Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating a seismic velocity field from seismic data including time-amplitude representations associated with source-receiver locations spaced apart by an offset distance and having a midpoint therebetween, the seismic data being arranged into common midpoint (CMP) gathers associated with respective CMP locations. A control plane having an edge intersecting a plurality of the CMP locations is defined, an initial velocity field for the control plane is produced, the initial velocity field including a plurality of time-velocity values for each of the CMP locations; and an optimized velocity field for the control plane is produced by adjusting the time-velocity values for each of the CMP locations in response to trends, relative to offset distance, in time values, associated with common seismic events, until said optimized velocity field satisfies a condition.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a laser ultrasound testing system with adaptive generation of sonic energy signals. The system may detect or test features of the manufactured object such as defects and layer properties. A laser generator initiates a sonic energy signal in a manufactured object. A measuring device measures the sonic energy signal. Then, a signal analyzer and/or a model processor determine if the signal is optimized. If the signal is not optimized, optimized operating characteristics of the laser generator are calculated. These optimized operating characteristics may include wavelength, beam dimension, temporal profile and power. Next, the laser generator initiates an improved sonic energy signal by utilizing the optimized operating characteristics. In this manner, more accurate testing and detection is achieved.

Abstract: The systems and methods of this invention provide simulated images to vision inspection systems. The simulated images emulate the vision of a vision inspection system. Graphical models of objects in a virtual world and lens effects models are used to provide the simulated images.

Abstract: The invention is a method of estimating, from data obtained by exploration of a zone of a heterogeneous medium, a model representative of a distribution, in the zone, of at least one physical quantity, the model being free of a presence of correlated noises that may be contained in the data which has application to determining the distribution in an underground zone of acoustic impedance, propagation velocities and permeabilities, etc.

Abstract: A tactile simulator for use in conjunction with a video display. The tactile simulator comprises a tactile bar, and a video program player capable of generating audio, video, and control outputs upon reading a video medium having encoded simulation control information. The signals which are transmitted to the tactile bar by the video program player control the motion of weights located within the tactile bar, vibration of motors within the tactile bar, and temperature changes of the tactile bar. Two motors having eccentric weights cause the tactile bar to selectively vibrate. Additionally, the movement of the weights within the tactile bar impart a sense of motion. Two embodiments of the tactile bar are presented. The first embodiment is “U” shaped and is connected by wire to a control output on the video program player. A second version is wireless and receives infrared signals generated by the video program player.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for seismic data processing. Prestack seismic data is obtained that contains a plurality of reflectors. Non-parallel moveout of the plurality of reflectors is utilized to determine a source wavelet using an L2-Norm and a reflectivity parameter using an L1-Norm. The source wavelet and reflectivity parameters can be determined simultaneously. Source and reflectivity determination may further comprise minimization of a model objective function. The model objective function may be a function of at least one of i) said source wavelet, ii) a gradient parameter and iii) an intercept parameter. An AVO intercept and gradient parameters can be determined using the determined source wavelet and reflectivity parameter. Constraints may be placed on parameters to ensure physically realistic solutions.

Abstract: A method for laterally extrapolating shallow soil properties using soil samples and seismic amplitude data within a seismic coverage area entails obtaining seismic amplitude data for the seismic coverage area and obtaining average soil property and soil impedance data for locations in the seismic coverage area. The seismic amplitude data is compared with the soil impedance data at locations in the seismic coverage area forming an amplitude impendence formula. The seismic amplitude data is converted to soil-calibrated impedance data using the amplitude impendence formula. The method continues by comparing an average of desired soil property and the soil impedance data at locations in the seismic coverage area forming a soil property-impendence formula. A target soil property is selected and the soil calibrated impedance data is converted to the target soil property using the soil property impendence formula. The method ends by extrapolating the target soil property over the entire seismic coverage area.

Abstract: A Gas Reservoir Evaluation and Assessment Tool utilizes an Analytical Engine to produce predictions of pressure values and other production data at any point in space and at any point in time in a reservoir. A computer system, such as a workstation, stores a Gas Reservoir Evaluation and Assessment software which includes the Analytical Engine and responds to input data (which includes a reservoir description and fluid properties) by generating an output record which represents a prediction of the pressure values and other data at ‘any point in space’ and at ‘any point in time’ in a reservoir.

