Dangerous Areas Research Articles

Assessment of a radioecological situation in Azerbaijan, based on spectral analyses of radionuclides

Radioecological research studies – that is, studies about radioactivity – in the Absheron Peninsula, Azerbaijan, were launched in 1930–1932, initially based on samples taken from soil, water and underground water. It was determined that the main cause of the radioactive pollution in the area is not limited to the effects of radioactive isotopes of natural origin. Rather, pollution takes place also due to the contamination of oilfields driven by technogenic processes and the contact of water solutions of different mineralisation types with rocks and oilfields. However, complete exploration of the area in those times was not possible because of lack of modern equipment and devices and new technologies. It should be noted that despite the critical ecological situation prevalent in the Absheron Peninsula, no comprehensive studies have been conducted on the radiation level of the area and the diminishing of possible radiation risk among the population living and working in the nearby areas. In this paper, the regularities of the distribution of the radiation background in the territory of the Absheron Peninsula were analysed and the most dangerous areas in terms of dwelling and operating were identified with proposal of necessary measures towards such areas. Moreover, the changing of the radioactive background in relationship with the age and type of soil was determined for the first time based on laboratory analysis of samples taken from the area and the fieldworks conducted. In this paper, the radiation background of the Absheron Peninsula was studied, thus determining not only the areas with an average value of the radiation background at 8.5 μR/h but also the areas where it equalled 400–600 μR/h – that is, the dangerous levels for living and working.

Description of the Public Safety Medical Response and Patient Encounters Within and During the Indianapolis (USA) Spring 2020 Civil Unrest.

This study describes the local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) response and patient encounters corresponding to the civil unrest occurring over a four-day period in Spring 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana (USA). This study describes the non-conventional EMS response to civil unrest. The study included patients encountered by EMS in the area of the civil unrest occurring in Indianapolis, Indiana from May 29 through June 1, 2020. The area of civil unrest defined by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department covered 15 blocks by 12 blocks (roughly 4.0 square miles) and included central Indianapolis. The study analyzed records and collected demographics, scene times, interventions, dispositions, EMS clinician narratives, transport destinations, and hospital course with outcomes from receiving hospitals for patients extracted from the area of civil unrest by EMS. Twenty-nine patients were included with ages ranging from two to sixty-eight years. In total, EMS transported 72.4% (21 of 29) of the patients, with the remainder declining transport. Ballistic injuries from gun violence accounted for 10.3% (3 of 29) of injuries. Two additional fatalities from penetrating trauma occurred among patients without EMS contact within and during the civil unrest. Conditions not involving trauma occurred in 37.9% (11 of 29). Among transported patients, 33.3% (7 of 21) were admitted to the hospital and there was one fatality. While most EMS transports did not result in hospitalization, it is important to note that the majority of EMS calls did result in a transport. There was a substantial amount of non-traumatic patient encounters. Trauma in many of the encounters was relatively severe, and the findings imply the need for rapid extraction methods from dangerous areas to facilitate timely in-hospital stabilization.

Experimentally determined effectiveness of different electric barrier arrangements on the behavioural deterrent of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)

Pulsed direct current electric barrier (EB) technology has been widely used to repel invasive species, guide fish away from dangerous areas, and direct them towards favourable locations, such as bypass channels. The effectiveness of an EB is influenced by many factors, and there is no consensus concerning what are the primary and secondary effects of the factors that influence fish response to EBs. In this study, Experiment 1 was conducted to investigate primary and secondary effects. It consisted of static water tests in which four factors were varied (electrode arrangement (EA), pulse voltage (PV), pulse frequency (PF), pulse width (PW)), each taking one of three values, in three phases of electrode activation (Phase I, before activating the pulsed power supply; Phase II, during the period of electrification; Phase III, after deactivating the power supply). Since the experimental design was orthogonal, nine treatments were designed and used in each phase. Experiment 2 was to identify whether there was any difference in barrier effectiveness and fish injury at different water velocities (0 m s-1, 0.3 m s-1,and 0.5 m s-1). The result showed that times of silver carp successfully passing the barrier in Phase I were significantly greater than in Phase II or Phase III for each treatment (P < 0.05), and there were no significant differences in times of successful passage among the nine treatments in phase II (P > 0.05). The primary and secondary effects of the four factors on the blocking rate and the number of fish injuries were EA > PV > PW > PF. Barrier obstruction rate and the number of fish injuries increased as fish body length increased. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in blocking rate or in fish injury rate as water velocity increased. The study will provide a foundational baseline for conserving fish stocks and preventing the cross-regional spread of invasive fish species.

