Below is the TUTORIAL and WORKSHOP program and REGISTRATION form for COSIT'95 - the Conference on Spatial Information Theory. It is also available, together with travel and other information, from http://www.geoinfo.tuwien.ac.at/Department/Cosit.html The conference program is contained in a separate message. We apologize if you receive multiple copies of these postings. Please pass the information on to colleagues who might be interested. ********************************************************************           C O S I T ' 9 5  -  T U T O R I A L S         Conference on Spatial Information Theory                 Semmering near Vienna (Austria)                 September 21-23, 1995                         Chairs:         Andrew U. Frank, Technical University of Vienna         Werner Kuhn, Technical University of Vienna                 International Co-Chair:         David M. Mark, NCGIA and SUNY Buffalo COSIT has become a regular event for scientists who are interested in the understanding and representation of spatial information. It is a truly interdisciplinary meeting, where common problems are approached from the viewpoints of many disciplines. Spatial Information Theory is of central importance to Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. It brings together spatial reasoning, representation of space, and human understanding of space. These three strands of research, two more technical and the third more cognitive, are concerned with Geographic or Environmental Space, i.e., the space which is populated with immovable _object_s larger than human beings and in which humans move around to learn about it. ************************************************************************** All tutorials and workshops will be held before the conference, on WEDNESDAY, September 20th, 1995. The Interactive Map - Cognitive and Geographic Applications of the Voronoi Spatial Model. By Christopher Gold and Geoffrey Edwards, Laval University, Quebec. FULL DAY Experientialism and Geographic Space By David M. Mark, University of New York at Buffalo and Andrew U. Frank, Technical University Vienna MORNING Human Spatial Cognition: Experimental methods and procedures By Stephen Hirtle, University of Pittsburgh AFTERNOON Spatio-Temporal Data_base_s By Michael Worboys, University of Keele MORNING Spatial Data_base_s By Hanan Samet, University of Maryland AFTERNOON ************************************************************************** Full De_script_ions ************************************************************************** The Interactive Map - Cognitive and Geographic Applications of the Voronoi Spatial Model. By Christopher Gold and Geoffrey Edwards, Laval University, Quebec. This workshop is intended for anyone interested in examining the implications of the Voronoi spatial model for topological or cognitive modelling of spatial relationships. The discipline of Computational Geometry has found this structure to be basic to many geometric algorithms, and work at Laval University an elsewhere has suggested a wide range of issues in spatial analysis where the approach is valuable. The workshop will be organized in four parts: 1) Basic theory and implementation, of both the static and the dynamic model. 2) Manual exercises, both on paper and with computer demonstrations. 3) Examples of current applications. 4) Brainstorming session on future developments and applications. The basic techniques involve the development of a fully interactive map, in the sense that _object_s may be inserted and deleted in real time, with immediate topological update. This allows the implementation of a 'robot navigation' interface model, where the user is represented by a cursor _embed_ded in (and interacting with) the _object_s in the map space. The basic system architecture, as well as the construction and query commands, will be described. Current applications to be discussed include: interpolation, navigation and robotics and flow modelling; clustering, partitioning, map perception, comparison and image analysis; and linguistic and sociological structures and queries. Christopher Gold and Geoffrey Edwards are co-holders of an Industrial Research Chair in the Department of Geomatics at Laval University, Quebec, Canada, applying geomatics to the forest industry. They have been interested for several years in the potential of Voronoi diagrams to describe spatial relationships. This has involved many aspects of software engineering, computational geometry, remote sensing and linguistics. ************************************************************************** Experientialism and Geographic Space By David M. Mark and Andrew U. Frank Recent developments in cognitive sciences are changing the way we understand human thinking about space and how it is expressed in languages. Experiential Realism, or Experientialism, posits that our cognition is shaped by the basic bodily and social experiences of all human beings. We build meaningful concepts in abstract domains by projecting these concrete, often spatial experiences through _meta_phors. An experiential stance has influenced much of the advanced research in spatial information