Modelos de elevação para obtenção de atributos topográficos utilizados em mapeamento digital de solos

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar modelos digitais de elevação (MDE), obtidos por diferentes fontes de dados, e selecionar um deles para derivar variáveis morfométricas utilizadas em mapeamento digital de solos. O trabalho foi realizado na Bacia Guapi‑Macacu, RJ. Os dados primários utilizados nos modelos gerados por interpolação (MDE‑carta e MDE‑híbrido) foram: curvas de nível, drenagem, pontos cotados e dados de sensor remoto transformados em pontos. Utilizaram-se, na comparação, modelos obtidos por sensor remoto e por aerorrestituição (MDE SRTM e MDE IBGE). Todos os modelos apresentaram resolução espacial de 30 m. A avaliação dos modelos de elevação foi baseada na análise de: atributos derivados (declividade, aspecto e curvatura); depressões espúrias; comparação entre feições derivadas a partir dos modelos e as originais, oriundas de cartas planialtimétricas; e análise das bacias de contribuição derivadas. O modelo digital de elevação híbrido apresenta qualidade superior à dos demais modelos.

Diagnose nutricional de nitrogênio em folhas de feijoeiro pela análise digital de imagens

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o uso da análise digital de imagens na diagnose nutricional de N no feijoeiro. Foram avaliados quatro tratamentos, em que se combinaram duas doses de N e de P aplicadas ao solo. Na emissão de vagens, determinou-se o índice de clorofila Falker, digitalizaram-se as imagens dos trifólios e determinou-se o teor foliar de N. Nas imagens, foi atribuída uma nota com o programa AFSoft, baseada na área ocupada por padrões de verde. O teor foliar de N correlacionou-se ao índice de clorofila Falker e à nota atribuída com o AFSoft, mas a correlação entre o índice de clorofila e a nota AFSoft foi superior.

La influencia del género en la cultura digital del estudiantado universitario.

The main goal of this paper is to analyse gender differences in the use of ICT among university students. We present the results of a study about the uses and the perception in relation to ICT in everyday life and in academia. The study is based on a statistical simple of 1042 students from 5 different universities. The results show gender differences, both with respect to use as their perception of technology.

Beyond the Net Generation debate: A comparison between digital learners in face-to-face and virtual universities

This paper is based on the hypothesis that the use of technology to support learning is not related to whether a student belongs to the Net Generation, but that it is mainly influenced by the teaching model. The study compares behaviour and preferences towards ICT use in two groups of university students: face-to-face students and online students. A questionnaire was applied to asample of students from five universities with different characteristics (one offers online education and four offer face-to-face education with LMS teaching support).

La brecha digital, una brecha simbólica

Peer-reviewed

Automated segmentation of multiple red blood cells with digital holographic microscopy.

We present a method to automatically segment red blood cells (RBCs) visualized by digital holographic microscopy (DHM), which is based on the marker-controlled watershed algorithm. Quantitative phase images of RBCs can be obtained by using off-axis DHM along to provide some important information about each RBC, including size, shape, volume, hemoglobin content, etc. The most important process of segmentation based on marker-controlled watershed is to perform an accurate localization of internal and external markers. Here, we first obtain the binary image via Otsu algorithm. Then, we apply morphological operations to the binary image to get the internal markers. We then apply the distance transform algorithm combined with the watershed algorithm to generate external markers based on internal markers. Finally, combining the internal and external markers, we modify the original gradient image and apply the watershed algorithm. By appropriately identifying the internal and external markers, the problems of oversegmentation and undersegmentation are avoided. Furthermore, the internal and external parts of the RBCs phase image can also be segmented by using the marker-controlled watershed combined with our method, which can identify the internal and external markers appropriately. Our experimental results show that the proposed method achieves good performance in terms of segmenting RBCs and could thus be helpful when combined with an automated classification of RBCs.

Linear and nonlinear terrain deformation maps from a reduced set of interferometric SAR images

In this paper, an advanced technique for the generation of deformation maps using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data is presented. The algorithm estimates the linear and nonlinear components of the displacement, the error of the digital elevation model (DEM) used to cancel the topographic terms, and the atmospheric artifacts from a reduced set of low spatial resolution interferograms. The pixel candidates are selected from those presenting a good coherence level in the whole set of interferograms and the resulting nonuniform mesh tessellated with the Delauney triangulation to establish connections among them. The linear component of movement and DEM error are estimated adjusting a linear model to the data only on the connections. Later on, this information, once unwrapped to retrieve the absolute values, is used to calculate the nonlinear component of movement and atmospheric artifacts with alternate filtering techniques in both the temporal and spatial domains. The method presents high flexibility with respect to the required number of images and the baselines length. However, better results are obtained with large datasets of short baseline interferograms. The technique has been tested with European Remote Sensing SAR data from an area of Catalonia (Spain) and validated with on-field precise leveling measurements.

Error probability in synchronous digital circuits due to power supply noise

This paper presents a probabilistic approach to model the problem of power supply voltage fluctuations. Error probability calculations are shown for some 90-nm technology digital circuits.The analysis here considered gives the timing violation error probability as a new design quality factor in front of conventional techniques that assume the full perfection of the circuit. The evaluation of the error bound can be useful for new design paradigms where retry and self-recoveringtechniques are being applied to the design of high performance processors. The method here described allows to evaluate the performance of these techniques by means of calculating the expected error probability in terms of power supply distribution quality.

A performance lower bound for quadratic timing recovery accounting for the symbol transition density

The symbol transition density in a digitally modulated signal affects the performance of practical synchronization schemes designed for timing recovery. This paper focuses on the derivation of simple performance limits for the estimation of the time delay of a noisy linearly modulated signal in the presence of various degrees of symbol correlation produced by the varioustransition densities in the symbol streams. The paper develops high- and low-signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) approximations of the so-called (Gaussian) unconditional Cramér–Rao bound (UCRB),as well as general expressions that are applicable in all ranges of SNR. The derived bounds are valid only for the class of quadratic, non-data-aided (NDA) timing recovery schemes. To illustrate the validity of the derived bounds, they are compared with the actual performance achieved by some well-known quadratic NDA timing recovery schemes. The impact of the symbol transitiondensity on the classical threshold effect present in NDA timing recovery schemes is also analyzed. Previous work on performancebounds for timing recovery from various authors is generalized and unified in this contribution.

The IST METRA Project

This article summarizes the main achievementsof the Multi-Element Transmit andReceive Antennas (METRA) Project, an ISTresearch and technological development project carried out between January 2000 and June 2001 by Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, the Center for Personkommunikation of Aalborg University, Nokia Networks, Nokia Mobile Phones, and Vodafone Group Research and Development.The main objective of METRA was the performanceevaluation of multi-antenna terminals incombination with adaptive antennas at the basestation in UMTS communication systems. 1 AMIMO channel sounder was developed that providedrealistic multi-antenna channel measurements.Using these measured data, stochasticchannel models were developed and properly validated.These models were also evaluated inorder to estimate their corresponding channelcapacity. Different MIMO configurations andprocessing schemes were developed for both theFDD and TDD modes of UTRA, and their linkperformance was assessed. Performance evaluationwas completed by system simulations thatillustrated the benefits of MIMO configurationsto the network operator. Implementation cost vs.performance improvement was also covered bythe project, including the base station and terminalmanufacturer and network operator viewpoints.Finally, significant standards contributionswere generated by the project and presented to the pertinent 3GPP working groups.

NDA waveform estimation in the low-SNR regime

This correspondence addresses the problem of nondata-aidedwaveform estimation for digital communications. Based on the unconditionalmaximum likelihood criterion, the main contribution of this correspondenceis the derivation of a closed-form solution to the waveform estimationproblem in the low signal-to-noise ratio regime. The proposed estimationmethod is based on the second-order statistics of the received signaland a clear link is established between maximum likelihood estimation andcorrelation matching techniques. Compression with the signal-subspace isalso proposed to improve the robustness against the noise and to mitigatethe impact of abnormals or outliers.

