Survey Planning Research Articles

Methodology for Performing Bathymetric and Photogrammetric Measurements Using UAV and USV Vehicles in the Coastal Zone

The coastal zone is constantly exposed to marine erosion, rising water levels, waves, tides, sea currents, and debris transport. As a result, there are dynamic changes in the coastal zone topography, which may have negative effects on the aquatic environment and humans. Therefore, in order to monitor the changes in landform taking place in the coastal zone, periodic bathymetric and photogrammetric measurements should be carried out in an appropriate manner. The aim of this review is to develop a methodology for performing bathymetric and photogrammetric measurements using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) in a coastal zone. This publication shows how topographic and bathymetric monitoring should be carried out in this type of zone in order to obtain high-quality data that will be used to develop a Digital Terrain Model (DTM). The methodology for performing photogrammetric surveys with the use of a drone in the coastal zone should consist of four stages: the selection of a UAV, the development of a photogrammetric flight plan, the determination of the georeferencing method for aerial photos, and the specification as to whether there are meteorological conditions in the studied area that enable the implementation of an aerial mission through the use of a UAV. Alternatively, the methodology for performing bathymetric measurements using a USV in the coastal zone should consist of three stages: the selection of a USV, the development of a hydrographic survey plan, and the determination of the measurement conditions in the studied area and whether they enable measurements to be carried out with the use of a USV. As can be seen, the methodology for performing bathymetric and photogrammetric measurements using UAV and USV vehicles in the coastal zone is a complex process and depends on many interacting factors. The correct conduct of the research will affect the accuracy of the obtained measurement results, the basis of which a DTM of the coastal zone is developed. Due to dynamic changes in the coastal zone topography, it is recommended that bathymetric measurements and photogrammetric measurements with the use of UAV and USV vehicles should be carried out simultaneously on the same day, before or after the vegetation period, to enable the accurate measurement of the shallow waterbody depth.

Factors Influencing the Performance Evaluation of Agricultural Product Supply Chain in Guangxi Province, the People's Republic of China

The research questions of this paper are: (1) What factors have an impact on the performance management of the agricultural product supply chain in Guangxi Province? (2) What are the problems in the supply chain management of agricultural products in Guangxi Province? (3) What is the model of the factors influencing the performance of evaluation of agricultural product supply chain in Guangxi province, The People's Republic of China? Through the study of this paper, it is found that there are the following problems in the supply chain management of agricultural products in Guangxi Province: the quality of goods supplied by suppliers is uneven, the timeliness is slow, and the loss during transportation is large. The information systems of various agricultural enterprises are not fully popularized, data between different enterprises cannot be shared, the level of information management is not high enough, the efficiency of transportation management is low, and the quality of transported products cannot be guaranteed.  Major Findings: The research model takes the performance of the agricultural product supply chain in Guangxi Province as the dependent variable, the supplier performance evaluation (SPE) as the independent variable, and the information technology evaluation (ITE) and logistics performance evaluation (LPE) as the mediating variables. The validity of the survey plan and data was tested by confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analysis. Subsequently, the structural equation model and regression analysis were used to verify the various assumptions in the supply chain organization efficiency hypothesis model. This study deeply explores the many factors that affect the efficiency of the agricultural product supply chain. Finally, a new model for analyzing the factors affecting the performance of the agricultural product supply chain in Guangxi was constructed.

