Nobukazu Iguchi

Errata: Suspended particulate matter sampling at an urban AERONET site in Japan, part 2: relationship between column aerosol optical thickness and PM2.5concentration

The concentration of suspended particulate matter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM 2.5) was linearly correlated with the column aerosol optical thickness (AOT) based on simultaneous measurements at a NASA/AERONET station at Kinki University Campus, Higashi-Osaka, Japan, between March 2004 and June 2006. The correlation coefficient differed with the aerosol type, being maximal when PM 2.5 values were measured 120 minutes after AOT data for a dust episode, but almost independent of the time difference between measurements for anthropogenic aerosols. The obtained results were validated using data obtained at the Higashi-Osaka and Noto sites. Our results suggest that the PM 2.5 mass concentration can be estimated from the AOT, and vice versa, and hence a distribution map of PM 2.5 can be produced from the satellite-derived AOT map determined from the Aqua/MODIS sensor.

Suspended particulate matter sampling at an urban AERONET site in Japan, part 1: clustering analysis of aerosols

The aerosol properties of urban atmospheric particles have been analyzed for radiometry data obtained using a multi-spectral photometer located at a NASA/AERONET station at Kinki University Campus, Higashi-Osaka, Japan, since 2002. The suspended particulate matter has been simultaneously measured at the same AERONET site since 2004. Our measurements and a clustering analysis reveal the aerosol types over the industrial city of Higashi-Osaka. It is shown that aerosols at Higashi-Osaka can be classified into three categories: (1) ordinary, which represents the background clear atmosphere of Higashi-Osaka, (2) anthropogenic aerosol events, and (2) dust episodes called Kosa, when large amounts of soil dust are transported to Higashi-Osaka from the Chinese mainland on westerly winds, especially in spring. We also found that the linear correlation exists between column aerosol optical thickness and PM2.5 concentration, and the correlation is better within each aerosol cluster than overall.

Image monitoring of paddy field using BIX Image Broker System

The image monitoring system for paddy field was constructed by using BIX-IBS for growth diagnosis of rice cultivation at the field level. The image of paddy field was calibrated by the image processing node of BIX-IBS with the color calibration function since it was influenced on the outdoor natural light. As the results, it was shown that the time for farm work can be presumed from the monitoring data of paddy field. It has been found that the relation between the leaf color and SPAD are linear in the specific growth period.

Development of Hands-On IP Network Construction Practice System Used in Campus Cloud Computing

The purpose of this study is to give students a hands-on practical learning for IP network skills in campus cloud computing. It is important for students to operate network devices repeatedly to learn network skills. However, in practical learning with real network devices, students need a number of network devices. For this reason, it is not easy for students to prepare environment to be able to practice freely at any time. Therefore, we have developed a hands-on practical learning system to learn IP network skills on general performance PC. Unlike existing network simulators, this system does not require students to learn scripting language to make scenarios. This system enables students to practice network skills freely and virtually on just one PC. We have implemented this system by applying the virtual Linux environment User Mode Linux. This system consists of virtual routers, virtual hosts, and operating functions. This system is primarily intended to practice operation of routing on virtual routers. In this research, we developed new system that was designed on client server model for web services. To evaluate, this system was experimented. The results indicated that this system had sufficient performance for introductory network courses for undergraduate students.

Improving 3D Imagery with Variable Convergence and Focus Accommodation for the Remote Assessment of Fruit Quality

This paper shows and discusses the implementation of new ideas we propose with the aim to overcome the visual discomfort that arises when using 3D visualization. Our proposal can be summarized as the improvement of 3D visualization by replicating the way human eyes see, in other words, the increase of human-like perception. We do so by extracting reality information from stereo image pairs and process them in order to improve the final 3D image before displaying it to the user. We describe the techniques used to extract information from stereo images as well as the techniques created to manipulate them in order to produce human-like perception with the aim of reducing visual discomfort in users of the stereo visualization system. We also describe the results of a preliminary evaluation that strongly suggests the effectiveness of these techniques

Development of a self-study and testing function for NetPowerLab, an IP networking practice system

