RTK Kinematic Positioning Accuracy with Double Phase Difference of SIS GNSS Signals

The article presents results of verification of the kinematic measurements usefulness for precise real-time positioning RTK in the local reference system. These measurements allow for continuous RTK measurements in the event of temporary interruptions in radio or internet connections, which are the main reason for interruptions in RTK kinematic measurements and cause a decrease in the reliability and efficiency of this positioning method. Short interruptions communication are allowed during the loss of the key correction stream from the local RTK support network, so the global corrections obtained from the geostationary satellite are used. The aim of the article was to analyze the accuracy of measuring the position of moving objects. Practical conclusions were formulated according to the research subject, the presented mathematical models, the experiment and the analysis of the obtained results.

Arbitrary-order intrinsic virtual element method for elliptic equations on surfaces

We develop a geometrically intrinsic formulation of the arbitrary-order Virtual Element Method (VEM) on polygonal cells for the numerical solution of elliptic surface partial differential equations (PDEs). The PDE is first written in covariant form using an appropriate local reference system. The knowledge of the local parametrization allows us to consider the two-dimensional VEM scheme, without any explicit approximation of the surface geometry. The theoretical properties of the classical VEM are extended to our framework by taking into consideration the highly anisotropic character of the final discretization. These properties are extensively tested on triangular and polygonal meshes using a manufactured solution. The limitations of the scheme are verified as functions of the regularity of the surface and its approximation.

2-DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF A SIMPLE FREE NETWORK

This paper attempts to quantify geometric considerations in observations and observe trends in solutions to free network solutions. The method of investigation will be utilizing 2D observations to determine how each measurement affects the overall solution and the location of the observations relative to the other nodes. A local reference system will be determined using the Gauss-Markov model with constraints by fixing the largest range observation to the y-axis to give a relative orientation. Further solutions will be calculated by fixing additional points to generate multiple least squares solutions relative to the local reference system. The resulting final points will be modeled using the Gauss-mixture model and compared to a simulated dataset generated by adding random error to the observations. Different weight matrices will be tested to demonstrate the effect on the overall solution. These methods were chosen because of prior experimentation by different research groups studying geometric considerations for UAS and ground surveying conditions. The major contribution will be the trends observed in the modeling and the correlation of the fixed local solutions to the geometry of the points.

DOCUMENTATION OF A COMPLEX CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSET WITH INTEGRATED GEOMATIC SURVEY: THE MONTANARO BELL TOWER

The research activities presented in this manuscript are focused on the documentation of a valuable built heritage asset: the Santa Marta bell tower (1769-1772), designed by the Italian architect Bernardo Antonio Vittone and located in the municipality of Montanaro (30 km North-East of Turin, Italy). The documentation of this complex palimpsest was designed to meet the requirements of the decay analysis and to provide a reference for the future restoration and valorisation project. To achieve these objectives a multi-scale and multi-sensor survey was designed and carried out exploiting several geomatics techniques (both range and image based). The fieldwork activities were firstly dedicated to the creation and measurement of a reference topographic network to be used as common local reference system for all the acquisitions as well as a series of control points (both inside and outside the bell towe) to be used for data orientation and accuracy assessment. Secondly, the exterior of the bell tower and its surroundings were imaged by means of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and a set of Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) acquisitions. The interior of the bell tower was sensed with two different rapid mapping approaches: using a handheld laser scanner based on the Simultaneous Localisation And Mapping (SLAM) technology and two different 360° cameras. All the acquired data were processed following both consolidated and experimental approaches and then integrated to generate traditional 2D architectural drawings supported by added value metric products. Of particular interest are the tests connected with the processing of the SLAM data and 360° images using a spherical photogrammetric approach that delivered preliminar encouraging results.

