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Development of Web Portal for the Management, Visualization, and Analysis of Collected Mobile LiDAR Data along Indiana’s Transportation Corridors
Get PDFEfficient road management requires collecting and analyzing various geospatial data related to transportation corridors. Mobile Mapping Systems (MMS), integrated with GNSS/INS units, RGB cameras, and LiDAR technology, enable the collection of geo-tagged imagery and 3D point cloud data across roadway networks. Acquired data helps in the inventory and management of transportation networks. However, users face challenges in accessing high data volumes, especially when considering hardware and software requirements. To address these challenges, the Purdue research team developed a web portal to efficiently store and provide easy access to geospatial data collected along Indiana’s transportation corridors. The web portal provides an easy-to-use interface that allows end-users to manipulate and visualize data without requiring specialized tools. In addition, the Purdue research team developed several functionalities, which are integrated into the web portal to improve transportation infrastructure management
Evaluation of Physical, Mental, and Mechanical Aspects of an Extreme Military Training Event: A Continuous Monitoring Approach
Get PDFSoldiers receive extensive training at extremes of environments and simulated terrains to improve their battle efficiency. A study was designed to evaluate the actual cost of a military physical efficiency test consisting of several physically engaging activities to quantify physiological, mechanical, and subjective demands. Sixteen Indian soldiers participated in a military training session consisting of events such as a 5-km run, 4-m vertical rope climbing, a 2.75-m jump, a 60-m dash, and a 9-m horizontal rope climbing with 6.5 kg of equipment in a hot dry environment. Their physiological status was monitored continuously. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) scores were obtained to assess mental workload. Heart rate reserve (HRR) and heart rate (HR) scores were calculated from the mean HR of each stage of the session. Repeated measure ANOVA was applied to the physiological parameters, and Pearson’s correlation was applied to NASA-TLX and HR scores. The 5-km run was the most physically demanding (HR was maintained at about 84% of maximum HR–HRmax throughout). About 24% of HRR remained after the run. The workload of the other events was within the range of 62–67% of HRmax, and the remaining HRR was 50–57%. The mechanical and physiological intensities derived during the session indicated higher mechanical requirements and associated physiological support. The participants predicted overall moderate task load, which was loosely correlated to HR scores. The physiological and mechanical responses pointed toward soldiers’ ability to withstand the challenges of a combination of activities. The findings also ensured minimal injury risk and battle readiness for probable missions at extremes of environment and terrain
Investigating the implications of Industry 4.0 technology integration on critical trade roles in offsite construction
Get PDFThe Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has seen the rapid advancement and integration of digital technologies within construction industry practice and offsite construction (OSC) explicitly presents such adoptions. OSC transforms the traditional ‘hands on’ roles of trade workers to that of digital machinery and robotic operators. This study investigates the implications that emerging technology adoption in OSC has on critical trade workers. A a semi-systematic literature review was conducted, evaluating 64 sources from the Scopus database. Employing a 3-stage screening process, 14 sources were critically evaluated. The findings established that carpenters, joiners, electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, and metal workers are critical skilled trades in OSC practices. The study concluded that the integration of emerging technologies in OSC sees traditional craft-work processes supplemented for the operation of digitally powered machinery. Subsequently, the integration of 4IR technologies in OSC implicates the required skills, education and training of critical trade workers. This study revealed an evident lack of industry recognition and education surrounding OSC and emerging technologies, establishing the need for industry standardisation and a greater investment of education and vocational training for trades workers. Lastly, this study established that 4IR integrated OSC can present a number of benefits to trade workers, most notably by increasing workplace safety through the digital mapping of high-risk work, and minimising the risk of fatigue, physical strain and accidents caused by repetitive labour-intensive tasks
A DNA Damage Analysis of Breast Cancer Cells Under Cyclic Mechanical Actuation
Get PDFMetastasis is the leading cause of mortality in breast cancer, yet tumor cell behavior and their response to mechanical cues in the pre-metastatic niche remains poorly understood. This study investigates how breast cancer cells respond to strain mimicking lung tissue dynamics, with a focus on DNA damage. Using a custom-designed micro-actuating lung model, we cultured mApple at p53BP1 and H2B-GFP reporter cells on fibrillar fibronectin-coated substrates subjected to cyclic mechanical forces that simulate respiratory motion. A group of cells were treated with escalating concentrations of Niraparib (0.1–10 µM), a PARP inhibitor, as a positive control. To visualize and quantify DNA damage in real-time, we tracked the red nuclear foci upon DNA double-strand break formation through confocal microscopy. Following treatme nt, cells were lysed directly from the fibronectin band and collected for protein quantification of γ-H2AX. This approach allows us to analyze how mechanically primed tumor cells in a lung-like niche modulate their DNA repair capacity in response to chemotherapeutic stress. These findings contribute to understanding how mechanical environments influence therapeutic resistance and could inform strategies to target metastatic progression at early, mechanosensitive stages
Fourier-Feature MLP Toolkit for GPU-Accelerated Cardiac-MRI 4DCMR Strain Analysis
Get PDFThis paper explores the embedding of a Fourier-Feature—enhanced multiplayer perceptron(MLP-FEE) at the heart of a newly refactored python workflow for four-dimensional cardiac-MRI strain quantification demonstrating how a single, compact network can outperform traditional convolution and spline-based methods. The original code, capable of orientation normalization, displacement tracking, and finite-difference strain computation, has been translated and consolidated into pytorch. By injecting sinusoidal positional encodings at the network’s input layer supplied a rich set of high-frequency basis functions hence enabling multilayer MLP to resolve gradients that cubic splines and conventional CNNs typically blur or struggle with. Profiling on an Apple-silicon GPU shows interactive inference without hand-tuned CUDA alongside a network has a higher precision while trimming code complexity by roughly 50%. Qualitative comparison with finite-element ground truths confirms preservation of peak systolic strain and segment-wise GLS trends. Meanwhile, the transpilation preserves domain-specific algorithms while exposing them to modern deep-learning tooling along with swappable optimisers and augmentation strategies. By showcasing the power of Fourier features inside a lightweight MLP, this work illustrates a path for researchers to migrate legacy workflows into a GPU-accelerated, open-source ecosystem to unlock higher-resolution insights across a variety of Biomedical Engineering datasets
