Installation Site Research Articles

Optimal renewable energy sources selection using multicriteria decision making- TOPSIS approach in Indian condition

ABSTRACT In the current era of renewable energy sources application in electricity production, the site selection of renewable energy sources faces many constraints due to direct involvement of people in decision making. Social criterion is primarily dispersed and varied since many individuals are involved. Most of the time, energy projects fail due to the neglection or undervaluation of social factors. In this paper, the site selection of renewable energy sources is found by the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) with the hybridisation multicriteria decision-making method (MCDM). It increases the flexibility and sensitivity in decision-making efforts in their approach. The practical suitability of this work is also demonstrated by studying the facts involved in selecting the parameters in the renewable energy projects in India. This work also introduces a well-defined and efficient decision support system that implements decision-maker (DM) choices for selecting the optimal sites for installations of renewable energy sources. The main contribution of the research is to find the effect of social factors in the final ranking of the site and sensitivity analysis of the method. The final ranking of optimal renewable energy sources of the selected alternatives substitutes the aspects in employing the suggested approach for Solar Energy, Wind energy, Biomass Energy, and Solar Thermal Energy. This method can be applied to the site selection of other areas like the paper industry, sugar mills and other plants.

Ḥorbat Nevallaṭ: A Chalcolithic Habitation Site and Agricultural Installations in the Shephelah Foothills (with contributions by Yossi Nagar and Deborah A. Sklar-Parnes, and by Gabriela Bijovsky) (pp. 1–87)

Ḥorbat Nevallaṭ: A Chalcolithic Habitation Site and Agricultural Installations in the Shephelah Foothills (with contributions by Yossi Nagar and Deborah A. Sklar-Parnes, and by Gabriela Bijovsky) (pp. 1–87)

Comparison of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the construction of timber, concrete, and steel check dams in Akita, Japan: An input-output analysis.

To mitigate global warming, replacing concrete and steel with timber as the primary construction material for construction projects, such as check dams, is being promoted in Japan and other countries. Timber check dams have more limited installation sites than concrete or steel dams because of installation conditions such as locations less susceptible to debris flows and locations where there is constant running water. However, even when the installation conditions are met, engineers and contractors are reluctant to select timber as a construction material because of its high construction cost. In this study, an input-output table was used to compare the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the construction of a timber check dam at the design stage with those associated with the construction of concrete and steel check dams to quantitatively evaluate the added value of timber utilization (in addition to its construction cost). The results revealed that replacing concrete and steel check dams with timber check dams could reduce GHG emissions by 61% and 34%, respectively. This study demonstrated the possibility of evaluating the GHG emissions associated with a construction project at the design stage. Moreover, it highlights the importance of considering the GHG emissions associated with construction materials when selecting the most appropriate materials for public works projects.

Predicting Photovoltaic Module Lifespan Based on Combined Stress Tests and Latent Heat Analysis

In this study, long-term reliability tests for high-power-density photovoltaic (PV) modules were introduced and analyzed in accordance with IEC 61215 and light-combined damp heat cycles, such as DIN 75220. The results indicated that post light soaking procedure, light-combined damp heat cycles caused a 3.51% power drop, while IEC standard tests (DH1000 and TC200) caused only 0.87% and 1.32% power drops, respectively. IEC 61215 failed to assess the long-term reliability of the high-power-density PV module, such as the passivated emitter rear cell. Additionally, based on the combined test, the latent heat (Qmod) of the module was introduced to predict its degradation rate and to fit the prediction curve of the product guaranteed by the PV module manufacturers. Qmod facilitates in predicting a PV module’s lifespan according to the environmental factors of the actual installation area. The Qmod values of the PV stations in water environments, such as floating and/or marine PVs, indicated that they would last 7.2 years more than those on a rooftop, assuming that latent heat is the only cause of deterioration. Therefore, extending module life and improving power generation efficiency by determining installation sites to minimize latent heat would be advantageous.

