Image analysis reveals environmental influences on the seagrass-epiphyte dynamic relationship for Thalassia testudinum in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Spatiotemporal patterns in seagrass-epiphyte dynamics for Thalassia testudinum in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico were evaluated through biomass measurements and scanned-image based metrics to investigate the potentially harmful impact of excessive epiphyte accumulations on seagrass condition. Image analysis with Spectral Angle Mapper algorithms distinguished epiphyte and uncovered seagrass leaf pixels to generate a normalized metric of leaf area coverage (epiphyte pixels/total leaf pixels). Imaging metrics were compared to biomass-based metrics seasonally, among three locations with different environmental conditions (depth, salinity, temperature and nutrient levels inferred from sediment porewater measurements) near Redfish Bay, Texas, USA. Image analysis, in conjunction with biomass measures, provides enhanced insight into the seagrass-epiphyte dynamic relationship and how it varies with environmental conditions. Compared with the biomass and morphological measures, image analysis may be more informative as an indicator of environmental changes. Variation in linear regressions of epiphyte biomass vs. epiphyte area (pixels) suggested changes in the thickness and/or density of accumulated epiphytes across environmental contexts and seasons. Two different epiphyte colonization patterns were presented based on the correlation between the normalized metrics of epiphyte load and epiphyte leaf coverage. The epiphyte load was highest at low temperatures and locations with elevated DIN:P ratio in sediment porewater. Conversely, the mean leaf coverage by epiphytes stayed relatively constant (± 10%) across seasons but differed by location (25% ~55% in this case), suggesting that leaf growth in this study is regulated to maintain the proportion of uncolonized leaf surface and that epiphyte coverage plays a role in its regulation

Unmanned aerial vehicle communications for civil applications: a review

The use of drones, formally known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has significantly increased across a variety of applications over the past few years. This is due to the rapid advancement towards the design and production of inexpensive and dependable UAVs and the growing request for the utilization of such platforms particularly in civil applications. With their intrinsic attributes such as high mobility, rapid deployment and flexible altitude, UAVs have the potential to be utilized in many wireless system applications. On the one hand, UAVs are able to operate as flying mobile terminals within wireless/cellular networks to support a variety of missions such as goods delivery, search and rescue, precision agriculture monitoring, and remote sensing. On the other hand, UAVs can be utilized as aerial base stations to increase wireless communication coverage, reliability, and the capacity of wireless systems without additional investment in wireless systems infrastructure. The aim of this article is to review the current applications of UAVs for civil and commercial purposes. The focus of this paper is on the challenges and communication requirements associated with UAV-based communication systems. This article initially classifies UAVs in terms of various parameters, some of which can impact UAVs’ communication performance. It then provides an overview of aerial networking and investigates UAVs routing protocols specifically, which are considered as one of the challenges in UAV communication. This article later investigates the use of UAV networks in a variety of civil applications and considers many challenges and communication demands of these applications. Subsequently, different types of simulation platforms are investigated from a communication and networking viewpoint. Finally, it identifies areas of future research

Resolving Mixed Algal Species in Hyperspectral Images

We investigated a lab-based hyperspectral imaging system’s response from pure (single) and mixed (two) algal cultures containing known algae types and volumetric combinations to characterize the system’s performance. The spectral response to volumetric changes in single and combinations of algal mixtures with known ratios were tested. Constrained linear spectral unmixing was applied to extract the algal content of the mixtures based on abundances that produced the lowest root mean square error. Percent prediction error was computed as the difference between actual percent volumetric content and abundances at minimum RMS error. Best prediction errors were computed as 0.4%, 0.4% and 6.3% for the mixed spectra from three independent experiments. The worst prediction errors were found as 5.6%, 5.4% and 13.4% for the same order of experiments. Additionally, Beer-Lambert’s law was utilized to relate transmittance to different volumes of pure algal suspensions demonstrating linear logarithmic trends for optical property measurements

Measurement of moisture and total reducing sugars using Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Due to the character of the original source materials and the nature of batch digitization, quality control issues may be present in this document. Please report any quality issues you encounter to [email protected], referencing the URI of the item.Includes bibliographical references.Issued also on microfiche from Lange Micrographics.Determining compound levels in fruits and vegetables is necessary in the food industry for appropriate management and processing of these products. A fast, nondestructive and reliable method of measuring compounds is extremely desirable for online industrial applications. In this project, the accuracy and feasibility of measuring moisture and total reducing sugar content in a vegetable medium using a Near Infrared Spectroscopy technique was investigated as an alternative to slow and tedious classical laboratory chemical analysis methods. Moisture reflectance spectra were analyzed in the 900-1600 nm region. Transmission spectra from sliced samples were tested within 2000 and 2500 nm. Using digital signal processing techniques such as multiplicative signal correction, and filtering coupled with statistical analysis tools such as partial least squares regression, the best prediction models were obtained with a standard deviation of 0.61 and 0.016 % for moisture and sugars, respectively. The correlation coefficient was 0.95 for moisture. The corresponding value for sugar was 0.975. Best results were obtained when models were created using single vegetable cultivars in calibrating the prediction models. This study showed that when combined cultivars are used in calibrating the prediction models, the predictive capability is below the required standards. Overall, the results showed that measurements using Near Infrared Spectroscopy are feasible in the applications investigated; however, these results are in the preliminary stages and more research needs to be conducted to improve the measurement accuracy, and further develop the technique before indusuw implementation

Image processing through aruco marker instruction in a UAV system and IOT application

