Engineering and Technology

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Cyber Crime in Uganda: Myth or Reality?
(World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, 2005) Tushabe, Florence; Baryamureeba, Venansius
There is a general feeling that Internet crime is an advanced type of crime that has not yet infiltrated developing countries like Uganda. The carefree nature of the Internet in which anybody publishes anything at anytime poses a serious security threat for any nation. Unfortunately, there are no formal records about this type of crime for Uganda. Could this mean that it does not exist there? The author conducted an independent research to ascertain whether cyber crimes have affected people in Uganda and if so, to discover where they are reported. This paper highlights the findings.
Prediction of cutting force for self-propelled rotary tool using artificial neural networks
(Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 2006) Hao, Wangshen; Zhu, Xunsheng; Li, Xifeng; Turyagyenda, Gelvis
In this paper, a cutting force model for self-propelled rotary tool (SPRT) cutting force prediction using artificial neural networks (ANN) has been introduced. The basis of this approach is to train and test the ANN model with cutting force samples of SPRT, from which their neurons relations are gradually extracted out. Then, ANN cutting force model is achieved by obtaining all weights for each layer. The inputs to the model consist of cutting velocity V, feed rate f, depth of cut ap and tool inclination angle λ, while the outputs are composed of thrust force Fx, radial force Fy and main cutting force Fz. It significantly reduces the complexity of modeling for SPRT cutting force, and employs non-structure operator parameters more conveniently. Considering the disadvantages of back propagation (BP) such as the convergence to local minima in the error space, developments have been achieved by applying hybrid of genetic algorithm (GA) and BP algorithm hence improve the performance of the ANN model. Validity and efficiency of the model were verified through a variety of SPRT cutting samples from our experiment tested in the cutting force model. The performance of the hybrid of GA–BP cutting force model is fairly satisfactory.
Image Classification Using SVMs: One-against-One Vs One-against-All
(arXiv preprint arXiv, 2007) Gidudu, Anthony,; Hulley, Gregg; Marwala, Tshilidzi
Support Vector Machines (SVMs) are a relatively new supervised classification technique to the land cover mapping community. They have their roots in Statistical Learning Theory and have gained prominence because they are robust, accurate and are effective even when using a small training sample. By their nature SVMs are essentially binary classifiers, however, they can be adopted to handle the multiple classification tasks common in remote sensing studies. The two approaches commonly used are the One-Against-One (1A1) and One-Against-All (1AA) techniques. In this paper, these approaches are evaluated in as far as their impact and implication for land cover mapping. The main finding from this research is that whereas the 1AA technique is more predisposed to yielding unclassified and mixed pixels, the resulting classification accuracy is not significantly different from 1A1 approach. It is the authors conclusion therefore that ultimately the choice of technique adopted boils down to personal preference and the uniqueness of the dataset at hand.
Relating Visual Disability and the Web
(ITA, 2007) Baguma, Rehema; Bommel, Patrick van; Wanyama, Tom; Patrick, Ogao
Despite the fact that the proportion of people with disabilities in society has been increasing, many critical online public activities are not readily available to them. Much as a large body of literature has examined the overall impact of visual disability on functional status and quality of life including Web usage, few published studies have explicitly investigated the relationship between visual disability and Web-based tasks. Moreover, the available Web Accessibility guidelines to-date lack coherence and simplicity for easy comprehension and application in Web application design for different disability groups. For example the primary reference guidelines – that is the Web Content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) is organized arbitrarily with no distinct sections according to types of disabilities covered. This makes such guidelines hard to understand and apply by Web content developers. This paper examines how properties of Web applications affect users with various visual disabilities. The goal of this study was to understand the problems faced by Web users with visual disabilities and how the problems can be addressed in Web development tasks. Understanding the relationship between visual disability and Web applications is an important foundation for further research considerations on how to make the Web more accessible to people with visual disabilities. Such considerations may include but not limited to: development of concise visual accessibility indicators and associated design techniques. The paper is organized into six sections namely: introduction; methodology; related work, properties of Visual disability and Web applications, the relationship between visual disability and properties of Web applications; Conclusion and future Work.
Collaborative Framework for Supporting Indigenous Knowledge Management
(Makerere University, 2007) Mondo, Theodora Mwebesa T.; Baryamureeba, Venansius; Williams, D.