Characterization of Soil Enhancement Mixtures at Low-Magnitude Currents

Regarding the installation of grounding systems, it is not common for the installation site to be re-located due to high soil resistivity. Enhancement materials have been widely used for their known advantages, including their ability to reduce the resistivity of soil. Although some studies have been conducted on the characterization of EMs under AC of various frequencies, limited studies can be found on their performance when mixed with various percentages of water content (WC) and soil. In this work, sand mixed with controlled percentages of enhancement materials (EM 1, EM 2 and EM 3) and controlled amounts of water content was placed on a parallel plate and tested under AC of various frequencies to obtain the resistivity and permittivity. It was found that dry sand–EM mixtures can be represented by an R-C parallel circuit, while wet sand–EM mixtures can be represented by a nonlinear R. These new test data providing the soil resistivity and permittivity of various sand–EM mixtures are important in selecting suitable EMs to be used in grounding systems.

Innovative modular systems for high-rise buildings

This paper presents the advancements in modular construction, highlighting steel and concrete modular systems, alongside an innovative lightweight and long span steel-concrete composite approach. It emphasizes the constructability, strength, and robustness of these systems, with steel modular systems leveraging lightweight properties for swift assembly and structural integrity through corner support systems, while concrete modular systems prioritize durability and fire resistance employing composite structural wall systems. The proposed lightweight steel-concrete composite system integrates the benefits of both materials, offering extended spans, durability, flexibility, and ease of assembly. Robust fast joining techniques coupled with lightweight steel fibre-reinforced slim floor system ensure expedited installation and global stability. The integration of automation and prefabrication techniques revolutionizes construction practices, enhancing productivity, efficiency, and quality. Additionally, this paper suggests further research directions to develop even more efficient, sustainable building solutions, unlocking new possibilities for the construction industry to improve productivity and resolve site installation challenges.

Operational field trialling of Felixer™ grooming traps for the control of feral cats in the Strzelecki Desert, Australia

Context Feral cats (Felis catus) have an impact on native wildlife populations around the world but are difficult to control because of their neophobic behaviours and preference for live prey over scavenging poisoned baits. Felixers™ address these challenges by squirting poison-gel directly onto feral cats, exploiting their fastidious oral grooming tendencies to facilitate poison ingestion. Aims This study trialled Felixers in a landscape-scale arid-ecosystem site to assess their capacity to sustainably manage cat populations in a semi-bounded in situ predator training area and to eradicate cat incursions into a feral-free safe haven. Specifically, the aims were to determine target specificity and firing rates; optimise installation sites to exploit cat behaviour and landscape features; assess the fate of individuals following Felixer interaction; and assess the overall cost, performance and efficacy of Felixers compared with conventional cat control methods. Methods Up to nine Felixers were simultaneously deployed across three trial periods, spanning 30 months (4,642 trap nights) in Sturt National Park in the Strzelecki Desert dunefields of Australia. Felixers were deployed within and outside of feral-free safe havens, at varying cat densities, with populations monitored through camera-trap activity indices and individual behaviour monitored through satellite tracking. Key results Felixers fired at 20.3–43.9% of cats that passed in front (292 of 1,144 cats), with the remainder failing to satisfy the discriminatory algorithm’s target criteria. The devices had 99.93% target specificity from 17,425 interactions with moving animals and objects. Overall cat activity was lower in a semi-bounded 10,400 ha landscape-scale area where Felixers were intensively used, relative to an adjacent unbounded area where no cat control was occurring, over a 12-month subset of the 30-month trial. Felixers also resolved one of two incursions by cats into a 2,000 ha safe haven. Optimisation of Felixer placement and upgrading of software drove improvements in technical reliability and target identification during the trial. Shortcomings included cost and high incidence of technical faults, causing significant downtime and requiring regular investment of field staff time for monitoring and resolution. Conclusions Felixers provide a safe tool for cat management and eradication at intensively managed conservation sites. Efficacy could be improved through reductions in cost and improvements in reliability. Implications Overall Felixers appear to be an effective tool for cat management, when used in an integrated approach.

An automated method for progress monitoring of under-ground pipe installation sites using image color analysis of iPhone LiDAR camera data

An automated method for progress monitoring of under-ground pipe installation sites using image color analysis of iPhone LiDAR camera data

Research on the Safety and Stability Evaluation for a New Type of Prefabricated Aqueduct in the Construction Stage

