Analysis and detection of fingerprint creases

Fingerprint is a biometric trait that is widely used for human identification and verification. Most fingerprint biometric systems make use of certain salient features on the fingerprint, including minutiae points, pores, and singular points, for comparing two fingerprint images. In this work, we explore the possibility of using fingerprint creases for comparing two fingerprints. Creases can be described as white lines or scars on a fingerprint image. Recent studies have determined that some creases are genetically influenced although the origin of creases has not been completely characterized. While no published work exists for crease matching, some studies have explored the problem of automated crease detection. In this thesis, we study the possibility of using creases for fingerprint matching. We also suggest two techniques to automatically extract creases from an input fingerprint image. Finally, we study the correlation between fingerprint creases and age of an individual

Design framework for the development of dual heat recovery system in photo-voltaic powered air conditioning systems

Abstract: Energy regeneration through heat recovery is practically possible for maximizing energy obtained from the sun, by recovering and reusing the heat that is typically lost within energy dependent electrical equipment’s. The study is aimed at developing an efficient and cost effective heat recovery system, which is an improvement to existing variants. Solar thermal systems utilize flat plates or evacuated tube collectors which absorb the heat from the sun. Similarly, Photo-Voltaic (PV) systems absorb solar irradiation to generate electricity. A combination of both technologies results in Solar Photo-Voltaic Thermal (PV/T) systems wherein thermal plates or liquid contained tubes cool PV collectors resulting in increased efficiency. The PV cooling mechanism is important because excessive heat in PV panels generates high resistance, which impedes the performance of the solar cell and in the process, results in lower efficiency. PV/T systems are currently sold at relatively high cost and their availability is limited. The study focuses on the development of a dual heat recovery system for harnessing both the heat build-up on the PV plates and the heat generated from the heat exchanger exhaust outlet of a solar air- conditioning system, by incorporating electro-thermal generators and Peltier devices for the optimization process. The research is sectioned into design, prototype development, and a testing phase. The focus of this paper is to share the design phase of the project. The design highlighted herein is a cost effective and highly efficient PV/T model with a different heat absorption approach in comparison to conventional PV/T systems. The heat recovery system design is complete and is currently undergoing extensive tests to complete the testing and optimization phase

Application of an economical multi-axis automatic solar tracking device for efficiency improvement in solar power systems using Arduino board

Abstract: Solar irradiation is a green and sustainable renewable energy source which is largely harnessed through photovoltaic and thermal cell surfaces. It is one of the fastest growing clean power technologies with high global growth figures, due to its simplicity, affordability, and availability, relative to other renewable energy alternatives. In South Africa, rural urban drift has been on the increase which has contributed to increase in the demand for electric power supply thereby causing undue strain to national power grids. Ironically, the expansion of power generating stations lags behind increasing energy demand. Solar power systems is one of the fastest growing interventions augmenting fossil power and its application is now expanding beyond domestic utilization to commercial and industrial dependence. Due to continuous change in the position of the sun together with other salient factors, only a fraction of the suns energy potential is harnessed. The paper is focused on sharing an optimization option that has effectively addressed a major gap experienced in conventional solar power system installation as applicable to Light Emitting Diodes (LED) traffic light systems. The continuous movement of the sun limits maximum sun light irradiation absorption and solar trackers are practical solutions to this drawback. The high cost of solar trackers has however been the major limitation to their adoption. The Introduction of microcontroller based solar tracking systems using Arduino board was found to be cost effective, and it improved the efficiency of the solar cells significantly. In the study, the maximum Power Point (MPP) tracking algorithm was designed and developed using multiple-axis servo-motor feedback tracking system, which increased the efficiency of the solar panel array by 23.95%

Interventions to Skills Development in the Automotive Manufacturing Sector of South Africa

