Thesis (DTech (Electrical Engineering))--Peninsula Technikon, 2002. / Word processed copy. Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 189-199). Also available online.

This report reviews the cost of urban sprawl and shows the fiscal impact of smart growth. The report then focuses on the West Campus University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO) District in Austin, Texas, and it analyzes and estimates the fiscal impact on the City of Austin. Through fiscal impact analysis, it examines the contribution of the UNO District to the fiscal position of the City of Austin. As a result, this report gives the City of Austin fiscal reasons for redevelopment based on the smart growth scenario. This report begins with showing the cost of urban sprawl. Then, it reviews the history,principles, and policies of smart growth. The following section demonstrates the fiscal impact of smart growth. Lastly, the case of the West Campus area is examined by fiscal impact analysis. The result after the analysis shows the fiscal impacts on the City of Austin from both sides of budget, including expenditures and revenues. The revenues received from the residents of the area increased due to the sudden jump in property value, growth population, housing constructions, and mixed-use development. However, the costs also increased due to the needs for public services. / text

This Master’s Report outlines graduate research work completed by Akshay Sriprasad, who is supervised by Professor Tom Edgar, in the area of modeling and systems optimization for the smart grid. The scope this report includes the development and validation of strategies to elicit demand response, defined as reduction of peak demand, at the residential level, in conjunction with collaborative research efforts from the Pecan Street Research Institute, a smart grid research consortium based in Austin, TX. The first project outlined is an artificial neural network-­‐based demand forecasting model, initially developed for UT’s campus cooling system and adapted for residential homes. Utilizing this forecasting model, a number of demand response-­‐focused optimization studies are carried out, including optimization of community energy storage for peak shifting, and electric vehicle charging optimization to harness inexpensive night-­‐time Texas wind energy. Community energy storage and electric vehicles are chosen as ideal dynamic charging media due to increased proliferation and focus of Pecan Street Research Institute on critical emerging technologies. As these two technologies involve significant capital investment, an alternative mobile application-­‐based demand response strategy is outlined to complete a comprehensive portfolio of demand response strategies to suit a variety of budgets and capabilities. / text

Achieving a low carbon economy has been the focus of Hong Kong in recent years. Strategies are put forth to support sustainable energy, because Hong Kong has inadequate local and renewable energy reserves. Smart grid technologies have benefited many countries in the world, and countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and South Korea are exploring this new green energy strategy. Hong Kong’s power companies have considered smart grid technologies, conducting pilot projects to test their local feasibility. In this research, stakeholders’ perspectives of the current status of smart grids are overviewed in Hong Kong from the angle of policy aspect. Stakeholder theory is utilized as the framework for understanding and analyzing the perceptions of stakeholder groups. An integrated and modified stakeholder power-interest matrix was developed for analyzing level of power and interest of stakeholder groups on smart grid from policy dimension. Through the course of this research project, qualitative interviews were conducted for 11 interviewees with subjectsfrom1six stakeholder groups, including: academics, advisory bodies, business, government, non-governmental organizations, and power companies. Follow-up quantitative questionnaires were distributed to the same target group for stakeholder analysis and to map the level of power and interest of stakeholder groups regarding smart grid policy development in Hong Kong. The data collected from interviews were compared with and contrasted against each stakeholder groups and other countries, with a view to identifying common motivations, barriers, and policy suggestions. The findings reveal that the six stakeholder groups hold medium to high power and interest in smart grid policy development in Hong Kong. Common motivations identified by local stakeholder groups include: the right to choose their own energy mix for power generation, potential behavioural change via smart meter and tariff restructuring, possible energy savings and emissions reductions for the environment, and corporate social responsibility. The most significant motivation for smart grid development shared with other countries is the goal of achieving low carbon economy and energy efficiency. Shared barriers perceived by the six stakeholder groups are: unreliable renewable power supplies, significant capital investments required, impracticalities of supplying electricity back to the grid, transfers of additional power generation costs to consumers, and limited smart grid knowledge by the public. The most significant barrier shared with international countries is funding mechanism, yet it may be difficult for Hong Kong to secure funding from the government because of problems of trust. Three stages of recommendations are suggested. Short-term recommendations centre on the policy development direction of smart grid in Hong Kong, and include implementing dynamic pricing, undertaking a large-scale pilot program and establishing an awareness campaign (funded by the government)for educating the general public. Medium-term recommendation is to establish a joint green fund with the contributions of companies with large carbon footprints. Long-term recommendations include market liberalization and increases in market competition. / published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

