Predictive analysis and mapping of indoor radon concentrations in Switzerland

It is estimated that around 230 people die each year due to radon (222Rn) exposure in Switzerland. 222Rn occurs mainly in closed environments like buildings and originates primarily from the subjacent ground. Therefore it depends strongly on geology and shows substantial regional variations. Correct identification of these regional variations would lead to substantial reduction of 222Rn exposure of the population based on appropriate construction of new and mitigation of already existing buildings. Prediction of indoor 222Rn concentrations (IRC) and identification of 222Rn prone areas is however difficult since IRC depend on a variety of different variables like building characteristics, meteorology, geology and anthropogenic factors. The present work aims at the development of predictive models and the understanding of IRC in Switzerland, taking into account a maximum of information in order to minimize the prediction uncertainty. The predictive maps will be used as a decision-support tool for 222Rn risk management. The construction of these models is based on different data-driven statistical methods, in combination with geographical information systems (GIS). In a first phase we performed univariate analysis of IRC for different variables, namely the detector type, building category, foundation, year of construction, the average outdoor temperature during measurement, altitude and lithology. All variables showed significant associations to IRC. Buildings constructed after 1900 showed significantly lower IRC compared to earlier constructions. We observed a further drop of IRC after 1970. In addition to that, we found an association of IRC with altitude. With regard to lithology, we observed the lowest IRC in sedimentary rocks (excluding carbonates) and sediments and the highest IRC in the Jura carbonates and igneous rock. The IRC data was systematically analyzed for potential bias due to spatially unbalanced sampling of measurements. In order to facilitate the modeling and the interpretation of the influence of geology on IRC, we developed an algorithm based on k-medoids clustering which permits to define coherent geological classes in terms of IRC. We performed a soil gas 222Rn concentration (SRC) measurement campaign in order to determine the predictive power of SRC with respect to IRC. We found that the use of SRC is limited for IRC prediction. The second part of the project was dedicated to predictive mapping of IRC using models which take into account the multidimensionality of the process of 222Rn entry into buildings. We used kernel regression and ensemble regression tree for this purpose. We could explain up to 33% of the variance of the log transformed IRC all over Switzerland. This is a good performance compared to former attempts of IRC modeling in Switzerland. As predictor variables we considered geographical coordinates, altitude, outdoor temperature, building type, foundation, year of construction and detector type. Ensemble regression trees like random forests allow to determine the role of each IRC predictor in a multidimensional setting. We found spatial information like geology, altitude and coordinates to have stronger influences on IRC than building related variables like foundation type, building type and year of construction. Based on kernel estimation we developed an approach to determine the local probability of IRC to exceed 300 Bq/m3. In addition to that we developed a confidence index in order to provide an estimate of uncertainty of the map. All methods allow an easy creation of tailor-made maps for different building characteristics. Our work is an essential step towards a 222Rn risk assessment which accounts at the same time for different architectural situations as well as geological and geographical conditions. For the communication of 222Rn hazard to the population we recommend to make use of the probability map based on kernel estimation. The communication of 222Rn hazard could for example be implemented via a web interface where the users specify the characteristics and coordinates of their home in order to obtain the probability to be above a given IRC with a corresponding index of confidence. Taking into account the health effects of 222Rn, our results have the potential to substantially improve the estimation of the effective dose from 222Rn delivered to the Swiss population.

Three essays on major trends in a slow clockspeed industry : the case of industrial automation

