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Books > Professional & Technical > Other technologies
A new and detailed picture of Mercury is emerging thanks to NASA's MESSENGER mission that spent four years in orbit about the Sun's innermost planet. Comprehensively illustrated by close-up images and other data, the author describes Mercury's landscapes from a geological perspective: from sublimation hollows, to volcanic vents, to lava plains, to giant thrust faults. He considers what its giant core, internal structure and weird composition have to tell us about the formation and evolution of a planet so close to the Sun. This is of special significance in view of the discovery of so many exoplanets in similarly close orbits about their stars. Mercury generates its own magnetic field, like the Earth (but unlike Venus, Mars and the Moon), and the interplay between Mercury's and the Sun's magnetic field affects many processes on its surface and in the rich and diverse exosphere of neutral and charged particles surrounding the planet. There is much about Mercury that we still don't understand. Accessible to the amateur, but also a handy state-of-the-art digest for students and researchers, the book shows how our knowledge of Mercury developed over the past century of ground-based, fly-by and orbital observations, and looks ahead at the mysteries remaining for future missions to explore.
The possibility that humans are not alone in the Universe and might in the future come in close contact with other intelligences is one of the most intriguing questions of human history and has deep implications for our understanding of the Universe and ourselves. In this book the subject is dealt with in an interdisciplinary way, giving the scientific and technological implications, discussing the philosophical and religious connotations and rebuffing the pseudo-scientific statements. Based on our current scientific understanding of the Universe, the possibility of extraterrestrial life is discussed, summarizing cosmic, chemical and biological evolution. What we now know of the Universe suggests that life is common and extraterrestrial intelligent life is a possibility. The problem of searching for extraterrestrial intelligent beings is often reduced to radio telescope technology or the possibility of decoding a possible message. In many cases the idea of ETIs is loaded with anthropomorphism. The author discusses problems such as: what is intelligence? What is consciousness? Should we expect ETIs to be conscious beings and other philosophical issues? also examined and the possibilities of true contact with other intelligent beings are considered. At the heart of this book is an examination of the viability of future astronautics which would enable closer human contact with ETI than through radio messages taking thousands of years to reach their destination. The possibility of faster-than-light space travel is considered. The book addresses readers with an interest in general science, but also those with a humanist background, interested in the great philosophical debate about human nature, in particular the question of whether there is other intelligent life in the Universe, and the author counterbalances recent theories such as 'rare earth'.
In this book, speech transmission quality is modeled on the basis
of perceptual dimensions. The author identifies those dimensions
that are relevant for today's public-switched and packet-based
telecommunication systems, regarding the complete transmission path
from the mouth of the speaker to the ear of the listener. Both
narrowband (300-3400 Hz) as well as wideband (50-7000 Hz) speech
transmission is taken into account. A new analytical assessment
method is presented that allows the dimensions to be rated by
non-expert listeners in a direct way. Due to the efficiency of the
test method, a relatively large number of stimuli can be assessed
in auditory tests. The test method is applied in two auditory
experiments. The book gives the evidence that this test method
provides meaningful and reliable results. The resulting dimension
scores together with respective overall quality ratings form the
basis for a new parametric model for the quality estimation of
transmitted speech based on the perceptual dimensions. In a
two-step model approach, instrumental dimension models estimate
dimension impairment factors in a first step. The resulting
dimension estimates are combined by a Euclidean integration
function in a second step in order to provide an estimate of the
total impairment.
Introduction to Bed, Bank and Shore Protection provides students and professional engineers with the understanding and guidance to prevent the erosion of movable beds, banks and shorelines. In a world of rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions, these skills are increasingly important to the engineer as well as the wider community. The book starts with the underlying scientific principles behind hydraulics and soil mechanics and applies them to common practical situations for the protection of coastal and river beds, banks and shores. Based on the author's twenty years of experience, this blend of theory and practice provides the reader with useful knowledge that can be applied to a wide range of situations for the protection of the environment.
Although the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, has become synonymous with the United States' planetary exploration during the past half century, its most recent focus has been on Mars. Beginning in the 1990s and continuing through the Mars Phoenix mission of 2007, JPL led the way in engineering an impressive, rapidly evolving succession of Mars orbiters and landers, including roving robotic vehicles whose successful deployment onto the Martian surface posed some of the most complicated technical problems in space flight history. In Exploration and Engineering, Erik M. Conway reveals how JPL engineers' creative technological feats led to major breakthroughs in Mars exploration. He takes readers into the heart of the lab's problem-solving approach and management structure, where talented scientists grappled with technical challenges while also coping, not always successfully, with funding shortfalls, unrealistic schedules, and managerial turmoil. Conway, JPL's historian, offers an insider's perspective into the changing goals of Mars exploration, the ways in which sophisticated computer simulations drove the design process, and the remarkable evolution of landing technologies over a thirty-year period.
