Nature 4.0 – Intelligent networked systems for ecosystem monitoring

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Friess ◽  
Marvin Ludwig ◽  
Christoph Reudenbach ◽  
Thomas Nauss ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Networked Systems ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Mesh Network ◽  
Sensor Technology ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Prototype System ◽  
Ecosystem Monitoring ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Environmental Monitoring System

<p>Successful conservation strategies and adaptive management require frequent observations and assessments of ecosystems. Depending on the conservation target this is commonly achieved by monitoring schemes carried out locally by experts. In general, these expert surveys provide a high level of detail which however is traded-off against the limited spatial coverage and repetition with which they are commonly executed. Thus, it is common practice to spatially expand these observations by remote sensing techniques. For a resilient monitoring both the expert observations and the spatio-temporal upscaling have to be extended by automated measurements and reproducible modelling.  Therefore, Nature 4.0 is developing a prototype of a modular environmental monitoring system for spatially and temporally high-resolution observations of species, habitats and key processes.  This prototype system is being developed in the Marburg Open Forest, an open research, education and development platform for environmental observation methods. Here, we present the experiences and challenges of the first year with a focus on the conceptual design and the first implementation of the core observation subsystems and their comparison with the data collected by classical field surveys and remote sensing. The spatially distributed acquisition of abiotic and biotic environmental parameters is based on self-developed as well as third party sensor technology.  This includes an automated area-wide radiotracking system of bats and birds and sensor units for measurements of microclimatic conditions and tree sap flow as well as spectral imaging and soundscape recording. The backbone of the automated data collection and transmission is an autonomous LoRa and WiFi mesh network, which is connected to the internet via radio relay. By utilizing powerful data integration and analysis methods, the system will enable researchers, conservationists and the public to effectively observe landscapes through a set of diverse lenses. Here, we present first results as well as an outlook for future developments of intelligent networked systems for ecosystem monitoring.</p>

scholarly journals Introducing Nature 4.0: A sensor network for environmental monitoring in the Marburg Open Forest

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Friess ◽  
Jörg Bendix ◽  
Martin Brändle ◽  
Roland Brandl ◽  
Stephan Dahlke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Data Integration ◽  
Environmental Monitoring ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Great Level ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Environmental Monitoring System ◽  
Expert Surveys

Successful conservation strategies require frequent observations and assessments of the landscape. Although expert surveys provide a great level of detail, the trade-off is the limited spatial coverage and repetition with which they are executed. Remote sensing technology can partially resolve these issues; nevertheless, it still requires experts’ experience to create conservation planning and reaction options. Nature 4.0 seeks to address these shortcomings by developing a prototype of a modular environmental monitoring system for high-resolution observation of species, habitats, and processes. The project combines expert surveys by nature conservationists, remote sensing, and a network of environmental sensors, which are integrated into stationary units as well as attached to unmanned aerial vehicles, rovers, or animals. By utilizing powerful data integration and analysis methods, Nature 4.0 will enable researchers to effectively observe landscapes through a set of diverse lenses. Time series data from the project will also inform the development of early warning indicators. Following the open-source principle, as much of the project as possible will be made publicly available, including, for instance, schematics for sensor units, algorithms for data integration or information on species occurrence. In summary, Nature 4.0 will establish new methods and protocols in the field of comprehensive environmental monitoring by combining traditional sampling, remote sensing, and automated measurement stations. The prototype system is being developed in the Marburg Open Forest, an open research, education, and development platform for environmental monitoring methods. The Marburg Open Forest brings a cross-disciplinary group of scientists together with nature conservation experts from the private sector and the state government, as well as local schools and private citizens to collaborate and bridge the gap between basic and applied environmental research. After one year, we will present the results of the initial phase and share our experience with developing Nature 4.0.

scholarly journals Multispectral Remote Sensing of Wetlands in Semi-Arid and Arid Areas: A Review on Applications, Challenges and Possible Future Research Directions

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 4190
Author(s):  
Siyamthanda Gxokwe ◽  
Timothy Dube ◽  
Dominic Mazvimavi
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Multispectral Imagery ◽  
Aquatic Life ◽  
Sensing Data ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Semi Arid