Competitiveness of the automotive industry is critical to South Africa’s economic sustainability. Recent studies have shown that the automotive sector has consistently contributed over 7% to South Africa’s annual gross domestic product (GDP) and as such, it is particularly imperative to support this sector, through growth-stimulating measures. Economic growth of any nation has long been attributed to the availability of resources, both tangible and intangible. Human capital is thus far the greatest intangible asset recorded in history and it is the key element upon which the success of all sectors is predicated. The availability of foreign direct investment (FDI) has largely been credited to the level of skilled and proficient human resources within an economy. This chapter highlights the strategic position of the South Africa automotive industry, by discussing various skills development interventions recorded within this sector from a domestic standpoint and from an international perspective. It comparatively analyses the approach applied locally with those implemented in other countries, through a historical review of skills development measures within the automotive manufacturing sector. The chapter identifies the major stakeholders, their roles and recognized contributions toward establishing a sustainable automotive sector. The skills development frameworks discussed in this chapter will serve as bases for informed decision to other industries interested in adapting and replicating some of the plausible actions applied in the automotive sector for their own growth

Zoning of rural medium voltage distribution networks for improving restoration time using distribution automation systems

Abstract: Electricity distribution reliability is a measure of power availability, which is a function of the frequency of interruptions, and the duration of such interruptions. Studies have shown that Medium Voltage (MV) overhead lines are the most significant contributory factors to power outages which lead to poor performance of electrical distribution networks. The research investigated the basis for the poor performance of MV overhead lines in a 22 Kilovolt (KV) radial feeder, in order to develop the most reliable and cost effective optimization approach for switching device placement which has the potential of improving the performance of MV overhead line distribution networks. A major requirement in power distribution is to supply customers with reliable electricity without interruptions. The research explored and identified causes of electricity supply interruptions, high values of Mega Voltage Ampere (MVA) losses, and the effect of downtimes in terms of number of customers impacted by outages. The findings informed the design of a robust switching device placement algorithm, capable of optimizing the performance of a 22KV overhead line, by reducing the number of customers impacted by interruptions, and minimizing MVA losses accordingly. Optimal switching device placement strategy improved restoration time of electricity by isolating only faulty section of network, and minimizing high costs currently associated with scheduled maintenance on the MV lines. On the occurrence of momentary supply interruption, the reclosers automatically restore electric power by their auto-reclose feature. System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI), System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI), Customer Base Impact Index (CBII), and Mega Voltage Ampere Base Impact Index (MVABII) were used to measure the performance outcomes of the line using customer and MVA data obtained from the feeder. Secondary data comprising information on monthly SAIDI, SAIFI, customers connected per transformer, and MVA data were obtained from the engineering plant department. A switching device placement technique was developed and validated using comparative analysis of the old and new data impact obtained after a pilot implementation phase. The developed technique improved the network performance by reducing the number of customers affected, and MVA losses impacted due to electricity supply interruptions by 30.74 and 25.30 % respectively

Low-cost automatic multi-axis solar tracking system for performance improvement in vertical support solar panels using Arduino board

Abstract: Solar irradiation is a green and sustainable renewable energy source which is largely harnessed through photovoltaic and thermal cell surfaces. It is one of the fastest growing clean power technologies with high-global growth figures, due to its simplicity, affordability and abundant availability. Solar power systems is one of the fastest growing interventions augmenting fossil power and its application is now expanding beyond domestic utilization to commercial and industrial dependence. Due to continuous change in the position of the sun together with other salient factors, only a fraction of the suns energy potential is harnessed. The paper is focused on sharing an optimization option that has effectively addressed a major gap experienced in conventional solar power system installation as applicable to light emitting diodes traffic light systems. The continuous movement of the sun limits maximum sun light irradiation absorption and solar trackers are practical solutions to this drawback. The high cost of solar trackers has however been the major limitation to their adoption. The Introduction of microcontrollerbased solar tracking systems using Arduino board was found to be cost effective, and it improved the efficiency of the solar cells significantly. In the study, the maximum power point tracking algorithm was designed and developed using multiple-axis servo-motor feedback tracking system, which increased the efficiency of the solar panel array by 23.95%

