Smart CitiesPub Date : 2023-12-22DOI: 10.3390/smartcities7010003
Feras Alasali, Awni Itradat, Salah Abu Ghalyon, Mohammad Abudayyeh, N. El‐Naily, A. Hayajneh, Anas AlMajali
{"title":"Smart Grid Resilience for Grid-Connected PV and Protection Systems under Cyber Threats","authors":"Feras Alasali, Awni Itradat, Salah Abu Ghalyon, Mohammad Abudayyeh, N. El‐Naily, A. Hayajneh, Anas AlMajali","doi":"10.3390/smartcities7010003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities7010003","url":null,"abstract":"In recent years, the integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and communication networks has presented significant challenges to power system control and protection, primarily as a result of the emergence of smart grids and cyber threats. As the use of grid-connected solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems continues to increase with the use of intelligent PV inverters, the susceptibility of these systems to cyber attacks and their potential impact on grid stability emerges as a critical concern based on the inverter control models. This study explores the cyber-threat consequences of selectively targeting the components of PV systems, with a special focus on the inverter and Overcurrent Protection Relay (OCR). This research also evaluates the interconnectedness between these two components under different cyber-attack scenarios. A three-phase radial Electromagnetic Transients Program (EMTP) is employed for grid modeling and transient analysis under different cyber attacks. The findings of our analysis highlight the complex relationship between vulnerabilities in inverters and relays, emphasizing the consequential consequences of affecting one of the components on the other. In addition, this work aims to evaluate the impact of cyber attacks on the overall performance and stability of grid-connected PV systems. For example, in the attack on the PV inverters, the OCR failed to identify and eliminate the fault during a pulse signal attack with a short duration of 0.1 s. This resulted in considerable harmonic distortion and substantial power losses as a result of the protection system’s failure to recognize and respond to the irregular attack signal. Our study provides significant contributions to the understanding of cybersecurity in grid-connected solar PV systems. It highlights the importance of implementing improved protective measures and resilience techniques in response to the changing energy environment towards smart grids.","PeriodicalId":34482,"journal":{"name":"Smart Cities","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138947709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Smart CitiesPub Date : 2023-12-22DOI: 10.3390/smartcities7010002
Alfredo Medina-Garcia, Jonathan Duarte-Jasso, J. Cardenas-Cornejo, Yair A. Andrade-Ambriz, Marco-Antonio Garcia-Montoya, M. Ibarra-Manzano, Dora Almanza-Ojeda
{"title":"Vision-Based Object Localization and Classification for Electric Vehicle Driving Assistance","authors":"Alfredo Medina-Garcia, Jonathan Duarte-Jasso, J. Cardenas-Cornejo, Yair A. Andrade-Ambriz, Marco-Antonio Garcia-Montoya, M. Ibarra-Manzano, Dora Almanza-Ojeda","doi":"10.3390/smartcities7010002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities7010002","url":null,"abstract":"The continuous advances in intelligent systems and cutting-edge technology have greatly influenced the development of intelligent vehicles. Recently, integrating multiple sensors in cars has improved and spread the advanced drive-assistance systems (ADAS) solutions for achieving the goal of total autonomy. Despite current self-driving approaches and systems, autonomous driving is still an open research issue that must guarantee the safety and reliability of drivers. This work employs images from two cameras and Global Positioning System (GPS) data to propose a 3D vision-based object localization and classification method for assisting a car during driving. The experimental platform is a prototype of a two-sitter electric vehicle designed and assembled for navigating the campus under controlled mobility conditions. Simultaneously, color and depth images from the primary camera are combined to extract 2D features, which are reprojected into 3D space. Road detection and depth features isolate point clouds representing the objects to construct the occupancy map of the environment. A convolutional neural network was trained to classify typical urban objects in the color images. Experimental tests validate car and object pose in the occupancy map for different scenarios, reinforcing the car position visually estimated with GPS measurements.","PeriodicalId":34482,"journal":{"name":"Smart Cities","volume":"2 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138944927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Smart CitiesPub Date : 2023-12-18DOI: 10.3390/smartcities6060153
Wenda Li, Tan Yigitcanlar, Alireza Nili, Will Browne
