Matteo Bertocco

Bio: Matteo Bertocco is an academic researcher from University of Padua. The author has contributed to research in topics: Wireless sensor network & Instrumentation (computer programming). The author has an hindex of 26, co-authored 121 publications receiving 2147 citations. Previous affiliations of Matteo Bertocco include Tektronix.

Experimental Study of Coexistence Issues Between IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.15.4 Wireless Networks

Abstract: Coexistence issues between IEEE 802.11b wireless communication networks and IEEE 802.15.4 wireless sensor networks, operating over the 2.4-GHz industrial, scientific, and medical band, are assessed. In particular, meaningful experiments that are performed through a suitable testbed are presented. Such experiments involve both the physical layer, through measurements of channel power and the SIR, and the network/transport layer, by means of packet loss ratio estimations. Different configurations of the testbed are considered; major characteristics, such as the packet rate, the packet size, the SIR, and the network topology, are varied. The purpose of this paper is to gain helpful information and hints to efficiently face coexistence problems between such networks and optimize their setup in some real-life conditions. Details concerning the testbed, the measurement procedure, and the performed experiments are provided.

Energy Use and Economic Evaluation of a Three Year Crop Rotation for Conservation and Organic Farming in NE Italy

Abstract: The conservation of natural resources is the most important key for a sustainable agriculture, especially considering the decreasing conditional subsidies of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union (EU) for the coming years: the lower economic supports oblige farms to increase efficiency to reduce production costs, whilst given the interaction of agricultural activities with environment quality, appropriate natural resources management will be a crucial aspect for farms. The paper examines the efficiency of agricultural production systems and particularly the efficiency of energy use in a 3-yr soya bean, maize and wheat rotation. The study also aimed to analyse the production cost and the role of EU subsidies on farm strategies for important emerging management systems namely conservation farming (CF) and organic farming (OF) systems. Experiments were carried out in NE Italy, on a farm situated near Rovigo. Energy inputs were generally higher in the CF system but counterbalanced by a higher yield (output), while the OF system had generally reduced energy use (due to no chemical inputs) but lower yield. The economic net return was higher for the CF system, but when the economic subsidies from EU were considered, the integrated net return was higher in the OF system for soya bean and wheat.

A Web-based distributed virtual educational laboratory

Abstract: Evolution and cost of measurement equipment, continuous training, and distance learning make it difficult to provide a complete set of updated workbenches to every student. For a preliminary familiarization and experimentation with instrumentation and measurement procedures, the use of virtual equipment is often considered more than sufficient from the didactic point of view, while the hands-on approach with real instrumentation and measurement systems still remains necessary to complete and refine the student's practical expertise. Creation and distribution of workbenches in networked computer laboratories therefore becomes attractive and convenient. This paper describes specification and design of a geographically distributed system based on commercially standard components.

Compressive Sensing of a Taylor-Fourier Multifrequency Model for Synchrophasor Estimation

Abstract: Synchrophasor measurements, performed by phasor measurement units (PMUs), are becoming increasingly important for power system network monitoring. Synchrophasor standards define test signals for verification of PMU compliance, and set acceptance limits in each test condition for two performance classes ( $P$ and $M$ ). Several PMU algorithms have been proposed to deal with steady-state and dynamic operating conditions identified by the standard. Research and discussion arising from design, implementation, testing and characterization of PMUs evidenced that some disturbances, such as interharmonic interfering signals, can seriously degrade synchrophasor measurement accuracy. In this paper, a new compressive sensing (CS) approach is introduced and applied to synchrophasor measurements using a CS Taylor–Fourier (TF) multifrequency (CSTFM) model. The aim is to exploit, in a joint method, the properties of CS and the TF transform to identify the most relevant components of the signal, even under dynamic conditions, and to model them in the estimation procedure, thus limiting the impact of harmonic and interhamonic interferences. The CSTFM approach is verified using composite tests derived from the test conditions of the synchrophasor standard and simulation results are presented to show its potentialities.

