Be Ready, Cost-Effective for Project Operations in Complex Environments

The Way Ahead ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 04 (02) ◽  
pp. 21-23
Author(s):  
Francesco Verre
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bikram Banerjee ◽  
Simit Raval

Near earth sensing from unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs has emerged as a potential approach for fine-scale environmental monitoring. These systems provide a cost-effective and repeatable means to acquire remotely sensed images in unprecedented spatial detail and high signal-to-noise ratio. It is becoming increasingly possible to obtain both physiochemical and structural insights of the environment using state-of-art light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors integrated onto UAVs. Monitoring of sensitive environments, such as swamp vegetation in longwall mining areas is important, yet challenging due to their inherent complexities. Current practices for monitoring these remote and difficult environments are primarily ground-based. This is partly due to an absent framework and challenges of using UAV-based sensor systems in monitoring such sensitive environments. This research addresses the related challenges in the development of a LiDAR system including a workflow for mapping and potentially monitoring highly heterogeneous and complex environments. This involves the amalgamation of several design components, which include hardware integration, calibration of sensors, mission planning, and designing of a processing chain to generate usable datasets. It also includes the creation of new methodologies and processing routines to establish a pipeline for efficient data retrieval and generation of usable products. The designed systems and methods were applied on a peat swamp environment to obtain accurate geo-spatialised LiDAR point cloud. Performance of the LiDAR data was tested against ground-based measurements on various aspects including visual assessment for generation LiDAR metrices maps, canopy height model, and fine-scale mapping.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Wilford Arigye ◽  
Mu Zhou ◽  
Muhammad Junaid Tahir ◽  
Waqas Khalid ◽  
Qiaolin Pu

Indoor localization as a technique for assisting, or replacing outdoor satellite and cell tower localization systems, has taken a toll in the recent Internet of Things (IoT) era. This IoT drive has prompted increased research towards indoor localization, where fingerprinting, radio mapping as a cost-effective and efficient scheme, is emerging as the best enterprise entrepreneurs choose. However, indoor complex environments comprise of trackable devices (TD) at various heights, such as child trackers, dog tags, TD on the table, TD’s in the pockets, and situations such as pedestrians talking on the phone: that is at the height of the ear, amongst others. This paper first investigates and analyses “experimentally” the impact of received signal strength indicator (RSSI) fingerprinting height to construct radio maps for indoor localization. Secondly, it proposes the novel trapezoid path loss model for RSSI estimation and finally the nearest neighbour trapezoid (NNT) algorithm for IoT smart indoor localization leveraging and mitigating the impact of height considered during the offline signal fingerprinting. We further propose approximately 1 meter above the flooring of the target space as the effective fingerprinting height for indoor localization approaches.


Science ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 339 (6119) ◽  
pp. 574-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Berdahl ◽  
Colin J. Torney ◽  
Christos C. Ioannou ◽  
Jolyon J. Faria ◽  
Iain D. Couzin

The capacity for groups to exhibit collective intelligence is an often-cited advantage of group living. Previous studies have shown that social organisms frequently benefit from pooling imperfect individual estimates. However, in principle, collective intelligence may also emerge from interactions between individuals, rather than from the enhancement of personal estimates. Here, we reveal that this emergent problem solving is the predominant mechanism by which a mobile animal group responds to complex environmental gradients. Robust collective sensing arises at the group level from individuals modulating their speed in response to local, scalar, measurements of light and through social interaction with others. This distributed sensing requires only rudimentary cognition and thus could be widespread across biological taxa, in addition to being appropriate and cost-effective for robotic agents.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bikram Banerjee ◽  
Simit Raval

Near earth sensing from unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs has emerged as a potential approach for fine-scale environmental monitoring. These systems provide a cost-effective and repeatable means to acquire remotely sensed images in unprecedented spatial detail and high signal-to-noise ratio. It is becoming increasingly possible to obtain both physiochemical and structural insights of the environment using state-of-art light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors integrated onto UAVs. Monitoring of sensitive environments, such as swamp vegetation in longwall mining areas is important, yet challenging due to their inherent complexities. Current practices for monitoring these remote and difficult environments are primarily ground-based. This is partly due to an absent framework and challenges of using UAV-based sensor systems in monitoring such sensitive environments. This research addresses the related challenges in the development of a LiDAR system including a workflow for mapping and potentially monitoring highly heterogeneous and complex environments. This involves the amalgamation of several design components, which include hardware integration, calibration of sensors, mission planning, and designing of a processing chain to generate usable datasets. It also includes the creation of new methodologies and processing routines to establish a pipeline for efficient data retrieval and generation of usable products. The designed systems and methods were applied on a peat swamp environment to obtain accurate geo-spatialised LiDAR point cloud. Performance of the LiDAR data was tested against ground-based measurements on various aspects including visual assessment for generation LiDAR metrices maps, canopy height model, and fine-scale mapping.


