scholarly journals UAV SURVEY FOR THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MAP OF <i>LILYBAEUM</i> (MARSALA, ITALY)

2019 ◽  
Vol XLII-2/W11 ◽  
pp. 495-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Ebolese ◽  
M. Lo Brutto ◽  
G. Dardanelli
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Archaeological Excavation ◽  
Cost Effective Approach ◽  
Ancient City ◽  
Field Campaigns ◽  
Archaeological Areas

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Collecting information and mapping are fundamental aspects of systematic archaeological excavation, documentation and interpretation. The process of recording physical evidence is the first step in the archaeological study with the goal to derive spatial and semantic information from the gathered and available data. Archaeological reports always include 2D maps, sections, data distribution and other spatial data. Indeed, the representation is inseparable from the archaeological practice, but this is undoubtedly a time-consuming activity. Nowadays, archaeologists can take advantages of various recording techniques to produce highly accurate 3D models and ortho-images of archaeological sites. Far from replacing the more traditional techniques, the development of new geomatics techniques tries to answer, in a more efficient way, to the needs of archaeological research. The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has become more popular in archaeological excavations. In particular, UAV systems become a useful, versatile and cost-effective approach to record large archaeological areas in order to measure and completely document them. They are the fastest way to produce high-resolution 3D models of entire sites and allow archaeologists to collect accurate spatial data that can be used for spatial analyses using GIS platform. The paper presents the results of several UAV surveys of the archaeological remains of <i>Lilybaeum</i>, the ancient city of Marsala (Southern Italy), performed in the Archaeological Park of “Lilibeo”. The UAV acquisitions were planned and carried out to complete the previous traditional documentation of the site. Very detailed 3D models and high-resolution ortho-images, together with some new field campaigns, have been used for new analysis and documentation of the site and for the realization of the archaeological map of <i>Lilybaeum</i>.</p>

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) time-lapse monitoring of the instability processes affecting Varano Hill: A case study of the ancient Roman site of Villa Arianna

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renato Somma ◽  
Alfredo Trocciola ◽  
Daniele Spizzichino ◽  
Alessandro Fedele ◽  
Gabriele Leoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Morphological Evolution ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Slope Instability ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Slope Instabilities

&lt;p&gt;The archaeological site of Villa Arianna - located on Varano Hill, south of Vesuvius - offer tantalizing information regarding first-century AD resilience to hydrogeological risk. Additionally, the site provides an important test case for mitigation efforts of current and future geo-hazard. Villa Arianna, notable in particular for its wall frescoes, is part of a complex of Roman villas built between 89 BC and AD 79 in the ancient coastal resort area of Stabiae. This villa complex is located on a morphological terrace that separates the ruins from the present-day urban center of Castellammare di Stabia. The Varano hill is formed of alternating pyroclastic deposits, from the Vesuvius Complex, and alluvial sediments, from the Sarno River. The area, in AD 79, was completely covered by PDCs from the Plinian eruption of Vesuvius. Due to the geomorphological structure the slope is prone to slope instability phenomena that are mainly represented by earth and debris flows, usually triggered by heavy rainfall. The susceptibility is worsened by changes in hydraulic and land-use conditions mainly caused by lack of maintenance of mitigation works. Villa Arianna is the subject of a joint pilot project of the INGV-ENEA-ISPRA that includes non-invasive monitoring techniques such as the use of UAVs to study the areas of the slope at higher risk of instability. The project, in particular, seeks to implement innovative mitigation solutions that are non-destructive to the cultural heritage. UAVs represent the fastest way to produce high-resolution 3D models of large sites and allow archaeologists to collect accurate spatial data that can be used for 3D GIS analyses. Through this pilot project, we have used detailed 3D models and high-resolution ortho-images for new analyses and documentation of the site and to map the slope instabilities that threatens the Villa Arianna site. Through multi-temporal analyses of different data acquisitions, we intend to define the detailed morphological evolution of the entire Varano slope. These analyses will allow us to highlight priority areas for future low-impact mitigation interventions.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Apple iPhone 12 Pro LiDAR for an Application in Geosciences

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregor Luetzenburg ◽  
Aart Kroon ◽  
Anders A. Bjørk
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Optical Sensors ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Absolute Accuracy ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Financial Investments ◽  
Coastal Cliff ◽  
High Resolution Models