theory, for example on spatial relations and user interfaces for GIS. This tutorial presents the basic tenets of experientialism as contained, primarily, in the works of George Lakoff, Mark Johnson, and Len Talmy. It shows applications and consequences for user interfaces, query languages, topological relations, and cross-cultural issues in GIS. Researchers and developers with an interest in the conceptual foundations of space and spatial information will receive an introduction to experientialism and learn to assess its significance for their work. The documentation includes an extensive reader with papers covering the foundations of experientialism and its applications to geographic space. David Mark is professor of geography at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He has been one of the leading researchers in the National Center of Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA) since its beginnings and is currently its Associate Director at Buffalo. His main research interests include cognitive and linguistic aspects of geographic space. Andrew U. Frank is chair of the Department of Geoinformation at the Technical University Vienna and a former Associate Director of NCGIA. His main research interests are the modeling of spatio-temporal information for GIS, considering cognitive, linguistic, and cultural aspects. ************************************************************************** Human Spatial Cognition: Experimental methods and procedures By Stephen Hirtle, University of Pittsburgh This workshop will examine experimental methods used in cognitive psychology for understanding the mental representation of spatial knowledge. The workshop will review both classes of data to collect in psychological studies (e.g., distance and direction judgments, sketch maps, reaction times, free-recall, memory experiments, and survey methods) and methods to analyze data (e.g., cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling, statistical methods). As many methods are _link_ed to the theoretical constructs, we will also examine in depth several important theoretical advances, including spatial mental models, spatial priming, and neural networks. The workshop will also discuss the role of experimental generalization, how to choose between real and artificial environments for study, and how the concept of external validity is often misunderstood. The workshop is intended for computer scienctists, geographers, cartographers, and others without previous training in cognitive psychology. By taking the workshop, one will learn how to conduct human subject experiments and how to interpret exisiting studies. It is hope that an appreciation for the role of human experiments is gained by the participants. Stephen Hirtle is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Information Science at the University of Pittsburgh. He has most recently had visiting positions with NCGIA at the University of Maine, Orono, the Department of Geoinformation at the Technical University of Vienna, and the Department of Computer Science at Molde College. He has a PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Michigan and has published widely on hierachical structures in cognitive maps. ************************************************************************** Spatio-Temporal Information Systems By Michael Worboys, University of Keele Advances in hardware, data_base_ technology and graphics during the last decade have made possible the development of systems which are capable of powerfully supporting the handling of spatially referenced data.  However, there are many applications that require the additional handling of temporal dimensions.  In current systems, the temporal dimension often plays a subordinate role, temporal variation being represented by a series of static snapshots.  The arguments in this tutorial are built upon the premise that for such applications to be properly handled, systems must support not only separate spatial and temporal analysis but a unified model of spatio-temporal information. The tutorial offers an introduction to spatio-temporal information systems via motivating examples; requirements of a spatio-temporal information system; relevant research on temporal data_base_s; spatio-temporal data models; models of human interaction with spatio-temporal systems; performance questions; spatio-temporal reasoning; current research projects and prototypes; and current research hot topics. Michael F. Worboys is senior lecturer in the Department of Computer Science, Keele University, UK.  Dr. Worboys leads a team conducting research into the theory and practice of geographic data_base_s. *********************************************************************** *** Spatial Data_base_s By Hanan Samet, University of Maryland The ability to deal with spatial data is becoming increasingly important in applications in geographic information systems, computer vision, computer graphics, computer vision, image processing, solid modeling, robotics, and cartography.  This manifests itself in the need to incorporate this data in existing data_base_ management systems.  