Utilizing a Dashboard for Efficient Biodiversity Data Overview and Gap-Filling Effort

Taiwan Biodiversity Information Facility has been leading the effort to integrate and mobilize biodiversity data nationally. We recently accomplished the integration of local databases and successfully developed a data portal that efficiently links to the most comprehensive biodiversity database in Taiwan: the Taiwan Biodiversity Information Alliance Data Portal. However, we identified an emerging challenge following this development. Preliminary analyses have revealed several gaps in the current dataset, impeding robust data use. For instance, land data dominates over sea data, and bird records are more abundant than those of other taxonomic groups. In our endeavour to enhance national biodiversity data coverage, we are actively exploring methodologies to address these existing data gaps. Here, we broadly define data gap as the absence of required data or information for use. Our primary objective is to empower users to identify these gaps, thereby facilitating efficient, informed survey planning and eventually filling these gaps. For this purpose, we are evaluating the effectiveness of a user-friendly dashboard, tailored for biodiversity survey planning in Taiwan. We developed and deployed a R Shiny dashboard*1 that provides users with insightful data visualizations that highlight spatial, temporal, and taxonomical data overviews. It also offers customizable filtering options, such as by major taxon groups and habitat types, for easy viewing. Additionally, the dashboard includes a download function, so users can access spatial and taxon gap information in their survey planning efforts. After deploying the dashboard, we conducted user interviews to collect feedback aimed at refining its usability and effectiveness. In addition to helping survey planning, we anticipate that this tool will also aid data users in promptly assessing data integrity within the national biodiversity data portal, thereby enabling them to identify potential data gaps and biases that may affect subsequent use. Through this presentation, we aim to share our experience in developing an interactive dashboard tailored for public use. Preliminary results had indicated that the dashboard highlighted some visible data gaps and biases, particularly in underrepresented areas such as marine habitats and less-studied taxonomic groups. Additionally, user interviews revealed a demand for a feature that provides single species data overviews, suggesting a potential area for further development to enhance the tool's utility. Some challenges remain, such as the need to enhance data granularity and user interface usability. Future work will focus on incorporating more real-time data integration and expanding the range of customizable filters. We believe these efforts will further empower users in Taiwan to conduct more informed and efficient biodiversity surveys, ultimately supporting research and policy-making to address critical biodiversity data gaps.

Spatiotemporal and Environmental Completeness of eBird Data in Taiwan

Recent developments in citizen science have significantly enhanced the public availability of biodiversity data (Chandler et al. 2017, Kelling et al. 2019). Associated open data platforms, such as eBird, have become the major data source supporting scientific research and biodiversity conservation (Tsai et al. 2021, Meehan et al. 2022, Walker and Taylor 2017). However, the increasing availabililty of data does not resolve, but rather exacerbates, data bias issues (Escribano et al. 2019, La Sorte and Somveille 2020, Troia and McManamay 2016). While over 11.2 million bird observation records from Taiwan, including historical data spanning 40 years, are currently available on the eBird platform, their usefulness for characterizing the spatiotemporal patterns of bird communities remains unclear. To address this gap, we evaluated the data’s completeness in representing species richness across spatial and temporal scales and examined the representativeness of the data along several environmental gradients. Using the iNEXT package in R, we found an increase in data completeness with increasing spatial scales Fig. 1, with the mean proportion of bird species represented being increased from 14.0% at the 1 km scale to 68.0 and 82.9% at the 5 and 10 km scales, respectively, across Taiwan. We also found an exponential improvement of data completeness over time. At the 5 km scale, the represented species proportion increased from 6.78 and 32.14% in the 1980s and 1990s to 36.86 and 63.56% in the 2000s and 2010s Fig. 2, with the data in the last decade alone achieving similar completeness to the entire four-decade data. We also found that the areas with good data completeness (i.e., over 80%) adequately represented the full gradient of annual precipitation across Taiwan, but showed a bias toward areas at lower elevations and with lower forest coverage. These results indicate overall good data completeness of the eBird dataset for representing bird species richness in Taiwan. However, this study also highlights some data gaps, especially at finer scales, which need attention when using the dataset. This information is crucial for shaping future research designs and survey plans, aiming to enhance the applications of biodiversity data.