Abstract: A method intended to obtain reflection travel times from an interpretation of seismic data in migrated cylindrical waves, for a given value of the parameter defining the slope of these waves, or the superposition of such data associated with various substantially parallel acquisition lines, this parameter possibly taking successively several values. The method comprises the steps: a) defining a slowness vector ({right arrow over (p)}) b) for a given position of a seismic receiver of abscissa (XR) on an acquisition line, seeking, the abscissa (?) of the source; c) determining a travel time (te(XR)) d) repeating steps (b and c) for all the positions of the receivers for which demigration result is wanted; and e) repeating steps (a to d) for all the acquisition lines for which a demigration result is wanted and for all the values taken by parameter (px).

Abstract: Method for activation of the regeneration of a particulate filter for a motor vehicle engine, comprising the steps of calculating an estimated value (xM) of a quantity of particulate accumulated in the particulate filter; comparing (8) the estimated value (xM) with a threshold value (mTH) corresponding to a predetermined maximum quantity of particulate; and activating the regeneration (9) if the estimated value (xM) exceeds the threshold value (mTH).

Abstract: A set of pre-stack seismic data is downward extrapolated, by first determining a migration interval in the seismic data set. A maximum error criterion is selected for the migration interval. A maximum relative error in phase calculated as a function of frequency, propagation angle, and the relative variation in velocity in the migration interval. The maximum relative error in phase is compared to the maximum error criterion. The type of extrapolation to use in the migration interval is determined from the comparison of the maximum relative error in phase to the maximum error criterion. The type of extrapolation is selected from a set comprising Gazdag phase-shift extrapolation, split-shift Fourier extrapolation, and implicit finite difference extrapolation.

Abstract: Explicit depth extrapolation operators are constructed with variable operator lengths depending on maximum dip angle, accuracy condition, and wavenumber. Operator tables are then constructed using the explicit depth extrapolation operators. In a further embodiment, depth migration is performed using the explicit depth extrapolation operators from the operator tables.

Abstract: A method is discussed of obtaining a parameter of interest of an earth formation, typically a formation resistivity or a distance to a bed boundary, in conditions where an induction tool is using having a body with finite, non-zero conductivity. The method substantially removes the effects of the conductivity of the tool from the signal received from the earth formation. A Taylor series expansion in one half of odd integer powers of time is used to represent the received signal. At least one leading term of the Taylor series expansion can be subtracted from the second signal. A filtering operation is applied to the second signal to remove the terms most dominated by pipe effects. Typical filtering operations can be a differential filtering operation or an integral filtering operation.

Abstract: A system and method for statistical design of an ultrasound probe and imager system, and an associated graphical user interface for selecting input parameters to be used in an ultrasound simulation. The process and computer code allow the performance of a probe and imager combination to be specified and jointly optimized in image quality terms. The designs produced optimize both the image quality and other CTQ (critical to quality) parameters, such as the distribution of regulatory power indices and mechanical index. These CTQs indirectly affect image quality through their effect on patient dose. The Transducer Design Advisor incorporates a graphical user interface for facilitating selection of a parameter set to be used in the simulation. The user selects a desired parameter set by navigating across and interacting with a succession of windows. The user specifies various geometric characteristics of the transducer and how the user wants to simulate the imager system.

Abstract: A method of processing data sequences obtained at substantially the same time at locations spatially separated from one another is disclosed. A sequence indicative of a measure of spread of the data sequences or of selected data sequences is determined. A common signal data sequence may also be determined from the (selected) data sequences. The measure of spread of the data sequences is preferably normalized, for example relative to the absolute value of the common signal data sequence. The measure of spread is a measure of the noise to signal ratio in the initially-obtained data sequences. It may be used to control the parameters of other processing steps performed on the data sequences. Alternatively or additionally, the measure of spread may be output, for example for monitoring by an observer. The method can be applied to the processing of seismic data obtained using a single sensor seismic data acquisition system.

Abstract: A method of devising infill strategy in planning a seismic survey, using Monte Carlo methods and value-of-information theory to assess the probable value in well pay-out of a given increase in survey costs to reduce artifact degradation of the quality of the seismic data, where the seismic data will be used to make well-drilling decisions.

