2025
Authors
Carneiro, GA; Svoboda, J; Cunha, A; Sousa, JJ; Stych, P;
Publication
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF REMOTE SENSING
Abstract
This paper focuses on an innovative application of deep learning (DL) techniques, particularly 3D convolutional neural networks (CNNs), for land cover classification using multispectral Sentinel-2 (S-2) data. In this study, we evaluated the performance of window-pixel-wise 2D, 3D, and 3D Multiscale CNN architectures for land cover classification. 3D and 3D multiscale CNNs were using the spectral dimension as the third dimension for convolutions. Methodology was applied to classify large area (23,217 km2) in Czechia according to the Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) categories, a key sector in greenhouse gas inventories. The input dataset included S-2 data, along with NDVI, NDVI variance, and SRTM elevation data, all resampled to the 10 m S-2 grid and forming multi-dimensional input 5 x 5 pixel patches. The results show that a 3D CNN with 3 x 3 x 3 spatial-spectral filters and classical training achieved the best F1 score of 0.84, outperforming other proposed CNN architectures and a baseline Random Forest classifier. The study highlights the ability of 3D CNNs to integrate spatial-spectral information, making them highly effective for multispectral data analysis, even with limited (small) training ground truth datasets. This approach provides valuable information for researchers seeking to optimize DL methods for land cover classification, particularly for applications aligned with the LULUCF frameworks.
2025
Authors
Fontes, M; Bakon, M; Cunha, A; Sousa, JJ;
Publication
SENSORS
Abstract
Monitoring civil infrastructure is increasingly critical due to aging assets, urban expansion, and the need for early detection of structural instabilities. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) offers high-resolution, all-weather surface deformation monitoring capabilities, which are being enhanced by recent advances in Deep Learning (DL). Despite growing interest, the existing literature lacks a comprehensive synthesis of how DL models are applied specifically to infrastructure monitoring using InSAR data. This review addresses this gap by systematically analyzing 67 peer-reviewed articles published between 2020 and February 2025. We examine the DL architectures employed, ranging from LSTMs and CNNs to Transformer-based and hybrid models, and assess their integration within various stages of the InSAR monitoring pipeline, including pre-processing, temporal analysis, segmentation, prediction, and risk classification. Our findings reveal a predominance of LSTM and CNN-based approaches, limited exploration of pre-processing tasks, and a focus on urban and linear infrastructures. We identify methodological challenges such as data sparsity, low coherence, and lack of standard benchmarks, and we highlight emerging trends including hybrid architectures, attention mechanisms, end-to-end pipelines, and data fusion with exogenous sources. The review concludes by outlining key research opportunities, such as enhancing model explainability, expanding applications to underexplored infrastructure types, and integrating DL-InSAR workflows into operational structural health monitoring systems.
2025
Authors
Leite, D; Marques, P; Pádua, L; Sousa, JJ; Morais, R; Cunha, A;
Publication
PFG-JOURNAL OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY REMOTE SENSING AND GEOINFORMATION SCIENCE
Abstract
Accurate segmentation of grapevines in imagery acquired from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is important for precision viticulture, as it supports vineyard management by monitoring grapevine health, growth, and environmental stress. However, the structural diversity of vineyards, including differences in training systems, row curvatures, and foliage density, presents challenges for grapevine segmentation methods. This study evaluates the performance of deep learning (DL) models-Feature Pyramid Network (FPN), Pyramid Scene Parsing Network (PSPNet) and U-Net-each combined with different backbones for grapevine segmentation in UAV-based RGB orthophoto mosaics. Data were collected under a range of vineyard conditions and scenarios from Portugal's Douro and Vinhos Verdes regions, providing a representative dataset across multiple vineyard configurations. The DL models were trained, tested, and evaluated using orthorectified RGB imagery, and their segmentation accuracy was compared to thresholding techniques. The results show that DL models, particularly U-Net, achieved accurate grapevine segmentation and reduced over-segmentation and false detections that are common in thresholding methods. FPN models with Inception-v4 and Xception backbones performed well in vineyards with inter-row vegetation, while PSPNet models showed segmentation limitations. Overall, DL-based segmentation models demonstrated advantages over thresholding approaches, demonstrating their suitability for UAV-based grapevine segmentation in diverse and challenging vineyard environments. These results support the scalability of DL-based segmentation for vineyard monitoring applications and indicate that improved segmentation accuracy can contribute to decision support in precision viticulture.
2025
Authors
Carneiro, GA; Aubry, TJ; Cunha, A; Radeva, P; Sousa, JJ;
Publication
COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONICS IN AGRICULTURE
Abstract
Precision Agriculture (PA) has emerged as an approach to optimize production, comprise different technology and principles focusing on how to improve agricultural production. Currently, one of the main foundations of PA is the use of artificial intelligence, through deep learning (DL) algorithms. By processing large volumes of complex data, DL enhances decision-making and boosts farming efficiency. However, these methods are hungry for annotated data, which contrasts with the scarce availability of annotated agricultural data and the costs of annotation. Self-supervised learning (SSL) has emerged as a solution to tackle the lack of annotated agricultural data. This study presents a review of the application of SSL methods to computer vision tasks in the agricultural context. The aim is to create a starting point for professionals and scientists who intend to apply these methods using agricultural data. The results of 33 studies found in the literature are discussed, highlighting their pros and cons. In most of the studies, SSL outperformed its supervised counterpart, using datasets from 4000 to 60,000 samples. Potential directions for improving future research are suggested.
2025
Authors
Marchamalo-Sacristán, M; Ruiz-Armenteros, AM; Lamas-Fernández, F; González-Rodrigo, B; Martínez-Marín, R; Delgado-Blasco, JM; Bakon, M; Lazecky, M; Perissin, D; Papco, J; Sousa, JJ;
Publication
REMOTE SENSING
Abstract
2025
Authors
Alonso Diaz, A; Solla, M; Bakon, M; Sousa, J;
Publication
GEO-SPATIAL INFORMATION SCIENCE
Abstract
This paper presents a novel approach to improve the conversion of interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) ascending and descending orbit measurements into horizontal and vertical deformation components, explicitly considering SAR product characteristics (acquisition geometry, resolution, and positional accuracy). Conventional decomposition methods use square grids, inadequately addressing directional biases associated with satellite images characteristics, reducing measurement accuracy. It is proposed optimized alternative geometries - rectangle, hexagon, and double inverted isosceles trapezoid (diIT) - derived from theoretical analysis of scatterer influence areas for Sentinel-1 imagery and calibrated data from the European ground motion service (EGMS). Validation was conducted comparing results against global navigation satellite system (GNSS) ground-truth data. Accuracy was quantitatively evaluated using deformation velocity (DV) and average Euclidean distance (ED) metrics. Results demonstrated an average 25% improvement in DV detection over traditional square grids, with only minor trade-offs, such as lower scatterer density and sub-millimetric increases in error for hexagon and diIT geometries.
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