Guidelines for assessing pedestrian evacuation software applications

This paper serves to clearly identify and explain criteria to consider when evaluating the suitability of a pedestrian evacuation software application to assess the evacuation process of a building. Guidelines in the form of nine topic areas identify different modelling approaches adopted, as well as features / functionality provided by applications designed specifically for simulating the egress of pedestrians from inside a building. The paper concludes with a synopsis of these guidelines, identifying key questions (by topic area) to found an evaluation

The Oosterweel junction revisited.

This paper assesses the Oosterweel junction, a new tunnel under the river Scheldt, that aims to alleviate the congestion on the existing tunnels and on the Ring of Antwerp. The paper uses data from existing studies of the same project to calibrate a simple network model (MOLINO-II). The model is then used to compare alternatives with and without the new tunnel. The alternatives include different combinations of tolls and bans on trucks. The study concludes that the first priority is not to build new capacity but to remove the pricing distortions on the existing capacity. The alternatives that include a pricing reform are the only ones that generate a positive net benefit, almost all scenarios that include the new tunnel have a negative net benefit.

Scalable high-capacity high-fan-out optical networks for constrained environments

The investigations carried out as part of the dissertation address the architecture and application of optical access networks pertaining to high-capacity and high fan-out applications such as in-flight entertainment (IFE) and video-gaming environment. High-capacity and high-fan-out optical networks have a multitude of applications such as expo-centers, train area networks (TAN), video gaming competitions and other applications that require large number of connected users. For the purpose of keeping the scope of the dissertation within limit however, we have concentrated this work on IFE systems. IFE systems present unique challenges at physical and application layers alike. In-flight entertainment (IFE) systems have been a part of passengers' experience for a while now. Currently available systems can be considered a bare-bone at best due to lack of adequate performance and support infrastructure. According to electronic arts (EA), one of the largest developers of video games in the world, an increase in demand for electronically distributed video games will exceed boxed games in just a matter of few years. This also shows a shifting trend towards the electronic distribution of video game content as opposed to physical distribution. Against the same backdrop, the dissertation project involved defining a novel system architecture and capacity based on the requirements for development of novel physical layer architecture utilizing optical networks for high-speed and high-fan-out distribution of content. At the physical layer of the stacked communication model a novel high-fan-out optical network was proposed and simulated for high data-rates. Having defined the physical layer, protocol stack was identified through rigorous observations and data traffic analysis from a large set of traffic traces obtained from various sources in order to understand the distribution and behavior of video game related traffic compared with regular internet traffic. Data requirements were laid down based on analysis keeping in mind that bandwidth requirements are increasing at a tremendous pace and that the network should be able to support future high-definition and 3D gaming as well. Based on the data analysis, analytical models and latency analysis models were also developed for bandwidth allocation in the high-fan-out network architectures. Analytical modeling gives an insight into the performance of the technique as a function of incoming traffic whereas latency analysis exposes the delay factors involved in running the technique over time. "State-full bandwidth allocation" (SBA) was proposed as part of the network layer design for upstream transmission. The novel technique involves keeping state information from previous states for future allocation. The results show that the proposed high-fan-out high-capacity physical layer architecture can be used to distribute video-gaming related content. Also, latency analysis and design and development of a novel SBA algorithm were carried out. Results were quiet promising, in that; a large number of users can be supported on the same single channel network. SBA criteria can be applied to multi-channel networks such as the physical architecture proposed / simulated and investigated in this project. In summary, the project involved design of a novel physical layer; network layer and protocol stack of the communication model and verification by simulations and mathematical modeling while adhering to application layer requirements

Evaluation of a Set of TCP Features over Narrowband Radio Bearer for Train Communication

An engineering approach to the evaluation of the TCP as a narrowband bearer for short messages in the low latency train-trackside communication scenario is described in this report. The project was developed in cooperation with Bombardier Transportation Sweden AB as a part of the “ETCS over GPRS” venture. With the increase of the demands from the railway industry, the currently used circuit-switched GSM-R technology becomes unsatisfactory from the radio system capacity point of view and the need of a new solution is highly required. The packet-switched GPRS solution using TCP as a suite is under research for this specific scenario. The investigated problem in this report concerns the tuning of the retransmission mechanism, which includes the TCP features TCP_RTO_MIN and TCP_KEEPALIVE. This implies the tuning of those features to be able to detect a loss of communication and to react less aggressively for the short and instantaneous changes in the network delay. This thesis work began with a preparation phase in which a broad literature analysis of the background theory was made and followed by the development of applications that realizes the traffic model. Later in the performance phase the required changes were applied on the system and finally tested in a lab. The tests have been performed using one and four pairs of client-server applications communicating over an emulated link. The TCP features were modified at two levels, the TCP_RTO_MIN by a kernel recompilation and the TCP_KEEPALIVE by changes on the live system. Results from the tests have shown that for the higher than the default value of the TCP_RTO_MIN the less retransmissions were triggered. The TCP_KEEPALIVE has proven to be a sufficient feature to indicate a loss of the link. However the achieved improvement in performance was not as high as expected, but acceptable for this scenario. The train-trackside communication system could benefit from the proposed changes

A Neurophysiologic Study Of Visual Fatigue In Stereoscopic Related Displays

Two tasks were investigated in this study. The first study investigated the effects of alignment display errors on visual fatigue. The experiment revealed the following conclusive results: First, EEG data suggested the possibility of cognitively-induced time compensation changes due to a corresponding effect in real-time brain activity by the eyes trying to compensate for the alignment. The magnification difference error showed more significant effects on all EEG band waves, which were indications of likely visual fatigue as shown by the prevalence of simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ) increases across all task levels. Vertical shift errors were observed to be prevalent in theta and beta bands of EEG which probably induced alertness (in theta band) as a result of possible stress. Rotation errors were significant in the gamma band, implying the likelihood of cognitive decline because of theta band influence. Second, the hemodynamic responses revealed that significant differences exist between the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal due to alignment errors. There was also a significant difference between the main effect for power band hemisphere and the ATC task sessions. The analyses revealed that there were significant differences between the dorsal frontal lobes in task processing and interaction effects between the processing lobes and tasks processing. The second study investigated the effects of cognitive response variables on visual fatigue. Third, the physiologic indicator of pupil dilation was 0.95mm that occurred at a mean time of 38.1min, after which the pupil dilation begins to decrease. After the average saccade rest time of 33.71min, saccade speeds leaned toward a decrease as a possible result of fatigue on-set. Fourth, the neural network classifier showed visual response data from eye movement were identified as the best predictor of visual fatigue with a classification accuracy of 90.42%. Experimental data confirmed that 11.43% of the participants actually experienced visual fatigue symptoms after the prolonged task

Virtual Community Ventures: Success Drivers in the Case of Online Video Sharing

A recent wave of Internet-related entrepreneurship focused on virtual communities. It produced User-Community-Driven Internet ventures (UCDI-ventures), characterized by (1) user-contributed content, (2) network effects, and (3), an interactive community. Whereas light pole examples such as YouTube, MySpace, or Facebook have received high capital market valuations, many other ventures have failed, making research on the phenomenon and related success drivers worthwhile. This paper integrates three general venture success drivers from the entrepreneurship literature and two specific UCDIventure related ones. Drawing on the case of the online video sharing community Clipfish in Germany, it demonstrates the relevance of the proposed UCDI-venture success drivers. The paper concludes with an assessment of the five success drivers and suggests three steps of future research