AbstractTraditionally, topographic surveying in earth sciences requires high financial investments, elaborate logistics, complicated training of staff and extensive data processing. Recently, off-the-shelf drones with optical sensors already reduced the costs for obtaining a high-resolution dataset of an Earth surface considerably. Nevertheless, costs and complexity associated with topographic surveying are still high. In 2020, Apple Inc. released the iPad Pro 2020 and the iPhone 12 Pro with novel build-in LiDAR sensors. Here we investigate the basic technical capabilities of the LiDAR sensors and we test the application at a coastal cliff in Denmark. The results are compared to state-of-the-art Structure from Motion Multi-View Stereo (SfM MVS) point clouds. The LiDAR sensors create accurate high-resolution models of small objects with a side length > 10 cm with an absolute accuracy of ± 1 cm. 3D models with the dimensions of up to 130 × 15 × 10 m of a coastal cliff with an absolute accuracy of ± 10 cm are compiled. Overall, the versatility in handling outweighs the range limitations, making the Apple LiDAR devices cost-effective alternatives to established techniques in remote sensing with possible fields of application for a wide range of geo-scientific areas and teaching.

High-resolution root zone soil moisture-based indices for drought monitoring in the Ebro basin

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivien-Georgiana Stefan ◽  
Maria-José Escorihuela ◽  
Pere Quintana-Seguí
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Drought Indices ◽  
Ebro Basin ◽  
Small Areas ◽  
Cost Effective Approach

&lt;h3&gt;Agriculture is an important factor on water resources, given the constant population growth and the strong relationship between water availability and food production. In this context, root zone soil moisture (RZSM) measurements are used by modern irrigators in order to detect the onset of crop water stress and to trigger irrigations. Unfortunately, in situ RZSM measurements are costly; combined with the fact they are available only over small areas and that they might not be representative at the field scale, remote sensing is a cost-effective approach for mapping and monitoring extended areas. A recursive formulation of an exponential filter was used in order to derive 1 km resolution RZSM estimates from SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) surface soil moisture (SSM) over the Ebro basin. The SMAP SSM was disaggregated to a 1 km resolution by using the DISPATCH (DISaggregation based on a Physical And Theoretical scale CHange) algorithm. The pseudodiffusivity parameter of the exponential filter was calibrated per land cover type, by using ISBA-DIF (Interaction Soil Biosphere Atmosphere) surface and root zone soil moisture data as an intermediary step. The daily 1 km RZSM estimates were then used to derive 1 km drought indices such as soil moisture anomalies and soil moisture deficit indices (SMDI), on a weekly time-scale, covering the entire 2020 year. Results show that both drought indices are able to capture rainfall and drying events, with the weekly anomaly being more responsive to sudden events such as heavy rainfalls, while the SMDI is slower to react do the inherent inertia it has. Moreover, a quantitative comparison with drought indices derived from a model-based RZSM estimates has also been performed, with results showing a strong correspondence between the different indices. For comparison purposes, the weekly soil moisture anomalies and SMDI derived using 1 km SMAP-derived SSM were also estimated. The analysis shows that the anomalies and SMDI based on the RZSM are more representative of the hydric stress level of the plants, given that the RZSM is better suited than the SSM to describe the moisture conditions at the deeper layers, which are the ones used by plants during growth and development.&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;h3&gt;The study provides an insight into obtaining robust, high-resolution remote-sensing derived drought indices based on remote-sensing derived RZSM estimates. The 1 km resolution proves an improvement from other currently available drought indices, such as the European Drought Observatory&amp;#8217;s 5 km resolution drought index, which is not able to capture as well the spatial variability present within heterogeneous areas. Moreover, the SSM-derived drought indices are currently used in a drought observatory project, covering a region in the Tarragona province of Catalonia, Spain. The project aims at offering irrigation recommendations to water agencies, and the introduction of RZSM-derived drought indices will further improve such advice.&lt;/h3&gt;

scholarly journals Endoscopy of Nasopharyngeal Cancer

1994 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian B. Burkey ◽  
Robert H. Ossoff
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
High Risk ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Local Anesthesia ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Cancer ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cost Effective Approach ◽  
The World

