Intelligent reservoir operation system based on evolving artificial neural networks

We propose a novel intelligent reservoir operation system based on an evolving artificial neural network (ANN). Evolving means the parameters of the ANN model are identified by the GA evolutionary optimization technique. Accordingly, the ANN model should represent the operational strategies of reservoir operation. The main advantages of the Evolving ANN Intelligent System (ENNIS) are as follows: (i) only a small number of parameters to be optimized even for long optimization horizons, (ii) easy to handle multiple decision variables, and (iii) the straightforward combination of the operation model with other prediction models. The developed intelligent system was applied to the operation of the Shihmen Reservoir in North Taiwan, to investigate its applicability and practicability. The proposed method is first built to a simple formulation for the operation of the Shihmen Reservoir, with single objective and single decision. Its results were compared to those obtained by dynamic programming. The constructed network proved to be a good operational strategy. The method was then built and applied to the reservoir with multiple (five) decision variables. The results demonstrated that the developed evolving neural networks improved the operation performance of the reservoir when compared to its current operational strategy. The system was capable of successfully simultaneously handling various decision variables and provided reasonable and suitable decisions.     

成都市环城生态区人工湿地生态系统服务评价

人工湿地生态系统服务评价对人工湿地的规划和建设具有重要意义。以成都市环城生态区为研究对象,基于层次分析法和模糊隶属度函数法构建人工湿地生态系统服务综合评价体系,并进行生态系统服务评价。结果表明:成都市环城生态区内人工湿地生态系统服务评价指数为0.517,整体服务水平良好,能够在一定程度上发挥人工湿地的生态服务功能。其中物质生产服务、生态调节服务和文化科研服务分别为0.0511、0.1210和0.3447,各类服务贡献率分别为10%、23.4%和66.6%。评价结果不仅能提高公众和管理部门对成都市环城生态区的认识,也有助于进一步推进成都市人工湿地的规划和建设工作。     

Artificial neural network to translate offshore satellite wave data to coastal locations

Owing to the spatial averaging involved in satellite sensing, use of observations so collected is often restricted to offshore regions. This paper discusses a technique to obtain significant wave heights at a specified coastal site from their values gathered by a satellite at deeper offshore locations. The technique is based on the approach of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) of Radial Basis Function (RBF) and Feed-forward Back-propagation (FFBP) type. The satellite-sensed data of significant wave height; average wave period and the wind speed were given as input to the network in order to obtain significant wave heights at a coastal site situated along the west coast of India. Qualitative as well as quantitative comparison of the network output with target observations showed usefulness of the selected networks in such an application vis-à-vis simpler techniques like statistical regression. The basic FFBP network predicted the higher waves more correctly although such a network was less attractive from the point of overall accuracy. Unlike satellite observations collection of buoy data is costly and hence, it is generally resorted to fewer locations and for a smaller period of time. As shown in this study the network can be trained with samples of buoy data and can be further used for routine wave forecasting at coastal locations based on more permanent flow of satellite observations.     

Predicting the capability-polar-plots for dynamic positioning systems for offshore platforms using artificial neural networks

As the capability of polar plots becomes better understood, improved dynamic positioning (DP) systems are possible as the control algorithms greatly depend on the accuracy of the aerodynamic and hydrodynamic models. The measurements and estimation of the environmental disturbances have an important role in the optimal design and selection of a DP system for offshore platforms. The main objective of this work is to present a new method of predicting the Capability-Polar-Plots for offshore platforms using the combination of the artificial neural networks (NNs) and the capability polar plots program (CPPP). The estimated results from a case study for a scientific drilling vessel are presented. A trained artificial NN is designed in this work and is able to predict the maximum wind speed at which the DP thrusters are able to maintain the offshore platform in a station-keeping mode in the field site. This prediction for the maximum wind speed will be a helpful tool for DP operators in managing station-keeping for offshore platforms in an emergency situation where the automation of the DP systems is disabled. It is obvious from the obtained results that the developed technique has potential for the estimation of the capability-polar-plots for offshore platforms. This tool would be suitable for DP operators to predict the maximum wind speed and direction in a very short period of time.     