It is important for beginning network engineering students to frequently practice setting up fundamental IP networks according to predetermined procedures. To provide an IP network learning environment, we have been developing NetPowerLab, a hands-on IP network practice system that uses virtual machines. Here, we report the development of a self-study support function consisting of three tools: practice problem making, automatic scoring, and learning activity management. Teachers can create practice problems using the practice problem making tool. The automatic scoring tool compares the configuration files created by students with those created by teachers. This tool displays results as a percentage of correct answer and provides details about incorrect items. The learning activity management tool allows students to review their learning activities and enables teachers to assess student learning activities. The self-study support function allows students to engage self-guided training and testing. The proposed system was evaluated experimentally in a classroom environment. The practice problem making tool was also evaluated by teachers. The results indicate that the self-study support function performed sufficiently.

Development of Hands-on IP Network Practice System with Automatic Scoring Function

The purpose of this study is to give students hands-on practical learning for IP network skills. We have been developing the hands-on IP network practice system using virtual machines. Students can practice IP network skills freely at anytime on just one general-purpose PC. We have implemented this system by applying the virtual Linux environment User Mode Linux. In this research, we developed two new functions for this system. First, we developed the Automatic Scoring Function. This function compares students configuration files and teachers configuration files. Then, this function can show a result as a percentage of correct answer. In addition, this function can display the details of items that are incorrect. Using this function, students are able to find that their network configurations are correct or incorrect by themselves. Students are able to do self-service training and testing all in one place. Second, we developed the Assignment Making Support Function. Teachers are able to make assignments by using this function easily. To evaluate new functions, this system was experimented. The results indicated that this system had sufficient performance for introductory network courses for undergraduate students.

IP network construction learning system utilizing virtual router

The purpose of this study is to give students a hands-on practical learning for IP network skills. It is important for students to operate network devices repeatedly to learn network skills. However, in practical learning with real network devices, students need a number of network devices. For this reason, it is not easy for students to prepare environment to be able to practice freely at any time. Therefore, we have developed a learning system to learn IP network skills on just one PC. Unlike existing network simulators, this system does not require students to learn scripting language to make scenarios. This system enables students to practice network skills freely and virtually on just one PC. We have implemented this system by applying the virtual Linux environment User Mode Linux. This system consists of virtual routers, virtual hosts, and operating functions. In this research, this system is primarily intended to practice operation of routing on virtual routers. To evaluate, this system was experimented. The results indicated that this system had sufficient performance for introductory network courses for undergraduate students.

A Data Gathering Method Considering Volume of Transmission Range for Fish Farm Monitoring

One of the promising sensor network application is for the primary industry and we have proposed a fish farm monitoring system. In our system, sensor data monitored at a fish-mounted sensor node is transmitted to a sink node by using acoustic communication. Since we assume that a sensor node is attached at an abdominal cavity region of fish, the transmission range of acoustic wave is not omni-directional due to obstruction of fish body. In addition, energy efficient control is highly important in our system since it is difficult to replace battery of sensor node. In this paper, we propose a data gathering method taking into account energy efficiency and directional transmission range. In our method, we use the volume of transmission range to determine the timing of packet transmission. Our method does not require control packets for determining its transmission timing. Through simulation evaluations, we show that the data gathering performance of our proposed method is higher than that of comparative methods.

A System for Supporting Migration to Overlay OpenFlow Network Using OpenStack

OpenFlow network technologies has attracted attention along with popularization of cloud environment and server virtualization since it enables flexible network configuration. It is expected that existing networks of many organizations will migrate to OpenFlow networks in the future. Since it takes a huge cost to replace all existing network devices to OpenFlow switches, many organizations consider to employ overlay OpenFlow networks where virtual OpenFlow devices are introduced at endpoint servers. In overlay OpenFlow networks, the cost for migration increases according to the number of servers. In this paper, we propose a system for supporting migration to an overlay OpenFlow network. Our proposed system acquires settings of servers in the existing network endpoints and reflects them to the overlay OpenFlow network. Through experimental evaluations, we confirm the behavior of the configuration acquisition function of our proposed system.