Norman MacLeod – författare

Well structured training, based on sound theoretical principles, can transform the system in which high performance is essential and in turn, the organisation. Yet the strategic role of cost-effective training provision is often less well understood than it might be in all branches of aviation - whether civil or regional, general, business or military. This book analyzes the cycle of training design from the identification of requirement through to measurement of effectiveness. Key issues in training design and management are illustrated with examples and learning is consolidated through case studies. The book provides advice, tools, procedures and examples of best practice - both recent and well-established - to assist aviation training personnel who aim to guarantee cost-effective training. The approach is highly practical, but does not avoid covering the theory when needed. An informative guide to the process of training analysis and course design, the book examines each stage of the training design cycle in some depth. In addition, it looks at the application of quality management and of project management to training design. Each chapter contains advice and techniques, as well as examples drawn from the author's wealth of experience of training in aviation.

The automated identification of biological objects or groups has been a dream among taxonomists and systematists for centuries. However, progress in designing and implementing practical systems for fully automated taxon identification has been frustratingly slow. Regardless, the dream has never died. Recent developments in computer architectures and innovations in software design have placed the tools needed to realize this vision in the hands of the systematics community, not several years hence, but now. And not just for DNA barcodes or other molecular data, but for digital images of organisms, digital sounds, digitized chemical data - essentially any type of digital data.Based on evidence accumulated over the last decade and written by applied researchers, Automated Taxon Identification in Systematics explores contemporary applications of quantitative approaches to the problem of taxon recognition. The book begins by reviewing the current state of systematics and placing automated taxon identification in the context of contemporary trends, needs, and opportunities. The chapters present and evaluate different aspects of current automated system designs. They then provide descriptions of case studies in which different theoretical and practical aspects of the overall group-identification problem are identified, analyzed, and discussed.A recurring theme through the chapters is the relationship between taxonomic identification, automated group identification, and morphometrics. This collection provides a bridge between these communities and between them and the wider world of applied taxonomy. The only book-length treatment that explores automated group identification in systematic context, this text also includes introductions to basic aspects of the fields of contemporary artificial intelligence and mathematical group recognition for the entire biological community.

The book provides a data-driven approach to real-world crew resource management (CRM) applicable to commercial pilot performance. It addresses the shift to a systems-based resilience thinking that aims to understand how worker performance provides a buffer against failure. This book will be the first to bring these ideas together.Taking a competence-based approach offers a more coherent, relevant approach to CRM. The book presents relevant, real-world examples of the concepts and outlines a change in thinking around pilot performance and data interpretation that is overdue.Airlines, pilots and aviation industry professionals will benefit from the insights into organisational design and alternative approaches to training.FEATURES Approaches CRM from a competence-based perspective Uses a systems model to bring coherence to CRM Includes a chapter on using blended learning and virtual reality to deliver CRM Features research on work/life balance, morale, pilot fatigue and link to error Operationalises ‘resilience engineering’ in a crew context

The book provides a data-driven approach to real-world crew resource management (CRM) applicable to commercial pilot performance. It addresses the shift to a systems-based resilience thinking that aims to understand how worker performance provides a buffer against failure. This book will be the first to bring these ideas together.Taking a competence-based approach offers a more coherent, relevant approach to CRM. The book presents relevant, real-world examples of the concepts and outlines a change in thinking around pilot performance and data interpretation that is overdue.Airlines, pilots and aviation industry professionals will benefit from the insights into organisational design and alternative approaches to training.FEATURES Approaches CRM from a competence-based perspective Uses a systems model to bring coherence to CRM Includes a chapter on using blended learning and virtual reality to deliver CRM Features research on work/life balance, morale, pilot fatigue and link to error Operationalises ‘resilience engineering’ in a crew context

Generally, biologists and mathematicians who study the shape and form of organisms have largely been working in isolation from those who work on evolutionary relationships through the analysis of common characteristics. Increasingly however, dialogue between the two communities is beginning to develop - but other than a handful of journal papers, there has been no formal, published discussion on this subject. This timely book summarises the interdisciplinary work that has taken place to date and will stimulate additional research into these topics. Any scientist working on evolutionary relationships will find this volume invaluable.

PaleoBase represents a unique combination of up-to-date systematic information on an extensive collection of fossil genera, state-of-the-art color digital photographs of representative specimens from The Natural History Museum's unrivalled paleontological collections, and modern relational database technology. High-quality zoomable digital imagesComplete systematic, life-habit and paleoecological descriptions by taxonomic specialists from The Natural History Museum, LondonChronostratigraphic and paleogeographic distributionGlossary of terms and bibliographyFull search either by name, age, chronostratigraphy, or morphologyMorphological keys and labelled imagesPaleoBase Macrofossils Part 3 contains records of Cnidaria, Echinoderms, Sponges, and 'Other' fossil groups.For an online demonstration and guided tour of PaleoBase: Macrofossils please visit: www.paleobase.com/For an information brochure, or for any queries, please e-mail paleobase.support@oxon.blackwellpublishing.com

