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1
Scientific Writing and Publishing for
GIScience Researchers
Bin Jiang
University of Gävle, Sweden
http://giscience.hig.se/binjiang/
22
Content
Publish or perish (content is gold)
Solid research
Paper construction
Language issues
Outlets - GIScience journals/conferences
Submission and revision
Ethical issues
Summary
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Publish or perish
44
Some remarks on publishing
Publish or perish (life and death)
Ideas always matter in research!
”Good writing will not save bad ideas, but bad
writing can kill good ones.”
”Just because it has not been done before is
no justification for doing it now”
Peter Attiwill, Editor of Forest Ecology and
Management
55
Writing matters!
Credit goes to the first published, NOT the
first who made a discovery.
Dual aspect of science: doing science and
scholarly communication
“Stand on the shoulders of giants”
6
Impact factor = IF
A= the number of citations in 2006 and 2007
during 2008
B= the total number of papers published in
2006 and 2007 (excluding editorials or
letters-to-the-editor)
2008 impact factor = A/B
IF = 1.0 implies that the number of citations is
the same as the total number of papers
published.
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2
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Impact factors
Web of science
Google scholar
H-Index (hpapers each of which has been cited at
least htimes)
Review papers have more citations than research
papers
The first-mover advantage in scientific publication
"the scientist who wants to become famous is
better off—by a wide margin—writing a modest
paper in next year’s hottest field than an
outstanding paper in this year’s.“ Mark Newman
88
Solid research
99
Ideas matter!
Novel ideas are the key to solid research
Novel ideas never come from scratch, but
from readings – stand on the shoulders of
giants
Do not believe textbooks or published papers
New ideas can come out by replicating or
duplicating others’ work
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Novel ideas – for example
It is impossible to automate axial lines, what if
we drop the idea of axial lines?
1111
Novel ideas – for example
Now that automating axial lines is impossible,
what if we take street central lines as a
replacement of axial lines
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What is not a novel idea?
Someone did a case study in London, and I
will do a case study in Stockholm
Someone proposed a new method in physics,
and I will apply the method in GIScience
The case study and application are NOT
new, unless you will have very significant
findings
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910
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New ideas vs new (surprising) findings
Data is not new, method is not new, then
Findings must be new
1414
Solid research – for example
Jiang B., Zhao S., and Yin J. (2008), Self-organized natural roads
for predicting traffic flow: a sensitivity study, Journal of Statistical
Mechanics: Theory and Experiment, July, P07008.
1515
Solid paper versus good enough paper
Solid paper is NOT good enough paper
Solid paper will stimulate further work and get
cited
Solid paper (salamini) is NOT thin paper
(sliced salamini)
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Paper construction
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Three things and five things
90% of your paper readers just read three
things: title, keywords and abstract.
Use the three things to ”sell” your paper.
90% of my reading time focus on five things:
title, abstract, keywords, conclusion, and
references.
I use the five things to decide whether or not
to get into details of a paper.
The three things DO matter!
1818
The importance of the three things
They set the first impression, so important!
All should reflect your paper content, but
lengths are different.
Title = 10 words, eye-catching!
Keywords = 5 words (not replicate words in title)
Abstract = 5-10 sentences
They all appear first, but finish (not start)
them at the last.
The three things together provide a synopsis
of your paper.
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Rely on wordle for finishing the three things
Jiang B. (2015), The fractal nature of maps and mapping, International Journal of GeographicalInformation Science,
29(1), 159–174.
