A Case Study of the Omani Electricity Network and Readiness for Solar Energy Integration

In this paper a study is made of the electricity network of the Sultanate of Oman. The electricity industry of Oman currently relies on almost 100% fossil fuels – with natural gas (97.5%) and diesel oil (2.5%) being the primary sources of electricity generation. This reliance is expected to change significantly in the coming years. Harnessing solar energy (and wind energy) will help to significantly reduce the country’s carbon emission footprint whilst enhancing intra-structural development and ensuring economic stability. Solar energy density levels in Oman are among the highest in the world. The country receives an extensive daily solar radiation of 5,500-6,000 Wh/m2 per day in July and 2,500- 3,000 Wh/m2 per day in January. With careful planning this energy rich resource may now be harnessed. In this context the regulatory environment in Oman has been gradually trans-forming to minimise the political and administrative barriers for the integration of renewable energies into the Omani electricity and water system networks. A number of detailed studies have been conducted in scoping potential developments for solar energy resources across Oman. These include (i) a proposal for wide-scale deployment of domestic roof-top PV solar, (ii) feasibility of large-scale generation plant by solar PV and/or Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), and solar thermal as an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) assist. Wind generation is also feasible in a number of regional zones, with one approved development for a large wind farm in the south of the country. Oman is also connected to its Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) neighbouring countries via the Gulf Super Grid. This is a very important development both for the country and for the wider region. With further developments in regional renewable energy generation, prospects for transmission of clean energy between GCC countries and beyond, will emerge. Oman has a dedicated Ministry for Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA). A target of 10% renewable generation by 2020 is already in place. Creation of enhanced renewable governance structures, provision of renewable tariff support, investment planning, and strategic forward planning, are matters for ongoing review

Engineering Education in the US and the EU

Systems for the education of engineers in the US and the EU differ in significant ways. In this chapter we describe and reflect upon differences in accreditation policies and procedures, curriculum structure and content, admissions criteria and student mobility. Within the US there is a surprising uniformity among both private and public university programmes in engineering education, due in large part to the acceptance of ABET’s (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) authority in setting standards for curriculum content. Within the EU there is greater programme variety, although some degree of harmonization is in the works due to the Bologna Declaration. We describe and analyze current efforts in Europe aimed at establishing a pan-EU authority for accreditation - the EUR- ACE Framework. One topic in curriculum structure draws our attention - the perceived value of liberal studies in engineering and the potential for significant reform of the engineering curriculum in this regard. Criteria for admission to university study in engineering differ among the different members of the EU. In the US, criteria are more or less the same whether the student applies to MIT or the University of Michigan. Understanding these differences is essential if transatlantic cooperation in higher (and vocational) education is to be achieved as is the intent of a new EU-US programme - The Atlantis Programme (2006-20013)

Information Delivery on Mobile Devices Using Contour Icon Sonification

This paper examines the use of musical patterns to convey information, specifically in the context of mobile devices. Existing mechanisms (such as the popularity of the Morse code SMS alert) suggest that the use of musical patterns on mobile devices can be a very efficient and powerful method of data delivery. Unique musical patterns based on templates known as Contour Icons are used to represent specific data variables, with the output rendering of these patterns being referred to as a Sonification of that data. Contour Icon patterns mimic basic shapes and structures, thus providing listeners with a means of categorising them in a high level manner. Potential Sonification applications involving mobile devices are already in testing, with the aim of delivering data to mobile users in a fast, efficient and hands-free manner. It is the goal of this research to provide greater functionality on mobile devices using Sonification

Information Delivery on Mobile Devices Using Contour Icon Sonification

This paper examines the use of musical patterns to convey information, specifically in the context of mobile devices. Existing mechanisms (such as the popularity of the Morse code SMS alert) suggest that the use of musical patterns on mobile devices can be a very efficient and powerful method of data delivery. Unique musical patterns based on templates known as Contour Icons are used to represent specific data variables, with the output rendering of these patterns being referred to as a Sonification of that data. Contour Icon patterns mimic basic shapes and structures, thus providing listeners with a means of categorising them in a high level manner. Potential Sonification applications involving mobile devices are already in testing, with the aim of delivering data to mobile users in a fast, efficient and hands-free manner. It is the goal of this research to provide greater functionality on mobile devices using Sonification

Musical Pattern Design Using Contour Icons

This paper considers the use of Contour Icons in the design and implementation of musical patterns, for the purposes of detection and recognition. Research work had endeavoured to deliver musical patterns that were both distinct and memorable, and to this end a set of basic melodic shapes were introduced using a Sonification application called TrioSon that had been designed for the purpose. Existing work in the field (such as that concerning Earcon design) has considered the mechanisms by which patterns may be made distinctive, but it is argued that separate consideration must be given to the method of making such patterns memorable. This work suggests that while segregation and detection can best be facilitated by the individuality of a patterns rhythm, the retention (and hence future recognition) of a musical pattern is concerned more with its melodic range and contour. The detection and comprehension of musical patterns based around basic shapes (known as Contour Icons) was tested, within Sonifications of simple data sets generated using TrioSon. A set of test patterns based on such factors as tonality and key was used for control purposes, with Contour Icons being introduced in the second set of tests. Results suggest that significant improvement was made due to the use of Contour Icons, with further work focusing on the many possibilities that such a design framework would suggest

