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- Other research product . 2020Open Access EnglishAuthors:Themistocleous, Kyriacos; Danezis, Chris; Gikas, Vassilis;Themistocleous, Kyriacos; Danezis, Chris; Gikas, Vassilis;Country: Cyprus
Nowadays, assessing geo-hazards in cultural heritage sites in most cases takes place after the hazard has occurred. Monitoring structural and ground deformation resulting from geo-hazards facilitates the early recognition of potential risks and encourages effective conservation planning. This paper presents an integrated ground deformation monitoring approach based on the combined use of satellite SAR data, campaign-based GPS/GNSS observations, and aerial images from UAVs within the Choirokoitia UNESCO World Heritage Site in Cyprus. The Neolithic settlement of Choirokoitia is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the Eastern Mediterranean. The site is located on a steep hill, which makes it vulnerable to rock falls and landslides. As part of the PROTHEGO project, a series of field measurements were collected at the Choirokoitia site and compared against satellite SAR data to verify kinematic behavior of the broader area and to assist in monitoring potential geo-hazards over time. The results obtained indicate displacement rates of the order of 0.03 m/year. These results indicate that ground deformation should be monitored in the area surrounding the Choirokoitia using long-term, low-impact monitoring systems such as SAR images and UAV-based and geodetic techniques. The combination of such monitoring technologies can be compared to monitor and assess potential geo-hazards on archeological sites with increased accuracy.
- Other research product . 2019Open AccessAuthors:Nzembayie, Kisito Futonge;Nzembayie, Kisito Futonge;Publisher: Technological University DublinCountry: Ireland
Digitisation has ushered in a new era of value creation where cross border data flows generate more economic value than traditional flows of goods. The powerful new combination of digital and traditional forms of innovation has seen several new industries branded with a ‘tech’ suffix. In the education technology sector (EdTech), which is the industry context of this research, digitisation is driving double-digit growth into a projected $240 billion industry by 2021. Yet, despite its contemporary significance, the field of entrepreneurship has paid little attention to the phenomenon of digital entrepreneurship. As several scholars observe, digitisation challenges core organising axioms of entrepreneurship, with significant implications for the new venture creation process in new sectors such as EdTech. New venture creation no longer appears to follow discrete and linear models of innovation, as spatial and temporal boundaries get compressed. Given the paradigmatic shift, this study investigates three interrelated themes. Firstly, it seeks to determine how a Pure Digital Entrepreneurship (PDE) process develops over time; and more importantly, how the journey challenges extant assumptions of the entrepreneurial process. Secondly, it strives to identify and theorise the deep structures which underlie the PDE process through mechanism-based explanations. Consequently, the study also seeks to determine the causal pathways and enablers which overtly or covertly interrelate to power new venture emergence and performance. Thirdly, it aims to offer practical guidelines for nurturing the growth of PDE ventures, and for the development of supportive ecosystems. To meet the stated objectives, this study utilises an Insider Action Research (IAR) approach to inquiry, which incorporates reflective practice, collaborative inquiry and design research for third-person knowledge production. This three-pronged approach to inquiry allows for the enactment of a PDE journey in real-time, while acquiring a holistic narrative in the ‘swampy lowlands’ of new venture creation. The findings indicate that the PDE process is differentiated by the centrality of digital artifacts in new venture ideas, which in turn result in less-bounded processes that deliver temporal efficiencies – hence, the shorter new venture creation processes than in traditional forms of entrepreneurship. Further, PDE action is defined by two interrelated events – digital product development and digital growth marketing. These events are characterised by the constant forking, merging and termination of diverse activities. Secondly, concurrent enactment and piecemeal co-creation were found to be consequential mechanisms driving temporal efficiencies in digital product development. Meanwhile, data-driven operation and flexibility combine in digital growth marketing, to form higher order mechanisms which considerably reduce the levels of task-specific and outcome uncertainties. Finally, the study finds that digital growth marketing is differentiated from traditional marketing by the critical role of algorithmic agencies in their capacity as gatekeepers. Thus, unlike traditional marketing, which emphasises customer sovereignty, digital growth marketing involves a dual focus on the needs of human and algorithmic stakeholders. Based on the findings, this research develops a pragmatic model of pure digital new venture creation and suggests critical policy guidelines for nurturing the growth of PDE ventures and ecosystems.
- Other research product . 2020Open AccessAuthors:Adesi, Michael;Adesi, Michael;Publisher: Technological University DublinCountry: Ireland
The construction industry contributes significantly to the socio-economic development of nations through infrastructure development, and job creation culminating into the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Quantity Surveying Professional Service Firms (QSPSFs) play a critical role in the construction industry by ensuring that projects are delivered within cost, required quality and duration by providing technical and knowledge-intensive services to clients, contractors and stakeholders. Irish QSPSFs are facing challenges such as tender price inflation, intense competition, a skills shortage and disruptive technology. These challenges coupled with the cyclicality of the sector create a turbulent business environment for Irish QSPSFs, yet there remains a paucity of empirical evidence pertaining to how strategic decisions are made by these firms. Strategic planning is critical to addressing the challenges confronting business organisations such as the Irish QSPSFs; however, to date strategic planning has focused to a greater extent on manufacturing, oil and gas, retail, consumer products and light manufacturing, whereas there remains limited empirical investigation within the construction industry. This study aims to address this gap by examining the strategic decision-making process of Irish QSPSFs operating in the changing environment of the construction industry. What sets the research apart is that a Dynamic Capabilities (DC) perspective has been used with focus on sensing; seizing; and transformation, culminating into its integration into the development of a strategic decision-making framework. This study is entrenched in the pragmatist philosophical stance with emphasis on the positivist and interpretivist position and adopts mixed method by using quantitative and qualitative approaches over two phases. The first phase involves a survey administered with support from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) to 350 member practices whereby a single senior Quantity Surveyors (QS) in each practice was invited to participate. Seventy-two usable survey questionnaires completed by respondents were prepared for data analysis. The second phase of the research comprised of interview with ten chief executives or managing directors of Irish QSPSFs. The study found the most preferred strategic choice at the corporate level of QSPSFs as the expansion of services to new markets and sectors. At the business level, the investigation discovered the differentiation of services as the main strategic choice of QSPSFs. Furthermore, participation in strategic decision-making is very critical to the success of strategy formulation in organisations. This study identifies the factors that drive participation in strategic decision-making as the knowledge and competence of staff; personality traits; and the ability of people to make decision at the operational level of the organisation. The investigation also found that strategic change has occurred in QSPSFs over the past ten years. This strategic change is attributable to turbulent environmental conditions such as economic recession, in particular reference to the prolong economic recession 2008-2013. The investigation identified the specific strategic changes that occurred in QSPSFs as growth and expansion into new markets; agglomeration, and changes in the ownership and management structure. The negative and positive impacts of economic recession on QSPSFs have also been identified in this investigation. For instance, a radical shift in strategic response from being proactive to reactive; and self-preservation of ownership structure are the ii adverse effects of economic recession identified by the study while knowledge acquisition; and risk profiling for identification and capturing of opportunities are the positive impacts of economic recession. The study found significant statistical evidence to confirm a strong relationship between the turbulent business environment and the strategic decision-making process characteristics of QSPSFs. A strategic decision-making framework was developed on the basis of field work undertaken which was subsequently validated by respondent practices. The framework is the first of its kind pertaining to construction PSFs.
