René Westerholt
Biographic Data
| ID | 5193019 |
|---|---|
| NAME | René Westerholt |
| GIVEN NAMES | René |
| FAMILY NAME | Westerholt |
| SIGNATURE | WESTERHOLT R |
| AFFILIATIONS | TU Dortmund University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-8228-3814 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 9 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 7 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 9 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2020 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Associations between sense of place and the geometric shape complexity of corresponding self-reported spatial footprints from Lisbon, Portugal
This article investigates how people translate the complex concept of sense of place into reductionist geospatial footprints. Utilising a map-supported survey conducted in Lisbon, statistical shape complexity measures, and logistic regression, we show that the number of mapped polygonal footprint vertices correlates with the sense-of-place dimensions of place identity and place attachment. Furthermore, we show that places to which people connect …
Understanding the space–place nexus
This editorial introduces a thematic section on a topic we refer to as the ‘space–place nexus,’ that is, the explicit bridging of both conceptual domains in the course of analysing, understanding, and planning one of the two. The four associated articles cover the topics of digitalisation, privacy and ethics, geoinformation and representation, and walking and human mobility. This thematic section thus offers a range of stimulating topics, and we …
Towards a statistical approach to humanistic-geographical place concepts
The long-standing division between quantitative and qualitative approaches to studying place remains a challenge. This article seeks to reconcile both viewpoints from a humanistic perspective and focusing on statistics. It outlines a humanistic concept of place compatible with statistical approaches, locates randomness in place, and discusses two key elements for a prospective statistical school of thought on place: an attitude with which place c…
Proposing critical realism and second-generation environmental justice for advancing sacrifice zone analysis
This article addresses the complex social-ecological challenges faced by sacrifice zones—territories subjected to severe environmental degradation and social injustices. Traditional environmental justice research, with its emphasis on distributive justice, often fails to capture the intricate dynamics of these often not-recognized areas. In light of these limitations, this article proposes a second-generation environmental justice approach, emplo…
Mapping the margins
Informal areas in the Global South are still relatively under-researched. This is partly due to the difficulties associated with accessing these areas, especially when it comes to more complex research topics such as understanding the daily lives of residents and other phenomena that are difficult to measure from the outside or purely through data. In planning, access to informal areas is relevant not only for research, but also for civic partici…
A Simulation Study to Explore Inference about Global Moran's I with Random Spatial Indexes
Inference procedures for spatial autocorrelation statistics assume that the underlying configurations of spatial units are fixed. However, sometimes this assumption can be disadvantageous, for example, when analyzing social media posts or moving objects. This article examines for the case of point geometries how a change from fixed to random spatial indexes affects inferences about global Moran's I, a popular spatial autocorrelation measure. Homo…
Exploring sense of place in relation to urban facilities – evidence from Lisbon
Emphasising spatial structure in geosocial media data using spatial amplifier filtering
In this article, a new method called spatial amplifier filtering is proposed. The presented method is related to Moran eigenvector filtering and allows the accentuation of spatial structures in heterogeneous data sets. The spatial amplifier filtering technique is based on the inclusion of certain eigenvectors of a spatial weights matrix into a regression model. The application of this method can be seen as a pre-processing step prior to subsequen…
Behavioural Effects of Spatially Structured Scoring Systems in Location-Based Serious Games—A Case Study in the Context of OpenStreetMap
Location-based games have become popular in recent years, with Pokémon Go and Ingress being two very prominent examples. Some location-based games, known as Serious Games, go beyond entertainment and serve additional purposes such as data collection. Such games are also found in the OpenStreetMap context and playfully enrich the project’s geodatabase. Examples include Kort and StreetComplete. This article examines the role of spatially structured…
Exploring sense of place in relation to urban facilities – evidence from Lisbon
Mapping the margins
Informal areas in the Global South are still relatively under-researched. This is partly due to the difficulties associated with accessing these areas, especially when it comes to more complex research topics such as understanding the daily lives of residents and other phenomena that are difficult to measure from the outside or purely through data. In planning, access to informal areas is relevant not only for research, but also for civic partici…
Behavioural Effects of Spatially Structured Scoring Systems in Location-Based Serious Games—A Case Study in the Context of OpenStreetMap
Location-based games have become popular in recent years, with Pokémon Go and Ingress being two very prominent examples. Some location-based games, known as Serious Games, go beyond entertainment and serve additional purposes such as data collection. Such games are also found in the OpenStreetMap context and playfully enrich the project’s geodatabase. Examples include Kort and StreetComplete. This article examines the role of spatially structured…
Emphasising spatial structure in geosocial media data using spatial amplifier filtering
In this article, a new method called spatial amplifier filtering is proposed. The presented method is related to Moran eigenvector filtering and allows the accentuation of spatial structures in heterogeneous data sets. The spatial amplifier filtering technique is based on the inclusion of certain eigenvectors of a spatial weights matrix into a regression model. The application of this method can be seen as a pre-processing step prior to subsequen…
Exploring sense of place in relation to urban facilities – evidence from Lisbon
A Simulation Study to Explore Inference about Global Moran's I with Random Spatial Indexes
Inference procedures for spatial autocorrelation statistics assume that the underlying configurations of spatial units are fixed. However, sometimes this assumption can be disadvantageous, for example, when analyzing social media posts or moving objects. This article examines for the case of point geometries how a change from fixed to random spatial indexes affects inferences about global Moran's I, a popular spatial autocorrelation measure. Homo…
Mapping the margins
Informal areas in the Global South are still relatively under-researched. This is partly due to the difficulties associated with accessing these areas, especially when it comes to more complex research topics such as understanding the daily lives of residents and other phenomena that are difficult to measure from the outside or purely through data. In planning, access to informal areas is relevant not only for research, but also for civic partici…
Associations between sense of place and the geometric shape complexity of corresponding self-reported spatial footprints from Lisbon, Portugal
This article investigates how people translate the complex concept of sense of place into reductionist geospatial footprints. Utilising a map-supported survey conducted in Lisbon, statistical shape complexity measures, and logistic regression, we show that the number of mapped polygonal footprint vertices correlates with the sense-of-place dimensions of place identity and place attachment. Furthermore, we show that places to which people connect …
Understanding the space–place nexus
This editorial introduces a thematic section on a topic we refer to as the ‘space–place nexus,’ that is, the explicit bridging of both conceptual domains in the course of analysing, understanding, and planning one of the two. The four associated articles cover the topics of digitalisation, privacy and ethics, geoinformation and representation, and walking and human mobility. This thematic section thus offers a range of stimulating topics, and we …
Towards a statistical approach to humanistic-geographical place concepts
The long-standing division between quantitative and qualitative approaches to studying place remains a challenge. This article seeks to reconcile both viewpoints from a humanistic perspective and focusing on statistics. It outlines a humanistic concept of place compatible with statistical approaches, locates randomness in place, and discusses two key elements for a prospective statistical school of thought on place: an attitude with which place c…
Proposing critical realism and second-generation environmental justice for advancing sacrifice zone analysis
This article addresses the complex social-ecological challenges faced by sacrifice zones—territories subjected to severe environmental degradation and social injustices. Traditional environmental justice research, with its emphasis on distributive justice, often fails to capture the intricate dynamics of these often not-recognized areas. In light of these limitations, this article proposes a second-generation environmental justice approach, emplo…
Geography (7 works) · Computer Science (5 works) · Political science (4 works) · Artificial Intelligence (3 works) · Economic geography (3 works) · Land Use and Ecosystem Services (3 works) · Place Attachment and Urban Studies (3 works) · Regional science (3 works) · Sociology (3 works) · Urban Design and Spatial Analysis (3 works)