Stream Dynamics in the Headwaters of Post-Glacial Watershed Systems

This dissertation summarizes research examining watershed processes across Northern New England, with an emphasis on the Central and Coastal regions of Maine. The research presented here focuses on the linkages between watershed geomorphic conditions, climate, and surface flow regimes driving stream channel hydraulic conditions and bed dynamics governing channel geometry. The geologic and human history of the landscape provides the context in which earth surface processes are examined within the dominant physiographic settings in Maine to describe vulnerabilities to climate change. Results are summarized to support the development of sustainability solutions for forecasted watershed management problems by natural resource management agencies and communities. The research components of this dissertation were developed through stakeholder engagement to identify regional water resource sustainability problems. Physical watershed processes affecting stream flow and sediment transport conditions are fundamental to stakeholder concerns. This research examines the influence from human activities, climate, and earth surface processes associated with erosion from ice and water flows on modern surface hydrology and fluvial geomorphology in the region. Research targets are organized relative to scientific principles and contemporary watershed management approaches relevant to stakeholder interests related to water quality, aquatic habitat, recreation, and coastal fisheries. This research is framed by geo-spatial analyses organized to examine Northern New England landscape conditions linked to patterns of surface water flow. The approach uses dominant geologic, soil, topographic, and land cover conditions as independent variables, providing a tool for scaling observations in reference watersheds and evaluating the transferability of information guiding selection of watershed management practices across the region. River discharge measurement data within representative assemblages are analyzed to evaluate the implications of varied landscape conditions to surface water flow regimes. Stream channel hydraulic geometry is quantified to relate surface flows, stream channel conditions, and the history of glaciation and human activities affecting watershed processes. Flow regime responses to forecasted climate change in varied landscape settings are estimated using numerical watershed hydrologic simulations. Modeling results suggest that changes to annual snow pack conditions will have the most substantial influence on surface flows. Base, mid-range, and peak flows have varied responses governed by surface water storage, snow pack dynamics, and rainfall patterns. The impact of the predicted surface flow changes on stream channel sedimentary environments are quantified by coupling simulated flow time series with a sediment transport model. Results indicate that changes to sediment dynamics affecting stream hydraulics and channel stability may result from forecasted climate changes in the region. Research objectives and outcomes are framed to support the development of sustainability solutions to watershed management challenges related to public safety, water quality, and aquatic habitat conservation. The process of designing the project approach with input from stakeholders and evaluating outcomes from quantitative analyses improves understanding of how multiple factors governing earth surface processes operating over varied time scales combine to create varied hydrologic and geomorphic responses to watershed land use and climate changes in the Northern New England region. The prediction of measurable alterations to streams in evaluated settings provide rationale for development of watershed management strategies in response to future land use and climate changes. Varied vulnerabilities to changes suggest that customized management approaches will be necessary as some stream systems will be more responsive than others. The development of an approach for parsing the landscape into Geomorphic Response Units (GRUs) demonstrated by this research provides a basis for designing a statewide approach for implementing strategies for watershed management that considers varied vulnerabilities to land use and climate changes in the region. This work provides tools for the stakeholder community to evaluate the applicability of management techniques across the region and knowledge of water resource vulnerabilities as they relate to landscape conditions and climate

Applications of the Internet of Things and optimization to inventory and distribution management

