scholarly journals A method for recording ice ablation using a low-cost ultrasonic rangefinder

2012 ◽  
Vol 58 (209) ◽  
pp. 565-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Len Keeler ◽  
Keith A. Brugger
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Speed Of Sound ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Sensor Design ◽  
Fixed Target ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Manual Methods

AbstractWe have adapted inexpensive ultrasonic rangefinders to measure ablation rates on the surface of a glacier. While ultrasonic rangers are commercially available for this purpose, our goal was to utilize rangefinders typically used in hobby robotics without significantly compromising performance. To correct for environmental factors that affect the speed of sound we use two ultrasonic rangefinders, one focused on a fixed target. Measurements of ablation correlate well with manual measurements with an uncertainty of about ±3 cm, suggesting an accuracy comparable with other non-manual methods of recording ablation. The limitations of our rangefinder include those inherent in commercially available units as well as having less acoustical power, which results in a reduced effective range of the sensor (~2 m) and difficulties in detecting surfaces lying below low-density snow. Our sensor design provides a cost-effective means of increasing the spatial coverage of ice ablation measurements.

Light Rail Lite or Cost-Effective Improvements to Bus Service?

2005 ◽  
Vol 1927 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel B. Hess ◽  
Brian D. Taylor ◽  
Allison C. Yoh
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Rapid Transit ◽  
Service Characteristics ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Bus Service ◽  
The Cost

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is growing rapidly in popularity because it is viewed widely as an efficient and effective means to improve both transit service and patronage. This paper argues that two distinct views of BRT are emerging: ( a) BRT as a new form of high-speed, rubber-tired, rail-like rapid transit and ( b) BRT as a cost-effective way to upgrade both the quality and image of traditional fixed-route bus service. These two views carry different price tags because the cost of planning, constructing, and operating BRT depends on the complexity of new service features and on rises for BRT that offer service characteristics approaching those of light rail. This study fills a gap in the literature on the costs of BRT by examining in detail component costs–-actual costs for recently implemented services and projected costs for planned new services–-for a sample of BRT systems in North American cities. The study examined BRT costs of 14 planned and recently opened BRT systems to determine how the wide range of BRT service and technology configurations affect costs. The study found that although some of the most successful and popular new BRT systems are high-quality services operating in mixed traffic and implemented at relatively low cost, most BRT projects on the drawing boards are more elaborate, more expensive systems than many currently in service. Most new BRT projects emphasize elaborate LRT-type improvements to lines and stations in one or a few corridors rather than less splashy improvements (such as next-bus monitors, signal preemption, queue-jump lanes, and so forth) affecting more lines and modes in local transit networks. Among the 14 systems examined here, most could be characterized as light rail lite.

scholarly journals Review of the Performance of Low-Cost Sensors for Air Quality Monitoring

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Karagulian ◽  
Maurizio Barbiere ◽  
Alexander Kotsev ◽  
Laurent Spinelle ◽  
Michel Gerboles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Site Location ◽  
Independent Evaluation ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Other Information ◽  
Reference Measurements

A growing number of companies have started commercializing low-cost sensors (LCS) that are said to be able to monitor air pollution in outdoor air. The benefit of the use of LCS is the increased spatial coverage when monitoring air quality in cities and remote locations. Today, there are hundreds of LCS commercially available on the market with costs ranging from several hundred to several thousand euro. At the same time, the scientific literature currently reports independent evaluation of the performance of LCS against reference measurements for about 110 LCS. These studies report that LCS are unstable and often affected by atmospheric conditions—cross-sensitivities from interfering compounds that may change LCS performance depending on site location. In this work, quantitative data regarding the performance of LCS against reference measurement are presented. This information was gathered from published reports and relevant testing laboratories. Other information was drawn from peer-reviewed journals that tested different types of LCS in research studies. Relevant metrics about the comparison of LCS systems against reference systems highlighted the most cost-effective LCS that could be used to monitor air quality pollutants with a good level of agreement represented by a coefficient of determination R2 > 0.75 and slope close to 1.0. This review highlights the possibility to have versatile LCS able to operate with multiple pollutants and preferably with transparent LCS data treatment.

