new articles and web contents available. • Forum feed - this allows users to receive forum posts and latest discussion topics. • Schedule feed - this allows users (such as schools, clubs, and other organizations) to broadcast events and announce schedule changes or meeting agendas. • Discounts or Special feed - this is used to enable users (such as retail and online stores) to 'deliver' latest specials and discounted offers. • Ego or News Monitoring - this enables users to receive 'filtered' headlines or news that are based on a specific phrase or keyword. • Industry-specific feed - used by technical professionals in order to market, promote, or communicate with current (and prospective) customers and clients within their specific industries. RSS feeds enable people to track numerous blogs and news sources at the same time. To produce an RSS feed, all you need is the content or the article that you want to publicize and a validated RSS text file. Once your text file is registered at various aggregators (or 'news readers'), any external site can then capture and display your RSS feed, automatically updating them whenever you update your RSS file. RSS tools are useful for sites that add or modify their contents on a regular basis. They are especially used for 'web syndication' or activities that involve regular updates and/or publications, such as the following: • News websites - as used by major news organizations such as Reuters, CNN, and the BBC. • Marketing • Bug reports • Personal weblogs There are many benefits to using RSS feeds. Aside from being a great supplemental communication method that streamlines the communication needs of various sectors, RSS tools and feeds can also have tremendous benefits in your business, particularly in the field of internet marketing. RSS tools and feeds provide Internet users with a free (or cheap) and easy advertising or online marketing opportunity for their businesses. Below are some of the RSS features that can help make your internet marketing strategies more effective. 1. Ease in content distribution services. With RSS, your business can be captured and displayed by virtually any external site, giving you an easy way to 'spread out' and advertise them. 2. Ease in regular content updates. With RSS, web contents concerning your business can now be automatically updated on a daily (and even hourly) basis. Internet users will be able to experience 'real time' updates as information in your own file (such as new products and other business-related releases) is changed and modified simultaneously with that of the RSS feeds that people are subscribed to. 3. Custom-made content services. With RSS, visitors can have personalized content services, allowing them total control of the flow and type of information that they receive. Depending on their interests and needs, visitors can subscribe to only those contents that they are looking for (such as real estate or job listings). 4. Increase in (and targeted) traffic. With RSS, traffic will be directed to your site as readers of your content summary (or 1 to 2 lines of your article) who find them interesting are 'forced' to click on a link back to your site. These are just several of the many things that you can do with RSS. The possibilities are endless, and they are all aimed at providing you with an effective internet marketing strategy for your business. In the mean time, Good Luck on your journey to success… OR if you would like to succeed immediately to create financial freedom working only 4 hours a week, check out www.secrets2internetfortunes.com. AND for a Limited Time, you will also receive a FREE copy of a limited number of the amazing 60 page eBook “52 Highly Profitable Instant Online Business Ideas That You Can Steal As Your Own And Start Today On A Very Tight Budget!”, which is jam packed with so many ideas you can use to instantly create an automated income for life! That’s my GIFT to You as a way of saying thank you for reading my articles.

About The Author

Terry Leslie is a very successful and world renowned authority figure in both on and off line marketing, and rapid business creation. A much sought after global speaker in the areas of internet marketing, business development, self-improvement and human peak potential training. For more Secrets to Internet Business success, check out http://www.secrets2internetfortunes.com

Remote Blog or Self Hosted Blog?

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:53:00 +0000

So you’ve decided to blog, but aren’t sure whether you should host the blog yourself or sign up for a free service like blogger.com. It’s a dilemma that many bloggers face. There are pros and cons to both, which makes the decision difficult for many. Neither is perfect, and neither is for everyone. Fortunately, you should be able to make the best decision for you if you are armed with adequate knowledge of both. In this newsletter, we’ll go over services like blogger.com and others, plus software that allows you to host your own blog.

