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Taiaho Observatory: An Automated Future Optical Communications Ground Station
Get PDFFree Space Optical Communications (FSOC) is the next revolution in high-bandwidth satellite-to-earth data transmission. The critical challenge facing the widespread, commercial adoption of FSOC is requirement of a cloud-free line of sight (CFLOS) between the spaceborne asset and the optical ground station (OGS). One solution to this problem is the use of multiple OGSs in a geographically distributed network. Such networks include the European Optical Nucleus Network (EONN) and the Australasian Optical Ground Station Network (AOGSN). To transition from research to commercialization will necessitate an increase in the number of OGSs and their continuous operation. Automation will play a critical role in enabling 24/7 link availability by reducing the number of required operators per OGS. OGS automation will consist of several discrete control loops including: network-wide astronomical seeing comparisons; assessment of local atmospheric conditions to permit operation; short term cloud cover prediction over the satellite pass; calibration of the pointing model; and tracking the asset pass. Fully automated ground stations would enable near-seamless switching between OGS nodes during a pass, further increasing the link time. The work begun at Taiaho is focused on a single-node automation; weather monitoring, cloud predictions, and pass tracking. These goals are achievable through a combination of modern hardware and software, including a state-of-the-art weather and atmospheric turbulence monitoring station (ISM, Miratlas SAS), a direct-drive telescope mount with integrated pointing model (L350, Planewave Instruments Inc.), and a custom software framework linking these with a command-and-control suite
Review of Operations Automation in Small Satellites: A Small Satellite Portfolio Perspective
Get PDFThis poster is meant to drive discussion between all sectors on the effective application of automation in small satellite operations. Consider the entire operations environment, from satellites to ground stations to operator processes. • What automation methodologies do/will prove most effective? • Which are priorities and how can they be seamlessly adopted? • How can we make the most of the data we have for training and fitting models? • How can reliability be maintained as tools increase in complexity
Where Have All the Flowers Gone? A Call for Federal Leadership in Deer Management in the United States
Get PDFForests in the United States continue to lose biodiversity and many fail to regenerate due to high deer (family Cervidae) abundance. Declines in biodiversity and overall ecosystem health due to high deer populations increases prevalence of wildlife and human diseases associated with increasing tick abundances and decreases forest resilience and the ability to deliver benefits provided by healthy ecosystems. In the eastern and midwestern United States, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are the main stressor, while in the western U.S. elk (Cervus elaphus) and black-tailed and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) can become equally problematic. Federal and State Wildlife Agencies are responsible for environmental stewardship and management of deer, migratory and endangered species, yet they lack authority to address human health concerns or commercial interests (we acknowledge tribal authority to manage wildlife as an important contributor to conservation). Furthermore, State Wildlife Agencies have retained their traditional focus to manage wildlife for recreational hunters while neglecting their obligations to manage wildlife in the interest of all citizens rather than special interest groups. Fragmented institutional arrangements and widely scattered responsibilities for human health, environmental conservation and management, agriculture, and commerce among tribal, federal, and state agencies have allowed deer impacts to grow into nationwide conservation and human health crises. Given that local, regional, and state-level initiatives have failed to provide appropriate remedies, federal leadership is now essential to integrate concerns among disciplines, policy domains, regions, habitats, and biota. We recommend developing a National Strategy to build strong collaborative efforts and diverse and inclusive relationships across environmental, human health and economic interests. These should reach beyond state boundaries to comprehensively address interrelated deer, human health, forest, and conservation crises. A well-coordinated and collaborative approach has the potential to overcome traditional turf battles between tribal, state, and federal interests by recognizing joint responsibilities and obligations to manage wildlife as a public trust resource. This collective approach can protect species before they become endangered, avoiding further declines in environmental and human health
Quaking Aspen in a High-Use Recreation Area: Challenges of People, Ungulates, And Sodium on Landscape Resilience
Get PDFQuaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) landscapes are valued for their biodiversity, water retention, fire mitigation, aesthetics, and recreation opportunities. Across North America, some aspen populations are experiencing population declined as they face uninhibited ungulate browsing, drought, fire suppression, insects, disease, and inappropriate management. Increased human development and recreational use within aspen landscapes can serve as additive stressors, though there is a dearth of literature examining these elements. At a popular recreational area in Utah, USA, identifying the cause of apparent decline within a larger aspen community is complicated by development upstream and recreation-related activities. We sought to (1) assess the overall condition of the aspen at the site, (2) understand key variables that influence aspen conditions, and (3) elucidate how aspen fitness varies across the site. We collected data from forty-five plots using established aspen sampling methods, including ungulate presence, tree characteristics, soil chemistry, and environmental descriptors. Results suggest that a combination of higher levels of browsing and elevated soils sodium may be causing premature mortality and limiting aspen recruitment in a portion of the study area. These findings will inform future management at this site, as well as similar recreational forest settings experiencing compound stressors
