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The use of spherical cameras (with a field of view of 360°) is becoming increasingly popular for photogrammetric applications characterised by the opportunity to capture entire scenes in a relatively short time.This potential may be even more interesting for the digitisation of complex areas where, in addition to geometry, time, cost and social context play an important role.This contribution is part of this field of investigation by describing two experiments conducted on the use of an inexpensive 360° camera, the Insta360 OneX2, for the expeditious survey of residual spaces below road junctions.The area under investigation is a node in the city of Naples (Italy) located in the eastern area, considered particularly significant for the interaction between the geographical and infrastructural system.Two different approaches are tested starting from the acquisition of the spherical photographic dataset: the traditional one by means of photogrammetric software and the more economical and user-friendly one by employing the Matterport Capture application. Pros and cons of the two approaches are discussed: the first experimental results are encouraged and support the validity of the approach for surveying complex urban spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the 3D City Modelling specific procedure developed as a tool to support strategies for urban regeneration, within the framework of the B-ROAD research project.The B-ROAD research project, whose acronym stands for Below the Road, is developing urban design strategies for upcycling urban infrastructure residual pockets.The B-ROAD's methodology is conceived as research by design as it is carried out by creating pilot scenarios, disclosing the latent and still unexpressed potential of these wasted areas and displaying their potential transformations, to turn them into precious resources for the contemporary city.The 3D City Modelling of the study area has proved to be essential and strategic yet often complex and critical as most of the spatial and architectural features of B-ROAD spaces, as well as their potential, cannot be detected nor represented through the traditional means of representation of urbanised land, as aerial survey-based representations, or GIS. Likewise, traditional, or even cutting-edge, survey techniques that can be used to acquire missing data are often costly and time-consuming, thus making it hardly impossible to achieve the purpose of extensive and deep knowledge of such a vast area. Thus, 3D City Modelling aimed at examining spaces and providing a final representation of pilot scenarios has been a crucial stage requiring a specific in-depth study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the significant advances in digital technologies applied to cultural heritage have led to profound transformations in the activities of protection, conservation and enhancement. A current field of experimentation concerns 'rapid mapping' survey techniques with mobile mapping system (MMS). The use of these methodologies is increasingly widespread for the diagnostic and monitoring phases of the architectures. The potential of these techniques are manifold: these systems record, in a short time, a large number of information with a rather high level of accuracy. In particular, the research presented here has studied an 'innovative' Lidar mobile mapping methodology, NavVis VLX, with experimental perspectives, for the survey of the Cripta of the Cathedral of San Matteo in Salerno (Italy). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scenario optimization is a broad methodology to perform optimization based on empirical knowledge. One collects previous cases, called "scenarios", for the set-up in which optimization is being performed, and makes a decision that is optimal for the cases that have been collected. For convex optimization, a solid theory has been developed that provides guarantees of performance, and constraint satisfaction, of the scenario solution. In this paper, we open a new direction of investigation: the risk that a performance is not achieved, or that constraints are violated, is studied jointly with the complexity (as precisely defined in the paper) of the solution. It is shown that the joint probability distribution of risk and complexity is concentrated in such a way that the complexity carries fundamental information to tightly judge the risk. This result is obtained without requiring extra knowledge on the underlying optimization problem than that carried by the scenarios; in particular, no extra knowledge on the distribution by which scenarios are generated is assumed, so that the result is broadly applicable. This deep-seated result unveils a fundamental and general structure of data-driven optimization and suggests practical approaches for risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous monitoring procedures are becoming even more crucial for assessing the potential deterioration of architectural structures, due to the many inducted advantages. A cultural heritage site, in fact, is constantly subject to degradation, due in particular to atmospheric agents. Preserving it with preventive analyses is an important goal for the scientific community. In this context, data collection methodologies, together with Artificial Intelligence, play a central role for the analysis of surface degradation. This study aims to present a proposal for the automated analysis of the state of degradation of an artefact, exploiting a novel solution including a combination of a graph database and a dynamic Digital Model. In this regard, a preliminary case study is presented, based on the