Study on Dune Morphology in Computer Mapping Based on 3S Technology

Take the parabolic dune of Hobq desert in Inner Mongolia as research object. Based on the GIS platform by using differential GPS data and spatial interpolation to generate DEM, then using Multi-periods high resolution images to acquire the environmental background, at the same time combine with regional wind regime and vegetation condition to measure and analyze the morphology of the parabolic dune. The result shows that the parabolic dune showed U shape in plane, and dune arms point to the west which was also wind direction. The windward slope of longitudinal profile is gentler, while leeward slope is steeper. And cross section wasn’t symmetric. The dune’s average moving speed is 11.76 m/yr. Desert ridge line’s medial axis direction is WNW-ESE, in accord with the direction of prevailing wind and resultant drift potential. Artemisia Ordosicas mainly distribute on leeward slope, two arms, and the plane ground between them, and the annual average vegetation coverage decreased 0.95%. In the long-term effect of resultant wind, the dune keeps moving forward and Artemisia Ordosica between two arms show gradual natural stage recovery which presented zonal distribution. 3S technology has already become important research method in modern Aeolian sand morphology.

Gravity Survey of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Dammam Dome, Saudi Arabia

The study area is a part of Dammam Dome that is situated at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) campus, Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The gravity survey was conducted as a pilot case study to explore part of Dammam Dome in greater detail. Gravity data were collected solely during night hours due to low noise levels. A significant part of the survey was conducted during the summer holiday period, , when there was no student are on campus. A total of 235 gravity measurements were made using a Scintrex CG5 gravitometer, while a Trimble R10+ differential GPS (DGPS) was used to measure the stations’ location and elevation with the highest accuracy. All gravity data were reduced using several algorithms, and their outcomes were cross-compared. The Complete Bouguer anomaly map for the campus was then generated. Several enhancement filters including edged detection and shallow to deeper source separation were applied. Data were inverted, and 2.5D and 3D models were created to image the subsurface conditions. The main purpose of this study is to better understand the subsurface geology, tectonic settings of the Dammam Dome by applying the high-resolution gravity method before carrying out any comprehensive geophysical (seismic) 3D survey.

A towed magnetic gradiometer array for rapid, detailed imaging of utility, geological, and archaeological targets

Efficient and accurate acquisition of magnetic field and gradient data have applications over a large range of environmental, archaeological, engineering, and geologic investigations. Developments in new systems and improvements in existing platforms have progressed to the point where magnetic surveying is a heavily used and trusted technique. However, there is still ample room to improve accuracy and coverage efficiency and to include reliable vector information. We have developed a vector magnetic gradiometer array capable of recording high-resolution field and gradient data over tens of hectares per day at 50 cm sensor spacing. Towed by an all-terrain vehicle, the system consists of eight vertical gradiometer sensor packages and incorporates differential GPS and an inertial measurement system. With a noise floor of around 6 nT at 15 km/h towing speed and 230 Hz sample rates, large areas can be mapped efficiently and precisely. Data are processed using a straightforward workflow, using both standard and newly developed methodologies. The system described here has been used successfully in Denmark to efficiently map buried structures and objects. We give two examples from such applications highlighting the system's capabilities in archaeological and geological applications.

GPS Path Tracking Control of Military Unmanned Vehicle Based on Preview Variable Universe Fuzzy Sliding Mode Control

In the process of the continuous development and improvement of modern military systems, military unmanned vehicles play an important role in field reconnaissance and strategic deployment. In this paper, the precise tracking algorithm of a military unmanned vehicle, based on GPS navigation, is studied. Firstly, the optimal preview point is obtained according to the data points of a differential GPS signal. Secondly, the pure tracking algorithm is used to calculate the demand steering angle, and a variable universe fuzzy sliding mode controller is designed to control the lateral motion of the vehicle, which is verified by the joint simulation platform of Simulink and CarSim, under multiple working conditions. Finally, the actual vehicle is verified by using the Autobox platform. The results show that the lateral motion control of path tracking designed in this paper can achieve an accurate and effective control effect, and has real-time performance for engineering applications.

