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Burroughs, Gary Leslie. "The response to environmental economic drivers by civil engineering contractors in South Australia." Title page, contents and abstract only, 2000. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envb972.pdf.
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Bibliography: leaves 91-93. Examines the response of two civil engineering construction contractors in South Australia to environmental economic conditions and market requirements using primarily an action research methodology whilst the researcher was engaged as the environmental manager at both corporations.
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Tahir, Mahmood Md. "Structural and economic aspects of the use of semi-rigid joints in steel frames." Thesis, University of Warwick, 1997. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/4192/.
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This thesis reports on five main areas as follows: 1. Braced steel frames designed for semi-continuous construction were studied to determine savings in both cost and weight. Various frame parameters such as the number of bays, use of grade S355 steel, beam spans, types of connection, and selection of beam size were investigated. The investigation confirmed that semicontinuous construction contributes to worthwhile percentage savings on both cost and weight. 2. Analysis and design of steel unbraced frames bending on both axes were performed with emphasis on stability and deflection checks. Rules are proposed to improve the stability and stiffness. For connections to the minor axis, a proposed joint detail is presented. The performance of the frames was checked for collapse load level at ULS; deflection limits at SLS were also checked; in both cases using first and second order analysis. The investigation demonstrated that the frames should be restricted to less than four storeys. 3. A study on minor axis joints was carried out for flush end plate connections connected to the column web. Previous experimental results of moment and stiffness were compared with predicted values. Moment values were predicted using Gomes' formulae. The stiffness due to the column web was predicted using finite element analysis. The results showed good agreement between experimental and predicted values. The study on the connections was extended to their suitability in steel frames bending about the minor axis; the investigation confirmed that the connections were not suitable for unbraced wind-moment frames. An equation for prediction of initial stiffness was nevertheless established for the connection. 4. Steel frames with composite beams designed for minimum wind combined with maximum gravity load were studied for their performance, taking into account cracking along the beams. The investigation showed that the frames meet the requirements of deflection and sustain a load level of 1.0 for ULS. For frames studied for maximum wind combined with minimum gravity load, the moment capacity of the joints governed the design which resulted in a deeper beam section. 5. Seven tests were carried out for a new type of shear connector system installed by compressed air. The aim of the tests was to study the shear capacity and ductility of the studs. The tests showed that the pins fail due to fracture and the stud systems needs some improvements to increase the key structural properties.
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Khajehei, Sepideh. "From Probabilistic Socio-Economic Vulnerability to an Integrated Framework for Flash Flood Prediction." PDXScholar, 2018. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/4666.
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Flash flood is among the most hazardous natural disasters, and it can cause severe damages to the environment and human life. Flash floods are mainly caused by intense rainfall and due to their rapid onset (within six hours of rainfall), very limited opportunity can be left for effective response. Understanding the socio-economic characteristics involving natural hazards potential, vulnerability, and resilience is necessary to address the damages to economy and casualties from extreme natural hazards. The vulnerability to flash floods is dependent on both biophysical and socio-economic factors. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of socio-economic vulnerability to flash flood alongside a novel framework for flash flood early warning system. A socio-economic vulnerability index was developed for each state and county in the Contiguous United States (CONUS). For this purpose, extensive ensembles of social and economic variables from US Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis were assessed. The coincidence of socio-economic vulnerability and flash flood events were investigated to diagnose the critical and non-critical regions. In addition, a data-analytic approach is developed to assess the interaction between flash flood characteristics and the hydroclimatic variables, which is then applied as the foundation of the flash flood warning system. A novel framework based on the D-vine copula quantile regression algorithm is developed to detect the most significant hydroclimatic variables that describe the flash flood magnitude and duration as response variables and estimate the conditional quantiles of the flash flood characteristics. This study can help mitigate flash flood risks and improve recovery planning, and it can be useful for reducing flash flood impacts on vulnerable regions and population.
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Hards, Adrian F. "Comparative engineering costing and implications of commercial and smallholder irrigator design for projects." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/6501.
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Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the study, six irrigation schemes based in the Eastern Cape have been considered and evaluated, according to two levels of supply (LOS) of irrigation water. The two levels of supply are that of a commercial irrigator and that of a smallholder irrigator. The irrigation infrastructure for each of the six schemes was designed, and the associated costs determined, for each level of supply. The primary objective of the study is to determine the impact of infrastructure costs and irrigation areas on the target user, either the commercial or the smallholder irrigator. This is related directly to the assumption that lower water volumes are used by the smallholder irrigator. The study addresses the impact of different designs on the amount of water used, land utilised and resultant costs of the infrastructure. The initial capital costs and the on-going operational and maintenance costs (O&M) for each level of supply for each of the schemes have been calculated. The evaluation of the two LOS has shown that the capital cost for the commercial LOS is approximately 18 % higher than for the smallholder LOS and the O&M costs 6 % to 36 % higher. The schemes that were investigated can be grouped into five general scheme types. The first type is gravity schemes, which need rehabilitation, while the bulk supply is in place with no augmentation or rehabilitation required. The second is pumped scheme which is in need of rehabilitation, while the bulk supply is in place with no augmentation or rehabilitation required. The third type includes run-of-river schemes where water is abstracted and pumped directly to the lands. The fourth type includes run-of-river schemes where water is abstracted and pumped to storage. The fifth type is the gravity scheme where the bulk supply needs to be installed as part of the scheme. These types are then grouped and can be used to give guidance on the anticipated costs dependant on the scheme type and the required level of service. A further objective of the research is to determine the impact on the smallholder irrigators who find themselves on a commercial LOS system. This can be either on a scheme that has already been designed, or on a new system. The evaluation of the commercial under-utilised LOS and the smallholder LOS has shown that the commercial capital cost is 18 % higher and the O&M costs 5 % to 29 % higher. The study further aligns the estimated costs with the farmer typology providing a broader understanding of the design to be adopted for different levels of supply. This provides the linkage between farmer types, the design to be implemented and the anticipated costs thereof.