Abstract: Current technological advances pale in comparison to the changes in social behaviors and 'sense of place' that is being empowered since the Internet made it on the scene. Today-s students view the Internet as both a source of entertainment and an educational tool. The development of virtual environments is a conceptual framework that needs to be addressed by educators and it is important that they become familiar with who these virtual learners are and how they are motivated to learn. Massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs), if well designed, could become the vehicle of choice to deliver learning content. We suggest that these games, in order to accomplish these goals, must begin with well-established instructional design principles that are co-aligned with established principles of video game design. And have the opportunity to provide an instructional model of significant prescriptive power. The authors believe that game designers need to take advantage of the natural motivation player-learners have for playing games by developing them in such a way so as to promote, intrinsic motivation, content learning, transfer of knowledge, and naturalization.
Abstract: This paper presents implementation of attitude controller for a small UAV using field programmable gate array (FPGA). Due to the small size constrain a miniature more compact and computationally extensive; autopilot platform is needed for such systems. More over UAV autopilot has to deal with extremely adverse situations in the shortest possible time, while accomplishing its mission. FPGAs in the recent past have rendered themselves as fast, parallel, real time, processing devices in a compact size. This work utilizes this fact and implements different attitude controllers for a small UAV in FPGA, using its parallel processing capabilities. Attitude controller is designed in MATLAB/Simulink environment. The discrete version of this controller is implemented using pipelining followed by retiming, to reduce the critical path and thereby clock period of the controller datapath. Pipelined, retimed, parallel PID controller implementation is done using rapidprototyping and testing efficient development tool of “system generator", which has been developed by Xilinx for FPGA implementation. The improved timing performance enables the controller to react abruptly to any changes made to the attitudes of UAV.
Abstract: The utilisation of Industrial Building System (IBS) in construction industry will lead to a safe site condition since minimum numbers of workers are required to be on-site, timely material delivery, systematic component storage, reduction of construction material and waste. These matters are being promoted in the Construction Industry Master Plan (CIMP 2006-2015). However, the enabling factors of IBS that will foster a safer working environment are indefinite; on that basis a research has been conducted. The purpose of this paper is to discuss and identify the relevant factors towards safety improvement for IBS. A quantitative research by way of questionnaire surveys have been conducted to 314 construction companies. The target group was Grade 5 to Grade 7 contractors registered with Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) which specialise in IBS. The findings disclosed seven factors linked to the safety improvement of IBS construction site in Malaysia. The factors were historical, economic, psychological, technical, procedural, organisational and the environmental factors. From the findings, a psychological factor ranked as the highest and most crucial factor contributing to safer IBS construction site. The psychological factor included the self-awareness and influences from workmates behaviour. Followed by organisational factors, where project management style will encourage the safety efforts. From the procedural factors, it was also found that training was one of the significant factors to improve safety culture of IBS construction site. Another important finding that formed as a part of the environmental factor was storage of IBS components, in which proper planning of the layout would able to contribute to a safer site condition. To conclude, in order to improve safety of IBS construction site, a welltrained and skilled workers are required for IBS projects, thus proper training is permissible and should be emphasised.
Abstract: Reliable secure multicast communication in mobile
adhoc networks is challenging due to its inherent characteristics of
infrastructure-less architecture with lack of central authority, high
packet loss rates and limited resources such as bandwidth, time and
power. Many emerging commercial and military applications require
secure multicast communication in adhoc environments. Hence key
management is the fundamental challenge in achieving reliable
secure communication using multicast key distribution for mobile
adhoc networks. Thus in designing a reliable multicast key
distribution scheme, reliability and congestion control over
throughput are essential components. This paper proposes and
evaluates the performance of an enhanced optimized multicast cluster
tree algorithm with destination sequenced distance vector routing
protocol to provide reliable multicast key distribution. Simulation
results in NS2 accurately predict the performance of proposed
scheme in terms of key delivery ratio and packet loss rate under
varying network conditions. This proposed scheme achieves
reliability, while exhibiting low packet loss rate with high key
delivery ratio compared with the existing scheme.
Abstract: Isobaric and cooling zone of iron ore reactor have been
simulated. In this paper, heat and mass transfer equation are
formulated to perform the temperature and concentration of gas and
solid phase respectively. Temperature profile for isobaric zone is
simulated on the range temperature of 873-1163K while cooling zone
is simulated on the range temperature of 733-1139K. The simulation
results have a good agreement with the plant data. Total carbon
formation in the isobaric zone is only 30% of total carbon contained in
the sponge iron product. The formation of Fe3C in isobaric zone
reduces metallization degree up to 0.58% whereas reduction of
metallization degree in cooling zone up to 1.139%. The decreasing of
sponge iron temperature in the isobaric and cooling zone is around 300
K and 600 K respectively.