Offshore wind farms as productive sites or ecological traps for gadoid fishes? – Impact on growth,condition index and diet composition

With the construction of wind farms all across the North Sea, numerous artificial reefs are created. These windmill artificial reefs (WARs) harbour high abundances of fish species which can be attracted from elsewhere or can be the result of extra production induced by these wind farms. To resolve the attraction–production debate in suddenly altered ecosystems (cf. wind farms), the possible consequences of attraction should be assessed; thereby bearing in mind that ecological traps may arise. In this paper we investigated whether the wind farms in the Belgian part of the North Sea act as ecological traps for pouting and Atlantic cod. Length-at-age, condition and diet composition of fish present at the windmill artificial reefs was compared to local and regional sandy areas.Fish data from the period 2009–2012 were evaluated. Mainly I- and II-group Atlantic cod were present around the WARs; while the 0- and I-group dominated for pouting. For Atlantic cod, no differences in length were observed between sites, indicating that fitness was comparable at the WARs and in sandy areas. No significant differences in condition index were observed for pouting. At the WARs, they were slightly larger and stomach fullness was enhanced compared to the surrounding sandy areas. Also diet differed considerably among the sites. The outcome of the proxies indicate that fitness of pouting was slightly enhanced compared to the surrounding sandy areas. No evidence was obtained supporting the hypothesis that the WARs act as an ecological trap for Atlantic cod and pouting.     

The impact of coastal defence structures (tetrapods) on decapod crustaceans in the southern North Sea

Although the use of coastal defence structures is expected to increase, little is known about the ecological impact of such structures on the natural environment. In particular, the temporal and spatial patterns of communities in association with artificial substrate are still poorly understood. This study examined possible effects of experimental tetrapod fields on the decapod crustacean community in a subtidal hard-bottom area in the southern North Sea. We performed in situ studies in the fields and along transects oriented away from the tetrapod fields. Species composition and abundances were assessed before and after the introduction of the artificial material. The study revealed a significant decrease of smaller, less vagile species (Pisidia longicornis, Pilumnus hirtellus, Galathea squamifera) over the entire study area in the years following the tetrapod introduction. For 2 species, Hyas araneus and Homarus gammarus, the tetrapods appeared to be highly attractive as habitat and shelter because their abundance increased over time. No distinct spatial or temporal effects were observed for mobile predatory crabs, such as Cancer pagurus and Liocarcinus spp. The results of the study demonstrate that possible effects of artificial structures on macro-invertebrates in temperate hard-bottom areas are highly species-specific and depend on the size, lifestyle and ecological requirements of the species. This work highlights the importance of long-term studies. Our findings clearly indicate that more time is needed to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic influences on species distributions.     

Artificial neural network modeling of cross-shore profile on sand beaches: The coast of the province of Valencia (Spain)

The paper describes the training, validation, testing, and application of models of artificial neural networks (ANN) for computing the cross-shore beach profile of the sand beaches of the province of Valencia (Spain). Sixty ANN models were generated by modifying both the input variables as the number of neurons in the hidden layer. The input variables consist of wave data and sedimentological data. To select and evaluate the performance of the optimal model, the following parameters were used: R², absolute error, mean absolute percentage error, and percentage relative error. Finally, the results are compared with the numerical model proposed by Aragonés et al. (2016b Aragonés, L., Y. Villacampa, F. J. Navarro-González, and I. López. 2016b. Numerical modelling of the equilibrium profile in Valencia (Spain). Ocean Engineering, 123:164–73. doi:10.1016/j.oceaneng.2016.07.036[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) for the equilibrium profile in the study area. The results show a mean absolute error of 0.21?m compared to 0.33?m Aragones’ model, significantly improving the results of the numerical model in the bar area around de Valencia Port. In addition, when comparing the results with other methods currently used (Dean’s or Vellinga formulation), the errors of these compared to ANN are of the order of 167 and 1538% higher, respectively.     

