<p> Smart spaces are physical environments equipped with pervasive technology that sense and react to human activities and changes in the environment. End User Development (EUD) skills vary significantly among end users who want to design, develop and deploy software applications for their smart spaces. Typical end user development is opportunistic, requirements are usually unplanned and undocumented, applications are simplistic in nature, design is ad-hoc, reuse is limited, and software testing is typically haphazard, leading to many quality issues. On the other hand, technical end users with advanced EUD skills and domain expertise have the ability to create sophisticated software applications for smart spaces that are well designed and tested.</p><p> This research presents a systematic approach for adopting reuse in end user development for smart spaces by using Software Product Line (SPL) concepts. End User (EU) SPL Designers (who are technical end users and domain experts) design and develop EU SPLs for smart spaces whereas less technical end users derive their individual smart space applications from these SPLs. Incorporating SPL concepts in EUD for smart spaces makes it easier for novice end users to derive applications for their spaces without having to interface directly with devices, networks, programming logic, etc. End users only have to select and configure the EU SPL features needed for their space. Another benefit of this approach is that it promotes reuse. End user requirements are mapped to product line features that are realized by common, optional, and variant components available in smart spaces. Product line features and the corresponding component product line architecture can then be used to derive EU applications. Derived EU applications can then be deployed to different smart spaces, thereby avoiding end users having to create EU applications from scratch. Finally the proposed approach has the potential of improving software quality since testing will be an integral part of EU SPL process.</p><p> In particular, this research has: (a) defined a systematic approach for EU SPL Designers to design and develop EU SPLs, (b) provided an EU SPL application derivation approach to enable end users to derive software applications for their spaces, (c) designed an EU SPL meta-model to capture the underlying representation of EU SPL and derived application artifacts in terms of meta-classes and relationships that supports different EUD platforms, (d) designed and implemented an EUD development environment that supports EU SPL development and application derivation, and (e) provided a testing approach and framework for systematic testing of EU SPLs and derived applications.</p>

Forecasts are used to predict the uncertain outcome of a variable. These predictions are made to get an understanding of likely future scenarios which allows planning in advance. Forecasts are commonly used in inventory control systems to estimate the future demand. This estimation along with the estimated precision of the forecast can be used to determine adequate safety stocks. In extension, forecasts of the future demand can be used to support decisions regarding the replenishment of inventories.     This thesis involves forecasting of the demand of pharmaceutical drugs. In particular, drugs that are referred to as generics. The demand of generics can fluctuate heavily due to the substitution system and can therefore be troublesome to forecast. The main objective of this thesis is to design a suitable forecast approach for the demand of generics, and to examine how these forecasts can be used to control the replenishment of inventories. The project was executed at a pharmaceutical drug distributor and hopes to enlighten some new techniques that can be used to improve the handling of generics. To achieve the objective of this thesis, the initial focus was on the current state. The currently used methods where studied and compared with theories and methods described in literature. Assumptions and theories on which the currently used methods are based on could thus be identified. These assumptions where later assessed as either reasonable or unreasonable. Finally, a new forecast approach was designed to account for the insights gained from evaluating the current methods. The result of this thesis is a forecast approach suitable to forecast the demand of generics that account for the fluctuation in demand which occurs due to the substitution system. It assumes that the demand has a constant demand model, but an alternative method suitable for the trend model is also given. It is proposed that tracking signals are used to monitor the forecast such that systematic errors are identified. Furthermore, the literature review indicates that alternatives to the current method used to determine the reorder point should be considered for occasionally demanded generics.

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The paper industry is a highly energy consuming process which also facing huge challenges as the global demand of paper products constantly decreasing. Therefore, the importance of energy optimizing the process becomes more and more crucial. The purpose of this work was to contribute to the energy optimization work at Kvarnsveden paper mill in Borlänge by mapping the energy consumption and analyzing particular areas with potential of optimization. Furthermore, analysis of the process parameters tinting colors, moisture profile and the pulp refiners in order to decrease the material losses were performed. The results from the analysis of tinting colors and moisture profiles provided the operators with reference intervals which stated how to run the parameters in order to produce paper of approved quality. The purpose of analyzing the refiners was to investigate if the quality of the mass could be predicted by specific energy instead of Freeness and average fiber length, which is the method used today. The result of this analysis shows that this is not possible today. However, specific energy is a valuable parameter in order to predict process malfunctions. The result of the energy mapping shows that the total specific energy consumption to produce one ton paper is 4,1 MWh/ton. Furthermore the energy mapping shows that every ton of paper that doesn’t clear the quality control and has to be re-produced consumes additional 1,3 MWh/ton of energy, which means that the total amount of energy for reproduced paper is 5,4 MWh. The amount of energy that is necessary to re-produce shows the importance of producing quality approved paper the first time, and since PM12 is capable of producing 1 ton/min at normal operating speed, the amount of paper that has to be re-produced can increase very fast. Hopefully, the results from the analysis of tinting colors and moisture profile will contribute to a decreased amount of papers that has to be re-produced. Furthermore the energy mapping shows some areas with energy optimization potential. Partly by maintenance and repairs of heat exchangers and steam condensers and partly by terminate the heating of buildings that has no use in the production today.

