Bottom-up image detection of water channel slope damages based on superpixel segmentation and support vector machine

The operation of water supply channels is threatened by the occasionally occurred slope damages. Timely detection of their occurrence is critical for the rapid enforcement of mitigation measures. However, current practices based on routine inspection and structural heath monitoring are inefficient, laborious and tend to be biased. As an attempt to address the limitations, this paper proposes a bottom-up image detection approach for slope damages, which includes four steps, i.e. superpixel segmentation, feature handcrafting, superpixel classification based on support vector machine (SVM), and slope damage recognition. The approach employs a bottom-up strategy to infer the upper-level slope condition from the classification results of individual superpixels in the bottom level. Experiments were conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach. The handcrafted feature “LBP + HSV” was demonstrated to be effective in characterizing the image features of slope damages. An SVM model with “LBP + HSV” as input can reliably identify the slope condition in superpixels. Based on the SVM model, the bottom-up strategy achieved high recognition performance, of which the overall accuracy can be up to 91.7%. The proposed approach has potential to facilitate the early and comprehensive awareness of slope damages along the entire route of water channel by the integration with unmanned aerial vehicles.     

An evolving surrogate model-based differential evolution algorithm

Differential evolution (DE) is a simple and effective approach for solving numerical optimization problems. However, the performance of DE is sensitive to the choice of mutation and crossover strategies and their associated control parameters. Therefore, to achieve optimal performance, a time-consuming parameter tuning process is required. In DE, the use of different mutation and crossover strategies with different parameter settings can be appropriate during different stages of the evolution. Therefore, to achieve optimal performance using DE, various adaptation, self-adaptation, and ensemble techniques have been proposed. Recently, a classification-assisted DE algorithm was proposed to overcome trial and error parameter tuning and efficiently solve computationally expensive problems. In this paper, we present an evolving surrogate model-based differential evolution (ESMDE) method, wherein a surrogate model constructed based on the population members of the current generation is used to assist the DE algorithm in order to generate competitive offspring using the appropriate parameter setting during different stages of the evolution. As the population evolves over generations, the surrogate model also evolves over the iterations and better represents the basin of search by the DE algorithm. The proposed method employs a simple Kriging model to construct the surrogate. The performance of ESMDE is evaluated on a set of 17 bound-constrained problems. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared to state-of-the-art self-adaptive DE algorithms: the classification-assisted DE algorithm, regression-assisted DE algorithm, and ranking-assisted DE algorithm.     

天津市用于滨海河口生态补水的非常规水资源估算

随着天津滨海河口入海径流量逐年降低,以及城市水资源供需矛盾日益加剧,入海径流量远不能满足目前滨海河口生态需水量,因此,非常有必要开发非常规水源对滨海河口进行生态补水。在天津非常规水源(包括海水、雨水和再生水)现状分析的基础上,通过水资源利用途径分析和水量估算,得出雨水和再生水资源的可利用量完全可以满足滨海河口适宜生态需水量,并提出了滨海河口生态补水的措施。     

Enhanced grain growth in polycrystalline CuInSe2 using rapid thermal processing

Rapid thermal processing of precursor small-grained (less than or equal to 1 μm) CuInSe₂ thin films can result in enhanced grain growth on the order of 100 μm under certain processing conditions. Crystal growth was accompanied by large increases (×10) in the X-ray diffraction intensity of the (112) peak, indicating near-perfect crystal growth in the [221] direction. Single-crystal quality was verified by selected-area electron channeling. However, at present, this effect occurs in conjuction with excessive void and pinhole formation between single-crystal platelets. These voids are often decorated with relatively selenium-deficient phases.     

Transition zone studies of new-to-old concrete with different binders

The weak transition zone between new and old concrete controls many properties of repaired concrete. The transition zone between aggregates and cement pastes of normal concrete has been studied by a number of researchers. But to date, there is little information available about the interfacial zone between new and old concrete. In this paper, major properties of the transition zone between new and old concrete with different binders were studied by using both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The bond strength was also investigated. The test results show that the binder is a vital factor, which affects the morphology (size and shape), mineralogy and the microstructure of the transition zone in repaired concrete.     

Heating and cooling of a hospital using solar energy coupled with seasonal thermal energy storage in an aquifer

A system is being designed, using solar energy in combination with Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES), that will conserve a major part of the oil and electricity used for heating or cooling the Cukurova University, Balcali Hospital in Adana, Turkey. The general objective of the system is to provide heating and cooling to the hospital by storing solar heat underground in summer and cold in winter. As the main source of cold energy, ventilation air at the hospital and surface water from the nearby Seyhan Lake will be used.     

A case study on ground treatment for a rock tunnel with high groundwater ingression in Taiwan

This paper presents a case study on the collapse caused by sudden groundwater ingression in the Pinglin pilot tunnel, and the treatments developed for the adverse ground conditions encountered. The ideas for the ground treatment are to reduce groundwater pressure as well as to consolidate the fractured zone in rock formations. The paper highlights the importance of paying particular attention to the ground treatment process and grouting quality control. Ongoing adjustments of grouting mixture and pressure may be necessary with the changing ground conditions.     

人工湿地不同填料去污性能比较

选取页岩、粗砾石、铁矿石、麦饭石及其组合作为人工湿地填料,进行不同基质室内小试污水净化效果研究。结果表明：在相同进水水质和水力负荷运行条件下,单一填料页岩COD、TN、TP去除效果最好,去除率最高分别可达40％、88,9％、87．5％;组合填料COD去除率差别不大,页岩与粗砾石组合TN、TP去除率较高,分别可达到81．7％、71．9％。考虑到填料物理特性及长期稳定运行的需要,可选择页岩与粗砾石组合作为人工湿地去污填料。