Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 284-287

Abstract: Frequency information of tidal elevations in the coastal zone is essential for the determination of datum level, the classification of inhabitation zones, and the analysis of mean sea level variation. In this study, the non-parametric density function is suggested for the analysis of hourly tidal elevation data provided by the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Administration. The density function was estimated for six principal locations, Incheon, Mokpo, Jeju, Yeosu, Busan, and Pohang in the Korean coastal area using a kernel function. The parameter required for the probability density function was optimally estimated with the Sheather and Jones (SJ). And the optimal parameter appropriate for the normal distribution function was about 30% higher than that predicted by the SJ method or the Cross Validation (CV) method. It can be seen that the final kernel functions were less affected. The smoothing parameters for all of the tidal elevation data were optimized to be in the range of 0.13-0.17 with the SJ method. From the normality test of the observed tidal elevation data, it was proposed that the hypothesis of a normal distribution was inappropriate in the test techniques with a 95% significance level.

Abstract: Due to several reasons, there is a shortage of water resources in Taiwan, despite abundant rainfall. These reasons include high population density, uneven spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall, and rivers with steep gradients. According to the data collected by Central Geological Survey in the project: Pumping of Groundwater Resources in the Central Division of Mountain Areas of Taiwan, the abundant underground water in mountain areas exists in areas with thick regolith, broken rock or sandstone. Therefore, the investigation of regolith depth distribution would help us to further understand the amount of underground water, and the areas that can be exploited. This study is based on 441 drilling data over the Da-Chia and Choshui river basins, and aims to construct a relation model of topographic and environmental variables and to estimate the regolith depth in the study area. The amount of drilling data will be increased each year so that the model can be improved, developed and converged. Moreover, it can help in developing a model that is most suitable for estimating regolith depth in Taiwan.

Abstract: Satellite imaging scheduling is a complicated task been developed to ideally satisfy all requests under various constraints. A considerable amount of theoretical work has been carried out on single- or multi-satellite scheduling problems based on single-objective optimization. On the other hand, concerning multi-objective optimization in a multi-satellite scheduling scenario, few theoretical analyses have been performed. In this paper, we propose a novel imaging scheduling algorithm of multi-objective optimization for multi-satellite (MOO-MS). The concept of orbit coordination is introduced and the geometry analysis is incorporated to obtain the Pareto front as a set of trade-off solutions. Moreover, a truncated Cauchy probability distribution function (TCPDF) search algorithm is developed to efficiently obtain a sequence of tasking areas with imaging time. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm avoids large amount of calculation and provides high quality solution within a short period of time by comparing with the single- or multi-satellite optimization scheme.

Abstract: The post-disaster recovery from a debris flow imposes a heavy financial burden on a government; thus, it is necessary for governmental agencies use their limited resources effectively. In this study, we focus on the loss curve assessment, the framework of which includes hazard simulation, exposure evaluation and loss assessment. A numerical program named DEBRIS-2D is used to simulate debris flow hazards of different scale. Then, the latest land usage data and the economic loss model are factored in for exposure and loss assessment. In August 2009, Typhoon Morakot hit Taiwan and horrendous disasters resulted, including large-scale landslides and debris flows. The Daniao tribe in Taitung in eastern Taiwan was hit by one of these debris flows, with a debris-flow volume in excess of 500,000 m3, which was beyond the scope of any recovery plan. We simulate the hazards of the debris flow in different volumes and build the loss curve in relation. Notably, the practice of assessing damage caused by such disasters can help in assessing possible losses before they occur, thus allowing governments to take the necessary precautionary measures.

Abstract: Most of sustainability assessment tools for urban development planning do not provide any quantitative framework in terms of measuring the conceptual idea of “Carbon-neutral”. These tools generally use the scoring methodology by sum up points in various check lists for environmental sustainability. For planners, assessment of environmental sustainability should offer a simple and quantitative framework for measuring environmental resource uses and loads in order to develop planning alternatives under the limited natural conditions. The concept of carrying capacity needs to be understood as maximum loads to a limited environment, and the balance of CO2 emissions, uptakes, and offsetting acts as the most important quantitative indicators assessing environmental sustainability in terms of the conceptual idea of “Carbon-neutral”. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate theories of the concept of “Carbon Carrying Capacity”, and to propose an assessment tool for measuring environmental sustainability based on the concept of Carbon Carrying Capacity. To present case study results, a high-density and mixed-use development project was chosen located in Kwangmyung-si near Seoul. Results indicated the baseline of Carbon Carrying Capacity was estimated at 0.48tCO2/capita•yr and possibilities of achieving environmental sustainability by the development planning alternatives.

