Latest news with #Archangel
Daily Record
13 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Biggar pilot housing project with smart sensors hailed a resounding success
Sensors monitored property conditions such as temperature, humidity and motion. A groundbreaking smart tech pilot project at a retirement complex in South Lanarkshire has been hailed a resounding success. The recently-completed six-month project saw the installation of a range of unobtrusive sensors at a facility in Biggar. And it is believed there could be 'significant benefits for both tenants and the housing providers' as well as an estimated annual saving of £18.5 million when applied across all of Scotland's sheltered housing developments. Covering retired individuals at Bield's Langvout Court in Biggar, the project involved sensors being placed around communal spaces and ten individual properties at the development in order to monitor property conditions such as temperature, humidity and motion. Gavin Wright, head of property management at Bield, commented: 'This project exemplifies how thoughtful innovation can support older people to live independently, safely and with dignity. 'We're proud to have played a key role in a partnership that's delivering real, positive change. The smart technology we trialled at Langvout Court has brought clear cost savings and improved safety. As a result, we're now exploring how this approach can be rolled out across our wider estate.' Involving Glasgow-based digital health innovator Archangel alongside Bield Housing and Care and the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre (DHI), the completed project underwent a comprehensive assessment by Edinburgh-based digital technology consultancy firm FarrPoint. The project, entitled 'Evaluating care delivery in rural settings', showcased the latest technology innovations and was funded by the UK Government's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) as part of the Glasgow City Region (GCR) 5G Smart and Connected Places Programme. Data was relayed immediately to Archangel's ambient assisted living (AAL) secure technology platform and automatically monitored 24/7 to proactively address any potential issues that might arise in relation to the living conditions of tenants. The sensors were connected via the Angelnet resilient connectivity network, with the data then becoming available to all stakeholders via the Archangel platform. The project delivered an annual £7670 saving in heating costs and an annual £2825 saving in maintenance costs. An £18.5 million annual saving is estimated when factored out across all of Scotland's sheltered housing developments. Tom Morton, CEO of Archangel, commented: 'The independent FarrPoint evaluation confirms real, measurable outcomes that address today's operational, financial and regulatory pressures as well as a return on investment within the first year. By aggregating data across housing and care environments, the Archangel platform delivers safer homes, reduces energy and maintenance costs, improves compliance and frees up staff time. 'This isn't about experimenting with innovation. It's about helping leaders turn information into action, confidently and cost-effectively. Our partners are empowered to deploy secure, proven, scalable solutions with real-time insights available 24/7 that drive strategic impact, operational efficiency and better outcomes for people and communities.' The final report, produced by FarrPoint, demonstrates the considerable impact that the use of smart sensors can have in the housing sector: ■ Reduced utility costs ■ Reduced maintenance costs ■ Reduced manual checks ■ Improved tenant safety ■ Improved regulatory compliance The use of smart technology can also be used to monitor other environmental conditions to detect risks such as legionella. Kate Milne, economist at FarrPoint, who led the assessment, said: 'As independent consultants, we often do studies evaluating the real impact that technology can bring, and I'm pleased that this particular assessment showed positive benefits of intelligent sensors to residents at Langvout Court. Not only did it enhance their sense of safety and wellbeing but also supported Bield staff to deliver more timely, informed responses.' The innovation scheme has been made possible through funding from the UK Government's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) as part of the Glasgow City Region (GCR) 5G Smart and Connected Places Programme. Janette Hughes, director of planning and performance with DHI (and Chair of the UKTIN Health Working Group), who alerted Archangel to the funding opportunity, added: 'This is ultimately about making housing more connected and safer, which allows for more responsive communities creating the conditions for people to live happier, longer and more secure lives in their own properties.' And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
News18
07-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Operation Sindoor: How Are Military Missions Named? A Look At 10 Top Codenames In History
