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E.S.I. Environmental Sensors Inc.
Mailing Address:
2071C Malaview AveSIDNEY, British Columbia
V8L 5X6
Location Address:
2071C Malaview AveSIDNEY, British Columbia
V8L 5X6
Tel.:<PHONE_NUMBER>
Tel.:<PHONE_NUMBER>
Fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>
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Company Profile
E.S.I. Environmental Sensors Inc. is an established
environmental technology company based in Victoria, British
Columbia. The Company's principal focus has been the
development, manufacture and marketing of environmental
instruments. The company is broadening its scope of operations
to provide systems based solutions for soil and water
management. ESI is currently organized around its moisture monitoring technology.
Moisture Infiltration Monitoring Division
1. GRO.POINT family of products are rugged, portable, and easy to use product line
that is specifically designed so that farmers and commercial
growers can optimize irrigation programs. This in turn
maximizes yield and crop quality, saving water, energy and
improving farm profitability.
GRO.POINT is currently being integrated into a line of state-of-
the-art irrigation control systems so that the operator may
manage crop irrigation manually, or select options leading to a
fully automated system.
2. MOISTURE.POINT is an award winning soil moisture monitoring
system using a patented TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry)
technology. MOISTURE.POINT is unique in that it provides
simultaneous and extremely precise monitoring of moisture levels
at up to seven different depths with a single probe. No other
instrument can make this claim, and there are MOISTURE.POINT
systems operating in over 30 countries around the world.
Applications where these systems are being used include:
* Landfills, remediated and hazardous waste sites, roadways,
farms, and airports, are major sources of groundwater
contamination. MOISTURE.POINT systems are used to monitor
moisture levels and their role in the transport of toxins into
water systems such as rivers, lakes, and aquifers.
* Floods, water-borne erosion, and landslides, cause major
disruptions around the world. MOISTURE.POINT systems are being
used in several countries for, determining riverbank stability,
and monitoring slopes prone to landslides.
* Forestry is evolving from simply cutting down trees, to
dynamic management of a renewable resource. MOISTURE.POINT
systems are being used by both scientific organizations to
enhance the existing knowledge base on tree-growth and watershed
management, and by forestry companies who wish to grow tree
seedlings in the most efficient manner possible. Commercial
interests also use MOISTURE.POINT to determine a forests lumber
production potential, by monitoring water take-up and
subsequent tree growth rates.
On-going Research and Development
ESI has developed a new instrument, FloPoint, that measures to a
high degree of accuracy the water cut of a producing oil well.
This device, which uses a proprietary technology exclusive to
the Company, has the potential to be installed in a significant
number of the worlds oil wells, and in pipelines. Early sales have been made in Canada, USA and Russia. FloPoint can significantly reduce the production cost to take oil from the ground, as well, it can identify the point at which an oil well becomes uneconomic, and should cease production.
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landfill closure covers.
Given that the flow of moisture in an unsaturated material, such
as a landfill cover, can be in any direction...
* What is really happening within the vertical profile of the
cover?
* Is lateral flow occurring in an area where two different
materials interface?
* Is there any moisture moving upward from the landfill waste?
* If moisture is moving both down from the surface and up from
the waste, how can one tell if, when and where these two wetting
fronts meet?
MOISTURE.POINT® provides clear answers to the above questions
and more. Through its proprietary multi-segment probe design,
MOISTURE.POINT® provides an uninterrupted vertical profile of
soil moisture. By contrast, other systems utilizing individual
sensors can only sample a series of disconnected points in the
landfill cover. In addition to its monitoring advantages,
MOISTURE.POINT® can also be installed with minimal disturbance
to the landfill cover itself, ensuring that data collected by
the profiling probes truly reflects what is occurring in the
surrounding area.
Mining Reclamation
University of Kentucky, USA
MOISTURE.POINT® offers mined-out areas a unique chance for
reclamation and eventual reforestation.
http://www.esica.com/products/moisture/apps/mine-app.htm
The physical, biological and hydraulic properties of soil, and
the development of an ecologically diverse soil profile are
central to plant growth and survival as well as ecosystem
development. The mountaintop removal process to mine coal, which
is widely practiced in the Appalachian coal region, is very
destructive to forest ecosystems. Success of reclamation efforts
in this region depends on the rate of ecosystem development and
soil productivity of the mine spoil.
The University of Kentucky is studying mine reclamation for
ecosystem development. One measure of ecosystem development for
this experiment is the capability of the soil profile to develop
into a material that can hold and transmit water. Using the
MOISTURE.POINT® system, replicate plots are monitored bi-weekly
to assess vertical distributions of water within the upper 30 cm
of the soil profile. Water storage measured with the
MOISTURE.POINT® system is compared to the computed available
water from the soil-water retention curves. A mass balance
computed at the soil surface and within the upper 30 cm of the
soil is compared to precipitation, and evapo-transpiration to
computer percolation below the surface horizon.
Water content within the rooting zone is important for tree and
microbial population survival. Water transport characteristics
such as total porosity, drainable porosity, field capacity,
wilting point and infiltration capacity are used to calculate
the available water in the soil profile.
content data to properly evaluate soil stability.
MOISTURE.POINT® monitoring systems enable these professionals to
analyze soil conditions with a high degree of accuracy, and make
their recommendations with confidence.
Current applications of MOISTURE.POINT® in the Civil Engineering
field include:
* Development and design of water resources and irrigation
drainage systems;
* Moisture monitoring under structures;
* Moisture monitoring in earth-filled dams;
* Disaster prediction research related to topographical changes;
* Analysis of sand arrestation and coastline protection/erosion;
* Analysis of changeable water flow affected by melting snow;
* Determination of water penetration and evaporation from soils;
* Moisture monitoring in cement and cement building materials.
MOISTURE.POINT®'s primary advantages are:
* Installation of the system is simple, inexpensive, and with
minimal site disturbance - no site excavation work is required,
and data obtained represents an accurate reflection of the
surrounding soil.
* The system is extremely durable - even for extended periods of
time under the worst climatic conditions.
* MOISTURE.POINT® data is easily collected on-site or remotely
using conventional acquisition techniques and communications
methods (including cellular). MOISTURE.POINT® systems include a
standard RS232 port for access to raw data, waveform display and
system settings via personal computer.
Following is a selection of typical MOISTURE.POINT® applications
in the field of civil engineering.
Airport Groundwater Monitoring
Gardermoen Airport, Norway
Norway's use of MOISTURE.POINT® may be significant first step to
international information transfer on protection of groundwater
resources.
http://www.esica.com/products/moisture/apps/air-app.htm
MOISTURE.POINT® systems are being used at the new Gardermoen
Airport in Norway as part of a national study designed to
provide a model of pollutant transportation and establish
remedial actions against spreading of pollutants from the
airport to the groundwater.
Since the airport is situated on top of Norway's only clean
underground freshwater aquifer, it is critical to understand the
environmental impacts of the new airport on the subsurface. The
surrounding land has diagonal soil layers comprised of different
materials, with an approximate slope of 15 degrees. This slope
could result in flow rates that significantly differ from the
water infiltration models they had previously devised. The
MOISTURE.POINT® multiplexed system was installed to validate
the flow models that have been designed, and to better
understand the impact of potential airport-related groundwater
contaminants.
The Gardermoen Project is part of an extensive national project
to increase understanding of how contaminants are bound and
degraded in soil and groundwater, and thus to understand and
predict their behaviour and spread. The study is also looking at
the effects of contaminants on the natural processes in the soil
and at the interaction with global biogeochemical cycles. The
objective of the program is to further strengthen Norwegian
expertise in contaminant hydrogeology. This expertise will
enable Norwegians to supply industry and governmental agencies
around the world with knowledge to develop new technologies and
guidelines to protect groundwater resources and remediate
contaminated soil and aquifers.
Heavy Vehicle Traffic
Puerto Rico and Vicksburg, Mississippi
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Waterways Experimental
Station in Vicksburg, Mississippi is developing a soil moisture
chart for heavy vehicle operators. The chart will indicate how
much precipitation the soil can withstand before vehicles cannot
be driven across the surface and how long after the
precipitation before vehicles can be driven again. The study
includes monitoring of soil moisture, soil strength, and
precipitation events for a variety of soil types.
Two MOISTURE.POINT® instruments and Type K profiling probes (4Ó
x 6Ó) are being used. Phase I of the project was conducted in
Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has diverse topography, soil types and
micro-climatic regions, all within close geographic proximity,
making it an ideal location for this type of study. Soil
moisture, weather station and soil strength data were collected
from February until June of 1997. The MOISTURE.POINT® system
provided excellent results.
In August 1997, the experiment was moved to Vicksburg,
Mississippi, where the soil moisture, weather station and soil
compaction data from Puerto Rico was also being analyzed.
Throughout the remainder of the summer and fall, the study
looked at the relationship between heavy vehicle traffic and
soil moisture in a variety of sand, silt and silty loam soils
along the banks of the Mississippi River.
Road Monitoring
Tennessee, U.S.A.
Researchers in the Agricultural Engineering and Civil
Engineering Departments of an American University are using
MOISTURE.POINT® to monitor substrate water content below
asphaltic concrete pavement. The objective of the research is to
demonstrate the seasonal variation in water content and
temperature in pavement substrates, and to measure the effects
of these variations on pavement performance. Three test sites
have been selected for this study, representing the range of
environmental and geotechnical conditions that exist across
Tennessee.
