The Polar Projection – an Alternative Approach for Spatial Analysis

The polar projection presented here results from the need to have a uniform yet fairly simple method for recording the various phenomena and relations pertaining to land development. The contact infrastructure anisotropy and variable population and development density lead to socioeconomic space discontinuities. In the “spherical†model all subareas are characterized by coordinates on some “basic†spherical surface. The basic “air†distance between them can thus be identified directly. However, from the points corresponding to the subareas we can draw the radii of the sphere to represent the concrete connection between two subareas available in this moment by means of a segment connecting the corresponding radii at different distances from the centre of the sphere. Thus connections longer or shorter than the basic distance are to be found on an other sphere than the basic sphere. Accordingly, the degree of connectedness is characterized by the corresponding length of radius to express several alternative connections to employ a spatial or time measure and to state whether the lengthening of the distance is due to a “roundabout†connection or to the low speed parameters etc. It is thus possible to dodge the difficulties which in such cases emerge because of the necessity to employ both types of models – the gravity and the “opportunity†models. In order to simplify things instead of concentric spheres we can use parallel planes, intersected by a bundle of lines. A projection of the developed area can consist of selecting the base surface where the element distribution density matches the “standard†density. Now any deviation from this standard density can be presented as moving the surface towards or further away from the pole. Using this approach to register the socioeconomic space, we can bring all information down to the length of the “projection rayâ€. Many of the tasks pertaining to modeling events and processes require certain arithmetic operations or use of mathematical functions to measure results. This is performed “on the side†without visual “contact†with the area. A twin system, which can serve as the geometrical basis for registering and building certain relations may be involved.

MultiNet: Multi-Modal Multi-Task Learning for Autonomous Driving

Autonomous driving requires operation in different behavioral modes ranging from lane following and intersection crossing to turning and stopping. However, most existing deep learning approaches to autonomous driving do not consider the behavioral mode in the training strategy. This paper describes a technique for learning multiple distinct behavioral modes in a single deep neural network through the use of multi-modal multi-task learning. We study the effectiveness of this approach, denoted MultiNet, using self-driving model cars for driving in unstructured environments such as sidewalks and unpaved roads. Using labeled data from over one hundred hours of driving our fleet of 1/10th scale model cars, we trained different neural networks to predict the steering angle and driving speed of the vehicle in different behavioral modes. We show that in each case, MultiNet networks outperform networks trained on individual modes while using a fraction of the total number of parameters.Comment: Published in IEEE WACV 201

Money chasing deals and chasing money - the impact of supply and demand on buyout performance

This paper analyzes the impact of differences in supply of and demand for private equity financing on the performance of buyouts. Using a unique and proprietary sample of 684 buyout investments in North America and Europe, we show that buyout performance decreases when large volumes of private equity commitments are looking for suit-able acquisition targets and (b) increases when macroeconomic conditions are such that demand for private equity financing is high. These findings remain unchanged if we control for the idiosyncrasies of individual investment periods, transaction size, holding period and industry sector of individual investment and the vintage year, the size or the age of the investing private equity fund. Our results support the view that the market for buyout target companies is not necessarily efficient, but that instead acquisition prices (and thereby transaction performance) depend on the competition by a limited number of private equity fund managers for a limited number of attractive investment opportuni-ties.Private Equity funds; buyouts; performance; investment behavior

WetNet: Using SSM/I data interactively for global distribution of tropical rainfall and precipitable water

The research objectives were the following: (1) to use SSM/I to categorize, measure, and parameterize effects of rainfall systems around the globe, especially mesoscale convective systems; (2) to use SSM/I to monitor key components of the global hydrologic cycle, including tropical rainfall and precipitable water, and links to increasing sea surface temperatures; and (3) to assist in the development of efficient methods of exchange of massive satellite data bases and of analysis techniques, especially their use at a university. Numerous tasks have been initiated. First and foremost has been the integration and startup of the WetNet computer system into the TAMU computer network. Scientific activity was infeasible before completion of this activity. Final hardware delivery was not completed until October 1991, after which followed a period of identification and solution of several hardware and software and software problems. Accomplishments representing approximately four months work with the WetNEt system are presented

WetNet: Using SSM/I data interactively for global distribution of rainfall and precipitable water

By completing hardware installation, preparing for comparative studies of SSM/I, radar, and lightning data, it is believed that this will be a powerful combination for evaluating the global distribution of tropical rainfall, and the vertical distribution of latent heating, with strong application to algorithms for use on TRMM, EOS-A, and future GOES spacecraft. Potential data bases will be surveyed, about 5 case studies with surface rainfall, radar, lightning, and sounding data will be identified. SSM/I algorithms will be used to identify convective regions of MCSs. A catalog will be developed of the global profile of heavy tropical rainfall, and how these zones are organized within larger tropical weather systems. Beginning with the first few months of SSM/I data distributed over WetNet, SSM/I radiances will be compared with TOVS radiance (moisture and thermal) and OLR observations. The purpose is to improve understanding of how real world water vapor profiles in the tropical atmosphere are perceived by SSM/I precipitable water algorithm and, at the same time, by the TOVS water vapor channel