34,619 research outputs found
An integrated urban systems model with GIS
The purpose of the research is to develop an integrated urban systems model, which will assist in formulating a better land use-transportation policy by simulating the relationships between land use patterns and travel behavior, integrated with geographic information systems (GISs). In order to make an integrated land use-transportation model possible with the assistance of GISs technologies, the following four sub-systems have been developed: (1) an effective traffic analysis zone generation system; (2) an iterative land use and transportation modeling system; (3) efficient interfaces between GIS and land use, and GIS and transportation models; and (4) a user-friendly graphic user interface (GUI) system. By integrating these sub-systems, a variety of alternative land use-transportation policies can be evaluated through the modification of input parameters in each simulation. Eventually, the developed model using a GIS will assist in formulating an effective land use policy by obtaining robust simulation results for both land use-transportation planners and decision makers. The model has been applied to the Urbana-Champaign area as well as to the Seoul region in Korea for a demonstration of the workings of the model.
GEANT4 : a simulation toolkit
Abstract Geant4 is a toolkit for simulating the passage of particles through matter. It includes a complete range of functionality including tracking, geometry, physics models and hits. The physics processes offered cover a comprehensive range, including electromagnetic, hadronic and optical processes, a large set of long-lived particles, materials and elements, over a wide energy range starting, in some cases, from 250 eV and extending in others to the TeV energy range. It has been designed and constructed to expose the physics models utilised, to handle complex geometries, and to enable its easy adaptation for optimal use in different sets of applications. The toolkit is the result of a worldwide collaboration of physicists and software engineers. It has been created exploiting software engineering and object-oriented technology and implemented in the C++ programming language. It has been used in applications in particle physics, nuclear physics, accelerator design, space engineering and medical physics. PACS: 07.05.Tp; 13; 2
Interpretable deep learning for guided structure-property explorations in photovoltaics
The performance of an organic photovoltaic device is intricately connected to
its active layer morphology. This connection between the active layer and
device performance is very expensive to evaluate, either experimentally or
computationally. Hence, designing morphologies to achieve higher performances
is non-trivial and often intractable. To solve this, we first introduce a deep
convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture that can serve as a fast and
robust surrogate for the complex structure-property map. Several tests were
performed to gain trust in this trained model. Then, we utilize this fast
framework to perform robust microstructural design to enhance device
performance.Comment: Workshop on Machine Learning for Molecules and Materials (MLMM),
Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS) 2018, Montreal, Canad
Aerodynamics of a rigid curved kite wing
A preliminary numerical study on the aerodynamics of a kite wing for high
altitude wind power generators is proposed. Tethered kites are a key element of
an innovative wind energy technology, which aims to capture energy from the
wind at higher altitudes than conventional wind towers. We present the results
obtained from three-dimensional finite volume numerical simulations of the
steady air flow past a three-dimensional curved rectangular kite wing (aspect
ratio equal to 3.2, Reynolds number equal to 3x10^6). Two angles of incidence
-- a standard incidence for the flight of a tethered airfoil (6{\deg}) and an
incidence close to the stall (18{\deg}) -- were considered. The simulations
were performed by solving the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes flow model using
the industrial STAR-CCM+ code. The overall aerodynamic characteristics of the
kite wing were determined and compared to the aerodynamic characteristics of
the flat rectangular non twisted wing with an identical aspect ratio and
section (Clark Y profile). The boundary layer of both the curved and the flat
wings was considered to be turbulent throughout. It was observed that the
curvature induces only a mild deterioration of the aerodynamics properties.
Pressure distributions around different sections along the span are also
presented, together with isolines of the average pressure and kinetic energy
fields at a few sections across the wing and the wake. Our results indicate
that the curvature induces a slower spatial decay of the vorticity in the wake,
and in particular, inside the wing tip vortices.Comment: 13 pages, 13 figures. Submitted to "Renewable Energy
Density-equalizing maps for simply-connected open surfaces
In this paper, we are concerned with the problem of creating flattening maps
of simply-connected open surfaces in . Using a natural principle
of density diffusion in physics, we propose an effective algorithm for
computing density-equalizing flattening maps with any prescribed density
distribution. By varying the initial density distribution, a large variety of
mappings with different properties can be achieved. For instance,
area-preserving parameterizations of simply-connected open surfaces can be
easily computed. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the
effectiveness of our proposed method. Applications to data visualization and
surface remeshing are explored
Using mobility information to perform a feasibility study and the evaluation of spatio-temporal energy demanded by an electric taxi fleet
Half of the global population already lives in urban areas, facing to the problem of air pollution mainly caused by the transportation system. The recently worsening of urban air quality has a direct impact on the human health. Replacing todayâs internal combustion engine vehicles with electric ones in public fleets could provide a deep impact on the air quality in the cities. In this paper, real mobility information is used as decision support for the taxi fleet manager to promote the adoption of electric taxi cabs in the city of San Francisco, USA. Firstly, mobility characteristics and energy requirements of a single taxi are analyzed. Then, the results are generalized to all vehicles from the taxi fleet. An electrificability rate of the taxi fleet is generated, providing information about the number of current trips that could be performed by electric taxis without modifying the current driver mobility patterns. The analysis results reveal that 75.2% of the current taxis could be replaced by electric vehicles, considering a current standard battery capacity (24â30âŻkWh). This value can increase significantly (to 100%), taking into account the evolution of the price and capacity of the batteries installed in the last models of electric vehicles that are coming to the market. The economic analysis shows that the purchasing costs of an electric taxi are bigger than conventional one. However, fuel, maintenance and repair costs are much lower. Using the expected energy consumption information evaluated in this study, the total spatio-temporal demand of electric energy required to recharge the electric fleet is also calculated, allowing identifying optimal location of charging infrastructure based on realistic routing patterns. This information could also be used by the distribution system operator to identify possible reinforcement actions in the electric grid in order to promote introducing electric vehicles
Spatial Dynamic Modeling and Urban Land Use Transformation:
Assessing the economic impacts of urban land use transformation has become complex and acrimonious. Although community planners are beginning to comprehend the economic trade-offs inherent in transforming the urban fringe, they find it increasingly difficult to analyze and assess the trade-offs expediently and in ways that can influence local decisionmaking. New and sophisticated spatial modeling techniques are now being applied to urban systems that can quickly assess the probable spatial outcomes of given communal policies. Applying an economic impact assessment to the probable spatial patterns can provide to planners the tools needed to quickly assess scenarios for policy formation that will ultimately help inform decision makers. This paper focuses on the theoretical underpinnings and practical application of an economic impact analysis submodel developed within the Land use Evolution and Impact Assessment Modeling (LEAM) environment. The conceptual framework of LEAM is described, followed by an application of the model to the assessment of the cost of urban sprawl in Kane County, Illinois. The results show the effectiveness of spatially explicit modeling from a theoretical and a practical point of view. The agent-based approach of spatial dynamic modeling with a high spatial resolution allows for discerning the macro-level implications of micro-level behaviors. These phenomena are highlighted in the economic submodel in the discussion of the implications of land use change decisions on individual and communal costs; low-density development patterns favoring individual behaviors at the expense of the broader community.
The Joint Center for Energy Storage Research: A New Paradigm for Battery Research and Development
The Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) seeks transformational
change in transportation and the electricity grid driven by next generation
high performance, low cost electricity storage. To pursue this transformative
vision JCESR introduces a new paradigm for battery research: integrating
discovery science, battery design, research prototyping and manufacturing
collaboration in a single highly interactive organization. This new paradigm
will accelerate the pace of discovery and innovation and reduce the time from
conceptualization to commercialization. JCESR applies its new paradigm
exclusively to beyond-lithium-ion batteries, a vast, rich and largely
unexplored frontier. This review presents JCESR's motivation, vision, mission,
intended outcomes or legacies and first year accomplishments.Comment: 17 pages, 14 figures, 96 reference
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