The topic of this thesis presents a digital front end (DFE) of the digital video broadcasting over terrestrial (DVB-T). The DVB-T system is similar to most of the prior digital communication system. It is roughly divided into two major parts, one for channel coding/decoding, and the other for modulation/demodulation. The thesis is mainly focused on the DVB-T digital video broadcasting demodulation part of the receiver and the integration of a complete digital front demodulation system. The major operational processor of the DFE is a 2K/8K dual-mode FFT processor, which has been implemented by the TSMC ( Taiwan Semiconductor Manu-facturing Company ) 0.35um 2P4M CMOS process technology to justify the simulation results as well as the correctness of the proposed architecture.

Abiotic and biotic variation has been shown to be important in regulating nutrient cycling and belowground communities in natural systems. However, genetic variation in dominant plants as a driver of rates of nutrient cycling is still poorly understood and few studies have looked at genotype interactions across multiple environments. Using Populus angustifolia and a common garden approach, we hypothesized that all three factors: tree genetic variation, environmental conditions and genetic by environment (G x E) interactions would affect soil carbon (C) storage and nitrogen (N) cycling. Replicated copies of five different reciprocally planted Populus genotypes were studied in three separate 18-21 year old common gardens at different elevations (1300m, 1384m and 1587m) in northern Utah, to measure the genotype and environmental effects on pools of soil C and N as well as rates of soil net N nitrification and net mineralization. Our results indicate that genotypes influence pools of soil C, total N and C:N, but genotype did not influence net rates of nitrogen mineralization. Environmental variation significantly influenced pools of soil C, total N, soil C:N and rates of net nitrification and net N mineralization. As predicted, G x E interactions significantly influenced both pools and processes of soil C and N cycling. Overall, we found that genetic variation in plant traits (tree diameter and leaf/root chemistry) as well as soil texture across gardens were significant predictors of soil C and N pools and fluxes across seasons. These data help us understand the relative role of genotypic variation on above- and belowground interactions in different environments and the consequences of these interactions on ecosystem processes. The results from this study show that across an environmental gradient Populus angustifolia genotypes can influence nitrogen mineralization through feedbacks between environmental variation, tree phenotype and soils.

Environmental and anthropogenic stressors negatively affect amphibians in a variety of ways, often increasing their vulnerability to pathogen infection and mortality. Sampling for the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) was conducted in order to: 1) determine the presence of chytrid infection in stream-associated plethodontid salamanders of southeastern Kentucky, and 2) evaluate differences in infection intensity between salamanders residing in intact forest streams, timber-harvested streams, and surface-mined streams. During 14 sampling sessions occurring between March, April and May of 2013, DNA samples from 306 individual salamanders within 8 species from the family Plethodontidae were collected; additional amphibians (i.e. frogs, newts) were opportunistically sampled when encountered. Approximately 2.1% of the salamanders and 50% of the frogs sampled from intact streams, 2.3% of the salamanders and 80% of the frogs sampled from the harvested streams, and none of the salamanders and 100% of the frogs sampled from the mined streams tested positive for Bd. No significant differences in occurrence of Bd or infection intensity were detected between the treatment sites (x2 = 0.59; p-value = 0.75), or between individuals of a species between different treatments (see tables). These findings are the first to demonstrate that Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is present in amphibians of eastern Kentucky.

