Abstract

Abstract
Non-native plant species can have a negative impact in the ecosystems and in local economies when they spread uncontrollably. Monitoring tools can support their management and spread. In this paper, an exploratory approach is presented for pixelwise detection of Acacia dealbata from UAV-based imagery acquired from RGB and multispectral sensors. Four machine learning algorithms-k-nearest neighbors (KNN), random forest (RF), adaptive boosting (AdaBoost) and a linear kernel SVM (LSVM)-Are trained using four datasets (hue, saturation and value-HSV, multispectral-MSP, RGB and a combination of all features) and their classification performance is evaluated. RF classifier obtained the overall best performance, with an accuracy above 86% in all data combinations, with LSVM showing the poorer results. Obtained results are encouraging for monitoring invasive species and can serve as a base for future improvements to detect invasive species.

Abstract
Often referred to as ‘the mathematics of dynamical, state-based systems’, Coalgebra claims to provide a compositional and uniform framework to specify, analyse and reason about state and behaviour in computing. This paper addresses this claim by discussing why Coalgebra matters for the design of models and logics for computational phenomena. To a great extent, in this domain one is interested in properties that are preserved along the system’s evolution, the so-called ‘business rules’ or system’s invariants, as well as in liveness requirements, stating that e.g. some desirable outcome will be eventually produced. Both classes are examples of modal assertions, i.e. properties that are to be interpreted across a transition system capturing the system’s dynamics. The relevance of modal reasoning in computing is witnessed by the fact that most university syllabi in the area include some incursion into modal logic, in particular in its temporal variants. The novelty is that, as it happens with the notions of transition, behaviour, or observational equivalence, modalities in Coalgebra acquire a shape. That is, they become parametric on whatever type of behaviour, and corresponding coinduction scheme, seems appropriate for addressing the problem at hand. In this context, the paper revisits Coalgebra from a computational perspective, focussing on three topics central to software design: how systems are modelled, how models are composed, and finally, how properties of their behaviours can be expressed and verified. © 2022, College Publications. All rights reserved.

Abstract
This paper presents a novel method for resiliency assessment of the distribution system considering smart homes' arbitrage strategies in the day-ahead and real-time markets. The main contribution of this paper is that the impacts of smart homes' arbitrage strategy on the resilient operation of the distribution system are explored. The optimal commitment of smart homes in external shock conditions is another contribution of this paper. An arbitrage index is proposed to explore the impacts of this process on the system costs and resiliency of the system. A two-level optimization process is proposed for day-ahead and real-time markets. At the first stage of the first level, the optimal bidding strategies of smart homes are estimated for the day-ahead market. Then, the database is updated and the optimal bidding strategies of smart homes for real-time horizon are assessed in the second stage of the first level problem. At the first stage of the second level problem, the optimal day-ahead scheduling of the distribution system is performed considering the arbitrage and resiliency indices. At the second stage of the second level, the distribution system optimal scheduling is carried out for the real-time horizon. Finally, at the third stage of the second level, if an external shock is detected, the optimization process determines the optimal dispatch of system resources. The proposed method is assessed for the 33-bus and 123-bus IEEE test systems. The proposed framework reduced the expected values of aggregated costs of 33-bus and 123-bus systems by about 62.14 % and 32.06 % for the real-time horizon concerning the cases in which the smart homes performed arbitrage strategies. Furthermore, the average values of the locational marginal price of 33-bus and 123-bus systems were reduced by about 59.38 % and 63.98 % concerning the case that the proposed method was not implemented.

Abstract
Driven by the high fidelity and low cost of the latest head-mounted devices reaching the consumer market, Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology upon which rests increased expectations for improving education and training outcomes. The unique capacity of VR to produce experiences with high levels of immersion, presence, and interactivity, opens a series of prospects to improve the learning of declarative, procedural, and practical knowledge through a new modality of educational content. This paper explores some of the most promising opportunities of VR through the development and evaluation of Sea of Cells, an immersive VR interactive experience to enhance the learning of the prokaryotic cell. Methodologies to introduce the VR experience, both inside and outside classes, were also explored by analysing assessments from several Portuguese biology teachers. A test pilot made through video demonstration, shows a promising future for VR in education. Despite the physical limitations of the pilot study, due to Covid, after presenting the project to 7 10th grade Biology teachers, it was concluded that VR might be a relevant and innovative tool for educational settings. © 2022, ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering.

Abstract
It is a priority to develop intelligent irrigation systems to save water. Using optimal control formulations and techniques, one can make water consumption follow more closely the hydrological needs of the crop, taking into account current weather conditions. Here, the mathematical model presented by the authors in previous publications is improved. This new model incorporates new features like the soil slope, the possibility to include a percentage of water losses due to runoff, and a percentage of water losses if the soil is on the field capacity. A new and efficient replan strategy is applied, taking into account the data measured from moisture sensors to ensure that the hydric needs of the crop are fulfilled. A new approach to deal with multiple irrigation points is also proposed. It allows redistributing the available water if an irrigation point cannot provide the water needed.