Affordable Infrastructure Research Articles

University Capital, Community Engagement, and Continuing Education: Blending Professional Development and Social Change

professional development and social change: the investment of university capital in community projects. Increasing interest in applying social and environmental, as well as financial, criteria to the investment of university capital assets has been paralleled by the growth and diversity of community-university engagement across Canada. New social-finance instruments can be used to expand affordable housing, social infrastructure, renewable energy, and Aboriginal economic development. This article suggests that UCE units consider combining professional development programs with research and incubation partnerships in this emerging area. Participants in such activities could include university administrators, fund trustees, investment professionals, union leaders, civic leaders, and community activists.

Self-Stimulatory Behavior Detection Using Wearable Sensors for Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorder

An affordable, user-friendly and reliable infrastructure that supportsevidence based tools for health assessment of children withAutistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been developed. This systemcan detect the behaviors of children at various stages of autismand enables the therapist and parents to monitor, assist diagnosisand therapies of autistic children. The system incorporates 2different sensor platforms which are wearable and static. Thewearable system consists of a 3-axis accelerometer, small microprocessor and a Bluetooth module to transmit data to the basestation. This wearable device integrates these 3 modules to a customizedPrinted Circuit Board (PCB) which can be worn as a cuff or could be sewed intothe sleeves of a child's shirt. The static sensor is composed of an audio sensorand a webcam which detects the sound/speech and captures video data of thesubject within the room. Using this sensor system, we are able to achieve thenecessary information for assessment and therapy in autism research.Based on the data collected and our preliminary analysis, we wereable to detect and recognize several self-stimulatory behaviors of achild with autism. The device allows for a continuous monitoringof the activities and self-stimulatory behaviors. It benefits both therapistsand parents by helping them to better understand the behaviors of an autisticchild and it will also enable early diagnosis of ASD.

Spectrum Challenges and Solutions by Cognitive Radio: An Overview

This paper provides an overview of major problems that are confronting wireless communication with regard to spectrum use in general i.e. by all sectors, government, private, other telecom service providers and military communication. It is commonly believed that there is a crisis of spectrum availability due to tremendous growth in the wireless based systems and the evolution of the radio communication technologies. In fact, there is no shortage of radio spectrum, only a dearth of affordable communications infrastructure. There is potential to make considerably better usage of the radio-spectrum. There are many areas of the radio spectrum which are not fully utilized. Cognitive radios (CR) have been proposed as a way to reuse this underutilized spectrum in an opportunistic manner. A CR is an autonomous unit in a communications environment that senses its environment, tracks changes, and reacts upon its findings and frequently exchanges information with the networks. We show the how the radio frequency is being managed in India and what India is doing to face the challenges to improve the spectrum management. The radio Communication Assembly of ITU is also studying the plan for implementation of CR systems including technical and regulatory issues.

Special edition on materials for affordable housing and infrastructure

Special edition on materials for affordable housing and infrastructure

A Web-Based System for B2B e-Commerce

AbstractIn the age of information technology, the traditional paper-based trading process is inadequate and can become a burden for companies competing in the marketplace. Until recently, only major companies could afford to develop and maintain computer systems to improve their trading processes. These ad hoc solutions are expensive and preclude widespread applications because they often address specific issues. With personal computers and the Internet, it is now possible to realize the paradigm of affordable electronic infrastructure for virtual trading. The authors survey existing business-to-business (B2B) electronic trading systems and highlight key attributes of these systems and areas of improvements. These form the basis of the proposed Virtual Electronic Trading (VET) system. The VET system provides a generic framework for a variety of business models and practices, giving the system a universal appeal.

A Web-Based System for B2B E-Commerce

In the age of information technology, the traditional paper-based trading process is inadequate and can become a burden for companies competing in the marketplace. Until recently, only major companies could afford to develop and maintain computer systems to improve their trading processes. These ad hoc solutions are expensive and preclude widespread applications because they often address specific issues. With personal computers and the Internet, it is now possible to realize the paradigm of affordable electronic infrastructure for virtual trading. The authors survey existing business-to-business (B2B) electronic trading systems and highlight key attributes of these systems and areas of improvements. These form the basis of the proposed Virtual Electronic Trading (VET) system. The VET system provides a generic framework for a variety of business models and practices, giving the system a universal appeal.

National Land Use Planning: Revisiting Senator Jackson's 1970 Policy Act

Abstract Simply put, we are not growing cleverly or even rationally as a nation. Our patterns of land consumption are neither economically competitive nor environmentally sound. In addition, today's urban sprawl involves a range of urban/rural problems such as traffic congestion, lack of affordable housing, pricey infrastructure, and frequent loss of neighborhood character.

Space station freedom crew training

The nature of the Space Station Freedom Program presents an array of new and enhanced challenges which need to be addressed en route to developing an effective and affordable infrastructure for crew training. Such an infrastructure is essential for the safety and success of the program. The three major challenges that affect crew training are the long lifetime of the program (thirty years), the interdependence of successive increments, and the participation of the three International Partners (Canada, European Space Agency, and Japan) and a myriad of experimenters. This paper addresses these major challenges as they drive the development of a crew training capability and the actual conduct of crew training.