Abstract
Efficient use of resources is a critical factor in almond crops. Technological solutions can significantly contribute to this purpose. The VeraTech project aims to explore the integration of sensors and cloud-based technologies in almond crops for efficient use of resources and reduction of environmental impact. It also makes available a set of relevant and impactful performance indicators in agricultural activity, which promote productivity gains supported by efficient use of resources. The proposed solution includes a sensor network in the almond crops, the transmission of data and its integration in the cloud, making this data available to be consumed, processed, and presented in the monitoring and alerts dashboard. In the current state of the development, several data are collected by sensors, transmitted over LoRaWAN, integrated using AWS IoT Core, and monitored and analysed through a cloud business analytics service. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Abstract

Abstract
The role of digital transformation (DT) in economic development is a vital and recurring point of research. It is particularly relevant if we consider the high percentage of digital transformation initiatives that fail to deliver the expected results, particularly in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This paper analyzes what is needed to make this transformation successful from an implementation perspective and, simultaneously, from the standpoint of obtaining the company’s expected results. This phenomenon is even more critical to decipher and understand when we look at the small and medium enterprises that face more significant challenges due to the scarcity of resources and needed skills. This work reviews a large variety of models through an extensive systematic literature review (SLR) that assess the readiness and maturity of the digital transformation of enterprises, with a focus on SMEs, with its primary objectives being (1) to review the existing studies and models that assess an organization’s maturity and readiness in the context of digital transformation, focusing on SMEs; (2) to identify if there are gaps considering the importance of the SMEs; and (3) to propose a standardized set of dimensions that should always be considered in a digital transformation assessment. The outcome of this research provides an essential contribution by identifying apparent gaps in the assessment of digital transformation in SMEs and proposing a scalable and standardized set of categories and subcategories that can be used across any future assessment model. These contributions are even more relevant when referencing minimal deep research in the context of SMEs and Digital Transformation.

Abstract
Traditional identity management (IdM) systems rely on third-party identity providers (IdPs) and are centralised, which can make them vulnerable to data breaches and other security risks. Self-sovereign identity (SSI) is a newer IdM model that allows users to control their own identities by using decentralised technologies like blockchain to store and verify them. However, SSI systems have their own security concerns, such as digital wallet vulnerabilities, blockchain threats and conflicts with general data protection regulation (GDPR). Additionally, the lack of incentives for issuers, verifiers and data owners could limit its acceptance. This paper proposes SPIDVerify, which is a decentralised identity verification framework that utilises an SSI-based architecture to address these issues. The framework uses a mixed method for acquiring a W3C standard verified credentials and to ensure that only a thoroughly verified entity acquires verified credential, and employs secure key cryptographic protocols; Diffie-Hellman (DH) and Extended Triple Diffie-Hellman (X3DH) for forward secrecy secure communication, single-use challenge-response for authentication, and Swarm network for decentralised storage of data. These methods enhance the security of the proposed framework with better resilience against impersonation and credential stealing. To evaluate the proposal, we have outlined the limitations in related works and demonstrated two scenarios to showcase the strength and effectiveness of SPIDVerify in dealing with the threats identified. We have also tested the methods used in SPIDVerify by measuring the time taken to execute certain processes.

Abstract

Abstract
The ionosphere is a fundamental component of the Earth's atmosphere, impacting human activities such as communication transmissions, navigation systems, satellite functions, power network systems, and natural gas pipelines, even endangering human life or health. As technology moves forward, understanding the impact of the ionosphere on our daily lives becomes increasingly important. CubeSats are a promising way to increase understanding of this important atmospheric layer. This paper reviews the state of the art of CubeSat missions designed for ionospheric studies. Their main instrumentation payload and orbits are also analyzed from the point of view of their importance for the missions. It also focuses on the importance of data and metadata, and makes an approach to the aspects that need to be improved.