Mobile application as a tool for urban traffic data collection and generation to advanced traveler information systems using Wi-Fi networks available in urban centers

This paper presents an Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) developed on Android platform, which is open source and free. The developed application has as its main objective the free use of a Vehicle-to- Infrastructure (V2I) communication through the wireless network access points available in urban centers. In addition to providing the necessary information for an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) to a central server, the application also receives the traffic data close to the vehicle. Once obtained this traffic information, the application displays them to the driver in a clear and efficient way, allowing the user to make decisions about his route in real time. The application was tested in a real environment and the results are presented in the article. In conclusion we present the benefits of this application. © 2012 IEEE.

Desenvolvimento de um sistema de informações georreferenciadas de segurança viária

Pós-graduação em Ciências Cartográficas - FCT

Reliability of Web-Based Information in Inquiry Projects

This case study aims at identifying how a community of secondary school students selects web-based information and factors associated with the reliability of online reference sources during their collaborative inquiry (co-inquiry) projects. This study, conducted in a public secondary school in Brazil, focused on information literacy skills for collaborative open learning (colearning). The research is based on qualitative content analysis implemented on the online platform weSPOT. Although students are mindful of the importance of comparing different sources of information they seem not to be aware of reliability in online environments. Teacher's guidance is essential to support co-learners in developing competences, particularly related to critical thinking.

Visual cues and gait improvement in Parkinson's disease: which piece of information is really important?

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Critical training of mass media documentalists

This study takes the old myth of objectivity in media discourse to one of the most important but unrecognized actors in the process of its construction: the mass media information scientist or documentalist. Accepting the subjective presence of the documentalist in his/her productions, this article opts for the recognition and explicit statement of this role, recommending two actions. First, we suggest that public higher education institutions combine the technical training of mass media documentalists with training in critical thinking skills. Our study analysed the subjects covered in course syllabi to detect the deficiencies to be addressed in meeting this objective. Second, we propose alternative lines of training that can contribute to cross-training of mass media documentalists in those degree programs to ensure that they acquire the needed skills in critical analysis.

Análise de ocorrências dos impactos pluviais na área urbana de Rio Claro (SP)

The Urbanization is a notable process in our society, being part of it since around 3500 BC in Mesopotamia, currently Iraq area. Since the Industrial Revolution, cities had a significant increase in their growth and began to concentrate increasingly labor and capital. Brazil, despite having had a late industrialization, also had a high population growth in cities, especially in the XVIII century, which were not provided with any kind of planning that targets the ordering and implementation of the urban essential apparatus. Therefore, Brazilian cities started to exhibit countless structural and environmental problems. Associated with inadequate infrastructure, the modifications in the urban atmosphere, like increased heat, air pollution and increased rainfall and storm frequency, cause different types of impacts in cities. Among the most worrisome are those from the intense rain, which cause human and material damage. The city of Rio Claro (SP) can be considered an example of this reality. Thereby, the objective of this study was to analyze the impacts on the population originated from rainfall in the urban area during the period 2005-2010, by the mapping of events and analysis of the active atmospheric systems. The information of the events were collected in the Fire Department and the Press and the synoptic maps were obtained in the library of INPE, in Cachoeira Paulista (SP) and in the site of the Navy of Brazil. The data showed that among 247 occurrences, during the six years, 233 occurred in the spring-summer period. Moreover, after finalizing the maps, it was found the locations considered critical regarding the frequency of occurrences, as: Visconde do Rio Claro Avenue and central area of the city, both with a total of 23 occurrences; Jardim Inocoop, with 20; Tancredo Neves Avenue, with 12 and Vila Paulista, with 10 occurrences. Through the graphs, it was found that the most recurrent atmospheric system, during the studied period, is...

Dris norms and critical leaf nutrient levels for ‘Niagara rosada’ grape in Jundiaí region, São Paulo (Brasil)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Socioeconomic, financial and production infrastructure profile of farmers in rural settlements in the western region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Family agriculture, mostly represented by rural settlements especially in the state of São Paulo, makes up rural establishments in Brazil. Current investigation collects, analyzes and compares data on farmers on two rural settlements in the western region of the state of São Paulo, specifically in the municipality of Rancharia, with regard to their socioeconomic, financial and productive infrastructure profile, coupled to information on eventual restrictions to rural credit, by an analysis based on descriptive statistics. Results show that there are different factors between farmers and production systems, which cause loan restrictions due to such differences as age, agricultural and cattle-breeding activity, technical assistance and management. The valorization of these differences should be taken into account for the construction of new events, without extremes, and work for situations featuring demand-based development and characteristics of the locality