Applying Space Data to the Analysis of the Economic Impact of Covid-19 Restrictions

The objective of this research is to study the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on the Italian economy based on space data on representative Italian ports. We posit that port activity has a mediation effect on Covid-19 restrictions’ impact on the Italian economy. To study port activity we leverage space data and, in particular, earth observation AIS data, which provide different types of information describing a port’s activity, such as the number of ships in a port at different points in time and their type. We complement these data with other sources of data, including traffic and mobility data, as well official sources of information on port economics and on the more general trends of the Italian economy. To test our hypotheses, we focus on two large Italian ports, Genoa (Liguria) and Gioia Tauro (Calabria). Our empirical analyses confirm that port activity has a mediation effect on Covid-19 restrictions’ impact on the Italian economy. The mediation effect has been found to be partial, as Covid-19 restrictions direct impact on the Italian economy remains significant when port activity is added to the correlation model

A LOW-COAST MMS INTEGRATING GPS, DIGITAL COMPASS AND A CAMERA TO THE DIRECT GEOREFERENCING OF DIGITAL IMAGES

A low-cost, easily transportable Mobile Mapping System (MMS) was designed and built to obtain the direct georeferencing parameters of images; its components are a GPS receiver, a digital compass and a digital camera. The main aim of the system is to directly define the orientation parameters of an image. The accuracy of the 3D coordinates of the points belonging to the object photographed is a consequence of the whole process which involves GPS positioning, compass angle determination, system calibration and any other useful auxiliary data that can be used to improve the accuracy of the system (GCPs coordinates, distance between the object and the camera, etc.). The tests carried out up until now have demonstrated the “theoretical” huge potential of the measuring system as well as its versatility. This system could in fact be used to carry out surveys using vehicles such as cars, helicopters and boats. 1

A LOW-COAST MMS INTEGRATING GPS, DIGITAL COMPASS AND A CAMERA TO THE DIRECT GEOREFERENCING OF DIGITAL IMAGES

A low-cost, easily transportable Mobile Mapping System (MMS) was designed and built to obtain the direct georeferencing parameters of images; its components are a GPS receiver, a digital compass and a digital camera. The main aim of the system is to directly define the orientation parameters of an image. The accuracy of the 3D coordinates of the points belonging to the object photographed is a consequence of the whole process which involves GPS positioning, compass angle determination, system calibration and any other useful auxiliary data that can be used to improve the accuracy of the system (GCPs coordinates, distance between the object and the camera, etc.). The tests carried out up until now have demonstrated the “theoretical” huge potential of the measuring system as well as its versatility. This system could in fact be used to carry out surveys using vehicles such as cars, helicopters and boats. 1