Search

In this paper, we outline the functionalities of a system that integrates and controls a fleet of Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAVs). UAVs have a set of payload sensors employed for territorial surveillance, whose outputs are stored in the system and analysed by the data exploitation functions at different levels. In particular, we detail the second level data exploitation function whose aim is to improve the sensors data interpretation in the post-mission activities. It is concerned with the mosaicking of the aerial images and the cartography enrichment by human sensors--the social media users. We also describe the software architecture for the development of a mash-up (the integration of information and functionalities coming from the Web) and the possibility of using human sensors in the monitoring of the territory, a field in which, traditionally, the involved sensors were only the hardware ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following paper introduces a group of novel speech-signal descriptors that reflect phoneme-pronunciation variability and that can be considered as potentially useful features for emotion sensing. The proposed group includes a set of statistical parameters of Poincare maps, derived for formant-frequency evolution and energy evolution of voiced-speech segments. Two groups of Poincare-map characteristics were considered in the research: descriptors of sample-scatter, which reflect magnitudes of phone-uttering variations and descriptors of cross-correlations that exist among samples and that evaluate consistency of variations. It has been shown that inclusion of the proposed characteristics into the pool of commonly used speech descriptors, results in a noticeable increase-at the level of 10%-in emotion sensing performance. Standard pattern recognition methodology has been adopted for evaluation of the proposed descriptors, with the assumption that three- or four-dimensional feature spaces can provide sufficient emotion sensing. Binary decision trees have been selected for data classification, as they provide with detailed information on emotion-specific discriminative power of various speech descriptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In traditional change detection methods, remote sensing images are the primary raster data for change detection, and the changes produced from cartography generalization in multi-scale maps are not considered. The aim of this research was to use a new kind of raster data, named map tile data, to detect the change information of a multi-scale water system. From the perspective of spatial cognition, a hierarchical system is proposed to detect water area changes in multi-scale tile maps. The detection level of multi-scale water changes is divided into three layers: the body layer, the piece layer, and the slice layer. We also classify the water area changes and establish a set of indicators and rules used for the change detection of water areas in multi-scale raster maps. In addition, we determine the key technology in the process of water extraction from tile maps. For evaluation purposes, the proposed method is applied in several test areas using a map of Tiandi. After evaluating the accuracy of change detection, our experimental results confirm the efficiency and high accuracy of the proposed methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activity and natural climate trends constitute a major threat to coral reefs worldwide. Models predict a significant reduction in reef spatial extension together with a decline in biodiversity in the relatively near future. In this context, monitoring programs to detect changes in reef ecosystems are essential. In recent years, coral reef mapping using remote sensing data has benefited from instruments with better resolution and computational advances in storage and processing capabilities. However, the water column represents an additional complexity when extracting information from submerged substrates by remote sensing that demands a correction of its effect. In this article, the basic concepts of bottom substrate remote sensing and water column interference are presented. A compendium of methodologies developed to reduce water column effects in coral ecosystems studied by remote sensing that include their salient features, advantages and drawbacks is provided. Finally, algorithms to retrieve the bottom reflectance are applied to simulated data and actual remote sensing imagery and their performance is compared. The available methods are not able to completely eliminate the water column effect, but they can minimize its influence. Choosing the best method depends on the marine environment, available input data and desired outcome or scientific application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An objective error criterion is proposed for evaluating the accuracy of maps of unknown environments acquired by making range measurements with different sensing modalities and processing them with different techniques. The criterion can also be used for the assessment of goodness of fit of curves or shapes fitted to map points. A demonstrative example from ultrasonic mapping is given based on experimentally acquired time-of-flight measurements and compared with a very accurate laser map, considered as absolute reference. The results of the proposed criterion are compared with the Hausdorff metric and the median error criterion results. The error criterion is sufficiently general and flexible that it can be applied to discrete point maps acquired with other mapping techniques and sensing modalities as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]