Abstract: Indoor signage plays an essential component to find destination for blind and visually impaired people. In this paper, we propose an indoor signage and doors detection system in order to help blind and partially sighted persons accessing unfamiliar indoor environments. Our indoor signage and doors recognizer is builded based on deep learning algorithms. We developed an indoor signage detection system especially used for detecting four types of signage: exit, wc, disabled exit and confidence zone. Experiment results demonstrates the effectiveness and the high precision of the proposed recognition system. We obtained 99.8% as a recognition rate.
The Clery Act has been amended by the Stop Campus Hazing Act. Institutions must now include hazing incidents among their reported campus-safety statistics and include policies concerning hazing, reporting, investigation and prevention in their Annual Security Reports.
Institutions must also develop a Campus Hazing Transparency Reportidentifying student organizations found responsible for hazing violations. The report includes the organization, a general description of the violation, sanctions and relevant dates. Where violations have occurred, the report must be published on the institution’s website and updated at least twice annually.
The federal requirement for a school safety plan is outlined in the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, commonly known as the Clery Act. The Clery Act requires all colleges and universities that participate in federal student financial aid programs to develop and publish an annual security report that includes certain safety-related policies, procedures, and crime statistics.
The Clery Act requires that schools include specific information in their security reports, including:
The school’s crime statistics for the previous three years.
Information about the school’s policies and procedures related to campus safety and security.
Information about crime prevention programs and services offered by the school.
Information about the school’s emergency response and evacuation procedures.
Information about the school’s policies and procedures for addressing and reporting incidents of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
Information about the school’s drug and alcohol policies and prevention programs.
While the Clery Act only applies to colleges and universities that receive federal student financial aid, many states and school districts have adopted similar requirements for K-12 schools to develop and implement comprehensive safety plans. These plans may include many of the same elements as Clery Act-compliant security reports, such as emergency response protocols, crime prevention programs, and policies for addressing incidents of violence and harassment.
The most recent changes to the Clery Act were made in March 2020, when the Department of Education published the final rule amending the Clery Act regulations. The changes include:
Expanding the definition of sexual harassment to include quid pro quo and hostile environment harassment, which aligns with Title IX regulations.
Requiring institutions to report stalking and domestic violence in addition to existing crime categories.
Adding hazing as a reportable crime category.
Requiring institutions to compile and publish hate crime statistics for all categories of prejudice, including gender identity and national origin.
Requiring institutions to include specific policies and procedures in their annual security reports, such as those related to prevention and response to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
Requiring institutions to provide survivor-centered and trauma-informed services to individuals who report or experience sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking.
Requiring institutions to include information about prevention and response to cyberbullying and electronic harassment in their annual security reports.
Allowing institutions to provide annual security reports electronically and requiring institutions to make their crime statistics publicly available on their website.
These changes aim to strengthen the Clery Act’s requirements for campus safety and to better address sexual harassment and other forms of violence on college and university campuses.
Every new federal law involving paperwork creates an uncountable number of trade associations and compliance enterprises. A simple web search on “Cleary Act” will reveal half the internet full of pages for more information. Our focus is on the user-side — i.e. making inquiries and pushing back on the gaudy proliferation of regulatory requirements, the integrity of purpose of the law notwithstanding. We maintain this title on the standing agenda on all of our Security colloquia. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
Today at the usual hour we sort through the NFPA stack for fire safety system aspects during renovation, alteration, or rehabilitation of buildings. Two sections come to mind:
Chapter 43 (NFPA 101): Building Rehabilitation
NFPA 241: Safeguarding Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations
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The Life Safety Code addresses those construction, protection, and occupancy features necessary to minimize danger to life from the effects of fire, including smoke, heat, and toxic gases created during a fire. It is widely incorporated by reference into public safety statutes; typically coupled with the consensus products of the International Code Council. It is a mighty document — one of the NFPA’s leading titles — so we deal with it in pieces; consulting it for decisions to be made for the following:
(1) Determination of the occupancy classification in Chapters 12 through 42.
(2) Determination of whether a building or structure is new or existing.
(3) Determination of the occupant load.
(4) Determination of the hazard of contents.
