BrainMap

Lucian Dragut

- UNIVERSITATEA DE VEST TIMISOARA

Researcher | Teaching staff | Scientific reviewer | PhD supervisor

Web of Science ResearcherID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/A-4126-2008

Curriculum Vitae (15/05/2024)

Expertise & keywords

A digital framework for assessing land suitability to crops and land use Call name: P 1 - SP 1.1 - Proiecte de cercetare Postdoctorală
PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2019-0402 2020 - 2022

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA DE VEST TIMISOARA

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA DE VEST TIMISOARA (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA DE VEST TIMISOARA (RO)

Project website: https://www.ls-gis.projects.uvt.ro/

Abstract:

A sustainable agriculture expects a quality production, harmless to the environment and economically profitable, therefore we should grow crops where they are best suited and for which the most important condition is to conduct land suitability (LS) assessment. In my previous research I demonstrated that geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA) is a valid and beneficial approach for digital soil mapping. Consequently the main objective of this project is the development of a digital framework for calculation and mapping of the land suitability to crops and land use, based on GEOBIA technique. The secondary objectives are: 1. development of a digital tool based on the proposed framework; 2. application of the digital tool to evaluate land suitability at regional and local scale; 3. quantitative evaluation of the land suitability with GEOBIA framework, compared to the two cartographic units currently used (conventional soil map units and raster cell). The proposed framework is based on the existing Romanian methodology calculating the land suitability to 14 crops, 8 fruit trees and 3 land use types. The algorithmic nature of the existing methodology makes it well suited to be implemented as a computer tool. The suitability values ranging from 0 (not suitable) to 1 (maximum suitability) of 18 eco-pedological indicators are multiplied leading to the final suitability notes. Our tool uses various soil data, digital elevation model and satellite imagery. It creates a digital map for each eco-pedological indicator through segmentation of soil covariates and spatial prediction of indicators classes, finally the tool mapping the suitability values. The developed GEOBIA framework will be made available to users as a tool in eCognition software, being one of the deliverables of the project, along with two research articles.

Semi-automated object-oriented landslide mapping Call name: P 4 - Proiecte de Cercetare Exploratorie
PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0222 2017 - 2019

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA DE VEST TIMISOARA

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA DE VEST TIMISOARA (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA DE VEST TIMISOARA (RO)

Project website: https://mapslide.projects.uvt.ro/

Abstract:

Landslide inventory maps are the key component of a landslide risk assessment and are required to document the extent of landslide phenomena in a region, to investigate the distribution, types, pattern, recurrence and statistics of slope failures, and to study the evolution of landscapes dominated by mass-wasting processes. Although important research has been carried out so far, no semi-automated and transferable method for generating landslide inventories exists. The main challenge still remains transferability. The overall goal of this research proposal is to develop a coherent and intelligent object-based framework to extract landslides from Digital Elevation Models (DEM) for creating landslide inventory maps. In order to address this important topic, innovative solutions to tackle the current challenges, particularly the transferability of the model, are proposed. Specifically, the project aims at: 1) Developing, testing and applying an automate technique to calibrate the input variables to the characteristics of a given study area; 2) Evaluating the potential of calibrating the geographic extent to segment landslides as single objects; 3) Coupling neighbourhood indicators, i.e. landscape metrics, with land-surface variables to improve detection and delineation of landslides; and 4) Developing and demonstrating a semi-automatic approach to extract landslides from DEMs for creating landslide inventory maps. By proposing a new framework to map landslides from DEMs we provide a direct and significant contribution to the field of geomorphology. Derivatives of the proposed work may also contribute to other fields where understanding and modelling morphological patterns in surfaces needs to be addressed, e.g. geomorphometry, geographic object-based image analysis, and geoinformatics. The approach proposed here shall lead to an operational solution for creating landslide inventories, which has practical applicability in land management.

Fundamental surface elements on digital elevation models Call name: Exploratory Research Projects - PCE-2011 call
PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0499 2011 - 2012

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: Universitatea de Vest din Timisoara

Project partners: Universitatea de Vest din Timisoara (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: http://cskovi.wix.com/fusedem

Abstract:

As a science of topographic quantification, geomorphometry focuses on extraction of land-surface variables and objects from digital elevation models (DEMs). While extraction of land-surface variables (e.g. slope, aspect, curvatures, etc.) is a routine task now, extraction of land-surface objects is still problematic. Progress in this direction is hindered by the lack of a unifying theory of land-surface form.

The main objective of this project is to develop a methodology to segment DEMs into fundamental surface elements relative to scale. Fundamental surface elements are defined as data-driven homogenous areas at given scales delineated by topographic discontinuities. Rather than attempting to delineate specific objects, these land-surface divisions are generic carriers of morphometrically meaningful information. I hypothesize that fundamental surface elements can be aggregated as building blocks in classifications for multiple purposes via specific semantic models.

A derived objective of this research is exploring suitability of surface elements in optimizing sampling in soil-landscape modeling.

If successful, the proposed approach would 1.contribute to the theory of land-surface form; 2. make land form classification and mapping more objective and repeatable; and 3. make an important contribution to the discrete analysis of land surface by opening the path to incorporate topologic attributes developed in landscape ecology in geomorphometrical analysis.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator
List of research grants as partner team leader
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects