In recent years, new approaches to the problem of Automated Target Recognition using techniques of shape theory and algebraic geometry have been explored. The power of this shape theoretic approach is that it allows one to develop tests for object/image matching that do not require knowledge of the object’s position in relation to the sensor nor the internal parameters of the sensor. Furthermore, these methods do not depend on the choice of coordinate systems in which the objects and images are represented. In this dissertation, we will expand on existing shape theoretic techniques and adapt these techniques to new sensor models. In each model, we develop an appropriate notion of shape for our objects and images and define the spaces of such shapes. The goal in each case is to develop tests for matching object and image shapes under an appropriate class of projections. The first tests we develop take the form of systems of polynomial equations (the so-called object/image relations) that check for exact matches of object/image pairs. Later, a more robust approach to matching is obtained by defining metrics on the shape spaces. This allows us in each model to develop a measure of “how close” an object is to being able to produce a given image. We conclude this dissertation by computing a number of examples using these tests for object/image matching.

In response to recent declines, forested riparian wetland areas have become an increased conservation and management area of concern focusing on increasing biodiversity and promoting healthy ecosystem services. Additionally, passerine birds have also experienced a sharp global decline in that associated habitat. To mitigate further declines of both habitat and species numbers government programs and agencies have intensified conservation efforts. However, the practices employed are often assumed to be beneficial without conducting dedicated surveys to measure efficacy and practicality of current approaches. As such, visual evidence and statistics are often needed to promote or validate further support and funding for continuing with current polices or creating new focal areas and practices. This study strives to provide an inexpensive, efficient way to assess conservation areas based on a target species through a generalized and adaptive methodology. The Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge in southern Illinois provides an opportunity to do just that with a focus on songbirds. The methodology outlined in this study implements multiple remote sensing land use and land cover classification techniques utilizing Landsat imagery from 1984 to 2014 to create a temporal analysis of the region from pre-refuge era to current refuge designated era. Field surveys from the 2015 songbird summer breeding and fall migration seasons as well as vegetation surveys for field-truthing supplement the remote sensing results. The classification methodology incudes a combination of pan-sharpening Landsat images to a 15 m x 15 m spatial resolution, texture analysis, object based image analysis, and Random Forests to produce land use and land cover maps. For the sake of comparison the same classification process is performed with the untransformed, source images at 30 m x 30 m spatial resolution. Landscape metrics such as the interspersion and juxtaposition index and the contiguity index also provide further insight to temporal landscape patterns. At the completion of the study it was found that there was a minimal difference between the overall classification accuracy of transformed and untransformed images and that lowest overall accuracy in the study was 91% while the highest was 98%. The key survey statistics concluded that during the summer and fall observation periods songbirds in forested wetland areas had a propensity to utilize areas closest to the wetland edge as opposed to inland areas. Furthermore, during fall migration it was concluded that the mixed forest habitat type had a direct effect on observation numbers. Overall, with the aid of multiple landscape metrics, it was shown that the region was increasing in forested area, patch density, and contiguity; in response the passerines were using the area at a high rate, especially near wetland edges creating a sustainable focal area for conservation and management. The methodology and results in this study contribute to an ongoing effort to provide visual and statistical evidence that is reliable and accessible for policy making. The potential to manipulate the generalized methods used in this study to enhance any land use and land class classifications and apply to any targeted species certainly exists. Future studies will want to investigate the use of higher spatial resolution images or actively take reflectance recordings in the field and supplement the temporal maps with a multi-year dedicated species dataset for maximum benefit.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The present research in visual arts has proposed to investigate, so practical and theoretical, the process of a series of poetic works, seeking to establish new relationships in order to propose a dialogue between language and means ceramic photographic and videography. We suggest the combination of digital resources as agents for trial between languages, materials, techniques and support of hybrid possibilities. From these choices, resize to the ways in different contexts of displacement: at first, in the studio pottery, in a second stage, in a meeting place - the existing Pottery Campus UFSM - seen as potential place-image, in a third time, it operates with the place of exposure and assemblages (interaction) in its surroundings. Such possibilities are experienced in all the poetic works, build relationships of proximity, specific conceptual and procedural and present intertwine in research, helping to contextualize the practice. Thus, the series production facilities Between Ball 1, 2 Between Spheres, Balls Between 3 and artistic proposals A Whole in Parts I, II and III proposed relationships, travels, crosses and associations, establishing new roads and contributing to the poetic research contemporary art. / A presente pesquisa em Artes Visuais tem como proposta investigar, de modo prático-teórico, o processo poético de um conjunto de obras, buscando estabelecer novas relações de sentido ao propor um diálogo entre a linguagem cerâmica e os meios fotográfico e vídeográfico. Para tanto, sugere a associação de recursos digitais como agentes de experimentação entre as linguagens, materiais, técnicas e como suporte de possibilidades híbridas. A partir dessas escolhas, redimensionamse os caminhos em contextos distintos de deslocamentos: em um primeiro momento, no ateliê de cerâmica; em um segundo momento, no encontro de um lugar a Olaria existente no Campus da UFSM visto potencialmente como lugar-imagem; em um terceiro momento, opera-se com o lugar da exposição e agenciamentos (interação) em seu entorno. Tais possibilidades são experienciadas no conjunto poético das obras, tecendo relações de proximidades, especificidades conceituais e processuais que se apresentam e se entrelaçam na pesquisa, contribuindo para contextualizar esta prática. Assim, a produção da série instalações Entre Esferas 1, Entre Esferas 2, Entre Esferas 3 e as propostas artísticas Um Todo em Partes I, II e III propuseram relações, deslocamentos, hibridações e associações, estabelecendo novos caminhos poéticos e contribuindo para a pesquisa em arte contemporânea.