bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Residential Forest Structure in Urban and Suburban Environments: Some Wildlife Implications in New England
Authors: DeGraaf Richard
Published: August 2022

Tree populations were compared in residential areas of urban Springfield and suburban Amherst, Massachusetts. The urban environment contains significantly fewer tree species, lower total tree density, no large conifers, a narrower range of tree diameters, and a more park-like condition because the lower margins of tree crowns are positioned higher. Both environments are dominated by relatively few tree species, and contain many exotic species and many species native to the country or region but not occurring locally. The latter compose the majority of metropolitan trees. These differences in residential forest structure contribute to dramatic differences in the composition of breeding birds between the two environments.
A New Eradication Strategy for Small, Remote Gypsy Moth Infestations
Authors: Appelt Paul
Published: August 2022

A small, recently introduced gypsy moth infestation was eradicated in Downers Grove, Illinois in a cooperative multi-participant program. Treatment methods used included aerial spraying with Bacillus thuringiensis and mass trapping with pheromone baited traps tended by volunteers.
Performance Testing of Street Tree Cultivars: A Model Project
Authors: Gerhold Henry
Published: August 2022

A model system for evaluating and comparing street tree cultivars is proposed for any town or city that wishes to use standardized methods. It is a modification of the cooperative STRETEST system proposed several years ago, but not started for lack of financial support. Its methods may be incorporated easily into the regular planting program. The municipal arborist chooses cultivars to be tested and makes periodic measurements and observations as the basis for evaluating their health and growth. Forms and instructions are provided. The results would provide more definitive information for selecting cultivars for stressful planting sites, and thus can improve the health and longevity of city trees. The standardized methods would also permit comparisons to be made with test results from other cities.
Overland Spread Of The Oak Wilt Fungus In Minnesota
Authors: Juzwik Jennifer , French D. W. , Jeresek Jon
Published: August 2022

In seven locations involving 158 oaks from 1953-1979, infection occurred only in trees wounded in late May or early June. In plots established between 1953 and 1980 of over 5,000 oaks wounded, infection occurred in trees wounded as early as May (one tree in 1978) and as late as June 1 5. None of 322 trees wounded and with wounds painted became infected.
A Description Of Urban Soils And Their Desired Characteristics
Authors: Craul Phillip J.
Published: August 2022

Human activity in urbanization creates urban soils that have characteristics unlike those of their natural counterparts. Compaction, restriction of water movement and of aeration, presence of anthropeic materials, limited or confined rooting space and interrupted nutrient cycling are major problems, among several others, commonly encountered when planting and maintaining urban vegetation. These are explained to aid in their recognition in the field. Desired urban soil characteristics are given and possible solutions are briefly discussed.
Image and Publicity — Almost Free Advertising
Authors: Wilhelm Bruce G.
Published: August 2022

Before considering an elaborate advertising campaign commercial arborists should consider their company image. Both a positive and professional company image is worth thousands of dollars in “free” advertising. If you want to receive maximum benefit from your “paid” advertising dollars, let company image form the base of a good promotional program that will pay dividends in all aspects of your business.
Monitoring: An Essential Factor To Managing Pests Of Landscape Trees And Shrubs
Authors: Raupp Michael J.
Published: August 2022

Monitoring is a critical component of pest management programs for trees and shrubs. The regular inspection of plant materials for insect, disease, and cultural problems allows the pest manager to pinpoint control actions. Trapping devices can detect the presence of pests in a location and provide informationfor theoptimal timing of control actions. Environmental monitoring can be used to fine tune controls to local climatic regimes. Incorporating several monitoring techniques into management programs enables landscape plant managers to reduce unnecessary pesticide use. This approach helps create more cost efficient pest control programs and satisfy the growing desire of clients to reduce the risk of pesticide exposure.
Integrated Pest Management — What’s It All About?
Authors: Rhoads Ann F.
Published: August 2022

Current interest in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has resulted from problems connected with over dependence on synthetic chemical pesticides. IPM draws on a variety of control methods to prevent pests from exceeding threshold levels. Success of IPM with agricultural crops is now being extended into the area of shade trees and woody ornamentals.
Strategi Pengembangan Perikanan Tangkap di Perairan Ambon (Studi Kasus: Teluk Luar)
Authors: Tomasoa Yunarti  F S
Published: August 2022

Pembangunan Kelautan dan Perikanan di Kota Ambon sangatlah penting dan strategis karena memiliki potensi sumberdaya perikanan yang sangat besar dan dapat diandalkan. Diperlukan strategi untuk mengembangkan potensi tersebut. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk merumuskan strategi pengembangan perikanan tangkap di Kota Ambon, khususnya di teluk bagian Luar.  Objek utama kajian ini ialah daerah penangkapan ikan, armada penangkapan ikan, produksi perikanan, dan peluang pengembangan serta arahan kebijakan pengembangan perikanan tangkap berwawasan lingkungan.  Faktor-faktor yang dianalisis meliputi : (1) potensi dan produksi sumberdaya ikan, (2) eksistensi armada dan peralatan tangkap  (3) peluang pengembangan dan (4) arahan kebijakan. Strategi pengembangan perikanan tangkap di Perairan Teluk Luar adalah:  (1) Peningkatan hasil tangkapan, (2) Pelarangan pengoperasian kapal-kapal purse seine untuk tuna dan cakalang, (3) Pengurangan sedimentasi dan pencemaran, (4) Adaptasi penangkapan, (5) Peningkatan Pengawasan,  (6) Penyiapan sarana dan prasarana pendukung kegiatan penangkapan dan (7) Motorisasi alat bantu penangkapan.
Galeria stellt Food-Einkauf neu auf
Authors: Tewes Werner
Published: August 2022

