ENCE 688R Projects, Spring Semester, 2012

[ Project 1 ]: Automated Transportation Simulator
[ Project 2 ]: Potential Locations for Bike Stations
[ Project 3 ]: Hydraulic Risk Monitor for Spillway
[ Project 4 ]: EWR Airport Scheduled Flights Simulation
[ Project 5 ]: Global Pipeline Gas Supply and Trade Modeling
[ Project 6 ]: Visualization Tools for Bridge Condition Management
[ Project 7 ]: Modeling Tracability Mechanisms with Semantic Graphs
[ Project 8 ]: System-Level Design with Semantic Graphs.
[ Project 9 ]: Bond Graphs for Building Information Modeling: Metamodeling and Java-based Representation
[ Project 10 ]: Semantic Graph Model of a Gas Station
[ Project 11 ]: Modern Building Floor Plan Modeling in a System Engineering Viewpoint


PROJECT 1

Title: Automated Transportation Simulator
Author: Reuben Juster

Abstract: The Automated Transportation Simulator will be able to visualize different types of automated transportation modes including automated people movers, group rapid transit, and personal rapid transit. The mode type, track network, and fleet will be customizable via an easy-to-use GUI. This project will be a planning tool for airport or city officials.


PROJECT 2

Title: Potential Locations for Bike Stations/Investments in Pedestrian Zones
Authors: Leah Flake and Sapeksha Vemulapati

Abstract: The project uses an android virtual device which uses Google Maps view (imported from the library com.google.android.maps) and displays it on an emulator as interactive as an android phone. An application would be developed which would automatically track movements of the user and send it to a web server.

The project would be based on data collected about movement of people in and around the DC Metropolitan area. Based on this data, we would identify locations on routes that are used most often by commuters. This information could be used in one of two potential projects.

  1. The first potential project involves determining where people are travelling moderate distances (1 - 5 miles) either by foot or by car, and based on the destinations of these routes, place Bikeshare stations (assuming that the ideal mode of travel for these distances is by bicycle).

  2. The second potential project is to find sections of routes used most often by pedestrians, and from this information propose where to invest in improving pedestrian environments in terms of infrastructure or walkability


PROJECT 3

Title: Hydraulic Risk Monitor for Spillway
Author: Qianli Deng

Abstract: This project is used for hydraulic system monitoring, which tracks several variables such as the mean flow velocity, according flow depth, air concentration, etc., along the spillway. Project historical data and Monte-Carlo simulation shall both be adopted for boundary checking at different locations of the spillway. Also, it will be able to visualize each performance variable as a time series and detect the weakest points and the failure probability. This project will be both a useful structure tool and risk control tool for dam engineers.


PROJECT 4

Title: WR Airport Scheduled Flights Simulation
Author: Rong Wang

Abstract: I will simulate the scheduled flights flying EWR airport on 7.2.2009 in the arrival time from 11:00 to 12:00. There are 38 flights in this period of time. The destination airport is EWR. All the airports will be plotted according to their longitude and lantitude. The air routes are straight lines connecting departure airports and destination airport. The flight speed is set the same for each flight.

I am not sure of the name. If possible, I hope to show the movement of flights although I have no idea now. If it is too complex, I will just show airports and straight lines from departure airports to destination airport EWR.


PROJECT 5

Title: Global Pipeline Gas Supply and Trade Modeling
Author: Jonathan Kumi

Abstract: Natural gas has emerged as one of the most important energy sources for present and future power generation. Exposing less greenhouse gases than any other fossil fuel energy source, the market for natural gas will continue to grow as countries strive to diversify their energy usage portfolios.

This project will focus on modeling the global trade movements of pipeline and liquefied natural gases among countries, with visual graphics of supply and demand. Modeling will include characterizing the largest market powers including the U.S., Russia, and several Middle Eastern exporters. An additional goal of the project is to be able to visualize important information at each node, similar to the metro rail network shown in class. Below is a graphical example of trade movements.


PROJECT 6

Title: Visualization Tools for Bridge Condition Management
Author: Timothy Saad

Abstract: The bridge inspection process is important for identifying areas of deterioration and corrosion damages on bridges. Real-life pictures of bridges provide engineers with helpful references of the bridges current conditions, while providing a visual record of previously identified defects. Currently, the organization process for affiliating the inspection pictures with their counterpart locations on the bridge incorporates a numerical taxonomy; where a diagram of the bridge is labeled with a number, which is also associated with the picture of reference.