Distribution of Sarcophagidae (Diptera, Oestroidea) in Brazilian biomes: richness, endemism, and sampling gaps

ABSTRACT Sarcophagid experts have made several efforts to associate biodiversity data and comprehend where each species occurs, but comprehensive faunal inventories remain scarce. Our aim was to provide a list of distributional patterns and endemic species and allow assessment of the sampling effort conducted within Brazilian biomes. We produced a dataset of Brazilian sarcophagids and overlaid with a biome map, to investigate distributional patterns, endemism and to build species accumulation curves. Additionally, we calculated nonparametric asymptotic species richness estimators and extrapolation of species diversity (Hill numbers). Our dataset comprised 288 sarcophagid species, which 21 were identified as endemic. The biomes with the highest species richness were the Atlantic Rainforest and the Amazon Forest, and no biome exhibited a stabilized asymptotic curve. This is the first proposal of listing Sarcophagidae species by biomes and essential to understand the spatial distribution of this family in Brazil. We present maps and richness estimators that allow identifying gaps and guiding survey planning.

Research on multi-beam survey line system based on dynamic programming algorithm

This paper establishes a calculation model for the coverage width and overlap rate of a multi-beam survey line system [1], and optimizes the multi-beam bathymetric survey plan for marine areas. Through the dynamic programming algorithm, a reasonable survey line plan is designed based on the actual marine area depth. The research content includes: Model Establishment: Construct a calculation model for coverage width and overlap rate, determining the coverage width and overlap rate at each position. Three-Dimensional Space Model: Using the survey vessel as the origin and combining marine area information, solve for the coverage width at different angles. Shortest Survey Line Plan: Using the dynamic programming algorithm, determine the shortest survey line plan, with the dynamic transfer equation determined by the overlap rate index. The total length of the survey line in this plan is calculated to be 114,824 meters. Specific Survey Line Plan Design: Using sea depth data and cubic spline interpolation to complete the discrete point plane, construct approximate width and slope. Under the condition of relaxing the overlap rate to 5%-30%, the shortest survey line length is obtained as 398,059 meters, with a missing survey area ratio of 0%, and the total length of parts with an overlap rate exceeding 20% is 25,759 meters, accounting for 6.4%. This study provides theoretical basis and calculation methods for optimizing multi-beam bathymetric survey plans.

Sea ice melt pond bathymetry reconstructed from aerial photographs using photogrammetry: a new method applied to MOSAiC data

Abstract. Melt ponds are a core component of the summer sea ice system in the Arctic, increasing the uptake of solar energy and impacting the ice-associated ecosystem. They were thus one of the key topics during the 1-year drift campaign Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) in the Transpolar Drift 2019/2020. Pond depth is a dominating factor in describing the surface meltwater volume; it is necessary to estimate budgets and used in model parameterization to simulate pond coverage evolution. However, observational data on pond depth are spatially and temporally strongly limited to a few in situ measurements. Pond bathymetry, which is pond depth spatially fully resolved, remains unexplored. Here, we present a newly developed method to derive pond bathymetry from aerial images. We determine it from a photogrammetric multi-view reconstruction of the summer ice surface topography. Based on images recorded on dedicated grid flights and facilitated assumptions, we were able to obtain pond depth with a mean deviation of 3.5 cm compared to manual in situ observations. The method is independent of pond color and sky conditions, which is an advantage over recently developed radiometric airborne retrieval methods. It can furthermore be implemented in any typical photogrammetry workflow. We present the retrieval algorithm, including requirements for the data recording and survey planning, and a correction method for refraction at the air–pond interface. In addition, we show how the retrieved surface topography model synergizes with the initial image data to retrieve the water level of individual ponds from the visually determined pond margins. We use the method to give a profound overview of the pond coverage on the MOSAiC floe, on which we found unexpected steady pond coverage and volume. We were able to derive individual pond properties of more than 1600 ponds on the floe, including their size, bathymetry, volume, surface elevation above sea level, and temporal evolution. We present a scaling factor for single in situ depth measurements, discuss the representativeness of in situ pond measurements and the importance of such high-resolution data for new satellite retrievals, and show indications for non-rigid pond bottoms. The study points out the great potential to derive geometric properties of the summer sea ice surface emerging from the increasingly available visual image data recorded from uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) or aircraft, allowing for an integrated understanding and improved formulation of the thermodynamic and hydrological pond system in models.

