This thesis discusses the creation of a novel platform that incorporates multiple communication methods, including SMS, email and web-based technologies, for interacting with users of mobile communication devices. The platform utilises people in a mobile environment to solve a range of different application problems, where each problem is a separate and distinct scenario type with unique objectives. There are existing applications available that interact with users of mobile communication devices to provide a service, such as regular weather updates to the users. Other applications have been designed to manage and coordinate the users to perform tasks within a mobile environment, such as performing field studies for scientific purposes. However, the existing applications are designed for only one specific scenario, with the design and implementation solely focused on solving the objectives of that scenario. Each component of these applications needs to be developed from scratch in order to cater for the application s requirements. There is currently no integrated communications platform that offers a framework for supporting a range of different scenario types. The new platform, entitled the Connected-Mobile Platform, aims to support the rapid development and implementation of new scenarios. This platform is composed of a framework of generic components that enable the active running of multiple scenarios concurrently, with the ability to tailor to the requirements of new scenarios as they arise via a structured process. The platform facilitates a means to coordinate its users in order to tackle the objectives of a scenario. The thesis investigates several system architectures to determine an appropriate architectural design for constructing the proposed platform. The platform has a generic framework, based on a client-server architecture, to facilitate the inclusion of a multitude of scenarios. A scenario represents a problem or an event, whereby the platform can utilise and interact with users of mobile communication devices to attempt to solve the objectives of the scenario. Three mobile communication methods are supported; the Short Message Service, electronic mail and web-forms via the mobile internet. Users are able to select and switch between the different methods. The thesis describes the platform s tailored communication structure for scenarios and autonomous analysis of messages. The thesis discusses case studies of two different scenarios to evaluate the platform s facilities for rapid scenario development. The Diet Diary scenario, which is for individual users, aims to manage a user s daily calorie intake to help them reach their desired weight goal. The focus is on the platform s functionality for analysing and responding to messages autonomously. The Missing Persons scenario, which utilises multiple users, involves tracking and locating people who have been reported missing. The focus is on the platform s functionality for coordinating the multiple users, through the creation of assignments, in order to distribute the scenario objectives. The thesis concludes by highlighting the novel features of the platform and identifying opportunities for future work.

Experts in a field regularly apply a defined set of rules or procedures to carry out a problem-solving task or analysis on a given problem. Often the problem can be represented as a computer model, be it mathematical, chemical, or physics based, and so on. It would certainly be advantageous for a domain expert who is not proficient in software development to express solutions to problems in a domain-specific notation that can be executed as a program. Many new ideas aim to make software development easier and shift the development role closer to the end-user. One such means of development is the use of a small, intuitive programming language called a Domain-Specific Language (DSL.) This dissertation examines a generic approach to constructing a Virtual Machine (VM) to provide the runtime semantics for a particular DSL. It proposes a generic, object-oriented framework, called a VM Framework, in which to build a VM by subtyping abstract instruction and environment classes that are part of the VM Framework. The subtyped classes constitute an environment and an interface called an instruction set architecture and the instructions can access and operate on the environment in a deterministic way to provide the runtime semantics of a DSL program. Both instruction classes and environment classes encapsulate functionality of an existing domain, represented programmatically as a namespace construct. The namespace is home to related classes that provide the various concepts inherent of a domain. These are concepts understood by a domain expert and in this dissertation it is shown how they are exposed as DSL constructs. With the use of compiler writing tools, a compiler can be created for a DSL that generates an appropriate instruction sequence that can be executed by the VM. The grammar of the DSL is shown to feature constructs that allow a domain expert to express concepts of the underlying domain in an intuitive manner. The dissertation details how a VM is configured for a specific set of instructions and an environment. Instruction sets and environments can be extended creating VMs with additional semantics for DSLs that are similar, or contain subsets of semantics of other DSLs. The languages are intended to be intuitive and it is shown using examples how a specific DSL program is mapped to an instruction sequence with the instruction set architecture and environment in mind. Comparative performance in relation to other DSL implementations, including a hard-coded approach of a VM and an interpreted approach are also provided. The VM Framework is proven to be most effective in rapidly prototyping a DSL for a particular problem domain. The dissertation also provides examples of DSLs such as a real-valued expression language and a scene description language that uses a ray-tracer for rendering geometric objects onto a canvas. It is shown how the scene description language is an extension to the real-valued expression language in terms of their underlying VMs. All DSL grammars are provided. / Dissertation (MSc (Computer Science))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Computer Science / MSc / unrestricted

