Urban Vegetation Mapping using Hyperspectral Imagery and Spectral Library

International audienceThe development and expansion of urbanized areas around the cities, brings new challenging issues about the organization, the monitoring, and the distribution of green spaces within the cities (e.g. grass, trees, shrubs, etc.). Indeed, these spaces brings better life quality for population and preserve biodiversity. This study, aims to 1) investigate the feasibility of urban vegetation mapping by species using multiband imagery and spectral libraries and to 2) determine at what scale the mapping is reliable (e.g. trees scale, group of trees scale, high/short vegetation scale)

The impact of virtual reality (VR) tour experience on tourists’ intention to visit

Drawing on media richness theory, this study investigates the effect of rich media, such as virtual reality (VR), on visit intentions for a specific destination. Specifically, this research employs a mixed-method approach, using abductive theorization to explore and confirm the dimensions of the VR visit experience, notably those related to telepresence, a key concept in tourism through VR. Furthermore, the study aims to elucidate how telepresence influences mental imagery, attitudes towards tourist destinations, and actual visit intentions. To do this, qualitative data were gathered between February and June 2022 from 34 semi-structured interviews with respondents who viewed a VR video of the destination. A second study collected quantitative data from 400 participants through face-to-face questionnaires after a VR video view between June and August 2022. The findings reveal that telepresence comprises three dimensions: realism of the virtual environment, immersion, and the sense of presence in the virtual environment. Telepresence, in turn, both directly and indirectly affects actual visit intentions, with mental imagery and attitude toward tourist destinations partially mediating those relationships. This study provides methodological, theoretical, and tourism management implications to enhance our comprehension of telepresence’s facets, its measurement, and the process by which VR influences real visit intentions

Antioxidant and antimicrobial phenolic compounds from extracts of cultivated and wild-grown Tunisian Ruta chalepensis

The antioxidant and antibacterial activities of phenolic compounds from cultivated and wild Tunisian Ruta chalepensis L. leaves, stems, and flowers were assessed. The leaves and the flowers exhibited high but similar total polyphenol, flavonoid, and tannin content. Moreover, two organs showed strong, although not significantly different, total antioxidant activity, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging ability, and reducing power. Investigation of the phenolic composition showed that vanillic acid and coumarin were the major compounds in the two organs, with higher percentages in the cultivated organs than in the spontaneous organs. Furthermore, R. chalepensis extracts showed marked antibacterial properties against human pathogen strains, and the activity was organ- and origin-dependent. Spontaneous stems had the strongest activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. From these results, it was concluded that domestication of Ruta did not significantly affect its chemical composition and consequently the possibility of using R. chalpensis organs as a potential source of natural antioxidants and as an antimicrobial agent in the food industry

Antioxidant and antimicrobial phenolic compounds from extracts of cultivated and wild-grown Tunisian Ruta chalepensis

Abstract The antioxidant and antibacterial activities of phenolic compounds from cultivated and wild Tunisian Ruta chalepensis L. leaves, stems, and flowers were assessed. The leaves and the flowers exhibited high but similar total polyphenol, flavonoid, and tannin content. Moreover, two organs showed strong, although not significantly different, total antioxidant activity, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging ability, and reducing power. Investigation of the phenolic composition showed that vanillic acid and coumarin were the major compounds in the two organs, with higher percentages in the cultivated organs than in the spontaneous organs. Furthermore, R. chalepensis extracts showed marked antibacterial properties against human pathogen strains, and the activity was organ- and origin-dependent. Spontaneous stems had the strongest activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . From these results, it was concluded that domestication of Ruta did not significantly affect its chemical composition and consequently the possibility of using R. chalpensis organs as a potential source of natural antioxidants and as an antimicrobial agent in the food industry

A contextual ICT model to explain adoption of mobile applications in developing countries: A case study of Tunisia

In Tunisia, agriculture is the main source of livelihood for more than 75% of small and sub sistence farmers with minimal use of technology. The use of information and communication technology (ICT),such as mobile applications, represents a pertinent opportunity for these smallholders to access agricultural innovation and market information and improve their farming technologies and farm management. Thus, ICT can act as a replacement to foster access to innovation for this category of farmers. Unfortunately, the underuse of mobile applications has contributed to low and slow adoption of agricultural innovation and conse quently the benefits of this technology have not been attained. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting the adoption of Short Message Service (SMS) through a con textual ICT model for livestock, olive crop, and beekeeping. Data were collected from 200 small-scale beekeepers, 225 olive growers, and 140 livestock breeders selected in Jen douba, Kairouan, and Zaghouan in Tunisia. The objective of this paper is to examine the fac tors that influence mobile applications using the partial least squares structural equation modelling technique, for livestock, olive crop, and beekeeping agricultural activities. The results showed that the final ICT-induced structural models were highly predictive of the use of SMS and its increased adoption. Factors affecting the use of SMS differed according to the farming system. The major perceived factor affecting the use of SMS was ‘observability’ for livestock farmers, ‘compatibility’ for olive growers, and ‘information quality’ for beekeepers. Understanding these factors by taking into account the specificity of the agricultural activity leads to a better understanding of the adoption of ICT tools by smallholder farmers in Tunisi