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: As deel van hierdie narvorsing word ses verskillende besproeiingsskemas in die Oos-Kaap ten opsigte van twee voorsieningsvlakke ondersoek. Die twee voorsieningsvlakke ter sprake is vir ‘n kommersiële en kleinboerdery opset. Die besproeiingsinfrastruktuur is vir elk van die ses besproeiingsskemas ontwerp en ‘n kosteberaming vir elk van voorsieningsvlakke gedoen. Die hoofdoelwit van hierdie verslag is om te bepaal wat die impak van kostes en besproeiingsareas op beide kommersiële- en kleinboerderye is. Dit is direk gebaseer op die aanname dat kleinboerderye minder water gebruik. Die verslag ondersoek die impak van verskillende ontwerpe op waterverbruik, besproeiingsoppervlak benodig en die gevolglike infrastruktuurkostes. Die aanvanklike kapitaalkostes asook bedryfs- en onderhoudsuitgawes (B&O) vir elk van die voorsieningsvlakke, is vir elk van die besproeiingskemas bereken. Die resultaat van die ondersoek van die twee voorsieningsvlakke het aangetoon dat die kapitaalkoste van kommersiële besproeiingskemas 18 % hoër as die van kleinboerderye is, en bedryfs- en onderhoudsuitgawes 6 tot 36 % hoër. Die skemas wat ondersoek is, kan in vyf algemene skema tipes verdeel word. Die eerste is die gravitasieskemas wat rehabilitasie benodig terwyl die hooftoevoer in plek is met geen uitbreidings- of rehabilitasiebehoeftes. Die tweede is pompskemas wat rehabilitasie benodig terwyl die hooftoevoer in plek is met geen uitbreidings- of rehabilitasiebehoeftes. Die derde is rivierskemas waar besproeiingswater direk uit die rivier na die landerye gepomp word. Die vierde is rivierskemas waar besproeiingswater direk uit die rivier na a reservoir gepomp word. Die vyfde skema tipe is die gravitasieskemas waar die hooftoevoer ook gebou moet word as deel van die skema. Die skema tipes kan gebruik word om leiding te verskaf ten opsigte van verwagte skema kostes afhangende van die skema tipe en vereiste voorsieningsvlak. ‘n Verdere doelwit van die studie is om die impak op kleinboere te bepaal wat op ‘n kommeriële voorsieningsvlak boer. So ‘n stelsel kan ‘n gevestigde of nuwe stelsel wees. Die resultaat van die ondersoek van die onderbenutte kommersiële voorsieningsvlak en die kleinboerdery voorsieningsvlak het gewys dat die kapitaalkoste van kommersiële besproeiingskemas 18 % hoër as die van kleinboerderye is, en bedryfs- en onderhoudsuitgawes 5 tot 29 % hoër. Die verslag vereenselwig die verwagte kostes met die tipe boerdery en verskaf ‘n beter begrip van die tipe ontwerp wat elk van die voorsieningsvlakke benodig. Dit verskaf dus die verband tussen die tipe boerdery, die ontwerp benodig en die verwagte projekkostes.
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Poiencot, Brandon Keith. "Preliminary Feasibility of Transporting and Geologically Sequestering Carbon Emissions in the Florida Pan-Handle." UNF Digital Commons, 2012. http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/593.
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According to the United States Department of Energy, fossil-fueled power plants account for 78% of stationary source CO2 emission in the United States and Canada. This has led electric utilities across the globe to research different alternatives for energy. Carbon sequestration has been identified as a bridge between fossil fuels and clean energy.
This thesis will present research results regarding the transportation costs of CO2 and the suitability of geology in the Florida Pan-Handle for sequestration infrastructure. The thesis will utilize various evaluation tools including GIS, numerical models, and optimization models.
Analysis performed for this thesis and review of published literature produced estimated carbon storage capacities for two areas in and near the Florida Pan-Handle. These areas were labeled Disposal Area 1 and Disposal Area 3. Disposal Area 1 was estimated to contain capacity for the storage of 5.58 gigatonnes of CO2. Disposal Area 3 was estimated to contain capacity for the storage of 2.02 gigatonnes of CO2. Transportation scenarios were analyzed over a 25 year period and the capacities above are sufficient to store the CO2 emissions from the Pan-Handle network of power plants for the study period.
Four transportation routing scenarios were investigated using transportation costs from the Poiencot and Brown CO2 pipeline capital cost model. The scenarios (models) consisted of the Right-Of-Way, Solo-Funded, Piece-Wise, and Authority models. Each presents a different method for the overall funding of the Florida Pan-Handle CO2 network and produced different total levelized and mean unit costs. The cheapest network on a mean unit cost basis was the network for Disposal Area 1 in the Authority Model, producing a mean unit cost of $0.64 per tonne of CO2.
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Silva, Felipe Amaral. "Aproveitamento da água da chuva após tratamento por filtração ascendente e radiação ultravioleta." Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, 2015. http://repositorio.utfpr.edu.br/jspui/handle/1/1851.
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CAPESA escassez, deterioração da qualidade dos mananciais e o aumento da demanda por água tem sido problema global. Diante desses problemas o uso de fontes alternativas é citado como solução, com destaque para o aproveitamento de água da chuva. Em alguns locais, a água da chuva escoada de telhados tem sido utilizada para fins potáveis e não potáveis e a água da chuva in natura tem qualidade superior ao de águas superficiais e subterrâneas. Embora a água da chuva tenha qualidade físico-química dentro dos padrões de potabilidade, é necessário melhorar sua qualidade para utilizá-la. Assim neste trabalho é avaliado o tratamento da água da chuva por filtro ascendente (volume de 35,4 L) com meio suporte de 0,50 m de seixo rolado e camada filtrante composta de 0,15m de brita, 0,25 m de areia e 0,55 m de carvão ativado e desinfecção por radiação UV. Para melhorar a qualidade da água antes de chegar ao filtro foi instalado um dispositivo de primeiro descarte com volume de 41,4 L. A avaliação do tratamento foi realizada através da análise dos parâmetros pH, temperatura, cor, oxigênio dissolvido, turbidez, amônia, nitrito, nitrato, fosfato, sulfato, DQO e coliformes. Os valores médios obtidos para os parâmetros físico-químicos da água após o tratamento foram de 6,7 para o pH, 22,3 °C para a temperatura, 12,5 UPC para cor, 6,7 mg/L para OD, 0,5 UNT para turbidez, 0,2 mg/L para amônia, 0,01 mg/L para nitrito, 1,7 mg/L para nitrato, 0,2 mg/L para fosfato, 0,7 mg/L para sulfato e 1,3 mg/L para DQO. O tratamento proposto obteve resultados de eficiência para remoção de cor de 22,4%, turbidez de 28,6%, amônia de 50,0%, nitrito de 23,1%, nitrato de 37,0%, fosfato de 95,1% sulfato de 41,7% e DQO de 66,7% e reduziu o numero de microrganismos para um valor menor que o limite detectável do método de análise. Todos os valores médios obtidos para os parâmetros físico-químicos atendem aos padrões exigidos pela portaria 2914/2011 do Ministério da Saúde para água potável.
