334 research outputs found
Using a multi-lens framework for landscape decisions
1. Landscape decisions are multi-faceted. Framing landscape decision-making as a governance process that requires a collective approach can encourage key stakeholders to come together to co-inform a discussion about their priorities and what constitutes good governance, leading to more holistic landscape decisions.
2. In this paper, we recognise that a suite of complementary and multi-dimensional approaches are in practice used to inform and evaluate land use decisions. We have called these approaches âlensesâ because they each provide a different perspective on the same problem. The four lenses are: i) Power and Market Gain, ii) Ecosystem Services, iii), Place-based Identity and iv) Ecocentric. Each brings a different set of evidence and viewpoints (narrative, qualitative and experiential, as well as quantitative metrics such as monetary) to the decision-making process and can potentially reveal problems and solutions that others do not.
3. Considering all lenses together allows dialogue to take place which can reveal the true complexities of landscape decision-making and can facilitate more effective and more holistic decisions. Employing the lenses requires governance structures that give equal weight to all lenses, enable dialogue and coexistence between top down and bottom-up approaches, and permit adaptation to local and granular place-specifics rather than developing âone-size-fits-allâ solutions.
4. We propose that formalising the process of balancing all the lenses requires public participation, and that a lens approach should be used to support landscape decisions alongside a checklist that facilitates transparency in the conversation, showing how all evidence has been considered and critically assessed
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A New Methodology for Reducing Carbon Emissions Using Multi-Renewable Energy Systems and Artificial Intelligence
Data availability: The data that has been used is confidential.Microgrid cost management is a significant difficulty because the energy generated by microgrids is typically derived from a variety of renewable and non-renewable sources. Furthermore, in order to meet the requirements of freed energy markets and secure load demand, a link between the microgrid and the national grid is always preferred. For all of these reasons, in order to minimize operating expenses, it is imperative to design a smart energy management unit to regulate various energy resources inside the microgrid. In this study, a smart unit idea for multi-source microgrid operation and cost management is presented. The proposed unit utilizes the Improved Artificial Rabbits Optimization Algorithm (IAROA) which is used to optimize the cost of operation based on current load demand, energy prices and generation capacities. Also, a comparison between the optimization outcomes obtained results is implemented using Honey Badger Algorithm (HBA), and Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA). The results prove the applicability and feasibility of the proposed method for the demand management system in SMG. The price after applying HBA is 6244.5783 (ID). But after applying the Whale Optimization Algorithm, the cost is found 4283.9755 (ID), and after applying the Artificial Rabbits Optimization Algorithm, the cost is found 1227.4482 (ID). By comparing the proposed method with conventional method, the whale optimization algorithm saved 31.396% per day, and the proposed artificial rabbit's optimization algorithm saved 80.3437% per day. From the obtained results the proposed algorithm gives superior performance.The research has been partially supported by the Faculty of Informatics and Management UHK excellence project âMethodological perspectives on modelling and simulation of hard and soft systemsâ
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A novel efficient energy optimization in smart urban buildings based on optimal demand side management
Data availability:
The data used for this research and prepatation of this article can be accessed from Brunel University of London repository at: https://doi.org/10.17633/rd.brunel.26049436.v1.Increasing electrical energy consumption during peak hours leads to increased electrical energy losses and the spread of environmental pollution. For this reason, demand-side management programs have been introduced to reduce consumption during peak hours. This study proposes an efficient energy optimization in Smart Urban Buildings (SUBs) based on Improved Sine Cosine Algorithm (ISCA) that uses the load-shifting technique for demand-side management as a way to improve the energy consumption patterns of a SUBs. The proposed system's goal is to optimize the energy of SUBs appliances in order to effectively regulate load demand, with the end result being a reduction in the peak to average ratio (PAR) and a consequent minimization of electricity costs. This is accomplished while also keeping user comfort as a priority. The proposed system is evaluated by comparing it with the Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (GOA) and unscheduled cases. Without applying an optimization algorithm, the total electricity cost, carbon emission, PAR and waiting time are equal to 1703.576 ID, 34.16664 (kW), and 413.5864s respectively for RTP. While, after applying GOA, the total electricity cost, carbon emission, PAR and waiting time are improved to 1469.72 ID, 21.17 (kW), and 355.772s respectively for RTP. While, after applying the ISCA Improves the total electricity cost, PAR, and waiting time by 1206.748 ID, 16.5648 (kW), and 268.525384s respectively. Where after applying GOA, the total electricity cost, PAR, and waiting time are improved to 13.72 %, 38.00 %, and 13.97 % respectively. And after applying proposed method, the total electricity cost, PAR, and waiting time are improved to 29.16 %, 51.51 %, and 35.07 % respectively. According to the results, the created ISCA algorithm performed better than the unscheduled case and GOA scheduling situations in terms of the stated objectives and was advantageous to both utilities and consumers. Furthermore, this study has presented a novel two-stage stochastic model based on Moth-Flame Optimization Algorithm (MFOA) for the co-optimization of energy scheduling and capacity planning for systems of energy storage that would be incorporated to grid connected smart urban buildings.The research has been partially supported by the Faculty of Informatics and Management UHK excellence project âMethodological perspectives on modeling and simulation of hard and soft systemsâ
Bio-inspired motion detection in an FPGA-based smart camera module