The motivation for this research initiated from the abrupt rise and fall of minicomputers which were initially used both for industrial automation and business applications due to their significantly lower cost than their predecessors, the mainframes. Later industrial automation developed its own vertically integrated hardware and software to address the application needs of uninterrupted operations, real-time control and resilience to harsh environmental conditions. This has led to the creation of an independent industry, namely industrial automation used in PLC, DCS, SCADA and robot control systems. This industry employs today over 200'000 people in a profitable slow clockspeed context in contrast to the two mainstream computing industries of information technology (IT) focused on business applications and telecommunications focused on communications networks and hand-held devices. Already in 1990s it was foreseen that IT and communication would merge into one Information and communication industry (ICT). The fundamental question of the thesis is: Could industrial automation leverage a common technology platform with the newly formed ICT industry? Computer systems dominated by complex instruction set computers (CISC) were challenged during 1990s with higher performance reduced instruction set computers (RISC). RISC started to evolve parallel to the constant advancement of Moore's law. These developments created the high performance and low energy consumption System-on-Chip architecture (SoC). Unlike to the CISC processors RISC processor architecture is a separate industry from the RISC chip manufacturing industry. It also has several hardware independent software platforms consisting of integrated operating system, development environment, user interface and application market which enables customers to have more choices due to hardware independent real time capable software applications. An architecture disruption merged and the smartphone and tablet market were formed with new rules and new key players in the ICT industry. Today there are more RISC computer systems running Linux (or other Unix variants) than any other computer system. The astonishing rise of SoC based technologies and related software platforms in smartphones created in unit terms the largest installed base ever seen in the history of computers and is now being further extended by tablets. An underlying additional element of this transition is the increasing role of open source technologies both in software and hardware. This has driven the microprocessor based personal computer industry with few dominating closed operating system platforms into a steep decline. A significant factor in this process has been the separation of processor architecture and processor chip production and operating systems and application development platforms merger into integrated software platforms with proprietary application markets. Furthermore the pay-by-click marketing has changed the way applications development is compensated: Three essays on major trends in a slow clockspeed industry: The case of industrial automation 2014 freeware, ad based or licensed - all at a lower price and used by a wider customer base than ever before. Moreover, the concept of software maintenance contract is very remote in the app world. However, as a slow clockspeed industry, industrial automation has remained intact during the disruptions based on SoC and related software platforms in the ICT industries. Industrial automation incumbents continue to supply systems based on vertically integrated systems consisting of proprietary software and proprietary mainly microprocessor based hardware. They enjoy admirable profitability levels on a very narrow customer base due to strong technology-enabled customer lock-in and customers' high risk leverage as their production is dependent on fault-free operation of the industrial automation systems. When will this balance of power be disrupted? The thesis suggests how industrial automation could join the mainstream ICT industry and create an information, communication and automation (ICAT) industry. Lately the Internet of Things (loT) and weightless networks, a new standard leveraging frequency channels earlier occupied by TV broadcasting, have gradually started to change the rigid world of Machine to Machine (M2M) interaction. It is foreseeable that enough momentum will be created that the industrial automation market will in due course face an architecture disruption empowered by these new trends. This thesis examines the current state of industrial automation subject to the competition between the incumbents firstly through a research on cost competitiveness efforts in captive outsourcing of engineering, research and development and secondly researching process re- engineering in the case of complex system global software support. Thirdly we investigate the industry actors', namely customers, incumbents and newcomers, views on the future direction of industrial automation and conclude with our assessments of the possible routes industrial automation could advance taking into account the looming rise of the Internet of Things (loT) and weightless networks. Industrial automation is an industry dominated by a handful of global players each of them focusing on maintaining their own proprietary solutions. The rise of de facto standards like IBM PC, Unix and Linux and SoC leveraged by IBM, Compaq, Dell, HP, ARM, Apple, Google, Samsung and others have created new markets of personal computers, smartphone and tablets and will eventually also impact industrial automation through game changing commoditization and related control point and business model changes. This trend will inevitably continue, but the transition to a commoditized industrial automation will not happen in the near future.

Update on the non-prewhitening model observer in computed tomography for the assessment of the adaptive statistical and model-based iterative reconstruction algorithms.

The state of the art to describe image quality in medical imaging is to assess the performance of an observer conducting a task of clinical interest. This can be done by using a model observer leading to a figure of merit such as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Using the non-prewhitening (NPW) model observer, we objectively characterised the evolution of its figure of merit in various acquisition conditions. The NPW model observer usually requires the use of the modulation transfer function (MTF) as well as noise power spectra. However, although the computation of the MTF poses no problem when dealing with the traditional filtered back-projection (FBP) algorithm, this is not the case when using iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms, such as adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) or model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR). Given that the target transfer function (TTF) had already shown it could accurately express the system resolution even with non-linear algorithms, we decided to tune the NPW model observer, replacing the standard MTF by the TTF. It was estimated using a custom-made phantom containing cylindrical inserts surrounded by water. The contrast differences between the inserts and water were plotted for each acquisition condition. Then, mathematical transformations were performed leading to the TTF. As expected, the first results showed a dependency of the image contrast and noise levels on the TTF for both ASIR and MBIR. Moreover, FBP also proved to be dependent of the contrast and noise when using the lung kernel. Those results were then introduced in the NPW model observer. We observed an enhancement of SNR every time we switched from FBP to ASIR to MBIR. IR algorithms greatly improve image quality, especially in low-dose conditions. Based on our results, the use of MBIR could lead to further dose reduction in several clinical applications.

