Abstract

Abstract
Pavement cracks involve important information to measure road quality. Crack classification is a challenging problem given the diversity of possible cracks, therefore, it is needed to retrieve good features in order to facilitate the learning of predictive models with as few samples as possible. In this paper, we propose a graph-based set of features to efficiently describe cracks. These features proved to have high degree of expressiveness and robustness when used for crack classification. We show that the proposed features succeed in the assessment of 525 images with different kinds of cracks. We proved the robustness of the approach applying different levels of noise to the images and evaluating the classification accuracy.

Abstract
This work presents a methodology to manage Electric Vehicles (EVs) charging in quasi-real-time, considering the participation of EV aggregators in electricity markets and the technical restrictions of the electricity grid components, controlled by the Distribution System Operator. Two methodologies are presented in this paper to manage EV charging, one to be used by the EV aggregators and the other by the Distribution System Operator (DSO). The methodology developed for the aggregator has as main objective the minimization of the deviation between the energy bought in the market and the energy consumed by EVs. The methodology developed for the DSO allows it to manage the grid and solve operational problems that may appear by controlling EVs charging. A method to generate a synthetic EV data set is used in this work, providing information about EV movement, including the periods when EVs are parked and their energy requirements. This data set is used afterwards to assess the performance of the algorithms developed to manage the EV charging in quasi-real-time.

Abstract
We expose an USB vulnerability in some vendors' customization of the android system, where the serial AT commands processed by the cellular modem are extended to allow other functionalities. We target that vulnerability for the specific vendor system and present a proof of concept of the attack in a realistic scenario environment. For this we use an apparently inoffensive smartphone charging station like the one that is now common at public places like airports. We unveil the implications of such vulnerability that culminate in flashing a compromised boot partition, root access, enable adb and install a surveillance application that is impossible to uninstall without re-flashing the android boot partition. All these attacks are done without user consent or knowledge on the attacked mobile phone.

Abstract
Smart local energy networks provide an opportunity for more penetration of distributed energy resources. However, these resources cause an extra dependency in both time and carrier domains that should be considered through a comprehensive model. Hence, this paper introduces a new concept for internal and external dependencies in Smart Multi-Energy Systems (SMES). Internal dependencies are caused by converters and storages existing in operation centers and modeled by coupling matrix. On the other hand, external dependencies are defined as the behavior of multi-energy demand in shifting among carriers or time periods. In this paper, system dependency is modeled based on energy hub approach through adding virtual ports and making new coupling matrix. Being achieved by SMESs, the dependencies release demand-side flexibility and subsequently enhance system efficiency. Moreover, a test SMES that includes several elements and multi-energy demand in output is applied to show the effectiveness of the model.

Abstract
The real Cloud and Ubiquitous Manufacturing systems require effectiveness and permanent availability of resources, their capacity and scalability. One of the most important problems for applications management over cloud based platforms, which are expected to support efficient scalability and resources coordination following SaaS implementation model, is their interoperability. Even application dashboards need to easily incorporate those new applications, their interoperability still remains a big problem to override. So, the possibility to expand these dashboards with efficiently integrated communicational cloud based services (cloudlets) represents a relevant added value as well as contributes to solving the interoperability problem. Following the architecture for integration of enriched existing cloud services, as instances of manufacturing resources, this paper: a) proposes a cloud based web platform to support dashboard integrating communicational services, and b) describe an experimentation to sustain the theory that the effective and efficient interoperability, especially in dynamic environments, could be achieved only with human intervention. Copyright © 2014, IGI Global.