Real Estate @ Pitchfork Music Festival (July 15, 2012) | We All Want Someone To Shout For
Real Estate was exactly what the day needed after an overload of assault-ready guitar bands. The sun was at it?s peak, beaming ruthlessly above the stage. The band brought their chill New Jersey vibes and put us all at ease. It was very singular chill feeling that didn?t leave at all during their set, which means they did their job.
Contact: Hayder Rasheed hayder@k-state.edu 785-532-1589 Kansas State University
MANHATTAN, KAN. -- A ratings system developed by a group of Kansas State University researchers could keep bridges safer and help prevent catastrophic collapses.
Hayder Rasheed, associate professor of civil engineering, and Yacoub Najjar, professor of civil engineering, are collaborating to better detect and measure damage in concrete bridges. Ahmed Al-Rahmani, doctoral student in civil engineering, United Arab Emirates, has also been involved in the project.
The researchers have created a bridge health index, which is a rating system that more accurately describes the amount of damage in a bridge. Additionally, the health index can extend beyond bridges and apply to other structures, such as gas pipelines, dams, buildings and airplanes.
The engineers have developed ways to take bridge measurements and use finite element analysis and neural network modeling to back-calculate and detect bridge damage. The researchers combined this process of inverse problem solving with Najjar's expertise in neural networks to create the bridge health index.
Current methods of inspecting bridges are very subjective, Rasheed said. Experienced inspectors from the Federal Highway Administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation visually inspect bridges and determine damage amounts. Problems can arise because one inspector may determine a bridge to be 70 percent damaged, while another inspector maybe determine the same bridge to be 80 percent damaged.
"It varies from inspector to inspector," Rasheed said. "They measure the cracks in the bridge, but they have no objective way to calculate how much it is damaged. Because the inspectors decide which bridges are repaired first, it's very important to make the process objective across the board."
The bridge health index provides a more objective way to determine and compare bridge damage to decide which bridges most need repairs. The network allows inspectors to input parameters, such width, depth and location of cracks in a bridge, and the network will tell the health index of the bridge.
According to the bridge health index, a new, undamaged bridge has a health index of 100. The health index of a bridge goes down as it gets older or as damage occurs.
"The health index is one systematic approach in a sense," Najjar said. "Inspectors gather information about the bridge, put in the information and they receive the health index of the bridge. It makes it easier to study the bridge because you bring all of these dimensions into one number. But when you have multiple dimensions, it is difficult to rate them."
Currently, the researchers and several graduate students have been building and training the health index system with synthetic bridges, which can simulate how bridges will act under certain conditions. The researchers have built the network based on thousands of simulations.
"We take these measurements and we run them through two cycles of analysis," Rasheed said. "We come up with damage detection of where we expect the cracks to be and how deep and how wide they are. It's a very intelligent system."
The next step is to build bridge beams. The engineers will create cracks in the beams and then enter measurements into their network modeling system to determine how well the system can detect and predict cracks. After working with bridge beams, the researchers will test bridges throughout the state.
The researchers said the health index system could lead to safer bridges and prevent catastrophic events, like the 2007 collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge in Minneapolis, from reoccurring.
"If a system like this had existed, inspectors might have foreseen there would be a problem with the Minneapolis bridge," Najjar said. "It might have been weak in certain areas, but other elements might have been very healthy. If you don't have a health index to reflect that, you won't be able to rate it."
The engineers have also discovered numerous applications of the health index because the same network modeling system can be applied to other structures -- including dams, buildings and airplanes.
"Using this system on airplanes is especially effective because you deal with specific material and you can understand its behavior even better," Najjar said. "You can test the wing of an airplane and find its health index."
###
The researchers have received financial support from the Kansas Department of Transportation and want to develop the network model into a tool that can be used by the Department of Transportation.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Contact: Hayder Rasheed hayder@k-state.edu 785-532-1589 Kansas State University
MANHATTAN, KAN. -- A ratings system developed by a group of Kansas State University researchers could keep bridges safer and help prevent catastrophic collapses.
Hayder Rasheed, associate professor of civil engineering, and Yacoub Najjar, professor of civil engineering, are collaborating to better detect and measure damage in concrete bridges. Ahmed Al-Rahmani, doctoral student in civil engineering, United Arab Emirates, has also been involved in the project.
The researchers have created a bridge health index, which is a rating system that more accurately describes the amount of damage in a bridge. Additionally, the health index can extend beyond bridges and apply to other structures, such as gas pipelines, dams, buildings and airplanes.
The engineers have developed ways to take bridge measurements and use finite element analysis and neural network modeling to back-calculate and detect bridge damage. The researchers combined this process of inverse problem solving with Najjar's expertise in neural networks to create the bridge health index.
Current methods of inspecting bridges are very subjective, Rasheed said. Experienced inspectors from the Federal Highway Administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation visually inspect bridges and determine damage amounts. Problems can arise because one inspector may determine a bridge to be 70 percent damaged, while another inspector maybe determine the same bridge to be 80 percent damaged.
"It varies from inspector to inspector," Rasheed said. "They measure the cracks in the bridge, but they have no objective way to calculate how much it is damaged. Because the inspectors decide which bridges are repaired first, it's very important to make the process objective across the board."
The bridge health index provides a more objective way to determine and compare bridge damage to decide which bridges most need repairs. The network allows inspectors to input parameters, such width, depth and location of cracks in a bridge, and the network will tell the health index of the bridge.
According to the bridge health index, a new, undamaged bridge has a health index of 100. The health index of a bridge goes down as it gets older or as damage occurs.
"The health index is one systematic approach in a sense," Najjar said. "Inspectors gather information about the bridge, put in the information and they receive the health index of the bridge. It makes it easier to study the bridge because you bring all of these dimensions into one number. But when you have multiple dimensions, it is difficult to rate them."
Currently, the researchers and several graduate students have been building and training the health index system with synthetic bridges, which can simulate how bridges will act under certain conditions. The researchers have built the network based on thousands of simulations.
"We take these measurements and we run them through two cycles of analysis," Rasheed said. "We come up with damage detection of where we expect the cracks to be and how deep and how wide they are. It's a very intelligent system."
The next step is to build bridge beams. The engineers will create cracks in the beams and then enter measurements into their network modeling system to determine how well the system can detect and predict cracks. After working with bridge beams, the researchers will test bridges throughout the state.
The researchers said the health index system could lead to safer bridges and prevent catastrophic events, like the 2007 collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge in Minneapolis, from reoccurring.
"If a system like this had existed, inspectors might have foreseen there would be a problem with the Minneapolis bridge," Najjar said. "It might have been weak in certain areas, but other elements might have been very healthy. If you don't have a health index to reflect that, you won't be able to rate it."
The engineers have also discovered numerous applications of the health index because the same network modeling system can be applied to other structures -- including dams, buildings and airplanes.
"Using this system on airplanes is especially effective because you deal with specific material and you can understand its behavior even better," Najjar said. "You can test the wing of an airplane and find its health index."
###
The researchers have received financial support from the Kansas Department of Transportation and want to develop the network model into a tool that can be used by the Department of Transportation.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
When business owners and managers hear that they should be moving toward an increased online presence they often scoff, joke and immediately respond that their business is not suited to ?tweeting,? ?posting,? or ?blogging.? I would say this is true for a very select few ? obviously, private security contractors would not be wise to live-tweet missions nor would investment firms be suited to posting details about their process or recommended ventures ? but other industry specific, brand focused social media posts can provide a unique avenue for bridging the public ? company gap and providing key insight for media and other third party customers. This conversation is very much a part of a bigger discussion about the importance of a business?s branding, one that we will get to with another post on another day.
To answer the question ?Why should my very private/proprietary/small/not end-consumer-focused business use Twitter or other social media?? you, the business owner or manager, must first answer one question: Do you want your business to grow? I?ve never met someone who would say no, but there is a time and a place for everything.
Social media is the next wave of the website. It surprises me to no end how often businesses underscore the importance of their website and the information they post on it. What is the first thing you do when researching or asking a question about an industry or organization? You ?Google? it, you go to your favorite browser and search for information on your topic. This is how social media becomes relevant. Increasingly, not only are content consumers reaching out to Google, Yahoo! or other search engines, but they are reaching out to their social networks. A media representative or other third party consumer may quickly tweet, ?Looking for a west-coast based venture capitalist to shed light on x trend, mssg me for details.? This is a vague example of a request, but one that will almost always receive a response of recommendations, insights and information. This type of information sourcing has become more popular, and even a person?s or organization?s tweets and posts are being featured as ?news items? on national networks. Maintaining awareness for your company as well as an awareness of other companies in tangible ways ? revenue, client base, success ? is widely practiced, why should you not monitor what is happening online as well?