Köhler T, Roechter F, Lindemann JP, Möller R. Bio-inspired motion detection in an FPGA-based smart camera module. Bioinspiration & Biomimetics. 2009;4(1):015008.Flying insects, despite their relatively coarse vision and tiny nervous system, are capable of carrying out elegant and fast aerial manoeuvres. Studies of the fly visual system have shown that this is accomplished by the integration of signals from a large number of elementary motion detectors (EMDs) in just a few global flow detector cells. We developed an FPGA-based smart camera module with more than 10000 single EMDs, which is closely modelled after insect motion-detection circuits with respect to overall architecture, resolution and inter-receptor spacing. Input to the EMD array is provided by a CMOS camera with a high frame rate. Designed as an adaptable solution for different engineering applications and as a testbed for biological models, the EMD detector type and parameters such as the EMD time constants, the motion-detection directions and the angle between correlated receptors are reconfigurable online. This allows a flexible and simultaneous detection of complex motion fields such as translation, rotation and looming, such that various tasks, e. g., obstacle avoidance, height/distance control or speed regulation can be performed by the same compact device
Stereopsis from contrast envelopes
We report two experiments concerning the site of the principal nonlinearity in second-order stereopsis. The first exploits the asymmetry in perceiving transparency with second-order stimuli found by Langley et al. (1998) (Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 265, 1837-1845) i.e. the product of a positive-valued contrast envelope and a mean-zero carrier grating can be seen transparently only when the disparities are consistent with the envelope appearing in front of the carrier. We measured the energy at the envelope frequencies that must be added in order to negate this asymmetry. We report that this amplitude can be predicted from the envelope sidebands and not from the magnitude of compressive pre-cortical nonlinearities measured by other researchers. In the second experiment, contrast threshold elevations were measured for the discrimination of envelope disparities following adaptation to sinusoidal gratings. It is reported that perception of the envelope's depth was affected most when the adapting grating was similar (in orientation and frequency) to the carrier, rather than to the contrast envelope. These results suggest that the principal nonlinearity in second-order stereopsis is cortical, occurring after orientation- and frequency-selective linear filtering
Smart Tourism Destinations: Can the Destination Management Organizations Exploit Benefits of the ICTs? Evidences from a Multiple Case Study
Recent developments of ICTs enable new ways to experience tourism and conducted to the concept of smart tourism. The adoption of cutting-edge technologies and its combination with innovative organizational models fosters cooperation, knowledge sharing, and open innovation among service providers in tourism destination. Moreover, it offers innovative services to visitors. In few words, they become smart tourism destinations. In this paper, we report first results of the SMARTCAL project aimed at conceiving a digital platform assisting Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) in providing smart tourism services. A DMO is the organization charged with managing the tourism offer of a collaborative network, made up of service providers acting in a destination. In this paper, we adopted a multiple case studies approach to analyze five Italian DMOs. Our aims were to investigate (1) if, and how, successful DMOs were able to offer smart tourism services to visitors; (2) if the ICTs adoption level was related to the collaboration level among DMO partners. First results highlighted that use of smart technologies was still in an embryonic stage of development, and it did not depend from collaboration levels
Consensus guidelines for sarcopenia prevention, diagnosis and management in Australia and New Zealand
Background: Sarcopenia is an age-associated skeletal muscle condition characterized by low muscle mass, strength, and physical performance. There is no international consensus on a sarcopenia definition and no contemporaneous clinical and research guidelines specific to Australia and New Zealand. The Australian and New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia and Frailty Research (ANZSSFR) Sarcopenia Diagnosis and Management Task Force aimed to develop consensus guidelines for sarcopenia prevention, assessment, management and research, informed by evidence, consumer opinion, and expert consensus, for use by health professionals and researchers in Australia and New Zealand. Methods: A four-phase modified Delphi process involving topic experts and informed by consumers, was undertaken between July 2020 and August 2021. Phase 1 involved a structured meeting of 29 Task Force members and a systematic literature search from which the Phase 2 online survey was developed (Qualtrics). Topic experts responded to 18 statements, using 11-point Likert scales with agreement threshold set a priori at >80%, and five multiple-choice questions. Statements with moderate agreement (70%â80%) were revised and re-introduced in Phase 3, and statements with low agreement (80%) were confirmed by the Task Force in Phase 4. Conclusions: The ANZSSFR Task Force present 17 sarcopenia management and research recommendations for use by health professionals and researchers which includes the recommendation to adopt the EWGSOP2 sarcopenia definition in Australia and New Zealand. This rigorous Delphi process that combined evidence, consumer expert opinion and topic expert consensus can inform similar initiatives in countries/regions lacking consensus on sarcopenia
Consensus guidelines for sarcopenia prevention, diagnosis and management in Australia and New Zealand
Background:
Sarcopenia is an age-associated skeletal muscle condition characterized by low muscle mass, strength, and physical performance. There is no international consensus on a sarcopenia definition and no contemporaneous clinical and research guidelines specific to Australia and New Zealand. The Australian and New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia and Frailty Research (ANZSSFR) Sarcopenia Diagnosis and Management Task Force aimed to develop consensus guidelines for sarcopenia prevention, assessment, management and research, informed by evidence, consumer opinion, and expert consensus, for use by health professionals and researchers in Australia and New Zealand.
