Abstract

The two main objective of this work are:

- To develop a simulation program of the behaviour of upwind sails and
rigging, to help the crew to optimize the performance of the sailing yacht in
real time. For this purpose, it will be necessary to formulate a fluid-structure
interaction algorithm to compute the performance of a particular sail/rigging
configuration. Since the crew dynamically trims the rigging and sails, in order
to evaluate the performance of the actual configuration, a tool to monitor
the rigging and sails will be necessary, too.
- To adjust a monitoring element to quantify in physic values the manoeuvre of
the crew. This will be our monitoring tool.

- To reproduce the crew manoeuvre in the simulation program with the data
obtained with the monitoring tool. Once the sail/rigging configuration has
been adapted ‘in real time’ to the actual one, the performance of this new
configuration can be computed. For this purpose the simulation program and
the monitoring tool must communicate among them.

Abstract

Tese de mestrado em Engenharia Informática, apresentada à Universidade de Lisboa, através da Faculdade de Ciências, 2011 No paradigma actual da Navegação Aérea, em que o aumento da densidade do tráfego aéreo é acompanhado pelo crescimento em número e complexidade das infraestruturas de vigilância do espaço aéreo, torna-se imperativo optimizar os recursos de forma a continuar a prestar um serviço de Controlo de Tráfego Aéreo de excelência. Neste contexto surge o conceito de Separação Mínima: a distância mínima a que duas aeronaves se podem encontrar uma da outra, independentemente das suas direcções, sem que a sua segurança ou a segurança de aeronaves terceiras sejam comprometidas. Vários factores são considerados na decisão da Separação Mínima aplicável numa dada situação. Um deles prende-se com a confiabilidade das infra-estruturas de vigilância. É nesse intuito que surge este projecto, que tem como objectivo fornecer aos grupos de estudo de Separação Mínima uma ferramenta de análise da infra-estrutura de vigilância que lhes permita avaliar cada componente da infra-estrutura independentemente e como um todo, mediante certas características com alta relevância para a sua confiabilidade, de acordo com a EUROCONTROL. Em Portugal, o estudo da confiabilidade da infra-estrutura de vigilância está a cargo da secção de Sistemas e Software/Qualidade (SISQUA) do Departamento de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informação (DSTI) da NAV Portugal. No âmbito desta equipa, foi-me confiada a tarefa, durante estes onze meses, de desenvolver uma aplicação que automatizasse grande parte do estudo sobre confiabilidade das infraestruturas de vigilância, baseada num protótipo desenvolvido em Microsoft Excel no início deste milénio pela coordenadora do SISQUA, a Engenheira Paula Santos. Este projecto, de uma complexidade considerável considerando toda a aprendizagem de novas tecnologias e metodologias e de uma nova área de negócio, envolveu várias etapas, que são descritas neste Relatório de Projecto. De entre as mais complexas, é de destacar a fase da Análise, na qual toda a fase de aprendizagem se inseriu, e em especial o estudo do “Gap”. O estudo do “Gap” recebeu, sem dúvida, muita ênfase ao longo deste projecto, tendo estado na origem de atrasos significativos e consideráveis dores de cabeça; consistiu no estudo da integração e mapeamento de dados entre a versão 7 do software SASS-C (produzido pela EUROCONTROL para estudo da infra-estrutura de vigilância dos estados-membros que dela fazem parte) e a solução a ser desenvolvida. Este projecto seguiu a metodologia interna da NAV Portugal para desenvolvimento de software, definida como POP-20, tal como as boas práticas aprendidas por mim ao longo de cinco anos de estudo académico e de várias experiências profissionais e de investigação académica. Esta metodologia, implementada na NAV Portugal pelo SISQUA, define um processo de desenvolvimento de software iterativo baseado na aproximação de Desenvolvimento Dirigido por Testes (Test-Driven Development), descrevendo para cada fase do processo de desenvolvimento uma etapa da fase de testes (que ocorre em paralelo) com o intuito de a testar. O POP-20 prevê a elaboração de extensa documentação; toda a documentação aplicável a este projecto foi produzida, revista, e aprovada. Foi tomada a decisão de recorrer à framework ASD (Air Situation Display) no contexto do desenvolvimento do projecto. Esta framework, desenvolvida integralmente pela NAV Portugal, expõe um interface gráfico baseado num sistema de plugins orientado para a representação visual de informação sobre o espaço aéreo, nomeadamente trajectórias de aviões em tempo real e planos de voo. No contexto deste projecto, foram desenvolvidos plugins com a lógica necessária, e esses plugins foram integrados na framework ASD para obtenção do resultado final. Aquando da conclusão deste projecto ainda se encontravam pendentes várias validações que não puderam ser executadas devido a inconsistências gravíssimas encontradas na base de dados do SASS-C v7, que tornaram impossíveis as execuções de Testes de Aceitação. No entanto, não deixam de ser evidentes os contributos prestados pelo trabalho desenvolvido ao longo dos onze meses transactos. A NAV Portugal passou a dispor de uma ferramenta extensível e de capacidade escalável que servirá, sem dúvida, para analisar a sua infra-estrutura de vigilância durante muitos anos. Poderá também vir a ser integrada noutras áreas de interesse da NAV Portugal (como Santa Maria) ou de outros prestadores de serviço de Controlo de Tráfego Aéreo, devido à extensa documentação que foi produzida e à modularização da implementação. Por último, e com impactos imediatos, forneceu à comunidade europeia de estudo de infraestruturas de vigilância elações extensivas sobre a mais recente versão do software utilizado no seio desta comunidade para análise das infra-estruturas – o SASS-C. Tenho esperança de que venha também a exercer algum impacto sobre a EUROCONTROL, para que seja dada mais atenção a um software cuja versão mais recente apresenta enormes potencialidades, até agora não realizadas devido a inconsistências e falhas que a tornam inutilizável. In the current paradigm of Air Navigation, in which the increase in airspace density is accompanies by an increase in number and complexity of available Surveillance infrastructures, it becomes imperative to optimize all resources in order to continue to provide excellent services in Air Traffic Control. For this to happen, the separation between aircraft must be kept at a minimum, whilst still abiding by the worldwide security requirements that make us all feel safer on board an airplane than driving our cars. In this context, NAV Portugal’s Surveillance infrastructure analyst Paula Santos has initiated this project in the turn of the millennium by creating a prototype using Microsoft Excel to study the reliability and confidence that available surveillance infrastructures provide. The acclaim her approach received from European peers created the demand for an extensible, scalable solution build using modern technologies which can facilitate the accommodation of changes in the infrastructures, something the prototype did not. The System for Determination of Separation Minima presents the Separation Minima study community with precisely that. It integrates with SASS-C v7’s – EUROCONTROL’s software for evaluation of surveillance data recordings – to present users with valuable graphical data – and more – about each component of the Surveillance System, in separate or in cooperation. Its robust, modular build, allied with the extensive documentation produced during all the stages of software development, will facilitate the introduction of new features by future developers, as well as its adaptation to new types of Surveillance infrastructures and technologies. While at this time the solution has not been fully validated – due to severe conditionings imposed by the discrepancy between SASS-C v7’s data and its predecessor’s, SASS-C v6’s – it is our sincere belief that in the very near future, in cooperation with EUROCONTROL, the System for Determination of Separation Minima will be a vital decision-support tool for the Separation Minima study group in Portugal – and perhaps abroad.