MOISTURE.POINT® profiling probes have been placed horizontally
in the soil substrate, stone substrate and asphalt stabilized
base layer beneath the outer wheel path of the roadway. The
installation was done from a trench constructed in the shoulder
of the road. These profiling probes will allow monitoring of a
wetting front moving horizontally in the substrate.
MOISTURE.POINT® single segment probes have been placed in the
asphaltic concrete, installed during construction, before the
material cooled.
At each site, rainfall, air temperature, relative humidity, wind
speed, and solar radiation will be monitored. Temperature
sensors have been placed in the asphalt concrete through a core
hole. Non-destructive Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) tests
will be periodically performed at each site to correlate
pavement performance with environmental conditions. This will
permit direct observation of the effects of substrate water
content variations on pavement performance.
A MOISTURE.POINT® multiplexed datalogging system has been
installed in a metal enclosure inside a concrete vault outside
the roadway shoulder at each site. The system will collect data
from the probes, substrate and pavement temperature sensors,
rainfall tipping buckets and other climatological sensors.
Atmospheric Research
Kansas, U.S.A.
The Argonne Boundary Layer Experiment (ABLE) is a new research
initiative devoted to addressing a myriad of unresolved
fundamental questions in atmospheric research. The initial focus
of ABLE will be measurements of the planetary boundary layer
where most interactions between the atmosphere and humans take
place. Many important scientific issues are being addressed
including natural disaster reduction, public safety, and water
resource management.
MOISTURE.POINT® is being used in one study to better understand
the relationship between soil moisture, soil hydraulic processes
and precipitation length scales. A total of 16 sites will be
monitored using MOISTURE.POINT® five-segment profiling probes
in the Towanda Sub-basin of Kansas. Spacing between the probes
will be approximately 10m along a transect to obtain a two-
dimensional representation of soil/water dynamics. The full
installation will be composed of two eight-probe transects
placed in a cross pattern.
Temperature measurements will be made at three depths in the
proximity of each probe to be used primarily for temperature
corrections. Remote access to the automated system will be
provided through the use of a cellular telephone modem link to
allow for data retrieval and continuous site monitoring. Rain
gauges will be installed to record date and time of each
precipitation event.
MOISTURE.POINT® was selected for this study by researchers from
Oregon State University because two similar systems had already
been successfully deployed in the Boreal Ecosystem and
Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) to monitor soil moisture.
MOISTURE.POINT® was selected to provide the moisture measurement
data for these studies because of its unique features, including
profiling of moisture at different depths with minimal soil
disturbance; easy installation and relocation; and performance
in different soil types.
accurately measure horizontal and vertical soil moisture
profiles - with virtually no disturbance to existing soil
horizons.
In the fields of agriculture, silviculture and irrigation,
MOISTURE.POINT® has numerous possible applications, including:
* Determining correlations between soil moisture and other
environmental variables on plant growth;
* Accurately differentiating the moisture requirements between
plant species;
* Determining irrigation routines that provide an optimal root
environment for balanced plant growth;
* Determining irrigation routines that maximize water
conservation.
* Analyzing the distribution effectiveness of irrigation
systems;
Below is a selection of typical Moisture·Point® applications in
agriculture, silviculture, and irrigation.
1. Agriculture
MOISTURE.POINT® systems make it possible to conduct innovative
and valuable agricultural research around the world.
http://www.esica.com/products/moisture/apps/agri-app.htm
In each of the following applications, MOISTURE.POINT® offers
researchers the unique ability to monitor a vertical soil
moisture profile. This can be accomplished with virtually no
disturbance to existing soil horizons and, with an unparalleled
degree of resolution in TDR-based data collection.
Microspray Irrigation Management Study
USDA-ARS, California
Researchers are studying the effects of a microspray irrigation
system on soil moisture distribution near large walnut tree root
systems, versus in open areas. The correlation between soil
moisture levels, soil pests and their control is also being
studied. The trial is being replicated over five years in order
to evaluate the long term impacts and the success of this
irrigation management technique.
The flexibility and ease of installation of the MOISTURE.POINT®
system has allowed researchers to obtain moisture level
information in and around large root systems, providing accurate
data collection in confined areas.
Study of Impact of Greenhouse Effect on Water Availability
Department of Geography, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Researchers in Switzerland are currently studying the impact of
the greenhouse effect on water availability for plants.
MOISTURE.POINT® systems are being used to measure soil moisture
data for this study. Fifty one-square-metre cells with one-third
of metre Plexiglas walls and a lid have been positioned on a
steep slope with a southern exposure. Inside each cell, the
atmosphere is artificially augmented with C02 delivered through
a perforated conduit system. This artificial atmosphere is
designed to emulate the atmosphere a few decades from now, based
on the current C02 rate of increase.
The cells are equipped with C02, 02 and temperature sensors. A
circular antenna laid on the soil in each cell emits a frequency
that brings earthworms to the surface. Counting the worms in
each cell permits an assessment of the biological activity of
the soil.
Until recently, the study did not include accurate soil moisture
data as the researchers had been unable to find probes suitable
to this application. To be effective, the probes had to be
installed in the soil to a depth of one metre without causing
major disruption to the soil structure. Also, the probes had to
be installed with little available surface area given the
existing suite of sensors. MOISTURE.POINT® was selected for its
unique ability to meet these requirements.
Assessment of Water Retention of Farm Fields under Varying
Tillage Techniques
Charlottetown Research Centre (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
At this facility, researchers are using MOISTURE.POINT® to
assess the water retention characteristics of farm fields under
varying tillage techniques, with a focus on conservation
tillage. This technique allows the residual mulch from potato
plants to remain in the top soil layer, which is believed to
reduce evapo-transpirative loss. At the same time, it is
theorized that conservation tillage facilitates rapid water
infiltration during irrigation or precipitation events.
2. Silviculture
MOISTURE.POINT® makes it possible to increase growth and yield,
while saving on water, power and fertilizer.
http://www.esica.com/products/moisture/apps/silv-app.htm
Tree nurseries are increasingly using new techniques, such as
large potted seedlings and air-slit containers, in their effort
to cultivate strong, healthy plants with well-developed root
structures. Although it has been proven that irrigation
techniques play a critical role in seedling physiology,
traditional approaches to determining seasonal soil water
requirements during the growth period have been typically
qualitative. There has not been a quick, accurate means of
measuring the water content in the potting medium (comprised of
peat, vermiculite and sand)...until the development of
MOISTURE.POINT®. This is the first system to provide routine,
precise volumetric moisture monitoring capability in a broad
range of soils, including peat and other porous media used in
greenhouse cultivation.
MOISTURE.POINT® provides the empirical data necessary for
greenhouse specialists to establish effective irrigation
routines that optimize growth and yield in their nursery.
Greenhouse specialists can monitor water content of their soils
in "real-time", and irrigation can easily designed to
accommodate seasonal conditions, tree species and planting media
variations.
Measuring Moisture Content in Peat Substrates
Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources, Canada
A recent study was undertaken by the Quebec Ministry of Natural
Resources in which water content was measured three times per
week, using 24 probes in peat substrates within the tree
production greenhouses. The MOISTURE.POINT® system was used to
determine moisture levels in several small containers by
arranging one long single-diode probe to pass through several of
the containers. Moisture·Point® provided reliable measurement of
water content in peat and vermiculite potting mixes with an
average accuracy of better than 3%, reproducible from week to
week. As well, ministry greenhouse staff were able to maintain
preset moisture levels.
3. Irrigation
Successful use of MOISTURE.POINT® in raspberry farming allows
for accurate scheduling of irrigation and saves 10 percent in
watering costs for the season.
http://www.esica.com/products/moisture/apps/irig-app.htm
MOISTURE.POINT® systems were installed in established raspberry
fields near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The region has
an annual moisture deficit of approximately 432-mm per growing
season and raspberries must be irrigated to achieve optimum
production.
The farm currently has two types of irrigation systems - a hand-
moved sprinkler system in one field and a trickle system in a
second field. Moisture monitoring equipment was used in both
fields to determine the effectiveness of the irrigation to
develop new watering schedules to save water.
One probe was installed in the sprinkler-irrigated field in the
row line of the raspberry plants. In the trickle irrigated
field, two probes were installed, one in the row midway between
two point-source emitters and the other probe between the
raspberry rows, approximately 1.5 metres from the emitters.
The moisture data were recorded along with the time of day and
weather conditions. Initially, readings were taken at three-to
four-day intervals and then at closer intervals near sprinkler
irrigation times.
The sprinkler irrigation system was initially operated on a
timed schedule that was independent of soil moisture levels.
After the first two cycles of operation, the maximum soil
moisture levels for different depths were determined. Similarly,
minimum moisture levels to sustain food crop production were
established. This enabled sprinkler irrigation scheduling to be
planned based on safe moisture levels, rather than on time. The
user claims that the instrument not only saved water due to more
accurate scheduling knowledge, but it also saved 10% of the cost
of the irrigation water for the season.
signal levels, enabling the system to operate in a broader range
of soils. MOISTURE.POINT delivers contiguous profiles with up to
seven readings from a single probe. The MOISTURE.POINT System
is designed to handle a broad range of industry and research
applications. Landfill Monitoring, Irrigation, Civil
Engineering, Agriculture, Forestry, Mining, Site Remediation,
Research.
instrument for soil moisture management. It provides immediate
and accurate responses to changes in soil moisture in the root
zone, and is designed to remain in the soil for the duration of
a crop, or even on a permanent basis. GRO.POINT can operate on a
stand-alone basis, or is easily integrated into an ESI or other
automated irrigation control system.
