Cellular automata-based spatial dynamic modeling for analyzing urban land use change

This paper analyzes land use change in Rio Claro City and its surroundings, located in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo, in the period from 1988 to 1995, using air-borne digital imagery and a cellular automata model. The simulation experiment was carried out in the Dinamica EGO platform and the results revealed a constrained urban sprawl, resulting from both the densification of residential areas implemented in previous years and the economic recession that led to an internal financial crisis in Brazil during the early 1990s. The simulation outputs were validated using a multi-resolution procedure based on a fuzzy similarity index and showed a satisfactory fitness in relation to the historical reference data. © 2013 IEEE.

Indirect georeferencing of terrestrial laser scanning data using control lines

An indirect method for the georeferencing of 3D point clouds obtained with terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data using control lines is presented. This technique could be used for rapid data acquisition where resources do not permit the use of expensive navigation sensors or the placement of pre-signalised targets. The most important characteristic is the development of a mathematical model based on the principle that the direction vector of the TLS straight line is coplanar with the plane defined by the origin of the TLS system, one endpoint of a control line and the direction vector of the control line in the ground reference coordinate system. The transformation parameters are estimated by minimising the distance between the control lines and their corresponding TLS straight lines. The proposed method was tested using both simulated and real data, and the advantages of this new approach are compared with conventional surveying methods. © 2013 This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Basic ingredients for mathematical modeling of tumor growth in vitro: Cooperative effects and search for space

Based on the literature data from HT-29 cell monolayers, we develop a model for its growth, analogous to an epidemic model, mixing local and global interactions. First, we propose and solve a deterministic equation for the progress of these colonies. Thus, we add a stochastic (local) interaction and simulate the evolution of an Eden-like aggregate by using dynamical Monte Carlo methods. The growth curves of both deterministic and stochastic models are in excellent agreement with the experimental observations. The waiting times distributions, generated via our stochastic model, allowed us to analyze the role of mesoscopic events. We obtain log-normal distributions in the initial stages of the growth and Gaussians at long times. We interpret these outcomes in the light of cellular division events: in the early stages, the phenomena are dependent each other in a multiplicative geometric-based process, and they are independent at long times. We conclude that the main ingredients for a good minimalist model of tumor growth, at mesoscopic level, are intrinsic cooperative mechanisms and competitive search for space. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Hydrodynamic modeling and morphological analysis of Lake Água Preta: one of the water sources of Belém-PA-Brazil

The main contribution from this paper includes the hydrodynamic modeling and morphological analysis of Lake Água Preta in Belém city, Pará State, Brazil. The lake bathymetry was taken through the data provided by COSANPA (the local sanitation and water supply company) dating back to 1975, and from a 2009 field study. Both bathymetries produced two terrain elevation models, which were used for morphological analysis and hydrodynamic simulations. The morphological analysis has revealed that, from 1975 to 2009, the annual mean rate of sedimentation varies between 23,065 and 29,081 m3/year. Through this result, the sedimentation time of Lake Água Preta, from 2009, has been calculated, which varies between 295 and 381 years, maintaining the same rate of sedimentation, water consumption and pumping. The hydrodynamic model simulated the depths and velocities, showing a slight flow with velocities ranging from 0 to 33 cm/s. This flow is established between water input and output of the lake, which is used as reservoir of Belém city.

Treatment of geophysical data as a non-stationary process

ABSTRACT: The Kalman-Bucy method is here analized and applied to the solution of a specific filtering problem to increase the signal message/noise ratio. The method is a time domain treatment of a geophysical process classified as stochastic non-stationary. The derivation of the estimator is based on the relationship between the Kalman-Bucy and Wiener approaches for linear systems. In the present work we emphasize the criterion used, the model with apriori information, the algorithm, and the quality as related to the results. The examples are for the ideal well-log response, and the results indicate that this method can be used on a variety of geophysical data treatments, and its study clearly offers a proper insight into modeling and processing of geophysical problems.

Teds-easy - descrição automática de transducer electronic data sheet

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Thermochemical equilibrium modeling of a biomass downdraft gasifier: Constrained and unconstrained non-stoichiometric models

The objective of this work is to develop a non-stoichiometric equilibrium model to study parameter effects in the gasification process of a feedstock in downdraft gasifiers. The non-stoichiometric equilibrium model is also known as the Gibbs free energy minimization method. Four models were developed and tested. First a pure non-stoichiometric equilibrium model called M1 was developed; then the methane content was constrained by correlating experimental data and generating the model M2. A kinetic constraint that determines the apparent gasification rate was considered for model M3 and finally the two aforementioned constraints were implemented together in model M4. Models M2 and M4 showed to be the more accurate among the four developed models with mean RMS (root mean square error) values of 1.25 each.Also the gasification of Brazilian Pinus elliottii in a downdraft gasifier with air as gasification agent was studied. The input parameters considered were: (a) equivalence ratio (0.28-035); (b) moisture content (5-20%); (c) gasification time (30-120 min) and carbon conversion efficiency (80-100%). (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Thermochemical equilibrium modeling of biomass downdraft gasifier: Stoichiometric models

The aim of this work is to develop stoichiometric equilibrium models that permit the study of parameters effect in the gasification process of a particular feedstock. In total four models were tested in order to determine the syngas composition. One of these four models, called M2, was based on the theoretical equilibrium constants modified by two correction factors determined using published experimental data. The other two models, M3 and M4 were based in correlations, while model M4 was based in correlations to determine the equilibrium constants, model M3 was based in correlations that relate the H-2, CO and CO2 content on the synthesis gas. Model M2 proved to be the more accurate and versatile among these four models, and also showed better results than some previously published models. Also a case study for the gasification of a blend of hardwood chips and glycerol at 80% and 20% respectively, was performed considering equivalence ratios form 0.3 to 0.5, moisture contents from 0%-20% and oxygen percentages in the gasification agent of 100%, 60% and 21%. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Geological and geophysical data integration for delimitation of mineralized areas in a supergene manganese deposits

Geophysical methods are widely used in mineral exploration. This paper discusses the results of geological and geophysical studies in supergene manganese deposits of southern Brazil. Mineralized zones as described in geological surveys were characterized as of low resistivity (20 Omega.m) and high chargeability (30ms), pattern found also in oxides and sulfite mineral deposits. Pseudo-3D modeling of geophysical data allowed mapping at several depths. A relationship between high chargeability and low resistivity may define a pattern for high grade gonditic manganese ore. Large areas of high chargeability and high resistivity may result in accumulation of manganese and iron hydroxides, due to weathering of the gonditic ore, dissolution, percolation and precipitation.

Structural properties of beds packed with agro-industrial solid by-products applicable for solid-state fermentation: Experimental data and effects on process performance

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Complexes of platinum and palladium with beta-diketones and DMSO: Synthesis, characterization, molecular modeling, and biological studies

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Inverse Modeling of GPS Multipath for Snow Depth Estimation-Part I: Formulation and Simulations

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

ECOLOGICAL MODELING OF TALITROIDES TOPITOTUM (CRUSTACEA: AMPHIPODA)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estimation of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Height and Distribution in Nova Avanhandava Reservoir (São Paulo State, Brazil) Using Bio-Optical Modeling

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Engine LES with fuel-spray modeling

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG