Development of a robust canopy height model derived from ALS point clouds for predicting individual crown attributes at the species level

ABSTRACT

Tree crown attributes are important parameters during the assessment and monitoring of forest ecosystems. Canopy height models (CHMs) derived from airborne laser scanning (ALS) data have proved to be a reliable source for extracting different biophysical characteristics of single trees and at stand level. However, ALS-derived tree measurements (e.g., mean crown diameter) can be negatively affected by pits that appear in the CHMs. Thus, we propose a novel method for generating pit-free CHMs from ALS point clouds for estimating crown attributes (i.e., area and mean diameter) at the species level. The method automatically calculates a threshold for a pixel based on the range of height values within neighbouring pixels; if the pixel falls below the threshold then it is recognized as a pitted pixel. The pit is then filled with the median of the values of the neighbouring pixels. Manually delineated individual tree crowns (ITC) of four deciduous and two coniferous species on Colour Infrared (CIR) stereo images were used as a reference in the analysis. In addition, a variety of different algorithms for constructing CHMs were compared to investigate the performance of different CHMs in similar forest conditions. Comparisons between the estimated and observed crown area (R² = 0.95, RMSE% = 19.12% for all individuals) and mean diameter (R² = 0.92, RMSE% = 12.16% for all individuals) revealed that ITC attributes were correctly estimated by segmentation of the pit-free CHM proposed in this study. The goodness of matching and geometry revealed that the delineated crowns correctly matched up to the reference data and had identical geometry in approximately 70% of cases. The results showed that the proposed method produced a CHM that estimates crown attributes more accurately than the other investigated CHMs. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the proposed algorithm used to fill pits with the median of height observed in surrounding pixels significantly improve the accuracy of the results the species level due to a higher correlation between the estimated and observed crown attributes. Based on these results, we concluded that the proposed pit filling method is capable of providing an automatic and objective solution for constructing pit-free CHMs for assessing individual crown attributes of mixed forest stands.     

Designing an effective management system for enterprises: Concepts and verification

In this article lean and agile manufacturing are considered as separate organizational strategies of enterprise management. Therefore, a model of these strategies for business situations as well as assigning modern concepts and methods of management to these strategies and business segments has been proposed. This model, called LABDM (lean agile business development model), has been provisionally verified in small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises from the gas engineering industry in the Wielkopolska province in Poland. In 17 enterprises of this industry the use of modern concepts and methods of management have been studied. With the help of the rough sets theory, a set of concepts and methods that are crucial for the effective enterprises has been identified. By comparing these concepts and methods to the LABDM, the model's rationality is proven. In conclusion, the LABDM can be used as a tool when considering a lean or agile strategy, and modern concepts and methods that are associated with these strategies. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Synthesis and Interfacial Activity of Novel Heterogemini Sulfobetaines in Aqueous Solution

Three new heterogemini sulfobetaines and their chloride salts were synthesised. The interfacial activities of the obtained chlorides in aqueous solution were studied by equilibrium and dynamic surface tension measurements. The critical micelle concentration, surface excess concentration, minimum area per surfactant molecule and standard Gibbs energy of adsorption as well as micelle lifetime and diffusion coefficient were determined. The adsorption properties and micelle lifetime of these compounds significantly depend on the length of alkyl chain. The critical micelle concentration decreases with increasing chain length of the compounds considered. The values of the diffusion coefficient of N‐alkyl‐N‐methyl‐N‐(3‐sulfopropyl)‐6‐(N‐alkyl‐N‐methylamino)hexylammonium chloride tend to decrease as the concentration is increased.     

Miyaura Borylation and One‐Pot Two‐Step Homocoupling of Aryl Chlorides and Bromides under Solvent‐Free Conditions

Solvent‐free protocols for Miyaura borylation and the one‐pot, two‐step homocoupling of aryl halides are reported for the first time. Bis(dibenzylideneacetone)palladium(0) [Pd(dba)₂] is an optimal source of palladium for Miyaura borylation, while for one‐pot two‐step homocoupling palladium(II) acetate [Pd(OAc)₂] gives highest yields. Aryl bromides are coupled most efficiently using the DPEphos ligand. Chlorides are coupled using XPhos. The developed protocols are robust, versatile and easily reproducible on a large scale.

