Robot-Based Creation of Complete 3D Workpiece Models

A complete object database containing a model (representing geometric and texture information) of every possible workpiece is a common necessity e.g. for different object recognition or task planning approaches. The generation of these models is often a tedious process. In this paper we present a fully automated approach to tackle this problem by generating complete workpiece models using a robotic manipulator. A workpiece is recorded by a depth sensor from multiple views for one side, then turned, and captured from the other side. The resulting point clouds are merged into one complete model. Additionally, we represent the information provided by the object’s texture using keypoints. We present a proof of concept and evaluate the precision of the final models. In the end we conclude the usefulness of our approach showing a precision of around 1 mm for the resulting models.

Convergence of NDPP and CSDP Planning Process as a Part of the NATO-EU Strategic Partnership Reinforcing

Over the last few years, a need for reinforcing the NATO-EU mutual coherence has become increasingly apparent. The EU and NATO have recently initiated the steps to consolidate the strategic cooperation where a way ahead to converge NDPP and CSDP planning process was also underpinned. The recent introduction of new tools tailored to get more effective the CSDP process offers new opportunities for facilitating a convergence of EU and NATO planning approaches. Even if it is impossible to assume that the Alliance's and the Union's planning processes would become identical, the implementation of PESCO and other subsequent procedural tools has created a room for potential synchronization and harmonization of respective planning processes. The paper summarises findings on certain parts of both processes which could be brought closer, in terms of time and procedures, without affecting the autonomy of both organizations in any way.

Viewpoint placement for inspection planning

Inspection planning approaches so far have focused on automatically obtaining an optimal set of viewpoints required to cover a given object. While research has provided interesting results, the automatic inspection planning has still not been made a part of the everyday inspection system development process. This is mostly because the plans are difficult to verify and it is impossible to compare them to laboratory-developed plans. In this work, we give an overview of available generate-and-test approaches, evaluate their results for various objects and finally compare them to plans created by inspection system development experts. The comparison emphasizes both benefits and downsides of automated approaches and highlights problems which need to be tackled in the future in order to make the automated inspection planning more applicable.

The clean plan: analysing sanitation planning in India using the CWIS planning framework

Sanitation in India has received national attention for over a decade, especially with the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) making it a political priority. However, due to the lack of appropriate sanitation planning practices, there have been little long-term gains made in urban sanitation beyond the ending of open defaecation. In this paper, we analyse the key barriers to sanitation planning, in India, in the context of the emerging paradigm of Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS). A mixed method approach of shit flow diagrams, social network analysis, policy analysis, interviews and workshops at the national, state (2) and city (4) levels was conducted. Eight factors were identified as important barriers for planning including inadequate planning capacities, lack of ownership of city sanitation plans among city governments, poor community involvement, absence of a uniform planning framework, unreliable political and financial support, overlapping jurisdictions, and scheme-based funding. The paper also proposes the CWIS Planning Framework which offers a perspective at overcoming these barriers with the recommendation of bridging top-down and bottom-up planning approaches. While there is increasingly more clarity on what CWIS means, there is little understanding on how to plan for it. Therefore, this framework provides the theoretical basis for planning with the CWIS approach.

From Urban-Scape to Human-Scape: COVID-19 Trends That will Shape Future City Centres

The COVID-19 pandemic did not only impact all spheres of life but came abruptly to redefine our understanding of the urban-scape. With changing user-values and user-needs, there is a renewed realisation of the importance of the human-scape and how human capital, social issues, and liveability considerations will progressively lead urban development discussions. The urban-scape risk is far more complex and fragile than previously anticipated, with the future of the city centre dependent on our ability to successfully manage the transition from an urban-scape to a human-scape. This research employed a narrative review methodology to reflect on COVID-19 trends that will shape future city centres, based on expert contributions pertaining to (1) the community sector, (2) the public sector, and (3) the private sector within the Sydney Metropolitan area of Australia. The research highlighted the changing human-scape needs and associated impacts of (1) changing movement patterns, (2) changing social infrastructure, and (3) increasing multifunctionality, which will be crucial factors in shaping attractive (future) city centres. The research contributes to the notion that future city centres will embrace and prioritise the human-scape in a response to ‘build back better’, and accordingly, identified how the human-scape can be articulated in broader spatial planning approaches to create attractive future city centres.

Fore Karst: A Biotope-focused planning approach for the ecological management of Susong Dalaga, Quirino

Conventional planning approaches that prioritize built-up areas and rapid urbanization for economic growth and social security, instead of the environment and the ecological services they provide have consistently been problematic in maintaining sustainability. Because of this, there is a growing need to shift from the conventional to a greener approach. The research argues that an ecological management approach is a viable choice of approach in protecting the ecological integrity of the landscape, especially in biotopes where ecological services are sought-after, such as the karst system Susong Dalaga found in Cabarroguis, Quirino Province. This approach is done by identifying the different biotopes to find the existing relations, services, and underlying issues of the place. In assessing the items mentioned earlier, the research finds that the natural systems are slowly dwindling due to the expansion of agriculture and built-up areas. Each biotope is then assigned with an appropriate approach, and with the consultation of the stakeholders, policies are then strategized for specific functions. It is hoped that the study would help push the application and integration of ecological management approach, and green approaches and principles in general, to future urban planning projects in the Philippines.

Exploring the Potentials of Automation in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Paving the Way for Autonomous Supply Chains

The world of logistics is changing and entering a new era. The advance of digitalization and technologization enables new business models, increased process efficiencies, novel planning approaches, and much more but, on the downside, there is also the risk of being lost in the maelstrom of developments. Within these developments, the automation of logistics processes and ultimately the design of autonomous logistics systems is one of the most defining trends that has far-reaching consequences for the planning and execution of future logistics processes. This Special Issue aims to contribute to the discussion and to get to the bottom of the question of how the path towards automated and autonomous logistics systems should be designed. This editorial lays a foundation by presenting application areas of automation and discussing the theoretical path towards autonomous logistics systems. The articles that follow provide highly practical insights into current research results on the automation and autonomization of informational and physical logistics processes.

Strategies of Accessible City for Malaysia as A Developing Country

Becoming an Accessible City in developing countries has mitigating barriers as compared to developed countries. It is comprehensive to non-discriminate PwDs in access and facilities for equal opportunity. Accessibility legislation of different nations has various success in implementing and enforcing Universal Design through regulatory, government initiatives, and planning approaches. ASEAN developing nations have awareness and advocacy, because the fragmentary built environment, resulting in Accessible City concept that has not strived to expectation. Eliciting from interviews of access consultants and city planning regulations from London, Oslo, and Singapore. Conclusively, extraction of inclusion strategies is to be adapted for implementation in Malaysia. Keywords: Accessible City; Universal Design; Inclusion strategies; developing countries. eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6iSI4.2913