GeaVR: An open-source tools package for geological-structural exploration and data collection using immersive virtual reality

We introduce GeaVR, an open-source package containing tools for geological-structural exploration and mapping in Immersive Virtual Reality (VR). GeaVR also makes it possible to carry out quantitative data collection on 3D realistic, referenced and scaled Virtual Reality scenarios. Making use of Immersive Virtual Reality technology through the Unity game engine, GeaVR works with commercially available VR equipment. This allows VR to be accessible to a broad audience, resulting in a revolutionary tool package for Earth Sciences. Users can explore various 3D datasets, spanning from freely available Digital Surface Models and Bathymetric data to ad-hoc 3D high-resolution models from photogrammetry processing. The user can navigate the 3D model in first person, walking or flying above the surrounding environment, mapping the main geological features such as points, lines and polygons, and collecting quantitative data using the provided field survey tools. Such data, including geographic coordinates, can be exported for further spatial analyses. Here we describe three different case studies aimed at showing the potential of our tools. GeaVR is revolutionary as it can be used worldwide, with no spatial limitations, both for geo-education and Earth Science popularization, as well as for research purposes. Secondly, it makes it possible to safely access dangerous areas, such as vertical cliffs or volcanic terrains, virtually from a computer screen or Virtual Reality headset. Furthermore, it can help to reduce carbon emissions by avoiding the use of flights and vehicles to conduct field trips.

COMPARING THE RISK ASSESSMENTS OF IATROGENIC PERONEAL NERVE INJURY IN ALL-INSIDE LATERAL MENISCAL REPAIR BETWEEN STANDARD KNEE MRIS AND SIMULATED ACTUAL ARTHROSCOPIC LATERAL MENISCAL REPAIR POSITION MRIS

Several studies have evaluated the risk of peroneal nerve (PN) injuries in all-inside lateral meniscal repair using standard knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the 30 degrees flexed knee position which is different from the knee position during actual arthroscopic lateral meniscal repair. The point of concern is “Can the risk of PN injury using standard knee MRIs be accurately determined”.To evaluate and compare the risk of PN injury in all-inside lateral meniscal repair in relation to both borders of the popliteus tendon (PT) using MRIs of the two knee positions in the same patients.Using axial MRI studies with standard knee MRIs and figure-of-4 with joint fluid dilatation actual arthroscopic lateral meniscal repair position MRIs, direct lines were drawn simulating a straight all-inside meniscal repair device from the anteromedial and anterolateral portals to the medial and lateral borders of the PT. The distance from the tip of each line to the PN was measured. If a line touched or passed the PN, a potential risk of iatrogenic injury was noted and a new line was drawn from the same portal to the border of the PN. The danger area was measured from the first line to the new direct line along the joint capsule.In 28 adult patients, the closest distances from each line to the PN in standard knee MRI images were significantly shorter than arthroscopic position MRI images (all p-values &lt; 0.05). All danger areas assessed in the actual arthroscopic position MRIs were included within the danger areas as assessed by the standard knee MRIs.We found that the standard knee MRIs can be used to determine the risk of peroneal nerve injury in arthroscopic lateral meniscal repair, although the risks are slightly overestimated.

The practical use of UAV systems in mine excavations and inspection works at LW “Bogdanka” S.A.

