Measurement Techniques In Clouds

A new evaluation of a ruby lidar ceilometer was performed at AFCRL as part of a program to evaluate the applicability of lasers to determine cloud height for airfield use. Comparitive measurements of cloud height were made with a standard Air Force rotating beam ceilometer (RBC). Examination of the test results shows the lidar indicates an accurate presentation of cloud structure. The RBC cloud return is affected by its geometry and by multiple scatter in the cloud. As a result, the measurement is not a true representation of cloud structure. These effects also bias the RBC to indicate higher cloud heights. However, the difference in cloud heights as measured by the two systems is not significant. Therefore, it is concluded that the lidar is a superior cloud height measuring device and both techniques provide operationally useful indications of cloud height. (Author).

The importance of demonstrating the value achieved from IT investments is long established in the Computer Science (CS) and Information Systems (IS) literature. However, emerging technologies such as the ever-changing complex area of cloud computing present new challenges and opportunities for demonstrating how IT investments lead to business value. Recent reviews of extant literature highlights the need for multi-disciplinary research. This research should explore and further develops the conceptualization of value in cloud computing research. In addition, there is a need for research which investigates how IT value manifests itself across the chain of service provision and in inter-organizational scenarios. This open access book will review the state of the art from an IS, Computer Science and Accounting perspective, will introduce and discuss the main techniques for measuring business value for cloud computing in a variety of scenarios, and illustrate these with mini-case studies.