23 research outputs found

    Input Variable Selection for Oil Palm Plantation Productivity Prediction Model

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    Purpose: This study aims to implement and improve a wrapper-type Input Variable Selection (IVS) to the prediction model of oil palm production utilizing oil palm expert knowledge criteria and distance-based data sensitivity criteria in order to measure cost-saving in laboratory leaf and soil sample testing.Methodology: The proposed approach consists of IVS process, searching the best prediction model based on the selected variables, and analyzing the cost-saving in laboratory leaf and soil sample testing.Findings/result: The proposed method managed to effectively choose 7 from 19 variables and achieve 81.47% saving from total laboratory sample testing cost.Value: This result has the potential to help small stakeholder oil palm planter to reduce the cost of laboratory testing without losing important information from their plantation

    Evaluating the human tactile response to haptic sensations on textiles

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    An agent-based approach to model farmers' land use cover change intentions

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    Land Use and Cover Change (LUCC) occurs as a consequence of both natural and human activities, causing impacts on biophysical and agricultural resources. In enlarged urban regions, the major changes are those that occur from agriculture to urban uses. Urban uses compete with rural ones due among others, to population growth and housing demand. This competition and the rapid nature of change can lead to fragmented and scattered land use development generating new challenges, for example, concerning food security, soil and biodiversity preservation, among others. Landowners play a key role in LUCC. In peri-urban contexts, three interrelated key actors are pre-eminent in LUCC complex process: 1) investors or developers, who are waiting to take advantage of urban development to obtain the highest profit margin. They rely on population growth, housing demand and spatial planning strategies; 2) farmers, who are affected by urban development and intend to capitalise on their investment, or farmers who own property for amenity and lifestyle values; 3) and at a broader scale, land use planners/ decision-makers. Farmers’ participation in the real estate market as buyers, sellers or developers and in the land renting market has major implications for LUCC because they have the capacity for financial investment and to control future agricultural land use. Several studies have analysed farmer decision-making processes in peri-urban regions. These studies identified agricultural areas as the most vulnerable to changes, and where farmers are presented with the choice of maintaining their agricultural activities and maximising the production potential of their crops or selling their farmland to land investors. Also, some evaluate the behavioural response of peri-urban farmers to urban development, and income from agricultural production, agritourism, and off-farm employment. Uncertainty about future land profits is a major motivator for decisions to transform farmland into urban development. Thus, LUCC occurs when the value of expected urban development rents exceeds the value of agricultural ones. Some studies have considered two main approaches in analysing farmer decisions: how drivers influence farmer’s decisions; and how their decisions influence LUCC. To analyse farmers’ decisions is to acknowledge the present and future trends and their potential spatial impacts. Simulation models, using cellular automata (CA), artificial neural networks (ANN) or agent-based systems (ABM) are commonly used. This PhD research aims to propose a model to understand the agricultural land-use change in a peri-urban context. We seek to understand how human drivers (e.g., demographic, economic, planning) and biophysical drivers can affect farmer’s intentions regarding the future agricultural land and model those intentions. This study presents an exploratory analysis aimed at understanding the complex dynamics of LUCC based on farmers’ intentions when they are faced with four scenarios with the time horizon of 2025: the A0 scenario – based on current demographic, social and economic trends and investigating what happens if conditions are maintained (BAU); the A1 scenario – based on a regional food security; the A2 scenario – based on climate change; and the B0 scenario – based on farming under urban pressure, and investigating what happens if people start to move to rural areas. These scenarios were selected because of the early urbanisation of the study area, as a consequence of economic, social and demographic development; and because of the interest in preserving and maintaining agriculture as an essential resource. Also, Torres Vedras represents one of the leading suppliers of agricultural goods (mainly fresh fruits, vegetables, and wine) in Portugal. To model LUCC a CA-Markov, an ANN-multilayer perceptron, and an ABM approach were applied. Our results suggest that significant LUCC will occur depending on farmers’ intentions in different scenarios. The highlights are: (1) the highest growth in permanently irrigated land in the A1 scenario; (2) the most significant drop in non-irrigated arable land, and the highest growth in the forest and semi-natural areas in the A2 scenario; and (3) the greatest urban growth was recognised in the B0 scenario. To verify if the fitting simulations performed well, statistical analysis to measure agreement and quantity-allocation disagreements and a participatory workshop with local stakeholders to validate the achieved results were applied. These outcomes could provide decision-makers with the capacity to observe different possible futures in ‘what if’ scenarios, allowing them to anticipate future uncertainties, and consequently allowing them the possibility to choose the more desirable future

