特殊票据字符识别预分类特征的提取及分类字典的建立

从特殊票据———火车票票面字符的特点出发 ,将笔划复杂性指数与四周面积编码结合起来作为粗分类的分类特征 采用C -均值聚类算法进行预分类 最后生成分类特征库———分类字典 .得到了预期的分类效果 ,正确分类率达到 95 % .

快速图像特征提取算法研究与应用

快速图像特征提取算法是图像处理和计算机视觉领域的重要研究课题。在复杂背景下基于视频的自动目标识别与跟踪中，目标特征的快速准确提取是实现高概率自动目标识别的关键技术，目标特征的快速提取能简化待识别目标的表示，实现快速准确地识别出感兴趣的目标。在机器人视觉中，快速图像特征提取也有广泛的应用，如视觉里程计技术、机器人自主视觉导航技术等。本文根据视频监控和机器人视觉的实际需求，对此课题开展了研究，主要的研究成果包括如下内容： 1)为消除视频图像的噪声对特征点提取的影响，提出了一种新的基于图像统计信息消除椒盐噪声算法。该算法能在去除噪声同时保持图像的细节特征(边缘和角点等)，并且具有较低的计算复杂度。 2)提出了基于4叉树和色彩迁移理论的光照常恒算法。该算法可对同一场景不同光照下的两幅图像进行光照校正。将一幅图像的亮度特征传递给另一幅图像，使目标图像具有与参照图像相似的亮度统计信息。通过亮度处理之后，两幅图像具有相似的光照背景，有助于后续的特征点检测。 3)提出了基于LBP的角点快速提取算法。该方法与目前流行Harris和SUSAN角点提取算法相比，具有复杂度低、实时性好、灰度伸缩不变性和旋转不变性等优点。 4)从透镜成像模型原理出发，推导出精确的景深计算公式，并将其和传统的景深计算公式进行了深入的比较和分析，最后从计算机视觉角度阐述了本文的景深计算公式的优点。 5)在上述算法研究和试验基础上，研发了森林烟火自动识别软件系统。在该系统中，上述提出的算法得到成功的应用。该软件系统已投入实际使用，实现了24小时全天候森林烟火自动监控和预警，同时也验证了文中所提算法的有效性。论文的最后一章进行了总结，并对今后的研究工作进行了展望。

自治水下机器人在深海采矿系统湖试中的应用

以大洋采矿前期的湖试为例,介绍了AUV在矿产资源调查和深海采矿中的应用。在深海采矿系统作业前期,利用AUV调查湖底的地形地貌、结核的分布与覆盖率,确定集矿机作业地点的大地坐标。在深海采矿系统作业后期,利用AUV调查集矿机在湖底的行走轨迹和压陷深度,估算回采率。

机器人插件作业的视觉导引方法研究

插件作业 (parts mating)是装配机器人的一项基本作业环节 .本文介绍了以双目立体视觉实现该作业的视觉导引方法 .该方法通过采用人机交互方式 ,借助于人的智慧 ,提高了图像特征提取和匹配的准确性和可靠性、可直观准确地给出插件作业的动作参数 ,克服了自动视觉计算复杂、鲁棒性差的缺点 ,适用于机器人遥操作作业 .实验表明 ,基于人机交互的机器人插件作业在立体视觉导引下是完全可行的

