Fundamentals of Earth Observation Policy: Examples for German and European Missions

Several European countries have developed their national high resolution earth observation systems. Some of them are operated in close cooperation with industrial partners, others are dual-use missions earmarked to fulfil the needs of national security. In addition, the European Space Agency and the European Commission have initiated the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) project. Therein, a fleet of satellites (SENTINELs) will deliver data for European wide information services, augmented by data from national and non-European earth observation systems. This new scenario needs clear guidance and regulations. Besides the principles for operations of earth observation missions – as set out in UN principles on earth observation – the operators of very high resolution missions require clear governmental acts which international users can be served and which data might be restricted in distribution. For national science and the SENTINEL-missions, a policy for free and open access is being developed to guarantee a maximum use of the data. Exemplified on the German national missions and the European GMES scenario, data policies and regulations for existing and new earth observation missions will be explained

The NOD3 software package: A graphical user interface-supported reduction package for single-dish radio continuum and polarisation observations

The venerable NOD2 data reduction software package for single-dish radio continuum observations, developed for use at the 100-m Effelsberg radio telescope, has been successfully applied over many decades. Modern computing facilities call for a new design. We aim to develop an interactive software tool with a graphical user interface (GUI) for the reduction of single-dish radio continuum maps. Special effort is given on the reduction of distortions along the scanning direction (scanning effects) by combining maps scanned in orthogonal directions or dual- or multiple-horn observations that need to be processed in a restoration procedure. The package should also process polarisation data and offer the possibility to include special tasks written by the individual user. Based on the ideas of the NOD2 package we developed NOD3, which includes all necessary tasks from the raw maps to the final maps in total intensity and linear polarisation. Furthermore, plot routines and several methods for map analysis are available. The NOD3 package is written in Python which allows to extend the package by additional tasks. The required data format for the input maps is FITS. NOD3 is a sophisticated tool to process and analyse maps from single-dish observations that are affected by 'scanning effects' due to clouds, receiver instabilities, or radio-frequency interference (RFI). The 'basket-weaving' tool combines orthogonally scanned maps to a final map that is almost free of scanning effects. The new restoration tool for dual-beam observations reduces the noise by a factor of about two compared to the NOD2 version. Combining single-dish with interferometer data in the map plane ensures the full recovery of the total flux density.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures, Accepted for publication in A&

Synchrotron spectral index and interstellar medium densities of star-forming galaxies

The spectral index of synchrotron emission is an important parameter in understanding the properties of cosmic ray electrons (CREs) and the interstellar medium (ISM). We determine the synchrotron spectral index ($\alpha_{\rm nt}$) of four nearby star-forming galaxies, namely NGC 4736, NGC 5055, NGC 5236 and NGC 6946 at sub-kpc linear scales. The $\alpha_{\rm nt}$ was determined between 0.33 and 1.4 GHz for all the galaxies. We find the spectral index to be flatter ($\gtrsim -0.7$) in regions with total neutral (atomic + molecular) gas surface density, $\Sigma_{\rm gas} \gtrsim \rm 50~M_\odot pc^{-2}$, typically in the arms and inner parts of the galaxies. In regions with $\Sigma_{\rm gas} \lesssim \rm 50~M_\odot pc^{-2}$, especially in the interarm and outer regions of the galaxies, the spectral index steepens sharply to $<-1.0$. The flattening of $\alpha_{\rm nt}$ is unlikely to be caused due to thermal free--free absorption at 0.33 GHz. Our result is consistent with the scenario where the CREs emitting at frequencies below $\sim0.3$ GHz are dominated by bremsstrahlung and/or ionization losses. For denser medium ($\Sigma_{\rm gas} \gtrsim \rm 200~M_\odot pc^{-2}$), having strong magnetic fields ($\sim 30~\mu$G), $\alpha_{\rm nt}$ is seen to be flatter than $-0.5$, perhaps caused due to ionization losses. We find that, due to the clumpy nature of the ISM, such dense regions cover only a small fraction of the galaxy ($\lesssim5$ percent). Thus, the galaxy-integrated spectrum may not show indication of such loss mechanisms and remain a power-law over a wide range of radio frequencies (between $\sim 0.1$ to 10 GHz).Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, Accepted to be published in MNRA

