scholarly journals Student Led Area Measurement Assessments Using Virtual Globes and Pictometry Web-based Interface within an Undergraduate Spatial Science Curriculum

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
David Kulhavy ◽  
I-Kuai Hung ◽  
Daniel Unger ◽  
Yanli Zhang

<p><em>The use of Virtual Globes and Pictometry continues to expand and develop in undergraduate spatial science education. Spatial science undergraduates measured the area of 30 rectangles on the earth’s surface and compared them to Pictometry hyperspectral imagery measurements within a web-based interface and the Google Earth interface compared to ArcGIS Explorer, Map Developers and ArcMap using the ArcMap 10.5.2 interface. An analysis of variance of the absolute mean area errors (p-value of 0.009271) concluded the accuracy of the five area measurements were statistically different at the 95% confidence interval. A Tukey pair-wise test found that the Pictometry and Google Earth methods were more accurate than the ArcGIS Explorer, Map Developers and ArcMap methods. The lowest standard deviation of errors (72.6 sq. ft.) for Pictometry was the most accurate and precise method for on-screen area measurement, followed by Google Earth (SD = 205.0 sq. ft.). The high variation of area measurement error from ArcMap, Map Developers, and ArcGIS Explorer made them less reliable as an alternative to field measurements with ArcMap the worst (SD = 915.1 sq. ft.). The results indicate that Pictometry and Google Earth could both be used to accurately estimate area using on-screen measurements compared to in situ area measurement assessments. </em></p>

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reid Viegut ◽  
David L. Kulhavy ◽  
Daniel R Unger ◽  
I-Kuai Hung ◽  
Brian Humphreys

The use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in undergraduate forestry education continues to expand and develop. Accuracy of data collection is an important aspect of preparation for “society-ready” foresters to meet the complex sustainable environment managing for ecological, social and economic interests.  Hands-on use of a DJI Phantom 4 Pro UAS by undergraduates to measure the length and area of 30 linear features and areal features on Earth’s surface were estimated.  These measurements were compared (measured within the ArcMap 10.5.2 interface) to hyperspectral Pictometry imagery measured on the web-based interface and the Google Earth Pro interface. Each remotely estimated measurement was verified with the actual ground measurements and the methods compared. An analysis of variance, conducted on the absolute length errors resulting in a p-value of 0.000057, concluded that the three length estimating techniques were statistically different at a 95% confidence interval. A Tukey pair-wise test found that the remotely sensed DJI Phantom 4 Pro data was statistically less accurate than the Pictometry and Google Earth Pro data, while both of which were found to be not different statistically in terms of accuracy. The areal feature area measurements were not normally distributed and therefore tested for equal medians using a Kruskal-Wallis test. The test found that there was no significant difference between sample medians, indicating that all three methods of estimating area are statistically equal in accuracy. The results indicate that Pictometry and Google Earth Pro could both be used to accurately estimate linear feature lengths remotely in lieu of in situ linear measurements while all three remote sensing techniques can be used to accurately estimate areal feature areas remotely in lieu of in situ areal measurements.


Author(s):  
Hilary Bakamwesiga ◽  
William Mugisha ◽  
Yeeko Kisira ◽  
Andrew Muwanga

The unquenchable demand for rock materials has attracted many companies within the building and construction sector to invest in stone quarrying. However, this has brought about the environmental impacts with health threats to people. There is a paucity of information about the magnitude of pollution on air and water and how it varies with quarry sites. This study therefore investigated the physical impacts of quarrying on air and water and explored the in-situ mitigations to undesirable effects due to stone quarrying. Four active quarry sites were identified. Field measurements of dust (particulate matter) was conducted within the four quarry sites and in the nearby community. Water samples were collected from quarry pits and nearby shallow wells for laboratory analysis of water quality. Statistical Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test for differences in pollution across the four studied sites. Results revealed that, amidst use of wet crushing and water sprinkling on bare surfaces, dust emission was higher than the recommended permissible standards levels with a significant variation across the quarry sites with ANOVA (P-value=0.003) for PM2.5 and (P-value=0.04366) for PM10. Water pollution was mainly contributed by the non-permissive levels of nitrates, chromium, and pH. Polluted air and water are associated with sparking off health threats to the users in the community. In conclusion, quarry companies should strengthen the already existing mitigation of dust suppression. The study recommends additional measures such as treating quarry pit water before discharging to the open environment


Author(s):  
Sari Havu-Nuutinen ◽  
Sarika Kewalramani ◽  
Nikolai Veresov ◽  
Susanna Pöntinen ◽  
Sini Kontkanen

AbstractThis research is a comparative study of Finnish and Australian science curricula in early childhood education (EC). The study aims to figure out the constructivist components of the science curriculum in two countries as well as locate the similarities and differences in the rationale and aims, contents, learning outcomes, learning activities, teacher’s role and assessment. The curriculum analysis framework developed by Van den Akker (2003) was used as a methodological framework for the curricula analysis. Based on the theory-driven content analyses, findings show that both countries have several components of constructivist curriculum, but not always clearly focused on science education. The Australian Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) integrates children’s science learning within their five specific learning outcomes, whereas the Finnish national core curriculum for early childhood education and care has no defined learning outcomes in general. The Finnish curriculum more clearly than EYLF encompasses science and environmental education as a learning domain, within which children participate in targeted scientific activities to gain procedural knowledge in specific environmental-related concepts. More focus should be turned to the teachers’ role and assessment, which are not determined in science context in both countries. This international comparative study calls for the need of a considered EC curriculum framework that more explicitly has science domains with specifically defined rationale, aims, content areas, learning outcomes and assessment criteria. The implications lie in providing early childhood educators with tangible and theoretically solid curriculum framework and resources in order to foster scientific thinking in young children.


2021 ◽  
pp. 026921552110068
Author(s):  
Elien Van der Gucht ◽  
Lore Dams ◽  
Vincent Haenen ◽  
Lode Godderis ◽  
Bart Morlion ◽  
...  

Objective: To synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of pain science education on pain, psychological factors and physical functioning in adults who underwent surgery. Data sources: A systematic literature search of English articles using PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, and Cochrane Library. Review methods: The search strategy was constructed as follows: (((pain) AND (education)) OR (pain education)) AND (surgery). Only controlled quantitative studies in adults reporting outcome(s) on pain, psychological factors and/or physical functioning were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tools. P-values and corresponding effect sizes for interaction-effect (time × group) portrayed the difference in change over time between groups were of interest. The last search was conducted on February 28, 2021. Results: Nine papers ( n = 1078) were deemed eligible for this review. Two randomized controlled trials showed significant interaction effects. Breast cancer patients who had received one preoperative pain science education session showed a significant increase in postoperative pain compared to controls ( P-value = 0.0394). Furthermore, p sychological factors (pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia) decreased in participants who had received pain science education before total knee arthroplasty, while this was not the case in the control group ( P-value < 0.001, ƞ2p:0.11). Conclusions: Overall, pain science education did not result in any significant postoperative effects on pain, psychological factors and/or physical functioning compared to controls. There is currently no strong evidence for the implementation of pain science education in the perioperative period. Registration number: PROSPERO: ID 161267, registration number CRD42020161267


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 4863
Author(s):  
Victor Dyomin ◽  
Alexandra Davydova ◽  
Igor Polovtsev ◽  
Alexey Olshukov ◽  
Nikolay Kirillov ◽  
...  

The paper presents an underwater holographic sensor to study marine particles—a miniDHC digital holographic camera, which may be used as part of a hydrobiological probe for accompanying (background) measurements. The results of field measurements of plankton are given and interpreted, their verification is performed. Errors of measurements and classification of plankton particles are estimated. MiniDHC allows measurement of the following set of background data, which is confirmed by field tests: plankton concentration, average size and size dispersion of individuals, particle size distribution, including on major taxa, as well as water turbidity and suspension statistics. Version of constructing measuring systems based on modern carriers of operational oceanography for the purpose of ecological diagnostics of the world ocean using autochthonous plankton are discussed. The results of field measurements of plankton using miniDHC as part of a hydrobiological probe are presented and interpreted, and their verification is carried out. The results of comparing the data on the concentration of individual taxa obtained using miniDHC with the data obtained by the traditional method using plankton catching with a net showed a difference of no more than 23%. The article also contains recommendations for expanding the potential of miniDHC, its purpose indicators, and improving metrological characteristics.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1131
Author(s):  
Soonkie Nam ◽  
Marte Gutierrez ◽  
Panayiotis Diplas ◽  
John Petrie

This paper critically compares the use of laboratory tests against in situ tests combined with numerical seepage modeling to determine the hydraulic conductivity of natural soil deposits. Laboratory determination of hydraulic conductivity used the constant head permeability and oedometer tests on undisturbed Shelby tube and block soil samples. The auger hole method and Guelph permeameter tests were performed in the field. Groundwater table elevations in natural soil deposits with different hydraulic conductivity values were predicted using finite element seepage modeling and compared with field measurements to assess the various test results. Hydraulic conductivity values obtained by the auger hole method provide predictions that best match the groundwater table’s observed location at the field site. This observation indicates that hydraulic conductivity determined by the in situ test represents the actual conditions in the field better than that determined in a laboratory setting. The differences between the laboratory and in situ hydraulic conductivity values can be attributed to factors such as sample disturbance, soil anisotropy, fissures and cracks, and soil structure in addition to the conceptual and procedural differences in testing methods and effects of sample size.


Author(s):  
Julie Paprocki ◽  
Nina Stark ◽  
Hans C Graber ◽  
Heidi Wadman ◽  
Jesse E McNinch

A framework for estimating moisture content from satellite-based multispectral imagery of sandy beaches was tested under various site conditions and sensors. It utilizes the reflectance of dry soil and an empirical factor c relating reflectance and moisture content for specific sediment. Here, c was derived two ways: first, from in-situ measurements of moisture content and average NIR image reflectance; and second, from laboratory-based measurements of moisture content and spectrometer reflectance. The proposed method was tested at four sandy beaches: Duck, North Carolina, and Cannon Beach, Ocean Cape, and Point Carrew, Yakutat, Alaska. Both measured and estimated moisture content profiles were impacted by site geomorphology. For profiles with uniform slopes, moisture contents ranged from 3.0%-8.0% (Zone 1) and from 8.0%-23.0% (Zone 2). Compared to field measurements, the moisture contents estimated using c calibrated from in-situ and laboratory data resulted in percent error of 3.6%-44.7% and 2.7%-58.6%, respectively. The highest percent error occurred at the transition from Zone 1 to Zone 2. Generally, moisture contents were overestimated in Zone 1 and underestimated in Zone 2, but followed the expected trends based on field measurements. When estimated moisture contents in Zone 1 exceeded 10%, surface roughness, debris, geomorphology, and weather conditions were considered.


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