Integrating Remote Sensing and Social Science - The correlation of urban morphology with socioeconomic parameters

The alignment, small-scale transitions and characteristics of buildings, streets and open spaces constitute a heterogeneous urban morphology. The urban morphology is the physical reflection of a society that created it, influenced by historical, social, cultural, economic, political, demographic and natural conditions as well as their developments. Within the complex urban environment homogeneous physical patterns and sectors of similar building types, structural alignments or similar built-up densities can be localized and classified. Accordingly, it is assumed that urban societies also feature a distinctive socioeconomic urban morphology that is strongly correlated with the characteristics of a city’s physical morphology: Social groups settle spatially with one’s peer more or less segregated from other social groups according to, amongst other things, their economic status. This study focuses on the analysis, whether the static physical urban morphology correlates with socioeconomic parameters of its inhabitants – here with the example indicators income and value of property. Therefore, the study explores on the capabilities of high resolution optical satellite data (Ikonos) to classify patterns of urban morphology based on physical parameters. In addition a household questionnaire was developed to investigate on the cities socioeconomic morphology

Derivation of population distribution for vulnerability assessment in flood-prone German cities using multisensoral remote sensing data

Against the background of massive urban development, area-wide and up-to-date spatial information is in demand. However, for many reasons this detailed information on the entire urban area is often not available or just not valid anymore. In the event of a natural hazard – e.g. a river flood – it is a crucial piece of information for relief units to have knowledge about the quantity and the distribution of the affected population. In this paper we demonstrate the abilities of remotely sensed data towards vulnerability assessment or disaster management in case of such an event. By means of very high resolution optical satellite imagery and surface information derived by airborne laser scanning, we generate a precise, three-dimensional representation of the landcover and the urban morphology. An automatic, object-oriented approach detects single buildings and derives morphological information – e.g. building size, height and shape – for a further classification of each building into various building types. Subsequently, a top-down approach is applied to distribute the total population of the city or the district on each individual building. In combination with information of potentially affected areas, the methodology is applied on two German cities to estimate potentially affected population with a high level of accurac

Menschen zählen aus dem All. Möglichkeiten und Grenzen von Satellitendaten zur Abschätzung der Bevölkerungsentwicklung und des Gebäudebestandes in deutschen Städten

Is it possible to count the earth’s population from outer space? The answer is yes, in urban areas it is possible. However, this can only be done in an indirect manner: by identifying physical objects in the urban landscape in earth observation data and using these to estimate the number of inhabitants. Since the approach is indirect, data protection and the individual right to privacy are fully guaranteed. The data obtained using this method fill a gap, given that municipal population registers do not contain accurate population counts. However, remote sensing technology is not able to provide cadastral information. Nevertheless, as this paper shows, satellite imagery is capable of providing the basis for population estimates for small-scale areas. And, of course, remote sensing data also can be used to estimate the building stock. It would make sense to produce such estimates during the intervals between each building stock census, which is usually conducted every ten years with the population census. Remote sensing data cannot replace a population census, but can enrich the analytical power of population census data.Remote Sensing, spatial disaggregation, population estimation, census

Die bauliche Dichte der Stadtregion – Erzeugung kleinräumiger Dichtedaten mit fernerkundlichen Mitteln

Die unbestrittene Bedeutung der baulichen Dichte als normative und deskriptive Größe in der Raumplanung sowie den Raumwissenschaften und benachbarten Disziplinen steht in bemerkenswertem Kontrast zur mangelnden Verfügbarkeit qualifizierter Daten. So war es bislang nicht möglich, gebräuchliche Dichteindikatoren wie die Geschossflächendichte für größere Gebietskulissen verlässlich zu ermitteln. Das sich ständig weiterentwickelnde Datenangebot der Fernerkundung kann jedoch dazu beitragen, diese Leerstelle in der laufenden Beobachtung der Stadt- und Regionalentwicklung zu schließen. In diesem Beitrag wird ein methodischer Ansatz präsentiert, mit dem aus fernerkundlich erzeugten Gebäudemodellen Dichteinformationen abgleitet werden. Der für vier Regionen erprobte Ansatz ermöglicht es, Ver- und Entdichtungsprozesse in Stadtregionen zukünftig einem systematischen Monitoring zu unterziehen

EUV micro-exposure tool at 0.5 NA for sub-16 nm lithography

The resolution limit of present 0.3 NA 13.5 nm wavelength micro-exposure tools is compared to next generation lithography research requirements. Findings suggest that a successor design is needed for patterning starting at the 16 nm semiconductor process technology node. A two-mirror 0.5 NA optical design is presented, and performance expectations are established from detailed optical and lithographic simulation. Here, we report on the results from a SEMATECH program to fabricate a projection optic with an ultimate resolution limit of approximately 11 nm

All-Lignin Polyelectrolyte Multilayers as Renewable and Biodegradable Nanofiltration Membranes

