Automated Weed Detection Systems: A Review

A weed plant can be described as a plant that is unwanted at a specific location at a given time. Farmers have fought against the weed populations for as long as land has been used for food production. In conventional agriculture this weed control contributes a considerable amount to the overall cost of the produce. Automatic weed detection is one of the viable solutions for efficient reduction or exclusion of chemicals in crop production. Research studies have been focusing and combining modern approaches and proposed techniques which automatically analyze and evaluate segmented weed images. This study discusses and compares the weed control methods and gives special attention in describing the current research in automating the weed detection and control. Keywords: Detection, Weed, Agriculture 4.0, Computational vision, Robotics

Deficit Irrigation in Peach Orchards under Water Scarcity Conditions

The irrigation patterns in two peach orchards, located in the central eastern region of Portugal, called “Beira Interior”, and the effect of different amounts of irrigation on the total production and fruit quality were evaluated. The experiment was conducted in 2016, in two different orchards, and included three treatments correspondent to three different flow rates per tree: 8, 12 and 16 l/hour. The water balance, which included the water supplied by rain and irrigation and the crop evapotranspiration, was developed. At harvest, crop production, pulp firmness and percentage of the total soluble solids were evaluated. There were no significant differences between treatments in the average production per tree. However, in one of the orchards production increased with the volume of irrigation. In the same orchard, fruit firmness decreased with the increasing water supply. Total soluble solids had decreased with the increasing water supply in both orchards, probably as a consequence of the dilution effect due, directly, to the water incorporated in the fruits, or, indirectly, to the larger fruits produced by the trees that were irrigated more. In general, the treatments used in this study as well as in the farmers’ practices, the supplied water was in deficit, but the farmers tend empirically to follow closely the evolution of evapotranspiration. Keywords: Deficit irrigation, Peach tree, Production, Total soluble solids, Fruit firmness

The Fabrics Design Influence in Real and Simulated Drape of Clothing

This research work aims to study the influence of the fabrics in the wear performance of clothing. For this, an experimental work was developed with two fabric samples having the same weight/m2, one single and another double, and a jacket prototype. Through a comparative analysis of the mechanical properties, very interesting results was obtained in the evaluation and characterization of the two fabrics performance in designing the same jacket, namely the drape and the corresponded aesthetic fabrics behaviours during wear. The structural characteristics and mechanical properties of each fabric were introduced into Marvelous Designer Version 8 software to simulate the virtual draping of fabrics in a skirt. The analysis of the drape profile of each fabric given by the software and the drape of the real fabrics evaluated in laboratory indicates, coherently, that the double fabric falls less than the single, but in a more harmonious way, what evidence the close links between technology and design of fashion products. Keywords: Fabrics design, Fabrics mechanical properties, Clothing drape, Real and simulated drape

Coder and Decoder of Block mBnB Principally the 1B2B or Manchester

This work presents the coder and decoder of block mBnB of the type 1B2B or Manchester. In the coder 1B2B each block/word of 1 input bit is coded in the block / word of 2 output bits. In the decoder 1B2B happen the inverse, each block of 2 input bits is newly converted in the original block of 1 output bit. The coder injects in the transmission line a number of 1’s exactly equal to the number of 0’s, what guarantees a DC constant component and maximizes the transitions number. The objective is to implement the pair coder and decoder 1B2B so that it improves the transmission quality and increases the information security. Keywords: Block codes, Digital systems, Transmission lines

Study of a Context Quality Model for UbiPri Middleware

With the growth of ubiquitous computing, context-aware computing-based applications are increasingly emerging, and these applications demonstrate the impact that context has on the adaptation process. From the context, it will be possible to adapt the application according to the requirements and needs of its users. Therefore, the quality of the context information must be guaranteed so that the application does not have an incorrect or unexpected adaptation process. But like any given data, there is the possibility of inaccuracy and/or uncertainty and so Quality of Context (QoC) plays a key role in ensuring the quality of context information and optimizing the adaptation process. To guarantee the Quality of Context it is necessary to study a quality model to be created, which will have the important function of evaluating the context information. Thus, it is necessary to ensure that the parameters and quality indicators to be used and evaluated are the most appropriate for a given type of application. This paper aims to study a context quality model for the UbiPri middleware, defining its quality indicators to ensure its proper functioning in the process of adaptation in granting access to ubiquitous environments. Keywords: QoC, Model, Context-Aware, Data, Privacy