A collection of technical papers from contributors around the
world, this volume looks at all aspects of environmental
engineering with explosives. Whilst some papers focus on the legal
issues and EU directives concerning safety and best practice,
others consider practical health and safety issues surrounding this
subject. Also covers practical applications, recent technological
advances and improvements in method, equipment and processes,
useful for the researcher or field professional alike.
This book addresses the acoustic signal analysis and spectral dynamics of the tanpura, an Indian plucked string instrument. In addition, it strives to provide a logical and objective explanation of Indian classical musicians' cognitive experience. Issues of relevance in this regard include the rich, mellifluous sound; the undulation of the loudness; the somewhat cyclical variation of the timbre, which is strongly related to these undulations; and the occasional perception of virtual notes to which no strings are tuned. The book analyses the materials used in the tanpura, the instrument's simple structure, the intricacies of the lower bridge, and the theory of string vibration with variable string length. Cognitive experiments to provide the basis for perceptual quality assessment, as well as a methodology for ranking, are described. This is followed by acoustic analyses, both temporal and spectral, for sounds produced by male and female tanpuras, for each individual string and the combined one. An important aspect related to the naturalness of perceived sound, namely the intrinsically associated random perturbations, is also discussed. The apparent irregularities perceived in the acoustic signal produced by the tanpura reveal the importance of examining the signal from the perspective of non-linear analysis, an aspect that is also covered in the book. Given its scope, the book will appeal to students and researchers in the fields of music acoustics, artificial intelligence, and cognitive science, as well as musicians and musicologists around the world.
James L. Burch*C. Philippe Escoubet Originally published in the journal Space Science Reviews, Volume 145, Nos 1-2, 1-2. DOI: 10. 1007/s11214-009-9532-7 (c) Springer Science+Business Media B. V. 2009 The IMAGE and CLUSTER spacecraft have revolutionized our understanding of the inner magnetosphere and in particular the plasmasphere. Before launch, the plasmasphere was not a prime objective of the CLUSTER mission. In fact, CLUSTER might not have ever observed this region because a few years before the CLUSTER launch (at the beginning of the 1990s), it was proposed to raise the perigee of the orbit to 8 Earth radii to make multipoint measu- ments in the current disruption region in the tail. Because of ground segment constraints, this proposal did not materialize. In view of the great depth and breadth of plasmaspheric research and numerous papers published on the plasmasphere since the CLUSTER launch, this choice certainly was a judicious one. The fact that the plasmasphere was one of the prime targets in the inner magnetosphere for IMAGE provided a unique opportunity to make great strides using the new and comp- mentary measurements of the two missions. IMAGE, with sensitive EUV cameras, could for the rst time make global images of the plasmasphere and show its great variability d- ing storm-time. CLUSTER, with four-spacecraft, could analyze in situ spatial and temporal structures at the plasmapause that are particularly important in such a dynamic system.
This book comprises the proceedings of the Fifth International Conference in Ocean Engineering (ICOE2019) focusing on emerging opportunities and challenges in the field of ocean engineering and offshore structures. Some of the themes covered in this volume are offshore structures and deepwater technology, ocean optics & acoustics, ocean renewable energy, marine spatial planning, climate change impacts & disaster risk reduction, etc. The essays are written by leading international experts, making it a valuable resource for researchers and practicing engineers alike.
Traditional Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have tremendous applications, but their performance can be limited due to the limited processing and communication power of wireless sensor nodes. Cognitive Radio Sensor Networks: Applications, Architectures, and Challenges examines how wireless sensor nodes with cognitive radio capabilities can address these challenges and improve the spectrum utilization. This premier reference work presents a broader picture on the applications, architecture, challenges, and open research directions in the area of WSN research. It serves as a reference book for graduate students in courses on topics such as wireless sensor networks, cognitive radio networks, and emerging wireless technologies.
The aims of the book - written by a practising engineer for practising engineers - are to provide an understanding of the basic principles of sonar and, to develop formulae and "rules of thumb" for sonar design and performance analysis. Ashley Waite uses his long experience in the design, trials and performance analysis of sonar systems to provide practical guidance and solutions to problems encountered by sonar engineers and technicians. The books divides into the following parts:
The proceedings in this work present 60 papers on mine and mill tailings and mine waste, as well as current and future issues facing the mining and environmental communities. This includes matters dealing with technical capabilities and developments, regulations, and environmental concerns.
