scholarly journals Editorial—Managing and Planning Water Resources for Irrigation: Smart-Irrigation Systems for Providing Sustainable Agriculture and Maintaining Ecosystem Services

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Masseroni ◽  
Gerard Arbat ◽  
Isabel Pedroso de Lima
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Irrigation Technologies

Smart-irrigation systems are a hot topic in irrigation management. Satellite imaging, sensors and controls, communication technologies and irrigation decision models are readily available. The price of the required technology is being reduced year after year, and its implementation in agriculture gives real-time information that allows for more accurate management of water resources. Even so, the adaptation of existing technologies to particular situations that the irrigation management is facing in different agro-environmental contexts is needed. This Special Issue addresses the application of different smart-irrigation technologies in four different research areas: (1) remote sensing-based estimates of crop evapotranspiration, (2) Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for smart-irrigation, (3) precision irrigation models and controls, and (4) the price of natural resources. The nine papers presented in this special issue cover a wide range of practical applications, and this editorial summarizes each of them.

From digital citizen to digital professional

Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 1463-1477
Author(s):  
Olga Marino ◽  
Jaime Andres Gutierrez ◽  
Sandra Aguirre
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Cutting Edge ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovative Strategy ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Teaching Learning

Purpose This paper aims to propose and evaluate a pedagogically sound and innovative strategy to teach a higher education course that prepares future professionals to intelligently use information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their personal and professional lives. Design/methodology/approach The conceptual framework used for the design of the course was the socio-constructivism and activity theories. The implementation of the course was evaluated using the intrinsic case study methodology by including several instruments. Findings The pedagogical strategy proposed proved to be sound, as the evaluation showed that students were able to describe, use and propose innovative uses of a wide range of cutting-edge technologies in their both everyday lives and professional settings; they also had the skills to analyse the opportunities and challenges that these presented. Moreover, students liked this innovative way of learning and ended with a positive attitude towards ICT. Originality/value Although several courses prepare students to be digital citizens or use ICT to enhance the teaching-learning process, millennials are ill prepared to use cutting-edge technologies in an innovative, responsible and critical way in their future professions. The course that was designed is original in that it goes beyond preparing digital citizens to prepare professionals in any domain to use ICT in an informed and responsible way. Moreover, it is a documented, successful example of an undergraduate universal course in a highly important current society dimension. The authors believe that its pedagogical proposal could be transferred to courses dealing with other global issues such as the environment, economy and peace.

scholarly journals Of Visions and Visionaries: Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-11
Author(s):  
Barbara Schulte ◽  
Marina Svensson
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Empirical Reality ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Individual Contributions ◽  
State Governance ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
Chinese State ◽  
The Individual

This special issue approaches information and communication technologies (ICT) visions and their realisation/implementation at various levels, among different actors and from various perspectives. Conceptually, we distinguish three different dimensions, even though those overlap in the individual contributions as well as in empirical reality – namely ideational, instrumental, and relational. The different contributions address both visions formulated by the Chinese state and by individual actors such as entrepreneurs. Even though the conditions for the use of ICT in China are deeply affected by state governance, this governance is in no way tantamount to one single government. As this issue’s contributions show, state attempts at building a stable cyber-governance are in need of allies and, depending on the allies’ visions and other, competitive visions, the outcomes of these dynamics are seldom truthful realisations of one original grand masterplan.

Converging Technologies for the IoT

2017 ◽  
pp. 71-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragorad Milovanović ◽  
Vladan Pantović ◽  
Gordana Gardašević
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
National Initiatives ◽  
Global Standards ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Networking Protocols ◽  
The Internet Of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the concept of linking various objects to the Internet that sense/acquire and transmit data in the environment to create a new application. From a standardization perspective, the IoT can be viewed as a global infrastructure, enabling advanced services by interconnecting (physical and virtual) objects based on evolving interoperable information and communication technologies (ICT). The success of the IoT will depend strongly on the existence and effective operation of global standards. The standardization initiative, research projects, national initiatives and industrial activities are outlined in this chapter. There are already many standardization activities related to the IoT, covering broad research areas: wireless and cellular technologies, networking protocols, emerging applications, media-centric IoT. What is needed, therefore, are a harmonization of standards and effective frameworks for large-scale deployment.

CAFCLA

2015 ◽  
pp. 187-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Óscar García ◽  
Ricardo S. Alonso ◽  
Dante I. Tapia ◽  
Juan M. Corchado
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Ambient Intelligence ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Agent Technology ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Context Aware ◽  
Computer Supported Collaborative Learning ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Multi Agent

Ambient Intelligence (AmI) promotes the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in daily life in order to ease the execution of everyday tasks. In this sense, education becomes a field where AmI can improve the learning process by means of context-aware technologies. However, it is necessary to develop new tools that can be adapted to a wide range of technologies and application scenarios. Here is where Agent Technology can demonstrate its potential. This chapter presents CAFCLA, a multi-agent framework that allows developing learning applications based on the pedagogical CSCL (Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning) approach and the Ambient Intelligence paradigm. CAFCLA integrates different context-aware technologies so that learning applications designed, developed, and deployed upon it are dynamic, adaptive, and easy to use by users such as students and teachers.

