In a world in continuous evolution and in which human needs grow exponentially according to the increasing world population, the advent of new technologies plays a fundamental role in all fields of industry, especially in agriculture. Optimizing times, automating machines, and guaranteeing product quality are key objectives in the field of Agriculture 4.0, which integrates various innovative technologies to meet the needs of producers and consumers while guaranteeing respect for the environment and the planet’s resources. In this context, our research aims to propose an integrated system using data coming from an innovative experimental atmospheric and forecasting simulator (capable of predicting some characteristic climate variables subsequently validated with local sensors), combined with indices deriving from Remote Sensing and UAV images (treated with the data fusion method), that can give fundamental information related to Agriculture 4.0 with particular reference to the subsequent phases of system automation. These data, in fact, can be collected in an open-source GIS capable of displaying areas that need irrigation and fertilization and, moreover, establishing the path of an automated drone for the monitoring of the crops and the route of a self-driving tractor for the irrigation of the areas of interest.
The increasing use of UAVs has reshaped urban logistics, enabling sustainable alternatives to traditional deliveries. To address critical issues inherent in the system, the proposed study presents the design and evaluation of an innovative unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) prototype that integrates advanced electronic components and artificial intelligence (AI), with the aim of reducing environmental impact and enabling autonomous navigation in complex urban environments. The UAV platform incorporates brushless DC motors, high-density LiPo batteries and perovskite solar cells to improve energy efficiency and increase flight range. The Deep Q-Network (DQN) allocates energy and selects reference points in the presence of wind and payload disturbances, while an integrated sensor system monitors motor vibration/temperature and charge status to prevent failures. In urban canyon and field scenarios (wind from 0 to 8 m/s; payload from 0.35 to 0.55 kg), the system reduces energy consumption by up to 18%, increases area coverage by 12% for the same charge, and maintains structural safety factors > 1.5 under gust loading. The approach combines sustainable materials, efficient propulsion, and real-time AI-based navigation for energy-conscious flight planning. A hybrid methodology, combining experimental design principles with finite-element-based structural modelling and AI-enhanced monitoring, has been applied to ensure structural health awareness. The study implements proven edge-AI sensor fusion architectures, balancing portability and telemonitoring with an integrated low-power design. The results confirm a reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions compared to traditional delivery vehicles, confirming that the proposed system represents a scalable and intelligent solution for last-mile delivery, contributing to climate resilience and urban sustainability. The findings position the proposed UAV as a scalable reference model for integrating AI-driven navigation and renewable energy systems in sustainable logistics.
This study presents a comparative analysis of two advanced classification techniques applied to Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 imagery. The first technique is based on the combined use of Tversky’s fuzzy similarity and Mamdani-type fuzzy inference, specifically designed to handle transition zones—areas characterized by gradual shifts in land cover, such as from vegetation to suburban environments. The second approach is based on the Random Forest algorithm. After performing the ranking of spectral, textural, and geometric features using the fuzzy approach, a fuzzy system based on Tversky’s fuzzy similarity was developed. This system enables a more adaptive and nuanced classification of different land cover classes, including water bodies, forests, and cultivated areas. The results indicate that the proposed fuzzy approach slightly outperforms the Random Forest method in handling mixed land cover regions and reducing classification uncertainties, achieving overall accuracies of 98.5% for Sentinel-2 and 96.7% for Landsat 8.
The elevated precision of data regarding the Earth’s surface, facilitated by the enhanced interoperability among various GNSSs (Global Navigation Satellite Systems), enables the classification of land use and land cover (LULC) via satellites equipped with optical sensors, such as Sentinel-2 of the Copernicus program, which is crucial for land use management and environmental planning. Likewise, data from SAR satellites, such Copernicus’ Sentinel-1 and Jaxa’s ALOS PALSAR, provide diverse environmental investigations, allowing different types of spatial information to be analysed thanks to the particular features of analysis based on radar. Nonetheless, in optical satellites, the relatively low resolution of Sentinel-2 satellites may impede the precision of supervised AI classifiers, crucial for ongoing land use monitoring, especially during the training phase, which can be expensive due to the requirement for advanced technology and extensive training datasets. This project aims to develop an AI classifier utilising high-resolution training data and the resilient architecture of ResNet, in conjunction with the Remote Sensing Image Classification Benchmark (RSI-CB128). ResNet, noted for its deep residual learning capabilities, significantly enhances the classifier’s proficiency in identifying intricate patterns and features from high-resolution images. A test dataset derived from Sentinel-2 raster images is utilised to evaluate the effectiveness of the neural network (NN). Our goals are to thoroughly assess and confirm the efficacy of an AI classifier utilised on high-resolution Sentinel-2 photos. The findings indicate substantial enhancements compared to current classification methods, such as U-Net, Vision Transformer (ViT), and OBIA, underscoring ResNet’s transformative capacity to elevate the precision of land use classification.
13 November 2017 in ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences
In this study, using technologies such as laser scanner and GPR it was desired to see their potential in the cultural heritage. Also with regard to the processing part we are compared the results obtained by the various commercial software and algorithms developed and implemented in Matlab. Moreover, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality allow integrating the real world with historical-artistic information, laser scanners and georadar (GPR) data and virtual objects, virtually enriching it with multimedia elements, graphic and textual information accessible through smartphones and tablets.
In recent years, the world has seen a significant increase in extreme weather events, such as floods, hurricanes, and storms, which have caused extensive damage to infrastructure and communities. These events result from natural phenomena and human-induced factors, including climate change and natural climate variations. For instance, the floods in Europe in 2024 and the hurricanes in the United States have highlighted the vulnerability of urban and rural areas. These extreme events are often unpredictable and pose considerable challenges for spatial planning and risk management. This study explores an innovative approach that employs machine learning and Markov chains to enhance spatial planning and predict flood risk areas. By utilizing data such as weather records, land use and land cover (LULC) information, topographic LIDAR data, and advanced predictive models, the study aims to identify the most vulnerable areas and provide recommendations for risk mitigation. The results indicate that integrating these technologies can improve forecasting accuracy, thereby supporting more informed decisions in land management. Given the effects of climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme events, adopting advanced forecasting and planning tools is crucial for protecting communities and reducing economic and social damage. This method was applied to the Calopinace area, also known as the Calopinace River or Fiumara della Cartiera, which crosses Reggio Calabria and is notorious for its historical floods. It can serve as part of an early warning system, enabling alerts to be issued throughout the monitored area. Furthermore, it can be integrated into existing emergency protocols, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of disaster response. Future research could investigate incorporating additional data and AI techniques to improve accuracy.