2020
Title - for example
Bad title: Remote sensing and GIS-based
multi-criteria analysis for addressing suitable
sites for pearl oyster Pinctada martensii
aquaculture in coastal water of Yingpan,
Beibu gulf, China
Good title: GIS-based multi-criteria analysis
for aquaculture site selection
2121
Authors and affiliations – for example
Bin Jiang (1), Junjun Yin (1) and Sijian Zhao (2)
(1) Division of Geomatics, Department of Technology and Built
Environment
University of Gävle, Sweden
Email: bin.jiang@hig.se, yinjunjun@gmail.com
(2) College of Resources Science and Technology, Beijing Normal
University, China
Email: scanzhao@hotmail.com
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Abstract (10 sentences)
Short (200-300 words)
Precise and honest
Self-contained
No technical jargon
Brief and specific
No abbreviations
No references
2323
Keywords - for example
Title: Automatic generation of the axial lines
of urban environments to capture what we
perceive
Authors: Bin Jiang, Xintao Liu
Good keywords: Visibility, space syntax,
topological analysis, medial axes, isovists
Bad keywords: algorithm, geometry, axial
lines, methodology, analysis, urban
environments
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Introduction (1 page)
Sets the scene or context for your study
3-5 paragraphs in length
Most difficult part for beginning researchers,
while relatively easy for seasoned
researchers
Brief (not extensive) literature review
Outline your contributions or novel aspects
Close with a paragraph about structure of
your paper
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Data (1-2 pages)
Have this section if data constitute an
important part of your study; otherwise no this
section
Full description of data source
What data process or transformation you
made
Data sharing if possible
2626
Methodology (1-2 pages)
Is bulk of your paper
Provides sufficient information so that others
can reproduce your results
NOT step-by-step like recipes
Use equations, algorithms, charts, diagrams
when necessary
Use present tense for methodology-type
paper, unless the Guide for Authors states
otherwise
2727
Mathematics
Just as an ordinary text, mathematical
notations cannot simply be copy/pasted from
the referenced sources.
Do not use mathematics to show off
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Paradigm shift
”If one uses mathematics to show off, it is an
out-of-date show-off.” WHY?
2929
Algorithms – for example
Show structure of your algorithms
Use courier font to distinguish them from main text.
3030
Results and discussion (2-3 pages)
Report results derived from your experiments
or case studies
Use figures and tables to summarize data
A good paper always goes beyond the
experiments and case studies themselves
Discuss possible limitations of the method,
and point out future work
Discuss implications of the results
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Three questions to address for a good paper
Why?
Motivation, why this work?
Hard to write
What?
What results, and how they are obtained?
Relatively easy to write
So what?
Implications of your work, beyond your work
towards a big context
Harder to write
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Graphics - importance
”Readers…often look at the graphics first
and many times go no further. Therefore,
the reviewer should be particularly
sensitive to inclusion of clear and
informative graphics.”
- Henry Rapoport, Associate Editor, Journal
of Organic Chemistry
3333
Which one is better?
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Graphics – use of color
Not too many colors; make sure graphics make sense in
B/W
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Graphics – self-contained
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Statistics or tables
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Conclusion(s) (1-2 paragraphs)
Summarize your work
Put your study into a context
Describe how it represents an advance
Do not add or speculate anything beyond
your study (conclusion out of your study)
Suggest potential applications - eye-opening!
Suggest future work - eye-opening!
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Acknowledgement(s) (2-3 sentences)
Acknowledge anyone who provided help with
the study, including
Research assistance
English editing
Referees’ comments
Funding sources (reference number if any)
People appeared in acknowledgement share
no responsibility of any error
“Any errors and inadequacies of the paper
remain solely the responsibility of the
authors.”
3939
References
Author (year), title, <journal or book>, volume, no, publisher:
location, page xx–xx.
Harvard System (alphabetical by author)
Jiang, B. and Yao, X. (2006), Location-based services and GIS in
perspective, Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, vol.
30, pp. 712–725
APA (American Psychological Association) Systems
(alphabetical by author)
Jiang, B. and Yao, X. (2006). Location-based services and GIS in
perspective. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems 30,
712–725
Vancouver System (numbered in order or citation)
[1]. Jiang B. and Yao X. (2006), Location-based services and GIS
in perspective, Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 30,
712–725.
4040
References - Jiang’s System
Jiang B. and Yao X. (2006), Location-based
services and GIS in perspective, Computers,
Environment and Urban Systems, 30, 712–725.
One can find more examples at
https://arxiv.org/a/jiang_b_1.html
Key to references is a matter of consistence rather
than correctness
4141
Citations – for example
For the purpose of modeling human movement, open space
has been of primary interest, being the modeling target in
space syntax (Hillier and Hanson 1984).