Wetlands are ranked as very diverse ecosystems, covering about 4–6% of the global land surface. They occupy the transition zones between aquatic and terrestrial environments, and share characteristics of both zones. Wetlands play critical roles in the hydrological cycle, sustaining livelihoods and aquatic life, and biodiversity. Poor management of wetlands results in the loss of critical ecosystems goods and services. Globally, wetlands are degrading at a fast rate due to global environmental change and anthropogenic activities. This requires holistic monitoring, assessment, and management of wetlands to prevent further degradation and losses. Remote-sensing data offer an opportunity to assess changes in the status of wetlands including their spatial coverage. So far, a number of studies have been conducted using remotely sensed data to assess and monitor wetland status in semi-arid and arid regions. A literature search shows a significant increase in the number of papers published during the 2000–2020 period, with most of these studies being in semi-arid regions in Australia and China, and few in the sub-Saharan Africa. This paper reviews progress made in the use of remote sensing in detecting and monitoring of the semi-arid and arid wetlands, and focuses particularly on new insights in detection and monitoring of wetlands using freely available multispectral sensors. The paper firstly describes important characteristics of wetlands in semi-arid and arid regions that require monitoring in order to improve their management. Secondly, the use of freely available multispectral imagery for compiling wetland inventories is reviewed. Thirdly, the challenges of using freely available multispectral imagery in mapping and monitoring wetlands dynamics like inundation, vegetation cover and extent, are examined. Lastly, algorithms for image classification as well as challenges associated with their uses and possible future research are summarised. However, there are concerns regarding whether the spatial and temporal resolutions of some of the remote-sensing data enable accurate monitoring of wetlands of varying sizes. Furthermore, it was noted that there were challenges associated with the both spatial and spectral resolutions of data used when mapping and monitoring wetlands. However, advancements in remote-sensing and data analytics provides new opportunities for further research on wetland monitoring and assessment across various scales.

scholarly journals A Disease Control-Oriented Land Cover Land Use Map for Myanmar

Data ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Dong Chen ◽  
Varada Shevade ◽  
Allison Baer ◽  
Jiaying He ◽  
Amanda Hoffman-Hall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Population Distribution ◽  
Large Spatial Scale ◽  
The Public ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Do So ◽  
Control And Eradication

Malaria is a serious infectious disease that leads to massive casualties globally. Myanmar is a key battleground for the global fight against malaria because it is where the emergence of drug-resistant malaria parasites has been documented. Controlling the spread of malaria in Myanmar thus carries global significance, because the failure to do so would lead to devastating consequences in vast areas where malaria is prevalent in tropical/subtropical regions around the world. Thanks to its wide and consistent spatial coverage, remote sensing has become increasingly used in the public health domain. Specifically, remote sensing-based land cover/land use (LCLU) maps present a powerful tool that provides critical information on population distribution and on the potential human-vector interactions interfaces on a large spatial scale. Here, we present a 30-meter LCLU map that was created specifically for the malaria control and eradication efforts in Myanmar. This bottom-up approach can be modified and customized to other vector-borne infectious diseases in Myanmar or other Southeastern Asian countries.

scholarly journals Cyber-physical networking for wireless mesh infrastructures

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 113-118
Author(s):  
C. Mannweiler ◽  
C. Lottermann ◽  
A. Klein ◽  
J. Schneider ◽  
H. D. Schotten
Keyword(s):  
Network Control ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Mesh Network ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Autonomous Operation ◽  
Delay Jitter ◽  
Wireless Mesh ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Inference Systems ◽  
Management Functions

Abstract. This paper presents a novel approach for cyber-physical network control. "Cyber-physical" refers to the inclusion of different parameters and information sources, ranging from physical sensors (e.g. energy, temperature, light) to conventional network information (bandwidth, delay, jitter, etc.) to logical data providers (inference systems, user profiles, spectrum usage databases). For a consistent processing, collected data is represented in a uniform way, analyzed, and provided to dedicated network management functions and network services, both internally and, through an according API, to third party services. Specifically, in this work, we outline the design of sophisticated energy management functionalities for a hybrid wireless mesh network (WLAN for both backhaul traffic and access, GSM for access only), disposing of autonomous energy supply, in this case solar power. Energy consumption is optimized under the presumption of fluctuating power availability and considerable storage constraints, thus influencing, among others, handover and routing decisions. Moreover, advanced situation-aware auto-configuration and self-adaptation mechanisms are introduced for an autonomous operation of the network. The overall objective is to deploy a robust wireless access and backbone infrastructure with minimal operational cost and effective, cyber-physical control mechanisms, especially dedicated for rural or developing regions.

scholarly journals Curvelet Transform based Denoising of Multispectral Remote Sensing Images

