Use of very high-resolution airborne images to analyse 3d canopy architecture of a vineyard

Differencing between green cover and grape canopy is a challenge for vigour status evaluation in viticulture. This paper presents the acquisition methodology of very high-resolution images (4 cm), using a Sensefly Swinglet CAM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and their processing to construct a 3D digital surface model (DSM) for the creation of precise digital terrain models (DTM). The DTM was obtained using python processing libraries. The DTM was then subtracted to the DSM in order to obtain a differential digital model (DDM) of a vineyard. In the DDM, the vine pixels were then obtained by selecting all pixels with an elevation higher than 50 [cm] above the ground level. The results show that it was possible to separate pixels from the green cover and the vine rows. The DDM showed values between −0.1 and + 1.5 [m]. A manually delineation of polygons based on the RGB image belonging to the green cover and to the vine rows gave a highly significant differences with an average value of 1.23 [m] and 0.08 [m] for the vine and the ground respectively. The vine rows elevation is in good accordance with the topping height of the vines 1.35 [m] measured on the field. This mask could be used to analyse images of the same plot taken at different times. The extraction of only vine pixels will facilitate subsequent analyses, for example, a supervised classification of these pixels

Kollaborative Wege in die Smart City: Dynamische Planungsinstrumente für die kommunale Wärmewende

Im Mittelpunkt dieses Beitrags steht ein kollaborativer Ansatz zur Entwicklung eines dynamischen Wärmekatasters, das als Planungs­instrument für die Wärmewende in der Smart City und zur Erreichung des Ziels klimaneutraler Städte dienen soll. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird aufgezeigt, wie in einem transdisziplinären Technikentwicklungsprozess Elemente der Nutzer*innenbeteiligung zum Tragen kommen und wie auf diese Weise ein an die mehrschichtigen Anforderungen der Stakeholder angepasstes Instrumentarium entwickelt werden kann.This article focuses on a collaborative research approach to developing a dynamic heat map as a planning tool for the heat transition in smart cities and for achieving the goal of climate-neutral cities. Against this background, it is shown how elements of user involvement come into play in a transdisciplinary technology development process and how, in this way, a set of instruments can be developed that is adapted to the multi-layered requirements of the stakeholders

Augmenting a convolutional neural network with local histograms ::a case study in crop classification from high-resolution UAV imagery

The advent of affordable drones capable of taking high resolution images of agricultural fields creates new challenges and opportunities in aerial scene understanding. This paper tackles the problem of recognizing crop types from aerial imagery and proposes a new hybrid neural network architecture which combines histograms and convolutional units. We evaluate the performance of the proposed model on a 23-class classification task and compare it to other models. The result is an improvement of the classification performance

Update and prognosis of <i>Dermacentor</i> distribution in Germany: Nationwide occurrence of <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i>.

A considerable range expansion of Dermacentor reticulatus has been observed in several European countries, which is concerning in the light of its vector function for several pathogens, including Babesia canis and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). The present study provides an update on the distribution of Dermacentor ticks in Germany, using a citizen science approach. Ticks were collected by citizens from March 2020 to May 2021, and submitted along with information on the date and location of collection, potential hosts and details about the circumstances of discovery. In total, 3,292 Dermacentor specimens were received, of which 76.4% (2,515/3,292) were identified as D. reticulatus and 23.0% (758/3,292) as D. marginatus, while 0.6% (19/3,292) were too damaged for species-level identification. Dermacentor reticulatus was received from all federal states of Germany. Maxent species distribution models predicted suitable environmental conditions for D. reticulatus throughout Germany. Findings on the vegetation or on pastured animals without travel history confirmed the occurrence of this tick species as far north as the most northern German federal state Schleswig-Holstein. In contrast, the distribution of D. marginatus still appears to be limited to southwestern Germany, although the northward shift of the distribution limit observed in the preceding citizen science study, as compared with previous published distributions, was confirmed. This shift was also predicted by Maxent species distribution models, reflecting the broader distribution of the tick occurrence data contributed by citizens. Most D. reticulatus ticks were found on dogs (1,311/1,960, 66.9%), while D. marginatus was mainly discovered on hoofed animals (197/621, 31.7%) and humans (182/621, 29.3%). Human tick bites were reported in 0.7% (14/1,960) of host-assigned D. reticulatus and 3.4% (21/621) of host-assigned D. marginatus. Further studies to investigate an increasing endemisation of Babesia canis in Germany as well as the relevance of D. reticulatus for TBEV spread throughout the country, e.g., by traveling dogs, are urgently needed. In view of the activity of D. reticulatus during winter or the colder months, which complements that of Ixodes ricinus, a year-round tick protection of at least dogs is strongly recommended

Utilisation d'images à très haute résolution pour quantifier l'érosion et proposer des mesures préventives ciblées

