Semi-natural landscapes are recognized as suitable habitats for different plant species and provide ecosystem services that contribute to increased plant biodiversity. At the stand level, plant biodiversity is influenced by vegetation structure, of which vegetation height is an important parameter. Photogrammetry from drone captured images has the potential to provide a quick and cost-effective analysis of vegetation height. In addition, the relation between spectral signatures and species distribution can indicate where higher plant biodiversity can be found, as species can be identified based on their spectral signature. Spectral signatures are thus used in the current study in conjunction with vegetation height as a proxy for plant biodiversity in herbaceous-dominated patches. Two field surveys were conducted to collect drone data and reflectance data in July and August 2019. Twelve plots of ten metres diametre were delimited in the drone-derived orthophotos around the reflectance readings coordinates. In order to assess vegetation height, the difference between the digital surface model derived from the orthophotos and the national digital elevation model was determined. Two statistical indices were calculated: the modified soil-adjusted vegetation index (MSAVI) and the coefficient of variation of heights (CV). The relationship between the two indices was evaluated as a proxy for plant biodiversity. Drone-derived point clouds can be used to measure vegetation height in herbaceous-dominated environments due to the very fine scale of drone imagery. A possible negative correlation was found between MSAVI and CV on both surveyed months (July r2 = 0.675; August r2 = 0.401) if the outlier plots were removed from the analysis. There is not enough evidence to clearly explain the anomalous behaviour of the outlier plots. Further research is needed to confirm the use of the relationship between vegetation height variability and reflectance as a proxy for plant biodiversity assessment in herbaceous-dominated environments.

The implementation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Structure‐from‐Motion (SfM) photogrammetry in assessing forest structures for forest inventory and biomass estimations has shown great promise in reducing costs and labour intensity while providing relative accuracy. Tree Height (TH) and Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) are two major variables in biomass assessment. UAV-based TH estimations depend on reliable Digital Terrain Models (DTMs), while UAV-based DBH estimations depend on reliable dense photogrammetric point cloud. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of multirotor UAV photogrammetric point cloud in estimating homogeneous and heterogeneous forest structures, and their comparison to more accurate LiDAR data obtained from Aerial Laser Scanners (ALS), Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS), and more conventional means like manual field measurements. TH was assessed using UAVSfM and LiDAR point cloud derived DTMs, while DBH was assessed by comparing UAVSfM photogrammetric point cloud to LiDAR point cloud, as well as to manual measurements. The results obtained in the study indicated that there was a high correlation between UAVSfM TH and ALSLiDAR TH (R2 = 0.9258) for homogeneous forest structures, while a lower correlation between UAVSfM TH and TLSLiDAR TH (R2 = 0.8614) and UAVSfM TH and ALSLiDAR TH (R2 = 0.8850) was achieved for heterogeneous forest structures. A moderate correlation was obtained between UAVSfM DBH and field measurements (R2 = 0.5955) for homogenous forest structures, as well as between UAVSfM DBH and TLSLiDAR DBH (R2 = 0.5237), but a low correlation between UAVSfM DBH and UAVLiDAR DBH (R2 = 0.1114). This research has demonstrated that UAVSfM can be adequately used as a cheaper alternative in forestry management compared to more highcost and accurate LiDAR, as well as traditional technologies, depending on accuracy requirements.

Diploma thesis concerns methodology, safety and common pilot’s mistakes in phase of landing. It concludes statistics and landing accident reports of airplanes with maximum take-off weight of 5700 kg. It also concerns method of height estimating above ground. It describes usable systems for landing aid and suggests its own technical solutions for safety improvements based on poll.

Durant les premières années de marche indépendante, l'enfant voit sa stratégie de marche évoluer. De plus, il est rapidement amené à porter des chaussures dont l'influence sur sa marche est peu connue, même si documentée dans certains domaines particuliers (e.g. cas pathologiques, sport). Cette thèse consiste en la mesure de plus de 100 enfants sains, âgés entre 1 et 7 ans, marchant pieds nus et avec des chaussures spécifiquement développées pour l'étude (3 éléments variables : hauteur de talon, dureté de semelle et hauteur de tige). Des âges-clés, correspondant à l'âge où les paramètres biomécaniques sont semblables à ceux de l'adulte, ont été mis en évidence : 4 ans pour la cheville, 6 ans pour la hanche, et 7 ans pour le genou. Des régressions sur les paramètres biomécaniques en fonction de l'âge et de la vitesse de marche ont également été développées afin de servir de référence de population saine pour les études cliniques. Les mesures avec les chaussures ont révélé une influence prépondérante de la hauteur de talon sur la marche (e.g. mobilisation plus importante de la cheville avec un talon plus haut). À l'inverse, une tige haute sollicite moins la cheville au cours de l'appui. La dureté de semelle est relativement peu influente sur les paramètres de marche. Cette thèse a permis de préciser les résultats mis en évidence sur la maturation de la marche pieds nus et d'apporter des premières réponses aux industriels français de la chaussure enfant sur l'influence des éléments de conception de leurs produits sur la marche. Des futures mesures, plus nombreuses, permettraient de conclure sur l'influence croisée de ces éléments de conception / During first years of independent walking, children gait changes. Moreover, children wear shoes soon. Although gait of specific population was largely studied (e.g. pathological people, sports), shoe influence on young children gait is quite unknown. This thesis includes measurement of young children walking barefoot and wearing shoes especially designed for this study (3 variables components: heel height, upper height and sole hardness). For barefoot gait, a large database of biomechanical parameters was obtained, including more than 100 children aged between 1 and 7 years old. Key age were identified, corresponding to the age when biomechanical parameters are identical to adults’: 4 years for the ankle, 6 years for the hip and 7 years for the knee. Regressions between biomechanical parameters, age and speed were also established as a reference of healthy children for clinical application. Shoed measurements revealed leading influence of heel height on gait (e.g. more ankle mobilization with higher heel). Contrarily, high upper limits ankle movement during stance phase. Sole hardness poorly influences gait parameters. This thesis precises previous results obtained on gait maturation and delivers indications on shoe conception influence on gait for French children’s shoes manufacturers. Further measurements may allow conclusion about cross influence of shoe conception elements on children gait

