This thesis presents a study on how to create a production pipeline using a markerless motion capture system for the creation of animations in computer games. The questions the authors desire to answer are: Is it possible to create a pipeline that uses markerless motion capture for the creation of animations in computer games? And also: Can a markerless motion capture system fit in an animation pipeline for games? This thesis is based on previous work by Kakee Lau (Lau, 2012), a former student of Gotland University College. He describes a pipeline for working with passive optical motion capture for games. To fit the markerless motion capture system, there must be some changes to Lau’s already established pipeline. The method used in this thesis is based on a pipeline described in Lau’s thesis (Lau, 2012). The authors have made some alterations to this pipeline for it to be more suitable for markerless motion capture. The pipeline that the authors propose covers the setup of two Kinect cameras, the calibration, the recording, the cleaning and the preparation for MotionBuilder. Due to some factors that were not taken into consideration during testing, there cannot be any quantitative conclusion in this thesis to which system is the better one. Based on the findings of this study the authors can conclude that a markerless motion capture system is a viable method for game animation creation, yet not giving the same quality of results as a passive optical motion capture system.

The general aim of the study was to determine the influence of entrepreneurial orientation on the perceived success of the pipeline gas company. This type of study has not been conducted previously for such a pipeline gas company and as such, a valuable contribution could be made to a more effective entrepreneurial orientation in the business environment. Two questionnaires were administered, which focused on entrepreneurial orientation and perceived success of business respectively. A response rate of 87.63% was obtained from a sample of 97 employees at management level in the pipeline gas company concerned. The results showed a statistically significant positive relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and business development as variable of business success. The data also revealed correlations among the dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation, some with significant differences for various demographic groups and their level of entrepreneurial skills. Limitations within the study were discussed and recommendations were made for future research. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

TransCanada Corporation has proposed the Keystone XL pipeline project to transfer crude bitumen from the oil sand fields in northern Alberta, Canada, to oil refineries located in the southern part of the United States. This project has created controversy at the national level in the US and Canada and at the international level. The existence of various stakeholders with differing wants and needs has embroiled the Keystone XL in a complicated strategic dispute. This dispute was initially ignited by the potential project’s negative environmental impacts. However, economic and political issues have also played a critical role in further complicating the decision process. The objective of this study is to design a strategic decision-making system for use in assessing the Keystone XL conflict with standard and perceptual graph model methods. Standard graph model analysis consists of various steps. After identifying the decision makers (DMs) subjectively, their options and preferences are determined. Then, possible scenarios or combinations of options for these DMs are evaluated. In the next step, based on rules called solution concepts, a standard stability analysis is conducted. The perceptual graph model technique, on the other hand, considers the emotions and perceptions of DMs in a conflict to assess the existing dynamics among them. Although this technique takes its basic structure from the standard graph model technique, it presents unique insights into each DM’s perspectives toward the conflict and other DMs. This technique has been used in this study to understand how the awareness of one DM regarding other DMs’ perceptions can change reactions and strategies under different conditions regarding the Keystone XL conflict.

Multiphase flow is the simultaneous flow of two or several phases through a system such as a pipe. This common phenomenon can be found in the petroleum and chemical engineering industrial fields. Transport of sand particles in multiphase production has attracted considerable attention given sand production is a common problem especially to the oil and gas industry. The sand production causes loss of pipe wall thickness which can lead to expensive failures and loss of production time. Build-up of sand in the system can result in blockage and further hamper production. Monitoring of multiphase flow is a process that has been established over several decades. This thesis reports an assessment of the application of Acoustic Emission (AE) technology as an alternative online technique to monitoring of sand particles under multiphase flow conditions in a horizontal pipe. The research was conducted on a purpose built test rig with the purpose of establishing a relation between AE activity and sand concentration under different multiphase flow conditions. The investigation consisted of five experimental tests. The initial experiment was performed to provide a basis for the application of AE technology to detect sand particle impact prior to performing tests in multiphase flow conditions. Further investigations are reported on two phase air-sand, water-sand and air- water-sand three-phase flows in a horizontal pipe for different superficial gas velocities (VSG), superficial liquid velocities (VSL) and sand concentrations (SC). The experimental findings clearly showed a correlation exists between AE energy levels and multiphase flow parameters, such as superficial liquid velocity (VSL), superficial gas velocity (VSG), sand concentration and sand minimum transport condition (MTC).