Designed and developed by ESI, GRO.POINT is a cost-effective
soil moisture-sensing instrument that provides accurate
measurement of soil moisture by volume. GRO.POINT uses a
refined TDT technology that was specifically developed to
provide growers with the management information that is required
to enable them to:
* obtain higher yields
* grow better quality crops
* optimize water use
* reduce excessive leaching.
Manufactured in stainless steel with all interfaces sealed in
epoxy, the GRO.POINT soil moisture instrument will provide
years of reliable service. There are currently two models
available: the GRO.POINT Standard Sensor and the Extended Range
Sensor.
MoisturePoint soil moisture monitoring system provides dynamic information on moisture infiltration into the engineered natural soil cover systems over these waste facilities. This allows regulators to assess the performance of the cover systems and take remedial action, if necessary.
Offering an unprecedented combination of portability, ease of operation, and high precision, Moisture·Point is an award-winning, innovative system for measuring
volumetric soil moisture.
With over four years of development and laboratory/field testing, Moisture·Point is the ultimate moisture monitoring system offering its users the unique ability to monitor a vertical or horizontal soil moisture profile. Moisture·Point is specifically designed with features for both general purpose and scientific use, and it provides an unparalleled degree of accuracy and resolution - with virtually no disturbance to existing soil horizons.
Offering an unprecedented combination of portability, ease of operation, and high precision, Moisture·Point is an award-winning, innovative system for measuring volumetric soil moisture.
With over four years of development and laboratory/field testing, Moisture·Point is the ultimate moisture monitoring system offering its users the unique ability to monitor a vertical or horizontal soil moisture profile. Moisture·Point is specifically designed with features for both general purpose and scientific use, and it provides an unparalleled degree of accuracy and resolution - with virtually no disturbance to existing soil horizons.
landfill cover validation
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
maintains stringent regulations regarding the final cover of a
closed landfill. The intent of their "Subtitle D" prescriptive
final closure is to create a cover which will eliminate water
infiltration and minimize erosion.
The EPA's prescribed cover includes a 6 inch "erosion layer",
designed to support native vegetation, directly above an 18 inch
low-permeability "infiltration layer", commonly composed of clay
or bentonite.
Solid Waste Landfill Closures
In many parts of the United States, clay or bentonite is not
locally available. To meet the EPA's prescribed landfill cover
definition in these regions, these infiltration layer materials
must be acquired and transported from other regions, at great
cost. An additional problem with both clay and bentonite is that
they are liable to crack and desiccate in arid regions, thus
undermining the integrity of the cap.
Alternative / Monolithic Cover Designs
Motivated by the above financial and operational incentives,
many cities, municipalities and landfill operators are looking
to close their solid waste landfills with an alternative final
cover. The monolithic approach, a final cover design comprised
of compacted locally available, low-permeability soil, is
quickly gaining acceptance at all levels, including government
regulators, environmental engineering firms and end users. The
net benefits are (1) significant cost advantages over the
prescribed cover design, and (2) reduced operational concerns in
terms of cover implementation and maintenance.
Implementation of an alternative landfill cover design requires
approval by government regulators. A prerequisite of the
approval process is validation of the integrity of the cover;
i.e.: Is it working? If a moisture monitoring system is required
to validate the performance of the alternative final cover,
E.S.I. Environmental Sensors Inc.'s MOISTURE.POINT® provides the
solution.
Landfill Monitoring
Arizona, U.S.A.
Regulations have been developed in the United States to define a
cover design for landfill closures that provides an impervious
barrier to surface moisture infiltration and thus prevents
contamination of the groundwater. The regulations recognize that
regional variations may not suit the prescribed cover design,
and an allowance for alternative designs is included.
Alternative designs must pass a rigorous approval process.
Covers usually include the construction of a clay layer, which
is prone to desiccation and cracking in arid climates. When this
happens, the clay layer allows water to penetrate through it.
Alternative cover designs must maintain an unsaturated profile
inhibiting breakthrough and, where appropriate, enhancing evapo-
transpiration with native plant species.
A MOISTURE.POINT® Landfill Monitoring System incorporates ESI's
patented multi-segment profiling probes together with a full
suite of meteorological sensors to provide a complete monitoring
system for alternative landfill cover validation. The probes are
installed vertically from the surface with minimal soil
disturbance. Additional system options include solar power and
cellular modem for remote, unattended operation and data
communications. The system is easy to use and provides reliable
moisture data in contiguous profiles with minimal site impact.
MOISTURE.POINT® has little calibration sensitivity to variations
in soil structure, and provides a predictable response to
variations in soil conductivity, soil structure and
permeability. In addition, MOISTURE.POINT® allows for post-
construction sensor installation without disturbing the soil
profile.
In a recent application in the State of Arizona, an alternative
test cover study has been implemented with a goal of
demonstrating that an effective alternative cover can be
constructed using locally available silty sand soils.
MOISTURE.POINT® was selected to provide the data necessary to
validate the effectiveness of the alternative cover design.
The focus of the study is on two one-acre test covers
constructed at the landfill. Each test cover has a dedicated,
multiplexed soil moisture monitoring system, housed in a
weatherproof enclosure, located in a central location on the
test cover. Each test cover contains 29 soil moisture-sensing
probes, each providing readings at five different depths.
The data allows regulators from the Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality to assess whether or not the test covers
meet the requirement of the regulations.
C219-Other Architect and Engineering Services
J000-Maintenance, Repair, Modification, Rebuilding and Installation of Goods/Equipment
N000-Installation of Equipment
Market profile
Industry sector market interests:
- Agriculture
- Environment
- Forestry
- Mining/Petroleum/Gas
Geographic markets:
Export experience:
- Algeria
- Australia
- Brazil
- China
- Cuba
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- Iceland
- India
- Iran, Islamic Republic of
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Puerto Rico
- Sweden
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom
- United States
Actively pursuing:
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Thailand
Sector information
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Description
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Products, services and licensing
Product / Service / Licensing
landfill closure covers.
Given that the flow of moisture in an unsaturated material, such
as a landfill cover, can be in any direction...
* What is really happening within the vertical profile of the
cover?
* Is lateral flow occurring in an area where two different
materials interface?
* Is there any moisture moving upward from the landfill waste?
* If moisture is moving both down from the surface and up from
the waste, how can one tell if, when and where these two wetting
fronts meet?
MOISTURE.POINT® provides clear answers to the above questions
and more. Through its proprietary multi-segment probe design,
MOISTURE.POINT® provides an uninterrupted vertical profile of
soil moisture. By contrast, other systems utilizing individual
sensors can only sample a series of disconnected points in the
landfill cover. In addition to its monitoring advantages,
MOISTURE.POINT® can also be installed with minimal disturbance
to the landfill cover itself, ensuring that data collected by
the profiling probes truly reflects what is occurring in the
surrounding area.
Mining Reclamation
University of Kentucky, USA
MOISTURE.POINT® offers mined-out areas a unique chance for
reclamation and eventual reforestation.
http://www.esica.com/products/moisture/apps/mine-app.htm
The physical, biological and hydraulic properties of soil, and
the development of an ecologically diverse soil profile are
central to plant growth and survival as well as ecosystem
development. The mountaintop removal process to mine coal, which
is widely practiced in the Appalachian coal region, is very
destructive to forest ecosystems. Success of reclamation efforts
in this region depends on the rate of ecosystem development and
soil productivity of the mine spoil.
The University of Kentucky is studying mine reclamation for
ecosystem development. One measure of ecosystem development for
this experiment is the capability of the soil profile to develop
into a material that can hold and transmit water. Using the
MOISTURE.POINT® system, replicate plots are monitored bi-weekly
to assess vertical distributions of water within the upper 30 cm
of the soil profile. Water storage measured with the
MOISTURE.POINT® system is compared to the computed available
water from the soil-water retention curves. A mass balance
computed at the soil surface and within the upper 30 cm of the
soil is compared to precipitation, and evapo-transpiration to
computer percolation below the surface horizon.
Water content within the rooting zone is important for tree and
microbial population survival. Water transport characteristics
such as total porosity, drainable porosity, field capacity,
wilting point and infiltration capacity are used to calculate
the available water in the soil profile.
content data to properly evaluate soil stability.
MOISTURE.POINT® monitoring systems enable these professionals to
analyze soil conditions with a high degree of accuracy, and make
their recommendations with confidence.
Current applications of MOISTURE.POINT® in the Civil Engineering
field include:
* Development and design of water resources and irrigation
drainage systems;
* Moisture monitoring under structures;
* Moisture monitoring in earth-filled dams;
* Disaster prediction research related to topographical changes;
* Analysis of sand arrestation and coastline protection/erosion;
* Analysis of changeable water flow affected by melting snow;
* Determination of water penetration and evaporation from soils;
* Moisture monitoring in cement and cement building materials.
MOISTURE.POINT®'s primary advantages are:
* Installation of the system is simple, inexpensive, and with
minimal site disturbance - no site excavation work is required,
and data obtained represents an accurate reflection of the
surrounding soil.
* The system is extremely durable - even for extended periods of
time under the worst climatic conditions.
* MOISTURE.POINT® data is easily collected on-site or remotely
using conventional acquisition techniques and communications
methods (including cellular). MOISTURE.POINT® systems include a
standard RS232 port for access to raw data, waveform display and
system settings via personal computer.