- Other research product . 2016Open Access GreekPublisher: Τμήμα Πολιτικών Μηχανικών και Μηχανικών Γεωπληροφορικής, Σχολή Μηχανικής και Τεχνολογίας, Τεχνολογικό Πανεπιστήμιο ΚύπρουCountry: Cyprus
During the past few years there was an increasing demands of needs for mapping the bottom of water, either because it was needed for Navigation Safety, Nautical charts, or for Pollution controlling, mineral and fish industries. Over the years the methods of bathymetry and mapping showed a huge improvement especially in the last 40 years where a rapid growth occurs in this part of science. Particular growth occurs in the bathymetry area using satellite data which continuously presented and exported new models in order to create maps in a shorter time period and with fewer expenses. Additionally there is an increasing improvement in the accuracy of the results of the maps over time and it is accomplished with smaller errors. For export of maps and finding data followed a fairly complicated process which needs to take into account many parameters are either located in the constituents of water, either the nature of the water bottom, or in the atmosphere and beyond. The method of remote sensing is divided into two main categories imagine methods and the Non imagine methods. Both are widely known, in conclusion, the methodology of remote sensing comparatively with the eco-sounding method is more efficient in a matter of time, financial budget, data accuracy than any other method exists, and usually is recommended for use. Πάντα υπήρχε η ανάγκη της χαρτογράφησης του πυθμένα του νερού, είτε ο λόγος αυτός αφορούσε την ασφαλή ναυσιπλοία είτε αφορούσε τον έλεγχο της στάθμης του νερού ή αφορούσε περιβαλλοντικούς λόγους. Κατά την πάροδο των χρόνων οι μέθοδοι της βυθομέτρησης και της χαρτογράφησης εξελίσονταν και βελτιώνονταν, ειδικά τα τελευταία 40 χρόνια όπου παρουσιάζεται μία ραγδαία ανάπτυξη στον τομέα αυτό. Ιδιαίτερη ανάπτυξη παρουσιάζεται στον τομέα της βυθομετρίας με την χρήση δορυφορικών δεδομένων όπου συνεχώς παρουσιάζονται νέοι τρόποι εξαγωγής χαρτών σε συντομότερο χρόνο και με λιγότερες δαπάνες. Επιπρόσθετα διακρίνεται μία συνεχής βελτίωση στην ακρίβεια των αποτελεσμάτων καθώς με τον καιρό επιτυγχάνεται η εξαγωγή αποτελεσμάτων με μεγαλύτερες ακρίβειες συνεπώς με μικρότερα σφάλματα. Για την εξαγωγή των χαρτών και την εύρεση των δεδομένων ακολουθείται μία αρκετά περίπλοκη διαδικασία όπου χρειάζεται να λαμβάνονται υπόψη πολλοί παραμέτροι είτε αυτοί βρίσκονται στα συστατικά του νερού, είτε στο είδος του πυθμένα του νερού, είτε στην ατμόσφαιρα και όχι μόνο. Η μέθοδος της τηλεπισκόπησης διακρίνεται σε δύο βασικές κατηγορίες η μέθοδος απικόνησης και η μέθοδος μη απικόνησης. Είναι και οι δύο ευρέως γνωστές. Εν κατακλείδι, η μέθοδολογία της τηλεπισκόπησης είναι πιο αποδοτική σε θέμα χρόνου, οικονομικού προυπολογισμού, ακρίβεια δεδομένων σε σχέση με οποιαδήποτε άλλη μέθοδο υπάρχει, και συνήθως είναι αυτή που συστήνεται για χρήση. Completed
- Other research product . 2015Open Access GreekPublisher: Τμήμα Πολιτικών Μηχανικών και Μηχανικών Γεωπληροφορικής, Σχολή Μηχανικής και Τεχνολογίας, Τεχνολογικό Πανεπιστήμιο ΚύπρουCountry: Cyprus
Η Κύπρος τα τελευταία χρόνια χαρακτηρίζεται από το φαινόμενο της ανομβρίας, το οποίο παρουσιάζεται όλο και πιο έντονο. Για τον σκοπό αυτό δημιουργήθηκε η ανάγκη για την ορθολογική και βιώσιμη διαχείριση των υδάτινων πόρων. Το πρόβλημα αυτό αντιμετωπίστηκε μέσα από την εκτίμηση της εξατμισοδιαπνοής χρησιμοποιώντας διάφορα συστηματικά δεδομένα. Η τηλεπισκόπηση συμβάλει στην εκτίμηση αυτί] χρησιμοποιώντας τόσο δορυφορικά όσο και μετεωρολογικά δεδομένα. Στόχος της παρούσας μελέτης είναι η εκτίμηση της εξατμισοδιαπνοής καλλιεργειών εφαρμόζοντας την μέθοδο της Τηλεπισκόπησης. Αυτό επιτεύχθηκε μέσα από πολύπλοκες εξισώσεις και μοντέλα που απαιτούσαν την χρήση πολλών μετεωρολογικών παραμέτρων, όπως είναι η μέθοδος Pemnan-Monteith κατά FAO προσαρμοσμένη σε δορυφορικά δεδομένα, η οποία χρησιμοποιήθηκε στην εν λόγω μελέτη. Η μέθοδος αυτή έχει αξιολογηθεί ως η πλέον ακριβής για την εκτίμηση της πραγματικής εξατμισοδιαπνοής. Για την υλοποίηση του εν λόγω στόχου χρησιμοποιήθηκαν τόσο δορυφορικά δεδομένα, τα οποία συλλέχθηκαν από τους δορυφόρους Landsat 5 ΕΤ και 7 ΕΤΜ~, όσο και μετεωρολογικά δεδομένα από τον μετεωρολογικό σταθμό του αεροδρομίου της Λάρνακας. Για την ολοκλήρωση της μελέτης αυτής υπολογίστηκε αρχικά ο NDVI και ο LAI μέσα από επίγειες μετρήσεις και στην συνέχεια είχαν προβεί στην μεταξύ τους συσχέτιση. Τέλος μέσα από την μέθοδο Pemnan-Monteith κατά FAO παράχθηκαν τα σχετικά αποτελέσματα, τα οποία είναι η δημιουργία χαρτών εξατμισοδιαπνοής. Cyprus now day is facing the problem of drought and as the years go it becomes even bigger. For this purpose it creates the need for a rational and sustainable water resource management. This problem has been treated through the estimation of evapotranspiration using various systematic data. The remote sensing contributes to assessment using both satellite and meteorological data. Also, applying the method of sensing, the objective of this study is to estimate the crop evapotranspiration. This was achieved through complicated equations and models that required the use of several meteorological parameters such as the method of Penman Monteith by FAO adapted to satellite data, which was used in the research. This method was tested as the most accurate estimation of the real evapotranspiration. To achieve this objective were used satellite data, which were collected from the satellites Landsat 5 ET and 7 ETM+ and also from the meteorological data from the meteorological station of the Larnaca airport. At the beginning NDVI and LAI were calculated for the completion of the study, and afterwards they had carried out their correlation. Finally, through the method of Penman-Monteith by FAO the related results were taken, which are the creation of evapotranpspirations‟ maps. Completed
- Other research product . 2020Open Access GreekPublisher: Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Cyprus University of TechnologyCountry: Cyprus
One of the environmental problems that has been occurring at a very high rate in recent decades is the forest fire. Forests are undoubtedly a renewable natural resource, which provides both environmental, economic and also cultural and social development for each place. Forest fire have devastating and unfortunate effects on both vegetation and ecosystems. Dealing with them presupposes the existence of integrated plans and management policies, but also the availability of timely and reliable statistics and information on fire regimes. Valuable help in these actions is the use of new technologies and data sources. Remote Sensing provides a solution to large-scale data collection problems. In more depth, Satellite Remote Sensing together with satellite data provides the possibility of better monitoring and management of the burned areas as well as the degradation of the environment. It is used for prevention, detection and direct mapping, both short- term and long- tern impacts. With the help of satellite data, taking at least two different time images depicting the same area, the appropriate correction can be made, using the appropriate vegetation indicators for each occasion and sorting the image so that it can indicate tot the analysed areas where the mapped surface has undergone changes. The presented diplomatic study refers to forest fire and how they affect the ecosystems, but even to the restoration of vegetation. The research also mentions the detectors contained in each satellite and how the Remote Sensing helps to monitor the vegetation by creating vegetation markers that each has its own role and purpose. It even develops the processing that satellite imagery needs to be classified and how Satellite Remote Sensing can help map forest fires. Ένα από τα περιβαλλοντικά προβλήματα που παρουσιάζει πολύ υψηλούς ρυθμούς εμφάνισης τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες, είναι οι δασικές πυρκαγιές. Τα δάση αποτελούν αναμφισβήτητα ένα ανανεώσιμο φυσικό πόρο, τα οποία παρέχουν τόσο περιβαλλοντική όσο και οικονομική, αλλά και πολιτιστική και κοινωνική ανάπτυξη για κάθε τόπο. Οι δασικές πυρκαγιές επιφέρουν καταστροφικές συνέπειες τόσο στη βλάστηση όσο και στη λειτουργία του οικοσυστήματος. Η αντιμετώπιση τους προϋποθέτει την υπάρξει ολοκληρωμένων σχεδίων και πολιτικών διαχείρισης, αλλά και τη διαθεσιμότητα έγκαιρων και αξιόπιστων στατιστικών και πληροφοριών σχετικά με τα καθεστώτα πυρκαγιών. Πολύτιμο αρωγό σε αυτές τις ενέργειες αποτελεί η χρήση νέων τεχνολογιών και πηγών δεδομένων. Η Τηλεπισκόπηση δίνει λύση σε προβλήματα συλλογής δεδομένων με μεγάλη έκταση. