Installation Of Infrastructure Research Articles

Geomorphology and sediment mobility on sand banks: A study of Dogfish Bank, Hecate Strait, Northeast Pacific Ocean

AbstractMovement of sediment along shallow continental shelves is a natural process with wide‐ranging environmental and economic implications, making it of high importance to marine spatial planning efforts in the offshore. Development of marine renewable energy, for instance, requires detailed understanding of the morphodynamics of mobile bedforms to select foundation types and ensure safe installation of infrastructure in shallow shelf environments. This study evaluates geomorphology and sediment mobility of Dogfish Bank (< 20 mbsl) in the Hecate Strait offshore British Columbia, Canada, using hydroacoustic and airborne bathymetric data combined with seismic profiles and grain‐size information. These data reveal current‐swept features ranging from sediment‐depleted lag to sediment‐abundant sand ridges and dunes, with sand ribbons and furrows in‐between. Seismic reflection data show up to 15 m of surficial sand concentrated beneath north‐aligned sand ridges that dominate the bathymetry of northwest Hecate Strait. Sand ribbons (typically understood sediment‐limited features in shallow marine environments) are notably maintained over seabed with comparable sand thickness to adjacent dunes (i.e. sediment‐abundant features), suggesting local spatial variability in hydrodynamics and sediment characteristics (principally grain size) influence expression of mobile bedforms. Repeat mapping between 2008 and 2019 shows dunes and ribbons both migrate northwards, with largest seafloor changes along northeast‐facing lee sides of dunes, matching closely with published models of sediment mobility which suggest northward bedform migration is largely driven by storms. Median total migration distance is 164 m (northward) for dunes (time‐averaged rate of 14.9 m/year). Sand ribbons show less migration (median northward distance of 73 m) and migrate in a depth‐dependent manner. Because sand ribbons are typically flow‐parallel features, their lateral migration likely results from varying current directions and flow acceleration over shallower seabed. Sand ribbon migration should therefore a consideration in studies examining seabed change, particularly when they are formed over unconsolidated sediment.

Groundwater monitoring infrastructure: Evaluation of the shallow urban and coastal network in Ōtautahi Christchurch

Study regionŌtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand Study focusUrban shallow groundwater monitoring networks are becoming widespread in New Zealand and globally. A reliable groundwater monitoring infrastructure is important to develop knowledge on water table aquifers in coastal cities like Ōtautahi Christchurch. Previous investigations have shown shallow groundwater vulnerability to salinisation and contamination in urban settings, and shallow groundwater exacerbates flooding from climate change and the impact of rising sea levels. New hydrological insights for the regionFollowing the 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence, shallow groundwater data acquisition and the establishment of a geotechnical database in Ōtautahi Christchurch provided unprecedented information on subsurface conditions. The installation of the groundwater monitoring infrastructure opened the field of New Zealand-based urban hydrogeological studies, including continuous measurements of groundwater levels. This study presents the hydrogeological context of Ōtautahi Christchurch, provides an overview of seismic impacts on groundwater, and documents the monitoring network’s development. Methods for assessing the monitoring network included field surveys and digital information review. The overall good condition and robustness of the network mean the dataset held by the city and regional councils should be more widely used to benefit the community. Implications for researchers and network asset managers mean that the maintenance and availability of the data should be prioritised. Records from urban shallow groundwater monitoring networks are becoming an essential source of information to manage urban water resources under climate change and sea-level rise conditions.

Late Cenozoic mass transport deposits in the offshore Tanzania continental margin

Sediment mass movements and their associated Mass Transport Deposits (MTDs) have been widely studied due to their economic and geohazard potentials. This study combines 2D and 3D seismic reflection data with a seismic facies approach and attribute analysis to reveal the presence and distribution of different MTDs in the southernmost region offshore Tanzania. Results of seismic facies analysis show that the study area contains different Late Cenozoic MTDs. The MTDs have limited petroleum reservoir potential and include slides, slumps, debris flow deposits and occasional turbidites. The formation of these MTDs was caused by tectonic events associated with the development of the East African Rift System. Seismic attribute maps have shown the locations of channels, remnant blocks, headwall scars, and grooves confirming downslope sediment mass mobilization. The seabed attribute maps have shown areas where recent mass mobilizations were initiated. Some of these areas coincide with faults which have dissected the seabed, forming potential future gravity failure sites. Other future gravity failure sites include channel banks and slope edges, which may be present over the whole Tanzania continental margin. Sediment mass movements may be catastrophic, and therefore future infrastructure installations in the area must involve detailed mapping of the seabed to assess geohazard risks and act accordingly.