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The natural grasslands of the Pampa Biome has been the forage base to the livestock at the Rio Grande do Sul state for over three centuries. However, the studies relative to primary and secundary production are still, relativelly recents which, consequently, reflected in lower productives indices in this grasslands. The aim of this work was to evaluate the beef heifers' performance, at pre-mating stage, in two grazing methods using the sward height as the grazing intensity criteria. The treatments were two grazing methods (continuous and rotational) in a natural grassland at autumn-winter period with a same grazing intensity. The tester animals were beef heifers with initial age of 17 months and initial body weight of 258 kg. Evaluated variables were available forage mass (AFM), available forage on offer (AFF), height of the lower stratum (HLS), crude protein (CP), neuter detergent fiber (NDF), in situ organic matter digestibility (ISOMD), total digestible nutrients (TDN), average daily gain (ADG), body condition score (BCS), reproductive trait score (RTS) and stocking rate (SR). There was no interaction treatments×periods for any investigated variable. AFM and HLS were decreasing and the AFF was similar over time. CP and NDF were similar over time and ISOMD and TDN decreasing. The ADG was positive only at third experimental period while that BCS, RTS and SR decreasing over time. The animal performance achieved did not enable the corporal and reproductive development conditions to provide the mating of the heifers. / As pastagens naturais do Bioma Pampa tem sido a base forrageira da pecuária de corte no Rio Grande do Sul há mais de três séculos. Entretanto, os estudos relativos à produção primária e secundária nesse ecossistema ainda são, relativamente, recentes o quê, por sua vez, reflete nos baixos índices produtivos nas pastagens naturais. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho de novilhas de corte, na fase pré-acasalamento, em dois métodos de pastoreio utilizando a altura da pastagem como critério de intensidade de pastejo. Os tratamentos avaliados foram dois métodos de pastoreio (contínuo e rotativo) em uma pastagem natural no período outono-inverno sob uma mesma intensidade de pastejo. Os animais teste foram novilhas de corte com idade média inicial de 17 meses e peso corporal médio inicial de 258 kg. Massa de forragem disponibilizada e altura do estrato inferior foram decrescentes e a oferta de forragem disponibilizada semelhante ao longo do período experimental. Proteína bruta e fibra em detergente neutro foram semelhantes ao longo do período experimental e digestibilidade in situ da matéria orgânica e nutrientes digestíveis totais decresceram. O ganho médio diário foi positivo apenas no terceiro período experimental enquanto que escore de condição corporal, escore do trato reprodutivo e taxa de lotação decresceram. O desempenho animal obtido não possibilitou condições de desenvolvimento corporal e do trato reprodutivo que propiciassem o acasalamento das mesmas aos 24 meses de idade.

As science and technology continue to advance, innovative developments in transportation can enhance product safety and security for the benefit and welfare of society. The federal government requires every commercial truck to be inspected before each trip. This pre-trip inspection ensures the safe mechanical condition of each vehicle before it is used. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) could be used to provide an automated inspection, thus reducing driver workload, inspection costs and time while increasing inspection accuracy. This thesis develops a primary component of the algorithm that is required to implement UAV pre-trip inspections for commercial trucks using an android-based application. Specifically, this thesis provides foundational work of providing stable height control in an outdoor environment using a laser sensor and an android flight control application that includes take-off, landing, throttle control, and real-time video transmission. The height algorithm developed is the core of this thesis project. Phantom 2 Vision+ uses a pressure sensor to calculate the altitude of the drone for height stabilization. However, these altitude readings do not provide the precision required for this project. Rather, the goal of autonomously controlling height with great precision necessitated the use of a laser rangefinder sensor in the development of the height control algorithm. Another major contribution from this thesis research is to extend the limited capabilities of the DJI software development kit in order to provide more sophisticated control goals without modifying the drone dynamics. The results of this project are also directly applicable to a number of additional uses of drones in the transportation industry.