Abstract: Various systems and methods of the present invention provide amorphous computing systems and methods for use thereof. In some cases, the amorphous computing systems include one or more amorphous hardware elements that are programmed under control of a computer processor such as, for example, an AMD™ or INTEL™ based personal computer. Portions of an algorithm can then be computed by the individual amorphous hardware elements that can be, as one example, an FPGA or some subset of hardware gates available on an FPGA. Methods can include a variety of computations including Wave Equations and Kirchhoff algorithms. Thus, in particular cases, the amorphous computing systems and methods for using such are applied to seismic imaging problems, as well as other problems.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for determining a parameter of interest of a region of interest of the earth. At least one component of potential fields data is measured at a plurality of locations over a region of interest including a subterranean formation of interest. The potential fields data are selected from magnetic data and gravity data. An initial geophysical model is determined for the region including the subterranean formation of interest. For the model, geophysical tensor data is updated using a forward model at a plurality of locations using a High Order Compact Finite Difference method. A difference between the estimated model value and the measured value of the potential field measurements are determined, and the geophysical model is updated. The model is iteratively updated and compared to the measured data until the differences reach an acceptable level and the parameter of interest has been determined.

Abstract: In accordance with our invention, for two mixture-type probability distribution functions (PDF's), G, H, G ? ( x ) = ? i = 1 N ? ? i ? g i ? ( x ) , ? H ? ( x ) = ? k = 1 K ? ? k ? h k ? ( x ) , where G is a mixture of N component PDF's gi (x), H is a mixture of K component PDF's hk (x), ?i and ?k are corresponding weights that satisfy ? i = 1 N ? ? i = 1 ? ? and ? ? ? k = 1 K ? ? k = 1 ; we define their distance, DM(G, H), as D M ? ( G , H ) = min w = [ ? ik ] ? ? i = 1 N ? ? k = 1 K ? ? ik ? d ? ( g i , h k ) where d(gI, hk is the element distance between component PDF's gi and hk and w satisfie ?ik?0, 1?i?N, 1?k?K; and ? k = 1 K ? ? ik = ? i , 1 ? i ? N , ? i = 1 N ? ? ik = ? k , 1 ? k ? K . The application of this definition of distance to various sets of real world data is demonstrated.

Abstract: The invention relates to Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) systems. It concerns a new methodology to predict (1) the acoustic radiation characteristics of a mechanical structure, under operational conditions, and (2) to identify the sources on a vibrating structure from measured sound pressure levels in the field. The methodology is based on a new approach to evaluate acoustic transfer vectors (ATV), based on the reciprocity principle and combined with interpolation techniques. The same methods are applicable to other vibrating energy forms which can be described by the wave equation such as electromagnetic waves.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for processing seismic data to generate data related to the location of thin beds in the earth's subsurface. Seismic data windows are defined extending over selected portions of a group of spatially related seismic data traces. Frequency spectra of successively selected windows of the seismic data are generated by applying a transform having poles on the unit z-circle, where z is the z-transform, to the data windows; and the frequency spectra are utilized to generate data related to the location of thin beds in the earth's subsurface.

Abstract: A multimedia object retrieval and annotation system integrates an annotation process with object retrieval and relevance feedback processes. The annotation process annotates multimedia objects, such as digital images, with semantically relevant keywords. The annotation process is performed in background, hidden from the user, as the user conducts normal searches. The annotation process is “semi-automatic” in that it utilizes both keyword-based information retrieval and content-based image retrieval techniques to automatically search for multimedia objects, and then encourages users to provide feedback on the retrieved objects. The user identifies objects as either relevant or irrelevant to the query keywords and based on this feedback, the system automatically annotates the objects with semantically relevant keywords and/or updates associations between the keywords and objects. As the retrieval-feedback-annotation cycle is repeated, the annotation coverage and accuracy of future searches continues to improve.

Abstract: Methods and computer readable media are disclosed for ultimately developing a dosimetry plan for a treatment volume irradiated during radiation therapy with a radiation source concentrated internally within a patient or incident from an external beam. The dosimetry plan is available in near “real-time” because of the novel geometric model construction of the treatment volume which in turn allows for rapid calculations to be performed for simulated movements of particles along particle tracks therethrough. The particles are exemplary representations of alpha, beta or gamma emissions emanating from an internal radiation source during various radiotherapies, such as brachytherapy or targeted radionuclide therapy, or they are exemplary representations of high-energy photons, electrons, protons or other ionizing particles incident on the treatment volume from an external source.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for processing a group of spatially related seismic data traces in which seismic data windows extending over selected portions of said group of spatially related seismic data traces are defined, and a transform is applied to the successively selected windows to convert the seismic data within the successively selected widows to the frequency domain thereby generating a frequency spectrum of the seismic data within said successively selected windows. Selected frequency spectra are then combined to generate an average of the selected frequency spectra, thereby generating averaged frequency spectra, ane the averaged frequency spectra are utilized to generate data related to the location of thin beds in the earth's subsurface.

