A new pan-sharpening method using multiobjective particle swarm optimization and the shiftable contourlet transform

In this paper, a novel approach based on multiobjective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) is presented for panchromatic (Pan) sharpening of a multispectral (MS) image. This new method could transfer spatial details of the pan image into a high-resolution version of the MS image, while color information from the low-resolution MS image is well preserved. The pan and MS images are locally different because of different resolutions, and therefore we cannot directly combine them in the spatial domain. For this reason, we generate two initial results, which are more appropriate for a weighted combination. First, the pan and the MS images are histogram matched. Then we use the shiftable contourlet transform (SCT) to decompose the histogram-matched pan and MS images. The SCT is a new shiftable and modified version of the contourlet transform. In this step, an algorithm based on the SCT is used to generate two initial results of the high-resolution MS images. Our objective is to produce two modified high-resolution MS images, in which one has high spatial similarity to the pan image and the other one has high radiometric quality in each band. Therefore, we have used two different fusion rules to integrate the high-frequency contourlet coefficients of the pan and MS images to generate two initial results of high-resolution MS image or the pan-sharpened (PS) image. Finally, we can find the optimal PS image by applying the MOPSO algorithm and using the two initial PS results. Specifically, the PS image is obtained via a weighted combination of the two initial results, in which the weights are locally estimated via a multiobjective particle swarm optimization algorithm to generate a PS image with high spatial and radiometric qualities. Based on experimental results obtained, the produced pan-sharpened image also has good spectral quality. The efficiency of the proposed method is tested by performing pan-sharpening of high-resolution (Quickbird and Wordview2) and medium-resolution (Landsat-7 ETM +) datasets. Extensive comparisons with the state-of-the-art pan-sharpening algorithms indicate that our new method provides improved subjective and objective results.     

Fine-resolution population mapping using OpenStreetMap points-of-interest

Data on population at building level is required for various purposes. However, to protect privacy, government population data is aggregated. Population estimates at finer scales can be obtained through areal interpolation, a process where data from a first spatial unit system is transferred to another system. Areal interpolation can be conducted with ancillary data that guide the redistribution of population. For population estimation at the building level, common ancillary data include three-dimensional data on buildings, obtained through costly processes such as LiDAR. Meanwhile, volunteered geographic information (VGI) is emerging as a new category of data and is already used for purposes related to urban management. The objective of this paper is to present an alternative approach for building level areal interpolation that uses VGI as ancillary data. The proposed method integrates existing interpolation techniques, i.e., multi-class dasymetric mapping and interpolation by surface volume integration; data on building footprints and points-of-interest (POIs) extracted from OpenStreetMap (OSM) are used to refine population estimates at building level. A case study was conducted for the city of Hamburg and the results were compared using different types of POIs. The results suggest that VGI can be used to accurately estimate population distribution, but that further research is needed to understand how POIs can reveal population distribution patterns.     

Spatial patterns and temporal trends of daily precipitation indices in Iran

Spatial patterns of daily precipitation indices and their temporal trends over Iran are investigated using the APHRODITE gridded daily precipitation dataset for the period 1961–2004. The performance and limitations of the gridded dataset are checked against observations at ten rain-gauge stations that are representative of different climates in Iran. Results suggest that the spatial patterns of the indices reflect the role of orography and sea neighborhoods in differentiating central-southern arid and semi-arid regions from northern and western mountainous humid areas. It is also found that western Iran is impacted by the most extreme daily precipitation events occurring in the country, though the number of rainy days has its maximum in the Caspian Sea region. The time series of precipitation indices is checked for long-term trends using the least squares method and Mann-Kendall test. The maximum daily precipitation per year shows upward trends in most of Iran, though being statistically significant only in western regions. In the same regions, upward trends are also observed in the number of wet days and in the accumulated precipitation and intensity during wet days. Conversely, the contribution of precipitation events below the 75th percentile to the annual total precipitation is decreasing with time, suggesting that extreme events are responsible for the upward trend observed in the total annual precipitation and in the other indices. This tendency towards more severe/extreme precipitation events, if confirmed by other datasets and further analyses with longer records, would require the implementation of adequate water resources management plans in western Iran aimed at mitigating the increasing risk of intense precipitation and associated flash floods and soil erosion.     

Community collaboration and climate change research in the Canadian Arctic

Research on climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation, particularly projects aiming to contribute to practical adaptation initiatives, requires active involvement and collaboration with community members and local, regional and national organizations that use this research for policy-making. Arctic communities are already experiencing and adapting to environmental and socio-cultural changes, and researchers have a practical and ethical responsibility to engage with communities that are the focus of the research. This paper draws on the experiences of researchers working with communities across the Canadian Arctic, together with the expertise of Inuit organizations, Northern research institutes and community partners, to outline key considerations for effectively engaging Arctic communities in collaborative research. These considerations include: initiating early and ongoing communication with communities, and regional and national contacts; involving communities in research design and development; facilitating opportunities for local employment; and disseminating research findings. Examples of each consideration are drawn from climate change research conducted with communities in the Canadian Arctic.     