Quadriportico of the Cathedral of San Matteo in Salerno, Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is part of a much wider project in which professors and researchers from the University of Naples Federico II and the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli are collaborating in different subject areas. The object of study is the ancient Sanctuary of Montevergine characterized by a long history of transformations and stratifications. Driven by the desire to fill a singular gap, linked to the lack of a systematic and comprehensive study of a complex whose first settlement dates back to the early 12th century, various studies have been started relating to the historical, artistic and architectural aspects.Various surveying techniques and methods had to be used due to its architectural, compositional and settlement characteristics. Integrated 3D surveying technologies were used for both the cognitive studies of the entire complex as well as for investigating and detecting the elements at different scales, ranging from the architectural to the detailed ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional acquisition systems for architecture have significantly evolved over just a few decades, with them allowing point clouds to be generated through active and passive optical sensor equipment.Accuracy levels vary considerably in relation to both the equipment and techniques used, with the data obtained acting as a scaffolding for the creation of derived models that allow specific analyses to be carried out.Ongoing research on Palazzo Donn'Anna, a Neapolitan sixteenth-century building of particular historical and artistic value, is being carried out in this context and the first results are presented in this paper.The entire building has been the subject of an instrumental survey. The north-east façade was proposed as a case-study for the experimentation of diversified reality-based sensors so as to compare the accuracy and precision of the data. The comparison was also aimed at evaluating the performance of some processing softwares. Finally, in order to obtain an estimate of the data in the transcription from the point cloud to a derived 3D model, the reproduction of the same portion of the prospectus in a derivative model of both object-oriented and NURBS types was experimented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, opinion dynamics has received an increasing attention and various models have been introduced and evaluated mainly by simulation. In this study, we introduce a model inspired by the so-called "bounded confidence" approach where voters engaged in an electoral decision with two options are influenced by individuals sharing an opinion similar to their own. This model allows one to capture salient features of the evolution of opinions and results in final clusters of voters. We provide a detailed study of the model, including a complete taxonomy of the equilibrium points and an analysis of their stability. The model highlights that the final electoral outcome depends on the level of interaction in the society, besides the initial opinion of each individual, so that a strongly interconnected society can reverse the electoral outcome as compared to a society with looser exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents part of the results of a larger research project that focused on the surveying and documenting of Roman theatres and amphitheatres in the Campania region as well as the testing of a virtual fruition system for the digital reconstruction of a case study: the Roman theatre of Benevento. The work was carried out by the research group at the Interdepartmental Urban/Eco Research Centre of the University of Naples Federico II in collaboration with Spinvector, a company specialized in ICT – Information and Communication Technology – which lead to the defining of a fruition system of Cultural Heritage applied to archaeological heritage.The project included 3D digital surveys of the study samples carried out using reality-based techniques, which allowed for the acquisition of metric, morphological, geometric and colorimetric data. This made it possible to elaborate three-dimensional models, based on the current configuration of the places as well as of the possible original reconfigurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the developments of research related to the integration of digital survey methodologies with reference to imagebased and range-based technologies. Starting from the processing of point clouds, the data were processed for both the geometric interpretation of the space as well as production of three-dimensional models that describe the constitutive and morphological relationships. The subject of the study was the church of San Carlo all'Arena in Naples (Italy), with a HBIM model being produced that is semantically consistent with the real building. Starting from the data acquired, a visualization system was created for the virtual exploration of the building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of architectural surveys carried out with mobile mapping systems. The data acquired through different instruments for both indoor and outdoor surveying are analyzed and compared. The study sample shows what is required for an acquisition in a dynamic mode indicating the criteria for the creation of a georeferenced network for indoor spaces, as well as the operational processes concerning data capture, processing, and management. The differences between a dynamic and static scan have been evaluated, with a comparison being made with the aerial photogrammetric survey of the same sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sociedad