Designing Digital Filters for Servo Systems

The aim of this work was to select an appropriate digital filter for a servo application and to filter the noise from the measurement devices. Low pass filter attenuates the high frequency noise beyond the specified cut-off frequency. Digital lowpass filters in both IIR and FIR responses were designed and experimentally compared to understand their characteristics from the corresponding step responses of the system. Kaiser Windowing and Equiripple methods were selected for FIR response, whereas Butterworth, Chebyshev, InverseChebyshev and Elliptic methods were designed for IIR case. Limitations in digital filter design for a servo system were analysed. Especially the dynamic influences of each designed filter on the control stabilityof the electrical servo drive were observed. The criterion for the selection ofparameters in designing digital filters for servo systems was studied. Control system dynamics was given significant importance and the use of FIR and IIR responses in different situations were compared to justify the selection of suitableresponse in each case. The software used in the filter design was MatLab/Simulink® and dSPACE's DSP application. A speed controlled Permanent Magnet Linear synchronous Motor was used in the experimental work.

Synchronous Digital Hierarchy implementation to a Radio Transmission Node

Kiristyville markkinoille on aina tuotava jotain uutta tarjottavaa ja SDH-kortti on yksi sellainen tuote jonka Nokia Networks julkistaa osaksi uutta Nokia Flexihub Nodea. Tavoitteena on suunnitella VC-12kanavoitu STM-1 kortti yhdistämään ylemmän tason tietoliikenneverkko suuren kapasiteetin radioon. Ennen kuin markkinoilla on valmis tuote, on sen takana valtaisa määrä työtä. Erilaisia dokumentteja on pitänyt tuottaa ja sopimuksia tehdä. Esimerkiksi vaatimusmäärittelyt on oltava selvät, jotta tiedetään mitä tuotteelta halutaan. Tätä ennen on kuitenkin pitänyt ymmärtää miten SDHtoimii ja miten otsikkotavuja käsitellään. Myös erilaiset piirivalinnat aiheuttavat miettimistä, sillä markkinoilla on runsaasti valmiita piirejä SDH signaalinkäsittelyyn. Varma tiedonsiirto on tärkeää puhelinoperaattorille ja siksi joudutaan miettimään varmennuksia ja niiden toteuttamista. Myös synkronointi on tärkeä osa SDH järjestelmää ja sen toteuttaminen hyvin on tärkeää. Hälytykset on otettava huomioon ja mietittävä, miten niiden käsittely saadaan hoidettua järkevästi, ilman että mikään järjestelmän osa ruuhkautuu kohtuuttomasti. Tässä Diplomityössä on tutustuttu SDH-järjestelmään, otsikkotavujen käsittelyyn ja vaatimusmäärittelyihin.

Mapeamento digital de solos com base na extrapolação de mapas entre áreas fisiograficamente semelhantes

O objetivo deste trabalho foi testar metodologias de mapeamento digital de solos (MDS) e avaliar a possibilidade de extrapolação de mapas entre áreas fisiograficamente semelhantes. A área de referência para o treinamento do modelo localizou-se no Município de Sentinela do Sul, RS, e a extrapolação foi feita para o Município Cerro Grande do Sul, RS. Desenvolveram-se pelo MDS modelos com o uso de variáveis ambientais, como preditoras, e as classes de solos - obtidas de um levantamento convencional na escala 1:50.000 - como variáveis dependentes. Testou-se o uso combinado de dois modelos de árvore de decisão (AD), treinados em duas paisagens com diferentes classes de drenagem. Para Sentinela do Sul, a concordância dos mapas preditos com os produzidos pelo levantamento convencional foi avaliada por matrizes de erro. Como a importância dos erros de mapeamento é variável, criou-se uma matriz ponderada, para atribuir diferentes importâncias aos erros específicos de mapeamento entre as distintas unidades de mapeamento. A acurácia do mapa de Cerro Grande do Sul foi avaliada pela verdade de campo. A extrapolação dos mapas gera resultados satisfatórios, com acurácia maior do que 75%. O uso de modelos com duas AD separadas por paisagens homogêneas gera mapas extrapolados com maior acurácia, avaliada pela verdade de campo.