Framework for integrated oil pipeline monitoring and incident mitigation systems

Wireless Sensor Nodes (motes) have witnessed rapid development in the last two decades. Though the design considerations for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have been widely discussed in the literature, limited investigation has been done for their application in pipeline surveillance. Given the increasing number of pipeline incidents across the globe, there is an urgent need for innovative and effective solutions for deterring the incessant pipeline incidents and attacks. WSN pose as a suitable candidate for such solutions, since they can be used to measure, detect and provide actionable information on pipeline physical characteristics such as temperature, pressure, video, oil and gas motion and environmental parameters. This paper presents specifications of motes for pipeline surveillance based on integrated systems architecture. The proposed architecture utilizes a Multi-Agent System (MAS) for the realization of an Integrated Oil Pipeline Monitoring and Incident Mitigation System (IOPMIMS) that can effectively monitor and provide actionable information for pipelines. The requirements and components of motes, different threats to pipelines and ways of detecting such threats presented in this paper will enable better deployment of pipeline surveillance systems for incident mitigation. It was identified that the shortcomings of the existing wireless sensor nodes as regards their application to pipeline surveillance are not effective for surveillance systems. The resulting specifications provide a framework for designing a cost-effective system, cognizant of the design considerations for wireless sensor motes used in pipeline surveillance

Benchmarking Users’ Satisfaction with Public Transport Services in Nigeria

Public transport refers to the means by which larger proportions of urban dwellers gain physical access to the goods, services, and activities they need for their livelihoods and well-being. Public transportation therefore plays a very important role in both the developed and developing world cities. Therefore, it is important to understand the needs/perceptions of the transport users in order for policy makers to make better decisions and provide better transport services. A users’ perception survey was carried in order to find out how satisfied public transport users are with the public transport services provided in Nigeria. The survey was carried in Warri, Lagos, Ughelli and Benin. Relative Importance Index (RII) was applied in the analysis to evaluate the performance of the public transport system and benchmarked between the four cities. It was found out that Lagos has the lowest level of RII values when compared to the others; the values fell below the 0.60 cut off which indicates low performance. Keywords: Public transport Performance, Benchmarking, Nigeria

An investigation into a distributed virtual reality environment for real-time collaborative 4D construction planning and simulation

The use and application of 4 Dimensional Computer Aided Design (4D CAD) is growing within the construction industry. 4D approaches have been the focus of many research efforts within the last decade and several commercial tools now exist for the creation of construction simulations using 4D approaches. However, there are several key limitations to the current approaches. For example, 4D models are normally developed after the initial planning of a project has taken place using more traditional techniques such as Critical Path Method (CPM). Furthermore, mainstream methodologies for planning are based on individual facets of the construction process developed by discrete contractors or sub-contractors. Any 4D models generated from these data are often used to verify work flows and identify problems that may arise, either in terms of work methods or sequencing issues. Subsequently, it is perceived that current 4D CAD approaches provide a planning review mechanism rather than a platform for a novel integrated approach to construction planning. The work undertaken in this study seeks to address these issues through the application of a distributed virtual reality (VR) environment for collaborative 4D based construction planning. The key advances lie in catering for geographically dispersed planning by discrete construction teams. By leveraging networked 4D-VR based technologies, multidisciplinary planners, in different places, can be connected to collaboratively perform planning and create an integrated and robust construction schedule leading to a complete 4D CAD simulation. Establishing such a complex environment faces both technological and social challenges. Technological challenges arise from the integration of traditional and recent 4D approaches for construction planning with an ad hoc application platform of VR linked through networked computing. Social challenges arise from social dynamics and human behaviours when utilizing VR-based applications for collaborative work. An appropriate 4D-based planning method in a networked VR based environment is the key to gaining a technical advancement and this approach to distributed collaborative planning tends to promote computer-supported collaborative work (CSCW). Subsequently, probing suitable CSCW design and user interface/interaction (UI) design are imperative for solutions to achieve successful applicability. Based on the foregoing, this study developed a novel robust 4D planning approach for networked construction planning. The new method of interactive definition was devised through theoretical analysis of human-computer interaction (HCI) studies, a comparison of existing 4D CAD creation, and 3D model based construction planning. It was created to support not only individual planners’ work but multidisciplinary planners’ collaboration, and lead to interactive and dynamic development of a 4D simulation. From a social perspective, the method clarified and highlighted relevant CSCW design to enhance collaboration. Applying this rationale, the study specified and implemented a distributed groupware solution for collaborative 4D construction planning. Based on a developed system architecture, application mode and dataflow, as well as a real-time data exchange protocol, a prototype system entitled ‘4DX’ was implemented which provides a platform for distributed multidisciplinary planners to perform real-time collaborative 4D construction planning. The implemented toolkit targeted a semi-immersive VR platform for enhanced usability with compatibility of desktop VR. For the purpose of obtaining optimal UI design of this kind of VR solution, the research implemented a new user-centred design (UCD) framework of Taguchi-Compliant User-Centred Design (TC-UCD) by adapting and adopting the Taguchi philosophy and current UCD framework. As a result, a series of UIs of the VR-based solution for multifactor usability evaluation and optimization were developed leading to a VR-based solution with optimal UIs. The final distributed VR solution was validated in a truly geographically dispersed condition. Findings from the verification testing, the validation, and the feedback from construction professionals proved positive in addition to providing constructive suggestions to further reinforce the applicability of the approach in the future.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Development of an integrated framework for satisfaction assessment of construction project teams