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a unique disease with increasing interest for many physicians due to its unusual etiology, histology, and epidemiology. The recent era of fiberoptic endoscopy now provides the clinician with better tools for the screening, diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of NPC. The use of high resolution flexible and rigid nasopharyngoscopy gives the physician an opportunity for a more sensitive examination in a higher proportion of patients. Ultimately, this will allow for earlier diagnosis of NPC, and improved prognosis and better quality of life for the patients with this disease. Also, by allowing the clinician to perform directed biopsies of the nasopharynx under local anesthesia, fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy allows a less morbid and more cost-effective approach towards this disease, including screening protocols in certain high risk regions of the world.

scholarly journals A simple and cost-effective approach for technical validation of next generation methylation sequencing data

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Javadmanesh ◽  
Afsaneh Mojtabanezhad Shariatpanahi ◽  
Ehsan Shams Davodly ◽  
Marjan Azghandi ◽  
Maryam Yassi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
High Resolution Melting ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Cost Effective Approach ◽  
Technical Validation ◽  
R Programming ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background DNA methylation is a fundamental epigenetic process that, in most cases, modulates genetic expression levels. Changes in DNA methylation, either hypo- or hypermethylation, have a key role in many biological processes and several human diseases such as cancer. In the current study, we offered an approach to validate the next generation methylation sequencing data.Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from target and control samples (6 in each group), followed by bisulfite conversion. Next generation methylation sequencing and methylation sensitive high-resolution melting assay were carried out. The primers for methylation sequencing validation were designed by R programming language.Results In the current study, two groups, case and control, were discriminated based on methylation sequencing results and the real time PCR-based results were in accordance with the next generation methylation sequencing.Discussion Methylation sensitive high-resolution melting validation assay is a simple and cost-effective method, which confirmed next generation methylation sequencing results.

scholarly journals Coastal Social Vulnerability and Risk Analysis for Cyclone Hazard Along the Andhra Pradesh, East Coast of India

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 285-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. K. Basheer Ahammed ◽  
Arvind Chandra Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Data ◽  
Social Vulnerability ◽  
Andhra Pradesh ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Storm Surges ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Coastal Hazards ◽  
Change Scenario ◽  
Cost Effective Approach ◽  
Baseline Information

Abstract People around the world are prone to frequent and intensive hazards due to the global climate change scenario and human interventions. Particularly, the coastal communities are always prone to various long-term coastal hazards like sea-level rise, shoreline changes, and short-term hazards like tsunami cyclone and storm surge. Coastal Andhra Pradesh state is consisting of 9 district and 670 villages and also having 3.43 Million Population (69.3%). Andhra Pradesh has a vast 972 km long coastline and total coastal area spread over 92,906 km2 comprising the nine coastal districts. Andhra Pradesh state is prone to various natural hazards, especially cyclone and associated storm surges. There is an extreme loss of life and damage to properties caused by these cyclones. During the past 40 years Andhra Pradesh coast experienced more than 62 cyclones including depression, cyclone surge, and severe cyclone surges. Among these cyclones, there were 32 cyclones which affected the Krishna–Godavari region, comprising four districts, namely East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, and Guntur. Therefore, these four districts have been considered for this social vulnerability study to identify the cyclone vulnerable villages. Geospatial applications are used in this study for spatial and non-spatial data processing and spatial analysis. The study indicated that half of the study area (3121.07 km2) lying moderately risk zone and around 7% of the study area observed high vulnerability. This study revealed that the use of geospatial application is most reliable and cost-effective approach for vulnerability and risk mapping and analysis. The result obtained from the present study may serve the baseline information for disaster management planning in the area.

scholarly journals THE CASTLE OF ASSORO: THE INTEGRATED SURVEY FOR THE KNOWLEDGE AND CONSERVATION OF RUINS

2019 ◽  
Vol XLII-2/W11 ◽  
pp. 1127-1135
Author(s):  
A. Versaci ◽  
A. Cardaci ◽  
L. R. Fauzìa ◽  
M. Russo
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Documentary Sources ◽  
Ancient City ◽  
Deep Survey ◽  
Passive Sensors ◽  
Sustainable Conservation ◽  
Archaeological Areas ◽  
The City