In order to make this organization between bridge information and their locations an interactive process, I would like to use Java to create a 3D model of a real-life bridge which would integrate aspects of engineering inspection, design, and analysis. The bridge model would serve as an organizational tool and would be composed of inspection pictures, details, and graphical displays and analysis from sensor data. Bridge inspectors will be provided with a useful way to document their findings and to make inquiries on previous inspection descriptions and recommendations.


PROJECT 7

Title: Modeling Tracability Mechanisms with Semantic Graphs.
Author: Parastoo Delgoshaei and David Daily

Abstract: In established approaches to engineering systems development, engineering systems are developed to satisfy requirements. An alternative, and potentially better approach to design, is to say: satisfaction of requirements is possible through the implementation of concepts relevant to the system needs, which, in turn, requires the satisfaction of rules and constraints associated with those concepts. Finding good design solutions is complicated by relationships and dependencies among concepts, and their satisfaction in the engineering solution. Consider, for example, the design of a Metro System architecture. One can imagine a simple rule that states: a transfer station must be located at 2 or more different lines. Validation of this rule can be cast as a query on a graph connecting the relevant concepts and multiplicity constraints. When some aspect of the engineering system fails to satisfy one or more constraints, we would like to know which concepts and requirements have been affected and by how much?

In a first step toward providing this capability, this project will investigate the extent to which design concepts can be represented with semantic web triples, and critical questions can be answered through queries on the ontology and requirements graphs weaved together.


PROJECT 8

Title: System-Level Design with Semantic Graphs.
Author: Nefretiti Nassar

Abstract: The problem analyzed in this study is the examination of how merging graphs and inference rules can help requirement traceability. This problem is approached using the semantic web representation in triple data structure to build graphs of triples to model information about a set of requirements and generate automated inference rules that will verify and validate system requirements.

A simulation tool developed in Jython will capture the development and organization of a set of requirements and a library of engineering components for the verification and validation of a home theater system. Essentially, a graph of triples will be built to represent the requirements for a home theater system which will be merged with a graph of triples showing information about engineering components for a home theater system to model the feasible design space of the home theater system that satisfy system requirements.


PROJECT 9

Title: Bond Graphs for Building Information Modeling: Metamodeling and Java-based Representation
Author: Leonard Petnga

Abstract: In this project we will rely on the powerful domain-independent modeling capability of Bond Graphs (BG) to efficiently capture and represent key information contained in multiple domain building models. Our goal is to build a solid foundation for future large scale development, integration and parametric analyses for answering research questions relative to buildings design and retrofitting. Our work will capitalize on recent promising research on Archi Bond Graphs(ABG) which have great system dynamic representation capabilities. It appears natural to us to explore a JAVA-based implementation of bond graph elements since BG modeling is an object-oriented physical-system modeling technique. However, ABG metamodeling building and verification is an important step that will precede and guide the implementation process.


PROJECT 10

Title: Semantic Graph Model of a Gas Station
Author: Chris Huber

Abstract: This project is used to model the relationships that exist at a gas station. The project will primarily focus on the gas station from the point of view of the gas pump. These interactions include the financial aspect of purchasing gas, the physical amounts of gas dispensed to the customer and contained in the storage as well as and the permissions required for these interactions to occur.


PROJECT 11

Title: Modern Building Floor Plan Modeling in a System Engineering Viewpoint
Author: Eddie Tseng and Mamadou Faye

Abstract: This project will focus on modeling a building floor plan by using Java. From a system engineering perspective, the building floor will be modeled as a system of connections and nodes in a hierarchical order. In the model, the floor includes several identical spaces (e.g., offices), rooms with customized functionality (e.g., restrooms), or spaces dedicated to access (e.g., stairways). Furthermore, those area are the components of a floor and also a container of other components. For example, a portal, such as door or windows could be a components inside the office (container) wall. The hope is that by looking at the building as a hierarchy of nested spaces, we will be able to model and visualize the building in a systematic way. Some components will will be connected into network structures (e.g., adjacent rooms).


Developed in February 2012 by Mark Austin
Copyright © 2012, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland