Umbrella pine above ground biomass estimation with very high spatial resolution satellite images

Above ground biomass is frequently estimated with forest inventory data and an extrapolation method for the per unit area evaluations. This procedure is labour demanding and costly. In this study above ground biomass functions, whose independent variable is crown horizontal projection, were developed. Multi-resolution segmentation method and object-oriented classification, based on very high spatial resolution satellite images, were used to obtain the area of tree crown horizontal projection for umbrella pine (Pinus pinea L.). A set of inventory plots were measured and with existing allometric functions for this species above ground biomass per tree and per plot were calculated. The two data sets were used to fit linear functions both for individual plot and their cumulative values. The results show a good performance of the models. Errors smaller than 10% are obtained for stand areas greater than 1.4 ha. These functions have the advantages of estimating above ground biomass for all the area under study or surveillance, not requiring forest inventory; allow monitoring in short time periods; and are easily implemented in a geographical information system environment.

An Approach to Tactical Performance Optimization in a Big Data World

The amount of data collected from an individual player during a football match has increased significantly in recent years, following technological evolution in positional tracking. However, given the short time that separates competitions, the common analysis of these data focuses on the magnitude of actions of each player, while considering either technical or physical perform- ance. This focus leads to a considerable amount of information not being taken into account in performance optimization, particularly while considering a sequence of different matches of the same team. In this presentation, we will present a tactical performance indicator that considers players’ overall positioning and their level of coordination during the match. This performance indicator will be applied in different time scales, with a particular focus on possible practical applications.

Simplificação do processo de multiplicação in vitro da oliveira "Olea europaea L."

A oliveira tem sido multiplicada ao longo dos tempos por métodos convencionais de propagação vegetativa como a enxertia e a estacaria lenhosa e semilenhosa. No entanto, estes métodos revelam-se lentos ou ineficientes para determinadas cultivares. No caso da cv. ‘Galega Vulgar’, ainda com grande expressão no olival português, e de difícil enraizamento por estacaria semilenhosa, tem sido usada a micropropagação de modo a contornar essas limitações e assim obter um elevado número de plantas em curto período de tempo. O custo final de produção por este processo ainda é elevado, podendo comprometer a sua aplicação a nível comercial. Grande parte dos custos estão relacionados com a fase de enraizamento in vitro que carece de ambiente estéril e condições de assépsia para a sua execução. Com vista a uma redução de custos associados a esta fase de produção, pretendeu-se com este trabalho testar a viabilidade do enraizamento ex vitro, na ausência de condições de assépsia. Este método poderá permitir uma significativa redução da mão-de-obra, ao mesmo tempo que facilitará a aclimatização das plantas e a obtenção de um sistema radicular de melhor qualidade. Compararam-se as taxas de enraizamento in vitro (controlo), com as obtidas ex vitro. Foram utilizados explantes provenientes de dois clones da cv. ‘Galega Vulgar’, (cl. 1441 e cl. 2022) cultivados e mantidos in vitro há vários anos no Laboratório de Melhoramento e Biotecnologia da Universidade de Évora. Para além do clone foi avaliada a influência do tipo de estaca (basal e apical), da hormona de enraizamento (AIB e ANA), da sua concentração (540 e 3000 ppm) e ainda de dois substratos, Preformas Jiffy® e pastilhas de fibra coco. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos com o clone 1441 em pastilhas de fibra de coco prensada, com o uso de estacas basais. Quanto à auxina, não se observaram diferenças significativas entre a utilização de ANA na concentração de 540 ppm e AIB na concentração de 3000 ppm. A aclimatização das plantas foi conseguida com taxas elevadas de sucesso, independentemente do tratamento utilizado. Conclui-se que a aplicação do método de enraizamento ex vitro simplifica procedimentos e mantém taxas de enraizamento elevadas, conduzindo assim a uma efetiva redução de tempo e custos associados; Simplifying procedures for in vitro propagation of olive “Olea europaea L.” Abstract: The olive tree has been multiplied throughout the ages by conventional methods of vegetative propagation such as grafting and wood or softwood cuttings. These propagation methods are somehow inefficient for certain cultivars. For the CV. ‘Galega Vulgar‘, still with great expression in Portuguese olive orchards, propagation has been attempted by in vitro culture in order to circumvent these limitations and so obtain a large number of plants in short time period. The final production fees associated to this process are still high which may compromise its application to a commercial level. Most of this process fees are related to the in vitro rooting phase which lacks sterile and aseptic conditions for its implementation. Aiming to reduce the costs associated with this production phase, this work tested the feasibility of the ex vitro rooting in the absence of aseptic conditions, which can allow a significant reduction of the manpower involved and an easier plant acclimatization due to its transplant with a balled-root system. In vitro rooting rates (control) were compared with those obtained with the ex vitro experiments. Explants from two clones of the cv. ‘Galega Vulgar‘ (cl. 1441 and cl. 2022), grown and maintained in vitro for several years in the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Plant Breeding of the University of Évora, were used in the trials. In addition to the clone, the effect of the cutting type (basal and apical), the rooting hormone (AIB and ANA), their concentration (540 and 3000 ppm) and two substrates, Preformas Jiffy ® and pressed coco fiber pellets, were also evaluated. The best results were obtained with the clone 1441, when rooted in pressed coco fiber pellets, using basal cuttings. Under this conditions no significant differences were observed between the use of ANA at 540 ppm or AIB in the 3000 ppm. Acclimatization of plants was achieved with high rates of success, regardless of the treatment used. It can be concluded that the application of the ex vitro rooting method allows to maintain high rooting rates, contributing for an effective reduction of time and fees of the rooting process.