Combating Bad Weather Part II

Combating Bad Weather Part II

Author: Sudipta Mukhopadhyay

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2022-05-31

Total Pages: 70

ISBN-13: 3031022521

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Every year lives and properties are lost in road accidents. About one-fourth of these accidents are due to low vision in foggy weather. At present, there is no algorithm that is specifically designed for the removal of fog from videos. Application of a single-image fog removal algorithm over each video frame is a time-consuming and costly affair. It is demonstrated that with the intelligent use of temporal redundancy, fog removal algorithms designed for a single image can be extended to the real-time video application. Results confirm that the presented framework used for the extension of the fog removal algorithms for images to videos can reduce the complexity to a great extent with no loss of perceptual quality. This paves the way for the real-life application of the video fog removal algorithm. In order to remove fog, an efficient fog removal algorithm using anisotropic diffusion is developed. The presented fog removal algorithm uses new dark channel assumption and anisotropic diffusion for the initialization and refinement of the airlight map, respectively. Use of anisotropic diffusion helps to estimate the better airlight map estimation. The said fog removal algorithm requires a single image captured by uncalibrated camera system. The anisotropic diffusion-based fog removal algorithm can be applied in both RGB and HSI color space. This book shows that the use of HSI color space reduces the complexity further. The said fog removal algorithm requires pre- and post-processing steps for the better restoration of the foggy image. These pre- and post-processing steps have either data-driven or constant parameters that avoid the user intervention. Presented fog removal algorithm is independent of the intensity of the fog, thus even in the case of the heavy fog presented algorithm performs well. Qualitative and quantitative results confirm that the presented fog removal algorithm outperformed previous algorithms in terms of perceptual quality, color fidelity and execution time. The work presented in this book can find wide application in entertainment industries, transportation, tracking and consumer electronics.


Combating Bad Weather Part I

Combating Bad Weather Part I

Author: Sudipta Mukhopadhyay

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2022-06-01

Total Pages: 79

ISBN-13: 3031022513

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Current vision systems are designed to perform in normal weather condition. However, no one can escape from severe weather conditions. Bad weather reduces scene contrast and visibility, which results in degradation in the performance of various computer vision algorithms such as object tracking, segmentation and recognition. Thus, current vision systems must include some mechanisms that enable them to perform up to the mark in bad weather conditions such as rain and fog. Rain causes the spatial and temporal intensity variations in images or video frames. These intensity changes are due to the random distribution and high velocities of the raindrops. Fog causes low contrast and whiteness in the image and leads to a shift in the color. This book has studied rain and fog from the perspective of vision. The book has two main goals: 1) removal of rain from videos captured by a moving and static camera, 2) removal of the fog from images and videos captured by a moving single uncalibrated camera system. The book begins with a literature survey. Pros and cons of the selected prior art algorithms are described, and a general framework for the development of an efficient rain removal algorithm is explored. Temporal and spatiotemporal properties of rain pixels are analyzed and using these properties, two rain removal algorithms for the videos captured by a static camera are developed. For the removal of rain, temporal and spatiotemporal algorithms require fewer numbers of consecutive frames which reduces buffer size and delay. These algorithms do not assume the shape, size and velocity of raindrops which make it robust to different rain conditions (i.e., heavy rain, light rain and moderate rain). In a practical situation, there is no ground truth available for rain video. Thus, no reference quality metric is very useful in measuring the efficacy of the rain removal algorithms. Temporal variance and spatiotemporal variance are presented in this book as no reference quality metrics. An efficient rain removal algorithm using meteorological properties of rain is developed. The relation among the orientation of the raindrops, wind velocity and terminal velocity is established. This relation is used in the estimation of shape-based features of the raindrop. Meteorological property-based features helped to discriminate the rain and non-rain pixels. Most of the prior art algorithms are designed for the videos captured by a static camera. The use of global motion compensation with all rain removal algorithms designed for videos captured by static camera results in better accuracy for videos captured by moving camera. Qualitative and quantitative results confirm that probabilistic temporal, spatiotemporal and meteorological algorithms outperformed other prior art algorithms in terms of the perceptual quality, buffer size, execution delay and system cost. The work presented in this book can find wide application in entertainment industries, transportation, tracking and consumer electronics. Table of Contents: Acknowledgments / Introduction / Analysis of Rain / Dataset and Performance Metrics / Important Rain Detection Algorithms / Probabilistic Approach for Detection and Removal of Rain / Impact of Camera Motion on Detection of Rain / Meteorological Approach for Detection and Removal of Rain from Videos / Conclusion and Scope of Future Work / Bibliography / Authors' Biographies


How to Avoid a Climate Disaster

How to Avoid a Climate Disaster

Author: Bill Gates

Publisher: Knopf Canada

Published: 2021-02-16

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 0735280452

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NATIONAL BESTSELLER In this urgent, singularly authoritative book, Bill Gates sets out a wide-ranging, practical--and accessible--plan for how the world can get to zero greenhouse gas emissions in time to avoid an irreversible climate catastrophe. Bill Gates has spent a decade investigating the causes and effects of climate change. With the help and guidance of experts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, political science and finance, he has focused on exactly what must be done in order to stop the planet's slide toward certain environmental disaster. In this book, he not only gathers together all the information we need to fully grasp how important it is that we work toward net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases but also details exactly what we need to do to achieve this profoundly important goal. He gives us a clear-eyed description of the challenges we face. He describes the areas in which technology is already helping to reduce emissions; where and how the current technology can be made to function more effectively; where breakthrough technologies are needed, and who is working on these essential innovations. Finally, he lays out a concrete plan for achieving the goal of zero emissions--suggesting not only policies that governments should adopt, but what we as individuals can do to keep our government, our employers and ourselves accountable in this crucial enterprise. As Bill Gates makes clear, achieving zero emissions will not be simple or easy to do, but by following the guidelines he sets out here, it is a goal firmly within our reach.