基于小波的变速箱故障信号提取与处理

随着工业技术的发展，现代设备的生产方式更加趋于自动化和连续化。变速箱作为机械设备中最常见的传动方式之一，在各种设备中有着广泛的用途。因此，对变速箱进行状态监测及故障诊断意义重大，不仅可缩短维修时间、降低维修成本，还可提高诊断准确性和维修质量，创造可观经济效益。 汽车生产自动化程度的日渐提高以及市场竞争的日趋激烈化，要求汽车制造公司在高产量的同时保证产品质量的可靠，这样对机械故障诊断的准确性和快速性提出了更高的要求。变速箱作为汽车动力总成的重要部分，其质量对整车性能有着极大的影响。因此，快速准确的对变速箱进行在线检测和故障诊断是保证汽车质量的重要途径。 变速箱故障诊断技术是近年来的研究热点。当变速箱发生故障时，其故障信号往往包含着大量的冲击成分，由于变速箱内部结构比较复杂，所以其振动信号同时含有很强的噪声成分，如何有效的消除噪声，提取到故障信号是变速箱故障诊断的前提和基础。 本论文围绕小波变换和小波包变换在变速箱故障诊断中的应用进行了理论研究和实验验证，将小波分析这一时频分析方法应用到变速箱故障诊断领域。结合自适应小波变换滤波与经典的小波阈值去噪算法，提出了一种基于小波的双层滤波去噪算法，它可以有效的消除变速箱故障信号中的噪声；对去噪后的故障信号进行重采样处理，以便消除由于转速和采样频率的改变对小波包频带能量特征提取的影响；然后，将重采样后的信号进行了小波包分解。最后，小波包频带能量序列被提取作为故障特征向量，以便进行故障诊断。 实验结果表明，本文提出的基于小波的双层滤波去噪算法相对于传统的小波阈值去噪算法，去噪效果更优；相对于改变尺度因子a与小波形状控制参数的k的自适应小波变换滤波算法，计算量大大减小。重采样信号处理可以较好的消除转速和采样频率对故障特征向量提取的影响。因此，以小波包分解频带能量序列作为故障特征向量能较好的表征不同的故障。

基于弹性参数分析的碳酸盐岩储层预测方法研究

Prediction of Carbonate Reservoir Based on the Elastic Parameter Analysis Zhang Guangzhi (Solid Geophysics) Directed by Professor Liu Hong Abstract With the exploration and development of Puguang Oilfield, oil-gas exploration of carbonate rock in China has shown good prospects. Research on earthquake prediction methods for carbonate reservoir becomes the key of oil and gas exploration. Starting with analysis of geological characteristics of carbonate rock, prestack AVO inversion method, prestack elastic impedance inversion and parameter calculation method and seismic attribute extraction and optimization method were studied based on the analysis of rock physics in this work. First, variation characteristic and law of carbonate rock reservoir parameters were studied based on experimental data of rock physics, log data, analysis assay data, mud logging data and seismic data, so as to lay a foundation for the further reservoir identification and description. Then, the structure, type and propagation law of seismic wave field were analyzed through seismic forward modeling of the reservoir, and contact between information from log and geology data with elastic parameters, such as compressional wave and shear wave velocity and density were established, so as to provide a standard for reservoir identification and hydrocarbon detection using seismic reflection characteristics of the research area. Starting with the general concept of inverse problem, through analysis of Zoeppritz equation, three kinds of pre-stack inversion methods were derived and analyzed in detail, the AVO 3-parameter inversion based on Bayesian theory, the prestack AVO waveform inversion method and the simultaneous inversion method, based on the statistical hypothesis of inversion parameters and observation data and the Gauss distribution assumption of noise. The three methods were validated by model data and real data. Then, the elastic wave impedance inversion method of carbonate reservoir was investigated and the method of elastic parameter extraction from elastic impedance data was put forward. Based on the analysis of conventional methods of seismic attribute extraction and optimization, the time-frequency attributes and the wavelet attributes with time and amplitude feature were presented, and the prestack seismic attribute calculation method which can characterize the reservoir rock and fluid characteristic was presented. And the optimization of seismic attribute using the nonlinear KPCA method was also put forward. A series of seismic prediction technologies for carbonate reservoir were presented based on analysis of rock physics and seismic forward simulation technology. Practical application of these technologies was implemented in A oil field of Southern China and good effect has been achieved. Key words: carbonate rock; reservoir prediction; rock physics, prestack seismic inversion; seismic attribute