Assessing complementary synergies for integrated crop–livestock systems under conservation agriculture in Tunisian dryland farming systems

The aim of this paper is twofold. The first objective is to measure the technical efficiency of mixed crop-livestock (CL) smallholder producers operating under conservation agriculture systems in Tunisian rainfed areas. The second objective is to explore complementarities, synergies, and economies of diversification across the different production system components of these crop-livestock producers using the cross-partial derivative framework of output variables in the distance function. A simple random sampling process was employed to select and survey 59 CL smallholders operating under conservation agriculture. The collected data were analyzed using a stochastic input distance function in which synergies were estimated based on the second cross-partial derivative concept of output variables in the distance function. Results show that technical inefficiencies are significant in integrated crop-livestock systems, and there is evidence that economic diversification provides a productivity buffer against climate change threats. As a sustainable intensification strategy, this integrated system also offers a potential advantage. The results further contribute to the debate on crop diversification vs. specialization. Although an enhanced system integration could be a financially and ecologically viable option for mixed crop-livestock systems, more pathways for profitable and viable diversification of cereal-based or orchard-based systems remain to be explored

Profitability of Manufactured Feed Pellets for Small-Scale Crop-Livestock Farmers in Tunisia

The aim of this R4D Initiatives is to explore the profitability of manufactured feed pellets for small-scale crop-livestock farmers in Tunisia. During the past few growing seasons, within several R4D initiatives and projects (the SWC@Scale as part of the global GIZ ProSol Program; the CRP-Livestock “feed and forages”, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) funded CLCA phase 2), ICARDA and its national partners have introduced imported feed pellet machines that were donated with a 10% financial contribution (to ensure strong ownership of the technology) to some pre-selected professional farmer organizations (FO) (SMSA and GDA5) and individual farmers including agri-preneurs, with the idea of developing small feed businesses using these machines and boosting the nutrition of local herds. After assessing the available feed resources for each region (Northern, Center, and Southern), the leading members of each FO, under the supervision of the project’s scientific teams, developed various feeding formulas. Other farmers have been developing their own formulas based on consultation with local extension agents. Some of the formulas used by farmers are still under experimentation and will be the subject of this brief, aiming at validating their economic viabilities

Data on how tree planting and management practices influence tree seedling survival in Kenya and Ethiopia

Understanding which trees farmers prefer, what determines their survival and enhancing farmer knowledge of tree management is key to increasing tree cover in agricultural landscapes. This article presents data on tree seedling survival under different tree planting and management practices in Kenya and Ethiopia. Data were collected from 1600 households across three Counties in Kenya and 173 households across four Woredas in Ethiopia, using a structured questionnaire which was administered through the Open Data Kit. Data on seedling survival were collected at least six months after tree seedlings were planted. To understand how planting and management practices influence tree planting across the different socioeconomic and biophysical contexts, both household level and individual tree level data were collected. Household level data included socio-economic and biophysical characteristics of the households while tree specific data included when the tree seedling was planted, where it was planted, the management practices employed and whether surviving. The datasets described in this article help understand which options confer the best chance survival for the planted seedlings and in which socio-economic and biophysical contexts they are most successful. [Abstract copyright: © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc.

Faisabilité technico-économique des bouchons alimentaires fabriqués pour les petits éleveurs en Tunisie

Les bouchons alimentaires représentent une technologie prometteuse pour l’alimentation du bétail en Tunisie. Cette Technologie offre des multiples intérêts économiques, financiers, et techniques pour les petits agriculteurs et éleveurs dans les systèmes mixtes "Culture-Elevage". Cette fiche démontre la faisabilité technico-économique des bouchons alimentaires fabriqués pour les petits éleveurs en Tunisie

الجدوى التقنية والإقتصادية للمكعبات الغذائية المصنعة لدى صغار المزارعين في البلاد التونسية

تناقش هذه الجذاذة الفنية تقنية المكعبات الغذائية للحيوانات، مبرزة مزاياها في تغذية الماشية. كما تبين حدود هذه التقنية، و العوامل التي تؤثر على جودة المكعبات الغذائية للحيوانات. وفي النهاية، تقترح البطاقة الفنية نموذج أعمال للإنتاج المحلي للمكعبات الغذائية للحيوانات، مع التركيز على الجوانب الاقتصادية والمالية لهذه النشاط، بالإضافة إلى الاستنتاجات والآفاق المتعلقة بالاستدام