This publication presents the application of the Elios 3 caged drone in underground geodetic measurements at the LW “Bogdanka” coal mine. Traditional surveying methods are increasingly being replaced by modern technologies such as laser scanners and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). LW “Bogdanka” mine has wide experience in the use of drones in surface surveys, which has enabled the implementation of these devices also in underground mine excavations. The Elios 3 aircraft, equipped with a 4K camera, thermal imaging camera, distance sensor and LiDAR technology, provides precise scanning of the environment and creating high-density point clouds. The SLAM stabilization system ensures the accuracy of measurements even in difficult conditions. This article focuses on the practical applications of the Elios 3 drone in the mine, such as inspections of coal storage tanks, assessment of the technical condition of dewatering roadways and measurements in hard-to-reach areas. The use of UAV significantly improves operational efficiency, reduces survey time and minimizes risks to employees. Thanks to LiDAR technology, Elios 3 accurately represents the details of the object being measured, which is crucial for maintaining and improving the mine’s infrastructure. The introduction of a drone for surveying at the LW “Bogdanka” mine brings numerous benefits, including increased workplace safety and advanced measurement capabilities in hard-to-reach and dangerous areas.

Artificial Intelligence in the Detection of Breast Cancer

Breast carcinoma, the prevalently existing malignancy and the primary cause of disease mortality among females worldwide. Breast cancer is determined by a multitude of elements, including ageing, genetic history, specific alterations and genetic variations, a record of fecundity and menopause, a sedentary lifestyle, alcohol use, adiposity, nutrition, race and pectoral radiation treatment. Since the previous two decades, various researches on breast cancer has enabled significant advancements in our understanding of the condition, leading to more effective and non-toxic treatments. Increased scanning and public awareness have enabled early detection at stages amenable to full surgical intervention and curative therapy. Breast cancer screening mammography tries to detect the illness at an early stage when therapy would be more effective. Because mammography are such high-resolution images, researchers have thought of putting AI technology to use. They've trained the AI to examine minute patches and create a map of the most dangerous areas. The research shows that AI can recognize differences that are unnoticeable and recognizes breast tumors exactly like a skilled radiologist, providing the most accurate data. As a result, the incidence of this disease has dramatically increased,especially among juveniles. In this article, there are discussions about several causes, medical signs, non-drug treatments (such as radiation and surgery), and drugs (such as chemotherapy, and gene therapy) and thus, its detection by AI.In clinical medicine, AI can aid in establishing diagnoses and predicting the progression of disease in the future. AI jobs go beyond the computer-aided detection that is already used. AI's automated capabilities have the potential to advance medical professionals' diagnostic abilities in fields including exact tumor volume delineation, cancer phenotype extraction, translation of tumoral phenotypic characteristics to clinical genotype ramifications, and risk prediction. In breast cancer, the value of integrating image-specific data with underlying biological,pathologic, and clinical traits is growing.

Геоэкологическое картирование селитебных территорий Забайкальского края с использованием свёрточной нейронной сети

Floods pose a serious threat to economies and communities, but their danger is often underestimated. As a result, potentially dangerous areas of economic territories are subject to intensive development, which leads to damage when they are flooded. The use of modern methods of remote sensing of the Earth in combination with deep learning algorithms can significantly increase the efficiency and accuracy of mapping these territories and makes it possible to effectively manage them, optimizing the processes of planning and development of territories, reducing damage due to flooding. The object of the study is flood-prone areas of settlements in the Transbaikal Territory. The goal of the study is to improve geoecological mapping of the economic use of residential areas of the Transbaikal Territory that are prone to floods during the inter-flood period. The research objectives are as follows: image processing; visualization of objects belonging to different classes of economic use; analysis and assessment of changes within hazardous areas; checking the results obtained using a convolutional neural network; development of a software product that allows you to inform interested parties about the presence of dangerous territories. The methodology and me­thods are presented by research methods in the field of remote sensing of the Earth and processing of cartographic information. High-resolution remote sensing data, freely distributed by Google Earth services, and data from UAVs were obtained. The data is given in raster format and has a coordinate reference. Data processing has been carried out using the U-Net convolutional neural network and image processing by using a neural network and visualization of objects belonging to different classes of economic use of territories. A retrospective analysis and assessment of development changes in hazardous areas has also been peformed. The data obtained show active individual construction in the danger zone. The adequacy of the results obtained using a convolutional neural network was checked. A software product has been developed to determine the presence of hazardous areas within populated areas, which can significantly increase the efficiency and accuracy of mapping economic activities in populated areas.

