Field Inspection Research Articles

The Connotations of the Sukhavati (Pure Land) Culture Contained in the Architecture of Xiaoxitian (Thousand Buddhas Monastery) at Xixian County

This article analyzes and interprets the Sukhavati Culture contained in the site selection as well as the architectural and spatial layout of Xiaoxitian (or the Thousand Buddhas Monastery, a Buddhist complex at Xixian County), and the Great Buddhas Hall inside it by means of field inspection to the buildings at Xiaoxitian, and by combining with relevant literature and records so as to assist people to have a better understanding of the Sukhavati Culture and highlight the architectural concepts of applying the Sukhavati belief into the practical life of ancient Chinese people.

Establishment of a one-step reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification assay for the detection of potato virus S

Potato virus S (PVS) is a noteworthy threat to the propagation of healthy seed potatoes. Accurate and speedy detection is critical for effective PVS management. In the present study, an isothermal-based one-step reverse transcription-recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) approach was developed to detect PVS infection in potato leaves and tubers. A primer set based on the coat protein gene successfully amplified a 158 bp product out of three primer sets examined. The amplification reaction took less than 30 min to complete with no account of cross-reactivity with major potato viruses. Additionally, amplification of RT-RPA products was performed on the heating system and/or water bath at 38–42 °C. The results of sensitivity analysis revealed that one-step RT-RPA has shown 100 times higher sensitivity than routine RT-PCR for the detection of PVS in infected leaves. Furthermore, ten times higher sensitivity of RT-RPA was observed in infected tubers. The methodology was simplified further by the use of template RNA extracted using a cellular disc paper-based extraction method that detected the PVS more effectively than purified total RNA. PVS was detected in 175 samples (leaves and tubers each) of several potato varieties using this innovative technique. To our acquaintance, this is the first report of one-step RT-RPA using a basic RNA extract derived through cellular disc paper that is significantly sensitive and precise for PVS detection in potatoes. The advantages of one-step RT-RPA in terms of proficiency, robustness, and the availability of a highly pure RNA template make it an attractive choice for seed accreditation, resistance breeding, and field inspections.

Structural assessment of the historic Ten Arches Bridge in Jordan

ABSTRACT The Ten Arches Bridge is a historical stone bridge that is located in Amman, Jordan. The bridge has a valuable cultural heritage as it was built in 1908 to serve the Hejaz Railway Line. This study presents a structural assessment of the bridge including a field inspection, experimental investigation, and numerical structural analysis. The study also investigates the efficacy of utilizing in-situ Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) such as Rebound Hammer (RH) and Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) tests in the assessment of stone arch bridges. Detailed experimental and numerical investigations were performed to identify the structural integrity of the bridge by evaluating the acting stresses and displacements under static and dynamic loads. Minor deteriorations were found in the bridge’s body due to human and environmental factors. However, the geometrical properties of the bridge have not been significantly changed. The obtained results of the numerical analysis concluded that the bridge can sustain the current imposed dead and traffic loads, but not serve seismic actions. Compressive strength and modulus of elasticity of stone units obtained by RH and UPV tests are in agreement with the laboratory tests. Accordingly, NDT techniques can provide and verify basic mechanical properties that are needed for numerical analyses.

Does REDD+ Complement Law Enforcement? Evaluating Impacts of an Incipient Initiative in Madre de Dios, Peru

Subnational initiatives to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation and enhance carbon stocks (REDD+) have been implemented across the tropics over the last decade. Such initiatives are often embedded within pre-existing conservation policies, such as forest law enforcement, making it challenging to disentangle attributable impacts. In this article, we analyze a new REDD+ project implemented in Brazil nut concessions in the southeastern Peruvian Amazon. Public law enforcement to verify compliance with Peru's Forest Law was already ongoing and intensified locally during our study period. Thus, we combine longitudinal data from remote sensing and household surveys of 197 concessionaires in a before–after control-intervention (BACI) study design to: a) evaluate the project's impacts during the 2012–2018 period on deforestation, forest degradation, and the participants' wellbeing and b) assess how the law-enforcing field inspections may have complemented the project effects. Our results show that the REDD+ initiative had insignificant effects on deforestation and forest degradation, but confirm the curbing effects of the field inspection measures on forest loss. The non-significance of the REDD+ effects may reflect delays in cash incentive payments to enrolled concessionaires, lack of careful alignment of benefit provision with project participants, and limited enforcement of project conditionalities. Most REDD+ participants reported a reduced subjective wellbeing, which may reflect the frustrated expectations associated with project implementation. We discuss the implications of our results and outline lessons for similar tropical forest conservation initiatives.

