núm. 54 (2017)

This article examines the series of events and factors that impinged in the creation of the Mexican Space Agency (AEM). These events and factors are the following: 1) A succession of learning processes that can affect the development and establishment of a series of mile stones that aid in the shaping of a space agency in a Latin-American country. 2) Experience gained in Mexico to be shared with the Colombian community and that can carry out the country’s space development. For this a normative framework that benefits by space technology and that, in turn, drives a strong establishment of an institution with space vocation, is suggested. This is a major step, since the dissemination and recognition of the social applications of space science can turn into an important ally in the management for the setting up of an institution for these purposes. 3) The importance of international cooperation as a necessary strategy for jointly overcoming the challenges involved in the formation of a space agency. Therefore, the Mexican trajectory in related space subjects is mentioned.

This research presents an object - based analysis to detect residential complexes on three study areas in the municipalities of Pereira and Dosquebradas (Department of Risaralda) that have had an important urban development during the period 2005-2014, mainly residential complexes. The analysis was approached from an a priori knowledge perspective of the study areas and under a top-down processing strategy from which the segmentation of images taken on January 29 and May 12, 2015 by the sensor. Airborne Vexcel UltraCam D of the Agustín Codazzi Geographic Institute (IGAC). During the investigation parameters of spectral, geometric, texture and context conditions were identified, which allowed to distinguish residential complexes of the other objects present in the images. A total of 251 images (stereoscopic pairs) were processed from which digital surface models (MDS) were derived from the study areas, on which different slope filters and imperfection removal were applied in order to obtain digital models of (MDT), in order to know height information of objects. The algorithm of a linear empirical model was used for radiometric calibration of the images, which required spectral signatures of different coverages such as: bare soil, swimming pools, vegetation, grass and anthropic elements (asbestos, clay, Spanish, fiber cement, zinc, thermo acoustics), among others, achieving an accuracy in the classification of residential complexes of 82.85%.

Due to the costs of maintenance and operation of the Geographical Institute Agustín Codazzi (IGAC) aircraft, in the production of multipurpose cadastral and base cartography maps, and how time-consuming this activity is, there is a need to evaluate the viability of the use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for small regions. For this reason, in 2016, in a joint work between the Latin American Society of Remote Sensin Specialists and Space Information Systems (Capítulo Colombia), and the IGAC, a pilot project was carried out in the municipality of Cabuyaro, department of Meta. The research methodology included flight design, image capture with the UAV, photocontrol points, aerotriangulation, data processing, generation of cartographic products (Digital Surface Model, orthophotomosaic) and positional accuracy assessment, according to preestablished technical specifications, focused on a study area with an urban area of less than 300 hectares. From this experience, we found that an orthophotomosaic generated under conditions similar to those of this research (extension, orography, environmental and climatic aspects, among others), is a suitable product for updating cartography with a precision close to those obtained by means of a manned aircraft. This research is a first step for the IGAC regarding the evaluation of these new technologies in the elaboration and production of official cartography, as an alternative to the traditional methodologies of cartographic production.

With the purpose of delimiting specific management areas based on physical and chemical properties of a lacustrine soil and morphometric variables of the banana crop (Musa AAA), a study was carried out in a banana plantation in Aragua state, Venezuela, in eight production lots corresponding to 43 ha. A systematic sampling with 150 x 150 m grids was applied, resulting in 70 sampling points, in which were determined: percentages of sand, silt, clay and coarse fragments; pH; electric conductivity; organic carbon; phosphorus, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc and copper available; calcium carbonate, total porosity, macropores, micropores, bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity and rupture modulus. In the plants were determined: stem circumference at 1 m, height, number of hands per bunch, fresh weight of total roots, functional and nonfunctional roots. Descriptive, multivariate statistics and geostatistical were applied to determine the spatial variability of the variables, as well as the neurofuzzy model FKCN. This allowed grouping the soils into five specific management zones for physical properties and four zones for chemical properties. The highest vigor and the lowest production of total roots were obtained in soils with similar proportions of particles size fractions, and with the lowest available phosphorus and calcium contents, but with the highest levels of available potassium, magnesium and iron. The lowest vigor and the highest total root production were evidenced in the heaviest soils and in those with a predominance of coarse fragments.