随钻监测技术在气体钻井中的应用

气体钻井是近年来兴起的一种实用钻井技术,具有保护油气产层、提高钻速、缩短建井周期及处理井漏事故等优点,应用范围越来越广泛。与常规钻井液钻井相比,气体钻井是单向循环,使用气体作为循环介质来携带岩屑、清洗井眼,使得现有录井监测系统还不能满足气体钻井现场参数监测需要,易出现钻具失效、井下燃爆、地层出水及井壁坍塌等复杂钻井问题,影响气体钻井的安全性。基于井下燃爆理论和监测监控系统技术,开展了随钻监测基本原理研究,形成了UBD气体监测系统及分析技术;通过在多口井气体钻井现场服务,验证了气体监测系统及分析技术的合理性和实用性,为安全顺利实施气体钻井提供了有力的技术支持。     

深部煤层卸压爆破防治冲击地压效果的数值模拟研究

卸压爆破技术可降低煤岩体中应力集中程度,有效避免冲击地压灾害的发生。以跃进煤矿23 130工作面卸压爆破工程为例,运用FLAC3D软件进行数值模拟,分析了不同条件下卸压爆破前后围岩应力分布和转移规律,并结合电磁辐射监测技术,对采掘现场卸压效果进行了检验。结果表明,装药量越大,应力峰值降低和转移越明显;煤层厚度越大,应力峰值降低越明显,但推移距离基本不变;采深越大,应力峰值降低越大,但峰值区推移距离减小;爆破区域的电磁辐射检测值降低明显,表明卸压爆破效果理想。综合利用数值模拟方法和电磁辐射监测技术,可为采掘区域合理确定爆破参数和有效降低冲击地压危险提供依据。     

Changes in the epipelic diatom assemblage in nutrient rich streams due to the variations of simultaneous stressors

Benthic diatoms are often used for assessing environmental conditions, such as water quality and habitat conditions in stream and river systems. Although laboratory experiments have shown that each diatom species have different levels of tolerance to different stressors, few studies have been conducted in laboratory settings that analyze the responses of the diatom assemblage to the effects of multiple simultaneous variables. The aim of this study was to evaluate some structural responses (such as species composition and diversity) of the diatom assemblage on a short time scale to the effects of the simultaneous increase in four variables that are directly linked to the environmental changes affecting the Pampean streams: turbidity, nutrients (phosphorous and nitrogen), water velocity and temperature. To this end we conducted a five-week laboratory experiment using artificial channels where we simulated two environmental conditions (LOW and HIGH) employing epipelic biofilm from a mesotrophic stream. The results obtained in the experiment show that the structure of the diatom assemblage in the epipelic biofilm is affected by the simultaneous modification of temperature, water velocity, nutrient concentration and turbidity. These modifications in the assemblage included moderate decreases in diversity, small decreases in the proportion of species sensitive to eutrophication and saprobity, moderate increases in the IDP (Pampean Diatom Index) values and moderate changes in the percentages of the stalked growth-forms. The relative abundance of species such as Luticola mutica, Navicula cryptocephala and Navicula lanceolata were negatively affected by both treatments; other species such as Planothidium lanceolatum, Caloneis bacillum, Encyonema minutum, Humidophila contenta, Luticola kotschyi, Nitzschia amphibia, Navicula veneta, Pinnularia subcapitata var. subcapitata were positively affected by the HIGH treatment; and Nitzschia fonticola was positively affected by both treatments. The results suggest that, in the very short term of the bioassay conducted, the diatom assemblage can modify its structure to respond in a sensitive manner to the abrupt changes in multiple physical–chemical variables.