Maps of sky relative radiance and luminance distributions acquired with a monochromatic CCD camera

The purpose of this work is to characterize the sky relative radiance and luminance distributions from the analysis of sky images acquired using a monochromatic CCD wide angle lens camera. The proposed methodology is based on the reduction of the number of the gray levels from the original image, in order to sharpen the different regions of the sky hemisphere, resulting in low level gray scale maps. In these maps each gray level is related to an intensity level and each pixel is associated to a sky direction. An experimental system that is able to simultaneously supply images from the sky and solar irradiance data was developed using a commercial CCD camera. The sky relative radiance and luminance distributions for different sky conditions were also determined. The resultant maps agree with observations of the main characteristics of sky radiance and luminance distributions.     

Computational derivation of irradiance on building surfaces: An empirically-based model comparison

Performance simulation applications require reliable information regarding the intensity of solar irradiance on arbitrarily oriented building surfaces in order to properly predict buildings' energy use or to configure building-integrated solar energy systems. Since measured irradiance databases typically include only horizontal irradiance values, solar radiation intensity on inclined surfaces must be computationally derived. In this context, the present paper compares six options to derive, from horizontal irradiance data, solar radiation intensity levels on inclined surfaces. To evaluate these options, simulated downward vertical irradiance on four orientations were compared with measurements obtained in Austria. Two options that use both global and diffuse horizontal irradiance values for sky radiance generation delivered slightly better results than the others, which require only global horizontal irradiance. However, the range of errors was rather high for all options. Even for the best-ranked option, no more than 64% of the results had a relative error of less than ±20%.     

超高层建筑物电梯空中候梯厅控制设计研究

摘要：空中候梯厅是超高层建筑物电梯输送系统的重要组成部分,本文阐述了构成空中候梯厅的可调节转换台系统、横向移动的往复输送系统,以及穿梭电梯的系统结构、控制设计原理、运行操作技术,以及这些技术的应用,以期更合理地设计出高空电梯输送系统。     

汽车天棚控制半主动悬架模型仿真与性能分析

该文对比研究了天棚控制半主动悬架的动力学性能。在建立线性被动悬架、传统非线性弹簧悬架和天棚控制半主动悬架动力学模型的基础上。利用MATLAB软件的SIMULINK工具箱对其进行仿真,获得车身加速度时域频域响应特性、轮胎动载荷及悬架动挠度的时域特性,并对仿真结果进行了对比分析。天棚控制半主动悬架的阻尼系数通过估算确定。结果表明。半主动悬架有效地改善了汽车的行驶平顺性和操纵稳定性,但其在衰减高频振动上仍存在不足。     

包兰铁路青天寺隧道运营通风及防灾救援设计

青天寺隧道长度超过20 km,隧道的运营通风、防灾及救援(含紧急救援站)等,考虑的因素非常多,本文通过包兰铁路青天寺隧道运营通风及防灾救援设计的工程实例,介绍了特长隧道运营通风及防灾救援设计主要应考虑的问题和工程措施。通过数值模型计算,青天寺隧道运营通风得出可采用自然通风方式的结论;论述了定点救援和隧道内随机停车救援的原理和措施;对隧道内需要设置的通风机功率进行了详细的计算,对不同火灾工况的防灾通风形式、人员的疏散、风机的配置等进行了系统的论述。为以后类似工程设计提供参考。     

Real-time data mining of massive data streams from synoptic sky surveys

The nature of scientific and technological data collection is evolving rapidly: data volumes and rates grow exponentially, with increasing complexity and information content, and there has been a transition from static data sets to data streams that must be analyzed in real time. Interesting or anomalous phenomena must be quickly characterized and followed up with additional measurements via optimal deployment of limited assets. Modern astronomy presents a variety of such phenomena in the form of transient events in digital synoptic sky surveys, including cosmic explosions (supernovae, gamma ray bursts), relativistic phenomena (black hole formation, jets), potentially hazardous asteroids, etc. We have been developing a set of machine learning tools to detect, classify and plan a response to transient events for astronomy applications, using the Catalina Real-time Transient Survey (CRTS) as a scientific and methodological testbed. The ability to respond rapidly to the potentially most interesting events is a key bottleneck that limits the scientific returns from the current and anticipated synoptic sky surveys. Similar challenge arises in other contexts, from environmental monitoring using sensor networks to autonomous spacecraft systems. Given the exponential growth of data rates, and the time-critical response, we need a fully automated and robust approach. We describe the results obtained to date, and the possible future developments.     

