Stan Openshaw

Originally published in 1986. Nuclear power is now regarded as essential to survival in the twenty-first century. But the safety of nuclear power stations is a highly controversial topic, and where they will be sited is a most vital question.In this independent critique, based on four years of research, Stan Openshaw argues that reactor siting provides a simple means of offering additional, design-independent margins of safety. Reactor siting policies in the UK and USA are examined and it is suggested that UK siting practices need to be updated. The large number of potential alternative sites should be used to devise new planning strategies – strategies which will minimise both the residual health risks from accidents and the danger that a future change in public opinion might lead to calls for the closure of many existing sites on safety grounds.

Originally published in 1986. Nuclear power is now regarded as essential to survival in the twenty-first century. But the safety of nuclear power stations is a highly controversial topic, and where they will be sited is a most vital question.In this independent critique, based on four years of research, Stan Openshaw argues that reactor siting provides a simple means of offering additional, design-independent margins of safety. Reactor siting policies in the UK and USA are examined and it is suggested that UK siting practices need to be updated. The large number of potential alternative sites should be used to devise new planning strategies – strategies which will minimise both the residual health risks from accidents and the danger that a future change in public opinion might lead to calls for the closure of many existing sites on safety grounds.

This book provides a non-technical introduction to High Performance Computing applications together with advice about how beginners can start to write parallel programs. The authors show what HPC can offer geographers and social scientists and how it can be used in GIS. They provide examples of where it has already been used and suggestions for other areas of application in geography and the social sciences. Case studies drawn from geography explain the key principles and help to understand the logic and thought processes that lie behind the parallel programming.

This unique work introduces the basic principles of artificialintelligence with applications in geographical teaching andresearch, GIS, and planning. Written in an accessible,non-technical and witty style, this book marks the beginning of theAl revolution in geography with major implications for teaching andresearch. The authors provide an easy to understand basicintroduction to Al relevant to geography. There are no specialmathematical and statistical skills needed, indeed these might wellbe a hindrance. Al is a different way of looking at the world andit requires a willingness to experiment, and readers who areunhindered by the baggage of obsolete technologies and outmodedphilosophies of science will probably do best. The text provides anintroduction to expert systems, neural nets, genetic algorithms,smart systems and artificial life and shows how they are likely totransform geographical enquiry. * A major methodological milestone in geography * The first geographical book on artificial intelligence (Al) * No need for previous mathematical or statisticalskills/knowledge * Accessible style makes a difficult subject available to a wideaudience * Stan Openshaw is one of the world s leading researchers intogeographical computing, spatial analysis and GIS.