Calculations of radar backscattering coefficient of vegetation-covered soils

A model for simulating the measured backscattering coefficient of vegetation-covered soil surfaces includes both coherent and incoherent components of the backscattered radar pulses from a rough sil surface. The effect of vegetation canopy scattering is also incorporated into the model by making the radar pulse subject to two-way attenuation and volume scattering when it passes through the vegetation layer. Model results agree well with the measured angular distributions of the radar backscattering coefficient for HH polarization at the 1.6 GHz and 4.75 GHz frequencies over grass-covered fields. It was found that the coherent scattering component is very important at angles near nadir, while the vegetation volume scattering is dominant at incident angles 30 degrees

Calculations of the spectral nature of the microwave emission from soils

The brightness temperatures for a set of soil profiles observed at USDA facilities in Arizona and Georgia were calculated at the wavelengths of 2.8, 6, 11, 21, and 49 cm using a coherent radiative transfer model. The soil moisture sampling depth is found to be a function of wavelength and is in the range 0.06 to 0.1 of a wavelength. The thermal sampling depth also depends on wavelength and is approximately equal to one wavelength at dry soil condition and 0.1 - 0.5 wavelengths at wet soil conditions. Calculated values of emissivity show strong diurnal variations when the soils are wet, while there is little diurnal change when the soil is dry. The soil moistures within the four depth intervals of 0-2, 0-5, 0-9, and 0-15 cm were parameterized as function of the calculated emissivity and brightness temperature. Best-fit parameters and correlation coefficients are presented for five wavelengths. Interrelationships among the effective temperature, surface temperature, and emissivity are displayed

Calculations of microwave brightness temperature of rough soil surfaces: Bare field

A model for simulating the brightness temperatures of soils with rough surfaces is developed. The surface emissivity of the soil media is obtained by the integration of the bistatic scattering coefficients for rough surfaces. The roughness of a soil surface is characterized by two parameters, the surface height standard deviation sigma and its horizontal correlation length l. The model calculations are compared to the measured angular variations of the polarized brightness temperatures at both 1.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequences. A nonlinear least-squares fitting method is used to obtain the values of delta and l that best characterize the surface roughness. The effect of shadowing is incorporated by introducing a function S(theta), which represents the probability that a point on a rough surface is not shadowed by other parts of the surface. The model results for the horizontal polarization are in excellent agreement with the data. However, for the vertical polarization, some discrepancies exist between the calculations and data, particularly at the 1.4 GHz frequency. Possible causes of the discrepancy are discussed

A parameterization of effective soil temperature for microwave emission

A parameterization of effective soil temperature is discussed, which when multiplied by the emissivity gives the brightness temperature in terms of surface (T sub o) and deep (T sub infinity) soil temperatures as T = T sub infinity + C (T sub o - T sub infinity). A coherent radiative transfer model and a large data base of observed soil moisture and temperature profiles are used to calculate the best-fit value of the parameter C. For 2.8, 6.0, 11.0, 21.0 and 49.0 cm wavelengths. The C values are respectively 0.802 + or - 0.006, 0.667 + or - 0.008, 0.480 + or - 0.010, 0.246 + or - 0.009, and 0,084 + or - 0.005. The parameterized equation gives results which are generally within one or two percent of the exact values

Albedo and flux extinction coefficient of impure snow for diffuse shortwave radiation

Impurities enter a snowpack as a result of fallout of scavenging by falling snow crystals. Albedo and flux extinction coefficient of soot contaminated snowcovers were studied using a two stream approximation of the radiative transfer equation. The effect of soot was calculated by two methods: independent scattering by ice grains and impurities and average refractive index for ice grains. Both methods predict a qualitatively similar effect of soot; the albedo is decreased and the extinction coefficient is increased compared to that for pure snow in the visible region; the infrared properties are largely unaffected. Quantitatively, however, the effect of soot is more pronounced in the average refractive index method. Soot contamination provides a qualitative explanation for several snow observations