金川矿山岩体移动规律及竖井变形、破坏机理研究

The Jinchuan Nickel Mine is the largest underground mine with cut-and-fill mining in China. It is very difficult to be exploited for very low safety stability of rock mass caused by complex geological conditions, developed faults, cracked rock mass and high stress. In this paper, the laws of rock mass movement、mechanics of shaft deformation and destroy were analyzed based on the collection of date, the detailed field engineering investigations, ground movement monitoring by GPS, theoretical analysis and numerical simulation. According to the GPS monitoring result of ground surface movement, there are different ground movement characteristics among the three Mine area of Jinchuan Nickel Mine. In No. 2 Mine area, the ground movement funnel with apparent asymmetry is developing, the influence scope is larger in the up faulted block than in the down faulted block, and the centre of ground movement is moving along the up faulted block direction with increasing depth of mining. Moreover, the tunnels in the corresponding area with the centre of ground movement are damaged seriously. In Longshou Mine area, the ground movement funnel is also developing, but the moving path and the nonlinear characters are more sophisticated because of the long-term effects of open excavating and the effects of underground mining together. In No. 3 Mine area, the underground mining impact on surface is not serious for the time of mining activity is not for long, but the ground movement funnel is also forming now. The underground mining has caused widespread land subsidence in Jinchuan Nickel Mine area, but the phenomena of surface raise appeared in some partial areas of Longshou Mine area and No. 3 Mine area. Analysis proved that the reason for the open pit bottom raise is the slope deformation activation caused by the excavation from open pit into underground mine; and that the raise of surface in No.3 Mine area is caused by the effect of elastic foundation due to underground mining. Although the GPS Monitoring results show the amount of subsidence is increasing constantly, the subsidence rate has a descending tendency with fluctuation in Jinchuan No. 2 Mine area. The subsidence rate curve is a time function and exists an extreme point, the rate increasing before extreme point and decreasing after the extreme point ,but the scale of decreasing rate will be very small after the rate decreasing up to a certain degree, moreover, the characteristics is different among different areas, which have some relation with the distance to the mining section and the dip of the ore body. ArcView is GIS software, which we adopted as a development platform, and made secondary development by its development language “avenue”, through which we developed a ground movement analysis and forecast System for Jinchuan Nickel Mine, which contain three modules : management of ground movement information; analysis and evaluation of ground movement; and ground movement forecast. In the module of evaluation, using the technique of MATLAB6.5 program with VB6.0, the system can achieve the ANN prediction model for GPS monitoring data, data preparation results analysis and model integrated was realized by Avenue programming. Finally, the author analyzed the mechanical of deformation and destroy of the No. 14 shaft, and its repair and artificial-support effectiveness also given detailed demonstration in various aspect. The result showed that the reason for the destroy of No. 14 shaft is underground mining, and being the case, the destroy of the shaft also has its special features, which mainly contains forked stress contour for mining steep ore and fault effect caused by mining activities. The repair and artificial-support played some restrictions on the rock mass movement and deformation, but did not show a strong or marked effect. With the increasing of mining depth and large-scale, the closure rock of the shaft will still deformed, even be destroyed.