Galeria und Rewe justieren ihre Zusammenarbeit im Warengeschäft. Nach LZ-Recherchen stellt der Warenhauskonzern einen neuen Food-Einkauf zusammen. Dafür soll zum 1. Januar 2023 auch ein Rewe-Team zur Gruppe wechseln.
Handel schwört auf Bio trotz Umsatzeinbußen
Authors: Lattmann Christian , Müller Annette , Stockburger Manfred
Published: August 2022

Der Lebensmitteleinzelhandel baut trotz Umsatzdelle das Biogeschäft aus. Edeka stärkt die Frische, Lidl setzt auch auf regionales Bio und Kaufland kooperiert mit Bioland. Indes steht der Fachhandel unter Druck.
Rechtsstreit um Recycling-Werbung
Authors: Rentz Ingo
Published: August 2022

Nachhaltigkeitspionier Werner & Mertz stört sich an einer Werbung des Unternehmens Sonett. Vor Gericht hat der Hersteller der Marke Frosch jedoch zunächst eine Niederlage kassiert.
Rewe geht gegen Preistreiber vor
Authors: Tewes Werner
Published: August 2022

Die Rewe Group wirft der Industrie vor, die Inflation anzuheizen. Laut Einkaufschef Hans-Jürgen Moog sind viele Preiserhöhungen übertrieben. Zudem verlangten Lebensmittelhersteller in Deutschland mehr als in anderen Ländern.
Hornbach erhöht Vorräte um 30 Prozent
Authors: Hofmann Janine
Published: August 2022

Die Baumarktbetreiber erhöhen angesichts der Gaskrise und der Lieferengpässe ihre Lagerbestände massiv. Doch dieses Vorgehen birgt auch Risiken.
Aldi Süd bringt Frischelogistik auf Vordermann
Authors: Wessel Andrea
Published: August 2022

Die Kooperation von Aldi Süd und Landgard in der Frischelogistik ist gescheitert und soll zeitnah beendet werden. Der Discounter will sich bei der Obst- und Gemüsebelieferung komplett neu aufstellen.
Debatte zum „Planet-Score“ nimmt Fahrt auf
Authors: Falker Gerrit-Milena
Published: August 2022

Die deutsche Biobranche folgt dem Beispiel Frankreichs und forciert die Diskussion über das am besten geeignete Nachhaltigkeitslogo für Lebensmittel.
„Wir lassen uns nicht erpressen“
Authors: Tewes Werner
Published: August 2022

Der Inflationsdruck ist hoch. Eine Situation, an der auch Teile der Industrie schuld sind, findet Hans-Jürgen Moog. Der Einkaufschef der Rewe Group im Interview.
Daten fressen Strom
Authors: Loderhose Birgitt
Published: August 2022

Die Digitalisierung und immer aufwendigere IT-Systeme treiben den Energieverbrauch und die Erderwärmung an. Auch aus Kostengründen denken die ersten Unternehmen über einen neuen Daten-Minimalismus nach. Birgitt Loderhose
„Je hochpreisiger, desto eher online“
Authors: Krost Heidrun , Pettmann Petra
Published: August 2022

Auf dem Weg vom Versorger zum Umsorger rund ums Heimtier spielen bei Fressnapf auch digitale Features eine immer stärkere Rolle. Einkaufschef Heiko Bücker sagt im Interview, warum etwa ein Hunde-Tracker so relevant ist.
Weniger Budget für Vierbeiner
Authors: Krost Heidrun
Published: August 2022

Tierfutter und Bedarfsartikel entwickeln sich im Lebensmittelhandel aus der Nische heraus zum Umsatzbringer. Wichtige Stütze sind dabei Markenprodukte. Aktuell aber droht sich das Wachstum zu verlangsamen.
Handel investiert in Serviceangebot an Logistikzentren
Authors: Bökamp Lena
Published: August 2022

Deutsche Händler wollen ihre Logistikzentren für Lkw-Fahrer komfortabler und attraktiver machen. Zudem wird die Kommunikation mit den Fahrern zunehmend an einem zentralen Ort gebündelt. Das macht Abläufe effizienter, verursacht aber auch zusätzliche Kosten.
Hagebau setzt auf Gemeinsamkeit
Authors: Nusser Bernd
Published: August 2022

Hagebau will seine Sichtbarkeit deutlich erhöhen. Die Kooperation hat sich in einem langwierigen Prozess zu einer Dachmarkenstrategie durchgerungen. Jetzt sollen Einzel- und Fachhändler mehr voneinander profitieren.
Kein Abgesang auf Biodiesel
Authors: Schirmacher Henrike
Published: August 2022

Berlin. Der Kampf gegen den Klimawandel wird den Verkehrssektor umkrempeln. Bundesverkehrsminister Volker Wissing will die Technologieführerschaft Deutschlands auf diesem Weg stärken.
„Saatguterzeugern laufen Kosten davon“
Authors: Hofnagel Dagmar
Published: August 2022