To address the issue of regional water resource scarcity, water diversion projects have been constructed worldwide. As an essential lifeline project, the prefabricated aqueduct is prevalently utilized in cross-regional water transfer and diversion projects. This paper was based on the prefabricated aqueduct project, which adopted fabricated technologies including the connection technology among the gravity pier, the prefabricated arch ribs, and the prefabricated bent frame columns. The PHC piles, bearing platforms, bent frame columns, arch ribs, and groove bodies were all prefabricated components that were transported to the site for installation. The connections of the prefabricated aqueduct employed to link different components were of such crucial significance that their safety and stability determined whether the overall structure would be compromised. Therefore, the main objective of this paper was to examine the stress and deformation of this prefabricated aqueduct to prevent the occurrence of security risks throughout the entire construction stage. The finite element model was established in Midas Civil, and the entire construction stage was simulated and analyzed. Coupled with on-site monitoring, the stress and deformation of the prefabricated aqueduct were evaluated. The results indicated that the tensile stress, the compressive stress, the vertical displacement, and the lateral displacement of each part of the prefabricated aqueduct met the requirements of the standard, suggesting that the overall structure with the applied connection technology was in a safe and stable state throughout the entire construction stage.

LITTERSIZE DAN MORTALITAS TERNAK BABI DARI PARITAS YANG BERBEDA PADA LOKASI INSTALANSI PENGOLAHAN SAMPAH TERPADU DI KOTA AMBON

This purpose of this research is to litter size and mortality of pig farming from different parity sows at the integrated waste management installation site in Ambon City. The research method which is conducted is survey method by doing census technique. Variabels that observed are variable treatment in each respons: a) litter size and b) pre-weaning piglet mortality. The results showed that the parity of different parents had no significant effect on litter size. This indicates that the parity factor does not play an important role in influencing the size of the litter born in the population studied. Piglet mortality rates also showed no significant difference among the parity groups. Thus, the parity of sows in this population had no effect on the survival rate of pre-weaning piglets.

Сверхпроводниковая электромагнитная система ИТЭР. Статус изготовления и сборки на 2024 год

The electromagnetic system (EMS) is one of the most significant components of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). It establishes the machine’s ability to generate and control a fusion plasma with a current of up to 15 MA and a power of up to 500 MW within hundreds of seconds. ITER EMS is the largest superconductor magnet system that has ever been created with a stored energy of up to 50 GJ. It is a highly technological magnets using superconductors based on Nb3Sn and NbTi, which work at a temperature of 4-6 K with compulsory cooling by a flow of liquid and gaseous helium. The EMS coils are required to be operable at electrical voltages up to 20-30 kV, and mechanical stresses up to 500-600 MPa. The manufacturing of the coils and the associated superconducting current carrying system are now moving into the final stage of production. The most part of them has already been manufactured and delivered to the ITER toroidal magnetic coil chamber (Tokamak) installation site. This review briefly describes the design of ITER superconductor coils of all 4 types and gives the current status of their manufacturing and assembly.

On the design of a scaled rotor for a tethered tidal converter to deploy at sea

Abstract Model scale testing is vital for developing technologies like tidal turbines. Reduced-scale tests follow numerical design and are cost-effective in controlled environments, allowing parameter adjustments. However, controlled tests face drawbacks, such as blockage effects and the inability to replicate real sea conditions. Sea trials, conducted in actual marine environments, offer realistic data and continuous collection, potentially being cost-effective despite environmental variability and complex data processing. This work aims to measure real sea effects, such as marine growth and stream turbulence, on fixed and moving parts, of a scaled model of GEMSTAR tidal stream energy converter, a twin rotors submerged tethered device, designed to tap tidal current energy. The planned model installation site is at the Renewable Marine Energy Laboratory, a natural facility located on the East coast of the Strait of Messina (southern Italy), characterized by tidal currents with a maximum speed of about 1.25 m/s. Due to the low stream speed, in order to get significant data, an up-scaling of the existing model rotor diameter has been necessary, and a specific new blade design has been performed, in order to lower the cut-in speed, increasing in this way the useful power production time of the model. The paper illustrates the different phases of model scale design.

Deep learning modeling of RNA ac4C deposition reveals the importance of plant alternative splicing.