Floating meta-bubbles: aerial gateway and routing on the sky

Reflecting intelligent surface technology (RIS) is regarded as a key enabler of the sixth-generation (6G) communication system. It provides the ability to reshape radio channels through passively reflecting beams in a reconstructive manner. Furthermore, aerial RIS (ARIS) introduces more flexibility in providing line-of-sight (LOS) links. Unfortunately, most of the related research efforts supposed the system as a planar RIS mounted on a satellite, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or balloon despite reported limitations of planar RISs. The essential problem in designing any planar RIS network resides in mutual orientation and alignment difficulty, especially under random fluctuation of position/orientation due to wind conditions or UAV wobbling in the hover state. So, this paper highlights spherical RIS (bubble) as the optimal choice for aerial beam routing where the orientation/rotation can be completely relaxed. It outperforms planar RIS in terms of RIS networking flexibility, dead zone relaxation, and coverage extension. Consequently, due to the added degrees of freedom, many new deployment scenarios/use cases are recommended such as introducing meta-bubbles as intermediate gateways between satellite and ground nodes and extending network infrastructure installation down to the client level to enhance its visibility and throughput. Simulations demonstrate the superiority of meta-bubbles in minimizing channel loss over successive multi-hop routing.

Contrasting corn acreage trends in the Midwest and Southeast: The role of yield, climate, economics, and irrigation

The US corn area footprint has changed significantly since the 20th century, declining in the southeastern states while exhibiting an increase or stable variations in the Midwest. As harvested acreage directly impacts the total corn production, understanding the influencing factors is crucial. This study assesses the role of potential drivers on the contrasting trajectories of harvested corn acreage between midwestern and southeastern US. Profit-acreage analysis reveals that antecedent profits/losses have a statistically significant influence on corn acreage changes, with southeastern US, which experienced more loss-making years, also experiencing more frequent reductions in corn acreage. The high number of loss-making years in the Southeast is primarily attributed to the region's low corn yield, influenced by climate and other agro-environmental factors. Using a panel regression model, we find that the loss-making years in the Southeast could have reduced to fewer than 26 out of the considered 45 years, or almost similar to the average in the Midwest, by just increasing the irrigated corn area to 50 %, a realistic irrigated corn area fraction already achieved in several Georgia counties. This underscores the potential for early policy interventions like irrigation facilitation to sustain and expand cropped acreage. However, we also find that this would only be economically feasible with incentives for both the installation and sustained operation of irrigation infrastructure.

Pemasangan Jaringan Internet Berbasis WiFi Untuk Meningkatkan Akses Komunikasi Warga Di Desa Durian

Durian Village is a village located in Janapria District, Central Lombok Regency. Currently, there is an internet network available in Durian Village, but the speed and quality of the internet network in several places is not good. The condition of infrastructure in Durian Village is still very poor, especially internet access is still very limited, while communication needs are increasing. The aim of this community service program is to install a WiFi-based internet network to improve communication access for residents and the use of information and communication technology (ICT) for the people of Durian Village, Janapria District. Internet installation begins with preparing the device and planning the location of the device so that the signal coverage can be wider. Installation of internet network infrastructure where needed and wider coverage for residents. The implementation of the internet installation was also assisted by STMIK Lombok students. After installing the internet network, the internet network signal area is tested. Internet network testing is carried out by testing signal strength and internet speed which is found to be sufficient to meet internet access standards for communication access and running streaming media applications.