Methods:
A four-phase modified Delphi process involving topic experts and informed by consumers, was undertaken between July 2020 and August 2021. Phase 1 involved a structured meeting of 29 Task Force members and a systematic literature search from which the Phase 2 online survey was developed (Qualtrics). Topic experts responded to 18 statements, using 11-point Likert scales with agreement threshold set a priori at \u3e 80 %, and five multiple-choice questions. Statements with moderate agreement (70 % â 80 %) were revised and re-introduced in Phase 3, and statements with low agreement ( \u3c 70 %) were rejected. In Phase 3, topic experts responded to six revised statements and three additional questions, incorporating results from a parallel Consumer Expert Delphi study. Phase 4 involved finalization of consensus statements.
Results:
Topic experts from Australia (n = 62, 92.5 %) and New Zealand (n = 5, 7.5 %) with a mean ± SD age of 45.7 ± 11.8 years participated in Phase 2; 38 (56.7 %) were women, 38 (56.7 %) were health professionals and 27 (40.3 % ) were researchers/academics. In Phase 2, 15 of 18 (83.3 %) statements on sarcopenia prevention, screening, assessment, management and future research were accepted with strong agreement. The strongest agreement related to encouraging a healthy lifestyle (100 %) and offering tailored resistance training to people with sarcopenia (92.5 %). Forty-seven experts participated in Phase 3; 5/6 (83.3 %) revised statements on prevention, assessment and management were accepted with strong agreement. A majority of experts (87.9 %) preferred the revised European Working Group for Sarcopenia in Older Persons (EWGSOP2) definition. Seventeen statements with strong agreement ( \u3e 80 %) were confirmed by the Task Force in Phase 4.
Conclusions:
The ANZSSFR Task Force present 17 sarcopenia management and research recommendations for use by health professionals and researchers which includes the recommendation to adopt the EWGSOP2 sarcopenia definition in Australia and New Zealand. This rigorous Delphi process that combined evidence, consumer expert opinion and topic expert consensus can inform similar initiatives in countries/regions lacking consensus on sarcopenia
The Australian and New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia and Frailty Research (ANZSSFR) sarcopenia diagnosis and management task force: Findings from the consumer expert Delphi process
Objectives: To develop guidelines, informed by health-care consumer values and preferences, for sarcopenia prevention, assessment and management for use by clinicians and researchers in Australia and New Zealand. Methods: A three-phase Consumer Expert Delphi process was undertaken between July 2020 and August 2021. Consumer experts included adults with lived experience of sarcopenia or health-care utilisation. Phase 1 involved a structured meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia and Frailty Research (ANZSSFR) Sarcopenia Diagnosis and Management Task Force and consumer representatives from which the Phase 2 survey was developed. In Phase 2, consumers from Australia and New Zealand were surveyed online with opinions sought on sarcopenia outcome priorities, consultation preferences and interventions. Findings were confirmed and disseminated in Phase 3. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed. Results: Twenty-four consumers (mean ± standard deviation age 67.5 ± 12.8 years, 18 women) participated in Phase 2. Ten (42%) identified as being interested in sarcopenia, 7 (29%) were health-care consumers and 6 (25%) self-reported having/believing they have sarcopenia. Consumers identified physical performance, living circumstances, morale, quality of life and social connectedness as the most important outcomes related to sarcopenia. Consumers either had no preference (46%) or preferred their doctor (40%) to diagnose sarcopenia and preferred to undergo assessments at least yearly (54%). For prevention and treatment, 46% of consumers preferred resistance exercise, 2â3 times per week (54%). Conclusions: Consumer preferences reported in this study can inform the implementation of sarcopenia guidelines into clinical practice at local, state and national levels across Australia and New Zealand
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