A Low-Cost Platform for Modeling and Controlling the Yaw Dynamics of an Agricultural Tractor to Gain Autonomy

In this study, a low-cost proposed platform for training dynamics (PPTD) is proposed based on operational amplifiers to understand the dynamics and variables of the agricultural tractor John Deere tractor model 4430 to gain autonomy and analyze the behavior of control algorithms proposed in real time by state feedback. The proposed platform uses commercial sensors and interacts with the Arduino Uno and/or Daq-6009 board from National Instruments. A mobile application (APP) was also developed for real-time monitoring of autonomous control signals, the local reference system, and physical and dynamic variables in the tractor; this platform can be used as a mobile alternative applied to a tractor in physically installed form. In the presented case, the PPTD was mounted on a John Deere tractor to test its behavior; moreover, it may be used on other tractor models similarly as established here. The established results of this platform were compared with models established in MATLAB, validating the proposal. All simulations and developments are shared through a web-link as open-source files so that anyone with basic knowledge of electronics and modeling of vehicles can reproduce the proposed platform.

A Procedure for Analyzing Mandible Roto-Translation Induced by Mandibular Advancement Devices

Background: Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders are characterized by repeated episodes of complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. Mandibular advancement devices represent a non-invasive treatment in reducing the number of respiratory events and in decreasing symptoms. The advancement extent of these devices is responsible for the mandibular roto-translation and its effects on the temporomandibular joint. Methods: This study defined a systematic method to assess the mandible roto translation that is caused by MADs according to a scan-to-CAD approach. Starting from a closed mouth position and simulating the oral appliance at different settings it was possible to define a local reference system that is useful for the evaluation of the mandibular roto-translation. This latter was then applied to evaluate the movements of the condyle and the mandibular dental arch. Results: MAD1 resulted in a reduced mouth opening and protrusion, while MAD2 enabled a higher degree of motion of the mandible useful for patients who need an important protrusion. Conclusions: The two devices present different dynamics. Results that are achievable employing this method can be directly used by practitioners in comparing MADs, as well as by researchers in evaluating MADs effects.

A Practical Procedure to Integrate the First 1:500 Urban Map of Valencia into a Tile-Based Geospatial Information System

The use of geographic data from early maps is a common approach to understanding urban geography as well as to study the evolution of cities over time. The specific goal of this paper is to provide a means for the integration of the first 1:500 urban map of the city of València (Spain) on a tile-based geospatial system. We developed a workflow consisting of three stages: the digitization of the original 421 map sheets, the transformation to the European Terrestrial Reference System of 1989 (ETRS89), and the conversion to a tile-based file format, where the second stage is clearly the most mathematically involved. The second stage actually consists of two steps, one transformation from the pixel reference system to the 1929 local reference system followed by a second transformation from the 1929 local to the ETRS89 system. The last stage comprises a map reprojection to adapt to tile-based geospatial standards. The paper describes a pilot study of one map sheet and results showed that the affine and bilinear transformations performed well in both transformations with average residuals under 6 and 3 cm respectively. The online viewer developed in this study shows that the derived tile-based map conforms to common standards and lines up well with other raster and vector datasets.

Clinical and Experimental Models of the Midtarsal Joint

Recent debate and literature have provided impetus to the growing body of thought that we should not model the midtarsal joint as having two simultaneous axes of rotation but as having a single instantaneous axis of rotation. Building on this concept, we present new reference terminology and propose that descriptions of midtarsal joint kinetics and kinematics relate to moments and motion in the cardinal body planes as defined by the x-, y-, and z-axes of the local reference system of the calcaneus. This replaces the existing terminology that describes the oblique and longitudinal axes for the midtarsal joint. The purpose of the new terms of reference and terminology is to aid in the communication of ideas and concepts regarding the biomechanics of the midtarsal joint among clinicians and between researchers and clinicians. It will also allow integration of the midtarsal joint into the emerging biomechanical model of the lower limb, promote consistency in discussions of the joint, and ease understanding of the interrelationships between the kinetics and the kinematics of the articulations in the foot and lower limb and their relationship to pathology and clinical practice. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 96(1): 24–31, 2006)