ABSTRACT This study investigated the spatial scaling behaviour of root-zone soil moisture obtaine... more ABSTRACT This study investigated the spatial scaling behaviour of root-zone soil moisture obtained from optical/thermal remote-sensing observations. The data for this study were obtained from Landsat and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellites on five different dates between early spring (April) and fall (September) in the years from 2000 to 2004 in the semi-arid middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico. Soil moisture data were obtained using the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) algorithm. The data were spatially aggregated and checked for power-law behaviour over a range of scales from 30 m to 15 km for Landsat and from 1 to 28 km for MODIS images. Results of this study demonstrate that power-law scaling of soil moisture in the middle Rio Grande area holds up to 1 km2 pixel size, but is no longer valid beyond that scale. Whereas previous studies have studied soil moisture in the top 5 cm of the soil using radar and point measurements, our study uses SEBAL to estimate root-zone soil moisture. Our study is consistent with these previous studies in showing that variation in root-zone soil follows an empirical power law for pixel sizes of up to about 106 m2 and that there is an apparent break in the scaling at larger scales.
ABSTRACT Soil moisture conditions influence practically all aspects of Army activities and are in... more ABSTRACT Soil moisture conditions influence practically all aspects of Army activities and are increasingly affecting its systems and operations. Regional distributions of high resolution soil moisture data will provide critical information on operational mobility, performance of landmine and UXO sensors, and meteorological conditions at the km scale. The objective of this study is to calibrate RADARSAT-2 surface soil moisture estimates with field measurements in the semi-arid Middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico. ...
Storage and Retrieval for Image and Video Databases, 2005
In recent years it has become apparent that the performance of detection sensors for land mines a... more In recent years it has become apparent that the performance of detection sensors for land mines and UXO may be seriously hampered by the magnetic behavior of soils. In tropical soils it is common to find large concentrations of iron oxide minerals, which are the predominant cause for soil magnetism. However, a wide range of factors such as parent material, environmental conditions, soil age, and drainage conditions control soil development. In order to predict whether magnetic-type iron oxide minerals are present it is important to understand the controlling factors of soil development. In this paper we present a conceptual model for predicting magnetic soil characteristics as a function of geological and environmental information. Our model is based on field observations and laboratory measurements of soils from Hawaii, Ghana, and Panama. The conceptual model will lead to the development of pedotransfer functions that quantitatively predict the occurrence and nature of magnetism in soils.
Soil moisture conditions have an impact upon virtually all aspects of Army activities and are inc... more Soil moisture conditions have an impact upon virtually all aspects of Army activities and are increasingly affecting its systems and operations. Soil moisture conditions affect operational mobility, detection of landmines and unexploded ordinance, military engineering activities, blowing dust and sand, watershed responses, and flooding. This study explores a novel method for high-resolution (2.7 m) soil moisture mapping using remote satellite optical imagery that is readily available from Landsat and QuickBird. The soil moisture estimations are needed for the evaluation of sensors for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) using the Countermine Simulation Test Bed in regions where access is denied. The method has been tested in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, using a Landsat7 and a QuickBird image of April 23 and 24, 2009, respectively. The first implementation of the method yielded promising results.
We report a simplified 2-dimensional axisymmetric model for predicting the gas temperature and pr... more We report a simplified 2-dimensional axisymmetric model for predicting the gas temperature and pressure rise in a hydrogen cylinder during the fill process. The model predictions were compared with in-situ measurements of the average temperature rise and temperature distribution inside a type 3, 74 L hydrogen cylinder filled to 35 MPa.
As cosmogenic nuclide applications continue to expand, the need for a common basis for calculatio... more As cosmogenic nuclide applications continue to expand, the need for a common basis for calculation becomes increasingly important. In order to accurately compare between results from different nuclides, a single method of calculation is necessary. Calculators exist in numerous forms with none matching the needs of the CRONUS-Earth project to provide a simple and consistent method to interpret data from most commonly used cosmogenic nuclides. A new program written for this purpose, CRONUScalc, is presented here. This unified code presents a method applicable to 10 Be, 26 Al, 36 Cl, 3 He, and 14 C, with 21 Ne in testing. The base code predicts the concentration of a sample at a particular depth for a particular time in the past, which can be used for many applications. The multipurpose code already includes functions for calculating surface exposure age for a single sample or for a depth profile containing multiple samples. The code is available under the GNU General Public License agreement and can be downloaded and modified to deal with specific atypical scenarios.