The N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) modification has recently been characterized as a noncanonical RNA marker in plants. While the precise installation of ac4C sites in individual plant transcripts continues to present challenges, the biological roles of ac4C in specific plant species are gradually being deciphered. Herein, we utilized a deep learning technique called iac4C (intelligent ac4C) to predict ac4C sites in mRNA. ac4C deposition was effectively forecasted by the iac4C model (AUROC = 0.948), revealing a reliable distribution pattern primarily situated in the transcribing area as opposed to regions that are not translated. The iac4C deep learning approach using a combination of BiGRU and self-attention mechanisms both validates previous studies showing a positive correlation between ac4C and RNA splicing in plant species and reveals new examples of other splicing events associated with ac4C. Our advanced deep learning algorithm for analyzing ac4C enables swift identification of important biological phenomena that would otherwise be challenging to uncover through traditional experimental approaches. These findings provide insight into the essential regulatory function of site-specific ac4C deposition in alternative splicing processes. The source code and datasets for iac4C are available at https://github.com/xlwei507/iac4C .

A Deep Learning Approach to Identify Potential Sites for Pocket Park Installation in Nanjing, China

ABSTRACT Pocket parks are considered valuable tools for supporting green space provision in high-density environments. As the factors affecting pocket parks vary in fine-grained granularity, analyzing them efficiently on a large scale using traditional methods is challenging. Therefore, considering Nanjing as the study site, a potential identification framework was established, which includes categories of space, vitality, facility, and pleasurability for pocket park installation (PPI) based on visual information from street view images (SVIs). Then, the TrueSkill algorithm was employed to construct four parallel-task training sets according to the four categories and a convolutional neural network (CNN) and active learning (AL) approaches were applied to establish four parallel-task models of deep learning (DL). A two-phase grading score method was designed to integrate the identification results of the four DL models into a comprehensive potential score to determine priority sites for PPI. Lastly, the attributes of the potential sites and corresponding planning strategies in different scenarios were analyzed. The results showed that this modelling approach can integrally assess multiple factors on PPI within an enormous scope, overcoming traditional methods’ spatial and dimensional constraint in high-density environments. Our method and results can inform future pocket park planning and design in Nanjing and similar cities worldwide.

Multi-Objective Optimization of an Inertial Wave Energy Converter for Multi-Directional Wave Scatter

To advance wave energy devices towards commercialization, it is essential to optimize their design to enhance system performance. Additionally, a thorough economic evaluation is crucial for making these technologies competitive with other renewable energy sources. This study focuses on the techno-economic optimization of an innovative inertial system, the so-called SWINGO system, which is based on gyropendulum technology. SWINGO stands out due to its high energy efficiency in multi-directional installation sites, where wave directions vary significantly throughout the year. The study introduces the application of a multi-objective Evolutionary Algorithm (EA), specifically the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II), to optimize the techno-economic performance of the SWINGO system. This approach aims to identify optimal design parameters that maximize energy extraction while considering economic viability. By deriving a Pareto frontier, a set of optimal devices is selected for further analysis. The performance of the SWINGO system is also compared to an alternative (mono-directional) inertial wave energy converter, the Inertial Sea Wave Energy Converter (ISWEC), to highlight the differences in techno-economic outcomes. Both systems are evaluated at two different installation sites: Pantelleria island and the North Sea in Denmark, with a focus on the directional wave scatter at each location.

Improving construction site efficiency through automated progress monitoring of underground pipe installation sites using image color analysis of iPhone LiDAR camera data

This study presents an innovative method utilizing smartphone for automated progress monitoring at underground pipe installation sites. Leveraging the LiDAR iPhone camera, the method captures detailed point cloud data of construction sites. Sophisticated color analysis of images accurately distinguishes between areas with and without pipes within excavations. Key aspects of the proposed workflow include segmentation of the excavation area, differentiation between main and side excavations, and application of an earth color mask in the RGB space to isolate pipes. The research focuses on enhancing measurement precision for excavation width, depth, and pipe burial depth, significantly reducing the manual labor traditionally required at construction sites, thereby offering an efficient and cost-effective solution. We further demonstrated the robustness of the proposed algorithm by applying it to two types of data acquired at actual construction sites. This approach is expected to contribute significantly to the digital transformation in the construction industry.

A smart, multi-configuration, and low-cost system for water turbidity monitoring

Measuring the amount of suspended sediment in rivers is important for a better understanding of phenomena like soil erosion or floods. Since such phenomena are not spatially homogeneous, a distributed measurement approach is required to obtain fine-grained and realistic models. We designed and implemented a low-cost, flexible, and smart suspended sediment concentration monitor. The system only uses components that are easy to find and assemble. This, together with the reduced costs, enables the use of multiple instances for distributed monitoring. The system can operate according to different configurations, fixed or mobile, and using a variety of connection technologies, to possibly cover the various necessities that arise from the diverse installation sites. Each measuring unit automatically retrieves its operational parameters, easing the configuration of a possibly large distributed measurement system.