Die Vermehrungsflächen für Getreide der Ernte 2023 könnten deutlich eingeschränkt werden. Davon geht Gerhard Schilling, Vorsitzender des Bundesverbandes Deutscher Saatguterzeuger (BDS), aus. Im Gespräch mit der agrarzeitung erläutert er die Gründe.
Ausgezeichneter Nachwuchs
Authors: Schaal René
Published: August 2022

Frankfurt a.M. Gemeinsam mit Partnern und Sponsoren vergibt die agrarzeitung auch in diesem Jahr wieder den renommierten, mit 9000 € dotierten Förderpreis der Agrarwirtschaft. Der Preis richtet sich an Studierende, junge Landwirte und Wissenschaftler sowie Nachwuchskräfte mit innovativen Ideen, die die Agrarbranche voranbringen können.
Local Electoral Institutions and the Dynamic Motivations of Ethnic Party Candidate Nominations in South Africa
Authors: Farole Safia Abukar
Published: August 2022

How do parties historically dominated by one group diversify their representatives? I argue that ethnic parties adjust their strategies according to the institutional rules in place and the demographics of relevant constituencies. I study South Africa, which has a Mixed-Member Proportional electoral system, where parties nominate Single Member District and Proportional Representation candidates. Using original data on the racial, ethnic, and career background of over 10,000 local candidates nominated by the historically white Democratic Alliance party, I find that the party engages in vote-based inclusion by nominating black candidates to predominantly black districts. And while the DA symbolically includes non-whites on its PR lists, white candidates dominate electable list positions. These findings provide a demonstration at the micro-level of why ethnic parties struggle to meaningfully diversify.
Genetic variation in the ovine KAP22-1 gene and its effect on wool traits in Egyptian sheep
Authors: Sallam Ahmed M. , Gad-Allah Aymen A. , Albetar Essam M.
Published: August 2022

Abstract. The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic polymorphisms in
the keratin-associated protein (KAP22-1) gene in Barki (n=206), Rahmani (n=28)
and Ossimi (n=28) as the three major sheep breeds in Egypt. Subsequently,
the detected variants were correlated with important wool traits. The traits
included greasy fleece weight (GFW, g), staple length (SL, cm), prickle
factor (PF, %), medullated fiber (MF, %), fiber diameter (FD, µm), crimp percentage (CR, %) and the standard deviation of FD
(SDfd, µm), as well as the subjectively assessed traits of
kemp score (KS), handle grade (HG), greasy color grade (GCG), bulk grade
(BG), luster grade (LG) and staple structure (SST). Animals were
genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) – single strand conformation
polymorphism (SSCP). Five SSCP banding patterns representing three different
nucleotide variants (A, B and C) were detected. DNA sequencing confirmed
three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Animal age significantly
affected GFW (P=0.007), SDfd (P=0.006), SL (P=0.002), CR
(P=0.006), KS (P=0.001), LG (P=0.006) and SST (P=0.013). Likewise, the
breed had a significant effect on all studied traits except HG and BG, which
was not significant. Results showed significant associations between the
KAP22-1 variants and CR (P=0.01), SL (P=0.012), KS (P<0.001) and GCG
(P=0.01). Interestingly, animals with BB genotypes tended to produce more
wool yield (1163.63±65.91 g) with high SL (8.38±0.20 cm), CR
(8.38±0.21 %) and KS (1.98±1.88). Results of this study
strongly recommend the KAP22-1 gene as a candidate gene for wool production traits
in Egyptian sheep, with new useful insights into the visually assessed wool
traits. The identified genetic markers may be incorporated into breeding
strategies and genetic improvement programs of wool traits in Egyptian
sheep.
Monitoring sudden stratospheric warmings under climate change based on reanalysis data verified by radio occultation
Authors: Li Ying , Kirchengast Gottfried , Schwaerz Marc , Yuan Yunbin
Published: August 2022

Abstract. We develop a new approach to monitor Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) events under climate change since 1980 based on reanalysis data, verified by radio occultation data. We construct gridded daily-mean temperature anomalies and employed the concept of Threshold Exceedance Areas (TEAs), the geographic areas wherein the anomalies exceed predefined thresholds (such as 30 K) to monitor the phenomena. We derived main-phase TEAs to monitor SSW warming on a daily basis and also a trailing-phase TEA to monitor potential upper stratospheric cooling in the wake of the warming phase. Based on the main-phase TEAs, three key metrics, including Main-Phase Strength (MPS), Duration (MPD) and Area (MPA), are estimated and used for the detection and classification of SSW events, enabling minor, major, and extreme event categories. An informative 42 winters’ SSW climatology 1980–2020 was developed, including the three key metrics as well as onsets date, maximum-warming-anomaly location and strength and other valuable SSW characterization information. Detection and validation against previous studies underpins that the new method is robust for SSW detection and monitoring and that it can be applied to any quality-assured reanalysis and observational data that cover the polar region and winter timeframes of interest. Within the 42 winters, 40 SSW events were detected, yielding a frequency of about 0.95/year. In the 1990s, where recent studies showed gaps, we detected several events. About 95 % of event onset dates occurred in deep winter (Dec-Jan-Feb timeframe; about 50 % in January) and three quarters have their onset location over Northern Eurasia and the adjacent polar ocean. Regarding long-term change, we also found a statistically significant increase in the duration of SSW main-phase warmings, by about 4 days from the 1980s to the 2010s, raising the average duration by 40 % from about 10 to 14 days and inducing an SSW strength increase by near 30 million km2 days (about 30 %) from about 105 to 135 million km2 days. The results can be used as a reference for further long-term studies and be a valuable basis for studying SSW impacts and links to other weather and climate phenomena, such as changes in polar vortex dynamics and in mid-latitude extreme weather.
Characterising the dynamic movement of thunderstorms using very low- and low-frequency (VLF/LF) total lightning data over the Pearl River Delta region
Authors: Cheng Si , Wang Jianguo , Cai Li , Zhou Mi , Su Rui , Huang Yijun , Li Quanxin
Published: August 2022