Reliable prediction of climate change and its impact on and feedbacks from terrestrial carbon cycles requires realistic representation of physiological and ecological processes in coupled climate-carbon models. This is hampered by various deficiencies in model structures and parameters. The goal of my study is to improve model realism by incorporating latest advances of fundamental eco-physiological processes and further to use such improved models to investigate climate-carbon interactions at regional to global scales. I focus on the CO₂ diffusion within leaves (a key plant physiological process) and large-scale disturbances (a fundamental ecological process) as extremely important but not yet in current models. The CO₂ diffusion within plant leaves is characterized by mesophyll conductance (g[subscript m]), which strongly influences photosynthesis. I developed a g[subscript m] model by synthesizing new advances in plant-physiological studies and incorporated this model into the Community Land Model (CLM), a state-of-art climate-carbon model. I updated associated photosynthetic parameters based on a large dataset of leaf gas exchange measurements. Major findings are: (1) omission of g[subscript m] underestimates the maximum carboxylation rate and distorts its relationships with other parameters, leading to an incomplete understanding of leaf-level photosynthesis machinery; (2) proper representation of g[subscript m] is necessary for climate-carbon models to realistically predict carbon fluxes and their responsiveness to CO₂ fertilization; (3) fine tuning of parameters may compensate for model structural errors in contemporary simulations but introduce large biases in future predictions. Further, I have corrected a numerical deficiency of CLM in its calculation of carbon/water fluxes, which otherwise can bias model simulations. Large-scale disturbances of terrestrial ecosystems strongly affect their carbon sink strength. To provide insights for modeling these processes, I used satellite products to examine the temporal-spatial patterns of greenness after a massive ice storm. I found that the greenness of impacted vegetation recovered rapidly, especially in lightly and severely impacted regions. The slowest rebound occurred over moderately impacted areas. This nonlinear pattern was caused by an integrated effect of natural regrowth and human interventions. My results demonstrate mechanisms by which terrestrial carbon sinks could be significantly affected and help determine how these sinks will behave and so affect future climate. / text

Cooperation is pervasive in nature but paradoxically also provides opportunity to cheaters. My dissertation involves the study of both cooperation and conflict in two species of Megalopta bees. Megalopta is a Neotropical genus of halictid bees whose biology is characterized by complex life cycles that can range from solitary to eusocial. These bees nest in dead wood and forage under dim light conditions. Megalopta’s nests are inhabited by an extensive array of organisms and each nest therefore constitutes a miniature ecosystem providing opportunities for cooperation and conflict, both within and between species. I first delineate the social structure of M. genalis and M. ecuadoria nests in several Panamanian populations and integrate the factors that play a role in the behavioral decisions of females when joining a social group or not. Within a kin-selection framework, I discuss how genetic relatedness plays a role in the formation of social nests. Second, I investigate the conflict between host bees and a congener social parasite, and I elucidate reproductive structures that are relevant for understanding the evolution of parasitism. Finally, I describe a cleaning mutualism between Megalopta bees and their mite associates. Bee-mite associations encompass a broad spectrum of interspecific interactions. Some bee-mites are thought to perform cleaning services for their hosts in exchange for suitable environments for reproduction and dispersal. Field observations and experimental manipulation reveal a significant correlation between the presence of mites and the absence of fungi inside the brood cells, as well as between the absence of mites and increased bee mortality. This study therefore provides evidence of the sanitary effect of mites in nests of Megalopta bees. This bee-mite association constitutes one of the few examples of terrestrial cleaning mutualisms. / text

This research focused on pre and post-disaster planning in Malaysia since the adoption of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005–2015 and national Vision 2020. A review of the existing research and practice in Malaysia including the structure and attitude of government officers at central and local authorities to risk was the starting point. The regulatory compliance to the Malaysia National Security Council MNSC Directive 20 programme is a key focus. The MNSC Directive 20 exists as the important core of disaster regulation in Malaysia but the implementation is not according to plan and regulatory compliance was low. Failures in regulation and compliance were identified as the key vulnerability and disaster causes in Malaysia. The beneficiaries were actually unaware of non-compliance that exposed them to hazard. In general, the more developed Asian economies, of which Malaysia is one, have not devoted much attention to pre-disaster planning despite a rapidly growing capital stock of buildings including public and private housing. Although the Asian Development Bank has provided templates for pre-disaster planning, the uptake has been slow. This Malaysian case study is an important example, not just for the country but the region. The aim of this research is to highlight shortfalls in provision, training and awareness, and to recommend ways of improvement. Gathered actors’ perspectives in the implementation of regulatory compliance in all level of emergency management system in Malaysia helps to explain the reason of regulatory compliance failures. Measuring their attitudes towards regulatory compliance reveals actual commitment because regulatory compliance would require making changes to existing barriers in the administrative environment. These changes would have to be based, to a large extent, on how actors’ perceived and judged the benefits of regulatory compliance implementation. The research uses both quantitative and qualitative methods together that involved 484 respondents. They have broadly negative general attitudes towards regulatory compliance, arguing that currently too many barriers are present in department levels to make regulatory compliance implementation straightforward. They need informative advice and guidance to enable them to see the very probable societal benefits that can lead towards regulatory compliance development. The research concludes by categorising obstacles that need to be overcome, to encourage actors to accept regulatory compliance and recommends changes to department structures, systems and practices prior to regulatory compliance implementation.

