1,721,131 research outputs found
Digitization Footprint
No full textDigitization footprint is a synthesis of a set of indicators that quantify the impact of digitization processes on farm-related activities. For this reason, a digitization footprint is based on the amount of digital information and of data processing operations, including analyzing data volumes, computational capabilities needed, download or upload time, and direct and indirect effects on management, among others. Extracted indicators can then be directly related to the availability and suitability of digital resources both in terms of costs (storage, transfer, processing, cloud computing) and speed (processing, upload, download)
Application of ISO 25178 standard for multiscale 3D parametric assessment of surface topographies
Full text linkThe objective of the present work is to discuss the potential of areal surface texture
parameters as introduced and discussed by ISO standards 25178, as a widely recognized
reference framework of indices and procedures, which can help and accelerate understanding of
functional information. Such indices have been developed specifically for the micro-scale,
however they can be successfully implemented also in the case of larger scales. Parameters
extraction takes place in three main steps, independently from the scale: calibration, filtering and
parameter extraction. The possibility of using the same approach and the same roughness
parameters at different scales helps very much not only the post processing of surfaces data sets
but also their interpretation, putting the basis for multiscale models
A Deep Learning-Based Model to Reduce Costs and Increase Productivity in the Case of Small Datasets: A Case Study in Cotton Cultivation
Full text linkIn this paper, a deep-learning model is proposed as a viable approach to optimize the information on soil parameters and agricultural variables’ effect in cotton cultivation, even in the case of small datasets. In this study, soil is analyzed to reduce the planting costs by determining the various combinations of soil components and nutrients’ precise amounts. Such factors are essential for cotton cultivation, since their amounts are often not precisely defined, and especially traditional farming methods are characterized by excessive distribution volumes producing significant economic and environmental impact. Not only can artificial intelligence decrease the charges, but it also increases productivity and profits. For this purpose, a deep learning algorithm was selected among other machine learning algorithms by comparison based on the accuracy metric to build the predictive model. This model gets the combination of the factors amounts as input and predicts whether the cotton growth will be successful or not. The predictive model was built by this algorithm based on 13 physical and chemical factors has 98.8% accuracy
Soil Footprint and Land-Use Change to Clean Energy Production: Implications for Solar and Wind Power Plants
Full text linkShifting from fossil fuels to alternative energies is crucial for mitigating climate change and reducing dependence on environmentally harmful resources. Measuring the soil footprint of alternative energies is equally essential, as it helps promote sustainable development. This research proposes a methodological approach to assess the land consumed by photovoltaic panels installed on land (PVL), on roofs (PVR), and wind power systems (WP) in Italy. A sample of 186 plants was analysed, and the total area occupied by these plants was measured. Moreover, the area needed for new infrastructure and facilities serving the plants was measured. Finally, the land use change was assessed by determining the land use before installing PVL and WP. Approximately 92.8% of WP entailed the construction of new road networks, while 34.8% of PVL required the construction of new buildings. The surface area demand by the WP was lower (1.3 m2 kW−1) than PVL (21.2 m2 kW−1). Overall, a highly positive correlation was found between the nominal power of the plants and the total area occupied (R2 = 0.94, 0.95, and 0.90 for PVL, PVR, and WP, respectively). The areas occupied by new plants were mainly devoted to agriculture (75.8% for PVL and 71.4% for WP); however, WP were also located in forest areas (17.9%). The methodology proposed may be extended to assess the global footprint of alternative energies and address sustainable energy management
Valorisation of agricultural by-products in different agro-energy districts: A case study in northeast Italy
Full text linkThe development of renewable energies requires a preliminary study of the availability of bioresources and their spatial distribution over the territory considered. Special attention must be dedicated to the technical and economic feasibility of the bioresources. The present research aims to perform an analysis of the main by-products available for energy purposes in the Veneto region. This analysis tried to answer the following questions: i) which are the primary sources of biomass (crops and livestock) for biogas production? ii) how are they distributed in the municipalities? iii) what is the share for each municipality of the energy available but not yet used? The analysis showed that the bio-energy potential is 2,38 GWh per year, and the most important sources are maize (Zea mays L.): 861 GWh, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): 428 GWh, livestock by-products: 362 GWh. Considering the present exploitation of these resources by biogas plants, bioenergies can increase their contribution by 39%
Agricultural By-Products for Biomethane Production: Opportunities for a Sustainable Bioenergy Conversion
No full textPreface