Data analysis plan of the OECD PaRIS survey: leveraging a multi-level approach to analyse data collected from people living with chronic conditions and their primary care practices in 20 countries

ObjectiveIn view of the increasing number of people with (multiple) chronic conditions, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) initiated the International Survey of People Living with Chronic Conditions (PaRIS survey), which aims to provide insight in patient-reported outcomes and experiences of chronic care provided by primary care practices to support policy development. The objective of this research note is to describe the structure of the data, collected in the PaRIS survey and how the data will be analysed in a multilevel approach for cross-country comparison.Analysis planThe data structure of the PaRIS survey represents three levels: countries/health systems, primary care practices and patients. Multilevel analysis is used because of its accuracy in estimating country-level outcomes, its flexibility in modelling relationships, and its opportunities in connecting to relevant policy questions. Country-level outcomes will be estimated to facilitate cross-country comparison and (future) within-country comparison over time. Characteristics of patients that potentially explain variation in patient-reported outcomes and experiences can be linked to primary care practice and country/health system characteristics. This makes it possible to address policy-relevant questions relating, e.g., to the impact of chronic care management on patients with a specific chronic condition.

Optimization of Multibeam Survey Measurement Based on Greedy Algorithm

The effectiveness of multibeam bathymetric technology is widely recognized in marine depth measurements, especially in areas with complex and variable seafloor topography. This study aims to design a multibeam bathymetric survey plan for a specific maritime region, with the objectives of minimizing the total survey line length, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the target area, controlling the overlap between adjacent survey lines, and fully considering variations in seafloor topography. An optimization model was developed to determine the optimal route for comprehensive seafloor depth measurements within the specified maritime area.The model initially considers the influence of seafloor slope, establishing a single optimization objective model with the goal of minimizing the total survey line length. The decision variables primarily include the spacing between adjacent survey lines. The objective function of the model aims to reduce the number of survey lines, thereby achieving the minimization of the total survey line length. Constraints of the model encompass limitations on coverage range, calculations of coverage width, and relationships between survey lines. The model is solved using a greedy algorithm-based optimization approach, iteratively updating the positions of survey lines while determining the spacing based on the relationship between depth and coverage width. Ultimately, a layout of survey lines with the shortest total length, totaling 64 nautical miles with a configuration of 32 survey lines, is obtained for the assumed maritime area. Multibeam bathymetric technology holds broad prospects in the field of marine measurements, particularly in areas characterized by complex and variable seafloor topography. This study, by designing a multibeam bathymetric survey plan for a specific maritime region, not only contributes to improving measurement efficiency and accuracy but also reduces measurement costs and resource consumption. The outcomes of this research have significant practical implications for marine resource development, seafloor engineering construction, environmental protection, providing professionals in related fields with an effective measurement method and optimization strategy.

An assessment on land management services of ministry of environment, natural resources, and energy: the case of Sulu Province

BARMM-MENRE land management services research after legal and administrative reforms. With descriptive-exploratory design, it evaluated 100 clients. Results showed Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy-Sulu Land Management Services clients view service execution differently. Certificate of Survey/Land Status Customer satisfaction means good service. Client-respondents impartially approve Survey Plans and title public land. Hypothesis testing demonstrates no gender, civil status, or educational implementation perception gap. Land Management Services subcategory matches age and average monthly family income. This study suggests: Land Management Services of Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy-Sulu may review the processes involved to improve the satisfaction of the client-respondents with the Application for the Approval of Survey Plan and Application for Public Land Titling; Land Management Services of Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy-Sulu may conduct an outreach and information campaigns to raise awareness and educate the public about the benefits and procedures of availing the services to address the disparities in the perceived implementation of the services; Clients may communicate their concerns and suggestions to the service providers and seek assistance when needed especially in Application for the Approval of Survey Plan and Application for Public Land Titling; Employees who are involved in the delivery of the Certification of Land Status and/or Survey Claimant services may maintain their high standards of quality and efficiency and seek to improve their customer satisfaction ratings; and in the delivery of the Application for the Approval of Survey Plan and Application for Public Land Titling services Employees can discover causes of neutral or negative client attitudes and enhance service and satisfaction.

