Ecological niche modelling combines species occurrence points with environmental raster layers in order to obtain models for describing the probabilistic distribution of species. The process to generate an ecological niche model is complex. It requires dealing with a large amount of data, use of different software packages for data conversion, for model generation and for different types of processing and analyses, among other functionalities. A software platform that integrates all requirements under a single and seamless interface would be very helpful for users. Furthermore, since biodiversity modelling is constantly evolving, new requirements are constantly being added in terms of functions, algorithms and data formats. This evolution must be accompanied by any software intended to be used in this area. In this scenario, a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is an appropriate choice for designing such systems. According to SOA best practices and methodologies, the design of a reference business process must be performed prior to the architecture definition. The purpose is to understand the complexities of the process (business process in this context refers to the ecological niche modelling problem) and to design an architecture able to offer a comprehensive solution...

A construção de aplicações Web é algo complexo, pois envolve requisitos não previstos na modelagem de sistemas convencionais. O ambiente Web agrega características como: navegabilidade, estruturação de hiperdocumentos, workflow, acessibilidade, escalabilidade, usabilidade, compatibilidade, interoperabilidade, segurança, aspectos culturais, entre outros. O presente trabalho propõe que a modelagem de sistemas de informação na Internet incorpore características existentes na modelagem de sistemas de gerência de workflow manipulando hiperdocumentos. A notação utilizada é uma extensão à notação da UML (Unified Modeling Language). Esta consiste de novos estereótipos que modelem hiperdocumentos e sistemas de gerência de workflow em sistemas de informação na Web. A extensão propõe a utilização de diagrama de atividades estendido para modelar o workflow de atividades, o qual manipula hiperdocumentos envolvidos no domínio de uma aplicação Web. Os hiperdocumentos são modelados através de diagramas de estrutura de documentos, que são derivados do diagrama de classes da UML. A navegabilidade dos documentos é desenhada através dos diagramas de contexto de navegação e restrições de acessos de em casos de uso. Finalizando a modelagem...

In this work it is constructed a hydro-meteorological factor to improve the adjustment of statistical time series models, such as state space models, of water quality variables by observing hydrological series (recorded in time and space) in a River basin. The hydro-meteorological factor is incorporated as a covariate in multivariate state space models fitted to homogeneous groups of monitoring sites. Additionally, in the modelling process it is considered a latent variable that allows incorporating a structural component, such as seasonality, in a dynamic way.

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Ambiente; Energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions scenarios, generated by energy-economy-environment (E3) models, have been used to explore alternative futures and support energy and climate mitigation policy decisions. The uncertainty carried in these scenarios comes from inherent uncertainty of future conditions, reflected in the models input assumptions, and from the models intrinsic features (e.g. technology bottom-up vs. economic top-down models). The present research aims to improve future scenarios generation for energy and climate policy analysis by advancing on E3 modelling, using the Portuguese energy system as the case study. Main objectives include: (i) the assessment on how uncertainty impacts climate-energy policy decisions, (ii) the integration of storylines with energy modelling, providing a coherent context to modelling assumptions; (iii) the development of an hybrid modelling platform, combining the strengths of bottom-up and top-down models. Socio-economic driver was identified as a major assumption contributing to overall uncertainty on GHG emissions scenarios. Therefore, the socioeconomic storylines, built by stakeholders from different knowledge fields, were translated directly into energy modelling assumptions...

peer-reviewed; The conceptual modelling of software architectures is of central importance for the quality of a software system. A rich modelling language is required to integrate the different aspects of architecture modelling, such as architectural styles, structural and behavioural modelling, into a coherent framework.We propose an ontological approach for architectural style modelling based on description logic as an abstract, meta-level modelling instrument. Architectural styles are often neglected in software architectures. We introduce a framework for style definition and style combination. The link between quality requirements and conceptual modelling of architectural styles is investigated. The application of the ontological framework in the form of an integration into existing architectural description notations such as ACME and UML-based approaches, and also service ontologies is illustrated.

peer-reviewed; The conceptual modelling of software architectures is of central importance for the quality of a software system. A rich modelling language is required to integrate the different aspects of architecture modelling, such as architectural styles, structural and behavioural modelling, into a coherent framework. Architectural styles are often neglected in software architectures. We propose an ontological approach for architectural style modelling based on description logic as an abstract, meta-level modelling instrument. We introduce a framework for style definition and style combination. The application of the ontological framework in the form of an integration into existing architectural description notations is illustrated.

