“How can we computationally process geographic data?”
Geographic data is one of the underpinnings of modern computational technology. From visualizing the effects of climate change to voter forecasting, everything seems to stem from these computational techniques. Well, these stem from an organized framework and set of tools that process geographic and related data known as Geoprocessing. Geoprocessing allows researchers to take in data and manipulate it to create new information, such as making a buffer zone around a river.
How California’s AB 3146 Will Allow for More Data and Transparency in Housing Production
03/23/20
“How will AB 3146 by Assemblymember Rob Bonta make housing in California more transparent?”
Many of California’s municipalities are not transparent about their housing data. This can be fixed through state-level mandates. California bill AB 3146 by Assemblymember Rob Bonta promises to provide key data on housing such as whether or not a state incentive has been used, and the number of new housing units that have been issued a completed entitlement, a building permit, or a certificate of occupancy in a town. This is How California’s AB 3146 Will Allow for More Data and Transparency in Housing Production.
“Why is weather prediction so important for farming?”
Plants grow according to the availability of sunshine and water. This makes them dependent on the whims of the environment. To help make the amount of produce necessary for the modern world, weather prediction has become an essential tool in optimizing the amount of produce and sensing whether or not bad environmental conditions are to ensue. This is Why Weather Prediction is Critical for Farming.
How Scada Data Can Inform Us When the Grid Has a Fault
01/03/19
“How can we learn when our grid is upset just by analyzing SCADA data?”
SCADA is a very useful tool for measuring real-time data pertaining to large industrial systems like the electric grid. Furthermore, since this data constantly monitors highway system is operating, we can see how our system is acting and if it needs help, all from the safety of our computer terminals. So when something like the grid is having a fault, it can be easily detected. This is How Scada Data Can Inform Us When the Grid Has a Fault.
“What makes 5G 5G and what are the benefits and drawbacks?”
5G is poised to disrupt the world of mobile communications. This is being driven by its greater radio frequency spectrum. 4G devices can receive signals ranging from 3 kHz to 6 GHz, while 5G can go up to 300 GHz! Although these Millimeter Waves allow for more connections, they also lack the ability to penetrate hard surfaces such as trees and buildings. This makes it one of the biggest barriers to mass 5G deployment, and will need to be solved by further research and innovation.
A revolution in the mobile world is coming. As traditional 4G networks are nearing their limit, the next generation of mobile internet connectivity, 5G, is just starting to spread. By using new millimeter wave technology, 5G networks have an order of magnitude faster connection, reaching speeds as high as a gigabyte a second! These fast speeds will catalyze the development of the internet of things, autonomous vehicles, and a host of other applications not yet thought up yet.
How Downed Communication Systems Could Delay Power Restoration
06/12/19
“How do fallen communication systems exacerbate power outages?”
When a power outage occurs, interdependent infrastructure systems will fail. When the phones and internet that makes up the communication infrastructure also fails, then it will make it more difficult for utility workers to bring power online. This is How Downed Communication Systems Could Delay Power Restoration.
Digitization and Its Implications for Manufacturing
05/26/19
“What is digitization and how will it affect manufacturing?”
With the rise of the industrial internet of things, engineering processes are moving more and more towards the digital realm. This means that components once limited to the physical realm, such as mail and design models, are moving into the virtual one as e-mail and CAD. This digitization will have a lot of ramifications for the manufacturing sector, where processes will now be less prone to human error and move a lot faster while being more prone to cyber-security issues. This are the Implications for Manufacturing from Digitization.
“How can we ensure that the bits in a CAN bus are all synchronous?”
CAN buses are a vital part of control infrastructure. Whether it be in the vehicles we drive or the drones that fly around us, CAN buses are there to make sure things work well. However, their synchronization needs to be ensured during operation. This can be achieved through the use of Bit Stuffing, in which any part of the data which has 5 bits of the same polarity 5 times in a row will have a bit of opposite polarity inserted after it. The bits can be unstuffed by the receiver once it takes it in.
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