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Transient-Based Channel Classification with Chirplet Transform and Convolutional Neural Networks
No full textThe identification of the channel propagation environment is a valuable function in wireless communication systems because mitigation techniques could be applied to mitigate the negative effects of the environment like fading or attenuation. Recent studies have investigated the use of machine learning and more specifically deep learning for channel classification with considerable success either in the time domain or spectral domain. This paper proposes an analysis of the application of chirplet transforms to the classification of the propagation environment in combination with a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). A novel aspect of this study is that it exploits a specific component of the transmitted signal (e.g., the transient rampup portion) rather than relying on ad-hoc signals (i.e., channel sounder) or the preamble as commonly done. The results of the approach applied to a public data set of ZigBee devices show that the use of the chirplet transform supports a classification performance with accuracy higher than 95% and outperforms the use of other time frequency transforms like the spectrogram even in presence of noise.JRC.E.2 - Space, Connectivity and Economic Securit
Guidance on establishing European rules for the design of reclaimed steel components for reuse
Get PDFIn the construction industry, the reuse of components is a key strategy for reducing CO₂ emissions. Steel structures are particularly suitable for reuse due to their high degree of prefabrication and the limited degradation they typically undergo during dismantling. However, the structural application of reclaimed steel requires a coherent framework of concepts and guidelines covering evaluation, reclamation, storage, market integration, design, fabrication, and erection. Furthermore, aspects such as contracting, stakeholder responsibilities, and interface management must be addressed.
To promote the reuse of structural steel across European countries, clear safety assessment procedures and design rules are essential. This document highlights the most relevant issues related to designing new structures using reclaimed structural steel in accordance with EN 1993, defining the scope, giving proposals, and outlining necessary action plans.JRC.E.3 - Built Environmen
Climate Preparedness for Prosperity Peer Review Tool
Get PDFEuropean cities, regions and countries are increasingly facing climate impacts. Anticipating what is coming can help us not only to be better prepared for climate change risks, but by focusing innovation efforts on finding solutions, it can also boost competitiveness. This requires developing more integrated adaptation plans that combine innovation and other funding, as well as innovation policies and other relevant policies towards climate adaptation. Connecting with and learning from peer territories is a valuable way to speed up efforts in doing so. This tool outlines the underlying methodology for running Peer Reviews on Transformative Innovation for Climate Change Adaptation, using examples of past peer learnings. It serves public administrations at local, urban, regional and national level, that wish to improve the way they address current and expected impacts of climate change through innovation.JRC.B.7 - Innovation Policies and Economic Impac
I.9 Agricultural Sector Resilience Progress Indicator
Get PDFThis technical report presents the conceptual and methodological foundations of the Agricultural Sector Resilience Progress Indicator, included in the Common Agricultural Policies (CAP) Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (PMEF) as indicator I.9. The indicator is designed to assess the capacity of the European Union farming sector to withstand and adapt to climate-related stressors. It is composed of four policy-relevant sub-indicators covering production, income, water, and soil resilience. It evaluates both the current resilience status and progress over time, using 15-year reference (2001–2015) and evaluation (2007–2021) periods benchmarked against EU-27 performance distributions. This report details the methodological choices and interpretation of I.9, providing a transparent framework for its application and future refinement.
The primary purpose of the indicator is to serve as an early-warning system, i.e. flagging when performance across key resilience dimensions is regressing, stagnating, or progressing. To support this objective, a simple three-grade scoring system [0, 0.5, 1] was adopted, applied to each sub-indicator and aggregated into the composite index. This approach enables meaningful interpretation of shifts over time while facilitating communication with stakeholders. It avoids overemphasising minor rank differences and maintains flexibility in assessing broader trends in sectoral resilience.