Following is a selection of typical MOISTURE.POINT® applications
in the field of civil engineering.
Airport Groundwater Monitoring
Gardermoen Airport, Norway
Norway's use of MOISTURE.POINT® may be significant first step to
international information transfer on protection of groundwater
resources.
http://www.esica.com/products/moisture/apps/air-app.htm
MOISTURE.POINT® systems are being used at the new Gardermoen
Airport in Norway as part of a national study designed to
provide a model of pollutant transportation and establish
remedial actions against spreading of pollutants from the
airport to the groundwater.
Since the airport is situated on top of Norway's only clean
underground freshwater aquifer, it is critical to understand the
environmental impacts of the new airport on the subsurface. The
surrounding land has diagonal soil layers comprised of different
materials, with an approximate slope of 15 degrees. This slope
could result in flow rates that significantly differ from the
water infiltration models they had previously devised. The
MOISTURE.POINT® multiplexed system was installed to validate
the flow models that have been designed, and to better
understand the impact of potential airport-related groundwater
contaminants.
The Gardermoen Project is part of an extensive national project
to increase understanding of how contaminants are bound and
degraded in soil and groundwater, and thus to understand and
predict their behaviour and spread. The study is also looking at
the effects of contaminants on the natural processes in the soil
and at the interaction with global biogeochemical cycles. The
objective of the program is to further strengthen Norwegian
expertise in contaminant hydrogeology. This expertise will
enable Norwegians to supply industry and governmental agencies
around the world with knowledge to develop new technologies and
guidelines to protect groundwater resources and remediate
contaminated soil and aquifers.
Heavy Vehicle Traffic
Puerto Rico and Vicksburg, Mississippi
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Waterways Experimental
Station in Vicksburg, Mississippi is developing a soil moisture
chart for heavy vehicle operators. The chart will indicate how
much precipitation the soil can withstand before vehicles cannot
be driven across the surface and how long after the
precipitation before vehicles can be driven again. The study
includes monitoring of soil moisture, soil strength, and
precipitation events for a variety of soil types.
Two MOISTURE.POINT® instruments and Type K profiling probes (4Ó
x 6Ó) are being used. Phase I of the project was conducted in
Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has diverse topography, soil types and
micro-climatic regions, all within close geographic proximity,
making it an ideal location for this type of study. Soil
moisture, weather station and soil strength data were collected
from February until June of 1997. The MOISTURE.POINT® system
provided excellent results.
In August 1997, the experiment was moved to Vicksburg,
Mississippi, where the soil moisture, weather station and soil
compaction data from Puerto Rico was also being analyzed.
Throughout the remainder of the summer and fall, the study
looked at the relationship between heavy vehicle traffic and
soil moisture in a variety of sand, silt and silty loam soils
along the banks of the Mississippi River.
Road Monitoring
Tennessee, U.S.A.
Researchers in the Agricultural Engineering and Civil
Engineering Departments of an American University are using
MOISTURE.POINT® to monitor substrate water content below
asphaltic concrete pavement. The objective of the research is to
demonstrate the seasonal variation in water content and
temperature in pavement substrates, and to measure the effects
of these variations on pavement performance. Three test sites
have been selected for this study, representing the range of
environmental and geotechnical conditions that exist across
Tennessee.
MOISTURE.POINT® profiling probes have been placed horizontally
in the soil substrate, stone substrate and asphalt stabilized
base layer beneath the outer wheel path of the roadway. The
installation was done from a trench constructed in the shoulder
of the road. These profiling probes will allow monitoring of a
wetting front moving horizontally in the substrate.
MOISTURE.POINT® single segment probes have been placed in the
asphaltic concrete, installed during construction, before the
material cooled.
At each site, rainfall, air temperature, relative humidity, wind
speed, and solar radiation will be monitored. Temperature
sensors have been placed in the asphalt concrete through a core
hole. Non-destructive Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) tests
will be periodically performed at each site to correlate
pavement performance with environmental conditions. This will
permit direct observation of the effects of substrate water
content variations on pavement performance.
A MOISTURE.POINT® multiplexed datalogging system has been
installed in a metal enclosure inside a concrete vault outside
the roadway shoulder at each site. The system will collect data
from the probes, substrate and pavement temperature sensors,
rainfall tipping buckets and other climatological sensors.
Atmospheric Research
Kansas, U.S.A.
The Argonne Boundary Layer Experiment (ABLE) is a new research
initiative devoted to addressing a myriad of unresolved
fundamental questions in atmospheric research. The initial focus
of ABLE will be measurements of the planetary boundary layer
where most interactions between the atmosphere and humans take
place. Many important scientific issues are being addressed
including natural disaster reduction, public safety, and water
resource management.
MOISTURE.POINT® is being used in one study to better understand
the relationship between soil moisture, soil hydraulic processes
and precipitation length scales. A total of 16 sites will be
monitored using MOISTURE.POINT® five-segment profiling probes
in the Towanda Sub-basin of Kansas. Spacing between the probes
will be approximately 10m along a transect to obtain a two-
dimensional representation of soil/water dynamics. The full
installation will be composed of two eight-probe transects
placed in a cross pattern.
Temperature measurements will be made at three depths in the
proximity of each probe to be used primarily for temperature
corrections. Remote access to the automated system will be
provided through the use of a cellular telephone modem link to
allow for data retrieval and continuous site monitoring. Rain
gauges will be installed to record date and time of each
precipitation event.
MOISTURE.POINT® was selected for this study by researchers from
Oregon State University because two similar systems had already
been successfully deployed in the Boreal Ecosystem and
Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) to monitor soil moisture.
MOISTURE.POINT® was selected to provide the moisture measurement
data for these studies because of its unique features, including
profiling of moisture at different depths with minimal soil
disturbance; easy installation and relocation; and performance
in different soil types.
accurately measure horizontal and vertical soil moisture
profiles - with virtually no disturbance to existing soil
horizons.
In the fields of agriculture, silviculture and irrigation,
MOISTURE.POINT® has numerous possible applications, including:
* Determining correlations between soil moisture and other
environmental variables on plant growth;
* Accurately differentiating the moisture requirements between
plant species;
* Determining irrigation routines that provide an optimal root
environment for balanced plant growth;
* Determining irrigation routines that maximize water
conservation.
* Analyzing the distribution effectiveness of irrigation
systems;
Below is a selection of typical Moisture·Point® applications in
agriculture, silviculture, and irrigation.
1. Agriculture
MOISTURE.POINT® systems make it possible to conduct innovative
and valuable agricultural research around the world.
http://www.esica.com/products/moisture/apps/agri-app.htm
In each of the following applications, MOISTURE.POINT® offers
researchers the unique ability to monitor a vertical soil
moisture profile. This can be accomplished with virtually no
disturbance to existing soil horizons and, with an unparalleled
degree of resolution in TDR-based data collection.
Microspray Irrigation Management Study
USDA-ARS, California
Researchers are studying the effects of a microspray irrigation
system on soil moisture distribution near large walnut tree root
systems, versus in open areas. The correlation between soil
moisture levels, soil pests and their control is also being
studied. The trial is being replicated over five years in order
to evaluate the long term impacts and the success of this
irrigation management technique.
The flexibility and ease of installation of the MOISTURE.POINT®
system has allowed researchers to obtain moisture level
information in and around large root systems, providing accurate
data collection in confined areas.
Study of Impact of Greenhouse Effect on Water Availability
Department of Geography, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Researchers in Switzerland are currently studying the impact of
the greenhouse effect on water availability for plants.
MOISTURE.POINT® systems are being used to measure soil moisture
data for this study. Fifty one-square-metre cells with one-third
of metre Plexiglas walls and a lid have been positioned on a
steep slope with a southern exposure. Inside each cell, the
atmosphere is artificially augmented with C02 delivered through
a perforated conduit system. This artificial atmosphere is
designed to emulate the atmosphere a few decades from now, based
on the current C02 rate of increase.
The cells are equipped with C02, 02 and temperature sensors. A
circular antenna laid on the soil in each cell emits a frequency
that brings earthworms to the surface. Counting the worms in
each cell permits an assessment of the biological activity of
the soil.
Until recently, the study did not include accurate soil moisture
data as the researchers had been unable to find probes suitable
to this application. To be effective, the probes had to be
installed in the soil to a depth of one metre without causing
major disruption to the soil structure. Also, the probes had to
be installed with little available surface area given the
existing suite of sensors. MOISTURE.POINT® was selected for its
unique ability to meet these requirements.
Assessment of Water Retention of Farm Fields under Varying
Tillage Techniques
Charlottetown Research Centre (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
At this facility, researchers are using MOISTURE.POINT® to
assess the water retention characteristics of farm fields under
varying tillage techniques, with a focus on conservation
tillage. This technique allows the residual mulch from potato
plants to remain in the top soil layer, which is believed to
reduce evapo-transpirative loss. At the same time, it is
theorized that conservation tillage facilitates rapid water
infiltration during irrigation or precipitation events.