Improving irrigation system management; A case study: Bahr Sanhoor Canal, Fayoum, Egypt

Realising the need for improving irrigation system management, the Bahr Sanhoor Canal (BSC) was selected as a case study, and the effect of covering a reach with a concrete box culvert where the irrigation canal passes through a crowded rural area on the efficiency of the canal system was examined. The field inspection of the canal system revealed multiple problems. Two alternatives for improving irrigation management were introduced. A local alternative was offered by applying a suitable numerical model to enhance the efficiency of the current status of the canal system, the water level upstream of the covered part reached 13.54 m, this solution will lower the water levels by approximately 2 m, which is below the bank levels at an affordable cost. Additionally, it will help to avoid the risk of inundating the adjacent residential area. A sustainable and environmental alternative was considered to offer a new path in which the covered reach passed outside the residential area. This alternative is permanent and sustainable. Although the proposed second path to the right of the residential area is the long-term recommendation and is sustainable, any path of flow to either the left or right of the BSC will be associated with initial high costs. The two proposed alternatives may help decision makers improve the performance of irrigation systems.

Remote Sensing Studies for Mapping of Iron Oxide Regions in Keonjhor district, Odisha, India

Odisha is known for having a bounty of mineral resources, which are required for the economic and industrialdevelopment of the state. Ore minerals such as hematite, magnetite, pyrolusite, psilomelane, chromite etcare richly available in Odisha. A lot work has been done on the mineral property, texture, behaviour ofindividual ions in different chemical conditions within the domain of the aforesaid minerals and a very fewworks has reportedly been done on the spectral behaviour of these ore minerals. For the development ofhuman societies, economic and industrial demand of iron has been raised which resulted in search of newcost-effective techniques for the exploration of ore minerals containing Fe metal. Remote sensing methodsare now considered as modern and cost effective highly dynamic techniques for exploration of economic ore minerals containing iron oxides. In this study, various digitalimage processing techniques of remote sensingsuch as False Colour Composites (FCCs), Band Ratios (BRs), and Principal Components Analysis (PCA) were used on satellite derived images for mapping iron oxide mineralization zone. The results were compared with the already published maps and also with the field inspection. From the results, it was found that various band combinations of BRs and PCA may be used for mapping of iron oxide ore regions.

Highest Quality and Repeatability for Single Wafer 150mm SiC CMP Designed for High Volume Manufacturing

Silicon Carbide (SiC) provides excellent characteristics such as superior thermal conductivity, high carrier mobility and extreme chemical stability in comparison with those of Silicon (Si). SiC is already showing significant device performance benefits in power devices, high performance communication, and LED lighting. However, SiC presents many challenges for wafer surface treatment because of its high hardness and remarkable chemical inertness. Today, mechanical polishing techniques on industrial batch CMP tools are the predominant methods for SiC wafer surface treatment, but material removal rate (MRR), surface defects and wafer flatness control are reaching fundamental limits with increasing wafer diameter. Batch processing typically results in a higher amount of surface scratches and defects, higher wafer to wafer variability, and higher wafer breakage rates. A unique single wafer chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) technique on 150mm n-doped, 4° off-axis, single crystal, 4H-SiC wafers was developed to create a virtually defect-free surface. A polishing head has been designed to manipulate polishing pressures at various zones of the wafer. This capability can modulate the removal thickness at each region on the wafer surface, resulting in a highly uniform wafer profile. Additionally, a CMP slurry has been formulated to maximize MRR from 2μm/hr to over 8.5μm/hr. Potassium permanganate has been selected as an oxidant and aluminum oxide particles as the abrasive. The oxidant concentration and abrasive content along with slurry pH level have also been optimized for ideal chemical and mechanical activity. Scratch-free wafer surfaces are observed with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and bright field (BF) and dark field (DF) inspection techniques. Roughness on the Si face is reduced to below 0.08nm. Total length of surface scratches was reduced to 10mm or less. Industrial metrics of wafer flatness, including total thickness variation (TTV) and local thickness variation (LTV) are modulated and improved. A test run completed on 25-wafers shows an overall 31% improvement of TTV post CMP process.

