Water Harvesting Structure Positioning by Using Geo-Visualization Concept and Prioritization of Mini-Watersheds Through Morphometric Analysis in the Lower Tapi Basin

Geo-visualization concept has been used for positioning water harvesting structures in Varekhadi watershed consisting of 26 mini watersheds, falling in Lower Tapi Basin (LTB), Surat district, Gujarat state. For prioritization of the mini watersheds, morphometric analysis was utilized by using the linear parameters such as bifurcation ratio (R_b), drainage density (D_d), stream frequency (F_u), texture ratio (T), length of overland flow (L_o) and the shape parameter such as form factor (R_f), shape factor (B_s), elongation ratio (R_e), compactness constant (C_c) and circularity ratio (R_c). The different prioritization ranks were assigned after evaluation of the compound factor. 3 Dimensional (3D) Elevation Model (DEM) from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and DEM from topo contour were analyzed in ArcScene 9.1 and the fly tool was utilized for the Geo-visualization of Varekhadi mini watersheds as per the priority ranks. Combining this with soil map and slope map, the best feasibility of positioning check dams in mini-watershed no. 1, 5 and 24 has been proposed, after validation of the sites.     

A Hierarchical Hybrid SVM Method for Classification of Remotely Sensed Data

The focus of this work is on developing a new hierarchical hybrid Support Vector Machine (SVM) method to address the problems of classification of multi or hyper spectral remotely sensed images and provide a working technique that increases the classification accuracy while lowering the computational cost and complexity of the process. The paper presents issues in analyzing large multi/hyper spectral image data sets for dimensionality reduction, coping with intra pixel spectral variations, and selection of a flexible classifier with robust learning process. Experiments conducted revealed that a computationally cheap algorithm that uses Hamming distance between the pixel vectors of different bands to eliminate redundant bands was quite effective in helping reduce the dimensionality. The paper also presents the concept of extended mathematical morphological profiles for segregating the input pixel vectors into pure or mixed categories which will enable further computational cost reductions. The proposed method’s overall classification accuracy is tested with IRS data sets and the Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectroradiometer Indian Pines hyperspectral benchmark data set and presented.     

Evaluation of Almond (Amygdalus Scopartia) Habitat Using Multi-criteria Decision Making Method

Bolhasan Forest region with an area of 5,725?ha is located on east north of Dezful County, Iran. The region belongs to natural forests of Dezful. Considering the area is mainly covered by valuable species of Amygdalus Scopartia, its sustainable exploitation and development as well as restoration enjoys great importance. Study ahead aims at selection of suitable habitats for under studied species using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Therewith, the required thematic maps were imported in to GIS Software and final suitability map was prepared. The results indicated that around 2,119?ha (37%) out of all study area has high suitability for habitat of Amygdalus Scopartia. In the meanwhile, 1,603?ha [equal to 28%] is categorized as good suitability class and 2,003?ha [35%] has poor suitability.     

The impact of accelerometry on CHAMP orbit determination

 The contribution of the STAR accelerometer to the CHAMP orbit precision is evaluated and quantified by means of the following results: orbital fit to the satellite laser ranging (SLR) observations, GPS reduced-dynamic vs SLR dynamic orbit comparisons, and comparison of the measured to the modeled non-gravitational accelerations (atmospheric drag in particular). In each of the four test periods in 2001, five CHAMP arcs of 2 days' length were analyzed. The mean RMS-of-fit of the SLR observations of the orbits computed with STAR data or the non-gravitational force model were 11 and 24 cm, respectively. If the accelerometer calibration parameters are not known at least at the few percent level, the SLR orbit fit deteriorates. This was tested by applying a 10% error to the along-track scale factor of the accelerometer, which increased the SLR RMS-of-fit on average to 17 cm. Reference orbits were computed employing the reduced-dynamic technique with GPS tracking data. This technique yields the most accurate orbit positions thanks to the estimation of a large number of empirical accelerations, which compensate for dynamic modeling errors. Comparison of the SLR orbits, computed with STAR data or the non-gravitational force model, to the GPS-based orbits showed that the SLR orbits employing accelerometer observations are twice as accurate. Finally, comparison of measured to modeled accelerations showed that the level of geomagnetic activity is highly correlated with the atmospheric drag model error, and that the largest errors occur around the geomagnetic poles. Received: 7 May 2002 / Accepted: 18 November 2002 Correspondence to: S. Bruinsma Acknowledgments. The TIGCM results were obtained from the CEDAR database. This study was supported by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). The referees are thanked for their helpful remarks and suggestions.     

A study on the combination of satellite, airborne, and terrestrial gravity data

Satellite gravity missions, such as CHAMP, GRACE and GOCE, and airborne gravity campaigns in areas without ground gravity will enhance the present knowledge of the Earths gravity field. Combining the new gravity information with the existing marine and ground gravity anomalies is a major task for which the mathematical tools have to be developed. In one way or another they will be based on the spectral information available for gravity data and noise. The integration of the additional gravity information from satellite and airborne campaigns with existing data has not been studied in sufficient detail and a number of open questions remain. A strategy for the combination of satellite, airborne and ground measurements is presented. It is based on ideas independently introduced by Sjöberg and Wenzel in the early 1980s and has been modified by using a quasi-deterministic approach for the determination of the weighting functions. In addition, the original approach of Sjöberg and Wenzel is extended to more than two measurement types, combining the Meissl scheme with the least-squares spectral combination. Satellite (or geopotential) harmonics, ground gravity anomalies and airborne gravity disturbances are used as measurement types, but other combinations are possible. Different error characteristics and measurement-type combinations and their impact on the final solution are studied. Using simulated data, the results show a geoid accuracy in the centimeter range for a local test area.     

Recent advances in accessibility research: Representation,methodology and applications

 In this article we examine recent advances in accessibility research and their implications for future studies. We base our discussion on three intersecting dimensions that are useful for evaluating the contribution of recent studies: representation, methodology and applications. Various examples are selected to show that research concerned with representation and methodological problem solving is often applied to issues of broad concern in policy and planning. It is, however, not clear that the simultaneous treatment of representation, methodological and application issues has ever been fully worked out. The questions raised in this article may serve as a foundation for addressing issues pertinent to accurate representation, improved model building, and more rigorous applications in accessibility research. Received: 9 December 2002 / Accepted: 10 February 2003     

PLL Tracking Performance in the Presence of Oscillator Phase Noise

The tracking performance of a Phase Lock Loop (PLL) is affected by the influence of several error sources. In addition to thermal noise and dynamic stress error, oscillator phase noise can cause significant phase jitter which degrades the tracking performance. Oscillator phase noise is usually caused by two different effects: Allan deviation phase noise is caused by frequency instabilities of the receiver's reference oscillator and the satellite's frequency standard. It can be termed as system-inherent phase noise and is relevant for both static and dynamic applications. “External” phase noise, however, is caused by vibration and is a major problem for dynamic applications. In the context of this paper, both types of phase noise will be modeled and the resulting integrals will be evaluated for PLLs up to the third order. Besides, phase jitter induced by thermal noise and signal dynamics will also be discussed, thus providing all necessary formulas for analyzing the performance of a phase lock loop in case of different forms of stress. Since the main focus is centered on the effects of oscillator phase noise, the overall PLL performance is graphically illustrated with and without consideration of oscillator phase noise. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.