The initial definition of axial map, given by Hillier and Hanson
(1984),…The procedure of generating the convex map seems
based on some arbitrary rule, i.e., “simply find the largest
convex space and draw it in, then the next largest, and so on
until all the space is accounted for” (p. 98).
For the case of more than three authors, you can take the
form of for instance (Jiang et al. 2009), BUT et al. never
appear in references:
Jiang B., Yin J. and Zhao S. (2009), Characterizing human
mobility patterns in a large street network, Physical Review E,
80, 021136.
4242
Supportive information
Material related to and supportive of the main
text, but of secondary importance should be
attached in an appendix, including
Detailed description about data collection and
process
Extensive statistical analysis
Supplementary mathematical analysis
Video, computer programs and prototype demo
Letter or Report always has supportive
information
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4343
Structure versus headings
Title
Abstract
Keywords
Introduction
Data
Method
Results and discussion
Conclusion
References
Acknowledgement (if any)
Appendix (if any)
Title
Abstract
Keywords
Introduction
What data and process
What method
Results and discussion
Conclusion
References
Acknowledgement (if any)
Appendix (if any)
4444
Language issues
4545
Some remarks on language
”Journal editors, overloaded with quality
manuscripts, may make decisions on
manuscripts based on formal criteria, like
grammer or spelling. Don’t get rejected for
avoidable mistakes; make sure your manuscript
looks perfect.” Arnout Jacobs, Elsevier
Publishing
A good paper is ”a joy to read”
”A sloppy writing = a sloppy scientist”
”If you cannot get the spelling right, how are you
expected to get the research right”
4646
Structure writing via structured thinking
Structured thinking during writing is VERY
important
Structured thinking can be reached through
writing-and-rewriting
To structure well, you have to start from general
to more specific. This applies at different levels
of writing – a paragraph, a section, or the entire
text. Imagine you are travelling in space from air,
down to earth, to a county level, then to a city,
and street level.
4747
English sentences
Basic formats or structure of English
sentences:
A and B. (parallel)
A, B, and C (hardly appear), if any I would
suggest ”(1) A, (2) B and (3) C.
A conjunction B. (non-parallel)
4848
English sentences – for example
Although various attempts have been made towards an
automatic solution, few of them can produce the axial
map that consists of the least number of longest visibility
lines, and none of them really works for different urban
environments.
We further simulate the mobility of a large number of
random walkers, and find that (1) the simulated random
walkers can reproduce the same human mobility pattern,
and (2) the simulated mobility rate of the random walkers
correlates pretty well (an R square up to 0.87) with the
observed human mobility rate.
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Avoid repetition
Sentences in Abstract, Introduction,
Discussion and Concludion should be
checked again and again….
Do not copy sentences from other sections
verbatim.
In addition, we also would like to thank the
three reviewers of IJGIS for their constructive
comments that better shaped the paper.
5050
Be consistent in…
Tense:
Here we analyze over 72 000 people’s moving
trajectories, obtained from 50 taxicabs during a six-
month period in a large street network, and illustrated(x)
that the human mobility pattern, or the Lévy flight
behaviour, is mainly attributed to the underlying street
network.
Use of singular/plural:
To put it differently, some mobility pattern formed by the
random walkers are(x) surprisingly the same as the one
by human beings.
5151
Be accurate in language expression
The GPS data are massive; a GPS signal is
captured every 10 seconds during a six-
month period October 2007, January to May
2008 for every one of the 50 cabs, capturing
59 983 958 positions.
There is a significant increase of R square
values from 0.6 to 0.75.
Suppose that a person wants to go from
location A to B, located respectively in street
g and street d, ….
5252
Abbreviations
Define abbreviations on first use; Do not
define them if no second use.
Since abstract is self-contained, one
abbreviation defined in abstract cannot be
used in the main text; define twice.
Spell terms in full they are just used a few
times.
E.g., geographic information systems (GIS)
53
Outlets in GIScience
5454
GIScience journals or conferences
International Journal of Geographical
Information Science
Computers, Environment and Urban Systems
Transactions in GIS
ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information
GeoInformatica
Environment and Planning B
GIScience conference (biennial)
COSIT (biennial)
SDH (biennial)
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10
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ArXiv.org
In many fields of mathematics and physics,
almost all scientific papers are placed on the
arXiv.
