Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

(Pocket-lint) - Though smart lights can be controlled through voice, and regular lights work just fine with switches, sometimes you want the best of both worlds. That's where smart light switches and dimmers come in, with their capabilities extending far past a normal wired-in switch - all while remaining simple enough for the whole family to use.

Like everything else in the smart home, however, there are a few things to understand before you buy.

Most top smart switches will offer compatibility with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, but installation methods vary. Some will just require an adhesive tab, but others will need some wiring - so, make sure the screwdriver is handy. For an easy reference, wall-installed options tend to act as a tool to give you smart control over regular lights, while remote-style switches you stick to the wall often aim to give you more control over already-installed smart lights.

If you're ready to take that lighting setup to the next level, we've detailed some of the top options to help you decide.

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There are plenty of great smart home devices under TP Link's Kasa line, but one of the best is the company's Smart Light Switch.

As far as installation goes, it's one of the most straightforward methods that doesn't just, you know, involve sticking an adhesive to the wall. The Kasa app will guide you through each step, but all you really need to do is find the neutral wire behind your regular switch and configure it from there.

There's no hub required, as well, with the switch essentially giving you the ability to turn your regular lights smart. That means you can control them from the app or by using your voice and even set schedules for them.

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Belkin's Wemo smart alternative works similarly to other replacements for regular switches, working with Alexa and Google Assistant to give you ample control.

You'll require a single-pole connection and a neutral wire, with the switch not compatible with three-way systems, but once you're set up you'll be able to control the lights and schedule using your voice or the app.

It is a little on the pricey side when compared to similar options, but it's a super reliable and easy system to set up.

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Gosund offers up another take on the classic style on smart switches, upgrading your regular fittings into more functioning members of the house.

You get all the typical features once you have set things up, which means scheduling, voice control (through Alexa or Google Assistant), app control and more are at your disposal.

Like other fittings of this type, just be aware that it won't work with three-pole connections, just single-pole. They'll also require a neutral wire to get set up.

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If you want to install plenty of smart switches around your home, it can start to get costly.

With Treatlife's four-pack, though, you get to graduate from regular switches and still have enough money to actually pay your mortgage.

It's the same single-pole, neutral wire setup as other switches, with the device itself opening up a world of scheduling, automation through Alexa or Google Assistant, manual app control and more.

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Philips serves up a different kind of smart switch with its Wireless Dimmer Switch, which essentially exists to give users another way of controlling their Hue-compatible lights.

Instead of requiring installation to replace your existing switch, the remote is designed to be placed beside it with an adhesive strip. You will require a Hue Hub, but, if you have one, this is a painless way to back up the app and voice control with something manual.

On the switch itself, you're able to dim and brighten the lights you've set up to work with the remote, as well as turn them off and on.

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Unlike many other options, which only work with single-pole connections, Meross allows you to replace your regular fitting with this two-way smart switch.

The device is compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant, letting you take advantage of voice control for your lights, as well as app controls.

Just be aware that your switch wiring will require at least one neutral blue wire for installation, something that a lot of old houses don't feature.

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Like Philips' Dimmer Switch, the Tap is a stick-to-the-wall type of smart switch that affords greater manual control of your Hue lights.

The four buttons allow you to jump between different, customizable scenes, with the unit itself cleverly powered by kinetic touch. That means there's no need for batteries - you can simply stick the mount to the wall or use it as a remote and it'll remain useable.

It's less of an essential switch than the Hue Dimmer, but it's a really handy way to change the mood with, well, just a simple tap.

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Sonoff's touch-enabled smart switch is a beauty, providing you with one of the neatest and most affordable ways to add more functionality over your regular light switch.

The device is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, with this backed up by app control and the ability to create scheduling routines and light scenes.

Just note that the installation will require a neutral wire, and the switch itself will only work with one-way connections (though Sonoff does offer two-way and three-way options, too).

Writing by Conor Allison. Editing by Max Freeman-Mills.

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Best smart light switch: Take a shine to these top Alexa and Google Assistant switches - Pocket-lint

Global Aerospace Wiring Harness Market Report from AMA Research highlights deep analysis on market characteristics, sizing, estimates and growth by segmentation, regional breakdowns& country along with competitive landscape, players market shares, and strategies that are key in the market. The exploration provides a 360 view and insights, highlighting major outcomes of the industry. These insights help the business decision-makers to formulate better business plans and make informed decisions to improved profitability. In addition, the study helps venture or private players in understanding the companies in more detail to make better informed decisions.

Major Players in This Report Include,

Aircraft Engineering & Installation Services Inc. (United States), Bergen Cable Technology, Inc (United States), Collins Aerospace (United States), Dacon Systems, Inc. (United States), Eaton (Ireland), GKN Aerospace (United Kingdom), Interconnect Wiring (United States), Latcore (France), Safran (France), SteinAir (United States), TE Connectivity (Switzerland), Ventura Aerospace Inc. (United States), Star Aviation, Inc. (United States), Co-Operative Industries Aerospace & Defense (United States), AeroFlite Enterprises, Inc. (United States) and Direct Avionics (United States)

Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/84311-global-aerospace-wiring-harness-market

Analyst at AMA have conducted special survey and have connected with opinion leaders and Industry experts from various region to minutely understand impact on growth as well as local reforms to fight the situation. A special chapter in the study presents Impact Analysis of COVID-19 on Aerospace Wiring Harness Market along with tables and graphs related to various country and segments showcasing impact on growth trends.

Definition

The global aircraft wiring harness market is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period according to the AMA study. This is owing to the growing adoption of electrical components for assembly in aircraft, rising initiatives for reducing environmental emissions through aircraft and strict regulations regarding carbon emissions by aircraft is boosting the demand for aircraft electrification globally and thereby driving the demand for aircraft wiring harness globally.