Vegetation plays an important role as an indicator of the wetland ecosystem state. In that regard, remote sensing provides the possibility to determine the ecosystem state, allowing reducing the time consumption of wetland assessment. Nonetheless, satellite images from high mountain regions are not commonly used because those images present a high level of cloudiness. Besides, the spatial resolution does not allow an adequate classification of the vegetation types, generating several difficulties to perform a ground analysis on high detailed-scale. In this work, it is presented an assessment of high-Andean wetlands using multispectral images acquired from an unmanned aerial vehicle. The study region is located at El Ocho sector, the buffer zone of the Los Nevados National Natural Park, in wasteland ecosystem with an altitude of 3500 m above sea level, and 20 ha of area. The methodology comprises three stages: a) The wetland was divided into four sectors according their anthropic affectation level; b) the vegetation indexes were obtained from aerial images captured using a RPAS (visible and multispectral), and then, the green index was calculated in the wetland and compared against NDVI in testing patches; Finally, c) it was performed the correlation between the green index and the environmental damage. As a result, the computed indexes showed a high correlation with the ecosystem intervention levels.

Since 2008, The Spatial Data Infrastructure of Santiago de Cali (IDESC) has tried to sort out problems related to the official geographical information (GI) management of Santiago de Cali, such as: duplicity efforts, lack of integration of GI, misunderstanding and incompatibility of reference systems, particularly by unskilled users, problems with the street addresses, lack of metadata and other standards for geographical information, among others. Therefore, The IDESC Project started up the development of its basic components in junction with either local institutions and organisms of the Municipality. This scenario allowed us to reach the harmonization of capture processes, analysis, access, use and distribution of GI, in order to promote the use and the exchange of spatial data and provide to the community with tools for planning and decision-making (Masser, 2008). IDESC has moved forward trough the implementation of globally accepted best practice rules for GI management, defining normative documents, agreements with local institutions for sharing knowledge and GI, as well as being a support for the construction of nodes for the SDI and delivering geospatial data through OGC standards-based web services. We have become a reference for issues related to GI, being the first option for searching official GI of the Municipality. Nevertheless, there are plenty of work to be done, we have to carry on developing basic components and in the appropriation of different tools and services for the community. Our near-term work is focused in adopting new technologies, just as: mobile apps, RPAS for mapping generation, Cloud GIS, volunteered geographical information (VGI), and other advances.

It was stablished that deposited materials configured the present morphology of Fusagasuga. These were transported from the Upper region of Pasca, with characteristics of a diluvial flow clear; whose thickness varies up to 420 m., the Chinauta sector is the main quaternary deposit area for the late Pleistocene. The objective of the research focuses on the assessment of pedagogical evolution of the fan using as tracers of pedogenesis of the mineralogy of the sands and types of clay. The physicochemical characterization and the micromorphology of soils to determine which relationships may exist between Genesis, mineralogy, micromorphology and soil fertility in the diluvial fan of Fusagasugá. The studied soils belong to the following major taxonomic groups: Melanudands, Paleudults, Paleudalfs and Haplustalfs; differences in climate, parent materials and landforms as modal profiles ,each single sample was taken for chemical, physical and mineralogical analysis and selected in situ to undisturbed samples for micromorphological studies. The dynamics of this system are determined by the flows of matter and energy through hydrological processes (vertical movement in the soil), which depend on the alternation of contrasting climatic conditions high rainfall and dry periods, conditions very different from today. The oxidation-reduction processes, which define the conditions related with redoximorphic marked evidence of hydromorphism in soils clearly indicate that certain stages of its formation occurred in different environmental conditions.

The objective is to put into consideration a simple formula between people and public policies through a scientific proposal of Possible Territories and Territorial Intelligence with Research-Action-Participatory methodologies applied to two cases in Argentina (Puente de Fierro, La Plata, industry and Ensenada-Berisso-La Plata surroundings) and one in Colombia (Lengupá Province, Boyacá) to verify if its exemplarity at local and subregional scales is valid to replicate other initiatives (each with its own particularities) in different parts of the world, especially in Latin America, Africa and Asia, where social and environmental problems are becoming more serious. It is about executing other public policies: real integrated public governances in neighborhoods, cities, rural worlds, metropolis and regions. Scientific Agendas with Territorial Intelligence build Possible Territories. Possible Territories allow the construction of spatially and temporarily enabled societies. In a space-temporarily enabled society, Territorial Justice is verified. The Territorial Justice combines and articulates cognitive justice, social justice, environmental justice, economic justice and public justice. It is more likely to construct Territorial Justice in micro and meso space-time scales than in macro-scales. If these initiatives are accompanied by decision-making levels in our institutions, the exemplarity and replicability can be dealt with in the future. With the contributions of authors like M. Santos, O. Fals Borda, E. O. Wright, J. J. Girardot, B. de Sousa Santos, O. Madoery, M. H. Botero and many others it is possible to theorize it. However, articulating theory and praxis to build possible territories with territorial intelligence is a hard work together, from the beginning of each process with communities, institutions and companies. It concludes with four hypotheses.