Last Updated: Operation Sindoor's name was chosen to honour the lives shattered in the Pahalgam massacre, where several women lost their husbands In a bold move early on Wednesday, India launched a precise and high-impact airstrike targeting terrorist camps deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation, named Operation Sindoor, destroyed at least nine terror launchpads, delivering a stern and strategic response to the recent Pahalgam attack on tourists. This airstrike was more than just a military manoeuvre. The operation's name, Sindoor – a sacred mark worn by married women in India – was chosen to honour the lives shattered in the Pahalgam massacre, where several women lost their husbands. According to official sources, the name was personally selected by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding a deeply emotional layer to the operation. While the success of Operation Sindoor has gripped headlines and dominated primetime debates, it has also sparked interest in the history and politics behind military operation code names – how they're chosen, what they represent, and why they matter. The practice of giving military operations distinctive code names dates back to World War I. Early examples saw Germany assigning titles steeped in myth and religion, such as Archangel, Mars, and Achilles. These names were chosen not merely for secrecy, but for their psychological weight. By World War II, the stakes and style of naming evolved. Nazi Germany christened its invasion of the Soviet Union as Operation Barbarossa, borrowing from Frederick I, a medieval Roman emperor. Meanwhile, in Allied camps, code names became a matter of both military necessity and public perception. Winston Churchill famously instructed British commanders to avoid arrogant or callous code names – especially for missions involving high casualty risks. Names mocking the enemy or glorifying living generals were discouraged. Instead, he advocated for titles that invoked celestial themes or honoured fallen heroes. Post-World War II, the United States institutionalised the use of code names, expanding them into all corners of defence and intelligence. During the Korean and Vietnam Wars, operations like Masher, Ripper, and Killer drew public backlash for their brutality-sounding tone, prompting reforms. In 1972, the Pentagon issued guidelines banning names that could be interpreted as offensive or contradictory to American ideals. This led to the rise of 'soft power" operation titles such as Operation Restore Hope (Somalia), Operation Uphold Democracy (Haiti), and Operation Shining Hope (Kosovo), reflecting humanitarian intent alongside military purpose. By 1975, the US adopted a computerised naming system called NICKA (Nicknames and Exercise Terms), where each command was given specific letter codes to generate operation names. For instance, the Libyan air campaign was dubbed Operation Odyssey Dawn, combining the prescribed 'OD" prefix with a poetic allusion to Homer's epic. While this mechanised approach created some oddities – Golden Pheasant, for example – it also enabled consistency and classified control over operational nomenclature. 10 Legendary Code Names That Shaped Military History Operation Overlord (1944) – The massive Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France, culminating in the D-Day landings in Normandy. Operation Neptune Spear (2011) – The US Navy SEAL mission that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Operation Wrath of God (1972) – Mossad's covert retaliation for the Munich Olympics massacre, targeting Palestinian terrorists worldwide. Operation Desert Storm (1991) – The US-led offensive to liberate Kuwait from Saddam Hussein's occupation during the Gulf War. Operation Rolling Thunder (1965–68) – A sustained US bombing campaign over North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Operation Red Dawn (2003) – The mission that led to the capture of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein near Tikrit. Operation Magic Carpet (1949–50) – A dramatic airlift of over 49,000 Yemeni Jews to Israel, likened to Aladdin's mythical ride. Operation Dynamo (1940) – The miraculous evacuation of over 3 lakh Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, under heavy German fire. Operation Urgent Fury (1983) – The US invasion of Grenada aimed at restoring democratic governance. Operation Vijay (1961, 1999) – India's twin victories: first to end Portuguese colonial rule in Goa, Daman, and Diu; and later, to reclaim strategic peaks from Pakistani infiltrators during the Kargil War. Operation Sindoor marks not only a tactical victory but also a shift in India's defence posture – a willingness to respond swiftly and symbolically. While details remain classified, experts believe its name will enter the lexicon of modern Indian military strategy. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Indian Air Force Indian Army Jaish-e-Mohammad Lashkar-e-Taiba Narendra Modi Operation Sindoor Pahalgam attack pakistan pok rafale fighter jets Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 07, 2025, 15:56 IST News india Operation Sindoor: How Are Military Missions Named? A Look At 10 Top Codenames In History
Los Angeles Times
22-04-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
A sequoia forest in Detroit? Earth Day plantings seek to improve air quality
