Digital Commons Network^™

Nnp “Nowhere Near Perfect”, Thomas Power

Other Resources

The aim of this essay is to examine two views and conclusions on the now commonly recognised inadequacies of Net National Product as an indicator of aggregate national well-being. It outlines Dasgupta’s simplified model of the effect of environmental losses on NNP and reviews Douthwaite’s treatment of NNP.

Drum Transcription Using Automatic Grouping Of Events And Prior Subspace Analysis, Derry Fitzgerald, Robert Lawlor, Eugene Dermot Coyle Professor

Conference papers

While Prior Subspace Analysis (PSA) has proved an effective tool for transcribung mixtures of snare, kick drum and hi-hat, attempts to extend it to increased numbers of drum types have met with mixed results. To overcome this an automatic grouping method has been developed to group drum events on their similarity in frequency content. Combined with PSA this creates a system able to handle robustly greater numbers of drum types. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated in a drum transcription algorithm.

A Simulation Model To Characterize Photolithography Process Of A Semiconductor Wafer Fabrication, Amr Arisha, Paul Young, Mohie El Baradie

Articles

The pressures on semiconductor manufacturers due to cost considerations, rapid growth of process technology, quality constraints, feature size reduction, and increasingly complex products are requiring ever higher efficiency from manufacturing facilities. The complexity of manufacturing high capacity semiconductor devices means that it is impossible to analyze the process control parameters and the production configurations using traditional analytical models. There is, therefore, an increasing need for effective models of each manufacturing process, characterizing and analyzing the process in detail, allowing the effect of changes in the production environment on the process to be predicted. The photolithography process is one of the …

Agent Chameleons: Agent Minds And Bodies, Brian Duffy, Gregory O'Hare, Alan Martin, John Bradley, Bianca Schoen-Phelan

Conference papers

Agent design has to date concerned itself with the issues pertaining to a single body embedded in a single environment, whether virtual or real. This paper discusses the notion of an agent capable of migrating between information spaces (physical worlds, virtual reality, and digital information spaces). An architecture is presented that facilitates agent migration and mutation within such environments. This will in turn support agent

evolution the ultimate in agent adaptivity

Quality Challenges In E-Commerce Websites, Ronan Fitzpatrick

Conference papers

No abstract provided.

Defining The Range Of B2b E-Commerce Formats, Susan Mckeever

Conference papers

No abstract provided.

A Reflection On The Development, Activities And Deliverables Of The Construction It Alliance (Cita) In Ireland, Ken Thomas, Alan V. Hore

Conference papers

This paper reflects on the development, activities and deliverables of the Construction IT Alliance in the Republic of Ireland. This alliance was formed in 2001 with the vision of harnessing the potential of information and communication technologies in the Irish construction sector. CITA is a prime example of academia-industry-government collaboration in Ireland. A key driver in the development of CITA is the need to increase the extent of IT knowledge within the Irish construction sector. Membership of CITA includes leading architectural, engineering, surveying, management, construction, supplier, IT and academic organisations. The leading academic institutions in CITA are the Technological University …

Rationalising The Construction Materials Purchasing Process, Louis Gunnigan, Alan V. Hore, Trevor Orr

Conference papers

This paper is concerned with the process used in locating and removing inefficiency in the construction materials purchasing process. In the first part, a case study is presented showing the build-up of costs involved in purchasing materials. Potential for substantial savings is revealed. The second part of the paper gives a status report on a rationalisation pilot project currently being undertaken by the Construction Information Technology Alliance (CITA). This project aims to show how greater effectiveness and efficiency can be applied to the administration of the construction materials purchasing process by the application of information technology already used widely in …

Rationalising The Construction Materials Purchasing Process, Louis Gunnigan, Alan V. Hore, Trevor Orr

Conference papers

This paper is concerned with the process used in locating and removing inefficiency in the construction materials purchasing process. In the first part, a case study is presented showing the build-up of costs involved in purchasing materials. Potential for substantial savings is revealed. The second part of the paper gives a status report on a rationalisation pilot project currently being undertaken by the Construction Information Technology Alliance (CITA). This project aims to show how greater effectiveness and efficiency can be applied to the administration of the construction materials purchasing process by the application of information technology already used widely in …

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Dit Independent, 1st.-30th. Of November, 2002, Dit:Students Union

DIT Student Union

No abstract provided.

