Peter Williams

Bio: Peter Williams is an academic researcher from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The author has contributed to research in topics: Ion & Sputtering. The author has an hindex of 32, co-authored 68 publications receiving 4174 citations. Previous affiliations of Peter Williams include IBM & University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.

Foundations for smarter cities

Abstract: This paper describes the information technology (IT) foundation and principles for Smarter Cities™. Smarter Cities are urban areas that exploit operational data, such as that arising from traffic congestion, power consumption statistics, and public safety events, to optimize the operation of city services. The foundational concepts are instrumented, interconnected, and intelligent. Instrumented refers to sources of near-real-time real-world data from both physical and virtual sensors. Interconnected means the integration of those data into an enterprise computing platform and the communication of such information among the various city services. Intelligent refers to the inclusion of complex analytics, modeling, optimization, and visualization in the operational business processes to make better operational decisions. This approach enables the adaptation of city services to the behavior of the inhabitants, which permits the optimal use of the available physical infrastructure and resources, for example, in sensing and controlling consumption of energy and water, managing waste processing and transportation systems, and applying optimization to achieve new efficiencies among these resources. Additional roles exist in intelligent interaction between the city and its inhabitants and further contribute to operational efficiency while maintaining or enhancing quality of life.

Visibility-ordering meshed polyhedra

Abstract: A visibility-ordering of a set of objects from some viewpoint is an ordering such that if object a obstructs object b, then b precedes a in the ordering. An algorithm is presented that generates a visibility-ordering of an acyclic convex set of meshed convex polyhedra. This algorithm takes time linear in the size of the mesh. Modifications to this algorithm and/or preprocessing techniques are described that permit nonconvex cells nonconvex meshes (meshes with cavities and/or voids), meshes with cycles, and sets of disconnected meshes to be ordered. Visibility-ordering of polyhedra is applicable to scientific visualization, particularly direct volume rendering. It is shown how the ordering algorithms can be used for domain decomposition of finite element meshes for parallel processing, and how the data structures used by these algorithms can be used to solve the spatial point location problem. The effects of cyclically obstructing polyhedra are discussed and methods for their elimination are described, including the use of the Delaunay triangulation. Methods for converting nonconvex meshes into convex meshes are described.

Mechanism of the SIMS matrix effect

Abstract: Quantization of ion microprobe mass spectrometric analyses has been complicated by the variation in the ion yield of an element contained in different matrices. This work demonstrates that, for O− and Cs+ bombardment, these ion‐yield variations are solely attributable to variations in the matrix sputtering yield. It is argued that the matrix sputtering yield determines the near‐surface concentration of the ion‐yield‐enhancing species O and Cs.

Handbook of Chemistry and Physics

Abstract: There is a special reason for reviewing this book at this time: it is the 50th edition of a compendium that is known and used frequently in most chemical and physical laboratories in many parts of the world. Surely, a publication that has been published for 56 years, withstanding the vagaries of science in this century, must have had something to offer. There is another reason: while the book is a standard fixture in most chemical and physical laboratories, including those in medical centers, it is not as frequently seen in the laboratories of physician's offices (those either in solo or group practice). I believe that the Handbook can be useful in those laboratories. One of the reasons, among others, is that the various basic items of information it offers may be helpful in new tests, either physical or chemical, which are continuously being published. The basic information may relate

Smart Cities: Definitions, Dimensions, Performance, and Initiatives

Abstract: As the term “smart city” gains wider and wider currency, there is still confusion about what a smart city is, especially since several similar terms are often used interchangeably. This paper aims to clarify the meaning of the word “smart” in the context of cities through an approach based on an in-depth literature review of relevant studies as well as official documents of international institutions. It also identifies the main dimensions and elements characterizing a smart city. The different metrics of urban smartness are reviewed to show the need for a shared definition of what constitutes a smart city, what are its features, and how it performs in comparison to traditional cities. Furthermore, performance measures and initiatives in a few smart cities are identified.

Understanding Smart Cities: An Integrative Framework

Abstract: Making a city "smart" is emerging as a strategy to mitigate the problems generated by the urban population growth and rapid urbanization. Yet little academic research has sparingly discussed the phenomenon. To close the gap in the literature about smart cities and in response to the increasing use of the concept, this paper proposes a framework to understand the concept of smart cities. Based on the exploration of a wide and extensive array of literature from various disciplinary areas we identify eight critical factors of smart city initiatives: management and organization, technology, governance, policy context, people and communities, economy, built infrastructure, and natural environment. These factors form the basis of an integrative framework that can be used to examine how local governments are envisioning smart city initiatives. The framework suggests directions and agendas for smart city research and outlines practical implications for government professionals.

Conceptualizing smart city with dimensions of technology, people, and institutions

Abstract: This conceptual paper discusses how we can consider a particular city as a smart one, drawing on recent practices to make cities smart. A set of the common multidimensional components underlying the smart city concept and the core factors for a successful smart city initiative is identified by exploring current working definitions of smart city and a diversity of various conceptual relatives similar to smart city. The paper offers strategic principles aligning to the three main dimensions (technology, people, and institutions) of smart city: integration of infrastructures and technology-mediated services, social learning for strengthening human infrastructure, and governance for institutional improvement and citizen engagement.