Spatial Data Infrastructure
GRS-21306
Paper writing
Arnold Bregt
1/x
Two parts
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I
A scientific paper
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II
Your SDI paper
Part I
A scientific paper
Content
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Introduction
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Elements of a Paper
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Final Remarks/Summary
Introduction
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Publications are essential for your future career
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Writing publications (or thesis) is difficult
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You can learn it (it is a skill not an art)
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“easy reading is hard writing”
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“tell a scientific story”
IJSDIR
Elements of a paper
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Title
Abstract
Introduction
(Materials) and Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
References
Title
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Shortest summary of your paper
Attracts attention for your work
Put the most important words at the beginning
Title papers (exercise)
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Title 1: Open data policies, their implementation
and impact: A framework for comparison
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Title 2: A stakeholder-based assessment
framework applied to evaluate development
scenarios for the spatial data infrastructure for
Flanders
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Title 3: Spatial Data Infrastructures: Hype or Hit?
Introduction
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From general to specific
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Statements about the topic (context topic or
problem)
Aspects already studied (with references to
others)
Aspects not studied or know (with references)
Selection of research niche
Goal of the paper
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Introduction
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Main problem: selection of research topic
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TIP: make is small and concrete
(Materials and) Methods
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How was the work done?
The method must be a scientific method
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Transparent
Objective
Reproducible
TIP: Use are much as possible existing methods
and procedures
TIP: Most critical section of a paper
Example
Source: Kok, 2014
Results
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(Sometimes combined with Discussion)
Presentation of the results in a few Figures and
Tables
Do not present all findings (only the most
important ones
What are the most striking results (highlight
results)
TIP: Take the reader by the hand
Example
Source: Ningal et al., 2008
Discussion
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(A restatement of the main findings)
Explanations of the findings (supported by
literature)
Limitations of the study
Implications of the study
Personal TIP: Limit is to a few main discussion
points
Conclusions
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Repeat the overall objective of you paper
Formulate the answers/main findings
Suggestion for further research
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TIP: Keep it short and to the point
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Example
Source: Weitkamp et al., 2014
References
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Always follow the guidelines of the journal
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TIP: Check them for completeness and
correctness!
Example
Source: Ningal et al., 2008
Abstract
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Some backgroud information
Scope of the study
Some info on the method
Most important results
Conclusion and recommendation
Final remarks/Summary
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Follow the agreed structure for scientific papers
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Study good examples
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Keep the objective limited
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Pay amble attention to a clear scientific method!
Final remak
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Paper writing is difficult (even for experienced
scientists)
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All scientists have some of their papers rejected
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Essential skill for your future career!
Further reading
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Cargill, M and P. O’ Conner, 2009. Writing
scientific research Articles, Strategy and steps.
Wiley-Blackwell.
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The unofficial guide for authors (or how to
produce research articles worth citing) (google)
Spatial Data Infrastructure
GRS-21306
II
Your SDI paper
Arnold Bregt
25 / x
Outline
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Requirements
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Assessment
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Selecting a topic
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Tips
Requirements
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Individual paper
About 2000 - 3000 words (6 - 10 pages)
Topic related to domain of Spatial Data
Infrastructures
Select your own topic
Use a journal template
Assessment
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Independent assessment (Lukasz and Arnold)
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Compare marks, in case of a difference of 0.5
discussion
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Criteria: Objective, research method, results
related to the method, discussion, the use of
scientific references
Selecting a topic
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Personal interest
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Keep it focussed
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Formulate one question or objective
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Can you formulate a clear research method for
your question?
Past topics
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See example on SDI web
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Popular topics:
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SDI for....... (climate modelling, water management,
green infrastructure, etc)
SDI of ....... (Nepal, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, etc)
Assessment of aspects of SDIs (organization, status,
etc)
Past topics
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New technologies:
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Voluntary geographic information
MASHUPs
3D
Evaluation of data/technologies/standards:
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Standards used
Comparison of technologies (in a few selected SDI’s)
Quality of topographic data in SDI
Data formats
Tips
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See it as a small research project (few days data
collection)
Collect data systematically
Present results in the form of tables or figures
Discuss the results
Use references
Select and innovative topic
Questions?