DETROIT — Arborists are turning vacant land on Detroit's eastside into a small urban forest, not of elms, oaks and red maples indigenous to the city but giant sequoias, the world's largest trees that can live for thousands of years. The project on four lots will not only replace long-standing blight with majestic trees, but could also improve air quality and help preserve the trees that are native to California's Sierra Nevada, where they are threatened by ever-hotter wildfires. Detroit is the pilot city for the Giant Sequoia Filter Forest. The nonprofit Archangel Ancient Tree Archive is donating dozens of sequoia saplings that will be planted by staff and volunteers from Arboretum Detroit, another nonprofit, to mark Earth Day on Tuesday. Co-founder David Milarch says Archangel also plans to plant sequoias in Los Angeles, Oakland, and London. The massive conifers can grow to more than 300 feet tall with a more than 30-foot circumference at the base. They can live for more than 3,000 years. 'Here's a tree that is bigger than your house when it's mature, taller than your buildings, and lives longer than you can comprehend,' said Andrew 'Birch' Kemp, Arboretum Detroit's executive director. The sequoias will eventually provide a full canopy that protects everything beneath, he said. 'It may be sad to call these .5- and 1-acre treescapes forests,' Kemp said. 'We are expanding on this and shading our neighborhood in the only way possible, planting lots of trees.' Giant sequoias are resilient against disease and insects, and are usually well-adapted to fire. Thick bark protects their trunks and their canopies tend to be too high for flames to reach. But climate change is making the big trees more vulnerable to wildfires out West, Kemp said. 'The fires are getting so hot that its even threatening them,' he said. Archangel, based in Copemish, Mich., preserves the genetics of old-growth trees for research and reforestation. The sequoia saplings destined for Detroit are clones of two giants known as Stagg — the world's fifth-largest tree — and Waterfall, of the Alder Creek grove, about 150 miles north of Los Angeles. In 2010, Archangel began gathering cones and climbers scaled high into the trees to gather new-growth clippings from which they were able to develop and grow saplings. A decade later, a wildfire burned through the grove. Waterfall was destroyed but Stagg survived. They will both live on in the Motor City. Sequoias need space, and metropolitan Detroit has plenty of it. In the 1950s, 1.8 million people called Detroit home, but the city's population has since shrunk to about one-third of that number. Tens of thousands of homes were left empty and neglected. While the city has demolished at least 24,000 vacant structures since it emerged from bankruptcy in 2014, thousands of empty lots remain. Kemp estimates that only about 10-15% of the original houses remain in the neighborhood where the sequoias will grow. 'There's not another urban area I know of that has the kind of potential that we do to reforest,' he said. 'We could all live in shady, fresh air beauty. It's like no reason we can't be the greenest city in the world.' Within the last decade, 11 sequoias were planted on vacant lots owned by Arboretum Detroit and nine others were planted on private properties around the neighborhood. Each now reaches 12 to 15 feet tall. Arboretum Detroit has another 200 in its nursery. Kemp believes the trees will thrive in Detroit. 'They're safer here ... we don't have wildfires like [California]. The soil stays pretty moist, even in the summer,' he said. 'They like to have that winter irrigation, so when the snow melts they can get a good drink.' Caring for the sequoias will fall to future generations, so Milarch has instigated what he calls 'tree school' to teach Detroit's youth how and why to look after the new trees. 'We empower our kids to teach them how to do this and give them the materials and the way to do this themselves,' Milarch said. 'They take ownership. They grow them in the classrooms and plant them around the schools. They know we're in environmental trouble.' Some of them may never have even walked in a forest, Kemp said. 'How can we expect children who have never seen a forest to care about deforestation on the other side of the world?' Kemp said. 'It is our responsibility to offer them their birthright.' City residents are exposed to extreme air pollution and have high rates of asthma. The Detroit sequoias will grow near a heavily industrial area, a former incinerator and two interstates, he said. Kemp's nonprofit has already planted about 650 trees — including around 80 species — in some 40 lots in the area. But he believes the sequoias will have the greatest impact. 'Because these trees grow so fast, so large and they're evergreen they'll do amazing work filtering the air here,' Kemp said. 'We live in pretty much a pollution hot spot. We're trying to combat that. We're trying to breathe clean air. We're trying to create shade. We're trying to soak up the stormwater, and I think sequoias — among all the trees we plant — may be the strongest, best candidates for that.' Williams writes for the Associated Press.