The electric cars era transforming the car repairs and services landscape

The rise of electric vehicles (EVs) is undoubtedly revolutionizing the automotive industry, and its impact on the car repair and service business is profound. While exciting opportunities emerge, the shift also presents significant challenges, potentially leading to the disappearance of certain jobs and parts. In this research, we explore the impact of electric cars on the future car repair and service landscape. By 2030, EVs will constitute 60% of global car sales, underscoring the significant shift towards electric mobility. This transition is expected to reduce maintenance costs by up to 40% compared to conventional vehicles due to the simpler design and fewer moving parts in EVs. Certain body parts, including radiators and exhaust systems specific to gasoline cars, will also become redundant as EVs become more prevalent in the market. However, amidst these disappearing parts, there are emerging opportunities in the automotive industry. The rise of EVs will necessitate new areas of expertise, such as battery diagnostics, charging infrastructure installation, and software updates, creating new job opportunities for trained technicians. Furthermore, there will be a growing focus on software and electronics as they play a bigger role in car functionality. This shift emphasizes the importance of upskilling existing technicians in these areas to capitalize on new avenues within the automotive sector, aligning with the evolving landscape of electric mobility.

Unveiling Key Factors Shaping Energy Storage Strategies for Sustainable Energy Communities

This research delves into a case study of a photovoltaic (PV) energy community, leveraging empirical data to explore the integration of renewable energy sources and storage solutions. By evaluating energy generation and consumption patterns within real-world energy communities (a nominal generation capacity of 33 kWn) in Gipuzkoa, Spain, from May 2022 to May 2023, this study comprehensively examines operational dynamics and performance metrics. This study highlights the critical role of energy consumption patterns in facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources and underscores the importance of proactive strategies to manage demand fluctuations effectively. Against the backdrop of rising energy costs and environmental concerns, renewable energies and storage solutions emerge as compelling alternatives, offering financial feasibility and environmental benefits within energy communities. This study emphasizes the necessity of research and development efforts to develop efficient energy storage technologies and the importance of economic incentives and collaborative initiatives to drive investments in renewable energy infrastructure. The analyzed results provide valuable insights into operational dynamics and performance metrics, further advancing our understanding of their transformative potential in achieving a sustainable energy future. Specifically, our study suggests that storage capacity should ideally support an average annual capacity of 23%, with fluctuations observed where this capacity may double or reduce to a minimum in certain months. Given the current market conditions, our findings indicate the necessity of significant public subsidies, amounting to no less than 67%, to facilitate the installation of storage infrastructure, especially in cases where initial investments are not covered by the energy community.

Exploring the Feasibility of Deploying Technology Enhanced School-Based Teacher Continuous Professional Development in Internet-Limited Environments in Tanzania

In low-income countries, the use of technology to enhance teacher continuous professional development (TCPD) activities has been increasing significantly. However, most technology initiatives related to TCPD require the installation of complex information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure in schools or availability of reliable Internet connectivity. While installation of ICT infrastructure is costly, the cost of the Internet is unaffordable to most teachers in low-income countries. This study explored the feasibility of deploying Raspberry Pi computers and tablets as micro-servers to facilitate school-based TCPD activities via a learning management system (LMS) without Internet connectivity. Teachers in eight schools in Dar es Salaam and Lindi accessed a TCPD sample module with Raspberry Pi and tablets providing hotspotting and treated as offline local servers hosting a LMS. After the trial, data was collected through focus group discussion, observation, and LMS logs involving 69 teachers. The findings showed that both Raspberry Pi and tablets could be used as micro-servers to provide access to learning resources in offline environments, but Raspberry Pi fared more favorably. Raspberry Pi was easy to set up and connected more devices than did the tablet. However, Raspberry Pi required careful handling as it is a delicate device. Interestingly, there was no significant difference in terms of the performance and cost of the two micro-servers. This study provided further evidence that both Raspberry Pi and tablets could be cost-effective approaches to deliver TCPD activities without installing complex ICT infrastructure or in areas with limited Internet connectivity.

Scenario-Based Green Infrastructure Installations for Building Urban Stormwater Resilience—A Case Study of Fengxi New City, China

