Efficient Bayesian sensor placement algorithm for structural identification: a general approach for multi‐type sensory systems

In this paper, a Bayesian sequential sensor placement algorithm, based on the robust information entropy, is proposed for multi‐type of sensors. The presented methodology has two salient features. It is a holistic approach such that the overall performance of various types of sensors at different locations is assessed. Therefore, it provides a rational and effective strategy to design the sensor configuration, which optimizes the use of various available resources. This sequential algorithm is very efficient due to its Bayesian nature, in which prior distribution can be incorporated. Therefore, it avoids the possible unidentifiability problem encountered in a sequential process, which starts with small number of sensors. The proposed algorithm is demonstrated using a shear building and a lattice tower with consideration of up to four types of sensors. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一种洪涝灾害事件信息建模方法

我国洪涝灾害频发且危害巨大,为有效防灾、减灾和救灾,需建立洪涝灾害事件信息模型,表示和共享洪涝灾害信息。然而,目前事件信息模型主要是表示静态信息,缺乏对洪涝灾害事件动态过程的表示。本文从观测角度出发,建立顾及洪涝灾害事件阶段和动态过程的洪涝灾害事件信息模型。围绕洪涝灾害事件信息模型,提出了10类需建模的元素,并以MOF（Meta Object Facility）建模框架构建了十元组模型,通过映射方法实现模型编码方案与事件模式语言的映射。最后,以2010年梁子湖洪涝灾害模拟为例,开展了模型分阶段建立过程实验。结果表明,本文提出的模型能表示洪涝灾害事件的动态信息和实现洪涝灾害事件的动态建模。     

The Concept and Development of Smart Structures Technologies for Long-span Cable-supported Bridges

This article presents an overview of smart structures technologies in connection with long-span cable-supported bridges. Considering the broad scope of the smart structures technologies, two subareas, namely, structural health monitoring and structural control technologies, and their applications in long-span cable supported bridges, are identified as the focus of this review. It is believed that by, adopting the smart structures technologies, reliable operation and hazard management of long-span bridges can be achieved much more efficiently and can be made economically feasible, especially for bridges located at sites with high risks of severe natural hazardous events, such as those facing the bridges of the Taiwan Strait Crossing project. The feasibility of and practical issues in implementing the smart structures technologies in the design and construction of long-span cable-supported bridges are also discussed here. Considering the time span of the construction of the Taiwan Strait Crossing, some of the innovative technologies with a high potential for future long-span bridge applications, while still at the stage of exploratory research at the time of writing, are also examined as it is believed these technologies might have become prevalent by the completion time of the Taiwan Strait Crossing project.     

深水半潜式平台锚链倾角监测的自容式传感器的设计

深水半潜式平台系泊锚链的倾角变化是评价平台系泊状态与锚链受力的重要指标,是半潜式平台重要的监测内容。目前,深水锚链的测量主要是采用自容式的传感器,针对其水下长时间测量的应用特点,要求它的设计必须具有低功耗、高可靠性、大存储量、体积小、防水耐压等指标。根据我国南海流花平台的锚链监测需要,设计与制作了专用的水下自容式倾角传感器,并在实际应用中进行了检验。     

变面积差动电容式传感器的研究

介绍一款变面积式差动电容传感器.该传感器借助于两路相位相差180°的激励信号源作用于两固定极,使动摆片与定摆片之间形成电场.动摆片在进行摆动的过程中,在左右两固定摆中的面积会发生相应的变化,进而会产生电容量的改变.动摆片摆动角度的大小与动摆片在定片中的面积以及电容量的大小呈线性比例关系.通过交流电桥法可测量出该电容传感器的电容量的变化所对应的电压输出,并推算出动摆片位移角度的大小.实验验证了该设计的可行性.     

红外传感器用于断层气体测量

介绍新型红外气体观测仪的结构、主要技术指标、优缺点以及解决其不足之处的方法;通过分析红外气体观测仪在台站试验中取得的观测数据,探索出一种将红外气体传感技术应用于断层气观测的新方法。     

Statistics-based outlier detection for wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor network (WSN) applications require efficient, accurate and timely data analysis in order to facilitate (near) real-time critical decision-making and situation awareness. Accurate analysis and decision-making relies on the quality of WSN data as well as on the additional information and context. Raw observations collected from sensor nodes, however, may have low data quality and reliability due to limited WSN resources and harsh deployment environments. This article addresses the quality of WSN data focusing on outlier detection. These are defined as observations that do not conform to the expected behaviour of the data. The developed methodology is based on time-series analysis and geostatistics. Experiments with a real data set from the Swiss Alps showed that the developed methodology accurately detected outliers in WSN data taking advantage of their spatial and temporal correlations. It is concluded that the incorporation of tools for outlier detection in WSNs can be based on current statistical methodology. This provides a usable and important tool in a novel scientific field.     

Calibrating a FDR sensor for soil moisture monitoring in a wetland in Central Kenya

The recent transformation of wetlands into farmland in East Africa is accelerating due to growing food-demand, land shortages, and an increasing unpredictability of climatic conditions for crop production in uplands. However, the conversion of pristine wetlands into sites of production may alter hydrological attributes with negative effects on production potential. Particularly the amount and the dynamics of plant available soil moisture in the rooting zone of crops determine to a large extent the agricultural production potential of wetlands. Various methods exist to assess soil moisture dynamics with Frequency Domain Reflectometry (FDR) being among the most prominent. However, the suitability of FDR sensors for assessing plant available soil moisture has to date not been confirmed for wetland soils in the region. We monitored the seasonal and spatial dynamics of water availability for crop growth in an inland valley wetland of the Kenyan highlands using a FDR sensor which was site-specifically calibrated. Access tubes were installed within different wetland use types and hydrological situations along valley transects and soil properties affecting soil moisture (organic C, texture, and bulk density) were investigated. There was little variation in soil attributes between physical positions in the valley, and also between topsoil and subsoil attributes with the exception of organic C contents. With a root mean squared error of 0.073 m³/m³, the developed calibration function of the FDR sensor allows for reasonably accurate soil moisture prediction for both within-site comparisons and the monitoring of temporal soil moisture variations. Applying the calibration equation to a time series of profile probe readings over a period of one year illustrated not only the temporal variation of soil moisture, but also effects of land use.     

An advanced process for evaluating a linear dielectric constant–bulk electrical conductivity model using a capacitance sensor in field conditions

Abstract

The Hilhorst model was used to convert bulk electrical conductivity (σ_b) to pore water electrical conductivity (σ_p) under laboratory conditions by using the linear relationship between the soil dielectric constant (ε_b) and σ_b. In the present study, applying the linear relationship ε_b–σ_b to data obtained from field capacitance sensors resulted in strong positive autocorrelations between the residuals of that regression. We were able to derive an accurate offset of the relationship ε_b–σ_b and to estimate the evolution of σ_p over time by including a stochastic component to the linear model, rearranging it to a time-varying dynamic linear model (DLM), and using Kalman filtering and smoothing. The offset proved to vary for each depth in the same soil profile. A reason for this might be the changes in soil temperature along the soil profile.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor M.D. Fidelibus     

Advanced methods of cell phone localization for crisis and emergency management applications

Real-time people localization cannot be achieved through statistical methods during crisis/emergency management events. An International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catcher was proposed as a nontraditional method for cell phone-based people localization. We verified the idea of using a cell phone as a sensor and tested the possibility of transmitting cell phone data through the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Sensor Web Enablement. Four large field tests were performed and are described in detail. The main conclusions for IMSI catcher deployment were search within a limited radius from its placement and the number of localized people was not a limiting aspect; although the technology for advanced cell phone-based localization is available for crisis/emergency management applications, we do not yet have sufficient ability to handle this technology.