The Global Aerospace Wiring Harness is segmented by following Product Types:

by Application (Power Management, Data Management, Flight Control, Avionics, Lighting, Others), Fit (Linefit, Retrofit), Platform (Electric Powered Aircraft, Fuel Powered Aircraft), Aircraft (Commercial Aircraft, Military Aircraft, Regional Aircraft, General Aviation, Helicopters, UAVs)

Global Aerospace Wiring Harness Market Report offers a detailed overview of this market and discusses the dominant factors affecting the growth of the market. The impact of Porters five armies on the market over the next few years has been discussed for a long time in this study. We will also forecast global market size and market outlook over the next few years.

Types of Products, Applications and Global Aerospace Wiring Harness Market Report Geographical Scope taken as the Main Parameter for Market Analysis. This Research Report Conducts an assessment of the industry chain supporting this market. It also provides accurate information on various aspects of this market, such as production capacity, available production capacity utilization, industrial policies affecting the manufacturing chain and market growth.

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In this research study, the prime factors that are impelling the growth of the Global Aerospace Wiring Harness market report have been studied thoroughly in a bid to estimate the overall value and the size of this market by the end of the forecast period. The impact of the driving forces, limitations, challenges, and opportunities has been examined extensively. The key trends that manage the interest of the customers have also been interpreted accurately for the benefit of the readers.

The Aerospace Wiring Harness market study is being classified by Type, Applicationsand major geographies with country level break-up that includes South America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America), Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Rest of Asia-Pacific), Europe (Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Rest of Europe), MEA (Middle East, Africa), North America (United States, Canada, Mexico).

The report concludes with in-depth details on the business operations and financial structure of leading vendors in the Global Aerospace Wiring Harness market report, Overview of Key trends in the past and present are in reports that are reported to be beneficial for companies looking for venture businesses in this market. Information about the various marketing channels and well-known distributors in this market was also provided here. This study serves as a rich guide for established players and new players in this market.

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Current Scenario Analysis for Decision Framework

Key Strategic Developments in Aerospace Wiring Harness Market:

The research includes the key strategic activities such as Research & Development (R&D) initiatives, Merger & Acquisition (M&A) completed, agreements, new launches, collaborations, partnerships & (JV) Joint ventures, and regional growth of the key competitors operating in the market at global and regional scale to overcome current slowdown due to COVID-19.

Key Market Features in Global Aerospace Wiring Harness Market

The report highlights Aerospace Wiring Harness market features, including revenue size, weighted average regional price, capacity utilization rate, production rate, gross margins, consumption, import & export, demand & supply, cost bench-marking in Aerospace Wiring Harness market share and annualized growth rate (Y-o-Y) and Periodic CAGR.

Extracts from Table of Contents

Global Aerospace Wiring Harness Market Research Report

Chapter 1 Global Aerospace Wiring Harness Market Overview

Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact on Industry

Chapter 3 Global Market Competition by Manufacturers

Chapter 4 Global Revenue (Value, Volume*) by Region

Chapter 5 Global Supplies (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions

Chapter 6 Global Revenue (Value, Volume*), Price* Trend by Type

Chapter 7 Global Market Analysis by Application

.continued

This report also analyzes the regulatory framework of the Global Markets Aerospace Wiring Harness Market Report to inform stakeholders about the various norms, regulations, this can have an impact. It also collects in-depth information from the detailed primary and secondary research techniques analyzed using the most efficient analysis tools. Based on the statistics gained from this systematic study, market research provides estimates for market participants and readers.

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Aerospace Wiring Harness Market: Check It out Who Is the Fastest Marketplace Climber - Bipartisan Millennial

Former Vice President Joe Biden put his foot squarely in his mouth during the debate last week when talking about energy policy.

Many pundits thought Biden would make that kind of gaffe in the first debate but President Donald Trumps frequent interruptions ensured that would not happen. However, during the second and final presidential debate, Biden made a mistake when he declared that America needed to transition from oil and gas to green energy.

The energy (fossil fuel) industry is one of the largest in our country according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In 2019, 81 percent of our energy consumption was tied to petroleum, natural gas and coal, leading to 1,122,764 jobs and generating $181 billion in total revenue.

Furthermore, for the first time since 1957, America produced more energy than we consumed last year. Interestingly, while energy production grew by 5.7 percent in 2019, energy consumption actually decreased by 0.9 percent. While natural gas continues to top energy production, followed by crude oil, coal, nuclear power and natural gas plant liquids in descending order for a total of 89 percent of production sources, the other 11 percent is comprised of biomass, wind, hydropower and other sources, including solar.

It is more than fair to assume that any so-called transformation from fossil fuel to green energy would have major disruptive consequences for our national economy. Luckily, we have a state that has been experimenting with this transformation for some time now in California, where rolling blackouts are a common experience because reliance on green energy is intermittent and isnt capable of matching demand to supply in an efficient manner.

Between 2011 and 2017, Californias electricity prices rose five times faster than they did nationally, Environmental Progress noted. Today, Californians pay 60 percent more, on average, than the rest of the nation, for residential, commercial and industrial electricity. This is not a model that the rest of the country should follow.

This is Californication with few concepts from the Golden State worthy of replication. Not only are electricity costs in California over the top, gasoline prices are also the highest in the nation. This is because the California Progressives continue to push the absurd principles of carbon neutrality which includes high gasoline taxes, higher than national standards requirement for gas mileage and, just recently, the outlawing of gasoline vehicles by 2035!

What Californians are now experiencing is what the rest of our country will endure if we allow Far Left politicians to implement the New Green Deal (NGD) advocated by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, and U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass.

