Design research for cadastral systems

Cadastral information is a reference data component, of any spatial data infrastructure (SDI). During recent years, several organisational and individual research projects have investigated the cadastral domain. Two paradigms characterize much of this research and their methodologies: a behavioural paradigm or, alternatively, a ‘design research’ paradigm. While some efforts have focused on behavioural research methodologies, design research methodologies have not been addressed by the cadastral, geographical information system (GIS) and SDI research community so far. The present article, therefore, aims to demonstrate usage of the design research paradigm through a methodological analysis of recent cadastral research, which addresses information system issues and within this context, designs information system artefact. The analysis is based on five doctoral dissertations and an array of papers representing the development of the ISO/WD 19152.3 Land Administration Domain Model. The analysis is supplemented with a review of related theory. The main contribution of this article is an explication of a design research methodology and a theoretical framework for research in cadastral information, cadastral systems and the units of property rights reflected in these systems.     

A hierarchical representation of form documents for identification and retrieval

In this paper, we present a logical representation for form documents to be used for identification and retrieval. A hierarchical structure is proposed to represent the structure of a form by using lines and the XY-tree approach. The approach is top-down and no domain knowledge such as the preprinted data or filled-in data is used. Geometrical modifications and slight variations are handled by this representation. Logically identical forms are associated to the same or similar hierarchical structure. Identification and the retrieval of similar forms are performed by computing the edit distances between the generated trees. Received: August 21, 2001 / Accepted: November 5, 2001     

Smart structures and their applications on active vibration control: Studies in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, METU

This work presents the theoretical and experimental studies conducted in Aerospace Engineering Department of Middle East Technical University on smart structures with particular attention given to the structural modelling characteristics and active suppression of in-vacuo vibrations. The smart structures considered in these analyses are finite and flat aluminium cantilever beam-like (called as smart beam) and plate-like (called as smart fin) structures with surface bonded lead–zirconate–titanate patches. Finite element models of smart beam and smart fin are obtained. Then the experimental studies regarding open loop behaviour of the structures are performed by using strain gauges and laser displacement sensor to determine the system models. Further studies are carried out to obtain H _∞ and μ-synthesis controllers which are intended to be used in the suppression of free and forced vibrations of the smart structures. It is observed that satisfactory attenuation levels are achieved and robust performance of the systems in the presence of uncertainties is ensured. In that respect a comparative study involving H _∞ and sliding mode controls is also conducted. Recently, the studies involving aerodynamic loading are also gathering pace.     

A site-isolated mononuclear iridium complex catalyst supported on MgO: Characterization by spectroscopy and aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy

Supported mononuclear iridium complexes with ethene ligands were prepared by the reaction of Ir(C₂H₄)₂(acac) (acac is CH₃COCHCOCH₃) with highly dehydroxylated MgO. Characterization of the supported species by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and infrared (IR) spectroscopies showed that the resultant supported organometallic species were Ir(C₂H₄)₂, formed by the dissociation of the acac ligand from Ir(C₂H₄)₂(acac) and bonding of the Ir(C₂H₄)₂ species to the MgO surface. Direct evidence of the site-isolation of these mononuclear complexes was obtained by aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM); the images demonstrate the presence of the iridium complexes in the absence of any clusters. When the iridium complexes were probed with CO, the resulting IR spectra demonstrated the formation of Ir(CO)₂ complexes on the MgO surface. The breadth of the ν_CO bands demonstrates a substantial variation in the metal–support bonding, consistent with the heterogeneity of the MgO surface; the STEM images are not sufficient to characterize this heterogeneity. The supported iridium complexes catalyzed ethene hydrogenation at room temperature and atmospheric pressure in a flow reactor, and EXAFS spectra indicated that the mononuclear iridium species remained intact. STEM images of the used catalyst confirmed that almost all of the iridium complexes remained intact, but this method was sensitive enough to detect a small degree of aggregation of the iridium on the support.     

