Modelling canopy fuel dynamics of maritime pine stands in north-west Spain

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Daría Ruiz-González ◽  
Fernando Castedo-Dorado ◽  
José Antonio Vega ◽  
Enrique Jiménez ◽  
José María Fernández-Alonso ◽  
...  

Effective silvicultural strategies for reducing the likelihood and severity of crown fires include increasing canopy base height (CBH) and reducing canopy bulk density (CBD). These variables depend to a certain degree on stand structure and are therefore responsive to stand density management through thinning. In this study, data from permanent sample plots and thinning trials were used to model the dynamics of canopy fuel variables in maritime pine stands in north-western Spain. On the basis of the state–space modelling approach, the canopy fuel conditions at any point in time were assumed to be adequately defined by three state variables: number of stems per hectare (N), canopy fuel load (CFL) and CBH. These variables were projected by simultaneous fitting of three transition functions, which explained more than 77, 96 and 97% of the observed variability in N, CFL and CBH. The effect of thinning was modelled by including a thinning response function. Once the state variables were determined for a given point in time, CBD was derived from CFL, CBH and average stand height, thus ensuring compatibility between estimates. The system of equations developed, together with fire management decision support systems, will enable assessment of the crown fire potential associated with different silvicultural alternatives.

Author(s):  
Héctor Botero ◽  
Hernán Álvarez

This paper proposes a new composite observer capable of estimating the states and unknown (or changing) parameters of a chemical process, using some input-output measurements, the phenomenological based model and other available knowledge about the process. The proposed composite observer contains a classic observer (CO) to estimate the state variables, an observer-based estimator (OBE) to obtain the actual values of the unknown or changing parameters needed to tune the CO, and an asymptotic observer (AO) to estimate the states needed as input to the OBE. The proposed structure was applied to a CSTR model with three state variables. With the proposed structure, the concentration of reactants and other CSTR parameters can be estimated on-line if the reactor and jacket temperatures are known. The procedure for the design of the proposed structure is simple and guarantees observer convergence. In addition, the convergence speed of state and parameter estimation can be adjusted independently.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1717
Author(s):  
Gilberto Gonzalez Avalos ◽  
Noe Barrera Gallegos ◽  
Gerardo Ayala-Jaimes ◽  
Aaron Padilla Garcia

The direct determination of the steady state response for linear time invariant (LTI) systems modeled by multibond graphs is presented. Firstly, a multiport junction structure of a multibond graph in an integral causality assignment (MBGI) to get the state space of the system is introduced. By assigning a derivative causality to the multiport storage elements, the multibond graph in a derivative causality (MBGD) is proposed. Based on this MBGD, a theorem to obtain the steady state response is presented. Two case studies to get the steady state of the state variables are applied. Both cases are modeled by multibond graphs, and the symbolic determination of the steady state is obtained. The simulation results using the 20-SIM software are numerically verified.


2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 401-416
Author(s):  
Hana Machů

Abstract If in the right-hand sides of given differential equations occur discontinuities in the state variables, then the natural notion of a solution is the one in the sense of Filippov. In our paper, we will consider this type of solutions for vector Dirichlet problems. The obtained theorems deal with the existence and localization of Filippov solutions, under effective growth restrictions. Two illustrative examples are supplied.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-318
Author(s):  
Qiang Yang ◽  
Zhuofu Tao ◽  
Yaoru Liu

AbstractIn the kinetic rate laws of internal variables, it is usually assumed that the rates of internal variables depend on the conjugate forces of the internal variables and the state variables. The dependence on the conjugate force has been fully addressed around flow potential functions. The kinetic rate laws can be formulated with two potential functions, the free energy function and the flow potential function. The dependence on the state variables has not been well addressed. Motivated by the previous study on the asymptotic stability of the internal variable theory by J. R. Rice, the thermodynamic significance of the dependence on the state variables is addressed in this paper. It is shown in this paper that the kinetic rate laws can be formulated by one extended potential function defined in an extended state space if the rates of internal variables do not depend explicitly on the internal variables. The extended state space is spanned by the state variables and the rate of internal variables. Furthermore, if the rates of internal variables do not depend explicitly on state variables, an extended Gibbs equation can be established based on the extended potential function, from which all constitutive equations can be recovered. This work may be considered as a certain Lagrangian formulation of the internal variable theory.


