Initial Field Test Results Research Articles

Integration of Wireless Sensor Networks in Environmental Monitoring Cyber Infrastructure

Abstract: Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have great potential to revolutionize many science and engineering domains. We present a novel environmental monitoring system with a focus on overall system architecture for seamless integration of wired and wireless sensors for long-term, remote, and near-real-time monitoring. We also present a unified framework for sensor data collection, management, visualization, dissemination, and exchange, conforming to the new Sensor Web Enablement standard. Some initial field testing results are also presented. The monitoring system is being integrated into the Texas Environmental Observatory infrastructure for long-term operation. As part of the integrated system, a new WSN-based soil moisture monitoring system is developed and deployed to support hydrologic monitoring and modeling research. This work represents a significant contribution to the empirical study of the emerging WSN technology. We address many practical issues in real-world application scenarios that are often neglected in the existing WSN research

Measuring the Implementation of UDL in Classrooms and Schools: Initial Field Test Results

The design, flexibility, and iterative nature that is inherent to Universal Design for Learning (UDL) makes it difficult to consistently measure. With federal policy encouraging the implementation of UDL, there is an increased need for practitioners to reliably measure the occurrence of UDL. The UDL Observation Measurement Tool (UDL-OMT) was developed to measure UDL implementation in classrooms. This article presents the conceptual underpinnings of UDL measurement and the results of an initial field test. Results indicate that the UDL-OMT has good to excellent internal consistency and can characterize differences in UDL implementation across a continuum of settings. Discussion focuses on the reliability of the UDL-OMT and its potential as a formative evaluation tool for practitioners and school-based personnel. Additional considerations include promising research applications and how the nature and context of classroom instructional factors as well as observers’ UDL knowledge influence interpretations of observations.

Initial Field Testing Results from Building-Integrated Solar Energy Harvesting Windows Installation in Perth, Australia

We report on the field testing datasets and performance evaluation results obtained from a commercial property-based visually-clear solar window installation site in Perth-Australia. This installation was fitted into a refurbished shopping center entrance porch and showcases the potential of glass curtain wall-based solar energy harvesting in built environments. In particular, we focus on photovoltaic (PV) performance characteristics such as the electric power output, specific yield, day-to-day consistency of peak output power, and the amounts of energy generated and stored daily. The dependencies of the generated electric power and stored energy on multiple environmental and geometric parameters are also studied. An overview of the current and future application potential of high-transparency, visually-clear solar window-based curtain wall installations suitable for practical building integration is provided.

Guided Discovery Worksheet for Increasing Mathematical Creative Thinking and Self-Efficacy

This research development aimed to develop of worksheet based on guided discovery for increasing mathematical creative thinking and student’s self-efficacy. Development stage in this study is a preliminary study, planning, development of worksheet, worksheet validation, and field testing. The subject of this research is the students of class 10A3 and 10A5 MAN 1 Central Lampung in the Academic of 2017/2018. The data of this research were obtained by observation, interview, mathematicalcreative thinking ability test and self-efficacy scale. The result of the validity by subject matter expert and media expert showed that the worksheet is considered excellent. The Initial field testing results indicate that worksheet is included in either category. The field testing results showed that (1) the student’s mathematical creative thinking aspect was effective because seen from the N-Gain of 0,54 which included in the category of moderate improvement and (2) the student’s self-efficacy was effective because seen from the N-Gain of 0,36 which included in the category of moderate improvement. It can be concluded that worksheet based on guided discovery effective way to improve the mathematical creative thinking ability and student’s self-efficacy.

Experimental verification of a virtual water flowmeter applicable to air conditioning systems

