scholarly journals Image-Aided LiDAR Mapping Platform and Data Processing Strategy for Stockpile Volume Estimation

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
Raja Manish ◽  
Seyyed Meghdad Hasheminasab ◽  
Jidong Liu ◽  
Yerassyl Koshan ◽  
Justin Anthony Mahlberg ◽  
...  

Stockpile quantity monitoring is vital for agencies and businesses to maintain inventory of bulk material such as salt, sand, aggregate, lime, and many other materials commonly used in agriculture, highways, and industrial applications. Traditional approaches for volumetric assessment of bulk material stockpiles, e.g., truckload counting, are inaccurate and prone to cumulative errors over long time. Modern aerial and terrestrial remote sensing platforms equipped with camera and/or light detection and ranging (LiDAR) units have been increasingly popular for conducting high-fidelity geometric measurements. Current use of these sensing technologies for stockpile volume estimation is impacted by environmental conditions such as lack of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals, poor lighting, and/or featureless surfaces. This study addresses these limitations through a new mapping platform denoted as Stockpile Monitoring and Reporting Technology (SMART), which is designed and integrated as a time-efficient, cost-effective stockpile monitoring solution. The novel mapping framework is realized through camera and LiDAR data-fusion that facilitates stockpile volume estimation in challenging environmental conditions. LiDAR point clouds are derived through a sequence of data collections from different scans. In order to handle the sparse nature of the collected data at a given scan, an automated image-aided LiDAR coarse registration technique is developed followed by a new segmentation approach to derive features, which are used for fine registration. The resulting 3D point cloud is subsequently used for accurate volume estimation. Field surveys were conducted on stockpiles of varying size and shape complexity. Independent assessment of stockpile volume using terrestrial laser scanners (TLS) shows that the developed framework had close to 1% relative error.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grazia Tucci ◽  
Antonio Gebbia ◽  
Alessandro Conti ◽  
Lidia Fiorini ◽  
Claudio Lubello

The monitoring and metric assessment of piles of natural or man-made materials plays a fundamental role in the production and management processes of multiple activities. Over time, the monitoring techniques have undergone an evolution linked to the progress of measure and data processing techniques; starting from classic topography to global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technologies up to the current survey systems like laser scanner and close-range photogrammetry. Last-generation 3D data management software allow for the processing of increasingly truer high-resolution 3D models. This study shows the results of a test for the monitoring and computing of stockpile volumes of material coming from the differentiated waste collection inserted in the recycling chain, performed by means of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetric survey and the generation of 3D models starting from point clouds. The test was carried out with two UAV flight sessions, with vertical and oblique camera configurations, and using a terrestrial laser scanner for measuring the ground control points and as ground truth for testing the two survey configurations. The computations of the volumes were carried out using two software and comparisons were made both with reference to the different survey configurations and to the computation software.


Author(s):  
Allan Matthews ◽  
Adrian Leyland

Over the past twenty years or so, there have been major steps forward both in the understanding of tribological mechanisms and in the development of new coating and treatment techniques to better “engineer” surfaces to achieve reductions in wear and friction. Particularly in the coatings tribology field, improved techniques and theories which enable us to study and understand the mechanisms occurring at the “nano”, “micro” and “macro” scale have allowed considerable progress to be made in (for example) understanding contact mechanisms and the influence of “third bodies” [1–5]. Over the same period, we have seen the emergence of the discipline which we now call “Surface Engineering”, by which, ideally, a bulk material (the ‘substrate’) and a coating are combined in a way that provides a cost-effective performance enhancement of which neither would be capable without the presence of the other. It is probably fair to say that the emergence and recognition of Surface Engineering as a field in its own right has been driven largely by the availability of “plasma”-based coating and treatment processes, which can provide surface properties which were previously unachievable. In particular, plasma-assisted (PA) physical vapour deposition (PVD) techniques, allowing wear-resistant ceramic thin films such as titanium nitride (TiN) to be deposited on a wide range of industrial tooling, gave a step-change in industrial productivity and manufactured product quality, and caught the attention of engineers due to the remarkable cost savings and performance improvements obtained. Subsequently, so-called 2nd- and 3rd-generation ceramic coatings (with multilayered or nanocomposite structures) have recently been developed [6–9], to further extend tool performance — the objective typically being to increase coating hardness further, or extend hardness capabilities to higher temperatures.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1301
Author(s):  
Federico Cavedo ◽  
Parisa Esmaili ◽  
Michele Norgia

A low-cost optical reflectivity sensor is proposed in this paper, able to detect the presence of objects or surface optical properties variations, at a distance of up to 20 m. A collimated laser beam is pulsed at 10 kHz, and a synchronous digital detector coherently measures the back-diffused light collected through a 1-inch biconvex lens. The sensor is a cost-effective solution for punctual measurement of the surface reflection at different distances. To enhance the interference immunity, an algorithm based on a double-side digital baseline restorer is proposed and implemented to accurately detect the amplitude of the reflected light. As results show, the sensor is robust against ambient light and shows a strong sensitivity on a wide reflection range. The capability of the proposed sensor was evaluated experimentally for object detection and recognition, in addition to dedicated measurement systems, like remote encoders or keyphasors, realized far from the object to be measured.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
Paul-Mark DiFrancesco ◽  
David A. Bonneau ◽  
D. Jean Hutchinson