Abstract: The construction of a civil structure inside a urban
area inevitably modifies the outdoor microclimate at the building
site. Wind speed, wind direction, air pollution, driving rain, radiation
and daylight are some of the main physical aspects that are subjected
to the major changes. The quantitative amount of these modifications
depends on the shape, size and orientation of the building and on its
interaction with the surrounding environment.The flow field over a
flat roof model building has been numerically investigated in order to
determine two-dimensional CFD guidelines for the calculation of the
turbulent flow over a structure immersed in an atmospheric boundary
layer. To this purpose, a complete validation campaign has been
performed through a systematic comparison of numerical simulations
with wind tunnel experimental data.Several turbulence models and
spatial node distributions have been tested for five different vertical
positions, respectively from the upstream leading edge to the
downstream bottom edge of the analyzed model. Flow field
characteristics in the neighborhood of the building model have been
numerically investigated, allowing a quantification of the capabilities
of the CFD code to predict the flow separation and the extension of
the recirculation regions.The proposed calculations have allowed the
development of a preliminary procedure to be used as a guidance in
selecting the appropriate grid configuration and corresponding
turbulence model for the prediction of the flow field over a twodimensional
roof architecture dominated by flow separation.
Abstract: Ground-source heat pumps achieve higher efficiencies
than conventional air-source heat pumps because they exchange heat
with the ground that is cooler in summer and hotter in winter than the
air environment. Earth heat exchangers are essential parts of the
ground-source heat pumps and the accurate prediction of their
performance is of fundamental importance. This paper presents the
development and validation of a numerical model through an
incompressible fluid flow, for the simulation of energy and
temperature changes in and around a U-tube borehole heat
exchanger. The FlexPDE software is used to solve the resulting
simultaneous equations that model the heat exchanger. The validated
model (through a comparison with experimental data) is then used to
extract conclusions on how various parameters like the U-tube
diameter, the variation of the ground thermal conductivity and
specific heat and the borehole filling material affect the temperature
of the fluid.
Abstract: The cables in a nuclear power plant are designed to be
used for about 40 years in safe operation environment. However, the
heat and radiation in the nuclear power plant causes the rapid
performance deterioration of cables in nuclear vessels and heat
exchangers, which requires cable lifetime estimation. The most
accurate method of estimating the cable lifetime is to evaluate the
cables in a laboratory. However, removing cables while the plant is
operating is not allowed because of its safety and cost. In this paper, a
robot system to estimate the cable lifetime in nuclear power plants is
developed and tested. The developed robot system can calculate a
modulus value to estimate the cable lifetime even when the nuclear
power plant is in operation.
Abstract: Currently, there are many local area industrial networks
that can give guaranteed bandwidth to synchronous traffic, particularly
providing CBR channels (Constant Bit Rate), which allow
improved bandwidth management. Some of such networks operate
over Ethernet, delivering channels with enough capacity, specially
with compressors, to integrate multimedia traffic in industrial monitoring
and image processing applications with many sources. In
these industrial environments where a low latency is an essential
requirement, JPEG is an adequate compressing technique but it
generates VBR traffic (Variable Bit Rate). Transmitting VBR traffic
in CBR channels is inefficient and current solutions to this problem
significantly increase the latency or further degrade the quality. In
this paper an R(q) model is used which allows on-line calculation of
the JPEG quantification factor. We obtained increased quality, a lower
requirement for the CBR channel with reduced number of discarded
frames along with better use of the channel bandwidth.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose effective system for digital music retrieval. We divided proposed system into Client and Server. Client part consists of pre-processing and Content-based feature extraction stages. In pre-processing stage, we minimized Time code Gap that is occurred among same music contents. As content-based feature, first-order differentiated MFCC were used. These presented approximately envelop of music feature sequences. Server part included Music Server and Music Matching stage. Extracted features from 1,000 digital music files were stored in Music Server. In Music Matching stage, we found retrieval result through similarity measure by DTW. In experiment, we used 450 queries. These were made by mixing different compression standards and sound qualities from 50 digital music files. Retrieval accurate indicated 97% and retrieval time was average 15ms in every single query. Out experiment proved that proposed system is effective in retrieve digital music and robust at various user environments of web.