Autoritat de certificació PKI amb serveis en línia

La finalitat d'aquest projecte és la creació d'una aplicació que faci les funcions d'una Autoritat de Certificació (CA) dins del marc d'una Infraestructura de Clau Pública (PKI). Aquesta aplicació té una interfície web que ofereix una sèrie de serveis en línia.Les operacions que ofereix seran de dos tipus:- Públiques: d'accés obert i que permet obtenir certificats mitjançant fitxers de petició PKCS#10 o introduint les dades de l'usuari. També permet descarregar la Llista de Revocació de Certificats (CRL) i el certificat arrel de la CA.- Privades: on l'usuari s'haurà d'autenticar prèviament com a administrador, ja sigui amb una connexió local i l'ús d'un nom d'usuari i una contrasenya o amb la presentació d'un certificat autoritzat. Les funcions que es podran dur a terme inclouen la posada en marxa de l'aplicació, la seva reinicialització, la gestió de drets d'administrador, la consulta de certificats, la revocació d'aquests o la publicació de la CRL.Les operacions internes de l'aplicació estan separades de la interfície amb l'objectiu de que es puguin fer servir des d'un altre programari.El producte ha estat desenvolupat en llenguatge Java i s'executa mitjançant un contenidor de servlets Apache Tomcat sobre Linux (tot i que seria fàcilment portable a altres contenidors i sistemes operatius). Es fa servir una base de dades MySQL per emmagatzemar la informació de l'aplicació.L'objectiu del projecte és aprofundir en els coneixements sobre Infraestructures de Clau Pública i en les funcions i serveis que ha d'oferir una Autoritat de Certificació, posant un especial èmfasi en tot el referent a la seguretat del sistema.

Creación del núcleo de un servidor web

L'objectiu particular és elaborar el nucli principal d'un servidor web, que tingui com a característiques: multithread, multiprocés, desenvolupament en Java, funcionament en entorns Windows, GNU Linux i heterogenis.

Servidor d'impressió per a ordinadors a monedes

Aquest projecte es va realitzar per a un client que disposa d’un conjunt d’uns 100 ordinadors per a accés a internet amb accés temporitzat per monedes, ubicats en diferents locals, I havia observat una creixent demanda del servei d’impressió, entre d'altres per a fer el checkin per a ryanair.L'objecte d'aquest projecte és crear un sistema que permeti realitzar el cobrament de les impressions de forma prèvia i automàtica, alhora que clara per al client final. Aquest sistema ha de funcionar de forma autònoma, alliberant així al personal del local de les tasques de gestió de la impressora.Cal tenir en compte que aquest sistema ha de funcionar tant per a Linux com per a Windows XP o superior.Es dissenyarà l’electrònica i el software corresponent al servidor d’ impressió,així com les comunicacions entre el servidor d’impressió i els ordinadors per monedes. Quant als ordinadors controlats per monedes, s'implantarà la comunicació amb el moneder, per tal de controlar el crèdit disponible i descomptar el temps corresponent a les impressions. Per altre banda, es realitzarà una interfície d'usuari on es comunicarà a l’usuari el preu de les impressions, el temps que se li restarà, el que té disponible i el que li restaràdesprés de realitzar la impressió. En aquesta mateixa pantalla se li donarà la opció d'acceptar o rebutjar la impressió abans que li sigui descomptada del temps disponible

Multi-source composite kernels for urban image classification

This letter presents advanced classification methods for very high resolution images. Efficient multisource information, both spectral and spatial, is exploited through the use of composite kernels in support vector machines. Weighted summations of kernels accounting for separate sources of spectral and spatial information are analyzed and compared to classical approaches such as pure spectral classification or stacked approaches using all the features in a single vector. Model selection problems are addressed, as well as the importance of the different kernels in the weighted summation.

Axiomatization of the nucl eolus of assignment games

On the domain of general assignment games (with possible reservation prices) the core is axiomatized as the unique solution satisfying two consistency principles: projection consistency and derived consistency. Also, an axiomatic characterization of the nucleolus is given as the unique solution that satisfies derived consistency and equal maximum complaint between groups. As a consequence, we obtain a geometric characterization of the nucleolus. Maschler et al. (1979) provide a geometrical characterization for the intersection of the kernel and the core of a coalitional game, showing that those allocations that lie in both sets are always the midpoint of certain bargaining range between each pair of players. In the case of the assignment game, this means that the kernel can be determined as those core allocations where the maximum amount, that can be transferred without getting outside the core, from one agent to his / her optimally matched partner equals the maximum amount that he / she can receive from this partner, also remaining inside the core. We now prove that the nucleolus of the assignment game can be characterized by requiring this bisection property be satisfied not only for optimally matched pairs but also for optimally matched coalitions. Key words: cooperative games, assignment game, core, nucleolus

Tienda online de pita pinta

El proyecto consiste en la creación de un portal web para la venta de gallina de raza autóctona asturiana, pita pinta. El cliente, criador de esta raza, encarga esta web para dar a conocer su gallinero y ofrecer material relacionado con la cría y productos de alimentación, todo ello para su encargo y compra por internet.

