Fast and accurate detection of kiwifruits in the natural environment using improved YOLOv4

Real-time detection of kiwifruits in natural environments is essential for automated kiwifruit harvesting. In this study, a lightweight convolutional neural network called the YOLOv4-GS algorithm was proposed for kiwifruit detection. The backbone network CSPDarknet-53 of YOLOv4 was replaced with GhostNet to improve accuracy and reduce network computation. To improve the detection accuracy of small targets, the upsampling of feature map fusion was performed for network layers 151 and 154, and the spatial pyramid pooling network was removed to reduce redundant computation. A total of 2766 kiwifruit images from different environments were used as the dataset for training and testing. The experiment results showed that the F1-score, average accuracy, and Intersection over Union (IoU) of YOLOv4-GS were 98.00%, 99.22%, and 88.92%, respectively. The average time taken to detect a 416×416 kiwifruit image was 11.95 ms, and the model’s weight was 28.8 MB. The average detection time of GhostNet was 31.44 ms less than that of CSPDarknet-53. In addition, the model weight of GhostNet was 227.2 MB less than that of CSPDarknet-53. YOLOv4-GS improved the detection accuracy by 8.39% over Faster R-CNN and 8.36% over SSD-300. The detection speed of YOLOv4-GS was 11.3 times and 2.6 times higher than Faster R-CNN and SSD-300, respectively. In the indoor picking experiment and the orchard picking experiment, the average speed of the YOLOv4-GS processing video was 28.4 fps. The recognition accuracy was above 90%. The average time spent for recognition and positioning was 6.09 s, accounting for about 29.03% of the total picking time. The overall results showed that the YOLOv4-GS proposed in this study can be applied for kiwifruit detection in natural environments because it improves the detection speed without compromising detection accuracy.

Natural environment suitability for human settlements in China based on GIS

With the degeneration of environment and acceleration of urbanization,human environment has attracted great attention worldwide.This paper sets up the Human Settlements Environment Index(HEI) model and evaluates the natural environment suitability for Human Settlements in China based on GIS technology.The results show that the HEI of China decreases from southeast to northwest in general,HEI is significantly correlated with population density at grid size and the correlation coefficient(r) between them reaches 0.93,which indicates that natural environment suitability for Human Settlements has a significant influence on population distribution.Most people in China mainly concentrate in areas with high natural environment suitability.The total suitable area is 430.47×104 km2,which accounts for nearly 45% of the total land area in China,while the proportion of people living in the area reaches 96.56%.With a population density of 18 people per square kilometer,the critical area is the transitional region for people to live in China.The critical area covers 225.11×104 km2 with a population of 41.12 million.The non-suitable area covers 304.42×104 km2 with a population of only 2.49 million.

Automatic image segmentation method for cotton leaves with disease under natural environment

In order to improve the image segmentation performance of cotton leaves in natural environment, an automatic segmentation model of diseased leaf with active gradient and local information is proposed. Firstly, a segmented monotone decreasing edge composite function is proposed to accelerate the evolution of the level set curve in the gradient smooth region. Secondly, canny edge detection operator gradient is introduced into the model as the global information. In the process of the evolution of the level set function, the guidance information of the energy function is used to guide the curve evolution according to the local information of the image, and the smooth contour curve is obtained. And the main direction of the evolution of the level set curve is controlled according to the global gradient information, which effectively overcomes the local minima in the process of the evolution of the level set function. Finally, the Heaviside function is introduced into the energy function to smooth the contours of the motion and to increase the penalty function Φ(x) to calibrate the deviation of the level set function so that the level set is smooth and closed. The results showed that the model of cotton leaf edge profile curve could be obtained in the model of cotton leaf covered by bare soil, straw mulching and plastic film mulching, and the ideal edge of the ROI could be realized when the light was not uniform. In the complex background, the model can segment the leaves of the cotton with uneven illumination, shadow and weed background, and it is better to realize the ideal extraction of the edge of the blade. Compared with the Geodesic Active Contour(GAC) algorithm, Chan-Vese(C-V) algorithm and Local Binary Fitting(LBF) algorithm, it is found that the model has the advantages of segmentation accuracy and running time when processing seven kinds of cotton disease leaves images, including uneven lighting, leaf disease spot blur, adhesive diseased leaf, shadow, complex background, unclear diseased leaf edges, and staggered condition. This model can not only conduct image segmentation of cotton leaves under natural conditions, but also provide technical support for the accurate identification and diagnosis of cotton diseases.

