Search

Evapotranspiration (ET) is one of the main water balance components, and its actual value appears to be the most difficult to measure directly. Therefore, the choice of reliable models capable of predicting spatially distributed actual ET represents a drought monitoring fundamental aspect. This chapter presents a brief introduction to the main remote sensing methods for ET estimate and, by means of ground ET measurements carried out through eddy covariance systems at three different sites in southern Italy, analyzes the performance given by the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) model using images of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on areas characterized by different physiographic and vegetative conditions (sparse vegetation, crop canopy and high mountain vegetation). The distributed results obtained for different days from summer 2004 to summer 2006 on a wide southern Italian area pointed out generally good ET predictions in the eddy covariance sites, also if some differences arose depending on the type and density of vegetation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most cost-effective solution for the production of numerous uniform product series under specific economic considerations is the product-specific series machine. However, the aspect of flexibility of the machine tool becomes more and more important as the variety of alternatives increases and product life cycles decrease [7]. As a result, development trends move from product specific machine tools towards stand-alone machines overlapping the product life cycle. Reconfigurable Multi Technology Machine (RMM) fulfills these requirements. The RMM is characterized by a very high degree of modularity and flexibility. Its universality is accomplished through a consistent design of the machine according to the modular concept, rather than covering all necessary options. This means that the technology modules are either added on or left out of the reconfigurable machine tool with the help of largely standardized interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]