ITC/USA 2014 Conference Proceedings / The Fiftieth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 20-23, 2014 / Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, CA / This paper describes a device that integrates remote monitoring and control electronics into a commercial off the shelf 120 VAC power distribution strip and surge protector. An integrated microcontroller collects data on power usage from each of four AC outlets, along with two USB ports, and relays this information to a remote location. Using a conventional web browser to generate a graphical user interface, an untrained user can easily visualize their current and past energy usage patterns, and send commands to control individual outlets.

ITC/USA 2012 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Eighth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 22-25, 2012 / Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, California / This paper addresses the system requirements of the C-Band TM antenna that will take the place of the S-Band TM antenna used in applications on munitions and targets that require a quasi-omni directional antenna pattern. For these applications, the C-Band TM effective radiated power (ERP) must be approximately 3 dB higher than the S-Band TM ERP to achieve the same system performance due mainly to weather and environmental differences. From a systems stand-point, this will be a problem for the following reasons: power amplification at higher frequencies is usually less efficient, there is a limit on prime power due to battery capabilities, and a more complex corporate feed at C-Band as compared to S-Band will produce more loss. This means that a more fruitful approach would be to use smart antenna ideas to achieve the required higher ERP as compared to current approaches of using higher power transistors and more battery power. Several smart antenna ideas are introduced in this paper, switchable driven element antenna is described including active amplification at each element.

Laser-based techniques have become essential tools for probing biological molecules in systems that demand high spatial and temporal control. This dissertation presents the development of micro-analytical techniques based on multiphoton excitation (MPE) to promote highly localized, three-dimensional (3D) photochemistry of biologically relevant molecules on submicron dimensions. Strategies based on capillary electrophoresis (CE) have been developed for the rapid separation and spectroscopic analysis of short-lived photochemical reaction products. High-speed separation and analysis are achieved through a combination of very high electric fields and a laser-based optical system that uses MPE for both the generation and detection of hydroxyindole photoproducts on the time scale of microseconds. MPE was also used for the development of photolithographic techniques for the creation of microstructured protein-based materials with highly defined three-dimensional (3D) topographies. Specifically, a multiphoton lithographic (MPL) technique was developed that used a low-cost microchip laser for the rapid prototyping of 3D microarchitectures when combined with dynamic optical masking. Furthermore, MPL was used to create novel “smart” biomaterials that reproducibly respond with tunable actuation to changes in the local chemical and thermal environment. The utility of these materials for creating biocompatible cellular microenvironments was demonstrated and presents a novel approach for studying small populations of microorganisms. Finally, through the development of a multifocal approach that used multiple laser beams to promote the photocrosslinking of biological molecules, the speed and versatility of MPL was extended to allow both the parallel fabrication of 3D microstructures and the rapid creation of large-scale biomaterials with highly defined spatial features. / text

In this report some possible consequences of introducing demand response in the electric power grid are studied. Demand response is a part of the Smart Grid, which is a technology being developed to use our electric power grids more efficiently. Demand response programs aim to move people’s power usage over different times of the day, for example to distribute the power usage more evenly throughout the day or to permit a larger share of renewable, intermittent power sources in the system without making the delivery of electric power less stable.  A distribution system operator (DSO) can encourage customers to shift their power usage between different hours by various tariffs, for example by using time-differentiated or power dependent tariffs.   In this thesis, the change in power losses and possible environmental impact of introducing due to a power shift is studied. Power input curves from a DSO, Sala-Heby Energi AB, are studied and modified to simulate a power shift with an evened out electric power usage. The studies made show that in the best-case scenario, that is a electric power usage evened out to 100% each day, the power losses in the whole grid can be reduced with 2.6%. The environmental study shows that the result varies greatly with what method is chosen to do the calculations. The results are presented in kg CO2-equivalents (CO2e), and depending on method used they can either decrease or increase. The environmental study show that the environmental impact from the power usage is more dependent on the shift in power usage between hours than the decrease in electric power losses.

