An image engineering system for the inspection of transparent construction materials

This article presents a modular photogrammetric recording and image analysis system for inspecting the material characteristics of transparent foils, in particular Ethylen–TetraFluorEthylen-Copolymer (ETFE) foils. The foils are put under increasing air pressure and are observed by a stereo camera system. Determining the time-variable 3D shape of transparent material imposes a number of challenges: especially the automatic point transfer between stereo images and, in temporal domain, from one image pair to the next. We developed an automatic approach that accommodates for these particular circumstances and allows reconstruction of the 3D shape for each epoch as well as determining 3D translation vectors between epochs by feature tracking. Examples including numerical results and accuracy measures prove the applicability of the system.     

Behandlung von Grundwasser-Strömungsproblemen mit Hilfe von Modellversuchen

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What determines farmers’ resilience towards ENSO-related drought? An empirical assessment in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Crop production in the tropics is subject to considerable climate variability caused by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon that is likely to become even more pronounced during the twenty-first century. Little is known about the impact of ENSO-related drought on crop yields and food security, especially at the household level. This paper seeks to contribute to closing this knowledge gap with a case study from Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Its main objective is to measure household resilience towards drought periods and to identify its influencing factors to deduce policy implications. Using indicators for consumption expenditures, we construct an index measuring household drought resilience; we then apply an asset-based livelihood framework to identify its determinants. Most of the drought-affected farm households are forced to substantially reduce expenditures for food and other basic necessities. Households’ drought resilience is strengthened by the possession of liquid assets, access to credit, and the level of technical efficiency in agricultural production. The results suggest a number of policy recommendations, namely improvement of the farmers’ access to ENSO forecasts, the provision of credit and savings products to facilitate consumption smoothing, and the intensification of agricultural extension in view of low levels of productivity found in agricultural production.     

Kritische Bemerkung zur Frage der Temperatur-abhängigkeit der Ozonverteilung

Zusammenfassung A. undE. Vassy haben in der Frage der Temperatur-abhängigkeit des Ozongehalts der Atmosphäre aus der Gleichung loge _n –logJ _n logK(T _n ) geschlossen, daß auch die Gleichung loge _n logJ _n +logK(T _n ) gültig sei. Es wird hier nun gezeigt, daß die bei der ersten Gleichung erlaubten Vernachlässigungen bei der zweiten zu großen Fehlern führen können und daß daher von A. undE. Vassy kein Beweis für die Richtigkeit der Beziehunge=J.K(T) erbracht ist.

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Summary In the question of temperature dependence of ozone content of the atmosphere A. andE. Vassy have concluded from the equation loge _n –logJ _n logK(T _n ) that also the formula loge _n logJ _n +logK(T _n ) must be valid. In this paper it is proved that the neglections which may be admitted for the first equation, can conduct to great errors. Therefore A. andE. Vassy have not produced a proof for the correctness of the equatione=J.K(T).

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Résumé A. etE. Vassy en étuidant le problème de la teneur de l'ozone atmosphérique en relation avec la température ont admis que l'équation loge _n –logJ _n logK(T _n ) entraînait aussi la relation loge _n logJ _n +logK(T _n ). On montre ici que les simplifications admises pour la première équation conduisent pour l'application de la seconde à de fortes erreurs, et que par conséquent ces auteurs n'ont pas fourni de preuve de la justesse de la relatione=J.K(T).

     

Using panel data to estimate the effect of rainfall shocks on smallholders food security and vulnerability in rural Ethiopia

Ethiopia??s agriculture is predominantly rainfed and hence any irregularity in weather conditions has adverse welfare implications. Using panel data, this paper analyzes the effect of rainfall shocks on Ethiopian rural households?? food security and vulnerability over time while controlling for a range of other factors. To this end, we generate a time-variant household food security index which is developed by principal components analysis. Based on this index, households are classified into relative food security groups and their socioeconomic differences are assessed. The exploratory results show that compared to the less secured households, the more secured ones have male and literate household heads, tend to have a greater number of economically active household members, own more livestock, experience better rainfall outcome, and participate in local savings groups. Using the food security index as the dependent variable, we use a fixed effects instrumental variable regression model to identify determinants of households?? food security over time and find that rainfall variability is an important factor. Moreover, household size, participation in local savings groups, and livestock ownership positively affect food security. Results from multinomial logistic regression model complement the fixed effects instrumental variable regression results by showing that the level and variability of rainfall are important determinants of persistent food insecurity and vulnerability. The results highlight the need for efficient risk reduction and mitigation programs to improve risk exposure and coping ability of rural households. Careful promotion of investment in infrastructure to support irrigation and water resources development is one aspect worth considering.     

Inducing action of hydrogen migrating along faults on earthquakes

The reduction of the microhardness and the crystal constants of some non-metallic materials, such as calcite, dolomite, antigorite, etc., are observed after a short time of hydrogen permeating treatment at low pressure. It means that hydrogen diffusion can cause their strength dropping or weakening. The hydrogen, which is produced under the earth by various chemical reactions or accumulated when the earth formed, is migrating up continuously along faults, causing weakening of rocks and faults at the same time. So it is possible that rocks and faults break under lower tectonic stress condition. Hydrogen anomalies are passive reflection, precursor and accompaniment of fault activities or earthquakes on the face of it, but hydrogen migrating has active influence on faults and its moving. The Chinese version of this paper appeared in the Chinese edition ofActa Seismologica Sinica,14, 229–235, 1992.     

BOUNDARY LAYER GROWTH AND LAPSE RATE CHANGES DETERMINED BY LIDAR AND SURFACE HEAT FLUX IN SOFIA*

In this study the results from a boundary layer experiment,conducted in autumn 1991 over a flat,build-up urban area in Southeast Sofia,together with some models for mixed layer growth rates are used to investigate the layered structure of the vertical atmospheric stability distribution in the Sofia Valley.Lidar measurements of aerosol layer heights and morning boundary layer development are combined with surface eddy correlation measurements of kinematic heat and moisture fluxes,profiles of temperature and humidity,wind speed and wind direction.A diagnostic method is presented for determining vertical lapse rates using surface meteorological measurements and lidar returns observed during the transition from nighttime stable stratification to daytime convective boundary layer after the sunrise.     

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