HDR luminance measurement: Comparing real and simulated data

<p>The objective of this research was to determine the adequacy of Android devices capturing High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography, and using it as a tool for daylight analysis in New Zealand’s commercial building stock. This study was conducted with an Android Smartphone and later an Android Tablet, employing the use of a US$50 magnetic fisheye lens. The overall aim of this research was to evaluate whether an inexpensive programmable data acquisition system could provide meaningful and useful luminance data. To complete this research, the adequacy of computer simulation using HDR photography of the real horizontal and vertical skies was explored. Using the method documented in this research, the luminance distribution of the building interiors could then be mapped accurately in daylight simulations. The BRANZ Building Energy End-Use Study (BEES) team currently have one internal lighting measurement point, which records light levels in each of more than 100 commercial buildings randomly selected to be representative of commercial buildings in New Zealand. The HOBO U12 data logger typically records the environmental data on a desktop within the main area of the monitored premises. The HOBO data loggers only provide the environmental measurement of that specific location and do not provide the researcher the daylight distribution of the whole space. Using the data collected by BEES, a thesis was developed to explore the utility of HDR imaging as a supplement to the use of a single internal light measurement in the analysis of daylight potential in New Zealand’s commercial building stock. Three buildings were randomly selected from the BEES targeted strata five database to be monitored over a one day period. Within each building, at least three rooms were studied, all facing different orientations. The pilot study and the first two buildings monitored employed the use of a Motorola Defy Smartphone to capture the low dynamic range (LDR) photographs of each scene using both the HDR Camera application available from the Android Google Play Application Store, and the built-in camera application that came with the Smartphone. The vertical (by pressing the Smartphone hard up against the window) and horizontal (from the ground) skies were also captured simultaneously as only one device was available at each monitored building and to ensure consistency in each building. These photographs were fused using an HDR software called Photosphere, into a single HDR image. However, before the HDR images could be generated to contain accurate luminance data within the images, a camera response curve is required to be generated. A camera response curve is unique to each device and only needs to be generated once and can be generated using Photosphere. Unfortunately, a camera response curve could not be generated for the Motorola Defy Smartphone and through various experimentations and tests in both the lighting laboratory and in-field, it was discovered that this had nothing to do with the EXIF data contained within the photographs captured as originally thought, but the JPEG image format itself. This resulted in a generic camera response curve, from Photosphere, being used for the pilot study and the first two monitored buildings. For the final building that was monitored, a Galaxy Note Tablet was used. A camera response curve for this device could be easily generated using Photosphere. The pilot study and three monitored buildings were geometrically simulated using Google SketchUp 8 and were then exported in to Radiance Lighting Simulation and Rendering System using the su2rad plug-in. The files were then edited in Ecotect™ Radiance Control Panel, after which the real and simulated images were compared using HDRShop and RadDisplay. The four comparison methods were used to compare the real and simulated data were pixel to pixel comparison; section to section pixel comparison; surface to surface comparison and visual field comparison. Of the four methods used the first two were visual based comparisons, whereas the latter two were numerical, which employ the use of a calculation method to calculate the relative error percentages. The biggest problem that arose from the visual comparisons was the geometrical misalignment due to the use of a fisheye lens and only provided the luminance difference ranging from a scale of 0 cd/m2 to 50 cd/m2. The numerical comparison methods provided a 60% correlation between real and simulated data. It was concluded that, depending on the Android device used, HDR photographs are able to provide reliable images that contain accurate luminance data when a camera response curve for the device could be generated.</p>