Production and performance of thin and thick film NTCR thermistors based on NiMn(_2)O(_4)+δ

In this study reliable film type NTCR thermistors based on NiMn(_2)O(_4)+δ were produced and their electrical properties were studied in detail. Electron-beam evaporation procedures have been applied to produce thin film NTCR thermistors. Phase pure NiMn(_2)O(_4)+δ target material was produced via a traditional ceramic precursor oxide route and thin films were deposited in an optimised procedure. The thickness distribution of evaporated films showed good agreement with a theoretical model, derived from evaporation theory and the sticking coefficient of the vapour on the substrates was approximately 80% ± 1.5%. The composition of electron-beam evaporated films was found to be not controllable in terms of the phase purity and the Ni : Mn ratio. In order to avoid these problems thick film NiMn(_2)O(_4)+δ NTCR thermistors were developed using direct screen-printing techniques. Detailed Rietveld refinement analysis was carried out for the source powder used for screen-printing. The main focus of the work was the measurement of resistance-temperature (R-T) characteristics of thin and thick films and pellets. In the temperature range of concern (77 K -550 K) conduction was found to be by variable-range hopping (VRH) and nearest-neighbour hopping (NNH); R ~ exp (TʆT)(^p), where the index p depends on the mode of hopping. Detailed analysis of R-T data showed that screen-printed films and pellets exhibited a p-value of 0.5, which was identified with VRH with a parabolic density of states (DOS) with an exponential dependence of resistance: R ~ exp (TʆT)(^0.5). For electron-beam evaporated films the mechanisms detected were NNH: R ~ exp (TʆT); and VRH with a constant DOS {p = 0.25) following: R ~ exp (TʆT)(_0.25). For screen-printed films with incorporated glass phase the electrical conduction mechanism was analysed using a.c. impedance spectroscopy and at low frequencies the hopping conduction was in agreement with the d.c. behaviour. The time constant of this mechanism could be described by an equivalent circuit containing a RC element. For higher frequencies a second mechanism was found, best described by a CRL element

Hard Coal Subsidies: A Never-Ending Story?

In Germany, hard coal has been subsidized for almost half a century. Despite the declining significance of hard coal production for the domestic labor market, the magnitude of subsidies increased until the middle of the last decade. In 1996, they peaked at € 6.7 bill.While German hard coal subsidies have been shrinking to € 2.7 bill. in 2005, it is very likely that they will be extended well into the next decade and even beyond. This article discusses the feeble arguments raised by the proponents of hard coal subsidization in Germany and other EU countries. Most importantly, in addition to the drain imposed on public budgets, these subsidies imply a substantial opportunity cost, leading funds away from alternative, more beneficial public investments. From a social welfare perspective, we therefore recommend the rapid abolition of these subsidies not only in Germany, where in nominal terms the accumulated amount of subsidies has now by far exceeded € 130 bill., but all across Europe.Energy policy, energy security, coal mining

Ecosystem Intelligence for AI-based Assistant Platforms

Digital assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri have seen a large adoption over the past years. Using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, they provide a vocal interface to physical devices as well as to digital services and have spurred an entire new eco-system. This comprises the big tech companies themselves, but also a strongly growing community of developers that make these functionalities available via digital platforms. At present, only few research is available to understand the structure and the value creation logic of these AI-based assistant platforms and their ecosystem. This research adopts ecosystem intelligence to shed light on their structure and dynamics. It combines existing data collection methods with an automated approach that proves useful in deriving a network-based conceptual model of Amazon's Alexa assistant platform and ecosystem. It shows that skills are a key unit of modularity in this ecosystem, which is linked to other elements such as service, data, and money flows. It also suggests that the topology of the Alexa ecosystem may be described using the criteria reflexivity, symmetry, variance, strength, and centrality of the skill coactivations. Finally, it identifies three ways to create and capture value on AI-based assistant platforms. Surprisingly only a few skills use a transactional business model by selling services and goods but many skills are complementary and provide information, configuration, and control services for other skill provider products and services. These findings provide new insights into the highly relevant ecosystems of AI-based assistant platforms, which might serve enterprises in developing their strategies in these ecosystems. They might also pave the way to a faster, data-driven approach for ecosystem intelligence