Micologica de Madrid. Boletin is the property of Sociedad Micologica de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We consider convex optimization problems with uncertain, probabilistically described, constraints. In this context, scenario optimization is a well recognized methodology where a sample of the constraints is used to describe uncertainty. One says that the scenario solution generalizes well, or has a high robustness level, if it satisfies most of the other constraints besides those in the sample. Over the past 10 years, the main theoretical investigations on the scenario approach have related the robustness level of the scenario solution to the number of optimization variables. This paper breaks into the new paradigm that the robustness level is a-posteriori evaluated after the solution is computed and the actual number of the so-called support constraints is assessed (wait-and-judge). A new theory is presented which shows that a-posteriori observing k support constraints in dimension $$d > k$$ allows one to draw conclusions close to those obtainable when the problem is from the outset in dimension k. This new theory provides evaluations of the robustness that largely outperform those carried out based on the number of optimization variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sociedad Micologica de Madrid. Boletin is the property of Sociedad Micologica de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper presents the first results of an interdisciplinary project related to the 3D documentation, dissemination, valorization and digital access of archeological sites. Beside the mere 3D documentation aim, the project has two goals: (i) to easily explore and share via web references and results of the interdisciplinary work, including the interpretative process and the final reconstruction of the remains; (ii) to promote and valorize archaeological areas using reality-based 3D data and Virtual Reality devices. This method has been verified on the ruins of the archeological site of Pausilypon, a maritime villa of Roman period (Naples, Italy). Using Unity3D, the virtual tour of the heritage site was integrated and enriched with the surveyed 3D data, text documents, CAAD reconstruction hypotheses, drawings, photos, etc. In this way, starting from the actual appearance of the ruins (panoramic images), passing through the 3D digital surveying models and several other historical information, the user is able to access virtual contents and reconstructed scenarios, all in a single virtual, interactive and immersive environment. These contents and scenarios allow to derive documentation and geometrical information, understand the site, perform analyses, see interpretative processes, communicate historical information and valorize the heritage location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider convex optimization problems in the presence of stochastic uncertainty. The min-max sample-based solution is the solution obtained by minimizing the max of the cost functions corresponding to a finite sample of the uncertainty parameter. The empirical costs are instead the cost values that the solution incurs for the various parameter realizations that have been sampled. Our goal is to evaluate the risks associated with the empirical costs, where the risk associated with a cost is the probability that the cost is exceeded when a new realization of the uncertainty parameter is seen. This task is accomplished without resorting to uncertainty realizations other than those used in optimization. The theoretical result proved in this paper is that these risks form a random vector whose probability distribution is an ordered Dirichlet distribution, irrespective of the probability measure of the stochastic uncertainty parameter. This result provides a distribution-free characterization of the risks associated with the empirical costs that can be used in a variety of application problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is part of a research about ribbed vaults systems in French Gothic Cathedrals. Our goal is to compare some different gothic cathedrals to understand the complex geometry of the ribbed vaults. The survey isn't the main objective but it is the way to verify the theoretical hypotheses about geometric configuration of the flamboyant churches in Paris. The survey method's choice generally depends on the goal; in this case we had to study many churches in a short time, so we chose 3D reconstruction method based on image dense stereo matching. This method allowed us to obtain the necessary information to our study without bringing special equipment, such as the laser scanner. The goal of this paper is to test image matching 3D reconstruction method in relation to some particular study cases and to show the benefits and the troubles. From a methodological point of view this is our workflow: - theoretical study about geometrical configuration of rib vault systems; - 3D model based on theoretical hypothesis about geometric definition of the vaults' form; - 3D model based on image matching 3D reconstruction methods; - comparison between 3D theoretical model and 3D model based on image matching; [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the aspects of genetic, clinical, and treatment of colorectal polyposis disorders such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and multiple colorectal adenomas (MCRAs) syndromes. Among the clinical aspects discussed are genetic cause, physiological manifestation, and pathological characteristics. Also discussed several surgical methods including total colectomy with ileo-rectal anastomosis (IRA), laparoscopic approach, and protocolectomy.