Real Estate Tax Credits And Other Financial Incentives For Investing In Historic Property In The United States, Robert Pickard, Tracy Pickerill

Articles

This paper examines the legislative and administrative background for designating historic property for protection in the United States (US) and their rehabilitation against a whole series of financial inducements and mechanisms. The preservation of heritage buildings in the US forms an integral part of the property market. Market forces and government regulations in the form of preservation law, standards for rehabilitation and the revenue code dictate the success or failure of renovating historic buildings. At all levels of governments (federal, state and local) there has been a growing reluctance in recent years to increase regulatory burdens and fiscal constraints on …

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Research Into Evaporative Cooling Of Buildings In Maritime Climates, Ben Costelloe, Donal Finn

Reports

Concern with environmental emissions has focused attention on traditional forms of energy use in buildings, with a view to reducing and making more rational use of energy consumption. One area of concern is the traditional, refrigeration based, commercial air conditioning system, which has high levels of electrical power consumption in fans and refrigeration compressors. There is also concern among building owners and design teams, supported by the PROBE series of post occupancy studies, conducted by the CIBSE, that many buildings, with traditional forms of air conditioning, under perform in terms of occupant satisfaction, ease of operation and control, maintenance costs …

Moisture Migration In Concrete Slabs During Drying, Niall Holmes, Roger West

Conference papers

This paper presents the profiles of relative humidity (RH) readings taken at various depths in concrete slabs during a time period of over 230 days using probes attached to a humidity-reading device. It also examines the effect ambient conditions have on the drying process. For the experimental work, two sets of slabs were tested, one in a controlled environment with an elevated temperature and the other in a laboratory at room temperatures. It was found, not surprisingly that the slabs in the controlled room appeared to dry out at a much faster rate than those held at room temperature. However, …

Digital Image Similarity For Geo-Spatial Knowledge Management, James Carswell

Conference papers

The amount and availability of high-quality geo-spatial image data, such as digital satellite and aerial photographs, is increasing dramatically. Task-based management of such visual information and associated knowledge is a central concern for organisations that rely on digital imagery. We are developing geo-spatial knowledge management techniques that employ case-based reasoning as the core methodology. In order to provide effective retrieval of task-based experiences that center around geo-spatial imagery, we need to forward novel similarity metrics for directly comparing the image components of experience cases. Based on work in geo-spatial image database retrieval, we are building an effective similarity metric for …

Comparison Of Open- And Closed-Loop Process Identification Techniques In The Time-Domain, Tony Kealy, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

Abstract: This paper describes seven methods to identify a mathematical model for a real process with a time delay. The process is the Process Trainer, PT326 from Feedback Instruments Limited. Six of the methods use the step response data and one of the methods uses the impulse response data for identification.

An Environment For Mobile Context-Based Hypermedia Retrieval, James Carswell

Conference papers

This paper proposes a novel solution to querying hyperlinked multimedia cultural heritage datasets based on the user's context. Context in this sense is defined as the user's location in virtual space and the particular mobile device being modeled together with user preferences or profile. The purpose is to automatically push relevant data from the database server to the client based on this comprehensive definition of the user's context. Consideration in regard to which mobile device is currently being modeled is a primary filter for determining what data will be sent and in what format. For example, image data will not …

2002 - 2003 : Student Handbook, Dublin Institute Of Technology

DIT Publications

Information and advice on all aspects of DIT student life.

