Digital Commons Network^™

Distributed Biogeography Based Optimization For Mobile Robots, Arpit Shah

ETD Archive

I present hardware testing of an evolutionary algorithm (EA) known as distributed biogeography based optimization (DBBO). DBBO is an extended version of biogeography based optimization (BBO). Typically, EAs require a central computer to control the evaluation of candidate solutions to some optimization problem, and to control the sharing of information between those candidate solutions. DBBO, however, does not require a centralized unit to control individuals. Individuals independently run the EA and find a solution to a given optimization problem. Both BBO and DBBO are based on the theory of biogeography, which describes how organisms are distributed geographically in nature. I …

An Analysis Of Data Quality Defects In Podcasting Systems, Thomas A. Mis

ETD Archive

Podcasting has emerged as an asynchronous delay-tolerant method for the distribution of multimedia files through a network. Although podcasting has become a popular Internet application, users encounter frequent information quality problems in podcasting systems. To better understand the severity of these quality problems, we have applied the Total Data Quality Management methodology to podcasting. Through the application of this methodology we have quantified the data quality problems inherent within podcasting metadata, and performed an analysis that maps specific metadata defects to failures in popular commercial podcasting platforms. Furthermore, we extracted the Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds from the iTunes catalog …

Program And Proceedings: Nebraska Academy Of Sciences 1880–2012, 132nd Anniversary Year, One Hundred-Twenty-Second Annual Meeting

Nebraska Academy of Sciences: Programs and Proceedings

Program

Applied Science and Technology

Biological and Medical Sciences

Nebraska Wesleyan University Health and Sciences Graduate School Fair

Aeronautics and Space Science, Poster Session

Maiben Memorial Lecture: "The Status of Nebraska's Native Aspen," "Buffalo" Bruce McIntosh, Western Nebraska Resources Council

Aeronautics

Anthropology

Biological and Medical Sciences

Chemistry and Physics

Collegiate Academy: Biology

Collegiate Academy: Chemistry and Physics

Earth Science

History/Philosophy of Science

Junior Academy, Senior High Competition

Teaching of Science and Math

Junior Academy, Junior High Competition

Monitoring And Modeling To Estimate Hydrogen Sulfide Emissions And Dispersion From Florida Construction And Demolition Landfills To Construct Odor Buffering Distances, Steven Jeffrey Bolyard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Emissions of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from construction and demolition (C & D) landfills can result in odors that are a significant nuisance to nearby neighborhoods and businesses. As Florida’s population continues to grow and create development pressures, housing is built closer to existing landfills. Additionally, new landfills will be created in the future. This research project was undertaken to develop a detailed modeling methodology for use by counties and other landfill owners to provide them with an objective and scientifically defensible means to establish odor buffer zones around C & D landfills. A technique for estimating methane (and odorous gas) …

Macroscopic Crash Analysis And Its Implications For Transportation Safety Planning, Chowdhury Kawsar Siddiqui

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Incorporating safety into the transportation planning stage, which is often termed as transportation safety planning (TSP), relies on the vital interplay between zone characteristics and zonal traffic crashes. Although a few safety studies had made some effort towards integrating safety and planning, several unresolved problems and a complete framework of TSP are still absent in the literature. This research aims at examining the suitability of the current traffic-related zoning planning process in a new suggested planning method which incorporates safety measures. In order to accomplish this broader research goal, the study defined its research objectives in the following directions towards …

The Challenge Of Educating Engineers For A Close, Crowded And Creative World, Ela Krawczyk, Mike Murphy

Books/Book chapters

The world that is emerging based on the development and everyday use of new technologies is a world that can be described as close, crowded and creative. Studies have highlighted that traditional curricula and pedagogical methods for engineering education are deficient in terms of developing and nurturing key skills required by engineers to succeed in this world. The challenge for the engineering academic leaders of today is to begin with the end in mind: to begin with a description of the competences that the engineer of the future should have in order to succeed in their aspirations as an engineer, …

Eastern Ichigan University Graduate Catalog, 2012-2013, Office Of The Registrar

Graduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Effectiveness In Executive Decision-Making Bodies: The Role Of Conflict, Chris L. Day, Pilar Pazos

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

The theory and practice related to team processes such as communication, coordination, conflict, and their impact on team performance and effectiveness has been focused on principles applied to teams in general and to specific subsets of teams/situations. Executive decision-making bodies are a specialized subset of teams charged with managing strategic and enterprise-wide change typically consisting of talented team members who make decisions having a broad impact on the organizations they lead. Executive decision-making bodies have been largely unexplored in the team research literature. This study presents an in-depth review of prior research exploring the role of input factors and conflict …