The scarcity, quality deterioration of water sources and increasing demand for water has been global problem. Faced with these problems the use of alternative sources is cited as a solution, especially taking advantage of rainwater. In some places, rainwater drained roofs have been used for potable and non-potable purposes and rainwater in nature has superior quality to the surface water and groundwater. Although rainwater has physicochemical quality within the potability standards, it is necessary to improve their quality to use it. Thus this work is evaluated treatment of rainwater by upflow filter (35,4 L volume) with support means of 0,50 m of Boulder and filter layer of 0,15 m of crushed stone, 0,25 m of sand and 0,55 m of activated carbon and UV disinfection. To enhance the water quality before reaching the filter was installed a first-flush device with volume of 41,4 L. The characterization of the water before and after treatment was performed through analysis of parameters pH, temperature, color, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, sulphate, COD and coliforms. The mean values obtained for the physicochemical parameters of the water after treatment were 6,7 to pH 22,3 °C for temperature, 12,5 UPC for color, 6,7 mg/L to OD, 0,5 NTU for turbidity, 0,2mg/L for ammonia, 0,01 mg/L for nitrite, 1,7 mg/L for nitrate, 0,2 mg/L for phosphate,0,7 mg/L for sulfate and 1,3 mg/L for COD. The obtained results proposed treatment for color removal efficiency of 22,4%, haze 28,6%, 50,0% ammonia, 23,1% nitrite, nitrate 37,0%, Phosphate 95,1%, sulfate 41,7% and COD of 66,7% and reduced the number of microorganisms to a value less than the detectable limit of the analysis method. All mean values obtained for the physicochemical parameters meet the standards required by the Order 2914/2011 of the Ministry of Health for drinking water.
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Novais, Joana Lobo Fernandes. "Economic and engineering aspects of disposables-based bioprocessing." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.270590.
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Panopoulos, Georgios D. "Economic aspects of safety in the Greek construction industry." Thesis, Aston University, 2003. http://publications.aston.ac.uk/12233/.
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The thesis addresses the economic impacts of construction safety in Greece. The research involved the development of a methodology for determining the overall costs of safety, namely the sum of the costs of accidents and the costs of safety management failures (with or without accident) including image cost. Hitherto, very little work has been published on the cost of accidents in practical case studies. Moreover, to the author’s belief, no research has been published that seeks to determine in real cases the costs of prevention. The methodology developed is new, transparent, and capable of being replicated and adapted to other employment sectors and to other countries. The methodology was applied to three construction projects in Greece to test the safety costing methodology and to offer some preliminary evidence on the business case for safety. The survey work took place between 1999 and 2001 and involved 27 months of costing work on site. The study focuses on the overall costs of safety that apply to the main (principal) contractor. The methodology is supported by 120 discrete cost categories, and systematic criteria for determining which costs are included (counted) in the overall cost of safety. A quality system (in compliance with ISO9000 series) was developed to support the work and ensure accuracy of data gathering. The results of the study offer some support for the business case for safety. Though they offer good support for the economics of safety as they demonstrate need for cost effectiveness. Subject to important caveats, those projects that appeared to manage safety more cost-effectively achieved the lowest overall safety cost. Nevertheless, results are significantly lower than of other published works for two main reasons; first costs due to damages with no potential to injury were not included and second only costs to main constructor were considered. Study’s results are discussed and compared with other publish works.
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Cox, Jonathan Peter. "Hydrometeorological aspects of drought management." Thesis, University of Salford, 1993. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.386429.
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Wardle, Gavin Roger. "Aspects of the drainage process in soils." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/23605.
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The initial portion of this thesis contains a review of basic theory. An experimental programme was also undertaken to measure soil parameters; and to observe heads and seepage rates during transient flow conditions in experiments. These experimental values were compared with results from finite element calculations. It was necessary for the candidate to devise a system for modifying an existing main-frame finite element package (ADINAT) in order to cope with the transient partly saturated draining state which exists above a falling water table. Good agreement was found between observed and computed transient heads. The experimental work of other investigators was also analysed by using this Finite Element program, and again good agreement was found between observed and computed transient conditions. It was decided in conjunction with the supervisor to limit this thesis to two-dimensional flow in the vertical plane.
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MacRae, Angus Neil. "Economic and cost engineering aspects of wind energy conversion systems." Thesis, Robert Gordon University, 1990. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.258961.
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Chestnutt, Brian James. "Design aspects of multicable suspension bridges." Thesis, Queen's University Belfast, 1987. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.317107.
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Chakour, Vincent. "An economic analysis of public transportation in Montréal." Thesis, McGill University, 2013. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=119540.
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A recurring issue is that of increased car dependence in major North American cities. Policy makers are challenged to find new and innovative solutions to counter the negative externalities of this personal vehicle dependence. For instance, the air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from private vehicular travel is of a particular concern for the health and safety of future generations. Moreover, the prevalence of sub-urban life in North American cities in the recent years has resulted in increased private vehicle usage while reducing public transportation systems usage. A well planned and efficient public transportation system can provide equitable service and accessibility to the population as well as contributing to the reduction of air pollution and GHG emissions. An effective solution lies in transit agencies and government implementing policies that maximize transit use and minimize car dependence. Not surprisingly, many urban regions are enhancing public transportation infrastructure to address the private vehicle use challenge. A number of research efforts have been focussing on understanding individual behavioral challenges in using transit while several other studies have examined the factors affecting transit operations. These studies provide important information to local agencies and transit agencies to enhance public transit services and operations. This thesis is a collection of three distinct studies, each relating to public transportation issues from different perspectives. The first study examines individual home to work/school commute patterns in Montreal, Canada with an emphasis on the transit mode of travel. The overarching theme of this research is to examine the effect of the performance of the public transportation system on commuter travel mode and transit route choice (for transit riders) in Montreal. We investigate two specific aspects of commute mode choice: (1) the factors that dissuade individuals from commuting by public transit and (2) the attributes that influence transit route choice decisions (for those individuals who commute by public transit). The second study is an effort to develop a framework for a better understanding of commuter train users' mode and station choice behavior. Typically, mode and station choice for commuter train users is modeled as a hierarchical choice with mode being considered as the first choice in the sequence. This research proposes a latent segmentation based approach to relax the hierarchy. In particular, this innovative approach simultaneously considers two segments of station and access mode choice behavior: Segment 1 - station first and mode second and Segment 2 – mode first and station second. The allocation to the two segments is achieved through a latent segmentation approach that determines the probability of