Machine Learning and Soil Humidity Sensing: Signal Strength Approach

The Internet-of-Things vision of ubiquitous and pervasive computing gives rise to future smart irrigation systems comprising the physical and digital worlds. A smart irrigation ecosystem combined with Machine Learning can provide solutions that successfully solve the soil humidity sensing task in order to ensure optimal water usage. Existing solutions are based on data received from the power hungry/expensive sensors that are transmitting the sensed data over the wireless channel. Over time, the systems become difficult to maintain, especially in remote areas due to the battery replacement issues with a large number of devices. Therefore, a novel solution must provide an alternative, cost- and energy-effective device that has unique advantage over the existing solutions. This work explores the concept of a novel, low-power, LoRa-based, cost-effective system that achieves humidity sensing using Deep Learning techniques that can be employed to sense soil humidity with high accuracy simply by measuring the signal strength of the given underground beacon device.

Integrating Non-Destructive Surveys into a Preliminary BIM-Oriented Digital Model for Possible Future Application in Road Pavements Management

The implementation of the digitalization of the linear infrastructure is growing rapidly and new methods for developing BIM-oriented digital models are increasing. The integration of the results obtained from non-destructive surveys carried out along a road infrastructure in a pavement digital model can be a useful method for developing an efficient process from a pavement management systems (PMS) point of view. In fact, several applications to optimize PMS have been thoroughly investigated over the years and several researchers and scientists have investigated significant elements for improving the PMS applied to a transport network, including road infrastructures. This study presents a new, tentative process for implementing into a BIM environment the dataset processed from two surveys carried out in a case study. Moreover, the main reason for this investigation is related to the need for an effective system able to evaluate continuously the pavement conditions and programming maintenance interventions. To date, both the instruments and the methods to detect the pavement configuration have evolved, along with the development of non-destructive technology (NDT) tools such as laser-scanners and ground-penetrating radar. Finally, the main results of the research demonstrate the possibility to provide a digital twin model from the synergistic use of geometric and design information with the results from monitoring conducted on a road infrastructure. The model can be potentially used in future BIM-based PMS applications.

Next generation medical education from the student’s perspective

Objectives Izmir University of Economics Faculty of Medicine’s aim is to implement a novel and effective system called “Next Generation Medical Education”. This system is designed to provide us a modernized medical education which covers the students’ requirements. This study is designed to investigate different aspects of this educational system from the student’s perspective. Methods Main characteristic features of the educational system was determined and a survey as well as phone interviews have been conducted in order to determine the views of the students of the faculty regarding these aspects. Results The survey and the phone interview results showed that the students are mostly satisfied with current system and all of its components. Conclusions We have determined the key aspects of the system as: integrated curriculum, learning to learn, advisorship, e-learning and feedback mechanisms. We believe that the next generation education system adopted by our faculty is a way of transforming medical education in order to train qualified physicians for tomorrow.

Motorsport Data Acquisition System and Live Telemetry using FPGA based CAN controller

The paper describes the design and working of a motorsport data acquisition, logging, live telemetry, and display system developed using the Controller Area Network (CAN) communication protocol as the backbone of the arrangement. The main controller of the CAN system is the myRIO which was programmed using LabVIEW. A Formula One car hosts over a hundred sensors during each of its races. The data acquisition/logging system, although does not directly affect the car’s performance, is indispensable when it comes to the testing and design phase of the car. Designers can validate their assumptions and calculations, real-time data during testing can be a safety indicator and it provides insight to the driver about the performance of the vehicle. The FPGA-based controller for CAN is designed for data acquisition and live telemetry system with the interest of the formula car team in mind. The design choices were made to improve and deliver a more effective system than the pre-existing ones. All choices of controllers, sensors, formatting were custom made for the requirements of the team. All programmable devices were coded individually to suit the system and the graphical user interface was designed internally. Data acquired by the proposed system helps in making sure that the car achieves the goals that were envisioned when it was designed.

