Abstract: A method for measuring pollution that includes providing a plurality of analyte sensors arranged in a grid over a sensing area, wherein the analyte sensors measure a pollutant, and positioning at least one current sensor in the sensing area. A pollution source is localized using a pollution source locator including a dispersion model and at least one hardware processor to interpolate a location of a pollution source from variations in current measured from the current sensors and measurements of pollutants from the analyte sensors.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining farm boundary delineations within a target geographic area, comprising extracting data from pixels of a satellite image of the target geographic area, evaluating the data using a classification algorithm to generate one or more line segments between adjacent pixels, the one or more line segments being representative of a portion of a boundary delineation, connecting the one or more line segments to an adjacent line segment to form a boundary delineation defining at least one parcel of land within the target geographic area, and generating a boundary delineation map including the boundary delineation.

Abstract: Heuristic-based techniques for gas leak source identification are provided. In one aspect, a method for identifying a location of a gas leak source includes: obtaining gas sensor data and wind data synchronously from a gas leak detection system having a network of interconnected motes comprising gas sensors and wind sensors, with the gas sensors arranged around possible gas leak sources in a given area of interest; identifying the location of the gas leak source using the gas sensor data and wind data; and determining a magnitude of gas leak from the gas leak source using the location of the gas leak source and a distance d between the location of the gas leak source and a select one of the gas sensors from which the gas sensor data was obtained. A gas leak detection system is also provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving one or more training images depicting one or more training geographical regions. One or more environmental characteristic (EC) values are determined for the training images. The EC values include at least one EC value for each of the training images. One or more models are generated for mapping an EC value of an image to a determination of whether an artifact is present in a geographical region depicted by the image, based on the EC values and based on knowledge of which of the training images depict training geographical regions having artifacts present. A new image is received depicting a new geographical region. The models are applied to the new image. A probability that a new artifact is present in the new geographical region depicted in the new image is determined, based on the applying the models to the new image.

Abstract: Techniques for analysis and prediction of cloud particle distribution and solar radiation are provided. In one aspect, a method for analyzing cloud particle characteristics includes the steps of: (a) collecting meteorological data; (b) calculating solar radiation values using a radiative transfer model based on the meteorological data and blended guess functions of a cloud particle distribution (c) optimizing the cloud particle distribution by optimizing the weight coefficients used for the blended guess functions of the cloud particle distribution based on the solar radiation values calculated in step (b) and measured solar radiation values; (d) training a machine-learning process using the meteorological data collected in step (a) and the cloud particle distribution optimized in step (c) as training samples; and (e) predicting future solar radiation values using forecasted meteorological data and the machine-learning process trained in step (d).

Abstract: An embodiment includes dividing a map into a first grid comprising a first plurality of cells with a first resolution and into a second grid comprising a second plurality of cells with a second resolution; determining that, because an initial portion of a key of a first cell of the second grid comprises a key of a first cell of the first grid, the first cell of the first grid comprises the first cell of the second grid; storing the first and the second grid in memories of distributed servers, wherein the first cell of the first grid and the first cell of the second grid are stored in a same one of the distributed servers or are stored in neighboring ones of the distributed servers; and directing respective processors of the distributed servers to perform a parallel search of the first grid and the second grid using the keys.

Abstract: A non-contact conductivity and magnetic susceptibility meter using a magnetic parallel dipole line (PDL) trap system is provided. In one aspect, a measurement system includes: a PDL trap having a pair of dipole line magnets; and a diamagnetic object levitating above the dipole line magnets, wherein the diamagnetic object is configured to contain a material under test for conductivity and magnetic susceptibility measurement using the measurement system. A method for analyzing a material under test using the present PDL trap-based non-contact measurement system is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method are provided. The system includes a set of smart shelves. Each of the smart shelves has a mesh arrangement of sensors that include strain sensors, photodetectors, microphones, and spillage sensors placed on a bottom thereof to form a sensor mesh layer for generating a signal representative of a product count for a given product to be sold from a corresponding one of the smart shelves. The system further includes a data processing system for transforming the signal from each of the smart shelves into a product count value therefor. The system also includes a set of video displays for displaying characteristics of the given product to be sold from each of the smart shelves. The system additionally includes a set of wireless radios for transmitting the characteristics of the given product to be sold from each of the smart shelves to the set of video displays.

Abstract: A method for tracking objects in a two-dimensional space includes first tracking devices that are activated to read tagged objects within the reading ranges of the first tracking devices. Second tracking devices are activated to read tagged objects within the reading ranges of the second tracking devices. The tagged objects read by each first tracking device are compared to the tagged objects read by each second tracking device, and based on the locations of the tagged objects read by the first and second tracking devices, the locations of the tagged objects are determined.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of optical sensors located along at least one pipe segment of a rotating arm that pivots around an irrigation area of a field, the plurality of optical sensors continuously monitors soil and vegetation conditions and transmits sensed data to a central computer, and a plurality of in-ground sensors scattered in the irrigation area of the field, the plurality of in-ground sensors continuously monitors soil conditions and transmits sensed data to a plurality of gateway devices located in the rotating arm, the plurality of gateway devices transmits data from the plurality of in-ground sensors to the central computer where data from the plurality of optical sensors and the plurality of in-ground sensors is integrated with external data to determine water and fertilizer needs based on which an irrigation schedule is created.