Key to the quantification of rockfall hazard is an understanding of its magnitude-frequency behaviour. Remote sensing has allowed for the accurate observation of rockfall activity, with methods being developed for digitally assembling the monitored occurrences into a rockfall database. A prevalent challenge is the quantification of rockfall volume, whilst fully considering the 3D information stored in each of the extracted rockfall point clouds. Surface reconstruction is utilized to construct a 3D digital surface representation, allowing for an estimation of the volume of space that a point cloud occupies. Given various point cloud imperfections, it is difficult for methods to generate digital surface representations of rockfall with detailed geometry and correct topology. In this study, we tested four different computational geometry-based surface reconstruction methods on a database comprised of 3668 rockfalls. The database was derived from a 5-year LiDAR monitoring campaign of an active rock slope in interior British Columbia, Canada. Each method resulted in a different magnitude-frequency distribution of rockfall. The implications of 3D volume estimation were demonstrated utilizing surface mesh visualization, cumulative magnitude-frequency plots, power-law fitting, and projected annual frequencies of rockfall occurrence. The 3D volume estimation methods caused a notable shift in the magnitude-frequency relations, while the power-law scaling parameters remained relatively similar. We determined that the optimal 3D volume calculation approach is a hybrid methodology comprised of the Power Crust reconstruction and the Alpha Solid reconstruction. The Alpha Solid approach is to be used on small-scale point clouds, characterized with high curvatures relative to their sampling density, which challenge the Power Crust sampling assumptions.


Electronics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 397
Author(s):  
Hossein Shoushtari ◽  
Thomas Willemsen ◽  
Harald Sternberg

There are many ways to navigate in Global Navigation Satellite System-(GNSS) shaded areas. Reliable indoor pedestrian navigation has been a central aim of technology researchers in recent years; however, there still exist open challenges requiring re-examination and evaluation. In this paper, a novel dataset is used to evaluate common approaches for autonomous and infrastructure-based positioning methods. The autonomous variant is the most cost-effective realization; however, realizations using the real test data demonstrate that the use of only autonomous solutions cannot always provide a robust solution. Therefore, correction through the use of infrastructure-based position estimation based on smartphone technology is discussed. This approach invokes the minimum cost when using existing infrastructure, whereby Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR) forms the basis of the autonomous position estimation. Realizations with Particle Filters (PF) and a topological approach are presented and discussed. Floor plans and routing graphs are used, in this case, to support PDR positioning. The results show that the positioning model loses stability after a given period of time. Fifth Generation (5G) mobile networks can enable this feature, as well as a massive number of use-cases, which would benefit from user position data. Therefore, a fusion concept of PDR and 5G is presented, the benefit of which is demonstrated using the simulated data. Subsequently, the first implementation of PDR with 5G positioning using PF is carried out.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahrbanoo Hamedi ◽  
M. Mehdi Afsahi ◽  
Ali Riahi-Madvar ◽  
Ali Mohebbi

AbstractThe main advantages of the dried enzymes are the lower cost of storage and longer time of preservation for industrial applications. In this study, the spouted bed dryer was utilized for drying the garden radish (Raphanus sativus L.) root extract as a cost-effective source of the peroxidase enzyme. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to evaluate the individual and interactive effects of main parameters (the inlet air temperature (T) and the ratio of air flow rate to the minimum spouting air flow rate (Q)) on the residual enzyme activity (REA). The maximum REA of 38.7% was obtained at T = 50 °C and Q = 1.4. To investigate the drying effect on the catalytic activity, the optimum reaction conditions (pH and temperature), as well as kinetic parameters, were investigated for the fresh and dried enzyme extracts (FEE and DEE). The obtained results showed that the optimum pH of DEE was decreased by 12.3% compared to FEE, while the optimum temperature of DEE compared to FEE increased by a factor of 85.7%. Moreover, kinetic parameters, thermal-stability, and shelf life of the enzyme were considerably improved after drying by the spouted bed. Overall, the results confirmed that a spouted bed reactor can be used as a promising method for drying heat-sensitive materials such as peroxidase enzyme.


Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Dario Carrea ◽  
Antonio Abellan ◽  
Marc-Henri Derron ◽  
Neal Gauvin ◽  
Michel Jaboyedoff

The use of 3D point clouds to improve the understanding of natural phenomena is currently applied in natural hazard investigations, including the quantification of rockfall activity. However, 3D point cloud treatment is typically accomplished using nondedicated (and not optimal) software. To fill this gap, we present an open-source, specific rockfall package in an object-oriented toolbox developed in the MATLAB® environment. The proposed package offers a complete and semiautomatic 3D solution that spans from extraction to identification and volume estimations of rockfall sources using state-of-the-art methods and newly implemented algorithms. To illustrate the capabilities of this package, we acquired a series of high-quality point clouds in a pilot study area referred to as the La Cornalle cliff (West Switzerland), obtained robust volume estimations at different volumetric scales, and derived rockfall magnitude–frequency distributions, which assisted in the assessment of rockfall activity and long-term erosion rates. An outcome of the case study shows the influence of the volume computation on the magnitude–frequency distribution and ensuing erosion process interpretation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 291-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antimo Graziano ◽  
Shaffiq Jaffer ◽  
Mohini Sain

Blends of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) have always been the subject of intense reasearch for encouraging polymer waste recycling while producing new materials for specific applications in a sustainable way. However, being thermodynamically immiscible, these polyolefins form a binary system usually exhibiting lower performances compared with those of the homopolymers. Many studies have been carried out to better understand the PE/PP blend compatibilization for developing a high-performance and cost-effective product. Both nonreactive and reactive compatibilization promote the brittle to ductile transition for a PE/PP blend. However, the final product usually does not meet the requirements for high demanding commercial applications. Therefore, further PE/PP modification with a reinforcing filler, being either synthetic or natural, proved to be a good method for manufacturing high-performance reinforcend polymer blend composites, with superior and tailored properties. This review summarizes the recent progress in compatibilization techniques applied for enhancing the interfacial adhesion between PE and PP. Moreover, future perspectives on better understanding the influence of themodynamics on PE/PP synergy are discussed to introduce more effective compatibilization strategies, which will allow this blend to be used for innovative industrial applications.


2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (9) ◽  
pp. 2530-2538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel de Braux ◽  
Fletcher Warren-Myers ◽  
Tim Dempster ◽  
Per Gunnar Fjelldal ◽  
Tom Hansen ◽  
...  

Abstract Otolith marking with enriched stable isotopes via immersion is a recent method of batch marking larval fish for a range of research and industrial applications. However, current immersion times and isotope concentrations required to successfully mark an otolith limit the utility of this technique. Osmotic induction improves incorporation and reduces immersion time for some chemical markers, but its effects on isotope incorporation into otoliths are unknown. Here, we tested the effects of osmotic induction over a range of different isotope concentrations and immersion times on relative mark success and strength for 26Mg:24Mg, 86Sr:88Sr and 137Ba:138Ba on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) larvae. 71% and 100% mark success were achieved after 1 h of immersion for 86Sr (75 µg L−1) and 137Ba (30 µg L−1) isotopes, respectively. Compared with conventional immersion, osmotic induction improved overall mark strength for 86Sr and 137Ba isotopes by 26–116%, although this effect was only observed after 12 h of immersion and predominately for 86Sr. The results demonstrate that osmotic induction reduces immersion times and the concentrations of isotope required to achieve successful marks. Osmotically induced isotope labels via larval immersion may prove a rapid and cost-effective way of batch marking fish larvae across a range of potential applications.


Circuit World ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohollah Abdollahi

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a T autotransformer based 12-pulse rectifier with passive harmonic reduction in more electric aircraft applications. The T autotransformer uses only two main windings which result in volume, space, size, weight and cost savings. Also, the proposed unconventional inter-phase transformer (UIPT) with a lower kVA rating (about 2.6% of the load power) compared to the conventional inter-phase transformer results in a more harmonic reduction. Design/methodology/approach To increase rating and reduce the cost and complexity of a multi-pulse rectifier, it is well known that the pulse number must be increased. In some practical cases, a 12-pulse rectifier (12PR) is suggested as a good solution considering its simple structure and low weight. But the 12PR cannot technically meet the standards of harmonic distortion requirements for some industrial applications, and therefore, they must be used with output filters. In this paper, a 12PR is suggested, which consists of a T autotransformer 12PR and a passive harmonic reduction (PHR) based on the UIPT at direct current (DC) link. Findings To show the advantage of this new combination over other solutions, simulation results are used, and then, a prototype is implemented to evaluate and verify the simulation results. The simulation and experimental test results show that the input current total harmonic distortion (THD) of the suggested 12PR with a PHR based on UIPT is less than 5%, which meets the IEEE 519 requirements. Also, it is shown that in comparison with other solutions, it is cost effective, and at the same time, its power factor is near unity, and its rating is 29.92% of the load rating. Therefore, it is obvious that the proposed rectifier is a practical solution for more electric aircrafts. Originality/value The contributions of this paper are summarized as follows. The suggested design uses a retrofit T autotransformer, which meets all technical constraints, and in comparison, with other options, has less rating, weight, volume and cost. In the suggested rectifier, a PHR based on UIPT at its dc link of 12PR is used, which has good technical capabilities and lower ratings. In the PHR based on UIPT, an IPT is used, which has an additional secondary winding and four diodes. This solution leads to a reduction in input current THD and conduction losses of diodes. In full load conditions, the input line current THD and power factor are 4% and 0.99, respectively. The THD is less than 5%, which satisfies IEEE-519 and DO-160G requirements.


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