Towards Explainable Automotive Intrusion Detection: A Chunk-based Framework forCAN Traffic

In this work, we propose an explainable intrusion detection framework for Controller Area Network bus traffic using the ROAD dataset. By segmenting raw traffic into fixed-size chunks, we extract features that capture timing behavior, entropy, payload statistics, and CAN ID survival rates. We evaluate three classifiers, Decision Tree, Random Forest (with TreeSHAP), and Feedforward Neural Network (with KernelSHAP). The framework extracts multi-level features from CAN traffic, revealing through explainability that tree models detect protocol anomalies while neural networks capture signal-level distortions, underscoring the role of model choice in explainable IDS design.This work is supported by the EU project Citcom.AI,Vinnova INTERSTICE project (reference number: 2024-00661), and VINNOVA FFI Project MAGIC (referencenumber: 2024-03687). This work is also partiallysupported by KKS Research Profile NIIT, and DataCommunication Security Laboratory at Ewha WomansUniversity, South Korea.</p

Development of a Mesoscopic Egress Model to Estimate the Evacuation on Board Ro–Ro Ships

This paper presents a new evacuation model for fast and affordable simulations of evacuation based on Togawa’s theory for multi-compartment configurations. The aim is to track the evacuee’s path and to estimate the congestion (or the queues) behind each doorway at each time step to model the evacuation process. In this approach, only two parameters drive the formation of congestion, namely the maximum out-coming people flux and the width of the doorway. For a real application, such as evacuation in a building or a boat, a geometrical configuration is considered by a “tree structure” where each doorway is connected to the others up to the main exit. The originality of this paper is in proposing a theoretical expression for the people flux feeding the congestion for people which are located just behind a given doorway. Moreover, this contribution proposes various new experimental tests to qualify and to validate the proposed model. All experimental data (146 evacuation exercises) are available in an open access database for further uses. In this communication, a sensitivity analysis is proposed on a single deck evacuation of the RMS Titanic (the best documented ship for its geometry) with 1126 people. This analysis demonstrates that, between the free walk speed and the maximum out-coming people flux per length of doorway, this latter variable is the most influential parameter of the present model, accounting for 22% of variations in evacuation time. The model has been applied to estimate evacuation times for generic Ro–Ro ships, to test some existing alternatives to abandon a ship and to propose some new perspectives to optimize the evacuation. . This work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program through grant agreement No. 814975 as part of the international research project of LASH FIRE. </p

Degradation of polyester coil-coated materials by accelerated weathering investigated by FTIR-ATR chemical imaging and impedance analysis

In the present study, ex situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) chemical imaging and in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were combined to investigate the ageing process of a polyester/melamine coil-coated steel. The samples were first subjected to a QUV accelerated weathering test for 250 h up to 2000 h, followed by immersion in a 0.5 M NaCl solution to assess water uptake and polymer matrix plasticization. FTIR analyses revealed chemical degradation, including chain scission and the formation of polar groups, between 500 h and 2000 h of QUV exposure. Degradation effects were observed throughout the whole topcoat, with more significant degradation occurring near the surface. EIS measurements indicated greater water uptake with increasing QUV exposure, highlighting two regions of water sorption: an initial rapid Fickian diffusion region and a slower non-Fickian region. The time constant (τ) analysis, which was extracted from the EIS data and related to the dielectric manifestation of the glass transition, confirmed polymer matrix plasticization due to water uptake. Despite UV-induced degradation, the polymer maintained effective protective properties, as evidenced by the high low-frequency impedance unaffected by UV exposure or immersion duration (1 week). This methodology successfully identified ageing markers, providing a framework for studying UV degradation mechanisms, water uptake, and polymer mobility in anticorrosion coatings. This work has been partially funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) grant number FID18-0034 and the Member Research Consortium on Coil Coated Materials. </p