2021 ◽  
Vol 2089 (1) ◽  
pp. 012064
Author(s):  
P. Lokeshwara Reddy ◽  
Santosh Pawar ◽  
S.L. Prathapa Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Curvelet Transform ◽  
Structural Similarity ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Multispectral Image ◽  
Sensor Technology ◽  
Remote Sensing Images ◽  
Unequally Spaced ◽  
Multispectral Remote Sensing

Abstract With the advent of sensor technology, the exertion of multispectral image (MSI) is comely omnipresent. Denoising is an essential quest in multispectral image processing which further improves recital of unmixing, classification and supplementary ensuing praxis. Explication and ocular analysis are essential to extricate data from remote sensing images for broad realm of supplications. This paper describes curvelet transform based denoising of multispectral remote sensing images. The implementation of curvelet transform is done by using both wrapping function and unequally spaced fast Fourier transform (USFFT) and they diverge in selection of spatial grid which is used to construe curvelets at every orientation and scale. The coefficients of curvelets are docket by a scaling factor, angle and spatial location criterion. This paper crisps on denoising of Linear Imaging Self Scanning Sensor (LISS) III images. The proposed denoising approach has also been collated with some existing schemes for assessment. The efficacy of proposed approach is analyzed with calculation of facet matrices such as Peak signal to noise ratio and Structural similarity at distinct variance of noise..

scholarly journals Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Using Remote Sensing Data: Case Study in Owi Island, Biak, Papua

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 600-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominggus Samuel H.L.M.K. Awak ◽  
Jonson Lumban Gaol ◽  
Beginer Subhan ◽  
Hawis H. Madduppa ◽  
Dondy Arafat
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Coral Reef Ecosystem ◽  
Ecosystem Monitoring ◽  
Sensing Data ◽  
Reef Ecosystem

scholarly journals Hyperspectral Remote Sensing of Phytoplankton Species Composition Based on Transfer Learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Zhu ◽  
Fang Shen ◽  
Pei Shang ◽  
Yanqun Pan ◽  
Mengyu Li
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Transfer Learning ◽  
Natural Waters ◽  
Hyperspectral Remote Sensing ◽  
Sensor Technology ◽  
Percentage Error ◽  
Phytoplankton Species ◽  
Phytoplankton Species Composition

Phytoplankton species composition research is key to understanding phytoplankton ecological and biogeochemical functions. Hyperspectral optical sensor technology allows us to obtain detailed information about phytoplankton species composition. In the present study, a transfer learning method to inverse phytoplankton species composition using in situ hyperspectral remote sensing reflectance and hyperspectral satellite imagery was presented. By transferring the general knowledge learned from the first few layers of a deep neural network (DNN) trained by a general simulation dataset, and updating the last few layers with an in situ dataset, the requirement for large numbers of in situ samples for training the DNN to predict phytoplankton species composition in natural waters was lowered. This method was established from in situ datasets and validated with datasets collected in different ocean regions in China with considerable accuracy (R2 = 0.88, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) = 26.08%). Application of the method to Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO) imagery showed that spatial distributions of dominant phytoplankton species and associated compositions could be derived. These results indicated the feasibility of species composition inversion from hyperspectral remote sensing, highlighting the advantages of transfer learning algorithms, which can bring broader application prospects for phytoplankton species composition and phytoplankton functional type research.

Remote Sensing of Diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 225-252
Author(s):  
Erich-Christian Oerke
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Disease Control ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Disease Assessment ◽  
Sensor Technology ◽  
Electronic Noses ◽  
Disease Patterns ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Future Challenges

Detection, identification, and quantification of plant diseases by sensor techniques are expected to enable a more precise disease control, as sensors are sensitive, objective, and highly available for disease assessment. Recent progress in sensor technology and data processing is very promising; nevertheless, technical constraints and issues inherent to variability in host–pathogen interactions currently limit the use of sensors in various fields of application. The information from spectral [e.g., RGB (red, green, blue)], multispectral, and hyperspectral sensors that measure reflectance, fluorescence, and emission of radiation or from electronic noses that detect volatile organic compounds released from plants or pathogens, as well as the potential of sensors to characterize the health status of crops, is evaluated based on the recent literature. Phytopathological aspects of remote sensing of plant diseases across different scales and for various purposes are discussed, including spatial disease patterns, epidemic spread of pathogens, crop characteristics, and links to disease control. Future challenges in sensor use are identified.

scholarly journals Current systematic carbon-cycle observations and the need for implementing a policy-relevant carbon observing system

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 3547-3602 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Ciais ◽  
A. J. Dolman ◽  
A. Bombelli ◽  
R. Duren ◽  
A. Peregon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Carbon Cycle ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Observation System ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Current State ◽  
Spatial Coverage