The expected rise in aviation demand requires the reduction of the environmental impacts that impede this desired growth, such as fuel burn, emissions, and airport noise. A number of current technology programs attempt to identify, evaluate, and select the environmental technology solutions for the coming decades. Fleet-level evaluation will be essential to deciding between various technology options because it provides a system-level assessment that clarifies the effect of operational and policy variables. Fleet-level modeling in general, introduces various complexities, and detailed fleet-level models require significant time and computing resources to execute. With a large number of potential technology options available for assessment, a full detailed analysis of the technology space is infeasible. Therefore, a simplified fleet-level environmental evaluation methodology is required to select scenarios to carry forward for detailed modeling. Capabilities such as the Global and Regional Environmental Aviation Tradeoff (GREAT) tool, have achieved rapid simplified fleet-level analysis for fuel burn and emissions, but currently lack a satisfactory generic framework to evaluate fleet-level noise. The primary objective of this research is to formulate and implement a generic fleet-level noise methodology that allows decision makers to analyze the fleet-level impact of many technology scenarios on the quantity of noise, and also its distribution about certain airport types. This information can be leveraged to provide screening assessments of technology impacts earlier in the decision-making process, reserving more sophisticated modeling techniques for the most promising scenarios. The capability gaps identified are addressed by the development of a rapid generic fleet-level noise model that captures basic airport noise contour shape and contour area, a categorization of airports with respect to their operational and infrastructure characteristics, and the development of shape metrics that enable rapid classification and comparison of contour shapes. Once the capability gaps were addressed, the resultant System-Wide Assessment of Noise (SWAN) methodology was implemented via use cases to demonstrate the application of the methodology, examining the introduction of a set of possible near-term (N+1) future technologies into the forecast. While these examples are simplified and notional, they demonstrate the types of analyses and investigations that can be performed with the SWAN methodology, providing answers regarding the impact of technologies on contour shapes. The development, verification, validation, and demonstration of these capabilities complete a framework for evaluating fleet-level noise at the screening-level that retains the ability to capture and effectively discuss shape information beyond the capability of current screening-level noise evaluation techniques. By developing a rapid generic fleet-level noise model, a set of Generic Airports, and metrics that objectively quantify and describe shape, decision-makers can access greater levels of information, including the critical facet of contour shape in fleet-level airport noise.

Les systèmes dits Sensor Webs sont des middlewares informatiques assurant la communication entre les capteurs et les applications. En tant que véritables médiateurs, la popularité de ces systèmes n’a cessé de grandir depuis l’apparition des tout premiers capteurs. Plus récemment, l’émergence de nouveaux paradigmes tels que l’Internet des Objets (IoT) a complètement révolutionné les systèmes basés sur les capteurs en général. Parmi eux, les Sensor Webs ne dérogent pas à cette règle et doivent désormais répondre à de nouveaux défis, notamment en termes d’intégration, de Qualité des Observations (QoO) et d’adaptation système. Dans ce travail de recherche, nous proposons une nouvelle génération de Sensor Webs capables d’adapter la QoO distribuée de manière autonomique et de manière spécifique à chaque application (QASWS). Premièrement, nous introduisons un framework générique destiné aux chercheurs et développeurs souhaitant concevoir leur propre solution QASWS. Dans un deuxième temps, nous instancions ce framework et proposons un prototype de plateforme d’intégration pour l’évaluation de la QoO à la demande (iQAS). Après avoir évalué ses performances, nous présentons trois cas d’utilisation pour la plateforme iQAS. Finalement, nous concluons cette étude en imaginant l’apport de certains paradigmes transverses vis-à-vis de la QoO dans un futur proche. / Sensor Web systems are computer middlewares that aim at bridging the gap between sensors and applications. As true mediators, the popularity of such systems has steadily grown since the appearance of the very first sensors. More recently, the emergence of new paradigms such as the Internet of Things (IoT) has completely revolutionized the sensing research field. As a consequence, Sensor Webs should now cope with new challenges pertaining to integration, Quality of Observation (QoO) and system adaptation. In this research work, we propose a novel generation of Sensor Webs able to adapt the delivered QoO in an autonomic and application-specific manner (QASWS). First, we introduce a generic framework intended for researchers and developers who want to conceive their own QASWS solution. Then, we instantiate this framework and propose a prototype of an integration platform for QoO assessment as a service (iQAS). After evaluating its performances, we present three use cases for the iQAS platform. Finally, we conclude this work by foreseeing the benefits of some transverse paradigms with regard to QoO in the near future.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The Energy Monitoring Framework, designed and developed by IAC, IUPUI, aims to provide a cloud-based solution that combines business analytics with sensors for real-time energy management at the plant level using wireless sensor network technology. The project provides a platform where users can analyze the functioning of a plant using sensor data. The data would also help users to explore the energy usage trends and identify any energy leaks due to malfunctions or other environmental factors in their plant. Additionally, the users could check the machinery status in their plant and have the capability to control the equipment remotely. The main objectives of the project include the following: • Set up a wireless network using sensors and smart implants with a base station/ controller. • Deploy and connect the smart implants and sensors with the equipment in the plant that needs to be analyzed or controlled to improve their energy efficiency. • Set up a generalized interface to collect and process the sensor data values and store the data in a database. • Design and develop a generic database compatible with various companies irrespective of the type and size. • Design and develop a web application with a generalized structure. Hence the database can be deployed at multiple companies with minimum customization. The web app should provide the users with a platform to interact with the data to analyze the sensor data and initiate commands to control the equipment. The General Structure of the project constitutes the following components: • A wireless sensor network with a base station. • An Edge PC, that interfaces with the sensor network to collect the sensor data and sends it out to the cloud server. The system also interfaces with the sensor network to send out command signals to control the switches/ actuators. • A cloud that hosts a database and an API to collect and store information. • A web application hosted in the cloud to provide an interactive platform for users to analyze the data. The project was demonstrated in: • Lecture Hall (https://iac-lecture-hall.engr.iupui.edu/LectureHallFlask/). • Test Bed (https://iac-testbed.engr.iupui.edu/testbedflask/). • A company in Indiana. The above examples used sensors such as current sensors, temperature sensors, carbon dioxide sensors, and pressure sensors to set up the sensor network. The equipment was controlled using compactable switch nodes with the chosen sensor network protocol. The energy consumption details of each piece of equipment were measured over a few days. The data was validated, and the system worked as expected and helped the user to monitor, analyze and control the connected equipment remotely.