Pixel Classification of SAR ice images using ANFIS-PSO Classifier

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is playing a vital role in taking extremely high resolution radar images. It is greatly used to monitor the ice covered ocean regions. Sea monitoring is important for various purposes which includes global climate systems and ship navigation. Classification on the ice infested area gives important features which will be further useful for various monitoring process around the ice regions. Main objective of this paper is to classify the SAR ice image that helps in identifying the regions around the ice infested areas. In this paper three stages are considered in classification of SAR ice images. It starts with preprocessing in which the speckled SAR ice images are denoised using various speckle removal filters; comparison is made on all these filters to find the best filter in speckle removal. Second stage includes segmentation in which different regions are segmented using K-means and watershed segmentation algorithms; comparison is made between these two algorithms to find the best in segmenting SAR ice images. The last stage includes pixel based classification which identifies and classifies the segmented regions using various supervised learning classifiers. The algorithms includes Back propagation neural networks (BPN), Fuzzy Classifier, Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference Classifier (ANFIS) classifier and proposed ANFIS with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) classifier; comparison is made on all these classifiers to propose which classifier is best suitable for classifying the SAR ice image. Various evaluation metrics are performed separately at all these three stages

A Review on Software Performance Analysis for Early Detection of Latent Faults in Design Models

Organizations and society could face major breakdown if IT strategies do not comply with performance requirements. This is more so in the era of globalization and emergence of technologies caused more issues. Software design models might have latent and potential issues that affect performance of software. Often performance is the neglected area in the industry. Identifying performance issues in the design phase can save time, money and effort. Software engineers need to know the performance requirements so as to ensure quality software to be developed. Software performance engineering a quantitative approach for building software systems that can meet performance requirements. There are many design models based on UML, Petri Nets and Product-Forms. These models can be used to derive performance models that make use of LQN, MSC, QNM and so on. The design models are to be mapped to performance models in order to predict performance of system early and render valuable feedback for improving quality of the system. Due to emerging distributed technologies such as EJB, CORBA, DCOM and SOA applications became very complex with collaboration with other software. The component based software systems, software systems that are embedded, distributed likely need more systematic performance models that can leverage the quality of such systems. Towards this end many techniques came into existence. This paper throws light into software performance analysis and its present state-of-the-art. It reviews different design models and performance models that provide valuable insights to make well informed decisions

Column flotation technology for the beneficiation of coking and non-coking coal fines

The importance of coal is bound to increase for the coming years with the growth of coal consuming industries. Power sector is the most potential consumer of the non-coking coal and for coking coal iron & steel sector remains the major consumer. In future, coal gasification which is successfully adopted in China, an advanced coal-based power generation technology has the potential to provide higher generating efficiency and can be adopted to efficiently burn India’s high-ash coals. In the present study investigations are carried out on coal fines for both coking and non coking coals by conventional and column flotation techniques to suit industrial applications. Coking coal sample is taken from Jamadoba area in Jharkhand and non-coking coal is drawn from coal belt in Central Coal Fields, Jharkhand. For both the coals detailed studies are in progress for optimizing the reagent consumption and to establish the feasibility of column flotation technology for producing low ash concentrates with reasonably high recoveries

Recovery of values from tailing ponds of iron ore washing plants

Most of the Iron ore washing plants set up in India in the earlier days consist of sizing of the ore by dry / wet screening, washing and classification by screw classifiers. In this classical approach, iron values were lost in the form of fines and utrafines into the tailing ponds as they had little commercial value in those days and accumulated in huge quantities over the years. As the high grade deposits are getting exhausted and the demand for high grade finer material for pellet making is ever increasing, focus is shifting towards recovering the values from the erstwhile tailing ponds by column flotation. This is also supposed to mitigate to certain extent the environmental problems caused by the ever expanding and unmanageable tailing dams. A case study is presented wherein a composite sample is prepared from samples drawn systematically from multi - locations in a sprawling tailing dam. Laboratory scale column flotation tests on this composite tailings sample, basically originating from two operating iron ore beneficiation plants of JSW Steel Ltd., one of the leading producers of steel in India, are found to be encouraging. De-sliming followed by reverse and cationic flotation tests using flotation column resulted in the concentrate of 61.88% Fe, 4.81% SiO2, 2.52% Al2O3 and 3.30% loss on ignition (LOI) from the tailings analysing 57.86% Fe, 7.10% SiO2, 3.52% Al2O3 and 6.14% LOI with 52% weight recovery. The causes for the quality improvement could be attributed to de-sliming of unliberated ultra fines of kaoline and hydrated iron oxides and their further reduction by efficient flotation process. The process and the cationic collector developed for this purpose are adopted in the new flotation plant created to treat these tailings

Compressive Behaviour of RC Column with Fibre Reinforced Concrete Confined by CFRP Strips

The structural application of synthetic fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) has become widespread in the construction industry in order to satisfy the requirement of the earthquake resistant structures. Research conducted so far are focused on the structural behaviour of RC column externally confined with FRP composites, while studies are needed to address the behaviour of FRP strengthened RC column fabricated using fibre reinforced concrete. With the intention that the experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the feasibility use of CFRP composite strips in strengthening of RC column made with fibre reinforced concrete. Circular synthetic Polypropylene fibre was used in the rate of 0.50% in the volume of concrete. CFRP strips having a width of 50 mm were used to confine the column and the experimental parameters were effective spacing between the CFRP strips (20 mm and 30 mm) and the number of CFRP layers (one, two and three). The externally bonded CFRP strips counteract the lateral expansion of the concrete significantly by providing restraining effect and thus effect enhanced the stiffness of the column. The column strengthened with CFRP strips showed a maximum of 198.87% and 91.75% enhancement in axial deformation control and ultimate strength, respectively, compared to that of reference column. From the test results obtained, it is suggested that CFRP strips with the spacing of 20 mm and 30 mm can be used in strengthening of RC column made with FRC; however the column confined with 30 mm spacing provides an economical advantage compared to that of 20 mm spacing

