Intermolecular forces from the speed of sound in gases

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Hadamard matrices and 1-factorizations of complete graphs

We discuss 1-factorizations of complete graphs that “match” a given Hadamard matrix. We prove the existence of these factorizations for two families of Hadamard matrices: Walsh matrices and certain Paley matrices

Feasibility of DESIS Imaging Spectrometer for the Detection of Burned Areas: The Case Study of Arakapas Fire in Cyprus 2021

This paper presents an assessment of the use of the DESIS sensor, the imaging spectrometer mounted on the International Space Station (ISS), for the detection of burned areas in sensitive areas. Each DESIS acquisition records continuous spectral information over areas of 30 km × 30 km, a suitable size for such applications, in the visible and near infrared ranges across 235 spectral bands. As DESIS is the first hyperspectral sensor allowing rapid revisit of any site of interest excluding extreme high latitudes, pre- and post-event images can be available, where burned areas can be detected with change detection techniques coupled with suitable, narrow-band spectral indices. Such products may help in timely raising awareness on the endangerment of cultural and natural heritage sites and landscapes, emphasising the importance of Earth Observation (EO) data for monitoring, digitizing and documenting valuable cultural heritage sites. A first assessment for the case of the Arakapas fire in Cyprus is presented. This event started on Saturday, the 3rd of July 2021 in the Limassol district near the village of Arakapas and was controlled after approximately 24 hours. The area affected by the fire is designated as an area of special aesthetic value of the Troodos mountain range to the South West Shores and is included in the Troodos UNESCO global geo-park, which characterizes it as a natural heritage landscape. According to the Department of Antiquities, there are 13 cultural heritage sites in the extended region of the fire. Indeed, several churches of significant cultural value were in danger, being located close to the fire. DESIS acquisitions in cloud-free conditions are available for the pre- and post-event dates of the 10th of June and 31st of July 2021, respectively. The difference of the narrow-band Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI), using the narrow bands centered around 620 and 700 nm respectively was used to identify the burned area. Results are favourably matched to available coordinates of known burned sites, and the affected area looks overall well identified according to the available information on the event. Short wave infrared (SWIR) information is usually characterized by relevant emissions in presence of fires and widely used for this kind of analysis. Nevertheless, results show that DESIS data yield precise burnt area maps, in spite of the lack of this spectral information. Also 10 spectral bands of multispectral Sentinel-2 images from the 12th of June and 27th of July, with spatial resolution between 10 m and 20 m and a swath width of 290 km, were used to calculate different indices frequently applied for burned area assessment using EO data, such as the Normalised Burn Ratio (NBR), Burned Area Index (BAI), and dNBR (differential NBR) Results from these broadband indices are accurate, and are subsequently compared to the results of the narrowband outcomes from DESIS

The importance of Earth Observation for monitoring cultural heritage sites affected by fire events: The Case Study of Arakapas, Cyprus using Sentinel 2 data

This paper presents the importance of using Earth observation to assess the impact of fire events on monitoring cultural heritage sites. The use of sensors such as Sentinel 2 can detect burnt areas in order to determine the extent of fire events on cultural heritage sites, using the fire event in Arakapas, Cyprus as a case study. Sentinel-2 is a multispectral optical sensor acquiring information in a range extending from the visible up to the short-wave infrared, which is the most sensitive spectral range for the detection of damages caused by fire. Sentinel-2 can support cultural heritage monitoring and assessment allowing rapid revisit of any site of interest using pre- and post-event images, where burned areas can be detected with change detection techniques coupled with suitable, spectral indices. Such derived products assist in quickly raising awareness on the endangerment of cultural and natural heritage sites and landscapes, emphasising the importance of Earth observation data for monitoring natural hazards for the protection of valuable cultural heritage sites

D10.1 Report on the dissemination activities and Conference organisation

This deliverable provides an extensive analysis of the dissemination activities and workshops organisation of the EXCELSIOR H2020 Teaming Project. The analysis starts with the report on our participation in conferences (11) and how the project was promoted through it. Then, we explain about the participation of our team members in talks (17), workshops (7) and seminars (12) as invited speakers. The deliverable continues with a thorough presentation of the lectures by invited speakers (8), the webinar (1) and the workshops (2) organized by our team. Additionally, we document about our participation in other events (i.e., European Researcher’s Night 2021 and SpaceUPCyprus 2021 Live). The last chapter provides the publications, journal papers, conference papers, and book sections for the reporting time period. The deliverable concludes by providing information on the outcome of the reported activities and how they have contributed to the progress of the EXCELSIOR H2020 Teaming Project. It is concluded that there is a strong need to establish links in the EMMENA region and connect with them. This has not been achieved yet, but a strategy was prepared to raise awareness about the EXCELSIOR Project in the EMMENA region and establish partnerships, starting with targeted stakeholders’ workshop in autumn 2021, where selected stakeholders from the region will be invited to be informed them about the project and provide them the space to discuss their needs and identify common scientific interests and ways of collaboration

