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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 109 records · Page 6

Low Altitude AVIRIS Data for Mapping Landform Types on West Ship Island, Mississippi

A chain of barrier islands provides protection against hurricanes and severe storms along the south and southeastern shores of the United States. Barrier island landform types can be spectrally similar and as small as a few meters across, making highly detailed maps difficult to produce. To determine whether high-resolution airborne hyperspectral imagery could provide detailed maps of barrier island landform types, we used low-altitude hyperspectral and multispectral imagery to map surface environments of West Ship Island, Mississippi. We employed 3.4-meter AVIRIS hyperspectral imagery acquired in July 1999 and 0.5-meter ADAR multispectral data acquired in November 1997. The data were co-registered to digital ortho aerial imagery, and the AVIRIS data was scaled to ground reflectance using ATREM software. Unsupervised classification of AVIRIS and ADAR data proceeded using ISODATA clustering techniques. The resulting landform maps were field-checked and compared to aerial photography and digital elevation maps. Preliminary analyses indicated that the AVIRIS classification mapped more landform types, while the ADAR-based map enabled smaller patches to be identified. Used together, these maps provided a means to assess landform distributions of West Ship Island before and after Hurricane Gorges. Classification accuracy is being addressed through photo-interpretation and field surveys of sample areas selected with stratified random sampling.

Spruce, Joseph↗

Low Altitude AVIRIS Data for Mapping Landform Types on West Ship Island, Mississippi

A chain of barrier islands provides protection against hurricanes and severe storms along the southern and southeastern shores of the Unites States. Barrier island landform types can be spectrally similar and as small as a few meters across, making highly detailed maps difficult to produce. To determine whether high-resolution airborne hyperspectral imagery could provide detailed maps of barrier island landform types, we used low-altitude hyperspectral and multispectral imagery to map surface environments of West Ship Island, Mississippi. We employed 3.4 meter AVIRIS hyperspectral imagery acquired in July 1999 and 0.5 meter ADAR multispectral data acquired in November 1997. The data were co-registered to digital ortho aerial imagery, and the AVIRIS data was scaled to ground reflectance using ATREM software. Unsupervised classification of AVIRIS and ADAR data proceeded using ISODATA clustering techniques. The resulting landform maps were field-checked and compared to aerial photography and digital elevation maps. Preliminary analyses indicated that the AVIRIS classification mapped more landform types, while the ADAR-based map enabled smaller patches to be identified. Used together, these maps provided a means to assess landform distributions of West Ship Island before and after Hurricane Georges. Classification accuracy is being assessed through photo-interpretation and field surveys of sample areas selected with stratified random sampling.

Spruce, Joseph↗

The Radiation Unit is Difficult for the General Public to Understand - An Easier Alternative Unit is Required - 17223

One of the difficult things to explain about nuclear power and/or radiation to the public is the 'radiation unit'. Especially after the Fukushima accident, many people are concerned about radiation, but over 70% of public who responded to the survey do not understand what the Bq (Becquerel) refers to. Changing the SI unit (International System of Units) is not easy, and instead, auxiliary units can be used. We considered several auxiliary units: one using an index number (like that for earthquakes), one that makes a comparison to general drug risk, one that makes a comparison to an amount of foodstuff (like BED), an introducing index comparing annual dose limit, using number compared to the background, and colorizing (i.e, red, green, blue). KHNP-CRI surveyed the public about radiation and radiation unit indexes to determine which was easiest to understand. For the question 'Do you know what the radiation unit Becquerel (Bq) is?', over 70% answered 'No'. When asked,'Do you think radioactivity is contagious and can be transmitted through a person's respiratory system or via skin contact?', over 47% answered 'It is definitely or possibly contagious'. When asked, 'Which would you prefer as an easier to understand radiation auxiliary unit, if it were to be changed?', over 70% preferred 'colorizing or figure'. It is interesting that men prefer figures whereas women prefer colorizing. The sample population of the survey was 500 adult men and women in Korea. The sampling error was based on random sampling, a confidence interval of 95%, and a standard maximum allowable sampling error of ± 4.4% point. The survey method was 'Computer Aided Telephone Interview' (CATI). (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

How to estimate soil organic carbon stocks of agricultural fields? perspectives using ex-ante evaluation