Analyzing the effects of climate variability on spatial pattern of yield in a maize-wheat-soybean rotation

Abstract: The identification of homogeneous management zones within a field is crucial for variable rate application of agronomic inputs. This study proposed a methodology to identify homogeneous management zones within a 8 ha field, based on the stability of measured and simulated yield patterns in a maize–soybean–wheat crop rotation in north-east Italy. Crop growth and yield were simulated over a 14-year period (1989–2002) using CERES-Maize, CROPGRO-Soybean and CERES-Wheat models to account for weather effects on yield spatial patterns. The overlay of long-term assessments of yield spatial and temporal data allowed for the identification of two stable zones with different yield levels, one with greater yield (called HS for high and stable yield) and one with lower yield (called LS for low and stable yield). The size of the HS zone identified using 14 years of simulated yield was smaller than the one obtained when considering only yield monitor data taken during the 5-year crop rotation. The LS zone was larger when using simulated data, confirming that the consistency of temporal stability increased by increasing the years considered. The models were able to closely simulate yield across the field when site-specific inputs were used, showing potential for use in yield map interpretation in the context of precision agriculture. Results showed that a combination of GIS tools and crop growth simulation models can be used to identify temporally stable zones, which is a fundamental prerequisite for adopting variable rate technologies.

Opportunities and Challenges of Wireless Sensor Networks in Smart Grid

Abstract: The collaborative and low-cost nature of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) brings significant advantages over traditional communication technologies used in today's electric power systems. Recently, WSNs have been widely recognized as a promising technology that can enhance various aspects of today's electric power systems, including generation, delivery, and utilization, making them a vital component of the next-generation electric power system, the smart grid. However, harsh and complex electric-power-system environments pose great challenges in the reliability of WSN communications in smart-grid applications. This paper starts with an overview of the application of WSNs for electric power systems along with their opportunities and challenges and opens up future work in many unexploited research areas in diverse smart-grid applications. Then, it presents a comprehensive experimental study on the statistical characterization of the wireless channel in different electric-power-system environments, including a 500-kV substation, an industrial power control room, and an underground network transformer vault. Field tests have been performed on IEEE 802.15.4-compliant wireless sensor nodes in real-world power delivery and distribution systems to measure background noise, channel characteristics, and attenuation in the 2.4-GHz frequency band. Overall, the empirical measurements and experimental results provide valuable insights about IEEE 802.15.4-compliant sensor network platforms and guide design decisions and tradeoffs for WSN-based smart-grid applications.

Recent and Emerging Topics in Wireless Industrial Communications: A Selection

Abstract: In this paper we discuss a selection of promising and interesting research areas in the design of protocols and systems for wireless industrial communications. We have selected topics that have either emerged as hot topics in the industrial communications community in the last few years (like wireless sensor networks), or which could be worthwhile research topics in the next few years (for example cooperative diversity techniques for error control, cognitive radio/opportunistic spectrum access for mitigation of external interferences).

Automated Irrigation System Using a Wireless Sensor Network and GPRS Module

Abstract: An automated irrigation system was developed to optimize water use for agricultural crops. The system has a distributed wireless network of soil-moisture and temperature sensors placed in the root zone of the plants. In addition, a gateway unit handles sensor information, triggers actuators, and transmits data to a web application. An algorithm was developed with threshold values of temperature and soil moisture that was programmed into a microcontroller-based gateway to control water quantity. The system was powered by photovoltaic panels and had a duplex communication link based on a cellular-Internet interface that allowed for data inspection and irrigation scheduling to be programmed through a web page. The automated system was tested in a sage crop field for 136 days and water savings of up to 90% compared with traditional irrigation practices of the agricultural zone were achieved. Three replicas of the automated system have been used successfully in other places for 18 months. Because of its energy autonomy and low cost, the system has the potential to be useful in water limited geographically isolated areas.

Adsorption of dyes by nanomaterials: Recent developments and adsorption mechanisms

Abstract: Application of nanomaterials in dye wastewater treatment has received wide attention in recent years. This review highlights recent developments in the use of nanomaterials for the adsorption of dyes from wastewater. Specific adsorption mechanisms, improvements, particularly for increasing adsorption capacities, and toxicity are discussed for each nanomaterial. The accumulated data indicate that nanomaterials can be effectively used for treating dye wastewater. Nanochitosan, in particular, has a huge potential for commercial application due to its sustainability with respect to excellent adsorption performance, non-toxicity and low cost. Although the applications using nanomaterials have been developing rapidly, the technology is still far from achieving the ultimate goal of commercialization. Other considerations, such as regeneration methods and treatment of actual commercial textile dye wastewater, have not been sufficiently researched.