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

On The Selection Of Simulation Software For Manufacturing Application, Amr Arisha, Mohie El Baradie

Conference papers

The growing complexity of manufacturing along with the need for higher efficiency, greater flexibility, better product quality and lower cost urged the use of simulation in manufacturing systems. The number and variety of simulation software packages on the market increased as well. Consequently, the varieties of these packages led to some bewilderment on the part of potential users when faced the selection process. The present article addresses an overview of material addressed in journals, conferences, and textbooks on the selection of appropriate simulation software. It also suggests a classification of main criteria to be considered in evaluating simulation software packages. …

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Developments In Evaporative Cooling Of Buildings In Maritime Climates, Ben Costelloe, Donal Finn

Reports

Concern with environmental emissions has focused attention on traditional forms of energy use in buildings, with a view to reducing and making more rational use of energy consumption. One area of concern is the traditional, refrigeration based, commercial air conditioning system, which has high levels of electrical power consumption in fans and refrigeration compressors. There is also concern among building owners and design teams, supported by the PROBE series of post occupancy studies, conducted by the CIBSE, that many buildings, with traditional forms of air conditioning, under perform in terms of occupant satisfaction, ease of operation and control, maintenance costs …

Geospatial Data Handling For Web-Based And Mobile Applications, James Carswell

Articles

One of the main bottlenecks for web-based GIS usability is in the transmission and handling of the vast amounts of geospatial data involved. The shear volume of raster, vector, attribute, and other data to be analysed, queried, transmitted and displayed over the WWW in real-time is prohibited by connection speeds. In this paper we introduce e-Spatial technology, a fully integrated open standard web-based solution to manage multiple spatial relationships directly in an Oracle Spatial database and to deploy in real-time spatially enabled (or standard) applications completely independent of data volume. Indeed, no application code is ever installed on the client …

Web-Based Spatial Information Management Systems, James Carswell

Conference papers

In this paper we discuss the innovative software solutions offered by e-SpatialTM technology for the deployment of web-based and mobile spatial information management systems. This technology has been developed within the Oracle 9i Database environment and allows users to build and deploy spatially enabled Internet applications on any Oracle supported hardware platform and on any device running a Java Virtual Machine (e.g., standard web browsers, PDAs and other mobile devices). The paper focuses on a Land Information Management System (LIMS) application developed for the Irish Department of Agriculture. The application utilises the e-SpatialTM Information Server to deliver a spatially enabled …

Framework And Architecture For The Management Of Event-Condition-Action (Eca) Rule Based Clinical Protocols, Kudakwashe Dube, Bing Wu, Jane Grimson

Conference papers

Computer-based support for the incorporation of clinical practice guidelines and protocol into daily practice has recently attracted a lot of research interest within the healthcare informatics area. The aim is not only to provide support for the flexible specification and execution of clinical guidelines or protocols but also the dynamic management of these guidelines or protocols. This paper presents a framework and architecture for the management of clinical protocols whose specification and execution models are based on the event-condition-action (ECA) rule paradigm.

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Closed Loop Identification Of A First Order Plus Dead Time Process Model Under Pi Control, Tony Kealy, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

Abstract -- This paper discusses the estimation of the parameters of a first order plus dead-time process model using the closed-loop step response data of the process under proportional plus integral (PI) control. The proportional gain and the integral time, in the PI controller, are chosen such that the closed-loop step response exhibits an under-damped response. From this response data, five characteristic points are used to determine a second order plus dead-time model and subsequently, the frequency response of the closed-loop system. Knowing the dynamics of the closed-loop system and the dynamics of the controller, the open-loop dynamics of the …

The Role Of Academic/Industry Partnerships In The Development Of Supply Chain Managers, Edward Sweeney

Conference papers

The need for improvement in the logistics and supply chain management capability of companies in Ireland is becoming increasingly recognised. One of the main bottlenecks currently is the shortage of supply chain management professionals. Education and training has a fundamental role to play if the supply of suitably qualified human resource is to be addressed in a meaningful way. Recent research indicates that demand for people with the right knowledge and skills greatly exceed supply. There are numerous techniques and technologies which can facilitate improvement in a company’s supply chain capability. However, experience has shown that these tools alone can …

2002 : Final Year Degree Projects In Physics, Pamphlet, Dublin Institute Of Technology

DIT Publications

No abstract provided.