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Safety education at research facilities with radiation sources and short-term facility users – Current design and practice and possibilities for improvement
No full textResearch facilities such as spallation sources and synchrotrons generate radiation for use in atomic-level or molecular-scale experiments. These facilities can be viewed as complex safety-critical systems. An important aspect of the safety management of such systems is the short safety education and training programme the users are required to undergo in order to gain facility access. As research on the topic is limited, this study aimed to increase the knowledge about current education design and practice using the perspectives of safety science and pedagogy. Study objectives were to identify preconditions that impact the safety education design, to describe current design and practice of the safety education, and to identify weaknesses and possibilities for improvement. Site visits with a total of 20 interviews were performed at three research facilities. The results show the need for sufficient resources to maintain learning activities for users, provide pedagogical continuing education for educators, and maintain safety culture-enhancing activities to meet the challenges of having large numbers of short-term facility users. Increased focus should be placed on safety-related competence needs and the mapping of these to match the competence of individual users. New thinking and innovation can benefit the design and provision of such education activities, based on both socio-technical system and system safety perspectives. This work was financially supported by the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority [grant number SSM2017-2703]. </p
Navigating the Future: Enhancing E-Scooter Traffic Management through Governance and Regulation
No full textThe GeoSence project, which is part of the Joint Programme Initiative (JPI) Urban Europe, aims to provide an overview of the current state of the art and showcase practical applications of geofencing. The project partners come from Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the UK and is funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 programme under the ERA-NET Cofound Urban Accessibility and Connectivity. Geofencing is defined as a virtual boundary in a specific geographical location, either fixed or dynamic. The GeoSence project focuses on improving urban transport by using geofencing methods for traffic planning and management. In this report, we examine the policies that support these solutions, while also identifying barriers and opportunities for smarter regulation. Our research focuses primarily on Munich, looking at issues such as parking, restricted areas, and data collection from e-scooter operators. Many European cities are struggling with problems associated with e-scooters, such as dangerous driving and inappropriate parking. In Munich, geofencing technology has been tested as a solution to address these issues and improve road safety, particularly for pedestrians. The city's main objective was to improve road safety for all road users, especially pedestrians. By reducing inappropriate parking, the city also expected to increase public acceptance of e-scooters. As a first step in dealing with this new form of mobility, the city's initial response included the creation of 30 dedicated parking zones in 2020 and 2021 and a voluntary commitment with mobility service providers to regulate this new form of mobility. By joining the GeoSence project, the city wanted to explore geofencing as a solution to the persistent road safety problems caused mainly by poorly parked e-scooters. With GeoSence, Munich was able to monitor and optimise the use of parking zones, improve parking and road safety, and prevent drunk driving. To define the case studies, the city collected data from e-scooter operators, including parking start and end times, vehicle types and GPS coordinates. This data was used to identify parking hotspots and plan further parking infrastructure, as well as to evaluate the use of existing parking infrastructure. Three different case studies were conducted to evaluate new parking policies based on geofencing. The first case study focused on parking e-scooters in 43 dedicated zones in Munich's old town. The second focused on the optimisation of parking in 30 existing zones outside the historic centre of the old town of Munich. Finally, the third case study introduced a new parking concept for the Oktoberfest events in 2022 and 2023. This temporary concept included designated zones and time-based usage restrictions. The results showed an increased concentration of e-scooters in the designated zones, improving the parking situation. Since GeoSence has demonstrated the success of the measures to improve the parking of e-scooters across the city, in November 2023 the City Council also mandated the Department of Mobility and the Department of Construction to create a citywide network of parking zones for shared micro-mobility services by 2026. This will build on the experience of the pilot concept for such parking facilities in the old town. In cooperation with mobility providers, no-parking zones of 100 metres will be set up around each parking space. The municipality is also working on a concept to manage the use of electric scooters during major events. To monitor compliance, geofencing tools will