What I did not know until recently is that the NGD is not just about mitigating climate change, it is also about economic inequality. Forgetting economic inequality a moment, combating climate change is wishful dreaming because Communist China, India and Russia, all of which still rely on extensive use of coal-fired plants, still spew out toxic chemicals and haze which cannot simply be limited to within their national borders. As volcanic eruptions can show, the wind does not respect national boundaries. The unilaterally expensive remediation called for by AOC, the Bernie Bros and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to be imposed on American industry will never guarantee carbon decline in our air or a substantial difference in climate change.

Even an international treaty the Paris Accord which thankfully Trump withdrew the U.S. from, was unenforceable and had loopholes large enough for a wind turbine to slip through. Had America tried to live up to the Paris Accord, industries across the nation would be hindered with expensive regulatory costs which would make the U.S. uncompetitive.

Clean energy is not really clean though it is, admittedly, cleaner. To manufacture wind turbine blades, toxic chemicals must be used and then carefully disposed of since they are, at this time, still extremely hard to recycle. A turbine tower on average is around 280 feet high (about the same height as a 28-story building). These towers are noisy, ugly and kill somewhere between 328,000 to 573,000 birds indiscriminately every year.

Solar has its own unique set of problems including the currently high initial costs (solar panels, inverter, batteries, wiring and installation); being weather-dependent; solar energy storage being so expensive that some experts say it makes more sense to use it during the day and switching back to fossil fuels during the night; the amount of acreage needed for a solar farm; pollution from the transportation and installation of the panels; and, just like wind turbines, the manufacture of photovoltaic systems requires toxic materials and hazardous gasses.

Meanwhile, fracking has become an anchor around Bidens neck since he does not seem to know whether he is for it or against it. But, his running mate, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., was an early co-sponsor of banning fracking in the U.S. Senate. With avid support from AOC and a host of others, the future of fracking is in doubt if Biden gets elected. Though fracking has been around since 1947, as recently as 2015, there were around 300,000 hydraulically fractured wells. Today, there are more than 1.7 million wells producing more than 7 million barrels of oil and 600 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Fracking also directly employs around 636,000 people.

Without petroleum, we would all be screwed as more than 144 everyday products are made from its derivatives, including tires, boats, antiseptics, shoes, deodorant, paint, shampoo, aspirin, eyeglasses and detergents, to name just a few.

America can not afford to be Californicated energy-wise and the NGD would only exacerbate energy costs and issues. Americans expect to be able to walk into any room, flip a switch and have the lights come on. Neither industry nor consumers will be satisfied to pay higher energy costs offset with less dependability and sustainability. Furthermore, our national security is dependent on fossil fuels since the U.S. military is the largest consumer of energy.

Transforming from fossil fuels to green energy and a ban on fracking will lead to the Californication of America. Think twice before you vote for Joe Biden.

Barney Bishop III, is a former executive director of the Florida Democratic Party and immediate past-CEO of Associated Industries of Florida, founded in 1920, and known as the Voice of Florida Business. He currently is the CEO of Barney Bishop Consulting, LLC and he can be reached at Barney@BarneyBishop.com.

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Barney Bishop: Joe Biden and the Left's Energy Policy Would Lead to the Californication of America - Florida Daily

Remote visual assistance vendor TechSee has closed out a $30 million Series C round that brought its total investment to $54 million. The round was co-led by OurCrowd, Salesforce Ventures, and Telus Ventures with participation from Scale Venture Partners and Planven Entrepreneur Ventures.

TechSee plans to use the new funding to enter new markets and verticals while also expanding its product offerings and capabilities.

RELATED: Vodafone keeps customers connected during COVID-19 by using TechSee

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Founded in 2015, Tel Aviv-based TechSee has made its mark during the Covid-19 pandemic by enabling technicians from companies such as Vodafone and Verizon to turn up customers' services remotely without entering their homes. TechSee is also used by contact centers to reduce the number of calls and improve the productivity of support agents

TechSee had driven its solutions into the realm of augmented reality and artificial intelligence (AI) to help solve issues remotely and quickly. Unlike some remote virtual assistants, TechSee doesnt require the customer to download an application to their smartphone or tablet.

TechSees AI platform can automatically identify components, ports, cables, LED indicators, and more to detect issues and suggest resolutions for consumers, contact center agents, and field technicians. TechSee is a cloud-based solution that runs on Amazon Web Services. Since there are no downloads or sign-ins, the service can be up and running in days.

With TechSee, a telco customer agent can send an SMS to the broadband subscriber that is experiencing a broadband issue. The subscribers click on the link that turns on their smartphone cameras to show the agent a broadband router our set-top box. TechSee supports Android and IoS devices, and also works on tablets.

Currently, there are more than 50 companies, including Logmein, Teamviewer, and Help Lightning, that provide remote visual support for installations, but they don't use computer vision AI.

In addition to keeping techs and customers safe during the shelter-at-home mandates from Covid-19, TechSee can also reduce costly truck rolls for operators by solving installation or service issues remotely.

"TechSees technology reflects a material leap forward in delivering great experiences and support to consumers," said Rich Osborn, managing partner, Telus Ventures. "Covid-19 has also accelerated the path to adoption through very clear use cases, and the transition from traditional means of servicing customers is primed for an evolution. The majority of consumers have powerful mobile computing devices that can enable a wide variety of virtual and augmented reality applicationsfrom solving simple technical issues or unboxing and installing new devices, to activating and bringing user guides into real life.

"Telus Ventures was impressed with TechSees strong traction in enabling telecommunications client service through unique and differentiated technology, and its ability to innovate and deliver new capabilities during the COVID-19 crises."

