Grounding semantic maps in spatial databases

Sensing and mapping its surroundings is an essential requirement for a mobile robot. Geometric maps endow robots with the capacity of basic tasks, e.g., navigation. To co-exist with human beings in indoor scenes, the need to attach semantic information to a geometric map, which is called a semantic map, has been realized in the last two decades. A semantic map can help robots to behave in human rules, plan and perform advanced tasks, and communicate with humans on the conceptual level. This survey reviews methods about semantic mapping in indoor scenes. To begin with, we answered the question, what is a semantic map for mobile robots, by its definitions. After that, we reviewed works about each of the three modules of semantic mapping, i.e., spatial mapping, acquisition of semantic information, and map representation, respectively. Finally, though great progress has been made, there is a long way to implement semantic maps in advanced tasks for robots, thus challenges and potential future directions are discussed before a conclusion at last.

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Review on Renewable Energy Potential in Australian Subtropical Region (Central and North Queensland)

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.347-353.3846 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 347-353 ◽

pp. 3846-3855 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ali Baniyounes ◽

Gang Liu ◽

M. G. Rasul ◽

M. M. K. Khan

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Wind Speed ◽

Spatial Databases ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Energy Resources ◽

Climatic Data ◽

Renewable Energy Resources ◽

Subtropical Region ◽

Energy Potential

In Australia the future demand for energy is predicted to increase rapidly. Conventional energy resources soaring prices and environmental impact have increased the interest in renewable energy technology. As a result of that the Australian government is promoting renewable energy; such as wind, geothermal, solar and hydropower. These types of energy are believed to be cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Renewable energy availability is controlled by climatic conditions such as solar radiation, wind speed and temperature. This paper aims to assess the potential of renewable energy resources, in particular wind and solar energy in an Australian subtropical region (Central and North Queensland) namely, Gladstone, Emerald, Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Townsville, and Cairns. Analysis is done by using the latest statistical state of Queensland energy information, along with measured data history of wind speed, solar irradiations, air temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure for those sites. This study has also shown that national assessments of solar and wind energy potential can be improved by improving local climatic data assessments using spatial databases of Central and North Queensland areas.

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Optimal-Location-Selection Query Processing in Spatial Databases

IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering ◽

10.1109/tkde.2009.81 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 21 (8) ◽

pp. 1162-1177 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Yunjun Gao ◽

Baihua Zheng ◽

Gencai Chen ◽

Qing Li

Keyword(s):

Query Processing ◽

Spatial Databases ◽

Optimal Location ◽

Location Selection

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The use of thesauri in online retrieval

Journal of Information Science ◽

10.1177/016555158400800204 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 63-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

C.P.R. Dubois

Keyword(s):

Information Retrieval ◽

Data Base ◽

Case Studies ◽

Controlled Vocabulary ◽

Free Text ◽

Data Bases ◽

Online Data ◽

Controlled Vocabularies ◽

Semantic Maps ◽

Actual Use

The controlled vocabulary versus the free text approach to information retrieval is reviewed from the mid 1960s to the early 1980s. The dominance of the free text approach following the Cranfield tests is increasingly coming into question as a result of tests on existing online data bases and case studies. This is supported by two case studies on the Coffeeline data base. The differences and values of the two approaches are explored considering thesauri as semantic maps. It is suggested that the most appropriate evaluatory technique for indexing languages is to study the actual use made of various techniques in a wide variety of search environments. Such research is becoming more urgent. Economic and other reasons for the scarcity of online thesauri are reviewed and suggestions are made for methods to secure revenue from thesaurus display facilities. Finally, the promising outlook for renewed develop ment of controlled vocabularies with more effective online display techniques is mentioned, although such development must be based on firm research of user behaviour and needs.

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