Outdoor Platforms Research Articles

Effects of Wind Shields on Pedestrian-Level Wind Environment around Outdoor Platforms of a Megatall Building

Effects of Wind Shields on Pedestrian-Level Wind Environment around Outdoor Platforms of a Megatall Building

Brachistochrone Bowl‐Inspired Hybrid Nanogenerator Integrated with Physio‐Electrochemical Multisensors for Self‐Sustainable Smart Pool Monitoring Systems (Adv. Energy Mater. 14/2023)

Smart Pool Monitoring Systems In article number 2203849, Jae Yeong Park and co-workers develop a brachistochrone bowl-inspired self-powered autonomous smart pool monitoring system (SPMS) for real-time monitoring of the various physico-electrochemical properties of pool water. The combined effort of the wave energy harvester and water quality sensors in the SPMS aids in maintaining a hygienic and safe swimming environment for both indoor and outdoor platforms.

Assessment of Coarse, Fine, and Ultrafine Particles in S-Bahn Trains and Underground Stations in Stuttgart

The Stuttgart S-Bahn network comprises six subway lines and is used by approximately 425,000 people on a daily basis. In previous studies in other cities, it was found that subways can be a source and collection point of particulate matter (PM), which is detrimental to human health. This study focused on making an initial assessment of the pollution situation inside the trains and on the underground platforms. Real-time measurements were performed with high time-resolution instruments inside the S-Bahn trains, two underground stations, and two outdoor stations in the Stuttgart subway network in November 2019. Firstly, the variation in concentration inside the train as it traveled through the tunnel was investigated, and it was recurrently observed that the pollutant concentration in the train increased while traveling through the tunnel and then decreased when nearing the tunnel exit. Secondly, the measurement location with the highest particulate matter concentrations was determined. The particulate matter concentrations on underground platforms were higher than those on the train and on the outdoor platforms. In addition, the dominant fraction of the particulate matter measured was in the range of ultrafine particles (UFP). Finally, the wind speed and wind direction data were analyzed in conjunction with specific locations along the platforms. From the wind measurement results, it was assumed that the combined airflows led to higher particle resuspension and particulate matter concentrations in these areas. In conclusion, it was determined that subway users were exposed to higher particle concentrations, particularly UFP (10–116 nm), while standing on underground platforms and when traveling through underground tunnels. It was found that the PNCs inside the train wagons as well as PM and BC mass concentrations increase when passing through the tunnel. Additionally, the average number concentration of UFPs on underground platforms was significantly higher than in other locations by factors of around 1.7 to 1.9 for UFPs and 1.6 to 2 for coarse and fine particles.

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Visual Environment of a Railroad Station’s Platform, Focused on the User’s Psychology

Through a comprehensive evaluation of the spaces of 25 railway stations, where power-saving operations are being conducted due to an earthquake, the effects of various components of the space on users’ psychology were reviewed. For the platforms of railway stations, which are divided into ‘island platforms’ and ‘side platforms’ the ‘physical quantity measurement’ and ‘impression evaluation’ were assessed. When a simple power-saving method, such as partial lighting up is adopted, it has been shown that there is a negative effect on the users, both physically and psychologically. In particular, in the case of outdoor platforms, there is a concern that glare and anxiety due to contrast may increase; therefore, it is necessary to utilize the reflective surfaces effectively. Floor illuminance is fundamental to lighting design. However, some areas cannot be evaluated by floor illuminance alone. The difference in the results of the impression evaluation in five areas with floor illuminance around 50 lx was widely distributed, and it was found that the shape and material of the space affected the results. If platform screen doors are installed, a lighting method that can evenly illuminate the interior of the space is necessary. By reviewing each factor that determines the visual impression, it was revealed that the lighting location and lighting method were significantly affected.

The ETH‐MAV Team in the MBZ International Robotics Challenge

AbstractThis study describes the hardware and software systems of the Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV) platforms used by the ETH Zurich team in the 2017 Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC). The aim was to develop robust outdoor platforms with the autonomous capabilities required for the competition, by applying and integrating knowledge from various fields, including computer vision, sensor fusion, optimal control, and probabilistic robotics. This paper presents the major components and structures of the system architectures and reports on experimental findings for the MAV‐based challenges in the competition. Main highlights include securing the second place both in the individual search, pick, and place the task of Challenge 3 and the Grand Challenge, with autonomous landing executed in less than 1 min and a visual servoing success rate of over for object pickups.

Pedestrian-level wind environment on outdoor platforms of a thousand-meter-scale megatall building: Sub-configuration experiment and wind comfort assessment

A thousand-meter-scale megatall building is consisted of three peripheral elliptical towers and one central circular tower, together with 10 outdoor platforms along the height with an interval of 100 m to connect the four towers. As there is no shelter between every two adjacent platforms, pedestrians will feel uncomfortable or unsafe due to large approaching wind speed when strolling or walking across the platforms. Therefore, the pedestrian-level wind environment on outdoor platforms is studied via the combination of wind tunnel tests and CFD simulations. Firstly, wind environment experiment of a sub-configuration of the megatall building is carried out, and characteristics of the pedestrian-level wind environment are analyzed. Then, distributions of the pedestrian-level wind speeds of a full model of the megatall building are compared to that of the sub-configuration via CFD simulations, and an adjustment coefficient is introduced to establish the link of wind speeds between these two models. Lastly, based on the statistical meteorological data provided by the Dalian Meteorological Service Center and the aerodynamic information above, assessment of the pedestrian-level wind comfort and wind danger of the outdoor platforms is implemented using both the Lawson criterion and the NEN 8100 criterion. The results show that quality of the wind environment is very poor on most zones of the platforms, especially in the passageways of two adjacent towers due to the “funneling effects”, and some effective measures should be explored to improve it. This study contributes to further understanding of characteristics of the pedestrian-level wind environment of outdoor platforms high up on megatall buildings via sub-configuration experiment and full model simulations.

