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Impact of Climate Change on Small Scale Hydro-turbine Selections (SpringerBriefs in Energy)
by Uttam Roy Mrinmoy MajumderHydropower is found to be one of the most reliable and inexpensive options for renewable energy which was now widely been adopted by many countries to substitute fossil fuel sources. This Brief highlights the impact of climate change on hydropower plants, especially on the turbine design, as turbines are responsible for optimal conversion and regular energy production. The vulnerability of turbines is analyzed with the help of Artificial Neural Networks, followed by Multi Criteria Decision Making methods for development of intelligent indices to represent the level of vulnerability of turbines due to the change in climate.
Plant Selection for Bioretention Systems and Stormwater Treatment Practices (SpringerBriefs in Water Science and Technology)
by William F. Hunt Bill Lord Benjamin Loh Angelia SiaAs cities develop, more land is converted into impervious surfaces, which do not allow water to infiltrate. Careful urban planning is needed to ensure that the hydrologic cycle and water quality of the catchment areas are not affected. There are techniques that can attenuate peak flow during rain events and reduce the amount of metals, nutrients, and bacteria that enter the urban water cycle. This brief gives a short introduction on bioretention systems and documents the effectiveness of some 36 plant species in removing water pollutants. A summary on the maintenance requirements is also presented.
Unique Urbanity?: Rethinking Third Tier Cities, Degeneration, Regeneration and Mobility (SpringerBriefs in Geography)
by Tara BrabazonThis book investigates small cities - cities and towns that are not well known or internationally branded, but are facing structural economic and social issues after the Global Financial Crisis. They need to invent, develop and manage new reasons for their existence. The strengths and opportunities are often underplayed when compared to larger cities. These small cities do not have the profile of New York, London, Tokyo or Cairo, or second-tier cities like San Francisco, Manchester, Osaka or Alexandria. This book traces the current state of the creative industries literature after the GFC, but with a specific focus. The specific – and worsening – conditions in third-tier cities are logged. The social and economic challenges within these regions are great, particularly with regard to health and health services, education, employment, social mobility and physical activity. This is not a study that merely diagnoses problems but raises strategies for third-tier cities to create both a profile and growth. The current research field is synthesized to reveal how cities are defined, constituted, developed and, in many cases, suffering decline. There is an imperative to build relationships with other urban environments. The book enters these under-discussed locations and reveal the scarred layering of injustice, signified by depopulation, dis-investment, economic decline and a reduction in public services for health, transportation and education, while also developing specific and innovative models for improvement. The vista summoned in Unique Urbanity is international, with strong attention to trans-local strategies that offer wide relevance, currency and opportunities for policy makers. While third-tier cities are often hidden, marginalized, invisible or demeaned, Unique Urbanity shows that innovation, imagination and creativity can emerge in small places.
E-Governance for Smart Cities (Advances in 21st Century Human Settlements)
by T. M. Vinod KumarThis book highlights the electronic governance in a smart city through case studies of cities located in many countries. “E-Government” refers to the use by government agencies of information technologies (such as Wide Area Networks, the Internet, and mobile computing) that have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government. These technologies can serve a variety of different ends: better delivery of government services to citizens, improved interactions with business and industry, citizen empowerment through access to information, or more efficient government management. The resulting benefits are less corruption, increased transparency, greater convenience, revenue growth, and/or cost reductions. The book is divided into three parts.• E-Governance State of the Art Studies of many cities• E-Governance Domains Studies• E-Governance Tools and Issues
Impact of Climate Change on Hydro-Energy Potential: A MCDM and Neural Network Approach (SpringerBriefs in Energy)
by Mrinmoy Majumder Apu K SahaThis Brief presents the impact of climatic abnormalities on hydropower potential of different regions of the World. In this regard, multi-criteria decision making and neural network are used to predict the impact of the change cognitively by an index. The results from the study show that the hydro-energy potential of the Asian region is mostly vulnerable with respect to other regions of the World. The model results also encourage further application of the index to analyse the impact of climate change on potential of hydro-energy.