The deficiencies of traditional dendrometry mean improvements in methods of tree mensuration are necessary in order to obtain accurate tree metrics for applications such as resource appraisal, and biophysical and ecological modelling. This thesis tests the potential of SfM-MVS (Structure-fromMotion with Multi-View Stereo-photogrammetry) using the software package PhotoScan Professional, for accurately determining linear (2D) and volumetric (3D) tree metrics. SfM is a remote sensing technique, in which the 3D position of objects is calculated from a series of photographs, resulting in a 3D point cloud model. Unlike other photogrammetric techniques, SfM requires no control points or camera calibration. The MVS component of model reconstruction generates a mesh surface based on the structure of the SfM point cloud. The study was divided into two research components, for which two different groups of study trees were used: 1) 30 small, potted ‘nursery’ trees (mean height 2.98 m), for which exact measurements could be made and field settings could be modified, and; 2) 35 mature ‘landscape’ trees (mean height 8.6 m) located in parks and reserves in urban areas around the South Island, New Zealand, for which field settings could not be modified. The first component of research tested the ability of SfM-MVS to reconstruct spatially-accurate 3D models from which 2D (height, crown spread, crown depth, stem diameter) and 3D (volume) tree metrics could be estimated. Each of the 30 nursery trees was photographed and measured with traditional dendrometry to obtain ground truth values with which to evaluate against SfM-MVS estimates. The trees were destructively sampled by way of xylometry, in order to obtain true volume values. The RMSE for SfM-MVS estimates of linear tree metrics ranged between 2.6% and 20.7%, and between 12.3% and 47.5% for volumetric tree metrics. Tree stems were reconstructed very well though slender stems and branches were reconstructed poorly. The second component of research tested the ability of SfM-MVS to reconstruct spatially-accurate 3D models from which height and DBH could be estimated. Each of the 35 landscape trees, which varied in height and species, were photographed, and ground truth values were obtained to evaluate against SfM-MVS estimates. As well as this, each photoset was thinned to find the minimum number of images required to achieve total image alignment in PhotoScan and produce an SfM point cloud (minimum photoset), from which 2D metrics could be estimated. The height and DBH were estimated by SfM-MVS from the complete photosets with RMSE of 6.2% and 5.6% respectively. The height and DBH were estimated from the minimum photosets with RMSE of 9.3% and 7.4% respectively. The minimum number of images required to achieve total alignment was between 20 and 50. There does not appear to be a correlation between the minimum number of images required for alignment and the error in the estimates of height or DBH (R2 =0.001 and 0.09 respectively). Tree height does not appear to affect the minimum number of images required for image alignment (R 2 =0.08).

No description available.