Author(s):  
Lawrence M. Roth

The female reproductive tract may be the site of a wide variety of benign and malignant tumors, as well as non-neoplastic tumor-like conditions, most of which can be diagnosed by light microscopic examination including special stains and more recently immunoperoxidase techniques. Nevertheless there are situations where ultrastructural examination can contribute substantially to an accurate and specific diagnosis. It is my opinion that electron microscopy can be of greatest benefit and is most cost effective when applied in conjunction with other methodologies. Thus, I have developed an approach which has proved useful for me and may have benefit for others. In cases where it is deemed of potential value, glutaraldehyde-fixed material is obtained at the time of frozen section or otherwise at operation. Coordination with the gynecologic oncologist is required in the latter situation. This material is processed and blocked and is available if a future need arises.


Author(s):  
James F. Mancuso

IBM PC compatible computers are widely used in microscopy for applications ranging from control to image acquisition and analysis. The choice of IBM-PC based systems over competing computer platforms can be based on technical merit alone or on a number of factors relating to economics, availability of peripherals, management dictum, or simple personal preference.IBM-PC got a strong “head start” by first dominating clerical, document processing and financial applications. The use of these computers spilled into the laboratory where the DOS based IBM-PC replaced mini-computers. Compared to minicomputer, the PC provided a more for cost-effective platform for applications in numerical analysis, engineering and design, instrument control, image acquisition and image processing. In addition, the sitewide use of a common PC platform could reduce the cost of training and support services relative to cases where many different computer platforms were used. This could be especially true for the microscopists who must use computers in both the laboratory and the office.


2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Alliano ◽  
Kimberly Herriger ◽  
Anthony D. Koutsoftas ◽  
Theresa E. Bartolotta

Abstract Using the iPad tablet for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) purposes can facilitate many communicative needs, is cost-effective, and is socially acceptable. Many individuals with communication difficulties can use iPad applications (apps) to augment communication, provide an alternative form of communication, or target receptive and expressive language goals. In this paper, we will review a collection of iPad apps that can be used to address a variety of receptive and expressive communication needs. Based on recommendations from Gosnell, Costello, and Shane (2011), we describe the features of 21 apps that can serve as a reference guide for speech-language pathologists. We systematically identified 21 apps that use symbols only, symbols and text-to-speech, and text-to-speech only. We provide descriptions of the purpose of each app, along with the following feature descriptions: speech settings, representation, display, feedback features, rate enhancement, access, motor competencies, and cost. In this review, we describe these apps and how individuals with complex communication needs can use them for a variety of communication purposes and to target a variety of treatment goals. We present information in a user-friendly table format that clinicians can use as a reference guide.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-29
Author(s):  
Constance Hilory Tomberlin

There are a multitude of reasons that a teletinnitus program can be beneficial, not only to the patients, but also within the hospital and audiology department. The ability to use technology for the purpose of tinnitus management allows for improved appointment access for all patients, especially those who live at a distance, has been shown to be more cost effective when the patients travel is otherwise monetarily compensated, and allows for multiple patient's to be seen in the same time slots, allowing for greater access to the clinic for the patients wishing to be seen in-house. There is also the patient's excitement in being part of a new technology-based program. The Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System (GCVHCS) saw the potential benefits of incorporating a teletinnitus program and began implementation in 2013. There were a few hurdles to work through during the beginning organizational process and the initial execution of the program. Since the establishment of the Teletinnitus program, the GCVHCS has seen an enhancement in patient care, reduction in travel compensation, improvement in clinic utilization, clinic availability, the genuine excitement of the use of a new healthcare media amongst staff and patients, and overall patient satisfaction.


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