Vehicle model identification by integrated prediction error minimization

We present a highly effective approach for the calibration of vehicle models. The approach combines the output error technique of system identification theory and the convolution integral solutions of linear systems and stochastic calculus. Rather than calibrate the system differential equation directly for unknown parameters, we calibrate its first integral. This integrated prediction error minimization (IPEM) approach is advantageous because it requires only low-frequency observations of state, and produces unbiased parameter estimates that optimize simulation accuracy for the chosen time horizon. We address the calibration of models that describe both systematic and stochastic dynamics, such that uncertainties can be computed for model predictions. We resolve numerous implementation issues in the application of IPEM, such as the efficient linearization of the dynamics integral with respect to parameters, the treatment of uncertainty in initial conditions, and the formulation of stochastic measurements and measurement covariances. While the technique can be used for any dynamical system, we demonstrate its usefulness for the calibration of wheeled vehicle models used in control and estimation. Specifically we calibrate models of odometry, powertrain dynamics, and wheel slip as it affects body frame velocity. Experimental results are provided for a variety of indoor and outdoor platforms.

Moving object detection with laser scanners

The detection and tracking of moving objects is an essential task in robotics. The CMU‐RI Navlab group has developed such a system that uses a laser scanner as its primary sensor. We will describe our algorithm and its use in several applications. Our system worked successfully on indoor and outdoor platforms and with several different kinds and configurations of two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional laser scanners. The applications vary from collision warning systems, people classification, observing human tracks, and input to a dynamic planner. Several of these systems were evaluated in live field tests and shown to be robust and reliable. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Pedestrian wind conditions at outdoor platforms in a high-rise apartment building: generic sub-configuration validation, wind comfort assessment and uncertainty issues

CFD is applied to evaluate pedestrian wind comfort at outdoor platforms in a high-rise apartment building. Model validation is focused on generic building sub-configurations that are obtained by decomposition of the actual complex building geometry. The comfort study is performed during the design stage, which allows structural design changes to be made for wind comfort improvement. Preliminary simulations are performed to determine the effect of different design modifications. A full wind comfort assessment study is conducted for the final design. Structural remedial measures for this building, aimed at reducing pressure short-circuiting, appear to be successful in bringing the discomfort probability estimates down to acceptable levels. Finally, the importance of one of the main sources of uncertainty in this type of wind comfort studies is illustrated. It is shown that the uncertainty about the terrain roughness classification can strongly influence the outcome of wind comfort studies and can lead to wrong decisions. This problem is present to the same extent in both wind tunnel and CFD wind comfort studies when applying the same particular procedure for terrain relation contributions as used in this paper.

Tents pre-treated with insecticide for malaria control in refugee camps: an entomological evaluation

BackgroundA refugee shelter that is treated with insecticide during manufacture would be useful for malaria control at the acute stage of an emergency, when logistic problems, poor co-ordination and insecurity limit the options for malaria control.MethodsTents made of untreated canvas with deltamethrin-treated polyethylene threads interwoven through the canvas during manufacture, 'pre-treated tents', were tested in Pakistan for their impact on malaria vectors. Fixed-time contact bioassays tested the insecticidal activity of the material over 3 months of outdoor weathering. Unweathered tents were erected under large trap-nets on outdoor platforms and tested using wild-caught, host-seeking mosquitoes and insectary-reared mosquitoes released during the night into the trap-nets.ResultsThe insecticide-treated tents were effective both in killing mosquitoes and reducing blood-feeding. Mean 24 hour mortality was 25.7% on untreated tents and 50.8% on treated tents (P = 0.001) in wild anophelines and 5.2% on untreated tents and 80.9% on treated tents (P < 0.001) in insectary-reared Anopheles stephensi. Blood-feeding of wild anophelines was reduced from 46% in the presence of an untreated tent to 9.2% (P < 0.001) in the presence of treated tents and from 51.1% to 22.2% (P < 0.001) for insectary-reared An. stephensi. In contact bioassays on tents weathered for three months there was 91.3% mortality after 10-minute exposure and a 24 h holding period and 83.0% mortality after 3-minute exposure and a 24 h holding period.ConclusionThe results demonstrate the potential of these pre-treated canvas-polyethylene tents for malaria control. Further information on the persistence of the insecticide over an extended period of weathering should be gathered. Because the epidemiological evidence for the effectiveness of pyrethroid-treated tents for malaria control already exists, this technology could be readily adopted as an option for malaria control in refugee camps, provided the insecticidal effect is shown to be sufficiently persistent.