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Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Improving Arterial Performance Measurement Using Traffic Signal System Data, Michael Wolfe, Christopher Monsere, Peter Koonce, Robert L. Bertini

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The characterization of the performance of freeways in real time and on a historical basis has been successfully achieved for many years. The ability to characterize arterial performance has been more elusive. Currently numerous applications of traffic management and traveler information systems include freeways but lack the ability to extend their operation to major arterials. This paper describes methods for quantifying arterial performance using data from signal system loop detectors. Included in the array of metrics are traffic density, total delay, predicted travel time, and signal coordination effectiveness. Methods for determining performance in these areas are adapted for use in …

Vacuum Ultraviolet Optical Analysis Of Spin-Cast Chitosan Films Modified By Succinic Anhydride And Glycidyl Phenyl Ether, William H. Nosal, Daniel W. Thompson, T. E. Tiwald, S. Sarkar, Anuradha Subramanian, John A. Woollam

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Optical properties of spin-cast chitosan films were determined in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) through visible regions of the spectrum using spectroscopic ellipsometry. The onset of absorption in the ultraviolet was determined for chitosan films modified with succinic anhydride (SA) and glycidyl phenyl ether (GPE). This absorption was accounted for by including Gaussian and Tauc–Lorentz shaped oscillators in the optical model. VUV through visible optical constants were determined for these modified films, as well as for immunoglobulin G (IgG) attached to GPE-modified samples. Several resonant oscillator structures exhibit greatly differing oscillator parameters for the as-deposited, as well as SA- and GPE …

Water Erosion Prediction Project (Wepp): Development History, Model Capabilities, And Future Enhancements, Dennis C. Flanagan, John E. Gilley, Thomas G. Franti

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) was initiated in August 1985 to develop new‐generation water erosion prediction technology for use by federal action agencies involved in soil and water conservation and environmental planning and assessment. Developed by the USDA‐ARS as a replacement for empirically based erosion prediction technologies, the WEPP model simulates many of the physical processes important in soil erosion, including infiltration, runoff, raindrop and flow detachment, sediment transport, deposition, plant growth, and residue decomposition. The WEPP project included an extensive field experimental program conducted on cropland, rangeland, and disturbed forest sites to obtain data required to parameterize and …

Analyses Of Internal Solitary Waves Generated At The Columbia River Plume Front Using Sar Imagery, Jiayi Pan, David A. Jay

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Internal solitons generated at the Columbia River plume front during ebb tide are displayed on a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image taken on 26 July 2004 at 14:24:22 UTC. Scale analyses suggest that these internal solitons belong to the finite-depth category. A theoretical model, relating the radar backscatter cross section to dynamic parameters of internal solitons in the continuous stratification, is developed. Using the model and background stratification data collected by the River Influences on Shelf Ecosystem (RISE) project in July 2004, we extract the soliton dynamic parameters of the half-width, amplitude, phase speed, and average energy flux per crest …

Pend Oreille River, Box Canyon Model: Model Scenario Simulations, Chris Berger, Robert Leslie Annear, Scott A. Wells

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Washington Department of Ecology is interested in developing a temperature Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) allocation for the Pend Oreille River between the Albeni Falls Dam (U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s reservoir) and Box Canyon Dam as shown in Figure 1. The Pend Oreille drainage basin is shown in Figure 2. An existing model of the Box Canyon reach was updated from CE-QUALW2 Version 3.0 to Version 3.5. This current research involves improving the calibration of the original model (1997 and 1998) and expanding the model using 2004 as an additional data set for calibration.

The use of field …

Information Consensus And Its Application In Multi-Vehicle Cooperative Control, Ella Atkins, Randal Beard, Wei Ren

Faculty Publications

In the last two decades, advances in networking and distributed computing have facilitated a paradigm shift from large, monolithic mainframe computers to networks of less expensive, less powerful workstations. One motivation for multi-vehicle systems is to achieve the same gains for mechanically controlled systems as has been gained in distributed computation. Rather than having a single monolithic (and therefore expensive and complicated) machine do everything, the hope is that many inexpensive, simple machines, can achieve the same, or enhanced functionality, through coordination. In essence, the objective is to replace expensive complicated hardware with software and multiple copies of simple hardware. …

Building National Digital Infrastructure: A Case Study Of Semiconductor Complex Limited, Deepak Kappor

Business Review

The digital revolution and the rapid technology developments thereafter created a real danger of the modem world getting divided into a new type of 'digital-haves and digital-have not's'. It was feared that developing countries like India may not be able to reap the benefits of the 'information age' because of the ever widening gap in technology and relevant infrastructure. As a strategic step to bridge the growing digital divide between India and the technologically advanced economies, the Government of India (GO I) decided to set up Semiconductor Complex Limited (SCL) in the year 1983 to develop Indian capabilities in the …