Smart Water Management for Irrigation Purposes: The SWSOIP Pproject

It seems that the future scenarios for water resources management are characterized by increasing demand and by the short-term unsustainability of many reservoirs in the Mediterranean basin. To address these scenarios, improved management of water resources was needed for water economy, and water recycling policies. Furthermore, agriculture characterized as the largest water user worldwide and the monitoring of the agriculture via remote sensing techniques is an enormous subject where it used for special scientific applications such as irrigation, precision farming, yield prediction, estimation of evapotranspiration etc. The main objective of this paper is to present the current situation of water resources in the Mediterranean region and present the methodology and main objectives of the SWSOIP project which aims to develop a smart watering system for the irrigation process based on the estimation of evapotranspiration using both in-situ data (spectroradiometric, LAI, CH and meteorological) and Sentinel satellite data

D1.15 Impact Assessment Report for RP 2

This deliverable provides the impact assessment report for RP2 (M16-M30). It provides an update on the overall and specific objectives of the EXCELSIOR project that have been achieved within RP2. This task undertakes the establishment of a methodology for the yearly monitoring of the impact of the different activities carried out by Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence (ECoE) and its partners through EXCELSIOR against a set of quantified targets. The list of Key Performance Indicators established in D1.12 has been revised based on the comments received by the EXCELSIOR project reviewers on 23 June 2021 following the first project review. This list is hereby updated to reflect the activities of RP2. By monitoring the impact for the RP2, it will provide direction of the activities needed to fulfil the KPIs for the following reporting periods. The impact assessment report will be used to assess the implementation of the work plan and adjust the activities in agreement with WP and task Leaders to ensure the achievement of the Project’s strategic objectives. WP1 provides the KPI monitoring framework and general quality processes, while the WP3 defines concrete actions affecting all other WPs for meeting the Impact KPIs. This task’s activities will be coordinated with WP3 activities on strategy definition as a continuous process, in order to update the human resources, infrastructure acquisition and overall work plan and to meet new priorities identified. The analysis outputs will update the Project Action Plan of Task 1.1. The following activities were examined and assessed according to the KPIs. These activities include proposals, dissemination events, publications, academia, networks, etc. The impact for each activity was also included

The ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence (ECoE) as a digital innovation hub for Earth observation

The "EXCELSIOR" H2020 Widespread Teaming Phase 2 Project: ERATOSTHENES: EXcellence Research Centre for Earth SurveiLlance and Space-Based MonItoring Of the EnviRonment is supported from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 857510 for a 7 year project period to establish a Centre of Excellence in Cyprus. As well, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus is providing additional resources to support the establishment of the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence (ECoE) in Cyprus. The ECoE seeks to fill the gap by assisting in the spaceborne Earth Observation activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and become a regional key player in the Earth Observation (EO) sector. There are distinct needs and opportunities that motivate the establishment of an Earth Observation Centre of Excellence in Cyprus, which are primarily related to the geostrategic location of the European Union member state of Cyprus to examine complex scientific problems and address user needs in the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and Northern Africa (EMMENA), as well as South-East Europe. An important objective of the ECoE is to be a Digital Innovation Hub and a Research Excellence Centre for EO in the EMMENA region, which will establish an ecosystem where state-of-the-art sensing technology, cutting-edge research, targeted education services, and entrepreneurship come together. It is based on the paradigm of Open Innovation 2.0 (OI2.0), which is founded on the Quadruple Helix Model, where Government, Industry, Academia and Society work together to drive change by taking full advantage of the cross-fertilization of ideas. The ECoE as a Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) adopts a two-axis model, where the vertical axis consists of three Thematic Clusters for sustained excellence in research of the ECoE in the domains of Atmosphere and Climate, Resilient Societies and Big Earth Data Management, while the horizontal axis is built around four functional areas, namely: Infrastructure, Research, Education, and Entrepreneurship. The ECoE will focus on five application areas, which include Climate Change Monitoring, Water Resource Management, Disaster Risk Reduction, Access to Energy and Big EO Data Analytics. This structure is expected to leverage the existing regional capacities and advance the excellence by creating new programs and research, thereby establishing the ECoE as a worldclass centre capable of enabling innovation and research competence in Earth Observation, actively participating in Europe, the EMMENA region and the global Earth Observation arena. The partners of the EXCELSIOR consortium include the Cyprus University of Technology as the Coordinator, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), the National Observatory of Athens (NOA) and the Department of Electronic Communications, Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy

Combinatorial problems at the interface of discrete and convex geometry

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