ArXiv.org passed the half-million article
milestone on 3 October 2008, with roughly
five thousand new e-prints added every
month.
5656
Publishers
CRC Press (Taylor & Francis)
Springer
LNCS
Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography
Advances in Geographic Information Science
GeoJournal library
Wiley
MDPI (OA)
PLOS ONE (OA)
5757
Submission and
revision
5858
Before submission
Put your manuscript aside for one week or
also and have a fresh reading afterwards.
Better ask colleagues to have a crticial
reading.
If possible, have someone to polish your
English.
Check with the Guide for Authors.
Send a short query email to the journal editor
about fittness of topic.
5959
Cover letter
This is the place to convince the journal
editor that your work deserves publication.
State contribution/potential impact of your
work with a few sentences.
Suggest potential reviewers, or express
possible conflict of interests if any.
Be polite and brief.
6060
While waiting for review feedbacks…
Send your manuscript to ArXiv.org.
Keep reading your manuscript from time to
time and mark any error for the next time
revision.
Send a query email to the journal editor after
one month or so.
Continue future work identified in the
conclusion.
Prepare the next paper…
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Carefully read editor’s decision letter
Accept without revision (hardly happen)
Accept with major revision (often if a quality
submission)
Accept with minor revision
Reject and resubmit (a polite reject)
Resubmit as the same ID
Resubmit as a new submission
Reject
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If major/minor revision …
Study review comments carefully and
prepare a report revision details based on
point-by-point response.
Thanks for the referees' comments and
respond one by one.
If yes, show how the comments have been
taken in which pages, sections, lines etc..,
highlighting the changed texts.
Otherwise, convince the referees as to why.
6363
If rejection…
Study the reason as to why it is rejected.
Do not take it personally!
Never submit to elsewhere without any
revision; remember your paper could go to
the same referee next time!
Take those valid comments and revise your
paper accordingly.
A short letter or email to express your thanks
and clarify major concerns if possible.
6464
Ethical issues
6565
Unethical or misconduct in science
Plagiarism – using the ideas or words of another
person without giving appropriate credit
Self-plagiarism - using your own ideas or words
without giving appropriate credit
Fabrication – making up data or results
Falsification – changing and misreporting data or
result
Double or multiple submissions
Gift authorship
Use of tracking the location or observation of people
without ethical review
6666
Plagiarism
”Plagiarism is the appropriation of another
person’s ideas, processes, results, or words
without giving appropriate credits, including
those obtained through confidential review of
others’ research proposals and manuscripts”
Federal Office of Science and Technology
Policy, 1999
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism
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Consequences of plagiarism
It is a serious offence that could lead to paper
rejection, paper retraction, ban for publishing,
termination of employment and even criminal
charges.
It will seriously affect your scientific
reputation.
Never play with plagiarism!
6868
Rephrasing unproperly – for example
Original paper (Jiang and Liu 2010)
We have argued and demonstrated
throughout the paper that the axial lines are
superior to the medial axes in skeleton
extraction.
Restatement
Jiang and Liu (2010) have argued and
demonstrated throughout the paper that the
axial lines are superior to the medial axes in
skeleton extraction.
6969
Authorship
Being an author imply credits but also
responsiblity.
Substantial contribution to the paper in
research design, initialization of the ideas,
data processes, interpretation of results,
paper drafting and revision.
Persons who contributed not substantially
should be listed in acknowledgement rather
than author list.
No gift authorship!
70
Summary – some points worth repeating
”Good writing will not save bad ideas, but bad
writing can kill good ones.”
”Just because it has not been done before is
not justification for doing it now”
“Stand on the shoulders of giants”
“The scientist who wants to become famous
is better off—by a wide margin—writing a
modest paper in next year’s hottest field than
an outstanding paper in this year’s.”
71
Summary – some points worth repeating
”If one uses mathematics to show off, it is an
out-of-date show-off.”
”A sloppy writing = a sloppy scientist”
”If you cannot get the spelling right, how are
you expected to get the research right”
”A good research paper should be able to
address the three basic questions, why, what,
and so what”
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