DETERMINATION OF THE AVAILABLE PART OF THE EARTH SURFACE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE LANDSCAPE AND THE WIND

Modeling the movement of a body along a ballistic trajectory and determining the area of the Earth's surface that a given body can reach is an important task for researchers in various fields. Additional influencing factors – wind and air resistance – complicate calculations. The models are even more difficult to simulate a heterogeneous landscape where there are mountains and depressions and for which adjacent surface sectors have significant elevation differences. In view of this, the development of modeling methods in the specified field, which will be both fast and effective, remains relevant. The purpose of the study is to describe the structure of the data and the working principles of the model for determining the reachable area of the Earth's surface for a body thrown at an angle to the horizon. The methodological basis of the research is the computer simulation method and general scientific methods. An approach to modeling the landscape area reachable from a point by ballistic trajectories is proposed. The basis of the approach is to specify the surface in the form of a matrix, the elements of which are objects with fields of height values. A generator of discrete maps for further processing has been created. The method of calculating body launch angles optimal for reaching target points is determined. A mechanism for determining unreachable areas covered by others and a mechanism for taking into account the effect of wind on the result, which do not require long calculations, are proposed. The matrix task of the surface with height differences allows us to talk about the prospects of research - the definition of dangerous areas for the needs of various spheres of activity.

Experimental simulation study on gas flow field in combined goaf during the transition period of coal pillar-free working face relocation

Regarding the gas disaster caused by the complex ventilation system and the changeable flow field in the combined goaf during the transition period of the coal pillar-free working face, the self-designed physical simulation test bench for the combined goaf of coal pillar-free mining was used to compare and analyze the distribution law of wind pressure, gas, and oxygen concentration field in the combined goaf during the moving period of the working face and the normal mining period. The results show that during the relocation period, the gas concentration in the stope will always be slightly higher than that in the normal mining period, and the existing air leakage channel will lead to complex air flow in the combined goaf, which is easy to cause gas explosion accidents. The formation conditions, judgment principles, and judgment methods of the dangerous area of gas explosion coupling disaster in goaf are analyzed. By changing the air distribution ratio of the main and auxiliary air intake roadways, it is concluded that the explosion area will form an “L”-shaped explosion zone in the goaf, and the area of gas explosion disaster area during the relocation period will be larger than that the normal mining period. According to the size of the gas explosion area, the optimal air distribution ratio of the main and auxiliary air intake roadway during the transition period of the working face relocation and the normal mining period is 2:1. Under this air distribution ratio, the gas explosion area is the smallest, which is 132 284 and 113 534 mm2, respectively. The research results are of great significance to reveal the mechanism of gas disaster induced by goaf during the transition period of coal pillar-free relocation.

Mapping of landslide susceptibility using analytical hierarchy process on the example of the right bank of the Kaniv Reservoir

The study of landslide-prone areas requires the analysis of a large amount of objective data, products of remote sensing data processing (spatial images, digital terrain elevation data and analytical data on calculated indices), analytical maps based on field measurements. All these data make it possible to objectively and more accurately characterize the studied territory. It is important, based on the results of the assessment, to get a conclusion about favorable, unfavorable and dangerous areas. The result is a landslide susceptibility map. In this study, we carried out the procedure of creating a landslide susceptibility map at the regional level for the Rzhyshchiv united territorial community of the Kyiv region. Nine factors that influence the development of landslides or become indicators of landslide processes are selected. A description of the algorithm for creating a landslide susceptibility map using the method of hierarchical analysis is provided. The obtained result gives an idea of the different propensity of the areas of the studied territory to the development of landslide processes, it means the areas of the greatest threats, which contributes to the rational adoption of management decisions.