Eco Friendly and Cost-Effective Reagent for Coal Flotation

Conventionally, diesel in combination with a frother is used widely in flotation of coal fines. With the continuous price escalation of petroleum products and their negative impact on environment, attempts were made to formulate an eco-friendly single reagent to replace diesel-frother system without affecting the flotation performance. Laboratory flotation tests were carried out, on a coking coal sample from eastern India, that analyzed 25.67% ash and 53.97% fixed carbon using a series of reagents developed. Among them, the performance of Sokem 590C derived from a vegetable oil was found to be encouraging. Concentrate assaying 11.77% ash and 66.40% fixed carbon was obtained with yield of 56.57%. Moreover, the reagent is biodegradable and eco friendly. Based on favorable kinetics and encouraging test results, plant trials were conducted at a coal preparation plant and the superiority of this reagent was demonstrated

Single reagent for coal flotation

Froth flotation is widely used for the beneficiation of fine coal and collectors are important for the effective separation in flotation. Conventionally, diesel in combination with a commercial frother is used in most of the coal washeries. With the escalating costs of petroleum products and their negative impact on environment, attempts were made to formulate an eco-friendly single reagent to replace diesel-frother system without hindering the flotation process performance. NML-Madras Centre in collaboration with M/s Somu Organo Chem Pvt Ltd, has been working on the formulation and evaluation of flotation reagents. Laboratory flotation tests were carried out using series of single reagents on a coking coal sample from Jharia region in the eastern part of India with an ash content of 24.9%. The best among the single reagents, Sokem 590C, yielded a float of 56.57% at 13.97% ash in the bench scale laboratory test. Based on encouraging results of flotation tests and kinetics studies, plant trials were conducted at a coal preparation plant in eastern India. The results of plant trials using this single reagent, Sokem 590C, are highly encouraging and economical as compared to diesel-frother system and this single reagent is non-petroleum based and biodegradable

Monitoring vegetation dynamics using multi-temporal Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) images of Tamil Nadu

Vegetation indices serve as an essential tool in monitoring variations in vegetation. The vegetation indices used often, viz., normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI) were computed from MODIS vegetation index products. The present study aimed to monitor vegetation's seasonal dynamics by using time series NDVI and EVI indices in Tamil Nadu from 2011 to 2021. Two products characterize the global range of vegetation states and processes more effectively. The data sources were processed and the values of NDVI and EVI were extracted using ArcGIS software. There was a significant difference in vegetation intensity and status of vegetation over time, with NDVI having a larger value than EVI, indicating that biomass intensity varies over time in Tamil Nadu. Among the land cover classes, the deciduous forest showed the highest mean values for NDVI (0.83) and EVI (0.38), followed by cropland mean values of NDVI (0.71) and EVI (0.31) and the lowest NDVI (0.68) and EVI (0.29) was recorded in the scrubland. The study demonstrated that vegetation indices extracted from MODIS offered valuable information on vegetation status and condition at a short temporal time period

Fine coal beneficiation by pilot column flotation

Beneficiation of coal fines with high ash content was attempted in an operating coal preparation plant by retrofitting a 0.5 m diameter pilot plant scale flotation column in the circuit. The collector and frother dosage were optimized as 0.680 kg/t and 0.058 kg/t respectively. At these reagent conditions the operating parameters of pilot scale flotation column were also optimized. The maximum yield of the froth obtained was 67.5% at the targeted ash level of 14% from a feed of 25% ash content. This was obtained at the operating parameters of 0.85 cm/s superficial air flow velocity, 0.57 cm/s superficial feed slurry velocity and 600 mm froth height. The performance of flotation column was found to be marginally better than that of the conventional flotation cells in the washery. Also, advantages such as low operational, maintenance and energy costs and operational flexibility in the case of flotation column could lead to financial accruals over a long run

Single reagent for graphite flotation

Generally, diesel and frother are used as reagents in graphite flotation. With the escalating cost of petroleum products and their negative impact on environment, attempts are made to formulate an eco-friendly single reagent to replace the diesel-frother system without affecting the flotation performance. CSIR-NML Madras Centre in collaboration with M/s Somu Organo Chem Pvt Ltd., India, has worked out the formulation and evaluation of single reagent on a low grade graphite ore sourced from eastern India. The petrography studies indicate that the ore primarily consists of quartz and graphite with minor quantity of mica and analyzing 87.85% ash content. The ore is crushed in stages followed by primary coarse wet grinding to 242 µm (d80). Rougher flotation is carried out in Denver flotation cell with a view to eliminate gangue as much as possible in the form of primary tailings with minimal loss of carbon. Regrinding of rougher concentrate to 216 µm (d80) is opted to improve the liberation of graphite values. This approach involving a primary coarse grinding and regrinding of rougher float followed by multi-stage cleaning using this single reagent is found to yield better recovery and grade when compared with that of the dual reagent system. A final concentrate of 12.03% weight recovery with 3.22% ash could be achieved. Based on encouraging laboratory studies using the single reagent, plant trials were carried out. From the cost benefit analysis, this single reagent proves to be an economically viable in place of diesel-frother for processing low grade graphite