Hyperspectral imaging provides a novel approach for intelligent geological perception in tunnelling and underground engineering due to its high spectral resolution, nondestructive nature, and combined spectral-spatial information. However, in confined underground spaces, noise is often introduced by short exposure times, low illumination, and dust, and limited spatial resolution can cause mixed pixel effects, complicating data processing. This study presents an underground hyperspectral imaging-based mineral mapping method that achieves wall-rock visualization and semi-quantitative mineral mapping through image denoising and spectral unmixing. A spatial-spectral recurrent transformer U-Net is developed to reduce noise by leveraging spectral band correlations and nonlocal spatial-texture dependencies. A Dirichlet-based mixed pixel simulation is used to address spectral mixing, with the N-FINDR algorithm identifying endmember minerals, and the fully constrained least squares method to estimate mineral abundances. When applied to a water diversion tunnel in Shanxi, the method generates spatial distribution maps of dolomite and calcite. The experimental results confirm its effectiveness for intelligent geological logging and subsurface geological feature analysis.
Engineering geology. Rock mechanics. Soil mechanics. Underground construction
Agentic AI is poised to usher in a seismic paradigm shift in Software Engineering (SE). As technologists rush head-along to make agentic AI a reality, SE researchers are driven to establish agentic SE as a research area. While early visions of agentic SE are primarily focused on code-related activities, early empirical evidence calls for a consideration of a wider range of socio-technical activities and concerns to make it work in practice. This paper contributes to the emerging visions by: (a) recommending an expansion of its scope beyond code, toward a 'whole of process' vision, grounding it in SE foundations and evolution and emerging agentic SE frameworks, (b) proposing a preliminary set of values and principles to guide community efforts, and (c) sharing guidance on designing and using well-defined vocabulary for agentic SE. It is hoped that these ideas will encourage collaborations and steer the SE community toward laying strong foundations of agentic SE so it is not limited to enabling coding acceleration but becomes the next process-level paradigm shift.
Hydro-Science and Engineering (Hydro-SE) is a critical and irreplaceable domain that secures human water supply, generates clean hydropower energy, and mitigates flood and drought disasters. Featuring multiple engineering objectives, Hydro-SE is an inherently interdisciplinary domain that integrates scientific knowledge with engineering expertise. This integration necessitates extensive expert collaboration in decision-making, which poses difficulties for intelligence. With the rapid advancement of large language models (LLMs), their potential application in the Hydro-SE domain is being increasingly explored. However, the knowledge and application abilities of LLMs in Hydro-SE have not been sufficiently evaluated. To address this issue, we propose the Hydro-SE LLM evaluation benchmark (Hydro-SE Bench), which contains 4,000 multiple-choice questions. Hydro-SE Bench covers nine subfields and enables evaluation of LLMs in aspects of basic conceptual knowledge, engineering application ability, and reasoning and calculation ability. The evaluation results on Hydro-SE Bench show that the accuracy values vary among 0.74 to 0.80 for commercial LLMs, and among 0.41 to 0.68 for small-parameter LLMs. While LLMs perform well in subfields closely related to natural and physical sciences, they struggle with domain-specific knowledge such as industry standards and hydraulic structures. Model scaling mainly improves reasoning and calculation abilities, but there is still great potential for LLMs to better handle problems in practical engineering application. This study highlights the strengths and weaknesses of LLMs for Hydro-SE tasks, providing model developers with clear training targets and Hydro-SE researchers with practical guidance for applying LLMs.
Milan Moleman, Maarten Kroesen, Toon Zijlstra
et al.
Over the past years, aviation policies are more and more focussed on sustainability rather than connectivity, putting pressure on airlines to re-design the network. For this, evaluating air travellers their preferences on direct routing compared to lay-overs is needed to make well-informed design choices. This paper examines the preferences of air travellers on direct itineraries by applying a data-driven approach. To this end, a stated preference choice experiment is developed and implemented in an online survey. The results of the latent class choice model show two types of flyers with different preferences, labelled as time sensitive and price sensitive flyers. The model outcomes indicate that both are willing to pay for direct itineraries, while time sensitive flyers are willing to pay substantially more. Other flight characteristics also play an important role in air travellers’ route choice, such as the distance to the airport, travel time, and transfer time. Travel motive, ticket price compensation by the employer, and experience with layovers drive whether air travellers belong to the time or price sensitive flyers. The distinction between time and price sensitive flyers and their preferences is expected to yield more tailored transport policies than a distinction between, for instance, business and non-business. Future research should focus on the societal impact of a reduction in direct itineraries for air travellers, using insights gained in this study.