Global climate change has precipitated a surge in urban flooding challenges, prompting the imperative role of green infrastructure (GI) as the linchpin of sponge city construction to enhance urban sustainability and resilience. But the evaluation of urban stormwater resilience faces challenges due to the lack of a comprehensive evaluation framework taking the intrinsic features of the resilience system into account and the insufficient coverage of alternative scenarios’ performance under multiple rainfall return periods. This study, focusing on Fengxi New City, China, evaluates the suitability of GI (i.e., green roofs, rain gardens, and permeable pavements) and constructs a stormwater management model (SWMM) for urban stormwater hydrological simulation. This study also establishes a comprehensive urban stormwater resilience evaluation system and uses quantitative methods to unify the performances of scenarios under different rainfall return periods. Our analytical findings elucidate that the suitability of GI is predominantly concentrated in the northern and western areas of the study area, with the smallest suitable area observed for permeable pavements. Divergent GIs exhibit disparate performances, with rain gardens emerging as particularly efficacious. Importantly, the combination of multiple GIs yields a synergistic enhancement in resilience, underscoring the strategic advantage of adopting a diverse and integrated approach to GI implementation. This study facilitates a deeper understanding of urban stormwater resilience and assists in informed planning decisions for GI and sponge cities.

An evaluation method for integrating EVs in distribution networks with clustering algorithms

Introduction: With the installation of advanced metering infrastructures, the operation data of EVs in the distribution networks can be obtained with time intervals of seconds and minutes. Based on these operation data, the impacts of integrating EVs into the distribution networks can be calculated and discussed.Methods: In this paper, an improved clustering algorithm with a new distance index for the daily curves of different types of EVs was proposed. The different types of EVs can be classified into several typical groups and the required number of operation scenarios can be reduced. After reducing the large-scale database to typical clusters, research can be conducted on the characteristics of EVs specific to certain scenarios.Results and discussion: In this way, the capability of integrating different types of EVs into the distribution network, such as fast EV charging stations, slow EV charging stations, and EV bus charging stations, is assessed from the perspective of load capacity size. The proposed clustering algorithm was verified with practical operation data.

A novel approach to modeling and experimenting a solar-fed H6 configuration for battery swapping stations in rural and commercial areas using a dual phase CLLC DC–DC resonant converter

In order to further the use of clean energy, the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) was initiated globally. In the coming days, there will be a need for more EV charging stations in rural and commercial areas. The installation of new charging infrastructure for different vehicles with different voltage specifications in order to charge batteries are expensive with limited availability. Also fast charging is not possible in rural areas. To overcome this issue, the battery swapping station is a good option. In this paper, a new solar-powered dual-phase CLLC DC–DC resonant converter is proposed to test battery swapping. An equivalent circuit has been derived analytically, and the optimal design of the magnetic components for the proposed converter has been derived. Simulation has been carried out for the proposed system. The proposed system was tested with a prototype set-up of a 100 W lithium-ion battery bank of equal and unequal voltage levels in an open-loop condition using Analog Discovery-2. Introducing the H6 concept in the proposed converter has the features of low stress across switches, use of higher dc grid voltage, low switching losses due to the dual phase resonant compensation network, and a multi-port isolated output system. Apart from battery swapping applications it can be utilized for Energy Storage Solution [ESS].

Mitigation of operational impacts on airports by early awareness of malicious events impacting linked critical infrastructures

This paper introduces to security management that is conducted at infrastructure installations and their corresponding technical assets. Malicious activities at those infrastructures lead to a loss of service provision or can even introduce cascading effects towards other connected infrastructures. If an infrastructure satisfies a significant societal need, it is considered a critical infrastructure. The cascading effects can cause secondary effects at the connected infrastructures, such as airports. Airport operations are central to long-distance societal mobility and even small disruptions have knock-on effects throughout the air transport network. The cascading effects that can affect the airport and that originate at linked infrastructures and real-time use of the corresponding information for airport management and collaborative decision-making purposes in an Airport Operations Center are not well known. In what operational way can an Airport Operations Center make use of early awareness of and information about attacks on linked critical infrastructures? In how far do attacks on separate, but interconnected critical infrastructures have an effect on the operations of an airport? By looking at the existing state of the art and ongoing projects in infrastructure security research, disaster and airport management, this paper conducts a gap identification. The identified weaknesses and limitations are already partially addressed by current research projects. What is still unknown is the necessary airport-centric security management view in order to answer the research question. As a consequence, this paper proposes ideas for future necessary airport-centric infrastructure security research.

