Identifying Cover Songs Using Information-Theoretic Measures of Similarity

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. For more information, see http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/This paper investigates methods for quantifying similarity between audio signals, specifically for the task of cover song detection. We consider an information-theoretic approach, where we compute pairwise measures of predictability between time series. We compare discrete-valued approaches operating on quantized audio features, to continuous-valued approaches. In the discrete case, we propose a method for computing the normalized compression distance, where we account for correlation between time series. In the continuous case, we propose to compute information-based measures of similarity as statistics of the prediction error between time series. We evaluate our methods on two cover song identification tasks using a data set comprised of 300 Jazz standards and using the Million Song Dataset. For both datasets, we observe that continuous-valued approaches outperform discrete-valued approaches. We consider approaches to estimating the normalized compression distance (NCD) based on string compression and prediction, where we observe that our proposed normalized compression distance with alignment (NCDA) improves average performance over NCD, for sequential compression algorithms. Finally, we demonstrate that continuous-valued distances may be combined to improve performance with respect to baseline approaches. Using a large-scale filter-and-refine approach, we demonstrate state-of-the-art performance for cover song identification using the Million Song Dataset.The work of P. Foster was supported by an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Doctoral Training Account studentship

Low energy LIDARs for biomass applications

SilviLaser 2015, La Grande Motte, FRA, 28-/09/2015 - 30/09/2015International audienceA new approach for LIDAR altimetry mission for biomass applications ( tree height measurement ) is explored based on low emitted laser energy at high repetition fr equency. Low energy approach drastical ly reduces the laser induced risks. Altimetry performances meet preliminary science requirements . The proposed instrument design is compatible with a space mission

Modelling full waveform Lidar data on forest structures at plot level : a sensitivity analysis of forest and sensor main characteristics on full-waveform simulated data

[Departement_IRSTEA]Territoires [TR1_IRSTEA]SYNERGIE [Axe_IRSTEA]TETIS-ATTOSSilviLaser, La Grande Motte, FRA, 28-/09/2015 - 30/09/2015International audienceA new approach for LIDAR altimetry mission for biomass applications (tree height measurement) is explored based on low emitted laser energy at high repetition frequency. Low energy approach drastical ly reduces the laser induced risks. Altimetry performances meet preliminary science requirements . The proposed instrument design is compatible with a space mission

Developing a taxonomy for strategising in industrial networks

The purposes of the project described here were (1) to develop a taxonomy of terms relating to strategy used in industrial networks research studies, and (2) to compare manual qualitative content analysis with a computer-assisted text mining approach to taxonomy creation in a social science context. The unit of analysis was abstracts from the IMP research database (publicly available at www.impgroup.org). The main sample used in the analysis comprised 107 abstracts that contained 'strategy' as a keyword. There were marked similarities between the lists of key terms generated by the manual content analysis and by the text mining approach. Where there were differences between the lists of key terms, it was not possible to say whether these were because of unconscious biases in the manual analysis (analysts finding what they expected to find), or because of inadequacies in the text mining approach (which can only identify terms that exist within the data and cannot 'understand' meanings that are implied, but not explicitly stated, by authors)

Climate Influence on Deep Sea Populations

Dynamics of biological processes on the deep-sea floor are traditionally thought to be controlled by vertical sinking of particles from the euphotic zone at a seasonal scale. However, little is known about the influence of lateral particle transport from continental margins to deep-sea ecosystems. To address this question, we report here how the formation of dense shelf waters and their subsequent downslope cascade, a climate induced phenomenon, affects the population of the deep-sea shrimp Aristeus antennatus. We found evidence that strong currents associated with intense cascading events correlates with the disappearance of this species from its fishing grounds, producing a temporary fishery collapse. Despite this initial negative effect, landings increase between 3 and 5 years after these major events, preceded by an increase of juveniles. The transport of particulate organic matter associated with cascading appears to enhance the recruitment of this deep-sea living resource, apparently mitigating the general trend of overexploitation. Because cascade of dense water from continental shelves is a global phenomenon, we anticipate that its influence on deep-sea ecosystems and fisheries worldwide should be larger than previously thought