The main purpose of this research is to suggest a virtual water flowmeter applicable in hydraulic systems with low-cost sensors. Practical procedures for realizing virtual water flowmeters for constant flow pumps (i.e., Cases 1 and 2) and variable flow pumps (i.e., Cases 3 and 4) are proposed in this paper. In Case 1, for measuring the water flow rate through a constant flow pump, the pump head was measured and the water flow rate was estimated using the pump characteristic curve obtained from the manufacturer or by deriving an empirical model based on the field measurement data. In Case 2, the water flow rate through a valve with a constant flow pump was estimated by measuring the pressure head between the valve and the valve opening position. The valve characteristic curve can be obtained by deriving an empirical model based on the initial field test results. The water flow rate through the variable flow pump was calculated, using the pump affinity laws and an empirical model, by measuring the frequency (i.e., Case 3) or input power (i.e., Case 4). The initial setup and test procedures for virtual flowmeters are also proposed in this research for practical use in the field. To verify the proposed procedures, experiments were conducted using constant and variable flow pumps in a pilot system. It was found that the virtual water flowmeters showed 2.9% to 6.7% of root mean square error from Case 1 to Case 4, compared with an ultrasonic water flowmeter, through long-term experimental verification.

PENGEMBANGAN INSTRUMEN PENILAIAN SIKAP ILMIAH SAINS SISWA SEKOLAH DASAR (SD) BERBASIS PENDIDIKAN KARAKTER

This study aims to develop scientific science attitudes assessment instruments that can be used in elementary school-based values of character education. This research is a research development (R & D) conducted for one year with preliminary study stage, product development, product trial and product dissemination developed. A preliminary study was conducted by surveying the implementation of the science assessment in primary school. The preliminary study results show that teachers in 10 surveyed schools have never implemented a scientific attitude assessment in science learning. At the stage of product development, has developed a scientific attitude assessment instrument that has been validated by experts. The product trials were conducted in three stages: initial field test, main field test and field operational test. In the initial field test, it was conducted in two schools with 20 respondents in each class. Initial field test results show that the instrument reliability level is good, but there are still some invalid items that are 11 items in class IV, 8 items in class V and 7 items in class VI. This is because there are still some respondents who have not read smoothly so that they have difficulty in answering questions. In the main field test, it was conducted in 8 schools with 91 respondents. The main field test result is that there are 5 invalid questions, both in class IV, V and VI. Operational field tests were carried out with the number of respondents each 13 students from 10 schools. Field operational test results are all items declared valid and reliable. The last stage is to disseminate products through scientific forums such as seminars and socialization to schools. The scientific attitude instruments developed in this study can be used by elementary teachers to assess the scientific attitudes of elementary students.

Coping with Large Traffic Volumes in Schedule-Driven Traffic Signal Control

Recent work in decentralized, schedule-driven traffic control has demonstrated the ability to significantly improve traffic flow efficiency in complex urban road networks. However, in situations where vehicle volumes increase to the point that the physical capacity of a road network reaches or exceeds saturation, it has been observed that the effectiveness of a schedule-driven approach begins to degrade, leading to progressively higher network congestion. In essence, the traffic control problem becomes less of a scheduling problem and more of a queue management problem in this circumstance. In this paper we propose a composite approach to real-time traffic control that uses sensed information on queue lengths to influence scheduling decisions and gracefully shift the signal control strategy to queue management in high volume/high congestion settings. Specifically, queue-length information is used to establish weights for the sensed vehicle clusters that must be scheduled through a given intersection at any point, and hence bias the wait time minimization calculation. To compute these weights, we develop a model in which successive movement phases are viewed as different states of an Ising model, and parameters quantify strength of interactions. To ensure scalability, queue information is only exchanged between direct neighbors and the asynchronous nature of local intersection scheduling is preserved. We demonstrate the potential of the approach through microscopic traffic simulation of a real-world road network, showing a 60% reduction in average wait times over the baseline schedule-driven approach in heavy traffic scenarios. We also report initial field test results, which show the ability to reduce queues during heavy traffic periods.

A new narrow-beam, multi-frequency, scanning radiometer and its application to in-flight icing detection

A one degree beamwidth, multi-frequency (20 to 30 and 89GHz), dual-polarization radiometer with full azimuth and elevation scanning capabilities was built with the purpose of improving the detection of in-flight icing hazards to aircraft in the near airport environment. This goal was achieved by collocating the radiometer with Colorado State University's CHILL polarized Doppler radar and leveraging the similar beamwidth and volume scan regiments of the two instruments. The collocated instruments allowed for the liquid water path and water vapor measurements derived from the radiometer to be merged with the radar moment fields to determine microphysical and water phase characteristics aloft. The radiometer was field tested at Colorado State University's CHILL radar site near Greeley, Colorado during the summer of 2009. Instrument design, calibration, and initial field testing results are discussed in this paper.