     

DYNAMIC AND HYBRID NEURAL MODEL OF THERMAL DRYING IN A FLUTDIZED BED

ABSTRACT

A preliminary study aimed at comparing Classical Dynamic Neural Modelling (CDNM) and Hybrid Neural Modelling (HNM) to describe thermal dewatering process in a fluidized bed is presented Two schemes of HN modelling were developed to find the most efficient way of combining a classical mathematical model of the process and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). CDN model was developed using “moving window” technique. In the first scheme of HNM a feed-forward ANN was trained to predict evaporation rate and heat flux in the drying process. In the second scheme of the HN model, ANN was used to determine heat transfer coefficient only. Excellent prediction of drying process by HNM is proved.     

Activation Enthalpies of Deformation-Induced Lattice Defects in Severe Plastic Deformation Nanometals Measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Samples of 99.99 pct pure copper and nickel of 99.998 pct purity were deformed by high-pressure torsion (HPT) at different hydrostatic pressures, to different shear strains. Activation enthalpies (Q) were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) using Kissinger’s method. For the one annealing peak found in HPT Cu, Q amounts to Q = 0.78 to 0.48 eV depending on the shear strain applied. In the case of Ni, the activation enthalpies of the two annealing peaks were determined as Q = 0.65 eV and Q = 0.95 eV, respectively, with no obvious dependence on shear strain, although this has been indicated by the annealing peak temperatures. Applying defect specific analyses of the annealing peaks, it turned out that the larger Q value represents the annihilation of dislocations and agglomerates, while the smaller one reflects the annihilation of single or double vacancies. Concerning the strain dependence of the larger Q, two possible explanations have been discussed: (1) the annihilation of dislocations assisted by the strain-dependent density of vacancy agglomerates and (2) the annihilation of dislocations enhanced by a strain-dependent level of long-range internal stresses. Because of closer correlations of Q with external and internal stresses at very high shear strains, explanation (2) has been favored.     

Exploring Internal Structure of Nanoporous Glasses Obtained by Leaching of Phase‐Separated Alkali Borosilicate Glasses

Mesoporous glasses – the leaching products of phase‐separated alkali borosilicate glasses – are widely used in fundamental research and practical applications. In this work, the option to control their internal mesopore structure by varying the conditions of microphase separation has been studied. Structure and transport characterization of a family of nanoporous glasses obtained under different conditions has been performed using a combination of several experimental techniques, including gas adsorption, nuclear magnetic resonance cryoporometry and diffusometry.     

Innovative travel time model for dual-shuttle automated storage/retrieval systems

In modern production and distribution systems, the automated storage/retrieval systems (AS/RS), high-storage level systems that reduce labor cost, required floor space and error rate, while increasing product availability, have been widely used since the 1950s. Due to the high-investment costs involved in the development of high-efficient and high-flexible automated storage systems, performance estimation of the systems is both practically and theoretically important. The authors suggest a new method to estimate the travel time of a recently emerging version of AS/RSs, the multi-shuttle systems. The proposal is based on an industrial standard established by the Federation Européenne de la Manutention (F.E.M.). In order to estimate travel times, the authors conduct a Monte Carlo simulation to determine coordinates of two additional representative points which are not given by F.E.M. Then they conduct a new Monte Carlo simulation to compare the results obtained by the method they proposed with those of previous methods and models developed in scientific literature based on Bozer and White formulations. Several real industrial applications demonstrate the validity of proposed method.     

Study of self-stratifying compositions

Paint applied as a single layer, and its spontaneous separation to form a primer and a top coat, is one of the newest concepts of the effective and economical application of two layers in one step. The influence of the molecular weight of epoxy oligomer and acrylic polymer and their ratio on self-stratification was investigated. The degree of stratification depending on molecular weight and their mutual ratio was determined using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, microscopy techniques, adhesion tests, and surface tension measurements. Phase separation and self-stratification of two-component homogenous mixtures were followed using FTIR technique and surface tension measurements. As a result of these investigations, optimal oligomeric/polymeric composition was selected. The obtained coating system showed good mechanical properties, gloss, and interlayer adhesion.     

A new immunity test method

A new measurement system and a mapping technique for immunity or susceptibility testing are discussed. The most unique point of the system is that the electromagnetic (EM) fields are of slowly rotating polarization controlled electronically. In this paper, methods for generating slowly rotating fields are discussed. The direction of field polarization can be varied continuously and in a short time. By combining the method with a turntable, for example, the immunity-or susceptibility-characteristic maps can be obtained easily. This visualization technique is useful to detect the immunity or susceptibility attributes at a glance and thus may make the development of products with high immunity easy