Manufacturing sector performance and economic growth in Nigeria

Abstract : The paper attempted to examine the impact of manufacturing sector output on economic growth in Nigeria from 1981 to 2016. The study employed secondary data sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria statistical bulletin for Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and the Granger causality techniques on RGDP, manufacturing capacity utilization (MCU), manufacturing output (LMO), government investment expenditure (GINVEXP), money supply (LM2) and interest rate (INR). Evidence of long-run and short-run relationships among the variables was established. The results showed that MCU has positive influence on RGDP while LMO also affects RGDP positively. It also showed that GINVEXP has negative effects on RGDP whereas LM2 influenced RGDP positively. Moreover, the result indicated a unidirectional causality between RGDP and MCU, LMO and LM2. Based on the above, the study suggest government should intensify efforts to promote socio-economic infrastructural, macroeconomic and institutional framework in Nigeria to provide favourable environment for external and domestic institutions interactions; so harnessed mobilized funds effectively towards productive manufacturing sector

Macroeconomic as Basis of Economic Growth : An ARDL Approach

Abstract : We examined the effect of some selected macroeconomic factors reflecting on Nigeria economic growth between the periods of the year 1981 to the year 2015 using Auto Regressive Distributed Lag denoted as ARDL method. Findings revealed that foreign direct investment, and trade openness were the major factors that determine real gross domestic product, especially in the short run. On this basis, this paper, therefore, concluded that increase in the net flow from foreign investors from the rest of the world has a significant effect on the Nigeria economy as it increases the capital inflow and improves economic growth

Training Needs Assessment on the Use of Social Media among Extension Agents in Oyo State, Nigeria

Agricultural information exchange has been dominated by industrial media such as newspapers, television, and magazines for decades. However, social media as a form of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) method for harmonizing sustainable agriculture and natural resources provides broader agricultural community that eliminates physical distance. The study therefore examined training needs assessment on the use of social media among agricultural extension agents in Oyo State, Nigeria. All the 90 agricultural extension agents in Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme (OYSADEP) were interviewed. This includes 35 from Ibadan|Ibarapa zone, 22 from Saki, 19 from Oyo and 14 from Ogbomosho zone. Result shows that the mean age of extension agents in Oyo State was 38±2 years, (98.8%) had one form of tertiary education or the other. Majority (72.0%) exhibited high need for training on the use of social media even when the result revealed that Facebook (47.6%) was mostly used social media among the agents. The result of inferential statistics shows that there was a significant relationship between education (X2 =10.142, p</jats:p

Data showing the effects of geotechnical properties of lateritic soil mixed with coconut shell powder in Ado-Ekiti, south western Nigeria

Abstract: In this data, the effect of locally available additive Coconut shell powder (CSP) substitute in determining the geotechnical properties of Ado Ekiti soil was assessed. The samples were collected from two borrow pits, Ado-Ijan road and Ado-Ilawe road, at two points each, and were treated using substitute of coconut shell powder, considering several percentages of its content at 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%. Laboratory tests such as specific gravity, consistency limit test, grain size distribution test, compaction test, CBR test, triaxial compression test, permeability test was conducted on the soil samples collected, and untreated soil was determined. The summary shows that the liquid limit, plastic limit, Plasticity Index, Maximum Dry Density and Optimum Moisture Content increases with increase in percentage of the additive and later decrease at higher percentage of additive, mostly at 8% and 10% respectively. The value of California Bearing ratio in percentage increases as the percentage of additive increases, although at 0% additive, the soil does not meet specification of road construction and the value of permeability ‘k’ also increases. The summary of triaxial test also shows increase in the strength properties of the soil at certain percentage likewise, the summary of unconfined compressive strength shows same. This indicates that the additives improves..