HDR luminance measurement: Comparing real and simulated data

<p>The objective of this research was to determine the adequacy of Android devices capturing High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography, and using it as a tool for daylight analysis in New Zealand’s commercial building stock. This study was conducted with an Android Smartphone and later an Android Tablet, employing the use of a US$50 magnetic fisheye lens. The overall aim of this research was to evaluate whether an inexpensive programmable data acquisition system could provide meaningful and useful luminance data. To complete this research, the adequacy of computer simulation using HDR photography of the real horizontal and vertical skies was explored. Using the method documented in this research, the luminance distribution of the building interiors could then be mapped accurately in daylight simulations. The BRANZ Building Energy End-Use Study (BEES) team currently have one internal lighting measurement point, which records light levels in each of more than 100 commercial buildings randomly selected to be representative of commercial buildings in New Zealand. The HOBO U12 data logger typically records the environmental data on a desktop within the main area of the monitored premises. The HOBO data loggers only provide the environmental measurement of that specific location and do not provide the researcher the daylight distribution of the whole space. Using the data collected by BEES, a thesis was developed to explore the utility of HDR imaging as a supplement to the use of a single internal light measurement in the analysis of daylight potential in New Zealand’s commercial building stock. Three buildings were randomly selected from the BEES targeted strata five database to be monitored over a one day period. Within each building, at least three rooms were studied, all facing different orientations. The pilot study and the first two buildings monitored employed the use of a Motorola Defy Smartphone to capture the low dynamic range (LDR) photographs of each scene using both the HDR Camera application available from the Android Google Play Application Store, and the built-in camera application that came with the Smartphone. The vertical (by pressing the Smartphone hard up against the window) and horizontal (from the ground) skies were also captured simultaneously as only one device was available at each monitored building and to ensure consistency in each building. These photographs were fused using an HDR software called Photosphere, into a single HDR image. However, before the HDR images could be generated to contain accurate luminance data within the images, a camera response curve is required to be generated. A camera response curve is unique to each device and only needs to be generated once and can be generated using Photosphere. Unfortunately, a camera response curve could not be generated for the Motorola Defy Smartphone and through various experimentations and tests in both the lighting laboratory and in-field, it was discovered that this had nothing to do with the EXIF data contained within the photographs captured as originally thought, but the JPEG image format itself. This resulted in a generic camera response curve, from Photosphere, being used for the pilot study and the first two monitored buildings. For the final building that was monitored, a Galaxy Note Tablet was used. A camera response curve for this device could be easily generated using Photosphere. The pilot study and three monitored buildings were geometrically simulated using Google SketchUp 8 and were then exported in to Radiance Lighting Simulation and Rendering System using the su2rad plug-in. The files were then edited in Ecotect™ Radiance Control Panel, after which the real and simulated images were compared using HDRShop and RadDisplay. The four comparison methods were used to compare the real and simulated data were pixel to pixel comparison; section to section pixel comparison; surface to surface comparison and visual field comparison. Of the four methods used the first two were visual based comparisons, whereas the latter two were numerical, which employ the use of a calculation method to calculate the relative error percentages. The biggest problem that arose from the visual comparisons was the geometrical misalignment due to the use of a fisheye lens and only provided the luminance difference ranging from a scale of 0 cd/m2 to 50 cd/m2. The numerical comparison methods provided a 60% correlation between real and simulated data. It was concluded that, depending on the Android device used, HDR photographs are able to provide reliable images that contain accurate luminance data when a camera response curve for the device could be generated.</p>

TV Ad Detection Using the Base64 Encoding Technique

Automatic TV ad detection is a challenging task in computer vision. Manual ad detection is considered a tedious job. Detecting advertisements automatically saves time and human effort. In this paper, a method is proposed for detecting repeated video segments automatically, since generally, ads appear in TV transmissions frequently. At first, the user is allowed to browse the advertisements needed to be detected, and the video in which they are to be detected. The videos are then converted into a text file using the Base64 encodings. In the third step, the advertisements are detected using string comparison methods. In the end, a report, with the names of the advertisements is shown against the total time and the number of times these advertisements appeared in the stream. The implementation was carried out in python.

نواقض الوضوء عند الشافعية والحنابلة (دراسة مقارنة)

Ablution is a great form of taharah so Sharia makes it a legal condition of prayer. The four schools have agreed on most problems related to ablution, such as its pillars, its obligations, its circumcision and its nullifiers, but they are also different in some ways. This study aims to find out the opinions of Shafi'i and Hanbali schools about ablution and things which invalidate it, as well as strong opinions of both. The scientific methods used to achieve results are inductive-deductive and comparison methods. The results showed that the things which invalidate it according to the Shafi'i school there are four things and according to the Hanbali school there are seven. Then there is the difference of opinion between the two schools in this matter on four points, namely: the feces coming out of the body as thing can invalidate the ablution, sleeping while sitting, touching women and eating camel meat. This research is expected to contribute in the field of comparative jurisprudence of schools, especially in the problem of nullifiers of ablution according to Shafi'i and Hanbali schools, and increasing knowledge in this matter.

