Ce mémoire décrit l'analyse géotechnique et géomorphologique d'un glissement par plaques d'une superficie de 34 ha, survenu à Bristol, Québec, Canada. D'autres cas de glissements par plaques ont été observés dans un rayon de 3 km. Le dépôt de sol impliqué est composé d'argile et silt de la mer de Champlain, ayant rempli une vallée postglaciaire. Le glissement est survenu en bordure du ruisseau Dame, où les talus atteignent en moyenne 13 m de hauteur, avec une inclinaison moyenne d'environ 35°, tandis que la pente derrière le talus varie entre 1 et 8°. Le dépôt comporte 3 unités. La première unité, composée d'argile et silt gris raide à plasticité moyenne et sensibilité moyenne, présente une résistance intacte d'environ 88 kPa, un indice de liquidité moyen de 0.8 et un indice de plasticité moyen de 21.6. La deuxième unité, constituée d'argile et de silt avec des traces de sable, affiche une plasticité élevée et une sensibilité élevée, avec une résistance intacte moyenne de 59 kPa, un indice de liquidité moyen de 1.2, et un indice de plasticité moyen de 25.9. La troisième unité, constituée d'argile et de silt avec des traces de sable, gris stratifié, présente une plasticité moyenne et une sensibilité extrêmement élevée, avec une résistance intacte moyenne de 57 kPa, un indice de liquidité moyen de 2.3, et un indice de plasticité moyen de 12.3. Le dépôt de sol est surconsolidé et les essais mécaniques montrent un comportement anti-écrouissant. Un mince horizon sableux est observé sur les piézocônes situés avant l'escarpement arrière, à environ 11 m de profondeur. Deux hypothèses sont formulées pour expliquer le mouvement, impliquant 2 surfaces de rupture. La première hypothèse est une rupture progressive dans l'argile, la deuxième hypothèse impliquerait une liquéfaction survenue à la suite d'un paléoséisme. Ces deux hypothèses sont discutées. / This paper describes the geotechnical and geomorphological analysis of a 34-hectare landslide that occurred in Bristol, Quebec, Canada. Other large landslides were observed within a 3 km radius of this landslide. The soil deposit is formed of clay and silt from the Champlain Sea that filled a post-glacial valley. The landslide occurred at the bank of Dame Creek, where the banks average 13 m high and average slope inclinations are about 35°, the slope behind the bank varies between 1 and 8°. The deposit is composed of 3 units: (1) stiff grey clay and silt with medium plasticity and medium sensitivity. The unit's intact shear strength is around 88 kPa, the average liquidity index is 0.8, and the average plasticity index is 21.6. (2) Clay and silt with traces of sand, with high plasticity and high sensitivity. The intact shear strength of the unit is approximately 59 kPa, the average liquidity index is 1.2, and the average plasticity index is 25.9. (3) Clay and silt with traces of sand, stratified grey, with medium plasticity and extremely sensitive. The intact shear strength of the unit is approximately 57 kPa, the average liquidity index is 2.3 and the average plasticity index is 12.3. The soil is over-consolidated and mechanical tests show a strain-softening behaviour. A sand lens has been observed on the piezocones before the rear escarpment. Two hypotheses are formulated to explain the motion, involving 2 failure surfaces. The first hypothesis is a progressive failure involving a sub-horizontal failure surface, the second hypothesis would imply soil liquefaction triggered by a paleoearthquake. These two hypotheses are discussed.