Mixed spectral-structural classification of very high resolution images with summation kernels

In this paper, mixed spectral-structural kernel machines are proposed for the classification of very-high resolution images. The simultaneous use of multispectral and structural features (computed using morphological filters) allows a significant increase in classification accuracy of remote sensing images. Subsequently, weighted summation kernel support vector machines are proposed and applied in order to take into account the multiscale nature of the scene considered. Such classifiers use the Mercer property of kernel matrices to compute a new kernel matrix accounting simultaneously for two scale parameters. Tests on a Zurich QuickBird image show the relevance of the proposed method : using the mixed spectral-structural features, the classification accuracy increases of about 5%, achieving a Kappa index of 0.97. The multikernel approach proposed provide an overall accuracy of 98.90% with related Kappa index of 0.985.

GPL license compliance

The enormous success of Linux in the consumer electronics industry has unfortunately led to a dramatic increase in license violations in devices. In this talk we will shortly look at the backgrounds of these violations, tooling to help uncover violations and what is needed to prevent future violations from happening.

Embedded Monitoring Server

This study investigates, designs, and implements an inexpensive application that allows local and remote monitoring of a home. The application consists of an array of sensors for monitoring different conditions in a home environment and also for accessing the devices that might be connected to the system. Only a few sensors are initially involved in this study and information about the temperature level, forced entry detection, smoke and water leakage detection can be obtained at any time from any location with an Internet connection. The application software (coded in C language) runs on an embedded system which is basically a wireless Linksys router running on a GNU/Linux based firmware for embedded systems. Interaction between the sensors and the application software is achieved through an implemented sensor interfacing circuit. The communication with the sensor interfacing unit is done through the serial port, and accessibility of the connected sensors is achieved through a telnet client. The sensors can be accessed from local and remote locations with the sensors giving reliable information. The resulting application shows that it is possible to use the router for other applications other than what it is intended for.

Ennakoivan Bluetooth -verkon hyödyntäminen paikkatietoon pohjautuvan opastusjärjestelmän toteutuksessa

Tekniikan kehitys ja elämänrytmin kiihtyminen ajaa eteenpäin sekä tarvetta että mahdollisuuksia toteuttaahenkilökohtaisia opastusjärjestelmiä. Lyhyen kantaman langattomat kommunikaatioteknologiat mahdollistavat erilaisten paikkasidonnaisten palveluiden, kuten opastusjärjestelmien toteuttamisen kohtuullisilla kustannuksilla. Markkinoilla olevista järjestelmistä sisätiloihin sijoittuvaan reaaliaikaiseen opastukseen soveltuvaa järjestelmää on vaikea löytää ja useimmat niistä hyödyntävät WLAN -tekniikkaa, joka ei ole kovin laajasti tuettuna matkapuhelimen kaltaisissa kannettavissa päätelaitteissa. Tässä työssä tuodaan esille Bluetooth -tekniikalla toteutettavien reaaliaikaisten järjestelmien ongelmia ja esitellään yksi ratkaisumalli. Toimintaa vaikeuttaa lähinnä pitkä yhteyden muodostumisaika, joka koostuu verkon laitteiden hakemiseen kuluvasta pitkästä vaikeasti kestoltaan arvioitavasta ajasta ja valittuun kohteeseen yhteyden muodostamiseen kuluneesta ajasta. Toteutetussa Bluetooth -opastusjärjestelmässä opastettavien laitteiden hakeminen liityntäpistettä vaihdettaessa on voitu jättää pois, koska yhteyden muodostamiseen vaaditut tiedot välitetään liityntäpisteille kiinteän Ethernet -verkon välityksellä. Työntuloksena syntyneen opastusjärjestelmän käyttökokemukset osoittavat opastusverkon suunnittelun olevan haastava tehtävä, mutta verkon toimintakuntoon saattamisen jälkeen järjestelmän suorituskykyyn saadaan huomattava parannus. Demonstraatiototeutus rajoittaa käytettävän laitteiston Linux-pohjaisiin järjestelmiin, vaikka laajemman käyttöönoton varmistamiseksi järjestelmä tulisi tehdä siirrettäväksiesimerkiksi Symbian -alustalle.