Abstract: The document explains, inter alia, a method in which, for a target system having various functional units, model units are specified to simulate the various functional units. The model units respectively contain compiling functions, so that a method for automatically programming a target system is produced which can easily be changed, serviced and maintained.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for deriving information regarding a subsurface geophysical formation. Well logging data is acquired for the subsurface geophysical formation. Geometrical parameters for the subsurface geophysical formation are determined by inversion processing of the acquired well logging data in a pattern space while formation conductivities for the subsurface geophysical formation are determined by inversion processing of the acquired well logging data in a measurement space. The processing may be iteratively applied until satisfied formation parameters are achieved.

Abstract: A local performance simulation system simulates an ensemble sound pattern. The simulation system includes a signal generation system for simultaneously generating contact recording signals based on vibrations from the ensemble, where the ensemble produces an ensemble sound pattern. A signal processing system channelizes the contact recording signals and generates final instrument signals based on the channelized contact recording signals. The simulation system further includes a reproduction system with dedicated loudspeaker systems for generating audible sound waves based on the final instrument signals, where the sound waves simulate the ensemble sound pattern. Contact recording the vibrations and channelizing the contact recording signals eliminates all reverberation and reflection effects of the recording environment from the contact recording signals.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining, without carrying out a well-velocity survey or making a priori assumption on the velocity of the first medium, the primary static corrections to be applied to sets of seismic traces after seismic prospecting operations in an underground zone. A velocity model allows calculation of the corrections is essentially obtained by performing, for each position of the common midpoint, a continuous and progressive inversion of the first arrival times (time-distance curves), from short offsets to longer offsets, so as to allow going from a sequence of pairs connecting the offsets to the arrival times picked to a sequence of vertical data connecting the depth to the velocity or propagation of the waves.

Abstract: The present invention comprises receiving speech input from two or more speakers, including a first speaker (such as a customer service representative for example); blocking a portion of the speech input that originates from the first speaker; and processing the remaining portion of the speech input with a computer. The blocking and processing are real-time processes, completed during a conversation. One example is a method for de-cluttering speech input for better automatic processing, by removing all but the pertinent words spoken by a customer. Another example is a system for executing methods of the present invention. A third example is a set of instructions on a computer-usable medium, or resident in a computer system, for executing methods of the present invention.

Abstract: A gas detection method includes carrying out respective neutron and density logs, using neutron and density detectors, along a length of well. The density log is corrected for the dimensions and properties of the well casing. The corrected density log is then combined with the neutron log to compensate for regions of artificially high density outside the casing. The compensated density log is continuously calibrated against the neutron log. The dynamically calibrated density and neutron logs are inspected for crossovers that signify the presence of gas in a formation.

Abstract: An opto-electronic image magnifying system. The magnifiying system includes: a light source (38, 39) which illuminates an object to be viewed; a miniaturized opto-electronic magnifier module (MOM), made of a lens (31) and a photodetector array (32), which receives the light from the illuminated object; an electronic circuit (34) which receives the signal from the MOM; a video-monitor (35) which receives the magnified signal from the electronic circuit and displays the image. The opto-electronic image magnifying system allows for small objects or features of small objects to be observed in which historically compound microscopes or specialized optical viewing systems were required to observe the small objects.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for determining direction and relative magnitude of maximum horizontal stress in sedimentary basins within Earth's crust. In particular the method uses seismic reflection data in determining the direction and magnitude of stresses. The method involves identifying from seismic data faults which cut the upper continental crust and uses those faults in conjunction with globally simultaneous compressional structures such as anticline to map the horizontal stresses. The invention has a particular application in the hydrocarbon exploration and production industry and has the advantage of providing the results pre-drill.

Abstract: An apparatus for calculating immunity from a radiated electromagnetic field which makes possible high-speed simulation of the electric current flowing through an electronic apparatus due to a radio wave radiated from an antenna, and a method and a storage medium storing programs used for the same which divides a radio wave radiated from an antenna into a carrier wave, upper sideband wave, and lower sideband wave, and uses the moment method to simulate the effect of the radio wave on an electronic apparatus by calculating the mutual impedance for one frequency component out of the above three frequency components and using that mutual impedance to solve the simultaneous equations under the moment method so as to calculate the electric current flowing through the electronic apparatus.

