Fractal geometry has been proven to be useful in several disciplines. In the field of antenna engineering, fractal geometry is useful to design small and multiband antenna and arrays, and high-directive elements. A historic overview of the most significant fractal mathematic pioneers is presented, at the same time showing how the fractal patterns inspired engineers to design antennas.

Wind power, as a renewable energy resource, has taken much attention of the energy authorities in many countries, as it is used as one of the major energy sources to satisfy the ever-increasing energy demand. However, careful attention is needed in identifying the wind power potential in a particular area due to climate changes. In this sense, forecasting both wind power generation and wind power potential is essential. This paper develops artificial neural network (ANN) models to forecast wind power generation in Pawan Danawi, a functioning wind farm in Sri Lanka. Wind speed, wind direction, and ambient temperature of the area were used as the independent variable matrices of the developed ANN models, while the generated wind power was used as the dependent variable. The models were tested with three training algorithms, namely, Levenberg-Marquardt (LM), Scaled Conjugate Gradient (SCG), and Bayesian Regularization (BR) training algorithms. In addition, the model was calibrated for five validation percentages (5 to 25 in 5 intervals) under each algorithm to identify the best training algorithm with the most suitable training and validation percentages. Mean squared error (MSE), coefficient of correlation (R), root mean squared error ratio (RSR), Nash number, and BIAS were used to evaluate the performance of the developed ANN models. Results revealed that all three training algorithms produce acceptable predictions for the power generation in the Pawan Danawi wind farm with R>0.91, MSE<0.22, and BIAS<1. Among them, the LM training algorithm at 70 of training and 5 of validation percentages produces the best forecasting results. The developed models can be effectively used in the prediction of wind power at the Pawan Danawi wind farm. In addition, the models can be used with the projected climatic scenarios in predicting the future wind power harvest. Furthermore, the models can acceptably be used in similar environmental and climatic conditions to identify the wind power potential of the area.

This paper presents the application of a multiple number of statistical methods and machine learning techniques to model the relationship between rice yield and climate variables of a major region in Sri Lanka, which contributes significantly to the countrys paddy harvest. Rainfall, temperature (minimum and maximum), evaporation, average wind speed (morning and evening), and sunshine hours are the climatic factors considered for modeling. Rice harvest and yield data over the last three decades and monthly climatic data were used to develop the prediction model by applying artificial neural networks (ANNs), support vector machine regression (SVMR), multiple linear regression (MLR), Gaussian process regression (GPR), power regression (PR), and robust regression (RR). The performance of each model was assessed in terms of the mean squared error (MSE), correlation coefficient (R), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), root mean squared error ratio (RSR), BIAS value, and the Nash number, and it was found that the GPR-based model is the most accurate among them. Climate data collected until early 2019 (Maha season of year 2018) were used to develop the model, and an independent validation was performed by applying data of the Yala season of year 2019. The developed model can be used to forecast the future rice yield with very high accuracy.

This paper presents the development of models for the prediction of power generation at the Samanalawewa hydropower plant, which is one of the major power stations in Sri Lanka. Four regression-based machine learning and statistical techniques were applied to develop the prediction models. Rainfall data at six locations in the catchment area of the Samanalawewa reservoir from 1993 to 2019 were used as the main input variables. The minimum and maximum temperature and evaporation at the reservoir site were also incorporated. The collinearities between the variables were investigated in terms of Pearsons and Spearmans correlation coefficients. It was found that rainfall at one location is less impactful on power generation, while that at other locations are highly correlated with each other. Prediction models based on monthly and quarterly data were developed, and their performance was evaluated in terms of the correlation coefficient (R), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), ratio of the root mean square error (RMSE) to the standard deviation of measured data (RSR), BIAS, and the Nash number. Of the Gaussian process regression (GPR), support vector regression (SVR), multiple linear regression (MLR), and power regression (PR), the machine learning techniques (GPR and SVR) produced the comparably accurate prediction models. Being the most accurate prediction model, the GPR produced the best correlation coefficient closer to 1 with a very less error. This model could be used in predicting the hydropower generation at the Samanalawewa power station using the rainfall forecast.

A novel compact planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) optimized using genetic algorithms for 2.4 GHz (Bluetooth) and 5 GHz (UNII-1, UNII-2, UNII-2 extended, and UNII-3) bands is presented. The patch with a shorting pin is on a20×7×0.762 mm³substrate, which is suspended in air 5 mm above a30×7 mm²ground plane. Genetic algorithm optimization (GAO) is used to optimize the patch geometry, feed position, and shorting pin position simultaneously. Simulations are carried out by using HFSS and a prototype antenna is fabricated to compare the measurements with the simulations. The antenna shows fractional impedance bandwidths of 4% and 21% and gains of 2.5 dB and 3.2 dB at lower and upper bands, respectively.