2. Silviculture
MOISTURE.POINT® makes it possible to increase growth and yield,
while saving on water, power and fertilizer.
http://www.esica.com/products/moisture/apps/silv-app.htm
Tree nurseries are increasingly using new techniques, such as
large potted seedlings and air-slit containers, in their effort
to cultivate strong, healthy plants with well-developed root
structures. Although it has been proven that irrigation
techniques play a critical role in seedling physiology,
traditional approaches to determining seasonal soil water
requirements during the growth period have been typically
qualitative. There has not been a quick, accurate means of
measuring the water content in the potting medium (comprised of
peat, vermiculite and sand)...until the development of
MOISTURE.POINT®. This is the first system to provide routine,
precise volumetric moisture monitoring capability in a broad
range of soils, including peat and other porous media used in
greenhouse cultivation.
MOISTURE.POINT® provides the empirical data necessary for
greenhouse specialists to establish effective irrigation
routines that optimize growth and yield in their nursery.
Greenhouse specialists can monitor water content of their soils
in "real-time", and irrigation can easily designed to
accommodate seasonal conditions, tree species and planting media
variations.
Measuring Moisture Content in Peat Substrates
Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources, Canada
A recent study was undertaken by the Quebec Ministry of Natural
Resources in which water content was measured three times per
week, using 24 probes in peat substrates within the tree
production greenhouses. The MOISTURE.POINT® system was used to
determine moisture levels in several small containers by
arranging one long single-diode probe to pass through several of
the containers. Moisture·Point® provided reliable measurement of
water content in peat and vermiculite potting mixes with an
average accuracy of better than 3%, reproducible from week to
week. As well, ministry greenhouse staff were able to maintain
preset moisture levels.
3. Irrigation
Successful use of MOISTURE.POINT® in raspberry farming allows
for accurate scheduling of irrigation and saves 10 percent in
watering costs for the season.
http://www.esica.com/products/moisture/apps/irig-app.htm
MOISTURE.POINT® systems were installed in established raspberry
fields near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The region has
an annual moisture deficit of approximately 432-mm per growing
season and raspberries must be irrigated to achieve optimum
production.
The farm currently has two types of irrigation systems - a hand-
moved sprinkler system in one field and a trickle system in a
second field. Moisture monitoring equipment was used in both
fields to determine the effectiveness of the irrigation to
develop new watering schedules to save water.
One probe was installed in the sprinkler-irrigated field in the
row line of the raspberry plants. In the trickle irrigated
field, two probes were installed, one in the row midway between
two point-source emitters and the other probe between the
raspberry rows, approximately 1.5 metres from the emitters.
The moisture data were recorded along with the time of day and
weather conditions. Initially, readings were taken at three-to
four-day intervals and then at closer intervals near sprinkler
irrigation times.
The sprinkler irrigation system was initially operated on a
timed schedule that was independent of soil moisture levels.
After the first two cycles of operation, the maximum soil
moisture levels for different depths were determined. Similarly,
minimum moisture levels to sustain food crop production were
established. This enabled sprinkler irrigation scheduling to be
planned based on safe moisture levels, rather than on time. The
user claims that the instrument not only saved water due to more
accurate scheduling knowledge, but it also saved 10% of the cost
of the irrigation water for the season.
signal levels, enabling the system to operate in a broader range
of soils. MOISTURE.POINT delivers contiguous profiles with up to
seven readings from a single probe. The MOISTURE.POINT System
is designed to handle a broad range of industry and research
applications. Landfill Monitoring, Irrigation, Civil
Engineering, Agriculture, Forestry, Mining, Site Remediation,
Research.
instrument for soil moisture management. It provides immediate
and accurate responses to changes in soil moisture in the root
zone, and is designed to remain in the soil for the duration of
a crop, or even on a permanent basis. GRO.POINT can operate on a
stand-alone basis, or is easily integrated into an ESI or other
automated irrigation control system.
Designed and developed by ESI, GRO.POINT is a cost-effective
soil moisture-sensing instrument that provides accurate
measurement of soil moisture by volume. GRO.POINT uses a
refined TDT technology that was specifically developed to
provide growers with the management information that is required
to enable them to:
* obtain higher yields
* grow better quality crops
* optimize water use
* reduce excessive leaching.
Manufactured in stainless steel with all interfaces sealed in
epoxy, the GRO.POINT soil moisture instrument will provide
years of reliable service. There are currently two models
available: the GRO.POINT Standard Sensor and the Extended Range
Sensor.
MoisturePoint soil moisture monitoring system provides dynamic information on moisture infiltration into the engineered natural soil cover systems over these waste facilities. This allows regulators to assess the performance of the cover systems and take remedial action, if necessary.
Offering an unprecedented combination of portability, ease of operation, and high precision, Moisture·Point is an award-winning, innovative system for measuring
volumetric soil moisture.
With over four years of development and laboratory/field testing, Moisture·Point is the ultimate moisture monitoring system offering its users the unique ability to monitor a vertical or horizontal soil moisture profile. Moisture·Point is specifically designed with features for both general purpose and scientific use, and it provides an unparalleled degree of accuracy and resolution - with virtually no disturbance to existing soil horizons.
Offering an unprecedented combination of portability, ease of operation, and high precision, Moisture·Point is an award-winning, innovative system for measuring volumetric soil moisture.
With over four years of development and laboratory/field testing, Moisture·Point is the ultimate moisture monitoring system offering its users the unique ability to monitor a vertical or horizontal soil moisture profile. Moisture·Point is specifically designed with features for both general purpose and scientific use, and it provides an unparalleled degree of accuracy and resolution - with virtually no disturbance to existing soil horizons.
landfill cover validation
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
maintains stringent regulations regarding the final cover of a
closed landfill. The intent of their "Subtitle D" prescriptive
final closure is to create a cover which will eliminate water
infiltration and minimize erosion.
The EPA's prescribed cover includes a 6 inch "erosion layer",
designed to support native vegetation, directly above an 18 inch
low-permeability "infiltration layer", commonly composed of clay
or bentonite.
Solid Waste Landfill Closures
In many parts of the United States, clay or bentonite is not
locally available. To meet the EPA's prescribed landfill cover
definition in these regions, these infiltration layer materials
must be acquired and transported from other regions, at great
cost. An additional problem with both clay and bentonite is that
they are liable to crack and desiccate in arid regions, thus
undermining the integrity of the cap.
Alternative / Monolithic Cover Designs
Motivated by the above financial and operational incentives,
many cities, municipalities and landfill operators are looking
to close their solid waste landfills with an alternative final
cover. The monolithic approach, a final cover design comprised
of compacted locally available, low-permeability soil, is
quickly gaining acceptance at all levels, including government
regulators, environmental engineering firms and end users. The
net benefits are (1) significant cost advantages over the
prescribed cover design, and (2) reduced operational concerns in
terms of cover implementation and maintenance.
Implementation of an alternative landfill cover design requires
approval by government regulators. A prerequisite of the
approval process is validation of the integrity of the cover;
i.e.: Is it working? If a moisture monitoring system is required
to validate the performance of the alternative final cover,
E.S.I. Environmental Sensors Inc.'s MOISTURE.POINT® provides the
solution.
Landfill Monitoring
Arizona, U.S.A.
Regulations have been developed in the United States to define a
cover design for landfill closures that provides an impervious
barrier to surface moisture infiltration and thus prevents
contamination of the groundwater. The regulations recognize that
regional variations may not suit the prescribed cover design,
and an allowance for alternative designs is included.
Alternative designs must pass a rigorous approval process.
Covers usually include the construction of a clay layer, which
is prone to desiccation and cracking in arid climates. When this
happens, the clay layer allows water to penetrate through it.
Alternative cover designs must maintain an unsaturated profile
inhibiting breakthrough and, where appropriate, enhancing evapo-
transpiration with native plant species.
A MOISTURE.POINT® Landfill Monitoring System incorporates ESI's
patented multi-segment profiling probes together with a full
suite of meteorological sensors to provide a complete monitoring
system for alternative landfill cover validation. The probes are
installed vertically from the surface with minimal soil
disturbance. Additional system options include solar power and
cellular modem for remote, unattended operation and data
communications. The system is easy to use and provides reliable
moisture data in contiguous profiles with minimal site impact.
MOISTURE.POINT® has little calibration sensitivity to variations
in soil structure, and provides a predictable response to
variations in soil conductivity, soil structure and
permeability. In addition, MOISTURE.POINT® allows for post-
construction sensor installation without disturbing the soil
profile.
In a recent application in the State of Arizona, an alternative
test cover study has been implemented with a goal of
demonstrating that an effective alternative cover can be
constructed using locally available silty sand soils.
MOISTURE.POINT® was selected to provide the data necessary to
validate the effectiveness of the alternative cover design.
The focus of the study is on two one-acre test covers
constructed at the landfill. Each test cover has a dedicated,
multiplexed soil moisture monitoring system, housed in a
weatherproof enclosure, located in a central location on the
test cover. Each test cover contains 29 soil moisture-sensing
probes, each providing readings at five different depths.
The data allows regulators from the Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality to assess whether or not the test covers
meet the requirement of the regulations.
C219-Other Architect and Engineering Services
J000-Maintenance, Repair, Modification, Rebuilding and Installation of Goods/Equipment
N000-Installation of Equipment
Market
Market profile
Industry sector market interests:
- Agriculture
- Environment
- Forestry
- Mining/Petroleum/Gas
Geographic markets:
Export experience:
- Algeria
- Australia
- Brazil
- China
- Cuba
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- Iceland
- India
- Iran, Islamic Republic of
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Puerto Rico
- Sweden
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom
- United States
Actively pursuing:
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Thailand


Some words you should know
I haven’t alphabetized these.
##Union A trade union (also sometimes called a labor union or just a union) is a group of workers in the same industry who work together to improve their conditions.