From pixel to vine parcel: A complete methodology for vineyard delineation and characterization using remote-sensing data

International audienceThe increasing availability of Very High Spatial Resolution images enables accurate digital maps production as an aid for management in the agricultural domain. In this study we develop a comprehensive and automatic tool for vineyard detection, delineation and characterizationusing aerial images and without any parcel plan availability. In France, vineyard training methods in rows or grids generate periodic patterns which make frequency analysis a suitable approach. The proposed method computes a Fast Fourier Transform on an aerial image, providing the delineation of vineyards and the accurate evaluation of row orientation and interrow width. These characteristics are then used to extract individual vine rows, with the aim of detecting missing vine plants and characterizing cultural practices. Using the red channel of an aerial image, 90\% of the parcels have been detected; 92\% have been correctly classified according to their rate of missing vine plants and 81\% according to their cultural practice (weed control method). The automatic process developed can be easily integrated into the final user's Geographical Information System and produces useful information for vineyard managemen

Traitement de données lidar à retour d'onde complète pour l'extraction de paramètres forestiers et de modèle numérique de terrain : validataion en forêt de conifères dans les Alpes

International audienceSmall footprint discrete return lidar data have already proved useful for providing information on forest areas. During the last decade, a new generation of airborne laser scanners, called full-waveform (FW) lidar systems, has emerged. They digitize and record the entire backscattered signal of each emitted pulse. Fullwaveform data hold large potentialities. In this study, we investigated the processing of raw full-waveform lidar data for deriving Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and Canopy Height Model (CHM). The main objective of this work was to compare geometric information derived from full-waveform and multi-echo data for various stands. An enhanced peak detection algorithm developed in a previous study was used to extract target positions from full-waveform data on plots under different stand characteristics. The resulting 3D point clouds were compared to the discrete return lidar observations provided by the lidar operator. Ground points were then identified using an original classification algorithm. They were used to derive DTMs which were compared to ground truth. Digital Surface Models were obtained from first echoes and canopy height models were then computed. Detecting weak echoes, when processing full-waveform data, enabled to better describe the canopy shape and to penetrate deeper into forest cover. However DTM was not significantly improved

Benthic foraminifera as bio-indicators of drill cutting disposal in tropical east Atlantic outer shelf environments

We present a study of benthic foraminiferal faunas from the outer continental shelf off Congo (tropical West Africa), with the aim to determine the impact of the discharge of oily drill cuttings on the sea floor environment, to judge the regenerating capacity of the benthic ecosystem, and to investigate the possibility to develop an environmental monitoring method for open marine continental shelf environments, based on benthic foraminifera. We studied the spatial distribution and microhabitats of living and dead foraminiferal faunas, sampled in April 2003, 4 years after the end of disposal activities, in the upper 3 cm of the sediment at 9 stations (about 180 m depth) offshore Congo, that were subject to various degrees of pollution by oily cuttings from 1993 until 1999. Our results describe a zonation of foraminiferal faunas in the 750 m around the former disposal sites. At the immediate vicinity of the discharge points (within 70 m), faunas are characterized by low foraminiferal densities. Faunas between 70 m and 250 m of the disposal sites have very high foraminiferal densities, with high percentages (about 80%) of opportunistic taxa such as Bulimina aculeata, Bulimina marginata, Textularia sagittula, Trifarina bradyi and Bolivina spp. Between 250 and 750 m from the disposal site, foraminiferal densities decrease, and the percentages of opportunistic species are lower (40–60% of indicator species). These results show that 4 years after the cessation of oily cutting disposal, strong environmental impact is limited to the 250 m around the disposal sites. We used these data to develop a quantitative pollution index, values of which are strongly correlated to distance to the disposal site. This foraminiferal index offers the possibility to quantify the impact of anthropogenic eutrophication in continental shelf environments, but its validity must be tested in other continental shelf environments