TechSee's roadmap

TechSee's use of AI and augmented reality, along with the new funding round, is opening doors into new use cases and products. Autonomous assistance for technicians will allow telecom and cable technicians in the field to point their smartphone or tablet at a device, its components, wiring, LEDs, ports and cables to get troubleshooting guidance. It will also include auto-job verification such as providing feedback if the fibers are configured incorrectly.

TechSee is also working on visual self-service, which will allow consumers to self-install and troubleshoot issues in self-servicesuch as router installationby pointing their smartphone camera at the device. Currently, the TechSee technology still requires an agent on the other end to speak with the customer to identify issues and troubleshoot.

With automated visual self-service, no agent will be needed because the computer vision AI can work with the customer directly to pinpoint problems and identify solutions. It can also diagram solutions using an AR overlay right on the consumer's tablet or phone screen. It's also fully automated, which means businesses can save time, money and resources by deflecting callers to the self-service portal.

TechSee, which currently has 60 employees, but expects to have 100 by year's end, has also seen some additional use cases crop up this year. One new use case includes "bill and invoice explanation" where an agent can visually guide customers through their bill or total automated self-service. TechSee's computer vision AI can identify the components and line items of a bill and help explain them to the customer.

App navigation has also proved to be an interesting use case for TechSee. Some telecom customers are finding TechSee's solution valuable when it comes to learning how to use their provider's mobile applications.

TechSee is also seeing its customers use its technology for on-site support when a technician is having difficulty solving a problem. In that use case, technicians contact an expert, such as an engineer, back at the office to help them fix problems without having to dispatch to the site.

"We believe there is significant potential to expand TechSees relationship with telcos globally by growing its offerings with existing customers and continuing to deliver value-added services to become a leading visual assistance company that can enable organizations like Telus to enhance its customer service and support," said Osborn.

Excerpt from:
TechSee closes $30M investment round with Telus and Salesforce - FierceTelecom

Fact.MR has recently published a report, titled [Global Vertical Gear Motor Market 2020 by Key Countries, Companies, Type and Application]. The research report provides an in-depth explanation of the various factors that are likely to drive the market. It discusses the future of the market by studying the historical details. Analysts have studied the ever-changing market dynamics to evaluate their impact on the overall market. In addition, the report also discusses the segments present in the market. Primary and secondary research methodologies have been used to provide the readers with an accurate and precise understanding of the overall The Vertical Gear Motor market. Analysts have also given readers an unbiased opinion about the direction companies will take during the forecast period.

The research report also includes the global market figures that provide historical data as well as estimated figures. It gives a clear picture of the growth rate of the market during the forecast period. The report aims to give the readers quantifiable data that is collected from verified data. The report attempts to answer all the difficult questions such as market sizes and company strategies.

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Customized Solutions to Drive Development of Vertical Gear Motor

Increasing emphasis on customized solutions for gear motors is the primary design & development determinant for vertical gear motors. The direct implication of the emphasis for manufacturers is the simplification of integration into mechanical designs. These trends have prompted gear motor manufacturers to provide their customers with more simplicity. In the wake of new applications, suppliers are concentrating more on design changes, such as that in new battery-powered designs.

For example, engineers at Bodine Electric are developing & testing gear motors (vertical and horizontal) with optimized motors and windings, in a bid to impart efficient operation in battery-powered and outdoor systems even at lower voltages. Design enhancements comprise new magnetic configurations for optimizing performance at lower voltages, and new winding configurations optimized to comply with low resistance.

Customization also involves more integration upfront. A prime example of such integration is vertical gear motor with actuators that is designed for definite purposes such as wheel drives, rotating actuators, and lift actuators. In addition, vertical gear motors with integrated controllers enable the envelope in being more compact, and eliminate wiring required between the motor and the controller.

Key Manufacturers Developments

LUYANG Technology Co., Ltd.s new series of vertical flange motor integrated with helical gear reducer feature impact structure and offer high torque performance, low vibration, and low temperature rise. Called as L Series LV18 / LV22 / LV28 / LV32 / LV40 / LV50, LUYANGs new vertical gear motors cater specific application requirements, such as automation machine, food machine, medical equipment, packaging machine, and conveyor belt equipmen

Global Vertical Gear Motor Market: Drivers and Restraints

The report explains the drivers shaping the future of the Vertical Gear Motor market. It evaluates the various forces that are expected to create a positive influence on the overall market. Analysts have studied the investments in research and development of products and technologies that are expected to give the players a definite boost. Furthermore, researchers have also included an analysis of the changing consumer behavior that is projected to impact the supply and demand cycles present in the global The Vertical Gear Motor market. Evolving per capita earnings, improving economic statuses, and emerging trends have all been studied in this research report.

The research report also explains the potential restraints present in the global The Vertical Gear Motor market. It evaluates the aspects that are likely to hamper the market growth in the near future. In addition to this assessment, it also provides a list of opportunities that could prove lucrative to the overall market. Analysts provide solutions for turning threats and restraints into successful opportunities in the coming years.

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Global Vertical Gear Motor Market: Regional Segmentation

In the successive chapters, analysts have studied the regional segments present in the global The Vertical Gear Motor market. This gives the readers a narrowed-view of the global market enabling a closer look at the elements that could define its progress. It highlights myriad regional aspects such as the impact of culture, environment, and government policies that influence the regional markets.

Global Vertical Gear Motor Market: Competitive Landscape

The last chapter of the global The Vertical Gear Motor market research report focuses solely on the competitive landscape. It studies the key players present in the market. In addition to a brief overview of the company, analysts shed light on their valuation and evolution. It also mentions the list of important products and the ones in the pipeline. The competitive landscape is analyzed by understanding the strategies of the companies and the initiatives they have taken in recent years to overcome the intensive competition.

