An Analysis of the Accuracy of Photo-Based Plant Identification Applications on Fifty-Five Tree Species

Background: With the creation of photo-based plant identification applications (apps), the ability to attain basic identifications of plants in the field is seemingly available to anyone who has access to a smartphone. The use of such apps as an educational tool for students and as a major identification resource for some community science projects calls into question the accuracy of the identifications they provide. We created a study based on the context of local tree species in order to offer an informed response to students asking for guidance when choosing a tool for their support in classes. Methods: This study tested 6 mobile plant identification apps on a set of 440 photographs representing the leaves and bark of 55 tree species common to the state of New Jersey (USA). Results: Of the 6 apps tested, PictureThis was the most accurate, followed by iNaturalist, with PlantSnap failing to offer consistently accurate identifications. Overall, these apps are much more accurate in identifying leaf photos as compared to bark photos, and while these apps offer accurate identifications to the genus-level, there seems to be little accuracy in successfully identifying photos to the species-level. Conclusions: While these apps cannot replace traditional field identification, they can be used with high confidence as a tool to assist inexperienced or unsure arborists, foresters, or ecologists by helping to refine the pool of possible species for further identification.

Specific Features of a Mini-Plant to Prepare Non-Explosive Components of Emulsion Explosives

Extensive engineering experience accumulated at AZOTTECH helps the company to develop and implement new types of equipment. In conditions when capital construction and infrastructure development are not possible in hard-to-reach areas of the country, this equipment provides mobility and availability in mining operations. This article presents a new type of equipment for preparation of non-explosive components of blasting compounds, i.e. a modular mobile plant or a mini-plant. The technological process and the main associated equipment are described. Calculation of efficient fuel consumption for autonomous heat and power supply is made. Recommendations on the optimal operation modes for this type of equipment with the distribution of the workload per the main process operations are provided. The mini-plant can be optimized both in terms of cost parameters, and customer process conditions. Its efficiency is on the same level with that of a modular plant for preparation of non-explosive components of blasting compounds. The advantages of a mobile plant offer more application possibilities in any mining conditions. The use of mini-plants will help not only large operations, but also small service companies to increase their competitiveness and reduce costs when planning blasting operations already at the beginning of the construction phase of hazardous production facilities, and in certain cases to avoid construction of large-size complexes.

A Preliminary Study of the Influence of Game Types on the Learning Interests of Primary School Students in Digital Games

Learning is mainly based on the students’ mental activities. If they can learn spontaneously, it will help increase their interest and the effectiveness of the learning. Learning through playing will make it easier for students to learn spontaneously. The balance between gameplay and education in educational games is a key issue in designing such games. Designing educational games to be less complex and more casual makes it easier to balance education and entertainment. For courses with practical operational characteristics, combining a game with a virtual and real integration experience can increase both student interest and learning effectiveness. This research develops an augmented reality app, named "Mobile Plant", which is an app developed for the primary school plant curriculum, combining games and augmented reality to enhance students’ interest in learning. A questionnaire shows that the game has positive results in terms of game difficulty and absorption of content.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE METHODS AND EQUIPMENT FOR UTILIZATION OF CROP WASTE. IMPLEMENTATION OF LOW-TEMPERATURE PYROLYSIS AND GASIFICATION IN PILOT AND MOBILE INSTALLATIONS

An analysis of existing methods and equipment for processing and recycling crop waste showed that the main efforts of experimental design and research work in this area are aimed at creating affordable, cheap, environmentally friendly, highly efficient and cost-effective installations for processing waste into products useful for the economy. The developed pilot plant was tested during thermal treatment of rice husks, coffee cake and other plant waste by the method of low-temperature pyrolysis or gasification in a screw reactor. The pilot plant provided the production of useful products of various properties and heat energy for recycling, and it was a prototype for creating a mobile plant with capacity of 100 kg / h for raw materials.

Life Cycle Assessment of Natural and Recycled Concrete Aggregate Production for Road Pavements Applications in the Northern Region of Colombia: Case Study

The environmental impacts of natural aggregates (NA) and recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) production for use in road pavements have been evaluated in this study through an attributional life cycle assessment (LCA) from cradle to gate. Such effort is relevant considering the increasing interest of national agencies in applying recycled aggregates for construction and rehabilitation (C&R) of highway infrastructures. The study used site-specific data from two different aggregate production plants, stationary and mobile, both located in the northern region of Colombia. The stationary facility produces NA, and the mobile plant processes a combination of NA and RCA from the demolition of Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements in the city of Barranquilla. The aggregates produced in the stationary facility are generally used as road base and subbase materials, and in the production of PCC, whereas the recycled mobile plant produces aggregate for subbase and road base mainly. Two scenarios were contemplated in the study. The first scenario involved extraction, hauling, and processing of NA. The second scenario involved aggregate (limestone) extraction, hauling, and recycling of RCA, and finally processing the combination of NA with RCA. The environmental impacts related to the production process of both stationary and mobile plants were evaluated using the computer program SimaPro 8.4.0 and the impact assessment method IMPACT 2002+. The results showed that diesel fuel is the principal energy used in both production processes, and is mainly responsible for the negative impact on respiratory inorganics, global warming, and nonrenewable energy. Results were very sensitive to transportation distances.