Feasibility Model of Solar Energy Plants by ANN and MCDM Techniques (SpringerBriefs in Energy)
by Mrinmoy Majumder Apu K. SahaThis Brief highlights a novel model to find out the feasibility of any location to produce solar energy. The model utilizes the latest multi-criteria decision making techniques and artificial neural networks to predict the suitability of a location to maximize allocation of available energy for producing optimal amount of electricity which will satisfy the demand from the market. According to the results of the case studies further applications are encouraged.
Minimization of Climatic Vulnerabilities on Mini-hydro Power Plants: Fuzzy AHP, Fuzzy ANP Techniques and Neuro-Genetic Model Approach (SpringerBriefs in Energy)
by Mrinmoy MajumderThis Brief presents the multi criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques like Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy Analytical Network Process (ANP) to find out the importance of the influencing factors to develop the Climatic Vulnerability Index (CVI) that will represent the vulnerability of the Hydro-Power Plant (HPP) to climatic abnormalities. The cognitive ability of neuro-genetic modeling is applied to minimize CVI so that the conditions required to reduce the effect of climate change on HPP can be identified. The results from the study are found to be encouraging. The scarcity and pollution potential of conventional sources of energy has enforced scientists worldwide to look for efficient, flexible, cost effective but reliable alternative energy resources. Among many available options the energy extracted from water was found to be the least expensive, most flexible and moderately reliable renewable energy source which has the potential to replace the dependency on conventional fuels.
Vulnerability of Watersheds to Climate Change Assessed by Neural Network and Analytical Hierarchy Process (SpringerBriefs in Water Science and Technology)
by Uttam Roy Mrinmoy MajumderThe increase in GHG gases in the atmosphere due to expansions in industrial and vehicular concentration is attributed to warming of the climate world wide. The resultant change in climatic pattern can induce abnormalities in the hydrological cycle. As a result, the regular functionality of river watersheds will also be affected. This Brief highlights a new methodology to rank the watersheds in terms of its vulnerability to change in climate. This Brief introduces a Vulnerability Index which will be directly proportional to the climatic impacts of the watersheds. Analytical Hierarchy Process and Artificial Neural Networks are used in a cascading manner to develop the model for prediction of the vulnerability index.
ISFRAM 2014: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Flood Research and Management
by Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar Wardah Tahir Marfiah Ab. Wahid Siti Rashidah Mohd Nasir Rohana HassanThis book highlights research in flood related areas and sustainable management conducted by researchers around the world, compiling their innovative work in order to share best practices for managing floods and recommended flood solutions. The individual papers cover the fundamentals and latest advances in the areas of flood research and management, providing in-depth coverage complemented by illustrations, diagrams and tables. The book offers a valuable source of information on methods and state-of-the art technology for effective flood management.
ICIPEG 2014: Proceedings of the International Conference on Integrated Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences
by Mariyamni Awang Berihun Mamo Negash Nur Asyraf Md Akhir Luluan Almanna LubisThis book presents the proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Integrated Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences 2014 (ICIPEG2014). Topics covered on the petroleum engineering side include reservoir modeling and simulation, enhanced oil recovery, unconventional oil and gas reservoirs, production and operation. Similarly geoscience presentations cover diverse areas in geology, geophysics palaeontology and geochemistry. The selected papers focus on current interests in petroleum engineering and geoscience. This book will be a bridge between engineers, geoscientists, academicians and industry.
Cost-Benefit Studies of Natural Resource Management in Southeast Asia
by David James Herminia A. FranciscoThis book applies cost-benefit analysis techniques in the management of environment and natural resources in developing countries of the Southeast Asian region and presents a compendium of studies conducted by researchers supported by the Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA). It emphasizes the close relationship between the environment and natural resources and economic development in such countries, addressing a wide range of problems that can be understood using economic evaluation techniques. General guidelines for conducting economic appraisals are provided, with the case studies illustrating how they can be applied in a developing country context. Cost-Benefit Analysis Application in Environmental and Natural Resource Management in Southeast Asia serves as essential reading for teachers, researchers, students and practitioners in environmental and natural resource economics, economic development and key issues facing policymakers in the Southeast Asian region.