There are emergent issues — such as active shooter response, integration of life and fire safety systems on the internet of small things — and recurrent issues such as excessive rehabilitation and conformity criteria and the ever-expanding requirements for sprinklers and portable fire extinguishers with which to reckon. It is never easy telling a safety professional paid to make a market for his product or service that it is impossible to be alive and safe. It is even harder telling the dean of a department how much it will cost to bring the square-footage under his stewardship up to the current code.
The 2021 edition is the current edition and is accessible below:
Public input on the 2027 Revision will be received until June 4, 2024. Public comment on the Second Draft 2027 Revision will be received until March 31, 2026.
Since the Life Safety Code is one of the most “living” of living documents — the International Building Code and the National Electric Code also move continuously — we can start anywhere and anytime and still make meaningful contributions to it. We have been advocating in this document since the 2003 edition in which we submitted proposals for changes such as:
• A student residence facility life safety crosswalk between NFPA 101 and the International Building Code
• Refinements to Chapters 14 and 15 covering education facilities (with particular attention to door technologies)
• Identification of an ingress path for rescue and recovery personnel toward electric service equipment installations.
• Risk-informed requirement for installation of grab bars in bathing areas
• Modification of the 90-minute emergency lighting requirements rule for small buildings and for fixed interval testing
• Modification of emergency illumination fixed interval testing
• Table 7.3.1 Occupant Load revisions
• Harmonization of egress path width with European building codes
There are others. It is typically difficult to make changes to stabilized standard though some of the concepts were integrated by the committee into other parts of the NFPA 101 in unexpected, though productive, ways. Example transcripts of proposed 2023 revisions to the education facility chapter is linked below:
Since NFPA 101 is so vast in its implications we list a few of the sections we track, and can drill into further, according to client interest:
Chapter 3: Definitions
Chapter 7: Means of Egress
Chapter 12: New Assembly Occupancies
Chapter 13: Existing Assembly Occupancies
Chapter 16 Public Input Report: New Day-Care Facilities
Chapter 17 Public Input Report: Existing Day Care Facilities
Chapter 18 Public Input Report: New Health Care Facilities
Chapter 19 Public Input Report: Existing Health Care Facilities
Chapter 28: Public Input Report: New Hotels and Dormitories
Chapter 29: Public Input Report: Existing Hotels and Dormitories
Chapter 43: Building Rehabilitation
Annex A: Explanatory Material
As always we encourage front-line staff, facility managers, subject matter experts and trade associations to participate directly in the NFPA code development process (CLICK HERE to get started)
NFPA 101 is a cross-cutting title so we maintain it on the agenda of our several colloquia —Housing, Prometheus, Security and Pathways colloquia. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
Issue: [18-90]
Category: Fire Safety, Public Safety
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Josh Elvove, Joe DeRosier, Marcelo Hirschler
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Meatloaf is traced back to ancient times when people started combining ground meat with other ingredients for a more economical and substantial meal.
Colonial America: The concept of mixing ground meat with breadcrumbs or grains dates back to medieval Europe. When settlers arrived in North America, they adapted these techniques to the ingredients available to them, such as native grains and game meats.
19th Century: As meat grinders became more widely available in the 19th century, the preparation of ground meat dishes became easier. Meatloaf gained popularity during this time, with regional variations emerging across the United States. Families would incorporate various seasonings, herbs, and fillers based on local ingredients and preferences.
World War II and Post-War Era: Meatloaf became even more popular during World War II and the post-war era due to its affordability and versatility. Families could stretch a small amount of meat by combining it with breadcrumbs, rice, or oats, making it an economical choice during times of rationing.
1950s and 1960s: Meatloaf reached its peak of popularity in the mid-20th century, becoming a staple of American home cooking. The dish was often featured in cookbooks and advertisements, showcasing its versatility and ease of preparation.
Over time, meatloaf recipes have evolved with regional and personal preferences. Some variations include using different meats (beef, pork, veal, or a combination), adding vegetables, experimenting with various seasonings, and glazing with sauces.
Ketchup, 1 & 1/2 oz.
Water, 2 3/8 tsp.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Place ground beef in mixing bowl. Add eggs and combine.
Add ketchup (2 & 1/3 Tbsp.), mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, onions, celery, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine. Meatloaf should be firm. If mixture is not, add more bread crumbs.