Chicago Tribune
22-04-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
A sequoia forest in Detroit? Plantings to improve air quality and mark Earth Day
Arborists are turning vacant land on Detroit's eastside into a small urban forest, not of elms, oaks and red maples indigenous to the city but giant sequoias, the world's largest trees that can live for thousands of years. The project on four lots will not only replace long-standing blight with majestic trees, but could also improve air quality and help preserve the trees that are native to California's Sierra Nevada, where they are threatened by ever-hotter wildfires. Detroit is the pilot city for the Giant Sequoia Filter Forest. The nonprofit Archangel Ancient Tree Archive is donating dozens of sequoia saplings that will be planted by staff and volunteers from Arboretum Detroit, another nonprofit, to mark Earth Day on April 22. Co-founder David Milarch says Archangel also plans to plant sequoias in Los Angeles, Oakland, California, and London. What are giant sequoias? The massive conifers can grow to more than 300 feet tall with a more than 30-foot circumference at the base. They can live for more than 3,000 years. 'Here's a tree that is bigger than your house when it's mature, taller than your buildings, and lives longer than you can comprehend,' said Andrew 'Birch' Kemp, Arboretum Detroit's executive director. The sequoias will eventually provide a full canopy that protects everything beneath, he said. 'It may be sad to call these .5- and 1-acre treescapes forests,' Kemp said. 'We are expanding on this and shading our neighborhood in the only way possible, planting lots of trees.' Giant sequoias are resilient against disease and insects, and are usually well-adapted to fire. Thick bark protects their trunks and their canopies tend to be too high for flames to reach. But climate change is making the big trees more vulnerable to wildfires out West, Kemp said. 'The fires are getting so hot that its even threatening them,' he said. Descendants of Stagg and Waterfall Archangel, based in Copemish, Michigan, preserves the genetics of old-growth trees for research and reforestation. The sequoia saplings destined for Detroit are clones of two giants known as Stagg — the world's fifth-largest tree — and Waterfall, of the Alder Creek grove, about 150 miles north of Los Angeles. In 2010, Archangel began gathering cones and climbers scaled high into the trees to gather new-growth clippings from which they were able to develop and grow saplings. A decade later, a wildfire burned through the grove. Waterfall was destroyed but Stagg survived. They will both live on in the Motor City. Why Detroit? Sequoias need space, and metropolitan Detroit has plenty of it. In the 1950s, 1.8 million people called Detroit home, but the city's population has since shrunk to about one-third of that number. Tens of thousands of homes were left empty and neglected. While the city has demolished at least 24,000 vacant structures since it emerged from bankruptcy in 2014, thousands of empty lots remain. Kemp estimates that only about 10-15% of the original houses remain in the neighborhood where the sequoias will grow. 'There's not another urban area I know of that has the kind of potential that we do to reforest,' he said. 'We could all live in shady, fresh air beauty. It's like no reason we can't be the greenest city in the world.' Within the last decade, 11 sequoias were planted on vacant lots owned by Arboretum Detroit and nine others were planted on private properties around the neighborhood. Each now reaches 12 to 15 feet tall. Arboretum Detroit has another 200 in its nursery. Kemp believes the trees will thrive in Detroit. 'They're safer here … we don't have wildfires like (California). The soil stays pretty moist, even in the summer,' he said. 'They like to have that winter irrigation, so when the snow melts they can get a good drink.' How will the sequoias impact Detroit? Caring for the sequoias will fall to future generations, so Milarch has instigated what he calls 'tree school' to teach Detroit's youth how and why to look after the new trees. 'We empower our kids to teach them how to do this and give them the materials and the way to do this themselves,' Milarch said. 'They take ownership. They grow them in the classrooms and plant them around the schools. They know we're in environmental trouble.' Some of them may never have even walked in a forest, Kemp said. 'How can we expect children who have never seen a forest to care about deforestation on the other side of the world?' Kemp said. 'It is our responsibility to offer them their birthright.' City residents are exposed to extreme air pollution and have high rates of asthma. The Detroit sequoias will grow near a heavily industrial area, a former incinerator and two interstates, he said. Kemp's nonprofit has already planted about 650 trees — comprising around 80 species — in some 40 lots in the area. But he believes the sequoias will have the greatest impact. 'Because these trees grow so fast, so large and they're evergreen they'll do amazing work filtering the air here,' Kemp said. 'We live in pretty much a pollution hot spot. We're trying to combat that. We're trying to breathe clean air. We're trying to create shade. We're trying to soak up the stormwater, and I think sequoias — among all the trees we plant — may be the strongest, best candidates for that.'