Estimating soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of agricultural fields has a range of important applications from development of sustainable management practices to monitoring carbon stocks. There are many estimation strategies with the potential for more reliable estimates of SOC stock and more efficient use of soil sampling and analysis resources, especially by leveraging readily available auxiliary information such as remote sensing. However, concrete guidance for strategy selection is lacking. This study narrows this gap with a comparison of strategies for estimating deep SOC stock (0–60 cm) in a prototypical field. Using high density SOC stock measurements and simulation, we built on past studies by 1) ex-ante evaluating a large number of strategy options, 2) using a Bayesian approach to quantify the uncertainty of the comparison, and 3) considering multiple Bayesian models to assess sensitivity to this modeling choice. We found that, using readily available auxiliary information, both balanced and stratified sampling offer substantial improvements over simple random sampling. The auxiliary information most important for this improvement is a Sentinel-2 SOC index = blue / (green × red), followed by the topographic wetness index. We found that these results are robust to the choice of mapping method, but that there is uncertainty in the magnitude of improvement. Here, we recommend future studies implement this Bayesian approach for simulated ex-ante evaluation of SOC stock estimation strategies across more fields to investigate the generalizability of these findings.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Research Technology Laboratory (RTL) Disposition Program Final Status Survey Report

As part of the Battelle Facility Restoration Program (Smoter and Biebesheimer 2017), the Research Technology Laboratory (RTL) Complex was remediated through demolition and surveyed to show it meets the radiological release criteria for unrestricted use under the clearance process (DOE 2011). The restoration program has directed the implementation of the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM) methodology (NRC 2011) to verify the suitability of the site to be released for unrestricted use under the clearance process in U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Order 458.1 (Biebesheimer 2018a; DOE 2011). The use of MARSSIM is accepted by federal and state agencies, including DOE. This report documents how the MARSSIM process was used to assure any residual radioactivity is within acceptable levels and as low as reasonably achievable. Past land use for the RTL Complex property included agricultural, residential, and industrial activity. The historical site assessment (HSA) (Lindenmeier et al. 2015; Biebesheimer 2018b) identified use of radionuclides in past RTL Complex research and development activities from commissioning in 1966 until it was vacated in 2017. Based on the information provided in the HSA, the RTL Complex was delineated into six survey units. The 520 building footprint, tank vault and 530 building footprint, other building footprints, and pipeline survey units included excavated areas. The paved areas and open areas survey units were unexcavated areas. Survey units were all determined to be Class 3, with low probability of containing residual radioactivity, after demolition of the structures within the RTL Complex. The Research Technology Laboratory (RTL) Disposition Program: Final Status Survey Plan (Bunn et al. 2018) was designed and conducted to provide quantitative data regarding the residual radioactivity present in each survey unit. Authorized radiological release limits were developed and approved by the DOE Office of Science in December 2016 (DOE 2017). Fourteen random sample locations were identified within each survey unit. Forty-four specific judgmental sample locations were selected across the site based on information in the HSA. The number of sample locations within a survey unit ranged from 15 to 28, for a total of 127 random and judgmental sample locations identified across the RTL Complex. Sampling for the final status survey occurred over 12 days between November 11 and December 7, 2018. Laboratory results were independently validated by Analytical Quality Associates prior to evaluation. All of the over 880 residual radioactivity measurements were less than the release limits and action levels established through the RTL Disposition Program. A sum of fractions calculation for each survey unit resulted in values that were less than unity. Based on the results presented in this report, the restoration program recommends that the RTL Complex be released for unrestricted use.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Deterministic Linear Time for Maximal Poisson‐Disk Sampling using Chocks without Rejection or Approximation

Abstract We show how to sample uniformly within the three‐sided region bounded by a circle, a radial ray, and a tangent, called a “chock.” By dividing a 2D planar rectangle into a background grid, and subtracting Poisson disks from grid squares, we are able to represent the available region for samples exactly using triangles and chocks. Uniform random samples are generated from chock areas precisely without rejection sampling. This provides the first implemented algorithm for precise maximal Poisson‐disk sampling in deterministic linear time. We prove O(n · M(b) log b), where n is the number of samples, b is the bits of numerical precision and M is the cost of multiplication. Prior methods have higher time complexity, take expected time, are non‐maximal, and/or are not Poisson‐disk distributions in the most precise mathematical sense. We fill this theoretical lacuna.

Mitchell, Scott A.↗

Hyporheic, Floodplain, and Surface Water (on Floodplain and River) Geochemical Datasets, and Shapefiles on Meander C at the East River, Colorado

The purpose of this dataset was to sample surface water and groundwater geochemistry at random locations in the East River, Colorado to provide a broad spatial dataset of geochemistry. The East River is part of the Watershed Function Scientific Focus Area (WFSFA) located in the Upper Colorado River Basin, United States. We conducted this random sampling at multiple time points including during the snowmelt flooding stage, during peak flood, during the falling limb of flood, and during baseflow. This datasets contain many datafiles. We include flat text files of surface water geochemistry including surface water on the floodplain and surface water in the river, geochemistry of floodplain pore-water samples, and geochemistry of hyporheic pore-water samples. All datasets are also included as shapefiles so location geochemistry is co-located with sampling locations and sampling depths. This datasets also has the locations of small channels, and hollows that are on top of floodplain Meander C. These small channels funnel surface water from the hillslope through the floodplain and out to the river. All text datasets can be analyzed with software such as Excel or R. All shapefiles can be viewed with freely available R packages such as Leaflet.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Convergence Study in Global Sensitivity Analysis