assigning the individual to either of these segments as a function of socio-demographic variables, level of service (LOS) parameters, trip characteristics, land-use and built environment factors, and station characteristics. Finally, the third study draws attention to the spatial characteristics affecting transit ridership. An analysis of bus stop level boarding and alighting is undertaken by developing ordered response models of the bus stop specific boarding and alighting by time of day. The analysis quantifies the influence of various exogenous factors including public transit accessibility indices (number of bus/metro/train stops around each stop, length of bus/metro/train lines, length of exclusive bus lanes), infrastructure attributes (road length by functional classification, bike lane lengths, distance to central business district, CBD), and land use measures (number of parks and their areas, residential area, number of commerces and their area, government and institutional area, resource and industrial area, and population density).Un obstacle récurrent est celui de la dépendance automobile. Les dirigeants ont le défi de trouver de nouvelles solutions et innovation afin de contrer les effets négatifs de cette dépendance. La pollution atmosphérique ainsi que les gaz à effet de serre (GES) provenant du haut taux d'utilisation automobile sont des enjeux importants pour la santé et sécurité des générations à suivre. De plus, l'expansion rapide des banlieues dans les villes nord-américaines encourage la surutilisation de l'automobile tout en diminuant l'usage du transport en commun. Un réseau efficace et une bonne planification d'un système de transport collectif peut offrir un service équitable et accessible à la population tout en contribuant à la diminution de la pollution atmosphérique et émissions de GES. Une piste intéressante en guise de solution est d'implanter des politiques vertes visant à augmenter l'achalandage du transport en commun et diminuer la dépendance automobile. Sans surprise, plusieurs régions métropolitaines cherchent à améliorer leur service et l'infrastructure du transport collectif afin d'offrir une alternative viable au transport privé. Une multitude d'étude cherchent à mieux comprendre les comportements individuels portant à l'utilisation du transport en commun tandis que d'autres se concentrent plutôt sur le côté opérationnel. Ces études sont d'une importance primordiale, puisque l'information obtenue peut être utilisée par les agences de transport pour optimiser leur service. Cette thèse est un recueil de trois études distinctes, dans laquelle le thème du transport en commun est abordé en différentes perspectives. La première étude examine les déplacements domicile-travail et domicile-école à Montréal, avec une emphase particulière sur le transport collectif. Le thème global de cette recherche est d'examiner l'effet de la performance du transport en commun sur le choix modal et choix de route (pour utilisateurs de transport en commun) d'un individu. Deux aspects du choix modal sont examinés : (1) les facteurs qui dissuadent un individu d'opter pour le transport collectif et (2) les caractéristiques qui influences le choix de la route empruntée (pour les déplacements en transport en commun). Ensuite, la deuxième étude vise à développer une structure ayant pour but de mieux comprendre le choix modal et le choix de gare pour les utilisateurs de trains de banlieues. Ces choix sont typiquement modélisés de manière hiérarchique, dans laquelle le mode d'accès se trouve à être le premier choix dans la séquence. Cette étude propose une approche basée sur la segmentation latente permettant une relaxation de cette hiérarchie. En fait, cette approche innovatrice prend en considération simultanément deux segments des choix de gare et mode d'accès : Segment 1- La gare est choisie avant le mode d'accès et Segment 2 – l'inverse. L'approche de segmentation latente permet détermine la probabilité d'appartenir à l'un ou l'autre des segments pour chaque individu en fonction de données sociodémographiques, du niveau de service du réseau, des caractéristiques de déplacements, des facteurs de l'aménagement de l'espace urbain ainsi que les particularités des gares. La troisième et dernière étude porte une attention particulière au lien entre l'espace urbain et l'achalandage. Une analyse des montées et des descentes à chaque arrêt d'autobus sur l'île de Montréal est effectuée à l'aide d'un modèle à réponse ordonnée pour différentes périodes de la journée. Cette analyse quantifie l'influence d'une multitude de facteurs exogènes autour de chaque arrêt, dont des indices d'accessibilité du transport collectif, l'infrastructure (présence d'autoroutes, artères et de piste cyclable ainsi que la distance au centre-ville) et l'aménagement urbain (nombre de parcs et leurs superficies, nombre de commerces et leurs superficies, les zones résidentielles, les zone industrielles et la densité de la population).
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Manrique, Ana Katherine Rodríguez. "Diretrizes para a sustentabilidade de uma minirrede de sistemas solares fotovoltaicos em uma região isolada da Colômbia." Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, 2015. http://repositorio.utfpr.edu.br/jspui/handle/1/1377.
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CAPESEste trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de um estudo técnico social para definir as diretrizes que garantam a sustentabilidade de uma minirrede baseada em sistemas solares fotovoltaicos, localizados nas Zonas Não Interconectadas (ZNI) da Colômbia. A literatura da pesquisa está baseada na importância da energia elétrica e das construções sustentáveis para o homem e nos princípios de energia solar e de minirredes baseadas em sistemas solares fotovoltaicos. Após este levantamento, aplicou-se o método de pesquisa documental para contextualizar o leitor com os aspectos mais importantes sobre a Colômbia e sua realidade hoje. A partir destes aspectos foi possível concentrar a pesquisa em uma região, selecionada a partir de critérios de recurso solar disponível, economia, segurança, saúde e educação. Uma vez escolhida a região, foi feita uma pesquisa de campo em que foram entrevistados os agentes que podem influenciar no funcionamento de uma minirrede. Também foram observados os aspectos técnicos relacionados com as construções e a eficiência energética desta região, constatando que a mesma já contou, em alguma ocasião, com sistemas solares fotovoltaicos, mas estes foram vendidos pela própria comunidade por não encontrarem utilidade nenhuma neles. A partir das respostas encontradas nas entrevistas foi feita uma proposta de gestão da minirrede baseada em sistemas solares fotovoltaicos. Concluiu-se que é primordial que os agentes técnicos e administrativos do sistema como um todo tenham contato contínuo com o usuário para entender as suas necessidades e conseguir satisfazê-las com a instalação da minirrede. Também se observou que é importante criar no usuário um sentido de posse pela minirrede, identificando os benefícios educativos, de saúde e econômicos que esta nova tecnologia traz para ele. Este estudo abre as portas para novas pesquisas de avaliação e descrição das diretrizes propostas.
This research presents the development of a social-technical study to define guidelines to ensure the sustainability of a mini-grid based on solar photovoltaic systems located in Non Interconnected Areas (NIA) of Colombia. The literature of this research is based on the importance of energy and sustainable buildings to people, the principles of solar PV, and mini-grid based on solar photovoltaic systems. After this firt part, was applied the method of documentary research to contextualize the reader with the main relevant aspects of Colombia related to the research. From these aspects, it was possible to focus the research to a region, which was chosen by criterias such as: solar resource, economy, security, health and education. When the area was chosen, it was made a field survey. In this survey the agents that influence the operation of a mini network were interviwed. Also, it was observed the technical aspects of buildings, and the energy efficiency in this region. As a result it was observed that in the past there were PV solar systems, but these were sold by the community because they did not find them useful. From the interview answers, it was made a proposal about the management of the mini-grid based on solar photovoltaic systems. In conclusion, it is essential that the technical and administrative agents that make part of this system have continuous contact with the user to understand their needs and satisfy them with the installation of mini-grid. It is also important to create a sense of belonging from the user to the mini-grid, identifying the benefits, educational, health and economic that this new technology brings to him. This study opens the door to new research about evaluations and descriptions about the proposed guidelines.
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Koziara, Tomasz. "Aspects of computational contact dynamics." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2008. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/429/.
