Coupling artificial neural network and sperm swarm optimization for soil temperature prediction at multiple depths.

Soil temperature (ST) stands as a pivotal parameter in the realm of water resources and irrigation. It serves as a guide for farmers, enabling them to determine optimal planting and fertilization timings. In the backdrop of regions like Iran, where water resources are scarce, a proficient and economical prediction model for ST, particularly at lower depths, becomes imperative. While recent models have demonstrated adeptness in predicting ST, in general, their error decreases with increasing depth, so that they had the lowest error at a depth of 100 cm. Addressing this gap, our study pioneers a novel hybrid model that excels in accurate daily ST prediction as it delves deeper. The models deployed encompass the multilayer perceptron (MLP) and an enhanced version, MLP coupled with the Sperm Swarm Optimization Algorithm (MLP-SSO). These models prognosticate daily ST across varying depths (5-100 cm), leveraging meteorological parameters such as air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, sunshine hours, and precipitation. These parameters are anchored to the Ahvaz and Sabzevar synoptic stations in Iran, spanned over the period from 1997 to 2022. Evaluation of our research outcomes unveils that the root mean square error (RMSE) witnesses its most substantial reduction at a depth of 100 cm. For instance, at the Ahvaz station, the MLP-SSO model diminishes the RMSE value from 1.25 to 1.12 °C, in contrast to the MLP model. Similarly, at the Sabzevar station, the RMSE value drops from 1.78 to 1.49 °C using the coupled MLP-SSO model. These results robustly highlight the considerable enhancement brought about by the utilization of the MLP-SSO model, clearly surpassing the performance of the standalone MLP model. This emphasizes the potential and promise of the MLP-SSO model for future investigations, offering insights that can significantly advance the domain of soil temperature prediction and its implications for agricultural decision-making.

A comparative survey between cascade correlation neural network (CCNN) and feedforward neural network (FFNN) machine learning models for forecasting suspended sediment concentration.

Suspended sediment concentration prediction is critical for the design of reservoirs, dams, rivers ecosystems, various operations of aquatic resource structure, environmental safety, and water management. In this study, two different machine models, namely the cascade correlation neural network (CCNN) and feedforward neural network (FFNN) were applied to predict daily-suspended sediment concentration (SSC) at Simga and Jondhara stations in Sheonath basin, India. Daily-suspended sediment concentration and discharge data from 2010 to 2015 were collected and used to develop the model to predict suspended sediment concentration. The developed models were evaluated using statistical indices like Nash and Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NES), root mean square error (RMSE), Willmott's index of agreement (WI), and Legates-McCabe's index (LM), supplemented by a scatter plot, density plots, histograms and Taylor diagram for graphical representation. The developed model was evaluated and compared with CCNN and FFNN. Nine input combinations were explored using different lag-times for discharge (Qt-n) and suspended sediment concentration (St-n) as input variables, with the current suspended sediment concentration as the desired output, to develop CCNN and FFNN models. The CCNN4 model with 4 lagged inputs (St-1, St-2, St-3, St-4) outperformed the other developed models with the lowest RMSE = 95.02 mg/l and the highest NES = 0.0.662, WI = 0.890 and LM = 0.668 for the Jondhara Station while the same CCNN4 model secure as the best with the lowest RMSE = 53.71 mg/l and the highest NES = 0.785, WI = 0.936 and LM = 0.788 for the Simga Station. The result shows the CCNN model was better than the FFNN model for predicting daily-suspended sediment at both stations in the Sheonath basin, India. Overall, CCNN showed better forecasting potential for suspended sediment concentration compared to FFNN at both stations, demonstrating their applicability for hydrological forecasting with complex relationships.

Soil temperature forecasting using a hybrid artificial neural network in Florida subtropical grazinglands agro-ecosystems.

Soil temperature is a key meteorological parameter that plays an important role in determining rates of physical, chemical and biological reactions in the soil. Ground temperature can vary substantially under different land cover types and climatic conditions. Proper prediction of soil temperature is thus essential for the accurate simulation of land surface processes. In this study, two intelligent neural models-artificial neural networks (ANNs) and Sperm Swarm Optimization (SSO) were used for estimating of soil temperatures at four depths (5, 10, 20, 50 cm) using seven-year meteorological data acquired from Archbold Biological Station in South Florida. The results of this study in subtropical grazinglands of Florida showed that the integrated artificial neural network and SSO models (MLP-SSO) were more accurate tools than the original structure of artificial neural network methods for soil temperature forecasting. In conclusion, this study recommends the hybrid MLP-SSO model as a suitable tool for soil temperature prediction at different soil depths.

Continuous monitoring of suspended sediment concentrations using image analytics and deriving inherent correlations by machine learning.

The barriers for the development of continuous monitoring of Suspended Sediment Concentration (SSC) in channels/rivers include costs and technological gaps but this paper shows that a solution is feasible by: (i) using readily available high-resolution images; (ii) transforming the images into image analytics to form a modelling dataset; and (iii) constructing predictive models by learning inherent correlation between observed SSC values and their image analytics. High-resolution images were taken of water containing a series of SSC values using an exploratory flume. Machine learning is processed by dividing the dataset into training and testing sets and the paper uses the following models: Generalized Linear Machine (GLM) and Distributed Random Forest (DRF). Results show that each model is capable of reliable predictions but the errors at higher SSC are not fully explained by modelling alone. Here we offer sufficient evidence for the feasibility of a continuous SSC monitoring capability in channels before the next phase of the study with the goal of producing practice guidelines.