CBS News
22-04-2025
- General
- CBS News
A sequoia forest in Detroit? Plantings to improve air quality and celebrate Earth Day
Arborists are turning vacant land on Detroit's eastside into a small urban forest, not of elms, oaks and red maples indigenous to the city but giant sequoias, the world's largest trees that can live for thousands of years. The project on four lots will not only replace long-standing blight with majestic trees, but could also improve air quality and help preserve the trees that are native to California's Sierra Nevada, where they are threatened by ever-hotter wildfires. Detroit is the pilot city for the Giant Sequoia Filter Forest. The nonprofit Archangel Ancient Tree Archive is donating dozens of sequoia saplings that will be planted by staff and volunteers from Arboretum Detroit , another nonprofit, to mark Earth Day on April 22. Co-founder David Milarch says Archangel also plans to plant sequoias in Los Angeles, Oakland, California, and London. The massive conifers can grow to more than 300 feet tall with a more than 30-foot circumference at the base. They can live for more than 3,000 years. "Here's a tree that is bigger than your house when it's mature, taller than your buildings, and lives longer than you can comprehend," said Andrew "Birch" Kemp, Arboretum Detroit's executive director. The sequoias will eventually provide a full canopy that protects everything beneath, he said. "It may be sad to call these .5- and 1-acre treescapes forests," Kemp said. "We are expanding on this and shading our neighborhood in the only way possible, planting lots of trees." Giant sequoias are resilient against disease and insects, and are usually well-adapted to fire. Thick bark protects their trunks, and their canopies tend to be too high for flames to reach. But climate change is making the big trees more vulnerable to wildfires out West, Kemp said. "The fires are getting so hot that it's even threatening them," he said. Archangel, based in Copemish, Michigan, preserves the genetics of old-growth trees for research and reforestation. The sequoia saplings destined for Detroit are clones of two giants known as Stagg — the world's fifth-largest tree — and Waterfall, of the Alder Creek grove, about 150 miles north of Los Angeles. In 2010, Archangel began gathering cones and climbers scaled high into the trees to gather new-growth clippings from which they were able to develop and grow saplings. A decade later, a wildfire burned through the grove. Waterfall was destroyed but Stagg survived. They will both live in Motor City. Sequoias need space, and metropolitan Detroit has plenty of it. In the 1950s, 1.8 million people called Detroit home, but the city's population has since shrunk to about one-third of that number. Tens of thousands of homes were left empty and neglected. While the city has demolished at least 24,000 vacant structures since it emerged from bankruptcy in 2014, thousands of empty lots remain. Kemp estimates that only about 10-15% of the original houses remain in the neighborhood where the sequoias will grow. "There's not another urban area I know of that has the kind of potential that we do to reforest," he said. "We could all live in shady, fresh air beauty. It's like no reason we can't be the greenest city in the world." Within the last decade, 11 sequoias were planted on vacant lots owned by Arboretum Detroit, and nine others were planted on private properties around the neighborhood. Each now reaches 12 to 15 feet tall. Arboretum Detroit has another 200 in its nursery. Kemp believes the trees will thrive in Detroit. "They're safer here ... we don't have wildfires like (California). The soil stays pretty moist, even in the summer," he said. "They like to have that winter irrigation, so when the snow melts they can get a good drink." Caring for the sequoias will fall to future generations, so Milarch has instigated what he calls "tree school" to teach Detroit's youth how and why to look after the new trees. "We empower our kids to teach them how to do this and give them the materials and the way to do this themselves," Milarch said. "They take ownership. They grow them in the classrooms and plant them around the schools. They know we're in environmental trouble." Some of them may never have even walked in a forest, Kemp said. "How can we expect children who have never seen a forest to care about deforestation on the other side of the world?" Kemp said. "It is our responsibility to offer them their birthright." City residents are exposed to extreme air pollution and have high rates of asthma. The Detroit sequoias will grow near a heavily industrial area, a former incinerator and two interstates, he said. Kemp's nonprofit has already planted about 650 trees — comprising around 80 species — in some 40 lots in the area. But he believes the sequoias will have the greatest impact. "Because these trees grow so fast, so large, and they're evergreen, they'll do amazing work filtering the air here," Kemp said. "We live in pretty much a pollution hot spot. We're trying to combat that. We're trying to breathe clean air. We're trying to create shade. We're trying to soak up the stormwater, and I think sequoias — among all the trees we plant — may be the strongest, best candidates for that."
