Li Xu

Bio: Li Xu is an academic researcher from Old Dominion University. The author has contributed to research in topics: GIS and public health & Public health informatics. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 3 publications receiving 1191 citations.

The Internet of Things--A survey of topics and trends

Abstract: The Internet of Things is a paradigm where everyday objects can be equipped with identifying, sensing, networking and processing capabilities that will allow them to communicate with one another and with other devices and services over the Internet to accomplish some objective. Ultimately, IoT devices will be ubiquitous, context-aware and will enable ambient intelligence. This article reports on the current state of research on the Internet of Things by examining the literature, identifying current trends, describing challenges that threaten IoT diffusion, presenting open research questions and future directions and compiling a comprehensive reference list to assist researchers.

Creation of environmental health information system for public health service: A pilot study

Abstract: Despite more than a decade of research on medical information systems, deficiencies exist in our capability of establishing an effective environmental health information infrastructure. In this research, we present a pilot study on creating a feasible environmental health information infrastructure. The newly-developed environmental health information system is a web-based platform that integrates databases, decision-making tools, geographic information systems for supporting public health service and policy making. The study, which is a part of a comprehensive effort known as Environmental Public Health Tracking proposed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, opens the door for future research on a large scale nation-wide healthcare information infrastructure.

The development and application of e-Geoscience in China

Abstract: In the era of big data, scientific research is entering a key stage of scientific development under the guidance of a new paradigm, "e-Science", and the core characteristics of which are collaboration and sharing. In the past decade, e-Science has rapidly developed around the world. There are now e-Science strategic plans, projects and extensive research activities on the national and international scales that encompass particle physics, astronomy, earth science, ecology, marine science, medicine, life sciences and other disciplines. However, there is no uniform and clear understanding of the essence, characteristics, infrastructure and application of e-Geoscience. This paper first discusses and analyzes the development of e-Science in a global context and then explores its development in China. Next, the development of e-Geoscience is discussed, particularly regarding the details of its design and implementation in China, including a conceptual model, a mode of application, a logical hierarchy, and functional and technical systems. Finally, the paper introduces a typical application, called the Northeast Asia Joint Scientific Exploration and Cooperative Research Platform (NAJSECRP), which is operating in research institutions in China, Russia and Mongolia. This platform can not only provide geodata and bibliographies and promote resource sharing but also provides a collaborative research platform for scientific exploration. In practice, this platform has been shown to save costs and improve the efficiency of transnational, interdisciplinary scientific exploration and cooperative research.

Industry 4.0: state of the art and future trends

Abstract: Rapid advances in industrialisation and informatisation methods have spurred tremendous progress in developing the next generation of manufacturing technology. Today, we are on the cusp of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In 2013, amongst one of 10 ‘Future Projects’ identified by the German government as part of its High-Tech Strategy 2020 Action Plan, the Industry 4.0 project is considered to be a major endeavour for Germany to establish itself as a leader of integrated industry. In 2014, China’s State Council unveiled their ten-year national plan, Made-in-China 2025, which was designed to transform China from the world’s workshop into a world manufacturing power. Made-in-China 2025 is an initiative to comprehensively upgrade China’s industry including the manufacturing sector. In Industry 4.0 and Made-in-China 2025, many applications require a combination of recently emerging new technologies, which is giving rise to the emergence of Industry 4.0. Such technologies originate from different disciplines ...

A Survey of Indoor Localization Systems and Technologies

Abstract: Indoor localization has recently witnessed an increase in interest, due to the potential wide range of services it can provide by leveraging Internet of Things (IoT), and ubiquitous connectivity. Different techniques, wireless technologies and mechanisms have been proposed in the literature to provide indoor localization services in order to improve the services provided to the users. However, there is a lack of an up-to-date survey paper that incorporates some of the recently proposed accurate and reliable localization systems. In this paper, we aim to provide a detailed survey of different indoor localization techniques, such as angle of arrival (AoA), time of flight (ToF), return time of flight (RTOF), and received signal strength (RSS); based on technologies, such as WiFi, radio frequency identification device (RFID), ultra wideband (UWB), Bluetooth, and systems that have been proposed in the literature. This paper primarily discusses localization and positioning of human users and their devices. We highlight the strengths of the existing systems proposed in the literature. In contrast with the existing surveys, we also evaluate different systems from the perspective of energy efficiency, availability, cost, reception range, latency, scalability, and tracking accuracy. Rather than comparing the technologies or techniques, we compare the localization systems and summarize their working principle. We also discuss remaining challenges to accurate indoor localization.

Internet of Things: Architectures, Protocols, and Applications

Abstract: The Internet of Things (IoT) is defined as a paradigm in which objects equipped with sensors, actuators, and processors communicate with each other to serve a meaningful purpose. In this paper, we survey state-of-the-art methods, protocols, and applications in this new emerging area. This survey paper proposes a novel taxonomy for IoT technologies, highlights some of the most important technologies, and profiles some applications that have the potential to make a striking difference in human life, especially for the differently abled and the elderly. As compared to similar survey papers in the area, this paper is far more comprehensive in its coverage and exhaustively covers most major technologies spanning from sensors to applications.

Perspectives for electrochemical capacitors and related devices.

Abstract: Electrochemical capacitors can store electrical energy harvested from intermittent sources and deliver energy quickly, but their energy density must be increased if they are to efficiently power flexible and wearable electronics, as well as larger equipment. This Review summarizes progress in the field of materials for electrochemical capacitors over the past decade as well as outlines key perspectives for future research. We describe electrical double-layer capacitors based on high-surface-area carbons, pseudocapacitive materials such as oxides and the two-dimensional inorganic compounds known as MXenes, and emerging microdevices for the Internet of Things. We show that new nanostructured electrode materials and matching electrolytes are required to maximize the amount of energy and speed of delivery, and different manufacturing methods will be needed to meet the requirements of the future generation of electronic devices. Scientifically justified metrics for testing, comparison and optimization of various kinds of electrochemical capacitors are provided and explained.