Indigenous communities in Colombia own territories in remote areas with difficult access. As a result, spatial studies are fragmented and have low resolution and little accuracy relative to the necessities of the communities. This project proposes a solution by using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and participative cartography, as a mechanism to facilitate the integration and transfer of knowledge between cultures. The study took place at the San Martín de Amacayacu community, with the direction, support and participation of members of the community. Using a UAV we took 913 photos during eight flights, and also used satellite images (Landsat 5) to identify settlements and farming areas or chagras, and areas of expansion and high productivity to better direct and control the growth of the community. Currently, as a result of the population concentration encouraged by the Colombian government, the increase in number of families in the community results in the expansion of farming areas around the community, thus accelerating the rate of transformation of the tropical rain forest. We have also identified access to clean water and hunting grounds as a limiting factor for the growth of the community. We obtained the base line cartography of the community (3D model) by finding the optimal location of farming areas through a 4 variable multicriteria analysis and expansion areas complemented by participative cartography.

According to the national development plan, mining is one of the fundamental pillars of the Colombian economy; which undoubtedly poses environmental challenges for local authorities. This paper presents a spatial analysis of the abiotic, biotic and sociocultural components to evaluate the viability of the mining activity. The variables of the abiotic type were: natural threats, agronomic capacity, groundwater and surface waters. Sociocultural variables included: roads, public service delivery systems, areas with public facilities, areas of cultural or archaeological interest, and human settlements. The biotic component was addressed with the InVest habitat quality model; considering the coverages of the soil according to the classification Corine Land Cover adapted for Colombia and the points of sampling of flora and fauna arranged in the platform of the System of Biodiversity of Colombia. Through the application of hierarchical analysis the weighted overlapping of variables was advanced to classify the territory into three categories of environmental management: exclusion, intervention with restrictions and intervention. The proposed methodology was applied in the municipality of Sogamoso, which is characterized to hold mineral exploitations such as coal, phosphoric rock, among others. The results allowed identifying areas with different territorial conflicts that must be analyzed to implement programs and projects that allow them to be minimized or eliminated. In this way, spatial analysis allows mining operators, environmental authorities and the community in general to articulate efforts to maintain the levels of the regional economy by minimizing adverse environmental effects.

Chemicals substances are the engine of industrial development in Colombia. However, although there are no illicit drugs without chemicals, controls to minimize the risk of diversion to illicit activities should be designed in such a way that the licit industry remains clean, creating more efficient and comprehensive control mechanisms in drug policy. To achieve such purpose, an information model was designed through the use of Geographic Information Systems to support the processes of monitoring and controlling the chemical substances used in the extraction and transformation processes of cocaine. This model allows integrating atomized data of illegal activities which, from a traditional perspective, do not have a representation in the territory to turn them into useful geographical information for the decision making in the fight against drugs. A database was created from different sources (Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Justice and Law, Tax and Customs Office and UNODC), which provided data on the chemical substances used when processing of cocaine hydrochloride (imports, exports, seizures, companies that use the Certificate of Lack of Reporting for Traffic in Narcotics, and drug supply); these variables were integrated in municipal and departmental scales to develop a geographic viewer that allows a complete look to the distribution and dynamics of the variables mentioned during the period 2010-2014. This information has been integrated into the official window of the Observatory of Drugs from Colombia.

A virtual geographic environment, as a viewing and interaction tool, facilitates the interpretation of special data, contrary to the experience on flat figures. We present a method to fuse and view digital surfaces and ortophotos over topographic planes by using augmented reality techniques adapted to be used with georeferenced data and facilitating human-machine interaction in geographical works. We developed a Matlab tool to integrate surfaces and planes by tracking feature points in the color space HSV with neural networks. We designed a test protocol and assessed the tool by using a dataset composed by point clouds and ortophotos from a section of the municipality Versalles, department Valle del Cauca in Colombia. The evaluation was qualitative for user experience by assessing different virtual elements like: appearance, required illumination, etc. The evaluation was quantitative to test the viewing precision by the integration method. The tests show a user satisfaction of 91.48% for static images and a mean error of 6° for azimuth and 3.5° for elevation. The evaluation shows that the developed method facilitates the interpretation of georeferenced ortophotos.