A model for automated monitoring of road construction

Monitoring and control of earthmoving operations is gaining an increasing interest. Manual monitoring and control of earthmoving operations have not yielded the expected results. Additionally, because manual monitoring is labor‐intensive, construction managers have to choose between monitoring based on rough estimates, or spending a lot of time collecting and processing data. The latter choice distracts them from many other important duties. The purpose of the present model is to automatically collect and process monitoring data providing the construction manager with real‐time control information. The model was developed for road construction. It uses GPS technology for automated data collection, logging the locations of all the earthmoving equipment while working on the project. Specially developed algorithms convert these locations to control information regarding productivity, duration (or progress) and actual consumption of materials. The model was implemented and tested for 3 weeks in a road construction project. The performance of four activities was measured by the model and compared to manual measurement of the same parameters. This comparison indicated that the model could reach a deviation of ±5%.     

Is detailed progress monitoring possible without designated manual data collection?

The daily site report (DSR)—a common tool, which contains a lot of valuable data— is normally used for litigation purposes, i.e. claims and dispute resolution. All these valuable data are rarely used for the management and control of the ongoing project. The purpose of the current research is to develop a tool that uses data taken from a computerized DSR to generate monitoring and control information. We have developed a progress monitoring model, which uses data from a computerized DSR to generate information regarding the actual progress and then transfer it to the scheduling software. The model was developed and implemented in a concept proving prototype using Excel and MS Project. The operation and the usefulness of the prototype are demonstrated with a case study, synthetic, project. The results indicate that the DSR is a useful data collection tool for progress monitoring. The cost of the information generated from these data is low because no additional manual operations are required in order to collect the data.     

Activity analysis in wildland management

Conclusion The complexity of the production process and the importance of nonmarket or intangible inputs and outputs pose special problems in the allocation of wildlands resources. By restricting the production possibilities to a finite number of management alternatives, the land manager can use activity analysis to develop operational plans. The systematic use of constraints within the frame-work of activity analysis can bring a measure of analysis to the allocation of nonmarket resources. Ultimately, the manager must rely upon his intuition in selecting a particular plan-whether he selects one of the efficient bundles of outputs maximizing net revenues, or he assigns values to outputs and maximizes the social value of his activities. In either case, by formalizing the planning process, the manager can assess policy alternatives systematically and can widen his grasp of the potential of his resources.     

Role of outcome conflict in dual-task interference.

The traditional explanation for dual-task interference is that tasks compete for scarce processing resources. Another possible explanation is that the outcome of the processing required for one task conflicts with the processing required for the other task (e.g., cross talk). To explore the contribution of outcome conflict to task interference, we manipulated the relatedness of the tasks. In Experiment 1, subjects searched concurrently for names of boys in one channel and names of cities in another channel. Responses were significantly delayed when nontarget on one channel belonged to, or was even just related to, the category designated as the target for the other channel. No comparable effects were found when the tasks were performed in isolation. Thus, the difficulty of the individual tasks is not the only determinant of how much they will interfere when combined, and there must be substantial interactions between processes carrying out the two tasks. In Experiment 2 subjects searched one channel for specific target letters and another channel for specific target digits. The nontargets in a channel were either from the same alphanumeric category as the targets for that channel or from the opposite category (i.e., the category of the targets for the other channel). It was found that although between-category search was more efficient than within-category search in single tasks, it was less efficient in dual tasks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ecological parameters?≠?nonlineup evidence: A reply to Wells and Luus.

The contribution of a lineup identification is in the information it provides about suspect–perpetrator resemblance on top of all other evidence. To assess the diagnostic impact of that contribution, one needs to know the likelihood that an innocent suspect just happens to match the perpetrator in appearance in the way and to the extent inferred from lineup data. Calculating that likelihood calls for statistics about the relative frequency of such a match in the ecology. Therefore, ecological parameters ought to be considered for lineup data just as for other sorts of evidence. Such parameters do not in themselves constitute evidence, but rather serve to estimate diagnosticity of evidence. The index advocated by G. L. Wells and C. A. Luus (see record 1991-07148-001) is actually just a measure of lineup reliability. A way to incorporate reliability in the calculation of diagnosticity is presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The source of NMR-detected motional anisotropy of water in blood vessel walls