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This work summarises a computational framework for dealing with dynamic multi-body frictional contact problems. It is in fact a detailed account of an instance of the Contact Dynamics method by Moreau and Jean. Hence the title. Multi-body systems with contact constraints are common. Some of them, such as machines or arrangements of particulate media, need to be predictable. Predictions correspond to approximate solutions of mathematical models describing interactions within such systems. The models are implemented as computational algorithms. The main contributions of the author are in an improved time integration method for rigid rotations, and in a robust Newton scheme for solving the frictional contact problem. A simple and efficient way of integrating rigid rotations is presented. The algorithm is stable, second order accurate, and in its explicit version involves evaluation of only two exponential maps per time step. The semi-explicit version of the proposed scheme improves upon the long term stability, while it retains the explicitness in the force evaluation. The algebraic structure of both schemes makes them suitable for the analysis of constrained multi-body systems. The explicit algorithm is specifically aimed at the analysis involving small incremental rotations, where its modest computational cost becomes the major advantage. The semi-explicit scheme naturally broadens the scope of possible applications. The semismooth Newton approach is adopted in the context of the frictional contact between three-dimensional pseudo-rigid bodies, proposed by Cohen and Muncaster. The Signorini-Coulomb problem is formulated according to the formalism of Contact Dynamics. Hybrid linearisation, parameter scaling and line search techniques are combined as the global convergence enhancements of the Newton algorithm. Quasi-static simulations of dry masonry assemblies exemplify performance of the presented framework.
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Tobias, Justin Charles 1980. "Megacities : sustainability, transport, and economic development." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/31140.
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Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2005.Includes bibliographical references (p. 152-160).
The connections between sustainability, transport, and economic development are and will remain essential in the governance of cities. Sustainability concepts include valuing and preserving the earth's resources so that future generations can enjoy their benefits. It requires changing human behavior and practices to be more efficient and less damaging to the environment, especially with the current rates of population growth and urban concentration. In addition, there is the element of social equity in which investments should secure benefits for all classes of society, not just the affluent. These concepts are particularly applicable in transportation systems, because they have been neglected in the traditional quantitative approaches to planning and investment. Of course, policies defining transportation and those enacted for sustainability impact economic development, which is a chief priority of governments. Therefore, future success in urban areas lies in balancing an array of interests and adopting the most comprehensively advantageous policies. This study will demonstrate the need for rethinking traditional urban transportation development strategies. It will detail the problems associated with urban transport that infringe on environmental conditions and human quality of life. This paper will explain approaches to transportation that can lead to improvements in the negative corollaries currently experienced. It will also present policy measures and tools that can be implemented. This research paper will provide information for city officials and planners to better understand the implications of transportation policies and the options available for governance.
(cont.) These decisions are becoming more critical as urban growth leads to large metropolitan regions with incredible transportation demands. More optimistically, the challenges facing society from transport can be overcome through commitment to better policies and the strengthening of institutions that oversee them.
by Justin Charles Tobias.
S.M.
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Kim, Carl Chong-Soo. "Geotechnical aspects of recirculating well design." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/44495.
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Mneimneh, Saadeddine S. "Algorithmic aspects of high speed switching." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/8373.
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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2002.Includes bibliographical references (p. 145-148).
A major drawback of the traditional output queuing technique is that it requires a switch speedup of N, where N is the size of the switch. This dependence on N makes the switch non-scalable at high speeds. Input queuing has been suggested instead. The introduction of input queuing creates the necessity for developing switching algorithms to decide which packets to keep waiting at the input, and which packets to forward across the switch. In this thesis, we address various algorithmic aspects of switching. We prove in this thesis, that many of the practical switching algorithms still require a speedup to achieve even a weak notion of throughput. We propose two switching algorithms that belong to a family to which we refer in this thesis as priority switching. These two algorithms overcome some of the disadvantages in existing priority switching algorithms, such as the excessive amount of state information that needs to be maintained. We also develop a practical algorithm that belongs to a family to which we refer in this thesis as iterative switching. This algorithm achieves high throughput in practice and offers the advantage of not requiring more than one iteration, unlike other existing iterative switching algorithms which require multiple iterations to achieve high throughput. Finally, we address the issue of using switches in parallel to accommodate for the need of speedup. We study two settings of parallel switches, one with standard packet switching, and one with flow scheduling, in which flows cannot be split across multiple switches.
by Saadeddine Mneimneh.
Ph.D.
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Bourke, John Kevin. "Economic aspects of the design and improvement of chemical engineering systems." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/7721.
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Fisher-Jeffes, Lloyd N. "Development of the simple economic model (SEM) for stormwater management." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12233.
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Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.
Sustainable urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) are increasingly being implemented around the world. A common barrier to the wider use of SuDS in South Africa is the uncertainty regarding their total cost. The need for reasonable predictions of life cycle cost is vital, both in terms of ensuring the viability of the proposed projects as well as to allow for comparison with more conventional designs that have historically relied on concrete pipes and culverts to transport the stormwater to nearby receiving water bodies as quickly and efficiently as possible.
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Ikkatai, Koji. "Balancing financial and strategic aspects of real property portfolio management." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45697.
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Dvorak, Robert E. (Robert Ernest). "Engineering and economic implications of ice-classed containerships." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51627.
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Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering; and, (S.M. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2009.Includes bibliographical references (p. 89-93).
The Arctic is becoming increasingly attractive for shipping. With the potential savings in transit time and the untapped natural resources, both the shipping and offshore industries are pouring capital into research and development. Myriad different ice-classes are described. Every classification society and country has their own system of ice-classing vessels, which leads to complexities within the system. The Polar Rules are looking to harmonize all of the different methods into one set of standards, thus simplifying the process. Also addressed will be the effect of ice-class on vessel design. The hull shape and structure, propulsion machinery, and auxiliary systems are all affected by ice-classing a vessel. Herein, the reader will find a presentation of the percentage increases in weight, power, fuel consumption, and cost of several different ice-classes over conventional containerships. To increase the ice-class slightly, the data is within margins of error and thus, there are no increases (especially with high speed LNG and container vessels). However, to increase the ice-class to the highest class analyzed, the weight, power, fuel consumption, and cost increase substantially. Ice-classed containerships may become economical in the future when the ice cover diminishes due to global warming. Presently, routing containerships over the Arctic is generally not considered by the industry to be economically, politically, or environmentally feasible for continuous, reliable service. This thesis provides insight into the engineering and economic implications of ice-classed containerships.
by Robert E. Dvorak.
S.M.in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
S.M.
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Chen, Jeff Yen-Chou. "The economic impacts of green product development." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35382.
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Chen, Chia-Wen. "An economic analysis of Taiwan's automobile industry." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/37548.
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Fayad, Philippe H. (Philippe Habib). "Aspects of the volumetric and undrained behavior of Boston Blue Clay." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/14633.
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Vink, Dustin. "Aspects of bond graph modelling in control." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2005. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/1140/.
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Porter, Mark. "Aspects of structural design with glass." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2001. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:b7313c27-d126-4ce0-8e41-0a2f214eda72.