A Preliminary Assessment of a Newly-Defined Multispectral Hue Space for Retrieving River Depth with Optical Imagery and In Situ Calibration Data

Bathymetry is a key element in the modeling of river systems for flood mapping, geomorphology, or stream habitat characterization. Standard practices rely on the interpolation of in situ depth measurements obtained with differential GPS or total station surveys, while more advanced techniques involve bathymetric LiDAR or acoustic soundings. However, these high-resolution active techniques are not so easily applied over large areas. Alternative methods using passive optical imagery present an interesting trade-off: they rely on the fact that wavelengths composing solar radiation are not attenuated at the same rates in water. Under certain assumptions, the logarithm of the ratio of radiances in two spectral bands is linearly correlated with depth. In this study, we go beyond these ratio methods in defining a multispectral hue that retains all spectral information. Given n coregistered bands, this spectral invariant lies on the (n−2)-sphere embedded in Rn−1, denoted Sn−2 and tagged ‘hue hypersphere’. It can be seen as a generalization of the RGB ‘color wheel’ (S1) in higher dimensions. We use this mapping to identify a hue-depth relation in a 35 km reach of the Garonne River, using high resolution (0.50 m) airborne imagery in four bands and data from 120 surveyed cross-sections. The distribution of multispectral hue over river pixels is modeled as a mixture of two components: one component represents the distribution of substrate hue, while the other represents the distribution of ‘deep water’ hue; parameters are fitted such that membership probability for the ‘deep’ component correlates with depth.

Ground-Penetrating Radar Imaging of Near-Surface Deformation along the Songino Active Fault in the Vicinity of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

The seismic activity observed in the vicinity of Ulaanbaatar (UB) capital city has been increased since 2005. Several active faults have been identified in the UB area. Most of the Mongolian population is concentrated around UB (1.5 million), which is the main political and economic center of the country. Hence, the study of seismic hazard is of first importance for the country. In this paper, we present the GPR results obtained on the Songino fault which is situated at 20 km west-southwest of UB at the northeast tip of Khustai fault. The combination of the morphotectonic, GPR and paleoseismological investigations brings essential information for seismic hazards assessments. The 2D GPR profiles are measured by using 250 and 500 MHz antennae and the topography using a differential GPS. An appropriate processing of the GPR data, including the topographic migration, allows us to bring out indirect characteristics of these faults. The objective is to identify near-surface geometry and coseismic deformation along the mapped fault. The 250 MHz GPR images of the Songino fault show the evolution of the sub-surface deformation mode induced by the arched geometry of the Songino fault. We observe a clear compressive structure at its NW section, strike slip at its central section and extensive structure in its SE part.

A New Strategy for Improving the Accuracy of Aircraft Positioning Using DGPS Technique in Aerial Navigation

In this paper a new mathematical algorithm is proposed to improve the accuracy of DGPS (Differential GPS) positioning using several GNSS (Global Navigation Satellites System) reference stations. The new mathematical algorithm is based on a weighting scheme for the following three criteria: weighting in function of baseline (vector) length, weighting in function of vector length error and weighting in function of the number of tracked GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites for a single baseline. The algorithm of the test method takes into account the linear combination of the weighting coefficients and relates the position errors determined for single baselines. The calculation uses a weighting scheme for three independent baselines denoted as (1A,2A,3A). The proposed research method makes it possible to determine the resultant position errors for ellipsoidal BLh coordinates of the aircraft and significantly improves the accuracy of DGPS positioning. The analysis and evaluation of the new research methodology was checked for data from two flight experiments carried out in Mielec and Dęblin. Based on the calculations performed, it was found that in the flight experiment in Mielec, due to the application of the new research methodology, DGPS positioning accuracy improved from 55 to 94% for all the BLh components. In turn, in the flight experiment in Dęblin, the accuracy of DGPS positioning improved by 63–91%. The study shows that the highest DGPS positioning accuracy is seen when using weighting criterion II, the inverse of the square of the vector length error.