Sustainable Development and the Basic Value of Natural Environment

Contrast with artificial environment, the multi-level self-organizational system of nature has great gain. Sustain-able material environment should respect nature: non-rubbish and super-cycle quality of natural ecosystem offers the material source of human development, fractal structure of nature offers new field of space and information source to this high-density and information-based society, dissipative structure of nature links the new system of energy with whole ecosystem organi-cally, and life-chain regulation is the base of sustainable life environment. Nature guarantees the physical healthy environ-ment by its all-dimension healthy factor, constructs the mental healthy environment by its quality of co-ordinate and chaos, so that guarantees the whole emergence of sustainable develop-ment on the 'super-science' level. In the view of sustainable development, construction, green economy and human health are basic fields. With the concept of ecosystem regulation, we can relate these fields organically and fulfill the task of human health, welfare and sustainable development. Ecosystem regulation is the base of sustainable development's new para-digm.

Route evaluation indexes of Changsha-Jishou freeway for protecting cultural heritages and natural environment

The highway construction inevitably may cause certain influence to the cultural heritage and the natural environment along the route, particularly in design stage; if the route selection is unreasonable, it will certainly impact the natural resource seriously along the route. On the contrary, good design can reasonably develop, use, protect and promote the value of cultural heritage and natural environment. Changsha to Jishou （Chang-Ji） freeway is one section of Changsha to Chongqing freeway, which is one of the eight big west channels as planned in China; two cities of Changde and Huaihua and one autonomous region of Xianxi in western Hunan province, along which the cultural heritage and the natural resource are rich, and the natural landscape is exquisite. This paper investigates and analyzes the natural resources along the route of Chang-Ji freeway, puts forward some protection design evaluation indexes for mountain area freeway by the thought of context sensitive design. At last, the paper introduces the effect of applying the indexes to select route of Chang-Ji freeway.

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT DURING THE LIFE SPAN OF NANJING HOMO ERECTUS

From the comparison of the corresponding strata to the skull of the relic Homo erectus which was found in the Calabash cave of Nanjing Tangshan and dated in 350,000 aBP with other cave strata, the region of Tangshan is a kind of periglacial environment before middle Pleistocene epoch. During the life span of Nanjing Homo erecturs , it had transformed to warm and humid sub-tropical climate from periglacial climate. The natural environment is similar to present except the individual high mountains.

Special Issue on "Response of Polar Organisms and Natural Environment to Global Changes"

High altitude and high latitude regions on Earth are experiencing rapid changes in climate, with impacts on polar organisms and the environment. The persistent cold and sometimes inhospitable conditions create unique ecosystems and habitats for polar organisms.

Intrinsic Value of the Natural Environment： An Ethical Roadmap to Protect the Environment

The environment in the sense of all the ecosystems on Earth, has been polluted, harmed, and put at risk of degradation to some extent. Nevertheless, the mainstream ethical philosophies have found it difficult to assign an intrinsic value to the environment itself, and most environmental ethics is based on an ＂enlightened＂ anthropocentrism which values environmental protection for the sake of other humans including the future generations. Philosophically speaking, the concept of moral obligations towards generations, who have not been born yet, can be challenged. This vicious circle is a fundamental issue for ＂environmental ethics.＂ The current paper is an attempt to help correct this broken cycle of arguments using three lines of argument： （1） The harmful impact of human activity on the environment does not benefit all humans; the question is not over the selfishness and short-sightedness of humankind regarding the environment as much as it is regarding ＂environmental＂ justice among humans. The pursuit of self-interest and wealth by some humans, but not all, should not lead philosophers to ignore the insufficiencies of our economic and capitalist systems in the delineation of morally correct human-environment interaction. The right to a livable environment is a universal human right and morality has to support it. （2） The moral obligation of humankind toward the environment is similar to any situation where a party, such as a child, does not have the ability to protect itself or defend its rights; this is the principle of ＂due care.＂ Humans have the knowledge to understand the complexity of ecosystem interrelationships and the harm which industrial activity has caused. Therefore they have a moral obligation to exercise due care to prevent it from being harmed irreversibly. （3） The third argument is concerned with human morality and the spirituality of the environment. It can be argued that the natural instinct of the love of the environment, biophilia, is not a cause but a symptom of the grand spiritual value in the environment, even though this spiritual value may not be confined to humans, but be accrued to all life forms that have and/or show a genuine interest in the environment.

