Optimization of life-cycle cost of retrofitting school buildings under seismic risk using evolutionary support vector machine

The assessment of the seismic performance of existing school buildings is especially important in seismic-disaster mitigation planning. Utilizing a support vector machine coupled with a fast messy genetic algorithm, this study developed two inference models, both using the same input variables: i.e., 18 building characteristics selected based on expert opinion. The first model was designed to judge whether a building needs to be retrofitted; and the second, to estimate the cost of retrofitting buildings to specific levels. The study proposes a life-cycle seismic risk framework that takes into account projections of the seismic risk a given building will confront over the course of its entire existence, and thus helps determine the economically optimal level of retrofitting. The results of a case study indicate that the higher upfront cost of retrofitting that is required to reach higher seismic performance levels could, depending on the level of predicted seismic risk, be offset by lower repair costs in the long run. It is hoped that this research will serve as a basis for further studies of the assessment of the life-cycle seismic risk of school buildings, with the wider aim of arriving at an economically optimal building-retrofit policy

Smart Monitoring and Control in the Future Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) and related technologies have the promise of realizing pervasive and smart applications which, in turn, have the potential of improving the quality of life of people living in a connected world. According to the IoT vision, all things can cooperate amongst themselves and be managed from anywhere via the Internet, allowing tight integration between the physical and cyber worlds and thus improving efficiency, promoting usability, and opening up new application opportunities. Nowadays, IoT technologies have successfully been exploited in several domains, providing both social and economic benefits. The realization of the full potential of the next generation of the Internet of Things still needs further research efforts concerning, for instance, the identification of new architectures, methodologies, and infrastructures dealing with distributed and decentralized IoT systems; the integration of IoT with cognitive and social capabilities; the enhancement of the sensing–analysis–control cycle; the integration of consciousness and awareness in IoT environments; and the design of new algorithms and techniques for managing IoT big data. This Special Issue is devoted to advancements in technologies, methodologies, and applications for IoT, together with emerging standards and research topics which would lead to realization of the future Internet of Things

Wheat Improvement

This open-access textbook provides a comprehensive, up-to-date guide for students and practitioners wishing to access in a single volume the key disciplines and principles of wheat breeding. Wheat is a cornerstone of food security: it is the most widely grown of any crop and provides 20% of all human calories and protein. The authorship of this book includes world class researchers and breeders whose expertise spans cutting-edge academic science all the way to impacts in farmers’ fields. The book’s themes and authors were selected to provide a didactic work that considers the background to wheat improvement, current mainstream breeding approaches, and translational research and avant garde technologies that enable new breakthroughs in science to impact productivity. While the volume provides an overview for professionals interested in wheat, many of the ideas and methods presented are equally relevant to small grain cereals and crop improvement in general. The book is affordable, and because it is open access, can be readily shared and translated -- in whole or in part -- to university classes, members of breeding teams (from directors to technicians), conference participants, extension agents and farmers. Given the challenges currently faced by academia, industry and national wheat programs to produce higher crop yields --- often with less inputs and under increasingly harsher climates -- this volume is a timely addition to their toolkit