Lösningar för klimatsmarta evenemang

Lösningar för klimatsmarta evenemang är ett projekt som genom ett flertal metoder har identifierat, samlat, strukturerat och testat olika åtgärder för evenemangsarrangörer att minska utsläppen från sina evenemang. Projektets övergripande syfte var undersöka hur man kan minska växthusgasutsläpp från evenemang och målet var att uppnå detta genom att ta fram, testa och utvärdera tjänster och lösningar som kan användas av evenemangsarrangörer för att planera och genomföra evenemang med lägre klimatpåverkan. Lösningar skulle samlas i ett nytt planeringsverktyg för evenemangsarrangörer. I detta arbete används begreppet evenemang i vid bemärkelse som ett samlingsbegrepp för olika typer av event, så som konserter, idrottsevenemang, festivaler men också möten, kongresser och mässor. Projektet har arbetat med utsläpp av växthusgaser kopplat till evenemang i fem kategorier; persontransporter, godstransporter, boende/övernattning, mat och dryck samt energi och resurser. Störst fokus har legat på transportrelaterade utsläpp då besökares resor till evenemang ofta står för det största andelen av de totala klimatutsläppen. Projektet har föreslagit vidare utveckling och demonstration av ett antal transportrelaterade lösningar som kan förenkla för evenemangsarrangörer att påverka besökares resval, men har också arbetat med lösningar inom andra kategorier så som mat och dryck, kläder och merchandise, samt engångsprodukter. En betydande del av projektet har fokuserat på att utveckla ett digitalt verktyg för evenemangsarrangörer som skall hjälpa dem att planera och följa upp sina evenemang avseende totala utsläpp av växthusgaser. Det digitala verktyget finns i en version 1.0 som är tillgänglig för en mindre grupp arrangörer, men det finns också en ansökan om ett fortsättningsprojekt syftar till att färdigställa och implementera verktyget så att det går att sprida till evenemangsarrangörer i Sverige. Verktyget består idag av en beräkningsdel, en checklistedel, ett lösningsbibliotek och en del där arrangören kan avge klimatlöften. Projektet har genomfört innovationslabb och expertledda workshops inom de fem utsläppkategorierna persontransporter, godstransporter, boende/övernattning, mat och dryck samt energi och resursanvändning för att identifiera klimatsmarta lösningar som redan används eller som kan användas av evenemangsbranschen för att minska utsläpp. En del av dessa lösningar har också testats vid evenemang och utvärderats under projektets gång. Arbetet med testerna visar att besökare till evenemang önskar paketerade erbjudanden och rabatter som tillsammans utgör ett attraktivt alternativ till att åka bil. Paketerade erbjudanden kan innehålla biljettköp kombinerade med nationella och regionala tåg- och bussresor, rabatterade kollektivtrafikbiljetter, hotellerbjudanden och biljetter till övriga turistmål. Arbetet med testerna visar också att cirkulära lösningar har en stor potential att minska utsläppen av växthusgaser. Dock är det viktigt att utforma sådana lösningar med mycket eftertanke för hur tjänsten upplevs och ska användas av besökarna. Logistik och övriga praktiska element kan dessutom ha en stor påverkan på utsläpp. Genomförda tester under projektets gång visar också att kommunikation och marknadsföring av klimatsmarta lösningar kan vara en avgörande faktor. Återigen är det viktigt att anpassa lösningen till den tänkta målgruppen inklusive när och hur de bör informeras. Flera tester visar exempelvis att besökare planerar sina resor till evenemang i samband med biljettköpet och därför är det viktigt att sprida information om erbjudanden och eventuella paketerade lösningar redan vid köptillfället. I övrigt har projektet indikerat att miljöinformation som visar på möjlighet att göra val som minskar utsläppen av växthusgaser inte motiverar besökarna like mycket som exempelvis specialerbjudanden och rabatter. För mat och dryck visar ett av projektets sista tester att nudging (puffning) i form av menyplacering, lekfullhet och bibehållen valfrihet kunde öka försäljningen av veganska alternativ signifikant. Utformning av nudging-insatserna spelade dock stor roll för utfallet. Under projektet har även två innovationslabb arrangerats, ett med fokus på persontransporter och ett där problemställningar kopplade till godstransporter behandlades. Bägge tillfällena genererade goda lösningsförslag. Godstransportlabbets initiala frågeställningar var mer preciserade och här resulterade också lösningsförslagen i vidare konceptutveckling av en digital plattform för hantering av godstransporter och kommunikation med leverantörer och chaufförer