With increasing competitive pressures in today‟s market, it has become critical for businesses to recognise the significance of satisfying their customers so as to ensure their economic stability. Various studies have emphasised on the need for customer focus and project satisfaction in the construction industry sector. The industry, however, has not fully embraced the practice of project satisfaction, which is grounded on meeting the needs of the customer. Though most research on project satisfaction has focussed on the client, it is essential that the satisfaction of the project delivery team and in the wider context, the stakeholders be considered. In this case, the client is the centre of gravity of the project team. In order to satisfy the project team, there are challenges in assessing their requirements. This necessitates the need to develop a unique and robust method for capturing and analysing the level of integrated project team satisfaction. In this research, the project delivery team and the stakeholders have been lumped together as an integrated project team. Therefore, integrated project team satisfaction entails recognising the client and project participants‟ requirements that guarantees project successful completion and acceptance by the team. In view of this, this research presents a framework, which has been developed to plug these needs and challenges. The framework, known as the Satisfaction Assessment Integrated Framework (SAIF) involves an integrated approach that considers the participants of a construction project as a tree structure, and each member of that tree as an intermediate or top element. Relationships and interactions of the elements, and how these affect the overall satisfaction levels of a single project, are analysed based on understanding their requirements and invoking modern satisfaction attainment theory. The framework includes a method for understanding and identifying the satisfaction attributes; multi-attribute analysis for prioritising the satisfaction attributes of the clients and project participants; fault tree analysis strategy for defining the satisfaction relationship in a particular project team; and an assessment scoring system (a combination of multi-attribute analysis, and failure mode and effects analysis methodical approach) that evaluates how much each member of the project team meets the requirements or satisfaction attributes of other participants. Hence, SAIF, a novel assessment methodology, investigates and identifies possible links and the influence of integrating the construction project team and their satisfaction attributes with the aim of improving their satisfaction levels as a team. Through the findings of this research, recommendations are made to further explore the implications of satisfying a given participant against dissatisfying the participant; and subsequently improve the satisfaction assessment process.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Architectural design of integrated external speed adaptation with collision avoidance system for intelligent trucks

Metadata onlyIn this paper, the design and development cycle for integrated systems architecture for External Speed Adaptation (ESA) and Collision Avoidance Systems (CAS) is presented. It subsequently presents a new method of modelling the integrated system architecture based on structured analysis. Moreover, a vehicle kinematics model is developed and used as the basis for designing the systems decision logic. A description of an experimental hardware and CAN software simulation show the potential of the systems integration. In the experimental system, the speed limiter (vehicle throttle control and ECU) is a mechatronic sub-system and the collision avoidance system that deactivates the acceleration of the truck and controls the speed of the truck to a preset speed limit to avoid collision. This is based on communication between a roadside sensor and the vehicle and an interface between the collision avoidance and speed adaptation systems

Intelligent Remote Speed Control of Foresight Trucks with Driver Interface

This paper was presented at SAE 2002 World Congress & Exhibition, March 2002, Detroit, MI, USA, Session: Foresight Vehicle Technology - ITS Technology/Design Technology (Part E&F).The paper presents a road-to-vehicle based speed adaptation system that was prototyped and tested with Siemens-VDO in Germany and UK. Various researches have shown those vehicles travelling at excessive speed are more likely to cause an accident. In UK, an estimated 1,200 fatalities per year on the roads can be attributed to inappropriate vehicle speed. It is believed that if it were possible to control vehicle speed within the legally accepted limits, on the road, the number and severity of these fatalities would be greatly reduced. Therefore, there is a need to develop methods of externally or remotely controlling or adapting vehicle speed limits. One method of affecting the necessary speed limits would be through the development of intelligent remote speed control system that employs the technologies of Intelligent Transport System that focuses on infrastructure - vehicle - infrastructure communication. An intelligent methodology is needed to integrate the technologies, the driver and the vehicle in order to start to address some of the concerns of deploying the systems. This paper presents a brief description of the technologies and a new method of integrating the driver in the decision process of an Intelligent Speed Adaptation system for trucks. A "chain-speed'' adaptation model is described. An experimental truck with the speed control is also presented. (SAE International

Time compression design with decision support for intelligent transport systems deployment

Metadata onlyThe time-to-market of a product is related to the time used in the design process of the product. This is particularly important in fast developing areas of intelligent transport systems (ITS) and products. More powerful design toolkits using advanced computers and software design are helping to shorten time-to-market with improved ITS products. The key to achieving these improvements is a methodology called Time Compressed Product Design And Optimisation (TOPDO). Based on the methodology, a state of the art software and computer framework has been developed for automating the design process, optimising integrated designs through rapid product modelling and analysis, performing systems simulation and capturing a knowledge base for devices, products and systems. This paper focuses on aspects of the computer framework based TOPDO technique that presents the design process as a total systematic framework