    The FAST fabric objective measurement properties of commercial worsted apparel fabrics available in South Africa

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    In the last few decades, there has been a shift globally towards the objective measurement of these textile fibre, yarn and fabric properties which determine processing performance and product quality. This shift is also very apparent in the objective measurement of fabric properties, particularly those relating to handle and making-up into a garment. This study was motivated by the fact that the adoption of fabric objective measurement (FOM), specifically the FAST system, will benefit the South African worsted apparel sector, as it has done in various other countries which produce high quality worsted apparel fabrics and garments. FAST is robust and portable, yet inexpensive. The main objective of the study was to develop a FAST referencing system which can be used for benchmarking by the local apparel industry and, as a basis for encouraging and persuading the industry to adopt this system of fabric quality measurement and assurance and thereby improve their product quality and international competitiveness. To achieve the main objective, involved sourcing and FAST testing a representative cross-section of commercial worsted apparel fabrics with the emphasis on wool and wool blends from the local fabric and clothing manufacturing industry, and determining how the various FAST properties were affected by factors such as fabric weave, fibre blend and weight, since this could impact on the specific nature and validity of the referencing system. A total of some 394 worsted type commercial fabrics, mainly in wool and wool blends, were sourced from, and with the inputs of, local apparel fabric and clothing manufacturers so as to ensure the local fabric and garment representative of the sample population and after which the fabrics were tested on the FAST system. ANOVA (regression analysis) was carried out on each of the FAST parameters in order to determine whether fabric weight, weave, thickness and fibre composition (pure wool and wool blends) had a statistically significant effect on them, since this is an important aspect which needs to be clarified prior to the development of a envisaged meaningful FAST system

    Hacia una cuantificación del fenómeno dialéctico : redes neuronales y debate político

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    Programa de doctorado en Lingüística y Comunicación del Fenómeno Dialéctico : Redes Neuronales y Debate PolíticoEste trabajo es un acercamiento a la cuantificación del fenómeno retórico desde las redes neuronales artificiales. Tras acomodar al estudio la bibliografía existente, y desde el prisma de las Ciencias Políticas, se definen variables empíricas que permiten determinar la idoneidad retórica de un determinado discurso. Tras ello, se valoran con los indicadores definidos todos los debates políticos que se han desarrollado en España desde la regeneración democrática y entre los candidatos a la Presidencia del Gobierno. Con los datos de que se cuenta, se entrena una red neuronal artificial por cada plano o bloque en que se divide el análisis del discurso. En función de los resultados obtenidos, se puede afirmar que es posible determinar desde variables lingüísticas quién se ha impuesto en una contienda retórica, sin la intervención directa de un observador que mediatice el estudio. Eso sí, se debe aclarar que la herramienta se centra en dilucidar quién ha intervenido mejor, desde el punto de vista formal, quién ha empleado mejor los recursos lingüísticos, y no en la confrontación argumental. En todo momento se valoran los distintos planos que la Filología tradicional ha empleado en sus acercamientos teóricos. Y desde estos, desde las variables que suponen la principal novedad de este trabajo de investigación, se abren interesantes aplicaciones tales como la clasificación tipológica (en textos orales o escritos) que podría emplearse en los diversos buscadores de Internet, sin la intervención humana, o la mejora del aprendizaje retórico en futuros políticos o estudiantes. En cuanto a las aplicaciones efectivamente realizadas, se entrenan dos conjuntos de redes diferentes. La primera de ellas con discursos políticos; la segunda, que contaba con un caudal de muestras muy superior, con fragmentos retóricos de ligas de debates universitarias. El comportamiento de ambas redes ha sido sensiblemente diferente, entre otros motivos porque las muestras estudiantiles eran más heterogéneas y requerían de un mayor número de neuronas en las capas ocultas.Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Departamento de Filología y Traducció

    Troubleshooting Ink Jet Printing Of Cotton Substrates Using A Knowledge-based Expert System