Symposium on an Objective-Based Resource Retrieval System

1975 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-62
Author(s):  
Robert S. Garmise ◽  
John R. Powers
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Retrieval System ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Present System ◽  
Cost Planning ◽  
Title Iii ◽  
On Line

The primary objective of any objective-based resource retrieval system is to provide users with a rapid, cost/effective means of retrieving resources suited to the needs of the learners. This is accomplished by Battelle's BETSY system through the use of a computerized retrieval system designed specifically for educators to facilitate learning. BETSY began as an idea during the summer of 1973. Its roots can be vaguely traced to the Computer Based Resource Units (CBRU) of Buffalo, New York. The original premise was to make CBRU available on-line to educators. Through an ESEA Title III grant to the Mentor, Ohio Board of Education, this original concept was stretched and expanded to the present system that not only provides on-line access to over 15,000,000 characters of data, but also provides a very low cost planning instrument. What was originally student oriented is now learner oriented. That learner can still be a student, but he can also be a teacher or curriculum designer.

scholarly journals Requirements of a network telescope

1988 ◽  
Vol 123 ◽  
pp. 541-544
Author(s):  
Ian Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Computer Control ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Light Weight ◽  
Dome A ◽  
High Quality Data ◽  
Reasonable Cost

General purpose telescopes fail to provide a cost-effective means of obtaining photometric data for asteroseismology. A continuous observing run on a particular star is best suited to automatic operation with a dedicated photoelectric telescope. As optical requirements for on-axis photometry are less severe than those for imaging, low-cost light-weight mirrors permit a saving in the size and cost of mount and dome. A stiff mounting with a low moment of inertia permits rapid movement under computer control. Adoption of a permanently mounted photometer and the elimination of manual controls also leads to design and operating economies. Maintenance can be shared with other instruments and travel and subsistence requirements are minimised. Therefore remote operation of a network of automatic telescopes at good sites could provide high quality data at reasonable cost.

Weighting Factor for Seasonal Subgrade Resilient Modulus

1998 ◽  
Vol 1619 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun Guan ◽  
Eric C. Drumm ◽  
N. Mike Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Resilient Modulus ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Weighting Factor ◽  
Pavement Design ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Subgrade Modulus

Subgrade resilient modulus is highly dependent on water content, which can vary significantly with a number of seasonal environmental factors. Because the determination of seasonal resilient modulus is cumbersome, it is difficult to include environmental factors in pavement design. The use of a weighting factor for flexible pavement design to include the effects of monthly changes in the subgrade resilient modulus is described. The weighting factor, which was derived from Miner’s linear damage concept and the 1993 AASHTO design equation for flexible pavements, is used to designate a design season. Instead of using multiple values of resilient modulus in the pavement design process, the pavement design may be performed with a single value of subgrade modulus corresponding to this design season. A pavement design based on this design season then is assumed to reflect the seasonal variations in subgrade modulus and the corresponding relative damage that the pavement would sustain over al seasons of the year. The weighting factor can be calculated from laboratory tests of resilient modulus over the range of water contents that may be encountered in the subgrade over different seasons. Alternatively, the weighting factor can be obtained from the resilient modulus backcalculated from seasonal nondestructive tests. The determination of the weighting factor and the design season resilient modulus was demonstrated in three examples and shown to be consistent with the recommendations of the 1993 AASHTO guide. The use of the weighting factor should provide a cost-effective means of including seasonal variations in subgrade properties while minimizing the required number of laboratory resilient modulus tests.

scholarly journals Opportunity of Non-Wood Forest Products in Biocomposites

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradeep Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Waste Disposal ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Natural Fibres ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Environmental Threat ◽  
Structural Parts

In recent years industries are attempting to decrease their dependency on petroleum-based fuels and products due to increased environmental issues. The tremendous increase in production and use of plastics in every sector of life has led to huge plastic waste disposal problems and also an environmental threat. In order to prevail over the present scenario, the viable and cost-effective approaches are to prepare eco-friendly bio-composites based on non-wood forest products (NWFP), a part of forest wealth of the globe, especially natural fibres, agricultural wastes and extractives. Natural fibres and extractives have many advantages viz. low density, low cost, considerable toughness properties, nontoxicity, sustainability and biodegradability. NWFP based composites may be utilized to produce non-structural parts for diverse applications in various industries as high-performance materials with interesting properties for specific applications viz. furniture, thermal, acoustic insulations and automotive industries etc. In the present chapter, opportunities of extractives, cellulosic and lignocellulosic fibres from non-wood forest products in Bio-composites will be discussed.