PaleoBase is a new initiative in the presentation of systematic information on fossil organisms. It represents the marriage of up-to-date systematic information on a collection of over 1500 fossil genera, state-of-the-art color digital photographs of representative specimens from The Natural History Museum's unrivaled paleontological collections, and modern relational database technology. With PaleoBase an important new tool for the teaching of life history in a wide variety of advanced secondary, undergraduate and graduate courses (e.g., paleontology, historical geology, stratigraphy, paleoceanography, paleobiogeography) becomes available to students and educators alike. PaleoBase: Macrofossils is the first product from the PaleoBase project, and will be released in three Parts. It will consist of approximately 1000 generic records drawn from the major invertebrate groups. The genera have been carefully selected to include taxa used in the teaching of paleontology and historical geology worldwide. Together they represent the ideal fossil collection; one that in practice only the largest natural history museums could hope to assemble. PaleoBase: Macrofossils gives educators, students and researchers access to a virtual collection of these fossils - many of which are actual figured specimens from the 19th and 20th century technical publications that served to originally establish the concepts of these genera. PaleoBase: Macrofossils Part One contains data on the Arthropods (non-Trilobite), Brachiopods, Bryozoans, Graptolites, Trace Fossils and Trilobites. Part Two contains Bivalves, Gastropods, Ammonoids, Nautiloids, Coleoids and Early Metazoans. Part Three will cover Cnidaria, Echinoderms, Sponges, 'Other' fossil groups. For an online demonstration and guided tour of PaleoBase: Macrofossils please visit:www.paleobase.com/ For an information brochure, or for any queries, please e-mail paleobase.support@oxon.blackwellpublishing.com For details of our site licence please click here.

PaleoBase represents a unique combination of up-to-date systematic information on an extensive collection of fossil genera, state-of-the-art color digital photographs of representative specimens from The Natural History Museum's unrivalled paleontological collections, and modern relational database technology.PaleoBase provides an important new tool for the teaching of life history in a wide variety of advanced secondary, undergraduate, and graduate courses (e.g., paleontology, historical geology, stratigraphy, paleoceanography, paleobiogeography). Instructors will find the database a rich resource for lecture presentations, discussions, and laboratory exercises. Students will find PaleoBase an invaluable addition to traditional textbooks, and a key reference source for basic systematic paleontology. High-quality zoomable digital imagesComplete systematic, life-habit and paleoecological descriptions by taxonomic specialists from The Natural History Museum, LondonChronostratigraphic and paleogeographic distributionGlossary of terms and bibliographyFull search either by name, age, chronostratigraphy, or morphologyMorphological keys and labelled imagesPaleoBase Macrofossils Part 3 contains over 350 records of Cnidaria, Echinoderms (incl. asteroids, blastoids, carpoids, crinoids, cyclocystoids, cystoids, echinoids, edrioasteroids, edrioblastoids, eocrinoids, helicoplacoids, holothurians, and ophiuroids), Sponges, and 'Problematica' (incl. early metazoans) fossil groups. These fossil genera are illustrated with over 1,500 color digital images of specimens. This fully relational database includes full genus descriptions, chronostratigraphy, paleoecology, of bibliography of over 500 references to the primary research literature, a glossary of over 600 morphological terms, and an interactive identification key.For an online demonstration and guided tour of PaleoBase: Macrofossils please visit: www.paleobase.com/For an information brochure, or for any queries, please e-mail paleobase.support@oxon.blackwellpublishing.com

Building Safe Systems in Aviation provides a single source for those who need to progress beyond current models of Crew Resource Management (CRM) to developing safe systems in critical industries. Although the primary focus is on airline pilots, the principles apply to all sectors of aviation, particularly maintenance and cabin crew, as well as other high-risk industries. It systematically sets out the context of CRM and safe systems, the conduct of training, the resources needed by the facilitator and the processes required for the measurement of outcomes. Part One reviews the development of the human factors/CRM domain and examines the concepts of risk and safety. Part Two, primarily for new instructors, gives a guide to training delivery and also considers non-classroom situations, the role of debriefing, facilitation and the design of human factors courses. Part Three examines the measurement of training effectiveness, the design and implementation of behavioural markers and standardizing assessors. It concludes by looking at some of the broader issues associated with the management of CRM. The book's readership includes those who design, deliver or manage CRM and safety-related training within airlines and other companies.

The automated identification of biological objects or groups has been a dream among taxonomists and systematists for centuries. However, progress in designing and implementing practical systems for fully automated taxon identification has been frustratingly slow. Regardless, the dream has never died. Recent developments in computer architectures and innovations in software design have placed the tools needed to realize this vision in the hands of the systematics community, not several years hence, but now. And not just for DNA barcodes or other molecular data, but for digital images of organisms, digital sounds, digitized chemical data - essentially any type of digital data.Based on evidence accumulated over the last decade and written by applied researchers, Automated Taxon Identification in Systematics explores contemporary applications of quantitative approaches to the problem of taxon recognition. The book begins by reviewing the current state of systematics and placing automated taxon identification in the context of contemporary trends, needs, and opportunities. The chapters present and evaluate different aspects of current automated system designs. They then provide descriptions of case studies in which different theoretical and practical aspects of the overall group-identification problem are identified, analyzed, and discussed.A recurring theme through the chapters is the relationship between taxonomic identification, automated group identification, and morphometrics. This collection provides a bridge between these communities and between them and the wider world of applied taxonomy. The only book-length treatment that explores automated group identification in systematic context, this text also includes introductions to basic aspects of the fields of contemporary artificial intelligence and mathematical group recognition for the entire biological community.