We address vehicle classification and mensuration problems using acoustic and video sensors. In this paper, we show how to estimate a vehicle's speed, width, and length by jointly estimating its acoustic wave-pattern using a single passive acoustic sensor that records the vehicle's drive-by noise. The acoustic wave-pattern is approximated using three envelope shape (ES) components, which approximate the shape of the received signal's power envelope. We incorporate the parameters of the ES components along with estimates of the vehicle engine RPM and number of cylinders to create a vehicle profile vector that forms an intuitive discriminatory feature space. In the companion paper, we discuss vehicle classification and mensuration based on silhouette extraction and wheel detection, using a video sensor. Vehicle speed estimation and classification results are provided using field data.
Rwanda is implementing the self-sustaining extension system through Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and Farmer Promoters (FP) approaches. The objective of this paper was to find out the impact of selfsustaining extension system in order to help stakeholders to improve its current implementation. The methodology includes a desk review of reports, face to face interview with 60 participants and 5 focus group discussions between February and May 2016. It also includes the interview of 400 trained farmers and 400 non-trained farmers. It was found that 92% of the trained FFS facilitators and 62% of the farmer promoters were very active in extension services. It was also found that for beans, the highest average yield was 1.2 t/ha for non-trained farmers, 1.5 t/ha for FFS farmers, 1.3 t/ha for FP farmers and the average yield of all the farmers was worked out to be 1.4 t/ha. It was found that FFS trained farmers produce 37.5% more than non-trained farmers while farmers trained by Farmer Promoters produce 10.8% more than non-trained farmers. In general, 37.8% of farmers apply Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) among the non-trained farmers, 73% of FFS farmers use the GAP and 68.3% of the FP farmers adopt the GAPs. It was found that 20% of the FFS group activities are involved in various income generating activities compared to non-trained farmers (10%). It is concluded that the implementation of self-sustaining agricultural extension system in Rwanda has a strong impact in agricultural development through motivation and increased trainings of farmer promoters.
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