Assessment of Learning in Digital Interactive Social Networks: A Learning Analytics Approach

This paper summarizes initial field-test results from data analytics used in the work of the Assessment and Teaching of 21st Century Skills (ATC21S) project, on the “ICT Literacy – Learning in digital networks” learning progression. This project, sponsored by Cisco, Intel and Microsoft, aims to help educators around the world enable students with the skills to succeed in future career and college goals. The paper begins with describing some expansions to a common definition of learning analytics, then includes a review of the literature on ICT literacy, including the specific development that led to the ATC21S effort. This is followed by a description of the development of a “learning progression” for this project, as well as the logic behind the instrument construction and data analytics, along with examples of each. Data were collected in a demonstration digital environment in four countries: Australia, Finland, Singapore and the U.S. The results indicate that the new constructs developed by the project, and the novel item forms and analytics that were employed, are indeed capable of being employed in a large-scale digital environment. The paper concludes with a discussion of the next steps for this effort.

Development of Foam Backfill Repair Techniques for Airfield Pavement Repairs

Recent military operations have highlighted the need for new expedient pavement repair capabilities to improve current guidance on airfield damage repair. Damaged or distressed military airfield pavements must be repaired with expedient methods and durable materials to minimize the time the pavement is removed from service and to reduce or eliminate additional closure times for subsequent repairs. Extensive research was conducted to develop several airfield pavement repair techniques that could be applied across the full spectrum of military airfield repair operations. This paper focuses on the research conducted to develop a new foam backfill technology for airfield pavement repairs. Results of initial laboratory and field tests showed that rigid, poured polyurethane foam is the most applicable backfill solution for deployed locations because of its ability to expand to several times its shipped liquid volume when mixed, reducing the logistical burden of transporting aggregate backfill materials. This paper describes laboratory and field experiments that used foam backfill and prototype equipment to develop a pavement repair technique that supports threshold and objective aircraft pass levels defined for expedient airfield repairs. The research included laboratory testing, full-scale field testing, and simulated and actual aircraft traffic tests with C-17 and F-15 aircraft. Results of these tests validated and certified the foam backfill repair technique for military aircraft use. However, these experiments also identified material and equipment limitations that will require additional research before the repair technique is adopted by military repair teams. Conclusions and recommendations for future equipment and material improvements are provided.

Implementation requirements for automated fault data analytics in power systems

Summary This paper addresses implementation requirements for a fully automated substation data integration and fault analysis for power system transmission lines. The approach is based on measurements from substation intelligent electronic device recordings. The proposed architecture provides a transparent approach to substation data management, analytics functions, as well as the visualization of the integrated data and analytics results. When combined with an efficient communication and data collection scheme, the solution bridges the gap between traditionally separated non-operational and operational data. The fault analytics results, traditionally obtained through off-line manual process, can now be used in an automated way to support on-line decisions when operating or restoring the power system. The solution is open for further expansions and interfacing to third-party systems. The paper illustrates implementation examples and provides initial in-house and field test results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

New Choke-Valve Design Improves Separator Efficiency

Technology Update The efficiency of the gas/liquid separation process can have a significant impact on the economics of planned and potential oil and gas developments, as well as on the profitability of existing production operations. A new type of choke valve that improves the efficiency of downstream gas/liquid separators by enhancing the coalescence of dispersed liquids in a fluid stream has been developed recently by Twister. The initial field test of the technology, known as the SWIRL valve, was performed at a JT-LTS production unit operated by NAM in the Netherlands. The test demonstrated that the replacement of a conventional JT valve with the coalescing choke valve resulted in a significant improvement in the dewpointing performance of the gas-processing facility. This retrofit also allowed the maximum plant operating flow rate to be increased from 650 000 to 735 000 m3/d, while still meeting export gas specifications. It was additionally found that by using the coalescing valve, the temperature in the cold separator (SMSM type) could be increased by 4–5°C while still meeting specification, allowing a reduction of approximately 3 bars in the plant feed pressure. Furthermore, it was demonstrated during the field test that the glycol losses normally experienced were significantly reduced. This article presents the initial field-test results and an overview of the subsequent development and deployment of the coalescing-valve technology. Technology Description Pressure throttling in a conventional choke valve is achieved by dissipation of the kinetic energy present in the gas flow through randomly distributed eddies. The new coalescing valve, which was developed with the aid of proprietary computational fluid-dynamics models, uses the excess free pressure in a fluid stream to establish a coherent vortex motion. The total pressure inside the vortex core is gradually reduced along the axis of the flow path. By reducing the total pressure in a vortex flow, the flow shear rates are lower, compared with conventional chokes, thereby avoiding excessive breakup of liquid drops. However, and more importantly, these micron-size droplets are concentrated around the perimeter of the flow path, thus enhancing the coalescence to larger, more easily separable droplets.

