Octave-Band Four-Beam Antenna Arrays with Stable Beam Direction Fed by Broadband 4 × 4 Butler Matrix

A novel concept of four-beam antenna arrays operating in a one-octave frequency range that allows stable beam directions and beamwidths to be achieved is proposed. As shown, such radiation patterns can be obtained when radiating elements are appropriately spaced and fed by a broadband 4 × 4 Butler matrix with directional filters connected to its outputs. In this solution, broadband radiating elements are arranged in such a way that, for the lower and upper frequencies, two separate subarrays can be distinguished, each one consisting of identically arranged radiating elements. The subarrays are fed by a broadband Butler matrix at the output to which an appropriate feeding network based on directional filters is connected. These filters ensure smooth signal switching across the operational bandwidth between elements utilized at lower and higher frequency bands. Therefore, as shown, it is possible to control both beamwidths and beam directions of the resulting multi-beam antenna arrays. Moreover, two different concepts of the feeding network connected in between the Butler matrix and radiating elements for lowering the sidelobes are discussed. The theoretical analyses of the proposed antenna arrays are shown and confirmed by measurements of the developed two-antenna arrays consisting of eight and twelve radiating elements, operating in a 2–4 GHz frequency range.

Influência de lineamentos estruturais no desencadeamento dos movimentos de massa no maciço de Uruburetama, Ceará

A disposição de estruturas geológicas em áreas planálticas é elemento importante na compreensão da dinâmica que ocorre na superfície de suas encostas e que é responsável pela esculturação do relevo. Neste contexto destacam-se os movimentos gravitacionais, que podem gerar perdas econômicas, ambientais e humanas em eventos de alta energia e/ou com grande extensão. Esta pesquisa analisou a influência de lineamentos estruturais no desencadeamento dos movimentos gravitacionais no maciço de Uruburetama, localizado no estado do Ceará. A metodologia consistiu na extração automática de lineamentos a partir do Modelo Digital de Elevação (MDE) fornecido pelo sensor orbital ALOS PALSAR. A partir da média de filtros direcionais aplicados a 0°, 45°, 90° e 135° de iluminação foi possível realçar as feições lineares da imagem original, facilitando sua extração. Posteriormente, foram elaborados mapas de distribuição espacial e densidade de lineamentos, além de diagrama de roseta. Tais produtos subsidiaram a análise da disposição dos principais trends estruturais da área, destacando que a maior densidade e a orientação predominante de lineamentos podem ser indicativas do grau de susceptibilidade à ocorrência de movimentos de massa no maciço de Uruburetama, desde que também sejam consideradas as características físicas dominantes e o grau de intervenção humana nas encostas. Os resultados demonstraram que os lineamentos estruturais obtidos de forma automática, quando analisados em conjunto com as características ambientais podem ser aplicados na análise de susceptibilidade à ocorrência de movimentos de massa. Influence of structural lineaments as a trigger of mass movements in the Uruburetama massif, Ceará state, Brazil A B S T R A C TThe geological structures arrangement in plateau areas is an important element in understanding the dynamics that occur on the surface of their slopes and which is responsible for relief sculpting. In this context, gravitational movements stand out, which can generate economic, environmental and human losses in high energy events and / or with large extension. This research analyzed the influence of structural lineaments in the gravitational movements triggering in the Uruburetama massif, located in the state of Ceará. The methodology consisted of automatic extraction of lineaments from the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) provided by the ALOS PALSAR orbital sensor. From the average of directional filters applied at 0°, 45°, 90° and 135° of illumination it was possible to enhance the linear features of the original image, facilitating their extraction. Subsequently, maps of spatial distribution and lineaments density were developed, as well as a rosette diagram. Such products subsidized the analysis of the disposition of the main structural trends of the area, emphasizing that the higher density and the predominant orientation of lineaments may be indicative of the degree of susceptibility to the occurrence of mass movements in the Uruburetama massif, if the dominant physical conditions and the degree of human intervention on the slopes are also considered. The results showed that the structural lineaments obtained automatically, when analyzed together with the environmental characteristics can be applied in the susceptibility analysis to the occurrence of mass movements.Keywords: ALOS PALSAR, directional filters, image fusion, lineaments extraction

Remote sensing and sig contribution for the identification of the fracturation influence on the drainage network architecture in the High Ziz River basin, Central High Atlas, Morocco

This study aims to contribute to a better estimation of the density of fractures likely to favour the drainage of surface water in the High Ziz River (HZR) basin. The method adopted consists of the use of different airborne image processing techniques (filtering, enhancement and slope analysis) which allow a good discrimination of image discontinuities (lineaments) that can then be used for producing lineament maps. The influence of these lineaments on the underground flow is then studied. Indeed, it was possible to extract the lineament network, following the exploitation of remote sensing and an objectively completed analog analysis using the PCI Geomatica LINE module and its directional filters (Sobel directional filters by the ACP method), and to extract the hydrographic network of the HZR basin, using the ArcHydro tool. After superimposing these data, their thematic maps (of the lineament and hydrographic network) were developed. In addition, this comparison of the two hydrographic networks and lineament maps showed us very varied flow directions influenced by geological structures, particularly fracturing. The topography of the region also has a secondary impact on flows through the presence of slopes generally oriented towards the SE of the basin. The correlation of the results with the different directions of the orders of the hydrographic network allowed us to identify the potential effects of lineaments on the orientations of surface water circulation. In addition to these results, the realization of the Rose diagram indicated that the dominant trend in lineaments is N90–45N° (NE–SW).