This study is to exploit texturing techniques of a common modelling software in the way of creating virtual models of an exist architectures using oriented panoramas. In this research, The panoramic image-based interactive modelling is introduced as assembly point of photography, topography, photogrammetry and modelling techniques. It is an interactive system for generating photorealistic, textured 3D models of architectural structures and urban scenes. The technique is suitable for the architectural survey because it is not a «point by point» survey, and it exploit the geometrical constraints in the architecture to simplify modelling. Many factors are presented to be critical features that affect the modelling quality and accuracy, such as the way and the position in shooting the photos, stitching the multi-image panorama photos, the orientation, texturing techniques and so on. During the last few years, many Image-based modelling programmes have been released. Whereas, in this research, the photo modelling programs was not in use, it meant to face the fundamentals of the photogrammetry and to go beyond the limitations of such software by avoiding the automatism. In addition, it meant to exploit the potent commands of a program as 3DsMax to obtain the final representation of the Architecture. Such representation can be used in different fields (from detailed architectural survey to an architectural representation in cinema and video games)...

Changes to land use and land management in Australian catchments have led to pressures on natural resources, and concerns over water quality and ecosystem health in catchment rivers and estuaries. To increase the efficiency of natural resource management (NRM) policies that address these concerns, decision makers require information about the environmental impacts, as well as the marginal costs and benefits associated with policy decisions. Including cost-benefits estimates in NRM policy assessment provides decision makers with economic information about the trade-offs between alternative NRM actions. There are, however, few studies that have assessed the complex environmental and economic trade-offs associated with changes in catchment NRM actions in a single modelling framework. This study uses an integrated assessment (IA) approach to develop a decision support model that incorporates environmental and economic dimensions of catchment NRM, for a case-study of the George catchment in Tasmania. Various (academic and non-academic) stakeholders were consulted during the model development process, to gain an understanding of the wide variety of values that may be impacted by NRM changes. Knowledge from different sources was integrated in a single framework using Bayesian network modelling techniques. The framework incorporates three major sub-models: 1. A physically based water quality model to predict the changes in sediment and nutrient loadings in the George rivers and estuary; 2. Expert opinion and Bayesian network modelling to predict the impacts of catchment NRM changes on three ecosystem attributes: riparian vegetation...

This paper describes two modelling techniques applied to a case study of settlement prediction of shallow foundations on granular soils. The first technique uses multi-layer perceptrons (MLPs) that are trained with the back-propagation algorithm, whereas the second technique uses B-spline neurofuzzy networks that are trained with the adaptive spline modelling of observation data (ASMOD) algorithm. The performance of the models obtained using both techniques is assessed in terms of prediction accuracy, model parsimony and model transparency. The results indicate that both the back-propagation MLP and the Bspline neurofuzzy models are comparable in terms of prediction accuracy, although the back-propagation MLP model is found to perform slightly better than the B-spline neurofuzzy model. In terms of model parsimony, the B-spline neurofuzzy model is found to be more parsimonious than the back-propagation MLP model. In terms of model transparency, the B-spline neurofuzzy model is found to provide a more explicit interpretation of the relationships between the model inputs and the corresponding outputs.; M. A. Shahin, H. R. Maier and M. B. Jaksa

The research presented in this thesis focuses on the investigation of whether the compartmental flow models of bed occupancy originally described by Harrison and Millard (1991) for decision-making around geriatric service care in the English National Health Service can be used to describe data from acute care hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. Australia’s total health expenditure for 2004-05 was $87.3 billion. The use of health care services and expenditure pattern is well established and Australia follows the pattern found in most developed countries, with the greatest expenditure occurring on services for the elderly. Australia is experiencing a shift in population structure, with the proportion of older people forecast to increase. It is expected there will be a need for a greater level of expenditure on health care as the number of elderly people increase. There is an emerging gap between the ability to supply health services and the demand for them. Furthermore, acute care hospital treatment is generally considered expensive and governments have been keen to control this expenditure. It is imperative that governments are able to make decisions based upon robust policy advice. There are serious consequences in both economic resource allocation and patient (and population) health outcomes if decisions about future health service structures are incorrect. In particular...