Carbon isotope stratigraphy and mammal turnover during post-PETM hyperthermals

Paleogene hyperthermals, including the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) and several other smaller events, represent global perturbations to Earth's climate system and are characterized by warmer temperatures, shifts in floral and faunal communities, and hydrologic changes. These events are identified in the geologic record globally by negative carbon isotope excursions (CIEs), resulting from the input of isotopically light carbon into Earth's atmosphere. Much about the causes and effects of hyperthermals remains uncertain, including whether all hyperthermals are caused by the same underlying processes, how biotic effects scale with the magnitude of hyperthermals, and why CIEs are larger in paleosol carbonates relative to marine records. Resolving these questions is crucial for their full interpretation and application to future climate scenarios. The Fifteenmile Creek area of the central Bighorn Basin, Wyoming U.S.A., exposes an early Eocene floodplain sedimentary sequence that preserves paleosol carbonates and an extensive fossil mammal collection. Previous analysis of faunal assemblages revealed two pulses of mammal turnover and changes in diversity interpreted to correlate with the ETM2 and H2 hyperthermals that immediately follow the PETM. This was, however, based on long distance correlation of chemostratigraphic records. We present new carbon isotope stratigraphy using micrite δ13C values from paleosol carbonate nodules preserved in and between richly fossiliferous localities at Fifteenmile Creek to identify the stratigraphic positions of ETM2 and H2. Additionally, we used differential GPS elevations to establish a new stratigraphic framework that assists in correlation and is independent from the biostratigraphy and previous composite lithostratigraphic sections from the area. Carbon isotope results show that the ETM2 and H2 hyperthermals, and possibly the subsequent I1 hyperthermal, are recorded at Fifteenmile Creek. ETM2 and H2 overlap with the two previously recognized pulses of mammal turnover. Comparisons between the new chemostratigraphy and fossil record suggest that the recorded amplitude of these faunal changes may be muted as a result of some stratigraphic averaging of fossils. The CIEs for these hyperthermals are also smaller in magnitude than in more northerly Bighorn Basin records. We suggest that basin-wide differences in soil moisture and/or vegetation could contribute to variable CIE amplitudes in this and other terrestrial records.

A towed magnetic gradiometer array for rapid, detailed imaging of utility, geological, and archaeological targets

Efficient and accurate acquisition of magnetic field and gradient data have applications over a large range of environmental, archaeological, engineering, and geologic investigations. Developments in new systems and improvements in existing platforms have progressed to the point where magnetic surveying is a heavily used and trusted technique. However, there is still ample room to improve accuracy, coverage efficiency, and to include reliable vector information. We have developed a vector magnetic gradiometer array capable of recording high resolution field and gradient data over tens of hectares per day at 50 cm sensor spacing. Towed by an all-terrain vehicle, the system consists of 8 vertical gradiometer sensor packages, and incorporates differential GPS and an inertial measurement system. With a noise floor of around 6 nT at 15 km/h towing speed and 230 Hz sample rates, large areas can be mapped efficiently and precisely. Data are processed using a straightforward workflow, using both standard and newly developed methodologies. The system described here has been used successfully in Denmark to efficiently map buried structures and objects. We give two examples from such applications highlighting the system’s capabilities in archaeological and geological applications.

Comparative Evaluation of The Accuracies of Differential GPS and Total Station in Determining the Coordinates of Existing Controls

A Control survey is a survey operation that is carried out in order to establish position of points with a high degree of accuracy in order to support activities like mapping and map revisions, property boundary surveys, construction projects and so on. Control densification is a continuous exercise in the field of geomatics. This forms the basis upon which other geomatics and engineering activities geared toward development are referenced. This study is aimed at determining the coordinates of existing control points network along Ayetoro / Egbeda Atuba road using dual frequency GPS and Total Station with a view to comparing the accuracies of DGPS and Total Station using statistical analysis to determine which one has better accuracy. The Objectives of the study are to locate the existing control points, to collect the information/coordinates of the existing control points, and to carry out the observation using DGPS and Total station and process/compute the final coordinates and compare the results by using statistical analysis. The methodology that are adopted for this project is Satellite Positioning Technology using Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) and Total Station. And the acquired data was processed and adjusted. The statistical analysis was used to compare the result obtained from DGPS and Total Station with the data collected from the Ministry of Land and Housing. The result of the analysis shows that DGPS has better accuracy. It is recommended that whenever more suitable and accurate method of measurement is to be employed, the DGPS method should be selected as this study has demonstrated and compared the accuracy of the two methods and showed that the DGPS method is better.