Towards the development of offshore wind farms in the Mediterranean Sea: A techno‐economic analysis including green hydrogen production during curtailments

AbstractBringing floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) to a real industrial maturity and reducing the levelized cost of floating wind energy are key to significantly increasing the penetration of renewables in the energy mix of Mediterranean countries, especially if in combination with suitable energy storage systems, such as those involving green hydrogen production. The present study analyses techno‐economic aspects of some of the technologies related to FOWTs and hydrogen production by means of offshore‐generated energy, aiming to evaluate the potential of a floating wind farm integrated with a power‐to‐gas energy storage system in a specific installation site near the Sardinian shores. In comparison to the pioneering studies to date, a more detailed computational model is used, able to account for several critical factors like a better description of metocean conditions, constraints on grid capacity, and a state‐of‐the‐art model to define the farm layout. Concerning hydrogen production, a comparison between the statistical approach, which is commonly used in the field, and a fully time‐dependent method is performed. Proposed results obtained with the statistic and the time‐dependent approach show values ranging between 3.79 and 5.47€/kg, respectively. These outcomes are thought to provide an interesting comparison between different fidelity approaches and realistic reference values for the levelized cost of hydrogen by floating wind in the Mediterranean Sea.

Optimal EV Charging and PV Siting in Prosumers towards Loss Reduction and Voltage Profile Improvement in Distribution Networks

In this paper, the problem of simultaneous charging of Electrical Vehicles (EVs) in distribution networks (DNs) is examined in order to depict congestion issues, increased power losses, and voltage constraint violations. To this end, this paper proposes an optimal EV charging schedule in order to allocate the charging of EVs in non-overlapping time slots, aiming to avoid overloading conditions that could stress the DN operation. The problem is structured as a linear optimization problem in GAMS, and the linear Distflow is utilized for the power flow analysis required. The proposed approach is compared to the one where EV charging is not optimally scheduled and each EV is expected to start charging upon its arrival at the residential charging spot. Moreover, the analysis is extended to examine the optimal siting of small-sized residential Photovoltaic (PV) systems in order to provide further relief to the DN. A mixed-integer quadratic optimization model was formed to integrate the PV siting into the optimization problem as an additional optimization variable and is compared to a heuristic-based approach for determining the sites for PV installation. The proposed methodology has been applied in a typical low-voltage (LV) DN as a case study, including real power demand data for the residences and technical characteristics for the EVs. The results indicate that both the DN power losses and the voltage profile are further improved in regard to the heuristic-based approach, and the simultaneously scheduled penetration of EVs and PVs could yield up to a 66.3% power loss reduction.

Assessment of Wind Energy Potential and Optimal Site Selection for Wind Energy Plant Installations in Igdir/Turkey

Wind energy is an eco-friendly, renewable, domestic, and infinite resource. These factors render the construction of wind turbines appealing to nations, prompting numerous governments to implement incentives to augment their installed capacity of wind turbines. Alongside augmenting the installed capacity of wind turbines, identifying suitable locations for their installation is crucial for optimizing turbine performance. This study aims to evaluate potential sites for wind power plant installation via a GIS, a mapping technique. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to assess the locations, including both quantitative and qualitative aspects that significantly impact the wind farm suitability map. Utilizing the GIS methodology, all datasets were examined through height and raster transformations of land surface temperature, plant density index, air pressure, humidity, wind speed, air temperature, land cover, solar radiation, aspect, slope, and topographical characteristics, resulting in the creation of a wind farm map. The correlation between the five-year meteorological data and environmental parameters (wind direction, daily wind speed, daily maximum and minimum air temperatures, daily relative humidity, daily average air temperature, solar radiation duration, daily cloud cover, air humidity, and air pressure) influencing the wind power plant in Iğdır province, including Iğdır Airport, Karakoyunlu, Aralık, and Tuzluca districts, was analyzed. If wind energy towers are installed at 1 km intervals across an area of roughly 858,180 hectares in Igdir province, an estimated 858,180 GWh of wind energy can be generated. The GIS-derived wind power plant map indicates that the installation sites for wind power plants are located in regions susceptible to wind erosion.