| Author: | Liao, Minglei |
| Title: | Modeling human behavior in cyber-physical spaces : a pilot study |
| Advisors: | Liu, Xintao (LSGI) |
| Degree: | Ph.D. |
| Year: | 2024 |
| Subject: | Cyberspace -- Social aspects Internet -- Social aspects Information technology -- Social aspects Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics |
| Pages: | xvi, 147 pages : color illustrations |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | The advance in information and communication technology (ICT) has progressively shifted human activity from offline to online, resulting in the emergence of a new spatial dimension known as cyber space. Cyber space has only recently gained widespread attention and research interest, due to the current availability of extensive cyber data and significantly increased influence in multiple fields, especially after the pandemic. Cyber space is generally characterized as placelessness, timelessness, and disembodiment. However, these characteristics, such as the lack of defined locations, have limited the application of many classical geographical theories in cyber space, thus constraining relevant research. Therefore, a comprehensive framework is proposed in the thesis to address the current difficulties of exploring cyber space, which can be summarized as the following three research questions: 1) How to understand the emerged new spatial dimension, cyber space, and propose a framework to define fundamental geographical elements in cyber space? 2) How to model and characterize human activity from individual to collective levels, from trajectories to networks based on the defined framework? 3) How does cyber human activity interact and apply in physical space? Using extensive Uniform Resource Location (URL) data, this thesis first defines the fundamental geographical elements in cyber space. Web domains within URL data are metaphorically regarded as ‘cyber locations’, and consecutive cyber locations form ‘cyber trajectories’. The categories of human activities in cyber space are defined based on the functions of these ‘cyber locations’. Human mutuality in cyber space is defined as the co-domain between users. Based on these definitions, this work explores human activity fragmentation, human activity networks, and human mutuality networks in cyber space based on fragmentation, time geography, and complex network theory. These cyber networks exhibit heavy-tail and hierarchically polycentric structures, and a strong correlation between cyber and physical activities is observed. Subsequently, the metrics extracted to characterize cyber human activity are applied to physical space in two key aspects: urban structure and economy. Along with other geographic data, the results suggest that cyber human activity is explicitly correlated with the built environment, and that local economies can be better reflected by cyber human activity than by physical activities in the contemporary digital context. In terms of theoretical contribution, this thesis first proposes a comprehensive framework for exploring cyber human activity. The framework includes the definition of basic geographical elements, the examination of cyber human activity characteristics, and the application of cyber human activity in physical space, thus addressing the existing gap in comprehensive frameworks. Additionally, as a pilot study, this thesis demonstrates how classical geographical theories, such as time geography, activity fragmentation, and complex network can be applied to cyber space, significantly advancing research in this field. Beyond its theoretical contributions, this thesis also offers practical insights. The application of cyber human activity in urban structure and regional economy suggests significant implications for policymakers, especially in the digital era. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | open access |
Copyright Undertaking
As a bona fide Library user, I declare that:
- I will abide by the rules and legal ordinances governing copyright regarding the use of the Database.
- I will use the Database for the purpose of my research or private study only and not for circulation or further reproduction or any other purpose.
- I agree to indemnify and hold the University harmless from and against any loss, damage, cost, liability or expenses arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized usage.
By downloading any item(s) listed above, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the copyright undertaking as stated above, and agree to be bound by all of its terms.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/13526