Automation of vessel slamming avoidance processes

The object of the research is the processes of slamming automatic avoidance when the vessel is sailing in a storm. During stormy sailing, the vessel is subjected to external influences from wind and waves, which lead to strong dynamic loads on the hull, increase in heel and trim angles, flooding of the deck. The vessel's speed decreases, its controllability deteriorates. Slamming is one of the most dangerous phenomena in storm sailing. The appearance of slamming depends on many factors: the size and shape of the vessel's hull, the draft of the bow, the state of the sea, the vessel's course and speed. Slamming is characterized by impacts of the bow and the bottom of the vessel's hull against the water when moving towards waves, the length of which is approximately equal to the length of the vessel. Impacts are accompanied by body shaking, due to a sharp increase in the load on the bottom, and a slowly fading vibration. Hydrodynamic shocks on the bottom and general vibration are the reasons for the violation of the local and general strength of the hull. Slamming and other dangers of stormy sailing are the cause of strong psycho-emotional stress of boatmen, contribute to the accumulation of fatigue, which is a prerequisite for accidents. In the article, a method of automatic control of the vessel to prevent slamming was developed. The obtained results are explained by the use of an on-board computer, the construction of a dangerous area of slamming in on-board computer, the use of a gradient method of finding the optimal trajectory in time of the phase point output from the dangerous area, and the maintenance of the optimal trajectory by means of an automatic control system. The use of the developed method allows you to automatically avoid slamming, reduce the influence of the human factor on control processes, reduce crew fatigue, reduce the risks of losing the ship and cargo, and increase the safety of navigation. The developed method can be used on vessels, provided it is integrated into the existing automated system of the on-board computer to solve the problem of automatic avoidance of slamming during stormy sailing

A Stochastic-Deterministic Optimization Method For Eliminating the Environmental Impact Produced By a Grounding System.

The method suggested by the Authors allows to design, in few steps, a grounding system which doesn’t generate any dangerous area on the soil surface. It is based on the Max-well’s subareas method and consists in determining the points where the touch voltage is maximum, these points being determined by resorting to a coupled stochastic-deterministic optimi-zation method. On the basis of these points the designing of the grounding system is carried out by means of the “Traveling Salesman” algorithm, until all the dangerous areas on the soil surface are entirely removed. The method suggested allows to eliminate the expensive meas-urements which are usually taken on the spot on the soil surface involved by the grounding system as well as the asphalted areas of the soil, thus avoiding the environmental impact.

IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF PROCESS MANAGEMENT IN THE FIELD OF TRAFFIC SAFETY ACCORDING TO ADDITIONAL CRITERIA

Known methods of assessing the level of traffic safety on highway sections are considered. When developing or improving road safety assessment methods, it is necessary to establish, among other things, the influence of variable road factors on traffic safety and to give a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the degree of their change. Factors that can significantly affect forecasting accuracy have been identified. All methods of detecting dangerous areas that are currently available are offered, based on traffic accident statistics. At different times, the following methods were proposed: analysis of statistical data by the methods of probability theory; use of multivariate correlation analysis data; analysis of traffic speed charts (methods of safety factors and "acceleration noise"); analysis using coefficients of relative influence of individual elements of the road (method of accident rates); method of conflict situations. It is proposed to improve the existing method by introducing additional parameters, which were obtained as a result of the formalization of accident statistics at the places of concentration of traffic accidents. It is proposed to evaluate traffic safety conditions by the final sum of points (on a 100-point scale), which takes into account a number of road construction characteristics. In our opinion, in conditions where the assessment of road safety conditions is entrusted to the representatives of the highway owner, this method looks more effective, since the road owner does not always or does not fully possess reliable statistical information about road accidents in the area being evaluated. The proposed method of evaluating the level of traffic safety is an undoubted step forward on the path of simplification and clarification existing methods. In the future, work on the construction of a simulation model of the interaction of the driver and the road as a subsystem of the general system "driver-car-road-environment" looks promising, by relying on criteria that were previously neglected - technical means of traffic management. This will make it possible to calibrate the proposed method and transfer its action to the software environment. In this way, the research will receive a significant platform for the involvement of additional variables - taking into account the road category, time of day, informativeness of technical means, their deformability, etc.