This thesis is part of the IoFEED (EU funded) project, which aims to monitor approximately 325 farm bins and investigates business processes carried out between farmers and animal feed producers. We propose a computer-aided system to control and optimize the supply chain to deliver animal feed to livestock farms. Orders can be of multiple types of feed, shipped from multiple depots using a fleet of heterogeneous vehicles with multiple compartments. Additionally, this case considers some business-specific constraints, such as product compatibility, facility accessibility restrictions, prioritized locations, or bio-security constraints. A digital twin based approach is implemented at the farm level by installing sensors to remotely measure the inventories. This thesis also embraces these sensors' design and manufacturing process, seeking the required precision and easy deployability at scale. Our approach combines biased-randomization techniques with a simheuristic framework to make use of data provided by the sensors. The analysis of results is based on these two real pilots, and showcases the insights obtained during the IoFEED project. The results of this thesis show how the Internet of Things and simulation-based optimization methods combine successfully to optimize deliveries of feed to livestock farms.Esta tesis forma parte del proyecto IoFeeD, financiado por la Unión Europea, que tiene como objetivo monitorizar remotamente el stock de 325 contenedores agrícolas e investigar los procesos comerciales llevados a cabo entre agricultores y productores de pienso. Proponemos un sistema de ayuda a la toma de decisiones para controlar y optimizar la cadena de suministro de pienso en las explotaciones ganaderas. Los pedidos pueden ser de varios tipos de pienso y pueden enviarse desde varios centros de fabricación mediante el uso de una flota de vehículos heterogéneos con varios compartimentos. Además, se tienen en cuenta algunas restricciones específicas de la empresa, como, por ejemplo, la compatibilidad del producto, las restricciones de accesibilidad en las instalaciones, las ubicaciones priorizadas o las restricciones de bioseguridad. A escala de granja, se implementa un enfoque basado en gemelos digitales mediante la instalación de sensores para medir los inventarios de forma remota. En el marco de esta tesis, se desarrollan estos sensores buscando la precisión requerida, así como las características oportunas que permitan su instalación a gran escala. Nuestro enfoque combina técnicas de aleatorización sesgada con un marco simheurístico para hacer uso de los datos proporcionados por los sensores. El análisis de los resultados se basa en estos dos pilotos reales y muestra las ideas obtenidas durante el proyecto IoFeeD. Los resultados de esta tesis muestran cómo la internet de las cosas y los métodos de optimización basados en simulación se combinan con éxito para optimizar las operaciones de suministro de pienso para el consumo animal en las explotaciones ganaderas.Aquesta tesi forma part del projecte IoFeeD, finançat per la Unió Europea, que té com a objectiu controlar remotament l'estoc de 325 sitges i investigar els processos de negoci duts a terme entre agricultors i productors de pinso. Proposem un sistema d'ajuda a la presa de decisions per controlar i optimitzar la cadena de subministrament de pinso a les explotacions ramaderes. Les comandes poden ser de diversos tipus de pinso i es poden enviar des de diversos centres de fabricació mitjançant l'ús d'una flota de vehicles heterogenis amb diversos compartiments. A més, es tenen en compte algunes restriccions específiques de l'empresa, com ara la compatibilitat del producte, les restriccions d'accessibilitat a les instal·lacions, les ubicacions prioritzades o les restriccions de bioseguretat. A escala de granja, s'implementa un enfocament basat en bessons digitals mitjançant la instal·lació de sensors per mesurar remotament els inventaris. En el marc de la tesi, es desenvolupa aquest sensor cercant la precisió requerida i les característiques oportunes que en permetin la instal·lació a gran escala. El nostre enfocament combina tècniques d'aleatorització esbiaixada amb un marc simheurístic per fer ús de les dades proporcionades pels sensors. L'anàlisi dels resultats es basa en aquests dos pilots reals i mostra les idees obtingudes durant el projecte IoFeeD. Els resultats d'aquesta tesi mostren com la internet de les coses i els mètodes d'optimització basats en simulació es combinen amb èxit per optimitzar les operacions de subministrament de pinso per al consum animal a les explotacions ramaderes.Tecnologies de la informació i de xarxe

Ono: an open platform for social robotics

In recent times, the focal point of research in robotics has shifted from industrial ro- bots toward robots that interact with humans in an intuitive and safe manner. This evolution has resulted in the subfield of social robotics, which pertains to robots that function in a human environment and that can communicate with humans in an int- uitive way, e.g. with facial expressions. Social robots have the potential to impact many different aspects of our lives, but one particularly promising application is the use of robots in therapy, such as the treatment of children with autism. Unfortunately, many of the existing social robots are neither suited for practical use in therapy nor for large scale studies, mainly because they are expensive, one-of-a-kind robots that are hard to modify to suit a specific need. We created Ono, a social robotics platform, to tackle these issues. Ono is composed entirely from off-the-shelf components and cheap materials, and can be built at a local FabLab at the fraction of the cost of other robots. Ono is also entirely open source and the modular design further encourages modification and reuse of parts of the platform