Indigenous knowledge (IK) is an integral part of the culture and history of local communities. We need to learn from local communities to enrich the development process. IK systems are also dynamic; new knowledge is continuously added. IK is stored in people’s memories, activities and is expressed and communicated orally and this posses a serious threat to its preservation and development. However this depicts Indigenous knowledge Management (IKM) as a complex, global and dynamic issue and hence a need for a collaborative framework that will enhance information exchange. Utilization of collaborative frameworks, are increasingly being used in solving problems whose efficiency depends on an interactive nature. Networking or collaboration allows for a more effective pooling of resources and sharing of experiences and information on indigenous knowledge, both among various individuals and organizations.
Visualizing Object Oriented Software: Towards a Point of Reference for Developing Tools for Industry
(IEEE, 2007) Sensalire, Mariam; Ogao, Patrick
Developing a software visualization tool that gets high acceptability in the industry or research community would imply success for that particular tool. In the past, many tools have been developed within the academic arena with many more currently being developed. The rate of commercial success for the developed tools however does not match their development rate. In this paper the views of expert programmers are sought on what should be incorporated in a software visualization tool. These views are sought after exposing the programmers to three tools and allowing them to use the tools for a period of time. The results from the observations show that many of the desires of the expert programmers are not catered for in the currently existing tools. The potential need for a point of reference for developing tools for Industry is also discussed.
Comparison of Feature Selection Techniques for SVM Classification
(International Symposium on Physical Measurements and Signatures in Remote Sensing, 2007) Gidudu, Anthony; Ruther, Heinz
The use of satellite imagery in the derivation of land cover information has yielded immense dividends to numerous application fields such as environmental monitoring and modeling, map making and revision and urban studies. The extraction of this information from images is made possible by various classification algorithms each with different advantages and disadvantages. Support Vector machines (SVMs) are a new classifier with roots in statistical learning theory and their success in fields like machine vision have drawn the attention of the remote sensing community. Previous studies have focused on how SVMs compare with traditional classifiers such as maximum likelihood and minimum distance to means classifiers. They have also been compared to newer generation classifiers such as decision trees and artificial neural networks. In this research the understanding of the application of SVMs to image classification is furthered by proposing feature selection as a way in which remote sensing data can be optimized. Feature selection involves selecting a subset of features (e.g. bands) from the original set of bands that captures the relevant properties of the data to enable adequate classification. Two feature selection techniques are explored namely exhaustive search and population based incremental learning. Of critical importance to any feature selection technique is the choice of criterion function. In this research a new criterion function called Thornton’s separability index has been successfully deployed for the optimization of remote sensing data for SVM classification.
Impact of Multimedia Instructional Materials on the Attainment of Higher Order Cognitive Skills: A Literature Review
(International Conference on Information Integration and Web-based Applications & Services, 2008) Bagarukayo, Emily; Mbarika, Victor
In the past decade studies have examined the role of multimedia instructional technologies in improving Higher Order Cognitive Skills (HOCS) (Bradley et al., 2007). Some studies show that it is difficult for learners to deal with decision-making situations that require HOCS. Undergraduate learning has been repeatedly criticized for failing to develop HOCS for Problem solving and Decision making in science education (Mbarika et al., 2003a). This suggests the need for new approaches to address this dilemma. The multimedia instruction is an IT tool developed to understand complex decision making that requires HOCS. There is insufficient research on the impact of multimedia technology on teaching, learning and assessment. This is proven by the paucity of research on the effectiveness and impact of Multimedia materials on HOCS development and on generation of creative instructional delivery. Furthermore, the impact of multimedia instructional materials on “actual” learning has received little research attention. Research (Bradley et al., 2007) shows that studies based on perceived learning prove that Multimedia materials improve the students’ attainment of HOCS. Despite the attention this line of research has gained over past decade, there is no known study that has comprehensively compiled the knowledge base in this domain. In our study we present a comprehensive review of published studies that have examined the role of multimedia in improving HOCS of the learner. In all we find that these studies reveal four themes: (i) studies use only quantitative methods; (ii) studies are based on perceived learning; (iii) studies need to address actual learning; (iv) studies don’t consider students’ learning styles; (v) studies were carried out in one university. Our study aids researchers in this domain and those interested in doing work in this domain to have a sense of the direction needed to proceed.
