Staff publications (SATM)

Permanent URI for this collection

https://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/8738

Browse

Browsing Staff publications (SATM) by Subject "11 Sustainable Cities and Communities"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Advanced mobility flight dynamics restriction to support high availability communication systems
    (IEEE, 2024-09-29) Alhashmi, Fatima; Al-Rubaye, Saba; Tsourdos, Antonios
    Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) platforms play a crucial role in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) initiatives, particularly in urban environments. Ensuring the safety and reliability of communication networks during air traffic operations is paramount, with communication performance heavily reliant on antenna radiation characteristics. Maintaining consistent communication throughout the entire flight is essential for flight success. However, dynamic maneuvers such as banking turns can result in airframe shadowing, where the vehicle's structure obstructs antenna signals, posing a challenge to communication reliability. This paper proposes a model integrated into eVTOL avionics to mitigate airframe shadowing issues and maintain optimal communication availability during normal flight operations. A new algorithm is proposed, and simulation studies analysis are conducted to assess the impact of airframe shadowing on eVTOL communication performance. Additionally, insights are provided to air traffic management (ATM) and pilots regarding optimal look angles to minimize or avoid airframe shadowing effects.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Assessment of the mechanical and microstructural performance of waste kraft fibre reinforced cement composite incorporating sustainable eco-friendly additives
    (MDPI, 2024-08-30) Taiwo, Anuoluwapo S; Ayre, David S; Khorami, Morteza; Rahatekar, Sameer S
    This study investigates the influence of limestone powder and metakaolin as sustainable eco-friendly additives on the properties and behavior of cementitious composite boards, with a focus on mechanical strength, physical properties, and microstructural characteristics. The experimental investigation begins with the characterization of the raw materials, including limestone powder, and metakaolin, to assess their particle sizes, elemental composition, and microstructural features. Cement composite boards were fabricated using an innovatively developed lab-simulated vacuum dewatering process, by varying the proportions of limestone powder and metakaolin as partial replacements for cement, along with waste kraft fibres as reinforcement. Mechanical testing was conducted to evaluate the flexural strength and behaviour of the composite boards according to standardized procedures. A microstructural analysis was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine the effect of additives on the cementitious matrix, fibrematrix interaction, and hydration products. The findings from the experimental study reveal insights into the influence of limestone powder and metakaolin on the mechanical properties and microstructure of waste kraft fibre-reinforced cement composite boards. Our analysis of the results shows that adding 9% limestone powder as partial cement replacement produces a 24% and 50% enhancement in flexural strength at 7 and 28 days of hydration, while that of metakaolin as partial cement replacement was optimum at 6% with an enhancement of 4% and 36%, respectively, at 7 and 28 days of hydration. The implications of these findings for the development of sustainable cementitious composite are discussed, including the potential benefits of using limestone powder and metakaolin as supplementary cementitious materials in waste kraft fibre-reinforced cement composite boards. Finally, recommendations for optimizing additive proportions are also provided to enhance the understanding and application of these materials in the construction and building industries.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Developing a stackable programme based on the advanced air mobility systems MSc course
    (Elsevier, 2024-09-05) Zhao, Junjie; Gong, Tingyu; Nnamani, Christantus; Conrad, Christopher; Fremond, Rodolphe; Tang, Yiwen; Xu, Yan; Tsourdos, Antonios
    This study proposes the development of content and materials for a stackable programme that aligns with the existing Cranfield University Advanced Air Mobility Systems (AAMS) MSc Course and integrates with ongoing Future Flight Challenge (FFC) projects, emerging research and development (R&D) capacities, and the growing demand for skilled professionals in the sector. The programme is structured into four phases: enhancement of taught modules through technology-enhanced teaching (TET), enrichment of project-based learning, bolstering of student experience and career development, and a stackable approach adaptable to various educational levels. This approach was evaluated using courses from the 2022/23 and 2023/24 academic years.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Machine learning-based environment-aware GNSS integrity monitoring for urban air mobility
    (MDPI, 2024-11-19) Isik, Oguz Kagan; Petrunin, Ivan; Tsourdos, Antonios