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Glass is being increasingly used as a structural material. In particular, its favourable aesthetic qualities have made it popular with modern designers. The most recent developments have seen glass being used as major structural elements such as beams and columns. From the engineering viewpoint these new applications present a series of design problems which need to be addressed before a coherent and safe design philosophy can be achieved. To date there has been much work on out-of-plane loading of glass, and in-plane loading of traditional materials is well described. However, there is little published advice on design for long term, in-plane loading of glass. In reality engineers have been borrowing design concepts from the two former areas to try and satisfy the latter. In this thesis it is demonstrated that this is not satisfactory, and a new “Crack Size Design” method is proposed. Novel contact and fracture mechanics techniques are developed in the course of this thesis, which may also be applied to more general engineering problems. Of particular interest is the evaluation of the stress intensity factors for closed edge cracks in a half plane, and a description of their growth in a bulk compressive stress field. These techniques are used in an investigation of contact loading. Contact stresses are particularly important to glass design as glass is unable to flow plastically to relieve high local stresses. Hence “soft” interlayers are often inserted between the glass and the contacting material to facilitate stress redistribution. The problem of a rigid, square-ended punch loading glass via a perfectly linear elastic or rigid plastic interlayer is analysed. The results for an edge crack under such loading conditions are then investigated and incorporated into the newly derived Crack Size Design philosophy.
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Pollock, Russell (Russell Clayton). "Economic feasibility of shipping containers through the Arctic." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53089.
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Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2009.Includes bibliographical references (leaf 51).
As the Arctic ice cover continues to retreat, the possibility of regular transit through the Arctic becomes an increasing reality. Liner companies could take advantage of distance savings (up to 4000 nautical miles less than existing routes) available from transit through the Arctic by offering faster port-to-port voyage times while simultaneously reducing voyage expenses. The purpose of the study is to investigate the economic feasibility of a liner service with shipping routes through the Arctic. To accomplish this, information pertaining to Arctic conditions, containerships and icebreakers, and container ports was collected and used to build a model that estimates the expense and time of port-to-port voyages through the Arctic. Different combinations of vessels, routes, and speeds through the Arctic were evaluated with the model. The expense and time of the Arctic voyages were then compared to the equivalent existing liner routes. The likelihood of year-round reliable containership service through the Arctic in the future depends on one's perspective. One the one hand, it won't happen for decades due to the presence of ice. Current predictions of a largely ice-free Arctic range from 2030 to later than 2100. On the other hand, if some favorable assumptions are made, it deserves serious consideration once minimally ice-strengthened containerships are able to be reliably escorted through the Arctic at a speed of 10kts.
by Russell Pollock.
S.M.
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Duffett, Gino Alan. "Some aspects of the numerical solution of equilibrium problems in finite elasticity." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21871.
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Bibliography: pages 173-187.Analytical and computational aspects of solution paths for nonlinear equations are examined, with emphasis on problems in which there are many parameters. The solution to problems of this type is described by an equilibrium hypersurface and methods are presented which allow for the determination of the various features of this surface. These include methods for following numerically any curve on the primary surface, and for determining on such a curve all the singular points (both limit and bifurcation points). Further methods are then presented which allow branching onto secondary paths (subsets of secondary surfaces) from bifurcation points in order to trace out these paths and so determine the bifurcation behaviour of the problem considered. To complete the analysis of the equilibrium surface methods are developed to trace the loci of singular points. The locus of a bifurcation point determines the intersection of the primary and secondary equilibrium surfaces while the loci of limit points allow for the determination of regions of stable and unstable behaviour on the equilibrium surface. These methods are applicable to any system of nonlinear equations but the particular application here is to systems of equations obtained from the finite element approximation of boundary-value problems in elasticity. Attention is restricted to plane boundary-value problems involving incompressible hyperelastic materials. The strain-energy function used to characterise these materials is based on a symmetric function of the principal stretches. All of the above ideas are investigated numerically for the problem of a pressurised rubber cylinder subjected to axial extension. This problem contains two identifiable loading parameters and exhibits complex limit and bifurcation behaviour, which is studied in some detail.
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Saim, A. Aziz. "Aspects of continuity in steel and composite frames." Thesis, University of Warwick, 1998. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/108331/.
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This thesis concerns the continuity in steel and composite frame and specifically the region of the connections. It reports on five main areas as follows: 1. Seven beam-to-beam connection tests were conducted to study the structural performance of composite end plate connections. Various parameters such as the types of connections, amount of reinforcement, beams sizes, and the degree of shear connection were investigated. The investigation confirmed a similar overall response of moment-rotation (M-φ) curves to beam-to-column tests and justified the restriction by current design codes of having partial shear connection in hogging moment region. A prediction method to estimate the initial stiffness of composite connection has also been proposed. 2. The effects of concrete encasement on structural response of end plate joints of slimfloor beams were investigated. Five specimens of beam-to-column connection of slimfloor were tested. Parameters such as end plate thickness and bolt sizes are included in the study. The results have shown that proper reinforcement and design are needed if the connections are to be considered as a composite joint. 3. Tests were carried out to improve the bond capacity of encased slimfloor. A total of six push-out tests each with different type of “shear enhancer” were performed. The load at initial slip is not greatly depend on the types of enhancer and there were indications that the resistance of the enhancer only became effective after slip, due to bond failure, had occurred. 4. As far as stability of composite beams in the negative moment region is concerned, local buckling has been identified as one of the problems. The action of reinforcement may reduce many hot-rolled section to be in Class 3. Studies were conducted on published data to explore the possibility of upgrading Class 3 to Class 1. The studies indicated that beams of Class 3 web showed the characteristics of beams with higher class if the connection was full strength. Many of the Class 3 beams used in composite beams can only be upgraded to Class 2 and not to Class 1. 5. A method applicable to the design of unbraced multi-storey frames to specified limits on horizontal sway deflection is proposed. Only simple calculation are required by the method and its application is illustrated by worked examples.
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Valpergue, de Masin Ardoin 1977. "Economic modeling of urban pollution and climate policy interactions." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/85728.
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Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2003.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-77).
by Ardoin Valpergue de Masin.
S.M.
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Chen, Chuin Ping. "Automotive painting : achieving a technological, economic and environmental balance." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/11552.
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Missopoulos, Fotios Stavros. "An analysis of cost influential factors for the development of a software product and a hypothetical method for estimating cost using the Cocomo and Putnam models." Virtual Press, 1988. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/539731.