ARIMA forecasting of primary energy demand by fuel in Turkey

Forecasting of energy demand in emerging markets is one of the most important policy tools used by the decision makers all over the world. In Turkey, most of the early studies used include various forms of econometric modeling. However, since the estimated economic and demographic parameters usually deviate from the realizations, time-series forecasting appears to give better results. In this study, we used the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and seasonal ARIMA (SARIMA) methods to estimate the future primary energy demand of Turkey from 2005 to 2020. The ARIMA forecasting of the total primary energy demand appears to be more reliable than the summation of the individual forecasts. The results have shown that the average annual growth rates of individual energy sources and total primary energy will decrease in all cases except wood and animal–plant remains which will have negative growth rates. The decrease in the rate of energy demand may be interpreted that the energy intensity peak will be achieved in the coming decades. Another interpretation is that any decrease in energy demand will slow down the economic growth during the forecasted period. Rates of changes and reserves in the fossil fuels indicate that inter-fuel substitution should be made leading to a best mix of the country's energy system. Based on our findings we proposed some policy recommendations.     

Comparison of abrasive wear behavior of ductile iron with different dual matrix structures

Abrasive wear behavior of ductile irons with different dual matrix structures has been investigated. In order to obtain ductile irons with different dual matrix structures an unalloyed ductile iron specimens were austenitized in the two-phase region (α + γ) at various temperature (795 °C and 815 °C) and then rapidly transferred to a salt bath held at the 365 °C for austempering for 30, 90 and 120 min. Some specimens were quenched from same intercritical austenitizing temperatures and tempered at 550 °C for 60 and 300 min. Some specimens were also conventionally austempered and/or quenched from 900 °C for comparison. Experimental results showed that, the tensile strength increased and ductility decreased with increasing martensite volume fraction in the specimen with martensite dual matrix structure. By increasing the tempering time, the yield and UTS decreased and ductility increased. In addition, the specimens with ausferrite dual matrix structures exhibited much greater ductility than conventionally austempered ones. The tensile strength increased while ductility decreased with increasing ausferrite volume fraction. Furthermore in all austenitized specimens, the abrasive weight loss of austempered specimens (A series) was lower than those of quenched specimens (Q series) irrespective of all loads due to increased AFVFs and total elongation. It was shown that wear loss of both tested materials in abrasive wear was proportional to the applied load. However, there was a decreasing trend in the weight loss of the A795 with dual matrix structure austempered for 30 and 90 min with increasing load. The reason was because of the fact that the specimen surface was work hardened with cutting efficiency of the abrasive reduced through clogging, and attrition jointly leading to less weight loss. Moreover, increasing the austempering time caused more ductile ausferritic structure to displace hard martensite. In all austempered samples, the abrasive weight loss increased with increasing the austempering time. As for the case of Q samples, the abrasive weight loss increased more or less linearly with load since an increase in the applied load might increase the contact stress. Among the Q samples, the highest weight loss was obtained for the Q795-300, Q815-300 sample because of lower martensite volume fraction, but the lowest weight loss was observed for the Q900 sample due to the highest martensite volume fraction. For Q900 samples, the amount of fracture of the abrasives was found to be increase with the harder specimen, and it may have contributed somewhat to the increased wear.Furthermore, microchips were dominant wear mechanism by cutting mode for higher ductile materials while micro-ploughing was predominant wear for harder materials, but wear also occurred by combinations of ploughing and embedding particles into the surface for Q samples. Cross-section examination by SEM through the wear surfaces revealed that a more smoother surface was observed for the A795 sample than that of the Q795 sample. However, a more rougher surface was observed for the A900-120 sample than that of the Q900 sample.     

Structure Formation of Integral Asymmetric Composite Membranes of Polystyrene‐block‐Poly(2‐vinylpyridine) on a Nonwoven

The formation of an integral asymmetric membrane composed of a cylinder‐forming polystyrene‐block‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) on a nonwoven by using solvent casting followed by solvent/nonsolvent exchange (phase inversion) is reported for the first time. The influence of parameters such as solvent composition, evaporation time of the solution‐cast block copolymer film before phase inversion, and immersion bath temperature is demonstrated. The optimized membranes are characterized in terms of stimuli‐responsive water flux properties. The morphologies of the membranes as well as of the bulk of the block copolymer are imaged by scanning force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy.

     

Esterification of 1-Octanol on Clinoptilolite-Supported TiO2 Catalysts

Silicon - In this study, a natural type of zeolite, Clinoptilolite (CLI), is used as a support for TiO2. First, TiO2-supported heterogeneous catalysts originated from the high temperature...