Kinect And 3d Gis In Archaeology, Heather Richards-Rissetto, Fabio Remondino, Jim Robersson, Jennifer Von Schwerin, Giorgio Agugiaro, Gabrio Girardi

Department of Anthropology: Faculty Publications

This paper explores the potential of using Microsoft's Kinect to create a low-cost and portable system to virtually navigate, through a prototype 3D GIS, the digitally reconstructed ancient Maya city and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Copan in Honduras. The 3D GIS, named QueryArch3D, was developed as part of the MayaArch3D project (http://mayaarch3d.unm.edu), which explores the possibilities of integrating databases and 3D digital tools for research and teaching on ancient architectures and landscapes. The developed system, based on the Flexible Action and Articulated Skeleton Toolkit (FAAST), controls in a remote and touchless mode the movements in the 3D environment in …

Earmarked Revenues And Spending Volatility: The Case Of Highway Finance, Phuong Nguyen-Hoang Ph.D., William Duncombe Ph.D.

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

Over the last decade, state governments have experienced two recessions (including the recent “Great Recession”) which have resulted in significant disruptions in state budgets and highlighted the volatility of the personal income tax and general sales tax. Since infrastructure maintenance funding may be particularly vulnerable to budget cuts during recessions, it is important to identify more stable revenue sources and budgetary institutions. One of the distinguishing characteristics of highway finance in the United States is the heavy use of earmarked revenues linked to highway users. Our key research question is whether an increase in the share of highway funding from …

Eastern Michigan University Undergraduate Catalog, 2012-2013, Office Of The Registrar

Undergraduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Eastern Michigan University Undergraduate Catalog, 2012-2013, Office Of The Registrar

Undergraduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Preliminary Feasibility Of Transporting And Geologically Sequestering Carbon Emissions In The Florida Pan-Handle, Brandon Keith Poiencot

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

According to the United States Department of Energy, fossil-fueled power plants account for 78% of stationary source CO2 emission in the United States and Canada. This has led electric utilities across the globe to research different alternatives for energy. Carbon sequestration has been identified as a bridge between fossil fuels and clean energy.

This thesis will present research results regarding the transportation costs of CO2 and the suitability of geology in the Florida Pan-Handle for sequestration infrastructure. The thesis will utilize various evaluation tools including GIS, numerical models, and optimization models.

Analysis performed for this thesis and review of published …

Forecasting Volcanic Activity Using An Event Tree Analysis System And Logistic Regression, William N. Junek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Forecasts of short term volcanic activity are generated using an event tree process that is driven by a set of empirical statistical models derived through logistic regression. Each of the logistic models are constructed from a sparse and geographically diverse dataset that was assembled from a collection of historic volcanic unrest episodes. The dataset consists of monitoring measurements (e.g. seismic), source modeling results, and historic eruption information. Incorporating this data into a single set of models provides a simple mechanism for simultaneously accounting for the geophysical changes occurring within the volcano and the historic behavior of analog volcanoes. A bootstrapping …

Investigation And Analysis Of Open Government Data In Ireland, And The Creation Of A Set Of Quality Guidelines To Aid Its Utility Within Mobile Application Development, Peadar Fitzpatrick

Dissertations

Governments are the custodians of vast amount of data. While some of this data may be sensitive in nature, in that it contains personal or confidential information, much of it is in the public interest. Recent years has seen the emergence of Open Government Data (OGD) where governments are now actively making their data available in open and electronically accessible formats. The motivation for the production of such data includes a desire to increase transparency but also a desire to realise the economic potential associated with re-use of this data. A key usage area for this data to date has …

Towards Universally Designed Assistive Technology E-Learning, Karl O'Keeffe

Dissertations

The aim of this dissertation is to provide Assistive Technology (AT) professionals involved in the area of education and training with a set of reusable technological tools and techniques that will enable them to increase the reach, efficiency, effectiveness and accessibility of their training through online delivery. There are a number of broadly accepted reasons why an organisation in any field might choose to make training available online or partially online (blended) rather than relying on traditional face to face methods. Of the four considered here and mentioned above, accessibility is the biggest concern in the context of AT. It …

Evaluation Of Surface Defect Detection In Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decks Using Terrestrial Lidar , Ryan C. Hoensheid