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, η Δορυφορική Τηλεπισκόπηση παρέχει μαζί με τα δορυφορικά δεδομένα την δυνατότητα καλύτερης παρακολούθησης και διαχείρισης των καμένων εκτάσεων καθώς και την υποβάθμιση του περιβάλλοντος. Χρησιμοποιείται για πρόληψη, ανίχνευση και άμεση χαρτογράφηση, εκτίμηση τόσο βραχυπρόθεσμα όσο και μακροπρόθεσμα των επιπτώσεων που προκαλεί. Με την βοήθεια των δορυφορικών δεδομένων, παίρνοντας δύο τουλάχιστον διαφορετικές χρονικά εικόνες που να απεικονίζουν την ίδια περιοχή, μπορούν να γίνουν οι κατάλληλες διορθώσεις, χρησιμοποιώντας τους κατάλληλους για κάθε περίσταση δείκτες βλάστησης και ακολούθως την ταξινόμηση των εικόνων για να μπορεί να υποδείξει στον αναλυτή περιοχές όπου η χαρτογραφούμενη επιφάνεια έχει υποστεί αλλαγές. Στη παρούσα διπλωματική μελέτη γίνεται αναφορά στις δασικές πυρκαγιές και πως αυτές επηρεάζουν στην συνέχεια τα οικοσυστήματα, αλλά ακόμα και στην αποκατάσταση της βλάστησης. Στην έρευνα γίνεται αναφορά και για τους ανιχνευτές που περιέχονται μέσα σε κάθε δορυφόρο αλλά και πως η Τηλεπισκόπηση βοηθά στην παρακολούθηση της βλάστησης με τη δημιουργία δεικτών βλάστησης που ο κάθε ένας έχει τον δικό του ρόλο και σκοπό. Αναπτύσσεται ακόμα και η επεξεργασία που χρειάζονται οι δορυφορικές εικόνες με την ταξινόμηση και πως μπορεί να βοηθήσει η Δορυφορική Τηλεπισκόπηση στη χαρτογράφηση των δασικών πυρκαγιών. Completed
- Other research product . 2022Open Access GreekCountry: Cyprus
The topic I chose for my dissertation is the Sentinel-2 satellite image classification for the disaster that occurred on 4/8/20 in the port of Beirut after an explosion. In the dissertation we used the SNAP program, and two Sentinel-2 satellite images. Through the thesis we could elaborate the steps on how to properly perform a supervised classification using the appropriate software. The classification is done to identify the categories of all terrestrial objects where they can consist of lakes, rivers, dams, sea, mountains, land, vegetation and urban areas. The initial classification process was done in the image before the disaster in the port of Beirut, in which the categories of objects were made as follows: soil, sea, vegetation and urban area. The Random Forest Classifier, Maximum Likelihood Classifier and Minimum Distance Classifier were then classified. Based on these results, the best classification was made based on the Random Forest Classifier. We then placed the classes in the second Sentinel 2 image after the disaster occurred and created the disaster class. Finally, we repeated the classification only in the category Random Forest Classifier for the second image which was the best classification before and the classification based on the disaster that has taken place in the port of Beirut came out. Το θέμα που επιλέχτηκε στην πτυχιακή εργασία είναι η ταξινόμηση δορυφορικής εικόνας Sentinel-2 για την καταστροφή που έγινε στις 4/8/20 στο λιμάνι της Βηρυτού μετά από έκρηξη. Στην πτυχιακή εργασία χρησιμοποιήσαμε το πρόγραμμα SNAP και δύο δορυφορικές εικόνες Sentinel-2. Αρχικά γίνεται σύγκριση με βάση της εικόνες που πάρθηκαν πριν και μετά την έκρηξη. Παράλληλα μπορούμε να εφαρμόσουμε τα βήματα επιβλεπόμενης ταξινόμησης χρησιμοποιώντας κατάλληλα λογισμικά. Η αρχική διαδικασία της ταξινόμησης έγινε στην εικόνα πριν την καταστροφή στο λιμάνι της Βηρυτού, στην οποία επιλέγηκαν ως κατηγορίες των αντικείμενων οι εξής: χώμα, θάλασσα, βλάστηση και αστική περιοχή. Στην συνέχεια έγινε ταξινόμηση με βάση τις τεχνικές Random Forest Classifier, Maximum Likelihood Classifier και Minimum Distance Classifier. Βάση των αποτελεσμάτων αυτών, η καλύτερη ταξινόμηση έγινε βάση της Random Forest Classifier. Στην συνέχεια τοποθετήσαμε τις ίδιες κλάσεις στην δεύτερη εικόνα Sentinel 2 μετά που έγινε η καταστροφή και δημιουργήσαμε μια επιπρόσθετη κλάση. Τέλος επαναλάβαμε την ταξινόμηση μόνο στην κατηγόρια τις Random Forest Classifier για την δεύτερη εικόνα η οποία ήταν η καλύτερη ταξινόμηση από πριν και βγήκε η ταξινόμηση βάση της καταστροφής που έχει γίνει στο λιμάνι της Βηρυτού. Completed
- Other research product . 2016Open Access GreekPublisher: Τμήμα Πολιτικών Μηχανικών και Μηχανικών Γεωπληροφορικής, Σχολή Μηχανικής και Τεχνολογίας, Τεχνολογικό Πανεπιστήμιο ΚύπρουCountry: Cyprus
The purpose of this study is to establish the use of the Technical Satellite Remote Sensing in relation to the Technical Geographical Information Systems GIS, in order subsoil structures to be discovered and more specifically in order to lead at the discovery of military subsoil repositories. Although, because that specific matter is still in the early stages of its research, this study will indicate the measurements procedure by the spectro-radiometry and the measurements processing that had been presented periodically. At first, measurements have been made in natural vegetation and then to barley which was nourished within an area of high interest. At the end of the measurement procedures, observations about the foliage growth and development have been stated as well as the research of vegetation indices NDVI and SAVI which have been made before and during the barley undergrowth. Namely, natural foliage and cultivation by creating charts circulation of vegetation indices in the area of interest. Indices were determined by the usage of Landsat 7 and Landsat 8 satellites. Αντικείμενο μελέτης της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η δυνατότητα χρήσης των τεχνικών της Δορυφορικής Τηλεπισκόπησης σε συνδυασμό με τη χρήση τεχνικών γεωγραφικών συστημάτων πληροφοριών (ΓΣΠ), για τον εντοπισμό υπεδάφιων κατασκευών και πιο συγκεκριμένα υπεδάφιων στρατιωτικών αποθηκών. Λόγω του ότι το συγκεκριμένο θέμα είναι ερευνητικό και βρίσκεται ακόμα στα πρώιμα στάδια μελέτης του, στη μελέτη αυτή παρουσιάζονται η διαδικασία λήψης μετρήσεων με φασματοραδιόμετρο στην περιοχή μελέτης, και η επεξεργασία των μετρήσεων που έχουν παρθεί ανά τακτά χρονικά διαστήματα. Οι μετρήσεις έγιναν σε φυσική βλάστηση και στη συνέχεια σε κριθάρι, το οποίο καλλιεργήθηκε στην περιοχή ενδιαφέροντος. Τέλος έγιναν παρατηρήσεις για την ανάπτυξη της καλλιέργειας, όπως επίσης και μελέτη των δεικτών βλάστησης NDVI και SAVI, πριν και μετά τη καλλιέργεια κριθαριού, δηλαδή της φυσικής βλάστησης και της καλλιέργειας, δημιουργώντας διαγράμματα κατανομής των δεικτών βλάστησης στην περιοχή ενδιαφέροντος. Οι δείκτες υπολογίστηκαν βάση των δορυφόρων Landsat7 ΕΤΜ+ και Landsat 8. Completed
- Other research product . 2021Open AccessAuthors:Stacey, Paul;Stacey, Paul;Publisher: Technological University DublinCountry: Ireland
As geographical observational data capture, storage and sharing technologies such as in situ remote monitoring systems and spatial data infrastructures evolve, the vision of a Digital Earth, first articulated by Al Gore in 1998 is getting ever closer. However, there are still many challenges and open research questions. For example, data quality, provenance and heterogeneity remain an issue due to the complexity of geo-spatial data and information representation. Observational data are often inadequately semantically enriched by geo-observational information systems or spatial data infrastructures and so they often do not fully capture the true meaning of the associated datasets. Furthermore, data models underpinning these information systems are typically too rigid in their data representation to allow for the ever-changing and evolving nature of geo-spatial domain concepts. This impoverished approach to observational data representation reduces the ability of multi-disciplinary practitioners to share information in an interoperable and computable way. The health domain experiences similar challenges with representing complex and evolving domain information concepts. Within any complex domain (such as Earth system science or health) two categories or levels of domain concepts exist. Those concepts that remain stable over a long period of time, and those concepts that are prone to change, as the domain knowledge evolves, and new discoveries are made. Health informaticians have developed a sophisticated two-level modelling systems design approach for electronic health documentation over many years, and with the use of archetypes, have shown how data, information, and knowledge interoperability among heterogenous systems can be achieved. This research investigates whether two-level modelling can be translated from the health domain to the geo-spatial domain and applied to observing scenarios to achieve semantic interoperability within and between spatial data infrastructures, beyond what is possible with current state-of-the-art approaches. A detailed review of state-of-the-art SDIs, geo-spatial standards and the two-level modelling methodology was performed. A cross-domain translation methodology was developed, and a proof-of-concept geo-spatial two-level modelling framework was defined and implemented. The Open Geospatial Consortium’s (OGC) Observations & Measurements (O&M) standard was re-profiled to aid investigation of the two-level information modelling approach. An evaluation of the method was undertaken using II specific use-case scenarios. Information modelling was performed using the two-level modelling method to show how existing historical ocean observing datasets can be expressed semantically and harmonized using two-level modelling. Also, the flexibility of the approach was investigated by applying the method to an air quality monitoring scenario using a technologically constrained monitoring sensor system. This work has demonstrated that two-level modelling can be translated to the geospatial domain and then further developed to be used within a constrained technological sensor system; using traditional wireless sensor networks, semantic web technologies and Internet of Things based technologies. Domain specific evaluation results show that twolevel modelling presents a viable approach to achieve semantic interoperability between constrained geo-observational sensor systems and spatial data infrastructures for ocean observing and city based air quality observing scenarios. This has been demonstrated through the re-purposing of selected, existing geospatial data models and standards. However, it was found that re-using existing standards requires careful ontological analysis per domain concept and so caution is recommended in assuming the wider applicability of the approach. While the benefits of adopting a two-level information modelling approach to geospatial information modelling are potentially great, it was found that translation to a new domain is complex. The complexity of the approach was found to be a barrier to adoption, especially in commercial based projects where standards implementation is low on implementation road maps and the perceived benefits of standards adherence are low. Arising from this work, a novel set of base software components, methods and fundamental geo-archetypes have been developed. However, during this work it was not possible to form the required rich community of supporters to fully validate geoarchetypes. Therefore, the findings of this work are not exhaustive, and the archetype models produced are only indicative. The findings of this work can be used as the basis to encourage further investigation and uptake of two-level modelling within the Earth system science and geo-spatial domain. Ultimately, the outcomes of this work are to recommend further development and evaluation of the approach, building on the positive results thus far, and the base software artefacts developed to support the approach.
- Other research product . 2020Open Access GreekPublisher: Τμήμα Πολιτικών Μηχανικών και Μηχανικών ΓεωπληροφορικήςCountry: Cyprus
This dissertation investigates the capabilities of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the monitoring of public green spaces of a Municipality or a Community, as well as in the planning of their maintenance. Specifically, the dissertation begins with a literature review of similar GIS applications and uses the main findings to start the design of a GIS that, on the one hand, will facilitate the monitoring and maintenance of open green spaces and, on the other hand, will be usable by non-specialists in GIS. In line with the above goals, the final application combined: a) ArcGIS Collector, which was used to ease the surveys of green open spaces, as it can include predefined fields with default entries, b) ArcGIS Online, which was used as a linkage between ArcGIS Collector and ArcMap, c) Microsoft Excel, which provides a convenient way for the creation and update of databases by non-specialised staff, and d) ArcMap, which was used to connect the above databases with the spatial geometry of the open green spaces and, also, to produce the maps that will allow the sound planning of maintenance tasks. For application purposes, the Parish of Geroskipou was selected as a case study, as it includes 160 public green spaces belonging to different types. Σκοπός της παρούσας πτυχιακής εργασίας είναι η διερεύνηση των δυνατοτήτων των Συστημάτων Γεωγραφικών Πληροφοριών (GIS) στην αποτύπωση των δημόσιων χώρων πρασίνου ενός Δήμου ή μίας Κοινότητας για σκοπούς παρακολούθησης και προγραμματισμού των εργασιών συντήρησής τους. Συγκεκριμένα, η πτυχιακή εργασία πραγματοποιεί βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση παρόμοιων εφαρμογών GIS και, ακολούθως, θέτει ως στόχο της την υλοποίηση σχετικής υποδομής γεωχωρικών δεδομένων, η οποία, αφενός διευκολύνει τις εργασίες παρακολούθησης και προγραμματισμού και, αφετέρου, επιτρέπει τη χρήση της από όσο το δυνατόν λιγότερο ειδικευμένο ανθρώπινο δυναμικό. Με βάση τον παραπάνω στόχο, δημιουργήθηκε η σχετική υποδομή, η οποία συνδυάζει: α) τη δυνατότητα διενέργειας πρωτογενών καταγραφών των χώρων πρασίνου με χρήση του λογισμικού ArcGIS Collector, το οποίο επιτρέπει τη χρήση πεδίων καταχώρησης με προεπιλεγμένες τιμές για διευκόλυνση της διαδικασίας καταγραφής, β) αυτοματοποιημένη εισαγωγή των πιο πάνω καταγραφών σε περιβάλλον web GIS με χρήση του λογισμικού ArcGIS Online, γ) δημιουργία βάσης δεδομένων στο λογισμικό Microsoft Excel για χρήση της από τους επιστάτες των χώρων πρασίνου, έχοντας ως στόχο την παρακολούθηση και ενημέρωση των εργασιών συντήρησης και, τέλος, δ) σύνδεση της βάσης δεδομένων με GIS και επεξεργασία 22 διαφορετικών χαρτών στο λογισμικό ArcMap, για σκοπούς παρακολούθησης και προγραμματισμού των εργασιών συντήρησης. Ως μελέτη περίπτωσης επιλέχθηκε η Ενορία Γεροσκήπου του ομώνυμου Δήμου, ο οποίος περιλαμβάνει 160 δημόσιους χώρους πρασίνου διαφόρων τύπων. Completed
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- Other research product . 2020Open Access EnglishAuthors:Themistocleous, Kyriacos; Danezis, Chris; Gikas, Vassilis;Themistocleous, Kyriacos; Danezis, Chris; Gikas, Vassilis;Country: Cyprus
Nowadays, assessing geo-hazards in cultural heritage sites in most cases takes place after the hazard has occurred. Monitoring structural and ground deformation resulting from geo-hazards facilitates the early recognition of potential risks and encourages effective conservation planning. This paper presents an integrated ground deformation monitoring approach based on the combined use of satellite SAR data, campaign-based GPS/GNSS observations, and aerial images from UAVs within the Choirokoitia UNESCO World Heritage Site in Cyprus. The Neolithic settlement of Choirokoitia is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the Eastern Mediterranean. The site is located on a steep hill, which makes it vulnerable to rock falls and landslides. As part of the PROTHEGO project, a series of field measurements were collected at the Choirokoitia site and compared against satellite SAR data to verify kinematic behavior of the broader area and to assist in monitoring potential geo-hazards over time. The results obtained indicate displacement rates of the order of 0.03 m/year. These results indicate that ground deformation should be monitored in the area surrounding the Choirokoitia using long-term, low-impact monitoring systems such as SAR images and UAV-based and geodetic techniques. The combination of such monitoring technologies can be compared to monitor and assess potential geo-hazards on archeological sites with increased accuracy.