Abstract: A method for tracking objects in a two-dimensional space includes first tracking devices that are activated to read tagged objects within the reading ranges of the first tracking devices. Second tracking devices are activated to read tagged objects within the reading ranges of the second tracking devices. The tagged objects read by each first tracking device are compared to the tagged objects read by each second tracking device, and based on the locations of the tagged objects read by the first and second tracking devices, the locations of the tagged objects are determined.

Abstract: The present invention involves a multimodal sensor network for analyte detection. A first mode may involve low-power detection and a second mode may involve determining an analyte concentration and transmitting data associated with the analyte concentration. Specifically, the first mode may include establishing an analyte sensor network in a detection region, detecting an analyte in the detection region, and generating an electrical signal in response to the detecting the analyte. In response to the electrical signal exceeding a first threshold, the analyte detection system may operate in the second mode. The second mode may include requesting data associated with the one or more environmental conditions, determining an analyte concentration based on one or more environmental conditions transmitting data associated with the analyte concentration.

Abstract: The present invention involves a multimodal sensor network for analyte detection. A first mode may involve low-power detection and a second mode may involve determining an analyte concentration and transmitting data associated with the analyte concentration. Specifically, the first mode may include establishing an analyte sensor network in a detection region, detecting an analyte in the detection region, and generating an electrical signal in response to the detecting the analyte. In response to the electrical signal exceeding a first threshold, the analyte detection system may operate in the second mode. The second mode may include requesting data associated with the one or more environmental conditions, determining an analyte concentration based on one or more environmental conditions transmitting data associated with the analyte concentration.

Abstract: A system and method to enhance observation resolution using continuous learning include obtaining a first image of a surface area from a first satellite, and obtaining a second image of the surface area from a second satellite. The first image has a lower spatial resolution than the second image, and temporal resolution of the first images obtained by the first satellite is higher than temporal resolution of the second images obtained by the second satellite. The method also includes determining a convolution matrix A or training a neural network, obtaining additional one or more of the first images prior to obtaining an additional one of the second images, and generating a new image from each of the one or more of the first images using the convolution matrix A or the neural network. The new image has a higher spatial resolution than the one or more of the first images.

Abstract: A method for clustering time stamps in time series data includes receiving a one-dimensional array of ordered timestamps and an expected frequency; determining a set of time intervals; determining a first binary array that indicates whether each time interval in the set of time intervals is greater than or less than the expected frequency; determining a second binary array of differences between a corresponding pair of adjacent elements of the first binary array; appending an ith timestamp to one of a set of opening interval bounds, a set of closing interval bounds, or a set of isolated points; merging the set of set of opening interval bounds and the set of closing interval bounds into a set of cluster intervals ?; and outputting the set of cluster intervals and the set of isolated points.

Abstract: A soil moisture sensor and a soil moisture sensing system are provided. The soil moisture sensor includes a double groove helical structure having grooves and formed from an insulator. The soil moisture sensor further includes at least a first electrode and a second electrode formed from one or more metals deposited at at least two different locations on the grooves. The soil moisture sensor also includes a processor for processing a soil moisture measurement signal based on a conductivity between the electrodes. The soil moisture sensor additionally includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting the soil moisture measurement signal to a remote location.

Abstract: An automated irrigation control comprising crop sensor physically attached to a crop and a light sensitive sensor having a photo-detector for monitoring light intensity of a crop, an irrigation conduit extending along the span of the irrigation zone and adapted to carry fluid, with one or more controllable valves and sensors, growth sensors placed in close proximity of the crop sensors, a computer control system, an irrigation controller, and a communications link between the computer control system, the one or more crop sensor, the three or more growth sensors, and the irrigation controller.

Abstract: Atmospheric particle detectors having a hybrid measurement cavity and light baffle are provided. In one aspect, an atmospheric particle detector includes: an optical measurement cavity; a light baffle attached to the optical measurement cavity, wherein the light baffle is configured to i) permit unobstructed airflow into the optical measurement cavity and ii) block ambient light from entering the optical measurement cavity; a photodetector on a first side of the optical measurement cavity; a retro reflector on a second side of the optical measurement cavity opposite the photodetector, and a light source configured to produce a light beam that passes through the optical measurement cavity without illuminating the photodetector. A method for particle detection using the atmospheric particle detector is also provided.

Abstract: A database system includes a processing sub-system having an electronic hardware controller that receives first formatted data, and an electronic file formatting sub-system having an electronic hardware controller that assigns coordinate values corresponding to a second data format to the first formatted data. The file formatting sub-system generates a dual-format data file that fuses together the first formatted data with the coordinate values corresponding to a second data format. The database system further includes a storage sub-system having a data storage unit configured to store the dual-format data file.

Abstract: A database system includes a processing sub-system having an electronic hardware controller that receives first formatted data, and an electronic file formatting sub-system having an electronic hardware controller that assigns coordinate values corresponding to a second data format to the first formatted data. The file formatting sub-system generates a dual-format data file that fuses together the first formatted data with the coordinate values corresponding to a second data format. The database system further includes a storage sub-system having a data storage unit configured to store the dual-format data file.