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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Remote Sensing Sensors And Applications In Environmental Resources Mapping And Modelling, Assefa M. Melesse, Qihao Weng, Prasad S. Thenkbail, Gabriel B. Senay Dec 2007

Remote Sensing Sensors And Applications In Environmental Resources Mapping And Modelling, Assefa M. Melesse, Qihao Weng, Prasad S. Thenkbail, Gabriel B. Senay

Department of Earth and Environment

The history of remote sensing and development of different sensors for environmental and natural resources mapping and data acquisition is reviewed and reported. Application examples in urban studies, hydrological modeling such as land-cover and floodplain mapping, fractional vegetation cover and impervious surface area mapping, surface energy flux and micro-topography correlation studies is discussed. The review also discusses the use of remotely sensed-based rainfall and potential evapotranspiration for estimating crop water requirement satisfaction index and hence provides early warning information for growers. The review is not an exhaustive application of the remote sensing techniques rather a summary of some important applications …


Effects Of A Switchgrass Buffer Strip On Soil Microorganisms Near A Field Applied With Endosulfan, Cristina Clark-Cuadrado Nov 2007

Effects Of A Switchgrass Buffer Strip On Soil Microorganisms Near A Field Applied With Endosulfan, Cristina Clark-Cuadrado

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A field study to determine the effects of a switchgrass buffer strip (SBS) on soil microorganisms near a field applied with endosulfan was carried out. Soil samples were taken from a SBS and bare soil area downslope from a field applied with endosulfan at different distances, days, and two seasons (wet and dry). Soil samples were analyzed for endosulfan, soil fungi, and bacteria. Analysis of endosulfan concentrations was done by reversed-phase liquid chromatography. No endosulfan runoff was detected by this method. Analysis of soil fungi and bacteria was done by fungal and bacterial enumeration by plate count method on rose …


Role Of Information And Communication Networks In Malaria Survival, Pallab Mozumder, Achla Marathe Oct 2007

Role Of Information And Communication Networks In Malaria Survival, Pallab Mozumder, Achla Marathe

Department of Earth and Environment

Background: Quite often symptoms of malaria go unrecognized or untreated. According to the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria, 70% of the malaria cases that are treated at home are mismanaged. Up to 82% of all malaria episodes in sub-Saharan Africa are treated outside the formal health sector. Fast and appropriate diagnosis and treatment of malaria is extremely important in reducing morbidity and mortality. Method: Data from 70 different countries is pooled together to construct a panel dataset of health and socio-economic variables for a time span of (1960–2004). The generalized two-stage least squares and panel data models are used to investigate …


Wetland Restoration Response Analysis Using Modis And Groundwater Data, Assefa M. Melesse, Vijay Nangia, Xixi Wang, Michael Mcclain Sep 2007

Wetland Restoration Response Analysis Using Modis And Groundwater Data, Assefa M. Melesse, Vijay Nangia, Xixi Wang, Michael Mcclain

Department of Earth and Environment

Vegetation cover and groundwater level changes over the period of restoration are the two most important indicators of the level of success in wetland ecohydrological restoration. As a result of the regular presence of water and dense vegetation, the highest evapotranspiration (latent heat) rates usually occur within wetlands. Vegetation cover and evapotranspiration of large areas of restoration like that of Kissimmee River basin, South Florida will be best estimated using remote sensing technique than point measurements. Kissimmee River basin has been the area of ecological restoration for some years. The current ecohydrological restoration activities were evaluated through fractional vegetation cover …


A Coupled Remote Sensing And Simplified Surface Energy Balance Approach To Estimate Actual Evapotranspiration From Irrigated Fields, Gabriel B. Senay, Michael Budde, James P. Verdin, Assefa M. Melesse Jun 2007

A Coupled Remote Sensing And Simplified Surface Energy Balance Approach To Estimate Actual Evapotranspiration From Irrigated Fields, Gabriel B. Senay, Michael Budde, James P. Verdin, Assefa M. Melesse

Department of Earth and Environment

Accurate crop performance monitoring and production estimation are critical for timely assessment of the food balance of several countries in the world. Since 2001, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) has been monitoring crop performance and relative production using satellite-derived data and simulation models in Africa, Central America, and Afghanistan where ground-based monitoring is limited because of a scarcity of weather stations. The commonly used crop monitoring models are based on a crop water-balance algorithm with inputs from satellite-derived rainfall estimates. These models are useful to monitor rainfed agriculture, but they are ineffective for irrigated areas. This study …


The Non-Timber Forest Products Sector In Nepal : Policy Issues In Plant Conservation And Utilization, Ranju Shresthal Acharya May 2007

The Non-Timber Forest Products Sector In Nepal : Policy Issues In Plant Conservation And Utilization, Ranju Shresthal Acharya

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The non-timber forest products (NTFPs) sector in Nepal is being promoted with the concept of sustainable management as articulated by the Convention on Biological Diversity. To promote and regulate this sector, Nepal adopted the Herbs and NTFP Development Policy in 2004. The goal of this thesis was to assess the effectiveness of this policy along with other forestry and natural resource policies in Nepal concerning the conservation and sustainable use of NTFPs. I conducted open-ended semi-structured interviews with 28 key informants in summer 2006 in Nepal where I also collected relevant documents and publications. I did qualitative analysis of data …


2007 Annual Report Of The Water Quality Monitoring Project For The Water Quality Protection Program Of The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Joseph N. Boyer, Henry O. Briceño Jan 2007

2007 Annual Report Of The Water Quality Monitoring Project For The Water Quality Protection Program Of The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Joseph N. Boyer, Henry O. Briceño

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.


Biometrics For Hospitality And Tourism: A New Wave Of Information Technology, Bomi Kang, Kathleen Pearl Brewer, Billy Bai Jan 2007

Biometrics For Hospitality And Tourism: A New Wave Of Information Technology, Bomi Kang, Kathleen Pearl Brewer, Billy Bai

Hospitality Review

The technologies that empower biometrics have been around for a number of years, but until recently these technologies have been viewed as exotic. In the not too distant future biometrics will be used to regulate internal processes and to improve services in the hospitality and tourism industries. This paper provides an understanding of the current use of biometrics in general and its practical value for the future in hospitality and tourism. The study presents a review of current practices of biometrics with special reference to the hospitality and tourism businesses, addresses key issues imposed by this technology, and identifies business …