Pathfinding is critical to virtual simulation applications. One of the most prominent pathfinding challenges is the fast computation of path plans in large and realistic virtual terrain environments. To tackle this problem, this work proposes the exploration of a quadtree structure in the navigation map representation of large real-world virtual terrains. Exploring a hierarchical approach for virtual terrain representation, we detail how a global hierarchical pathfinding algorithm searches for a path in a coarse initial navigation map representation. Then, during execution time, the pathfinding algorithm refines regions of interest in this terrain representation in order to compute paths with a higher quality in areas where a large amount of navigation obstacles is found. The computational time of such hierarchical pathfinding algorithm is systematically measured in different hierarchical and non-hierarchical terrain representation structures that are instantiated in the modeling of a small real-world terrain scenario. Then, similar experiments are developed in a large real-world virtual terrain that is inserted in a real-life simulation system for the development of military tactical training exercises. The results show that the computational time required to generate pathfinding answers can be optimized when the proposed hierarchical pathfinding algorithm along with the easy and reliable implementation of the quadtree-based navigation map representation of the large virtual terrain are explored in the development of simulation systems.

<p>Antropologer anställs idag av amerikanska försvarsmakten inom Human Terrain System. Denna enhet skall med sin expertiskunskap leverera socio-kulturell data till militära beslutsfattare på högre nivåer. Detta har i USA vållat stor debatt, främst vad gäller den vetenskapsetiska aspekten av projektet. Kritiker till HTS menar att det strider emot vetenskapsetiska riktlinjer och god vetenskaplig sed att bedriva forskning på människor där risk föreligger att de kan komma till skada. Syftet bakom uppsatsen är att kartlägga debatten för att se hur denna har förts mellan debattörerna.</p><p>Debatten har analyserats utifrån artiklar, internetmaterial, samt litterära källor. En pro et contra analys har genomförts och därefter förs en diskussion kring debatten och vilken karaktär argumenten har.</p><p>Uppsatsen visar på att debatten utifrån valt material, håller god kvalité vad gäller saklighet, hållbarhet och relevans. Den visar även att en god ton hålls mellan debattörerna debatten igenom.</p> / <p>Anthropologists are currently being employed by U.S. armed forces in the Human Terrain System. This unit is able to deliver expertise knowledge regarding socio-cultural data in combat theatres to military decision-makers at the battalion-division level. This has caused much debate in the U.S, particularly regarding the ethical aspects of science projects. Critics of the HTS believes that it is against science ethical guidelines and good scientific practice to conduct research on humans in which there is a risk that they may be harmed. The purpose behind this paper is to identify the debate to see how the debate has taken place between the opinion-makers in this debate.The debate has been analyzed on the basis of articles, Internet materials, and literary sources.</p><p>A pro et contra analysis has been carried out and followed by a discussion of the debate regarding the nature and character of the debate and the arguments.</p><p>This paper shows that the debate based on selected materials, good workmanship is of fairness, sustainability and relevance. It also demonstrates that a high professional level is being held between the debaters throughout the debate.</p>

Antropologer anställs idag av amerikanska försvarsmakten inom Human Terrain System. Denna enhet skall med sin expertiskunskap leverera socio-kulturell data till militära beslutsfattare på högre nivåer. Detta har i USA vållat stor debatt, främst vad gäller den vetenskapsetiska aspekten av projektet. Kritiker till HTS menar att det strider emot vetenskapsetiska riktlinjer och god vetenskaplig sed att bedriva forskning på människor där risk föreligger att de kan komma till skada. Syftet bakom uppsatsen är att kartlägga debatten för att se hur denna har förts mellan debattörerna. Debatten har analyserats utifrån artiklar, internetmaterial, samt litterära källor. En pro et contra analys har genomförts och därefter förs en diskussion kring debatten och vilken karaktär argumenten har. Uppsatsen visar på att debatten utifrån valt material, håller god kvalité vad gäller saklighet, hållbarhet och relevans. Den visar även att en god ton hålls mellan debattörerna debatten igenom. / Anthropologists are currently being employed by U.S. armed forces in the Human Terrain System. This unit is able to deliver expertise knowledge regarding socio-cultural data in combat theatres to military decision-makers at the battalion-division level. This has caused much debate in the U.S, particularly regarding the ethical aspects of science projects. Critics of the HTS believes that it is against science ethical guidelines and good scientific practice to conduct research on humans in which there is a risk that they may be harmed. The purpose behind this paper is to identify the debate to see how the debate has taken place between the opinion-makers in this debate.The debate has been analyzed on the basis of articles, Internet materials, and literary sources. A pro et contra analysis has been carried out and followed by a discussion of the debate regarding the nature and character of the debate and the arguments. This paper shows that the debate based on selected materials, good workmanship is of fairness, sustainability and relevance. It also demonstrates that a high professional level is being held between the debaters throughout the debate.