Den nya mätningstekniken på marknaden kallas terrester laserskanning. Tekniken bygger på att ett instrument, monterat på ett stativ, sänder ut en laserstråle vilken avlänkas i vertikalled av en spegel samtidigt som det roterar. Laserstrålen reflekteras mot de objekt som befinner sig inom laserskannerns synfält och resulterar i ett punktmoln. Punktmolnet innehåller ofta flera miljoner punkter vilka alla erhåller xyz-koordinater. Tekniken har visat sig lämplig vid dokumentation av byggnader och vid modellering samt kartläggning av industrier och tunnelbyggen. Denna studie har genomförts på Sweco VBB i Karlstad i syfte att ta reda på hur lämplig terrester laserskanning är vid vardaglig inmätning och kartering av objekt i stadsmiljö. Metoden har jämförts med traditionell inmätning med totalstation utifrån ett antal frågeställningar. I studien laserskannades två korsningar i Vasastaden, Stockholm. Instrumentet som användes var en IMAGER 5006 av märket Zoller+Fröhlich. De totalt sex stycken skanningarna resulterade i punktmoln vilka georefererades genom att måltavlor mättes in med totalstation. Efterbearbetningen bestod av registrering, redigering och reducering av punktmolnen. Genom manuell tolkning av punktmolnen och med hjälp av verktyget Virtual Surveyor i Leica Geosystems programvara Cyclone, kunde olika objekt mätas in och kartläggning av de båda korsningarna ske. En generell jämförelse mellan terrester laserskanning och totalstation visar att laserskanning är en snabb metod som ger stora mängder data med hög detaljrikedom, medger en större säkerhet i fält och ger enorma möjligheter för visualisering, modellering och skapande av terrängmodeller. Laserskanning är dock en dyr metod som ger en något sämre noggrannhet och som ännu inte klarar att mäta sträckor över hundra meter. Metoden kräver också totalstation (eller GPS) för georeferering. Studien har också visat att tidsvinsten som uppkommer i fält förloras genom tidsödande efterbearbetning och manuell tolkning av punktmolnet. Trots detta använder idag ett flertal företag denna metod vid inmätning. Slutsatserna pekar främst på att laserskanning som inmätningsmetod lämpar sig bäst över små områden där antalet objekt är högt och där säkerheten i fält är viktig. Dock ses metoden mer som ett komplement till totalstationen genom de möjligheter som erbjuds via visualisering och modellering och därmed inte en ersättare för den senare. / A new technique for surveying is the terrestrial laser scanning. The technique is based on an instrument, mounted on a tripod, emitting a laser pulse which is vertically deflected by a mirror while rotating. The laser pulse is reflected by the objects within the field of view of the laser scanner. The laser scan results in a point cloud most often containing several millions of points which all have XYZ-coordinates. The technique has proven its benefits when documenting buildings, modelling and surveying of industries and tunnels. This study has been carried out at Sweco VBB in Karlstad in purpose of finding out how suitable terrestrial laser scanning is for everyday surveying in urban environment. The method has been compared with traditional surveying with total station from a number of questions. In the study two crossings in Vasastaden, Stockholm, were scanned. The instrument used was an IMAGER 5006 from Zoller+Fröhlich. The 6 scannings resulted in point clouds which were georeferenced by using targets and a total station. The post processing consisted of registering, editing and reducing the point clouds. Through manual interpretation of the point clouds and by using the tool Virtual Surveyor in the program Cyclone by Leica Geosystems it was possible to survey different objects at the crossings. A general comparison between terrestrial laser scanning and total station shows that laser scanning is a rapid method producing large amounts of data with a high level of details, allows higher security in field and gives enormous possibilities for visualisation, modelling and creating of terrain models. However, laser scanning is an expensive method which gives a slightly lower accuracy and yet cannot be used for longer distances. The method also demands total station (or GPS) for georeferencing. The study has also shown that the saving of time in field is lost by time consuming post processing and manual interpretation of the point cloud. Nonetheless this method is used by several companies for everyday surveying. The conclusions advert mostly that laser scanning is best suitable for small areas where the number of objects is high and where security in field is important. Nevertheless, the method should be seen more as a compliment to the total station because of the possibilities offered by visualisation and modelling and therefore not as a replacement for the latter.