急倾斜金属矿体开采岩体移动规律与变形趋势预测研究

Rockmass movement due to mining steep metallic ore body is a considerable question in the surface movement and deformation issue caused by underground mining. Research on coal mining induced rockmass movement and its prediction problem have been performed for a long-term, and have achieved great progress at home and abroad. However, the rockmass movement caused by mining steep metal mine is distinctivly different from coal seam mining.. Existing surface movement laws and deformation prediction methods are not applicable to the rockmass movement caused by mining steep metal mine. So far the home and abroad research to this theory is presently at an early stage, and there isn’t mature theory or practical prediction method, which made a great impact on production. In this paper, the research object—Jinchuan nickel mine, which is typical steep metal mine, characterized by complex geological conditions, developed faults, cracked rockmass, high geostress, and prominent engineering stability problems. In addition, backfill mining method is used in the mine, the features of rockmass movement caused by this mining method are also different from other mining methods. In this paper, the laws of rock mass movement, deformation and destroy mechanism, and its prediction were analyzed based on the collection of data, detailed in-sit engineering geology survey, ground movement monitoring by GPS, theoretical analysis and numerical simulation. According to the GPS monitoring of ground surface movement, ground subsidence basin with apparent asymmetry is developing, the influence scope is larger in the upper faulted block than in the lower faulted block, and the center of ground movement is moving along the upper faulted block direction with increasing depth of mining. During the past half and seven years, the largest settlement has amounted to 1287.5mm, and corresponding horizontal displacement has amounted to 664.6mm. On the ground surface, two fissure belts show a fast-growing trend of closure. To sum up, mining steep metal mine with backfill method also exist the same serious problem of rockmass movement hazards. Fault, as a low intensity zone in rockmass, when it located within the region of mining influence, the change of potential energy mainly consumed in fault deformation associated with rockmass structure surface friction, which is the essence of displacement and stress barrier effects characterized by fault rupture zone. when steep fault located in the tensile deformation region incurred by underground excavation, no matter excavation in hangingwall or in footwall of the fault, there will be additional tensile stress on the vertical fault plane and decrease in the shear strength, and always showing characteristics of normal fault slip, which is the main reason of fault escarpment appeared on the ground surface. The No.14 shaft deformation and failure is triggered by fault activation, which showed with sidewall move, rupture, and break down features as the main form of a concentrated expression of fault effects. The size and orientation of principal stress in surrounding rock changed regularly with mining; therefore, roadway deformation and damage at different stages have different characteristics and distribution models. During the process of mining, low-intensity weak structures surface always showed the most obvious reaction, accompany with surface normal stress decrease and shear strength bring down, to some extent, occurred with relative slide and deformation. Meanwhile, the impact of mining is a relatively long process, making the structure surface effect of roadway deformation and damage more prominent than others under the influence of mining. Roadway surrounding rockmass deformation caused by the change of strain energy density field after excavation mainly belongs to elastic deformation, and the correspondented damage mainly belongs to brittle rupture, in this circumstance, surrounding rockmass will not appear large deformation. The large deformation of surrounding rockmass can only be the deformation associated with structure surface friction or the plastic deformation of itself, which mainly caused by the permanent self-weigh volume force，and long-term effect of mining led to the durability of this deformation Good pitting fill effect and supporting effect of backfill, as well as the friction of rockmass structure surface lead to obvious macro-rockmass movement with long-lag characteristics. In addition, the loss of original intensity and new structure surface arisen increased flexibility in rockmass and fill deformation in structure surface, which made the time required for rockmass potential energy translate into deformation work associated with plastic deformation and structure surface friction consumed much, and to a large extent, eliminated the time needed to do those plastic work during repeated mining, all of which are the fundamental reason of rockmass movement aftereffect more significant than before. Mining steep deposits in high tectonic stress area and in gravity stress area have different movement laws and deformation mechanism. The steep deposit, when the vertical size of the mining areas is smaller than the horizontal size of the orebody, no matter mining in gravity stress area or in high tectonic stress area, they have similar features of ground movement with mining horizontal orebody; contrarily, there will appear double settlement centers on the ground surface under the condition of mining in high tectonic stress area, while there will always be a single center under the other condition. Meanwhile the ground movement lever, scale of mining influence area and macro features of ground movement, deformation and fracture are also different from mining in gravity stress area, and the fundamental reason lies in the impact of orientation of the maximum principal stress on rock movement features in in-site rock stress field. When mining thick and steep deposit, the ground surface movement and deformation characteristic curves are significantly different from excavating the horizontal ore bed and thin steep deposit. According to the features of rockmass movement rate, the development process of mining-induced rockmass movement is divided into three stages: raising stage, steadily stage and gradually decay stage. Considering the actual exploitation situation, GPS monitoring results and macro-characteristics of surface movement, the current subsidence pattern of Jinchuan No.2 mine is in the early stage of development. Based on analysis of surface movement rate, surface subsidence rate increase rapidly when mining in double lever at the same time, and reach its peak until the exploitation model ended. When double lever mining translate into single, production decreased, surface subsidence rate suddenly start to reduce and maintain a relatively low value, and the largest subsidence center will slowly move along with the hangingwall ore body direction with increasing depth of mining, at the same time, the scope and extent of subsidence in footwall ore body will begin magnify, and a sub-settlement center will appear on ground surface, accompanied with the development and closure trend of ground fissure, the surrounding rockmass of shaft and roadway will be confronted to more frequent and severe deformation and failure, and which will have a negative impact on the overall stability of No.2 mine mining. On the premise of continuity of rockmass movement, gray system model can be used in ground rockmass movement prediction for good results. Under the condition of backfill mining step by step, the loose effect of compact status of the hard, broken rockmass led to lower energy release rate, although surrounding rockmass has high elastic energy, loose and damage occurred in the horizontal ore body, which made the mining process safety without any large geological hazards. During the period of mining the horizontal ore body to end, in view of its special “residual support role”, there will be no large scale rockmass movement hazards. Since ground surface movement mainly related to the intensity of mining speed and backfill effect, on the premise of constant mining speed, during the period of mining the horizontal ore body to end, the rate of ground surface rockmass movement and deformation won’t have sudden change.