Abstract: Safety, river environment, and sediment utilization are the elements of the target of sediment management. As a change in an element by sediment management, may affect the other two elements, and the priority among three elements depends on stakeholders. It is necessary to develop a method to evaluate the effect of sediment management on each element and an integrated evaluation method for socio-economic effect. In this study, taking Mount Merapi basin as an investigation field, the method for an active volcanic basin was developed. An integrated evaluation method for sediment management was discussed from a socio-economic point on safety, environment, and sediment utilization and a case study of sediment management was evaluated by means of this method. To evaluate the effect of sediment management, some parameters on safety, utilization, and environment have been introduced. From a utilization point of view, job opportunity, additional income of local people, and tax income to local government were used to evaluate the effectiveness of sediment management. The risk degree of river infrastructure was used to describe the effect of sediment management on a safety aspect. To evaluate the effects of sediment management on environment, the mean diameter of grain size distribution of riverbed surface was used. On the coordinate system designating these elements, the direction of change in basin condition by sediment management can be predicted, so that the most preferable sediment management can be decided. The results indicate that the cases of sediment management tend to give the negative impacts on sediment utilization. However, these sediment managements will give positive impacts on safety and environment condition. Evaluation result from a social-economic point of view shows that the case study of sediment management reduces job opportunity and additional income for inhabitants as well as tax income for government. Therefore, it is necessary to make another policy for creating job opportunity for inhabitants to support these sediment managements.
Abstract: This paper considers a scheduling problem in flexible
flow shops environment with the aim of minimizing two important
criteria including makespan and cumulative tardiness of jobs. Since
the proposed problem is known as an Np-hard problem in literature,
we have to develop a meta-heuristic to solve it. We considered
general structure of Genetic Algorithm (GA) and developed a new
version of that based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Two
objective functions assumed as two different inputs for each Decision
Making Unit (DMU). In this paper we focused on efficiency score of
DMUs and efficient frontier concept in DEA technique. After
introducing the method we defined two different scenarios with
considering two types of mutation operator. Also we provided an
experimental design with some computational results to show the
performance of algorithm. The results show that the algorithm
implements in a reasonable time.
Abstract: This paper demonstrates a model of an e-Learning
system based on nowadays learning theory and distant education
practice. The relationships in the model are designed to be simple
and functional and do not necessarily represent any particular e-
Learning environments. It is meant to be a generic e-Learning
system model with implications for any distant education course
instructional design. It allows online instructors to move away from
the discrepancy between the courses and body of knowledge. The
interrelationships of four primary sectors that are at the e-Learning
system are presented in this paper. This integrated model includes
[1] pedagogy, [2] technology, [3] teaching, and [4] learning. There
are interactions within each of these sectors depicted by system loop
map.
Abstract: Technology assessment is a vital part of decision process in manufacturing, particularly for decisions on selection of new sustainable manufacturing processes. To assess these processes, a matrix approach is introduced and sustainability assessment models are developed. Case studies show that the matrix-based approach provides a flexible and practical way for sustainability evaluation of new manufacturing technologies such as those used in surface coating. The technology assessment of coating processes reveals that compared with powder coating, the sol-gel coating can deliver better technical, economical and environmental sustainability with respect to the selected sustainability evaluation criteria for a decorative coating application of car wheels.
Abstract: In recent years, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
is followed with interest by many researches, especially for the
purpose of indoor positioning as the innate properties of RFID are
profitable for achieving it. A lot of algorithms or schemes are proposed
to be used in the RFID-based positioning system, but most of them are
lack of environmental consideration and it induces inaccuracy of
application. In this research, a lot of algorithms and schemes of RFID
indoor positioning are discussed to see whether effective or not on
application, and some rules are summarized for achieving accurate
positioning. On the other hand, a new term “Noise Factor" is involved
to describe the signal loss between the target and the obstacle. As a
result, experimental data can be obtained but not only simulation; and
the performance of the positioning system can be expressed
substantially.
Abstract: Road traffic accidents are a major cause of death worldwide. In an attempt to reduce accidents, some research efforts have focused on creating Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) able to detect vehicle, driver and environmental conditions and to use this information to identify cues for potential accidents. This paper presents continued work on a novel Non-intrusive Intelligent Driver Assistance and Safety System (Ni-DASS) for assessing driver point of regard within vehicles. It uses an on-board CCD camera to observe the driver-s face. A template matching approach is used to compare the driver-s eye-gaze pattern with a set of eye-gesture templates of the driver looking at different focal points within the vehicle. The windscreen is divided into cells and comparison of the driver-s eye-gaze pattern with templates of a driver-s eyes looking at each cell is used to determine the driver-s point of regard on the windscreen. Results indicate that the proposed technique could be useful in situations where low resolution estimates of driver point of regard are adequate. For instance, To allow ADAS systems to alert the driver if he/she has positively failed to observe a hazard.
