Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology

About: Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Nawabshah, Pakistan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Compressive strength & Routing protocol. The organization has 356 authors who have published 489 publications receiving 4425 citations.

A comprehensive overview on signal processing and artificial intelligence techniques applications in classification of power quality disturbances

Abstract: The increasing trend towards renewable energy sources requires higher power quality (PQ) at the generation, transmission and distribution systems. The PQ disturbances are produced due to the nonlinear loads, power electronic converters, system faults and switching events. The utilities and consumers of electric power are expected to acquire ideal voltage and current waveforms at rated power frequency. The development of new techniques for the automatic classification of PQ events is at present a major concern. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review on the applications of digital signal processing, artificial intelligence and optimization techniques in the classification of PQ disturbances. Various signal processing techniques used for the feature extraction such as Fourier transform, wavelet transform, S-transform, Hilbert transform, Gabor transform and their hybrids have been reviewed. The artificial intelligent techniques used for the pattern recognition such as artificial neural network, fuzzy logic, support vector machine are reviewed in detail. The optimization techniques used for the optimal feature selection such as genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization and ant colony optimization are also reviewed. A comparison of various classification systems is presented in tabular form which highlights the important techniques used in the field of PQ disturbance monitoring. The comparison of research works carried out on the classification of PQ disturbances points out that many researchers have focussed on the feature extraction and classification techniques. Only few authors have used the feature selection techniques for selecting the best suitable features. This review may be considered a valuable source for researchers as a reference point to explore the opportunities for further improvement in the field of PQ classification.

The Indus basin in the framework of current and future water resources management

Abstract: . The Indus basin is one of the regions in the world that is faced with major challenges for its water sector, due to population growth, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, environmental degradation, unregulated utilization of the resources, inefficient water use and poverty, all aggravated by climate change. The Indus Basin is shared by 4 countries – Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and China. With a current population of 237 million people which is projected to increase to 319 million in 2025 and 383 million in 2050, already today water resources are abstracted almost entirely (more than 95% for irrigation). Climate change will result in increased water availability in the short term. However in the long term water availability will decrease. Some current aspects in the basin need to be re-evaluated. During the past decades water abstractions – and especially groundwater extractions – have augmented continuously to support a rice-wheat system where rice is grown during the kharif (wet, summer) season (as well as sugar cane, cotton, maize and other crops) and wheat during the rabi (dry, winter) season. However, the sustainability of this system in its current form is questionable. Additional water for domestic and industrial purposes is required for the future and should be made available by a reduction in irrigation requirements. This paper gives a comprehensive listing and description of available options for current and future sustainable water resources management (WRM) within the basin. Sustainable WRM practices include both water supply management and water demand management options. Water supply management options include: (1) reservoir management as the basin is characterised by a strong seasonal behaviour in water availability (monsoon and meltwater) and water demands; (2) water quality conservation and investment in wastewater infrastructure; (3) the use of alternative water resources like the recycling of wastewater and desalination; (4) land use planning and soil conservation as well as flood management, with a focus on the reduction of erosion and resulting sedimentation as well as the restoration of ecosystem services like wetlands and natural floodplains. Water demand management options include: (1) the management of conjunctive use of surface and groundwater; as well as (2) the rehabilitation and modernization of existing infrastructure. Other demand management options are: (3) the increase of water productivity for agriculture; (4) crop planning and diversification including the critical assessment of agricultural export, especially (basmati) rice; (5) economic instruments and (6) changing food demand patterns and limiting post-harvest losses.