HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAMS: A TOOL TO REPRESENT A CHANGING ITALY

I fotogrammi storici, opportunamente utilizzati attraverso procedimenti di miglioramento delle caratteristiche fotografiche e geometriche, consentono la ricostruzione delle dinamiche evolutive del paesaggio italiano. In particolare, nella presente memoria, vengono investigate le dinamiche occorse nel territorio collinare della provincia di Cuneo. L’ausilio di metodologie geomatiche ha fornito una valutazione delle transizioni nelle coperture del suolo, e quindi nelle dinamiche socio-economiche. Prova di questo processo è stata positivamente riscontrata nelle attuali disposizioni normative a sostegno delle produzioni agricole di pregio.The comparison of appropriately processed historical photograms allows the reconstruction of the land cover dynamics of the Italian landscape. In particular, in this paper, the dynamics of a hilly area of the province of Cuneo are assessed. The use of geomatic methodologies has provided an evaluation of land cover transitions, and consequently in the socio-economic dynamics. Proof of this process has been positively detected in the legislative measures supporting quality agricultural production

The role of morphometric parameters in Digital Terrain Models interpolation accuracy: a case study

AbstractIn the present study different algorithms, usually available in GIS environment, are analyzed in order to spot an optimal interpolation methodology and to define, by classification techniques, which morphological variable affects the interpolation quality. The investigated dataset is a helicopter-borne laser scanner survey carried out on a mountain slope. It has been interpolated at various resolutions, and a percentage of the entire set has been employed to evaluate the interpolation accuracy.The analysis has highlighted, among the tested interpolators, the Natural Neighbour as the best one. The classification has drawn the attention to the total curvature and slope as the main factors affecting interpolation accuracy. The next goal is the mapping of such classification results

comparisons between different interpolation techniques

Digital terrain models are key tools in land analysis and management as they are directly employable in GIS systems and other specific applications like hydraulic modelling, geotechnical analyses, road planning, telecommunication, and many others. TIN generation, from different kind of measurement techniques, is ruled by specific regulations. Interpolation techniques to compute a regular grid from a TIN, are, instead, still lacking in specific regulations: a unitary and shared methodology has not already been made compulsory in order to be used in cartographic production while generating digital models. Such ambiguity obviously involves non univocal results and can affect precision, which can lead to divergent analyses on the same territory. In the present study different algorithms will be analysed in order to spot an optimal interpolation methodology. The availability of the recent digital model produced by the Regione Piemonte with airborne LIDAR and the presence of sections of testing realized with higher resolutions and the presence of independent digital models on the same territory allow to set a series of analysis with consequent determination of the best methodologies of interpolation. The analysis of the residuals on the test sites allows to calculate the descriptive statistics of the computed values: all the algorithms have furnished interesting results; all the more interesting, notably for dense models, the IDW (Inverse Distance Weighing) algorithm results to give best results in this study case. Moreover, a comparative analysis was carried out by interpolating data at different input point density, with the purpose of highlighting thresholds in input density that may influence the quality reduction of the final output in the interpolation phase

Generation of an ultrastable 578 nm laser for Yb lattice clock

In this paper we described the development and the characterization of a 578 nm laser source to be the clock laser for an Ytterbium Lattice Optical clock. Two independent laser sources have been realized and the characterization of the stability with a beat note technique is presente

Generation of continuous-wave THz radiation by use of quantum interference

We propose a scheme for generation of continuous-wave THz radiation. The scheme requires a medium where three discrete states in a $\Lambda$ configuration can be selected, with the THz-frequency transition between the two lower metastable states. We consider the propagation of three-frequency continuous-wave electromagnetic (e.m.) radiation through a $\Lambda$ medium. Under resonant excitation, the medium absorption can be strongly reduced due to quantum interference of transitions, while the nonlinear susceptibility is enhanced. This leads to very efficient energy transfer between the e.m. waves providing a possibility for THz generation. We demonstrate that the photon conversion efficiency is approaching unity in this technique.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figure

Measurement of the Blackbody Radiation Shift of the 133Cs Hyperfine Transition in an Atomic Fountain

We used a Cs atomic fountain frequency standard to measure the Stark shift on the ground state hyperfine transiton frequency in cesium (9.2 GHz) due to the electric field generated by the blackbody radiation. The measures relative shift at 300 K is -1.43(11)e-14 and agrees with our theoretical evaluation -1.49(07)e-14. This value differs from the currently accepted one -1.69(04)e-14. The difference has a significant implication on the accuracy of frequency standards, in clocks comparison, and in a variety of high precision physics tests such as the time stability of fundamental constants.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, 2 table

High-performing vapor-cell frequency standards

Many nowadays scientific and technological applications need very precise time and frequency reference signals. Very often, only atomic clocks can guarantee the high level of accuracy and stability required by these signals. In the current scenario of atomic frequency standards, vapor-cell clocks are particularly suited to be employed in those activities that demand good frequency stability performances joined to compactness, reliability and low power consumption. Recently, due to better-performing laser sources and to innovative techniques to prepare and detect the atoms, several cell-based prototypes exhibiting unprecedented frequency stability have been developed. We review advances in the field of laser-pumped vapor-cell clocks and we provide an overview of the techniques that allowed to achieve frequency stabilities in the order of 1×10^−13 at 1 s (short term) and in the range of 10^−15 for the medium-long term. These stabilities are two orders of magnitude better than current commercial Rb clocks. We also prospect the possibility of further improving these results.Many nowadays scientific and technological applications need very precise time and frequency reference signals. Very often, only atomic clocks can guarantee the high level of accuracy and stability required by these signals. In the current scenario of atomic frequency standards, vapor-cell clocks are particularly suited to be employed in those activities that demand good frequency stability performances joined to compactness, reliability and low power consumption. Recently, due to better-performing laser sources and to innovative techniques to prepare and detect the atoms, several cell-based prototypes exhibiting unprecedented frequency stability have been developed. We review advances in the field of laser-pumped vapor-cell clocks and we provide an overview of the techniques that allowed to achieve frequency stabilities in the order of 1 x 10(-13) at is (short term) and in the range of 10(-15) for the medium-long term. These stabilities are two orders of magnitude better than current commercial Rb clocks. We also prospect the possibility of further improving these results