Abstract. This paper reveals the dynamic movement characteristics
of thunderstorms using total lightning data obtained from very low- and low-frequency (VLF/LF)
location measurements. Eight thunderstorms, which were evenly distributed in
the morning, midday, afternoon and evening, are selected to compare the
different kinematic features over the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region in the
south of China from 17 to 23 May 2014. The connected-neighbourhood
labelling method is used to identify lightning clusters and obtain the
centroids. Significant characterisation parameters are put forward as
metrics to reveal the kinematic features of thunderstorms, including the
duration time, valid area (VA), movement velocity, movement direction and
farthest distance in longitude and latitude during the life cycle of the
storm. A common trend is that the storms initiate in the west of the PRD
region, moving to the east and disappearing after the thunderstorm travels
around 106.5 km in longitude. There are two kinds of distributions to depict
the property of the valid area, which are one-peak distribution with the
maximum in the mature stage and two-peak distribution with a relatively
smaller peak in the early time of the storm. The velocity does not show the
same trend as the variation in VA which shows a steady increase or decrease
during the lifetime of thunderstorms. The biggest VA and highest velocity
are 891 km2 occurring on the evening of 17 May and 204.8 km h−1
occurring on the morning of 20 May. The 19 May evening storm was the weakest,
with the maximum VA and velocity being 253 km2 and 115.3 km h−1,
respectively. The motion of eight storms shows a distinct pattern as the
spread of direction distributes tightly in the range of 0–180∘. The movement characteristics of thunderstorms and the
associated parameters may help to improve the nowcasting and forecasting
system of thunderstorms in the warm season.
Sulfuric acid in the Amazon basin: measurements and evaluation of existing sulfuric acid proxies
Authors: Myers Deanna C. , Kim Saewung , Sjostedt Steven , Guenther Alex B. , Seco Roger , Vega Bustillos Oscar , Tota Julio , Souza Rodrigo A. F. , Smith James N.
Published: August 2022

Abstract. Sulfuric acid is a key contributor to new particle formation, though measurements of its gaseous concentrations are difficult to make. Several parameterizations to estimate sulfuric acid exist, all of which were constructed using measurements from the Northern Hemisphere. In this work, we report the first measurements of sulfuric acid from the Amazon basin. These measurements are consistent with concentrations measured in Hyytiälä, Finland, though, unlike Hyytiälä, there is no clear correlation of sulfuric acid with global radiation. There was a minimal difference in sulfuric acid observed between the wet and dry seasons in the Amazon basin. We also test the efficacy of existing proxies to estimate sulfuric acid in this region. Our results suggest that nighttime sulfuric acid production is due to both a stabilized Criegee intermediate pathway and oxidation of SO2 by OH, the latter of which is not currently accounted for in existing proxies. These results also illustrate the drawbacks of the common substitution of radiation for OH concentrations. None of the tested proxies effectively estimate sulfuric acid measurements at night. For estimates at all times of day, a recently published proxy based on data from the boreal forest should be used. If only daytime estimates are needed, several recent proxies that do not include the Criegee pathway are sufficient. More investigation of nighttime sulfuric acid production pathways is necessary to close the gap between measurements and estimates with existing proxies.
Investigating the effect of nickel concentration on phytoplankton growth to assess potential side-effects of ocean alkalinity enhancement
Authors: Guo Jiaying Abby , Strzepek Robert , Willis Anusuya , Ferderer Aaron , Bach Lennart Thomas
Published: August 2022