continue to collect data, while the results of GeoSence will be used to develop smart policies. The city's own MDAS project will provide dedicated monitoring data and analysis to make the implementation of the new parking zones and policies more effective. In the GeoSence project, the city of Munich combined contracts, public procurement, and regulation. The city entered into voluntary data-sharing agreements with operators, procured a data-sharing platform, and then used the data for better and smarter regulation. Better and smarter regulation is about moving away from a linear sequence of independent steps to a cycle of interlinked, mutually reinforcing steps. The idea is that regulation will be more effective and that citizens will have a better understanding of the rules and be more involved in creating new rules. We live in an ever-changing world, and with better and smarter regulation, our society will adapt more easily to new technologies. Rules also need to be future-proof and resilient, so that our society can adapt if necessary. Rules must also not hamper technological development and innovation. Better and smarter regulation also means making rules easier to understand and reducing administrative burdens for citizens and businesses. To achieve regulatory coherence and coordination, it's important for countries and cities to share their experiences. E-scooter regulations vary across the EU, with Swedish cities having the ability to regulate speed while German cities do not. Munich is leading the way in improving regulatory practices through geofencing, which helps build capacity and competence. In the case study regarding the use of e-scooters during the Oktoberfest, Munich demonstrated its dynamic and responsive regulation by adapting rules to human behaviour and using a risk-based approach. Geofencing is proving to be essential in the development of adaptive and informed regulation. Effective regulation also requires collaboration with stakeholders and the collection of robust, high-quality data. Munich's transition to evidence-based and smart regulation involved building trust with e-scooter operators and investing in a data platform. The city recognises the importance of training staff and involving stakeholders in transparent regulatory processes. Future challenges include ensuring public participation in data-driven decision-making and continuously evaluating and improving the regulatory framework. Geofencing is therefore proving to be essential in developing adaptive and informed regulation
Extending Product Lifecycles—An Initial Model with New and Emerging Existential Design Aspects Required for Long and Extendable Lifecycles
No full textThis paper introduces an evaluated initial model for how product lifecycles can be extended considering new and emerging existential design aspects concerning both general as well as digital/connected products. The initial model, which is cyclic, includes reverse logistics of components and raw materials, as well as information on how to manage data at the end of lifecycles. The aim is to improve long-term sustainability with a high degree of circularity while also achieving increased profitability and competitiveness. Further, we highlighted that product providers must start to evaluate and prepare for how to improve product durability, manage long and extendable lifespans, and achieve circularity with reverse logistics to close the loops. Additionally, updatability and upgradability are also required to stay current with time and create value while being cybersecure. Otherwise, customers’ expectations, various legal and regulatory aspects, as well as other existential design aspects can halt or even terminate a product’s lifecycle. The research has mainly been funded by the authors’ organizations themselves but has alsobeen partially supported by the PLOOTO and CIRCULess EU H2020-projects under grant agreementsNo 101092008 and 101138330. The paper reflects the authors’ views, and the EU Commission is notresponsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.</p
Driving rain tightness and defects of prefabricated concrete sandwich walls with joints, windows and balconies
No full textThere have historically been, and still are, problems with water intrusion into new external walls of prefabricated concrete sandwich elements in Sweden to a varying extent. The aim of this study was to obtain documented knowledge and data on driving rain resistance, to provide a basis for improvements and calculations in a common kind of concrete sandwich system with façade components and sealing products. The study included inspections and air pressure difference measurement of façades in the field and driving rain resistance testing of experimental set-ups in a laboratory. Inspection showed that vertical joints between the concrete elements were often significantly too narrow and, at the same time, adhesion loosening of building mastic in these joints was common. TDV-tubes were often incorrectly placed or had a bad incline. Field measurements indicate no pressure equalization, which is also confirmed by lab measurements. Lab results indicated inward leakage at window-wall interface, even without wind pressure, through the TDV-tubes despite a sharp incline, in element joints with a new kind of application of pre-compressed joint sealing tape. The largest leakage flows were of 0.4% of the vertical water flow across a unit width of the façade at the given height.