Electronics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Sanchez ◽  
Elías Todorovich ◽  
Angel de Castro

As the performance of digital devices is improving, Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) techniques are being increasingly used. HIL systems are frequently implemented using FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) as they allow faster calculations and therefore smaller simulation steps. As the simulation step is reduced, the incremental values for the state variables are reduced proportionally, increasing the difference between the current value of the state variable and its increments. This difference can lead to numerical resolution issues when both magnitudes cannot be stored simultaneously in the state variable. FPGA-based HIL systems generally use 32-bit floating-point due to hardware and timing restrictions but they may suffer from these resolution problems. This paper explores the limits of 32-bit floating-point arithmetics in the context of hardware-in-the-loop systems, and how a larger format can be used to avoid resolution problems. The consequences in terms of hardware resources and running frequency are also explored. Although the conclusions reached in this work can be applied to any digital device, they can be directly used in the field of FPGAs, where the designer can easily use custom floating-point arithmetics.


Author(s):  
Seong Yun Cho ◽  
Hyung Keun Lee ◽  
Hung Kyu Lee

In this paper, performance of the initial fine alignment for the stationary nonleveling strapdown inertial navigation system (SDINS) containing low-grade gyros is analyzed. First, the observability is analyzed by conducting a rank test of an observability matrix and by investigating the normalized error covariance of the extended Kalman filter based on the ten-state model. The results show that the accelerometer biases on horizontal axes are unobservable. Second, the steady-state estimation errors of the state variables are derived using the observability equation. It is verified that the estimates of the state variables have errors due to the unobservable state variables and nonleveling attitude angles of a vehicle containing the SDINS. Especially, this paper shows that the larger the attitude angles of the vehicle are, the greater the estimation errors are. Finally, it is shown that the performance of the eight-state model excluding the two unobservable state variables is better than that of the ten-state model in the fine alignment by a Monte Carlo simulation.


Oryx ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilherme Braga Ferreira ◽  
Marcelo Juliano Rabelo Oliveira ◽  
Rogério Cunha de Paula ◽  
Flávio Henrique Guimarães Rodrigues ◽  
Érica Daniele Cunha Carmo

AbstractThe bush dog Speothos venaticus, a rare Near Threatened South American canid that lives in packs, was thought to be extinct in Minas Gerais state, south-eastern Brazil, until recently. Here, we report four recent records of the species in Minas Gerais, the first in the state since the description of the species in 1842. All records are from the Cerrado ecosystem in the north and north-west of the state; two are from animals found dead, one from footprints and another from a camera trap. Three of the records were inside or close (< 10 km) to strict protected areas, in a region recognized as the Protected Areas Mosaic Sertão Veredas–Peruaçu, where we expect any new records of the bush dog to be found. We discuss the low probability of detecting the bush dog and the main regional threats to the species, and emphasize the need to protect large and interconnected natural areas and keep them free of domestic dogs to avoid the extinction of the bush dog in Minas Gerais.


