Abstract Recovery of underwater drowned human body is one of the major missions of the firefighters. However, due to short of man power, lack of training and professional equipments, this kind of body recovery mission was basically conducted on the shore and at the water surface. Only a limited amount (if any) of diving activities were conducted to search for the drowned body. For a much more efficient way to conduct this kind of body recovery activity, it is necessary to incorporate the state of the art of the underwater acoustics technique, such as scanning sonar, into the operation procedures. Underwater stationary targets are objects sitting on the seafloor that can¡¦t move autonomously. Apparatus feasible for the detection of these underwater stationary targets includes: optics, acoustics and geophysical instruments. Among them, acoustical apparatus is the most feasible one. The purpose of this research was to investigate the application of scanning sonar for underwater human body detection and recovery. Based on theoretical considerations, the use of scanning sonar can improve both total time consumed and target detection rate of body recovery rescue activities. Three real cases which incorporated this equipment into the rescue work illustrated that the movement of a diver, several suspected targets and the morphological features around the targets can be recognized by the scanning sonar. In addition, the dimensions, shapes, amount and geographic locations of the targets can be identified for further considerations. During the mission at the Jih-Yueh-Tan Reservoir, it was proved indirectly that the scanning sonar can detect the drowned human body successively. Based on this investigation, it is recomended that the detection and identification ability of the scanning sonar can be dramatically improved if optical apparatus such as ROV (remotely operated vehicle) or TOV (towed operated vehicle) was incorporated into the operation procedures.

Thesis (M.S.) in Mechanical Engineering--University of Maine, 2001. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 54-55).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1981. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-127).

Human body scanners used to extract anthropological data have a significant drawback, the subject is required to undress or wear tight fitting clothing. This thesis demonstrates an ultrasonic based alternative to the current optical systems, that can potentially operate on a fully clothed subject. To validate the concept several experiments were performed to determine the acoustic properties of multiple garments. The results indicated that such an approach was possible. Beamforming is introduced as a method by which the ultrasonic scanning area can be increased, the concept is thoroughly studied and a clear theoretical analysis is performed. Additionally, Matlab has been used to demonstrate graphically, the results of such analysis, providing an invaluable tool during the simulation, experimental and results stages of the thesis. To evaluate beamfoming as a composite part of ultrasonic body imaging, a hardware solution was necessary. During the concept phase, both FPGA and digital signal processors were evaluated to determine their suitability for the role. An FPGA approach was finally chosen, which allows highly parallel operation, essential to the high acquisition speeds required by some beamforming methodologies. In addition, analogue circuitry was also designed to provide an interface with the ultrasonic transducers, which, included variable gain amplifiers, charge amplifiers and signal conditioning. Finally, a digital acquisition card was used to transfer data between the FPGA and a desktop computer, on which, the sampled data was processed and displayed in a coherent graphical manner. The beamforming results clearly demonstrate that imaging multiple layers in air, with ultrasound, is a viable technique for anthroplogical data collection. Furthermore, a wavelet based method of improving the axial resolution is also proposed and demonstrated.

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ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Historically organisations have had the "luxury" of being able to anticipate future developments and respond to them in good time due to, firstly, the comparatively slow pace of change and, secondly, the past being a relatively good predictor of the future. The second half of the 20th Century bears witness to some of the most dramatic changes and developments experienced by mankind. Most notable of these were globalisation,de-regulation, the emergence of the information/knowledge economy and, perhaps most significant of all, the changes brought about by the Internet. The underlying assertion of this report is that, given the current, complex, dynamic and sometimes volatile nature of changes in the external environment, in order to ensure a sustainable competitive advantage, organisations will be forced to consider carefully the dynamics of the environment in which they operate and to build their plans around these dynamics. This report briefly traces the evolution of strategic planning to its current status prior to providing a detailed analysis of the nature of environmental scanning and its applicability to strategic planning. The report provides a theoretical overview Qf environmental scanning and a discussion of some of the tools and techniques of environmental scanning. Within this context the report provides a brief indication of the extent of the practice of environmental scanning within the financial services sector of South Africa. The conclusion assesses the findings of the current state of the practice of environmental scanning against the theory, with the view to providing an insight into the extent to which environmental scanning is applied in South Africa Possible future directions of research and development of the practice are also identified. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Histories gesproke, het instansies oor die "luukse" beskik om toekomstige ontwikkelinge vooruit te kon waarneem en betyds op hulle te reageer, eerstens weens die betreklike stadige pas van verandering en tweedens, omdat die verlede 'n betreklike goeie voorspeller van die toekoms was. Die tweede helfte van die 20ste eeu getuig van sommige van die mees dramatiese veranderinge en ontwikkelinge wat deur die mens ondervind is. Die mees uitstaande was globalisering, deregulering, die verskyning van die inligting/kennis-ekonomie en, dalk die mees uitstaande van almal, die veranderinge wat deur die Internet teweeggebring is. Die onderliggende stelling van hierdie verslag is dat, gegewe die huidige, komplekse,dinamiese en soms onbestendige aard van veranderinge in die eksterne omgewing, om 'n mededingende voordeel te verseker, sal instansies geforseer word om die dinamika van die omgewing waarin hulle werk, versigtig te oorweeg en om hulle planne om hierdie dinamika te bou. Hierdie verslag speur kortliks die ewolusie na van strategiese beplanning tot sy huidige status gevolg deur 'n omvattende analise van die aard van omgewingsondersoeke en die toepaslikheid daarvan op strategiese beplanning. Die verslag voorsien 'n teoretiese oorsig tot omgewingsondersoeke en 'n bespreking van sommige van die instrurnente en tegnieke van omgewingsondersoeke. Binne hierdie konteks voorsien die verslag 'n kort aanduiding van die omvang van die uitvoering van omgewingsondersoeke binne die finansiele dienstesektor van Suid-Afrika. Die slot som die bevindings op van die huidige toestand van die praktyk van omgewingsondersoeke volgens die teorie, met die oog op voorsiening van 'n insig in die mate waartoe omgewingsondersoeke in Suid-Afrika toegepas word. Moontlike toekomstige rigtings van navorsing en ontwikkeling van die praktyk word ook geidentifiseer.

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