A feasibility study: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection utilization of infrared technologies for wildland fire suppression and management

NASA's JPL has completed a feasibility study using infrared technologies for wildland fire suppression and management. The study surveyed user needs, examined available technologies, matched the user needs with technologies, and defined an integrated infrared wildland fire mapping concept system configuration. System component trade-offs were presented for evaluation in the concept system configuration. The economic benefits of using infrared technologies in fire suppression and management were examined. Follow-on concept system configuration development and implementation were proposed

A knowledge based system to assist in the selection of appropriate geotechnical field tests

The variety in geological conditions and range of geotechnical problems has led to the development of a considerable number of different in-situ test methods. The correct selection of the appropriate in-situ tests allows a safer and cost-efficient design to be achieved. A prototype Knowledge-Based System has been developed to assist in the selection of appropriate geotechnical in-situ tests. The system is model-based and has been implemented using PDC Prolog on a Personal Computer to perform two functions: i) general querying of the knowledge bases which it incorporates and ii) advise on selecting in-situ tests. The system consists of two knowledge bases (the Ground Knowledge Base and the Tests Knowledgebase), an Extended Inference Mechanism consisting of search rules developed to allow inheritance and transitivity inferences (as well as information retrieval facilities), an advisory rule developed for offering assistance in the selection of appropriate field tests, and a menu driven user interface to achieve ease of use. The Extended Inference Mechanism, and the user interface implemented for it, form a basic expert system shell. The knowledge required to be included in the system was obtained in two ways: i) from technical literature and ii) from a small knowledge elicitation exercise in the form of a questionnaire. The representation scheme adopted is the same for both knowledge bases and allows modifications (additions or deletions) of the existing knowledge to be easily made. Towards the completion of this research program, a comparative exercise was performed by re-implementing part of the system using the PROKAPPA software on a Sun Sparkstation 2 (both of which became available at that time). Throughout this exercise, the differences between the two implementation schemes were evaluated and the advantages and disadvantages of each of the schemes were identified

Explorations, Vol. 3, No. 3

Cover: Artwork by Marcia Spencer, University of Maine art student. Articles include: Characterization of Normal and Carcinogen Induced Neoplastic Cells of Teleost Origin, by Tim Lyden Attitutdes and Opinions of Maine Dairy Farmers, by John Muth and James Leiby Background: the quest for the eighteen month oyster, by Kevin Scully The Quest for the Eighteen Month Oyster, by Kevin Scully Measurement of Surface Tension of Kraft Black Liquor, by Jayalakshmi Jaya Krishnagopalan From the former student, by Jayalakshmi Krishnagopalan From the faculty advisor, by Ivar H. Stockel Aquatic Fungal Decomposers in Two Adjacent Maine Lakes of Different Acidity, by Peter Wagner Studies on a New Mouse Mutation, by Luanne L. Peters Opportunities for Students: Maine Agricultural Experiment Station Research Programs, by Mark W. Anderson Experimental Embryogenesis in Red Pine, by Judy C. Gates The V-Notched Lobster in Maine, by Cheryl Waltz Undernutrition in a Pediatric Population, by Paula Quatromoni From the Advisor Archaeology of the Central Maine Coast, by Douglas Kellogg Marketing Strategies for Computer Consultants in Small Business, by Kimberly Dagher Our Cover Artist From the Advisor, by James Lineha

The Pilot Land Data System: Report of the Program Planning Workshops

An advisory report to be used by NASA in developing a program plan for a Pilot Land Data System (PLDS) was developed. The purpose of the PLDS is to improve the ability of NASA and NASA sponsored researchers to conduct land-related research. The goal of the planning workshops was to provide and coordinate planning and concept development between the land related science and computer science disciplines, to discuss the architecture of the PLDs, requirements for information science technology, and system evaluation. The findings and recommendations of the Working Group are presented. The pilot program establishes a limited scale distributed information system to explore scientific, technical, and management approaches to satisfying the needs of the land science community. The PLDS paves the way for a land data system to improve data access, processing, transfer, and analysis, which land sciences information synthesis occurs on a scale not previously permitted because of limits to data assembly and access

Information resources management, 1984-1989: A bibliography with indexes

This bibliography contains 768 annotated references to reports and journal articles entered into the NASA scientific and technical information database 1984 to 1989

1997-1999, University of Memphis bulletin

University of Memphis bulletin containing the graduate catalog for 1997-1999.https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/speccoll-ua-pub-bulletins/1421/thumbnail.jp

A holistic open-pit mine slope stability index using Artificial Neural Networks

Abstract: The slopes in open-pit mines are typically excavated to the steepest feasible angle to maximize profits. However, there is a greater risk of slope failure associated with steeper slopes. An open-pit slope represents a complex multivariate rock engineering system. Interactions between the factors affecting slope stability in open pit mines are therefore more complex and often difficult to define, impeding the use of conventional methods. To address the problem, the primary role of rock mass structure, in situ stress, water flow, and construction have been extended into 18 key parameters. The stability status of slopes and parameter importance are investigated by means of computational intelligence tools such as Artificial Neural Networks. An optimized Back Propagation network is trained with an extensive database of 141 worldwide case histories of open-pit mines. The inputs refer to the values of extended parameters which include 18 parameters relating to openpit slope stability. The produced output is an estimated potential for instability. To minimize the subjectivity, the method of partitioning the connection weights is applied in order to rate the significance of the involved parameters. The problem of slope stability is therefore modelled as a function approximation. A new Open-pit Mine Slope Stability Index is thus proposed to assess the potential status regime from a holistic point of view. These values are validated by computing the predicted values against the observed status of stability. The reliability of the predictive capability is computed as the Mean Squared Error, and further validated through a Receiver Operating Characteristic curve. Together with a Mean Squared Error of 0.0001, and Receiver Operating Characteristic curve of 98%, the application illustrates that the prediction of slope stability through Artificial Neural Networks produces fast convergence giving reliable predictions, and thus being a useful tool at the preliminary feasibility stage of study

1996 July, University of Memphis bulletin

Vol. 85, No. 4 of the University of Memphis bulletin containing the graduate catalog for 1996-97, 1996 July.https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/speccoll-ua-pub-bulletins/1183/thumbnail.jp