Abstract Based on a cross-river tunnel of Wuhan Metro Line 8, we present a two-dimensional discrete element model for shield attitude adjustment considering the effect of overbreak cutters. The shield shell mechanics under the influence of over-excavation rate, over-excavation orientations, and overburden load are simulated, and the tunneling mechanics law and the ultimate range during the adjustment of the shield attitude are investigated. The simulation results indicate the following: (1) The greater the over-excavation rate, the smaller the force exerted by the soil layer in the negative direction of the shield movement; therefore, increasing the over-excavation rate is helpful in expanding the range of shield attitude adjustment. (2) The shield is stressed symmetrically while conducting positive and negative horizontal adjustments in the soil layer, which has a symmetrical distribution, but vertical upward adjustment is more difficult than vertical downward adjustment. (3) With the increase in overburden load, the space of the shield attitude adjustment is gradually reduced at the same over-excavation rate. A good engineering application was achieved in this project using the simulation model. It is recommended to use the attitude adjustment method by controlling the tunneling parameters. In difficult situations such as high overlying loads, the over-excavation cutter can be used to assist in adjusting the shield attitude.
Transportation engineering, Transportation and communications
Rip currents are fast offshore currents generated during the breaking process of waves propagating nearshore, posing a potential life safety threat to coastal bathers. This study utilizes a Boussinesq phase-resolving model to investigate the formation mechanism of rip currents at Dadonghai Beach, based on its actual topography, and explores the characteristics of rip current formation under various wave conditions, with an emphasis on analyzing vortices, the mean water level and the spatial distribution of average velocity. The results indicate that rip current formation is significantly influenced by wave height and period. The increase in wave height and period results in more intense rip currents and higher water level fluctuations on arc-shaped beaches and on both sides of the bay, leading to complex vortex distributions. An increase in the angle of wave incidence hinders rip current formation in arc-shaped beach areas but is favorable to the generation of deflection rips on both sides of the bay. Furthermore, an increase in bottom friction inhibits rip current formation. When the water depth decreases in the channels, rip currents transition into longshore currents. The findings of this research offer valuable scientific insights into the formation mechanisms of rip currents and contribute to their prediction and prevention.
Noise: an enemy to be dealt with and a major factor limiting communication system performance. However, what if there is gold in that garbage? In conventional engineering, our focus is primarily on eliminating, suppressing, combating, or even ignoring noise and its detrimental impacts. Conversely, could we exploit it similarly to biology, which utilizes noise-alike carrier signals to convey information? In this context, the utilization of noise, or noise-alike signals in general, has been put forward as a means to realize unconditionally secure communication systems in the future. In this tutorial article, we begin by tracing the origins of thermal noise-based communication and highlighting one of its significant applications for ensuring unconditionally secure networks: the Kirchhoff-law-Johnson-noise (KLJN) secure key exchange scheme. We then delve into the inherent challenges tied to secure communication and discuss the imperative need for physics-based key distribution schemes in pursuit of unconditional security. Concurrently, we provide a concise overview of quantum key distribution (QKD) schemes and draw comparisons with their KLJN-based counterparts. Finally, extending beyond wired communication loops, we explore the transmission of noise signals over-the-air and evaluate their potential for stealth and secure wireless communication systems.
Introduction. Reducing the number of road traffic fatalities and aiming for zero deaths by 2030 is a key road safety government goal. The prevention of especially serious road accidents is one of the elements of achieving this goal. Analysis of the main factors contributing to the especially serious road accidents occurrence is the basis of an effective system for their prevention. A review of the scientific literature reveals a lack of knowledge in this area.Materials and methods. The study was performed on the basis of especially serious road accidents sample. The accidents that occurred in the regions of the Siberian Federal District in the period from 2017 to 2020 were analyzed. The following parameters were analyzed: the number of dead and injured, the type of accident, the period of the day, the day of the week, the month of the year, the weather conditions and the condition of roadway. The study is based on a multidimensional frequency distribution. The calculations and graphs were made using MS Excel and Statistica.Results. The results are presented using 2D and 3D histograms and cross tables. An analysis of the especially serious road accidents structure made it possible to distinguish two groups of accidents that differ in the number of the injured and dead. The influence of the analysed factors contributing to the especially serious road accidents occurrence is determined.Practical importance. Knowledge of the factors influence on the frequency of especially serious road accidents occurrence will allow public services to effectively plan measures to prevent such accidents and respond to them. This will reduce the number of road accidents deaths.Originality. Two groups of road accidents with especially serious consequences are identified and substantiated. It was found that the factors have different effects on the distribution of accidents in these groups. The study contains new knowledge of the factors contributing to the especially serious road accidents occurrence.
Seung-Yong Sung, Kyung-Yil Kang, Dong Woo Shim
et al.
