Elements of Spatial Structures


Book Description

This excellent text highlights all aspects of the analysis and design of elements related to spatial structures, which have been carefully selected from existing structures. Analysing the design of elements of any full scale structure that contains facilities that have already been constructed makes good economic sense and avoids duplication in respect of research and development, the decision-making process and accurate design criteria for new constructed facilities.







Parts and Places


Book Description

Thinking about space is thinking about spatial things. The table is on the carpet; hence the carpet is under the table. The vase is in the box; hence the box is not in the vase. But what does it mean for an object to be somewhere? How are objects tied to the space they occupy? In this book Roberto Casati and Achille C. Varzi address some of the fundamental issues in the philosophy of spatial representation. Their starting point is an analysis of the interplay betwen mereology (the study of part/whole relations), topology (the study of spatial continuity and comapctness) and the theory of spatial location proper. This leads to a unified framework for spatial representation understood quite broadly as a theory of the representation of spatial entities. The framework is then tested against some classical metaphysical questions such as: Are parts essential to their whole? Is spatial co-location a sufficient criterion of identity? What (if anything) distinguishes material objects from events and other spatial entities? The concluding chapters deal with applications to topics as diverse as the logical analysis of movement and the semantics of maps.




Shell and Spatial Structures: Computational Aspects


Book Description

In recent years powerful engineering workstations for a reasonable price become a valuable tool for the design of complicated constructions such as shell and spatial structures. This availability causes an increasing use of advanced numerical techniques for the static and dynamic analysis of these structures, also in the non-linear range. The I.A.S.S. Working Group nO 13 concerned with "Numerical Methods in Shell and Spatial Structures" and the Department of Civil Engineering of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven have taken the initiative to organise an International Symposium, providing a forum for discussion and exchange of views between researchers, specialists in numerical analysis on one hand and designers, practising engineer ings on the other hand. These Proceedings contain the papers presented at the Symposium, held in Leuven, July 14-16 1986. The papers are organised in five sections 1. Shell structures 2. Spatial structures 3. Dynamic analysis 4. Non-linear analysis 5. Presentation and interpretation of results The papers covering more than one domain are classified following the main subject. We hope that researchers as well as practising engineers will find a lot of useful information in the book.




Recent Advances in Analysis, Design and Construction of Shell & Spatial Structures in the Asia-Pacific Region


Book Description

This edited volume features a collection of extended versions of 13 papers originally published in the proceedings of the 12th Asian Pacific Conference on Shell & Spatial Structures held in Penang, Malaysia in October 2018. All chapters in this book have been written by experts from Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong, China and Japan, and compiles recent advances in the analysis, design and construction of shell and spatial structures specifically in the Asia Pacific region. The contents of the book include (i) the application of advancement in analysis technique and computer technology to the realization of complex and iconic spatial structures, (ii) advanced stability analysis of novel structural forms, (iii) lessons learnt from the health condition of existing spatial structures and damaged spatial structures, (iv) promising ideas and new structural concepts, (v) fundamental study on numerical method for analysis, (vi) design of large-scale and space smart structure system and (vii) educational instructions for beginners in structural design. Researchers, practitioners and contractors in structural engineering, architecture and the built environment with a special interest in shell and spatial structures will find this book useful as it contains a wealth of information on their analysis, design and construction. University students will also find this book a valuable reference for their research studies.







Spatial Structures


Book Description

Originally published in 1973, this book synthesizes the mass of material into an introduction to the study of spatial systems. Geographic literature of the time stressed the influence of the distance between places on both location decision-making and movement patterns, arguing that the spatial system is an ordered set of interacting locations. This system is created by human decisions, influenced by the distance factor, and the system’s morphology constrains further activities, including those which would alter it. Spatial Structures outlines the development of such systems, their present organization, and the ways in which they are changing. These themes are dealt with in three main chapters which focus on different spatial scales – the individual city, the nation state and the international system, within a simple classification of spatially organized activities.




New Foundations for Applied Electromagnetics: The Spatial Structure of Electromagnetic Fields


Book Description

This comprehensive new resource focuses on applied electromagnetics and takes readers beyond the conventional theory with the use of contemporary mathematics to improve the practical use of electromagnetics in emerging areas of field communications, wireless power transfer, metamaterials, MIMO and direction-of-arrival systems. The book explores the existing and novel theories and principles of electromagnetics in order to help engineers analyze and design devices for today's applications in wireless power transfers, NFC, and metamaterials. This book is organized into clear and logical sections spanning from fundamental theory, to applications, promoting clear understanding through-out. This resource presents the theory of electromagnetic near fields including chapters on reactive energy, spatial and spectral theory, the scalar antenna, and the morphogenesis of electromagnetic radiation in the near field zone. The Antenna Current Green's Function Formalism is explored with an emphasis on the foundations, the organic interrelationships between the fundamental operational modes of general antenna systems, and the spectral approach to antenna-to-antenna interactions. The book offers perspective on nonlocal metamaterials, including the material response theory, the far-field theory, and the near-field theory.




Maritime Networks


Book Description

Maritime transport is one of the most ancient supports to human interactions across history and it still supports more than 90% of world trade volumes today. The changing connectivity of maritime networks is of crucial importance to port, transport, and economic development and planning. The way ports, terminals, but also cities, regions and countries, are connected with each other through maritime flows is not well-known and difficult to represent and measure, even for the transport actors themselves. There is a strong, urgent need for reviewing the relevant theories, concepts, methods, and sources that can be mobilized for the analysis of maritime networks. With contributions from reputable scholars from all over the world, this book investigates the analysis of maritime flows and networks from diverse disciplinary angles going across archaeology, history, geography, regional science, economics, mathematics, physics, and computer sciences. Based on a vast array of methods, such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS), spatial analysis, complex networks, modelling, and simulation, it addresses several crucial issues related with port hierarchy; route density; modal interdependency; network robustness and vulnerability; traffic concentration and seasonality; technological change and urban/regional economic development. This book examines new evidence about how socio-economic trends are reflected (but also influenced) by maritime flows and networks, and about the way this knowledge can support and enhance decision-making in relation to the development of ports, supply chains, and transport networks in general. This book is an ideal companion to anyone interested in the network analysis of transport systems and economic systems in general, as well as the effective ways to analyse large datasets to answer complex issues in transportation and socio-economic development.




Spatial Structures


Book Description

The common theme in the essays of this book is the emergence and sur vival of spatial structures. How are economic structures created in an otherwise homogeneous environment? The answer must be sought through an analysis of economic forces that operate in the two dimensional contin uum of space. Ultimately these forces emanate from the fundamental fact that spatial concentration is needed to reap increasing returns to scale. i. e. to gather the fruits of the division of labour. Adam Smith's dictum: "The division of labour is limited by the size of the market" poses a fundamental question to spatial economic analysis: just how do markets operate when extended over distances? Although these essays were written at different times they all relate to the problem of economic structures generated in spatial markets. They approach the phenomena of spatial order from different angles, but it is hoped in a connected and logically consistent way. We thank the editors and publishers of the Annals of Regional Science for permission to reprint parts of the articles "On the Shape and Size of Market Areas" and "Population Growth and Dispersal" to be published this year. It is our pleasure to thank Mrs. I. Strohlein for drawing several figures and Dr. H. Mittermeier for compiling the index. Last not least we are grateful to Mrs. B. Schwarzwalder for her patient job of typing and retyping this manuscript.