Abstract. Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) is a proposed method for
removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere by the accelerated
weathering of (ultra-)basic minerals to increase alkalinity – the chemical
capacity of seawater to store CO2. During the weathering of
OAE-relevant minerals relatively large amounts of trace metals will be
released and may perturb pelagic ecosystems. Nickel (Ni) is of particular
concern as it is abundant in olivine, one of the most widely considered
minerals for OAE. However, so far there is limited knowledge about the
impact of Ni on marine biota including phytoplankton. To fill this knowledge
gap, this study tested the growth and photo-physiological response of 11
marine phytoplankton species to a wide range of dissolved Ni concentrations
(from 0.07 to 50 000 nmol L−1). We found that the phytoplankton species
were not very sensitive to Ni concentrations under the culturing conditions
established in our experiments, but the responses were species-specific. The
growth rates of 6 of the 11 tested species showed generally limited but
still significant responses to changing Ni concentrations (36 % maximum
change). Photosynthetic performance, assessed by measuring the maximum
quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and the functional absorption cross-section
(σPSII) of photosystem II (PSII), was sensitive to changing Ni in 3
out of 11 species (35 % maximum change) and 4 out of 11 species (16 %
maximum change), respectively. The limited effect of Ni may be partly due to
the provision of nitrate as the nitrogen source for growth as previous
studies suggest higher sensitivities when urea is the nitrogen source.
Furthermore, the limited influence may be due to the relatively high
concentrations of synthetic organic ligands added to the growth media in our
experiments. These ligands are commonly added to control trace metal
bioavailability and therefore for example “free Ni2+” concentrations
by binding the majority of the dissolved Ni. Our data suggest that dissolved
Ni does not have a strong effect on phytoplankton under our experimental
conditions, but we emphasize that a deeper understanding of nitrogen
sources, ligand concentrations, and phytoplankton composition is needed when
assessing the influence of Ni release associated with OAE.
Regional dynamical and statistical downscaling temperature, humidity and windspeed for the Beijing region under stratospheric aerosol injection geoengineering
Authors: Wang Jun , Moore John C. , Zhao Liyun , Yue Chao , Di Zhenhua
Published: August 2022

Abstract. We use four Earth System Model (ESM) to simulate climate under the modest greenhouse emissions RCP4.5, the “business-as-usual" RCP8.5 and the stratospheric aerosol injection G4 geoengineering scenarios. These drive a 10 km resolution dynamically downscaled model (WRF), and a statistically bias corrected (ISIMIP) and downscaled simulation in a 450×330 km domain containing the Beijing province, ranging from 2000 m elevations to sea level. The 1980s simulations of surface temperatures, humidities and windspeeds using statistical bias correction makes for a better estimate of mean climate determined by ERA5 reanalysis data than does the WRF simulation. However correcting WRF output with Quantile-Delta Mapping bias correction removes the offsets in mean state and results in WRF better reproducing observations over 2007–2017 than ISIMIP bias correction. WRF simulations show consistently 0.5 °C higher mean annual temperatures than from ISIMIP due both to the better resolved city centers and also to warmer winter temperatures. In the 2060s WRF produces consistently larger spatial ranges of surface temperatures, humidities and windspeeds than ISIMIP downscaling across the three future scenarios. WRF and ISIMIP methods produce very similar spatial patterns of temperature with G4 are always cooler than RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, by a slightly larger amount with ISIMIP than WRF. Humidity scenario differences vary greatly between ESM and hence ISIMIP downscaling, while for WRF the results are far more consistent across ESM and show only small changes between scenarios. Mean windspeeds show similarly small changes over the domain, although G4 is significantly windier under WRF than either RCP scenario.
Assessing methods for representing soil heterogeneity through a flexible approach within the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES) at version 3.4.1
Authors: Rumbold Heather Suzanne , Gilham Richard J. J. , Best Martin John
Published: August 2022

Abstract. The interactions between the land surface and the atmosphere can impact weather and climate through the exchanges of water, energy, carbon and momentum. The properties of the land surface are important when modelling these exchanges correctly especially with models being used at increasingly higher resolution. The Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES) currently uses a tiled representation of land cover but can only model a single dominant soil type within a grid box. Hence, there is no representation of sub-grid scale soil heterogeneity. This paper introduces and evaluates a new flexible surface-soil tiling scheme in JULES. Several different soil tiling approaches are presented for a synthetic case study. The changes to model performance have been compared to the current single soil scheme and a high resolution 'Truth' scenario. Results have shown that the different soil tiling strategies do have an impact on the water and energy exchanges due to the way vegetation accesses the soil moisture. Tiling the soil according to the surface type, with the soil properties set to the dominant soil type under each surface is the best performing configuration. The results from this setup simulate water and energy fluxes that are the closest to the high resolution 'Truth' scenario but require much less information on the soil type than the high resolution soil configuration.
Flood forecasting with machine learning models in an operational framework
Authors: Nevo Sella , Morin Efrat , Gerzi Rosenthal Adi , Metzger Asher , Barshai Chen , Weitzner Dana , Voloshin Dafi , Kratzert Frederik , Elidan Gal , Dror Gideon , Begelman Gregory , Nearing Grey , Shalev Guy , Noga Hila , Shavitt Ira , Yuklea Liora , Royz Moriah , Giladi Niv , Peled Levi Nofar , Reich Ofir , Gilon Oren , Maor Ronnie , Timnat Shahar , Shechter Tal , Anisimov Vladimir , Gigi Yotam , Levin Yuval , Moshe Zach , Ben-Haim Zvika , Hassidim Avinatan , Matias Yossi
Published: August 2022