Shared Spaces in Cities of Poland

The aim of paper is a presentation an idea of shared space in the cities and results of implementation of this solution in the cities of Poland. The methodology of elaboration consisted of carrying out a review of the literature, comparing existing solutions and formulating conclusions regarding implementation. This trend, which has appeared over the past 50 years as a counterbalance to the pedestrianization of public spaces, is at the beginning of the 21st century experiencing its second youth and is being implemented in many areas in intensive urban development, especially in urban centers and areas of historic character. Shared space solutions are an integral way of shaping functions and forms of revitalized public spaces. These solutions contributes to improving the quality of public space and traffic safety, revitalizing social life, improving and reducing the environmental nuisance caused by traffic and finally created liveable city. Analyzes effectuated indicate, that in central areas of cities in Poland whose spatial arrangement is legally protected, the forms of shared spaces solutions are strongly influenced by strong conservation restrictions in these areas. This means the need to respect existing historical conditions in shaping public spaces, as well as limited transformation possibilities. The Polish solutions of shared spaces presented in this paper of in their forms and quality do not differ from the standard functional solutions abroad. Solutions implemented in the Polish conditions, however, are more modest in terms of materials and implemented in a smaller number than is the case in Western European countries. Keywords: Shared spaces, Traffic calming, Cities of Poland, Creation of public space

Proposal of an Iot Solution to Fire Risk Assessment Problem

Several of the fighting weaknesses evidenced by the forest fires tragedies of the last years are rooted in the disconnection between the current technical/scientific resources and the availability of the resulting information to operational agents on the ground. In order to be effective, a pre-emptive response to similar disasters must include the articulation between local authorities at municipal level - in prevention, preparedness and initial response - and the common citizen who is on the field, resides there, and has a deeper knowledge about the field of operation. This work intends to take a first step in the development of a tool that can serve to improve the civic awareness of all and to support the decision-making of the competent authorities. Keywords: Internet of things, Citizen science, Fire weather index

Active and Intelligent Packaging with Phase Change Materials to Promote the Shelf Life Extension of Food Products

Active packaging aims to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables using active agents such as Oxygen, Carbon-di-oxide, ethylene scavengers and moisture absorber. Intelligent packaging provides information about the fruits quality inside the package to the customer and this packaging technology detects the internal changes of fruits and vegetables using sensors and indicators. Further to improve the post-harvest storage PCM such as Rubitherm can be used depending on the package box dimension to remove the field heat from the products and maintain its temperature with low variation during transport and display. Gel packs having less weight with PET and PS can also be an alternate method in the packaging. The application of these technologies may lead to a revolution in post-harvest storage, transportation, and further retail sale. This paper reviews the theoretical principles of food packaging and recent developments in packaging technologies using PCMs. Keywords: Active packaging, Intelligent packaging, Phase change materials, Shelf life extension, Fruits

Hexagonal Zones in Transport Demand Models

Planning the development of transport systems, as well as assessing the effects of investment activities in the field of spatial development requires the use of appropriate IT tools enabling an objective assessment of investment intentions. In the field of transport analysis, one such tool is a transport demand model. Reproduction of transport-related processes is the main role of such transport demand model. This applies to both the transport of people and goods, and includes both residential travel and visitors travelling to and within the study area. The description of the process of creation and implementation of transport demands is usually based on the assumptions in the field of places of generation and absorption of travel - i.e. sources and destinations of travel. The generalization of the mathematical description of this phenomenon introduced the concept of transport zones, which are separated homogeneous areas of the study area, as sources and destinations of trips. Practice in the construction and use of transport models indicates that the problem of defining transport zones requires further investigation. Increasingly extensive transport infrastructure data collected in open databases (such as OpenStreets) are encouraging a change in the approach to the problems of constructing transport zones. The current solutions are characterized by a high level of generalization of sources and destinations rather than detailed transport analysis. This article presents the author’s method of dividing the study areas into transport zones based on a uniform hexagonal system, explaining the basic assumptions and evaluating the pros and cons of this proposed system. Keywords: Transport, Demand models, Algorithms

Substitution of a Conventional Gas Turbine By a HT-PEMFC APU: Feasibility Study

The aviation industry is increasing leading to a harmful environmental impact. APU is liable for 20% of airport ground-based emissions, 50% of aircraft maintenance costs and more than 5% of the daily fuel consumption [1]. Aware of this growing problem and its consequences, research should be conducted targeting new, non-polluting energy sources capable of meeting or even exceeding the aircraft’s electrical needs. With this in mind, the main goal of this article was to analyze the feasibility of implementing a HT-PEMFC system as a more sustainable alternative for the gas turbine APU in an Airbus A320. The fuel used was methane which requires a fuel processor to convert it into hydrogen before entering the fuel cell. The maximum output work of this methane-supplied system is estimated at 250 kW. Therefore, a fuel processor and a fuel cell mathematical models were required. The two models along with the thermodynamic analysis were performed in MATLAB. The aims of this project were to evaluate fuel processing of methane and its conversion into electric energy through a fuel cell; to perform the thermodynamic analysis of HT-PEMFC APU based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics; and estimate the total weight, emissions and fuel consumption of the HT- PEMFC APU. The results of this research were very encouraging, as it shows that the breakeven weight of the HT-PEMFC, for a mass increment of 854 kg, was compensated by a fuel efficiency of ∼2.7 times the conventional APU. Keywords: APU, HT-PEMFC, Fuel cell