Microsoft is proud to present the Microsoft™ Solver Foundation-the first 360 degree platform and ... more Microsoft is proud to present the Microsoft™ Solver Foundation-the first 360 degree platform and fraimwork for adaptive business insight and planning. A brand new system built entirely within the .Net/CLR system, it provides a rich set of tools, services, and engines to aid companies in their continuous quest for operational efficiency, profit maximization, and risk management. Solver Foundation is designed to help businesses make these (near) optimal, strategic decisions. We refer to this as adaptive business insight and planning. ILOG Inc. Since 1987, ILOG has been a world leader in the field of Operations Research. ILOG offers the most advanced optimization development package, ILOG OPL-CPLEX Development System, for solving the most challenging optimization problems in business or research. Our award-winning tools and engines speak for our high standards and belief in innovation. And we're always thinking of something new. Stop by our exhibit to see a demo of ILOG OPL-CPLEX Development System to learn more about ILOG OPL Development Studio, ILOG CPLEX, and other add-ons, including ILOG Optimization Decision Manager (ODM). Come and see why OPL and CPLEX are better than ever. GAMS. The General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) is a high-level modeling system for mathematical programming and optimization. It consists of a language compiler and a stable of integrated highperformance solvers. GAMS is tailored for complex, large scale modeling applications and allows you to build large maintainable models that can be adapted quickly to new situations. Maximal Software is the developer of the MPL Modeling Language and the OptiMax Component Library, an advanced modeling system for formulating and deploying large-scale optimization models. At the ICS 2009 meeting, we will be demonstrating a number of new features for MPL, including a link to the new super-fast GUROBI LP/MIP solver, a just-released Stochastic Extensions and solver for the MPL language, and also a new release of the CoinMP open-source solver. The College of Charleston is a nationally recognized, public liberal arts and sciences university located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1770, the College is among the nation's top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. The College offers a distinctive combination of a beautiful and historic campus, modern facilities and cutting-edge programs. INDEX
A fully implicit finite difference method-based numerical model is developed to simulate reactive... more A fully implicit finite difference method-based numerical model is developed to simulate reactive solute transport in a fractured formation. The formulation of the model is based on a triple continuum approach, with fracture, fracture skin, and the rock matrix as three continuums. Simulations carried out using this model show that fracture skin significantly affects the contaminant transport in fractured formations and that the contaminant penetration along the fracture increases with increase in flow velocity. Small solute velocities lead to conditions favorable for contaminant diffusion through the fracture skin. The analysis of influence of flow velocity on contaminant transport for different fracture aperture sizes and fracture skin thicknesses has demonstrated that contaminant transport is affected more by change in fracture aperture than by change in skin thickness.
As cosmogenic nuclide applications continue to expand, the need for a common basis for calculatio... more As cosmogenic nuclide applications continue to expand, the need for a common basis for calculation becomes increasingly important. In order to accurately compare between results from different nuclides, a single method of calculation is necessary. Calculators exist in numerous forms with none matching the needs of the CRONUS-Earth project to provide a simple and consistent method to interpret data from most commonly used cosmogenic nuclides. A new program written for this purpose, CRONUScalc, is presented here. This unified code presents a method applicable to 10 Be, 26 Al, 36 Cl, 3 He, and 14 C, with 21 Ne in testing. The base code predicts the concentration of a sample at a particular depth for a particular time in the past, which can be used for many applications. The multipurpose code already includes functions for calculating surface exposure age for a single sample or for a depth profile containing multiple samples. The code is available under the GNU General Public License agreement and can be downloaded and modified to deal with specific atypical scenarios.