2H Double quantum-filtered (DQF) NMR spectroscopy of deuterated water is sensitive to the presence of order in biological systems. This is because the only nuclei that are detected are those with residual quadrupolar interactions due to their anisotropic motion. In the present study, samples of aorta, coronary and carotid arteries, and vena cava were studied in parallel by 2H DQF NMR and by light microscopy. The average quadrupolar splitting, calculated from the NMR data, varies considerably among the different blood vessels, with high reproducibility for each type of vessel. Polarization microscopy examinations using collagen-specific staining with picrosirius red, have shown a variety of color profiles for the different blood vessels. These reflect different physical modes of aggregation (packing and thickness) of collagen fibers. A correlation was found between the NMR parameters and the color profiles of the picrosirius red-stained sections. Treating the blood vessels with 90% formic acid resulted in the elimination of the 2H DQF NMR signal. Histological analysis demonstrated a complete degradation of collagen and muscle, whereas the elastin filaments were preserved. Evidence is given that the 2H DQF NMR signal is dominated by the contribution of water molecules interacting with the collagen fibers.     

Field Experiments in Automated Monitoring of Road Construction

The growing need for better monitoring and control of road construction projects, together with rapid technological progress, have led to a number of interesting developments, which are reviewed below. The present paper describes the development of a real-time monitoring model capable of measuring productivity and progress automatically. The model, which uses global positioning system for on-site automated data collection, was tested and validated on site. The results of the field experiments have indicated that the expected accuracy level of the model can be assessed as ±4–5% for unstructured activities and even higher for more structured ones, such as asphalt spreading. The paper concludes that it is possible to automatically measure the performance of earthmoving operations. Based on the results, it also highlights the needs for further research.     

Resources—a theoretical soup stone?

Argues that many effects that are usually interpreted to indicate that a process in question is resource-dependent are equally likely even when investment of limited resources is not assumed. In particular, it is shown that 3 tests of resource dependence, based on predicted interaction between task difficulty and resource availability and considered to be more diagnostic than other tests, are actually subject to severe constraints. It is claimed that most of the problems stem from the self-reinforcing nature of the notion of resources, that nonetheless such circularity is tolerable in the case of an intervening variable that allows explanation and prediction of a wide range of empirical observations, and that if resource theory fails to provide such explanations and predictions, it may turn out to be "excess baggage." Several novel methodological suggestions are examined. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Low levels of beta hexosaminidase A in healthy individuals with apparent deficiency of this enzyme

The common denominator of the different meanings of dizziness is a disturbance of spatio-postural orientation, which indicates an imminent danger of fall. H?henschwindel (fear of hights) with grasping and holding in the primate is instinctive behavior caused by a visual cliff or sudden dizziness. Because of the many possible meanings of dizziness, the case history is important for differential diagnosis. Vertiginous and non-vertiginous dizziness, black out and unsteady gait without vertigo should be distinguished. In addition, the duration and time course of the attack, releasing mechanisms and accompanying symptoms of dizziness should be explored. In recurrent dizziness without hearing loss, vestibular, vascular, cardial and epileptic disorders should be considered as well as intoxication, cerebral tumor, cerebellar hemangioblastoma, multiple sclerosis, neurosis and psychosis. Epileptic dizziness occurs not only in the prodromal stage of grand mal attacks and in temporal lobe epilepsy, but also in petit mal absences of short duration (less than 5 s) in which the blurring of consciousness is not apparent; absences of short duration are easily overlooked in childhood. Besides the objective history obtained from the patient's relatives, EEG-recording when falling asleep in the morning after one night of sleep deprivation are the best means for the diagnosis of epilepsia. Spontaneous nystagmus after complete exclusion of visual fixation is a physiological phenomenon. For differential diagnosis between physiological and pathological spontaneous nystagmus, Frenzel's spectacles in the dark room are indispensable. The distinction of spontaneous nystagmus in the narrower sense, gaze nystagmus and fixation nystagmus is discussed. The diagnostic importance of the direction of nystagmus is mentioned. Jerking nystagmus may be congenital. Pendular nystagmus may be acquired. Therefore, additional criteria for the differential diagnosis between congenital and acquired nystagmus are necessary.