Evolutionary game theory-based system dynamics modeling for community solid waste classification in China

To increase the utilization rate of renewable resources, China will widely implement solid waste classification in the next few years. However, waste classification in many communities has been placed on hold. This study establishes a multi-player evolutionary game among the government, community, and residents to explore the real reasons for the implementation difficulties. The evolutionary game is simulated by adopting system dynamics to analyze the effectiveness of various strategies on the game process and game equilibrium to provide references for the government to formulate macro policies. We show that fluctuations in a static penalty scheme make formulating effective strategies difficult for the government. By contrast, a dynamic penalty scheme can effectively eliminate fluctuations. Furthermore, the optimal dynamic penalty-subsidy scheme features an ideal evolutionarily stable strategy where the optimal strategy for a community and its residents is to implement the waste classification system and obey the rules, respectively.     

Describing natural colors with Munsell and NCS color systems

The Munsell Color System and the Natural Color System are widely used but they have some limitations due to the manufacturing process and sampling choices. To estimate quantitatively these limitations we compared the colors of natural scenes with the colors represented by these systems under a wide range of illuminants. Spectral data from the two systems and from natural scenes were used in the analysis. It was found that a considerable portion of natural colors are not accounted by these systems, mainly colors with low lightness levels. Under D65 the Munsell Color System color volume corresponds to 72% of the Natural Color System color volume which in turn represents only 53% of the natural scenes color volume. If individual colors are considered, less than half are contained within these systems. To obtain a complete match to the natural colors contained by the color systems thresholds of 7 and 5 CIELAB units would be required for Munsell Color System and Natural Color System, respectively. Variations with the illuminant are generally modest showing that both system work similarly across different illuminations. Although these Color Systems have limitations in describing low lightness colors they perform quite well for medium to high levels of lightness.     

Stochastic model predictive control for remanufacturing system management

Uncertainties in the quality, quantity, and operational time of used products pose a challenge to the management of remanufacturing systems. In addition, it becomes a necessity to optimize the operation of the remanufacturing system to balance the quality of products, remanufacturing efficiency, and service level. In this study, a stochastic discrete-time dynamical model is proposed to represent a remanufacturing system, where the relationship between the market satisfaction, inventory status, and operational actions is explicitly modeled. This includes production and inventory planning, resource allocation and acquisition. To handle uncertainties, a stochastic model predictive control approach is proposed to plan the actions that optimize the remanufacturing efficiency. Our results in the simulation examples show that: (a) without supplies, the remanufacturing system has better stability and robustness than a conventional manufacturing system with the same initial stocks; and (b) with insufficient initial stocks, the remanufacturing system demands fewer and more gradual supplies, thereby keeping the system stable. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is conducted for testing the performance of the remanufacturing system. By changing the operational action capacity, different state equilibria are discovered, which correspond to distinct system response characteristics. The study reveals notable managerial insights and effects of product commonality, demand patterns, and operational actions scheduling on the efficiency of the remanufacturing system.     

国土空间规划下水利基础设施信息管理平台设计

加快建立国土空间规划体系并监督实施是党中央、国务院做出的重大部署,而水利基础设施空间布局对促进各类空间布局与水资源承载能力、防洪安全保障水平相适应,预留水利基础设施建设空间具有重要作用。为有效对接国土空间规划编制工作,结合实际需求,研究并建立水利基础设施空间布局管理的标准、规范和体系,完成水利基础设施空间数据库的设计,并研究离线瓦片存储和Lucene全文检索引擎技术。在.Net框架的Visual Studio集成开发环境中,利用ArcGIS Engine组件开发水利基础设施信息管理平台,实现地图浏览、空间数据管理及数据质检分析功能,为统一水利空间用途管控、规划编制审批、实施监督管理提供数据支撑,也为下一步构建基础设施空间布局一张图管控平台提供坚实的基础与保障。     

An application of metadata-based image retrieval system for facility management

For facility management, photography is an efficient and accurate method of recording the physical state of infrastructure. However, without an effective organizational scheme, the difficulty of retrieving relevant photos from historical databases can become overly burdensome for highly complex or long-lived assets. To make strategic decisions, it is crucial to retrieve the right information from a plurality of sources in a timely manner. The main objective of this paper is to present a method for organizing and retrieving photos from massive facility management photo databases using photo-metadata: photographed location, camera perspective, and image semantic content information. Indoor localization experiments were performed using Bluetooth technology to infer the location information. Perspective is inferred from the device’s on-board inertial measurement unit (IMU). Image semantic content is inferred using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based deep learning algorithm. Fusing these three features, seven query options were provided for the user when retrieving images. Leveraging Building Information Modeling (BIM) as a process and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a framework, this paper also envisions a federated information management by connecting 2D and 3D facility assets with our real-world map which can be smoothly bridged with our image retrieval system. The realization of the integrated application with BIM and GIS is significantly beneficial for the facility management domain by advancing the understanding of projects in a broader view with a federated data platform. In this research, the framework is illustrated with 21 institutional buildings within the University of Texas at Austin’s main campus, and the authors conclude that the proposed metadata-based image retrieval system can ultimately enhance the better-informed decision-making process through rapid information retrieval.     

