The development of finely-tuned materials that adjust in a predictable manner by specific environment change is the recent arena of materials research. It is a newly emerging supra-disciplinary field with huge commercial potential. Stimuli-responsive materials answer by a considerable change in their properties to small changes in their environment. Responsive materials are becoming increasingly more prevalent as scientists learn about the chemistry and triggers that induce conformational changes in materials structures and devise ways to take advantage of and control them. Responsive Materials and Method offers state-of-the-art of the stimuli-responsive materials and their potential applications. This collection brings together novel methodologies and strategies adopted in the research and development of responsive materials and technology.
This book offers a comprehensive overview of progress in the general area of fluvial remote sensing with a specific focus on its potential contribution to river management. The book highlights a range of challenging issues by considering a range of spatial and temporal scales with perspectives from a variety of disciplines. The book starts with an overview of the technical progress leading to new management applications for a range of field contexts and spatial scales. Topics include colour imagery, multi-spectral and hyper-spectral imagery, video, photogrammetry and LiDAR. The book then discusses management applications such as targeted, network scale, planning, land-use change modelling at catchment scales, characterisation of channel reaches (riparian vegetation, geomorphic features) in both spatial and temporal dimensions, fish habitat assessment, flow measurement, monitoring river restoration and maintenance and, the appraisal of human perceptions of riverscapes. Key Features: • A specific focus on management applications in a period of increasing demands on managers to characterize river features and their evolution at different spatial scales • An integration across all scales of imagery with a clear discussion of both ground based and airborne images • Includes a wide-range of environmental problems • Coverage of cutting-edge technology • Contributions from leading researchers in the field
At a time when people use more and more geographic information and tools, the management of geographical information in software systems still holds many challenges and motivates researchers from different backgrounds to propose innovative solutions. Representing geographical space beyond our mere perception is key to making relevant decisions, whether it is with respect to sustainable development or to the planning of everyday activities. Designing, sharing and exploiting such representations entails many challenges. This book presents recent software design projects, led in teams, which sometimes have different backgrounds, to address these challenges. It analyzes the specificities of these projects in terms of motivation, data models and analysis methods. Proposals are also put forward to improve resource sharing in this domain. Contents 1. Introduction, Bénédicte Bucher and Florence Le Ber. Part 1. Software Presentation 2. ORBISGIS: Geographical Information System Designed by and for Research, Erwan Bocher and Gwendall Petit. 3. GEOXYGENE: an Interoperable Platform for Geographical Application Development, Éric Grosso, Julien Perret and Mickaël Brasebin. 4. Spatiotemporal Knowledge Representation in AROM-ST, Bogdan Moisuc, Alina Miron, Marlène Villanova-Olivier and Jérôme Gensel. 5. GENGHIS: an Environment for the Generation of Spatiotemporal Visualization Interfaces, Paule-Annick Davoine, Bogdan Moisuc and Jérôme Gensel. 6. GEOLIS: a Logical Information System to Organize and Search Geo-Located Data, Olivier Bedel, Sébastien Ferré and Olivier Ridoux. 7. GENEXP-LANDSITES: a 2D Agricultural Landscape Generating Piece of Software, Florence Le Ber and Jean-François Mari. 8. MDWEB: Cataloging and Locating Environmental Resources, Jean-Christophe Desconnets and Thérèse Libourel. 9. WEBGEN: Web Services to Share Cartographic Generalization Tools, Moritz Neun, Nicolas Regnauld and Robert Weibel. Part 2. Summary and Suggestions 10. Analysis of the Specificities of Software Development in Geomatics Research, Florence Le Ber and Bénédicte Bucher. 11. Challenges and Proposals for Software Development Pooling in Geomatics, Bénédicte Bucher, Julien Gaffuri, Florence Le Ber and Thérèse Libourel.
This is the third revised edition of the established and trusted RFID Handbook; the most comprehensive introduction to radio frequency identification (RFID) available. This essential new edition contains information on electronic product code (EPC) and the EPC global network, and explains near-field communication (NFC) in depth. It includes revisions on chapters devoted to the physical principles of RFID systems and microprocessors, and supplies up-to-date details on relevant standards and regulations. Taking into account critical modern concerns, this handbook provides the latest information on: the use of RFID in ticketing and electronic passports; the security of RFID systems, explaining attacks on RFID systems and other security matters, such as transponder emulation and cloning, defence using cryptographic methods, and electronic article surveillance; frequency ranges and radio licensing regulations. The text explores schematic circuits of simple transponders and readers, and includes new material on active and passive transponders, ISO/IEC 18000 family, ISO/IEC 15691 and 15692. It also describes the technical limits of RFID systems. A unique resource offering a complete overview of the large and varied world of RFID, Klaus Finkenzeller’s volume is useful for end-users of the technology as well as practitioners in auto ID and IT designers of RFID products. Computer and electronics engineers in security system development, microchip designers, and materials handling specialists benefit from this book, as do automation, industrial and transport engineers. Clear and thorough explanations also make this an excellent introduction to the topic for graduate level students in electronics and industrial engineering design. Klaus Finkenzeller was awarded the Fraunhofer-Smart Card Prize 2008 for the second edition of this publication, which was celebrated for being an outstanding contribution to the smart card field.