Identification of lower extremity misalignment requires radiation exposure and complex imaging. We developed and tested a smartphone application to facilitate quick identification of misalignment using photographs. Lower extremity alignment was measured by two independent researchers using a proprietary smartphone application and conventional radiographs. The results were compared between the methods and evaluators for interrater and intrarater reliability. Ninety datasets were obtained from 45 patients, with 90 lower extremity alignment angles measured via radiographs and the smartphone application. The intrarater reliability of the hip–knee–ankle angle (HKAA), measured twice by evaluator A using the radiographic imaging program, was 0.985, whereas that measured by evaluator B was 0.995. The intrarater reliability of the predicted lower extremity alignment angle (PLEAA) measured using the smartphone application was 0.970 and 0.968 for evaluators A and B, respectively. Thus, all results showed excellent reliability. In validity analysis, the correlation between PLEAA and HKAA measured twice by evaluators A and B was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. HKAA (A) and PLEAA (A) had a positive correlation coefficient of 0.608 (<i>p</i> < 0.01), whereas HKAA (B) and PLEAA (B) had a positive correlation coefficient of 0.627 (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Thus, our smartphone application can facilitate for self-diagnosis of lower extremity misalignment.
A. V. Kulikov, E. A. Bliznyakova, P. A. Pavlov
et al.
Introduction. The paper has developed a new scheme of a multimodal logistics system for grain transportation for export to Iran using links and graphs. It is proposed to consider the functioning of road transport in a multimodal logistics system for grain export from the standpoint of a systematic approach at the micro, meso and macro levels based on the newly introduced concept of transport capacity of the simulated graph. To determine the optimal modes of road transport functioning (with the further aim of increasing its efficiency of functioning) in the logistics links of export grain supplies at the micro level, it is proposed to perform using the ‘Sowing fields – regional barn-floors’ graph, at the meso level – the ‘Regional barn-floors – regional grain storages’ graph, at the macro level – the ‘Regional grain storages – port grain storages’ graph. Graphs modelling, determining the transport capacity of vertices, fixing vertices for barn-floors, regional grain storages and port grain storages make it possible for agro–industrial enterprises to plan the volume of grain exports, to use their acreage rationally considering crop yields while fulfilling an important condition - ensuring food security for the population of the Russian Federation. Road transport planning at the micro level is directly linked to the operation of agricultural enterprises, and at the meso level to grain storages. At the macro level, road transport serves the three largest port grain receiving points of the Volgograd region. Multimodal transportation of grain from a specific farm in the region to the port of Enzeli in Iran has been organized using road transport and VOLGO-BALT 239 river-sea vessel.Materials and methods. The paper uses methods of statistical analysis of winter wheat supplies for export to Iran from the Volgograd region. At the micro level, graphoanalytic methods are used to model the location schemes of filling bunkers when working in a team of one, three or nine combines, indicating their number of appearance on the field in the xOy coordinate plane. The methods of system analysis were used to correctly divide the international multimodal logistics system for the transportation of export grain into micro, meso and macro levels with the definition of the place and role of transport. Methods of solving the linear programming problem are the optimization of the assignment of consumers to suppliers at all levels under consideration.Results. It is revealed that complex international multimodal logistics systems for the delivery of export grain must be considered using a systematic approach. It is proposed to consider the system at the micro, meso and macro levels. At each of the levels, it is necessary to plan the operation of transport based on calculations of the ‘transport capacity’ of the ‘Sowing fields – regional barn-floors’, ‘Regional barn-floors – regional grain storages’, ‘Regional grain storages – port grain storages’ graph nodes. OOO Progress, the agro-enterprise of the Volgograd region, has been given the opportunity to plan its work taking into account new information technologies that ensure higher efficiency of agricultural activities in the cultivation of winter wheat with partial sale for export to Iran.Discussion and conclusions. The improvement of the organisation of road transport functioning in the international multimodal logistics system of grain export supplies cannot exist without the use of precision farming technologies in harvesting and transport processes. The use of the right logistics technologies in road transport and in the organisation of winter wheat cultivation has a great impact on the final cost of grain and on the guaranteed food security of the Russian Federation. Research in this direction is currently relevant.
Background: Software development results in the production of various types of artifacts: source code, version control system metadata, bug reports, mailing list conversations, test data, etc. Empirical software engineering (ESE) has thrived mining those artifacts to uncover the inner workings of software development and improve its practices. But which artifacts are studied in the field is a moving target, which we study empirically in this paper.Aims: We quantitatively characterize the most frequently mined and co-mined software artifacts in ESE research and the research purposes they support.Method: We conduct a meta-analysis of artifact mining studies published in 11 top conferences in ESE, for a total of 9621 papers. We use natural language processing (NLP) techniques to characterize the types of software artifacts that are most often mined and their evolution over a 16-year period (2004-2020). We analyze the combinations of artifact types that are most often mined together, as well as the relationship between study purposes and mined artifacts.Results: We find that: (1) mining happens in the vast majority of analyzed papers, (2) source code and test data are the most mined artifacts, (3) there is an increasing interest in mining novel artifacts, together with source code, (4) researchers are most interested in the evaluation of software systems and use all possible empirical signals to support that goal.