There remains the question, why should your small, independent company use Twitter or other social media platforms? Many companies fear that they don?t have anything to say, to which the response is: do you advertise? do you network in-person with other companies or customers? How do you grow your business in the offline world? The same types of communications can be transferred from offline to online, and the same conversations can happen via social media, on a much wider scale and with a much more diverse audience.
?But I?m based in a small community that is not really ?with-it? technologically,? is another frequent response. That is frequently the case, however, is your product or service something that consumers outside of your immediate community could benefit from? Many small communities throughout the US are not avid technology users, but that is a quickly decreasing number. Tourist towns are beginning to see the value of social media in bringing new visitors and revenue to their quaint corner of the earth, and local businesses would be wise to partner with them. Look outside your immediate community to the larger cities and develop an online relationship with that customer base as well. If your product ships or your service can be implemented elsewhere, your customer base is unlimited. As you would participate in marketing and advertising efforts in surrounding communities, participating and communicating online is just one more way to grow your business.
?But my business is full of top-secret, proprietary information,? is another frequent response. Like I mentioned above, obviously you should not live-tweet a security mission or divulge the details of your top-secret processes, but building and maintaining a voice in your industry is more than sharing the intimate details of your business dealings, it is communicating with like-minded people, publishing content that is industry relevant, promoting internal business success when possible and illustrating that your business is available as an industry expert to discuss and provide commentary on trends, issues and other relevant topics.
?But I don?t think people will care about what I have to say,? is another, almost ridiculous response. Why are you in business? Do you think what you are selling or providing to your group of customers is relevant? As long as you are, in fact, in business, it is very unlikely that you will not find people interested in the information you are supplying, the trick is finding the right audience. Just like finding a customer for your product or service in ?the real world? you must market yourself and find the audience in the online world.
Businesses can use social media effectively by harnessing the power of their specialization within the industry to delve deep into a subject, engage an audience of readers on specific issues and demonstrate mastery of their field. As businesses are tweeting and posting links and references to articles and industry information, they are personally engage with their audience, opening up opportunities to get involved in events, collaborate on articles or projects, and comment on relevant industry news. More importantly, these businesses (and people) are building relationships they may not have encountered any other way.
I?m convinced. How do I start??
1. Develop a plan: What types of social media do you want to use? Who will monitor the accounts? Who is the audience you are trying to reach? What type of content will you publish (original or links to other articles)?
2. Start. It really is as simple as that, of course, you should have all of your brand elements in line and understand the implications of posting in the public sphere, but once you have a plan in mind, jumping in is easy, that is part of why social media has become the power-house it is today.
Want more information on how your business can benefit from social media? Want help setting up or managing your accounts? Contact Black Dog Branding for more information on developing your company?s brand both online and off.
Century 21 Real Estate LLC, one of the largest franchisor in the world of residential real estate sales organization, a Platinum Hermes Creative Award for Excellence was awarded in social marketing, announced the company.
The social marketing campaign that produced by CENTURY 21 ? in conjunction with Mullen communication, while the players to buy and sell virtual real estate by a mobile game called We city. The campaign drew more than 5.4 million views on the Home screen, 401 000 CENTURY 21 brand structures were placed in the game by players (4.32 buildings per player), and more than 300,000 views CENTURY 21 is the brand of the company's video "Faster Smarter Bolder" commercial.
"We are very proud that our innovative marketing is recognized for excellence, and online gaming is an effective way to buyers in today's highly mobile and home-office and sales reach," says Bev Thorne, director of marketing for Century 21 Real Estate LLC. "We remain committed to reaching consumers where they consume more media."
The CENTURY 21 brand was introduced in his first Super Bowl commercial this year, in addition to the sponsorship of U.S. Soccer, and it will apply during the Olympic Summer Games in 2012.