Place meatloaf in a loaf pan. Make sure it is spread evenly.
Bake for about 45 minutes, uncovered. Remove from oven.
Combine ketchup (1 & 1/2 oz.) and water. Spread over meatloaf.
Return to oven for another 15-20 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 155 degrees.
Let the meatloaf rest for 30 minutes prior to cutting.
Today we examine the catalog of several ANSI-accredited, consortia and ad hoc standard developers with titles relevant to the planning, construction and management of the built environment of education communities nested within human settlements characterized by a high population density, extensive infrastructure, and various economic, social, and cultural activities. In other words, from the point of view of a campus as a “city within a city” with attention to infrastructure.
Several organizations and bodies in the United States that develop model codes and standards related to zoning and land use. These model codes and standards are often adopted or referenced by municipalities in their zoning ordinances. Here are some prominent organizations and their model codes:
Each of the foregoing titles have some bearing upon decisions about land use. However, keep in mind, that zoning regulations are primarily established at the local level by municipalities, cities, and counties, rather than through national standard bodes. These organizations and their codes provide guidance and best practices for zoning, but specific regulations can vary significantly between different jurisdictions. They are frequently incorporated by reference into regulations by governments at all levels.
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Here are some community colleges in the United States that are embedded within cities, offering students the advantages of an urban setting:
City College of San Francisco – San Francisco, California
Los Angeles City College – Los Angeles, California
Borough of Manhattan Community College – New York, New York
Miami Dade College – Wolfson Campus – Miami, Florida
City College of Chicago – Chicago, Illinois
Seattle Central College – Seattle, Washington
Austin Community College – Rio Grande Campus – Austin, Texas
Houston Community College – Central Campus – Houston, Texas
San Antonio College – San Antonio, Texas
Portland Community College – Cascade Campus – Portland, Oregon
Washtenaw Community College – Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti, Michigan
These community colleges not only provide access to higher education but also offer the benefits of being located within major urban centers, including proximity to job markets, cultural institutions, and public transportation.
The River Thames with St. Paul’s Cathedral on Lord Mayor’s Day
Today we examine standards, codes and regulations that inform how educational settlement essential works interacts with host community infrastructure. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
“No man, however bold or however high he may stand in his profession, can resist the benumbing effect of rules laid down by authority” — Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel came of age as Britain’s railway age accelerated. During the 1830s and 1840s, competing companies laid new lines across the country, forcing engineers to rethink gradients, bridges, tunnels, stations and the relationship between speed and distance.
As chief engineer of the Great Western Railway, Brunel pursued a remarkably direct route from London toward Bristol, employing major works such as the Box Tunnel and adopting his controversial broad gauge.
Railway expansion encouraged his characteristic systems thinking: rather than accepting inherited constraints, Brunel reconsidered the railway—track, structures, vehicles and connections—as an integrated technological system capable of being redesigned.
In the United States, land surveying is regulated by various professional organizations and government agencies, and there are several technical standards that must be followed to ensure accuracy and consistency in land surveying.
The best practice for land surveying is set by the “Manual of Surveying Instructions” published by an administrative division of the United States Department of the Interior responsible for managing public lands in the United States. The manual provides detailed guidance on the procedures and techniques for conducting various types of land surveys, including public land surveys, mineral surveys, and cadastral surveys.
Another important set of model standards for land surveying is the Minimum Standards for Property Boundary Surveys* published by the National Society of Professional Surveyors. These standards provide guidance on the procedures and techniques for conducting property boundary surveys, including the use of appropriate surveying equipment, the preparation of surveying maps and plats, and the documentation of surveying results. Land surveyors in the United States are also required to adhere to state and local laws and regulations governing land surveying, as well as ethical standards established by professional organizations such as the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862 granted each state 30,000 acres of federal land for each member of Congress from that state to establish colleges that would teach agriculture, engineering, and military tactics. This legislation led to the establishment of many public universities, including the Texas A&M University, the University of Wisconsin and Michigan State University.
United States Infrastructure: C Schools: D+ Energy: D+ Broadband: C+
America earned a better infrastructure grade. Its schools did not. For the education industry, the enduring problem is the stewardship of aging buildings, utility systems and supporting infrastructure.
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwBpic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