山西堡子湾金矿角砾岩带控矿规律、成矿时代及隐伏矿体定位预测

The Puziwan gold deposit is located at the northern boundary of the North China platform where there are very favorable ore-forming conditions. The deposit is a medium-sized gold deposit associated with silver and copper polymetallic minerallization which were closely related to cryptoexplosive processes and fluidization and underwent multi-epoch superposition of mineralization. The mineralization consists of cryptoexplosive breccia-type, fluidizing-type, porphyry-type, quartz vein-type, etc. The ore-controlling law of ore-bearing brecciated zone is systematically studied in the paper. The shape, scale and attitude of ore bodies are dominat in the upper, the ore bodies of fluidizing breccia-type are dominant in the upper and the middle part, the porphyry-type ore bodies are dominant in the bottom. The quartz vein-type ore bodies are impenetrated in all the brecciated zone. The metallogenic epoch of Puziwan gold deposit is collated and stipulated. The Rb-Sr isochron age of quartz porphyry (wall rock) is 233 Ma, refering to the Ar-Ar age of gold-bearing quartz, excluded the former conclusion that the so-called metallogenic epoch (245.9Ma) is in Indosinian epoch. The nonage metallogenic age of Buziwan gold deposit shoule be in the Yanshanian epoch (142.5Ma). By applying the sub-specimen sampling technique, the Rb-Sr isochron age of gold-bearing pyrites in late mineralization epoch is dated to be 64 Ma. In conclusion, the metallogenetic epoch of Puziwan gold deposit is in late Yanshanian-early Himalayan epoch. On the above basis, the metallogenic model of the "train type" and new texture model of ore deposit are established. by applying the methods of geology, shallow seismic exploration, remote sensing, partial geochemical extraction and the study of inclusions in the late granite porphyry, the author has made the metallogenic progosis in the depth and the prephery of Puziwan gold deposit and eight prospecting targets are proposed.

金川二矿区水平矿层灾变失稳问题研究

This dissertation is mainly composed of seven chapters. Specifically, a preface which introduces the background and significance of the dissertation, the present state of study relating to the dissertation, the methods and frame of the study in the dissertation is presented in the first chapter. The second chapter is mainly focused on the present theories and methods about the study on the Problems of Catastrophic Destabilization which are induced by deep mining. In the third chapter, basic conditions of Jinchuan Deposit II are introduced, which include regional geological background, engineering geological conditions, in-situ stress, hydrological geological conditions, mining methods and the present state of the horizontal ole layer. The fourth chapter analysizes the problem of Catastrophic Destabilization of the horizontal ole layer with theoretical methods and gives an analytical solution of elastic foundation beam which two ends are fixed and a catastrophic model of the horizontal ole layer. With FLAC3D, the Problem of Catastrophic Destabilization is analyzed, the variation of displacement and stress of the horizontal ole layer is described, and a development of plastic zone in ore layer is given out. The contents in the sixth chapter is a preliminary design of monitoring system for the horizontal ole layer. At the end of the text, several comprehensive conclusions are given in the seventh chapter.

