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This study presents a comparison between the use of wearable laser scanning (WLS) and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) devices for automatic tree detection with an estimation of two dendrometric variables: diameter at breast height (DBH) and total tree height (TH). Operative processes for data collection and automatic forest inventory are described in detail. The approach used is based on the clustering of points belonging to each individual tree, the isolation of the trunks, the iterative fitting of circles for the DBH calculation and the computation of the TH of each tree. TLS and WLS point clouds were compared by the statistical analysis of both estimated forest dendrometric parameters and the possible presence of bias. Results show that the apparent differences in point density and relative precision between both 3D forest models do not affect tree detection and DBH estimation. Nevertheless, tree height estimation using WLS appears to be affected by the limited scanning range of the WLS used in this study. TH estimations for trees below a certain height are equivalent using WLS or TLS, whereas TH of taller trees is clearly underestimated using WLS.

Abstract:Combinations of unmanned aerial platforms and multispectral sensors are considered low-cost tools for detailed spatial and temporal studies addressing spectral signatures, opening a broad range of applications in remote sensing. Thus, a key step in this process is knowledge of multi-spectral sensor calibration parameters in order to identify the physical variables collected by the sensor. This paper discusses the radiometric calibration process by means of a vicarious method applied to a high-spatial resolution unmanned flight using low-cost artificial and natural covers as control and check surfaces, respectively.

The recording and 3D modelling of complex archaeological sites is usually associated with high capital and logistical costs, because the data acquisition must be performed by specialists using expensive surveying sensors (i.e., terrestrial laser scanners, robotic total stations and/or ground-penetrating radar). This paper presents a novel, low-cost, user-friendly photogrammetric tool for generating high-resolution and scaled 3D models of complex sites. The results obtained with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry of an archaeological site indicate that this approach is semi-automatic, inexpensive and effective, and that it guarantees quality.

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Hydrological series are largely characterized by a strong random component in their behavior. More noticeable changes in the behavior patterns of rainfall/runoff temporal series are recently being observed. These modifications are not a trivial issue, especially in regards to peculiarities, non-linearities, diffused influences or higher time orders of dependence. This study mainly aimed to analyze the temporal dependence of an annual runoff series dynamically. This approach comprises a coupling between classic techniques (Autoregressive Moving Average Model, ARMA) and novel ones, based on Artificial Intelligent for hydrological research (Bayesian Networks, BNs). An ARMA model was built to provide reliable data to populate BNs. Then, causal reasoning, through Bayes's theorem, allows the identification of the logic structure of temporal dependences within time series. Furthermore, the resultant conditional probability permits the quantification of the relative percentage of annual runoff change, and provides the right time order of dependence. This research introduces an original methodology able to build a logic structure for a stochastic analysis of temporal behavior. This approach also aimed to provide a powerful and graphic modeling method for improving the understanding of the dynamic runoff series temporal behavior. This was successfully demonstrated in two unregulated river basin stretches, belonging to the Duero river basin which is the largest basin in Spain.

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