A Chronological Model for Inca Provincial Expansion: The Case of the Copiapo Valley

Abstract This article examines a new dataset of radiocarbon dates that provides insights into the progressive installation of Inca infrastructure in the Copiapo Valley, situated at the southern edge of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. It shows that the Inca imperial expansion in this region was not a linear process and was likely shaped by local negotiations and conflicts. The findings describe three main stages of Inca expansion. The first is the construction of the North–South Inca Road and the establishment of high-altitude mountain shrines. The next stage consisted of a physical intervention in a local village located in the upper valley, including the construction of administrative buildings and public spaces. The last stage involved indirect intervention in local villages, characterized by the presence of isolated administrative buildings that were potentially used for diplomacy and negotiation. I argue that the Inca imperial expansion, characterized by evolving strategies across regions and time periods, not only demonstrates the state's capacity for learning but also suggests the pivotal role of local actors in positions of power who wielded agency to shape these developments.

Heterogeneous public preferences for undergrounding high-voltage power transmission lines: The case of Seoul metropolitan area in South Korea

Local residents generally do not prefer the installation and operation of power infrastructure because of the perceived economic, health, environmental, and landscape risks associated with it. This study investigates public preferences for undergrounding high-voltage power transmission lines, which is a popular option to cope with conflicts related to transmission infrastructure. Undergrounding refers to burying overhead transmission lines underground. However, undergrounding projects are costly, making it difficult for local governments to conduct by themselves. Therefore, national-level support is required to conduct undergrounding of transmission lines. When national funds are used, considering heterogeneous public preferences is important, as the public may have a polarized preference towards the policy. This study utilized the choice experiment and consumer choice model to investigate public preferences for priorities and details of the high-voltage transmission line undergrounding policy. The latent class logit model, which incorporates preference heterogeneity by grouping the samples into a few classes, was utilized to investigate heterogeneous public preferences. Consequently, four distinct classes with different preference structures were identified. The results show that strong heterogeneity was observed, especially in the priority area for undergrounding. Moreover, heterogeneous public preferences were associated with the key demographics of respondents and perceptions towards transmission infrastructure.

Offshore application of landslide susceptibility mapping using gradient-boosted decision trees: a Gulf of Mexico case study

Among natural hazards occurring offshore, submarine landslides pose a significant risk to offshore infrastructure installations attached to the seafloor. With the offshore being important for current and future energy production, there is a need to anticipate where future landslide events are likely to occur to support planning and development projects. Using the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) as a case study, this paper performs Landslide Susceptibility Mapping (LSM) using a gradient-boosted decision tree (GBDT) model to characterize the spatial patterns of submarine landslide probability over the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) where water depths are greater than 120 m. With known spatial extents of historic submarine landslides and a Geographic Information System (GIS) database of known topographical, geomorphological, geological, and geochemical factors, the resulting model was capable of accurately forecasting potential locations of sediment instability. Results of a permutation modelling approach indicated that LSM accuracy is sensitive to the number of unique training locations with model accuracy becoming more stable as the number of training regions was increased. The influence that each input feature had on predicting landslide susceptibility was evaluated using the SHapely Additive exPlanations (SHAP) feature attribution method. Areas of high and very high susceptibility were associated with steep terrain including salt basins and escarpments. This case study serves as an initial assessment of the machine learning (ML) capabilities for producing accurate submarine landslide susceptibility maps given the current state of available natural hazard-related datasets and conveys both successes and limitations.

An integrated geological characterization of the Mid‐Pleistocene to Holocene geology of the Sørlige Nordsjø II offshore wind site, southern North Sea

Subsurface deposits in recently glaciated marine areas are highly heterogeneous, representing a range of glacial and postglacial environments and processes including glacitectonism, overconsolidation, fluvial and lacustrine deposition, and transgression. These heterogeneities are often linked to variations in engineering properties, with important implications for the design and installation of offshore wind infrastructure. In this study we present an integrated geological characterization of the Sørlige Nordsjø II offshore wind site, located in waters of 50–70 m depth along the southern border of the Norwegian North Sea, focusing on the evolution of the area's depositional setting during the late Quaternary period and its implications for offshore wind development. We integrate interpretations from a marine geological data set acquired in 2022 with legacy 3D seismic data and a review of the current understanding of the southern North Sea's complex glacial history. A preliminary ground model and accompanying risk map for the site is presented with five main geological units: (i) homogeneous and layered marine sands covering most of the site, with patchy distribution and coarser‐grained deposits in the east; (ii) buried, layered channel deposits containing organic material and possible associated shallow gas; (iii) buried, stiff glacilacustrine clay deposits; (iv) a buried, layered, glacitectonized unit incised by tunnel valleys, with a sandy marine infill; and (v) mounded tills and glacitectonized deposits containing boulders, exposed to shallowly buried in the east. Salt diapirism and gas migration were also found to be important potential geohazards at the site. Three‐dimensional seismic attribute maps were found to be a powerful aid to understanding the distribution and genesis of seismic facies identified on 2D high‐resolution sub‐bottom profiles. This type of data integration is an under‐utilized methodology for generating detailed preliminary ground models, which can inform more cost‐effective site survey and early foundation concept planning at geologically complex offshore wind sites.