Garden Tool Transmission of Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum on Banana (Musa spp.) and Enset in Ethiopia
(Harnessing International, 2008) Addis, T.; Turyagyenda, L.F.; Alemu, T.; Karamura, E.; Blomme, G.
Xanthomonas wilt caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum has been an important constraint to enset (Ensete ventricosum) and banana (Musa spp.) in Ethiopia. It was postulated that Xanthomonas wilt has a similar epidemiology as other banana bacterial wilts, which are known to be transmitted by insect vectors and garden tools. A study to determine the role of garden tools in the transmission of Xanthomonas wilt was carried out on enset in a greenhouse at the Southern Agricultural Research Institute, Awassa, Ethiopia and on ‘Pisang Awak’ (AABB genome) in the field at Amaro, Southern Ethiopia. A contaminated knife was used to infect plants. The treatments in the greenhouse trials comprised of cutting: green leaves; broken green leaves; dry leaves; the pseudostem; and roots. Similar treatments were carried out on the field-grown ‘Pisang Awak’ plants with two additional treatments: desuckering and debudding. Debudding was done by cutting off the male bud with a contaminated machete, while a forked stick was used for control samples. In addition, bacterial ooze was smeared on fresh and dry flower and bract scars at the male part of inflorescences. All plants treated with a contaminated machete: enset and banana when cut in the pseudostem; and all banana plants when debudded got infected. Similarly, cutting green leaves and cutting broken green leaves resulted in a high disease transmission of respectively 67 and 62% in banana and 58 and 54% in enset. Similar high transmission rates (90%) were obtained for desuckering on banana. On the other hand, cutting roots with a contaminated machete resulted in low transmission levels, with 20% in bananas and 25% in enset suggesting that tool infections mainly occur above ground. This calls for rigorous tool disinfection, while desuckering and deleafing in highly infected fields should be avoided. Debudding should be carried out with a forked stick.
Collaboration Engineering Approach to Enterprise Architecture Design Evaluation and Selection
(Proceedings of CAiSE-DC, 2008) Nakakawa, Agnes
Before an organisation takes up a particular enterprise ar- chitecture design, there is need to consider and evaluate the possible design alternatives, and then select an appropriate one. This process re- quires a collaborative e ort involving all key stakeholders in order to obtain an `acceptable' solution. Therefore, in this paper we propose the development of a transferable, predictable and repeatable process that supports collaborative evaluation and selection of enterprise architecture design alternatives. To achieve this, we propose the use of collaboration engineering approach. Additionally, a ctitious case of airline mergers is used in order to demonstrate the; problem argued, rationale for solving it, e ective and e cient way of solving it, and applicability of the pro- posed research.
A Web Design Framework for Improved Accessibility for People with Disabilities (WDFAD)
(International World Wide Web Conference., 2008) Baguma, Rehema; Lubega, Jude T.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) such as the World Wide Web (WWW) has increasingly become embedded in everyday life and is progressively becoming indispensable for public, business, personal efficiency or even improvement of livelihoods [1]. Web users including People with Disabilities (PWDs) can conveniently undertake a number of tasks that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. But many Web applications such as e-learning, e-commerce and e-government are not accessible to PWDs including the blind. Through Web accessibility guidelines, Web developers can develop Web applications that are accessible to PWDs. However, majority of the available accessibility guidelines are difficult to integrate into existing developer workflows and rarely offer specific suggestions that are developer oriented. In this paper, we propose a Web Design Framework for Improved Accessibility for People with Disabilities (WDFAD). The WDFAD provides precise guidelines on how to develop Web applications that are accessible to PWDs particularly the blind. These are packaged according to the three components of Web applications namely; content, navigation and user interface. Using constructs of the Non Functional Requirements (NFR) Framework, Web accessibility design objectives are represented as primary goals and sub goals. The primary goals represent the high level accessibility design objectives, while the sub goals represent the requirements that need to be met in the Web development process in order to meet each primary goal. WDFAD also illustrates the overlaps between the process of meeting each primary goal. This unveils the optimal ways of achieving Web accessibility during Web design. The precise nature of WDFAD and its packaging according to the main components of Web applications makes Web accessibility requirements potentially easier to understand and apply by Web developers. Web Developers prefer precise and familiar tools due to their busy work life and daily interface and expression in formal instructions. In addition, the global versus local classification of Web accessibility requirements in WDFAD modularizes the web accessibility guidelines hence making them easier to understand, apply and update.
