Briefing Materials for Technical Presentations, Volume B: The LACIE Symposium

Tables, charts, and LACIE segments are used to demonstrate the accuracy of estimated crop conditions and yield from 1974 to 1976, and to demonstrate the benefits of meteorological and LANDSAT data. Developments in data acquisition, sampling, and reduction are reviewed. The USDA application test system is highlighted with emphasis on user requirements, technology transfer, data base design, and cost data models for data base operation and management

Development of BIM-based Automated Methods for Building Management and Structural Safety Assessment

Despite the progress made in modern project management methods, there is still a lack of appropriate automated tools that support digital integration over the project life cycle. There is considerable demand for fully embracing the latest technological opportunities such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), Internet of Things (IoT), Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), and prefabrication to support that digital transformation in construction. The aim of this study is to develop a set of automated management solutions and related tools to address the issues highlighted above. The thesis is presented as a collection of manuscripts of five peer-reviewed journal articles authored based on the present research. The first development is of a BIM-based method for 3D model visualization of buildings and their non-structural elements and their corresponding seismic risk levels and locations. It supports automated assessment of seismic risk of these elements. The second focuses on the development of a novel data-driven SHM technique to monitor the structural behavior of individual building modules to detect possible damages during their transportation. It consists of two main components, a sensor-based data acquisition (DAQ) and storage module, and an automated data analysis module that uses unsupervised machine learning techniques to identify damages during transportation using onboard captured acceleration data. It can be used to ascertain the safety of delivered modules before their assembly on site. The third accounts for the development of an automated BIM-based framework to facilitate effective data management and representation of sensory components of the SHM tool used in buildings. It allows for visualization of damages in building components based on the interpretation of the captured sensor data. It is designed to facilitate effective visualization capabilities for a rapid and efficient structural condition assessment. The fourth development is designed to dynamically update the thermal comfort data in monitored buildings by integrating their BIM models with captured sensor data. The default range utilized in this development is based on the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard. It is expected to provide a robust and practical tool for data collection, analysis, and visualization to facilitate intelligent monitoring of the thermal condition in buildings and help decision-makers take needed timely data-driven decisions. The fifth and last development is designed to alert IoT companies of malfunctioning of deployed sensors utilizing a BIM platform and a cloud database to process and transfer related actionable information

Nature-based solutions efficiency evaluation against natural hazards: modelling methods, advantages and limitations

Nature-based solutions (NBS) for hydro-meteorological risks (HMRs) reduction and management are becoming increasingly popular, but challenges such as the lack of well-recognised standard methodologies to evaluate their performance and upscale their implementation remain. We systematically evaluate the current state-of-the art on the models and tools that are utilised for the optimum allocation, design and efficiency evaluation of NBS for five HMRs (flooding, droughts, heatwaves, landslides, and storm surges and coastal erosion). We found that methods to assess the complex issue of NBS efficiency and cost-benefits analysis are still in the development stage and they have only been implemented through the methodologies developed for other purposes such as fluid dynamics models in micro and catchment scale contexts. Of the reviewed numerical models and tools MIKE-SHE, SWMM (for floods), ParFlow-TREES, ACRU, SIMGRO (for droughts), WRF, ENVI-met (for heatwaves), FUNWAVE-TVD, BROOK90 (for landslides), TELEMAC and ADCIRC (for storm surges) are more flexible to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of specific NBS such as wetlands, ponds, trees, parks, grass, green roof/walls, tree roots, vegetations, coral reefs, mangroves, sea grasses, oyster reefs, sea salt marshes, sandy beaches and dunes. We conclude that the models and tools that are capable of assessing the multiple benefits, particularly the performance and cost-effectiveness of NBS for HMR reduction and management are not readily available. Thus, our synthesis of modelling methods can facilitate their selection that can maximise opportunities and refute the current political hesitation of NBS deployment compared with grey solutions for HMR management but also for the provision of a wide range of social and economic co-benefits. However, there is still a need for bespoke modelling tools that can holistically assess the various components of NBS from an HMR reduction and management perspective. Such tools can facilitate impact assessment modelling under different NBS scenarios to build a solid evidence base for upscaling and replicating the implementation of NBS

Aerospace medicine and biology: A continuing bibliography with indexes, supplement 129, June 1974

This special bibliography lists 280 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in May 1974

Nature-based solutions efficiency evaluation against natural hazards: Modelling methods, advantages and limitations