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Assoro is an ancient city located in the heart of Sicily. Its fame in the Middle Ages is linked to the strategic location of its primitive nucleus placed at the top of Monte Stella. The fortified site allowed, in fact, both the defence of the surrounding territory and the control of the internal crossings of the island, from east to west. Today, the ruins of the castle, still visible in the highest part of the city, are enclosed in a large urban park that neither enhances nor facilitates its understanding. Actually, the knowledge of the monument is very incomplete due to the lack of documentary sources. To compensate these gaps new investigations were undertaken. Survival masonries were examined by a careful visual investigation and a deep survey, both for the stratigraphic, material and degradation aspects, carried out through the integrated use of active and passive sensors instruments. The critical analyses arising from the appropriately constructed 3D models and the photo-realistic orthographic projections with the mapping of the different constructive phases, the building materials and decay, was laid as the foundation of the cognitive process aimed at the establishment of a sustainable conservation and valorisation project. The programme has also foreseen the realisation of some archaeological coverings and the improvement of the whole park fruition, through paths that aim to both ensure easier access to some rocky archaeological areas currently difficult to reach and greater integration and permeability, between the historic urban fabric and the park.</p>

scholarly journals Retrospective Photogrammetry in Greek Archaeology

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 607-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Allan Bruce Wallace
Keyword(s):  
3D Models ◽  
The State ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Archaeological Excavation ◽  
State Prison ◽  
Greek Archaeology ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Right ◽  
Archaeological Excavations

This paper addresses the advantages as well as the obstacles in practicing photogrammetry based on archival photos of archaeological sites and examines how the results can be put to use for further research, preservation, restoration and monitoring rates of deterioration. While the extensive use of historic aerial photographs has been applied to photogrammetric modeling, archaeological excavation archives have been largely ignored. Historically archaeological excavations have been vigorously documented photographically and many of these photographs are available in archives. Not all photo archives are suitable for photogrammetry as they were not photographed with the intention of overlap and other photogrammetric qualities. By selectively choosing photographs with common points and manipulating exposures, cropping and other properties to enhance commonality, 3D models of past structures and excavations can allow us to revisit them, produce accurate measurements and view angles that were never photographed. Some sites are still available for modern comparison and surveying, allowing us to quantitatively compare conditions at the time of excavation with the current state of those sites. Given the right treatment, retrospective photogrammetry will have impacts in the preservation, restoration and monitoring of the deterioration of archaeological sites. Examples from the Athenian Agora: the state prison and Omega House, and Ancient Corinth: the Fountain of the Lamps, will be used to demonstrate these possibilities. 

scholarly journals Discrimination between Onchocerca volvulus and O. ochengi filarial larvae in Simulium damnosum (s.l.) and their distribution throughout central Ghana using a versatile high-resolution speciation assay

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen R. Doyle ◽  
Samuel Armoo ◽  
Alfons Renz ◽  
Mark J Taylor ◽  
Mike Yaw Osei-Atweneboana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Onchocerca Volvulus ◽  
High Resolution Melt ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Cost Effective Approach ◽  
Transmission Studies

AbstractBackgroundGenetic surveillance of the human filarial parasite, Onchocerca volvulus, from onchocerciasis endemic regions will ideally focus on genotyping individual infective larval stages collected from their intermediate host, Simuliid blackflies. However, blackflies also transmit other Onchocerca species, including the cattle parasite O. ochengi, which are difficult to distinguish from the human parasite based on morphological characteristics alone. This study describes a versatile approach to discriminate between O. volvulus and O. ochengi that is demonstrated using parasite infective larvae dissected from blackflies.ResultsA speciation assay was designed based on genetic differentiation between O. volvulus and O. ochengi mitochondrial genome sequences that can be performed in highthroughput high-resolution melt (HRM)- or lower throughput conventional restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses. This assay was validated on 185 Onchocerca larvae dissected from blackflies captured from 14 communities in Ghana throughout 2011-13. The frequency of O. ochengi was approximately 67 % of all larvae analysed, which is significantly higher than previously reported in this region. Furthermore, the species distribution was not uniform throughout the study region, with 25 %, 47 % and 93 % of O. volvulus being found in the western-most (Black Volta, Tain and Tombe), the central (Pru) and eastern-most (Daka) river basins, respectively.ConclusionsThis tool provides a simple and cost-effective approach to determine the identity and distribution of two Onchocerca species, and will be valuable for future genetic studies that focus on parasites collected from blackflies. The results presented highlight the need to discriminate Onchocerca species in transmission studies, as the frequency of each species varied significantly between the communities studied.

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