Impact of Lake Michigan water level rise on complex bidirectional flow in the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS)

In the past decade, continuously rising water levels in Lake Michigan have been threatening lakefront areas, especially in metropolitan regions like the Greater Chicago area. This provides the motivation to analyze the impact that high lake levels have on the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS). As the only primary free connection between the CAWS and Lake Michigan, the Calumet Area waterway subsystem plays a key and unique role. In this work, a numerical model covering the Calumet subsystem and having Lake Michigan as a boundary condition, is set up, calibrated, and validated using limited field observations. It is found that the Calumet subsystem has become bidirectional, where both discharge and flow directions are controlled by lake levels. When lake levels are below −0.15 m (-0.5 ft, Chicago City Datum, CCD), the discharge in the Grand Calumet River is around zero, with water flowing along its east branch towards Indiana. When lake levels are above +0.46 m (+1.5 ft, CCD), the flow reverses direction and drains west into Illinois. In 2020, the mean lake-level was at +1.07 m (+3.5 ft, CCD), and the base discharge in the Grand Calumet River was approximately 8.5 m³/s (300 ft³/s). The higher Lake Michigan’s level is, the larger the discharge would be into Illinois. Potential impact of this extra discharge on Lake Michigan Diversion Accounting (LMDA) of the State of Illinois and flood management in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC), is analyzed; while the nature of the bidirectional flows is characterized with the intent of shedding light on this complex phenomenon.     

A new hybrid solar photovoltaic/ phosphoric acid fuel cell and energy storage system; Energy and Exergy performance

Present work investigates the performance of a combined solar photovoltaic (PV) and Pumped-Hydro and Compressed-Air energy storage system to overcome the challenges of using solar energy systems. This energy system, which is one of the newest hybrid systems, is able to generate electricity and store energy. To examine the solar PV performance the climatic conditions of Shiraz (in Iran) and Abu Dhabi (in UAE) are considered. The results revealed that, the required pump work, which must be supplied by PV system, is equal to 2.85 and 2.62 MJ/m³ for isothermal and isentropic processes, respectively. Furthermore, the total system efficiency is equal to 76.5%. In addition, the total exergy destruction of hybrid system for isentropic process is 8.91% less than that isothermal process. In addition, instead of the solar PV system, a phosphoric acid fuel cell is coupled to the storage system and the results are compared with the main system.     

Malaysia’s electricity market structure in transition

The Malaysian electricity industry evolved from a vertically integrated utility into a single-buyer model, which considered a precursor to deregulation and a competitive market. This study considers electricity sector reform in Malaysia and proposes a market structure for the industry. We focus on the single-buyer model and the pool model for the analysis with the recommendation on reform stages required to ensure a smooth and successful market transition. A smooth transition from regulated market into deregulated market will ensure market stability and sustainability of the energy market. It will also provide enough time for the market participants to adapt and transit from regulated to deregulated energy market.     

Blockchain verification and validation: Techniques,challenges, and research directions

As blockchain technology is gaining popularity in industry and society, solutions for Verification and Validation (V&V) of blockchain-based software applications (BC-Apps) have started gaining equal attention. To ensure that BC-Apps are properly developed before deployment, it is paramount to apply systematic V&V to verify their functional and non-functional requirements. While existing research aims at addressing the challenges of engineering BC-Apps by providing testing techniques and tools, blockchain-based software development is still an emerging research discipline, and therefore, best practices and tools for the V&V of BC-Apps are not yet sufficiently developed. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive survey on V&V solutions for BC-Apps. Specifically, using a layered approach, we synthesize V&V tools and techniques addressing different components at various layers of the BC-App stack, as well as across the whole stack. Next, we provide a discussion on the challenges associated with BC-App V&V, and summarize a set of future research directions based on the challenges and gaps identified in existing research work. Our study aims to highlight the importance of BC-App V&V and pave the way for a disciplined, testable, and verifiable BC development.     

奉御董造与禁廷制样:两宋地方官窑执行的御用瓷设计制度

宋朝兴起的地方官窑为宫廷烧造御用瓷是官手工业发展的亮点之一,并逐步形成了两宋地方官窑执行的御用瓷设计制度,设计制度形成绝非偶然,它是宋朝强化皇权意志、器用制度与地方精湛制瓷工艺共同作用的结果。地方官窑主要执行有奉御董造制度、禁廷制样制度。体现的御用瓷设计制度特征十分明显:前期是指专门接受宫廷敕命,由专官管理,奉御烧造宫廷各种用瓷,有命则供,否则止;后期是指宫廷对御用瓷有专门的设计图式,特由礼部礼制局彩画制样后,向地方官窑降发图样烧造御用瓷。尤其是地方官窑执行的禁廷制样须索制度为明代御器厂和清代御窑厂所继承。