Pansharpening techniques to detect mass monument damaging in Iraq

The recent mass destructions of monuments in Iraq cannot be monitored with the terrestrial survey methodologies, for obvious reasons of safety. For the same reasons, it’s not advisable the use of classical aerial photogrammetry, so it was obvious to think to the use of multispectral Very High Resolution (VHR) satellite imagery. Nowadays VHR satellite images resolutions are very near airborne photogrammetrical images and usually they are acquired in multispectral mode. The combination of the various bands of the images is called pan-sharpening and it can be carried on using different algorithms and strategies. The correct pansharpening methodology, for a specific image, must be chosen considering the specific multispectral characteristics of the satellite used and the particular application. In this paper a first definition of guidelines for the use of VHR multispectral imagery to detect monument destruction in unsafe area, is reported. The proposed methodology, agreed with UNESCO and soon to be used in Libya for the coastal area, has produced a first report delivered to the Iraqi authorities. Some of the most evident examples are reported to show the possible capabilities of identification of damages using VHR images

Scan to BIM for 3D reconstruction of the papal basilica of saint Francis in Assisi In Italy

The historical building heritage, present in the most of Italian cities centres, is, as part of the construction sector, a working potential, but unfortunately it requires planning of more complex and problematic interventions. However, policies to support on the existing interventions, together with a growing sensitivity for the recovery of assets, determine the need to implement specific studies and to analyse the specific problems of each site. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the methodology and the results obtained from integrated laser scanning activity in order to have precious architectural information useful not only from the cultural heritage point of view but also to construct more operative and powerful tools, such as BIM (Building Information Modelling) aimed to the management of this cultural heritage. The Papal Basilica and the Sacred Convent of Saint Francis in Assisi in Italy are, in fact, characterized by unique and complex peculiarities, which require a detailed knowledge of the sites themselves to ensure visitor’s security and safety. For such a project, we have to take in account all the people and personnel normally present in the site, visitors with disabilities and finally the needs for cultural heritage preservation and protection. This aim can be reached using integrated systems and new technologies, such as Internet of Everything (IoE), capable of connecting people, things (smart sensors, devices and actuators; mobile terminals; wearable devices; etc.), data/information/knowledge and processes to reach the desired goals. The IoE system must implement and support an Integrated Multidisciplinary Model for Security and Safety Management (IMMSSM) for the specific context, using a multidisciplinary approach

International Portfolio Formation, Skewness & the Role of Gold

This paper examines the optimal allocation of assets in well diversified equity based portfolio where the investor is concerned not only with mean and variance but also with the skewness of the returns. Beginning with an analysis of the rationale for concerning with skewness, the paper then discusses previous attempts to model multi-objective portfolio problems. The second part of the paper outlines the attractive nature of the gold asset in equity portfolios. The paper then integrates the two elements, showing the changes in portfolio composition that arise when not only skewness but gold are concerned.Portfolio Allocation, Skewness, Gold

Renormalization factor and effective mass of the two-dimensional electron gas

We calculate the momentum distribution of the Fermi liquid phase of the homogeneous, two-dimensional electron gas. We show that, close to the Fermi surface, the momentum distribution of a finite system with $N$ electrons approaches its thermodynamic limit slowly, with leading order corrections scaling as $N^{-1/4}$. These corrections dominate the extrapolation of the renormalization factor, $Z$, and the single particle effective mass, $m^*$, to the infinite system size. We show how convergence can be improved analytically. In the range $1 \le r_s \le 10$, we get a lower renormalization factor $Z$ and a higher effective mass, $m^*>m$, compared to the perturbative RPA values.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Modification of Heisenberg uncertainty relations in non-commutative Snyder space-time geometry

We show that the Euclidean Snyder non-commutative space implies infinitely many different physical predictions. The distinct frameworks are specified by generalized uncertainty relations underlying deformed Heisenberg algebras. Considering the one-dimensional case in the minisuperspace arena, the bouncing Universe dynamics of loop quantum cosmology can be recovered.Comment: 5 pages; title changed, to appear in PR

Quantum Dynamics of the Taub Universe in a Generalized Uncertainty Principle framework

The implications of a Generalized Uncertainty Principle on the Taub cosmological model are investigated. The model is studied in the ADM reduction of the dynamics and therefore a time variable is ruled out. Such a variable is quantized in a canonical way and the only physical degree of freedom of the system (related to the Universe anisotropy) is quantized by means of a modified Heisenberg algebra. The analysis is performed at both classical and quantum level. In particular, at quantum level, the motion of wave packets is investigated. The two main results obtained are as follows. i) The classical singularity is probabilistically suppressed. The Universe exhibits a stationary behavior and the probability amplitude is peaked in a determinate region. ii) The GUP wave packets provide the right behavior in the establishment of a quasi-isotropic configuration for the Universe.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures; v2: section added, to appear on PR

Matter instability in modified gravity

The Dolgov-Kawasaki instability discovered in the matter sector of the modified gravity scenario incorporating a 1/R correction to Einstein gravity is studied in general f(R) theories. A stability condition is found in the metric version of these theories to help ruling out models that are unviable from the theoretical point of view.Comment: 4 pages, revtex, to appear in Phys. Rev. D. In the revised version, an error concerning the Palatini version of these theories has been corrected and the references update