A look at engineering education today— with an eye to tomorrow Engineering education is in flux. While it is increasingly important that engineers be innovative, entrepreneurial, collaborative, and able to work globally, there are virtually no programs that prepare students to meet these new challenges. Shaping Our World: Engineering Education for the 21st Century seeks to fill this void, exploring revolutionary approaches to the current engineering curriculum that will bring it fully up to date and prepare the next generation of would-be engineers for real and lasting professional success. Comprised of fourteen chapters written by respected experts on engineering education, the book is divided into three parts that address the need for change in the way engineering is taught; specific innovations that have been tested, why they matter, and how they can be more broadly instituted; and the implications for further changes. Designed to aid engineering departments in their transition towards new modes of learning and leadership in engineering education, the book describes how to put into practice educational programs that are aligned with upcoming changes, such as those proposed in the NAE's Engineer of 2020 reports. Addressing the need to change engineering education to meet the demands of the 21st century head on, Shaping Our World condenses current discussions, research, and trials regarding new methods into specific, actionable calls for change.
The field of Home Area Networks (HAN), a dedicated residential subset of LAN technologies for home-based use, is fast becoming the next frontier for the communications industry. This book describes the various technologies involved in the implementation of a HAN: high-speed Internet connections, indoor implementations, services, software, and management packages. It also reviews multimedia applications (which are increasingly the most important and complex aspects of most HANs) with a detailed description of IPTV technology. It highlights the main technologies used for HANs: information transmission by means of copper pairs, coaxial cables, fiber optics, and Wi-Fi radio systems, as well as the software systems necessary for the processing and management of these data communications. These technologies – examples of which include the well-known 802.11 family of standards, and less widespread applications such as the HomePlug powerline standard – are highly relevant to multimedia, remote healthcare, remote working, energy, and device management in the home. The book is written for engineers working in the field, or who are interested in high-speed communication technologies and their actual or potential use in the home or in the small – medium size enterprise (SME) commercial environment.
Competition from emerging and developing countries, challenges related to energy and water, the continuing increase in the global population and the obligation to be sustainable are all impacting developed countries such as the United States, France, etc. Manufacturing has been almost totally neglected by these developed countries and thus there is a strong need to review R&D and the development and industrialization processes. This is a prerequisite for maintaining and improving welfare and quality of life. The industrialization process can be defined as the process of converting research or laboratory experiments into a physical tool capable of producing a product of value for customers of specified markets. Such a process implies knowledge of BAT (best available techniques) in chemical engineering, plant design, production competitiveness, the proper utilization of tools (toolbox concept) such as value assessment, value engineering, eco-design, LCA (lifecycle analysis), process simulation, modeling, innovation and appropriate metrics usage. These are mandatory to ensure commercial success and covered by the authors of this book.
Featuring authors from academia as well as industry, this book provides a broad view of carbohydrates influencing digestive health. Part 1 is a general overview of carbohydrates that function as prebiotics or fermentable carbohydrates. Part 2 is a more in depth examination of specific carbohydrates for digestive health and applications. This book provides an in-depth review and thorough foundation for food scientists, product developers and nutrition scientists seeking to understand the digestive health implications of carbohydrates. Key features: Analyzes the most active fields of research currently performed on nondigestible carbohydrates Focuses on the growing opportunity to deliver digestive health benefits through fibers and other novel carbohydrates Authors include highly recognized researchers from academe and industry experts Explores new possibilities in prebiotics and fermentable carbohydrates
The book summarizes many of the recent technical research accomplishments in the area of engineering polymers, such as oxygen containing main chain polymers (Polyether and Polyesters). The book emphasizes the various aspects of preparation, structure, processing, morphology, properties and applications of engineering polymers. Recent advances in the development and characterization of multi component polymer blends and composites (maco, micro and nano) based on engineering polymers are discussed in detail. The content of the book is unique as there are no books which deal with the recent advances synthesis, morphology, structure, properties and applications of engineering polymers and their blends and composites including nanocomposites. It covers an up-to-date record on the major findings and observations in the field.
This final volume in the Handbook of Engineering and Speciality Thermoplastics covers Nylons and details the developments of the last decade with respect to their polymerization, properties, synthesis, and applications. Volume 4 on Nylons is a unique compilation and covers many of the recent technical research accomplishments in the area of engineering polymers, such as nitrogen containing main chain polymers (Nylons). The book emphasizes the various aspects of preparation, structure, processing, morphology, properties and applications of engineering polymers. Recent advances in the development and characterization of multi component polymer blends and composites (maco, micro and nano) based on engineering polymers are also be discussed in detail. It covers an up-to-date record on the major findings and observations in the field. This state-of-the-art volume: Has chapters on Polyamide Imides, Polyphthalamides, Polyetherimides, Aromatic Polyamides, Polyanilines, Polyimides Comprehensive in an encyclopaedic fashion and includes material published in journals, books, conference proceedings, as well as the patent literature It serves as a «one stop» reference resource for recent important research accomplishments in this area The authors represent some of the best industry and academic researchers around the globe. Researchers, scientists, engineers and students in the field of polymer science, polymer technology, and materials science will benefit from reading this book. As it is highly applications oriented, the book will help the user to find solutions to both fundamental and applied problems.