Numerical Characterization of DNA Sequences for Alignment-free Sequence Comparison – A Review

Background: Biological macromolecules namely, DNA, RNA, and protein have their building blocks organized in a particular sequence and the sequential arrangement encodes evolutionary history of the organism (species). Hence, biological sequences have been used for studying evolutionary relationships among the species. This is usually carried out by multiple sequence algorithms (MSA). Due to certain limitations of MSA, alignment-free sequence comparison methods were developed. The present review is on alignment-free sequence comparison methods carried out using numerical characterization of DNA sequences. Discussion: The graphical representation of DNA sequences by chaos game representation and other 2-dimesnional and 3-dimensional methods are discussed. The evolution of numerical characterization from the various graphical representations and the application of the DNA invariants thus computed in phylogenetic analysis is presented. The extension of computing molecular descriptors in chemometrics to the calculation of new set of DNA invariants and their use in alignment-free sequence comparison in a N-dimensional space and construction of phylogenetic tress is also reviewed. Conclusion: The phylogenetic tress constructed by the alignment-free sequence comparison methods using DNA invariants were found to be better than those constructed using alignment-based tools such as PHLYIP and ClustalW. One of the graphical representation methods is now extended to study viral sequences of infectious diseases for the identification of conserved regions to design peptide-based vaccine by combining numerical characterization and graphical representation.

Main things to know about small waterplane area ships

Object and purpose of research. The object of study is small waterplane area twin hull (SWATH) ships whose main advantage is their excellent seaworthiness. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the broad capabilities of such vessels. Materials and methods. The knowledge from foreign literature along with the author’s data are employed. Comparison methods focus on the main specific features of the technology for different fields of application. Main results. Brief review of the SWATH background is given highlighting the main trends of development. Common features and differences of each SWATH type is identified. The revealed merits and disadvantages, design details point to a broad range of possible applications. Conclusion. SWATH architecture may provide a considerable improvement in seaworthiness of small and medium displacement vessels. SWATH is an economically viable option for all types of marine vessels with a relatively large deck area, so-called capacity carriers, like passenger, research, ro-ro, naval ships, etc. For more efficient application it is recommended that alternative SWATH projects should be developed at an early design of vessels for the above missions.

Analysis of The Morphological Characteristics of Bush Frog Philautus spp. Gistel, 1848 (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Mount Ungaran

Traditionally, the genus Philautus Gistel, 1848 contains small Rhacoporid frogs that lack vomerine teeth and a direct development tadpole stage. In Java, this genus consists of 3 species, including Philautus aurifasciatus, Philautus jacobsoni, and Philautus pallidipes. It is known that Philautus aurifasciatus and Philautus jacobsoni are sympatric species from Mount Ungaran and are morphologically difficult to distinguish. Therefore, information is needed through the phenetic characters of each population in the area to identify differences in their morphology. This study aimed to analyze the morphological characteristics of Bush Frog Philautus spp. on Mount Ungaran in terms of meristic character through a direct field survey and comparison methods. Furthermore, it was conducted by observing 32 specimens of Philautus spp. from Mount Ungaran and compared with the Philautus aurifasciatus from Mount Gede Pangrango with 18 meristic characters. The results showed that Philautus spp. is similar to Philautus aurifasciatus in terms of their meristic characters. The results of the meristic analysis showed that Philautus spp. has a variety of dorsal colors from brown, purple, green, and gray with two types of patterns including patterned groups (resembling letters H, X, and V) and abstract. Furthermore, the throat, stomach, and lower thighs are granular with three snout shapes (protruding, round, and sloping). It has a loreal oblique tympanum and canthus rostralis. The forelimbs are not webbed while the hindlimbs are half webbed, and the inner metatarsal is an elongated oval in shape. Meristic analysis provides a basis for strengthening the taxonomic status of Philautus spp on Mount Ungaran, as well as information the distribution in Mount Ungaran.

Enhancing Roles of Banks and the Comparison of Market Risk and Risk Policy Implications in Group of Listed Vietnam Banks During 2 Stages: Pre and Post-Low Inflation Period

By classifying period 2011-2020 into 2 stages: pre-low (L) inflation stage (2011-2015) and post-low inflation stage (2015-2020), we can compare market risk in total 7 listed big banks in Vietnam including: Previous SOEs banks (including VCB and CTG) and Previous Private banks (including STB, SHB, NVB, EIB and ACB). Authors then use combination of quantitative methods (statistics, calculation formulas) and qualitative methods including synthesis, inductive and explanatory methods, esp. Authors use comparison methods for analyzing and evaluating beta CAPM (Stand for market risk) of banks in 2 special stages. The research findings tell us that In groups of banks (SOEs previously) VCB and CTG we find out: beta mean GAP of CTG higher than beta mean GAP of VCB case (0.24 > 0.19), and GAP of beta mean is positive in this case for both periods. In groups of joint stock banks (private banks) SHB, STB, NVB, ACB and EIB we figure out: beta mean GAP of STB is the highest (0.68) while only 1 case SHB, in which beta mean GAP is negative (-0.26). Besides, this study also give out recommendations for risk policy implications for bank system and for the country.