Geothermal district heating: Energy, environmental and economic analysis of a case study in northern Italy

Geothermal district heating is a technology that has been established for over 50 years and offers a number of significant advantages. It allows multiple homes to be converted to renewable energy sources simultaneously, allows a stable heat supply with long-term fixed prices, and generally presents lower risks. The utilization of geothermal energy as a heat source for the network can be considered cost-free during operation, but has a critical economic aspect related to the initial investment. Geothermal district heating networks are in fact capital-intensive systems (CapEx), requiring substantial investments for the installation of the geothermal infrastructure. However, operating costs (OpEx) are significantly lower compared to conventional systems. This study examined the implementation of a district heating network in a medium-sized city in northern Italy. An energy and environmental impact assessment was conducted to determine the optimal plant configuration that maximises the use of the geothermal resource and minimises greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to assess the impact of market variables on the overall cost of implementing the district heating network. This included an evaluation of changes in investment costs in response to variations in the value of electricity taxes -oneri di sistema-, of the revenues from the sale of thermal and electrical energy, as well as of the fuel costs. This study aims to provide a complete and detailed overview of the energy, environmental and economic implications associated with the implementation of a geothermal district heating network

A limit analysis approach to uplift bearing capacity of shallow plate anchors in marine environments

AbstractOffshore oil and gas exploration activities involve the installation of various subsea infrastructures on the ocean floor, often supported by shallow foundations such as anchor plates or mudmats. These foundations must be designed to withstand applied service loads along the structure lifecycle, including decommissioning loads required for subsequent removal. In this context, this work is dedicated to the evaluation of uplift bearing capacity of shallow anchors within the theoretical framework of limit analysis and its related kinematic approach. Based on the implementation of 3D failure mechanisms, rigorous upper bound estimates for the uplift force viewed as ultimate load for the material system are derived from either total or effective stress analyses. In that respect, emphasis is given to the formulation of limit analysis problem in the context of effective stresses, showing how the effect of seepage flow may be accounted for by means of driving body forces derived from the gradient of excess pore pressure distribution and how suction forces arise from pore pressure difference between upper and lower anchor surfaces. Evaluation of suction forces developed during anchor lifting is addressed by resorting to a simplified modeling applied to circular and rectangular anchors. The accuracy of the upper bound predictions derived for uplift force is assessed by comparison with available experimental data. Several numerical results are also provided to investigate the effects of relevant problem parameters on the uplift bearing capacity.

Do Public-Led Housing Site Development Projects Affect Local Housing Prices: A Proposal for a Comprehensive Policy Evaluation Methodology

As the population in urban areas increases, the importance of adequate public-led development policies for sustainable cities with affordable housing is becoming more highlighted. In this regard, this study aims to determine the effectiveness of public-led urban development policies for sustainable growth in urban areas, specifically measuring the effect of housing site development projects on housing prices. The geographical scope of the study is the project sites and their surrounding areas in South Korea, and the temporal background is from 2006 to 2023. The project sites were subdivided into four groups by using the Self-Organization Map (SOM), a machine-learning-based clustering analysis, to collect characteristics of each region. Then, the impact of the policy and the prediction of the real estate market of each cluster were analyzed by applying the DID and LSTM models, which have recently been proven to show a high validity. The results show that each cluster had different characteristics and effects from the development projects, depending not simply on the location, but on several characteristics, including the level of size, infrastructure installation, input cost, etc. Furthermore, it is expected for future studies that more detailed research should be conducted with larger datasets of the regional characteristics.