Abstract. Google's operational flood forecasting system was developed to provide accurate real-time flood warnings to agencies and the public with a focus on riverine floods in large, gauged rivers. It became operational in 2018 and has since expanded geographically. This forecasting system consists of four subsystems: data validation, stage forecasting, inundation modeling, and alert distribution. Machine learning is used for two of the subsystems. Stage forecasting is modeled with the long short-term memory (LSTM) networks and the linear models. Flood inundation is computed with the thresholding and the manifold models, where the former computes inundation extent and the
latter computes both inundation extent and depth. The manifold model,
presented here for the first time, provides a machine-learning alternative
to hydraulic modeling of flood inundation. When evaluated on historical
data, all models achieve sufficiently high-performance metrics for
operational use. The LSTM showed higher skills than the linear model, while
the thresholding and manifold models achieved similar performance metrics
for modeling inundation extent. During the 2021 monsoon season, the flood
warning system was operational in India and Bangladesh, covering flood-prone regions around rivers with a total area close to 470 000 km2, home to more than 350 000 000 people. More than 100 000 000 flood alerts were sent to affected populations, to relevant authorities, and to emergency organizations. Current and future work on the system includes extending coverage to additional flood-prone locations and improving modeling capabilities and accuracy.
Spatiotemporal optimization of groundwater monitoring networks using data-driven sparse sensing methods
Authors: Ohmer Marc , Liesch Tanja , Wunsch Andreas
Published: August 2022

Abstract. Groundwater monitoring and specific collection of data on the spatiotemporal dynamics of the aquifer are prerequisites for effective groundwater management and determine nearly all downstream management decisions. An optimally designed groundwater monitoring network (GMN) will provide the maximum information content at the minimum cost (Pareto optimum). In this study, PySensors, a Python package containing scalable, data-driven algorithms for sparse sensor selection and signal reconstruction with dimensionality reduction is applied to an existing GMN in 1D (hydrographs) and 2D (gridded groundwater contour maps). The algorithm first fits a basis object to the training data and then applies a computationally efficient QR algorithm that ranks existing monitoring wells (for 1D) or suitable sites for additional monitoring (for 2D) in order of importance, based on the state reconstruction of this tailored basis. This procedure enables a network to be reduced or extended along the Pareto front. Moreover, we investigate the effect of basis choice on reconstruction performance by comparing three types typically used for sparse sensor selection (i.e., identity, random projection, and SVD, respectively, PCA). We define a gridded cost function for the extension case that penalizes unsuitable locations. Our results show that the proposed approach performs better than the best randomly selected wells. The optimized reduction makes it possible to adequately reconstruct the removed hydrographs with a highly reduced subset with low loss. With a GMN reduced by 94 %, an average absolute reconstruction accuracy of 0.1 m is achieved, in addition to 0.05 m with a reduction by 69 % and 0.01 m with 18 %.
GEO-ICTs FOR GOOD: A MOOC ON GISCIENCE FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE
Authors: Codato D. , Tha C. , Pappalardo S. E. , Peroni F. , Facchinelli F. , Crescini E. , De Marchi M.
Published: August 2022

Abstract. The last two decades have seen the development and diffusion of new technologies that can help in managing geographic information. This has led to a proliferation of grassroots processes for exploring, creating and sharing geographical data as a way for citizens to take part in decision making in different kinds of processes.However, these ongoing processes are facing technological, cognitive and economic barriers. Universities with the use of open-source geospatial information and communication technologies (Geo-ICTs) should be the primary actors in supporting students and citizens in developing their own spatial thinking and abilities in a more effective and engaging way.In this framework, the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on Climate Justice (University of Padova) is developing the massive open online course (MOOC) ‘GIScience for Climate Justice’, here with the use of open-source and freeware Geo-ICTs that will be freely available for all before the end of 2022.By completing the MOOC, students will learn how to increase their knowledge of climate change and climate justice issues autonomously. Practical activities will improve their skills in obtaining and using geodata and information produced by European institutions, which can lead to them producing and sharing their own data and preparing and managing collaborative projects for sustainability and environmental monitoring.In this contribution, the theoretical background and entire methodology for the preparation and dissemination of the MOOC are presented and discussed, with the aim of disseminating and sharing this experience to actors interested in developing similar activities of using Geo-ICTs for good.
REMOTE MAPPING OF SOIL EROSION RISK IN ICELAND
Authors: Fernández D. , Adermann E. , Pizzolato M. , Pechenkin R. , Rodríguez C. G.
Published: August 2022

Abstract. The use of remote-sensing based methods for soil erosion assessment has been increasing in recent years thanks to the availability of free access satellite data, and it has repeatedly proven to be successful. Its application to the Arctic presents a number of challenges, due to its peculiar soils with short growing periods, winter storms, wind, and frequent cloud and snow cover. However, the benefits of applying these techniques would be especially valuable in arctic areas, where ground local information can be hard to obtain due to hardly accessible roads and lands. Here we propose a solution which uses a Support Vector machine classification model and ground truth samples to calibrate the processed remote images over a specific area, in order to then automate the analysis for larger, less accessible areas. This solution is being developed for soil erosion studies of Iceland specifically, using Sentinel 2 satellite data combined with local assessment data from Iceland’s Soil Conservation Services department.
CLUSTER ANALYSIS: A COMPREHENSIVE AND VERSATILE QGIS PLUGIN FOR PATTERN RECOGNITION IN GEOSPATIAL DATA
Authors: Folini A. , Lenzi E. , Biraghi C. A.
Published: August 2022