Independent Subspace Analysis using Locally Linear Embedding

While Independent Subspace Analysis provides a means of blindly separating sound souces from a single channel signal, it does have a number of problems. In particular the amount of information required for separation of sources varies with the signal. This is a result of the variance-based nature of Principal Component Analysis, which is used for dimensional reduction in the Independent Subspace Analysis algorithm. In an attempt to overcome this problem the use of a non-variance based dimensional reduction method, Locally Linear Embedding, is proposed. Locally Linear Embedding is a geometry based dimensional reduction technique. The use of this approach is demonstrated by its application to single channel source separation and its merits discusse

Sustainable Design: A Case Study in Energy Systems

Since the publication of the UN climate report in 2007, most countries now agree that recent climate change has occurred as a result of human intervention and that it will require fast and profound measures to reduce this negative imprint imposed upon nature. Central to this is the need to radically reduce CO2 emissions resulting from combustion of carbon-based energy resources to meet global energy demands. Greater measures must be taken to develop new non-combustion based technologies, in addition to using low-carbon energy resources. Increasing energy efficiency and using energy wisely will also feature in reducing emissions. Sustain-able Energy is now to the fore in both Europe and the United States of America; with government core research agencies developing strategy and preparing scholar-ship research programmes, with invite to develop new ideas and provide innovative solutions to the needs of the energy sector. There is also evidence of greater critical self awareness by academics and researchers of the need to be more actively en-gaged in finding new solutions through interdisciplinary research. The terms ‘sus-tainable development’ and ‘sustainable design’ have become part of our everyday vocabulary, and there is now an active trend towards development of new curricula and degree programmes in sustainable energy. In this chapter we discuss the princi-ples of sustainable development and sustainable design, and explore a range strate-gies and tools for the provision of engineering education. We provide some exam-ples of syllabi and curricula developments in sustainable design, and we invoke a spirit of engagement in helping create a sustainable future

Self-Authentication of Audio Signals by Chirp Coding

This paper discusses a new approach to ‘watermarking’ digital signals using linear frequency modulated or ‘chirp’ coding. The principles underlying this approach are based on the use of a matched filter to provide a reconstruction of a chirped code that is uniquely robust in the case of signals with very low signal-to-noise ratios. Chirp coding for authenticating data is generic in the sense that it can be used for a range of data types and applications (the authentication of speech and audio signals, for example). The theoretical and computational aspects of the matched filter and the properties of a chirp are revisited to provide the essential background to the method. Signal code generating schemes are then addressed and details of the coding and decoding techniques considered. Finally, the paper briefly describes an example application which is available on-line for readers who are interested in using the approach for audio data authentication working with either WAV or MP3 files

Automating Ornamentation Transcription

A novel technique for detecting single and multi-note ornaments is presented. The system detects audio segments by utilising and onset detector based on comb filters (ODCF), which is capable of detecting very close events. In addition, a novel method to remove spurious onsets due to offset events is introduced. The system utilises musical ornamentation theory to decide whether a sequence of audio segments correspond to an ornamentation musical structure. In order to evaluate the results, a database of signals produced by different players using the three different instruments has been utilised. The results represent a step forward towards fully automating ornamentation transcriptio

Engineering Leadership

By 1921 the American sociologist Thorstein Veblen in his book The Engi-neers and the Price System argued for a technocracy in which the welfare of humanity would be entrusted to the control of the engineers because they alone were competent to understand the complexities of the industrial system and processes and thereby optimize and maximize its output. This chapter sets out to explore the extent to which Veblen’s technocratic leadership thesis has come to pass. We first review the role of the engineer in society and in the context of Europe, the US and China, and examine the influence of the engineering profession on the management and economic welfare of nations. Second we review trends in engineering education and formation in Europe, China and the US, and the substantive developmental role of the Grand Écoles in 18th-century France. A comparison is made between the economies of Ireland and China, in the context of their recent economic performance. Third a review of commentary on the interconnectedness of world economies and shift in economic power from nineteenth century United King-dom market dominance to twentieth century United States supremacy and to present day emergence of China as the world’s second largest and fastest growing economy, is made in the context of the role of engineering leadership. We finally ponder whether a hybrid political environment, with blending of meritocracy with technocratic leadership and moderated by non-engineering influences, might be a recipe for sustained economic success of nations