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Routine bridge inspections require labor intensive and highly subjective visual interpretation to determine bridge deck surface condition. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) a relatively new class of survey instrument has become a popular and increasingly used technology for providing as-built and inventory data in civil applications. While an increasing number of private and governmental agencies possess terrestrial and mobile LiDAR systems, an understanding of the technology’s capabilities and potential applications continues to evolve. LiDAR is a line-of-sight instrument and as such, care must be taken when establishing scan locations and resolution to allow the capture of data at an adequate …

Assessment Of Water And Sanitation Infrastructure At Primary Schools In Rakai District, Uganda, Colin M. Casey

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

“Addressing water problems will help improve sanitation.” This relationship identified by a primary school teacher in Rakai District, Uganda, was a key component in understanding how water and sanitation technologies interact and how identified successes, challenges, and improvements would enhance schools’ water and sanitation condition. In this study, researchers and Ugandan counterparts visited 49 primary schools in Rakai District to assess the existing water and sanitation infrastructure of government and private schools. Researchers were specifically interested in learning which technologies were being used and why they were working or not. Through the development of a unique water and sanitation assessment …

Suitability Comparison Of Rainwater Harvesting And Piped Water Systems In The Dominican Republic , Ryan M. Biehl

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has a long history and has been supported as an appropriate technology and relatively cheap source of domestic water supply. This study compares the suitability of RWH and piped water systems in three rural Dominican communities seeking to improve their water systems. Ethnographic methods considering the views of residents and feasibility and cost analysis of the options were used to conclude that RWH is not a feasible or cost-effective solution for domestic water needs of all households in the communities studied. RWH investment is best left to individual households that can implement informal RWH with incremental increases …

Upgrading An Intermittent & Branched Water Network To A Continuous & Looped Network: A Case Study In Coastal Peru, Jennifer A. O'Neill

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

This case study sought to determine how the potable water network of Cerro Prieto, Peru could be improved. The network as it exists now is branched and operated intermittently, exposing residents to water contamination risks and inconvenience. Using EPANET, it was found that the as-built network can support continuous water service, all points could stay over 10 psi, and the current water consumption rate could be maintained. To keep all points over 20 psi, the height of elevated water tank must be increased 6 feet, and the pump switched on whenever the tank drains. It was also found that almost …

Securing Access To Lower-Cost Talent Globally: The Dynamics Of Active Embedding And Field Structuration, Stephan Manning, Joerg Sydow, Arnold Windeler

Management and Marketing Faculty Publication Series

This article examines how multinational corporations (MNCs) shape institutional conditions in emerging economies to secure access to high-skilled, yet lower-cost science and engineering talent. Based on two in-depth case studies of engineering offshoring projects of German automotive suppliers in Romania and China we analyze how MNCs engage in ‘active embedding’ by aligning local institutional conditions with global offshoring strategies and operational needs. MNCs thereby contribute to the structuration of field relations and practices of sourcing knowledge-intensive work from globally dispersed locations.Our findings stress the importance of institutional processes across geographic boundaries that regulate and get shaped by MNC activities.

Linked Open Data Alignment & Querying, Prateek Jain

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The recent emergence of the "Linked Data" approach for publishing data represents a major step forward in realizing the original vision of a web that can "understand and satisfy the requests of people and machines to use the web content" i.e. the Semantic Web. This new approach has resulted in the Linked Open Data (LOD) Cloud, which includes more than 295 large datasets contributed by experts belonging to diverse communities such as geography, entertainment, and life sciences. However, the current interlinks between datasets in the LOD Cloud, as we will illustrate,are too shallow to realize much of the benefits promised. …

Global Estimation Of Evapotranspiration Using A Leaf Area Index-Based Surface Energy And Water Balance Model, H. Yan, S.Q. Wang, David P. Billesbach, Walter Oechel, J.H. Zhang, Tilden Meyers, Ta. Martin, Roser Matamala, Dennis D. Baldocchi, G. Bohrer, D. Dragoni, R. Scott

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Studies of global hydrologic cycles, carbon cycles and climate change are greatly facilitated when global estimates of evapotranspiration (E) are available. We have developed an air-relative-humidity-based two-source (ARTS) E model that simulates the surface energy balance, soil water balance, and environmental constraints on E. It uses remotely sensed leaf area index (L_ai) and surface meteorological data to estimate E by: 1) introducing a simple biophysical model for canopy conductance (G_c), defined as a constant maximum stomatal conductance g_smax of 12.2mm s⁻¹multiplied by air relative humidity (R_{h …}