Inviting Contributions to a Special Issue on "Response of Polar Organisms and Natural Environment to Global Changes"

Dear Colleagues, We would like to invite you to submit manuscripts to a special issue of the journal Advances in Polar Science （APS） on ＂Response of Polar Organisms and Natural Environment to Global Changes＂.

Integration of Natural Environment with Other Fictional Elements in Wuthering Heights

As one of the literary forms,fiction is unified as a whole by its elements.The role natural environment plays can not beneglected,because it makes much sense in the completion of the novel and the formation of the depth.This thesis studies the integration of natural environment with the three fictional elements,plot,character,and theme,in WutheringHeights.In terms of plot,natural environment may develop the plot and suggest the turning.Besides,natural environment in the plot serves as stage for the plot,creating a sense of tableau.In presenting the characters,natural environment echoes the behavior and personality of the characters,especially when the main characters have a big change in temper and emotion.As to theme,the niceness of love and quiet and nice nature,the horror of hatred,the destroying thunder and lightning,all interact with each other.

The dynamic analysis of natural environment change of nuclear test field in Lop Nur region of China

Using earth satellite observation means, remote sensing information distilled technique and regional research production, we have roundly analyzed and made an integrated evaluation about the Lop Nur nuclear test field in western China. This product reveals the rarely-known nuke explosion effect and response events of geology conditions. It also offers us legible and practical first-hand materials about human extreme effects, important engineering environment and intimidating influence process. By excavating and appraising the materials gradually on the natural environment factors changing in the test field through macroscopic elimination and typical filtration, it can supply basic scientific data for security of national nuclear usage, appraising the nuclear environment synthetically and developing nuclear strategy expediently.

Urban expansion and intra-urban land evolution as well as their natural environmental constraints in arid/semiarid regions of China from 2000–2018

Rapid urbanization has occurred in arid/semiarid China,threatening the sustainability of fragile dryland ecosystems;however,our knowledge of natural environmental constraints on multiscale urban lands in this region is still lacking.To solve this issue,this study retrieved 15-m multiscale urban lands.Results indicated that urban area increased by 68%during 2000–2018,and one-third of the increase was contributed by only three large cities.The coverage of impervious surface area(ISA) and vegetated area(VA) increased by 16.6%and 1.38%,respectively.Such land-cover change may be helpful in suppressing wind erosion and sand storms.We also found that the newly urban lands had relatively lower ISA and higher VA than the old urban lands,indicating an improved human settlement environment.Strong environmental constraints on urban expansion were identified,with cities in oasis urban environments(OUEs) that had water supply expanding 150% faster than cities in desert urban environments(DUEs).Urban development was also constrained by terrain,with 73% of the ISA expansion occurring in relatively flat areas.Overall,the aggregated pattern of urbanization and the increase in ISA and VA in the newly urbanized lands have improved water-use efficiency and ecological services and benefited desert ecosystem protection in arid/semiarid China.