Earthquake swarms near the Mór Graben, Pannonian Basin (Hungary): implication for neotectonics

The central part of the Pannonian Basin is characterised by low to medium seismicity. North central Hungary is one of the most dangerous areas of the country in terms of earthquakes, which also includes the area of the Mór Graben where some of the largest earthquakes occurred in Hungary’s history. Recent activity has been observed in the Mór Graben. It has been established that earthquake swarms occur quite frequently in the graben. To further study these events, we deployed a temporary seismic network that operated for 20 months. Using the temporary network stations as well as permanent stations from the Kövesligethy Radó Seismological Observatory and the GeoRisk Ltd. networks we registered 102 events of small magnitudes. In this paper, we demonstrate and compare three different event detection methods based on the registered waveforms by the permanent and temporary stations to find the optimal one to collect a complete swarm list in the Mór Graben. After the hierarchical cluster analysis, we relocated the hypocentres using a multiple-event algorithm. Our results demonstrate that the most successful detector in this case is the “Subspace detector.” We managed to create a complete list of the events. Our results indicate that the Mór Graben is still seismically active.

An approach to using the AQI components in urban air pollution sources identifying

Problem statement. The fact that the air we breathe is polluted is well known. There are many sources of pollution, especially in big cities. Various sensors are installed to monitor pollutants in the air. One of the global systems for registering the concentration of pollutants in urban air is AQI. Air quality monitors collect data of five major air pollutants – ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, that then convert to the Air Quality Index. And although the sensors themselves are not capable of reducing pollution in the air, based on the data they provide, it is possible to create indicative maps of urban pollution. Such mapping of urban areas will enable authorities to develop and implement plans to improve the most dangerous areas, as is already done in other countries. But there are still no such maps for Kyiv. Study objective is to analyse the air quality index in Kyiv, identify the main source of atmospheric pollution and to visualize urban air pollution. Methodology involves data analysis from 15 sensors of the AQI worldwide network. We analyzed the concentration of 5 main air pollutants contributed to the common Air Quality Index for a certain period in Kyiv and its surroundings. Knowing the exact coordinates of each sensor and the results of their measurements, we drew a map of air pollution in Kyiv using OriginPro 8.1 software and images from the Google maps. Research results. It was determined that the largest contribution to the Air Quality Index is made by the fine particulate matter emissions. We determined that the morning sensor data on the amount of dust in the air is the most informative. It is known transportation is one of the main sources of PM2.5 in the city. Our map clearly shows that the area with the highest AQI value coincides with a major road junction on the north-west outskirts of the city. Thus, atmospheric pollution in Kyiv is mainly determined by the amount of fine dust in the air. Further research will be aimed at identifying the relationship between the amount of PM2.5 in the air and the morphological parameters of indicator plants. Scientific novelty of the research. We showed for the first time that air pollution does not coincide with the official sources of atmospheric pollution given by the Kyiv Bureau of Technical Supervision. We also presented new approach to draw up-to-date, representative, and accurate pollution maps that can be submitted to the representatives of environmental services and other interested parties. Such investigations are of great importance as they can give the opportunity to the government to take real actions on pollutants reducing.

Турмархия Готия и византийский топотерит на Мангупе в конце X начале XI века

Introduction. The article examines the circumstances of the simultaneous appearance at the end of the 10th century in the central fortress of the Mountain Crimea – Doros, a byzantine garrison led by topotherete and the establishment of a separate tourmarchia of Gothia in the region. A special study of the issue allows to expand understanding of the causes and content of military-administrative reform. Methods. The research is interdisciplinary in nature. It takes into account all available information from written, sphragistic, epigraphic and archaeological sources about the events that took place in Taurica during the reign of emperor Vasily II (976–1025). Analysis. Establishment at the end of the 10th century in the Mountain Crimea the tourmarchia of Gothia and the appearance of Byzantine topotherete in Doros are events that had common causes. In the case of the tourmarchia we are talking about a plan to create an independent administrative structure in the mountainous part of the peninsula, which was supposed to quickly respond to external threats and over time be transformed into a “small” theme typical of its epoque. The residence of the tourmarch was the Mangup fortress, where no later than 994–995 the reconstruction of the fortifications was completed. These works were supervised by a byzantine official with the title topotherete, who stood at the head of a regular military unit and whose powers were reminiscent of those known from the second half of the 8th century topotheretes of cities in the border provinces of the empire. Results. The history of the tourmarchia in Mountain Crimea was short and ended around the middle of the 11th century. However, its appearance and existence were fully consistent with the military-administrative practice of Byzantium at that time in many regions of the empire, where numerous “small” thematic structures were created in dangerous areas to contain the expansion of the enemy or consolidate the empire in the conquered territories.