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Vertical Gear Motor Market to Flourish with an Impressive CAGR During 2018 to 2027 - Eurowire

The small wooded hillock of Craig Gibbon inPerthshire is a popular destination for walkers despite being a relatively minor top among the jumble of hills accessed from Little Glenshee, says Alan Rowan.

The main curiosity is the obelisk perched on its summit, an eight-metre high stone pyramid, erected in the early 1800s by Colonel William Mercer, so that he could pick out the hill from his house at Meikleour, some 12 miles away.

The surrounding trees have long since kept the structure out of sight until the last minute, but the final reveal is a grand pastoral view to the south.

Little Glenshee is a short hop from Perth, but the transformation of the landscape and its soundtrack in that brief journey is breathtaking; leafy arches, gently bubbling waters and birds darting here and there. By the time I reached the small parking area just before the ford I was already feeling as though Id had a mental massage.

A wooden bridge leads out of the car park, along a path and across a road to a high locked gate, the first of a few you will encounter on this circuit. There is a high metal stile with handrails at each, and handily, a separate low entrance hatch for dogs.

The day still hadnt sparked into life; a grey pall coated the sky and my first target, Loch Tullybalton, was a drab silver streak down to the right. My progress had sparked interest with the local crow colony in a nearby stand of trees, however, as they took to the air en masse in full complaining frenzy. Suddenly the silence wasnt silent any more.

On paper, my route was straightforward. In reality, it paid to check the map every so often. There are far more tracks on the ground than there are on the map and it would be simple to stray.

Heading up from the gate, I turned right at the first junction to head east for the loch, ignoring another track going off to my left on the way. The burgeoning blue sky had transformed the waters and the yellows and browns of the flora on the surrounding slopes were set alight.

I kept to the main drag along the side of Drum Tick, again ignoring a possibility to the right, and when the track started to turn left, I branched right, crossing a small stream to head uphill to reach two small ponds. The first, on the left, was alive with ducks and a family of swans; the next one, on the right, was not so heavily populated.

Just beyond is another junction. A left turn led uphill by a wood and eventually rounded a hairpin bend, then another gate and high stile. Once over this, stick to the main track, which trends right, climbing steadily until it reaches an obvious branch right.

Ahead is a prominent cairned top. This is Carn Tuile which is passed on the left, and just beyond this the wooded hillock of Craig Gibbon can be seen clearly for the first time. With the rugged brown features of Craig Obney filling the skyline dead ahead, I dropped left from the track on a grassy path to reach a gap in a dyke and the short push to the obelisk. Its a fine spot to linger, and if the weather is misbehaving, it provides a temporary reprieve from the elements.

The pathfinding for the return is simple; back to the last junction and then follow the track anti-clockwise round Moine Folaich, passing the prehistoric Sack Stone, with another pyramid, the distant Schiehallion, keeping you company most of the way.

The track swings round Creag na Criche to rejoin the inward track, but if you havent had enough for one day this summit is not too far away. Be warned though the ascent may be short, but the heather is deep and awkward. The descent is then down a grass ramp to rejoin the track.

1. Cross footbridge from car park and follow path then cross minor road to metal gate with high stile.

2. Follow track and at first junction take right-hand branch east towards Loch Tullybalton (ignoring another exit on left en route).

3. Continue on main track past loch and when it takes uphill curve to the left, take branch right to reach two small ponds, first on left, then right.

4. Just beyond the ponds at junction, turn north (left) and follow to another gate and high stile. Stay on main track, ignoring branch left, and climb steadily to junction.

5. Turn right here, passing a prominent cairned top, then drop right on grass path to wooded top of Craig Gibbon, and climb through the trees to obelisk at the summit.

6. Retrace steps to the track and down to the junction.

7. Complete the circuit, heading right on track which curves to drop back to first junction and path to car park.

Distance: 14km/8.8 miles

Ascent: 415m/1355ft

Time: 3-5 hours

Grading: Good tracks, sometimes wet and muddy sections, steady ascents. Sturdy boots and adequate clothing advised. High stiles to climb, but all with separate dog gates. Please keep dogs under close control due to ground nesting birds and farm livestock.

Start/finish: Small car park on right before ford in Little Glenshee (Grid ref: NN 998341) on minor road from Luncarty.

Map: Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger Map 52 (Pitlochry & Crieff); Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer sheet 379.

Tourist Information: VisitScotland, Perth iCentre, 45 High Street, Perth, PH1 5TJ (Tel 01738 450600).

Public transport: No public transport to Little Glenshee.

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WALK THIS WAY: Craig Gibbon, a popular hillock among jumble of hills accessed from Little Glenshee - The Courier

Theres some hoopla happening on The Hill!

After years of anticipation and planning, construction has begun on Alabama A&Ms 132,000-square-foot event center and arena, Turner Constructions Huntsville office announced Thursday.

The new Alabama A&M University event center/arena will host sporting events, commencement exercises and other campus activities.

The new space will include an arena with a 6,000-person capacity, locker rooms, training rooms, an Alabama A&M athletic Hall of Fame, and a kitchen with the capability to provide meals for all events on campus.

The arena will host sporting events such as basketball and volleyball games, commencement exercises, and other university functions.

The center will provide the university with a much-needed facility where we can host major functions, such as commencements, convocations, our annual scholarship gala, and athletic events, said A&M President Andrew Hugine Jr. It will be a state-of-the-art facility just off of North Memorial Parkway, and we are thrilled to be making this addition for our students and the community, which will transform the landscape of North Huntsville.