Our research on a multi-purpose survey of cultural Heritage located in UNESCO Historical Centre of Naples has the following goals: to test some innovative strategies to improve public enjoyment for inaccessible sites; to explore the use of some interactive systems to study heritage in remote; to explore how to access the information system through AR applications. In this paper we are going to focus on comparison between interactive system to access 3D data and photogrammetric processing of panoramic images. We investigated on: a. the use of 360° panorama for 3D restitutions; b. the use of 360° panorama as an interface to 3D data to extract real 3D coordinates and accurately measure distances; c. the use of 3D PDF to access a 3D database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research illustrated in this paper is part of a wider testing ground, aimed at identifying and developing processes of learning and development taking place in archaeological contexts. These sites are investigated through the use of advanced technology, based on integrated methods of survey of new generation. The aim is to identify alternative languages of representation, able to read and to represent effectively the analyzed object and to propose alternative enjoyment systems. The case study is the Mithraeum in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, for which were carried out surveys with non-contact techniques, based on the use of instrumentations, for the acquisition of colorimetric and metric informations, that exploit a non-invasive approach. Data coming from laser scanner's sensors, combined with GPS receivers, are processed to define a three-dimensional centimetric space, in a single reference system of individual scans. Purpose of this research is to identify representation techniques able to communicate the sense of the multiple interrelations and of interferences among parties, providing the subsequent insertion of data into a wider project of cataloging, fruition and valuation of cultural heritage. The chance to diffuse Digital surveys is now a possible and implementable reality. The purpose is to spread awareness of World Heritage, in a participatory manner and based on the spiri t of knowledge, conveying all the strength of cultural content that heritage has. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Random convex programs are convex optimization problems that are robust with respect to a finite number of randomly sampled instances of an uncertain variable δ. This paper studies random convex programs in which there is uncertainty in the objective function. Specifically, let L(x, δ) be a loss function that is convex in x, the optimization variable, while it has an arbitrary dependence on the random variable d representing uncertainty in the optimization problem. After sampling N instances δ(1), δ(N) of the random variable δ, the random convex program can be written as follows: minx maxi L(x, δ(i)). The fundamental feature of this program is that its value LN* = maxi L(xN*,δ(i)), where xN* is the solution, remains guaranteed when xN* is applied to the vast majority of the other unseen instances of δ; that is, L(xN*, δ) ≤ LN* holds with high probability with respect to the uncertain variable δ. This generalization property has justified a systematic and rigorous use of randomization in robust optimization. In this paper, we introduce L1-regularization in random convex programs and show that L1-regularization boosts the above generalization property so that generalization is achieved with significantly fewer samples than in the standard convex program given above. Explicit bounds are derived that allow a rigorous and easy implementation of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the link between a Chance-Constrained optimization Problem (CCP) and its sample counterpart (SP). SP has a finite number, say N, of sampled constraints. Further, some of these sampled constraints, say k, are discarded, and the final solution is indicated by $x^{\ast}_{N,k}$. Extending previous results on the feasibility of sample convex optimization programs, we establish the feasibility of $x^{\ast}_{N,k}$ for the initial CCP problem. Constraints removal allows one to improve the cost function at the price of a decreased feasibility. The cost improvement can be inspected directly from the optimization result, while the theory here developed permits to keep control on the other side of the coin, the feasibility of the obtained solution. In this way, trading feasibility for performance is put on solid mathematical grounds in this paper. The feasibility result here obtained applies to a vast class of chance-constrained optimization problems, and has the distinctive feature that it holds true irrespective of the algorithm used to discard k constraints in the SP problem. For constraints discarding, one can thus, e.g., resort to one of the many methods introduced in the literature to solve chance-constrained problems with discrete distribution, or even use a greedy algorithm, which is computationally very low-demanding, and the feasibility result remains intact. We further prove that, if constraints in the SP problem are optimally removed-i.e., one deletes those constraints leading to the largest possible cost improvement-, then a precise optimality link to the original chance-constrained problem CCP in addition holds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many optimization problems are naturally delivered in an uncertain framework, and one would like to exercise prudence against the uncertainty elements present in the problem. In previous contributions, it has been shown that solutions to uncertain convex programs that bear a high probability to satisfy uncertain constraints can be obtained at low computational cost through constraint randomization. In this paper, we establish new