Forward modelling of seismic waves is an essential tool in the determination of the underlying structure of the Earth using inversion techniques. Despite recent advances in computer power and memory resources, full 3-D elastic wave modelling continues to place a heavy burden on a typical personal computer. 2.5-D modelling reduces the computational burden while maintaining 3-D wavefield characteristics. In this thesis I present 2.5-D frequency-domain equations of motion for elastic wave modelling in anisotropic media. The reduced set of equations for vertical transversely isotropic media and tilted transversely isotropic media are presented separately. Using the spectral-element method, I develop the equations of motion into readily implemented sub-equations by identifying simple 1-D and 2-D patterns. Some aspects of my computational implementation are unique, in particular the use of a system of dynamically growing binary trees to serve as a system matrix. Using this system, the matrix is automatically stored in compressed row format. I investigate the use of both distributed memory and shared memory super-computers for 3-D modelling and compare the resource use of various matrix solvers. In this thesis I adapt recently developed Perfectly Matched Layer formulations to the 2.5-D elastic case...

The size and weight of Satellites are currently being miniaturised in order to meet the purpose of lowering cost and saving production time. For this situation, a type of Small-Satellite known as the CubeSat has been identified. This kind of small-satellite is 10 cm3 cube of less than 1.33kg. Due to its limitations on overall mass and dimensions, the CubeSat uses nanotechnology components for the interior design. Therefore, an appropriate design is a crucial aspect of any CubeSat project. According to space vehicle research and development criteria, the simulation and modelling of the subsystems of CubeSat is both significant and necessary. This paper investigates a feasibility study and demonstrates the simulation of Small-Satellite orbital navigation determination and Propulsion system modelling.; Lize Zhang and Amir Anvar

Aim: We examine the range expansion/contraction dynamics during the last glacial cycle of the late-successional tropical rain forest conifer Podocarpus elatus using a combination of modelling and molecular marker analyses. Specifically, we test whether distributional changes predicted by environmental niche modelling are in agreement with (1) the glacial maximum contractions inferred from the southern fossil record, and (2) population genetic-based estimates of range disjunctions and demographic dynamics. In addition, we test whether northern and southern ranges are likely to have experienced similar expansion/contraction dynamics. Location  Eastern Australian tropical and subtropical rain forests. Methods: Environmental niche modelling was completed for three time periods during the last glacial cycle and was interpreted in light of the known palynology. We collected 109 samples from 32 populations across the entire range of P. elatus. Six microsatellite loci and Bayesian coalescence analysis were used to infer population expansion/contraction dynamics, and five sequenced loci (one plastid and four nuclear) were used to quantify genetic structure/diversity. Results: Environmental niche modelling suggested that the northern and southern ranges of P. elatus experienced different expansion/contraction dynamics. In the northern range...

Geoscience modelling plays a vital role in mapping and tracking Earth’s resources. Magnetotellurics, which maps the electrical resistivity of the subsurface, is a useful and costeffective technique for sensing large areas at depth. However, due to the inherent difficulty in sensing deep strata, models produced using MT have a degree of uncertainty. Geoscientists can reduce this uncertainty by producing multiple alternative models, and using multiple modelling techniques and settings, to correlate robust model features with field data responses. Population-based evolutionary search techniques are of interest to MT modelling because they offer an alternative to deterministic techniques, and are able to produce multiple models for analysis. Unfortunately, evolutionary techniques have not been successfully applied to 3D MT modelling. In this work we describe a new, more compact, representation of MT models using volumetric functions. Using this representation we successfully apply evolutionary search techniques to 3D MT modelling for both artificial and real models and show how the development of large scale features during modelling can be correlated with the model’s fit to field data.; Brad Alexander, Jared Peacock and Stephan Thiel

A great deal of attention has been paid to the modelling of induction machines under both steady state and dynamic operating conditions. Several different approaches adopted in formulating models include field modellíng, based on the evaluation of the magnetic field within the machine space, and the circuit modelling, which uses lumped parameters. This thesis compares various different modelling approaches, and postulates that judiciously formed circuit models can be used in predicting, with acceptable accuracy, the performance of an induction machine under different operating conditions. Two approaches are developed in detail, both of which share a common starting point, namely the airgap magnetomotive force set up by a single energised coil. In the first approach, the magnetomotive force distribution is evaluated in terms of space harmonics, leading to the formation of high order harmonic circuit models. The inclusion in the models of such phenomena as saturation, current displacement and core losses dramatically improves the prediction accuracy, which justifies their being labelled as high fidelity harmonic circuit models. They are particularly suitable in evaluating any parasitic behaviour under quasi dynamic operating conditions. The effects on the machine behaviour of a non-sinusoidat supply are accounted for by means of an aggregate time-harmonic supply model. In contrast...