Den svenska Försvarsmakten (FM) har förändrats och gått ifrån invasionsförsvar till insatsförsvar, detta har lett till att FM fokuserar på insatser utomlands och hotet skiljer sig insatser emellan. De konflikter som är aktuella idag och där de svenska styrkorna bidrar med resurser utspelar sig i länder där urban miljö med lågteknologisk motståndare förekommer. Motståndaren har med tiden lärt sig att hantera strider i urban miljö och uppträder i alla dimensioner. Man anser att strid i denna typ av miljö kommer att öka i framtiden. Stora nationer har stridit i urban miljö med framgång. Med tanke på var vi befinner oss idag när det gäller insatser av varierande grad har hotet ökat mot våra trupper vilket i sin tur har lett till ett större behov av skydd. Syftet med arbetet är att genom en kvalitativ textanalys (som är studiens tyngdpunkt) och en modellstudie påvisa hur man kan möta det nya hotet i urban terräng med hjälp av tekniska anpassningar på tyngre fordon som stridsvagnar. Under den beskrivande delen beskrivs hotbilden idag, erfarenheter från olika krig där stridsvagnar har nyttjats och stridsvagnens sårbarhet i urban miljö. Därefter behandlar modellstudien en tänkbar miljö och hot i syfte att ta fram den mest fördelaktiga anpassningen för att möta det nya hotet som utspelar sig i alla dimensioner. Resultatet visar att det största hotet som våra trupper utsätts för är den typ av hot där motståndare strävar efter att strida i urban miljö. Undersökningen visar att vi idag behöver mer skydd i form av pansar och de svenska stridsvagnarna behöver anpassas med olika system för att kunna möta dessa nya hot. / The Swedish Armed Forces (SAF) is currently in a phase of evolution transferring from being an old strategic defense to an expeditionary force. The SAF has forces deployed in several locations all over the world and the threat they meet is different from place to place, the conflicts often conducted by low-tech insurgents in urban terrain.The insurgents have learned how to fight in urban terrain and can operate in every dimension of the battlefield. It is believed that the battle in this type of environment will increase in future. Being where we are today in terms of operations the threat against our troops has increased which has led us to a greater need for protection.The purpose of this paper is that using a qualitative textual analysis and a model study to show how the new threat can be met in urban terrain with the help of technical adjustments on heavy vehicles such as tanks. At first the writer will describe the threat that is common in urban terrain today. Then the lessons learned from wars where tanks have been used and later on the tank’s vulnerability in urban terrain will be described. Thereafter, the model study will elaborate a potential environment and threat in order to highlight the most advantageous adjustment for tanks to meet the new threat.The result shows that the greatest threat that our troops are exposed to today is; battles that takes place in urban terrain. The study shows that we need more protection in form of armour. The Swedish tanks should be adapted with different systems to meet today’s threat in the urban terrain.

