-
Acoustic and optical turbidity response to altering particle size distribution during extreme events
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2022 OA
-
Active earth-surface processes following rainfall events in the southern Namib Desert – Insights from the Kaukausib catchment by means of remote sensing
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2021
-
Adaptations in ancient lake animals
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications
-
Additional vertebral material of Thaumastophis from the early Eocene of India provides new insights on the early diversification of colubroidean snakes
-
The Ypresian Cambay Shale Formation at Vastan, Mangrol, and Tadkeshwar lignite mines in Gujarat, western India, has yielded a rich vertebrate fauna including madtsoid, palaeophiid, booid, and colubroid-like snakes. The latter are particularly abundant but their systematic affinities are difficult to resolve. Here we describe new specimens of the colubroidean-like snake Thaumastophis missiaeni, including anterior, mid-, and posterior trunk vertebrae, as well as caudal vertebrae. This species presents several characters shared with Renenutet enmerwer from the late Eocene of Egypt, suggesting exchange with North Africa probably along the southern margin of the Neotethys. Among these are the presence of parazygosphenal foramina (although not in all vertebrae), deep blade-like prezygapophyseal processes, and thick and tall neural spine. The available vertebral evidence is hardly sufficient to distinguish both taxa from each other, suggesting that these might be even congeneric taxa. However, more material is needed to test more appropriately this hypothesis. Both taxa are considered to be close to the root of the Colubroidean tree. We also revise the Eocene colubroidean fossil record in light of these new findings. This research was funded by grants from National Geographic Society, Leakey Foundation, U.S. NSF, Government of India, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Belgian Science Policy Office, and Brazilian FAPESP.
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2019
-
Addressing the “taxonomic impediment” in partner countries of the Belgian Development Cooperation through the Belgian National Focal Point to the Global Taxonomy Initiative within CEBioS
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2022
-
Adieu, veau, vache, cochon… ? L’apport des restes d’animaux découverts en contexte archéologique
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2017
-
Advanced Processing of Remotely Sensed Big Data for Cultural Heritage Conservation
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2019
-
Advances in high-resolution paleoclimate reconstructions using growth experiments, age modelling and clumped isotope analyses
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2021
-
Aerial imagery and structure-from-motion based DEM reconstruction of region-sized areas (Sierra Arana, Spain and Namur Province, Belgium) using an high-altitude drifting balloon platform.
-
A new type of untethered balloon based mapping platform allows affordable remote sensing applications from higher altitudes and with a greater range and payload capacity than common motorized UAV’s. The airborne device, called “Stratochip”, is based on a dual helium balloons configuration. At a defined altitude (comprised between 1000 and 30000m), the first balloon is released, drastically reducing the platform climbing rate. The payload (up to 10kg) can then drift in a sub-horizontal trajectory until it leaves a pre-defined area of interest. Leaving the pre-defined area, the second balloon is released and the payload is recovered after a parachute landing. The predicted flight path of the Stratochip, launch site and surveyed area are calculated using both forecasted (NOAA model) and real-time (inborne instruments) meteorological data, along with the physical parameters of the balloons and parachute. The predicted recovery area can also be refined in real-time to secure and facilitate equipment retrieval. In this study, we present the results of two cartographic campaigns made in Belgium (Famennian outcrops near Beauraing, Namur Province) and Spain (karstic field in the Eastern part of Sierra Arana, Granada region). Those campaigns aimed to test the usability of the Stratochip to survey a large area at medium altitudes (3000m-8000m) and produced an updated Digital Elevation Model and orthophoto mosaic of those regions. For that purpose, the instrument installed in the Stratochip payload was constituted of a digital camera stabilized with two IMU’s and two brushless motors. An automated routine then tilted the camera at predefined angles while taking pictures of the ground. This technique allowed to maximize the photogrammetric information collected on a single pass flight, and improved the DEM reconstruction quality, using structure-from-motion algorithms. Three sets of data (DEM + orthophoto) were created from those campaigns, using pictures sets collected a different elevations. A 1m/pixel ground resolution set covering an area of about 200km² and mapping the eastern part of the Sierra Arana (Andalucía, Spain) includes a kartsic field directly to the south-east of the ridge and the cliffs of the “Riscos del Moro”. A 4m/pixel ground resolution set covering an area of about 900km² includes the landslide active Diezma region (Andalucía, Spain) and the water reserve of Francisco Abellan lake. The third set has a 3m/pixel ground resolution, covers about 100km² and maps the Famennian rocks formations, known as part of “La Calestienne”, outcropping near Beauraing and Rochefort in the Namur Province (Belgium). The DEM and orthophoto’s have been referenced using ground control points from satellite imagery (Spain, Belgium) and DPGS (Belgium). The quality of produced DEM were then evaluated by comparing the level and accuracy of details and surface artefacts between available topographic data (SRTM- 30m/pixel, topographic maps) and the three Stratochip sets. This evaluation showed that the models were in good correlation with existing data, and can be readily be used in geomorphology, structural and natural hazard studies.
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications
-
Aerial imagery from an high-altitude drifting balloon platform : applications in geohazards monitoring (Sierra Arana, Spain and Mons Province, Belgium)
-
A new type of untethered balloon based mapping platform allows affordable remote sensing applications from higher altitudes and with a greater range and payload capacity than common motorized UAV’s. The airborne device, called « Stratochip » is based on a dual helium balloons configuration. At a defined altitude (comprised between 500 and 30000m), the first balloon is released, drastically reducing the platform climbing rate. The payload (up to 10kg) can then drift in a sub-horizontal trajectory until it leaves a pre-defined area of interest. Leaving the pre-defined area, the second balloon is released and the payload is recovered after a parachute landing. The predicted flight path of the Stratochip, launch site and surveyed area are calculated using both forecasted (NOAA model) and real-time (inborne instruments) meteorological data, along with the physical parameters of the balloons and parachute. The predicted recovery area can also be refined in real-time to secure and facilitate equipment retrieval. In this study, we present the results of two cartographic campaigns made in Belgium (Ground collapse near Mons) and Spain (karstic field in the Eastern part of Sierra Arana, Granada region). Those campaigns aimed to test the usability of the Stratochip to survey a large area (up to 900km² for Spain) at medium and low altitudes (8000m - 500m) and produce an updated Digital Elevation Model and orthophoto mosaic of those regions. For that purpose, the instrument installed in the Stratochip payload was constituted of a digital camera stabilized with two IMU’s and two brushless motors. An automated routine then tilted the camera at predefined angles while taking pictures of the ground. This technique allowed to maximize the photogrammetric information collected on a single pass flight, and improved the DEM reconstruction quality, using structure-from-motion algorithms. The quality of produced DEM were then evaluated by comparing the level and accuracy of details and surface artefacts between available topographic data (LIDAR, SRTM, topographic maps) and the Stratochip sets. This evaluation showed that the models were in good correlation with existing data, and can be readily be used in geomorphology, structural and natural hazard studies.
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2016