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The inability to accurately estimate costs which are associated with software development is an increasing concern of the scientists and practitioners involved. Many factors influence the cost and many models have been offered to estimate the expenses for developing a software system of any size and type. Unfortunately, the problem remains the same. There is a significant need for further research in order to develop complete understanding in this area.This thesis examines the cost influential factors and reviews a number of existing cost estimation models. Then, a hypothetical method is shown for estimating cost, incorporating the PERT sizing technique, the Basic and Intermediate COCOMO models, and a blend of features from the Putnam's Resource Allocation model and the SLIM model. The implementation of this method is also included.Department of Computer Science
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Varnham, Wendy Anne. "Psychoacoustical aspects of tinnitus." Thesis, University of Southampton, 1986. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/52290/.
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McKinley, John David. "Grouted ground anchors and the soil mechanics aspects of cement grouting." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 1993. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.483424.
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Abbasian, Hosseini Seyed Alireza. "Social and Engineering Aspects of Construction Site Management using Simulation and Social Network Analysis." Thesis, North Carolina State University, 2016. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10110533.
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The crews/actors/subs during a construction project make relationship and communicate with each other on the jobsite primarily when they work in a task sequence or when they work in the same working area at the same time. These interdependencies can have various impacts on their performance, the decisions their supervisor make and their action from both engineering and social aspects. The main focus of the past research is on the project parties’ relationship based on the information exchange and formal communication, while the research pertaining to the interpretation and investigation of the construction crews/trades’ interdependencies during the construction project is very limited. How are the construction jobsite actors connected in a construction jobsite? How do the existing interdependencies among them affect their performance? And how can understanding these interdependencies be beneficial for construction site managers? The primary goal of this research is to better understand the existing interdependencies among the construction crews/trades/subs and its impact. Particularly, the objectives of this research are to: 1) develop the jobsite social network of construction crews/trades and quantify its impact, 2) investigate the impact of social conformity on the performance of construction crews/trades, 3) identify the improvement direction (benchmarks) for inefficient construction crews/trades, and 4) investigate the cost/benefit of low or high reliable construction crews/trades and to develop a new educational version of Parade Game.
First, social network analysis (SNA) is implemented to develop a technique to construct the dynamic jobsite social network of crews/trades in a project and quantify its impact through the network centrality analysis. The results of a case study are presented. Then, SNA and social norm analysis are combined as a method to measure conformity, one of the main social network influences types that results in a change of performance/behavior in order to fit in a group, at construction crew/trade level and demonstrate how it can play role in the performance of crews/trades/subs particularly in their work plan reliability through two case studies. Then, inspired by social learning phenomenon, data envelopment analysis and SNA is combined to develop a procedure that can identify the improvement direction for the inefficient crews/trades/subs in a construction project. At the end, the research concentrates on the engineering aspects of the jobsite interdependencies by developing a simulation model, as a new educational version of Parade Game, that uses different variability levels and the corresponding costs at different work stations to investigate the relationship between the interdependencies and crews/trades’ variability/reliability.
Results demonstrate that the performance of construction crews/trades is under the influence of the social aspect of the interdependencies as well as the engineering aspect. They show that there is an association between influences a crew/trade/sub receives from the network and his/her performance. Results of case studies show that the subcontractors follow the performance norm in the project and their tendency to follow the norms of their neighborhood is higher than their willingness to follow the project norm. Parade Game simulation results also show that the production will enhance if the reliability increases and the investment made to improve reliability will return in most of the scenarios.
This research is significant and valuable as it looks at construction jobsite interdependencies from an exclusively analytical perspective, which has not been done previously. Previous research also did not investigate the social aspects of the construction crews/trades/subs interdependencies. Construction personnel at every level of management are constantly planning and trying to figure out how best to manage and coordinate the construction crews/trades/subs. A better understanding of the existing jobsite interdependencies will help project managers to control it through better planning and leadership, consequently increasing jobsite productivity.
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Radopoulou, Stefania Christina. "High Speed Rail in Greece : methods for evaluating economic impacts." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/58186.
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Thesis (S.M. in Transportation)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2010.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 127-136).
High Speed Rail is a mode that gains popularity every day. Many countries have such a network and others are on the way to adopting one. Greece, which is part of the European Union, is one of those countries that are looking forward to such a network. This thesis will investigate the transportation sector of Greece, its governance and funding issues. Moreover, it will go into depth regarding the mode of High Speed Rail. The projects and issues related to this mode will be presented. Another issue of concern will be the evaluation of economic impacts of transportation investments and high speed rail specifically. A thorough literature review regarding the different methods and software packages that exist will be presented. Also, a method suitable to the Greek standards and characteristics will be proposed. Last, we create a screening model for High Speed Rail. This model aims to be used from countries similar to Greece, in order to realize whether it is worth it to start thinking of constructing such a network or not. HSR possibilities in Greece and Portugal are compared using the screening model.
by Stefania Christina Radopoulou.
S.M.in Transportation
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Stedman, Joseph B. "The Impact of Middle Class Economic Strength on Civil Liberties Performance and Domestic and External Peace." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2003. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4386/.
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Using data for 93 countries from 1972 through 2001 in cross-national analysis, this study compares the relative economic strength of a country's middle-class with its civil liberties performance and its history of domestic and external conflict. For purposes of this analysis, the relative strength of a country's middle-class is determined by multiplying the square root of a country's gross domestic product per capita by the percentage of income distributed to the middle 60 % of the population (middle class income share). Comparisons between this measure of per capita income distributed (PCID) and several other indicators show the strength of the relationship between PCID and civil liberties performance and domestic and external conflict. In the same manner, comparisons are made for the middle class income share (MCIS) alone. The countries are also divided by level of PCID into 3 world classes of 31 countries each for additional comparisons. In tests using bivariate correlations, the relationships between PCID and MCIS are statistically significant with better civil liberties performance and fewer internal conflicts. With multivariate regression the relationship between PCID and civil liberties performance is statistically significant but not for PCID and internal conflict. As expected, in both correlations and regression between PCID and external conflict, variables related to power dominate. However, when the countries are divided into world classes by level of PCID, the eleven countries with the highest level of PCID have had no internal or external conflict since 1972. Moreover, there is no within group conflict for countries in either the upper or middle classes of countries based on their level of PCID. The between group conflict does include democracies.
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Elvin, Alex A. (Alex Allan). "Several aspects of polycrystalline ice behavior based on micromechanical modeling." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/42575.
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Muianga, Sabaka Mutuizuizue Libombo. "The influence of economic factors on South Africa’s civil engineering consulting firms." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/3059.