The routing of the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline plays an important role in the future energy security of the European Union. The natural gas pipeline is planned to run from the natural gas fields in the Caspian Sea through Turkey. This project is a case study for a Geographic Information System (GIS) least-cost route analysis of a section of the proposed pipeline in Western Turkey. The route analysis comprised of weighting multiple types of criteria in a compiled risk assessment map that was analyzed by a least-cost algorithm to display the least hazardous route through the study area. Multiple varieties of criteria were considered such as, lithology, slope of terrain, environmental and social risk factors, e.g. proximity to natural reserves and urban centers, to provide the least hazardous route through the region. The derived least cost paths were more efficient than the proposed route in the relative cost associated with each route.

We consider the problem of extracting a specific feature from a noisy signal generated by a multi-channels Remote Field Eddy Current Sensor. The sensor is installed on a mobile robot whose mission is the detection of anomalous regions in metal pipelines. Given the presence of noise that characterizes the data series, anomaly signals could be masked by noise and therefore difficult to identify in some instances. In order to enhance signal peaks that potentially identify anomalies we consider an entropy filter built on a-posteriori probability density functions associated with data series. Thresholds based on the Neyman-Pearson criterion for hypothesis testing are derived. The algorithmic tool is applied to the analysis of data from a portion of pipeline with a set of anomalies introduced at predetermined locations. Critical areas identifying anomalies capture the set of damaged locations, demonstrating the effectiveness of the filter in detection with Remote Field Eddy Current Sensor.

This thesis presents the design and experimental results of a low-power pipeline ADC that applies front-end capacitor-sharing. The ADC operates at 20 MS/s, resolves 1.5 bits/stage, and is implemented in IBM 0.13um technology. The purpose of the technique is to reduce power consumption in the front-end S/H. This work is a proof-of-concept and it concentrates on the front-end design. A comparison is conducted between a capacitor-sharing ADC and a regular ADC and as a result, the technique reduces the power consumption in the front-end S/H by 39%. At an input frequency of 9.53 MHz and a sampling rate of 20 MS/s, the fabricated capacitor-sharing ADC consumes 4.7 mW at 1.2 V, and it achieves an ENOB of 8.5 bits and a FOM of 0.68 pJ/step. It has an ENOB as high as 8.67 bits at 0.4 MS/s and a FOM as low as 0.6 pJ/step when sub-sampling at 20 MS/s.

This thesis presents the design and experimental results of a low-power pipeline ADC that applies front-end capacitor-sharing. The ADC operates at 20 MS/s, resolves 1.5 bits/stage, and is implemented in IBM 0.13um technology. The purpose of the technique is to reduce power consumption in the front-end S/H. This work is a proof-of-concept and it concentrates on the front-end design. A comparison is conducted between a capacitor-sharing ADC and a regular ADC and as a result, the technique reduces the power consumption in the front-end S/H by 39%. At an input frequency of 9.53 MHz and a sampling rate of 20 MS/s, the fabricated capacitor-sharing ADC consumes 4.7 mW at 1.2 V, and it achieves an ENOB of 8.5 bits and a FOM of 0.68 pJ/step. It has an ENOB as high as 8.67 bits at 0.4 MS/s and a FOM as low as 0.6 pJ/step when sub-sampling at 20 MS/s.

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) from the external surface of a buried pipeline is a serious matter and can cause significant economic and environmental losses. Despite of many research works which have been done on the understanding of crack initiation and propagation mechanisms, these mechanisms are still being debated. This research studied the crack growth behaviour of different pipeline steels including two types of X65, one X52 and one X80 pipeline steels in near-neutral pH environments. Crack growth behaviour of all steels has been found to be consistent with that of true corrosion fatigue. Crack growth rates were correlated with (K)2Kmax/f0.1. It was revealed that cracking behaviour of pipeline steels in near neutral pH environments is material dependent. Highest crack growth rate was seen in the steel which highest amount of hydrogen atoms could be generated and stored in its microstructure to contribute in cracking procedure due to hydrogen embrittlement effect. / Materials Engineering

Zugl.: Wuppertal, Univ., Diss., 2005