BioClimate: a Science Gateway for Climate Change and Biodiversity research in the EUBrazilCloudConnect project

[EN] Climate and biodiversity systems are closely linked across a wide range of scales. To better understand the mutual interaction between climate change and biodiversity there is a strong need for multidisciplinary skills, scientific tools, and access to a large variety of heterogeneous, often distributed, data sources. Related to that, the EUBrazilCloudConnect project provides a user-oriented research environment built on top of a federated cloud infrastructure across Europe and Brazil, to serve key needs in different scientific domains, which is validated through a set of use cases. Among them, the most data-centric one is focused on climate change and biodiversity research. As part of this use case, the BioClimate Science Gateway has been implemented to provide end-users transparent access to (i) a highly integrated user-friendly environment, (ii) a large variety of data sources, and (iii) different analytics & visualization tools to serve a large spectrum of users needs and requirements. This paper presents a complete overview of BioClimate and the related scientific environment, in particular its Science Gateway, delivered to the end-user community at the end of the project.This work was supported by the EU FP7 EUBrazilCloudConnect Project (Grant Agreement 614048), and CNPq/Brazil (Grant Agreement no 490115/2013-6).Fiore, S.; Elia, D.; Blanquer Espert, I.; Brasileiro, FV.; Nuzzo, A.; Nassisi, P.; Rufino, LAA.... (2019). BioClimate: a Science Gateway for Climate Change and Biodiversity research in the EUBrazilCloudConnect project. Future Generation Computer Systems. 94:895-909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.future.2017.11.034S8959099

Web service-based exploration of Earth Observation time-series data for analyzing environmental changes

The increasing amount of Earth observation (EO) data requires a tremendous change, in order to property handle the number of observations and storage size thereof. Due to open data strategies and the increasing size of data archives, a new market has been developed to provide analysis and application-ready data, services, and platforms. It is not only scientists and geospatial processing specialists who work with EO data; stakeholders, thematic experts, and software developers do too. There is thus a great demand for improving the discovery, access, and analysis of EO data in line with new possibilities of web-based infrastructures. With the aim of bridging the gap between users and EO data archives, various topics have been researched: 1) user requirements and their relation to web services and output formats; 2) technical requirements for the discovery and access of multi-source EO time-series data, and 3) management of EO time-series data focusing on application-ready data. Web services for EO data discovery and access, time-series data processing, and EO platforms have been reviewed and related to the requirements of users. The diversity of data providers and web services requires specific knowledge of systems and specifications. Although service specifications for the discovery of EO data exist, improvements are still necessary to meet the requirements of different user personas. For the processing of EO time-series data, various data formats and processing steps need to be handled. Still, there remains a gap between EO time-series data access and analysis tools, which needs to be addressed to simplify work with such data. Within this thesis, web services for the discovery, access, and analysis of EO time-series data have been described and evaluated based on different user requirements. Standardized web services specifications, output and data formats are proposed, introduced and described to meet the needs of the different user personas

Application of Wireless Nano Sensors Network and Nanotechnology in Precision Agriculture: Review

Due to a series of global issues in recent years, such as the food crisis, the impact of fertilizer on climate change, and improper use of irrigation that’s way precision agriculture is the best solution for alleviating this problem. One of the most important and interesting information technology is the wireless Nanosensor network with the help of Nanotechnology will boost crop productivity, maintain the fertility status of the soil, save the water with precise application of irrigation in the field and minimize the loss of excess fertilizer through the precise application. In this paper, we have surveyed the importance of sensor networks in precision agriculture and the importance of Nanosensors with the help of Nanotechnology for remote monitoring in the various application of the agriculture field. View Article DOI: 10.47856/ijaast.2022.v09i04.00

Big Data in Bioeconomy

This edited open access book presents the comprehensive outcome of The European DataBio Project, which examined new data-driven methods to shape a bioeconomy. These methods are used to develop new and sustainable ways to use forest, farm and fishery resources. As a European initiative, the goal is to use these new findings to support decision-makers and producers – meaning farmers, land and forest owners and fishermen. With their 27 pilot projects from 17 countries, the authors examine important sectors and highlight examples where modern data-driven methods were used to increase sustainability. How can farmers, foresters or fishermen use these insights in their daily lives? The authors answer this and other questions for our readers. The first four parts of this book give an overview of the big data technologies relevant for optimal raw material gathering. The next three parts put these technologies into perspective, by showing useable applications from farming, forestry and fishery. The final part of this book gives a summary and a view on the future. With its broad outlook and variety of topics, this book is an enrichment for students and scientists in bioeconomy, biodiversity and renewable resources

The Nexus Between Security Sector Governance/Reform and Sustainable Development Goal-16

This Security Sector Reform (SSR) Paper offers a universal and analytical perspective on the linkages between Security Sector Governance (SSG)/SSR (SSG/R) and Sustainable Development Goal-16 (SDG-16), focusing on conflict and post-conflict settings as well as transitional and consolidated democracies. Against the background of development and security literatures traditionally maintaining separate and compartmentalized presence in both academic and policymaking circles, it maintains that the contemporary security- and development-related challenges are inextricably linked, requiring effective measures with an accurate understanding of the nature of these challenges. In that sense, SDG-16 is surely a good step in the right direction. After comparing and contrasting SSG/R and SDG-16, this SSR Paper argues that human security lies at the heart of the nexus between the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations (UN) and SSG/R. To do so, it first provides a brief overview of the scholarly and policymaking literature on the development-security nexus to set the background for the adoption of The Agenda 2030. Next, it reviews the literature on SSG/R and SDGs, and how each concept evolved over time. It then identifies the puzzle this study seeks to address by comparing and contrasting SSG/R with SDG-16. After making a case that human security lies at the heart of the nexus between the UN’s 2030 Agenda and SSG/R, this book analyses the strengths and weaknesses of human security as a bridge between SSG/R and SDG-16 and makes policy recommendations on how SSG/R, bolstered by human security, may help achieve better results on the SDG-16 targets. It specifically emphasizes the importance of transparency, oversight, and accountability on the one hand, and participative approach and local ownership on the other. It concludes by arguing that a simultaneous emphasis on security and development is sorely needed for addressing the issues under the purview of SDG-16

Digital agriculture: definitions and technologies.