The Accessibility and Problems Associated with the Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by Fish Farmers in Rural Areas of Ondo State, Nigeria

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-52
Author(s):  
J. B. Ogunremi ◽  
P. Abraham
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Electric Power Supply ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Ondo State ◽  
The Government

The study evaluated the accessibility and problems associated with the use of information and communication technologies in rural areas of Ondo State. Total sampling was used to select 92 rural fish farmers from three riverine Local Governments in the state between February and April. Questionnaire was used in data collection. Data were analyzed by the use of frequency, percentage, mean and Chi-square test. It was found that radio (96.7%), television (84.4%) and mobile phone (95.7%) were most accessible ICTs to fish farmers of which radio is the most effective (62.0%). Problems associated with the use of ICTs were electric power supply (96.7%), lack of access to ICTs (62.0%) and inadequate information on ICTs (59.8%). There were significant relationship (P<0.05) between problems associated with the use and accessibility of ICTs by fish farmers. It is recommended that the government should allow a wide range of radio broadcast options by giving opportunities for private competition provision of radio content which will allow for development input from relevant agencies.

Information and Communication Technology in Crisis and Disaster Management

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deedee Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Unmet Needs ◽  
Situational Awareness ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Management Communication ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
New Research

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) cover a wide range of telecommunication devices and applications, which facilitate the flow of information. Within crisis and disaster management, these devices and applications may be used explicitly for hazards or crisis detection, information management, communication, situational awareness, search and rescue efforts, and decision support systems. Everything from cell phones and social media to unmanned aerial vehicles and weather stations are used to collect, disseminate, and monitor various types of information and data to provide a common operating picture. ICTs are continually evolving, with new features developed and deployed at a rapid pace. This development has had a unique impact on crisis and disaster management, allowing for real-time communication and situational awareness, as well as novel approaches to simulations and training. With the near-ubiquitous use of some devices, information is also no longer held solely by government or private sector officials; ordinary citizens are also able to contribute to and disseminate information during and after crises. For some segments of the population, this ability to meaningfully contribute is not only empowering but necessary to highlight unmet needs. Throughout the evolution of ICTs, new research and practical concerns have highlighted persistent unmet needs of more vulnerable populations due to growing interdependence and integration across jurisdictional boundaries worldwide. The continued expansion of ICTs will most likely have a profound impact on this field in the future.

scholarly journals Special Issue: New Horizon of Plasmonics and Metamaterials

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1756
Author(s):  
Shinpei Ogawa ◽  
Masafumi Kimata
Keyword(s):  
Electromagnetic Waves ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
New Horizons ◽  
Fundamental Knowledge ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Remarkable Progress

Plasmonics and metamaterials are growing fields that consistently produce new technologies for controlling electromagnetic waves. Many important advances in both fundamental knowledge and practical applications have been achieved in conjunction with a wide range of materials, structures and wavelengths, from the ultraviolet to the microwave regions of the spectrum. In addition to this remarkable progress across many different fields, much of this research shares many of the same underlying principles, and so significant synergy is expected. This Special Issue introduces the recent advances in plasmonics and metamaterials and discusses various applications, while addressing a wide range of topics in order to explore the new horizons emerging for such research.

Special Issue on “What can We do for Developing Search and Rescue Robot?”

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 435-435
Author(s):  
Koichi Osuka
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Response System ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Response Systems ◽  
Rescue Robots

As a disaster-prone country, Japan has endured many earthquake disasters. The latest cases include the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake disaster, the 2004 Niigata Chuetsu earthquake, and the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake. Since the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake in particular, many robot researchers have started undertaking the research and development of rescue robots. Their practical applications have a long way to go, so to continue ongoing robot research and development, we should also be aware that comparatively few researchers and engineers are actually engaged in such research and development. Great earthquakes (or tsunami) are both rare and unpredictable, which makes it very difficult to establish research policies for rescue robots intended for specialized use in disaster response. We should also realize that Japan is almost constantly hit by one or another every year – e.g., the typhoons that hit Japan directly every year and themselves triggering other disasters caused by landslides or avalanches due to heavy rainfall. The Japanese populace is so accustomed to such happenings but, nevertheless, few actions have been taken unlike those against large-scale earthquakes. It is often said that an effective disaster response system can only be developed after we have experienced many actual disasters. It then occurs to us that we must first construct disaster response systems – rescue robots, etc. – directly targeting daily natural disasters. Any large-scale disaster response system can be built on such constant efforts. On the other hand, any disaster response system against daily natural disasters could only be developed by locally domiciled researchers and engineers. This makes us feel that it is possible to increase the number of personnel who become involved in disaster response research and development. Based on the above context, this special issue provides a wide range of articles on region-specific disasters and disaster response actions, focusing on their localities and specialties. We sincerely hope that this special issue will help in promoting research and development on rescue robots and putting them to practical use.

scholarly journals Information and Communication Technologies Effects on Mental and Physical Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arieh Solomon
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Addictive Behaviors ◽  
Pathological Changes ◽  
Detailed Review ◽  
Daily Routines ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Clinical Changes ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

In our everyday life we use a wide range of technologies for communication and information purpose, ranging from established audiovisual devices, such as the television, followed by the personal computer (PC) and later tablets, mobiles and other types of electronic aides .Indeed parents increasingly expose young children to mobiles to keep them entertain and quite, so that they would not disturb the parent's daily routines. The use of such technologies leads to objective behavioral and clinical changes in both children and adults. Excessive use of these technologies leads to addictive behaviors followed by pathological changes in eye function, with clinical repercussion. This article presents a detailed review of all the symptoms of information and communication technologies' misuse by children and adults.

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