Monte Carlo (MC) sampling is a common method used to randomly sample a range of scenarios. The associated error follows a predictable rate of convergence of $1/\sqrt{N}$, such that quadrupling the sample size halves the error. This method is often employed in performing global sensitivity analysis which computes sensitivity indices, measuring fractional contributions of uncertain model inputs to the total output variance. In this study, several models are used to observe the rate of decay in the MC error in the estimation of the conditional variance, the total variance in the output, and the global sensitivity indices. The purpose is to examine the rate of convergence of the error in existing specialized, albeit MC-based, sampling methods for estimation of the sensitivity indices. It was found that the conditional variances and sensitivity indices all follow the $1/\sqrt{N}$ convergence rate. Future work will test the convergence of observables from more complex models such as ignition time in combustion.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

The usefulness of Skylab/EREP S-190 and S-192 imagery in multistage forest surveys

The author has identified the following significant results. The RMSE of point location achieved with the annotation system on S190A imagery was 100 m and 90 m in the x and y direction, respectively. Potential gains in sampling precision attributable to space derived imagery ranged from 4.9 to 43.3 percent depending on the image type, interpretation method, time of year, and sampling method applied. Seasonal variation was significant. S190A products obtained in September yielded higher gains than those obtained in June. Using 100 primary sample units as a base under simple random sampling, the revenue made available for incorporating space acquired data into the sample design to estimate timber volume was as high as $39,400.00.

Langley, P. G.↗

Pu239 Cross-Section Variations Based on Experimental Uncertainties and Covariances

Algorithms and software have been developed for producing variations in plutonium-239 neutron cross sections based on experimental uncertainties and covariances. The varied cross-section sets may be produced as random samples from the multi-variate normal distribution defined by an experimental mean vector and covariance matrix, or they may be produced as Latin-Hypercube/Orthogonal-Array samples (based on the same means and covariances) for use in parametrized studies. The variations obey two classes of constraints that are obligatory for cross-section sets and which put related constraints on the mean vector and covariance matrix that detemine the sampling. Because the experimental means and covariances do not obey some of these constraints to sufficient precision, imposing the constraints requires modifying the experimental mean vector and covariance matrix. Modification is done with an algorithm based on linear algebra that minimizes changes to the means and covariances while insuring that the operations that impose the different constraints do not conflict with each other.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Extension of SCALE/Sampler’s sensitivity analysis

Nuclear data are a major source of uncertainties in reactor physics calculations. The propagation of nuclear data uncertainties to important system responses is instrumental when determining appropriate safety margins in reactor safety analyses. It is also important to understand the major contributors to the observed uncertainties to make recommendations for further measurements and evaluations and aid in the understanding of the studied system. The SCALE code system allows for nuclear data uncertainty analysis based on the random sampling approach as implemented in SCALE’s Sampler sequence. Sampler was recently extended by a sensitivity analysis in terms of the calculation of two correlation-based sensitivity indices. This analysis allows for the identification of the top contributing nuclear reactions to any analyzed output uncertainty. This paper presents the sensitivity indices, along with their interpretation and limitations. It demonstrates the application in an eigenvalue and decay heat analysis for a boiling water reactor fuel assembly.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

A Distributed-Memory Package for Dense Hierarchically Semi-Separable Matrix Computations Using Randomization

In this paper, we present a distributed-memory library for computations with dense structured matrices. A matrix is considered structured if its off-diagonal blocks can be approximated by a rank-deficient matrix with low numerical rank. Here, we use Hierarchically Semi-Separable (HSS) representations. Such matrices appear in many applications, for example, finite-element methods, boundary element methods, and so on. Exploiting this structure allows for fast solution of linear systems and/or fast computation of matrix-vector products, which are the two main building blocks of matrix computations. The compression algorithm that we use, that computes the HSS form of an input dense matrix, relies on randomized sampling with a novel adaptive sampling mechanism. We discuss the parallelization of this algorithm and also present the parallelization of structured matrix-vector product, structured factorization, and solution routines. The efficiency of the approach is demonstrated on large problems from different academic and industrial applications, on up to 8,000 cores. Finally, this work is part of a more global effort, the STRUctured Matrices PACKage (STRUMPACK) software package for computations with sparse and dense structured matrices. Hence, although useful on their own right, the routines also represent a step in the direction of a distributed-memory sparse solver.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗

Inventory of forest resources (including water) by multi-level sampling

The author has identified the following significant results. A stratified random sample using LANDSAT band 5 and 7 panchromatic prints resulted in estimates of water in counties with sampling errors less than + or - 9% (67% probability level). A forest inventory using a four band LANDSAT color composite resulted in estimates of forest area by counties that were within + or - 6.7% and + or - 3.7% respectively (67% probability level). Estimates of forest area for counties by computer assisted techniques were within + or - 21% of operational forest survey figures and for all counties the difference was only one percent. Correlations of airborne terrain reflectance measurements with LANDSAT radiance verified a linear atmospheric model with an additive (path radiance) term and multiplicative (transmittance) term. Coefficients of determination for 28 of the 32 modeling attempts, not adverseley affected by rain shower occurring between the times of LANDSAT passage and aircraft overflights, exceeded 0.83.

Aldrich, R. C.↗

2015 Madison County, Indiana, In the Moment Travel Study

The 2015 In the Moment Travel Study—a pilot study—captured the travel behavior and characteristics of residents in Madison County, Indiana. The Madison County Council of Governments sponsored the study, which was administered by Resource Systems Group and conducted from February to March 2015. It used an activity sampling or "random moments" sampling approach via a smartphone application to capture travel behavior and characteristics from the survey participants. This approach included brief smartphone interactions, e.g., a few minutes per interaction, conducted multiple times a day over multiple days, which was considered less burdensome than traditional household travel diary surveys, which often require 20-30 minutes in one sitting. This proof-of-concept study included households that also participated in the 2014 Heartland in Motion household travel diary survey. Because of this, an assessment of the accuracy and completeness of the collected smartphone application data and comparisons between the "random moments" sample method and traditional household travel surveys can conceivably be drawn.

1Hz data↗

The structure of evaporating and combusting sprays: Measurements and predictions

The structure of particle-laden jets and nonevaporating and evaporating sprays was measured in order to evaluate models of these processes. Three models are being evaluated: (1) a locally homogeneous flow model, where slip between the phases is neglected and the flow is assumed to be in local thermodynamic equilibrium; (2) a deterministic separated flow model, where slip and finite interphase transport rates are considered but effects of particle/drop dispersion by turbulence and effects of turbulence on interphase transport rates are ignored; and (3) a stochastic separated flow model, where effects of interphase slip, turbulent dispersion and turbulent fluctuations are considered using random sampling for turbulence properties in conjunction with random-walk computations for particle motion. All three models use a k-e-g turbulence model. All testing and data reduction are completed for the particle laden jets. Mean and fluctuating velocities of the continuous phase and mean mixture fraction were measured in the evaporating sprays.

Shuen, J. S.↗

Prediction of the structure of fuel sprays in gas turbine combustors

The structure of fuel sprays in a combustion chamber is theoretically investigated using computer models of current interest. Three representative spray models are considered: (1) a locally homogeneous flow (LHF) model, which assumes infinitely fast interphase transport rates; (2) a deterministic separated flow (DSF) model, which considers finite rates of interphase transport but ignores effects of droplet/turbulence interactions; and (3) a stochastic separated flow (SSF) model, which considers droplet/turbulence interactions using random sampling for turbulence properties in conjunction with random-walk computations for droplet motion and transport. Two flow conditions are studied to investigate the influence of swirl on droplet life histories and the effects of droplet/turbulence interactions on flow properties. Comparison of computed results with the experimental data show that general features of the flow structure can be predicted with reasonable accuracy using the two separated flow models. In contrast, the LHF model overpredicts the rate of development of the flow. While the SSF model provides better agreement with measurements than the DSF model, definitive evaluation of the significance of droplet/turbulence interaction is not achieved due to uncertainties in the spray initial conditions.

Shuen, J. S.↗

Prediction of the structure of fuel sprays in gas turbine combustors

The structure of fuel sprays in a combustion chamber is theoretically investigated using computer models of current interest. Three representative spray models are considered: (1) a locally homogeneous flow (LHF) model, which assumes infinitely fast interphase transport rates; (2) a deterministic separated flow (DSF) model, which considers finite rates of interphase transport but ignores effects of droplet/turbulence interactions; and (3) a stochastic separated flow (SSF) model, which considers droplet/turbulence interactions using random sampling for turbulence properties in conjunction with random-walk computations for droplet motion and transport. Two flow conditions are studied to investigate the influence of swirl on droplet life histories and the effects of droplet/turbulence interactions on flow properties. Comparison of computed results with the experimental data show that general features of the flow structure can be predicted with reasonable accuracy using the two separated flow models. In contrast, the LHF model overpredicts the rate of development of the flow. While the SSF model provides better agreement with measurements than the DSF model, definitive evaluation of the significance of droplet/turbulence interaction is not achieved due to uncertainties in the spray initial conditions.

Shuen, J.-S.↗