Application of UAV in shoreline detection

Shoreline is defined as the interface between the land and the sea and the immediate position of the land-water line at one instant in time. This is because of the active nature of water bodies and the coastal land, the shoreline constantly changing (Paterson et. al, 2010). Shoreline change depicts how the position of the shoreline moves with time. Several studies point out that two main factors that can be responsible for changing the shoreline are human activities along the shore or natural processes. An example of a natural process can be a sea-level rise, change from storms and climate extreme weather events, including an increase in the intensity and frequency of waves on the shoreline face and beaches. Shorelines can also move landwards through the process of erosion; or seawards by sediment accretion. Shoreline change can also be used as a good indicator of possible coastal erosion and the best indicator for describing coastal erosion is the shoreline retreat rate. This phenomenon can be detected by using the latest technology such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

Design and Development of Ocean Monitoring System Based on Global Positioning System

Coastal zone of Malaysia has a vital role in socio-economic and environmental in pursuing the country development. However, it constantly faces a threat from coastal erosion. Hence, this study focused on developing the ocean monitoring system consists of a buoy with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, reference station and data analysis techniques. Based on the verification with slider machine, this system has been able to provide high accuracy result less than 0.5 cm compared to the standard value of slider machine. This study presents the capabilities of GPS buoy to observe wave data at Strait of Malacca by using high precision kinematic positioning approach. The GPS buoy data obtained from this observation were processed through a precise, medium-range differential kinematic technique. The RMS error from data analysis technique is less than 0.0016 m. Validation with Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (JUPEM) automatic tide gauges have found both methods agreed on tidal pattern with small discrepancy of less than 10 cm. Encouraging results were also obtained when the tidal observations off coast Senggarang was done. The tidal pattern for each observation has successfully recorded with acceptable accuracy when compared with manual observation. The kinematic coordinates further used to calculate the magnitude of the Power Spectral Density (PSD). PSD analysis function able to shows the strength of the variations (energy) as a function of frequency. The tidal changes and monsoon wind have been found to greatly influence the wave energy as shown in the PSD analysis. From the test result, GPS buoy and data processing technique promises a total solution as a complete ocean wave monitoring solution

Systematic investigation of failure analysis on a steam trap bypass tube in a coalfired power plant

A steam trap bypass tube in a power plant was totally fractured. The aim of this study is to examine the evidence presented by the steam trap bypass tube failure, determining the failure mechanism, determining the root cause of the failure and to recommend appropriate corrective actions. The power plant is a coal fired power plant with its normal operation temperature of 540°C. This study consists of failure mode inventory collection of the steam trap bypass tube failure, collection of background information about the process, component function and operating conditions. Detailed investigation carried out by visual examination, nondestructive testing (NDT), metallurgical testing which consists of microstructure examination, chemical testing and mechanical testing. Optical Microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Glow Discharge Spectrometer (GDS) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffraction (XRD) experiments were used throughout the investigation on the sample obtained. From the evidence with considering the contribution factors such as temperature, pressure and environment, a fault analysis was made and it can be concluded that the cause of failure to the steam trap bypass is due to multi causes which consists of creep failure and hydrogen damage. The root cause of high temperature creep and hydrogen damage which occurred at the steam trap bypass tube is due to material properties that are inadequate for the actual operating conditions of a steam trap bypass tube which is not according to the specification. The material must be actually ASTM SA-335-P22 (2.25Cr-lMo) with 490MPa minimum tensile strength and 320MPa minimum yield strength. However from the investigation found that the material used was ASTM SA-l92 (low strength carbon steel) with 324MPa minimum tensile strength and 180MPa minimum yield strength

Local liquid velocity measurement of trickle bed reactor using digitial industrial X-ray radiography

Trickle Bed Reactors (TBRs) are fixed beds of particles in which both liquid and gas flow concurrently downward. They are widely used to produce not only fuels but also lubrication products. The measurement and the knowledge of local liquid velocities (VLL) in TBRs is less which is essential for advancing the understanding of its hydrodynamics and for validation computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Therefore, this work focused on developing a new, non-invasive, statistically reliable technique that can be used to measure local liquid velocity (VLL) in two-dimensions (2-D). This is performed by combining Digital Industrial X-ray Radiography (DIR) and Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV) techniques. This work also make possible the development of three-dimensional (3-D) VLL measurements that can be taken in TBRs. Measurements taken through both the combined and the novel technique, once validated, were found to be comparable to another technique (a two-point fiber optical probe) currently being developed at Missouri University of Science and Technology. The results from this study indicate that, for a gas-liquid-solid type bed, the measured VLL can have a maximum range that is between 35 and 51 times that of its superficial liquid velocity (VSL). Without the existence of gas, the measured VLL can have a maximum range that is between 4 and 4.7 times that of its VSL. At a higher VSL, the particle tracer was greatly distributed and became carried away by a high liquid flow rate. Neither the variance nor the range of measured VLL varied for any of the replications, confirming the reproducibility of the experimental measurements used, regardless of the VSL. The liquid\u27s movement inside the pore was consistent with findings from previous studies that used various techniques --Abstract, page iii

The behaviours and night disturbances of the green turtle in Penang Island, Peninsular Malaysia