1982 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chhun-Huor Ung ◽  
Jean Beaulieu ◽  
Daniel Demers

This paper describes a prediction model adopted by the Department of Energy and Resources of Quebec to (i) update temporary sample plots and (ii) project into the future the state of permanent sample plots in Quebec forests. Predicting the growth of a forest species means predicting the state of this species in time. Three basic characteristics mark the state of a species in a given year: number of trees, their total basal area, and their total volume. To date, in Quebec, normal or empirical yield tables have been used to predict the state of some species in ideal or real growth conditions, but these yield tables apply only to pure or almost pure even-aged stands. The prediction model for hardwood and softwood species presented in this paper serves the same purpose as the yield tables; however, it differs from the yield tables in that it can predict the state of each hardwood or softwood species found in pure or mixed, even- or uneven-aged stands. The prediction model was validated for 19 species found in a pilot territory located in the Basse-Gatincau (southwestern Quebec). The paper terminates with a discussion on the limitation of the prediction model and the conditions for its use.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigar Ahmed ◽  
Ajeet kumar Bhatia ◽  
Syed Awais Ali Shah

PurposeThe aim of this research is to design a robust active disturbance attenuation control (RADAC) technique combined with an extended high gain observer (EHGO) and low pass filter (LPF).Design/methodology/approachFor designing a RADAC technique, the sliding mode control (SMC) method is used. Since the standard method of SMC exhibits a chattering phenomenon in the controller, a multilayer sliding mode surface is designed for avoiding the chattering. In addition, to attenuate the unwanted uncertainties and disturbances (UUDs), the techniques of EHGO and LPF are deployed. Besides acting as a patch for disturbance attenuation, the EHGO design estimates the state variables. To investigate the stability and effectiveness of the designed control algorithm, the stability analysis followed by the simulation study is presented.FindingsThe major findings include the design of a chattering-free RADAC controller based on the multilayer sliding mode surface. Furthermore, a criterion of integrating the LPF scheme within the EHGO scheme is also developed to attenuate matched and mismatched UUDs.Practical implicationsIn practice, the quadrotor flight is opposed by different kinds of the UUDs. And, the model of the quadrotor is a highly nonlinear underactuated model. Thus, the dynamics of the quadrotor model become more complex and uncertain due to the additional UUDs. Hence, it is necessary to design a robust disturbance attenuation technique with the ability to estimate the state variables and attenuate the UUDs and also achieve the desired control objectives.Originality/valueDesigning control methods to attenuate the disturbances while assuming that the state variables are known is a common practice. However, investigating the uncertain plants with unknown states along with the disturbances is rarely taken in consideration for the control design. Hence, this paper presents a control algorithm to address the issues of the UUDs as well as investigate a criterion to reduce the chattering incurred in the controller due to the standard SMC algorithm.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigar Ahmed ◽  
Syed Awais Ali Shah

PurposeIn this research paper, an adaptive output-feedback robust active disturbance rejection control (RADRC) is designed for the multiple input multiple output (MIMO) quadrotor attitude model subject to unwanted uncertainties and disturbances (UUDs).Design/methodology/approachIn order to achieve the desired control objectives in the presence of UUDs, the low pass filter (LPF) and extended high gain observer (EHGO) methods are used for the estimation of matched and mismatched UUDs, respectively. Furthermore, for solving the chattering incurred in the standard sliding mode control (SMC), a multilayer sliding mode surface is constructed. For formulating the adaptive output-feedback RADRC algorithm, the EHGO, LPF and SMC schemes are combined using the separation principle.FindingsThe findings of this research work include the design of an adaptive output-feedback RADRC with the ability to negate the UUDs as well as estimate the unknown states of the quadrotor attitude model. In addition, the chattering problem is addressed by designing a modified SMC scheme based on the multilayer sliding mode surface obtained by utilizing the estimated state variables. This sliding mode surface is also used to obtain the adaptive criteria for the switching design gain parameters involved in the SMC. Moreover, the requirement of high design gain parameters in the EHGO is solved by combining it with the LPF.Originality/valueDesigning the flight control techniques while assuming that the state variables are available is a common practice. In addition, to obtain robustness, the SMC technique is widely used. However, in practice, the state variables might not be available due to unknown parameters and uncertainties, as well as the chattering due to SMC reduces the performances of the actuators. Hence, in this paper, an adaptive output-feedback RADRC technique is designed to solve the problems of UUDs and chattering.


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