Abstract: Propagation of sound in an ocean is accurately predicted at all ranges from a source by a computational method that uses a newly created Decomposition Method to make the predictions at long range from the source. The predictions are done in a limited region of the ocean without the need to predict propagation of sound outside the region. The vertical boundaries of the region are parallel to a given direction of propagation of sound from the source. These boundaries are transparent, and sound penetrates them without reflection. The Decomposition Method is based on a special splitting of the sound field into primary and secondary components. The primary components are related to the sound field that would exist in the region if the vertical boundaries of the region were acoustically hard. They are found by integrating a system of coupled parabolic equations that are derived from the coupled mode equations for the sound field in the region.

Abstract: A method for decimating seismic traces in an acquisition of 3D data, recording, for each trace, the corresponding source-receiver couple coordinates (Sa1, Ra1), positioning on a decimation grid (D), divided into cells, the source-receiver couple that corresponds to each trace, regrouping all source-receiver couples into iso-path trace collections, where each collection regroups the traces whose seismic paths are identical or similar, organizing the traces in each iso-path collection, and selecting the first trace in each iso-path collection.

Abstract: A simulation device and method to simulate the electric current flowing in electronic devices using the moment method, and to execute accurate simulation processing when the electronic device has an amplifier. An allocating device allocates defining dipoles to the input terminal and output terminal of an amplifier of an electronic device for the purpose of deriving the electric current flowing in the element. A creating device creates a simultaneous equation of the moment method having a form such that the amplifier input impedance is inserted into the input terminal dipole allocated by the allocating device, and the amplifier output impedance, or its inverse, and a dependent energy source responding to the amplification characteristics of the amplifier are inserted into the output terminal dipole allocated by the allocating device. A solving device solves the simultaneous equation of the moment method created by creating device.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for processing seismic data comprising acquiring seismic data using a sweep sequence including a plurality of cascaded sweep segments. The seismic data include a plurality of data segments and a listen time. The listen is combined with an initial data segment. The seismic data segments are phase shifted to a phase of a target data segment to be denoised (i.e. removal of ambient, harmonic and coherent noise). A difference between the target data segment and the remaining data segments is determined. If the determined difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, data in the target data segment is replaced with data derived from the remaining data segments. The data segments may be stacked to form a new target data segment. The listen time is extracted from the initial data segment.

Abstract: A method of determining RF coverage area in a point-to-multi-point RF transmission system and creating model maps showing serviceable business addresses within a given region. The method includes selecting a standard design signal strength level required to provide suitable service; obtaining field measurements of received signal strength from base stations at various points in the region under investigation; creating a model map of received signal strength having a signal strength level greater than the system standard signal strength level and excluding areas whose field strength measurements do not indicate suitable service; and creating a model map having a signal strength level smaller than the system standard signal strength level. The method is capable of providing more than 90% accuracy, and prevents needless dispatching of installation crews to a customer premise that is outside the effective RF coverage of the system.

Abstract: Methods, and models therefrom, to construct a 3-D polygonal model of a 3-D irregular volume within a GIS platform that include introducing data relating to the volume; estimating at least one 2-D polygon representing the volume's lateral boundary, estimating irregular surfaces representing the volume's top and bottom; clipping the estimated surfaces with the estimated 2-D polygon; constructing multipatches of a network of triangular panels or a grid of regularly spaced polylineZs; and joining the attributes to the model.

Abstract: A method for correcting seismic data for periodic distortion introduced by acquisition parameters by filtering modified unitary transform data. A vertical transform is applied to seismic data to obtain frequency-space seismic data. These data are decomposed into an amplitude component and a phase response component. The phase response component is saved for the inverse process. A horizontal transform is applied to the amplitude component of the F-X data to obtain modified transform data. Because this transformation is performed in the X direction, it is here also referred to as the horizontal forward Fourier transformation. A K filter based on the period of the energy to be suppressed or eliminated is applied to this F-K data. The K filter may be, for example, a notch filter or any suitable filter. The data are then inverted to obtain T-X data with distortion suppressed or eliminate.