Polyelectrolyte multilayers have proven to be versatile materials for the fabrication of nanofiltration membranes with a wide range of properties and applications. A problem of these membranes is that they are made of nonrenewable and nonbiodegradable fossil resources, rendering them unsustainable for the future. To solve this, we present lignin as a renewable and biodegradable alternative for the fabrication of polyelectrolyte multilayer membranes (PEMMs). Here, lignosulfonate was used as a polyanion in combination with modified Kraft lignin as a polycation in a layer-by-layer self-assembly process to coat hollow fiber support membranes to obtain so-called all-lignin PEMMs. The PEMMs showed loose nanofiltration properties (molecular weight cutoff &gt; 1 kDa, MgSO4 retention 20%) that could easily be fine-tuned by changing the ionic strength of the coating solutions. Furthermore, the lignin PEMMs have excellent stability in saline solutions of up to 5 M NaCl and were stable in a pH range from 1 to 11. Additionally, the lignin retained its biodegradable properties in the presence of laccase enzymes after forming a PEMM. Our results indicate that lignins are a suitable candidate for replacing fossil-based polyelectrolytes for the fabrication of chemically stable, renewable, and biodegradable PEMMs.</p

Menschen zählen aus dem All: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen von Satellitendaten zur Abschätzung der Bevölkerungsentwicklung und des Gebäudebestandes in deutschen Städten

Menschen zählen aus dem All? Kann das denn möglich sein? Die Antwort lautet ja, allerdings ist diese Zählung nur in urbanen Räumen und nur auf indirekte Weise möglich. Aufgrund der indirekten Messung wird freilich gleichzeitig der Datenschutz perfekt gewahrt. Die hier dargestellte Methode beruht darauf, dass die physischen Objekte der Stadtlandschaft, die direkt aus Erdbeobachtungsdaten abgeleitet werden können, dazu benutzt werden, indirekt auf die Anzahl der dort lebenden Personen zu schließen. Diese Methode wird vor allem vor dem Hintergrund interessant, da Einwohnermelderegister insbesondere in Großstädten keine zuverlässige Auskunft über die Einwohnerzahlen geben. Sicherlich kann die Fernerkundung keine katastergenauen Informationen liefern, aber der Beitrag zeigt, dass aus dem All die Bevölkerung in ihrer kleinräumlichen Verteilung verblüffend genau indirekt geschätzt werden kann. Erdbeobachtungsdaten können direkt für gute Schätzungen des Gebäudebestandes genutzt werden. Derartige Schätzungen sind im Zeitraum zwischen Gebäude- und Wohnungszählungen, die typischerweise zusammen mit einem Zensus im Zehnjahresabstand stattfinden, sinnvoll. Erdbeobachtungsdaten können auch einen Bevölkerungszensus keineswegs ersetzen, aber die Erdbeobachtungsdaten vergrößern das Analysepotential von Zensusdaten. (Autorenreferat)Is it possible to count the earth’s population from outer space? The answer is yes, in urban areas it is possible. However, this can only be done in an indirect manner: by identifying physical objects in the urban landscape in earth observation data and using these to estimate the number of inhabitants. Since the approach is indirect, data protection and the individual right to privacy are fully guaranteed. The data obtained using this method fill a gap, given that municipal population registers do not contain accurate population counts. However, remote sensing technology is not able to provide cadastral information. Nevertheless, as this paper shows, satellite imagery is capable of providing the basis for population estimates for small-scale areas. And, of course, remote sensing data also can be used to estimate the building stock. It would make sense to produce such estimates during the intervals between each building stock census, which is usually conducted every ten years with the population census. Remote sensing data cannot replace a population census, but can enrich the analytical power of population census data. (Autorenreferat

Spatial parameters for transportation: A multi-modal approach for modelling the urban spatial structure using deep learning and remote sensing

A significant increase in global urban population affects the efficiency of urban transportation systems. Remarkable urban growth rates are observed in developing or newly industrialized countries where researchers, planners, and authorities face scarcity of relevant official data or geo-data. In this study, we explore remote sensing and open geo-data as alternative sources to generate missing data for transportation models in urban planning and research. We propose a multi-modal approach capable of assessing three essential parameters of the urban spatial structure: buildings, land use, and intra-urban population distribution. Therefore, we first create a very high-resolution (VHR) 3D city model for estimating the building floors. Second, we add detailed land-use information retrieved from OpenStreetMap (OSM). Third, we test and evaluate five experiments to estimate population at a single building level. In our experimental set-up for the mega-city of Santiago de Chile, we find that the multi-modal approach allows generating missing data for transportation independently from official data for any area across the globe. Beyond that, we find the high-level 3D city model is the most accurate for determining population on small scales, and thus evaluate that the integration of land use is an inevitable step to obtain fine-scale intra-urban population distribution

Determining the critical size of EUV mask substrate defects

Determining the printability of substrate defects beneath the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) reflecting multilayer stack is an important issue in EUVL lithography. Several simulation studies have been performed in the past to determine the tolerable defect size on EUV mask blank substrates but the industry still has no exact specification based on real printability tests. Therefore, it is imperative to experimentally determine the printability of small defects on a mask blanks that are caused by substrate defects using direct printing of programmed substrate defect in an EUV exposure tools. SEMATECH fabricated bump type program defect masks using standard electron beam lithography and performed printing tests with the masks using an EUV exposure tool. Defect images were also captured using SEMATECH's Berkeley Actinic Imaging Tool in order to compare aerial defect images with secondary electron microscope images from exposed wafers. In this paper, a comprehensive understanding of substrate defect printability will be presented and printability specifications of EUV mask substrate defects will be discussed