Specifications of a queuing model-driven decision support system for predicting the healthcare performance indicators pertaining to the patients flow

This article has developed specifications for a new model-driven decision support system (DSS) that aids the key stakeholders of public hospitals in estimating and tracking a set of crucial performance indicators pertaining to the patients flow. The developed specifications have considered several requirements for ensuring an effective system, including tracking the performance indicator on the level of the entire patients flow system, paying attention to the dynamic change of the values of the indicator’s parameters, and considering the heterogeneity of the patients. According to these requirements, the major components of the proposed system, which include a comprehensive object-based queuing model and an object-oriented database, have been specified. In addition to these components, the system comprises the equations that produce the required predictions. From the system output perspective, these predictions act as a foundation for evaluating the performance indicators as well as developing policies for managing the patients flow in the public hospitals.

Environmental Aspects of the European Experience in Landscape Planning

Understanding all the possibilities of environmentally oriented landscape planning will contribute to the effective environmental planning of the territory and nature management in general. Accordingly, the purpose of the study was to investigate the experience of the European countries towards the introduction of an effective system of environmentally oriented landscape planning and improvement of territories, as well as their protection. For this purpose, it is necessary to comprehensively study the strengths and weaknesses of existing developments in the field of environmentally oriented landscape planning in Europe. An analysis of the best practices of environmentally oriented landscape planning in such countries as Great Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, etc. has been conducted. The findings allowed to state that the effectiveness of development and implementation of substantial planning for landscape design depends not only on the volume and depth of research, but to a very large extent from their reasonable and productive organisation. The paper summarises that in environmentally oriented landscape planning, it is first necessary to determine the reasons for planning. Before choosing the object and territory of planning, it is necessary to find out: who are the potential customers and investors – their goals and motivation; what are the problem situations and conflicts in nature management in the area; what is the practical use of the results of landscape planning; the purpose of the territory, including cartographic; the availability of source information, and more. And then make decisions regarding the stages of landscape planning, taking into account the environmental component and, accordingly, the implementation of the idea of landscape planning.

Model of state support for organic farming of Kazakhstan in the context of creation of international regulatory framework for the industry

The paper evaluates the status and prospects for a wider market capacity of organic foods and items. The paper analyzes regulatory framework for organic market in Kazakhstan. The paper describes the conditions for the development of the organic market. The transformation of global food market structures has influenced the organic farming. Demand for organic products has been growing rapidly. Whereas the European Union has put in place at the time an effective system for regulating organic production, the EAEU, CIS, and SCO countries can see this production taking shape only now. It is argued that Kazakhstan is harnessing its agricultural potential only partially, including organic food production. The paper proves that the development of green farming entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan will enable agricultural organizations, aided by the measures of state support, to form a new niche in the market for organic products and expand the supply of organic products in the world market. New approaches are proposed for the first time in regard to formulating regulations, model laws, and recommendations of international unions.

Public Management of Railway Transport Development based on the Principles of a Systematic Approach

The article is devoted to scientific and applied research on the problem of the formation and implementation of a universal, efficient and effective public management system for the development of railway transport in the changing socio-economic and political conditions of Ukraine. The definition of the category “public management of railway transport” and the problems of the railway industry as a whole was clarified. A universal, efficient and effective system of public management for the development of railway transport has been formed, containing all the necessary aspects: entrance to the system, working subsystems, exit, external environment, feedback, as well as the components and elements that are part of them. It has been proven that entrance into the system is the defining management and organizational link of the entire system. The main directions of introduction and development of elements of working subsystems are analyzed. Proposals on operational and strategic directions of improvement of public management of railway industry development in the following areas are presented: improvement of legislative and regulatory framework; full separation of the functions of public administration from the economic functions of railway enterprises; the development and implementation of a new public tariff management system; development of a progressive approach to the organization and management of passenger transportation and the introduction of a public administration system in the international security. It was concluded that the effective operation of the developed system and the successful introduction of areas of improvement of public management for the development of the railway industry will achieve the following results: create conditions for the development of free competition in the industry; increase the competitiveness of the railway industry in Ukrainian and international markets; achieve the desired indicators of railway industry efficiency and innovation growth