Isotope Geochemistry of Gold Ore Deposits in the Gezhen Shear Zone, Qiongxi, Hainan Island

Gold deposits hosted in the Gezhen shear zone at Qingxi, Hainan Island occur in the Precambrian metamorphic rock series and are regionally developed in the N-E direction along the tectonic zone. From northeast to southwest are distributed the Tuwaishan-Baoban gold mining district, the Erjia gold mining district and the Bumo gold mining district, making up the most industrially important gold metallogenesis zone on the Hainan Island. Isotope geochemical studies of the typical gold deposits in this metallogen

Studies on factors relating to the development of defects in commercial cheese

Defects in commercial cheese result in a downgrading of the final cheese and a consequential economic loss to the cheese producer. Developments of defects in cheese are often not fully understood and therefore not controllable by the producer. This research investigated the underlying factors in the development of split and secondary fermentation defect and of pinking defects in commercial Irish cheeses. Split defect in Swiss-type cheese is a common defect associated with eye formation and manifests as slits and cracks visible in the cut cheese loaf (Reinbold, 1972; Daly et al., 2010). No consensus exists as to the definitive causes of the defect and possible factors which may contribute to the defect were reviewed. Models were derived to describe the relationship between moisture, pH, and salt levels and the distance from sample location to the closest external block surface during cheese ripening. Significant gradients within the cheese blocks were observed for all measured parameters in cheeses at 7 day post/after manufacture. No significant pH gradient was found within the blocks on exit from hot-room ripening and at three months post exit from the hot-room. Moisture content reached equilibrium within the blocks between exit from hot-room and 3 months after exit from hot-room while salt and salt-to-moisture levels had not reached equilibrium within the cheese blocks even at three months after exit from hot-room ripening. A characterisation of Swiss-type cheeses produced from a seasonal milk supply was undertaken. Cheeses were sampled on two days per month of the production year, at three different times during the manufacturing day, at internal and external regions of the cheese block and at four ripening time points (7 days post manufacture, post hot-room, 14 days post hot-room and 3 months in a cold room after exit from hot-room). Compositional, biochemical and microbial indices were determined, and the results were analysed as a splitplot with a factorial arrangement of treatments (season, time of day, area) on the main plot and ripening time on the sub-plot. Season (and interactions) had a significant effect on pH and salt-in-moisture levels (SM), mean viable counts of L. helveticus, propionic acid and non-starter lactic acid bacteria, levels of primary and secondary proteolysis and cheese firmness. Levels of proteolysis increased significantly during hot-room ripening but also during cold room storage, signifying continued development of cheese ripening during cold storage (> 8°C). Rheological parameters (e.g. springiness and cohesiveness) were significantly affected by interactions between ripening and location within cheese blocks. Time of day of manufacture significantly affected mean cheese calcium levels at 7 days post manufacture and mean levels of arginine and mean viable counts of NSLAB. Cheeses produced during the middle of the production day had the best grading scores and were more consistent compared to cheeses produced early or late during day of manufacture. Cheeses with low levels of S/M and low values of resilience were associated with poor grades at 7 days post manufacture. Chesses which had high elastic index values and low values of springiness in the external areas after exit from hot-room ripening also obtained good commercial grades. Development of a pink colour defect is an intermittent defect in ripened cheese which may or may not contain an added colourant, e.g., annatto. Factors associated with the defect were reviewed. Attempts at extraction and identification of the pink discolouration were unsuccessful. The pink colour partitioned with the water insoluble protein fraction. No significant difference was observed between ripened control and defect cheese for oxygen levels and redox potential or for the results of elemental analysis. A possible relationship between starter activity and defect development was established in cheeses with added coulourant, as lower levels of residual galactose and lactose were observed in defective cheese compared to control cheese free of the defect. Swiss-type cheese without added colourant had significantly higher levels of arginine and significantly lower lactate levels. Flow cell cytometry indicated that levels of bacterial cell viability and metabolic state differed between control and defect cheeses (without added colourant). Pyrosequencing analysis of cheese samples with and without the defect detected the previously unreported bacteria in cheese, Deinococcus thermus (a potential carotenoid producer). Defective Swiss-type cheeses had elevated levels of Deinococcus thermus compared to control cheeses, however the direct cause of pink was not linked to this bacterium alone. Overall, research was undertaken on underlying factors associated with the development of specific defects in commercial cheese, but also characterised the dynamic changes in key microbial and physicochemical parameters during cheese ripening and storage. This will enable the development of processing technologies to enable seasonal manipulation of manufacture protocols to minimise compositional and biochemical variability and to reduce and inhibit the occurrence of specific quality defects.