Airborne transmission of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in an auditorium

The Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 has inflicted heavy burdens on healthcare systems globally, although direct evidence on the quantity of exhaled viral shedding from Delta cases is lacking. The literature remains inconclusive on whether existing public health guidance, based on earlier evidence of COVID-19, should respond differently to more infectious viral strains. This paper describes a study on an outbreak of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in an auditorium, where one person contracted the virus from three asymptomatic index cases sitting in a different row. Field inspections were conducted on the configuration of seating, building and ventilation systems. Numerical simulation was conducted to retrospectively assess the exhaled viral emission, decay, airborne dispersion, with a modified Wells-Riley equation used to calculate the inhalation exposure and disease infection risks at the seat level. Results support the airborne disease transmission. The viral emission rate for Delta cases was estimated at 31 quanta per hour, 30 times higher than those of the original variant. The high quantity of viral plume exhaled by delta cases can create a high risk zone nearby, which, for a mixing ventilation system, cannot be easily mitigated by raising mixing rates or introducing fresh air supply. Such risks can be reduced by wearing an N95 respirator, less so for social distancing. A displacement ventilation system, through which the air is supplied at the floor and returned from the ceiling, can reduce risks compared with a mixing system. The study has implications for ventilation guidelines and hygiene practices in light of more infectious viral strains of COVID-19.

Earthquake-induced landslide monitoring and survey by means of InSAR

Abstract. This study uses interferometric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) techniques to identify and track earthquake-induced landslides as well as lands prone to landslides, by detecting deformations in areas struck by earthquakes. The pilot study area investigates the Mila region in Algeria, which suffered significant landslides and structural damage (earthquake: Mw 5, 7 August 2020). DInSAR analysis shows normal interferograms with small fringes. The coherence change detection (CCD) and DInSAR analysis were able to identify many landslides and ground deformations also confirmed by Sentinel-2 optical images and field inspection. The most important displacement (2.5 m), located in the Kherba neighborhood, caused severe damage to dwellings. It is worth notice that CCD and DInSAR are very useful since they were also able to identify ground cracks surrounding a large zone (3.94 km2 area) in Grarem City, whereas the Sentinel-2 optical images could not detect them. Although displacement time-series analysis of 224 interferograms (April 2015 to September 2020) performed using LiCSBAS did not detect any pre-event geotechnical precursors, the post-event analysis shows a 110 mm yr−1 subsidence velocity in the back hillside of Kherba.

Intelligent Correction and Monitoring of Ship Propulsion Rotary Device Vibration

Field inspection is a traditional way to detect the problem of shaft imbalance or abnormal vibration in a ship propulsion system; however, the ship cannot execute any tasks or activities during calibration. This study develops a human-machine monitoring interface (HMMI) to estimate vibration abnormalities and implement an intelligent active balance correction to the propulsion system online. In this study, Arduino IDE, InduSoft, and LabVIEW are used to create a function monitored by HMMI. By comparing the abnormal vibration amplification of the moment of inertia, HMMI calculates the correct mass to reduce the vibration. The experimental results show that, after HMMI carries out continuous active balance correction online, the correction rate achieves 105.37%. This indicates that HMMI can calculate the amount of imbalance and phase angles and drive a counterweight to the correct balance position while the device is still operating.

Deterioration of streamflow monitoring in Omo-Gibe basin in Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Poor availability and accuracy of streamflow data constrain research and operational hydrology. We evaluated the status of 40 streamflow stations and the quality of their data in the Omo-Gibe basin, Ethiopia. The method included a three-week field inspection of the stations. Inspection of stations followed common WMO guidelines for appropriate gauging sites. Feedback of observers was collected, and the streamflow data was analysed. Most of the stations were installed on rivers at headwater catchments. Only 17% of the stations were fully operational; the remaining stations require major maintenance. Common problems with the time series data include short observation periods, large numbers of missing records, and inhomogeneity. Nearly all observers expressed dissatisfaction due to lack of supervision, uncertain salary payments and lack of recognition of their contribution. The findings of this study indicate the need to investigate the institutional barriers that affect the homogeneity, completeness, and timeliness of the stream data.

Detection of butt weld of laser-MIG hybrid welding of thin-walled profile for high-speed train

