image: May Yuan with her recently published books. view more
Credit: Devon Harr
NORMAN-- May Yuan, associate dean for the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences at the University of Oklahoma, has published two books, titled “Computation and Visualization for Understanding Dynamics in Geographic Domains: A Research Agenda “and “Understanding Dynamics of Geographic Domains.”
The books, partially sponsored by U.S. intelligence communities, represent collaboration between Yuan and Kathleen Stewart Hornsby, assistant professor of geography at the University of Iowa. They focus in the area of geographic dynamics, specifically on the analysis of spatial-temporal phenomena, which include movement of people in space and time and development of transportation networks.
Both works are compilations of key ideas and issues discussed during a computation workshop hosted by the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science, which serves as a unified voice for the GIS research community. While the U.S. intelligence communities sponsored the workshop and publications of the books, the contents of both books are broadly based in computational and visualization theories and methods.
Computation and Visualization for Understanding Dynamics in Geographic Domains: A Research Agenda expands on the state of research, provides a comprehensive summary of dynamics in human and environmental systems, and offers new approaches to advance understanding of the dynamics through visualization and computation. The book offers extensive information from different academic perspectives, giving scientists an array of new research proposals and recommendations for future developments and collaboration for the next big scientific and technological breakthrough.
Understanding Dynamics of Geographic Domains is a collection of peer-reviewed articles constructed from the workshop participants, who are leading researchers in their fields. It serves as a unique, multidisciplinary reference and textbook incorporating theoretical, cognitive, methodological and applied articles all into one book. It also provides information on past research and new developments in specific topical areas.
A broad range of scientists, undergraduates and graduate students may find the books helpful in finding topics for research or capstone projects. Yuan has donated copies of both of her books to the National Weather Center library for public use.
Yuan plans to write another book on GIS for atmospheric scientists, specifically discussing weather and climate issues addressed using GIS as a tool.
On the Web:
University of Oklahoma
www.ou.edu
College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences
www.ags.ou.edu