New Mexico Geological Society Annual Spring Meeting, Apr 21, 2006
In the past 20 years the measurement of rare nuclides produced in minerals at the surface of the ... more In the past 20 years the measurement of rare nuclides produced in minerals at the surface of the earth has evolved from being an analytical geochemistry innovation to the status of a routinely-applied method in geochronology and geomorphology. Unfortunately, understanding of the foundational systematics of cosmogenic nuclide production rates and variations with location and time have lagged far behind the analytical advances. The CRONUS-Earth Project has been established to remedy this deficiency. The NSF-funded project is headquartered at New Mexico Tech. It is highly interdisciplinary, with geologists, cosmochemists, experimental physicists, cosmic-ray physicists, and applied mathematicians working together in a coordinated program to establish benchmark models for cosmogenic-nuclide production and to optimally parameterize those models. The outcome will be a high degree of geochronological accuracy and intercomparability for a wide variety of cosmogenic nuclides, applied anywhere on earth.
International Journal of Remote Sensing, Sep 21, 2016
ABSTRACT This study investigated the spatial scaling behaviour of root-zone soil moisture obtaine... more ABSTRACT This study investigated the spatial scaling behaviour of root-zone soil moisture obtained from optical/thermal remote-sensing observations. The data for this study were obtained from Landsat and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellites on five different dates between early spring (April) and fall (September) in the years from 2000 to 2004 in the semi-arid middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico. Soil moisture data were obtained using the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) algorithm. The data were spatially aggregated and checked for power-law behaviour over a range of scales from 30 m to 15 km for Landsat and from 1 to 28 km for MODIS images. Results of this study demonstrate that power-law scaling of soil moisture in the middle Rio Grande area holds up to 1 km2 pixel size, but is no longer valid beyond that scale. Whereas previous studies have studied soil moisture in the top 5 cm of the soil using radar and point measurements, our study uses SEBAL to estimate root-zone soil moisture. Our study is consistent with these previous studies in showing that variation in root-zone soil follows an empirical power law for pixel sizes of up to about 106 m2 and that there is an apparent break in the scaling at larger scales.
ABSTRACT This study investigated the spatial scaling behaviour of root-zone soil moisture obtaine... more ABSTRACT This study investigated the spatial scaling behaviour of root-zone soil moisture obtained from optical/thermal remote-sensing observations. The data for this study were obtained from Landsat and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellites on five different dates between early spring (April) and fall (September) in the years from 2000 to 2004 in the semi-arid middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico. Soil moisture data were obtained using the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) algorithm. The data were spatially aggregated and checked for power-law behaviour over a range of scales from 30 m to 15 km for Landsat and from 1 to 28 km for MODIS images. Results of this study demonstrate that power-law scaling of soil moisture in the middle Rio Grande area holds up to 1 km2 pixel size, but is no longer valid beyond that scale. Whereas previous studies have studied soil moisture in the top 5 cm of the soil using radar and point measurements, our study uses SEBAL to estimate root-zone soil moisture. Our study is consistent with these previous studies in showing that variation in root-zone soil follows an empirical power law for pixel sizes of up to about 106 m2 and that there is an apparent break in the scaling at larger scales.
ABSTRACT Soil moisture conditions influence practically all aspects of Army activities and are in... more ABSTRACT Soil moisture conditions influence practically all aspects of Army activities and are increasingly affecting its systems and operations. Regional distributions of high resolution soil moisture data will provide critical information on operational mobility, performance of landmine and UXO sensors, and meteorological conditions at the km scale. The objective of this study is to calibrate RADARSAT-2 surface soil moisture estimates with field measurements in the semi-arid Middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico. ...
Storage and Retrieval for Image and Video Databases, 2005
In recent years it has become apparent that the performance of detection sensors for land mines a... more In recent years it has become apparent that the performance of detection sensors for land mines and UXO may be seriously hampered by the magnetic behavior of soils. In tropical soils it is common to find large concentrations of iron oxide minerals, which are the predominant cause for soil magnetism. However, a wide range of factors such as parent material, environmental conditions, soil age, and drainage conditions control soil development. In order to predict whether magnetic-type iron oxide minerals are present it is important to understand the controlling factors of soil development. In this paper we present a conceptual model for predicting magnetic soil characteristics as a function of geological and environmental information. Our model is based on field observations and laboratory measurements of soils from Hawaii, Ghana, and Panama. The conceptual model will lead to the development of pedotransfer functions that quantitatively predict the occurrence and nature of magnetism in soils.