Intelligent mission planning of sky survey based on the NSGA-III algorithm

In recent years, China has been scheduled to launch an all-sky survey telescope for celestial observation. The meticulous arrangement of observation sequences for this telescope is of paramount importance, given the myriad challenges and constraints inherent to such astronomical survey missions. These challenges encompass factors such as spatial limitations, stray light contamination, as well as constraints related to data storage and energy consumption. This undertaking presents a quintessential NP-hard optimization problem. To address this complexity and enhance in-orbit observation efficiency, this study closely adheres to practical engineering considerations. A comprehensive evaluation of diverse constraints is conducted, culminating in the establishment of an optimization model for systematic planning of sky survey missions. The primary optimization objectives encompass maximizing in-orbit observation duration, augmenting the count of observable celestial points, and minimizing maneuvering angles. To tackle this multifaceted problem, a mission planning algorithm is devised based on NSGA-III, a multi-objective optimization technique. The experimental results indicate that the sky survey planning algorithm proposed in this paper can effectively accomplish sky survey observation tasks, achieving the scientific objective of no fewer than 350 daily observation points. It holds the potential to provide algorithmic support for the sky survey telescope mission on the Chinese space station.

Critical Analysis of Job Satisfaction among Special Education Consultants, Trainers and Teachers: Evidence from Province of Sindh

A study sought to evaluate the characteristics that influence work satisfaction among special education teachers, consultant and trainers. The survey included 323 full-time teachers and 207 professionals employed in special education institutions in Karachi, Sindh. Working in special schools, connections with colleagues, job stability, pupil-professional ratio, accomplishment, principal support, and working-class reputation were all factors that influenced job satisfaction. Special allowances, physical amenities, resource acquisition, pay, and prospects for advancement were all factors that contributed to work unhappiness. Competitive compensation, equal advancement chances, positive connections with coworkers, supportive supervisors, and participation in decision-making are all strategies for increasing workplace satisfaction. This investigation utilized a descriptive survey plan, a cost-effective method for collecting large amounts of data from a large population. The research data was analyzed using descriptive statistics like percentages, means, and frequency distribution tables to present the findings. The study reveals a correlation between workload, work environment, organizational support, and job satisfaction in professionals and teachers working with special needs students. Organizational support significantly predicts job satisfaction. However, research on Pakistan's impact is limited. Recommendations included improving working conditions, recognizing and promoting employees appropriately, and offering suitable teaching and learning materials from diverse stakeholders. Key words:, , , , ,

GEODESY IN SOLVING PROBLEMS OF SUSTAINABLE CITY DEVELOPMENT: ANALYSIS OF URBAN TERRITORY PLANNING

The article focuses on the creation and implementation of a geodetic planning system aimed at ensuring the sustainable development of urban areas. The main emphasis is on the use of open and accessible software, integration of full-fledged GIS and DBMS components. The process of determining the most suitable GIS platform for GSP included a detailed analysis of various GIS systems taking into account their functionality, which allowed to choose QGIS as the optimal solution due to its high functionality in the field of geodata management, support for various data formats, user interface and dynamic development. The structure of the GSP is based on two main platforms: the QGIS GIS system for cartographic data presentation and analysis, and the Microsoft Access DBMS for performing all data operations. Interaction between these platforms is provided through the eVis module built into QGIS, which allows for efficient planning of urban area surveys and land use management. The main tasks solved with the help of GSP are the planning of primary surveys to identify target plantations, detailed taxation of plantations with the creation of samples according to specified parameters, obtaining point maps of the distribution of various types of vegetation, planning sample surveys with specific geospatial conditions, as well as geo-information and tax analysis in in solving the problems of sustainable development of cities. The implementation of GSP provides significant advantages for planning the sustainable development of urban areas, allowing more efficient use of land resources, optimizing urban management processes and intensifying scientific research in this field. The development and integration of modern digital technologies in the field of urban planning play a key role in achieving the goals of sustainable development.