Abstract: Nowadays companies strive to survive in a
competitive global environment. To speed up product
development/modifications, it is suggested to adopt a collaborative
product development approach. However, despite the advantages of
new IT improvements still many CAx systems work separately and
locally. Collaborative design and manufacture requires a product
information model that supports related CAx product data models. To
solve this problem many solutions are proposed, which the most
successful one is adopting the STEP standard as a product data model
to develop a collaborative CAx platform. However, the improvement
of the STEP-s Application Protocols (APs) over the time, huge
number of STEP AP-s and cc-s, the high costs of implementation,
costly process for conversion of older CAx software files to the STEP
neutral file format; and lack of STEP knowledge, that usually slows
down the implementation of the STEP standard in collaborative data
exchange, management and integration should be considered. In this
paper the requirements for a successful collaborative CAx system is
discussed. The STEP standard capability for product data integration
and its shortcomings as well as the dominant platforms for supporting
CAx collaboration management and product data integration are
reviewed. Finally a platform named LAYMOD to fulfil the
requirements of CAx collaborative environment and integrating the
product data is proposed. The platform is a layered platform to enable
global collaboration among different CAx software
packages/developers. It also adopts the STEP modular architecture
and the XML data structures to enable collaboration between CAx
software packages as well as overcoming the STEP standard
limitations. The architecture and procedures of LAYMOD platform
to manage collaboration and avoid contradicts in product data
integration are introduced.
Abstract: Visual inputs are one of the key sources from which
humans perceive the environment and 'understand' what is
happening. Artificial systems perceive the visual inputs as digital
images. The images need to be processed and analysed. Within the
human brain, processing of visual inputs and subsequent
development of perception is one of its major functionalities. In this
paper we present part of our research project, which aims at the
development of an artificial model for visual perception (or
'understanding') based on the human perceptive and cognitive
systems. We propose a new model for perception from visual inputs
and a way of understaning or interpreting images using the model.
We demonstrate the implementation and use of the model with a real
image data set.
Abstract: Swedish truck industry is investigating the possibility
for implementing the use of Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI) in their
heavy duty diesel engines. Compared to the alloyed gray iron used
today, CGI has superior mechanical properties but not as good
machinability. Another issue that needs to be addressed when
implementing CGI is the inhomogeneous microstructure when the
cast component has different section thicknesses, as in cylinder
blocks. Thinner sections results in finer pearlite, in the material, with
higher strength. Therefore an investigation on its influence on
machinability was needed. This paper focuses on the effect that
interlamellar distance in pearlite has on CGI machinability and
material physical properties. The effect of pearlite content and
nodularity is also examined. The results showed that interlamellar
distance in pearlite did not have as large effect on the material
physical properties or machinability as pearlite content. The paper
also shows the difficulties of obtaining a homogeneous
microstructure in inhomogeneous workpieces.
Abstract: The pulp and paper mill effluent is one of the high
polluting effluent amongst the effluents obtained from polluting
industries. All the available methods for treatment of pulp and paper
mill effluent have certain drawbacks. The coagulation is one of the
cheapest process for treatment of various organic effluents. Thus, the
removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and colour of paper mill
effluent is studied using coagulation process. The batch coagulation
process was performed using various coagulants like: aluminium
chloride, poly aluminium chloride and copper sulphate. The initial
pH of the effluent (Coagulation pH) has tremendous effect on COD
and colour removal. Poly aluminium chloride (PAC) as coagulant
reduced COD to 84 % and 92 % of colour was removed at an
optimum pH 5 and coagulant dose of 8 ml l-1. With aluminium
chloride at an optimum pH = 4 and coagulant dose of 5 g l-1, 74 %
COD and 86 % colour removal were observed. The results using
copper sulphate as coagulant (a less commercial coagulant) were
encouraging. At an optimum pH 6 and mass loading of 5 g l-1, 76 %
COD reduction and 78 % colour reduction were obtained. It was also
observed that after addition of coagulant, the pH of the effluent
decreases. The decrease in pH was highest for AlCl3, which was
followed by PAC and CuSO4. Significant amount of COD reductions
was obtained by coagulation process. Since the coagulation process
is the first stage for treatment of effluent and some of the coagulant
cations usually remain in the treated effluents. Thus, cation like
copper may be one of the good catalyst for second stage of treatment
process like wet oxidation. The copper has been found to be good
oxidation catalyst then iron and aluminum.