Abstract
A wide variety of automatic image registration methods have been proposed in the last years. However, under the scope of remote sensing applications, geometric correction is still mostly a manual work. A methodology for automatic image registration is proposed, which consists in three major steps: pre-processing, segmentation, and registration. The considered pre-processing is a new method, which is an iterative process based on a joint histogram analysis. Regarding the segmentation stage, global thresholding and a new method were used. The later comprises global thresholding and distance transforms in a single method. For both methods the following object properties were extracted: area, major and minor axis lengths of the adjusted ellipse and perimeter. The registration phase incorporates the matching of corresponding objects, a template matching technique to compute the distance between each pair of matched objects, and the computation of the transformation function parameters. The used dataset consisted in the pairs ETM+/ASTER, ETM+/SPOT and Orthophoto/IKONOS. The proposed methodology allows for the registration of a pair of images with translation and rotation effects, and to some extent with different spectral content, leading to a subpixel accuracy. Furthermore, it has been shown that the proposed pre-processing method allowed for the achievement of suitable segmented objects for later matching, even using global thresholding. © 2009 SPIE.

Abstract
Prototypes are valuable tools in Data Warehouse (DW) projects. DW prototypes can help end-users to get an accurate preview of a future DW system, along with its advantages and constraints. However, DW prototypes have considerably smaller development time windows when compared to complete DW projects. This puts additional pressure on the achievement of the expected prototypes' high quality standards, especially at the highly time consuming multidimensional design: in it, a thin margin for harmful unreflected decisions exists. Some devised methods for automating DW multidimensional design can be used to accelerate this stage, yet they are more suitable to DW full projects rather than to prototypes, due to the effort, cost and expertise they require. This paper proposes the semi-automation of DW multidimensional designs using templates. We believe this approach better fits the development speed and cost constraints of DW prototyping since templates are pre-built highly adaptable and highly reusable solutions.

Abstract

Abstract
The activities and skills of the information systems manager evolved extraordinarily in the last half century, from the technician who managed an operational function with a limited importance to the organization, to the position chief information officer, now responsible for a department on which depends the overall success of the organization. This study provides some empirical insight on the chief information officer profession in Portugal. We conducted a survey directed to the chief information officers of Portuguese largest organizations to investigate how they spend their time and to evaluate which are the most important skills for the role they play on the organization. We also compare the results obtained with other studies to try to unveil which differences exist in the activities performed by Portuguese chief information officers and chief information officers from other countries. This study can also be viewed as a guideline for the development and training of existing chief information officers as well as for hiring new managers for this position with the right skills, to assure the right management of information systems.

Abstract

Abstract
Labeled molecular markers are an important tool in molecular biology. This work presents a method for the automatic identification of molecular markers in dot blot images. The method detects the location of markers in the image and their size. An experiment was made with 6 test images, which were used to produce an additional set of 222 images with various rotation, translation, contrast and noise levels. Over 7500 markers were identified automatically and compared with reference values obtained manually. The RMS error for the marker positioning in the original test images were between 1.1 and 3.8 pixels, which is about 1/10 of the typical radius (26 pixels). The method proposed was found to be almost insensitive to grid rotation and translation, and reasonably robust to image contrast changes and presence of noise.