This paper focuses on the observation and behaviours of green turtles for one breeding season at Penang Island. Green turtle breeding behaviours and morphological characteristics were studied at Pantai Kerachut and Teluk Kampi, situated at Penang Island, the northern island of Peninsular Malaysia between December 2012 and August 2013. The findings revealed that from the eight green turtles landed; 106 were emergences, 38 were nests, and 158 digging attempts were made over the duration of one breeding season. The total clutch size deposited ranged from 170 to 979 eggs per turtle, and total nests ranged from three to eight nests per turtle. The inter-nesting interval ranged from 9 to 29 days, and the average was 13.5 days. Longer inter-nesting intervals were due to disturbances from feral dogs, wild pigs, sea-coated otters and night activities of fishermen (use of wide torch lights, sounds of boat engines) especially at Teluk Kampi. Lack of full-time personnel to control at Teluk Kampi was found to be a cause to nest poaching. Based on these findings and observation, the study suggests that Kerachut Turtle Conservation Centre should hire sufficient staffs to patrol the two beaches in order to prevent from human poachers and animal disturbances

Application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in Terrain Mapping: Systematic Literature Review

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is an advanced technology that can be control remotely. It hovers up in the air and travel with different height and distance depending on the capability of the UAV. Originally, this technology was invented for military practice. Now, the innovation of UAV is growing and have contribute to various field including terrain mapping in surveying work. Carrying out mapping task in terrain such as mountain, valley, plateau, or rainforest can be a difficult task in-terms of time, practicality and cost. Another challenge is when the survey area is permanently clouded over and the limited availability of aircraft platforms and the orbit features of satellites causing difficulties to obtain high quality photos. Therefore, there are much research that used UAV technology to do mapping work and obtain Digital Terrain Model (DTM), Digital Surface Model (DSM) and Digital Elevation Model for various purposes. In this study, systematic literature review using thematic analysis methodology was used to review, evaluate and combine relevant literature review. The aim of this study is to categorise the application for terrain mapping using UAV and also to identify the system and result improvement of UAV during the usage in terrain mapping. From the thematic analysis, two themes which are understanding the earth structure with the subtheme of geotechnical study, geomorphological study and flood study and UAV system improvement with the subtheme of accuracy assessment, accuracy enhancement and resolution were formed

Design and development of ocean monitoring system based on GPS

Coastal zone of Malaysia has a vital role in socio-economic and environmental in pursuing the country development. However, it constantly faces a threat from coastal erosion. The report year 2013 from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia showed 29% of Malaysian coastal has been experiencing erosion at various levels and primarily driven by ocean waves. Hence, this study focused on developing the ocean monitoring system consists of a buoy with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, reference station and data analysis techniques. The buoy was developed by considering local factors and improves the performance of existing buoy. Comparison with existing GPS buoy has found that the GPS buoy is far exceeded in term of physical specifications, costs, sensors sensitivity and observation interval. Based on the verification with slider machine, this system has been able to provide high accuracy result less than 0.5 cm compared to the standard value of slider machine. The RMS error from data analysis technique is less than 0.0016 m. Validation with Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (JUPEM) automatic tide gauges have found both methods agreed on tidal pattern with small discrepancy of less than 10 cm. Encouraging results were also obtained when the observations off coast Senggarang compared with manual observations, historical data and Malaysia Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) wave forecasting. This system has been observing the same tidal patterns with data analysis RMS error less than 0.0013 m. Comparison with the height of historical wave data and wave forecast shows the results of observations of this system are in the range of comparisons made. Difference of 20 mm was obtained when compared with the wave height observed manually. The usefulness of GPS buoy data also has been demonstrated in analyzing the monsoon wind influences at off coast Senggarang

A preliminary study on the benefits of loyalty programs in Malaysian city hotels / Jazira Anuar, Norzuwana Sumarjan and Salleh Mohd Radzi

Hotels spend millions of dollars annually to grant benefits to their loyal members. However, despite having a huge portion of invest-ment on this loyalty program benefits, the effectiveness of such pro-grams in delivering benefits to members is still questionable. In-depth interviews of 14 hotel executives from either Front Office or Marketing department were primarily conducted to explore hotel’s benefit structures. The taxonomical benefits offered by six city hotel loyalty programs were compared and summarized. The transcripts and tapes derived from the interviews were analyzed, coded and summarized into categories. The findings were structurally com-pared. Findings revealed that although these six city hotels sharing the same thirteen core benefits, but each hotel is trying very hard to differentiate themselves from their competitors. It is beneficial for hoteliers in improving their current loyalty programs or designing new loyalty programs for their hotel. Uniquely, this study provides benefit taxonomy summary of the six city hotel loyalty programs in Malaysia and compares the benefits categorized into three levels: core benefits, partially common benefits and individual benefits

Numerical Investigation Of Stagnation Point Flow Over a Stretching Sheet With Convective Boundary Conditions

In this study, the mathematical modeling for stagnation point flow over a stretching surface with convective boundary conditions is considered. The transformed boundary layer equations are solved numerically using the shooting method. Numerical solutions are obtained for the skin friction coefficient, the surface temperature as well as the velocity profiles. The features of the flow and heat transfer characteristics for various values of the Prandtl number, stretching parameter and conjugate parameter are analyzed and discussed