Implications of shale gas development for climate change.

Advances in technologies for extracting oil and gas from shale formations have dramatically increased U.S. production of natural gas. As production expands domestically and abroad, natural gas prices will be lower than without shale gas. Lower prices have two main effects: increasing overall energy consumption, and encouraging substitution away from sources such as coal, nuclear, renewables, and electricity. We examine the evidence and analyze modeling projections to understand how these two dynamics affect greenhouse gas emissions. Most evidence indicates that natural gas as a substitute for coal in electricity production, gasoline in transport, and electricity in buildings decreases greenhouse gases, although as an electricity substitute this depends on the electricity mix displaced. Modeling suggests that absent substantial policy changes, increased natural gas production slightly increases overall energy use, more substantially encourages fuel-switching, and that the combined effect slightly alters economy wide GHG emissions; whether the net effect is a slight decrease or increase depends on modeling assumptions including upstream methane emissions. Our main conclusions are that natural gas can help reduce GHG emissions, but in the absence of targeted climate policy measures, it will not substantially change the course of global GHG concentrations. Abundant natural gas can, however, help reduce the costs of achieving GHG reduction goals.

Ambient Noise in the Kitimat Fjord System

Sound is an important medium for communication and marine organisms have evolved to capitalize on the efficiency with which sound energy travels through water. Anthropogenic and natural sound sources contribute to ocean ambient noise, which can interfere with the use of this sensory modality by marine animals. Anthropogenic noise sources have been increasing steadily over recent decades largely due to coastal population growth, increased global transportation, and offshore industrialization. Understanding the potential impacts of anthropogenic noise requires the establishment of ambient acoustic baselines from which to measure change. Establishing baselines, especially in quiet areas still largely unaffected by anthropogenic stressors, is particularly crucial in the face of the expansion of offshore industries, increasing coastal population and growing reliance on the ocean for global transportation. Global demand for liquid natural gas (LNG), catalyzed primarily by a growing Asian market, is expected to increase significantly in the next 20 years. The geographic position of British Columbia relative to these markets, a growing supply of LNG and new technology for extraction and shipping situate British Columbia as a strong competitor in the lucrative market. The LNG industry could have many adverse impacts on these territories and ecosystems. The Kitimat Fjord System is slated for the development of these LNG export facilities increasing shipping traffic for the port and thus increasing ambient noise in the fjord system. The purpose of this study is to 1) quantify the existing sound levels in the area surrounding Gil Island and 2) identify potential source mechanisms in order to provide a baseline study of the acoustic environment in the Kitimat Fjord system prior to potential increases from LNG shipping.

An aircraft accident database of human experience in evacuation derived from aviation accident reports

Computer based mathematical models describing the aircraft evacuation process have a vital role to play in aviation safety. However, such models have a heavy dependency on real evacuation data. The Fire Safety Engineering Group of the University of Greenwich is undertaking a large data extraction exercise in order to address this issue. This paper describes the extraction and application of data from aviation accident reports. To aid in the storage and analysis of the raw data, a computer database known as AASK (Aircraft Accident Statistics and Knowledge) is under development. AASK is being developed to store human observational and anecdotal data contained in accident reports and interview transcripts. AASK currently contains information from 25 survivable aviation accidents covering the period 04/04/77 to 06/08/95, involving some 2415 passengers, 2210 survivors, 205 fatalities and accounts from 669 people. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.