- Other research product . 2019Open AccessAuthors:Nzembayie, Kisito Futonge;Nzembayie, Kisito Futonge;Publisher: Technological University DublinCountry: Ireland
Digitisation has ushered in a new era of value creation where cross border data flows generate more economic value than traditional flows of goods. The powerful new combination of digital and traditional forms of innovation has seen several new industries branded with a ‘tech’ suffix. In the education technology sector (EdTech), which is the industry context of this research, digitisation is driving double-digit growth into a projected $240 billion industry by 2021. Yet, despite its contemporary significance, the field of entrepreneurship has paid little attention to the phenomenon of digital entrepreneurship. As several scholars observe, digitisation challenges core organising axioms of entrepreneurship, with significant implications for the new venture creation process in new sectors such as EdTech. New venture creation no longer appears to follow discrete and linear models of innovation, as spatial and temporal boundaries get compressed. Given the paradigmatic shift, this study investigates three interrelated themes. Firstly, it seeks to determine how a Pure Digital Entrepreneurship (PDE) process develops over time; and more importantly, how the journey challenges extant assumptions of the entrepreneurial process. Secondly, it strives to identify and theorise the deep structures which underlie the PDE process through mechanism-based explanations. Consequently, the study also seeks to determine the causal pathways and enablers which overtly or covertly interrelate to power new venture emergence and performance. Thirdly, it aims to offer practical guidelines for nurturing the growth of PDE ventures, and for the development of supportive ecosystems. To meet the stated objectives, this study utilises an Insider Action Research (IAR) approach to inquiry, which incorporates reflective practice, collaborative inquiry and design research for third-person knowledge production. This three-pronged approach to inquiry allows for the enactment of a PDE journey in real-time, while acquiring a holistic narrative in the ‘swampy lowlands’ of new venture creation. The findings indicate that the PDE process is differentiated by the centrality of digital artifacts in new venture ideas, which in turn result in less-bounded processes that deliver temporal efficiencies – hence, the shorter new venture creation processes than in traditional forms of entrepreneurship. Further, PDE action is defined by two interrelated events – digital product development and digital growth marketing. These events are characterised by the constant forking, merging and termination of diverse activities. Secondly, concurrent enactment and piecemeal co-creation were found to be consequential mechanisms driving temporal efficiencies in digital product development. Meanwhile, data-driven operation and flexibility combine in digital growth marketing, to form higher order mechanisms which considerably reduce the levels of task-specific and outcome uncertainties. Finally, the study finds that digital growth marketing is differentiated from traditional marketing by the critical role of algorithmic agencies in their capacity as gatekeepers. Thus, unlike traditional marketing, which emphasises customer sovereignty, digital growth marketing involves a dual focus on the needs of human and algorithmic stakeholders. Based on the findings, this research develops a pragmatic model of pure digital new venture creation and suggests critical policy guidelines for nurturing the growth of PDE ventures and ecosystems.
- Other research product . 2020Open AccessAuthors:Adesi, Michael;Adesi, Michael;Publisher: Technological University DublinCountry: Ireland
The construction industry contributes significantly to the socio-economic development of nations through infrastructure development, and job creation culminating into the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Quantity Surveying Professional Service Firms (QSPSFs) play a critical role in the construction industry by ensuring that projects are delivered within cost, required quality and duration by providing technical and knowledge-intensive services to clients, contractors and stakeholders. Irish QSPSFs are facing challenges such as tender price inflation, intense competition, a skills shortage and disruptive technology. These challenges coupled with the cyclicality of the sector create a turbulent business environment for Irish QSPSFs, yet there remains a paucity of empirical evidence pertaining to how strategic decisions are made by these firms. Strategic planning is critical to addressing the challenges confronting business organisations such as the Irish QSPSFs; however, to date strategic planning has focused to a greater extent on manufacturing, oil and gas, retail, consumer products and light manufacturing, whereas there remains limited empirical investigation within the construction industry. This study aims to address this gap by examining the strategic decision-making process of Irish QSPSFs operating in the changing environment of the construction industry. What sets the research apart is that a Dynamic Capabilities (DC) perspective has been used with focus on sensing; seizing; and transformation, culminating into its integration into the development of a strategic decision-making framework. This study is entrenched in the pragmatist philosophical stance with emphasis on the positivist and interpretivist position and adopts mixed method by using quantitative and qualitative approaches over two phases. The first phase involves a survey administered with support from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) to 350 member practices whereby a single senior Quantity Surveyors (QS) in each practice was invited to participate. Seventy-two usable survey questionnaires completed by respondents were prepared for data analysis. The second phase of the research comprised of interview with ten chief executives or managing directors of Irish QSPSFs. The study found the most preferred strategic choice at the corporate level of QSPSFs as the expansion of services to new markets and sectors. At the business level, the investigation discovered the differentiation of services as the main strategic choice of QSPSFs. Furthermore, participation in strategic decision-making is very critical to the success of strategy formulation in organisations. This study identifies the factors that drive participation in strategic decision-making as the knowledge and competence of staff; personality traits; and the ability of people to make decision at the operational level of the organisation. The investigation also found that strategic change has occurred in QSPSFs over the past ten years. This strategic change is attributable to turbulent environmental conditions such as economic recession, in particular reference to the prolong economic recession 2008-2013. The investigation identified the specific strategic changes that occurred in QSPSFs as growth and expansion into new markets; agglomeration, and changes in the ownership and management structure. The negative and positive impacts of economic recession on QSPSFs have also been identified in this investigation. For instance, a radical shift in strategic response from being proactive to reactive; and self-preservation of ownership structure are the ii adverse effects of economic recession identified by the study while knowledge acquisition; and risk profiling for identification and capturing of opportunities are the positive impacts of economic recession. The study found significant statistical evidence to confirm a strong relationship between the turbulent business environment and the strategic decision-making process characteristics of QSPSFs. A strategic decision-making framework was developed on the basis of field work undertaken which was subsequently validated by respondent practices. The framework is the first of its kind pertaining to construction PSFs.