The Alabama A&M University Athletics Hall of Fame will have a home in the new facility.

Turner is the construction management agent for the project. Under the CMa approach, the construction manager serves as an extension of the project owners staff and is responsible for construction management services, including advising, coordinating, and inspecting project design and construction, and competitively bidding the various construction components to trade contractors.

Turner will work with architecture firm Nola Van Peursem and engineering firms Moody Nolan (arena consultant); The EE Group (electrical engineer); Mims Engineering (mechanical/plumbing/fire protection); Johnson and Associates (civil engineer); LBYD (structural engineer); Camacho (food service); and Bostick Landscape Architects. The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2022.

We are excited to partner with Alabama A&M on our fourth project together, said Tyce Hudson, project executive at Turner Construction Company in Huntsville. We have experienced a lot of success together and there is no doubt that this is going to be the best project yet.

It is going to be an excellent facility for Alabama A&M University and the community.

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Construction Begins on Alabama A&M Event Center and Arena - Huntsville Business Journal

The conditions seemed ripe for disaster.

Gusting Santa Ana winds had grounded water-dumping aircraft for hours, and flames were spreading across a tinder-dry fuel bed. Downwind sat a tangled maze of suburban streets where more than 80,000 people were ordered to evacuate.

Had this weeks Silverado fire began anywhere else, and at any other time, firefighters said it could have been the latest disaster in Californias busiest fire year on record a time when firefighting resources have been stretched perilously thin.

Firefighter Raymond Vasquez braves tall flames as he fights the advancing Silverado Fire fueled by Santa Ana winds at the 241 toll road and Portola Parkway in Irvine.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

But this latest fire started on the outskirts of master-planned Orange County, where the roads are smooth and wide, communities were built under the states most recent fire code and the largest regional firefighting force in the world was at the ready and just a phone call away.

Despite 45-mph gusts launching embers into the suburban sprawl, where cars sat bumper to bumper trying to flee the oncoming flames, not a single home was lost or seriously damaged. In the end, thanks to a semi-formal agreement among the regions biggest fire departments and the first-ever use of the worlds biggest, fastest water-dropping helicopter at night, crews were able to stand their ground, keeping the flames largely north of Portola Parkway, a major road that divides the subdivisions of Irvine from the backcountry.

In some ways, we got a little bit lucky, said Orange County Fire Chief Brian Fennessy.

In a year when firefighters have lost so many battles in part because the number of blazes has stretched firefighting resources this firefight and a second battle that began hours later in Yorba Linda could be considered successes, officials said.

When the Silverado fire began, about a third of Orange Countys firefighters were in their last hour of a two-day shift and were about to be replaced, in essence, putting twice as many firefighters at the ready than would typically be available, Fennessy said. As the chief headed to department headquarters down Portola Parkway that morning, he managed to come across the fire the moment it jumped the road and moved toward the subdivisions, giving commanders on-the-ground intel of where the fire was and how it was behaving.

An Orange County firefighter stands ready to defend a home as the Silverado fire approaches in an Orchard Hills neighborhood of Irvine.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

I just got off the phone with the [operations] chief, hes telling me the fire is still high up on the hill and right in front of me the fire is coming up the road, Fennessy said. Like so many of these fires, they show up so much faster than people think.

Fennessy pulled into the neighborhood and, along with one Irvine police officer, began urging residents to flee, he said. At one point the chief jumped out of his vehicle, grabbed a nearby fire extinguisher and put out a spot fire burning next to a home, video on his cellphone shows.

As authorities cleared out the neighborhoods, a surge of crews were headed into the area thanks to a pact reached among Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura counties and the city of Los Angeles. Fire chiefs in those districts had all agreed to help one another in dire situations, avoiding the states usual mutual aid system because its viewed as being slow to dispatch resources.

Fennessy reached out to his peers and within an hour of the call, had 25 engines racing to help. More crews flowed into the county in the following days. More than 2,200 firefighters arrived overall.

Had either of these fires erupted in August or September, when firefighters and equipment were busy battling record wildfires in the central and northern parts of the state, theres no telling what could have happened, Fennessy said. When the Blue Ridge fire broke out in the afternoon in Yorba Linda, commanders were able to quickly divert firefighters to the new threat. Only one home was destroyed, while seven others were damaged.

Orange County firefighters protect homes in the Orchard Hills neighborhood of Irvine.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

All of us were stunned that there were only two fires, Fennessy said. We dodged a bullet in Orange County.

Battling a wind-driven fire on the ground, and head-on, is a dangerous proposition, so hotshot crews worked the rear and sides of the fire to limit its spread while other firefighters took up positions in neighborhoods to protect homes from an onslaught of firebrands. Two hotshot crew members were critically burned in that initial attack on the fires flank and remain hospitalized.

Though aircraft were grounded for several hours in the morning, winds died down by the afternoon, according to National Weather Service data, and the aerial assault on the fires went into full swing. Air tankers caked the grass and shrub-covered hillsides with pink retardant while helicopters doused flare-ups with water even at night.

Southern California is an oddity in the world, you guys have a true air force down there, said Mel Ceccanti, a pilot and director of flight operations for Coulson Aviation, a firefighting aviation company that holds contracts around the world and has crews stationed in Orange County for a three-month period this year.

Orange County firefighters have to look away because of the hot wind, debris and approaching flames while defending homes in the Orchard Hills neighborhood of Irvine.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Throughout the first night of the Silverado fire, Ceccanti operated the companys retrofitted CH-47 Chinook, a beast of a helicopter used by the Army that can fly 200 mph and drop 3,000 gallons of water or retardant at once a payload on par with some fixed-wing tankers.