Abstract

Infrastructure maintenance is a complex task due to operational needs of service quality, availability demands, traffic intensity, and budget constraints. Traditionally, maintenance decisions are based on infrastructure managers' experiences, judgments, and available choices. Though, the technology push and the availability of an abundance of data have made an urge to derive the decisions and insights from data. This data-driven approach resulted in computerized solutions, e.g. decision support system (DSS), which are rich in data but poor in insights. The DSS confronted with data management challenges of data acquisitions, data cleaning, and data reliability further complicate the already complex task of maintenance decision-making. To tackle these challenges of maintenance decision-making and data management, a decision-driven approach is suggested for the development of DSS. The decision-driven approach builds on the definition of decision context specified by infrastructure manager. The data requirements are provided by decision context, where the interrelationships between the data and the decision context are made explicit by developing an information model. We illustrate the decision-driven approach for DSS development using a case study of maintenance decisions for bridge selection. It is found that the decision-driven approach directs the focus towards the decision context definition and decision analysis while minimizing the overhead of data management.

Abstract

Summary of developments presented at the traditional annual congress of Swets users held on June 4, 2009 in Barcelona: the tool SwetsWise Selection Support, PressDisplay news portal, the ALPSP Learned Journals Collection, and the e-book platform MyiLibrary. e-Books sales are soaring.

