A review of: “PRINCIPLES OF SYSTEMS: TEXT AND WORKBOOK (Second preliminary edition)” by Jay W. Forrester. Wright-Allen Press,Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1968.

It is common that experts involved in complex real-world decision problems use natural language for expressing their knowledge in uncertain frameworks. The language is inherent vague, hence probabilistic decision models are not very suitable in such cases. Therefore, other tools such as fuzzy logic and fuzzy linguistic approaches have been successfully used to model and manage such vagueness. The use of linguistic information implies to operate with such a type of information, i.e. processes of computing with words (CWW). Different schemes have been proposed to deal with those processes, and diverse symbolic linguistic computing models have been introduced to accomplish the linguistic computations. In this paper, we overview the relationship between decision making and CWW, and focus on symbolic linguistic computing models that have been widely used in linguistic decision making to analyse if all of them can be considered inside of the CWW paradigm.     

A Review of: “Exploration of the Solar System by Infrared Remote Sensing”. By R. A. HANEL,B. J. CONRATH,D. E. JENNINGS and R. E. SAMUELSON. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992.) [Pp. 458.] Price £75.00.

Crop classification is a key issue for agricultural monitoring using remote-sensing techniques. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data are attractive for crop classification because of their all-weather, all-day imaging capability. The objective of this study is to investigate the capability of SAR data for crop classification in the North China Plain. Multi-temporal Envisat advanced synthetic aperture radar (ASAR) and TerraSAR data were acquired. A support vector machine (SVM) classifier was selected for the classification using different combinations of these SAR data and texture features. The results indicated that multi-configuration SAR data achieved satisfactory classification accuracy (best overall accuracy of 91.83%) in the North China Plain. ASAR performed slightly better than TerraSAR data acquired in the same time span for crop classification, while the combination of two frequencies of SAR data (C- and X-band) was better than the multi-temporal C-band data. Two temporal ASAR data acquired in late jointing and flowering periods achieved sufficient classification accuracy, and adding data to the early jointing period had little effect on improving classification accuracy. In addition, texture features of SAR data were also useful for improving classification accuracy. SAR data have considerable potential for agricultural monitoring and can become a suitable complementary data source to optical data.     

A review of: “Computers,Work and Health”. By TREVOR A. WILLIAMS,Taylor & Francis, 4 John St,London WC1N 2ET (1988), pp. x + 142, £25·00. ISBN 0-85066-453-5

The effects of cabin noise on subjective comfort assessments were systematically investigated in order to reveal optimisation potentials for an improved passenger noise acceptance. Two aircraft simulation studies were conducted. An acoustic laboratory test facility provided with loudspeaker systems for realistic sound presentations and an aircraft cabin simulator (Dornier Do 728) with a high degree of ecological validity were used. Subjects were exposed to nine different noise patterns (three noise levels ranging from 66 to 78 dB(A) combined with three different frequency spectra). Regression analysis demonstrated a significant increase of passengers' acceptance with lower noise levels and significant effects of different frequency spectra determined by seat position in the aircraft cabin (front, middle, rear). Acoustic cabin design should therefore consider measures beyond noise level reduction altering noise characteristics to improve passengers' comfort and well-being in the aircraft cabin.

Practitioner Summary: To improve passenger comfort in the aircraft with respect to cabin noise, passengers' reactions to specific noise conditions were systematically investigated. Two laboratory studies showed significant dose-response relationships between sound pressure level and subjective comfort ratings which differed due to the noise at specific seat positions in the aircraft.     

A review of: “ Advances in Digital Image Processing: Theory,Application, Implementation ”. Edited by P. STUCKI. (New York,London: Plenum Press, 1979.) [Pp. 332.] Price $39·50.

Abstract

Radiometric balancing is a form of radiometric correction that can be applied to radar imagery. However, its application can be based on untenable assumptions about the characteristics of the scene and so can be unreliable. The method of radiometrically balancing an image and the requirements of the technique are outlined along with an example of where its use would be inappropriate. A recommendation is made against policies of pre-dissemination radiometric balancing and it is suggested that users should evaluate the use of other techniques which may be more suitable for their imagery.     

A Review of: “THE ALGORITHMIC BEAUTY OF PLANTS” by Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz and Aristid Lindenmayer,Springer-Verlag,New York, 1990. XII+ 228 pages.

Uncertainty in Dempster-Shafer framework can be considered to consist of two components; one arising due to randomness. and the other arising due to the lack of specificity in evidence. One facet of uncertainty due to randomness is conflict in the evidence. Here we establish the need for a new measure of conflict and follow a fresh approach to achieve the same. We view the conflict between propositions as being proportional to the “distance” between them. We expect this “distance” to obey the laws of a metric. With this motivation we formulate a set of axioms that we expect a metric distance to satisfy, in order lo quantify the conflict between two propositions. Based on this we derive a unique expression for the conflict between propositions. The average of conflict between propositions gives a measure of total conflict in the body of evidence. We then prove various properties of this conflict measure     

A Review of:“The Remembering Self: Construction and Accuracy in the Self-narrative”, edited by ULRIC NEISSER and ROBYN FIVUSH,Cambridge University Press,New York (1994), pp. x + 301, £30.00, ISBN 0-521-43194-8

Driving is a task that requires the timely detection of critical events and relevant changes in traffic circumstances. Adaptation of speed and safety margins allows drivers to control the time available to react to potential hazards. One of the basic safety margins in driving is the time headway preserved with respect to cars ahead. To avoid rear-end collisions, drivers have to detect decelerations of lead cars. It can be assumed that fast or abrupt decelerations of the lead car are detected faster than slow or gradual decelerations. Moreover, expected decelerations are presumably detected faster than unexpected decelerations. Drivers' responses to rather abrupt and more gradual decelerations of the lead were investigated in a driving simulator. Situational traffic cues were used to manipulate the driver's expectations. Drivers adjusted the timing of their responses very well to the level of deceleration of the lead car. If cues in the environment indicated that the lead car was likely to decelerate, drivers reacted faster. Moreover, drivers increased their headway before the lead car actually started to decelerate, which can be considered an anticipatory response. In general, anticipation allows drivers to maintain their preferred headway and control time pressure in driving.     

A review of: “Actes du Colloque ELABORATION ET JUSTIFICATION DES MODELES”, edited by P. Delattre and M. Thellier. Maloine S.A., Paris, 1979, 2 volumes, 748 pp.

This paper utilizes trapezoidal rule together with Genetic Algorithm (GA) to convert a continuous-time system with input and state delays to an equivalent discrete-time one. A new method has been proposed to construct the hybrid control of sampled-data system with state and input delays via digital redesign which transforms the control law of a continuous-time system with state and input delays into an equivalent one of a sampled-data system so that the states of the digitally controlled sampled-data system closely match those of the originally well-designed continuous-time system for a relatively longer sampling period. An example is given to demonstrate that the proposed digital redesign is superior to the existing ones under a longer sampling period.