With night skies relatively clear and plenty of lakes and reservoirs in the area, Ceccanti was able to drop 47,000 gallons of water over four hours.

Its safe to say we dropped more water in Orange County than Orange County has ever had dropped, Ceccanti said.

Though the fire burned through bone-dry vegetation, Orange Countys landscape is markedly different from the terrain in Northern California a key advantage to firefighters.

Theres no timber-heavy forest to sustain fire for long periods of time, so while the light grass and shrubs can burn extremely hot and launch embers into the air, the fires go out just as fast as they begin, Fennessy said.

It burns so frickin quick, the ember cast can only last for so long, he said.

In retrospect, both Fennessy, who battled the 2007 firestorm in San Diego, and Ceccanti, who most recently flew over Australias massive bushfires, say the county caught a break this week. Had the fire reached Trabuco Canyon, it could have raged out of control as winds pushed it deeper into rugged terrain. Had the winds remained as strong as they were initially, aircraft wouldnt have been able to help.

We support ground firefighters, no matter how much you put on that fire, someone has to come through with a hose to put that fire out, Ceccanti said. If you bet the farm on aviation alone, you might catch yourself with your pants around your ankles.

As of Thursday, the Silverado fire had burned 13,390 acres and was 51% contained, and the Blue Ridge fire had burned 14,334 acres and was 39% contained. Most evacuations in the county were lifted in the afternoon.

Originally posted here:
A rare victory in the OC during California's worst fire year - Los Angeles Times

In the 1980s, When Kevin Dahl first began visiting the Organ Pipe Cactus national monument in southern Arizona, the border was unmarked, save for a simple fence used to keep cattle from a ranch in the US from crossing into Mexico. In those days, park rangers would call in their lunch orders at a diner located just across the border.

Since then, a 30ft steel bollard wall has replaced the old barbed wire fence at Organ Pipe. The towering steel barrier cuts through the Unesco reserve like a rust-colored suture.

Its this incredible scar, said Kevin Dahl, a senior program manager at the National Parks Conservation Association, describing the wall that snakes its way through a pristine track of Sonoran desert, dwarfing the giant cacti that give this desert its name. What was once a connected landscape is now a dissected one.

That dissection is now a reality across much of the US border. It is a landscape increasingly defined by walls, roads, fences and associated border infrastructure that is fragmenting critically protected habitats, desecrating sacred cultural sites and threatening numerous endangered species in some of the most biodiverse and unique places in North America.

Border construction has had a huge impact on some of the most remote and biodiverse landscapes on the continent, said Dan Millis, a campaigner at the Sierra Club. The Trump administration is taking it even further.

Four days before the US election, this is how the new border wall has affected four distinct wilderness areas.

Donald Trump entered the Oval Office with a campaign promise to build 450 miles of a new border wall system a combination of infrastructure including bollard barriers, roads, perimeter lighting, enforcement cameras and other technology even amid the pandemic, has continued at an increasing pace. According to Customs and Border Protection, 400 miles of the border wall system has been completed so far, with physical barriers from 18-30ft tall. If he wins, he may well aspire to wall off the border in its entirety.

Construction is occurring mostly on public, often protected lands, because the Department of Homeland Security has sweeping powers to waive environmental protection laws, like the Endangered Species Act, which would otherwise bar construction.

Protected lands belong to the government because they are so unique and fragile. Because of that same fact, they are being demolished, said Laiken Jordahl, borderlands campaigner for the Center for Biological Diversity, noting the relative ease of border wall construction on public lands compared with the lengthy process of taking private property.

The eastern terminus is the Lower Rio Grande Valley wildlife refuge in south-eastern Texas 100,000 acres of lush protected lands that US Fish and Wildlife have spent four decades restoring. The 135 individual tracts of land, described as a string of pearls connecting various habitats, extend along the 275 miles of the Rio Grande River before entering the Gulf of Mexico. It is one of the most biodiverse places in the country, supporting 700 species of terrestrial animals such as the jaguarundi, a wild cat, as well as myriad plants and a vibrant ecotourism industry.

The landscape is now being bisected by a 15ft concrete base surmounted by 18ft steel bollards.

Its going to make it that much harder to preserve the very little that is left of the ecosystem, said Norma Herrera of the Rio Grande Equal Voice Network

This is some of the best birding in the world, said Elise Wort, a tourist who traveled from her California home to see some of the 500-plus bird species that reside in the valley. The border is an environmental and human disaster.

Much of the construction in the south-western border states is occurring in remote and mountainous terrain. Critics say it makes little sense to construct a physical barrier in these areas because most are lightly trafficked corridors for unauthorized migration, and they are also crucial habitat for animals. Ninety-three endangered and threatened animal species are found in the borderlands.

One such area is the Madrean Sky Islands, rugged linked mountain ranges in New Mexico and Arizona that boast the highest biodiversity in inland North America.

Its like going from the climate on the Mexican border to Canada, said Emily Burns, program director of the Sky Island Alliance, with ecosystems ranging from subtropical lowlands and deserts to temperate mountaintops.

The 30ft steel wall and stadium lighting are adversely affecting the ocelot, javelina, Mexican grey wolf and the North American jaguar, the latter of which has made a surprising comeback in the US since being hunted to extinction in the late 1980s, according to Burnss organization.

We dont expect there will be any hope for the jaguars recovery in the US if [the border is] completed, said Burns, because it will cut off the main Jaguar population in Mexico from that in the US.

Further east in Arizona, new sections of steel bollard wall are being built in the largest area of protected Sonoran landscape. At the San Bernardino national wildlife refuge, groundwater pumping to mix concrete for the wall is draining a crucial wetland and imperiling four threatened or endangered species for which San Bernardino was created to protect. Government documents obtained by environmental groups revealed that the US Fish and Wildlife Service repeatedly warned the Department of Homeland Security about the imminent threat to these species. Their warning went unheeded.