- Other research product . 2016Open Access GreekPublisher: Τμήμα Πολιτικών Μηχανικών και Μηχανικών Γεωπληροφορικής, Σχολή Μηχανικής και Τεχνολογίας, Τεχνολογικό Πανεπιστήμιο ΚύπρουCountry: Cyprus
During the past few years there was an increasing demands of needs for mapping the bottom of water, either because it was needed for Navigation Safety, Nautical charts, or for Pollution controlling, mineral and fish industries. Over the years the methods of bathymetry and mapping showed a huge improvement especially in the last 40 years where a rapid growth occurs in this part of science. Particular growth occurs in the bathymetry area using satellite data which continuously presented and exported new models in order to create maps in a shorter time period and with fewer expenses. Additionally there is an increasing improvement in the accuracy of the results of the maps over time and it is accomplished with smaller errors. For export of maps and finding data followed a fairly complicated process which needs to take into account many parameters are either located in the constituents of water, either the nature of the water bottom, or in the atmosphere and beyond. The method of remote sensing is divided into two main categories imagine methods and the Non imagine methods. Both are widely known, in conclusion, the methodology of remote sensing comparatively with the eco-sounding method is more efficient in a matter of time, financial budget, data accuracy than any other method exists, and usually is recommended for use. Πάντα υπήρχε η ανάγκη της χαρτογράφησης του πυθμένα του νερού, είτε ο λόγος αυτός αφορούσε την ασφαλή ναυσιπλοία είτε αφορούσε τον έλεγχο της στάθμης του νερού ή αφορούσε περιβαλλοντικούς λόγους. Κατά την πάροδο των χρόνων οι μέθοδοι της βυθομέτρησης και της χαρτογράφησης εξελίσονταν και βελτιώνονταν, ειδικά τα τελευταία 40 χρόνια όπου παρουσιάζεται μία ραγδαία ανάπτυξη στον τομέα αυτό. Ιδιαίτερη ανάπτυξη παρουσιάζεται στον τομέα της βυθομετρίας με την χρήση δορυφορικών δεδομένων όπου συνεχώς παρουσιάζονται νέοι τρόποι εξαγωγής χαρτών σε συντομότερο χρόνο και με λιγότερες δαπάνες. Επιπρόσθετα διακρίνεται μία συνεχής βελτίωση στην ακρίβεια των αποτελεσμάτων καθώς με τον καιρό επιτυγχάνεται η εξαγωγή αποτελεσμάτων με μεγαλύτερες ακρίβειες συνεπώς με μικρότερα σφάλματα. Για την εξαγωγή των χαρτών και την εύρεση των δεδομένων ακολουθείται μία αρκετά περίπλοκη διαδικασία όπου χρειάζεται να λαμβάνονται υπόψη πολλοί παραμέτροι είτε αυτοί βρίσκονται στα συστατικά του νερού, είτε στο είδος του πυθμένα του νερού, είτε στην ατμόσφαιρα και όχι μόνο. Η μέθοδος της τηλεπισκόπησης διακρίνεται σε δύο βασικές κατηγορίες η μέθοδος απικόνησης και η μέθοδος μη απικόνησης. Είναι και οι δύο ευρέως γνωστές. Εν κατακλείδι, η μέθοδολογία της τηλεπισκόπησης είναι πιο αποδοτική σε θέμα χρόνου, οικονομικού προυπολογισμού, ακρίβεια δεδομένων σε σχέση με οποιαδήποτε άλλη μέθοδο υπάρχει, και συνήθως είναι αυτή που συστήνεται για χρήση. Completed
- Other research product . 2015Open Access GreekPublisher: Τμήμα Πολιτικών Μηχανικών και Μηχανικών Γεωπληροφορικής, Σχολή Μηχανικής και Τεχνολογίας, Τεχνολογικό Πανεπιστήμιο ΚύπρουCountry: Cyprus
Η Κύπρος τα τελευταία χρόνια χαρακτηρίζεται από το φαινόμενο της ανομβρίας, το οποίο παρουσιάζεται όλο και πιο έντονο. Για τον σκοπό αυτό δημιουργήθηκε η ανάγκη για την ορθολογική και βιώσιμη διαχείριση των υδάτινων πόρων. Το πρόβλημα αυτό αντιμετωπίστηκε μέσα από την εκτίμηση της εξατμισοδιαπνοής χρησιμοποιώντας διάφορα συστηματικά δεδομένα. Η τηλεπισκόπηση συμβάλει στην εκτίμηση αυτί] χρησιμοποιώντας τόσο δορυφορικά όσο και μετεωρολογικά δεδομένα. Στόχος της παρούσας μελέτης είναι η εκτίμηση της εξατμισοδιαπνοής καλλιεργειών εφαρμόζοντας την μέθοδο της Τηλεπισκόπησης. Αυτό επιτεύχθηκε μέσα από πολύπλοκες εξισώσεις και μοντέλα που απαιτούσαν την χρήση πολλών μετεωρολογικών παραμέτρων, όπως είναι η μέθοδος Pemnan-Monteith κατά FAO προσαρμοσμένη σε δορυφορικά δεδομένα, η οποία χρησιμοποιήθηκε στην εν λόγω μελέτη. Η μέθοδος αυτή έχει αξιολογηθεί ως η πλέον ακριβής για την εκτίμηση της πραγματικής εξατμισοδιαπνοής. Για την υλοποίηση του εν λόγω στόχου χρησιμοποιήθηκαν τόσο δορυφορικά δεδομένα, τα οποία συλλέχθηκαν από τους δορυφόρους Landsat 5 ΕΤ και 7 ΕΤΜ~, όσο και μετεωρολογικά δεδομένα από τον μετεωρολογικό σταθμό του αεροδρομίου της Λάρνακας. Για την ολοκλήρωση της μελέτης αυτής υπολογίστηκε αρχικά ο NDVI και ο LAI μέσα από επίγειες μετρήσεις και στην συνέχεια είχαν προβεί στην μεταξύ τους συσχέτιση. Τέλος μέσα από την μέθοδο Pemnan-Monteith κατά FAO παράχθηκαν τα σχετικά αποτελέσματα, τα οποία είναι η δημιουργία χαρτών εξατμισοδιαπνοής. Cyprus now day is facing the problem of drought and as the years go it becomes even bigger. For this purpose it creates the need for a rational and sustainable water resource management. This problem has been treated through the estimation of evapotranspiration using various systematic data. The remote sensing contributes to assessment using both satellite and meteorological data. Also, applying the method of sensing, the objective of this study is to estimate the crop evapotranspiration. This was achieved through complicated equations and models that required the use of several meteorological parameters such as the method of Penman Monteith by FAO adapted to satellite data, which was used in the research. This method was tested as the most accurate estimation of the real evapotranspiration. To achieve this objective were used satellite data, which were collected from the satellites Landsat 5 ET and 7 ETM+ and also from the meteorological data from the meteorological station of the Larnaca airport. At the beginning NDVI and LAI were calculated for the completion of the study, and afterwards they had carried out their correlation. Finally, through the method of Penman-Monteith by FAO the related results were taken, which are the creation of evapotranpspirations‟ maps. Completed
- Other research product . 2020Open Access GreekPublisher: Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Cyprus University of TechnologyCountry: Cyprus
One of the environmental problems that has been occurring at a very high rate in recent decades is the forest fire. Forests are undoubtedly a renewable natural resource, which provides both environmental, economic and also cultural and social development for each place. Forest fire have devastating and unfortunate effects on both vegetation and ecosystems. Dealing with them presupposes the existence of integrated plans and management policies, but also the availability of timely and reliable statistics and information on fire regimes. Valuable help in these actions is the use of new technologies and data sources. Remote Sensing provides a solution to large-scale data collection problems. In more depth, Satellite Remote Sensing together with satellite data provides the possibility of better monitoring and management of the burned areas as well as the degradation of the environment. It is used for prevention, detection and direct mapping, both short- term and long- tern impacts. With the help of satellite data, taking at least two different time images depicting the same area, the appropriate correction can be made, using the appropriate vegetation indicators for each occasion and sorting the image so that it can indicate tot the analysed areas where the mapped surface has undergone changes. The presented diplomatic study refers to forest fire and how they affect the ecosystems, but even to the restoration of vegetation. The research also mentions the detectors contained in each satellite and how the Remote Sensing helps to monitor the vegetation by creating vegetation markers that each has its own role and purpose. It even develops the processing that satellite imagery needs to be classified and how Satellite Remote Sensing can help map forest fires. Ένα από τα περιβαλλοντικά προβλήματα που παρουσιάζει πολύ υψηλούς ρυθμούς εμφάνισης τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες, είναι οι δασικές πυρκαγιές. Τα δάση αποτελούν αναμφισβήτητα ένα ανανεώσιμο φυσικό πόρο, τα οποία παρέχουν τόσο περιβαλλοντική όσο και οικονομική, αλλά και πολιτιστική και κοινωνική ανάπτυξη για κάθε τόπο. Οι δασικές πυρκαγιές επιφέρουν καταστροφικές συνέπειες τόσο στη βλάστηση όσο και στη λειτουργία του οικοσυστήματος. Η αντιμετώπιση τους προϋποθέτει την υπάρξει ολοκληρωμένων σχεδίων και πολιτικών διαχείρισης, αλλά και τη διαθεσιμότητα έγκαιρων και αξιόπιστων στατιστικών και πληροφοριών σχετικά με τα καθεστώτα πυρκαγιών. Πολύτιμο αρωγό σε αυτές τις ενέργειες αποτελεί η χρήση νέων τεχνολογιών και πηγών δεδομένων. Η Τηλεπισκόπηση δίνει λύση σε προβλήματα συλλογής δεδομένων με μεγάλη έκταση. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, η Δορυφορική Τηλεπισκόπηση παρέχει μαζί με τα δορυφορικά δεδομένα την δυνατότητα καλύτερης παρακολούθησης και διαχείρισης των καμένων εκτάσεων καθώς και την υποβάθμιση του περιβάλλοντος. Χρησιμοποιείται για πρόληψη, ανίχνευση και άμεση χαρτογράφηση, εκτίμηση τόσο βραχυπρόθεσμα όσο και μακροπρόθεσμα των επιπτώσεων που προκαλεί. Με την βοήθεια των δορυφορικών δεδομένων, παίρνοντας δύο τουλάχιστον διαφορετικές χρονικά εικόνες που να απεικονίζουν την ίδια περιοχή, μπορούν να γίνουν οι κατάλληλες διορθώσεις, χρησιμοποιώντας τους κατάλληλους για κάθε περίσταση δείκτες βλάστησης και ακολούθως την ταξινόμηση των εικόνων για να μπορεί να υποδείξει στον αναλυτή περιοχές όπου η χαρτογραφούμενη επιφάνεια έχει υποστεί αλλαγές. Στη παρούσα διπλωματική μελέτη γίνεται αναφορά στις δασικές πυρκαγιές και πως αυτές επηρεάζουν στην συνέχεια τα οικοσυστήματα, αλλά ακόμα και στην αποκατάσταση της βλάστησης. Στην έρευνα γίνεται αναφορά και για τους ανιχνευτές που περιέχονται μέσα σε κάθε δορυφόρο αλλά και πως η Τηλεπισκόπηση βοηθά στην παρακολούθηση της βλάστησης με τη δημιουργία δεικτών βλάστησης που ο κάθε ένας έχει τον δικό του ρόλο και σκοπό. Αναπτύσσεται ακόμα και η επεξεργασία που χρειάζονται οι δορυφορικές εικόνες με την ταξινόμηση και πως μπορεί να βοηθήσει η Δορυφορική Τηλεπισκόπηση στη χαρτογράφηση των δασικών πυρκαγιών. Completed
- Other research product . 2022Open Access GreekCountry: Cyprus
The topic I chose for my dissertation is the Sentinel-2 satellite image classification for the disaster that occurred on 4/8/20 in the port of Beirut after an explosion. In the dissertation we used the SNAP program, and two Sentinel-2 satellite images. Through the thesis we could elaborate the steps on how to properly perform a supervised classification using the appropriate software. The classification is done to identify the categories of all terrestrial objects where they can consist of lakes, rivers, dams, sea, mountains, land, vegetation and urban areas. The initial classification process was done in the image before the disaster in the port of Beirut, in which the categories of objects were made as follows: soil, sea, vegetation and urban area. The Random Forest Classifier, Maximum Likelihood Classifier and Minimum Distance Classifier were then classified. Based on these results, the best classification was made based on the Random Forest Classifier. We then placed the classes in the second Sentinel 2 image after the disaster occurred and created the disaster class. Finally, we repeated the classification only in the category Random Forest Classifier for the second image which was the best classification before and the classification based on the disaster that has taken place in the port of Beirut came out. Το θέμα που επιλέχτηκε στην πτυχιακή εργασία είναι η ταξινόμηση δορυφορικής εικόνας Sentinel-2 για την καταστροφή που έγινε στις 4/8/20 στο λιμάνι της Βηρυτού μετά από έκρηξη. Στην πτυχιακή εργασία χρησιμοποιήσαμε το πρόγραμμα SNAP και δύο δορυφορικές εικόνες Sentinel-2. Αρχικά γίνεται σύγκριση με βάση της εικόνες που πάρθηκαν πριν και μετά την έκρηξη. Παράλληλα μπορούμε να εφαρμόσουμε τα βήματα επιβλεπόμενης ταξινόμησης χρησιμοποιώντας κατάλληλα λογισμικά. Η αρχική διαδικασία της ταξινόμησης έγινε στην εικόνα πριν την καταστροφή στο λιμάνι της Βηρυτού, στην οποία επιλέγηκαν ως κατηγορίες των αντικείμενων οι εξής: χώμα, θάλασσα, βλάστηση και αστική περιοχή. Στην συνέχεια έγινε ταξινόμηση με βάση τις τεχνικές Random Forest Classifier, Maximum Likelihood Classifier και Minimum Distance Classifier. Βάση των αποτελεσμάτων αυτών, η καλύτερη ταξινόμηση έγινε βάση της Random Forest Classifier. Στην συνέχεια τοποθετήσαμε τις ίδιες κλάσεις στην δεύτερη εικόνα Sentinel 2 μετά που έγινε η καταστροφή και δημιουργήσαμε μια επιπρόσθετη κλάση. Τέλος επαναλάβαμε την ταξινόμηση μόνο στην κατηγόρια τις Random Forest Classifier για την δεύτερη εικόνα η οποία ήταν η καλύτερη ταξινόμηση από πριν και βγήκε η ταξινόμηση βάση της καταστροφής που έχει γίνει στο λιμάνι της Βηρυτού. Completed
- Other research product . 2016Open Access GreekPublisher: Τμήμα Πολιτικών Μηχανικών και Μηχανικών Γεωπληροφορικής, Σχολή Μηχανικής και Τεχνολογίας, Τεχνολογικό Πανεπιστήμιο ΚύπρουCountry: Cyprus
The purpose of this study is to establish the use of the Technical Satellite Remote Sensing in relation to the Technical Geographical Information Systems GIS, in order subsoil structures to be discovered and more specifically in order to lead at the discovery of military subsoil repositories. Although, because that specific matter is still in the early stages of its research, this study will indicate the measurements procedure by the spectro-radiometry and the measurements processing that had been presented periodically. At first, measurements have been made in natural vegetation and then to barley which was nourished within an area of high interest. At the end of the measurement procedures, observations about the foliage growth and development have been stated as well as the research of vegetation indices NDVI and SAVI which have been made before and during the barley undergrowth. Namely, natural foliage and cultivation by creating charts circulation of vegetation indices in the area of interest. Indices were determined by the usage of Landsat 7 and Landsat 8 satellites. Αντικείμενο μελέτης της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η δυνατότητα χρήσης των τεχνικών της Δορυφορικής Τηλεπισκόπησης σε συνδυασμό με τη χρήση τεχνικών γεωγραφικών συστημάτων πληροφοριών (ΓΣΠ), για τον εντοπισμό υπεδάφιων κατασκευών και πιο συγκεκριμένα υπεδάφιων στρατιωτικών αποθηκών. Λόγω του ότι το συγκεκριμένο θέμα είναι ερευνητικό και βρίσκεται ακόμα στα πρώιμα στάδια μελέτης του, στη μελέτη αυτή παρουσιάζονται η διαδικασία λήψης μετρήσεων με φασματοραδιόμετρο στην περιοχή μελέτης, και η επεξεργασία των μετρήσεων που έχουν παρθεί ανά τακτά χρονικά διαστήματα. Οι μετρήσεις έγιναν σε φυσική βλάστηση και στη συνέχεια σε κριθάρι, το οποίο καλλιεργήθηκε στην περιοχή ενδιαφέροντος. Τέλος έγιναν παρατηρήσεις για την ανάπτυξη της καλλιέργειας, όπως επίσης και μελέτη των δεικτών βλάστησης NDVI και SAVI, πριν και μετά τη καλλιέργεια κριθαριού, δηλαδή της φυσικής βλάστησης και της καλλιέργειας, δημιουργώντας διαγράμματα κατανομής των δεικτών βλάστησης στην περιοχή ενδιαφέροντος. Οι δείκτες υπολογίστηκαν βάση των δορυφόρων Landsat7 ΕΤΜ+ και Landsat 8. Completed
- Other research product . 2021Open AccessAuthors:Stacey, Paul;Stacey, Paul;Publisher: Technological University DublinCountry: Ireland