The indicator is made operational through an interactive online dashboard that allows users to explore resilience trends across Member States and time. The report concludes with recommendations to enhance the I.9 framework, including the integration of additional indicators such as drought resilience and crop diversity, and emphasizes the strategic importance of diversification in mitigating farmers' exposure to climate and market shocks. As the framework continues to evolve, future improvements will focus on refining input data, enhancing statistical robustness, and expanding conceptual scope to better support EU climate adaptation and agricultural policy goalsJRC.D.5 - Food Securit
Limited regulation of canopy water use efficiency by stomatal behavior under drought propagation
No full textWater use efficiency (WUE) is a critical ecosystem function and a key indicator of vegetation responses to drought, yet its temporal trajectories and underlying drivers during drought propagation remain insufficiently understood. Here, we examined the trajectories, interdependencies and drivers of multidimensional WUE metrics and their components (gross primary production (GPP), evapotranspiration, transpiration (T), and canopy conductance (Gc)) using a conceptual drought propagation framework. We found that even though the carbon assimilation efficiency per stomata increases during drought, the canopy-level WUE (represented by transpiration WUE (TWUE)) declines, indicating that stomatal regulation operates primarily at the leaf level and cannot offset the drought-induced reduction in WUE at the canopy scale. A stronger dependence on T and TWUE indicates that the water–carbon trade-off relationship of vegetation more inclines toward water transport than carbon assimilation. Gc fails to prevent the sharp decline in GPP during drought and has limited capacity to suppress T, as reflected by the reduction magnitude and the threshold (the turning point at which a component shifts from a normal to drought-responsive state). The primary drivers of the water–carbon relationship under drought propagation include vapor pressure deficit and hydraulic traits. Among plant functional types, grasslands show the strongest water–carbon fluxes in response to drought, whereas evergreen broadleaf forests exhibit the weakest response. These findings refine our comprehensive understanding of multidimensional ecosystem functional dynamics under drought propagation and enlighten how the physiological response of vegetation to drought affects the carbon and water cycles.JRC.D.1 - Forests and Bio-Econom
Blue Mirror
Get PDFBlue Mirror marks the launch of a One Water - One Health Monthly Chronicle dedicated to advancing wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) as a vital instrument for public health intelligence. Building on the EU Wastewater for Public Health bulletin - now integrated as a dedicated section within Blue Mirror - it delivers timely, rigorous, and policy-relevant insights on pathogens and health trends at both European and global levels, to strengthen preparedness and guide decision-making. Blue Mirror establishes a platform rooted in scientific rigor and international cooperation, uniting science, art, policy, and lived experience, supporting strategies that enhance resilience and protect societal well-being.JRC.D.2 - Ocean and Wate
Will intra-African trade reach a new level?
No full textIt has been more than four years since the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) was officially launched on January 1st, 2021. The launch of one of the largest free trade zones in the world, covering a market of over 1.3 billion people in 54 countries, was accompanied by great hope that it represents a transformative milestone in Africa's economic integration journey increasing intra-African trade by 53%. After close to five years, it is time to take stock of what the AfCFTA has achieved so far and what challenges its implementation currently faces.JRC.D.4 - Economics of the Food Syste
The second-generation Eurocodes: key changes and benefits through design examples
Get PDFThe European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) organised the online workshop, ‘The second-generation Eurocodes: key changes and benefits through design examples’, which brought together over 2 200 engineering professionals, personnel in building authorities and national standards bodies, and other stakeholders in the field of structural design from across the EU and the world. The workshop provided a unique platform for experts from the CEN Technical Committee 250 ‘Structural Eurocodes’ to share their knowledge with the users of the second-generation Eurocodes standards. This report synthesizes the main contributions from the workshop and provides a comprehensive overview of the second-generation Eurocodes, highlighting the key changes of the second-generation standards through design examples. The report aims to support the implementation of the second-generation Eurocodes in the EU Member States and third countries that have an interest in the Eurocodes standards.JRC.E.3 - Built Environmen
Overview of Energy Storage Deployment in Europe
Get PDFEnergy storage technologies are crucial for a secure, resilient and low-carbon energy system, but their implementation is hindered by a range of challenges. This report provides an analysis of the deployment of energy storage technologies in Europe, identifying the current status and the policy framework. Key findings highlight the growing expectations of lithium ion battery storage, the continued importance of pumped-storage hydropower and the significant potential of energy storage to support the integration of renewable energy sources. Case studies from Germany, Greece, the Iberian peninsula and the United Kingdom illustrate successful policies and best practices. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the energy storage landscape in Europe, highlighting key insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders.JRC.C.3 - Energy Security, Distribution and Market
Thermal Cameras and Their Safety Implications for Pedestrian Protection: A Mixed Empirical and Simulation-Based Characterization
No full textMultiple sensing technologies exist for advanced driver support and driving automation systems. Car manufacturers combine different solutions to increase the robustness and operational capabilities of driving automation technology perception systems. One sensing method that did not achieve high market penetration with respect to other solutions is the thermal camera. Thermal cameras can operate in low-light and high-contrast conditions as they do not need external sources of illumination. Instead, they are sensitive to the infrared radiation emitted by any surface above 0 K. Thus, thermal cameras can be a suitable candidate to compensate for the weaknesses of visible cameras. To establish the potential benefit of thermal cameras for pedestrian protection, this paper reports on an experiment using state-of-the-art thermal imaging sensors. The authors’ scientific effort includes a characterization of the infrared sensor capability to identify pedestrians when coupled with a detection algorithm and provides a simulation-based investigation of the potential safety benefits of thermal camera adoption. The analysis additionally includes a heuristic characterization of the detection capabilities of a passenger car equipped with visible cameras to provide a baseline comparison. Ultimately, the thermal sensors return noteworthy detection capability that could lead to a potentially significant improvement in road safety on rural roads provided that the sensor has sufficient resolution.JRC.C.4 - Sustainable, Smart and Safe Mobilit