Novel spectral descriptor for object shape

In this paper, we propose a novel descriptor for shapes. The proposed descriptor is obtained from 3D spherical harmonics. The inadequacy of 2D spherical harmonics is addressed and the method to obtain 3D spherical harmonics is described. 3D spherical harmonics requires construction of a 3D model which implicitly represents rich features of objects. Spherical harmonics are used to obtain descriptors from the 3D models. The performance of the proposed method is compared against the CSS approach which is the MPEG-7 descriptor for shape contour. MPEG-7 dataset of shape contours, namely, CE-1 is used to perform the experiments. It is shown that the proposed method is effective.

Spectral shape descriptor using spherical harmonics

In this paper, we propose a spectral descriptor for shapes of objects. The method relies on transforming the 2D objects into 3D space; distance transform and scale space theory is used to transform objects into 3D space. Spherical harmonics of the voxel grid are used to obtain shape descriptors. The proposed methods are compared against two existing methods which use spherical harmonics for shape based retrieval of images. Comparison is done based on ranking of images which is articulated in recall-precision curves. MPEG-7 Still Images Content Set is used for performing experiments. Experimental results show that the performance of the proposed descriptor is significantly better than other methods in the same category.

Composite spectral shape descriptor

Effective spectral representations of shape region are proposed in literature. On the other hand, a significant spatial characteristic of shape region is shape contour because human beings discriminate shapes mainly by their contour features. It is proposed that a descriptor is obtained by complementing the spectral representation of shape region with the spectral representation of shape contour. Such a descriptor, obtained by explicitly combining two (or more) descriptors is termed composite descriptor. A composite descriptor is proposed; the effectiveness of the composite descriptor to represent shape region is evaluated.

Visions of the surf coast – changing landscapes under future climate effects

The Surf Coast of Victoria is a traveller's paradise with some of Australia's best surf beaches, bustling resort towns, spectacular scenery, lush rainforests and huge cascading waterfalls. This incredible coastline of Victoria is home to the popular surf towns such as Barwon Heads, Torquay, Anglesea, Lome, and the infamous Bells Beach, all of which epitomise much of the 'sea-change' phenomena. These communities survive today because of the high visual and natural attributes they are situated within, or adjacent to, that underpins their existence and economic survival. Change these landscape attributes and qualities and you have a dramatic effect upon their context, economic, social and environmental attributes and values. This paper investigates the potential climate effects of these settlements, through literature review of various recent studies undertaken on climate change vulnerability and adaption of the Surf Coast and the Great Ocean Road corridor. The results are used as inputs to a proposed Design Based Adaptation Model (DBAM) which can inform adaptive planning and design responses of the physical and social infrastructure, through the visions of changing landscapes of the Surf Coast under future climate effects.

Storm versus calm : Variation in fauna associated with drifting macrophytes in sandy beach surf zones

New insights about nearshore dynamics came from studying the effects of regular storms in South Australia on drifting marine macrophytes, consequent wrack accumulation and associated fauna in beach surf zones across three different regions. This study examined whether the influence of storms may be more pronounced in sheltered coastal waters compared to more exposed coastlines where biota could have adaptations to persist in larger swell conditions. There were obvious regional differences for wrack species richness, abundances and assemblages that matched the attached floral subtidal landscape in each region. Consequently, invertebrates also differed amongst regions, which highlight the close affinity that some invertebrates have with drifting macrophytes. Fish were not so closely aligned to the regional patterns identified for wrack or invertebrates suggesting that many fish are using wrack accumulations as habitat but, being highly mobile, they may actively and constantly move into, out of and within these habitat features. Well-known beach-type models focused upon beach morphology may be more pertinent to the ecology of the surf zones offshore than previously thought, being the most consistent indicator of wrack accumulations and their fauna. This new evidence on the ecology of nearshore waters during storm versus calm weather in multiple regions and the subsequent influence on wrack-fauna associations in sandy-beach surf zones are important for future beach management, particularly when and where large wrack accumulations occur.

3D motion matching algorithm using signature feature descriptor

This paper introduces a basic frame for rehabilitation motion practice system which detects 3D motion trajectory with the Microsoft Kinect (MSK) sensor system and proposes a cost-effective 3D motion matching algorithm. The rehabilitation motion practice system displays a reference 3D motion in the database system that the player (patient) tries to follow. The player’s motion is traced by the MSK sensor system and then compared with the reference motion to evaluate how well the player follows the reference motion. In this system, 3D motion matching algorithm is a key feature for accurate evaluation for player’s performance. Even though similarity measurement of 3D trajectories is one of the most important tasks in 3D motion analysis, existing methods are still limited. Recent researches focus on the full length 3D trajectory data set. However, it is not true that every point on the trajectory plays the same role and has the same meaning. In this situation, we developed a new cost-effective method that only uses the less number of features called ‘signature’ which is a flexible descriptor computed from the region of ‘elbow points’. Therefore, our proposed method runs faster than other methods which use the full length trajectory information. The similarity of trajectories is measured based on the signature using an alignment method such as dynamic time warping (DTW), continuous dynamic time warping (CDTW) or longest common sub-sequence (LCSS) method. In the experimental studies, we applied the MSK sensor system to detect, trace and match the 3D motion of human body. This application was assumed as a system for guiding a rehabilitation practice which can evaluate how well the motion practice was performed based on comparison of the patient’s practice motion traced by the MSK system with the pre-defined reference motion in a database. In order to evaluate the accuracy of our 3D motion matching algorithm, we compared our method with two other methods using Australian sign word dataset. As a result, our matching algorithm outperforms in matching 3D motion, and it can be exploited for a base framework for various 3D motion-based applications at low cost with high accuracy.