Public exposure in the Orenburg region due to natural sources of ionizing radiation. Part 3: Approaches to radon survey planning

A comprehensive radiation survey of settlements in six districts of the eastern part of the Orenburg region in terms of exposure to natural sources of ionizing radiation, carried out in 2019, revealed numerous exceedances of the hygienic norm (action level) for indoor radon concentration in residential and public buildings. It was found that among other studied factors, exhalation of radon from the ground under the buildings is the main source of high levels of public exposure. Due to the lack of funding for the continuation of the survey in 2020, specialists of St. Petersburg Research Institute of Radiation Hygiene after Professor P.V. Ramzaev, Directorate of Rospotrebnadzor in the Orenburg region and the Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Orenburg region needed to develop new approaches to survey planning. These new approaches should provide maximum amount of measurement information necessary to ensure radiation safety of the region’s population, with minimal financial investments and labor costs. Indoor radon concentration in residential and public buildings was undoubtedly chosen as the studied factor, and the integrated measurement method using SSNTDs was chosen as the most suitable method for the objectives of the survey due to its scalability and ease of detectors deployment. Since exposure to radon and its progeny is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, the selection of priority districts of the region for the radon survey was based on average standardized trachea, bronchi, and lung cancer morbidity rates in the districts of the Orenburg region for 2009-2018. The survey conducted in 2020-2023 revealed exceedances of the hygienic norm (action level) for indoor radon concentration in five of seven surveyed districts. By 2025 it is planned to conduct radon surveys in three more districts of the Orenburg region with increased respiratory systems cancer morbidity rates.

Development of a spatial framework for flash flood damage assessment and mitigation by coupling analytics of machine learning and household level survey data – A case study of rapid collaborative assessments and disbursement of public funds to the affectees of floods 2022, Punjab Pakistan

In August 2022, one of the most devastating floods in the history of Pakistan was triggered due to heavy and exceptionally high monsoon rainfall. It has affected thirty-six million people across the country and agriculture losses were recorded in the most productive Indus plains which aggravated the food insecurity in the country. This study focuses on the two districts of Punjab provinces includes DG Khan and Rajanpur, where huge flood damages were reported. As part of damage and loss assessment methodologies, GIS/RS based approach is developed in this study to estimate flood extent in DG Khan and Rajanpur. Field survey was conducted using android based devices with the help of military and government organizations such as PDMA, to verify and record flood damages. Information regarding damage includes property, livestock, people, crop and other damages with real-time images captured and stored via android app and flood data monitoring was visualized on a web-based dashboard. SAR data (Sentinel 1-A) was used to calculate and verify extent of the flood along with Sentinel 2-A dataset to extract Land cover classes. SAR flood maps were validated using the survey data retrieved during flood events. This data was compared with the Sentinel-1A dual polarised (VV & VH). The SAR data (Sentinel-1A) was also collected for the same day to extract the Flood Extent of August/September 2022 using Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (mNDWI). Hence, flood inundation map was prepared using polarisation. This examination is confirmed through the kappa coefficient (κ), which is 0.88 for VV polarisation and 0.86 for VH polarisation. In VV polarisation, PA and UA of ‘water’ are less than of all ‘other classes. Mauza level mapping was also conducted to identify the damaged mauzas in both floods affected districts to figure out damaged villages and find out damaged property with khasra or mauza name. GIS RS based and survey-based model was developed in this research, which replicated on two districts of Punjab to assess flood damage, it will help Pakistan government to always asses flood damages to crop, houses, livestock and other assets. This helped to communicate with the local governments and identify and rank high affected villages; so that priority shall be given as per intensity of the damages. An android application for flood survey was developed. The flood survey application provided facility to estimate the on-ground reality of each individual, property, crop and livestock damage due to flood. This application was mainly used for the assessment purpose that provides detail information with precise location and real visualization of the damage assets. Joint survey teams were constituted including members from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, National Disaster Management Authority, Pakistan Army, Local Government and the Urban Unit. Each village classified as flood damages/affected was visited by the survey team through a proper survey plan. After all the flood data was recorded, now the next step was to build transparent system to distribute funds to the flood victims. For this purpose, Bank has developed dashboard to distribute funds to the affected by the Government of Punjab.