As geographical observational data capture, storage and sharing technologies such as in situ remote monitoring systems and spatial data infrastructures evolve, the vision of a Digital Earth, first articulated by Al Gore in 1998 is getting ever closer. However, there are still many challenges and open research questions. For example, data quality, provenance and heterogeneity remain an issue due to the complexity of geo-spatial data and information representation. Observational data are often inadequately semantically enriched by geo-observational information systems or spatial data infrastructures and so they often do not fully capture the true meaning of the associated datasets. Furthermore, data models underpinning these information systems are typically too rigid in their data representation to allow for the ever-changing and evolving nature of geo-spatial domain concepts. This impoverished approach to observational data representation reduces the ability of multi-disciplinary practitioners to share information in an interoperable and computable way. The health domain experiences similar challenges with representing complex and evolving domain information concepts. Within any complex domain (such as Earth system science or health) two categories or levels of domain concepts exist. Those concepts that remain stable over a long period of time, and those concepts that are prone to change, as the domain knowledge evolves, and new discoveries are made. Health informaticians have developed a sophisticated two-level modelling systems design approach for electronic health documentation over many years, and with the use of archetypes, have shown how data, information, and knowledge interoperability among heterogenous systems can be achieved. This research investigates whether two-level modelling can be translated from the health domain to the geo-spatial domain and applied to observing scenarios to achieve semantic interoperability within and between spatial data infrastructures, beyond what is possible with current state-of-the-art approaches. A detailed review of state-of-the-art SDIs, geo-spatial standards and the two-level modelling methodology was performed. A cross-domain translation methodology was developed, and a proof-of-concept geo-spatial two-level modelling framework was defined and implemented. The Open Geospatial Consortium’s (OGC) Observations & Measurements (O&M) standard was re-profiled to aid investigation of the two-level information modelling approach. An evaluation of the method was undertaken using II specific use-case scenarios. Information modelling was performed using the two-level modelling method to show how existing historical ocean observing datasets can be expressed semantically and harmonized using two-level modelling. Also, the flexibility of the approach was investigated by applying the method to an air quality monitoring scenario using a technologically constrained monitoring sensor system. This work has demonstrated that two-level modelling can be translated to the geospatial domain and then further developed to be used within a constrained technological sensor system; using traditional wireless sensor networks, semantic web technologies and Internet of Things based technologies. Domain specific evaluation results show that twolevel modelling presents a viable approach to achieve semantic interoperability between constrained geo-observational sensor systems and spatial data infrastructures for ocean observing and city based air quality observing scenarios. This has been demonstrated through the re-purposing of selected, existing geospatial data models and standards. However, it was found that re-using existing standards requires careful ontological analysis per domain concept and so caution is recommended in assuming the wider applicability of the approach. While the benefits of adopting a two-level information modelling approach to geospatial information modelling are potentially great, it was found that translation to a new domain is complex. The complexity of the approach was found to be a barrier to adoption, especially in commercial based projects where standards implementation is low on implementation road maps and the perceived benefits of standards adherence are low. Arising from this work, a novel set of base software components, methods and fundamental geo-archetypes have been developed. However, during this work it was not possible to form the required rich community of supporters to fully validate geoarchetypes. Therefore, the findings of this work are not exhaustive, and the archetype models produced are only indicative. The findings of this work can be used as the basis to encourage further investigation and uptake of two-level modelling within the Earth system science and geo-spatial domain. Ultimately, the outcomes of this work are to recommend further development and evaluation of the approach, building on the positive results thus far, and the base software artefacts developed to support the approach.
- Other research product . 2020Open Access GreekPublisher: Τμήμα Πολιτικών Μηχανικών και Μηχανικών ΓεωπληροφορικήςCountry: Cyprus
This dissertation investigates the capabilities of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the monitoring of public green spaces of a Municipality or a Community, as well as in the planning of their maintenance. Specifically, the dissertation begins with a literature review of similar GIS applications and uses the main findings to start the design of a GIS that, on the one hand, will facilitate the monitoring and maintenance of open green spaces and, on the other hand, will be usable by non-specialists in GIS. In line with the above goals, the final application combined: a) ArcGIS Collector, which was used to ease the surveys of green open spaces, as it can include predefined fields with default entries, b) ArcGIS Online, which was used as a linkage between ArcGIS Collector and ArcMap, c) Microsoft Excel, which provides a convenient way for the creation and update of databases by non-specialised staff, and d) ArcMap, which was used to connect the above databases with the spatial geometry of the open green spaces and, also, to produce the maps that will allow the sound planning of maintenance tasks. For application purposes, the Parish of Geroskipou was selected as a case study, as it includes 160 public green spaces belonging to different types. Σκοπός της παρούσας πτυχιακής εργασίας είναι η διερεύνηση των δυνατοτήτων των Συστημάτων Γεωγραφικών Πληροφοριών (GIS) στην αποτύπωση των δημόσιων χώρων πρασίνου ενός Δήμου ή μίας Κοινότητας για σκοπούς παρακολούθησης και προγραμματισμού των εργασιών συντήρησής τους. Συγκεκριμένα, η πτυχιακή εργασία πραγματοποιεί βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση παρόμοιων εφαρμογών GIS και, ακολούθως, θέτει ως στόχο της την υλοποίηση σχετικής υποδομής γεωχωρικών δεδομένων, η οποία, αφενός διευκολύνει τις εργασίες παρακολούθησης και προγραμματισμού και, αφετέρου, επιτρέπει τη χρήση της από όσο το δυνατόν λιγότερο ειδικευμένο ανθρώπινο δυναμικό. Με βάση τον παραπάνω στόχο, δημιουργήθηκε η σχετική υποδομή, η οποία συνδυάζει: α) τη δυνατότητα διενέργειας πρωτογενών καταγραφών των χώρων πρασίνου με χρήση του λογισμικού ArcGIS Collector, το οποίο επιτρέπει τη χρήση πεδίων καταχώρησης με προεπιλεγμένες τιμές για διευκόλυνση της διαδικασίας καταγραφής, β) αυτοματοποιημένη εισαγωγή των πιο πάνω καταγραφών σε περιβάλλον web GIS με χρήση του λογισμικού ArcGIS Online, γ) δημιουργία βάσης δεδομένων στο λογισμικό Microsoft Excel για χρήση της από τους επιστάτες των χώρων πρασίνου, έχοντας ως στόχο την παρακολούθηση και ενημέρωση των εργασιών συντήρησης και, τέλος, δ) σύνδεση της βάσης δεδομένων με GIS και επεξεργασία 22 διαφορετικών χαρτών στο λογισμικό ArcMap, για σκοπούς παρακολούθησης και προγραμματισμού των εργασιών συντήρησης. Ως μελέτη περίπτωσης επιλέχθηκε η Ενορία Γεροσκήπου του ομώνυμου Δήμου, ο οποίος περιλαμβάνει 160 δημόσιους χώρους πρασίνου διαφόρων τύπων. Completed