Zinc speciation in fly ash from MSWI using XAS - novel insights and implications
No full textThe chemical forms of zinc in fly ash from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) crucially affect ash management, influencing both material recovery options and the risk of unwanted leaching into ecosystems. The zinc speciation was investigated in fly ash samples sourced from full-scale MSWI plants, including four grate fired boilers (GB) and one fluidized bed boiler (FB). We applied X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), and the spectra were analyzed against a unique library of over 30 relevant compounds, tailored to the nuances of zinc chemistry of fly ash. Nano-XANES and sequential leaching were employed as complementary analytical methods. Multiple chemical forms of zinc were found in the ash, whereof potassium zinc chloride salts (K2ZnCl4) emerged as the predominant form in GB fly ash representing 41–64 % of the zinc content, while less for FB fly ash (19 %). The mere exposure to humidity in the air during storage resulted in hydroxylation of the alkali zinc chlorides into Zn5(OH)8Cl2·H2O. Other forms of zinc in the ash were Zn4Si2O7(OH)2·H2O, ZnFe2O4, ZnAl2O4, surface adsorbed zinc, and Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6. Notably, the proportion of zinc in spinel forms (ZnFe2O4 and ZnAl2O4) increased threefold in FB ash compared to GB ash, representing ∼60 % and ∼10–20 % of the zinc, respectively.We acknowledge MAX IV Laboratory for time at Balder beamlineunder Proposal 20220888. Research conducted at MAX IV, a Swedishnational user facility, is supported by the Swedish Research councilunder contract 2018–07152, the Swedish Governmental Agency forInnovation Systems under contract 2018–04969, and Formas undercontract 2019–02496. We acknowledge Diamond Light Source for timeon I14 under proposal MG29991.The project is funded by Sweden’s Innovation Agency, Vinnova,project numbers 2020–03775 and 2021–03814. Funding was also provided by Familjen Kamprads stiftelse, project number 20230045.</p
The use, energy use and renovation of Swedish second homes in winter sport areas
No full textThe growing utilization of second homes has led to extended heating periods and, to some extent, renovations to enhance their standards, resulting in increased energy and resource consumption. This study, conducted in Sweden, investigates user patterns across various seasons, heating systems, and implemented energy renovation measures. Findings reveal that 40% of second homes in winter sport areas are inhabited prolonged periods during the winter, and more than half are used for shorter durations throughout all seasons, surpassing the usage frequency of second homes in general. Additionally, more than half of these second homes are heated to temperatures exceeding 16°C even when unoccupied. The predominant heating method is direct electricity (48%), followed by heat pumps (32%). Renovation activities primarily focus on interior surfaces, kitchens, and bathrooms to elevate standards, with less than 15% implemented energy-efficient measures like heat pump installation, added insulation, new lighting, or control systems. Considering reported user and heating patterns, along with energy renovations undertaken, the study estimates the energy-saving potential associated with various energy renovation strategies. By installing heat pump the energy consumption can be reduced by more than 50% and by lowering the temperature when the house is unoccupied the energy consumption may be reduced by almost 50%. This study has been conducted within and funded by the research project “Energieffektivisering och varsam renovering av fritidshus” P2022-00125 funded by Spara&Bevara through The Swedish Energy Agency. </p
Learning Flame Evolution Operator under Hybrid Darrieus Landau and Diffusive Thermal Instability
No full textRecent advancements in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) with physical sciences have led to significant progress in addressing complex phenomena governed by nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). This paper explores the application of novel operator learning methodologies to unravel the intricate dynamics of flame instability, particularly focusing on hybrid instabilities arising from the coexistence of Darrieus–Landau (DL) and Diffusive–Thermal (DT) mechanisms. Training datasets encompass a wide range of parameter configurations, enabling the learning of parametric solution advancement operators using techniques such as parametric Fourier Neural Operator (pFNO) and parametric convolutional neural networks (pCNNs). Results demonstrate the efficacy of these methods in accurately predicting short-term and long-term flame evolution across diverse parameter regimes, capturing the characteristic behaviors of pure and blended instabilities. Comparative analyses reveal pFNO as the most accurate model for learning short-term solutions, while all models exhibit robust performance in capturing the nuanced dynamics of flame evolution. This research contributes to the development of robust modeling frameworks for understanding and controlling complex physical processes governed by nonlinear PDEs.The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Swedish Research Council (VR-2019-05648). The computations were enabled by resources provided by the National Academic Infrastructure for Supercomputing in Sweden (NAISS) at ALVIS and Tetralith, partially funded by the Swedish Research Council through grant agreement no. 2022-06725.</p