Στην παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία μελετάμε τις έξυπνες κάρτες καθώς και τις τεχνολογίες που σχετίζονται με αυτές. Ιδιαίτερη έμφαση δίνεται στην τεχνολογία Java Card την οποία άλλωστε χρησιμοποιούμε για την ανάπτυξη μιας πιλοτικής εφαρμογής έξυπνης κάρτας ασθενούς. Στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο αναφερόμαστε γενικά στις έξυπνες κάρτες. Πραγματοποιούμε μια σύντομη ιστορική αναδρομή και μελετάμε τους τομείς εκείνους στους οποίους βρίσκουν εφαρμογή, παρουσιάζοντας έτσι μερικά από τα πλεονεκτήματα τους. Στο δεύτερο κεφάλαιο αναφερόμαστε στην αρχιτεκτονική και στο υλικό των έξυπνων καρτών. Αφού παρουσιάσουμε τα διαφορετικά είδη καρτών που υπάρχουν αναφερόμαστε σε κάθε σύστημα υλικού μίας έξυπνης κάρτας όπως για παράδειγμα στον επεξεργαστή, στην μνήμη κ.α. Στο τρίτο κεφάλαιο μελετάμε το λογισμικό των έξυπνων καρτών. Αναφερόμαστε στον τρόπο επικοινωνίας με την κάρτα, στα υπάρχοντα λειτουργικά συστήματα για έξυπνες κάρτες καθώς και στα πρότυπα που έχουν κυριαρχήσει. Κλείνοντας το κεφάλαιο πραγματοποιούμε μια σύντομη εισαγωγή στην κρυπτογραφία. Στο τέταρτο κεφάλαιο αναφερόμαστε λεπτομερώς στην τεχνολογία Java Card. Μελετάμε τόσο την αρχιτεκτονική όσο και τα συστατικά της τεχνολογίας αυτής όπως είναι η εικονική μηχανή και το περιβάλλον εκτέλεσης. Αναφερόμαστε ακόμα σε διάφορα θέματα συναφή με την τεχνολογία αυτή. Στο πέμπτο και τελευταίο κεφάλαιο ασχολούμαστε με την υλοποίηση μιας πιλοτικής εφαρμογής έξυπνης κάρτας ασθενούς. Αφού περιγράψουμε τις λειτουργικές και τις τεχνικές προδιαγραφές αναφερόμαστε σε θέματα σχεδιασμού της εφαρμογής και τέλος δείχνουμε αναλυτικά τον τρόπο λειτουργίας της. / In the present diploma thesis we study the smart cards in addition to the technologies that are related with them. Particular accent is given in the Java Card technology which we use in order to develop a demo application of a patient’s smart card. In the first chapter we set out general characteristics of smart cards. We make a short historical retrospection and we study some particular fields in which they are applicable, presenting their advantages. In the second chapter we refer to the architecture and hardware of smart cards. After we present the variety of the existing smart cards we overhaul the hardware of smart cards, for example CPU, memory etc. In the third chapter we examine the software of smart cards. We set out the way of communication with the card, in the existing operating systems for smart cards as well as in the models that have dominated. Closing the chapter we make a short reference in smart card’s cryptography. In the fourth chapter we make a more detailed reference to Java Card technology. We study the architecture and the components of this technology which are the virtual machine and the executing environment. We also refer to various subjects relevant with this technology. In the fifth and last chapter we deal with the development of a demo application. It is a smart card that is used widely in many hospitals around the world. It is used by these hospitals’ patients. After we show the functional and technical specifications we refer to designing issues of this application and finally we demonstrate their way of operation.

As computing matures, it is becoming increasingly obvious that a change is necessary for the manner in which web services interact with users. Server-centric models are inconvenient for users. A new paradigm, Smart Interactions, provides a web service architecture which is centered around the user's needs, rather than the simplistic server view currently being used. The system responds to the individual user and is able to adapt to changes to better serve the user. The Smart Internet system helps the user accomplish their tasks efficiently and intuitively. An important aspect of Smart Interactions is that of cognitive support, which provides enhanced information and guidance to the system or user linked to the current task. This thesis examines predictive analytics and its application to cognitive support in Smart Interactions, and presents and evaluates a framework for using predictive analytic support within the Smart Internet model. / Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2011-09-29 18:11:02.374