"Our Agents Century 21: Bolder .. Faster Smarter" campaign has achieved a growing market segment - the players. "Said Thorne," By our message through new media. and traditional mass media, we build our leadership position in the industry to get into brand awareness. "
This leading position has been highlighted by the announcement of February 2012, the CENTURY 21 brand 95 percent name recognition, the highest level of consumer awareness in relation to other real estate brands in a study conducted by Millward Brown will be carried out is one of the world's leading market research.
With over 4700 registered for the contest this year's Hermes Creative Awards is an international competition for creative professionals in designing, editing and design of traditional materials and programs involved, and new technologies. Entries come from marketing and corporate communications departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, graphic design shops, production companies, web and digital designers and freelancers.
Justin Bieber is all grown up -- at least that's what Rolling Stone is saying in its cover story on the 18-year-old singer. The magazine, which hits newsstands on July 20, describes the Biebs as "hot ready legal" on its cover.
"I feel like I carry myself in a more manly way," he says in the profile. "I don't carry myself as a boy."
While we can't read the whole story until the magazine comes out, RollingStone.com teases two highlights from the article. First, Biebs encounters paparazzi while golfing at a private country club. "We'll probably never play here again," he tells the staff.
PHOTOS: Justin Bieber's life in pictures
Second, manager Scooter Braun talks about Bieber's relationship with fellow teen star Selena Gomez. "Yes, there's gonna be some girls that if they see him with a girlfriend, it kills the dream - but there's also gonna be girls that see him with a girlfriend, hear about the romantic things he does and want him even more," Braun says.
Do you believe that Bieber is more mature, or do you think the story is a very strategically planned PR move?
Egypt has this rate of blending of it's civilizations that mixed between many civilizations. If you have dreamed to visit Egypt this magical land" or you have dreamed to stand beside the great Giza pyramids... Or to have your Egypt holidays or even to have your dinner on Nile cruise Well, Egypt is definitely is the land that you deserve to experience. The most amazing holiday of Egypt is the Nile cruise holidays make sure that the cruise is taken as "all inclusive", i.e. accommodation, sightseeing tours and transportation! This option is the best way for you to see all the possible Temples en route. With Egypt last minute holidays and tours is easy to planning a trip to Egypt can be an overwhelming task. There are so many things to prepare for and so many sites to consider visiting. From figuring out the best travel deals to basic flight arrangements, you have a lot to think about. Tour Egypt is here to help with some fantastic travel tips and tour specials to choose from. We will answer all your travel questions with the links found below. You may be considering planning your trip to visit Egypt independently or through a tour company; either way you will want to know what to pack, what you should wear, what the weather will be like, what kind of food you will eat, how to pick a hotel and make a reservation, if you need a visa, what to do if you get sick and, of course, what you should see while in Egypt. This will be a once in a lifetime experience and we want to help make it marvelous and stress-free. You can make it even easier by book Stop thinking about it just do it and Visit egypt Travel to Egypt independent travel or packaged tours to Egypt and article from Tour Egypt Monthly. This will give you many ideas even if you are not traveling on a budget or independently. From our magazine, see our growing list of hotels we have reviewed. Finally, find out which is best for you, independent travel or packaged tours to Egypt, holidays to Egypt. We have information on everything you can think of for your holiday to Egypt. Whether are coming on business or a family vacation, for the first or tenth time, let Tour Egypt assist you with plan
About the Author: last minute egypt specializes in making your holiday one of freedom; freedom from deadlines and hours of planning. Just gives us a call, tell us what you want, when you want it and where. It"s that simple.
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Public release date: 19-Jul-2012
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When business owners and managers hear that they should be moving toward an increased online presence they often scoff, joke and immediately respond that their business is not suited to ?tweeting,? ?posting,? or ?blogging.? I would say this is true for a very select few ? obviously, private security contractors would not be wise to live-tweet missions nor would investment firms be suited to posting details about their process or recommended ventures ? but other industry specific, brand focused social media posts can provide a unique avenue for bridging the public ? company gap and providing key insight for media and other third party customers. This conversation is very much a part of a bigger discussion about the importance of a business?s branding, one that we will get to with another post on another day.
Justin Bieber is all grown up -- at least that's what Rolling Stone is saying in its cover story on the 18-year-old singer. The magazine, which hits newsstands on July 20, describes the Biebs as "hot ready legal" on its cover. 