No description available.

Three-dimensional (3D) whole body scanners are increasingly used as precise measuring tools for the rapid quantification of anthropometric measures in epidemiological studies. We analyzed 3D whole body scanning data of nearly 10,000 participants of a cohort collected from the adult population of Leipzig, one of the largest cities in Eastern Germany. We present a novel approach for the systematic analysis of this data which aims at identifying distinguishable clusters of body shapes called body types. In the first step, our method aggregates body measures provided by the scanner into meta-measures, each representing one relevant dimension of the body shape. In a next step, we stratified the cohort into body types and assessed their stability and dependence on the size of the underlying cohort. Using self-organizing maps (SOM) we identified thirteen robust meta-measures and fifteen body types comprising between 1 and 18 percent of the total cohort size. Thirteen of them are virtually gender specific (six for women and seven for men) and thus reflect most abundant body shapes of women and men. Two body types include both women and men, and describe androgynous body shapes that lack typical gender specific features. The body types disentangle a large variability of body shapes enabling distinctions which go beyond the traditional indices such as body mass index, the waist-to-height ratio, the waist-to-hip ratio and the mortality-hazard ABSI-index. In a next step, we will link the identified body types with disease predispositions to study how size and shape of the human body impact health and disease.

Fire spread between objects within a compartment is primarily due to the impingement of thermal radiation from the fire source. In order to estimate if or when a remote object from the fire will ignite, one must be able to quantify the radiative heat flux being received by the target. There are a variety of methods presented in the literature that attempt to calculate the thermal radiation to a target; each one based on assumptions about the fire. The performance of six of these methods, of varying complexity, is investigated in this research. This includes the common point source model, three different cylindrical models, a basic correlation and a planar model. In order to determine the performance of each method, the predictions made by the models were compared with actual measurements of radiant heat flux. This involved taking heat flux readings at numerous locations surrounding a propane gas burner. Different fire scenarios were represented by varying the burner geometry and heat release rate. Video recordings of the experiments were used to determine the mean flame heights using video image analysis software. After comparing the measured data with predictions made by the theoretical radiation methods, the point source model was found to be the best performing method on average. This was unexpected given the relative simplicity of the model in comparison to some of its counterparts. Additionally, the point source model proved to be the most robust of the six methods investigated, being least affected by the experimental variables. The Dayan and Tien method, one of the cylindrical models, was the second most accurate over the range of conditions tested in this work. Based on these findings, recommendations are made as to the most appropriate method for use in a radiation sub-model within an existing zone model software. The accuracy shown by the point source model, coupled with its ease of implementation, means that it should be suitable for such a use.

This study used airborne gravity data, the 2008 Earth Gravity Model (EGM08) and Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) digital elevation data in a ‘Remove-Compute-Restore’ process to determine absolute vertical reference system for Ethiopia. This gives a geopotential height at any isolated field point where there is a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurement without reference to a vertical network or a regional datum point. Previously, height was determined conventionally by connecting the desired field point physically to a nearby bench mark of a vertical network using co-located measurements of gravity and spirit levelling. With the use of precise GNSS positioning and a gravity model this method becomes obsolesce. The new approach uses the ‘Remove-Restore’ process to eliminate longer to shorter wavelengths from the measured gravity data using EGM08 and geometrical and condensed gravity models of the SRTM data. This provides small, smooth and localised residuals so that the interpolation and integration involved is reliable and the Stokes-like integral can be legitimately restricted to a spherical cap. A very fast, stable and accurate computational algorithm has been formulated by combining ‘hedgehog’ and ‘multipoint’ models in order to make tractable an unavoidably huge computational task required to remove the effects of about 1.5 billion! SRTM topographic mass elements representing Ethiopia and its immediate surroundings at 92433 point airborne gravity observations. The compute stage first uses an iterative Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to predict residual gravity at aircraft height as a regular grid on to the surface of the ellipsoidal Earth and then it used a Fourier operation equivalent to Stokes’ integral to transform the localised gravity disturbance to residual potential. The restore process determines the geopotential number on or above the Earth’s surface where practitioners need it by restoring the potential effects of the removed masses. The accuracy of the geopotential number computed from gravity and topography was evaluated by comparing it with the one derived directly from EGM08 and precise geodetic levelling. The new model is in a good agreement across 100 km baseline with a standard deviation of 56 10−2 2 −2 × m s and 39 10−2 2 −2 × m s relative to EGM08 and levelling, respectively ( 10−2 2 −2 m s is approximately equivalent to 1mm of height). The new method provides an absolute geopotential height of a point on or above the Earth’s surface in a global sense by interpolating from geopotential models prepared as the digital grids carried in a chip for use with the GNSS receiver in the field.