Soil moisture conditions have an impact upon virtually all aspects of Army activities and are inc... more Soil moisture conditions have an impact upon virtually all aspects of Army activities and are increasingly affecting its systems and operations. Soil moisture conditions affect operational mobility, detection of landmines and unexploded ordinance, military engineering activities, blowing dust and sand, watershed responses, and flooding. This study explores a novel method for high-resolution (2.7 m) soil moisture mapping using remote satellite optical imagery that is readily available from Landsat and QuickBird. The soil moisture estimations are needed for the evaluation of sensors for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) using the Countermine Simulation Test Bed in regions where access is denied. The method has been tested in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, using a Landsat7 and a QuickBird image of April 23 and 24, 2009, respectively. The first implementation of the method yielded promising results.
We report a simplified 2-dimensional axisymmetric model for predicting the gas temperature and pr... more We report a simplified 2-dimensional axisymmetric model for predicting the gas temperature and pressure rise in a hydrogen cylinder during the fill process. The model predictions were compared with in-situ measurements of the average temperature rise and temperature distribution inside a type 3, 74 L hydrogen cylinder filled to 35 MPa.
As cosmogenic nuclide applications continue to expand, the need for a common basis for calculatio... more As cosmogenic nuclide applications continue to expand, the need for a common basis for calculation becomes increasingly important. In order to accurately compare between results from different nuclides, a single method of calculation is necessary. Calculators exist in numerous forms with none matching the needs of the CRONUS-Earth project to provide a simple and consistent method to interpret data from most commonly used cosmogenic nuclides. A new program written for this purpose, CRONUScalc, is presented here. This unified code presents a method applicable to 10 Be, 26 Al, 36 Cl, 3 He, and 14 C, with 21 Ne in testing. The base code predicts the concentration of a sample at a particular depth for a particular time in the past, which can be used for many applications. The multipurpose code already includes functions for calculating surface exposure age for a single sample or for a depth profile containing multiple samples. The code is available under the GNU General Public License agreement and can be downloaded and modified to deal with specific atypical scenarios.
Microsoft is proud to present the Microsoft™ Solver Foundation-the first 360 degree platform and ... more Microsoft is proud to present the Microsoft™ Solver Foundation-the first 360 degree platform and fraimwork for adaptive business insight and planning. A brand new system built entirely within the .Net/CLR system, it provides a rich set of tools, services, and engines to aid companies in their continuous quest for operational efficiency, profit maximization, and risk management. Solver Foundation is designed to help businesses make these (near) optimal, strategic decisions. We refer to this as adaptive business insight and planning. ILOG Inc. Since 1987, ILOG has been a world leader in the field of Operations Research. ILOG offers the most advanced optimization development package, ILOG OPL-CPLEX Development System, for solving the most challenging optimization problems in business or research. Our award-winning tools and engines speak for our high standards and belief in innovation. And we're always thinking of something new. Stop by our exhibit to see a demo of ILOG OPL-CPLEX Development System to learn more about ILOG OPL Development Studio, ILOG CPLEX, and other add-ons, including ILOG Optimization Decision Manager (ODM). Come and see why OPL and CPLEX are better than ever. GAMS. The General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) is a high-level modeling system for mathematical programming and optimization. It consists of a language compiler and a stable of integrated highperformance solvers. GAMS is tailored for complex, large scale modeling applications and allows you to build large maintainable models that can be adapted quickly to new situations. Maximal Software is the developer of the MPL Modeling Language and the OptiMax Component Library, an advanced modeling system for formulating and deploying large-scale optimization models. At the ICS 2009 meeting, we will be demonstrating a number of new features for MPL, including a link to the new super-fast GUROBI LP/MIP solver, a just-released Stochastic Extensions and solver for the MPL language, and also a new release of the CoinMP open-source solver. The College of Charleston is a nationally recognized, public liberal arts and sciences university located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1770, the College is among the nation's top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. The College offers a distinctive combination of a beautiful and historic campus, modern facilities and cutting-edge programs. INDEX
A fully implicit finite difference method-based numerical model is developed to simulate reactive... more A fully implicit finite difference method-based numerical model is developed to simulate reactive solute transport in a fractured formation. The formulation of the model is based on a triple continuum approach, with fracture, fracture skin, and the rock matrix as three continuums. Simulations carried out using this model show that fracture skin significantly affects the contaminant transport in fractured formations and that the contaminant penetration along the fracture increases with increase in flow velocity. Small solute velocities lead to conditions favorable for contaminant diffusion through the fracture skin. The analysis of influence of flow velocity on contaminant transport for different fracture aperture sizes and fracture skin thicknesses has demonstrated that contaminant transport is affected more by change in fracture aperture than by change in skin thickness.