Abstract. As geospatial data continuously grows in complexity and size, the application of Machine Learning and Data Mining techniques to geospatial analysis is increasingly essential to solve real-world problems. Although in the last two decades, the research in this field produced innovative methodologies, they are usually applied to specific situations and not automatized for general use. Therefore, both generalization and integration of these methods with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are necessary to support researchers and organizations in data exploration, pattern recognition, and prediction in the various applications of geospatial data. In this work, we present Cluster Analysis, a Python plugin that we developed for the open-source software QGIS and offers functionalities for the entire clustering process. Or tool provides different improvements from the current solutions available in QGIS, but also in other widespread GIS software. The expanded features provided by the plugin allow the users to deal with some of the most challenging problems of geospatial data, such as high dimensional space, poor quality of data, and large size of data. To highlight both the potential of the plugin and its limitations in real-world scenarios, the development is integrated with a considerable experimental phase with data of different natures and granularities. Overall, the experimental phase shows good and adequate flexibility of the plugin, and outlines the possibilities for future developments that can be provided also by the QGIS community, given the open-source nature of the project.
MAPPING MT. USHBA – HOW TO CREATE A HIGH-QUALITY MAP PRODUCT FROM OPEN DATA WITH FREE SOFTWARE
Authors: Gröbe M. , Prechtel N. , Burghardt D. , Schröter B.
Published: August 2022

Abstract. Mt. Ushba is a famous mountain in the Great Caucasus characterized by its iconical double peak. In addition, the surrounding Georgian region of Svaneti is known for its medieval defense towers, what makes the area a rising tourism destination. Climbers, hikers and visitors alike need maps for planning their tours, so there is a demand for a reliable map. The paper aims to present the production of an Alpine Club map to demonstrate how high-quality map production is possible by combining open data and, wherever possible, open-source software. An important result is a widely transferable workflow for mapmakers. It offers lowcost solutions in the production of a digital elevation model, which combines multi-stereo satellite images from Planet Labs and GNSS measurements, and an organized, dynamic mapping with OpenStreetMap. Moreover, free satellite images have been used to derive land cover information. While the final map will be sold as a commercial product, most geo-data are freely available. The OpenStreetMap data is improved and completed through fieldwork, and toponyms are collected in a combination of existing maps, signposts and information by locals. Our contribution may strengthen the spread of this sustainable database to many other digital services, resp. maps, which are using OpenStreetMap. Due to the complexity of the overall project, this paper describes the current status, some aspects are still under development.
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN OPEN-SOURCE WEB-GIS TO MANAGE THE PUBLIC WORKS OF ABRUZZO REGION: AN EXAMPLE TOWARDS THE DIGITALIZATION OF THE MANAGEMENT PROCESS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIONS
Authors: Alicandro M. , Zollini S. , Oxoli D. , Pascucci N. , Dominici D. , Brescia D.
Published: August 2022

Abstract. The Abruzzo region, in compliance with the performance objectives to be achieved in the two years 2021–2023 (Performance Plan 2021–2023), commissioned the development of a Web-GIS to map the assets related to public works, that must be judged by the Regional Technical Administrative Committee (C.R.T.A), onto a web platform, to support “Civil Engineering” authority of the Abruzzo Region, other professionals and technicians involved in the assessment process for the management of the public works during their whole administrative process and to share the data with citizens. For this purpose, and in compliance with the strategic objectives of the European Commission (Open Source Software Strategy 2020–2023) to use free and open-source software (FOSS) inside public administrations, an open-source Web-GIS was proposed and developed. The solution proposed is realised using user-friendly application, from QGIS software, the most popular and well known free and open-source GIS, to realise the GIS project, to the use of Lizmap to share the results. The combination of QGIS and Lizmap guarantees an easy way to implement a free and open-source Web-GIS and it represents a good solution to move Public Administration toward the use of FOSS as required by the European Commission. In addition, this tool has the purpose of ensuring maximum transparency to citizens who, although not insiders, can access the geoportal to see how the funds allocated by the Region, the Italian Nation and the European Community are distributed and spent.
FROM QGIS TO PYTHON: COMPARISON OF FREE AND OPEN TOOLS FOR STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF CULTURAL HERITAGE AND DATA REPRESENTATION
Authors: Jovanović D.
Published: August 2022

Abstract. The onset of the Covid pandemic in 2020 changed the approach to work, research, and study. This period has been a wake-up call for public administrations, the private sector, and the academic community, to digitise their data. In Italy, digital and information technologies for the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage, which were an imperative for more than a decade, have been accelerated. This paper aims to collect and to process openly available data on patrimony from OpenStreetMap and the Lombardian Geoportal. The study is divided into two phases: a simple statistical analysis of cultural heritage in Monza is obtained, and the results are presented graphically. Firstly, built-in tools and Python Console of QGIS are evaluated, to filter attributes and add geometrical values to the downloaded material. Secondly, plug-in DataPlotly and an online coding application named Replit are assessed. The results are presented and compared in terms of their flexibility, quality of visual representation, customisation, and simplicity of use. Tools developed through and for QGIS are easy to use and available to everyone. Additionally, coding applications can be integrated for more refined results. This approach fosters interdisciplinarity, bridges the gap between professionals and non-expert users of GIS, and opens a range of opportunities for future collaborations. The citizen, as a mapper, can be involved in the administrative decision-making process, contributing with data collected in situ. Collaboration between these two sides can potentially produce the better for evaluating the contemporary built environment and its undividable part of cultural heritage.
ANALYSIS OF FREE AND OPEN LAND COVER MAPS FOR AGRICULTURAL LAND USE PLANNING AT LOCAL LEVEL
Authors: Jovanović S. , Predić T. , Bratić G.
Published: August 2022

