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MIA
Get PDFThroughout this manuscript, I will share everything that went into the filmmaking process of my thesis film MIA. I will explore what went into making the film, both pre-and post production, and an overall description of each detail from the set. I will also discuss my education at the University of New Orleans and the person I am today from when I started three years ago
Faults Segmentation in Levee Systems Using Deep Learning Approaches
Get PDFLevees are earthen structures constructed to mitigate flooding in low-lying areas. Although levee systems can reduce flood risks, they cannot completely eliminate them. Failures within flood control systems due to inadequate maintenance or strong water currents can lead to significant property damage and catastrophic loss of life, as was seen during Hurricane Katrina. Consequently, regular inspections are essential to identify and address any issues with the levees promptly. However, current inspection methods rely on manual techniques that are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to human error. Therefore, this study proposes using deep learning models for more efficient and frequent assessment of levee systems.
The research suggests employing deep-learning architectures to detect three primary deficiencies: cracks, sand boils, and seepages using a semantic segmentation approach. The proposed models focus on lightweight designs, incorporating transfer learning techniques and enhancing feature representation to improve the accuracy and efficiency of fault segmentation using images within flood control systems. Moreover, these models are evaluated with real-world data specific to levees, allowing for their effectiveness in handling various faults exhibiting variations and complexity. As a result, the research enables pixel-level fault detection for AI-based inspection of levee systems, providing valuable support to existing assessment procedures. Furthermore, the study\u27s findings have the potential to extend beyond levee inspection, with implications for broader applications of deep learning in semantic segmentation for real-world scenarios.
Keywords: Levee; Faults; Deep learning; Images; Detection; Segmentatio
Measuring the Lengths of Sperm Whales of the Northern Gulf of Mexico by Wavelet Analysis of their Usual Clicks
Get PDFAbstract
Acoustic recordings of underwater sounds produced by marine mammals present an attractive alternative to costly and logistically complex ship based visual surveys for collecting population data for various species.
The first reported use of underwater acoustic recordings in the long-term monitoring of sperm whale populations was by Ackleh et al. (Ackleh et al., 2012). The paper describes counting sperm whale clicks at different locations to track population changes over time.
Analysis of sperm whale clicks offers additional insight into sperm whale populations. The echo location clicks (usual clicks) of sperm whales can be used to give an estimate of the whale’s length. The acoustic axis of the whale must be aligned with the hydrophone for accurate length estimates to be made. Most previously reported work using acoustics to measure whale lengths has been done with surface hydrophones recording clicks from a diving whale. With that geometry the whale’s acoustic axis will be approximately aligned with the hydrophone. In the case of monitoring a diving whale it is usual that most of the recorded clicks are from a single whale reducing interfering clicks from other whales.
When recording clicks with bottom mounted hydrophones no whale/hydrophone orientation can be assumed. The vast majority of clicks recorded are from off axis whales and therefore produce inaccurate length measurements. It is also not unusual for several clicking whales to be recorded at the same time, producing incorrect whale length measurements due to interference between the clicks. Cepstrum Analysis is the favored technique for making acoustic whale length measurements from bottom moored hydrophones. If enough clicks are recorded from the same whale in enough different orientations, the spurious signals in off axis clicks are “averaged out”. It has been observed, however, that multiple whales clicking at the same time produced errors in the results from Cepstrum Analysis.
In this paper a new method for selecting on axis sperm whale clicks from which to determine repeatable length estimates will be presented. It uses wavelet decomposition and a unique quality control test to make better whale length estimates
Motion Simulation and Risk Assessment of Dropped Objects in Offshore Operations
Get PDFSubsea pipelines are a cost-effective and reliable way to transport hydrocarbons in offshore oil and gas development. However, dropped objects can pose hazards and cause damage to pipelines. This dissertation briefly introduces the hazards and hidden dangers caused by dropped containers, discusses motion simulation methods for different object shapes, and reviews risk assessment procedures for handling dropped objects in offshore operations. Ongoing research at the University of New Orleans\u27 towing tank on dropped container models is also discussed. Using ANSYS Fluent, we simulate trajectories of container models and calculate relevant hydrodynamic coefficients for different dropped angles. We then apply risk assessment to the container models and use R software to construct prediction models for landing locations. Finally, we draw conclusions based on our findings
Pocket Parks and Student Murals
No full textThe Office of Research collaborated with Fine Arts students for a public-art initiative raising awareness about the devastating effects of climate change on local bird populations. Murals were painted around specific areas on campus that were then transformed into pocket parks full of native plants. These beautification projects are part of the Audubon Mural Project and Keep UNO Beautiful, a Keep Louisiana Beautiful affiliate. Fine Arts students received service learning credit for their work on the murals. Members of Audubon Society gave students presentations about the Audubon Mural Project, opening the door for networking opportunities and further collaboration with students. The Native Plant Initiative provided plants for the beautification projects, utilizing native plants to benefit the overall environment, provide habitat and shelter for native insect species as well as provide an abundant food source for native bird populations. The Office of Research hosted a community outreach event where the Native Plant Initiative gave away hundreds of free native plants. The community was informed about the efforts of UNO Fine Arts students, the Audubon Mural Project, the beautification projects as part of Keep UNO Beautiful, and the importance of native plants
Season 4 Escape Plan
Get PDFSeason 4 Escape Plan was the configuration of ideals and happenings throughout Andre\u27s highschool years that detailed the Black experience, Student Mental incarceration, and the Need of a Dream. The 3 figured cardboard Monolith focuses on Tucker T. Chase, one of Andre\u27s caricatures. We journey through ideas of protest, discrimination, false news, incarceration, a glass system and the rock that broke the glass. When asked, curiosity on the tongue of why the particular title, Andre stated, As a child of Katrina, my debut to NOCCA was bound to be episodic. Each year was just another Season, but this time I decided the show MUST go on
Exploring language center connectivity in children with ASD to improve understanding of brain-based learning techniques in the neurodivergent brain
No full textThis presentation examines the pervasive neurobiological disorder of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in four parts. The first section examines the definition, diagnosis, heterogenous presentation and significant impact of language on overall functioning in persons with ASD. Next the neurobiological regions historically associated with language, including both comprehension and production, are defined and illustrated, specifically Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas. The neurobiological interhemispheric and intrahemispheric connectivity of the language centers between the typically developing and the ASD brain are further explored, respectively, in the final two sections. First the interconnectivity between the two hemispheres, primarily through the corpus callosum is explored, specifically in the portions that intersect Broca’s and Wernicke’s, respectively. Then the connectivity of the arcuate faciculus from Broca’s to Wernicke’s is considered in left hemisphere and compared against the right hemisphere in typically developing and ASD populations. Within the investigation of the connectivity in the ASD brain, three main language subgroups are observed: severe language impairment, moderate language impairment and no language impairment. The micro exploration of neurobiological differences within the subgroupings of language in ASD is a novel inquiry ripe for research especially considering the impact that language has on overall functioning to consider language laterality of the atypical pathways of the ASD brain