Surf and turf: music education riding the wave and/or planted firmly in teacher education arts courses across two Australian universities

Tertiary Arts educators are exhorted to offer The Australian Curriculum: The Arts (Dance, Drama, Media Arts, Music and Visual Arts) in their teacher education programs. This paper situates itself across two interstate universities (Deakin in Victoria and Griffith in Queensland) where both authors are music educators at these institutions. They discuss the two different ways that primary Arts education is offered at their universities by focusing on the Bachelor of Primary course (program/degree). The focus at Griffith University is on integrating the Arts whereas at Deakin University, the Arts are taught as a discipline within the unit (subject). Across both universities two teaching units for primary Arts education is core within the four-year program. Drawing on the author’s narrative reflection, observation, student questionnaire data, anecdotal feedback and student end of semester evaluations we discuss two different methods of delivery, assessment and challenges the units present to the authors and students. Though tertiary Arts educators are challenged to be inclusive of a rich and diverse arts curriculum as music educators we question whether the students are merely surfing the crest of the wave or being firmly planted in the ground to effectively implement music education in their future primary classrooms. We invite dialogue with other music educators who face similar situations where the delivery of music education is not located within the Arts and is dependent on staffing, resourcing and time limits and in some situations is almost drowning.

Applying stock indicators for assessment of a recreational surf clam (Donax deltoides) fishery in Victoria, Australia

The aim of this study was to apply indicators for monitoring the impacts of harvest in a recreational surf clam fishery. We investigated trends in abundance, biomass and size structure and proportion of sexual maturity for the pipi (Donax deltoides) in Venus Bay, Australia. The surf clam stock was sampled during the peak harvesting season in the Australian summer (November to February) at four sites exposed to varying degrees of recreational harvest. Sampling was based on three transects at each site; with 0.027 m3 (0.3 m × 0.3 m × 0.3 m) quadrats stratified within transects by tidal position. Restricted maximum likelihood mixed model analyses were used to examine fixed effect combinations after including a priori random effect for transect within site. Results demonstrated that relative abundance varied significantly (P = 0.0090) among sampling months but not among sites. Relative abundance declined across the peak summer harvest season. The proportion of maturity varied significantly (P = 0.00026) among sites whereas relative biomass varied significantly (P = 0.0043) among months by sites. Relative biomass and the proportion of maturity were considerably higher at the site exposed to minimal harvest compared to other sites. This study demonstrates that a suite of indictors including biomass, size–frequency and proportion of maturity are likely to provide a more accurate assessment of stock status in recreationally fished surf clam populations, than relative abundance. This highlights the need to develop methods to estimate relative biomass in surf clam populations that are not exploited commercially.

Sun exposure and sun protection behaviours among young adult sport competitors

Objective: To explore the relationship between sun protection and physical activity in young adults (18-30 years) involved in four organised sports.

Methods: Participants (n=237) in field hockey, soccer, tennis and surf sports completed a self-administered survey on demographic and sun-protective behaviours while playing sport. Differences in sun-protective behaviour were explored by sport and by gender.

Results: Sunburn during the previous sporting season was high (69%). There were differences between sports for sunburn, sunscreen use and reapplication of sunscreen. Lifesaving had the highest rates compared with the other three sports. Hats and sunglasses worn by participants varied significantly by sports. A greater proportion of soccer and hockey players indicated they were not allowed to wear a hat or sunglasses during competition. For all sports, competition was played mainly in the open with no shade provision for competitors while they were playing. There were some gender differences within each of the sports. Female soccer and tennis players were more likely to wear sunscreen compared with males. Female hockey players were more likely to wear a hat compared with males.

Conclusions: Our findings highlight that there is still room for improvement in sun-protective behaviours among young adult sport competitors. There is a need for a systematic approach to sun protection in the sporting environments of young adults.

Implications: Health promotion efforts to increase physical activity need to be paired with sun protection messages.

Promoting comprehensive sun protection policies and practices in outdoor sports: a qualitative study of perceived priorities and practicalities

Sun protection policies, environments, practices, and attitudes in sporting club contexts might be significant determinants of sun exposure among adult sporting participants. Face-to-face interviews, using standardised, open-ended questions were conducted with 20 club officials from four sports: soccer, hockey, tennis and surf lifesaving. Thematic content analysis identified a number of salient themes. Formal sun protection policies were well-implemented in surf lifesaving, but less so in soccer, hockey and tennis clubs, which often had informal sun protection practices in place. Officials perceived sun protection to be important, which was related to perceived exposure levels, the type of sport, length of time played and the season. Consistent logistical and practical considerations emerged, including limited resources, availability of shade, and lack of control over sporting facilities, uniform regulations and games scheduling. Sun protection efforts often focused on children more than adult players. Reciprocal responsibility was an important theme, where it was perceived that responsibility for sun protection should be equally shared between the club and the member. In this study it was found that reciprocal responsibility, duty of care and sport-specific practical requirements might significantly influence the success of policy, environmental and education initiatives for sun protection in sporting settings.

Image semantic classification by using SVM

There exists an enormous gap between low-level visual feature and high-level semantic information, and the accuracy of content-based image classification and retrieval depends greatly on the description of low-level visual features. Taking this into consideration, a novel texture and edge descriptor is proposed in this paper, which can be represented with a histogram. Furthermore, with the incorporation of the color, texture and edge histograms searnlessly, the images are grouped into semantic classes using a support vector machine (SVM). Experiment results show that the combination descriptor is more discriminative than other feature descriptors such as Gabor texture.