Cloud computing is a modern model for having on demand access to a pool ofconfigurable resources like CPU, storage etc. Despite its relative youth however, it has already changed the face of present-day IT. The ability to request computing power presents a whole new list of opportunities and challenges. Virtual machines, containers and bare-metal machines are the three possible computing resources which a cloud user can ask from a cloud provider. In the context of this master thesis, we will discuss and benchmark these three different deployment methods for a private OpenStack cloud. We will compare and contrast these systems in terms of CPU, networking behavior, disk I/O and RAM performance in order to determine the performance deterioration of each subsystem. We will also try to empirically determine if private clouds based on containers and physical machines are viable alternatives to the traditional VM based scenario.To achieve these goals, a number of software suites have been selected to act as benchmarks with the aim of stressing their respective subsystem. The output of these benchmarks is collected and the results are compared against each other. Finally, the different types of overhead which take place between these three types are discussed.

This final thesis is made by a student at Mälardalens högskola in Västerås from the academy of Innovation, Design and Engineering. This report examines the possibility of upgrading and modernizing current aircraft maintenance hangars by using the latest technologies.   Aircraft maintenance is essential to keep aircraft’s continuing airworthiness, and making sure it’s always declared fit for flight. But the maintenance procedures in hangars today can be seen as a bit old-fashioned. This report is therefore aiming to explore the possibilities of building the hangar of the future, where the latest technologies is used for an easier, more accurate and faster maintenance. A big problem that this project could solve in case that it could be a reality is damage assessment. In flight industry is it a bit tricky to assess a damage that had happened to an aircraft with the current methods that are used in today’s maintenance hangars. Taking measures for damages isn’t easy, and it’s even harder to look into the Structure Repair Manual (SRM) in theory and follow it in reality to assess the damage. It is something that technicians and engineers suffer from, because of the big responsibility that it withholds.   In the process of writing this thesis, and with the help of literature studies, an interview with the SAS engineer Anders Dalén, researches about the subject and the term of HOF at other companies the purpose of this thesis was reached. Which is exploring if HOF can be a reality in the near future. As for the technology of the project, it could be explained as a process or a chain that contains some steps. The idea is that an aircraft would roll into the hangar and get scanned by a stationary 3D scanner that is placed in the top of the hangar entrance. The data that the scanner later sends into a computer system gets processed by two or more programs in order to detect possible damage. If damage is found, then it would get measured with a portable 3D scanner. The analyzing programs would process its data and give an assessment on the damage, and also suggestions for reparations.   The conclusion for this thesis is that it is, in theory, possible that “Hangar of the future” can be a reality in the future. Because the technologies that is required for it do exist in our time, though they exist in other forms/ branches.

An artificial limb driven by myoelectric signals provides individuals suffering from upper limb amputation a means to perform some daily activities that would otherwise be impossible to perform. Although promising, the functionality of the limb is however still limited due to signal drift and changing requirements for different daily activities. The ability for the user to adjust control parameters on the artificial limb in real time could enhance the quality of life for these people by improving the performance of the artificial limb. During this master thesis, a mobile platform for communication and configuration of an artificial limb has been developed based on previous work by Max Ortiz C et al. The communication between the embedded system and the mobile application is based on a bluetooth standard and have been verified in conjunction with a customized communication protocol.Qualitative validation was performed by analyzing a collected questioner from one patient suffering an upper limb amputation. The results showed that functionality of the artificial limb is still one of the most important areas that needs to be improved. In addition, the most important types of feedback currently lacking were tactile feedback and elbow functionality. Quantitative experimental tests showed a statistically significant improvement in terms of both artificial limb response time and movement prediction accuracy when the threshold value, used by the control system to make a movement prediction, was adjusted in real time through the mobile application as compared to having a fixed threshold. These results shed new light on the potential benefits of using a mobile interface for real-time adjustment of limb parameters.

<p> The purpose of this quasi-experimental quantitative study was to investigate whether online interactive simulations would provide a positive improvement in learners&rsquo; ability to apply critical thinking skills in a dangerous work environment. The course in which an improvement in critical thinking skills was the target outcome was a course which addressed electrical safety-related work practices for electrical apprentices in dangerous work environments. The interactive simulation identified for this study provided different levels of high-fidelity simulations in a dangerous electrical environment, in which the learner was subjected to scenarios where that learner could face simulated injury or death. Critical thinking was measured by a post-Test instrument developed using a DELPHI process and designed to evaluate critical thinking skills in electrical scenarios presented in the simulation. An Independent Samples t-Test was conducted to determine if there was a significant difference, as determined by the post-Test, between a comparison group that did not use the simulation and an experimental group who did use the simulation. In this study, there was no significant difference between the comparison group and the experimental group on the post-Test. The theoretical framework examined in this study included constructivism, self-guided study, cognitive overload, and motivation; and the effect of each was discussed in the study. This research study identifies the need for additional research into the best use of interactive simulations in online course development.</p>

