Fully Convolutional Neural Networks for Dynamic Object Detection in Grid Maps

Grid maps are widely used in robotics to represent obstacles in the environment and differentiating dynamic objects from static infrastructure is essential for many practical applications. In this work, we present a methods that uses a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) to infer whether grid cells are covering a moving object or not. Compared to tracking approaches, that use e.g. a particle filter to estimate grid cell velocities and then make a decision for individual grid cells based on this estimate, our approach uses the entire grid map as input image for a CNN that inspects a larger area around each cell and thus takes the structural appearance in the grid map into account to make a decision. Compared to our reference method, our concept yields a performance increase from 83.9% to 97.2%. A runtime optimized version of our approach yields similar improvements with an execution time of just 10 milliseconds.Comment: This is a shorter version of the masters thesis of Florian Piewak and it was accapted at IV 201

Managing Supply Discrepancies: The Effect of Performance Measurement and Feedback on Order Fulfillment Quality

Extensive research on the impact of shipping and packaging errors in the private sector finds numerous negative outcomes, including reduced customer satisfaction, reduced customer loyalty, and lower profitability. However, little research has been done examining the impact of order fulfillment errors on military operations. The purpose of this research is to quantify the impact of supply discrepancy reports (SDRs) on military aircraft readiness metrics, including cannibalizations, not mission capable supply (NMCS) hours, aircraft availability and MICAP hours. Results show SDRs significantly impact aircraft readiness metrics in seven of the fifteen analyses conducted. Additionally, a quasi-experimental study is implemented at DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania (DDSP) aimed at reducing supply discrepancies using performance measurement and feedback over a seventeen-week period. Cumulative sum (CUSUM) control charts showed a decline in the number of reported SDRs for fifteen consecutive weeks, amounting to the lowest average in over six years. The results of this research suggest that aircraft readiness metrics across the Air Force could show measurable improvement if similar SDR reduction strategies are implemented throughout more DoD suppliers

Non-game Birds in Relation to habitat Variation on South Dakota Wetlands

Non-game birds on South Dakota wetlands were surveyed on 476 quarter sections representing the major portion of South Dakota excluding the Missouri River and its impoundments and the Black Hills. Two surveys were conducted, one in May and a second in June, in both 1975 and 1976. The distribution of 13 non-game species was analyzed by physiographic strata and wetland classification: red-winged blackbird {Agelaius phoeniceus), yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus), Wilson\u27s phalarope (Steganopus tricolor), black tern (Chlidonias niger), lesser yellowlegs (Totanus flavipes), sora {Porzana carolina), marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa), willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus), American avocet (Recurvirostra americana}, American bittern {Botaurus lentiginosus), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) and green heron (Butorides virescens). Glacial pond types received the most use by non-game birds. Red-winged blackbird, yellow-headed blackbird, American bittern and sora had highest frequencies of occurrence on semi-permanent ponds. Lesser yellowlegs, marbled godwit, willet, green heron, and black tern occurred frequently on permanent ponds or lakes; Wilson\u27s phalarope on seasonal ponds; American avocet on ephemeral ponds; and great blue heron and black-crowned night heron on permanent streams. A greater variety and abundance of birds generally occurred in the 4 physiographic strata east of the Missouri River. All 13 species occurred in the James River Lowland, and 5 species occurred most frequently in this region: great blue heron, black-crowned night heron, green heron, sora and American avocet. The willet, marbled godwit and Wilson\u27s phalarope occurred most frequently in the Missouri Coteau; red-winged blackbird and lesser yellowlegs in the Southern Plateau Region; black tern and yellow-headed blackbird in the Minnesota River-Red River Lowland and American bittern in the Prairie Coteau. Multivariate analysis indicated surface water area as the single most common variable explaining the utilization of wetlands by non-game birds. Multiple regression analysis of territorial male red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds on semi-permanent ponds explained 47 and 57 percent of the variation respectively. Results of discriminant analysis of the presence and absence of the other target species generally explained less than 10 percent of the variation. The best discriminant results were with the American bittern where approximately 13 percent of the variation was explained

Continuous, Pulsed and Disrupted Nutrient Subsidy Effects on Ecosystem Productivity, Stability, and Energy Flow

Resource pulses and subsidies can supply ecosystems with an important source of nutrients that supports additional productivity at multiple trophic levels. Common carp Cyprinus carpio provide ecosystems with a continuous nutrient subsidy through bioturbation and excretion but may also initiate a nutrient pulse through carcass decomposition. We examined how continuous (common carp foraging and excretion), pulsed (carcass decomposition) and disrupted (carp introduced and then removed) nutrient subsidies differed in their ability to alter nutrient availability, ecosystem productivity and stability and energy flow. Nitrogen and phosphorus availability and primary production were highest in pulsed, intermediate in continuous and lowest for disrupted and control systems. Continuous, and to a lesser extent pulsed, systems were associated with decreased water clarity and macrophyte coverage. Nutrient pulses ascended to higher trophic levels and supported greater densities of consumers (i.e., zooplankton and macroinvertebrates). Biotic and abiotic responses in disrupted systems quickly returned to control levels and water quality improved. Light penetration and Daphnia spp. dynamics were more stable in systems with pulses whereas stability of other variables was similar across treatments. Biotic materials collected from pulsed and continuous subsidy systems were typically enriched in δ15N suggesting common carp-derived nutrients supported increased productivity whereas δ13C signatures were depleted suggesting a transition to more pelagic energy pathways, likely due to enhanced phytoplankton production. Our results suggest that continuous and pulsed nutrient subsidies vary in their ability to support and sustain ecosystem productivity with resulting variation in food web structure and ecosystem stability

Episode 6 : The Evolution of the MBA

Although the MBA is over 100 years old, the world of business is wildly different than it was a century ago. Join us as we explore how MBA programs are evolving, what today’s employers are looking for, and how things like big data and innovation are changing the degree. Michael Weber, Dean of the University of Maine Graduate School of Business talks about the relevance of the MBA in Maine and beyond

Notes and Discussion Piece: Status of the Topeka Shiner in Iowa

The Topeka shiner Notropis topeka is native to Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota and has been federally listed as endangered since 1998. Our goals were to determine the present distribution and qualitative status of Topeka shiners throughout its current range in Iowa and characterize the extent of decline in relation to its historic distribution. We compared the current (2016–2017) distribution to distributions portrayed in three earlier time periods. In 2016–2017 Topeka shiners were found in 12 of 20 HUC10 watersheds where they occurred historically. Their status was classified as stable in 21% of the HUC10 watersheds, possibly stable in 25%, possibly recovering in 8%, at risk in 33%, and possibly extirpated in 13% of the watersheds. The increasing trend in percent decline evident in earlier time periods reversed, going from 68% in 2010–11 to 40% in the most recent surveys. Following decades of decline, the status of Topeka shiners in Iowa appears to be improving. One potential reason for the reversal in the distributional decline of Topeka shiners in Iowa is the increasing number of oxbow restorations. Until a standardized monitoring program is established for Iowa, periodic status assessments such as this will be necessary to chronicle progress toward conserving this endangered fish species