Impact of fertilizer application and urban wastes on the quality of groundwater in the Cambrai Chalk aquifer,Northern France

Since 1975, Europe sets up its policy to limit the degradation and the pollution of the aquatic environments through 30 directives and regulations. In the north of France, the nitrate concentrations measured in the groundwater exceed the water drinking limit fixed at 50 mg/L by the European framework directive in the field of water (2000/60/EC). This high concentration is due to intensive agriculture, industrialization and demographic growth. Several programs were launched in order to resolve this situation: “Ferti-better” or the use of fertilizer in moderation and installation and amelioration of wastewater collect and treatment systems. In order to estimate the influence of the anthropic activities on the quality of groundwater in the “Artois-Picardy” basin, a preliminary validation on parcel and district scale were necessary. The impact of these programs in the “Cambrai district” was evaluated using an integrated approach, which is based on the use of four numerical models: AgriFlux, VS2DT, Modflow and MT3D. The results illustrate an improvement due to the “Ferti-Better” program initiated in 1990 and punctual degradation under urbanized areas. Predictions (2015) show a spatial evolution of nitrates concentration varying with the thickness of unsaturated layer. The integrated model constitutes an efficient tool for predicting the evolution of the groundwater quality. This approach is important to control the application of the new European laws in the water field.     

Analysis of contamination hazard of surface water by the methodology of TECHNEAU: a case study from the dam 9 April 1947 in northern Morocco

Preventive protection of surface waters against pollution and the guarantee of the best quality water are the major challenges to provide a sustainable supply of drinking water for the future generations. In this article, we present a hazard mapping application for water contamination of the dam “9 April 1947” located in the northwest of Morocco. This study was motivated by the proliferation of many pollution sources in the study area knowing that the dam feeds the region of Tanger-Asilah that has over 3 million inhabitants. The methodology used was applied for the first time in the city of Freiburg-Ebnet in Germany under the TECHNEAU project funded by the European commission and based on weighting of the different sources of contamination according to three indices: the toxicity index, quantity index, and probability index. The multiplication of the three indices has given us a hazard index named HI varying between 0 and 120 depending on the harmfulness of hazard; the later index has been used to create the final contamination hazard map. The hazard map shows 65% of the watershed area is witnessing a very low danger, 22% of the watershed area is witnessing a low danger, 10% of the watershed area is witnessing a the high danger, and 3% of the watershed area is witnessing a moderate.     

Performance of small group of geosynthetic-reinforced granular piles

Granular piles are frequently used as a method of improving soft grounds as they provide increased bearing capacity and reduce foundation settlements. However, in very soft clayey soils, they may not derive their load-carrying capacity by low confining pressure provided by the surrounding soil. In such circumstances, granular piles may be reinforced with suitable geosynthetic to increase its load-carrying capacity and to reduce excessive bulging. In this study, the performance of small group of geosynthetic-reinforced granular piles (GRGPs) is examined in terms of load-carrying capacity, settlement, and modulus by laboratory model tests. The parameters investigated include modulus of reinforcement material, area replacement ratio (ARR) based on the column diameter and reinforcement length. The results indicated that increasing the modulus of the reinforcement and the ARR based on the column diameter enhances the overall performance of the GRGP group. It was also observed that reinforcement on top portion of the granular pile is sufficient to substantially increase the load-carrying capacity of granular pile group.     

Phytotoxic effect of aluminum and chromium on the germination and early growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties Anmol and Kiran

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the phytotoxic effect of aluminum and chromium on the germination and early growth of two wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties Anmol and Kiran. Seed were treated with 40, 80, 120 and 160 ppm of aluminum and chromium solution individually and in combined form. Observations were made on seed germination, root, shoot and seedling length, and dry biomass. Seed germination and dry biomass showed no effect of aluminum, chromium and combined treatment. Root, shoot and seedling length of both the varieties showed significant (P<0.05) decrease as compared to control. The growth was also reduced as the concentration of aluminum and chromium increased. Seedling length decreased in both the varieties at all the concentration of different treatment of aluminum, chromium and combined treatment. Attempts are being made in different laboratories to construct novel plants using genetic manipulation technologies that may have a greater tolerance to the presence of toxic metals. The results of the present study may help in understanding the mechanisms involved and their possible use in pytoremediation.     

Effect of aluminum and chromium on the growth and germination of mesquite (Prosopis juliflora swartz.) DC.

Prosopis seeds were grown under controlled environment in solution of aluminum and chromium at different concentration alone as well as combined together. The effect of these metals was studied on seed germination, root length, shoot length, seedling length and dry biomass. Aluminum and chromium alone, and combined together showed no effects on germination and dry biomass. Chromium alone was found toxic to root, shoot and seedling length. However, application of different concentrations of aluminum increased the root, shoot and seedling growth. It may be concluded that aluminum is not as toxic as chromium, and their combined treatment showed the intermediate effect by ameliorating the impact of one another.