Abstract

The development of Molecor´s technology, which is based on the application of a Molecular Orientation process, has delivered a significant turning point in the pipelines sector. With this technological development, the company has begun to manufacture TOM® PVC-O pipes, the most eco-friendly pipes on the market. The Molecor technology enabled eradicating many of the existing disadvantages of thermoplastic pipes. This technology delivers a clear objective; to provide the water industry with a solution for pipes carrying pressurized water in an environmentally friendly, yet cost efficient manner. This also extends a service life compared to pipeline materials currently in use. The Molecor´s technology has faced numerous barriers due to the high level of competitiveness in the market and the relatively short period since its development. Notwithstanding, the technology is now highly recognized by the market and has spread continuously and gradually over the world to the five continents. We have served many international markets: North America (i.e., Canada), South America (i.e., Colombia and Ecuador), European countries (i.e., Italy and Spain), African countries (i.e., South Africa) and East countries (i.e., India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Australia).

Abstract

In most gravity fed water transmission pipelines, it is desired to reduce excess pressure head to prevent undue strain on a pipeline and lower the incidence of leaks. Normally this is done with pressure reducing valves that essentially burn off this excess pressure as heat. The LucidPipe™ system converts it to low cost electricity thereby removing unwanted pressure and generating energy at the same time - energy that can be put used behind the grid or put back on the grid. The LucidPipe™ system extracts a small percentage of pressure head providing nearly invisible operation allowing water operators to fulfill their primary mission of delivering water to consumers. Because the LucidPipe™ system extracts only a small percentage of pressure head when operating, and about 1 psi of pressure head when stopped, it is virtually invisible in a pipe network and can be placed directly in-line without the need of a bypass for the turbine. Traditional hydropower turbines effectively halt the flow of water when stopped, and can cause dangerous water hammer when grid power is disconnected so they must be placed in a bypass to not interrupt the safe delivery of water. Also, traditional hydropower turbines operate in a narrow band of pressures and flows whereas the LucidPipe™ system has a wide operating range typically found in municipal water transmission system. The LucidPipe™ system adjusts to meet the demands of water delivery rather than a water operator having to adjust the water to meet the demands of the turbine.

Abstract

Caterpillar developed MDP (Machine Drive Power) technology to fill this gap. Rather than an accelerometer and vibratory drum, it uses the principle of rolling resistance to provide indications of soil stiffness. This allows it to perform more reliably on cohesive and granular soils with less variability than accelerometer systems. It also means that the technology can be used on both vibratory and static drum compactors, which are often used on larger sites. While the technology is quite useful on its own, it is even better as a complementary technology to the existing accelerometer-based systems. Contractors who use vibratory soil compactors equipped with MDP and accelerometer-based measurement systems enjoy the widest application range, able to ensure uniform, high quality compaction on nearly any soil type.

Abstract

Triax’s Spot-r system was developed to tackle the construction industry’s unique safety and productivity challenges, stemming from a demonstrated lack of total jobsite visibility and automatically collected, easily accessible field data. Spot-r by Triax combines a proprietary mesh network with sensor technology to record and transmit previously unattainable workforce and equipment location, activity and safety data within a defined area – all in real-time. The Spot-r network is installed around the site and operates in a 900 MHz network, with a subset using a cellular connection to forward Spot-r sensor data to Triax’s custom, cloud dashboard. In the hazardous construction environment, the wearable Spot-r Clip detects worker slips, trips, or falls on site and sends automatic alerts to designated personnel. Workers can also trigger an alert to supervisors via their wearable device. In a situation that requires an evacuation, superintendents can activate the Spot-r EvacTag, which augments current evacuation procedures with a visual, high-decibel alarm. Real-time worker headcounts and floor- and zone-based location via the Spot-r dashboard eliminates time spent tracking down people or information and helps account for workers during an evacuation. Operating off the same network and working with the Spot-r Clip, the Spot-r EquipTag adheres to nearly any piece of equipment to track real-time location, utilization, and operator identity, providing a comprehensive view of how resources are interacting on site. Aggregate utilization data by operator, subcontractor, zone, or time period helps coordinate resources and minimize downtime. By automatically collecting real-time data from workers and equipment - without technical limitations such as wireless internet, project scope, or clear line of sight to the sky - Spot-r provides unprecedented visibility into site operations and safety, helping contractors build safer and smarter. Spot-r is currently being used on more than 40 sites by some of the nation’s leading contractors, including Turner and Gilbane.

Abstract

The tendency of buses to bunch is a problem that was defined almost 50 years ago. Since then, there has been a significant amount of work done on the problem; however, the tendency of the current literature is either to only focus on the surface causes or to rely on simulation to create results instead of model formulation. With GPS installed on many buses throughout the world, the data is only being used for monitoring and informing the user. This research proposes a new approach to solving the problem that uses the GPS data to directly counteract the cause of the bunching by allowing the buses to cooperate with each other and determine their speed based on relative position. A continuum approximation model is presented as a tool to systematically analyze the behavior of the system and test the proposed control. In order to validate the model and the control, a simulation tool is used to model the system in a more realistic, discrete way. The control is shown to produce bounded deviations in spacing consistent with those predicted by the model. The resulting bus system will not bunch with only a small reduction in commercial speed.

Abstract

The Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) is a Visual Glide Slope Indicator that uses a two-color light projector system to produce a visual glidepath for pilots approaching a runway. This paper reports on a methodology for using an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to measure angles where PAPI lights transition from white to red to assess compliance with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Order JO6850.2B. The UAS captured images from a series of elevations at varying distances from the PAPI lights on runway 10 at the Purdue University Airport on June 27, 2019. Precise location of each image was obtained by mounting a survey prism on the UAS and using ground-based surveying total stations to record the x, y, z location of the UAS. Two 15-minute UAS missions collected 70 images that were synchronized with total station readings. UAS images were classified by the number of white and red PAPI lights visible. A logit model was used to estimate the glidepath transition angle of the four PAPI Light Housing Assemblies, which were compared with the angle and tolerance of transition angles defined in FAA Order JO6850.2B. A second independent robotic total station measured the location of the UAS when images were taken. Comparing the two independent total station measurements, the root mean squared error of the UAS position on the glide slope was 1.3 arc-min. The paper concludes that low cost UAS with a total station can quickly and accurately evaluate PAPI lights to determine if they are aimed within the prescribed FAA tolerance.

Abstract

Self-healing within asphalt pavements is the process whereby road cracks can be repaired automatically when thermal and mechanical conditions are met. To accelerate and improve this healing process, metal particles are added to asphalt mixtures. However, this approach is costly both in economic and environmental terms due to the use of virgin metallic particles. So, even though the self-healing of asphalt mixtures has been widely addressed in experimental terms over the years, there is a lack of research aimed at modelling this phenomenon, especially with the purpose of optimizing the use of metal particles through the valorization of industrial by-products. As such, the goal of this study was to develop a statistical methodology to model the healing capacity of asphalt concrete mixtures (AC-16) from the characteristics of the metal particles added and the time and intensity used for magnetic induction. Five metal particles were used as heating inductors, including four types of industrial by-products aimed at transforming waste products into material for use in the road sector. The proposed approach consisted of a combination of cluster algorithms, multiple regression analysis and response optimization, which were applied to model laboratory data obtained after testing asphalt concrete mixtures containing these inductors. The results proved the accuracy of the statistical methods used to reproduce the experimental behaviour of the asphalt mixtures, which enabled the authors to determine the optimal amount of industrial by-products and time needed to make the self-healing process as efficient as possible.