Acceptance and Use of Electronic Library Services in Ugandan Universities
(ACM/IEEE-CS joint conference, 2008) Tibenderana, Prisca K. G.; Ogao, Patrick J.
University libraries in Developing Countries (DCs), hampered by developmental problems, find it hard to provide electronic services. Donor communities have come in to bridge this technology gap by providing funds to university libraries for information technology infrastructure, enabling these university libraries to provide electronic library services to patrons. However, for these services to be utilized effectively, library endusers must accept and use them. To investigate this process in Uganda, this study modifies “The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology” (UTAUT) by replacing “effort expectancy” and “voluntariness” with “relevancy”, “awareness” and “benefits” factors. In so doing, we developed the Service Oriented UTAUT (SOUTAUT) model whose dependent constructs predict 133% of the variances in user acceptance and use of e-library services. The study revealed that relevancy moderated by awareness plays a major factor in acceptance and use of e-library services in DCs.
Web Design Requirements for Improved Web Accessibility for the Blind
(Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2008) Baguma, Rehema; Lubega, Jude T.
Considerable research has been done on how to make e-learning systems accessible. But Learners in electronic and hybrid learning environments utilize many Web based systems beyond what the instructor and institution provides and can control such as search engines, news portals and research databases. This paper presents Web design requirements that can improve the accessibility of such websites for PWDs particularly the blind. The requirements were derived from both theoretical and quantitative data gathered from both literature and a case study. It was observed that graphical user interfaces, non-linear navigation, forms, tables, images, lack of key board support, nonstandard document formats and acronyms and abbreviations hinder Web accessibility for the blind. Therefore in order to improve Web accessibility for the blind, the following requirements were suggested; a text only version of the website or a combination of design considerations namely: text alternatives for visual elements, meaningful content structure in the source code, skip navigation link(s), orientation during navigation, ensure (tables, frames and forms) are accessible if any is used, test the website with keyboard only access, use or convert documents into standard formats and expand abbreviations and acronyms the first time they appear on a page. Meeting the given requirements in the Web development process improves Web accessibility for all blind Web users including those engaged in hybrid learning.
Classifying Desirable Features of Software Visualization Tools for Corrective Maintenance
(ACM symposium on Software visualization, 2008) Sensalire, Mariam; Ogao, Patrick; Telea, Alexandru
We provide an evaluation of 15 software visualization tools applicable to corrective maintenance. The tasks supported as well as the techniques used are presented and graded based on the support level. By analyzing user acceptation of current tools, we aim to help developers to select what to consider, avoid or improve in their next releases. Tool users can also recognize what to broadly expect (and what not) from such tools, thereby supporting an informed choice for the tools evaluated here and for similar tools.
Fixed Wing Time Domain Electromagnetic Surveys to Promote Mineral Development in the Republic of Uganda.
(European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers., 2009) Burrows, D.; Tuhumwire, J.
Fugro Airborne Surveys (Pty) Ltd conducted fixed wind time domain electromagnetic (TDEM) surveys over two blocks in The Republic of Uganda (Uganda) during 2007 and 2008 using the Genesis system. This Mineral Resource Management and Capacity Building Project (MRMCBP) was funded by the African Development Bank in order to promote mineral development in Uganda. The TDEM data acquisition was accompanied by a much larger airborne magnetic and radiometric data acquisition program with the same aims. Block EM7 is situated in the North West of Uganda. This survey area straddled the boundary between Tertiary-Quaternary sedimentary packages and the Precambrian basement. The complex nature of this interface is depicted in Figure 1 which shows the conductivity surface at 100m depth. The more competent basement also creates a topographic high in the survey area. Block EM8 is situated in the South East of Uganda where the survey area is comprised principally of mafic volcanic rocks and sediments. The area is known for the Gold-bearing greenstone belt that is part of the Lake Victoria Gold Field of Northern Tanzania and Western Kenya. The magnetic data collected prior to the TDEM survey highlighted the structural complexity of the area. This can now be better understood due to the additional perspective gained by acquiring the electromagnetic data.