The Drivers And Barriers To Customer Value Creation: Issues And Prespectives In The Marble Sector Smes Of North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan, Muhammad Noman

Business Review

The concept of value and, more specifically, customer value is of increasing interest to both academics and practitioners. Many see it as the next source of competitive advantage. Like other regions of the country, the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan has a presence of SMEs in many sectors. A major one amongst these is the marble sector; characterized by two sub-sectors, marble mining and marble processing. A review of various studies in the marble sector reveals that about 70 percent of marble reserves in Pakistan are being wasted due to poor mining and processing techniques. The situation is further aggravated …

Articular Cartilage Mechanical And Biochemical Property Relations Before And After In Vitro Growth, Timothy Ficklin, Gregory Thomas, James C. Barthel, Anna Asanbaeva, Eugene J. Thonar, Koichi Masuda, Albert C. Chen, Robert L. Sah, Andrew Davol, Stephen M. Klisch

Mechanical Engineering

The aim of this study was to design in vitro growth protocols that can comprehensively quantify articular cartilage structure–function relations via measurement of mechanical and biochemical properties. Newborn bovine patellofemoral groove articular cartilage explants were tested sequentially in confined compression (CC), unconfined compression (UCC), and torsional shear before (D0, i.e. day zero) and after (D14, i.e. day 14) unstimulated in vitro growth. The contents of collagen (COL), collagen-specific pyridinoline (PYR) crosslinks, glycosaminoglycan, and DNA significantly decreased during in vitro growth; consequently, a wide range of biochemical properties existed for investigating structure–function relations when pooling the D0 and D14 groups. All …

Measurement, Analysis, And Comparison Of The Parcel Shipping Shock And Drop Environment Of The United States Postal Service With Commercial Carriers, J. A. Singh, S. P. Singh, G. Burgess, K. Saha

Industrial Technology and Packaging

The past decade has shown a great increase in the number of direct to consumer shipments of products and packages. As a result, parcel delivery companies like DHL, FedEx, UPS, and the USPS have strengthened their presence in air transport to deliver products faster and through larger distances. Using cargo planes, they route packages from various destinations to large airport hubs, where they sort millions of packages and ship them to their destinations. There is a continuous need to quantify what happens to these packages as they are handled both manually during collection and delivery and on large high-speed conveying …

Analyzing Construction-Related Market Trends In Apec Countries Using Gis, Low Sui Pheng, Benny Raphael, Faisal Manzoor Arain

Business Review

GIS (Geographical Information System) is a means of representing data in digital form that has been used increasingly in various domains. GIS has the ability to capture,model, manipulate, retrieve, analyze and present geographically referenced data. In managing overseas building projects, research and analysis are especially crucial. It is necessary to collect enough information of the country that is related to the rule of law, government policies, and the performance of individual economic sectors, among other things. Although GIS has been shown to be a useful tool in various types of planning and management, it has not been used so far …

Generating Job Schedules For Vessel Operations In A Container Terminal, Thin Yin Leong, Hoong Chuin Lau

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

No abstract provided.

Towards Optimal Bag-Of-Features For Object Categorization And Semantic Video Retrieval, Yu-Gang Jiang, Chong-Wah Ngo, Jun Yang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Bag-of-features (BoF) deriving from local keypoints has recently appeared promising for object and scene classification. Whether BoF can naturally survive the challenges such as reliability and scalability of visual classification, nevertheless, remains uncertain due to various implementation choices. In this paper, we evaluate various factors which govern the performance of BoF. The factors include the choices of detector, kernel, vocabulary size and weighting scheme. We offer some practical insights in how to optimize the performance by choosing good keypoint detector and kernel. For the weighting scheme, we propose a novel soft-weighting method to assess the significance of a visual word …

Corrosion Stress Relaxation In Pure Magnesium And Die-Cast Mg Alloys, Y B. Unigovski, L Riber, E M. Gutman

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The effect of corrosive solutions on stress relaxation behavior of pure Mg and its alloys is studied. Pure magnesium shows a crucial corrosion stress relaxation in 3.5wt.% NaCl even at room temperature in comparison with tests in air. Die-cast Mg alloys AZ91D, AM50 and AS21 at room temperature show a relatively small stress decrease both in air and in different corrosive media. At elevated temperature, all studied die-cast Mg alloys show a strong stress relaxation in a 3.5 % NaCl corrosive solution. In a corrosive environment, the highest sensitivity to stress relaxation was observed both in the alloy with the …

Pvd Coatings Applied On The Tool Steels, M Hagarová, D Jakubéczyová, M Vojtko

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The paper deals with the properties of thin coatings deposited on the tool steels. The TiAlN coat was applied by PVD technology on the Vanadis steel produced by powder metallurgy. Development of a new technology of coat deposition is connected with adequate evaluation of coated parts. The quality of a thin coating - substrate system was determined by measuring properties.