Encyclopedia Britannica on the definition of a union
##Collective Bargaining Collective bargaining is the process of negotiations between people who represent workers and people who represent their employers. Some of the things they might negotiate include hiring practices, promotions, pay, and working hours, to name but a few.
Encyclopedia Britannica on collective bargaining
Strike
A strike is when a group of employees refuse to work. Often a strike is used as leverage in negotiations with employers, or sometimes the government.
A strike is not spontaneous. Normally, all members of the union calling for a strike will vote on whether they want to strike or not. If the majority wins, the strike is planned in advance. The members who voted against are normally also required to participate in the strike.
Encylopedia Britannica on strikes
##Walkout As opposed to a strike, a walkout is often spontaneous. The union doesn’t always vote on whether or not to walk out. In the case of a strike, they will nearly always vote.
Sometimes the words “strike” and “walkout” are used interchangeably to refer to a situation, but the words on their own mean different things.
Picket
To picket is to stand outside a building to prevent other workers from going inside. In the context of a strike, it is often used to enforce the strike. As a noun, “picket” refers to the groups of people engaging in this activity.
Cambridge Dictionary on picketing.

Labor dispute
A disagreement between and employer and employees about anything related to the work, or with regards to the process of collective bargaining itself.
The Law Dictionary on labor disputes.
Dues
Closed shop
A place of employment where all employees must belong to a union. Closed shops are illegal in the United States. In many contracts, however, non-union employees will pay an “agency” fee, since they also benefit from the bargaining done by the union.


What was the problem?
When I was first introduced to HTML and CSS, I had a an issue with my web pages not linking up and the image links always breaking. I was using Adobe Dreamweaver, and it had a feature where you could switch between code and visual views. I would use the visual view to place images and add links to other files in my website, so I didn't fully understand the concept of linking images and other pages properly.
As a result I would move files around in the directory not known I was breaking the links in my website, and every time I would open up Dreamweaver to work on my assignment, all of the links were broken and I was wondering why.


II. 10. Meiotic behavior of a barley-rye hybrid.
George Fedak, Ottawa Research Station, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C6, Canada. "R"
Many attempts have been made to hybridize rye with barley in many laboratories without much success. The failures are apparently due to incompatibility systems which prevent the formation of hybrid embryos. The post-pollination application of GA has apparently helped to overcome the incompatibility systems so that hybrid embryos are recovered. Several hundred hybrid seedlings have been produced in our laboratory to date but all have turned chlorotic and died at either the early seedling stage or late after producing only aborted spikes. In our most recent attempt 3363 florets of six different 2-rowed spring diploid cultivars were pollinated with Petkus rye.
Fifty-five hybrid seedlings were obtained, two with a chromosome number of 2n = 15 and the remainder with the expected numbers of 2n = 14. In somatic cells of the hybrid, the chromosomes of both species could be identified by differences in size with chromosomes of the rye genome being significantly larger. The nucleolar organizers (N.O.) of barley chromosome 6 and 7 were clearly visible (Figure 1) but the rye N.O. appeared to be suppressed. The same phenomenon was observed at diakinesis of meiotic cells where virtually all cells contained only one nucleolus and in 78% of these cells only two small chromosomes, presumably those of barley were associated with it (Figure 2). In the remaining cells only one chromosome was associated with the nucleolus. Since both parental species contain N.O. chromosomes, evidently in the hybrid the expression of one species (rye) was being suppressed by the other (barley).
Figure 1. Somatic chromosomes of barley-rye hybrid.
Figure 2. Fourteen univalent chromosomes at diakinesis
in the barley-rye hybrid.
A study of the meiotic behavior of chromosomes in the hybrid revealed a minimal amount of chromosome pairing. The majority of chromosomes in meiotic cells remained unpaired as univalents and only an average of .18 bivalents and .02 trivalents per cell was found to give an average chiasma frequency of .22. Heteromorphic bivalents would have revealed pairing between barley and rye chromosomes but none were observed. The lack of pairing between chromosomes of the two species indicates either a lack of homology between them or the existence of meiotic pairing control genes. The study of only one hybrid plant makes it difficult to choose between the two alternatives.


| Gurusamy Arumugam |
Madurai Kamaraj University, India |
| Phoebe Chen |
Deakin University, Australia |
| Ed Durfee |
University of Michigan, USA |
| Chin-Yew Lin |
University of Southern California, USA |
| Tsau Young Lin |
San Jose State University, USA |
| Michael Luck |
University of Southampton, UK |
| Carles Sierra |
Spainish Research Council, Spain |
| Zhaohao Sun |
University of Wollongong, Australia |
| Ah-Hwee Tan |
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore |
| Leon S.L. Wang |
New York Institute of Technology, USA |
| Lipo Wang |
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore |
| Steven Willmott |
Univ. Politecnica de Catalunya, Spain |
| Wai Yeap |
Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand |
| Mohammed J. Zaki |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA |


Requested Hours per week: 50
Convert to: Pay
Description: I hereby request you to provide me with 50 hours of overtime per week which is to be converted to pay.
Given Hours per week: 40
To Be Converted to: Holiday
Description: 40 hours given towards Overtime


MIDNIGHT COWBOY **** OF **** grade is A+
Midnight Cowboy is one of the best films ever made. It is depressing and exciting, and it crackles with visual excesses and brilliance. It is also the only X-rated film to win best picture at the Oscars. The content was very controversial when Midnight Cowboy was released in 1969, and now seems like a flat R, and less shocking.
Midnight Cowboy tells a great stories that seems forever-recycled into original material. A small town kid, Joe Buck (Jon Voight) a cowboy from Texas, enters a big city with high hopes that become deflated as he tries to dodge the sharks. He is looked after by Enrico "Ratso" Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman) a con with a loser with a bum leg and heart. Rizzo helps Buck with his dream of becoming a hustler and Buck offer a friend.
The characters are seen so clearly and uncompromisingly that they put most film characters to shame.  Both men try so hard to create a good environment for themselves and each other that they end up cold and desperate. All actions in the film are character driven and Midnight Cowboy never insults the audience by being presumptuous.
Instead we get Ratso Rizzo one of the best tragic heroes of all time. You can't help feel sorry for this guy who may be bad on the surface but really cares for his friend Buck and has the feeble hope of one day getting to visit Florida and one day not being called Ratso but Enrico, the name he was given.
Rizzo and Buck combine to make one of the best screen couples of all time. We watch as their relationship grows from nothing to wonderful love and mutual respect. When I say "LOVE" I'm not talking about the easy way out love, but a friendship that will break wall and protect them as far as it can take them.
Midnight Cowboy, which I just recently saw for the first time, doesn't feel dated at all. It holds it's own with freshness and excitement few films today possess. I would say this is a great companion piece to Boogie Nights, the wonderful film of last year, which is now out on video. Midnight Cowboy's director John Schlesinger should receive most of the credit for the film's still powerful impact and undated qualities.
**A flat out wonderful film that should not be seen on Network Television.
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This section is a self-contained summary of the concepts and systematic organising principles used by Inform to present the illusion of describing a physically real environment, with which the protagonist of a game interacts. All details of implementation are ignored and Inform jargon is either avoided or explained. While many of the rules are standard to all world models used for interactive fiction, some are not, and the footnotes remark on some of the more interesting cases. The next section, §25, buries itself back into implementation to discuss how to add new rules or to change those rules below which you don't agree with. The description below is arranged as follows: ¶1. Substance; ¶2. Containment; ¶3. Space; ¶4. Sense; ¶5. Time; ¶6. Action.
1.1. Objects make up the substance of the world: its places and their contents, abstract relations between these, transient states the world can be in, actors and trends (such as the flowing of a river).
1.2. At any given time, every object in the world model is one and only one of the following kinds: the player; a room; the darkness object; an item; the compass object; a compass direction; or something which is out of play.1
1.2.1. The player object represents the protagonist of the game.
1.2.2. A room represents some region of space, not necessarily with walls or indoors.
1.2.3. The darkness pseudo-room represents the experience of being in a dark place, and has no specific location in space.
1.2.4. An item represents some body (or group of similar bodies) with a definite spatial position at any given time. It is not necessarily solid but its substance is indivisible.
1.2.5. The compass pseudo-item represents the frame of reference within the protagonist's head, and is not an actual compass with its attendant hazards of being dropped, broken, stolen or becoming invisible in pitch darkness.
1.2.6. A compass direction represents a potential direction of movement, such as “northeast”, “down”, “in” or “starboard”.
1.2.7. Objects out of play represent nothing in the model world and the protagonist does not interact with them. Out of play objects are mostly things which once existed within the model world but which were destroyed, or which have not yet been brought into being.
1.2.8. An object can change its kind as the game progresses: for instance a compass direction can be taken out of play, and certain items can become the player, making the object which was previously the player now merely an item.
1.3. Objects are indivisible even if the player may see internal structure to them, such as the four legs which are part of a chair. Pieces of objects only appear in the model if additional objects are provided for them.2
1.4. Objects have internal states and are therefore distinguishable from each other by more than their position in the containment tree. Some are “open”, some are “concealed” and so on, and they are given descriptions and other specifications by the designer.
1.4.1. Some objects are “switchable” between two mutually exclusive states, “on” and “off”. These represent machines, trapdoors and the like, which behave differently when set to when unset, and which generally have rules about the process of setting and unsetting.