The use of location and instruction markers for path planning in any set of unmanned aerial system’s tasks is crucial to the effectiveness of the individual unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This research implements OpenCV algorithms that allow a UAV to use ArUco markers to receive data related to location and instruc- tion for the purposes of operation. OpenCV algorithms are utilized to develop vision-based solutions to enhance the capabilities of the UAV. The goal for the UAV’s operation includes image capture and image processing of objects using ArUco markers for instruction. The use of ArUco markers also increases the effectiveness of object detection for image capture by guiding the UAV. Some image processing techniques in- cluded in the experimentation are line contouring, erosion, and dilation where object detection and isolation are possible. This project utilizes OpenCV and Python libraries for the UAV’s instructional operation where image processing techniques are implemented on images that are transmitted over the network infrastructure as an application of Internet of Things (IoT)

Comparison of Design Characteristics and Customization Protocols for Swimming Goggles

Swimming goggles are important tools for swimmers; however, most of the commercialized swimming goggles are designed as one-size-fits-all, which may cause improper fit to a wearer’s facial shape. The present study is intended to review and compare the design characteristics of the existing swimming goggles and the published customization protocols of swimming goggles. The detailed design characteristics of lens, strap, gasket, and nose bridge of 26 commercialized swimming goggles were reviewed, and the dimensions (length, width, and depth) of five swimming goggles are summarized in this paper. Next, the customization protocols of swimming goggles were investigated, which consisted of three major steps: first step involves collecting a wearer’s 2D or 3D facial shape including eye and nasal root areas by using a hand-held scanner, and then using this scanned data to create a 3D contour shape of customized swimming goggles in a computer-aided design (CAD) environment. Second step requires the fabrication of the designed 3D CAD model of the customized swimming goggles by using a 3D printer using transparent and flexible materials. Third step includes conducting validation tests to evaluate the performance of the customized swimming goggles in terms of waterproofness and wearing comfort by comparing with the other existing goggles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper that reviews the design characteristics of swimming goggles. The review results presented in this paper are particularly useful to develop not only swimming goggles, but also other types of wearable products such as safety goggles, military goggles, and any sort of sports goggles

Characterization of limpet shells using 3D scans

Limpets are bioindicators of their environment as their growth patterns and physical attributes are related to the conditions in their surroundings. Limpet shell attributes, such as shell volume, length, height, width and thickness, provide an indication of the limpet’s environmental conditions, as the animal spends its resources accordingly to either grow and/or to strengthen its shell, or how the shell is weathered. This research focuses on determining the physical attributes of limpet shells obtained from Hawaii to provide an accurate tool for scientists to compare different shell characteristics within and across multiple shell locations. Multiple physical measures are captured through 3D scanning data and computations through the MATLAB programming tool. These measurements include inner shell volume, outer shell volume, solid shell volume, major axis, minor axis, height, peak shift, and surface area. The 3D measurements are compared to physical measurements, when feasible. For example, solid shell volume is measured using water displacement method. Major and minor axes as well as height are also measured with a ruler for comparison. The characteristics of the shells collected from two different locations, one from Makalawena and the other from Puanwi are presented. The listed physical attributes of the limpet shells are analyzed to establish correlations between the region where the animal grows and the shell characteristics themselves. The focus of this presentation is the development of the engineering tool that is capable of 3D measurements with high accuracy to achieve the scientific goals of the project

Comparison of design characteristics and customization protocols for swimming goggles

Swimming goggles are important tools for swimmers; however, most of the commercialized swimming goggles are designed as one-size-fits-all, which may cause improper fit to a wearer’s facial shape. The present study is intended to review and compare the design characteristics of the existing swimming goggles and the published customization protocols of swimming goggles. The detailed design characteristics of lens, strap, gasket, and nose bridge of 26 commercialized swimming goggles were reviewed, and the dimensions (length, width, and depth) of five swimming goggles are summarized in this paper. Next, the customization protocols of swimming goggles were investigated, which consisted of three major steps: first step involves collecting a wearer’s 2D or 3D facial shape including eye and nasal root areas by using a hand-held scanner, and then using this scanned data to create a 3D contour shape of customized swimming goggles in a computer-aided design (CAD) environment. Second step requires the fabrication of the designed 3D CAD model of the customized swimming goggles by using a 3D printer using transparent and flexible materials. Third step includes conducting validation tests to evaluate the performance of the customized swimming goggles in terms of waterproofness and wearing comfort by comparing with the other existing goggles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper that reviews the design characteristics of swimming goggles. The review results presented in this paper are particularly useful to develop not only swimming goggles, but also other types of wearable products such as safety goggles, military goggles, and any sort of sports goggles.Swimming goggles are important tools for swimmers; however, most of the commercialized swimming goggles are designed as one-size-fits-all, which may cause improper fit to a wearer’s facial shape. The present study is intended to review and compare the design characteristics of the existing swimming goggles and the published customization protocols of swimming goggles. The detailed design characteristics of lens, strap, gasket, and nose bridge of 26 commercialized swimming goggles were reviewed, and the dimensions (length, width, and depth) of five swimming goggles are summarized in this paper. Next, the customization protocols of swimming goggles were investigated, which consisted of three major steps: first step involves collecting a wearer’s 2D or 3D facial shape including eye and nasal root areas by using a hand-held scanner, and then using this scanned data to create a 3D contour shape of customized swimming goggles in a computer-aided design (CAD) environment. Second step requires the fabrication of the designed 3D CAD model of the customized swimming goggles by using a 3D printer using transparent and flexible materials. Third step includes conducting validation tests to evaluate the performance of the customized swimming goggles in terms of waterproofness and wearing comfort by comparing with the other existing goggles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper that reviews the design characteristics of swimming goggles. The review results presented in this paper are particularly useful to develop not only swimming goggles, but also other types of wearable products such as safety goggles, military goggles, and any sort of sports goggles