Nature-based solutions (NBS) for hydro-meteorological risks (HMRs) reduction and management are becoming increasingly popular, but challenges such as the lack of well-recognised standard methodologies to evaluate their performance and upscale their implementation remain. We systematically evaluate the current state-of-the art on the models and tools that are utilised for the optimum allocation, design and efficiency evaluation of NBS for five HMRs (flooding, droughts, heatwaves, landslides, and storm surges and coastal erosion). We found that methods to assess the complex issue of NBS efficiency and cost-benefits analysis are still in the development stage and they have only been implemented through the methodologies developed for other purposes such as fluid dynamics models in micro and catchment scale contexts. Of the reviewed numerical models and tools MIKE-SHE, SWMM (for floods), ParFlow-TREES, ACRU, SIMGRO (for droughts), WRF, ENVI-met (for heatwaves), FUNWAVE-TVD, BROOK90 (for landslides), TELEMAC and ADCIRC (for storm surges) are more flexible to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of specific NBS such as wetlands, ponds, trees, parks, grass, green roof/walls, tree roots, vegetations, coral reefs, mangroves, sea grasses, oyster reefs, sea salt marshes, sandy beaches and dunes. We conclude that the models and tools that are capable of assessing the multiple benefits, particularly the performance and cost-effectiveness of NBS for HMR reduction and management are not readily available. Thus, our synthesis of modelling methods can facilitate their selection that can maximise opportunities and refute the current political hesitation of NBS deployment compared with grey solutions for HMR management but also for the provision of a wide range of social and economic co-benefits. However, there is still a need for bespoke modelling tools that can holistically assess the various components of NBS from an HMR reduction and management perspective. Such tools can facilitate impact assessment modelling under different NBS scenarios to build a solid evidence base for upscaling and replicating the implementation of NBS

The Role of Green Roofs and Living Walls as WSUD Approaches in a Dry Climate

The addition of green infrastructure, including green roofs and living walls, into buildings is part of a new approach to urban design aimed at resolving current problems associated with built environments. Green roofs and living walls are becoming an important component of water sensitive urban design systems, and their use around the world has increased in recent years. Green roofs can cover the impermeable roof areas that densely populate our urban areas, and through doing so, can provide many environmental, economic, and social benefits. In addition to roofs, there are a number of bare walls that have the potential to be transformed into vegetated, living walls. Living walls can potentially improve air quality, reduce pollution levels, reduce temperatures inside and outside of buildings, reduce building energy usage, and improve human health. Despite such benefits, both green roofs and living walls are relatively new technologies, and there are several research gaps and practical barriers to overcome before these systems can be applied more widely. Furthermore, specific design criteria need to be developed for a range of climatic conditions to develop resilient green infrastructure. Consequently, several field experiments comprising both intensive and extensive green roof test beds, as well as living walls, have been recently established. In these recent research studies, stormwater quality and quantity, hydrological behavior, plant performance, and thermal benefit have been investigated. The findings of these studies can be used to identify the key elements of resilient green roof and living wall systems

The Role of Green Roofs and Living Walls as WSUD Approaches in a Dry Climate

The addition of green infrastructure, including green roofs and living walls, into buildings is part of a new approach to urban design aimed at resolving current problems associated with built environments. Green roofs and living walls are becoming an important component of water sensitive urban design systems, and their use around the world has increased in recent years. Green roofs can cover the impermeable roof areas that densely populate our urban areas, and through doing so, can provide many environmental, economic, and social benefits. In addition to roofs, there are a number of bare walls that have the potential to be transformed into vegetated, living walls. Living walls can potentially improve air quality, reduce pollution levels, reduce temperatures inside and outside of buildings, reduce building energy usage, and improve human health. Despite such benefits, both green roofs and living walls are relatively new technologies, and there are several research gaps and practical barriers to overcome before these systems can be applied more widely. Furthermore, specific design criteria need to be developed for a range of climatic conditions to develop resilient green infrastructure. Consequently, several field experiments comprising both intensive and extensive green roof test beds, as well as living walls, have been recently established. In these recent research studies, stormwater quality and quantity, hydrological behavior, plant performance, and thermal benefit have been investigated. The findings of these studies can be used to identify the key elements of resilient green roof and living wall systems

Research and Technology annual report FY-1981

Space transportation systems are summarized: space shuttle enhancement, a space operations center, the space platform, and geostationary activites are discussed. Aeronautics and space technology are summarized: experiments, energy systems, propulsion technology, synthetic aperture radar, large space systems, and shuttle-launched vehicles are discussed. Space sciences are summarized: lunar, planetary, and life sciences are discussed. Space and terrestrial applications are summarized. The AgRISTARS program, forest and wildland resource, and Texas LANDSAT applications are discussed