Impact of Polymer Structure in Polyurethane Topcoats on Anti-Icing Properties
Get PDFIcing on the topcoat layer of structures or mobility systems can be a factor leading to functional failures or accidents. Material engineering approach to prevent icing involves creating hydrophobic surfaces. In this study, it was confirmed that the method of controlling the structure of polymers using solvents to adjust surface hydrophobicity and ice prevention effects is effective. Polyurethane (PU) topcoats are primarily used on the exterior of mobility devices; therefore, structure of PU was manipulated using xylene. Through the adjustment of the ratio between PU and xylene, changes in the curing enthalpy and crystal structure were observed, which led to alterations in tensile strength. Additionally, changes in surface energy and contact angle occurred depends on xylene content, and de-icing property of PU topcoat was enhanced by 66 % on the surface of the 20 vol% xylene PU topcoat, compared to the pure PU topcoat. It was confirmed that the basic method of manipulating the polymer structure through solvent amount in topcoats could be utilized as a technique in hydrophobic surface research, such as ice prevention
Balancing Results From AI-Based Geostatistics Versus Fuzzy Inference by Game Theory Bargaining to Improve a Groundwater Monitoring Network
Get PDFAn artificial intelligence-based geostatistical optimization algorithm was developed to upgrade a test Iranian aquifer\u27s existing groundwater monitoring network. For that aquifer, a preliminary study revealed that a Multi-Layer Perceptron Artificial Neural Network (MLP-ANN) more accurately determined temporally average water table elevations than geostatistical kriging, spline, and inverse distance weighting. Because kriging is usually used in that area for water table estimation, the developed algorithm used MLP-ANN to guide kriging, and Genetic Algorithm (GA) to determine locations for new monitoring well location(s). For possible annual fiscal budgets allowing 1-12 new wells, 12 sets of optimal new well locations are reported. Each set has the locations of new wells that would minimize the squared difference between the time-averaged heads developed by kriging versus MLP-ANN. Also, to simultaneously consider local expertise, the algorithm used fuzzy inference to quantify an expert\u27s satisfaction with the number of new wells. Then, the algorithm used symmetric bargaining (Nash, Kalai-Smorodinsky, and area monotonic) to present an upgradation strategy that balanced professional judgment and heuristic optimization. In essence, the algorithm demonstrates the systematic application of relatively new computational practices to a common situation worldwide
A Consideration of Racial/Ethnic Diversity Conceptualization and Measurement: Clarifying Ambiguities and Advancing Scholarship
Get PDFThere has been little discussion of racial/ethnic diversity conceptualization and measurement in educational and psychological research. With the surge of research on school diversity and its significant social meaning, the lack of clarity on how diversity is conceptualized and operationalized warrants a systematic review. This article 1) reviews diversity concepts in the literature, 2) describes potential conceptual and methodological concerns, 3) proposes an alternative method to measure two specific types of diversity, and 4) highlights considerations for future research and methodology when studying diversity. More specifically, we conducted a systematic review to summarize the available measures that quantify diversity, mapped these measures onto existing diversity definitions, and elaborated on the similarities and differences of the existing diversity indices. Additionally, we proposed a new measure, the Frequentist-based Representative Diversity index, which can capture two different aspects of diversity, is easy to interpret, and potentially broadens the scope of diversity research. Future research directions and recommendations are also discussed
Utah Consumer Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Specialty Labeled Fruit Products
Get PDFIn this fact sheet, we discuss the results of a 2023 study examining Utah consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for fruit products labeled local (Utah’s Own™), organic, and GMO-free. We discuss and compare survey respondents\u27 past consumption, awareness, preferences, and attitudes toward these labeling programs. Additionally, we examine consumer WTP values for each of these labels for three fruit varieties and fresh and dried products, namely fresh apples, strawberries, and dried tart cherries
Coping With Loneliness (Part 1): Look Inward
Get PDFExperiencing loneliness sometimes is part of the human experience. However, when experienced long-term, loneliness can lead to detrimental impacts on physical, mental, and emotional health. In a series of four fact sheets, Utah State University (USU) Extension faculty compiled some of the most effective ways to enhance connectedness. This first fact sheet describes ways of looking inward that can reduce loneliness. These include identifying sources of loneliness, increasing acceptance, practicing mindfulness, seeking solitude, practicing self-reflection, and practicing self-care