Sustainable Development: A Below-Knee Prostheses Liner for Resource Limited Environments

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhiko Sasaki ◽  
Gary Guerra ◽  
Jutima Rattanakoch ◽  
Yusuke Miyata ◽  
Sharmila Suntharalingam
Keyword(s):  
Vinyl Acetate ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Thermoplastic Elastomer ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Knee Prostheses ◽  
Ethyl Vinyl ◽  
Step Counts ◽  
Resource Limited

Abstract This research sought to develop a fabricable prosthetic liner that could be fabricable, intuitive, and a cost-effective means of providing advanced prosthetics in developing settings. An affordable ethyl-vinyl-acetate roll-on (AERO) liner for permitting a total surface bearing suction socket design was created and provided to a single participant for in vivo outcome measurements. The liner was fabricated from locally produced low-density ethyl-vinyl-acetate (EVA) foam. A liner fabrication process was developed and described, and one participant was provided 3 mm and 6 mm AERO liner variants for outcome evaluations. Six-minute walk test, residual limb temperature, and socket comfort score (SCS) while in AERO liner were collected. Thirty-day step counts of AERO liner with prosthesis and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) liner with prosthesis were collected. The results of in vivo evaluations indicate increased speed, slightly higher residuum temperature, and increased comfort of the 6 mm AERO liner. Pedometer tallied step counts for the AERO liner and TPE liner prostheses were similar. The 6 mm AERO liner provided the best comfort and function of the two thicknesses in liners, and step count data indicated that the volume of patient activity was similar to when wearing the TPE liner prosthesis. Roll-on fabricable low-cost liners offer an affordable means of providing total surface bearing suction prostheses for resource limited environments (RLE). A prosthetist or technician can use the existing skills and lab to create liners.

Open Science

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Cribb ◽  
Tjempaka Sari
Keyword(s):  
Science Communication ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Science Writing ◽  
Communication Performance ◽  
The Public ◽  
Advanced Knowledge

Open Science is about how we address the profound challenges which now confront humanity: climate, the food crisis, environmental degradation, resource scarcity and disease; through science communication. These call for the sharing of scientific knowledge among billions of humans, on a scale never before attempted. Open Science offers practical ways to communicate science in a highly networked world where billions of people still have little or no access to advanced knowledge or technologies. The authors describe low-cost, effective means to transfer knowledge to target audiences in industry, government, the community and to the public at large. The book features sections on good science writing, practical advice on how to develop communication and media strategies, ways to measure communication performance, how to handle institutional 'crises', how to deal with politicians and much more.

ASSESSMENT OF THE PLATELET COUNT IN THE PREGNANT WOMEN IN IGIMS, PATNA, BIHAR

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanwi Singh ◽  
Anshuman Sinha
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Count ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Screening Test ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Platelet Indices ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Low Platelet Count ◽  
Severity Of The Disease

The major risk associated with low platelet count in pregnancy is the increased risk of bleeding during the childbirth or post that. There is an increased blood supply to the uterus during pregnancy and the surgical procedure requires cutting of major blood vessels. Women with thrombocytopenia are at increased risk of losing excessive blood. The risk is more in case of caesarean delivery as compared to vaginal delivery. Hence based on above findings the present study was planned for Assessment of the Platelet Count in the Pregnant Women in IGIMS, Patna, Bihar. The present study was planned in Department of Pathology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science, Patna, Bihar, India. The present study was planned from duration of January 2019 to June 2019. In the present study 200 pregnant females samples received for the platelet estimation were enrolled in the present study. Clinically platelet indices can be a useful screening test for early identification of preeclampsia and eclampsia. Also platelet indices can assess the prognosis of this disease in pregnant women and can be used as an effective prognostic marker because it correlates with severity of the disease. Platelet count is a simple, low cost, and rapid routine screening test. Hence the data generated from the present study concludes that platelet count can be used as a simple and cost effective tool to monitor the progression of preeclampsia, thereby preventing complications to develop during the gestational period. Keywords: Platelet Count, Pregnant Women, IGIMS, Patna, Bihar, etc.

Parallel Computing for Tire Simulations

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Surendranath ◽  
M. Dunbar
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
Rolling Contact ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Parallel Solvers ◽  
Design Changes ◽  
Highly Nonlinear

Abstract Over the last few decades, finite element analysis has become an integral part of the overall tire design process. Engineers need to perform a number of different simulations to evaluate new designs and study the effect of proposed design changes. However, tires pose formidable simulation challenges due to the presence of highly nonlinear rubber compounds, embedded reinforcements, complex tread geometries, rolling contact, and large deformations. Accurate simulation requires careful consideration of these factors, resulting in the extensive turnaround time, often times prolonging the design cycle. Therefore, it is extremely critical to explore means to reduce the turnaround time while producing reliable results. Compute clusters have recently become a cost effective means to perform high performance computing (HPC). Distributed memory parallel solvers designed to take advantage of compute clusters have become increasingly popular. In this paper, we examine the use of HPC for various tire simulations and demonstrate how it can significantly reduce simulation turnaround time. Abaqus/Standard is used for routine tire simulations like footprint and steady state rolling. Abaqus/Explicit is used for transient rolling and hydroplaning simulations. The run times and scaling data corresponding to models of various sizes and complexity are presented.

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