Design and Development of swarm AGV’s alliance for Search and Rescue operations

Rapid response is essential for saving lives in search and rescue operations since the amount of time is critical. In this project, a swarm of autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) equipped with ROS-based software architecture will be designed and built for rapid search and rescue missions. The swarm of AGVs will function autonomously to navigate through challenging areas and be outfitted with a variety of sensors, including cameras, and LIDAR. The proposed system will be capable of performing 2D mapping, live video surveillance, autonomous navigation, victim/object detection, and two-way audio communication. The goal of the project is to reduce the risk to human life in dangerous areas by providing a quick and efficient response system for search and rescue operations. A centralized management system with a de-centralized module will be created as part of the project to keep an eye on and manage the AGV horde. However, there will be a functionality to take control of a specific robot in the swarm network when needed. In difficult areas where it might not be safe for humans to operate, the suggested method will enable quick and efficient search and rescue operations.

Quaternary evolution of the Meiji Atoll (Mischief Reef) in the southern South China Sea

This paper describes the Quaternary evolution of Meiji Atoll (also known as Mischief Reef) in the southern South China Sea. Findings are based on a sedimentological and paleontological investigation of the uppermost 150 m of core NK-1. Through the Quaternary, open-lagoon sediments initially developed from ca. 2.6 to 1.6 Ma, which were succeeded by backreef sediments from 1.6 to 1.1 Ma, and subsequently by reef-flat sediments from 1.1 Ma to present, as the atoll evolved. The deepest depositional environments occurred between 2.0 and 1.6 Ma as a result of significant rates of subsidence in the Dangerous Grounds area. Coral abundance steadily increased during the Quaternary due to the secular eustatic sea-level drop and continuous high temperatures in the southern South China Sea. After the start of the Mid-Pleistocene Transition from 1.25 Ma, there was an increase in the amplification of short-eccentricity glacio-eustatic cycles, which resulted in two impacts. First, more frequent exposure horizons developed over the atoll due to an increase in amplitude of short-term sea-level fall events. Second, the occurrence of the thickest coral framestone units developed at around 0.8 Ma, perhaps linked to prominent short-term sea-level highstands (i.e., 125-ka cycle) and moderate subsidence rates. In summary, we document the Quaternary evolution of the Meiji Atoll, and show how variations in sea surface temperature, eustatic sea level, and tectonics have influenced its development. These findings have broader implications for understanding the Quaternary evolution of similar tropical carbonate atolls in the region.

Application of oblique photogrammetry technique in geological hazard identification and decision management

With the continuous development of the oblique photography technique, it has been used more and more widely in the field of geological disasters. It can quickly obtain the three-dimensional (3D) real scene model of dangerous mountainous areas under the premise of ensuring the safety of personnel while restoring the real geographic information as much as possible. However, geological disaster areas are often accompanied by many adverse factors such as cliffs and dense vegetation. Based on this, the paper introduced the flight line design of oblique photogrammetry, analyzed the multi-platform data fusion processing, studied the multi-period data dynamic evaluation technology and proposed the application methods of data acquisition, early warning, disaster assessment and decision management suitable for geological disaster identification through the analysis of actual cases, which will help geologists to plan and control geological work more scientifically and rationally, improve work efficiency and reduce the potential personnel safety hazards in the process of geological survey, to offer technical support to the application of oblique photogrammetry in geological disaster identification and decision making and provide the scientific basis for personal and property safety protection and later-stage geological disaster management in disaster areas.