Calling For Justice In The Goldfields Of Tanzania, Madoshi H. Makene, Jody Emel, James T. Murphy

Geography

Tanzania is the third largest gold exporter in Africa, thanks in part to the liberalization of the mining sector which started in the early 1990s. Neoliberal mining reforms promised a win-win situation in which government, investors and local host communities would benefit through export earnings, profits, local employment, andcorporate social responsibility initiatives (e.g., the building of schools and clinics). While the rising price of gold and foreign investments in mining activities have delivered on some of these promises, many residents in mining regions have not benefited socioeconomically. Worse still, their communities have unjustly borne the brunt of the environmental, social, …

Online Distribution Management Framework By Incorporating Wind Generation, Bhairavi Pandya

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

In distribution system operations, dispatchers at control center closely monitor system operating limits to ensure system reliability and adequacy. This reliability is partly due to the provision of remote controllable tie and sectionalizing switches. While the stochastic nature of wind generation can impact the level of wind energy penetration in the network, an estimate of the output from wind on hourly basis can be extremely useful. Under any operating conditions, the switching actions require human intervention and can be an extremely stressful task. Currently, handling a set of switching combinations with the uncertainty of distributed wind generation as part of …

Use Of Environmental Isotope Tracer And Gis Techniques To Estimate Basin Recharge, Abdulganiu A.A. Odunmbaku

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The extensive use of ground water only began with the advances in pumping technology at the early portion of 20th Century. Groundwater provides the majority of fresh water supply for municipal, agricultural and industrial uses, primarily because of little to no treatment it requires. Estimating the volume of groundwater available in a basin is a daunting task, and no accurate measurements can be made. Usually water budgets and simulation models are primarily used to estimate the volume of water in a basin.

Precipitation, land surface cover and subsurface geology are factors that affect recharge; these factors affect percolation which invariably …

Investigation On A Gas-Solid Fluidized Bed Hydrodynamics Using A Non-Intrusive Technology To Visualize Flow Field, Md Rashedul Hasan Sarker

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The biggest challenge for 21st century is to fulfill global energy demand and at the same time reduce detrimental impact on environment. Gasification technology can meet the requirement and also reduce emission without compromising its performance. In coal gasification, instead of burning coal completely a partial combustion takes place with presence of steam and limited amount of oxygen. In this controlled environment a chemical reaction takes place and produces a mixture of clean synthetic gas. Gas-solid fluidized bed is one type of gasification technology. During gasification mixing behavior of solid (coal) and gas and their flow pattern very complicated to …

Systematic Approach To Evaluate Potential Park And Ride Facilities, Lorenzo Emanuel Cornejo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Park and Ride (P&R) facilities promote transit ridership by providing an attractive option to car drivers. They enable potential users to drive to their locations where they can park their cars and take transit services to complete their destinations.

Although the concept of P&R has been implemented in many cities in the United States and integrated with different transportation modes such as mass rapid transit (MRT), light rail transit (LRT), high occupancy vehicle (HOV), Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), among others, no systematic approach has been developed to assess the feasibility of a potential P&R facility. This thesis proposes a systematic …

Sustainable Engineering Practices In Transportation Projects, Kiran Rangarajan

Doctoral Dissertations

"Sustainability has become an important issue in transportation and infrastructure development projects. While several agencies are trying to incorporate a range of sustainability measures in their goals and missions, only a few planning agencies have been able to implement these policies and they are far from perfect. The low rate of success in implementing sustainable policies is primarily due to incomplete understanding of the system and the interaction between various elements of the system. The conventional planning efforts focuses mainly on performance measures pertaining to the system and its impact on the environment but seldom on the social and economic …

Analysis Of Wind Velocity And The Quantification Of Wind Turbulence In Rural And Urban Environments Using The Levy Index And Fractal Dimension, Jonathan Blackledge, Eugene Coyle, Niall Mccoy, Derek Kearney, Keith Sunderland, Thomas Woolmington

Articles

This paper is concerned with a quantitative and comparative analysis of wind velocities in urban and rural environments. It is undertaken to provide a route to the classification of wind energy in a rural and urban setting. This is a common problem and the basis of a significant focus of research into wind energy. In this paper, we use a non-Gaussian statistical model to undertake this task, and, through a further modification of the data analysis algorithms used, extend the model to study the effect of wind turbulence, thereby introducing a new metric for this effect that is arguably superior …