scholarly journals Monitoring Forest Change in the Amazon Using Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing Data and Machine Learning Classification on Google Earth Engine

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Antonia Brovelli ◽  
Yaru Sun ◽  
Vasil Yordanov

Deforestation causes diverse and profound consequences for the environment and species. Direct or indirect effects can be related to climate change, biodiversity loss, soil erosion, floods, landslides, etc. As such a significant process, timely and continuous monitoring of forest dynamics is important, to constantly follow existing policies and develop new mitigation measures. The present work had the aim of mapping and monitoring the forest change from 2000 to 2019 and of simulating the future forest development of a rainforest region located in the Pará state, Brazil. The land cover dynamics were mapped at five-year intervals based on a supervised classification model deployed on the cloud processing platform Google Earth Engine. Besides the benefits of reduced computational time, the service is coupled with a vast data catalogue providing useful access to global products, such as multispectral images of the missions Landsat five, seven, eight and Sentinel-2. The validation procedures were done through photointerpretation of high-resolution panchromatic images obtained from CBERS (China–Brazil Earth Resources Satellite). The more than satisfactory results allowed an estimation of peak deforestation rates for the period 2000–2006; for the period 2006–2015, a significant decrease and stabilization, followed by a slight increase till 2019. Based on the derived trends a forest dynamics was simulated for the period 2019–2028, estimating a decrease in the deforestation rate. These results demonstrate that such a fusion of satellite observations, machine learning, and cloud processing, benefits the analysis of the forest dynamics and can provide useful information for the development of forest policies.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1433
Author(s):  
Shobitha Shetty ◽  
Prasun Kumar Gupta ◽  
Mariana Belgiu ◽  
S. K. Srivastav

Machine learning classifiers are being increasingly used nowadays for Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) mapping from remote sensing images. However, arriving at the right choice of classifier requires understanding the main factors influencing their performance. The present study investigated firstly the effect of training sampling design on the classification results obtained by Random Forest (RF) classifier and, secondly, it compared its performance with other machine learning classifiers for LULC mapping using multi-temporal satellite remote sensing data and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. We evaluated the impact of three sampling methods, namely Stratified Equal Random Sampling (SRS(Eq)), Stratified Proportional Random Sampling (SRS(Prop)), and Stratified Systematic Sampling (SSS) upon the classification results obtained by the RF trained LULC model. Our results showed that the SRS(Prop) method favors major classes while achieving good overall accuracy. The SRS(Eq) method provides good class-level accuracies, even for minority classes, whereas the SSS method performs well for areas with large intra-class variability. Toward evaluating the performance of machine learning classifiers, RF outperformed Classification and Regression Trees (CART), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Relevance Vector Machine (RVM) with a >95% confidence level. The performance of CART and SVM classifiers were found to be similar. RVM achieved good classification results with a limited number of training samples.


Algorithms ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 187
Author(s):  
Aaron Barbosa ◽  
Elijah Pelofske ◽  
Georg Hahn ◽  
Hristo N. Djidjev

Quantum annealers, such as the device built by D-Wave Systems, Inc., offer a way to compute solutions of NP-hard problems that can be expressed in Ising or quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) form. Although such solutions are typically of very high quality, problem instances are usually not solved to optimality due to imperfections of the current generations quantum annealers. In this contribution, we aim to understand some of the factors contributing to the hardness of a problem instance, and to use machine learning models to predict the accuracy of the D-Wave 2000Q annealer for solving specific problems. We focus on the maximum clique problem, a classic NP-hard problem with important applications in network analysis, bioinformatics, and computational chemistry. By training a machine learning classification model on basic problem characteristics such as the number of edges in the graph, or annealing parameters, such as the D-Wave’s chain strength, we are able to rank certain features in the order of their contribution to the solution hardness, and present a simple decision tree which allows to predict whether a problem will be solvable to optimality with the D-Wave 2000Q. We extend these results by training a machine learning regression model that predicts the clique size found by D-Wave.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Andrea Sulova ◽  
Jamal Jokar Arsanjani