No full textThe rapid progress of nanotechnologies poses significant challenges in manufacturing and characterization. Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) techniques have significantly contributed to such development, allowing characterization of a number of properties at the microscale and nanoscale. Having been invented for the morphological investigation of surfaces, SPM has represented the basis for the development of techniques where the tip is used for probing physical properties and the SPM position control system is used for imaging such properties on the samples surface, simultaneously to their topography. The combination of scanning probe microscopy, and in particular of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) with ultrasound techniques, led to the development of acoustic AFM (A-AFM) and acoustic SPM (A-SPM) opening up to a number of measuring techniques which allow surface mechanical properties imaging. In A-AFM, piezoelectric transducers are used to set the sample surface or the AFM cantilever into vibration at ultrasonic frequencies that are well above the cutoff frequency of the electronics, so that the oscillations are not compensated by the feedback. As a consequence such oscillation does not influence the standard topographical reconstruction, and on the other hand, the ac component of the deflection signal is not suppressed and thus can be subsequently analyzed. The particular way in which ultrasonics and SPM are combined is different for each specific technique and allows collection of different information. Readers working in different fields of nanotechnology, material science, and biology will find in this book a comprehensive overview of such A-SPM techniques, presented by evidencing similarities and peculiarities. We proudly say that the most widely recognized scientists and researchers have contributed to the 17 chapters of the present volume, discussing acoustic SPM techniques both from the theoretical and from the practical points of view. The volume is divided into three parts
Response to the letter to the editor “Is the z-score standardized RSEI suitable for time-series ecological change detection? Comment on Zheng et al. (2022)”
No full textWe would like to reiterate our initial intention that our discussion of RSEI fluctuations and the proposed RSEIz is not a denial of the value of RSEI. Indeed, we still strongly expect that RSEI will attract attention and discussion, and that it will be continuously improved to make it more applicable to planet-scale studies. Regardless, Professor Xu's work on the development of RSEI is a very visionary endeavor with great potential for application. As RSEI becomes more widely used in a variety of contexts, we also suggest that readers need to pay more attention to RSEI application matters as clarified by Professor Xu
Sensors and Electronic Control Unit for Optimize Rotary Harrow Soil Tillage Operation
No full textAgricultural operations, and in particular tillage practices, can have a relevant influence on environmental as well as economic sustainability. The possibility of optimizing tillage operation is thus interesting in order to allow not only improvement of soil structure and cloddiness, but also better management of residues, minimization of soil disturbance and of vertical translocation of organisms, and reduction of energetic costs. The present paper reports on a research study carried out for the development of a power harrow equipped with sensors, which quantify the working depth, the height and load on the levelling bar. Data are managed by an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) which provides a feedback signal for the optimization of the working depth and the position of the levelling bar. Field tests were carried out in order to validate the effectiveness of the approach. For the scope, specific analyses were concurrently carried out to validate the proposed solution, including fuel consumption, power absorption and soil analyses (sieving, three-dimensional roughness and permanence time in the rotary harrow chamber). Finally, it is shown how the proposed approach can help maximization of the constancy of working depth and avoidance of excessive tillage intensity
Atomic Force microscopy techniques to investigate activated food packaging materials
Full text linkSince its invention, Atomic Force Microscopy has demonstrated to be one of the most interesting and useful techniques in many fields such as biology, optics and electronics to investigate nanoscale phenomena. Not only can it provide high resolution three-dimensional imaging of surfaces, but it also allows quantitative characterization of topographies, forces, mechanical and viscoelastic properties of interfaces at nanometer level. Scope and approach: Here we review current literature in the food packaging field where AFM has been proposed for the quantitative characterization of surfaces with functional layers allowing for exploitation of preservative properties as a result for example of higher permeability or antimicrobial activity. In fact, probing microscopes allow analysis of physical or mechanical properties of interfaces providing relevant information at the nanoscale with regard to different parameters such as dimensions, shapes, evolution and adhesion. Furthermore, recent developments in AFM have shown how fast imaging techniques can be implemented to allow time evolution description even at relatively high temperatures. What we aim is to establish how AFM is effectively promising in the research and development of innovative food packaging. Key findings and conclusions: AFM is largely used to characterize (bio)plastic materials for food packaging but also the comprehension of materials modification due to their activation is approached by using AFM, frequently combined to others instrumental analysis. In particular, even though AFM is basically used for topographical analysis of activated plastic materials, new and advanced AFM analysis are carried out for the characterization of different chemical and physical properties
- …