Removal of natural organic matter (NOM) remains a major challenge confronting the water industry in Australia, in the supply of safe drinking water. Its treatability can vary depending on its character and this may be enhanced by optimising the inorganic coagulant dose and depending on the coagulant type, the coagulation pH. Generally, in coagulation modelling input parameter like pH, UV abs 254nm, turbidity and colour have been used in modelling approaches. However UV abs 254nm and colour does not comprehensively describe the character of NOM and improved characterization techniques should lead to better assessment of treatability of water by conventional treatment process.; Z. Aslam, Murshed. M. F., J. van Leeuwen, Christopher W.K. Chow and Mary Drikas

Fracture and fracture network modelling is a multi-disciplinary research area. Although the literature in general is significant, many research challenges remain. The complex geometry and topology of realistic fracture networks largely determine the static and dynamic mechanical properties of rock. In applications to hot dry rock geothermal reservoirs it is not possible to observe or measure fractures directly on any scale and the only data available are indirect measurements, such as seismic activity generated by hydraulic fracture stimulation. The lack of direct data and the complexities of the fracture characteristics make fracture network prediction and modelling in these applications very difficult. The ultimate purpose of the fracture and fracture network models is to evaluate the response of the fracture system to stress regimes and fluid flow. As understanding of the effective factors in the geometrical modelling of fractures and consequently topological properties of fracture networks increases, more accurate and hence more reliable results can be achieved from associated analyses. For flow modelling in geothermal reservoirs, the critical component of a fracture model is the connectivity of the fractures as this determines the technical feasibility of heat production and is the single most significant factor in converting a heat resource to a reserve. The ability to model this component effectively and to understand the associated system is severely constrained by the lack of direct data. In simulations...

non-peer-reviewed; Video modelling involves a student observing a video of a person carrying out a desired behaviour and the student subsequently imitating this behaviour. It can be used to demonstrate and teach certain skills to students with autism. The objective of this research study was to examine the potential impact of video modelling on the teaching of a student with autism. Specifically it explored whether video modelling could be used to teach a baking skill. The research was conducted using a single subject case study to determine if the participating student learned a baking task using video modelling as an intervention over a five month period. The study was divided into 4 phases where data was collected on the number of tasks independently completed. • Baseline Phase – the existing level of student performance was measured • Intervention Phase – the level of student performance after the video modelling intervention was measured • Generalisation Phase – the level of student performance in a different setting to where the learning took place was measured • Maintenance Phase – the ability to perform a task over time without re-teaching was measured Data collected in the study found that the student acquired the baking skill with 100% independence following the video modelling intervention. These findings suggest that video modelling was a successful technique for teaching the participating student the baking skill.

Over the last few decades, several modelling tools have been developed for the simulation of hydrodynamic and biogeochemical processes in aquatic ecosystems. Until late 70's, coupling hydrodynamic models to biogeochemical models was not common and today, problems linked to the different scales of interest remain. The time scale of hydrodynamic phenomena in coastal zone (minutes to hours) is much lower than that of biogeochemistry (few days). Over the last years, there has been an increasing tendency to couple hydrodynamic and biogeochemical models in a clear recognition of the importance of incorporating in one model the feedbacks between physical, chemical and biological processes. However, different modelling teams tend to adopt different modelling tools, with the result that benchmarking exercises are sometimes difficult to achieve in projects involving several institutions. Therefore, the objectives of this paper are to provide a quick overview of available modelling approaches for hydrodynamic and biogeochemical modelling, to help people choose among the diversity of available models, as a function of their particular needs, and to propose a unified approach to allow modellers to share software code, based on the object oriented programming potentiality. This approach is based on having object dynamic link libraries that may be linked to different model shells. Each object represents different processes and respective variables...

A 'geologically constrained' orebody model has long been hailed as vital for a Mineral Resource statement that is compliant with the South African Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (SAMREC Code). In this paper, the requirements for geological modelling as contained in the outline for the SAMREC Code are considered, and whether the new modelling software available on the market is a 'black box' or is better for modelling than traditional methods of wireframe creation. Implicit geological modelling is a technique that uses a radial basis function to establish and update geological models relatively quickly and efficiently from borehole data, outcrop data, manually interpreted vertical or horizontal sections, and structural data. Assays and any coded drill-hole data, such as lithology and alteration, can be interpolated. Leapfrog Geo software is an example of this new approach to geological modelling. A case study of a short training course in geological modelling for non-geologists at the University of Witwatersrand, as part of the Higher Certificate in Mineral Resource Management, is presented. The benefits of this type of geological modelling software are considered for this type of assignment as well as for mining industry applications. The use of geological models in mine planning is reviewed and a case study is presented comparing the variations in mine plan design and financial output of 13 final-year Mine Design projects from the University of the Witwatersrand School of Mining Engineering. These designs were all based on the same geological model created in the traditional way...