Recent studies have suggested that due to climate change, the number of wildfires across the globe have been increasing and continue to grow even more. The recent massive wildfires, which hit Australia during the 2019–2020 summer season, raised questions to what extent the risk of wildfires can be linked to various climate, environmental, topographical, and social factors and how to predict fire occurrences to take preventive measures. Hence, the main objective of this study was to develop an automatized and cloud-based workflow for generating a training dataset of fire events at a continental level using freely available remote sensing data with a reasonable computational expense for injecting into machine learning models. As a result, a data-driven model was set up in Google Earth Engine platform, which is publicly accessible and open for further adjustments. The training dataset was applied to different machine learning algorithms, i.e., Random Forest, Naïve Bayes, and Classification and Regression Tree. The findings show that Random Forest outperformed other algorithms and hence it was used further to explore the driving factors using variable importance analysis. The study indicates the probability of fire occurrences across Australia as well as identifies the potential driving factors of Australian wildfires for the 2019–2020 summer season. The methodical approach and achieved results and drawn conclusions can be of great importance to policymakers, environmentalists, and climate change researchers, among others.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6376
Author(s):  
Junseo Bae ◽  
Sang-Guk Yum ◽  
Ji-Myong Kim

Given the highly visible nature, transportation infrastructure construction projects are often exposed to numerous unexpected events, compared to other types of construction projects. Despite the importance of predicting financial losses caused by risk, it is still difficult to determine which risk factors are generally critical and when these risks tend to occur, without benchmarkable references. Most of existing methods are prediction-focused, project type-specific, while ignoring the timing aspect of risk. This study filled these knowledge gaps by developing a neural network-driven machine-learning classification model that can categorize causes of financial losses depending on insurance claim payout proportions and risk occurrence timing, drawing on 625 transportation infrastructure construction projects including bridges, roads, and tunnels. The developed network model showed acceptable classification accuracy of 74.1%, 69.4%, and 71.8% in training, cross-validation, and test sets, respectively. This study is the first of its kind by providing benchmarkable classification references of economic damage trends in transportation infrastructure projects. The proposed holistic approach will help construction practitioners consider the uncertainty of project management and the potential impact of natural hazards proactively, with the risk occurrence timing trends. This study will also assist insurance companies with developing sustainable financial management plans for transportation infrastructure projects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 787
Author(s):  
Lei Zhou ◽  
Ting Luo ◽  
Mingyi Du ◽  
Qiang Chen ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
...  

Machine learning has been successfully used for object recognition within images. Due to the complexity of the spectrum and texture of construction and demolition waste (C&DW), it is difficult to construct an automatic identification method for C&DW based on machine learning and remote sensing data sources. Machine learning includes many types of algorithms; however, different algorithms and parameters have different identification effects on C&DW. Exploring the optimal method for automatic remote sensing identification of C&DW is an important approach for the intelligent supervision of C&DW. This study investigates the megacity of Beijing, which is facing high risk of C&DW pollution. To improve the classification accuracy of C&DW, buildings, vegetation, water, and crops were selected as comparative training samples based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE), and Sentinel-2 was used as the data source. Three classification methods of typical machine learning algorithms (classification and regression trees (CART), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM)) were selected to classify the C&DW from remote sensing images. Using empirical methods, the experimental trial method, and the grid search method, the optimal parameterization scheme of the three classification methods was studied to determine the optimal method of remote sensing identification of C&DW based on machine learning. Through accuracy evaluation and ground verification, the overall recognition accuracies of CART, RF, and SVM for C&DW were 73.12%, 98.05%, and 85.62%, respectively, under the optimal parameterization scheme determined in this study. Among these algorithms, RF was a better C&DW identification method than were CART and SVM when the number of decision trees was 50. This study explores the robust machine learning method for automatic remote sensing identification of C&DW and provides a scientific basis for intelligent supervision and resource utilization of C&DW.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huy Tran ◽  
Cheolkeun Ha