Prediction of Glaucomatous Visual Field Loss by Extrapolation of Linear Trends

To investigate how well short-term progression rates can predict long-term visual field outcomes in patients with glaucoma. We calculated visual field rates of progression using linear regression analysis of the Visual Field Index (VFI) for 100 consecutive patients with glaucoma having 10 or more Swedish Interactive Thresholding Algorithm standard field tests. Final VFI was predicted on the basis of linear extrapolation of the slope defined by the initial 5 field test results. Final VFI also was estimated using linear regression of all qualifying examination results for each patient. Primary outcome measures were the absolute difference and the correlation between predicted and estimated final VFI values. Patient follow-up averaged 8.2 years and 11 field examinations. Median VFI progression rate was -1.1% per year both for the initial 5 test results and also for the complete series. Seventy percent of patients had a predicted final VFI within +/-10% of the estimated final VFI, and the 2 VFI calculations had a correlation coefficient of 0.84. Linear extrapolation based on 5 initial visual field test results was a reliable predictor of future field loss in most patients. Patients in whom linear regression analysis suggests dangerously rapid rates of visual field progression may be candidates for significant alterations in therapy.

Integration of wireless sensor networks in environmental monitoring cyber infrastructure

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have great potential to revolutionize many science and engineering domains. We present a novel environmental monitoring system with a focus on overall system architecture for seamless integration of wired and wireless sensors for long-term, remote, and near-real-time monitoring. We also present a unified framework for sensor data collection, management, visualization, dissemination, and exchange, conforming to the new Sensor Web Enablement standard. Some initial field testing results are also presented. The monitoring system is being integrated into the Texas Environmental Observatory infrastructure for long-term operation. As part of the integrated system, a new WSN-based soil moisture monitoring system is developed and deployed to support hydrologic monitoring and modeling research. This work represents a significant contribution to the empirical study of the emerging WSN technology. We address many practical issues in real-world application scenarios that are often neglected in the existing WSN research.

Guiding Questions: Guidelines for Leadership Education Programs

Appropriate design and redesign of programs, responses to accreditation agencies, and internal academic legitimacy concerns are critical challenges in education in general and in leadership education in particular. Guiding Questions: Guidelines for Leadership Education Programs (Guiding Questions), a member initiated project sponsored by the International Leadership Association (ILA), provides a framework to address these challenges. In this paper, we first describe the background and context of this initiative. Second, we introduce the Overview of the five sections of Guiding Questions: Conceptual Framework, Context, Content, Teaching and Learning, and Outcomes and Assessment. Third, we present results of initial field tests of the Overview and its framework within three different North American universities. Finally, we discuss next steps and invite the reader to get involved in the further development of Guiding Questions.

A Real-World Application of Lane-Guidance Technologies—Automated Snowblower

This paper describes the development process and the initial field test results of an automated snowblower, focusing on one of the more difficult snow removal operations: blowing snow off the freeway alongside a guardrail without the snowblower touching the guardrail. The development process includes transforming this highway winter maintenance operation into a control problem, modeling a snowblower, designing control algorithms, devising a human-machine interface, and equipping a 20-ton snowblower with sensors and an actuator. Specific challenges include modeling the low-speed tire-induced oscillation, designing high-gain automatic control on front wheels while keeping rear steering under driver control, and implementing such a system under practical limitations. A new dynamic deflection tire model is incorporated into a bicycle model to account for the additional lateral dynamics. A low-order controller was first generated based on the understanding of the specific control problem and, then, refined and tuned iteratively using linear-matrix-inequality optimization. The initial winter field tests were successfully conducted with embedded magnetic markers along the guardrails installed on the shoulders of Interstate-80 in the Sierra Mountain region close to Donner Summit, CA, during the winter of 2005.

