The paper shows that the energy gained by expansion of the universe is in the order of 1057 J/y. This implies a corresponding development toward more order and information, or expressed differently that the thermodynamic equilibrium of the universe moves away at a rate of 1057 J/y. The classic interpretation of the second law of thermodynamics, that we are moving toward the "heat death" should therefore be modified.

From the Publisher:Recent advances in hardware and software for digital image processing and analysis are providing exciting new opportunities in civil engineering. Not only a means to augment existing methods of analysis, this technology also opens up a large number of possibilities for significant advances in civil engineering as it is practiced today. This collection of papers outlines current and future trends in the integration of digital image processing and analysis methods. Researchers and practitioners detail digitizing techniques; digital information management; image interpretation and recognition; and morphological operations and analysis.