My Research (as of October 2007)
Multiscale Multigranular Image Segmentation
In remote sensing, land cover characterization is often required at multiple spatial and categorical scales. In this research, we introduce a framework that
allows for adaptive choice of both the spatial resolution of subregions and the categorical granularity of labels. Our framework is based upon a class of
models we call mixlets, a blending of recursive dyadic
partitions and finite mixture models. The first component of these models allows for the
sparse representation of spatial structure at multiple resolutions. The second component
provides a natural mechanism for capturing the varying
degrees of mixing of pure categories that accompany the use of different resolutions, and enables them to be related to a user-specified hierarchy
of labels at multiple granularities in a straightforward manner. A
segmentation is produced in our framework by selecting an optimal mixlet model, through
complexity-penalized maximum likelihood, and summarizing the information in that model
with respect to the categorical hierarchy. Both theoretical and
empirical evaluations of the proposed framework are presented in a series of papers. We present here sample remote sensing data, manual and the code
for disseminating the research.
Modeling the Spatial Patterns of Addiction
in the
Suchi Gopal, Bill Anderson, Matt Adams, Lauren Friel,
Boston University
Mark Vanelli MD,
MHS, MBA, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge MA
Mark Albanese, Cambridge Health Alliance,
Cambridge MA
This research project incorporates data from many sources including health survey data, arrest records, popular media, socio-economic, as well as prescription data for the period
1999-2002 at the sub-state level. The project includes mapping and spatial
analysis of addiction from heroin,
cocaine, opiates, marijuana, methamphetamine, ecstasy and club drugs. This research uses ESDA (Exploratory Spatial Data
Analysis) and spatial analysis
(predictive models) at the zip code to sub-state scale. Two physicians from Harvard Medical School of Public Health
and Psychiatry are co-authors on this paper and are providing the
public health policy perspective to the GIS analysis.
The Evolving Social Geography of Blogs
Dr. Sucharita Gopal
Department of Geography & Center for Cognitive and Neural Systems
Blogs are creating new virtual communities and are changing the social geography of the Internet. The present research takes a spatial science perspective to examine the
growth and evolution of blogs using the methodology of social networks. Blogs relating to Hurricane Katrina were
analyzed. Influential leaders, message content,
external links, time, actors (bloggers) and other
variables of the diffusion process are analyzed.
Testing for Local
Spatial Autocorrelation in Ecological Systems: Using G* and Neural Networks
Tigga Kingston
Determine the spatial
and temporal variability in assemblage composition at the local, landscape and
regional scale, Investigate the processes behind this variability at the
species level through studies of population and behavioral ecology, Determine the impact of population dynamics on community
interactions.
Spatial Distribution and Analysis of Pneumococcus Infection in the
Lauren Paletta, Sucharita Gopal, Barbara
Mahon and Jason Sanders
Boston University Department of Geography
Streptococcus pneumoniae
(pneumococcus) is a major cause of illness amongst children in both the
developed and developing world.
Prior studies indicate that the spatial distribution of the disease is
affected by location, exposure to Ultra Violet Radiation (which varies by
latitude and time of year), and ethnicity
(notably skin color and type of clothing).
The research for
this paper has three objectives.
The first is to investigate the
relationship between UV radiation and the prevalence of the disease. The second is to describe the spatial distribution of the disease and
examine the role of race, ethnicity
and social factors. Lastly, model the b of the disease
prevalence. The data for this study
includes the Total Ozone Mapping
Spectrometer (TOMS) measurements of Erythemal UV from
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and
a meta-database of incidences of pneumococcus disease
in the