1.4.2. Some objects are “lockable” and someone with the specified “key” object can switch between mutually exclusive states, “locked” and “unlocked”. These objects represent containers and doors with locks.
1.4.3. Some objects are “openable” and therefore in one of two mutually exclusive states, “open” and “closed”. If such an object is closed and also locked then it cannot be opened. These objects represent containers and doors.
2.1. Some objects are contained within other objects in what is sometimes called a tree, meaning that: (i) an object can either be contained in one other object (called its “parent”), or not contained in any; (ii) there is no “loop” of objects such that each is contained in the next and the last is contained in the first. The pattern of containment changes frequently during play but (i) and (ii) always hold.3
2.1.1. The objects contained within something are kept in order of how long they have been there. The first possession (sometimes called the “child”) is the one most recently arrived, and the last is the one which has been contained for longest.
2.1.2. In some games there are objects called “floating objects” which represent something found in many locations, such as a stream flowing through the map, or a pervasive cloud. These give the appearance of violating rule ¶2.1, but do not: the effect is an illusion brought about by making the floating object belong at all times to the same room as the player.
2.2. The following rules remain true at all times:
2.2.1. A room is not contained.
2.2.2. The darkness object and the compass are not contained.
2.2.3. A compass direction is contained in the compass object but itself contains nothing.
2.2.4. An item is always contained; either in the player, in another item or a room.
2.2.5. The player is always contained in a visitable object. An object is “visitable” if either (a) it is a room, or (b) it is enterable and it has a visitable parent.
2.2.6. An object out of play is either contained in another object out of play, or else not contained at all.4
2.3. Containment models a number of subtly different kinds of belonging:
2.3.1. The contents of a room object are near each other (usually within sight and touch) in the space represented by the room. For instance, the player, a wooden door and a table might all be contained in a room representing the inside of a small hut.5
2.3.2. The contents of the compass are the compass directions available in principle to an actor. If “north” is removed from the compass, then north becomes meaningless even if an actor is in a room with a north exit; if “aft” is added, then it need not follow that any room actually has an exit leading aft.
2.3.3. The contents of the player fall into two categories: those which are “worn”, and the rest.
<IP_ADDRESS>. Worn objects represent clothing or accessories held onto the body without the need for hands, such as a belt or a rucksack.
<IP_ADDRESS>. The rest represent items being held in the player's hands.
2.3.4. The contents of an item model different kinds of belonging, depending on the nature of the item:6
<IP_ADDRESS>. Some items are “containers”: they represent boxes, bottles, bags, holes in the wall and so on. The contents of a container are considered to be physically inside it. At any given time a container can be “open” or “closed”.
<IP_ADDRESS>. Some items are “supporters”: they represent tables, plinths, beds and so on. The contents of a supporter are considered to be physically on top of it.
<IP_ADDRESS>. Some items are “animate”: they represent people, sentient creatures generally and higher animals. The contents of an animate object are considered to be carried by it.
<IP_ADDRESS>. Some items are “enterable”, meaning that it is possible for the player to be contained within them. A large tea-chest might be an enterable container; a bed might be an enterable supporter. In the case of an enterable which is neither container nor supporter, and which contains the player, the player is considered to be confined close to the enterable: for instance, by a pair of manacles.
<IP_ADDRESS>. Failing this, the contents of an item represent pieces or components of it, such as a lever attached to machinery, or a slot cut into a slab of masonry.
3.1. Spatial arrangement on the small scale (at ranges of a few moments' walking distance or less) is modelled by considering some objects to lie close together and others to lie far apart.
3.1.1. Objects ultimately contained in the same room are considered to be close enough together that walking between the two is a largely unconscious act.
<IP_ADDRESS>. The model takes no account of directions from one such object to another, except as described in ¶2.3.4 above (e.g., that contents of a supporter are on top of it).
<IP_ADDRESS>. All objects with the same parent are considered to be equidistant from, and to have equal access to, each other.7
3.1.2. Objects ultimately contained in different rooms are considered to be so far apart that they will not ordinarily interact. Because of this the model takes no account of one being further away than another.8
3.2. Spatial arrangement on the large scale (at ranges of an appreciable walking distance or more) is modelled by joining rooms together at their edges, much as a patchwork quilt is made.
3.2.1. Rooms joined together represent areas which are adjacent in that they are separated by so short a walk that the walker does not have opportunity to think twice and turn back, or to stop halfway and do something else.
3.2.2. Rooms are joined either by a map connection or a door.9
<IP_ADDRESS>. Map connections come in different kinds, representing different directions in the geography of the world. These physical directions are north, south, east, west, northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest, up, down, in and out.
<IP_ADDRESS>. Each compass direction corresponds to a single physical direction at any given moment, and this represents the actual direction which a player will walk in if he tries to walk in a given direction within his own frame of reference.10
<IP_ADDRESS>. A “door” is an item representing something which comes between two locations, which must be passed through or by in order to go from one to the other, and which it requires some conscious decision to use.11
<IP_ADDRESS>. As with a compass direction, a door corresponds to a single physical direction at any given moment.
4.1. The senses are used in the world model primarily to determine whether the player can, or cannot, interact with a nearby object. Three different kinds of accessibility are modelled: touch, sight and awareness.12
4.2. Awareness = sight + touch, that is, the player is aware of something if it can be seen or touched.13
4.2.1. Awareness represents the scope of the player's ability to interact with the world in a single action. Although the player may pursue a grand strategy, he must do so by a series of tactical moves each within the scope of awareness.14
4.3. There are only two strengths of light: good enough to read by and pitch blackness, which we shall call “light” and “dark”.
4.3.1. Some containers and other items are specified as being transparent to light, meaning that light can pass through from what contains them to what they contain (for instance a glass box or a machine whose contents are the buttons on the its front panel), while others are opaque (for instance a wooden box or a spy who keeps all her belongings concealed).
4.3.2. An object is called “see-through” if it is transparent, or if it is a supporter, or if it is an open container, or if it is the player.
4.3.3. Some rooms are specified by the designer as having ambient light (those representing outdoor locations, caves with fluorescent ore formations, strip-lit office buildings and the like); some items are specified as giving off light (those representing torches, lanterns and the like). The room or item is said to be “lit”.
4.3.4. There is light for the player to see by only if there is a lit object, close to the player in the sense of ¶3, such that every object between them is see-through. (For instance, if a player is in a sealed glass box in a cupboard which also contains a key, the glass box comes between player and key, but the cupboard does not.)15
4.4. What the player can touch depends on whether there is light.
4.4.1. In the light, the player can touch anything close to the player provided that (a) every object between them is see-through and (b) none of the objects between them is a closed container.
4.4.2. In the dark, the player can touch (a) anything contained in the player and (b) the enterable object which the player is contained in (if any).16
4.5. What the player can see also depends on whether there is light, but also on whether the designer has specified that any nearby items are “concealed”, which models their being hidden from view. Concealed objects remain touchable but you would need to know they were there, since sight alone would not reveal this. On once being picked up, a concealed object ceases to be concealed.
4.5.1. In the light, the player can see any non-concealed object close to the player provided that (a) every object between them is see-through and (b) none of the objects between them is concealed.
4.5.2. In the dark, the player can see nothing.
5.1. The passage of time is represented by describing and changing the model world at regular intervals, each cycle being called a “turn”. The interval from one such moment to the next is considered to be the time occupied by carrying out these changes, so that all basic changes (i.e., actions: see ¶6) consume the same unit of time.
5.2. Changes in the model world are carried out by a number of independent processes called “daemons”. Some daemons are built in and others added by the designer of a particular game, conventionally by associating them with certain objects over which they have sway. A turn consists of the daemons being invoked one at a time until each has been given the chance to intervene, or to decline to intervene.
5.2.1. Daemons are invoked in the sequence: action daemon, any designed daemons (in no particular order), each-turn daemon, scoring daemon, clock daemon.
5.2.2. Daemons have the opportunity to carry out arbitrary changes to the state of the objects, but should be designed to violate the rules of the model world as little as possible. The built-in daemons do not violate them at all.
5.2.3. Certain designed daemons are “timers”, meaning that they are set to decline to intervene for a set number of turns and will then act once and once only (unless or until reset).
5.3. The action daemon consults the player at the keyboard by asking which action should be performed and then performing it. (See ¶6.) The action daemon is invoked first in each turn.
5.4. The each-turn daemon polls any object of which the player is aware. If it has been specified by the designer as having an each-turn rule, then that rule is applied.
5.5. The scoring daemon keeps track of the length of the game so far by keeping count of the number of turns. It also measures the player's progress by keeping score:
5.5.1. Points are awarded if the player is for the first time carrying an item which the designer has marked as “scored”.
5.5.2. Also if the player is for the first time inside a room which the designer has marked as “scored”, provided there is light to see by.
5.5.3. The library groups score ranges into ranks, with names such as “Beginner” or “Expert” specified by the designer. If this feature is used at all then every possible score should correspond to one and only one rank.
5.6. The clock daemon records the time of day to the nearest minute. (Day, month and year are not modelled.)
5.6.1. Between one change of state and the next, the clock is normally advanced by one minute, but the designer (not the player) can arrange for this to be varied in play either to several changes per minute, or several minutes per change.