So you’ve decided to blog, but aren’t sure whether you should host the blog yourself or sign up for a free service like blogger.com. It’s a dilemma that many bloggers face. There are pros and cons to both, which makes the decision difficult for many. Neither is perfect, and neither is for everyone. Fortunately, you should be able to make the best decision for you if you are armed with adequate knowledge of both. In this newsletter, we’ll go over services like blogger.com and others, plus software that allows you to host your own blog. We’ll also go over the pros and cons of each. After reading this, you will know which is best for you. Who offers free blog hosting? Many sites offer free blog hosting. Among them are Forumer, Blogger, BlogEasy, Aeonity, BlogThing and Blogates. A quick search for “free blog” on Google reveals many possibilities. What software can I use to host my own blog? Like free blog hosting, there are many possibilities for software that makes hosting your own blog easy. Most of them are free to use. These include: WordPress(the most popular software) Apache Roller Blosxom Geeklog Textpattern LifeType There is also blog software which you can purchase for use on your site. These include: Community Server Movable Type Radio UserLand One negative about using software and hosting your own blog is that the process can often times be complicated. You have to download the software and install it to your server, which doesn’t always go easily. It’s particularly hard for those who don’t have a lot of experience installing things on servers. Why should I remotely host my blog at a place like Blogger? Places like Blogger allow you to host your blog there. It’s a good option for many people. The Pros • It’s easy to set up and maintain a blog. You don’t have to go through the trouble of installing software and configuring it to work on your server. All you have to do is sign up for an account and start posting. • It’s friendly for beginning bloggers. Sites that host blogs offer good tutorials on how to make your blog postings, so that even someone who is completely new to the concept of blogging can do it easily. • Most blog hosting sites are completely free to use. There is no need to pay for things like a domain name and hosting. • Monetizing your blog is easy. Rather than having to manually put HTML/Javascript codes on your blog to manually set up things like AdSense and Pay Per Click advertising, you can select an option on most blog hosting sites that does much of the work for you. The Cons • You don’t have as many options to customize your blog. Remotely hosted blogs are admittedly somewhat limited in terms of what you can actually do on them. You have to stick with what is provided to you in terms of look and features. • The URL you get is always yourname.BLOGSITE.com. You don’t get to have a custom domain name like YOURNAME.com. This can possibly hurt traffic to your blog. • Blogs hosted on free blog sites don’t look as professional as self hosted blogs. Why should I self-host my blog? The Pros • You have more options and more flexibility. You are able to tweak the blog to your liking. • Your URL is your address for your blog. Rather than having go to where your blog is hosted to read it, they can read it right from your site. • The ability to make your blog look professional. Blogs that are hosted on sites of their own tend to look a lot better than those hosted on free sites. • More space for your blog. Free blog sites usually place a restriction on how much space you have for things like photos and music. By hosting your own blog, you are able to use as much space as you need. The Cons • There are sometimes problems with setting up blog software to run on your site and server. If you aren’t experienced when it comes to working with mySQL, the process will be hard. • Updates aren’t as easy to post. • You have to manually set up programs to monetize your blog. However, if you are good with HTML/Javascript, this shouldn’t be too hard. • You have to pay for your own hosting and domain As you can see, there are pros and cons to both. Which should you choose? Well, it depends on who you are and what you intend to use your blog for. If you intend to use it for business, then a self-hosted blog is the best idea. If it’s a personal blog, then a free hosted blog will probably be fine for you. Closely examine all of the pros and cons mentioned above. That way, you’ll be able to make the best decision for you!

About The Author

Len Hutton is a information publisher specialising in helping people start their own home based business. Get a no cost video showing you step by step how to set up a niche ebook empire at www.nicheresidualincomes.com If you are considering using Google Pay-Per-Click Ads to promote your blog check out this web site http://rowner.freegoogle.hop.clickbank.net/

Creating A Software Library

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:52:00 +0000

Every business uses computer software. But not every business realises the importance of having a user friendly software library for cataloging all their software. While sharing software and using it on more than one computer is against the law, making a copy to keep in your software library in case it is ever needed is not only allowed, it is strongly advised.

Every business uses computer software. But not every business realises the importance of having a user friendly software library for cataloging all their software. While sharing software and using it on more than one computer is against the law, making a copy to keep in your software library in case it is ever needed is not only allowed, it is strongly advised. In this sense a company’s software library is the computer equivalent of the box that says ‘break glass in emergency’; it grants you access to the vital software your company uses to run its day to day business. If anything goes wrong or the original software is corrupted in any way, you have the back up you need to get you out of trouble. It’s obvious then that the library needs to be properly catalogued and kept fully up to date, to ensure that everything is where it should be in the event that it’s ever needed. Consider it as a fire extinguisher to help put out the flames caused by malfunctioning computer equipment. If you don’t know where that extinguisher is – or even worse, you haven’t got one at all – the flames could spread out and affect your whole business. Use the fire extinguisher however and everything is back to normal in no time. The process of creating a software library can ironically be made much easier by purchasing software that is designed to make the task easy to perform and control. The companies that specialise in this kind of software also offer support services to help you get your own library up and running. The most important aspect is to consider your needs and the best way of organising your own business software library. It needs to be easy to access and update, while remaining secure at all times. For this reason it’s advisable to make sure that only a few key members of staff can access the software library. It’s not necessary for everyone to have access to it, and the more people are able to do so, the more likely it is that it will be compromised. Once the library has been created it will be necessary to update it every time a new piece of software is integrated into the current computer system. Making a particular person responsible for seeing that this is done will ensure the integrity of the software library remains secure.

About The Author

Jane Smith shares practical business IT solutions for medium to large sized organisations. To activate your business with the power of IT, please visit http://www.bmc.com/en_HK/

noreply@blogger.com (Bremen) — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 07:06:00 +0000