Introduction. Digital technologies. Organization, representation, and information access. Mathematical modelling and statistics. Artificial intelligence. Earth and study sensors. Converging technologies. Final considerations

Hazards identification in the natural and man-made environment using SAR and Optical satellite data in Google Earth Engine (GEE)

Οι καταστροφές στο φυσικό και ανθρωπογενές περιβάλλον προκαλούν μια σειρά προβλημάτων που σχετίζονται με τις οικονομικές δραστηριότητες αλλά και τον τομέα της υγείας. Η παρούσα μελέτη παρουσιάζει μια εφαρμογή GIS για την εμφάνιση γεγονότων αστικής εξάπλωσης, πλημμύρας και δασικών πυρκαγιών σε όλους τους νομούς της Ελλάδας. Η εφαρμογή αυτή δίνει τη δυνατότητα στους χρήστες να αναζητούν καταστροφικά συμβάντα μέσα από ένα σύνολο διαθέσιμων καταστροφών, ημερομηνίες της επιλογής τους και από την περιοχή ενδιαφέροντός τους, ενημερώνοντας τον χάρτη. Αναπτύχθηκαν τρεις διαφορετικοί αλγόριθμοι προκειμένου να υπολογιστούν τα πιο έγκυρα αποτελέσματα. Τα SAR και Οπτικά δεδομένα χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για τη λήψη πληροφοριών σχετικά με τις επιπτώσεις των προαναφερθέντων κινδύνων στους νομούς της Ελλάδας. Τα δεδομένα SAR χρησιμοποιήθηκαν και υποβλήθηκαν σε επεξεργασία σε αλγόριθμους αστικής εξάπλωσης και πλημμύρας, ενώ τα Οπτικά δεδομένα χρησιμοποιήθηκαν και υποβλήθηκαν σε επεξεργασία στον αλγόριθμο της πυρκαγιάς. Ο εντοπισμός αλλαγών ήταν η βασική διαδικασία και στους τρεις αλγόριθμους, συγκρίνοντας δεδομένα και σύνολα δεδομένων πριν και μετά το εκάστοτε συμβάν. Χρησιμοποιήθηκαν εικόνες SAR Sentinel-1 και τα προϊόντα που προέκυψαν διορθώθηκαν μέσω του συνόλου δεδομένων HydroSHEDS, για την ανίχνευση και την εξάλειψη αιχμών και φρεατίων στα δεδομένα SRTM, ενώ μικρά κενά καλύφθηκαν με παρεμβολή των γύρω ανυψώσεων. Επιπλέον, τα Δεδομένα Πληθυσμού του Παγκόσμιου Έργου WorldPop οπτικοποιούνται για περισσότερες πληροφορίες σχετικά με την αστικοποίηση των τελευταίων ετών. Το σύνολο δεδομένων υδρογραφικού δικτύου οπτικοποιείται επίσης για περισσότερες πληροφορίες σχετικά με την περιοχή και την υδρολογική της δομή. Επίσης, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν εικόνες Sentinel-2 και το NDVI υπολογίστηκε και αξιολογήθηκε πριν και μετά το συμβάν πυρκαγιάς, χρησιμοποιώντας τις ζώνες B8 και B4 του Sentinel 2. Επιπλέον, ο αλγόριθμος υπολογίζει το NBR κανονικοποιώντας τη διαφορά μεταξύ των ζωνών B8 και B12 του Sentinel 2. Τέλος, αναπτύσσεται μια ταξινόμηση των τιμών NBR για τον προσδιορισμό της σοβαρότητας της καμένης περιοχής.Hazards in the natural and man-made environment cause a series of problems that are related to economic activities and the health sector. This study presents a GIS application for displaying urban sprawl, flood, and wildfire events in all prefectures of Greece. The developed application enables users to search from a set of hazards, for dates of their choice and from their region of interest and update the map. Three different algorithms were developed in order to calculate the most valid results. SAR and Optical data were used to get information about the above-mentioned hazards’ impacts on Greece prefectures. SAR data were used and processed in urban sprawl and flood algorithms, while Optical data were used and processed in wildfire algorithm. Change detection was the key process in all three algorithms, comparing pre and post event data and datasets. Sentinel-1 SAR imagery was used, and the resulting product was corrected via the HydroSHEDS dataset, to detect and void out spikes and wells in the SRTM data, while small voids were filled by interpolation of surrounding elevations. In addition, WorldPop Global Project Population Data is also being visualized for more information related to the urbanization of the past years. Hydrographic network dataset is also being visualized for more information about the area and its hydrological structure. Also, Sentinel-2 imagery was used, and the NDVI was calculated and assessed before and after the fire event, using Sentinel 2’s bands B8 and B4. In addition, the algorithm calculates NBR by normalizing the difference between Sentinel 2’s bands B8 and B12. Finally, a classification of the NBR values is developed to identify the severity of the burned area

Book of short Abstracts of the 11th International Symposium on Digital Earth

The Booklet is a collection of accepted short abstracts of the ISDE11 Symposium