10,844 research outputs found
A Platform for the Analysis of Qualitative and Quantitative Data about the Built Environment and its Users
There are many scenarios in which it is necessary to collect data from multiple sources in order to evaluate a system, including the collection of both quantitative data - from sensors and smart devices - and qualitative data - such as observations and interview results. However, there are currently very few systems that enable both of these data types to be combined in such a way that they can be analysed side-by-side.
This paper describes an end-to-end system for the collection, analysis, storage and visualisation of qualitative and quantitative data, developed using the e-Science Central cloud analytics platform. We describe the experience of developing the system, based on a case study that involved collecting data about the built environment and its users. In this case study, data is collected from older adults living in residential care. Sensors were placed throughout the care home and smart devices were issued to the residents. This sensor data is uploaded to the analytics platform and the processed results are stored in a data warehouse, where it is integrated with qualitative data collected by healthcare and architecture researchers. Visualisations are also presented which were intended to allow the data to be explored and for potential correlations between the quantitative and qualitative data to be investigated
Participatory Patterns in an International Air Quality Monitoring Initiative
The issue of sustainability is at the top of the political and societal
agenda, being considered of extreme importance and urgency. Human individual
action impacts the environment both locally (e.g., local air/water quality,
noise disturbance) and globally (e.g., climate change, resource use). Urban
environments represent a crucial example, with an increasing realization that
the most effective way of producing a change is involving the citizens
themselves in monitoring campaigns (a citizen science bottom-up approach). This
is possible by developing novel technologies and IT infrastructures enabling
large citizen participation. Here, in the wider framework of one of the first
such projects, we show results from an international competition where citizens
were involved in mobile air pollution monitoring using low cost sensing
devices, combined with a web-based game to monitor perceived levels of
pollution. Measures of shift in perceptions over the course of the campaign are
provided, together with insights into participatory patterns emerging from this
study. Interesting effects related to inertia and to direct involvement in
measurement activities rather than indirect information exposure are also
highlighted, indicating that direct involvement can enhance learning and
environmental awareness. In the future, this could result in better adoption of
policies towards decreasing pollution.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures, 1 supplementary fil
A Smartphone-Based System for Outdoor Data Gathering Using a Wireless Beacon Network and GPS Data: From Cyber Spaces to Senseable Spaces
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and mobile devices are deeply influencing all facets of life, directly affecting the way people experience space and time. ICTs are also tools for supporting urban development, and they have also been adopted as equipment for furnishing public spaces. Hence, ICTs have created a new paradigm of hybrid space that can be defined as Senseable Spaces. Even if there are relevant cases where the adoption of ICT has made the use of public open spaces more “smart”, the interrelation and the recognition of added value need to be further developed. This is one of the motivations for the research presented in this paper. The main goal of the work reported here is the deployment of a system composed of three different connected elements (a real-world infrastructure, a data gathering system, and a data processing and analysis platform) for analysis of human behavior in the open space of Cardeto Park, in Ancona, Italy. For this purpose, and because of the complexity of this task, several actions have been carried out: the deployment of a complete real-world infrastructure in Cardeto Park, the implementation of an ad-hoc smartphone application for the gathering of participants’ data, and the development of a data pre-processing and analysis system for dealing with all the gathered data. A detailed description of these three aspects and the way in which they are connected to create a unique system is the main focus of this paper.This work has been supported by the Cost Action TU1306, called CYBERPARKS:
Fostering knowledge about the relationship between Information and Communication Technologies and Public
Spaces supported by strategies to improve their use and attractiveness, the Spanish Ministry of Economy
and Competitiveness under the ESPHIA project (ref. TIN2014-56042-JIN) and the TARSIUS project (ref.
TIN2015-71564-C4-4-R), and the Basque Country Department of Education under the BLUE project (ref.
