https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12960/13 Sun, 10 May 2026 15:09:25 GMT 2026-05-10T15:09:25Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12960/1820 Use of unmanned surface vessels for search and rescue in the Arctic Oral, Ferhan The use of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) in the maritime industry has increased rapidly in recent years. At the same time, maritime activity in the Arctic is expanding as diminishing sea ice enables greater access for commercial shipping, offshore energy development, fisheries, and cruise tourism. This growth has heightened the risk of maritime accidents in a region characterized by harsh environmental conditions, vast distances, and limited infrastructure. Existing search and rescue (SAR) capabilities of Arctic states are widely regarded as insufficient to fully address the anticipated increase in maritime traffic, prompting efforts to enhance SAR preparedness. This study examines the potential role of USVs in supporting Arctic SAR operations from operational and legal perspectives, with particular reference to the Northern Sea Route. It addresses two research questions: 'how USVs can support SAR operations in the Arctic in light of existing SAR capabilities and increasing maritime activity', and 'what legal and regulatory constraints may limit their deployment'. A qualitative pilot study was conducted based on semi-structured interviews with domain experts, which were coded and analyzed using content and thematic analysis methods. The findings suggest that USVs can enhance SAR operations as complementary assets, provided that existing legal ambiguities are clarified. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12960/1820 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12960/1797 The Role of Energy Audits in Energy Management Studies Towards Decarbonisation Vatandaş, Sedat; Söğüt, Mehmet Ziya; Onen, Y. Emre Energy management constitutes a comprehensive framework meticulously crafted to oversee the judicious utilisation and management of energy resources. It encompasses a multi-faceted approach aimed at optimising energy usage, integrating renewable energy sources, and meticulously monitoring energy efficiency. As the imperative of decarbonisation gains prominence, facilities are increasingly engaged in formulating strategic imperatives to chart a course towards carbon neutrality. In this context, discussions on energy audits within facilities assume paramount significance. Through a systematic analysis of energy audit outcomes, deliberations continue regarding their implications on the overarching goal of decarbonisation. This study entails the identification of energy efficiency projects utilising the facility’s existing knowledge base and their evaluation across various parameters from the business point of view. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12960/1797 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12960/1795 Environmental sustainability metrics for effective heat demand management in integrating buildings Söğüt, Mehmet Ziya For buildings with a sectoral role in decarbonisation, the main focus for energy and environmental sustainability is on-demand management and control. In this context, managing energy efficiency in systems is basically a valid approach for the development of demand management as a tool, especially for the management of green transition technologies and smart building applications. In this study, the model, which is exemplified by the analyses based on analytically derived data developed for integrated buildings with significant potential in the building sector, is examined with an entropy-based approach together with two environmental impact metrics. In particular, with the entropy-based approach, the exergy efficiency of the reference building and the resulting exergy destruction are discussed separately. The study found a thermal efficiency of 28.35% and an exergy efficiency of 25.01%. In this context, depending on the entropy production, the Environmental Potential Index (EPI) of the E1 and E2 components of the building was found to be 0.716 and 0.682 on average, respectively. On the other hand, the average sustainability index was found to be 0.399 for E1 and 0.386 for E2. According to these analyses, the average energy efficiency for E1 was 43.8%, while the average for E2 was 40.3%. In this context, the whole process shows an effective performance for the boundary conditions of the building together with possible demand management. At the end of the study, suggestions for building management were developed to improve energy and environmental sustainability. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12960/1795 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12960/1791 Adaptive modeling and parameter identification of piezoelectric structures under system uncertainty and nonlinear effects Maruccio, Claudio; Montegiglio, Pasquale; Kendibilir, Abdullah; Kefal, Adnan A novel robust synchronization-based computational strategy is developed capable of identifying material and system parameters of active flexible smart structures and modeling the nonlinear response due to faults and system reconfiguration even in the presence of noise in the experimental data and uncertainties. The sensitivity problem, resulting from the gradient-based algorithm, is addressed with a novel hybrid technique that exploits the advantages of both frequency and time-domain procedures. This hybrid approach ensures robust parameter identification and accurate modeling under challenging conditions making it highly suitable for real-time applications. Extensive numerical results confirm the intrinsic benefits of the proposed computational strategy, demonstrating its effectiveness for simulating the response of nonlinear electromechanical vibration-based devices. The proposed approach is validated through its application to parameter identification and damage diagnosis of a sandwich laminate, showcasing its practical relevance and versatility. These advancements represent a significant step forward in the modeling and control of piezoelectric smart structures, offering a robust solution for applications ranging from structural health monitoring to energy harvesting. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12960/1791