PurposeThis study aims to solve the problem of weld quality inspection, for the aluminum alloy profile welding structure of high-speed train body has complex internal shape and thin plate thickness (2–4 mm), the conventional nondestructive testing method of weld quality is difficult to implement.Design/methodology/approachIn order to solve this problem, the ultrasonic creeping wave detection technology was proposed. The impact of the profile structure on the creeping wave detection was studied by designing profile structural test blocks and artificial simulation defect test blocks. The detection technology was used to test the actual welded test blocks, and compared with the results of X-ray test and destructive test (tensile test) to verify the accuracy of the ultrasonic creeping wave test results.FindingsIt is indicated that that X-ray has better effect on the inspection of porosities and incomplete penetration defects. However, due to special detection method and protection, the detection speed is slow, which cannot meet the requirements of field inspection of the welding structure of aluminum alloy thin-walled profile for high-speed train body. It can be used as an auxiliary detection method for a small number of sampling inspection. The ultrasonic creeping wave can be used to detect the incomplete penetration welds with the equivalent of 0.25 mm or more, the results of creeping wave detection correspond well with the actual incomplete penetration defects.Originality/valueThe results show that creeping wave detection results correspond well with the actual non-penetration defects and can be used for welding quality inspection of aluminum alloy thin-wall profile composite welding joints. It is recommended to use the echo amplitude of the 10 mm × 0.2 mm × 0.5 mm notch as the criterion for weld qualification.

Interaction of Transformer Oil Parameters on Each Other and on Transformer Health Index Using Curve Estimation Regression Method

Power transformers are one of the most significant and expensive equipment in power systems that are exposed to electrical, thermal, and chemical tensions. The transformer health index is a measure that uses test data and field inspections to assess the condition and determine the remaining life of the transformer. The purpose of this article as a new idea is to determine the relationships between electrical, physical, and chemical parameters of transformer oil, dissolved gases, and the transformer health index. One of the advantages of using the regression method in analyzing transformer data compared to the other methods to evaluate the transformer health index is determining the influence of the parameters that have the most impact on each other. Some achievements of this article are as follows: (1) introducing moisture content as the parameter that plays an effective role in reducing dielectric oil breakdown voltage and improving the transformer health index; (2) determining the inverse relationship between acidity and furfural components; (3) determining furfural as a parameter with the greatest role in reducing the Interfacial tension (IFT) of oil (molecular interconnection); (4) determining CO gas as the parameter with the most role in the production of furfural component; (5) determining C2H2 gas as the parameter with the most role in producing the acid component. For example, with a 1 ppm increase in the moisture component, the oil breakdown voltage decreases by 0.583 kV in the compound, growth, exponential, and logistic regressions, or with a 1 ppm increase in the furfural component, the oil interfacial tension decreases by 0.644 mN/m in power regression. In this article, the curve estimation regression method is used and the results are plotted by SPSS statistical software to analyze the interaction between different transformer parameters. To perform the simulations, test data related to 120 transformers have been considered.

Shared but Clean Household Toilets: What Makes This Possible? Evidence from Ghana and Kenya.

Shared sanitation facilities are not considered as basic sanitation owing to cleanliness and accessibility concerns. However, there is mounting evidence that some shared household toilets have a comparable level of service as private toilets. This study examined the factors that contribute to the quality of shared household toilets in low-income urban communities in Ghana and Kenya. The study design comprised household surveys and field inspections. Overall, 843 respondents were interviewed, and 838 household shared sanitation facilities were inspected. Cleanliness scores were computed from the facility inspections, while a total quality score was calculated based on 13 indicators comprising hygiene, privacy, and accessibility. Regression analyses were conducted to determine predictors of cleanliness and the overall quality of the shared sanitation facilities. More than four out of five (84%) shared toilets in Ghana (N = 404) were clean, while in Kenya (N = 434), nearly a third (32%) were clean. Flush/pour-flush toilets were six times (p < 0.01 aOR = 5.64) more likely to be clean. A functional outside door lock on a toilet facility and the presence of live-in landlords led to a threefold increase (p < 0.01 aOR = 2.71) and a twofold increase (p < 0.01 aOR = 1.92), respectively in the odds of shared sanitation cleanliness. Sanitation facilities shared by at most five households (95% CI: 6–7) were generally clean. High-quality shared toilets had live-in landlords, functional door locks, and were water-dependent. Further studies on innovative approaches to maintaining the quality of these high-quality shared toilets are needed to make them eligible for classification as basic sanitation considering the increasing reliance on the facilities.

Maximizing the Financial Return of Non-Technical Loss Management in Power Distribution Systems

Despite many studies have been published on non-technical loss management, there is a lack of solutions focused in the financial return of utilities&#x2019; actions. This paper aims to contribute to fill up this gap, presenting a new approach that maximizes the financial return of utilities when selecting consumers for field inspections. The predicted return of an inspection is calculated considering its operational cost versus the potential of energy recovery and the tariff value. The potential of energy recovery, in turn, is calculated considering the probability of non-technical loss existence and the forecast of unmeasured energy. The Rotation Forest algorithm is utilized to indicate the non-technical loss existence, while the eXtreme Gradient Boosting algorithm is utilized for energy recovery forecast. The proposed approach was applied in a real database of 261,489 consumers from a Brazilian utility. Then, 338 new field inspections were performed on unlabeled consumers in order to corroborate results in a real application. Achieved results showed an increase of up to 11.5 times in the financial return of field inspections when applying the proposed approach. Results could also be used to determine the optimal number of inspections in the utility, for which the financial return is maximum.