Managing stormwater in dense urban environments is and will in the future be a challenge for all the parts affected by it. The climate is changing and with it the extent of extreme rainfalls. This Bachelor´s thesis aims to analyze if raingardens could be of use when managing stormwater on courtyards on beam supported slabs. It is not uncommon that water drainage systems in these places are insufficient which in some cases leads to water damaged buildings. By locally treating and storing stormwater it could be possible to prevent damages on buildings and the environment even though the climate is changing.   A case in Stockholm Sweden, a privately-owned property, was investigated. In which a solution of managing storm water by using rain gardens was suggested. The study concludes that locally managing storm water could prevent flooding and water damages on those kinds of courtyards and the buildings in its vicinity. / Dagvattenhantering i täta stadsmiljöer är en framtida utmaning för både kommuner, byggsektorn och för fastighetsägare. Med hänsyn till ett framtida förändrat klimat förutses den totala nederbörden i framtiden att öka. Extrema skyfall med höga toppflöden förutses bli fler och intensivare. I detta examensarbete undersöks huruvida regnbädd kan var ett alternativ som lokal dagvattenhantering på bjälklagsgårdar. Bland äldre bebyggelse är innergårdar på bjälklag ett vanligt inslag. Dagvattenavledningen från innergårdar av den sorten är inte alltid tillräcklig och vatten riskerar då att tränga då in i byggnadsdelar. Lokal fördröjning av dagvatten kan vara ett sätt att avhjälpa och förbereda även äldre bebyggelse för ett förändrat klimat. Ett typfall i Stockholm har studerats där en dagvattenanläggning i form av regnbädd föreslås på en privat fastighet. Resultatet visar på att en lokal fördröjning där dagvatten från ovanliggande takytor leds till regnbäddar kan förebygga risken för översvämning i fastighetens byggnad

Olika länder använder sig av olika metoder vid dimensionering av vägöverbyggnader. Denna rapport fokuserar på vilka metoder som används i Nordiska länder, Sverige, Norge och Danmark. Samt vilka ingångsparametrar som behövs för att använda dessa metoder. Dessutom presenteras PMS Objekt (Pavement Management Systems), Indexmetoden och MMOPP (Mathematical Modelling of Pavement Performance). Det svenska programmet PMS Objekt är dimensioneringsverktyg för vägöverbyggnader vid nya byggnationer och även vid underhållning och förstärkning. Programmet är accepterat av trafikverket och används främst i Sverige. Indexmetoden är programmet som använd i Norge den ger tydliga resultat och är väldigt enkel att använda. Den utgår från materialegenskaper, terrass materialtyp, klimat och andra faktorer. I Danmark används MMOPP, Mathematical Modelling of Pavement Performance som dimensioneringsmetoden som delas in i tre olika nivåer Katalog dimensionering, AnalytiskEmpirisk dimensionering och dimensionering genom Simulering och optimering Rapporten syftar till att undersöka dessa metoder och se vilka för- och nackdelar de har. Samt att ge läsaren en ökad förståelse för hanteringen av dimensioneringsmetoderna av vägöverbyggnader som används i Sverige, Norge och Danmark. PMS Objekt metoden hjälper till att få lagertjocklekar som utdata. Tjocklekar till alla olika lager som finns i en vägöverbyggnad. Medan indexmetoden är en metod för att beräkna bärighet, Emodul hos olika material. MMOPP- metoden används för att bestämma E-modul, livslängden i år och respons värde samt det tillåtna respons värdet. Studien som helhet visar att Sverige, Norge och Danmark använder sig av olika metoder men beaktar nästan samma faktorer som kan påverka vägkonstruktionen. För att studien ska kunna genomföras har utgångspunkten tagits i en litteraturstudie av rapporter, tidigare utfärda examensarbete och datainsamling från olika hemsidor så som Trafikverket, norska vägverket och danska vägverket. / Different countries are using different methods when designing pavements. This report will focus on the methods used in Nordic countries including; Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The required input parameters to use these methods will also be included. Furthermore, PMS Object (Pavement Management Systems), Index method and MMOPP (Mathematical Modelling of Pavement Performance) will also be presented heir in. The Swedish software “PMS Object” is a design tool for pavements to be used at new building sites as well as for maintenance and reinforcement. The software is approved by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) and is most commonly used in Sweden. Index method is the software, which is being used in Norway, it gives clear results and is very easy to use. It is based on material properties, climate and other factors. In Denmark, MMOPP is being used for pavement design which can be divided into three different levels; design by selection in a standard catalogue, Analytical- Empirical design method and design by simulation. This report is aiming to investigate these methods and compare their pros and cons. The aim is also to give the reader an increased understanding of the usage of pavement design methods that are being used in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The PMS Objekt method aids in achieving layer thickness as output. Thickness of all the different layers that exist within a pavement. While the Index method is a method to calculate buoyancy and E-modulus for different materials. MMOPP- method is used to determine: E-modulus, lifespan in years and response value and finally the allowed response value. In conclusion, this study indicates that Sweden, Norway and Denmark is using different methods however, they are considering almost the same factors that can affect the road construction. In order to complete this study, a literature review of reports and previous dissertations was performed, data was collected from different websites including the Swedish, Norwegian and Danish transport administration.