Vortex Rings and Jets: Recent Developments in Near-Field Dynamics (Fluid Mechanics and Its Applications #111)
by Daniel T. H. New Simon C. M. YuIn this book, recent developments in our understanding of fundamental vortex ring and jet dynamics will be discussed, with a view to shed light upon their near-field behaviour which underpins much of their far-field characteristics. The chapters provide up-to-date research findings by their respective experts and seek to link near-field flow physics of vortex ring and jet flows with end-applications in mind. Over the past decade, our knowledge on vortex ring and jet flows has grown by leaps and bounds, thanks to increasing use of high-fidelity, high-accuracy experimental techniques and numerical simulations. As such, we now have a much better appreciation and understanding on the initiation and near-field developments of vortex ring and jet flows under many varied initial and boundary conditions. Chapter 1 outlines the vortex ring pinch-off phenomenon and how it relates to the initial stages of jet formations and subsequent jet behaviour, while Chapter 2 takes a closer look at the behaviour resulting from vortex ring impingement upon solid boundaries and how the use of a porous surface alters the impingement process. Chapters 3 and 4 focus upon the formation of synthetic jets from vortex ring structures experimentally and numerically, the challenges in understanding the relationships between their generation parameters and how they can be utilized in flow separation control problems. Chapter 5 looks at the use of imposing selected nozzle trailing-edge modifications to effect changes upon the near-field dynamics associated with circular, noncircular and coaxial jets, with a view to control their mixing behaviour. And last but not least, Chapter 6 details the use of unique impinging jet configurations and how they may lend themselves towards greater understanding and operating efficacies in heat transfer problems. This book will be useful to postgraduate students and researchers alike who wish to get up to speed regarding the latest developments in vortex ring and jet flow behaviour and how their interesting flow dynamics may be put into good use in their intended applications.
Poverty Reduction Policies and Practices in Developing Asia (Economic Studies in Inequality, Social Exclusion and Well-Being)
by Almas Heshmati Esfandiar Maasoumi Guanghua WanThis book looks at the major policy challenges facing developing Asia and how the region sustains rapid economic growth to reduce multidimensional poverty through socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable measures. Asia is facing many challenges arising from population growth, rapid urbanization, provision of services, climate change and the need to redress declining growth after the global financial crisis. This book examines poverty and related issues and aims to advance the development of new tools and measurement of multidimensional poverty and poverty reduction policy analysis. The book covers a wide range of issues, including determinants and causes of poverty and its changes; consequences and impacts of poverty on human capital formation, growth and consumption; assessment of poverty strategies and policies; the role of government, NGOs and other institutions in poverty reduction; rural-urban migration and poverty; vulnerability to poverty; breakdown of poverty into chronic and transitory components; and a comparative study on poverty issues in Asia and other regions. The book will appeal to all those interested in economic development, resources, policies and economic welfare and growth.
Role of Rainfall and Catchment Characteristics on Urban Stormwater Quality (SpringerBriefs in Water Science and Technology)
by An Liu Ashantha Goonetilleke Prasanna EgodawattaThe key highlights of the book include an innovative rainfall classification methodology based on stormwater quality to support the planning and design of stormwater treatment systems. Additionally, this book provides a practical approach to effective stormwater treatment design and development of a methodology for rainfall selection to optimize stormwater treatment based on both its quality and quantity. The case study presented in this book evaluates how pollutant buildup on urban surfaces and stormwater runoff quality varies with a range of catchment characteristics based on different rainfall types. The information presented will be of particular interest to practitioners such as stormwater-treatment designers, urban planners and hydrologic and stormwater-quality model developers since the outcomes presented provide practical approaches to and recommendations for urban stormwater-quality improvement. Readers will benefit from a state-of-the-art critical review of literature on urban stormwater quality, an in-depth discussion on stormwater-quality processes providing guidance for engineering practice such as stormwater treatment design and model development, a comprehensive overview on the application of multivariate data analysis techniques and a paradigm of the integrated use of commercial models and mathematical equations to undertake a comprehensive, urban stormwater-quality investigation.