Managing the Climate Crisis

Managing the Climate Crisis

Author: Jonathan Barnett

Publisher: Island Press

Published: 2022-07-14

Total Pages: 298

ISBN-13: 1642832006

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Natural disasters from heat waves to coastal and river flooding will inevitably become worse because of greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere. Managing them is possible, but planners, designers, and policymakers need to advance adaptation and preventative measures now. Managing the Climate Crisis: Designing and Building for Floods, Heat, Drought and Wildfire by design and planning experts Jonathan Barnett and Matthijs Bouw is a practical guide to addressing this urgent national security problem. Barnett and Bouw draw from the latest scientific findings and include many recent, real-world examples to illustrate how to manage seven climate-related threats: flooding along coastlines, river flooding, flash floods from extreme rain events, drought, wildfire, long periods of high heat, and food shortages.


Kayak Combat

Kayak Combat

Author: Eric Howling

Publisher: Lorimer

Published: 2010-10-18

Total Pages: 124

ISBN-13: 1552774775

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Kayak Combat is set in the highly competitive sport of kayak racing. When it's announced that Cody's Calgary kayaking club will host a Canada-wide competition, no one doubts that Cody will represent them. He is the team's best paddler, after all. But Cody and the others aren't counting on a new guy from Ontario arriving who can out-paddle them all. Cody's desire to be the best is put to the test one stormy day when he notices his rival's kayak missing from the clubhouse. Cody has a choice to make: attempt a solo rescue, or eliminate the competition... This story about overcoming rivalry and learning to put others first is sure to make a splash with reluctant readers.


The Praetorian STARShip : the untold story of the Combat Talon

The Praetorian STARShip : the untold story of the Combat Talon

Author:

Publisher: DIANE Publishing

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 507

ISBN-13: 1428990437

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Jerry Thigpen's study on the history of the Combat Talon is the first effort to tell the story of this wonderfully capable machine. This weapons system has performed virtually every imaginable tactical event in the spectrum of conflict and by any measure is the most versatile C-130 derivative ever produced. First modified and sent to Southeast Asia (SEA) in 1966 to replace theater unconventional warfare (UW) assets that were limited in both lift capability and speed the Talon I quickly adapted to theater UW tasking including infiltration and resupply and psychological warfare operations into North Vietnam. After spending four years in SEA and maturing into a highly respected UW weapons system the Joint Chief of Staff (JCS) chose the Combat Talon to lead the night low-level raid on the North Vietnamese prison camp at Son Tay. Despite the outcome of the operation the Talon I cemented its reputation as the weapons system of choice for long-range clandestine operations. In the period following the Vietnam War United States Air Force (USAF) special operations gradually lost its political and financial support which was graphically demonstrated in the failed Desert One mission into Iran. Thanks to congressional supporters like Earl Hutto of Florida and Dan Daniel of Virginia funds for aircraft upgrades and military construction projects materialized to meet the ever-increasing threat to our nation. Under the leadership of such committed hard-driven officers as Brenci Uttaro Ferkes Meller and Thigpen the crew force became the most disciplined in our Air Force. It was capable of penetrating hostile airspace at night in a low-level mountainous environment covertly to execute any number of unconventional warfare missions.


Angels in Combat Boots

Angels in Combat Boots

Author: LTC Chuck Hunsaker USA Ret.

Publisher: Xlibris Corporation

Published: 2020-12-09

Total Pages: 176

ISBN-13: 1664146261

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ANGELS IN COMBAT BOOTS – A SYNOPSIS In 1802 Thomas Jefferson signed the legislation that established the United States Military Academy at West Point. It was an all-male institution to train and educate officers for the United States Army. That all changed in 1973 when the 93rd Congress passed legislation that would ensure that admission to the service academies would be made without regard to a candidate’s sex, race, color, or religious beliefs.” Women were coming to West Point! They may be able to handle the academics, but they will never be able to handle the physical requirements echoed across the plain. Part of Day 1 processing is a pull-up test. Many of the women struggled, and “I told you so” became the thought of the day. However, when all new cadets were awakened the following morning and reported to physical training, upper-class cadets and tactical officers were shocked when a few of the women could run in the “fast” group. That simply couldn’t be...but it was. Running was the one area where both men and women participated shoulder to shoulder on a daily basis, and women with cross country experience could not only run with the average men, they could run with many of the better men. They were instrumental in breaking down those barriers and helping to fully integrate women into the Corps of Cadets. Women did belong...women could handle the physical requirements. In this book you will get to know that first women’s cross-country team. You will follow their athletic recruitment, their summer training at Corps Squad Screening, understand the challenges of being among the first women at the academy and see how they handled their first varsity meet. You will understand how they became known as “Charlie’s Angels”, watch them develop as runners who could initially only handle minimal mileage to the team that became Eastern Champions, finished in the nation’s top 10 twice, and even became the first Army women’s team to BEAT NAVY...a special stealth competition but a win none-the-less. They were special women and were truly...ANGELS IN COMBAT BOOTS!