Quantifying the effect of water quality on eDNA degradation using microcosm and bioassay experiments

AbstractEnvironmental DNA (eDNA) is often used to determine the presence and absence of species in a specific environment, be it air, water, or soil. Numerous environmental conditions are known to directly alter the rate at which eDNA degrades, including pH, temperature, and UV‐B light exposure. Beyond these, many limnological parameters have not been thoroughly examined for their ability to modify the degradation rate of eDNA. Here we used 20 mL microcosms with water collected from 12 lakes from the Kawartha Highlands near Peterborough Ontario, Canada, to study the decay rates of dissolved Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) eDNA. We measured and related rates of eDNA loss to multiple water quality parameters: total dissolved phosphorus, total dissolved nitrogen, size‐fractionated carbon, and chlorophyll‐a levels. Bioassays were also conducted to examine the bacterial role in eDNA degradation using three treatments under natural system conditions: non‐filtered, filtered (0.22 μm), and non‐filtered with added phosphorus (50 μg/L). Each microcosm exhibited a unique rate of degradation with eDNA half‐life (C0.5) ranging from 2.5 to 12.9 h. Chlorophyll‐a levels exhibited a positive linear relationship to the rate of degradation, while all other parameters showed no effect. The bioassays showed a general trend of the filtered treatments exhibiting the lowest rate of degradation, followed by the phosphorus treatments with the non‐filtered treatment containing bacteria exhibiting the highest rate of degradation. Overall, water with an increased level of chlorophyll‐a, in conjunction with elevated bacteria (i.e. non‐filtered bioassay) will exhibit a faster overall rate of eDNA degradation. These results show the necessity to individualize eDNA survey plans to the water body of interest and to account for environmental conditions relating to the microbial processing of eDNA.

A Fact-finding Survey and Improvement Plans for Mechanical Equipment Preconstruction Verification Application

A Fact-finding Survey and Improvement Plans for Mechanical Equipment Preconstruction Verification Application

Land suitability analysis for turmeric crop for humid tropical Kerala, India, under current and future climate scenarios using advanced geospatial techniques.