Recently, indoor positioning systems have attracted a great deal of research attention, as they have a variety of applications in the fields of science and industry. In this study, we propose an innovative and easily implemented solution for indoor positioning. The solution is based on an indoor visible light positioning system and dual-function machine learning (ML) algorithms. Our solution increases positioning accuracy under the negative effect of multipath reflections and decreases the computational time for ML algorithms. Initially, we perform a noise reduction process to eliminate low-intensity reflective signals and minimize noise. Then, we divide the floor of the room into two separate areas using the ML classification function. This significantly reduces the computational time and partially improves the positioning accuracy of our system. Finally, the regression function of those ML algorithms is applied to predict the location of the optical receiver. By using extensive computer simulations, we have demonstrated that the execution time required by certain dual-function algorithms to determine indoor positioning is decreased after area division and noise reduction have been applied. In the best case, the proposed solution took 78.26% less time and provided a 52.55% improvement in positioning accuracy.


2021 ◽  
pp. 161
Author(s):  
Royyannuur Kurniawan Endrayanto ◽  
Adharul Muttaqin

Pertanian merupakan salah satu sektor penting karena dapat memenuhi kebutuhan pangan sebagai kebutuhan pokok. Kebutuhan pangan masih menjadi salah satu isu hangat terlebih di masa pandemi COVID- 19 seperti saat ini. Pemenuhan kebutuhan pangan juga berkaitan erat dengan jumlah bahan pangan yang diproduksi oleh petani. Lingkungan merupakan salah satu faktor keberhasilan dalam kegiatan pertanian. Kondisi lingkungan Indonesia yang beragam seperti suhu dan tingkat presipitasi menyebabkan adanya perbedaan jenis tanaman pangan potensial setiap daerah di Indonesia. Oleh karena itu perlu upaya untuk mengoptimalkan produksi lahan pertanian berdasarkan faktor lingkungan di setiap daerah. Upaya ini diharapkan dapat membantu menjaga ketahanan pangan baik di masa pandemi dan pasca pandemi. Pada penelitian ini diperkenalkan pemanfaatan data geospasial untuk klasifikasi jenis tanaman pangan menggunakan algoritma machine learning sebagai upaya optimalisasi lahan pertanian. Data yang digunakan adalah Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) Land Data Assimilation System (FLDAS). Algoritma machine learning yang digunakan adalah algoritma klasifikasi Random Forest. Teknologi yang digunakan adalah Google Colab, Google Earth Engine dan Python. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengklasifikasikan tanaman pangan yang memiliki potensi paling baik untuk ditanam di suatu daerah berdasarkan kondisi lingkungan yang ada.


BJGP Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. bjgpopen18X101589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel A Jammeh ◽  
Camille, B Carroll ◽  
Stephen, W Pearson ◽  
Javier Escudero ◽  
Athanasios Anastasiou ◽  
...  

BackgroundUp to half of patients with dementia may not receive a formal diagnosis, limiting access to appropriate services. It is hypothesised that it may be possible to identify undiagnosed dementia from a profile of symptoms recorded in routine clinical practice.AimThe aim of this study is to develop a machine learning-based model that could be used in general practice to detect dementia from routinely collected NHS data. The model would be a useful tool for identifying people who may be living with dementia but have not been formally diagnosed.Design & settingThe study involved a case-control design and analysis of primary care data routinely collected over a 2-year period. Dementia diagnosed during the study period was compared to no diagnosis of dementia during the same period using pseudonymised routinely collected primary care clinical data.MethodRoutinely collected Read-encoded data were obtained from 18 consenting GP surgeries across Devon, for 26 483 patients aged >65 years. The authors determined Read codes assigned to patients that may contribute to dementia risk. These codes were used as features to train a machine-learning classification model to identify patients that may have underlying dementia.ResultsThe model obtained sensitivity and specificity values of 84.47% and 86.67%, respectively.ConclusionThe results show that routinely collected primary care data may be used to identify undiagnosed dementia. The methodology is promising and, if successfully developed and deployed, may help to increase dementia diagnosis in primary care.


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