5.6.2. The designer can also change the time at any point.
5.6.3. Time passes at a constant rate for all objects, so that the player's measurement of the passage of time is the same as everybody else's.17
5.7. Time stops immediately when any daemon declares the player's death or victory.
5.7.1. Only rules provided by the designer will do this: the model world's normal rules are set up so that, whatever the player asks to do, time will continue indefinitely.18
6.1. An action is a single impulse by the player to do something, which if feasible would take sufficiently little time to carry out that there would be no opportunity to change one's mind half-way or leave it only partly carried out.
6.1.1. An action “succeeds” if the activity in question does take place within the model world. If not, it “fails”.19
6.1.2. Not all impulses are sensible or feasible. Some actions fail because circumstances happen to frustrate them, but others could never have succeeded in any circumstances.
6.1.3. Some actions (the so-called “group 3 actions”) have a model in which, once the impulse is verified as being feasible, all that happens is that a message along the lines of “nothing much happens” is given.
6.1.4. Some actions imply the need for other actions to take place first. In such cases the first action is tried, and only if this is successful will the second action be tried.
<IP_ADDRESS>. An action which requires an object to be held (such as eating) will cause a take action for that object.
<IP_ADDRESS>. A particular container, specified by the designer as the “sack object”, is such that when the player is carrying the maximum legal number of items, any further take action causes the least recently taken item to be put into the sack first.20
<IP_ADDRESS>.  Other actions are recognised as being composites and so are split into a sequence of simpler constituent actions.
<IP_ADDRESS>. Actions involving multiple objects specified by the player as a collective batch (“take six buttons”, “drop all”) are split into one action for each object.
<IP_ADDRESS>. Emptying a container is split up into individual remove and drop actions.
<IP_ADDRESS>. Entering something which would require intermediate objects to be exited or entered is split into a sequence of exits and entrances.
6.2. An action can involve no objects other than the player, or else one other object of which the player is aware, or else two other objects of which the player is aware.21
6.2.1. The following actions fail if the player cannot touch the object(s) acted on: taking, dropping, removing from a container, putting something on or inside something, entering something, passing through a door, locking and unlocking, switching on or off, opening, closing, wearing or removing clothing, eating, touching, waving something, pulling, pushing or turning, squeezing, throwing, attacking or kissing, searching something.
6.2.2. The following actions fail if the player cannot see the object(s) acted on: examining, searching or looking under something.22
6.3. The actions modelled are grouped under five headings below: actions of sense, alteration, arrangement, movement and communication. There is also one inaction: waiting, in which the player chooses to do nothing for the turn.
6.4. Actions of sense are those which seek information about the world without changing it: inventory, examining, consulting, looking, looking under, searching, listening, tasting, touching and smelling.23
6.4.1. “Look” describes only those parts of the room which can be seen. (In particular, concealed objects are omitted.) In addition, certain objects are “scenery” and are omitted from specific mention in room descriptions because, although visible, they are either too obvious to mention (such as the sky) or are mentioned already in the room-specific text.
6.5. Actions of alteration are those in which the player changes something without moving it: opening, closing, locking, unlocking, switching on and off, wearing and removing clothing, and eating.
6.5.1. A successful eating action results in the object being taken out of play.24
6.6. Actions of arrangement are those in which the player rearranges the spatial arrangement of things: taking, dropping, removing, inserting, putting on top of, transferring, emptying, emptying onto or into, pulling, pushing, turning and throwing.
6.6.1. Pulling, pushing and turning are only minimally provided: they are checked to see if the player can indeed carry out the action, but then nothing happens unless the designer writes code to make it happen, because the model doesn't include directions of pointing.
6.6.2. Actions of arrangement fail if the object is “static”, meaning that it is fixed in place.
6.7. Actions of movement are those in which the player moves about: going, entering, exiting, getting off and pushing something from one room to another.
6.7.1. An attempt to enter a container or door fails if it is not open.
6.7.2. Only an enterable object or a door can be entered.
6.7.3. The player can only get off or exit from the enterable object currently holding him.
6.7.4. Certain enterable objects are “vehicles”. Within a vehicle, movement actions are permitted as if the player were standing on the floor. Otherwise, no movements are permitted if the player is within an enterable object, except to enter or exit.
<IP_ADDRESS>. If the player travels in a vehicle, the vehicle object is also moved to the new room, and the player remains within it.
6.7.5. Certain objects are “pushable” and accompany the player on an otherwise normal movement. These, too, move to the new room.
6.7.6. An attempt to move through a concealed door fails as if the door were not there at all.25
6.8. Actions of communication are those in which the player relates to other people within the model world: giving, showing, waking somebody up, attacking, kissing, answering, telling, asking about and asking for something.
6.8.1. Actions of communication fail unless the object is animate, except that certain “talkable” objects can be addressed in conversation.
1 The compass pseudo-item and the darkness pseudo-room are anomalies. The compass arises from a generic convention which is unrealistic but avoids making the game needlessly tiresome: that the player has a perfect inherent sense of direction. The representation of darkness is less defensible. Although vaguely justifiable from the assumption that the experience of being in one entirely dark place is much like another, it came about instead for reasons of implementation: partly to bundle up various darkness-related texts as though they were room descriptions, and partly because early versions of the Inform run-time format (version 3 of the Z-machine) imposed a restriction that the status line displayed above the screen could only be the short name of an object.
2 The atomic theory of matter. Since there are a finite number of atoms each with a finite range of possible states and positions, Heraclitus' doctrine that one cannot stand in the same river twice is false within the model world, and this can detract from its realism. It is sometimes too easy for the protagonist to exactly undo his actions as if they had never been and to return exactly to the world as it was before. Another problem with ¶1.3 is that liquids need to be divisible (“some water” becoming “some water” and “some water”).
3 Infocom world models all included rule (ii) but their implementations made no systematic effort to enforce this, so that Infocom were perpetually fixing bugs arising from putting two containers inside each other.
4 Without knowing the context, and looking at the object tree alone, it isn't easy to distinguish a room from an object out of play, which can make writing good debugging features tricky.
5 This part of the model was invented by the early mainframe ‘Zork’. The Crowther and Woods ‘Advent’, and later the Scott Adams games, required all objects to belong to a room but had a pseudo-room which represented “being carried by the player”. Objects were equated with potential possessions and no object represented the player.
6 The model in ¶2.3.4 has attracted criticism as being simplistic in three respects: (a) an object is assumed not to be both a container and a supporter, so what about an oven?; (b) while the player has a distinction between items worn and items carried, animate objects do not; (c) being inside and being on top of are modelled, but being underneath or behind are not.
7 In ¶4 it will become apparent that a measure of distance between two objects is given by their distance apart in the containment tree.
8 Note that ¶3.1.2 says that objects far apart cannot interact, but ¶3.1.1 does not say that objects close together can do. A honey bee in a sealed hive cannot interact with or be aware of the delivery man carrying the hive to its new beekeeper. Rules on which close objects can interact are the subject of ¶4.
9 There is no requirement for such a join to be usable from the other side.
10 For instance, on board a ship a player may try to walk “starboard”, that being a compass direction, but will in fact move in some physical direction such as northeast. Games have also been designed in which the player's frame of reference consists only of “left”, “right”, “forward”, “back”, “up” and “down”, whose assignment to physical directions changes continuously in play.
11 Thus a vault door, a plank bridge or a ventilation duct high on one wall would be represented by doors, but an open passageway or a never-locked and familiar door within a house would instead be represented by map connections.
12 Hearing, taste and smell are not modelled: instead Inform's implementation provides convenient verbs and actions for designers to add their own ad-hoc rules.
13 Awareness = sense is a strongly restrictive position. Thanks to simplistic parsers, in some early games the player is somehow aware of all objects everywhere, even those not yet encountered. In some more modern games awareness = sense + recent memory. For instance an item dropped in a dark room can be picked up again, since it is assumed that the player can remember where it is.
14 The Inform parser enforces this by recognising only those typed commands which request interaction with objects the player is aware of at a given time.
15 This definition is not as realistic as it looks. Translucency is equated with transparency, presenting problems for glazed glass jars. “Close to the player” implies that light never spills over from one room to another, for instance through an open window on a sunny day.
16 Equivalently, in the dark you can touch exactly those objects adjacent to you in the containment tree. Thus anything which can be touched in the dark can also be touched in the light but not vice versa.
17 This is a restriction, though not because it ignores relativistic effects (at walking speeds these are of the order of 1 part in 1017). Suppose the player enters a room where time runs slow and all actions take five times longer than they would elsewhere. This means that daemons which handle changes far away from the player also run five times slower than normal, relative to the model world's clock.
18 Thus victory does not occur automatically when all scored objects are found and all scored rooms visited; death does not occur automatically when the player crosses from a dark room to another dark room, and so on.
19 It does not necessarily follow that any objects will change their states: an action to look under something will result only in text being printed out, but this is successful because the looking under has become part of the history of the model world.
20 Casual assumptions, in this case that all games have a single rucksack-like ontainer, often make world models needlessly restrictive. Compare the Scott Adams ame engine, in which one object is designated as “the lamp”.
21 The Inform parser will not generate actions concerning objects of which the player is unaware.
22 Thus there is only one action requiring you to both see and touch the object acted on: searching.
23 Reading is not distinguished from examining: instead the consult action provides for looking things up in books.
24 This is the only circumstance in which the rules for the model world destroy an object.
25 I have no idea what this is doing in the Inform world model, but it seems to be there: perhaps the writing-room puzzle in the ‘Curses’ attic needed it. Andrew Plotkin: “I've always said that the definition of concealed was ad-hoc and not well understood by anybody.”


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