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    (Doktora) -- İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, 2012(PhD) -- İstanbul Technical University, Institute of Science and Technology, 2012Bu çalışmada, pamuklu kumaşların ink jet baskısında karşılaşılan hataların belirlenmesi ve çözülmesine yönelik uzman sistem geliştirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla literatür detaylı olarak taranmış, bununla birlikte baskıda uzman kişilerle de tartışılarak ink jet baskıda sık karşılaşılan on üç hata belirlenmiştir. Bunlar, kafa sürtmesi, renksiz bölge, yanlış renkli bölge mürekkep damlası(mürekkep lekesi), enine çizgilenme, çarpıklık, boya akması, desen kayması, kumaş sararması, düşük sürtme haslığı, düşük yıkama haslığı, renk şiddeti farklılığı/ton farklılığı, düşük keskinlik, beyaz veya solgun bölge olarak adlandırılmıştır. Daha sonra bu hataların nedeni olabilecek altmış bir adet sebep, detaylı literatür taraması ve yine uzman kişilerle yapılan görüşmeler sonunda belirlenmiştir. Bu hatalarla sebepler arasındaki ilişkiyi belirleyebilmek amacıyla uzmanlara sormak üzere anket hazırlanmıştır. Ankete katılan uzmanların her bir hata ile her bir sebebin ilişkisini beşli likert skalası kullanarak belirlemeleri istenmiştir. Ankete katılan bütün uzmanların cevap sayıları dikkate alınarak her bir hata ve altmış bir sebep arasında sayısal bir ilişki kurulabilmesi amacıyla çeşitli istatistik yöntemlerinden yararlanılmıştır. Sonuç olarak, sisteme entegre edilen çıkarım motorunun hataların sebeplerini ortak sebeplerden başlayarak belirlemesiyle iyi bir performans ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca, sistem ink jet baskıda karşılaşılan problemlerin çözümünde iyi bir araç olarak kullanılabileceği gösterilmiştir. Bununla birlikte, yapılan anket değerlendirmeleri sonucunda, ankete katılan uzmanların ortak paydada da buluşamadığı ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu sebeple böyle bir sistemin geliştirilmesi hatalara objektif bir çözüm sunabilmesi açısından önemlidir. Ayrıca sistem, bu alanda yeni çalışmaya başlayanlar için iyi bir başvuru kaynağı ve eğitim aracı olarak da kullanılabilmektedir. Bundan sonraki aşamalarda, sistemin gerçek üretim hatalarıyla denemeleri yapılarak, uzman kişilerin hatayı çözerken ortaya koydukları yaklaşımla karşılaştırılmasının yapılması gerekmektedir. Bu şekilde, üretim esnasında daha efektif kullanılabilen bir başvuru kaynağı olarak da kullanılabilecektir.In this study, it is aimed to develop an expert system for troubleshooting of faults encountered in ink jet printing of cotton substrates. The possible faults may be observed during ink jet printing, prior to printing, such as fabric production or preparation, and after printing, such as fixation. Hence, at the analysis and selection of the most encountered faults in ink jet printing, the processes, which start with cotton production and end at fixation, are examined. After the detailed review of the literature and interviews with the experts, thirteen symptoms are selected as the most encountered problems in ink jet printing of cotton substrates. In addition, sixty-one causes are suggested as the possible causes of thirteen symptoms. Fifteen experts are asked to match each symptoms with sixty-one causes by using a five point likert scale, including most likely, likely, not sure, least likely and not related. In addition, the knowledge acquired from the survey and literature is embodied to the system. A different approach is adopted for the inference of the system in order to solve the problems that are selected by the users of software. The system demonstrates a good performance with embodied inference engine, which starts to solve problem from the common cause in the case of multiple selection of the faults. Moreover, the system shows that, it can be used as a tool for troubleshooting of ink jet printing of the cotton substrates. In addition, it is also possible to use the system as a training tool for the people who are new at ink jet printing.DoktoraPh

    Course Catalogue of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1961 - 1962

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    Massachusetts Institute of Technology Bulletin. The General Catalogue Issue for the Year 1961-1962. Includes an index to members of the staff, an alphabetical list of subjects and alphabetical index; this issue also includes a campus directory and two appendices: student aid and prizes; student housing. Digitized from microfiche copies. Digital version may contain microfiche headers and targets

    Course Catalogue of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1959 - 1960

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    Massachusetts Institute of Technology Bulletin, General Catalogue Issue 1959-1960. Includes information about the Institute; its government; staff; regulations; requirements for admission; facilities; and courses of instruction for both undergraduate and graduate students. This edition also includes two appendices on student aid and prizes, and student housing; as well as an index of faculty and staff. Digitized from microfiche copies. Digital version may contain microfiche headers and targets
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