Lightweight detection method for lotus seedpod in natural environment

In order to solve the problems of the current target detection algorithms,such as poor discrimination of occluded targets,multiple parameters,complex networks,large amounts of computation,and not conducive to the deployment of mobile terminals,a lightweight lotus seedpod detection method based on YOLOv5s model was proposed in this study.First,the dataset was augmented by using a combination of offline and online augmentation,which improved the adaptability and robustness of the model in complex environments.Then,a lightweight Ghost convolution module was introduced to replace the original convolution,and a lightweight bidirectional feature pyramid network was designed,which could enhance the feature extraction and fusion capability of the network and reduce the amount of calculation and model size;On this basis,the combination of WIoU loss function and Mish activation function was adopted to improve the accuracy of feature extraction.Finally,the knowledge distillation training strategy was used to ensure the proposed lightweight model has the learning ability of a complex network model,improving the recall and precision of model detection.The results of the ablation study show that the proposed method effectively improves the detection performance of the YOLOv5s model for lotus seedpods.The mean average precision of the improved model was 89.7%,compared with the original YOLOv5s model increased by 2.8%,and the parameters and FLOPs were reduced by 2.36M and 7.3G,respectively.Compared with other detection algorithm models,the proposed algorithm model has the advantages of less computation,smaller model size,and higher detection precision.Therefore,the proposed improved optimization method based on the YOLOv5s model can effectively detect lotus seedpods,which provides theoretical research and technical support for intelligent picking of lotus seedpods in the actual operating environment.

The background features of natural environment and the harnessing pattern for the spread of saline land in the Songnen Plain

The Songnen Plain lying in the central part of the Northeast China Plain covers an area of about 170 000 km2. There are vast patches of saline land, which are still in the process of enlargement. The spread of saline land has already caused the worsening of ecoenvironment and hindered agricultural development in the region. The paper analyses background factors of natural environment that caused the spread of saline land according to the information of Landsat TM images. The result shows that among the three kinds of lakes the fault lake is the background factor of natural environment that causes the spread of saline land under arid conditions. Its lakebeach meadows could not recover from the excessive utilization in farming and stockraising. The proposed countermeasures to prevent and control the spread of saline land serve as biological steps or water conservancy facilities to protect the lakebeach meadows of the fault lakes from being artificial excessively utilized.

Evaluation of Natural Ecological Environment in Guangzhou City Based on Remote Sensing Technology and Comprehensive Index Method

Based on the ETM remote sensing images of Guangzhou City in 2014, the spatial distribution results o f three environmental factors including vegetation coverage(NDVI), soil index(vegetation index of bare soil) and sl ope were obtained. By using comprehensive index method, the normalized environmental factors were weighted and superimposed, and the fi nal evaluation results of ecological environment in Guangzhou City were obtained. The results showed that overall situation of natural ecological environment in Guangzhou was not optimistic, that is, the area of land with bad, moderate, good and superior environment accounted for 59.70%, 35.79%, 4.50% and around 0.01% of total area of land in Guangzhou City respectively. Ecological environment was generally poor in the central urban districts in the south of Guangzhou City, while it was relatively better in the north and northeast. Attaching importance to the constr uction of greenbelts and greenways is an effective way to improve regional environmental quality and natural ecological e nvironment level.

How to Inscribe Nature and the Environment Into the Philosophy of Politics?

The purpose of this text is to examine,describe,and elaborate on contemporary attempts to incorporate nature and the environment into reflection related to the philosophy of politics.Both attempts to extend Foucault’s biopolitics and attempts to introduce competing concepts are analysed.This theme has a strong presence mainly due to the multifaceted degradation of nature and the environment,contamination,and over-extraction of natural resources in the era of climate and ecological crises.In this text,the author analyses interdisciplinary activities developed by researchers associated with very different fields,such as anthropology and art criticism,which are based on the philosophy of politics.

STRENGTHENING STUDIES ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

This article expounds the significance of sustainable development in the existence and progress of mankind and the policies that China should adopt. It points out that the ecology, and resource and environmental sciences are the core in the study of sustainable development. The author analyzes the achievements, contributions and problems in the studies of resources, ecology and the environment, which have been carried out at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He also puts forward tentative ideas and suggestions in deepening the reform of systems, speeding up the construction of research bases, laying stress on regional features in study, promoting the integrating of disciplines, and giving play to the overall advantages of the Academy.