feasibility results for randomized algorithms. Specifically, the exact feasibility for the class of the so-called fully-supported problems is obtained. It turns out that all fully-supported problems share the same feasibility properties, revealing a deep kinship among problems of this class. It is further proven that the feasibility of the randomized solutions for all other convex programs can be bounded based on the feasibility for the prototype class of fully-supported problems. The feasibility result of this paper outperforms previous bounds and is not improvable because it is exact for fully-supported problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many engineering problems can be cast as optimization problems subject to convex constraints that are parameterized by an uncertainty or ‘instance’ parameter. Two main approaches are generally available to tackle constrained optimization problems in presence of uncertainty: robust optimization and chance-constrained optimization. Robust optimization is a deterministic paradigm where one seeks a solution which simultaneously satisfies all possible constraint instances. In chance-constrained optimization a probability distribution is instead assumed on the uncertain parameters, and the constraints are enforced up to a pre-specified level of probability. Unfortunately however, both approaches lead to computationally intractable problem formulations.In this paper, we consider an alternative ‘randomized’ or ‘scenario’ approach for dealing with uncertainty in optimization, based on constraint sampling. In particular, we study the constrained optimization problem resulting by taking into account only a finite set ofNconstraints, chosen at random among the possible constraint instances of the uncertain problem. We show that the resulting randomized solution fails to satisfy only a small portion of the original constraints, provided that a sufficient number of samples is drawn. Our key result is to provide an efficient and explicit bound on the measure (probability or volume) of the original constraints that are possibly violated by the randomized solution. This volume rapidly decreases to zero asNis increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the article is to show how the location of new firms differs according to the life cycle stages of their industry in Spanish cities. In the initial stages of the product life cycle, the products are not totally defined and the innovative activity of firms is high. After that, when the product design is standardized, specific equipment goods appear, the profit margin of firms is reduced and the capacity to innovate also diminishes. The theory of the product life cycle is a suitable instrument for analyzing why new manufacturing plants tend to start up in a small number of places, and why the decisions of new firms as to where to locate change with this life cycle.

The present study evaluates the existence of differences in competitiveness of Spanish industrial firms as a consequence of the district effect. A quantitative analysis has been performed in order to assess external competitiveness taking into account whether firms are located in industrial districts—in the sense proposed by Marshall-Becattini—or remain isolated. The methodological approach considers geographical and sectoral variables. It attempts to establish the existence of a relationship between sectoral specialisation and business efficiency— measured as the capacity to export—in local productive systems. Most of the variables come from a 1991 fiscal data-set and the territorial units of analysis are 332 municipalities with a population of over 15 000 inhabitants. From the results on the econometric model, it can be inferred that the geographical concentration of companies in the same activity positively influences their level of competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Summary. The present study evaluates the existence of differences in competitiveness of Spanish industrial firms as a consequence of the district effect. A quantitative analysis has been performed in order to assess external competitiveness taking into account whether firms are located in industrial districts--in the sense proposed by Marshall-Becattini--or remain isolated. The methodological approach considers geographical and sectoral variables. It attempts to establish the existence of a relationship between sectoral specialisation and business efficiency--measured as the capacity to export--in local productive systems. Most of the variables come from a 1991 fiscal data-set and the territorial units of analysis are 332 municipalities with a population of over 15 000 inhabitants. From the results on the econometric model, it can be inferred that the geographical concentration of companies in the same activity positively influences their level of competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sialoadenectomy for sialolithiasis is necessary when the stone cannot be removed through the salivary duct. In addition, extracorporeal. shock-wave lithotripsy has recently become available for this purpose. The safety and efficacy of this method was assessed in 52 outpatients bearing stones with an average diameter of 6.76 mm in the submandibular or parotid gland. Anesthetics, sedatives, and analgesics were not required. Twenty-four of the 36 patients with submandibular gland calculi and all 16 with parotid sialolithiasis had complete stone disintegration or fragmentation of the calculi, with possible spontaneous clearance. Untoward effects were observed in 15 patients, namely localized skin petecchiae, transitory swelling of the gland, and self-limiting bleeding from the duct. No persistent damage of the salivary glands or adjacent structures was noted during a mean follow-up period of 10 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]