Integrating Action Research and System Dynamics: Towards a Generic Process Design for Participative Modelling
(IEE, 2009) Oyo, Benedict; Williams, Ddembe; Barendsen, Erik
The process of building system dynamics models ranges from linear iterative phases to the circular iterative phases. However, while all these process designs are well known and explicit to system dynamics modellers, they are not comprehensive for participative modelling involving clients/participants without prior modelling knowledge. This paper presents a detailed modelling process design of six phases from the prevalent system dynamics modelling literature. By clearly showing activities and outcomes of each phase, the paper posits that the purpose and benefits of participative modelling are entailed within the phases and not necessarily by the outcomes only. A new phase called action planning, derived from action research process is used to emphasise clients’ contribution in participative modelling. The interplay of the six phases during modelling results into three cycles namely; problem articulation cycle, modelling proficiency cycle, and solution refinement cycle, all of which address the diversity and legitimacy of contributions by all parties.
Evaluation of Software Visualization Tools: Lessons Learned
(IEEE, 2009) Sensalire, Mariam; Ogao, Patrick; Telea, Alexandru
Many software visualization (SoftVis) tools are continuously being developed by both researchers as well as software development companies. In order to determine if the developed tools are effective in helping their target users, it is desirable that they are exposed to a proper evaluation. Despite this, there is still lack of a general guideline on how these evaluations should be carried out and many of the tool developers perform very limited or no evaluation of their tools. Each person that carries out one evaluation, however, has experiences which, if shared, can guide future evaluators. This paper presents the lessons learned from evaluating over 20 SoftVis tools with over 90 users in five different studies spread on a period of over two years. The lessons covered include the selection of the tools, tasks, as well as evaluation participants. Other discussed points are related to the duration of the evaluation experiment, its location, the procedure followed when carrying out the experiment, as well as motivation of the participants. Finally, an analysis of the lessons learned is shown with the hope that these lessons will be of some assistance to future SoftVis tool evaluators.
Approaches Towards Effective Knowledge Management for Small and Medium Enterprises in Developing Countries - Uganda
(IIMC International Information Management Corporation, 2009) Habinka, Annabella; Sol, Henk; Baryamureeba, Venansius
In developing countries, many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) collapse due to complex factors. Knowledge shortage and fragmented information are their key challenges as a result of obsolete technology and exposure. However, the Government of Uganda plans to establish nationwide knowledge service centres in its Vision 2035 [9]. Viable solutions are at stake for developing countries. However, to enable them leap frog into the future, ICT is the remedy for knowledge sharing. SME survival is determined by the amount of knowledge they have and how they manage it in decision making. This paper promotes the studio based approach as a practical solution to SMEs asymmetric knowledge sharing. The studio will provide decision enhanced services to SME stakeholders and supplement techno-centric, social-cultural-centric and access-centric approaches. This paper aims at providing a theoretical backup for studio usage as a feasible solution for SMEs in developing countries.
An Empirical Study of the Evolution of Eclipse Third-party Plug-ins
(International Workshop on Principles of Software Evolution (IWPSE), 2010) Businge, John; Serebrenik, Alexander; van den Brand, Mark
Since the inception of Lehman's software evolution laws in the early 1970s, they have attracted signi cant attention from the research community. However, to our knowledge, no study of applicability of these laws on the software sys- tems that exhibit constrained evolution process has been carried out so far. In this paper we take a rst step in this direction and investigate the constrained evolution of 21 Eclipse third{party plug-ins. We investigate the trends followed by the plug-ins dependencies on Eclipse over time. The study spans 6 years of the evolution of Eclipse evolving from release 3.0 to release 3.5. Our ndings con rm the laws of continuing change, self regulation and continuing growth when metrics related to dependencies between the plug-ins and the Eclipse Architecture are considered. Unlike this, the conservation of familiarity law was not con rmed and the results for the declining quality law were inconclusive.
Geometry Adjustment for Geospatial Data Integration
(WORLDCOMP’10 Conference, 2010) Wadembere, Ismail; Ogao, Patrick
As many mapping organizations are updating geospatial databases with new data about our rapidly changing world, there are challenges of how to effectively and quickly to adjust the geometries so that there are no openings and overlaps due to variation between different versions of same data and neighboring features. The paper describes an approach of geospatial geometry adjustment basing on paradigm of point as being the simplest and smallest spatial primitive to manipulate and to define all geospatial data. Every unique identifiable spatial instance in form of point is given an identifier and it is this that is manipulated during geometry adjustment to transfer updates from the source/reference data to the data set being adjusted. This approach solves the issue of slivers and dangling which are always created during data merging and differences that are always brought into databases due to variations in data capture, storage, and manipulation.

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