Development and Field Test of an Employment Selection Instrument for Teachers in Urban School Districts

Employment interviews are widely used in the selection of quality teachers, and indeed research confirms administrators’ belief in the validity of the procedure. However, many key recommendations for improving the general reliability of interviews including selecting questions that are job-related and research grounded, including well designed scoring rubrics, and incorporating adaptive variable-length interview designs are generally not well implemented in currently available instruments. Furthermore, emerging research suggests the need for specially tailored interviews that assess attitudes and pre-dispositions deemed essential to teachers’ effectiveness in certain high attrition environments like urban schools. This study describes the development and initial field-test results of a computer based, adaptive interview with an additional domain included for teachers in urban areas. The instrument is based on careful analysis of the suggestions from the extant literature base about effective employment interview techniques, effective general teaching practices, and sound teaching strategies in urban schools. By comparing the interview scores of 30 teachers with varying effectiveness ratings provided by administrators in one urban district, significant correlations were found. Regression analysis indicated a significant amount of variance in teachers’ effectiveness ratings could be predicted from their scores on the interview instrument.

Remote alpha imaging in nuclear installations: new results and prospects

For more than ten years the CEA has been using gamma imaging systems for radiological characterization purposes during decommissioning operations. This technology is very effective for detecting high-energy gamma emitters, but less so for characterizing actinides, which are mainly alpha emitters. In order to provide a full range of decommissioning tools, the gamma-cameras were supplemented by another imaging system capable of generating images directly from alpha emissions. This paper describes the initial laboratory and field test results obtained with a prototype camera capable of displaying alpha radioactivity. The system is based on the detection of ultraviolet radiation emitted by nitrogen when irradiated by alpha particles. The alpha contamination is localized by superimposing it on a visible-light image. All measurements must be carried out in complete darkness. Laboratory tests showed that the system is capable of detecting point sources and extended sources at levels as low as 430 Bqmiddotcm-2. Profile measurements of point sources revealed a scintillation bubble with dimensions corresponding to the range of alpha particles in air. The device is also capable of detecting the phenomenon through translucent materials such as glove box panels. The camera has been implemented for in situ examination of various fuel cycle facilities, and under these conditions has revealed alpha contamination without any breach of containment through several millimeters of plexiglas

Building Blocks for early childhood mathematics

Building Blocks is a National Science Foundation-funded project designed to enable all young children to build a solid foundation for mathematics. To ensure this, we used a design and development model that drew from theory and research in each phase. Our design process is based on the assumption that curriculum and software design can and should have an explicit theoretical and empirical foundation, beyond its genesis in someone’s intuitive grasp of children’s learning. It also should interact with the ongoing development of theory and research-reaching toward the ideal of testing a theory by testing the software and curriculum in which it is embedded. Our model includes specification of mathematical ideas (computer objects or manipulatives) and processes/skills (software “tools” or actions) and extensive field-testing from the first inception through to large summative evaluation studies. The initial field test results indicate that such an approach can result in significant assessed learning gains consistent with the new Principles and Standards for School Mathematics of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Rule–based reasoning and neural network perception for safe off–road robot mobility

Operational safety and health monitoring are critical matters for autonomous field mobile robots such as planetary rovers operating on challenging terrain. This paper describes relevant rover safety and health issues and presents an approach to maintaining vehicle safety in a mobility and navigation context. The proposed rover safety module is composed of two distinct components: safe attitude (pitch and roll) management and safe traction management. Fuzzy logic approaches to reasoning about safe attitude and traction management are presented, wherein inertial sensing of safety status and vision–based neural network perception of terrain quality are used to infer safe speeds of traversal. Results of initial field tests and laboratory experiments are also described. The approach provides an intrinsic safety cognizance and a capacity for reactive mitigation of robot mobility and navigation risks.