{"title":"Tech Giants’ Responsible Innovation and Technology Strategy: An International Policy Review","authors":"Wenda Li, Tan Yigitcanlar, Alireza Nili, Will Browne","doi":"10.3390/smartcities6060153","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities6060153","url":null,"abstract":"As digital technology continues to evolve rapidly and get integrated into various aspects of our cities and societies, the alignment of technological advancements with societal values becomes paramount. The evolving socio-technical landscape has prompted an increased focus on responsible innovation and technology (RIT) among technology companies, driven by mounting public scrutiny, regulatory pressure, and concerns about reputation and long-term sustainability. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on responsible practices by conducting a policy review that delves into insights from the most influential high-tech companies’—so-called tech giants’—RIT guidance. The findings disclose that (a) leading high-tech companies have started to focus on RIT; (b) the main RIT policy focus of the leading high-tech companies is artificial intelligence; (c) trustworthiness and acceptability of technology are the most common policy areas; (d) affordability related to technology outcomes and adoption is almost absent from the policy; and (e) sustainability considerations are rarely part of the RIT policy, but are included in annual corporate reporting. Additionally, this paper proposes a RIT assessment framework that integrates views from the policy community, academia, and the industry and can be used for evaluating how well high-tech companies adhere to RIT practices. The knowledge assembled in this study is instrumental in advancing RIT practices, ultimately contributing to technology-driven cities and societies that prioritise human and social well-being.","PeriodicalId":34482,"journal":{"name":"Smart Cities","volume":" 34","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138963408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Smart CitiesPub Date : 2023-12-11DOI: 10.3390/smartcities6060152
A. A. Mohamed, Kirn Zafar, Dhavalkumar Vaidya, Lizzette Salmeron, Ondrea Kanwhen, Yusef Esa, Mohamed K. Kamaludeen
{"title":"Grid Impact of Wastewater Resource Recovery Facilities-Based Community Microgrids","authors":"A. A. Mohamed, Kirn Zafar, Dhavalkumar Vaidya, Lizzette Salmeron, Ondrea Kanwhen, Yusef Esa, Mohamed K. Kamaludeen","doi":"10.3390/smartcities6060152","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities6060152","url":null,"abstract":"The overarching goal of this paper is to explore innovative ways to adapt existing urban infrastructure to achieve a greener and more resilient city, specifically on synergies between the power grid, the wastewater treatment system, and community development in low-lying coastal areas. This study addresses the technical feasibility, benefits, and barriers of using wastewater resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) as community-scale microgrids. These microgrids will act as central resilience and community development hubs, enabling the adoption of renewable energy and the provision of ongoing services under emergency conditions. Load flow modeling and analysis were carried out using real network data for a case study in New York City (NYC). The results validate the hypothesis that distributed energy resources (DERs) at WRRFs can play a role in improving grid operation and resiliency.","PeriodicalId":34482,"journal":{"name":"Smart Cities","volume":"32 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138980677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Smart CitiesPub Date : 2023-12-05DOI: 10.3390/smartcities6060151
Shiu-Shin Lin, Kai-Yang Zhu, Xian-Hao Zhang, Yi-Chuan Liu, Chen-Yu Wang
{"title":"Development of a Microservice-Based Storm Sewer Simulation System with IoT Devices for Early Warning in Urban Areas","authors":"Shiu-Shin Lin, Kai-Yang Zhu, Xian-Hao Zhang, Yi-Chuan Liu, Chen-Yu Wang","doi":"10.3390/smartcities6060151","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities6060151","url":null,"abstract":"This study proposes an integrated approach to developing a Microservice, Cloud Computing, and Software as a Service (SaaS)-based Real-Time Storm Sewer Simulation System (MBSS). The MBSS combined the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) microservice running on the EC2 Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud platform and an Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring device to prevent disasters in smart cities. The Python language and Docker container were used to develop the MBSS and Web API of the SWMM microservice. The IoT comprised a pressure water level meter, an Arduino, and a Raspberry Pi. After laboratory channel testing, the simulated and IoT-monitored water levels under different flow rates indicate that the simulated water level in MBSS was such as that monitored by the IoT. These findings suggest that MBSS is feasible and can be further used as a reference for smart urban early warning systems. The MBSS can be applied in on-site stormwater sewers during heavy rain, with the goal of issuing early warnings and reducing disaster damage. The use case can be the process by which the SWMM model parameters will be optimized based on the water level data from IoT monitoring devices in stormwater sewer systems. The predicted rainfall will then be used by the SWMM microservices of MBSS to simulate the water levels at all manholes. The status of the water levels will finally be applied to early warning.","PeriodicalId":34482,"journal":{"name":"Smart Cities","volume":"73 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138598297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Smart CitiesPub Date : 2023-12-04DOI: 10.3390/smartcities6060150