Dispersion and emission modelling of traffic induced road dust

This thesis is concerned with the evaluation and development of models related to the emissions and dispersion of traffic induced road dust. Road traffic is a highly important source of a range of pollutants having adverse health and environmental effects. Development of models describing traffic related emissions and dispersion of pollutants will in the end lead to robust models that well reproduce available air quality measurements. Furthermore, such models will aid the analysis of existing mitigation measures, as well as developing new ones, to reduce the emissions of traffic related pollutants. The first study deals with the modelling of the dispersion and resulting concentration levels of NOx at distances up to 100 m from major roads in rural areas, using four Gaussian open road line source models developed in Norway, Denmark and Finland. These models were applied to datasets from measurement campaigns conducted in rural areas near major roads in the mentioned countries. NOx was considered since it was measured at all sites, its emissions are well known and since it can be treated as a tracer for the short time scales involved. When comparing the models with the measurements we found that the results are sensitive to the parameterisation of traffic produced turbulence (TPT), especially at distances close to the road in combination with low wind speeds. The Danish model OML-Highway performed best at all sites due to its parameterisation of TPT based on turbulent kinetic energy. The second study is concerned with the development of a more generalised model framework to describe road dust emissions, i.e. emissions of particulate matter (PM) from the road surface due to road surface wear as well as resuspension of deposited material on the road surface and road shoulders. There is a need for a more generalised road dust emission model since the majority of already developed road dust emission models contain empirical constants or functions related to local air quality measurements. As such, the applicability of these models on other road environments is limited and they cannot be used for analysis of mitigation measures related to road dust emissions. The model concept described in this study accounts for the main processes controlling road dust emissions and does not depend on local measurements; it is based on measurements of road, tyre and brake wear to obtain the relevant emission factors. A mass balance concept is used for describing the variation in dust load on the road surface and shoulders. Furthermore, the model separates the direct emissions and resuspension and treats the road surface and shoulder as two individual sources. When applying the model onto two datasets from measurement campaigns conducted at major roads in and outside Oslo, Norway, during the studded tyre season, it performed well during warm periods and less well for temperatures close to or below 0 ºC in combination with precipitation. As such, refinements of the parameterisations of road surface conditions are needed and measurement campaigns with the aim of understanding the effect of road surface conditions on road dust emissions should be conducted. In spite of the current limitations, the model provides a well described conceptual framework and describes processes that no model has ever done before. The model will in the future provide the potential for good air quality planning

Inventory of long and short term future needs of food chain users for future functions of internet

vokKVIKA

Lethal effects and mechanism of infrared radiation on Sitophilus zeamais and Tribolium castaneum in rough rice: Poster

The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of adult Sitophilus zeamais and Tribolium castaneum, and the 21.1% dry base (d.b.) MC of rough rice by ATR-FTIR spectra, and determine the theoretical optimum infrared (IR) heating temperature of the tested samples. In laboratory experiments, a ceramic IR drying device was used to heat infested rough rice to research the mortality of Sitophilus zeamais and Tribolium castaneum, the drying characteristics of rough rice, and milling quality. The theoretical calculation optimum temperature of IR heating was 300 °C according to the results of FTIR spectra. In addition, the effects of the different IR radiation intensities and heated rough rice temperatures on mortality of insects, moisture removal, and milling quality were determined in this text. A high insect mortality, heating rate and corresponding high moisture removal were achieved by using IR heating. After heating, tempering process significantly increased insect mortality when the heated tempered rice temperature was less than 55 °C, and improve moisture removal and milling quality of rough rice during nature air cooling. When the rice heated under the IR radiation intensity of 2780 W/m2 for 110 s, the rice temperature reached 60.2° ± 0.5°C, 100% mortality of S. zeamais and T. castaneum, and 3.97 percentage points of moisture removal during the heating period after tempering and natural cooling. In addition, the high rice milling quality can be achieved after tempering treatment. Therefore, it can be concluded that the optimum conditions of simultaneous disinfestation and drying were 60 °C rice temperature under the IR radiation intensity of 2780 W/m2, followed by tempering and natural cooling.The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of adult Sitophilus zeamais and Tribolium castaneum, and the 21.1% dry base (d.b.) MC of rough rice by ATR-FTIR spectra, and determine the theoretical optimum infrared (IR) heating temperature of the tested samples. In laboratory experiments, a ceramic IR drying device was used to heat infested rough rice to research the mortality of Sitophilus zeamais and Tribolium castaneum, the drying characteristics of rough rice, and milling quality. The theoretical calculation optimum temperature of IR heating was 300 °C according to the results of FTIR spectra. In addition, the effects of the different IR radiation intensities and heated rough rice temperatures on mortality of insects, moisture removal, and milling quality were determined in this text. A high insect mortality, heating rate and corresponding high moisture removal were achieved by using IR heating. After heating, tempering process significantly increased insect mortality when the heated tempered rice temperature was less than 55 °C, and improve moisture removal and milling quality of rough rice during nature air cooling. When the rice heated under the IR radiation intensity of 2780 W/m2 for 110 s, the rice temperature reached 60.2° ± 0.5°C, 100% mortality of S. zeamais and T. castaneum, and 3.97 percentage points of moisture removal during the heating period after tempering and natural cooling. In addition, the high rice milling quality can be achieved after tempering treatment. Therefore, it can be concluded that the optimum conditions of simultaneous disinfestation and drying were 60 °C rice temperature under the IR radiation intensity of 2780 W/m2, followed by tempering and natural cooling

Who wrote this scientific text?

The IEEE bibliographic database contains a number of proven duplications with indication of the original paper(s) copied. This corpus is used to test a method for the detection of hidden intertextuality (commonly named "plagiarism"). The intertextual distance, combined with the sliding window and with various classification techniques, identifies these duplications with a very low risk of error. These experiments also show that several factors blur the identity of the scientific author, including variable group authorship and the high levels of intertextuality accepted, and sometimes desired, in scientific papers on the same topic