Abstract. A globally integrated carbon observation and analysis system is needed to improve the fundamental understanding of the global carbon cycle, to improve our ability to project future changes, and to verify the effectiveness of policies aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration. Building an integrated carbon observation system requires transformational advances from the existing sparse, exploratory framework towards a dense, robust, and sustained system in all components: anthropogenic emissions, the atmosphere, the ocean, and the terrestrial biosphere. The paper is addressed to scientists, policymakers, and funding agencies who need to have a global picture of the current state of the (diverse) carbon observations. We identify the current state of carbon observations, and the needs and notional requirements for a global integrated carbon observation system that can be built in the next decade. A key conclusion is the substantial expansion of the ground-based observation networks required to reach the high spatial resolution for CO2 and CH4 fluxes, and for carbon stocks for addressing policy-relevant objectives, and attributing flux changes to underlying processes in each region. In order to establish flux and stock diagnostics over areas such as the southern oceans, tropical forests, and the Arctic, in situ observations will have to be complemented with remote-sensing measurements. Remote sensing offers the advantage of dense spatial coverage and frequent revisit. A key challenge is to bring remote-sensing measurements to a level of long-term consistency and accuracy so that they can be efficiently combined in models to reduce uncertainties, in synergy with ground-based data. Bringing tight observational constraints on fossil fuel and land use change emissions will be the biggest challenge for deployment of a policy-relevant integrated carbon observation system. This will require in situ and remotely sensed data at much higher resolution and density than currently achieved for natural fluxes, although over a small land area (cities, industrial sites, power plants), as well as the inclusion of fossil fuel CO2 proxy measurements such as radiocarbon in CO2 and carbon-fuel combustion tracers. Additionally, a policy-relevant carbon monitoring system should also provide mechanisms for reconciling regional top-down (atmosphere-based) and bottom-up (surface-based) flux estimates across the range of spatial and temporal scales relevant to mitigation policies. In addition, uncertainties for each observation data-stream should be assessed. The success of the system will rely on long-term commitments to monitoring, on improved international collaboration to fill gaps in the current observations, on sustained efforts to improve access to the different data streams and make databases interoperable, and on the calibration of each component of the system to agreed-upon international scales.

scholarly journals Confidence Levels, Sensitivity, and the Role of Bathymetry in Coral Reef Remote Sensing

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 496 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Goodman ◽  
Mui Lay ◽  
Luis Ramirez ◽  
Susan L. Ustin ◽  
Paul J. Haverkamp
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Water Depth ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Sensor Technology ◽  
Internal Quality ◽  
Benthic Habitat ◽  
Model Output ◽  
Confidence Levels

Remote sensing is playing an increasingly important role in the monitoring and management of coastal regions, coral reefs, inland lakes, waterways, and other shallow aquatic environments. Ongoing advances in algorithm development, sensor technology, computing capabilities, and data availability are continuing to improve our ability to accurately derive information on water properties, water depth, benthic habitat composition, and ecosystem health. However, given the physical complexity and inherent variability of the aquatic environment, most of the remote sensing models used to address these challenges require localized input parameters to be effective and are thereby limited in geographic scope. Additionally, since the parameters in these models are interconnected, particularly with respect to bathymetry, errors in deriving one parameter can significantly impact the accuracy of other derived parameters and products. This study utilizes hyperspectral data acquired in Hawaii in 2000–2001 and 2017–2018 using NASA’s Classic Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer to evaluate performance and sensitivity of a well-established semi-analytical inversion model used in the assessment of coral reefs. Analysis is performed at several modeled spatial resolutions to emulate characteristics of different feasible moderate resolution hyperspectral satellites, and data processing is approached with the objective of developing a generalized, scalable, automated workflow. Accuracy of derived water depth is evaluated using bathymetric lidar data, which serves to both validate model performance and underscore the importance of image quality on achieving optimal model output. Data are then used to perform a sensitivity analysis and develop confidence levels for model validity and accuracy. Analysis indicates that derived benthic reflectance is most sensitive to errors in bathymetry at shallower depths, yet remains significant at all depths. The confidence levels provide a first-order method for internal quality assessment to determine the physical extent of where and to what degree model output is considered valid. Consistent results were found across different study sites and different spatial resolutions, confirming the suitability of the model for deriving water depth in complex coral reef environments, and expanding our ability to achieve automated widespread mapping and monitoring of global coral reefs.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document