Dynamic Routing Structure For An Rti Taking An Evolutionary Approach Towards Optimization, Matthew Ryan Davis

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The Runtime Infrastructure (RTI) is the common communication framework that High Level Architecture (HLA) simulations incorporate to exchange data. By abstracting the network communication layer from simulation, a common protocol for information exchange is achieved, allowing any RTI- based simulation to exchange data with any other. Such commonality can bring a limitation upon the network infrastructure, enforcing all federates to agree on the same communication policy. While this static network structure is not always the case, an optimal choice would be to adhere to the dynamic properties of a network. Static network configurations deny federates the ability to dynamically avoid …

Parallel Facilitatory Reflex Pathways From The Foot And Hip To Flexors And Extensors In The Injured Human Spinal Cord, Maria Knikou, Elizabeth Kay, Brian D. Schmit

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Spinal integration of sensory signals associated with hip position, muscle loading, and cutaneous sensation of the foot contributes to movement regulation. The exact interactive effects of these sensory signals under controlled dynamic conditions are unknown. The purpose of the present study was to establish the effects of combined plantar cutaneous afferent excitation and hip movement on the Hoffmann (H) and flexion reflexes in people with a spinal cord injury (SCI). The flexion and H-reflexes were elicited through stimulation of the right sural (at non-nociceptive levels) and posterior tibial nerves respectively. Reflex responses were recorded from the ipsilateral tibialis anterior (TA) …

Time-Varying Mimo Channels: Parametric Statistical Modeling And Experimental Results, Michael A. Jensen, Shuangquan Wang, Ali Abdi, Jari Salo, Hassan M. El-Sallabi, Jon W. Wallace, Pertti Vainikainen

Faculty Publications

Accurate characterization of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) fading channels is an important prerequisite for the design of multiantenna wireless-communication systems. In this paper, a single-bounce two-ring statistical model for the time-varying MIMO flat fading channels is proposed. In the model, both the base and mobile stations are surrounded by their own ring of scatterers. For the proposed model, a closed-form expression for the spatio-temporal cross-correlational function between any two subchannels is derived, assuming single-bounce scattering. The new analytical expression includes several key physical parameters of interest such as the mean angle-of-departure, the mean angle-of-arrival, the associated angle spreads, and the Doppler …

Self-Assembly And Characterization Of Germanium Quantum Dots On Silicon By Pulsed Laser Deposition, Mohammed S. Hegazy

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Self-assembled Ge quantum dots (QD) are grown on Si(100)-(2×1) by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). In situ reflection-high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and post-deposition atomic force microscopy (AFM) are used to study the growth dynamics and morphology of the QDs. Several films of different thicknesses were grown at a substrate temperature of 400°C using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (λ = 1064 mu, 40 ns pulse width, 23 J/cm2 fluence, and 10 Hz repetition rate). At low film thicknesses, but clusters that are faceted by different planes, depending on their height, are observed after the completion of the wetting layer. With increasing …

Shaken Baby Syndrome: Retinal Hemorrhaging. A Biomechanical Approach To Understanding The Mechanism Of Causation, Steven Alex Hans

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a form of abuse where typically an infant, age six months or less, is held and shaken. There may or may not be direct impact associated with this action. Further, there is very little agreement on the actual mechanism of SBS. Clinical studies are limited in showing the exact mechanism of injury and only offer postulations and qualitative descriptions. SBS has received much attention in the media, has resulted in a great deal of litigation and can be the source of unfounded accusations. Therefore, it is necessary to try to quantify the forces that may …

Optimization Methods Of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (Libs) And The Self-Absorption Problem, Olodia Ayed Taha Nassef

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a well-established technique for determining elemental composition. Compared to conventional methods, its ability to analyze solids, liquids, and gases with little or no sample preparation makes it more versatile and ideal for field, multi-element, and in-situ analysis. The method can be certified for analytical applications of interest in environmental monitoring and quality control processes. Previous work has demonstrated that several different experimental parameters (e.g. laser wavelength, repetition rate, interaction geometry, surface conditions) may affect the effective analytical possibilities of the method. Therefore, many studies have been devoted to optimize such parameters in a way …

Robust Minimum Variance Linear State Estimators For Multiple Sensors With Different Failure Rates, Franck O. Hounkpevi, Edwin E. Yaz

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Linear minimum variance unbiased state estimation is considered for systems with uncertain parameters in their state space models and sensor failures. The existing results are generalized to the case where each sensor may fail at any sample time independently of the others. For robust performance, stochastic parameter perturbations are included in the system matrix. Also, stochastic perturbations are allowed in the estimator gain to guarantee resilient operation. An illustrative example is included to demonstrate performance improvement over the Kalman filter which does not include sensor failures in its measurement model.