Quan Zhang, W. Su
{"title":"Real-Time Recognition and Localization of Apples for Robotic Picking Based on Structural Light and Deep Learning","authors":"Quan Zhang, W. Su","doi":"10.3390/smartcities6060150","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities6060150","url":null,"abstract":"The apple is a delicious fruit with high nutritional value that is widely grown around the world. Apples are traditionally picked by hand, which is very inefficient. The development of advanced fruit-picking robots has great potential to replace manual labor. A major prerequisite for a robot to successfully pick fruits the accurate identification and positioning of the target fruit. The active laser vision systems based on structured algorithms can achieve higher recognition rates by quickly capturing the three-dimensional information of objects. This study proposes to combine the laser active vision system with the YOLOv5 neural network model to recognize and locate apples on trees. The method obtained accurate two-dimensional pixel coordinates, which, when combined with the active laser vision system, can be converted into three-dimensional world coordinates for apple recognition and positioning. On this basis, we built a picking robot platform equipped with this visual recognition system, and carried out a robot picking experiment. The experimental findings showcase the efficacy of the neural network recognition algorithm proposed in this study, which achieves a precision rate of 94%, an average precision mAP% of 92.86%, and a spatial localization accuracy of approximately 4 mm for the visual system. The implementation of this control method in simulated harvesting operations shows the promise of more precise and successful fruit positioning. In summary, the integration of the YOLOv5 neural network model with an active laser vision system presents a novel and effective approach for the accurate identification and positioning of apples. The achieved precision and spatial accuracy indicate the potential for enhanced fruit-harvesting operations, marking a significant step towards the automation of fruit-picking processes.","PeriodicalId":34482,"journal":{"name":"Smart Cities","volume":"27 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138604215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Smart CitiesPub Date : 2023-10-26DOI: 10.3390/smartcities6060136
Usman Ependi, Adian Fatchur Rochim, Adi Wibowo
{"title":"An Assessment Model for Sustainable Cities Using Crowdsourced Data Based on General System Theory: A Design Science Methodology Approach","authors":"Usman Ependi, Adian Fatchur Rochim, Adi Wibowo","doi":"10.3390/smartcities6060136","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities6060136","url":null,"abstract":"In the quest to understand urban ecosystems, traditional evaluation techniques often fall short due to incompatible data sources and the absence of comprehensive, real-time data. However, with the recent surge in the availability of crowdsourced data, a dynamic view of urban systems has emerged. Recognizing the value of these data, this study illustrates how these data can bridge gaps in understanding urban interactions. Furthermore, the role of urban planners is crucial in harnessing these data effectively, ensuring that derived insights align with the practical needs of urban development. Employing the Design Science Methodology, the research study presents an assessment model grounded in the principles of the city ecosystem, drawing from the General System Theory for Smart Cities. The model is structured across three dimensions and incorporates twelve indicators. By leveraging crowdsourced data, the study offers invaluable insights for urban planners, researchers, and other professionals. This comprehensive approach holds the potential to revolutionize city sustainability assessments, deepening the grasp of intricate urban ecosystems and paving the way for more resilient future cities.","PeriodicalId":34482,"journal":{"name":"Smart Cities","volume":"90 2","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136381998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Smart CitiesPub Date : 2023-10-23DOI: 10.3390/smartcities6050135
Ziqiang Xu, Ahmad Salehi Shahraki, Carsten Rudolph