Wireless Handheld Solution for the Gaming Industry

of the essential elements of success in the gaming industry is the requirement of providing exceptional customer service. Technology plays a significant role in bringing state of the art solutions that enhance the overall customer experience. Currently a guest must go through multiple steps and a variety of departments to simply resolve issues with their player accounts (loyalty programs), update customer profiles, book hotel and restaurant reservations, sign up for promotions, etc. In order to effectively take care of these customers in both a timely and efficient manner, a wireless handheld device is needed that employees can carry with them to resolve and address these concerns. This project is aimed at identifying the proper wireless infrastructure for the gaming environment and also the wireless handheld device, such as an Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) to effectively and efficiently take care of customers

CHOICE_ WP2_D2.1_ Online mapping of Chinese and European ICT industrial associations

Funded by the 7th Framework Programme of the European Union. Grant Agreement: 61057

D2.7 Online mapping of Chinese and European ICT industrial associations – Final report

This document is a deliverable of CHOICE project task 2.2 Bringing together European and Chinese Industrial Associations. This task will, at the end of the project, have delivered a final version of an online database of relevant Chinese and European ICT industrial associations. This document is a report on the information gathered for the development of the online database of relevant Chinese and European ICT industrial associations. It maps Chinese industrial associations to European industrial associations in ICT. It does this by providing details of the Chinese industrial associations and other relevant bodies that are a Chinese priority for collaboration with their EU counterparts related to EU-China collaborative ICT R&D&I. Other such Chinese bodies that are not a Chinese priority for such collaboration that map to European industrial associations in ICT are then summarised so that a complete mapping of Chinese industrial associations and related bodies to European industrial associations in ICT can be made. Mappings are made based on the best matches in terms of the subject matter covered by the associations, in each case the best match based on this criteria is identified and highlighted by being given in bold type. If a mapped Chinese association is not a priority for collaboration it is identified in italics. The Chinese selection of Chinese bodies that are a priority for collaboration with EU counterparts reflects the relevant policy guidance provided on behalf of the Chinese government on how the aims of the "Twelfth Five-Year" National Strategic Emerging Industry Development Plan are to be achieved. An overview of the policy guidance relevant to ICT R&D&I is given in section one of CHOICE deliverable D2.4: Handbook for China ICT Industrial Support Services. Based on this mapping opportunities to foster interaction between the associations in China and Europe are identified. A DVD of the modest database that exists on the basis of the mapping presented in this report accompanies the report

Unfolding the impacts of transaction-specific investments: Moderation by out-of-thechannel-loop perceptions and achievement orientations

When distribution channel partners make specific investments, tailored to a particular supplier, it could prompt either opportunism or beneficial (e.g., extra-role) behaviors. The impact of the investment in turn may depend on whether the channel partner perceives that it is being left out of the channel loop by the supplier, as well as that partner’s achievement orientation. This study considers a sample of 155 IT professional service firms and finds that their knowledge-intensive, transaction-specific investments (TSIs) encourage distinct behavioral intentions. If they perceive that the supplier is leaving them out of the channel loop, the effects of the TSIs get amplified in relation to opportunistic and extra-role behavioral intentions. Furthermore, the firms’ achievement orientation moderates these influences. Suppliers thus should attend closely to achievement-oriented partners to ensure they do not perceive that they have been left out of the channel loop

D2,1 Online mapping of Chinese and European ICT industrial as sociations – Progress report

This document is the first deliverable of CHOICE project task 2.2 Bringing together European and Chinese Industrial Associations. This task will, at the end of the second year of the project, have delivered a final version of an online database of relevant Chinese and European ICT industrial associations. This document is a report on the progress towards an online database of relevant Chinese and European ICT industrial associations. It maps Chinese industrial associations to European industrial associations in ICT. It does this by providing details of the Chinese industrial associations and other relevant bodies that are a Chinese priority for collaboration with their EU counterparts related to EU-China collaborative ICT R&D&I. Other such Chinese bodies that are not a Chinese priority for such collaboration that map to European industrial associations in ICT are then summarised so that a complete mapping of Chinese industrial associations and related bodies to European industrial associations in ICT can be made