Laying The Groundwork For Odor Control And Setback Estimation In Nebraska, Rick R. Stowell

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The goal of this field research study was to validate use of the Odor Footprint Tool (OFT) with livestock building sources in rural communities. The primary objective was to evaluate the accuracy of predictions of annoyance potential (as projected by odor concentration output data from AERMOD^® - the OFT's underlying dispersion model) when compared to measures of annoyance potential made in the field. Odor assessors were trained to monitor odors around a 4,800-head finishing site in eastern Nebraska. During the summer of 2005, mobile odor assessors monitored odor levels at downwind locations. During the spring and summer of 2006, …

Sub-Surface Corrosion Research On Rock Bolt System, Perforated Ss Sheets And Steel Sets For The Yucca Mountain Repository — Quarterly Technical Report No. 12, Dhanesh Chandra, Jaak J.K. Daemen

Publications (YM)

This 12th report shows the work done in accordance to cooperative agreement of University of Nevada system for the Task 019 “Subsurface Corrosion Research on Rock Bolt System, Perforated SS Sheets and Steel Sets for the Yucca Mountain Repository”, the overall objective of which is to conduct corrosion research and predict the durability of rock-bolts and other underground metallic roof supports. We are performing oxidation tests using Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA), and Potentiodynamic and immersion tests to determine the corrosion rates of rock bolts. In this quarter: Potentiodynamic tests were performed to determine corrosion rates (CR) of 4340 Steel in pure …

Adaptive Iir Filters For Single Interference Suppression In A Bpsk Ds Cdma System In Rayleigh Fading Channel, Aloys Mvuma

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

In this paper, effect of a single narrow-band interference (NBI) on bit error rate (BER) performance for a binary phase shift keying (BPSK) synchronous direct-sequence code-division multiple access (DS CDMA) communication system operating in a frequency nonselective Rayleigh fading channel is analyzed. Second-order adaptive infinite impulse response (IIR) notch filters with plain gradient algorithm (GA) for suppression of NBI in the DS CDMA system are proposed. A general closed-form BER expression for the DS CDMA system with NBI suppression second order adaptive IIR notch filters is derived based on the standard Gaussian approximation (SGA) method. BER expressions are then derived …

Optimal Utilization Of Timber Poles As Structural Members Of Formwork, Ladislaus Lwambuka

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Timber poles of the type “Mirunda” are commonly used in East Africa as formwork support structures for casting of reinforced concrete slabs, beams and canopies. It is also widely known that the “Mirunda” poles as structural members of formwork are massively used without any structural consideration and guidance. This common practice has resulted into wastage of natural resources and escalated construction costs. This study has attempted to establish the load bearing capacity of randomly selected “Mirunda” poles through laboratory testing. Using an existing construction site as a case study, the results have been used to establish the actual number of …

Software Engineering: A Fundamental Approach To Automate And Interface Medical Electronic Systems With Computers In Healthcare Systems, Hashim Twaakyondo

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The cost for application software and propriatry standards (i.e. data structure and formats) required for storing clinical datasets from electronic device cause the use of time-consuming paper-based documentation and/or the transfer of electronic lab records manually to the PC database systems in Mother-Offspring Malaria Study (MOMS) Laboratory Unit located in Morogoro Regional Hospital, Tanzania. We have explored the ability to extract laboratory results from Haematology analyzer machine for easy management, access and storage. The methodology and tools used during the study includes; site survey and hands-on practice for requirement engineering, visual basic 6.0 for interface design and Microsoft Access for …

Program For The Analysis Of Plane Trusses, John Makunza

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The ‘TRAP - TRuss Analysis Program’ can assist engineers in the analysis of plane truss-type structures, as well as prove an excellent basis for understanding the “finite – element” method. The Program is completely menu-driven, with all nodes, elements, and load data entered through an input file. TRAP includes plotting for displaying the truss geometry in its original shape showing all nodes and support points. In the analysis process, firstly the structure data; e.g number of nodes, elements, materials and supports are to be defined. Secondly, element properties and support constraints have to be specified. Finally, nodal global loads are …

Preliminary Estimates Of Building Cost And The Lowest Evaluated Tender, Harriet Eliufoo

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The paper has investigated and established to what extent are preliminary estimates of building costs close to the lowest evaluated tender and how geographical proximity influences the variance between preliminary estimate and the lowest evaluated tender. A multiple case study constituting 43 building projects in Tanzania were statistically analysed covering a period from 1995- 1999. Findings reveal a significant variance exists between the quantity surveyor’s preliminary estimate figure and the lowest evaluated tender; and that the variance between the quantity surveyor’s figure and the bidder is small when the proposed building project is geographically closer to the quantity surveyor’s base. …