{"title":"Blockchain-Based Malicious Behaviour Management Scheme for Smart Grids","authors":"Ziqiang Xu, Ahmad Salehi Shahraki, Carsten Rudolph","doi":"10.3390/smartcities6050135","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities6050135","url":null,"abstract":"The smart grid optimises energy transmission efficiency and provides practical solutions for energy saving and life convenience. Along with a decentralised, transparent and fair trading model, the smart grid attracts many users to participate. In recent years, many researchers have contributed to the development of smart grids in terms of network and information security so that the security, reliability and stability of smart grid systems can be guaranteed. However, our investigation reveals various malicious behaviours during smart grid transactions and operations, such as electricity theft, erroneous data injection, and distributed denial of service (DDoS). These malicious behaviours threaten the interests of honest suppliers and consumers. While the existing literature has employed machine learning and other methods to detect and defend against malicious behaviour, these defence mechanisms do not impose any penalties on the attackers. This paper proposes a management scheme that can handle different types of malicious behaviour in the smart grid. The scheme uses a consortium blockchain combined with the best–worst multi-criteria decision method (BWM) to accurately quantify and manage malicious behaviour. Smart contracts are used to implement a penalty mechanism that applies appropriate penalties to different malicious users. Through a detailed description of the proposed algorithm, logic model and data structure, we show the principles and workflow of this scheme for dealing with malicious behaviour. We analysed the system’s security attributes and tested the system’s performance. The results indicate that the system meets the security attributes of confidentiality and integrity. The performance results are similar to the benchmark results, demonstrating the feasibility and stability of the system.","PeriodicalId":34482,"journal":{"name":"Smart Cities","volume":"R-19 3","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135366442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Smart CitiesPub Date : 2023-10-23DOI: 10.3390/smartcities6050134
Danesh Shokri, Christian Larouche, Saeid Homayouni
{"title":"A Comparative Analysis of Multi-Label Deep Learning Classifiers for Real-Time Vehicle Detection to Support Intelligent Transportation Systems","authors":"Danesh Shokri, Christian Larouche, Saeid Homayouni","doi":"10.3390/smartcities6050134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities6050134","url":null,"abstract":"An Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) is a vital component of smart cities due to the growing number of vehicles year after year. In the last decade, vehicle detection, as a primary component of ITS, has attracted scientific attention because by knowing vehicle information (i.e., type, size, numbers, location speed, etc.), the ITS parameters can be acquired. This has led to developing and deploying numerous deep learning algorithms for vehicle detection. Single Shot Detector (SSD), Region Convolutional Neural Network (RCNN), and You Only Look Once (YOLO) are three popular deep structures for object detection, including vehicles. This study evaluated these methodologies on nine fully challenging datasets to see their performance in diverse environments. Generally, YOLO versions had the best performance in detecting and localizing vehicles compared to SSD and RCNN. Between YOLO versions (YOLOv8, v7, v6, and v5), YOLOv7 has shown better detection and classification (car, truck, bus) procedures, while slower response in computation time. The YOLO versions have achieved more than 95% accuracy in detection and 90% in Overall Accuracy (OA) for the classification of vehicles, including cars, trucks and buses. The computation time on the CPU processor was between 150 milliseconds (YOLOv8, v6, and v5) and around 800 milliseconds (YOLOv7).","PeriodicalId":34482,"journal":{"name":"Smart Cities","volume":"15 3","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135366584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Robust-Adaptive Controllers Designed for Grid-Forming Converters Ensuring Various Low-Inertia Microgrid Conditions","authors":"Watcharakorn Pinthurat, Prayad Kongsuk, Boonruang Marungsri","doi":"10.3390/smartcities6050132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities6050132","url":null,"abstract":"As the integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) and distributed generations (DGs) increases, the need for stable and reliable operation of microgrids (MGs) becomes crucial. However, the inherent low inertia of such systems poses intricate control challenges that necessitate innovative solutions. To tackle these issues, this paper presents the development of robust-adaptive controllers tailored specifically for grid-forming (GFM) converters. The proposed adaptive-robust controllers are designed to accommodate the diverse range of scenarios encountered in low-inertia MGs. The proposed approach applies both the robust control techniques and adaptive control strategies, thereby offering an effective means to ensure stable and seamless converter performance under varying operating conditions. The efficacy of the introduced adaptive-robust controllers for GFM converters is validated within a low-inertia MG, which is characterized by substantial penetration of converter-interfaced resources. The validation also encompasses diverse MG operational scenarios and conditions.","PeriodicalId":34482,"journal":{"name":"Smart Cities","volume":"46 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135412677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}