Die automatisierte Objektidentifikation stellt ein modernes Werkzeug in den Geoinformationswissenschaften dar (BLASCHKE et al., 2012). Um bei thematischen Kartierungen untereinander vergleichbare Ergebnisse zu erzielen, sollen aus Sicht der Geoinformatik Mittel für die Objektidentifikation eingesetzt werden. Anstelle von Feldarbeit werden deshalb in der vorliegenden Arbeit multispektrale Fernerkundungsdaten als Primärdaten verwendet. Konkrete natürliche Objekte werden GIS-gestützt und automatisiert über große Flächen und Objektdichten aus Primärdaten identifiziert und charakterisiert. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit wird eine automatisierte Prozesskette zur Objektidentifikation konzipiert. Es werden neue Ansätze und Konzepte der objektbasierten Identifikation von natürlichen isolierten terrestrischen Oberflächenformen entwickelt und implementiert. Die Prozesskette basiert auf einem Konzept, das auf einem generischen Ansatz für automatisierte Objektidentifikation aufgebaut ist. Die Prozesskette kann anhand charakteristischer quantitativer Parameter angepasst und so umgesetzt werden, womit das Konzept der Objektidentifikation modular und skalierbar wird. Die modulbasierte Architektur ermöglicht den Einsatz sowohl einzelner Module als auch ihrer Kombination und möglicher Erweiterungen. Die eingesetzte Methodik der Objektidentifikation und die daran anschließende Charakteristik der (geo)morphometrischen und morphologischen Parameter wird durch statistische Verfahren gestützt. Diese ermöglichen die Vergleichbarkeit von Objektparametern aus unterschiedlichen Stichproben. Mit Hilfe der Regressionsund Varianzanalyse werden Verhältnisse zwischen Objektparametern untersucht. Es werden funktionale Abhängigkeiten der Parameter analysiert, um die Objekte qualitativ zu beschreiben. Damit ist es möglich, automatisiert berechnete Maße und Indizes der Objekte als quantitative Daten und Informationen zu erfassen und unterschiedliche Stichproben anzuwenden. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit bilden Thermokarstseen die Grundlage für die Entwicklungen und als Beispiel sowie Datengrundlage für den Aufbau des Algorithmus und die Analyse. Die Geovisualisierung der multivariaten natürlichen Objekte wird für die Entwicklung eines besseren Verständnisses der räumlichen Relationen der Objekte eingesetzt. Kern der Geovisualisierung ist das Verknüpfen von Visualisierungsmethoden mit kartenähnlichen Darstellungen. / The automated object identification represents a modern tool in geoinformatics (BLASCHKE et al., 2012). In order to achieve results in thematic mapping comparable among one another, considering geoinformatics, means of object identification should be applied. Therefore, instead of fieldwork, multispectral remote-sensing data have been used as a primary data source in this work. Specific natural objects have been GIS-based and automatically identified and characterised from the primary data over large areas and object densities. Within this work, an automated process chain for the object identification has been developed. New approaches and concepts of object-based identification of natural isolated terrestrial landforms have been developed and implemented. The process chain is based on a concept that develops a generic approach to the automated object identification. This process chain can be customised for and applied to specific objects by settings of characteristic quantitative parameters, by which the concept of object identification becomes modular and scalable. The modul-based architecture enables use of individual moduls as well as their combinations and possible expansions. The introduced methodology of object identification and the connected characteristics of (geo)morphometric and morphologic parameters has been supported by a static procedures. These enable the comparability of object parameters from different samples. With the help of regression and variance analysis, relations between object parameters have been explored. Functional dependencies of parameters have been analysed in order to qualitatively describe the objects. As a result, automatically computed dimensions and indices of the objects can be captured as quantitative data and informations an applied to varied samples. Within this work the thermokarst lakes represent the basis for the process development and an example and a data basis for the design of the algorithm and analysis. The goevisualisation of multivariant natural objects has been applied to develop better understanding of their spatial relations. The essence of the geovisualisation is to link the methods of visualisation to map-like presentation.