I started my career as a biologist at the Refuge, and 20 years later, I came full circle to witness its destruction, said Myles Trapenhagan, borderlands program coordinator for the Wildlands Network, an environmental group.

Construction during the Trump administration has severely affected tribal lands along the border, leading to a growing protest movement in response to desecration of sacred sites and barred access to ancestral lands.

Our tribal sovereignty is not being upheld, said Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan, a doctoral candidate of Indian studies at the University of Arizona and a member of the Tohono Oodham Nation, who lands have been split by the wall, stifling cross-border cultural and religious events between Oodham members in Mexico and the US. I dont think it ever has been when it comes to the border wall or the border in general.

At Organ Pipe Cactus national monument in Arizona, part of the ancestral lands of the Tohono Oodham nation, a particular flashpoint has been the impact of the border wall on the sacred Quitobaquito springs. A recent analysis by data scientists at the investigative journalism website Bellingcat found that water levels at Quitobaquito springs are declining at unprecedented rates, with border wall construction a likely culprit because crews have tapped the underlying aquifer for water to make concrete.

On 12 October Indigenous Peoples Day Oodham members and their allies blockaded the highway passing through Organ Pipe. Border officers responded with force, including teargas, arresting eight in the process.

Earlier this year, construction crews used dynamite to blow up Monument hill in Organ Pipe to make way for the wall, disturbing Oodham burial grounds and uprooting numerous Organ Pipe and Saguaro Cactus scattered along the service roads, which evoked felled green monoliths.

A recent decision by a federal appeals court has provided at least one win for border wall critics, and a blow to Trumps ambitions to complete the 450 miles of the wall by years end.

The ninth circuit court of appeals ruled that the presidents use of emergency powers to allocate military funds for border wall construction was illegal. Even so, construction will continue on projects where military money was not used including the four described here.

This wall has done nothing more than divide our communities, disrespect our values, and inflict enormous environmental harm, said the Arizona congressman Ral Grijalva, whose district includes Organ Pipe. Its time for wall construction to end once and for all.

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'An incredible scar': the harsh toll of Trump's 400-mile wall through national parks - The Guardian

To celebrate Wightman Parks reopening, Councilperson Erika Strassburger slid down the brand-new slide built into the hillside embankment right into the park.

Councilperson Erika Strassburger going down the slide at Wightman Park. Photo courtesy of the City of Pittsburgh.

After four years of work, Wightman Park in Squirrel Hill has reopened to the public at 5612 Solway Street. What was once an under-utilized two-acre ball field with deteriorated playground equipment now features an inclusive new playground and a host of new amenities.

The project also attempts to solve stormwater drainage problems that have plagued nearby neighborhoods.

This park should be a model for all the parks in Pittsburgh, said Strassburger at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday afternoon. And while this park can and will welcome everyone regardless of age, ability, interest and neighborhood, I truly believe that every neighborhood deserves a park this wonderful.

The park prioritizes inclusion for children of different abilities along with a focus on sustainability, recreation and beautiful design, she adds.

There are distinct play areas, one for toddlers ages 2 to 5 and another for children ages 5 to 12, with an array of slides, tunnels, netting and other climbing equipment.

Theres also a new covered wooden picnic pavilion open to the community along with a walking track and a half-court basketball hoop.

In addition, the park also features a large green space, suitable for everything from frisbee to soccer, baseball and softball. New family restroom facilities are included with an adult changing table, the first in a public space in Pittsburgh.

The inclusion of an adult changing table was an important request from the community, says Senior Project Landscape Architect Andrea Ketzel with the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works. We heard from parents and caretakers of children with differing physical abilities. They communicated the struggles that they face in a public setting when caring for their children who have outgrown a standard baby changing table. The table will allow parents and caretakers to provide for their grown children or adult family members in a safe, sanitary and private location.

Wightman Park playground. Photo courtesy of the City of Pittsburgh.

Artists Oreen Cohen and Alison Zapata of OOA Designs created metal sculptures, inlaid with colorful panes of glass that merge the forms of falling water and pollinating insects, that are child-safe and act as benches.

OOA Designs worked with the children of the nearby Carriage House to create drawings of butterflies, bugs and natural elements for inspiration in the sculptures, says Ketzel.

The park doubles as a massive stormwater retention project, featuring green infrastructure such as rain gardens and plantings along with retention tanks beneath the park and additional stormwater storage capacity under the sidewalks. The city estimates that this will capture two million gallons of stormwater every year, and provide 50,000 cubic feet of storage.

This site is very unique in that it sits at a low point in the topography, says Ketzel. When you visit the park, you might notice that the site is bowl-shaped and the perfect place to hold water. Many years ago, it held water permanently and was used as a skating rink in the wintertime. Early in the public engagement process, we received complaints from neighbors about their basements flooding and engaged with PWSA (Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority) to collaborate on a park renovation that also included stormwater management.

The next phase of the stormwater project will involve improving drainage along local streets and directing stormwater towards the park. This will keep it out of peoples basements, and sewer overflows into the Monongahela River. The improvements will feature stormwater bump out planters at intersections, and channel drains that convey stormwater under the street between planters.

The Wightman Park project was a joint effort between the City of Pittsburgh ($3 million) and the PWSA ($2 million). The funding came from their capital budgets, as well as state, federal and local grants, says Ketzel.

squirrel hillWightman Park

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Renovated Wightman Park in Squirrel Hill reopens as 'a model for all the parks in Pittsburgh' - NEXTpittsburgh