Abstract

In transportation planning, design of intersections is required some concrete decisions. It is mostly related to capacity, safety and economy. In many applications, capacity is considered as the main factor for design purpose and type of intersection is determined regarding the capacity. But it is known that safety and economy are as important as the capacity. In order to handle this problem, a multi-criteria decision making approach (AHP) is used. Four intersection types are used. Fuel consumption, emission rates, delay, cost of intersection type and safety parameters are taken into account in the decision process. These intersection types are tested by SIDRA Intersection software using the parameters listed above. The data obtained by SIDRA software is used in the AHP model. Weights of the factors used in the AHP model are varied considering the views of capacity and economy. And results and applicability of the model are discussed. © 2016, IGI Global. All rights reserved. Document type: Part of book or chapter of book

Abstract

Renewal of urban transport infrastructure faces many challenges such as shortage of funding and poor redevelopment decisions. The variety of stakeholders involved brings about different communication protocols as well as competing interests. This affects the understanding, agreement and collaboration on sustainable measures and deliverables. Short-term focused and reactive decision-making in professional silos is a symptom of such problems in Australia. As the source for infrastructure funding shifts from governments to end users, how to engage community groups, identify issues, harness collective input and communicate actions should be on top of the agenda. Advancement of web technologies presents the feasibility of developing a social-media compatible portal for communication and engagement of all involved stakeholders. Characteristics and key issues of urban renewal need to be explored together with decision making patterns and approaches. This will inform the industry to change old practices to innovative decision making, in order to optimise goals of sustainability, public policies, private investors’ priority and community interests. Document type: Part of book or chapter of book

Abstract

International audience; The task of feeding cities is a challenge that nowadays all governments face, which involves the coordination of multiple producers, distributors, logistics operators and traders of perishable foods. With the increasing population in cities, more food and better freight transport systems are required. This takes a particular importance in cities and urban zones, since the growing population needs to be fed, but freight transport is often seen as creating nuisances such as congestion or pollution, among others. In this context, several cities started to think on how improve the city’s food supply system by combining proximity producers’ supply with advanced city logistics systems in order to decrease transport nuisances and improve the quality and sustainability of the food system.One of the possible actions is that of deploying proximity food hubs with a consequent urban food distribution system to supply the different urban zones of a city. However, this type of system is starting to be conceived and there is need of assessing the impacts of such alternative before thinking on its deployment possibilities. For this reason, this paper aims to propose a framework to assess different food delivery alternatives in the urban context focusing on a Food hub deployment and its impacts on urban development as a solution of urban consolidation center (UCC).The objective of this study is to enable municipalities to assess the consequences of food logistics flows centralization on an UCC-based food hub. Regarding the context of the research, the study focuses on a Food hub deployment to share the supplies for administrative restaurants of a city, following the sustainable food strategy of a French municipality. This municipality decided to show the example in terms of sustainable food supply and aims to increase the part of organic and local food for the administrative restaurants under its coordination. To do this, a specific food system needs to be conceived and assessed. To assess the suitability of such systems, it will be necessary to model both the demand and the logistics supply, to define the main indicators of sustainability and their estimation methods, then to construct the scenarios to assess and finally make the corresponding analyses. Document type: Part of book or chapter of book

Abstract

One of the most notable concepts related to the future cooperative Air Traffic Management (ATM) is the Collaborative Decision Making (CDM). This new management philosophy of using collaborative technologies and procedures to enable ATM partners drives efforts towards the common goals of sharing and exchanging information. To support the implementation of CDM, a likely solution was found in the context of System of Systems (SoS), system integration, and interoperability. Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) principles and technologies were recognized as one of the best alternatives to allow this implementation. Within this architecture, the System Wide Information Management (SWIM) has been developed on the last decade, and SWIM applications will be accessible to all ATM partners on the next decade by providing full airspace information, updated in real-time by all involved partners. This chapter presents an overview of key elements in information sharing for ATM and explains how SOA, SWIM, Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) and CDM support each other development. Document type: Part of book or chapter of book

Abstract

When non-recurrent road traffic congestion happens, the operator of the traffic control centre has to select the most appropriate traffic control measure or combination of measures in a short time to manage the traffic network. This is a complex task, which requires expert knowledge, much experience and fast reaction. There are a large number of factors related to a traffic state as well as a large number of possible control measures that need to be considered during the decision making process. The identification of suitable control measures for a given non-recurrent traffic congestion can be tough even for experienced operators. Therefore, simulation models are used in many cases. However, simulating different traffic scenarios for a number of control measures in a complicated situation is very time-consuming. In this paper we propose an intelligent traffic control decision support system (ITC-DSS) to assist the human operator of the traffic control centre to manage online the current traffic state. The proposed system combines three soft-computing approaches, namely fuzzy logic, neural network, and genetic algorithm. These approaches form a fuzzy-neural network tool with self-organization algorithm for initializing the membership functions, a GA algorithm for identifying fuzzy rules, and the back-propagation neural network algorithm for fine tuning the system parameters. The proposed system has been tested for a case-study of a small section of the ring-road around Riyadh city. The results obtained for the case study are promising and show that the proposed approach can provide an effective support for online traffic control. Document type: Part of book or chapter of book