    The increasing deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in urban air mobility (UAM) necessitates robust Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) integrity monitoring that can adapt to the complexities of urban environments. The traditional integrity monitoring approaches struggle with the unique challenges posed by urban settings, such as frequent signal blockages, multipath reflections, and Non-Line-of-Sight (NLoS) receptions. This study introduces a novel machine learning-based GNSS integrity monitoring framework that incorporates environment recognition to create environment-specific error models. Using a comprehensive Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation setup, extensive data were generated for suburban, urban, and urban canyon environments to train and validate the models. The proposed Natural Gradient Boosting Protection Level (NGB-PL) method, leveraging the uncertainty prediction capabilities of the NGB algorithm, demonstrated superior performance in estimating protection levels compared to the classical methods. The results indicated that environment-specific models significantly enhanced both accuracy and system availability, particularly in challenging urban scenarios. The integration of environment recognition into the integrity monitoring framework allows the dynamic adaptation to varying environmental conditions, thus substantially improving the reliability and safety of UAV operations in urban air mobility applications. This research offers a novel protection level (PL) estimation method and a framework tailored to GNSS integrity monitoring for UAM, which enhances the availability with narrower PL bound gaps without yielding higher integrity risks.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Strategic flood impact mitigation in developing countries’ urban road networks: application to Hanoi
    (Elsevier, 2024-12-16) Phouratsamay, Siao-Leu; Scaparra, Maria Paola; Tran, Trung Hieu; Laporte, Gilbert
    Due to climate change, the frequency and scale of flood events worldwide are increasing dramatically. Flood impacts are especially acute in developing countries, where they often revert years of progress in sustainable development and poverty reduction. This paper introduces an optimization-based decision support tool for selecting cost-efficient flood mitigation investments in developing countries’ urban areas. The core of the tool is a scenario-based, multi-period, bi-objective Mixed Integer Linear Programming model which minimizes infrastructure damage and traffic congestion in urban road networks. The tool was developed in collaboration with Vietnamese stakeholders (e.g., local communities and government authorities), and integrates data and inputs from other disciplines, including social science, transport economics, climatology and hydrology. A metaheuristic, combining a Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure with a Variable Neighborhood Descent algorithm, is developed to solve large scale problem instances. An extensive computational campaign on randomly generated instances demonstrates the efficiency of the metaheuristic in solving realistic problems with hundreds of interdependent flood mitigation interventions. Finally, the applicability of the interdisciplinary approach is demonstrated on a real case study to generate a 20-year plan of mitigation investments for the urban area of Hanoi. Policy implications and impacts of the study are also discussed.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Unmanned air vehicle operational framework for public safety communications
    (IEEE, 2024-09-29) Subasu, Stefan; Al-Rubaye, Saba; Warrier, Anirudh; Whitworth, Huw
    The aviation and air mobility sector are experiencing a profound evolution, fuelled by swift technological progress and escalating requirements for effective, secure, and dependable airborne communication frameworks. The integration of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), such as drones, into commercial and logistical activities is revolutionizing traditional concepts of air mobility. Integrating the Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol into UAS communication networks enhances safety and reliability by preventing collisions. CSMA/CA allows UAS to sense the communication medium's availability before transmitting data, minimizing the risk of collisions and ensuring efficient data transmission, cru-cial for scenarios where safety is paramount. Sixth-Generation (6G) technology coupled with CSMA/CA protocol integration strengthens reliability and effectiveness in ensuring safe and efficient UAS operations. Simulation analysis using MATLAB helps understand signal quality and latency variations with distance from the UAV to the receiver, essential for safety communications analysis. Analyzing handover procedures is crucial for public safety, especially in scenarios where UAS encounter situations requiring a change from one base transceiver station (BTS) to another. Vertical handovers, particularly relevant in the context of evolving Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) and Air Traffic Management (ATM) architectures, may become more prevalent due to the significant altitude variations inherent in UAS operations.