This incorporation must result in the coexistence of the spatial data with the non-spatial data.  The result is termed a spatial data_base_.  Spatial data_base_s must deal with points, lines, rectangles, regions, surfaces, volumes, and other geometric data, as well as time and non-geometric data (known as attribute data).  The implementation of spatial data_base_s involves many issues including a choice among a number of different representations for the underlying data, as well as the types of queries to be supported,  In this tutorial we review some of the most recent representations and the type of operations that they are designed to support. We also discuss methods of integrating spatial and non-spatial data in conventional data_base_ management systems, as well as examine some existing spatial data_base_ systems.  Many of our examples will be drawn from a family of hierarchical data structures that are _base_d on the principle of divide-and-conquer.  The key advantage of these representations is that they provide a way to index into space.  In fact, they are little more than multidimensional sorts.  They are compact and depending on the nature of the spatial data they save space as well as time and also facilitate operations such as search. Hanan Samet is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Maryland at College Park, MD.  His main research interests are in spatial data structures for applications in computer graphics and geographic information systems.  He is the author of the books The Design and Analysis of Spatial Data Structures , and Applications of Spatial Data Structures:  Computer Graphics, Image Processing, and GIS , both published by Addison-Wesley, 1990. *********************************************************************** *** Registration fees for tutorials are: ATS 1540 (US$ 140)      full day ATS 770  (US$ 70)       half day ATS 770  (US$ 70)       Students full day ATS 440  (US$ 40)       Students half day Please register for tutorials well in advance, using the conference registration form below. *********************************************************************** *** REGISTRATION FORM COSIT!95 (Conference on Spatial Information Theory) September 21 - 23, 1995, Semmering, near Vienna (Austria) Please return to: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Department of Geoinformation E 127/1 Technical University Vienna Attn.: Dipl.-Ing. Sabine Timpf Gusshausstrasse 27-29 A - 1040 Vienna (Austria) Last Name: First Name: Affiliation: Street/P.O.Box: Postcode, City: State/Country: Email: FAX: Phone: Do you have any special needs?: Registration fees cover participation at the conference, a copy of the proceedings (Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science), and social events: Full registration                 ATS  2970   (US$ 270) Student registration              ATS  1100   (US$ 100) Registration fees for tutorials are: ATS 770  (US$ 70)       half day ATS 1540 (US$ 140)      full day ATS 440  (US$ 40)       students half day ATS 770  (US$ 70)       students full day I intend to participate in a tutorial on:         o  Experientialism (half day)           Mark and Frank         o  Voronoi Diagrams (full day)          Gold         o  Spatial Cognition (half day)         Hirtle         o  Spatio-Temporal Data_base_s (half day) Worboys         o  Spatial Data_base_s (half day)         Samet I have paid my registration fee         o       to Die Erste , Wiedener Hauptstrasse, 1040 Vienna, Austria,                 bank no.: 20111,  account no.: 025-63592,                 without charge to the recipient, or         o       by personal cheque in U.S. Dollars, drawn on a U.S.bank,                 made out to Andrew U. Frank. *********************************************************************** *** A NOTE ON THE SITE The small town of Semmering is a nice mountain resort, only an hour by train from Vienna on the main railway line to the south. It offers a calm and productive conference environment with great views, fresh air, and ample opportunities for outdoor activities. The conference will be held at a beautiful, recently remodeled classical hotel, offering accommodation for approximately $80 in a single and $55 in a double room (including a breakfast buffet). Hotel Panhans Hochstrasse 32 A-2680 Semmering Tel. +43-2664-8181 Fax +43-2664-8184-513 For reservations at the conference hotel, please contact Hotel Panhans directly. For information and booking of alternative accommodation in the immediate neighborhood, please contact the local tourist office Tel. +43-2664-2539 or Fax +43-2664-2335. We recommend early booking to avoid disappointment as the area is quite popular at that time of the year. *********************************************************************** *** Please check out our conference home page at http://www.geoinfo.tuwien.ac.at/Department/Cosit.html and address all questions or correspondence to: Dipl.-Ing. Sabine Timpf COSIT'95 Administrator Department of Geoinformation Technical University Vienna Gusshausstr. 27-29 A-1040 Vienna Phone: +43-1-58801-3791 Fax:   +43-1-504-3535 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it http://www.geoinfo.tuwien.ac.at/