Abstract: The present invention presents techniques for considering whether the effects of cross-talk coupling and other noise exceed the noise tolerance of a circuit. One aspect of the present invention uses a set of parameters to represent this noise. An exemplary embodiment uses a triangle or trapezoidal approximation to a glitch based on a set of parameters: the peak voltage value, the width, the leading edge slope and the trailing edge slope. These values are then used as the input of a library to look up the corresponding noise tolerance parameter set values. In a variation, a set of formulae can provide the noise tolerance parameter set values. In an exemplary embodiment, the noise tolerance parameter set is taken to include the minimum peak value for the noise to be possibly harmful and the minimum width value for the noise to be possibly harmful.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for migrating seismic data. The method includes selecting an image point and generating an initial model of seismic velocity with respect to time. The initial model includes substantially horizontal layers each having a selected interval velocity and a selected thickness. A travel time of seismic energy is determined from at least one seismic energy source position to at least one seismic receiver position, wherein the seismic energy is reflected from the image point. A ray path is estimated from the at least one seismic source position to the image point and from the image point to the at least one seismic receiver position. The ray path is based on the source position, the receiver position and the velocity model at the image location. A two-way travel time of seismic energy through formations to the image point is then determined.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for simulating, for example on a desktop computer, a specific view of a hologram. A preferred embodiment of this invention suitably enables, in medical imaging, the manipulation of intensity transformations (windowing and leveling), regions (cropping) and views (axial, coronal and lateral) and the display of the resulting simulations in substantially real time.

Abstract: A method for forming a module (hydrodynamic or thermodynamic for example) intended for real-time simulation of the flow mode, at any point of a pipe, of a multiphase fluid stream comprising at least a liquid phase and at least a gas phase. The method comprises using a modelling system based on non-linear neural networks each having inputs for structure parameters and physical quantities, outputs where quantities necessary for estimation of the flow mode are available, and at least one intermediate layer. The neural networks are determined iteratively to adjust to the values of a learning base with predetermined tables connecting various values obtained for the output data to the corresponding values of the input data. A learning base suited to the imposed operating conditions is used and optimized neural networks best adjusted to the imposed operating conditions are generated.

Abstract: A trellis filtering of a digital signal is disclosed. A method is provided of analysis filtering of an original digital signal including original samples representing physical quantities. Original samples of the digital signal are transformed by successive calculation steps into high and low frequency output samples. Any sample calculated at a given step is calculated by a predetermined function of original samples, and/or previously calculated samples, the samples being ordered in increasing rank. The signal is processed by successive series of samples, the calculations made on any series not taking into account the samples in a following series, and in that the any series terminates in a low-frequency sample.

Abstract: A system and method for ranking hyperlinked documents, such as web pages, is provided wherein a stochastic backoff process is used to rank those hyperlinked documents. In more detail, the stochastic process is derived from a random walk through the pages of the web. First, a directed graph may be generated from a crawl wherein the nodes are documents in the crawl and a directed edge from one node A to another node B indicates the presence of a hyperlink from the corresponding document docA to document docB. Using a stochastic backoff process on this graph, a weight between 0 and 1 is assigned to each document so that the documents may be ranked according to the weights.

Abstract: A predicted corrosion amount of a painted or unpainted atmospheric corrosion resistant steel is calculated by using extrinsic corrosion information including weather observation data, an amount of airborne salt, and an amount of sulfur oxide in a planned location for use where the atmospheric corrosion resistant steel is to be used, and intrinsic corrosion information on components of the atmospheric corrosion resistant steel. The weather observation data on this occasion preferably includes the annual wetness time, annual mean wind speed, and annual mean temperature. Moreover, it is preferable to calculate a corrosivity index, estimate a first-year corrosion amount of the atmospheric corrosion resistant steel and a rust stabilization index from the corrosivity index, and calculate a corrosion amount accumulated over time.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention includes a method for estimating seismic signal propagation raypaths from seismic source locations through a subsurface formation to seismic receiver locations. Raypaths are determined which minimize the value of an expression which is a function of travel time and distance between a source location and a receiver location. The value of the expression depends on the value of a parameter which balances the weighting of travel time and distance in the expression.

Abstract: A master scheduler which interfaces with several heterogenous simulators simulating individual modules of an integrated circuit. The master scheduler receives data indicating the modules assigned to each simulator and the interconnections of the modules. The master scheduler forwards output signals generated by one simulator to any other simulators as specified by the interconnection data. As a result, functional verification of an entire integrated circuit can be performed even if only portions can be simulated by corresponding simulators.

Abstract: Methods for evaluating drill pattern parameters such as burden, spacing, borehole diameter, etc., at a blast site are disclosed. One method involves accumulating the burden contributed by successive layers of rock and matching the accumulated rock burden to a target value for a borehole having a length related to the average height of the layers. Another method relates to varying drill pattern parameters and characteristics to match blast design constraints, including the substitution of one explosive material for another by the proper balance of materials and/or output energies to the associated rock burden. Analysis of deviations from target rock burdens and corrective measures are disclosed, as well as cost optimization methods. The various methods can be practiced using an appropriately programmed general purpose computer.