Design rules for battery fire safety in dwellings

The report presents a review of current literature, testing and modelling in support of guidelines how to address current risks with batteries from e-bikes and e-scooters. It has been shown that a fire initiated in a battery module can have an exceedingly fast fire growth and may pose new risks that cannot be accommodated within the current design methodology. The data from measurements indicated that the fire growth in terms of heat release rates may be faster than the currently used models. The tests present typical heat release rates from open fire tests in combination with release of toxic and flammable gases from cells and modules. Using accelerating rate calorimetry, conditions when single cells enter a thermal runaway could be determined. Utilizing the information from the testing, simulations of a module were performed to investigate the effect of mass ejection from cells during the thermal runaway, complementing the knowledge how the thermal propagation was disrupted in the module. The information gathered from literature, testing and modelling was used to propose a design fire. Although, the fully developed fire is no more severe than a usual fire the very fast fire growth rate may cause deflagration type events that compromises the fire resistance properties. Note that while the proposals are general, they mainly influence possible future dwellings thus dissemination of current risks to the public is necessary. Some of the recommendations can be summarized as follows; Being mindful of batteries and where to charge battery modules; Keep a watch on the health of your batteries, which includes but are not limited to observing if they have been damaged in any way or become unusually hot during operation and perhaps most importantly do not charge batteries where escape routes can be compromised.   The Authors are grateful for the financial support from Swedish Fire Research Board (BRANDFORSK) under contract 324-004 “Design rules for battery fire safety in dwellings”.324-004 “Design rules for battery fire safety in dwellings

Nuvarande kunskapsläge kring PFAS-kontaminerad brandutrustning

Current state of knowledge regarding PFAS-contaminated fire-fighting equipment   Since the discovery of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), these have been a common additive in fire-fighting foam concentrates. This is because PFAS add properties that improve extinguishing performance, particularly against pool fires. PFAS constitute a group of substances, several of which have been shown to have negative health effects; furthermore, PFAS do not break down in nature (or do so only very slowly or to a limited extent). In addition to the negative health effects, increasingly strict legal requirements are gradually forcing a transition to PFAS-free fire-fighting foam. Today, there are PFAS-free fire-fighting foams developed for pool fires with sufficiently good performance, and there is normally no reason not to switch to PFAS-free foams. Several studies have highlighted challenges with this transition – despite cleaning equipment, PFAS remain on the surfaces of fire-fighting equipment materials, and residual PFAS will slowly leach over time and contaminate the product that is intended to be PFAS-free (so-called PFAS rebound). This report provides a summary of the legal requirements as well as an overview of the tests that have been conducted to clean equipment and limit PFAS rebound. Factors that appear to improve the cleaning effect include elevated temperature, scrubbing/high-pressure washing, and the addition of solvents (e.g., methanol, ethanol, and butyl carbitol). pH is also noted to influence cleaning, and it may be necessary to combine washes with both high and low pH. Furthermore, the report concludes that cleaning is needed to meet the levels proposed in the requirements, and that complete cleaning is not considered possible based on current knowledge.Arbetet har finansierats av Myndigheten för Samhällsskydd och Beredskap (MSB)</p

Från parcell till kommersiell – samarbete för uppskalning av svenska proteingrödor

From plot to commercial - collaboration for an upscaling of Swedish protein crops To address the challenges of climate change and global population growth, we are exploring sustainable alternatives to current protein production systems. One such alternative is to increase the production of alternative protein crops such as lentils, sweet lupins, and chickpeas. Currently, the cultivation of these crops for food purposes is mostly small-scale in Sweden, and there is a need to expand both cultivation and processing at a larger scale. This project examined the measures required to establish full-scale production of alternative protein crops in Sweden, with the goal of meeting the growing demand for Swedish plant-based proteins. The project delivered recommendations for cultivation and drying to support the scaling up of lentils, sweet lupins, and chickpeas. A group of researchers, farmers, advisors, and food producers collaborated to develop several parts of the value chain

Computational Analysis of Flow Separation in Non-Transferred Plasma Torch : Causes, Impacts and Control Methods

In a non-transferred plasma torch, the working gas becomes ionized and forms plasma as it interacts with the electric arc at the cathode tip. However, in certain cathode shapes, particularly flat ones, and under specific conditions, the gas flow can separate at the cathode tip, forming a vortex region. While this flow separation is influenced by geometric factors, it occurs in the critical zone where plasma is generated. Understanding the causes of this separation is essential, as it may significantly impact torch performance. If the separation proves detrimental, it is important to identify ways to mitigate it. This paper presents a computational analysis of a non-transferred plasma torch to investigate the physics behind flow separation. The results highlight the location and causes of the separation, as well as its potential advantages and disadvantages. Finally, the paper explores theoretical approaches to address flow separation in plasma torches, offering practical insights for enhancing their design and efficiency.  The funding is obtained by Swedish Energy Agency, Project grant no. 49609-1.</p