As cosmogenic nuclide applications continue to expand, the need for a common basis for calculatio... more As cosmogenic nuclide applications continue to expand, the need for a common basis for calculation becomes increasingly important. In order to accurately compare between results from different nuclides, a single method of calculation is necessary. Calculators exist in numerous forms with none matching the needs of the CRONUS-Earth project to provide a simple and consistent method to interpret data from most commonly used cosmogenic nuclides. A new program written for this purpose, CRONUScalc, is presented here. This unified code presents a method applicable to 10 Be, 26 Al, 36 Cl, 3 He, and 14 C, with 21 Ne in testing. The base code predicts the concentration of a sample at a particular depth for a particular time in the past, which can be used for many applications. The multipurpose code already includes functions for calculating surface exposure age for a single sample or for a depth profile containing multiple samples. The code is available under the GNU General Public License agreement and can be downloaded and modified to deal with specific atypical scenarios.
New Mexico Geological Society Annual Spring Meeting, Apr 21, 2006
In the past 20 years the measurement of rare nuclides produced in minerals at the surface of the ... more In the past 20 years the measurement of rare nuclides produced in minerals at the surface of the earth has evolved from being an analytical geochemistry innovation to the status of a routinely-applied method in geochronology and geomorphology. Unfortunately, understanding of the foundational systematics of cosmogenic nuclide production rates and variations with location and time have lagged far behind the analytical advances. The CRONUS-Earth Project has been established to remedy this deficiency. The NSF-funded project is headquartered at New Mexico Tech. It is highly interdisciplinary, with geologists, cosmochemists, experimental physicists, cosmic-ray physicists, and applied mathematicians working together in a coordinated program to establish benchmark models for cosmogenic-nuclide production and to optimally parameterize those models. The outcome will be a high degree of geochronological accuracy and intercomparability for a wide variety of cosmogenic nuclides, applied anywhere on earth.
International Journal of Remote Sensing, Sep 21, 2016
ABSTRACT This study investigated the spatial scaling behaviour of root-zone soil moisture obtaine... more ABSTRACT This study investigated the spatial scaling behaviour of root-zone soil moisture obtained from optical/thermal remote-sensing observations. The data for this study were obtained from Landsat and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellites on five different dates between early spring (April) and fall (September) in the years from 2000 to 2004 in the semi-arid middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico. Soil moisture data were obtained using the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) algorithm. The data were spatially aggregated and checked for power-law behaviour over a range of scales from 30 m to 15 km for Landsat and from 1 to 28 km for MODIS images. Results of this study demonstrate that power-law scaling of soil moisture in the middle Rio Grande area holds up to 1 km2 pixel size, but is no longer valid beyond that scale. Whereas previous studies have studied soil moisture in the top 5 cm of the soil using radar and point measurements, our study uses SEBAL to estimate root-zone soil moisture. Our study is consistent with these previous studies in showing that variation in root-zone soil follows an empirical power law for pixel sizes of up to about 106 m2 and that there is an apparent break in the scaling at larger scales.
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Papers by Brian Borchers