3G SGSN Toiminnallisuustestauksen Automatisointi

3G SGSN (3rd Generation Serving GPRS Support Node) onUMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) pakettiverkon verkkoelementti, joka toimii linkkinä ulkoisen verkon(kuten Internet) ja radioverkon välillä. 3G SGSN ylläpitää tilaajan tietoja ja paikannustietoja päätelaitteen liikkuessa verkon sisällä ja välittää myös dataa ulkoisen verkon ja mobiilipäätelaitteen välillä. Tämän diplomityön aiheena on 3G SGSN toiminnallisuus-testauksen automatisointi. Työssä kehitetään 3G SGSN toiminnallisuustestaukseen soveltuva testauksen automatisointijärjestelmä Linux-ympäristössä AuTS (Automated Test Sequences)-automatisointityökalulla. Kehitystyöhön kuuluu järjestelmän suunnittelu ja toteutus. Toteutettu automatisointijärjestelmä suorittaa 3G SGSN toiminnallisuustestauksen istunnon- ja liikkuvuudenhallinnan testitapauksia.Suoritettujen testitapausten tuloksista luodaan HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)-raportti, joka sisältää tiedot ja analyysit suoritetuista testitapauksista sekä linkit testitapausten lokitietoihin. Hyvä automatisointi vaatii suunnittelua, jossa huomioidaan käytettävyys ja ylläpidettävyys. Näihin ominaisuuksiin on toteutuksessa kiinnitetty erityistä huomiota. Lopputuloksena saatiin toimiva automatisointijärjestelmä, joka osoittaa automatisoinnin tuovan huomattavia etuja toiminnallisuustestauksen tehokkuuteen. Työssä käsitelläänmyös ohjelmistotestausta sekä testauksen automatisointia ja niiden periaatteita.

Design of an Embedded Computer Board for Networking Applications

Tämä diplomityö tehtiin Convergens Oy:lle. Convergens on elektroniikan suunnittelutoimisto, joka on erikoistunut sulautettuihin järjestelmiin sekä tietoliikennetekniikkaan. Diplomityön tavoitteena oli suunnitella tietokonekortti tietoliikennesovelluksia varten asiakkaalle, jolta vaatimusmäärittelyt tulivat. Työ on rajattu koskemaan laitteen prototyypin suunnittelua. Työssä suunnitellaan pääasiassa WLAN-tukiaseman tietokone. Tukiasema onasennettavissa toimistoihin, varastoihin, kauppoihin sekä myös liikkuvaan ajoneuvoon. Suunnittelussa on otettu nämä asiat huomioon, ja laitteen akun pystyy lataamaan muun muassa auton akulla. Langattomat tekniikat ovat voimakkaasti yleistymässä, ja tämän työn tukiasema tarjoaakin varteenotettavan vaihtoehdon lukuisilla ominaisuuksillaan. Mukana on mm. GPS, Bluetooth sekä Ethernet-valmius. Langattomien tekniikoiden lisäksi myös sulautetut järjestelmät ovat voimakkaasti yleistymässä, ja nykyään mikroprosessoreita löytääkin lähesmistä vain. Tässä projektissa käytetty prosessori on nopeutensa puolesta kilpailukykyinen, ja siitä löytyy useita eri rajapintoja. Jatkossa tietokonekortille on myös tulossa WiMAX-tuki, joka lisää tukiaseman tulevaisuuden arvoa asiakkaalle. Projektiin valittu Freescalen MPC8321E-prosessori on PowerPC-arkkitehtuuriin perustuva ja juuri markkinoille ilmestynyt. Tämä toi mukanaan lisähaasteen, sillä kyseisestä prosessorista ei ollut vielä kaikkea tietoa saatavilla. Mekaniikka toi omat haasteensa mukanaan, sillä se rajoitti piirilevyn koonniin, että ylimääräistä piirilevytilaa ei juurikaan jäänyt. Tämän takia esimerkiksi DDR-muistit olivat haastavia reitittää, sillä muistivetojen on oltava melko samanpituisia keskenään. Käyttöjärjestelmänä projektissa käytetään Linuxia. Suunnittelu alkoi keväällä 2007 ja toimiva prototyyppi oli valmis alkusyksystä. Prototyypin testaus osoitti, että tietokonekortti kykenee täyttämään kaikki asiakkaan vaatimukset. Prototyypin testauksessa löytyneet viat ja optimoinnit on tarkoitus korjata tuotantomalliin, joten se antaa hyvän pohjan jatkosuunnittelua varten.