Real-Time Visual Effects for Game Programming (Gaming Media and Social Effects)
by Chang-Hun Kim Sun-Jeong Kim Soo-Kyun Kim Shin-Jin KangThis book introduces the latest visual effects (VFX) techniques that can be applied to game programming. The usefulness of the physicality-based VFX techniques, such as water, fire, smoke, and wind, has been proven through active involvement and utilization in movies and images. However, they have yet to be extensively applied in the game industry, due to the high technical barriers. Readers of this book can learn not only the theories about the latest VFX techniques, but also the methodology of game programming, step by step. The practical VFX processing techniques introduced in this book will provide very helpful information to game programmers. Due to the lack of instructional books about VFX-related game programming, the demand for knowledge regarding these high-tech VFXs might be very high.
Advances in Hydroinformatics: SIMHYDRO 2014 (Springer Water)
by Philippe Gourbesville Jean A. Cunge Guy CaignaertThis book is a collection of extended papers based on presentations given during the SIMHYDRO 2014 conference, held in Sophia Antipolis in June 2014. It focuses on the modeling and simulation of fast hydraulic transients, on 3D modeling, and on uncertainties and multiphase flows. The book explores both the limitations and performance of current models and presents the latest developments based on new numerical schemes, high-performance computing, multiphysics and multiscale methods, and better interaction with field or scale model data. It addresses the interests of practitioners, stakeholders, researchers and engineers active in this field.
Design and Control of Swarm Dynamics (SpringerBriefs in Complexity)
by Roland BouffanaisThe book is about the key elements required for designing, building and controlling effective artificial swarms comprised of multiple moving physical agents. Therefore this book presents the fundamentals of each of those key elements in the particular frame of dynamic swarming, specifically exposing the profound connections between these elements and establish some general design principles for swarming behaviors. This scientific endeavor requires an inter-disciplinary approach: biomimetic inspiration from ethology and ecology, study of social information flow, analysis of temporal and adaptive signaling network of interaction, considerations of control of networked real-time systems, and lastly, elements of complex adaptive dynamical systems. This book offers a completely new perspective on the scientific understanding of dynamic collective behaviors thanks to its multi-disciplinary approach and its focus on artificial swarm of physical agents. Two of the key problems in understanding the emergence of swarm intelligent behaviors are identifying the social interaction rules a.k.a. the behavioral algorithm and uncovering how information flows between swarming agents. While most books about swarm dynamics have been focusing on the former, this book emphasizes the much-less discussed topic of distributed information flow, always with the aim of establishing general design principles.
RCS Estimation of Linear and Planar Dipole Phased Arrays: Approximate Model (SpringerBriefs in Electrical and Computer Engineering)
by Hema Singh R. Chandini Rakesh Mohan JhaIn this book, the RCS of a parallel-fed linear and planar dipole array is derived using an approximate method. The signal propagation within the phased array system determines the radar cross section (RCS) of phased array. The reflection and transmission coefficients for a signal at different levels of the phased-in scattering array system depend on the impedance mismatch and the design parameters. Moreover the mutual coupling effect in between the antenna elements is an important factor. A phased array system comprises of radiating elements followed by phase shifters, couplers, and terminating load impedance. These components lead to respective impedances towards the incoming signal that travels through them before reaching receive port of the array system. In this book, the RCS is approximated in terms of array factor, neglecting the phase terms. The mutual coupling effect is taken into account. The dependence of the RCS pattern on the design parameters is analyzed. The approximate model is established as an efficient method for RCS estimation of phased arrays. This book presents a detailed formulation of approximate method to determine RCS of phased arrays, which is explained using schematics and illustrations. This book should help the reader understand the impinging signal path and its reflections/transmissions within the phased array system.
Low Profile Conformal Antenna Arrays on High Impedance Substrate (SpringerBriefs in Electrical and Computer Engineering)
by Hema Singh R. Chandini Rakesh Mohan JhaThis book presents electromagnetic (EM) design and analysis of dipole antenna array over high impedance substrate (HIS). HIS is a preferred substrate for low-profile antenna design, owing to its unique boundary conditions. Such substrates permit radiating elements to be printed on them without any disturbance in the radiation characteristics. Moreover HIS provides improved impedance matching, enhanced bandwidth, and increased broadside directivity owing to total reflection from the reactive surface and high input impedance. This book considers different configurations of HIS for array design on planar and non-planar high-impedance surfaces. Results are presented for cylindrical dipole, printed dipole, and folded dipole over single- and double-layered square-patch-based HIS and dogbone-based HIS. The performance of antenna arrays is analyzed in terms of performance parameters such as return loss and radiation pattern. The design presented shows acceptable return loss and mainlobe gain of radiation pattern. This book provides an insight to EM design and analysis of conformal arrays. This book serves as an introduction for beginners in the design and analysis of HIS-based antenna arrays. It includes pictorial description of both planar and non-planar array design and the detailed discussion of the performance analysis of HIS-based planar and non-planar antenna array. It will prove useful to researchers and professionals, alike.
Frequency Selective Surfaces based High Performance Microstrip Antenna (SpringerBriefs in Electrical and Computer Engineering)
by Shiv Narayan B. Sangeetha Rakesh Mohan JhaThis book focuses on performance enhancement of printed antennas using frequency selective surfaces (FSS) technology. The growing demand of stealth technology in strategic areas requires high-performance low-RCS (radar cross section) antennas. Such requirements may be accomplished by incorporating FSS into the antenna structure either in its ground plane or as the superstrate, due to the filter characteristics of FSS structure. In view of this, a novel approach based on FSS technology is presented in this book to enhance the performance of printed antennas including out-of-band structural RCS reduction. In this endeavor, the EM design of microstrip patch antennas (MPA) loaded with FSS-based (i) high impedance surface (HIS) ground plane, and (ii) the superstrates are discussed in detail. The EM analysis of proposed FSS-based antenna structures have been carried out using transmission line analogy, in combination with the reciprocity theorem. Further, various types of novel FSS structures are considered in designing the HIS ground plane and superstrate for enhancing the MPA bandwidth and directivity. The EM design and performance analyses of FSS-based antennas are explained here with the appropriate expressions and illustrations.
EM Design and Analysis of Dipole Arrays on Non-planar Dielectric Substrate (SpringerBriefs in Electrical and Computer Engineering)
by Hema Singh R. Chandini Rakesh Mohan JhaThis book presents a simple and systematic description of EM design of antenna arrays. Printed dipole antennas are known to be simple yet more efficient than wire antennas. The dielectric substrate and the presence of ground plane affect the antenna performance and the resonant frequency is shifted. This book includes the EM design and performance analysis of printed dipole arrays on planar and cylindrical substrates. The antenna element is taken as half-wave centre-fed dipole. The substrate is taken as low-loss dielectric. The effect of substrate material, ground plane, and the curvature effect is discussed. Results are presented for both the linear and planar dipole arrays. The performance of dipole array is analyzed in terms of input impedance, return loss, and radiation pattern for different configurations. The effect of curved platform (substrate and ground plane) on the radiation behaviour of dipole array is analyzed. The book explains fundamentals of EM design and analysis of dipole antenna array through numerous illustrations. It is essentially a step-to-step guide for beginners in the field of antenna array design and engineering.
Radar Cross Section of Dipole Phased Arrays with Parallel Feed Network (SpringerBriefs in Electrical and Computer Engineering)
by Hema Singh H. L. Sneha Rakesh Mohan JhaThis book presents the detailed analytical formulation for the RCS of parallel-fed linear dipole array in the presence of mutual coupling. The radar cross section (RCS) of an object represents its electromagnetic (EM) scattering properties for a given incident wave. The analysis of scattered field is critical in military and defence arenas, especially while designing low-observable platforms. It is well-known that the presence of an antenna/array on the target influences its echo area significantly. The primary cause for such scattering of the incident signals is reflection that occurs within the antenna aperture and its feed network. In this book, the RCS estimation is done based on the signal path within the antenna system. The scattered field is expressed in terms of array design parameters including the reflection and transmission coefficients. The computed results show the variation in the RCS pattern with and without mutual coupling. The effect of finite dipole-length, inter-element spacing, scan angle, array configuration, amplitude distribution and terminating load impedance on the RCS pattern is studied. It is shown that the array RCS can be controlled by choosing optimum design parameters, including terminating impedance and geometric configuration. This book explains each step of the RCS estimation and analysis of dipole array with detailed schematics, tables and illustrations. Moreover, it includes parametric analysis of RCS estimation and control. This book provides an insight into the phenomenon of scattering within the phased array system.