Abstract. According to the Law on Agricultural Land of the Republic of Srpska, municipalities and cities are obliged to prepare a planning document “Groundwork for Agricultural Land Protection, Use and Restructuring (The groundwork)”. Information related to the current state of land cover and land cover use are essential for the groundwork. Such layer was created for the municipality Laktaši in Bosnia and Herzegovina by digitization of land cover features from orthophoto imagery. Even if digitization provides highly reliable data, it is also time-consuming activity, and therefore the evaluation of Corine Land Cover (CLC) for the municipality Laktaši was performed to determine if it is accurate enough to sustain the groundwork for other municipalities. In this paper, using free open source programs, a comparison of two sets of data representing land cover was performed: manually vectorized data with orthophoto images of LC/LU and CLC. Using QGIS, the two datasets were harmonized, and then the error matrix and accuracy indexes were computed by using Python. The obtained results show that the overall accuracy of CLC with respect to LC/LU reference is 70%, but the class related to agricultural areas are overestimated in some locations and underestimated in other locations. After analyzing the results, it was concluded that the CLC in the studied area is not a sufficiently precise GIS basis for agricultural land use planning at the local level. However, it can be a good starting point for making of LC/LU, which would significantly shorten the time of its creating.
SIMULATION OF THE EFFECTS OF POSSIBLE REGULATIONS FOR THE LOCATION OF WIND AND PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS IN THE LAZIO REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION (ITALY)
Authors: Baiocchi V. , Lelo K. , Marzaioli V. , Vatore F.
Published: August 2022

Abstract. The need to make electricity production increasingly sustainable requires careful planning of production plants, mainly for wind and photovoltaic energy conversion. Planning areas correctly, while respecting existing environmental constraints, is not an easy task and requires the collaboration of a panel of experts with different skills. The need to search for new sites to be allocated to renewable energy generation plants is demanded by the most pressing current events: it’s just in such a context that the Italian national legislation is undergoing a revision, which has entrusted the regional administrations with the task of identifying the territorial criteria. By simulations in GIS environments, it’s possible to study the effect of defining certain criteria on the territory, in order to assess in advance which and how many areas could have greater or lesser suitability. Based on this consideration, we proceeded to experiment with the effects of the most common constraints by developing a real simulation on the territory of the Lazio Region. The experimentation used the well-known open environment QGIS 3.22, which made it possible to exploit the possibilities offered by the open territorial databases of the Lazio Region. The first results show that the remaining areas after eliminating all those that are certainly unsuitable are a limited part of the Region itself. The analysis was extended to individual municipalities by comparing average yields per conceivable plant area, then comparing them with inhabitants for an initial estimate of energy needs at least for domestic use.
LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR AN ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK FOR PHOTOGRAMMETRIC RIVERINE BATHYMETRY
Authors: Belcore E. , Di Pietra V.
Published: August 2022

Abstract. This work aims to test the effectiveness of artificial intelligence for correcting water refraction in shallow inland water using very high-resolution images collected by Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and processed through a total FOSS workflow. The tests focus on using synthetic information extracted from the visible component of the electromagnetic spectrum. An artificial neural network is created using data of three morphologically similar alpine rivers. The RGB information, the SfM depth and seven radiometric indices are calculated and stacked in an 11-bands raster (input dataset). The depths are calculated as the difference between the Up component of the bathymetry cross-sections and the water surface quotas and constitute the dependent variable of the regression. The dataset is then scaled. The observations of one of the analyzed case studies are used as the unseen dataset to test the generalization capability of the model. The remaining observations are divided into test (20%) and training (80%) datasets. The generated NN is a 3-layer MLP model with one hidden layer and the Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU) and sigmoid activation functions. The weights are initialized to small Gaussian random values, and kernel regularizers, L1 and L2, are added to reduce the overfitting. Weights are updated with the Adam search technique, and the mean squared error is the loss function. The importance and significance of 11 variables are assessed. The model has a 0.70 r-squared score on the test dataset and 0.77 on the training dataset. The MAE is 0.06 and the RMSE 0.08, similar results obtained from the unseen dataset. Although the good metrics, the model shows some difficulties generalizing swallow depths.
WHO SPEAKS FOR THE FOREST? LOCAL KNOWLEDGE, PARTICIPATORY MAPPING AND COLLABORATIVE EVALUATION FOR GIS ANALYSIS IN THE TROPICS OF CENTRAL BALI, INDONESIA
Authors: Böhlen M. , Liu J. , Iryadi R.
Published: August 2022

Abstract. This paper describes a land survey of the Bedugul area in Central Bali that was constructed using multi-temporal and multi-spectral data collected from a new class of commercially available satellites to produce detailed land cover mappings. The paper discusses the significance of the land area under investigation, including difficulties in reading land cover features in the tropics. It describes participatory field mapping efforts set in place in order to complement the reading of remote sensing assets and our attempts to represent land use features of particular interest to a local NGO. We further discuss the challenges and opportunities of representing land cover and use scenarios that satellite assets can only partially capture. We use band operations and object-based classification methods to represent change in settlement activity in the area under observation. We also describe a collaborative cloud-based analysis and evaluation pipeline that facilitates the processing of different sources of remote sensing data as well as the representation of various types of land use scenarios defined with the assistance of local knowledge.