Turmeric cultivation primarily thrives in India, followed by Bangladesh, Cambodia, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. India leads globally in both area and production of turmeric. Despite this, there is a recognized gap in research regarding the impact of climate change on site suitability of turmeric. The primary objective of the present study was to evaluate both the present and future suitability of turmeric cultivation within the humid tropical region of Kerala, India, by employing advanced geospatial techniques. The research utilized meteorological data from the Indian Meteorological Department for the period of 1986-2020 as historical data and projected future data from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). Four climatic scenarios of shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change AR6 model of MIROC6 for the year 2050 (SSP 1-2.6, SSP 2-4.5, SSP 3-7.0 and SSP 5-8.5) were used. The results showed that suitable area for turmeric cultivation is declining in future scenario and this decline can be primarily attributed to fluctuations in temperature and an anticipated increase in rainfall in the year 2050. Notable changes in the spatial distribution of suitable areas over time were observed through the application of geographic information system (GIS) techniques. Importantly, as per the suitability criteria provided by ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (ICAR-NBSS & LUP), all the districts in Kerala exhibited moderately suitable conditions for turmeric cultivation. With the GIS tools, the study identified highly suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable and not suitable areas of turmeric cultivation in Kerala. Presently 28% of area falls under highly suitable, 41% of area falls under moderately suitable and 11% falls under not suitable for turmeric cultivation. However, considering the projected scenarios for 2050 under the SSP framework, there will be a significant decrease in highly suitable area by 19% under SSP 5-8.5. This reduction in area will have an impact on the productivity of the crop as a result of changes in temperature and rainfall patterns. The outcome of the present research suggests that the state of Kerala needs to implement suitable climate change adaptation and management strategies for sustaining the turmeric cultivation. Additionally, the present study includes a discussion on potential management strategies to address the challenges posed by changing climatic conditions for optimizing turmeric production in the region. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Practices on Performance of Health Funded Projects in Rwanda: A Case of Malaria Control, Maternal & Child Health Programs of Ministry of Health

The study assessed the effect of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) practices on performance of health funded projects in Rwanda: a case of Malaria control, Maternal & Child Health programs in Ministry of Health. It had three specific objectives: to assess the effect of M&E planning on project performance, to examine the influence of M&E data collection and analysis, and to evaluate the impact of M&E reporting and decision making. The hypotheses associated with each of these objectives were supported by the research findings, indicating significant effects in each area. This study used a descriptive survey and correlative research designs, and also the mixed approaches including qualitative and quantitative approaches. The population was 137 people working with Malaria control, Maternal & Child Health programs in Ministry of Health in Rwanda. The study used stratified and universal sampling techniques to select all 137 respondents as sample size. Data-collection instruments were testing questionnaires, interview schedules or guides, rating scales, and survey plans or any other forms which were used to collect information on substantially identical items or more respondents. The observation was done on situation success of health project management and M&E practices. Documentary technique was used by the researcher to obtain secondary information such as reports of Malaria control, Maternal & Child Health programs in Ministry of Health in Rwanda. The models showed a strong positive relationship between M&E planning, data collection and analysis, reporting, and decision making and project performance. This relationship was supported by a high correlation coefficient (R), with approximately 83.2% of the variance in project performance explained by these predictors. However, the presence of potential autocorrelation in the residuals suggests that further investigation is needed to ensure the validity of the model. In conclusion, the study effectively supported all three research hypotheses, confirming the significant impact of M&E planning, data collection and analysis, and reporting and decision making on the performance of Malaria control and Maternal & Child Health programs within the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health should invest in comprehensive M&E planning, setting clear objectives, defining indicators, and establishing a solid framework for improved performance. Timely and informative reporting of M&E results is crucial. The Ministry should prioritize the communication of results to facilitate data-informed decision-making.

Defining the target population to make marine image-based biological data FAIR

Marine imaging studies have unique constraints on the data collected requiring a tool for defining the biological scope to facilitate data discovery, quality evaluation, sharing and reuse. Defining the ‘target population’ is way of scoping biological sampling or observations by setting the pool of organisms to be observed or sampled. It is used in survey design and planning, to determine statistical inference, and is critical for data interpretation and reuse (both images and derived data). We designed a set of attributes for defining and recording the target population in biological studies using marine photography, incorporating ecological and environmental delineation and marine imaging method constraints. We describe how this definition may be altered and recorded at different phases of a project. The set of attributes records the definition of the target population in a structured metadata format to enhance data FAIRness. It is designed as an extension to the image FAIR Digital Objects metadata standard, and we map terms to other biological data standards where possible. This set of attributes serves a need to update ecological metadata to align with new remotely-sensed data, and can be applied to other remotely-sensed ecological image data.