Scattering Cross Section of Unequal Length Dipole Arrays (SpringerBriefs in Electrical and Computer Engineering)
by Hema Singh H. L. Sneha Rakesh Mohan JhaThis book presents a detailed and systematic analytical treatment of scattering by an arbitrary dipole array configuration with unequal-length dipoles, different inter-element spacing and load impedance. It provides a physical interpretation of the scattering phenomena within the phased array system. The antenna radar cross section (RCS) depends on the field scattered by the antenna towards the receiver. It has two components, viz. structural RCS and antenna mode RCS. The latter component dominates the former, especially if the antenna is mounted on a low observable platform. The reduction in the scattering due to the presence of antennas on the surface is one of the concerns towards stealth technology. In order to achieve this objective, a detailed and accurate analysis of antenna mode scattering is required. In practical phased array, one cannot ignore the finite dimensions of antenna elements, coupling effect and the role of feed network while estimating the antenna RCS. This book presents the RCS estimation of an array with unequal-length dipoles. The signal reflections within the antenna system and the mutual coupling effect are considered to arrive at the total RCS for series and parallel feed. The computations are valid for any arbitrary array configurations, including side-by-side arrangement, parallel-in-echelon, etc.
Probing Cosmic Dark Matter and Dark Energy with Weak Gravitational Lensing Statistics (Springer Theses #0)
by Masato ShirasakiIn this book the applicability and the utility of two statistical approaches for understanding dark energy and dark matter with gravitational lensing measurement are introduced.For cosmological constraints on the nature of dark energy, morphological statistics called Minkowski functionals (MFs) to extract the non-Gaussian information of gravitational lensing are studied. Measuring lensing MFs from the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope Lensing survey (CFHTLenS), the author clearly shows that MFs can be powerful statistics beyond the conventional approach with the two-point correlation function. Combined with the two-point correlation function, MFs can constrain the equation of state of dark energy with a precision level of approximately 3–4 % in upcoming surveys with sky coverage of 20,000 square degrees.On the topic of dark matter, the author studied the cross-correlation of gravitational lensing and the extragalactic gamma-ray background (EGB). Dark matter annihilation is among the potential contributors to the EGB. The cross-correlation is a powerful probe of signatures of dark matter annihilation, because both cosmic shear and gamma-ray emission originate directly from the same dark matter distribution in the universe. The first measurement of the cross-correlation using a real data set obtained from CFHTLenS and the Fermi Large Area Telescope was performed. Comparing the result with theoretical predictions, an independent constraint was placed on dark matter annihilation. Future lensing surveys will be useful to constrain on the canonical value of annihilation cross section for a wide range of mass of dark matter annihilation. Future lensing surveys will be useful to constrain on the canonical value of annihilation cross section for a wide range of mass of dark matter.
Terahertz Antenna Technology for Space Applications (SpringerBriefs in Electrical and Computer Engineering)
by Balamati Choudhury Aniruddha R. Sonde Rakesh Mohan JhaThis book explores the terahertz antenna technology towards implementation of compact, consistent and cheap terahertz sources, as well as the high sensitivity terahertz detectors. The terahertz EM band provides a transition between the electronic and the photonic regions thus adopting important characteristics from these regimes. These characteristics, along with the progress in semiconductor technology, have enabled researchers to exploit hitherto unexplored domains including satellite communication, bio-medical imaging, and security systems. The advances in new materials and nanostructures such as graphene will be helpful in miniaturization of antenna technology while simultaneously maintaining the desired output levels. Terahertz antenna characterization of bandwidth, impedance, polarization, etc. has not yet been methodically structured and it continues to be a major research challenge. This book addresses these issues besides including the advances of terahertz technology in space applications worldwide, along with possibilities of using this technology in deep space networks.