*** 'This astonishing book describes a cruel, feral existence and is worthy of standing on the shelf next to George Orwell's Down And Out In Paris And London (1933) as another classic about human exploitation.' - Daily Mail 'Chisholm's story is immersive and often thrilling ... He's a fine writer.' - WSJ 'Kitchen Confidential for Generation Z' - Fortune 'An English waiters riveting account of working in Paris' - Daily Mail 'Visceral and unbelievably compelling' - Emerald Fennell 'Vividly written and merciless in its detail' - Edward Stourton 'An excellent book' - Strong Words magazine 'A Dickensian tale of a young man's trial by fire in a French bistro gives rise to biting commentary on Parisian culture in Chisholm's intoxicating debut' - Publisher's Weekly 'Ah, Paris... gastronomie magnifique and... insane shit going on behind the scenes. A Waiter in Paris charts Edward Chisholm's jaw-dropping experiences while serving tables in the French capital, a demi-monde of sadistic managers, thieves, fighting for tips and drug dealers. Seems like not much has changedsince George Orwell worked the same beat.' - Evening Standard A waiter's job is to deceive you. They want you to believe in a luxurious calm because on the other side of that door... is hell. Edward Chisholm's spellbinding memoir of his time as a Parisian waiter takes you below the surface of one of the most iconic cities in the world and right into its glorious underbelly. The waiter inhabits a world of inhuman hours, snatched sleep and dive bars; scraping by on coffee, bread and cigarettes, often under sadistic managers, with a wage so low you're fighting your colleagues for tips. It's physically demanding, frequently humiliating and incredibly competitive. And with a cast of thieves, narcissists, ex-Legionnaires, paperless immigrants and drug dealers, it makes for a compelling and eye-opening read.
The International Symposium on Acoustical Imaging is a unique
forum for advanced research, covering new technologies,
developments, methods and theories in all areas of acoustics. This
interdisciplinary Symposium has been taking placecontinuously since
1968. In the course of the years the proceedings volumes in the
Acoustical Imaging Series have become a reference for cutting-edge
research in the field. In 2011 the 31st International Symposium on
Acoustical Imaging was held in Warsaw, Poland, April 10-13.
Offering both a broad perspective on the state-of-the-art as well
as in-depth research contributions by the specialists in the field,
this Volume 31 in the Series contains an excellent collection of
papers insix major categories:
Features • Provides a cutting edge review of the latest emerging science, technology and applications in the field. • Tackles a topic with fast growing interest in USA, Europe and China. • Explores the simple and cheap design and tests of lasers, and outline the feasible applications.
Fifty years after Sputnik, artificial satellites have become indispensable monitors in many areas, such as economics, meteorology, telecommunications, navigation and remote sensing. The specific orbits are important for the proper functioning of the satellites. This book discusses the great variety of satellite orbits, both in shape (circular to highly elliptical) and properties (geostationary, Sun-synchronous, etc.). This volume starts with an introduction into geodesy. This is followed by a presentation of the fundamental equations of mechanics to explain and demonstrate the properties for all types of orbits. Numerous examples are included, obtained through IXION software developed by the author. The book also includes an exposition of the historical background that is necessary to help the reader understand the main stages of scientific thought from Kepler to GPS. This book is intended for researchers, teachers and students working in the field of satellite technology. Engineers, geographers and all those involved in space exploration will find this information valuable. "Michel Capderou s book is an essential treatise in orbital mechanics for all students, lecturers and practitioners in this field, as well as other aerospace systems engineers." Charles Elachi, Director, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory"
This text covers the use of computer applications in the mineral industries, encompassing topics such as the use of computer visualization in mining systems and aspects such as ventilation and safety.
The proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on Mining in the Arctic, held in Greenland in 2001. The papers cover a wide variety of topics, including: mining exploration and exploitation; mining engineering and mine design; environmental impact of mining in the Arctic; and more.
Describes the optical structure and optical properties of the human eye Explains image formation and refraction of the eye Covers interactions between light and the eye, considering transmission, reflection and scatter in the media of the eye and at the fundus Covers aberrations and image quality of the eye
Siting of permanent and temporary buildings in process areas requires careful consideration of potential effects of explosions and fires arising from accidental release of flammable materials. This book, which updates the 1996 edition, provides a single-source reference that explains the American Petroleum Institute (API) permanent (752) and temporary (753) building recommended practices and details how to implement them. New coverage on toxicity and updated standards are also highlighted. Practical and easy-to-use, this reliable guide is a must-have for implementing safe building practices.
The Command Companion of Seamanship Techniques is the latest work
from the well-respected marine author, D J House. It contains all
the information needed for command posts at sea. The author tells you how to respond to accidents and emergencies
at sea, in the event, for example of cargo contamination,
collision, loss of stability due to cargo shift and damage due to
flooding, fire plus loss of life/crew. In addition, the SOLAS
revisions and a discussion of marine law is included to keep you up
to date with all the latest rules and regulations. |
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