Photocatalytic Self-Pumping Membranes
Get PDFThe physics of nanofiltration is not well understood, as many types of membranes and filters exist, but they all interact very differently with the substance they are filtering. This research investigates membranes that can autonomously pump fluid through catalytic reactions. The first set of experiments was to collect zeta potential measurements as zeta potential is a critical property that directly affects fluid transport. Zeta potential was measured using the Anton Parr SURPASS 3, which measures the sample by streaming a given solution through a channel of membranes and uses the Smoluchowski equation to return the zeta potential value. Measurements were performed across varying pH values and salt concentrations to assess ionic effects. The results show zeta potential tends to be higher when in a lower pH and a lower salt concentration for the given membranes. The next part of the research observes the movement of particles through the membrane in the presence of ultraviolet light and different salt solutions. In microscale systems, sensors struggle to record accurate fluid flows, so as a solution, the measurements were taken from tracking the particles for better accuracy using a method called ‘particle tracking velocimetry.’ To do this, a microscope slide is prepared with fluorescent particles suspended in various solutions surrounding the membrane. A channel exists within the slide where an inverted microscope camera is used to take images of the particles. The images are collected, then used to find the various speeds of the particles with or without light present. This method will be utilized in the next part of the project\u27s work. It is expected that there will be an increase in particle movement in the presence of ultraviolet light in each salt solution. In conclusion, nanofiltration is dependent on many factors due to the sensitive nature of the membranes. Future work in this project will involve replicating the previous work with new membranes to verify results
Is there a more effective design for quadrat to increase ease of use and vegetation density?
No full textQuadrats are a special tool in the ecology field that allows the measurement of vegetation density for further data analysis of a habitat. The larger the quadrat cross-sectional area, the better the results of the data, which in turn can make the quadrat hard to carry through field sites. In wildlife corridor research, quadrat surveys provide a quantitative metric for habitat suitability. In this work, we consider the efficiency and ease-of-use benefits for field work in the design of a collapsible version of a quadrat using a House of Quality (standard metric for new design requirements) to assess the customer and engineering requirements along with benchmark and patented designs. Using SolidWorks (a CAD software), we constructed a minimum viable product for a small-scale, single prototype creation through bill of materials for lab scalability. The aim of the new design is that it can be utilized by other research groups across the country. Future enhancements for this design could automate the vegetation density calculation by combining the physical quadrat with software from a photo taken at the site, saving hours on processing. The precision of density calculation can be improved by creating smaller cross-sectional areas of webbing on the detachable net. We created a House of Quality helps measure our design requirements, assess customer satisfaction through surveying, and compares old to pilot product effectiveness through time trials and botanist evaluation. We predict that this design will prove more effective saving time as well as measuring vegetation coverage with an increase in customer happiness
The Use Of A Dynamic Imaging System To Characterize Particle Size And Shape For Shot Peening Media
No full textShot peening is a cold working process that enhances the mechanical properties of components such as springs, axles, and gears. Shot media are projected at a high velocity against the material’s surface, creating a layer of compressive residual stress that improves fatigue and wear resistance of the material. The size and shape of the media affect the residual stress layer that is created. To ensure consistent quality, it is critical to characterize and control the particle size and shape distribution of the shot media, both as-manufactured and in the working mix. This paper presents how the use of a dynamic imaging system developed by J.M. Canty can provide the size and shape measurements that are necessary for an efficient shot peening process
Evaluation of Peening Intensity with Nozzle-Mounted Sensor During Processing
No full textIn recent years, digital technologies have been increasingly applied in manufacturing, including visualization and anomaly detection in production equipment. In shot peening, Peening Intensity is a key process control indicator, but its measurement requires significant manual effort. This study aims to evaluate the possibility of using an AE-sensor-mounted nozzle to estimate Peening Intensity. We conducted experiments comparing sensor outputs with experimented Intensity under controlled conditions. A strong correlation (R2 ≥ 0.95) was observed, suggesting that Peening Intensity can be estimated via AE sensing. This approach may contribute to labor-saving and automation in shot peening processes
Application of Burnishing Process Expected to Frictional Heat to Non-Oriented Electromagnetic Steel Sheet
No full textBurnishing is a technology used to improve the surface roughness of metals. On the other hand, it is expected that the metal structure near the surface will change due to strong distortion.
The magnetic properties of electromagnetic steel sheets depend on large crystal grains and fine crystals near the surface[1]. In particular, thinner fine crystal grain layers on the surface are expected to reduce iron loss. In this study, the power generation characteristics of Burnished electromagnetic steel sheets were evaluated.
Electromotive force waveform was evaluated by rotating the laminated electromagnetic steel sheets and using a spindle motor. The electromotive force of Burnished electromagnetic steel sheets decreased compared to that of unprocessed materials. This is assumed to be caused by iron loss due to total deformation by Burnishing. On the other hand, Electromotive force at high rotation improved compared to low rotation. This is thought to be due to the effect of magnetic properties changed by Burnishing