The dissertation develops a framework for the visualization of dynamic terrains for use in interactive real-time 3D systems. Terrain visualization techniques may be classified as either static or dynamic. Static terrain solutions simulate rigid surface types exclusively; whereas dynamic solutions can also represent non-rigid surfaces. Systems that employ a static terrain approach lack realism due to their rigid nature. Disregarding the accurate representation of terrain surface interaction is rationalized because of the inherent difficulties associated with providing runtime dynamism. Nonetheless, dynamic terrain systems are a more correct solution because they allow the terrain database to be modified at run-time for the purpose of deforming the surface. Many established techniques in terrain visualization rely on invalid assumptions and weak computational models that hinder the use of dynamic terrain. Moreover, many existing techniques do not exploit the capabilities offered by current computer hardware. In this research, we present a component framework for terrain visualization that is useful in research, entertainment, and simulation systems. In addition, we present a novel method for deforming the terrain that can be used in real-time, interactive systems. The development of a component framework unifies disparate works under a single architecture. The high-level nature of the framework makes it flexible and adaptable for developing a variety of systems, independent of the static or dynamic nature of the solution. Currently, there are only a handful of documented deformation techniques and, in particular, none make explicit use of graphics hardware. The approach developed by this research offloads extra work to the graphics processing unit; in an effort to alleviate the overhead associated with deforming the terrain. Off-road ground vehicle simulation is used as an application domain to demonstrate the practical nature of the framework and the deformation technique. In order to realistically simulate terrain surface interactivity with the vehicle, the solution balances visual fidelity and speed. Accurately depicting terrain surface interactivity in off-road ground vehicle simulations improves visual realism; thereby, increasing the significance and worth of the application. Systems in academia, government, and commercial institutes can make use of the research findings to achieve the real-time display of interactive terrain surfaces.

<p>A laser radar can be used to generate 3D data about the terrain in a very high resolution. The development of new support technologies to analyze these data is critical to the effective and efficient use of these data in decision support systems, due to the large amounts of data that are generated. Adequate technology in this regard is currently not available and development of new methods and algorithms to this end are important goals of this work.</p><p>A semi-qualitative data structure for terrain surface modelling has been developed. A categorization and triangulation process has also been developed to substitute the high resolution 3D model for this data structure. The qualitative part of the structure can be used for detection and recognition of terrain features. The quantitative part of the structure is, together with the qualitative part, used for visualization of the terrain surface. Substituting the 3D model for the semi-qualitative structures means that a data reduction is performed.</p><p>A number of algorithms for detection and recognition of different terrain objects have been developed. The algorithms use the qualitative part of the previously developed semi-qualitative data structure as input. The taken approach is based on matching of symbols and syntactic pattern recognition. Results regarding the accuracy of the implemented algorithms for detection and recognition of terrain objects are visualized.</p><p>A further important goal has been to develop a methodology for determining driveability using 3D-data and other geographic data. These data must be fused with vehicle data to determine the properties of the terrain context of our operations with respect to driveability. This fusion process is therefore called context fusion. The recognized terrain objects are used together with map data in this method. The uncertainty associated with the imprecision of the data has been taken into account as well.</p> / Report code: LiU-Tek-Lic-2008:29.

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Wind turbines connected to the distribution network can be the cause of voltage fluctuations and resulting fluctuations in the light intensity emitted by light bulbs. These fluctuations may cause people disturbance. A model has been developed to obtain a flicker prediction which is useful in the design process of a wind farm. The model is based exclusively in the frequency domain (FD). This new approach allows very fast and efficient evaluation. The impact of individual parameters is often easier to recognise and evaluate in a FD-representation. The following factors leading to flicker disturbances from a wind farm have been considered in detail: The wind spectrum: Effects of terrain and wind farm wakes on the wind turbulence spectrum have been considered and existing models have been expanded. The wind coherence: A new coherence model for large separation distances has been derived for use within a wind farm. Effects of the terrain on the coherence of power produced by turbines within a wind farm have been considered. The wind turbine: A simplified dynamic wind turbine model allows the prediction of turbine specific contributions to flicker for a variety of wind turbines using a minimal set of parameters. The flickermeter: Flicker measurements are found to sometimes neglect the impact of low frequency voltage variations. These are found to be very important for the correct flicker prediction. A new FD-flickermeter has been developed. The model has been validated against experimental data and a sensitivity analysis shows which parameters are most likely to influence the voltage flicker and which are best altered to minimise the flicker.

Thesis--Auburn University, 2007. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.148-150).