Classification and Regression Tree Models for Remote Recognition of Black and Odorous Water Bodies Based on Sensor Networks

Black and odorous water bodies represent a topic of significant interest in the field of water pollution prevention and control. Remote sensing technology is increasingly exploited for the monitoring of black and odorous water bodies because of its high efficiency and large-scale monitoring potential. In the present study, the Sentinel-2A imagery data were combined with data obtained by measuring spectral properties of black and odorous water bodies to produce a classification and regression tree (CART) model-based improved remote sensing recognition method for such water bodies. This method transforms the traditional single-feature empirical threshold segmentation algorithm to a multi-feature fuzzy decision-tree classification algorithm. The results reveal overall accuracy values of 84.78%, 92.85%, and 72.23% for the CART decision-tree algorithm, the confidence zone classification, and the fuzzy zone node classification, respectively. The method proposed in the present study enables the highly precise extraction of features representing black and odorous water bodies from satellite imagery. The characterization of confidence and fuzzy zones minimizes the need for field inspections, and it enhances the efficiency of diverse applications including engineering.

Talking about the Main Points of Field Test and Inspection of Highway Subgrade and Pavement

Talking about the Main Points of Field Test and Inspection of Highway Subgrade and Pavement

Experimental Analysis of the Degradation of PV UDTS-50 W Modules Exposed to Extreme Weather Conditions in a Saharan Environment

The degradation of the electrical performance of photovoltaic modules UDTS-50W exposed to the sun for a long period of about 10 years in a Saharan environment of Adrar was presented. In this article, the experimental results obtained during the analysis of the I-V characteristics of some UDTS-50W photovoltaic modules tested in the real conditions of the Saharan environment (Adrar region). The electrical performance degradation of the UDTS-50 W PV modules was identified by empirically analyzing the I-V and P-V characteristics and by visual field inspection of these modules, which were installed in a renewable research unit in a desert environment (URERMS). The comparison between the experimental characteristic curves IV and PV of the PV modules UDTS-50W and the reference in the standard test conditions (STC) shows that the degradation of the electrical performances is due globally by the delamination and the discoloration of the Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulate after the long term exposure in a desert environment.

An Object-Oriented Approach to the Classification of Roofing Materials Using Very High-Resolution Satellite Stereo-Pairs

The availability of multispectral images, with both high spatial and spectral resolution, makes it possible to obtain valuable information about complex urban environment, reducing the need for more expensive surveying techniques. Here, a methodology is tested for the semi-automatic extraction of buildings and the mapping of the main roofing materials over a urban area of approximately 100 km2, including the entire city of Bologna (Italy). The methodology follows an object-oriented approach and exploits a limited number of training samples. After a validation based on field inspections and close-range photos acquired by a drone, the final map achieved an overall accuracy of 94% (producer accuracy 79%) regarding the building extraction and of 91% for the classification of the roofing materials. The proposed approach proved to be flexible enough to catch the strong variability of the urban texture in different districts and can be easily reproducible in other contexts, as only satellite imagery is required for the mapping.

Empowering farmer group to increase rice productivity for promoting food security: a case study of the implementation of jarwo super technology in Lebak District, Banten, Indonesia

Rice is the number one staple food crop, being eaten by almost all the population in Indonesia. Jajar Legowo Super (Jarwo Super) technology as an approach to improve rice productivity consists of various components of technologies. This study attempts to demonstrate the importance of farmer group empowerment and the implementation of Jarwo Super technology as a strategy to improve rice productivity. A two-year study from 2019 – 2020 was conducted in Cibadak Sub-district, Lebak District, Banten, Indonesia. We combined specific components of rice technology in Jarwo Super, and implemented it in the farmers’ fields. Scheduled assistance through farmer field school (FFS) and field inspections were regularly conducted. The individual farmers’ performance in the implementation of technology and their participation in the FFS were evaluated. Our study showed that the implementation of Jarwo Super significantly improved rice productivity by 34.7% and 35.5% in 2019 and 2020, respectively, as compared to that of regional productivity. The yield performances were highly correlated with both the components of technology as well as farmers’ participation in FFS. We concluded that intensive and continued assisting through extension activities is a key point in delivering technologies to improve rice productivity for better food security.