中国古典园林中借“别有洞天”营造“转”空间的造景手法

"别有洞天"是中国古典园林中营造"转"空间的特殊的造景主题之一。该文从宏观和微观两个方面论述了"别有洞天"的地宜条件的特殊利用,同时提出借"别有洞天"营造"转"空间的造景手法,如框景提示转折空间、加强空间对比等,也提出某些未以"别有洞天"为景名的景点也可以利用上述方法创造"别有洞天"的意境,如加强空间序列的收放对比、起伏对比、转折对比等,这些设计手法对现代风景园林中"转"空间的设计具有极好的启示作用。     

Automated analysis and exploration of image databases: Results,progress, and challenges

In areas as diverse as earth remote sensing, astronomy, and medical imaging, image acquisition technology has undergone tremendous improvements in recent years. The vast amounts of scientific data are potential treasure-troves for scientific investigation and analysis. Unfortunately, advances in our ability to deal with this volume of data in an effective manner have not paralleled the hardware gains. While special-purpose tools for particular applications exist, there is a dearth of useful general-purpose software tools and algorithms which can assist a scientist in exploring large scientific image databases. This paper presents our recent progress in developing interactive semi-automated image database exploration tools based on pattern recognition and machine learning technology. We first present a completed and successful application that illustrates the basic approach: the SKICAT system used for the reduction and analysis of a 3 terabyte astronomical data set. SKICAT integrates techniques from image processing, data classification, and database management. It represents a system in which machine learning played a powerful and enabling role, and solved a difficult, scientifically significant problem. We then proceed to discuss the general problem of automated image database exploration, the particular aspects of image databases which distinguish them from other databases, and how this impacts the application of off-the-shelf learning algorithms to problems of this nature. A second large image database is used to ground this discussion: Magellan's images of the surface of the planet Venus. The paper concludes with a discussion of current and future challenges.     

Unveiling the solar resource potential for photovoltaic applications in Mauritius

Mauritius is considered to have high solar resource potential but it has not yet been fully quantified and exploited due to the lack of valid solar energy data. This paper unveils the solar potential of Mauritius. Ground-based measurements were performed at intervals of 30 s in order to obtain accurate global horizontal irradiance data which can depict all changes in solar power. The latter is used to evaluate average monthly global horizontal irradiance, maximum irradiance, monthly average insolation and monthly sky clearness index. A solar geometry model was used to define the average monthly, seasonal and yearly maximum elevations and extraterrestrial radiation. Measurement data were compared to Meteonorm and NASA SSE 3-hourly averaged solar data. Comparison shows that average irradiance values are in good agreement, whereas insolation and sky clearness values obtained from external sources are inferior to high quality measurement data. The results, presented in this paper, complement solar data of Meteonorm and NASA SSE and secondly, provides PV and solar engineers as well as scientists with highly valuable information on the solar resource of Mauritius that can be used during planning and design of PV systems as well as for conducting further research in Mauritius and surrounding regions.     

A simplified procedure for determining indoor daylight illuminance using daylight coefficient concept

The first step in evaluating the visual performance and energy efficiency provided by daylight requires an accurate estimation of the amount of daylight entering a building. The actual daylight illuminance of a room is mainly influenced by the luminance levels and patterns of the sky in the direction of view of the window at that time. The daylight coefficient concept, which considers the changes in the luminance of the sky elements, offers a more effective way of computing indoor daylight illuminances. Recently, Kittler et al. have proposed a new range of 15 standard sky luminance distributions including the CIE (International Commission on Illumination) standard clear sky. Lately, these 15 sky luminance models have been adopted as the CIE Standard General Skies. This paper presents a graphical method to calculate interior illuminance for the CIE standard clear sky using the daylight coefficient approach. The simplified techniques in the form of a nomograph and Waldram diagram were established and described. The performance of the proposed approach was evaluated against the results obtained by an independent calculation approach and a computer simulation program. It was shown that the daylight illuminances estimated by our graphical tool were in reasonably good agreement with those produced from the other two methods. The findings provide building professionals and students a reliable and simple alternative that incorporates the daylight coefficient concept to estimate the interior daylight illuminance and assess daylighting performance.