Abstract: Zhengzhou-Luoyang area is one of the cradles of ancient Chinese civilization and contains more than 1000 settlements of the Neolithic Age. To study the spatial distribution of the Neolithic settlements in the region, this paper applied the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to investigate the relationship between site locations and environmental variables. The results of GIS analysis show that the settlement distribution of each culture period has a clustered pattern and obvious spatial features. Most of the settlements tend to be located in flat areas with low elevation and close to rivers and arable soils. Based on the environment variables, a Neolithic settlement site predictive model was generated to predict the archaeological probability of any given area in Zhengzhou-Luoyang area. The predictive model and distribution characteristics obtained here can help better understand the Neolithic man-land relationship and provide guidance for future field archaeology.

Abstract: In order to facilitate applications such as environment detection or disaster monitoring, developing a quickly and low cost system to collect near real time spatial information is very important. Such a rapid spatial information collection capability has become an emerging trend in the technology of remote sensing and mapping application. In this study, a fixed-wing UAV based spatial information acquisition platform is developed and evaluated. The proposed UAV based platform has a direct georeferencing module including an low cost INS/GPS integrated system, low cost digital camera as well as other general UAV modules including immediately video monitoring communication system. This direct georeferencing module is able to provide differential GPS processing with single frequency carrier phase measurements to obtain sufficient positioning accuracy. All those necessary calibration procedures including interior orientation parameters, the lever arm and boresight angle are implemented. In addition, a flight test is performed to verify the positioning accuracy in direct georeferencing mode without using any ground control point that is required for most of current UAV based photogrammetric platforms. In other word, this is one of the pilot studies concerning direct georeferenced based UAV photogrammetric platform. The preliminary results in term of positioning accuracy in direct georeferenced mode without using any GCP illustrate horizontal positioning accuracies in x and y axes are both less than 20 meters, respectively. On the contrary, the positioning accuracy of z axis is less than 50 meters with 600 meters flight height above ground. Such accuracy is good for near real time disaster relief. Therefore, it is a relatively safe and cheap platform to collect critical spatial information for urgent response such as disaster relief and assessment applications where ground control points are not available.

Abstract: Tracking multiple fishes using computational methods have become a research endeavor among researchers. Different concepts have been taken such as installing water sensors and video cameras to identify movement speed, colours, shapes and swimming patterns displayed by the fishes. In this research, an enhanced algorithm consisting of motion detection algorithm and condensation algorithm is proposed. This algorithm is further integrated with colour changes identification technique which considers the changes in colour on fishes. This is to identify overlapping fishes and to detect the distance between the camera and the fishes in the water. In our case study, a cultured fish tank installed with water sensors to monitor water pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature is set up together with two network cameras. Koi fishes are chosen due to their active swimming behaviour, variety of colours and easy-to-adapt habitat in the water. A real-time prototype system which models the fish swimming pattern consisting of the enhanced algorithm and the colour changes identification is developed.

Abstract: In bone tissue engineering, the scaffold architecture is very important for cell growth, it is better to make it similar with the native bone trabecula. To imitate the nature bone morphology, this paper presents a 3D reconstruction method of bone trabecula surface for cranium scaffold. Firstly, a native human cranium specimen on forehead was scanned by micro CT equipment and a set of gray level images were obtained. Then through image denoising, image enhancement, contour extraction and triangular surface reconstruction, the 3D structure of the specimen and its internal bone trabecula were reconstructed successfully. Lastly, to evaluate the feasibility of the method, a biomaterial scaffold case was fabrication using lost-foam casting technology. Results shown that the bone trabecula architecture in the scaffold is best retained and the porous structure is highly similar with the native specimen. This reconstructions process is simple and objective, which provide a new way for clinic cranium restoration.

Abstract: There are more than 20 different types of current commercially available mandibular advancement devices (MAD). Although there are so many different types of MAD available in the market, these designs are often not flexible enough to be adjusted to fit these devices to all possible cases. The aim of this study was to design and develop a new type of mandibular advancement device which used friction effect to achieve mandibular forward, and ensure it would not slide back during sleeping. The new type of mandibular advancement device could be quickly adjusted, and had 3-degree of freedom. ANSYS software was used to simulate whether the new design was strong enough. From the simulation it was found that the new innovative design was reliable and easy to be used for obstructive sleep apnea patients.