The invisible evidence : Digital forensics as key to solving crimes in the digital age
No full textDigital transformation rapidly changes how we live our lives in the post pandemic world. Unfortunately, digital technology is not limited to law abiding organisations and citizens. Criminal organisations and individuals are quick to identify new opportunities with new technologies, and digital transformation is dramatically changing the character of crimes, terror, and other threats. The fast emergence of new crimes is facilitated by possibilities brought by disruptive technologies such as AI, Internet of Things, drones, and cryptocurrencies that can be disastrous tools in the hands of criminals. Consequently, our society needs far better capacity to prevent and investigate criminal acts to protect organisations and citizens. This brings an urgent need to proactively reform digital forensics to significantly increase our capability to meet the strain on society brought by crimes evolving in the digital transformation era. The future of forensic science is already here, characterized by a mix of opportunities and challenges. It is essential to make it harder to effectively use digital technologies for criminal activities, while leveraging the possibilities of digital technologies by those affected, law enforcement agencies, business and organisations. As digital technologies continue to evolve, we need to stay up to date with the latest developments to effectively investigate and prosecute crimes in the digital age. There is an increased reliance on digital evidence, and the amount of heterogeneous digital evidence in criminal cases keep increasing. The forensic science techniques thus become more sophisticated and play an increasingly important role. However, the scientific area is extremely broad, and beyond the capability of most forensic science labs to keep up with the technology forefront development speed. Besides an urgent need to bring up the subject to the political arena, examples of how we can meet the challenges are discussed such as by extending our cooperation, encourage and facilitate cooperation for training and education to handle the extremely broad and rapid development, working out methods for explaining and visualising evidence for the treatment and legal values of digital evidence in prosecution, and cooperation between product developers and crime investigators for swift innovation of digital forensics tools and methodologies for quickly emerging threats. This paper will highlight specific examples where modern digital techniques are used to solve crimes in the physical world as well as crimes committed in the digital domain and discuss how “good AI” can be used to fight “evil AI” and finally touch on the sensitive balance between the increased power of the new digital forensic tools and private integrity.
Rawlsian Algorithmic Fairness and a Missing Aggregation Property of the Difference Principle
No full textModern society makes extensive use of automated algorithmic decisions, fueled by advances in artificial intelligence. However, since these systems are not perfect, questions about fairness are increasingly investigated in the literature. In particular, many authors take a Rawlsian approach to algorithmic fairness. Based on complications with this approach identified in the literature, this article discusses how Rawls’s theory in general, and especially the difference principle, should reasonably be applied to algorithmic fairness decisions. It is observed that proposals to achieve Rawlsian algorithmic fairness often aim to uphold the difference principle in the individual situations where automated decision-making occurs. However, the Rawlsian difference principle applies to society at large and does not aggregate in such a way that upholding it in constituent situations also upholds it in the aggregate. But such aggregation is a hidden premise of many proposals in the literature and its falsity explains many complications encountered.
Artificial Intelligence-based Flow Cytometer for Real-time Algae Monitoring
No full textFlow cytometry is a laser-based technology that rapidly detects and analyzes the chemical and physical characteristics of single cells or particles and is already well established in environmental and toxicological studies for microalgae and bacterial quantification. This study introduces an imaging Flow Cytometer (FC) system, designed specifically for the enhanced analysis of microalgae biomass populations and aggregate groups through Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration. The FC incorporates a single flow line, critical hardware components, and a trifurcated software setup. The system employs a multi-step process for counting algae units and an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) for classifying them in groups of two or four. To demonstrate its capabilities, the system was tested on its ability to capture, count, and categorize algal units, specifically the Desmodesmus sp. morphotype with high accuracy. Furthermore, the FC’s capabilities were contrasted with traditional counting methods, validating its enhanced precision and efficiency against a hematocytometer. With its capability to provide rapid, accurate, and high-throughput analyses, this innovative FC paves the way for a revolutionary approach to cellular research. This research was supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation project PestNu no. 101037128.</p