L’érosion hydrique est, avec le tassement et la pollution au cuivre, l’une des causes majeures de dégradation des sols viticoles en Suisse. Il est maintenant bien connu que l’érosion diminue à long terme leur fertilité (Vanwalleghema et al., 2017), qu’elle contribue à la charge des eaux de surface en sédiments et en intrants tels que pesticides et Cu (Fulda et al., 2015). Bien qu’en Suisse, l’interrang des vignes soit souvent enherbé, l’érosion reste un problème 1) au niveau du cavaillon, généralement travaillé ou désherbé, 2) lors de replantations et 3) sur les sols sensibles (peu profonds) entièrement désherbés. Les phénomènes érosifs sont accentués par les sols en pentes ainsi qu’une texture souvent limoneuse, peu cohésive (Zufferey et Murisier, 2004). La quantification du volume de terre érodée permet de déterminer la dégradation spécifique liée à l’érosion qui est la quantité de terre perdue. Les méthodes utilisées jusqu’à présent pour estimer le volume de terre érodée sont par exemple, selon Prasuhn et Fischler (2007), la mesure sur la longueur de la rigole, de sections transversales à intervalles réguliers (de 1 à 4 m), où est mesurée la largeur au point d’inflexion et au fond et la profondeur en trois points. Une autre méthode est celle de Brenot et al. (2008) qui consiste à mesurer la distance entre le sol et le greffon. Ainsi, il est possible d’estimer la quantité de terre érodée depuis l’année de plantation. Ces deux méthodes ont cependant le désavantage d’être généralement gourmandes en temps (Nachtergaele et Poesen, 1999). L‘accès aux drones à des prix relativement bas et l’obtention d’images ainsi que de modèles numériques de surface (MNS) à très haute résolution permettent dorénavant de suivre les phénomènes d’érosion hydrique (Klaus et al., 2014 ; d’Oleire-Oltmanns et al., 2012 ; Pineux et al., 2017). La méthode présentée ici combine ces nouveaux outils

Defining context-specific scenarios to design vegetated buffer zones that limit pesticide transfer via surface runoff

When used in addition to environmentally friendly cultural practices, buffer zones can limit the water transfer of pollutants, in particular pesticides, towards water resources. The choice of the buffer zones' type and positioning, considering water pathways and flow components, is crucial. When this choice has been performed, buffer zones dimensions must still be optimized, according to the environment characteristics, which strongly influence their effectiveness. This article presents a method and its associated tools, including VFSMOD model, which aim at optimizing vegetative buffer zones (VFS) sizes, by simulating their transfer mitigation effectiveness. A first application of this methodology is illustrated on a small agricultural watershed in Brittany. A second application, based on the simulation of a large number of scenarios, leads to the elaboration of nomograms. They allow optimizing VFS size in a simpler way from the user's point of view

An example of a vine-physiology based fine-scale terroir study in the AOC Lavaux-region in Switzerland

The aim of this ongoing study is to establish a vine physiology, berry quality - based methodology to analyze small scale differences between plots in a sub-region of the AOC Lavaux, in Switzerland. The production area Villette is almost to 100% planted with the cultivar Chasselas L. covering a total of 140 ha of steep slope terraced vineyards and offers an excellent site for terroir studies. A representative network of 23 plots covering the entire Villette production area was established in 2016 and 2017. Important differences in budburst and flowering were observed between plots whereas altitude was the main driver of precociousness. Expectedly most precious plots had highest sugar and lowest malic acid concentrations at final sampling date. Individual berry weight variation was up to 35 % at the last sampling (2.4 to 3.3 g) with variation in sugar concentration of 13 % (70-84° Oechsle). Sugar quantity per berry variation was however twice as high (26%), illustrating important differences in the sugar accumulation pattern between plots. Interestingly the latest plots accumulated highest sugar per berry with lowest concentration. The preliminary results of this ongoing study provide valuable information of the ripening potential of Chasselas in a small mesoclimate and illustrates the possibilities to characterize viticultural terroirs based on vine physiology measurements

An example of a vine-physiology based fine-scale terroir study in the AOC Lavaux-region in Switzerland

The aim of this ongoing study is to establish a vine physiology, berry quality - based methodology to analyze small scale differences between plots in a sub-region of the AOC Lavaux, in Switzerland. The production area Villette is almost to 100% planted with the cultivar Chasselas L. covering a total of 140 ha of steep slope terraced vineyards and offers an excellent site for terroir studies. A representative network of 23 plots covering the entire Villette production area was established in 2016 and 2017. Important differences in budburst and flowering were observed between plots whereas altitude was the main driver of precociousness. Expectedly most precious plots had highest sugar and lowest malic acid concentrations at final sampling date. Individual berry weight variation was up to 35 % at the last sampling (2.4 to 3.3 g) with variation in sugar concentration of 13 % (70-84° Oechsle). Sugar quantity per berry variation was however twice as high (26%), illustrating important differences in the sugar accumulation pattern between plots. Interestingly the latest plots accumulated highest sugar per berry with lowest concentration. The preliminary results of this ongoing study provide valuable information of the ripening potential of Chasselas in a small mesoclimate and illustrates the possibilities to characterize viticultural terroirs based on vine physiology measurements

The Subject, Its Biology, and the Chronic Recurrent Cystitis

Functional disorders in urology are troubling for both patients and physicians. Moreover, advances in recent research promise to provide biological insights into psycho-neuro-endocrino-immunological pathways that are one important facet of chronic urogenital inflammations. We present a case of a middle-aged woman with long-lasting recurrent cystitis for which especially a psychosomatic approach helped to understand and cure the disorder. Altogether, as practitioners treat subjects, not illnesses, a biopsychosocial understanding of human disease should be taken into account in cases of chronic recurrent cystitis