Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Events for November
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Ph.D. Seminar
Fri, Nov 02, 2012 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Maria Todorovska, Adjunct Research Professor
Talk Title: The 2009 L'Aquila Earthquake disaster: what could Engineers do to help avoid such disasters in the future
Abstract: Dr. Maria Todorovska will make a presentation about the 2009 L'Aquila Earthquake Disaster followed by a discussion by all present.
Location: John Stauffer Science Lecture Hall (SLH) - 102
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Astani CEE Ph.D. Seminar
Fri, Nov 09, 2012 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prasanth Babu Koganti and Hamed Haddad Zadegan, CE Ph.D. Candidates
Talk Title: Stable decentralized control of complex dynamical systems
Abstract:
In this talk, we present a simple approach to stabilizing control of a complex dynamical system which consists of several mutually coupled subsystems. We develop the control in two steps- First, we define a nominal system, in which the subsystems are uncoupled. This is done by defining nominal subsystems which are obtained by approximating each subsystem based on locally available states only. Stabilizing (nominal) controls are then synthesized for each nominal subsystem which are also optimal. In the second step, we force the actual system (with coupled actual subsystems) to track the trajectories of the controlled nominal system as closely as desired by user, thus ensuring stability. This is achieved by use of a generalized sliding surface controller in conjunction with the nominal controller.
Second Speaker:
Hamed Haddad Zadegan, CE Ph.D. Candidate
Talk: Bayesian approach to Geostatistics and Spatial Prediction
Location: John Stauffer Science Lecture Hall (SLH) - 102
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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CEE Oral Dissertation Defense
Fri, Nov 16, 2012 @ 02:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Winnie Kam, ENE Ph.D. Candidate
Talk Title: PARTICULATE MATTER (PM) EXPOSURE FOR COMMUTERS IN LOS ANGELES: CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND IMPLICATIONS TO PUBLIC HEALTH
Abstract: Particulate matter (PM) is a major airborne pollutant in urban areas and contributes to adverse health outcomes as well as environmental effects such as visibility. Sources of PM include both anthropogenic (vehicular emissions, industrial activity) and natural causes (crustal materials, sea salt). The composition of PM is highly complex and varies depending on local sources, source strength, and atmospheric processes such regional transport and gas-to-particle partitioning. This thesis focuses on the exposure assessment size-fractionated PM for five different commute microenvironments in Los Angeles: light-rail (METRO gold line), subway (METRO red line), a freeway with high drayage truck fraction (I-710), a freeway with the low drayage truck fraction (I-110), and major surface streets (Wilshire and Sunset Boulevards). Two major sampling campaigns were conducted to collect time-integrated PM for the purpose of a comprehensive chemical analysis including major PM components (organic carbon and elemental carbon), inorganic ions, metals and trace elements, and organic species. Depending on the mode of commute, commuters may be exposed to PM of various species and concentration levels. Thus, understanding the chemical composition of PM for various commute microenvironments is essential in assessing passenger exposure and potential health endpoints associated with PM inhalation.
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Astani CEE Seminar
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Robert. Glass, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque
Talk Title: Designing Influence in Complex Adaptive Systems of Systems or CASoS Engineering
Abstract:
Complex Adaptive Systems of Systems, or CASoS, are ubiquitous: they include people, organizations, cities, infrastructure, government, ecosystems, the planet â in short, nearly everything that includes biological and human systems. CASoS Engineering entails designing ways of influencing CASoS, or in context of many socio-technical systems, the design of institutions, technology, infrastructure and policy. Foundational to the design process is the use of models that conceptualize the system of interest and render it in a mathematical form that allows computational simulation to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of alternatives. In this talk, I will introduce critical structural and behavioral features of CASoS, a conceptual lens for modeling them, and show several example applications of CASoS Engineering (some complete, some ongoing) pulled from those found on http://www.sandia.gov/CasosEngineering/ ranging from the design of community mitigation of pandemic influenza, to the control of large value payment systems (how all our money moves across the globe), to the design of national security measures that increase (not decrease!) trans spectrum global prosperity.
Host: Dr. Patrick Lynett
Location: SHL 102
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes