Rafal Perz, Kacper Wronowski, Roman Domanski and Igor Dąbrowski
Observation of the animal world is an important component of nature surveys. It provides a number of different information concerning aspects such as population sizes, migration…
Abstract
Purpose
Observation of the animal world is an important component of nature surveys. It provides a number of different information concerning aspects such as population sizes, migration directions, feeding sites and many other data. The paper below presents the results from the flights of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aimed at detecting animals in their natural environment.
Design/methodology/approach
The drone used in the research was equipped with RGB and thermal infrared (TIR) cameras. Both cameras, which were mounted on the UAV, were used to take pictures showing the concentration of animals (deer). The overview flights were carried out in the villages of Podlaskie Voivodeship: Szerokie Laki, Bialousy and Sloja. Research flights were made in Bialousy and Sloja. A concentration of deer was photographed during research flights in Sloja. A Durango unmanned platform, equipped with a thermal imaging camera and a Canon RGB camera, was used for research flights. The pictures taken during the flights were used to create orthomaps. A multicopter, equipped with a GoPro camera, was used for overview flights to film the flight locations. A flight control station was also used, consisting of a laptop with MissionPlanner software.
Findings
Analysis of the collected images has indicated that environmental, organisational and technical factors influence the quality of the information. Sophisticated observation precision is ensured by the use of high-resolution RGB and TIR cameras. A proper platform for the cameras is an UAV provided with advanced positioning systems, which makes it possible to create high-quality orthomaps of the area. When observing animals, the time of day (temperature contrast), year season (leaf ascent) or flight parameters is important.
Originality/value
The paper introduces the conclusions of the research flights, pointing out useful information for animal observation using UAVs.
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Igor Stojanovic, Luisa Andreu and Rafael Curras-Perez
The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive research of the effects of the intensity of use of social media on destination brand equity. The authors use the schema…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive research of the effects of the intensity of use of social media on destination brand equity. The authors use the schema theory and a multidimensional approach of brand equity to analyse how social media communication affects brand awareness, brand image, customer value, brand quality and loyalty.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors carried out a quantitative study through a personal survey with structured questionnaire. The study population were international tourists, over 18 years of age, who were visiting the city of Valencia, Spain. Respondents were asked to take the questionnaire upon arrival in Valencia, that is, before they had any direct experience of the tourist destination and when their knowledge of the city came only from the sources of social media information they have used. The final sample size was 249 interviewees.
Findings
Findings confirm a positive effect of the intensity of social media use on brand awareness. Results also suggest that brand awareness influences other dimensions of brand equity and highlight the influence of the destination affective image on the intention to make WOM communication.
Originality/value
Its originality lies in a unique approach for data collecting and using the schema theory of cognitive psychology to understand the phenomenon of social media influence on tourist perception of destination brands. The findings contribute to the development of better social media marketing in order to manage destination brands online.
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Igor Stojanovic, Luisa Andreu and Rafael Curras-Perez
This paper aims to further the knowledge of what effect destination and tourist social media communications have on destination brand equity.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to further the knowledge of what effect destination and tourist social media communications have on destination brand equity.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors performed a quantitative study with 433 international tourists and social media users using an online survey and structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results show that user-generated content (UGC) and destination-generated content (DGC) both positively affect tourist behavior through the mediating role of destination brand equity. Of the two, UGC is more important for building a positive destination image and more valuable for improving perceived destination quality and value. The results also show that affective image is a powerful predictor of tourist behavior.
Practical implications
The findings provide useful insights for destination management organizations (DMOs) and social media marketing strategies. DMOs need to generate content that was highly relatable and evokes emotion, and encourage tourists to share their own experiences to improve destination brand equity and future behavior.
Originality/value
The study was conducted in the passive, pretrip stage before a travel decision is taken, which offers unique insight into how social media communications affect: destination brand equity and users’ decisions to choose certain destinations over others.
研究目的
本文旨在进一步了解目的地和旅游社交媒体传播对目的地品牌资产的影响。
研究设计/方法/途径
本论文使用在线调查和结构方程模型对 433 名国际游客和社交媒体用户进行了定量研究。
研究结果
结果表明, 用户生成的内容(UGC)和目的地生成的内容(DGC)都通过目的地品牌资产的中介作用对游客行为产生积极影响。两者中, UGC对于建立积极的目的地形象更为重要, 对于提高感知的目的地质量和价值更有价值。结果还表明, 情感形象是旅游行为的有力预测因素。
实际意义
研究结果为目的地管理组织 (DMO) 和社交媒体营销策略提供了有用的见解。 DMO 需要生成具有高度相关性和唤起情感的内容, 并鼓励游客分享自己的经验, 以提高目的地品牌资产和未来行为。
原创性/价值
该研究是在做出旅行决定之前的被动旅行前阶段进行的, 它提供了关于社交媒体传播如何影响:(i) 目的地品牌资产, 以及 (ii) 用户的选择决定某些目的地优于其他目的地的独特见解。
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Alena Pietrikova, Tibor Rovensky, Juraj Durisin, Igor Vehec and Ondrej Kovac
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the influence of various firing profiles on microstructural and dielectric properties of low-temperature, co-fired ceramic (LTCC…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the influence of various firing profiles on microstructural and dielectric properties of low-temperature, co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrates in a GHz frequency range. According these analyses, sintering process can be controlled and modified to achieve better performance of devices fabricated from LTCC substrates.
Design/methodology/approach
Samples from LTCC substrates GreenTape 951 and GreenTape 9K7 were sintered by four firing profiles. Basic firing profile recommended by the manufacturer was modified by increasing the peak temperature or the dwell time at the peak temperature. The influence of firing profile on microstructural properties was analysed according to measurements by X-ray diffractometer (application of the Cu K-alpha radiation and the Bragg-Brentano method), and the influence on dielectric properties (dielectric constant and dielectric losses) was analysed according to measurements by split cylinder resonator method at 9.7 and 12.5 GHz.
Findings
Rising of the peak temperature or extension of dwell time at this temperature has influence on all analysed properties of LTCC substrates. Size of crystallites can be changed by modification of firing profile as well as microdeformation. In addition, dielectric properties can be changed too by modification of the firing profile. Correlation between microdeformation and dielectric losses was observed.
Originality/value
The novelty of this work lies in finding the mutual relationship between changes in microstructural (size of grains and microdeformation) and dielectric properties (dielectric constant and dielectric losses) caused by different firing profiles.