PI-2016-0010). The authors would also like to thank the staff of UbiSive s.r.l. for the support in developing
the application
Wearable Computing for Health and Fitness: Exploring the Relationship between Data and Human Behaviour
Health and fitness wearable technology has recently advanced, making it
easier for an individual to monitor their behaviours. Previously self generated
data interacts with the user to motivate positive behaviour change, but issues
arise when relating this to long term mention of wearable devices. Previous
studies within this area are discussed. We also consider a new approach where
data is used to support instead of motivate, through monitoring and logging to
encourage reflection. Based on issues highlighted, we then make recommendations
on the direction in which future work could be most beneficial
Context Mining with Machine Learning Approach: Understanding, Sensing, Categorizing, and Analyzing Context Parameters
Context is a vital concept in various fields, such as linguistics, psychology, and computer science. It refers to the background, environment, or situation in which an event, action, or idea occurs or exists. Categorization of context involves grouping contexts into different types or classes based on shared characteristics. Physical context, social context, cultural context, temporal context, and cognitive context are a few categories under which context can be divided. Each type of context plays a significant role in shaping our understanding and interpretation of events or actions. Understanding and categorizing context is essential for many applications, such as natural language processing, human-computer interaction, and communication studies, as it provides valuable information for interpretation, prediction, and decision-making.
In this paper, we will provide an overview of the concept of context and its categorization, highlighting the importance of context in various fields and applications. We will discuss each type of context and provide examples of how they are used in different fields. Finally, we will conclude by emphasizing the significance of understanding and categorizing context for interpretation, prediction, and decision-making
Monitoring of gas emissions at landfill sites using autonomous gas sensors
Executive Summary
This report details the work carried out during the Smart
Plant project (2005-AIC-MS-43-M4). As part of this
research, an autonomous platform for monitoring
greenhouse gases (methane (CH4), carbon dioxide
(CO2)) has been developed, prototyped and field
validated. The modular design employed means that the
platform can be readily adapted for a variety of
applications involving these and other target gases such
as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), ammonia (NH3) and carbon
monoxide (CO) and the authors are in the process of
completing several short demonstrator projects to
illustrate the potential of the platform for some of these
applications. The field validation for the greenhouse gas
monitoring platform was carried out at two landfill sites in
Ireland. The unit was used to monitor the concentration of
CO2 and CH4 gas at perimeter borehole wells. The final
prototype was deployed for over 4 months and
successfully extracted samples from the assigned
perimeter borehole well headspace, measured them and
sent the data to a database via a global system for mobile
(GSM) communications. The data were represented via
an updating graph in a web interface. Sampling was
carried out twice per day, giving a 60-fold increase on
current monitoring procedures which provide one gas
concentration measurement per month.
From additional work described in this report, a
number of conclusions were drawn regarding lateral
landfill gas migration on a landfill site and the
management of this migration to the site’s perimeter.
To provide frequent, reliable monitoring of landfill gas
migration to perimeter borehole wells, the unit needs
to:
• Be fully autonomous;
• Be capable of extracting a gas sample from a
borehole well independently of personnel;
• Be able to relay the data in near real time to a base
station; and
• Have sensors with a range capable of adequately
monitoring gas events accurately at all times.
The authors believe that a unit capable of such
monitoring has been developed and validated. This
unit provides a powerful tool for effective management
of landfill site gases. The effectiveness of this unit has
been recognised by the site management team at the
long-term deployment trial site, and the data gathered
have been used to improve the day-to-day operations
and gas management system on-site.
The authors make the following recommendations:
1. The dynamics of the landfill gas management
system cannot be captured by taking
measurements once per month; thus, a minimum
sampling rate of once per day is advised.
2. The sampling protocol should be changed:
(i) Borehole well samples should not be taken
from the top of the well but should be
extracted at a depth within the headspace
(0.5–1.0 m). The measurement depth will be
dependent on the water table and headspace
depth within the borehole well.
(ii) The sampling time should be increased to 3
min to obtain a steady-state measurement
from the headspace and to take a
representative sample; and
(iii) For continuous monitoring on-site, the
extracted sample should be recycled back
into the borehole well. However, for
compliance monitoring, the sample should
not be returned to the borehole well.
3. Devices should be placed at all borehole wells so
the balance on the site can be maintained through
the gas management system and extraction
issues can be quickly recognised and addressed
before there are events of high gas migration to
the perimeter.
4. A pilot study should be carried out by the EPA
using 10 of these autonomous devices over three
to five sites to show the need and value for this
type of sampling on Irish landfill sites
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