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Thesis (MEng (Civil Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019The infrastructure and construction activity of a country are strong drivers of economic development and the prosperity of a nation. This has been studied and discussed by various scholars such as Ruddock (2008) and Ofori (1990). As the construction industry prospers, employment is provided to many citizens, thereby improving living conditions due to the newly built infrastructure. This state of prosperity is often followed by a state of recession in the economy where jobs are scarce, interest rises and the price of commodities rises. In recent years, it has become glaringly evident that economic cycles have influenced several industrial sectors, including the construction industry and its civil engineering consulting (CEC) firms. In order to ensure that CEC firms remain financially sustainable throughout different macroeconomic cycles, it is necessary to study the economic factors with the highest impact on CEC firms. The aim of this work is to determine the economic factors that affect CEC firms through the different macroeconomic cycles and in which phase of the cycles these economic factors impact CEC firms. To address the aim of the study, mixed methods research was employed. Semi-structured interviews formed part of the qualitative methods used and statistical econometric tests formed part of the quantitative tests used. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted, with five interviews at CEC firms, one with an employer, in this case South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), and one with the Consulting Engineers of South Africa (CESA) association. The econometric data analysis made use of ADF Unit Root tests, Johansen Co-Integration tests and Granger Causality tests. The quantitative results showed that gross domestic product (GDP) and gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) of total investment indicate a change in total revenue of construction consulting firms. The Granger Causality results showed that construction value added (CVA) and GFCF of construction investment tend not to cause nor indicate a change in revenue of construction consulting firms, and vice-versa. The semi-structured interviews identified 16 economic factors that affect CEC firms. These factors were determined to be caused primarily by the South African economic activity, construction activity and CEC industry. It was observed that these factors can occur in different phases of a macroeconomic cycle, with business confidence and foreign investment having the highest influence during the recovery phase, capacity of firms and tender roll out having the highest influence during the peak phase, training of governmental staff and diversification having the highest influence during the downswing cycle, and strategic planning of CEC firms having the highest influence during the through phase of the cycle.
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Halvosen, Rick D. "Economic efficiency in transit service contracts : the role of contract structure." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/12399.
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Mosher, Benjamin R. (Benjamin Riel) 1976. "The national economic effects of breaching the Lower Snake River Dams." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/9018.
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Thesis (M.Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2000.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-102).
The four Lower Snake River Dams have been providing irrigation, recreation, navigation, and electricity generation capabilities to residents of the Northwest since their completion in 1975. Meanwhile, salmon populations have gradually been declining to the point that five species of Snake River salmon are now listed as endangered. In 1995, the NMFS released a report citing the Snake River Dams as potential contributors to this decline, sparking a national debate. The diversity of existing studies and opinions surrounding the debate, combined with the complexity of the issues, has created a need for clarification of the estimated costs and benefits of breaching the dams. Recognition of the source and context of all data and conclusions is essential to the formulation of a well-informed analysis. It is in this context that this report attempts to analyze the costs and benefits of breaching the four Lower Snake River Dams through the use of existing in-depth studies, as well as through first-hand data collected during a visit to the region. It is the goal of this report to summarize and clarify the major economic issues and to produce a non-biased analysis, which will aid in improvement of public understanding. In strictly considering the NED models of direct uses of the Lower Snake River Dams with no regards to the net worth of preserving salmon, dam breaching would cost the national economy and its taxpayers an estimated $236 million annually for the next 100 years. Taking into account the existence values of the five species of endangered salmon, the net economic benefit to the nations taxpayers would be $86 million annually. It is important to note that the uncertainties surrounding this controversy are substantial. With few exceptions, this analysis has shown that the USACE/DREW initiative has surpassed any other existing study of the issue to date in both breadth and insight. Numerous groups have attempted to discredit the regional data obtained from a process that they were, themselves, invited to partake in. In interpreting and skewing economic data as a means toward their ends, these groups have slighted the true argument surrounding the controversy, which could be more appropriately argued in a social context. Despite this seemingly unavoidable opposition, the FR/EIS process has proven itself to be revolutionary. As society gains insight into the environmental consequences of its actions, controversies of the form of that surrounding the Lower Snake River Dams are sure to become more prevalent. Though the final result of this controversy has yet to be determined, it is evident from investigation of the existing studies that a unified effort is essential to a well-rounded non-biased analysis.
by Benjamin R. Mosher.
M.Eng.
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Hu, Shiyin. "Estimation of economic impact of freight distribution due to highway closure." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/44287.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2008.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-68).
The main aim of this study is to provide a theoretical framework and methodology to estimate and analyze the economic impact of freight disruption due to highway closure. The costs in this study will be classified into three groups: private operating costs for carriers, logistics and scheduling costs, and indirect costs for the market. The resource saving method is used to measure private operating costs for carriers. The stated preference method and the logit model are used to measure logistics and scheduling costs. The input-output analysis is used to measure indirect costs for carriers. The recommended methodology can be used to the estimate economic impact of freight disruption due to highway closure. The framework can be used as a stepping stone for future research.
by Shiyin Hu.
S.M.
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McCullough, Gerard John. "Essays on the economic performance of U.S. freight railroads under deregulation." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/12237.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1994.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 154-156).
by Gerard J. McCullough.
Ph.D.
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Brief, Kohn Ionathan. "Construction financing in a hyper-inflationary economic environment : case of Venezuela." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36484.
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Matharu, Navroop S. "Aspects of bolted connections in pultruded fibre reinforced polymer structures." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2014. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/67279/.
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This thesis presents an extensive test programme for bolted connections using SuperStructural Pultruded Fibre Reinforced Polymer (PFRP) materials with an emphasis on characterising strengths for the pin-bearing failure mode and linking coupon results to bearing failure in lapshear bolted connections. The motivation for the research is to address key gaps in knowledge that are known to be hindering the preparation of recognised design guidelines for PFRP (frame) structures, which upon becoming available shall broaden exploitation in civil engineering works. Prominent among these knowledge gaps has been the need to have statistically verified pinbearing and bolted connections strengths that are with connection configurations complying with current design practice. Thread in bearing, as found in practice, is investigated together, for the first time, with the plain shaft situation. Both as-received and environmental (hot-wet aging) conditioned PFRP materials are characterized to study long-term behaviour. A nonstandard pin-bearing strength test methodology, developed at The University of Warwick, is used to provide targeted test results for a comprehensive test matrix of 150 batches having 5 or 10 nominally identical specimens per batch. A key contribution from the pin-bearing strength characterisation is that the in-house test method (WUTS) is shown to be suitable for the determination of pin-bearing strengths for flange and web materials, for bolting with or without thread and sizes from M10 to M20, and with a PFRP material orientated at 0o, 45o or 90o to the direction of pultrusion. Thread in bearing does not always have an adverse effect, and it is found that both thread pitch and material orientation have a significant contribution on the measured pin-bearing strength. It is recommended, for the situation when thread is in bearing, a reduction factor of 0.7 is applied to the characteristic plain pin-bearing strength value in the bearing strength equations. Accelerated aging regimes and long-term strength prediction modelling has shown a mean pinbearing strength reduction of up to 25% over 7.8 years, at UK service temperature of 10.5 °C. This value is found to lie within the bounds set by an American Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Pre-standard and gives confidence to the mandatory design requirements. The thesis also reports on a series of strength tests following the methodology for pin-bearing characterization with single and double lap-shear bolted connections having configurations for single and two-rows, and for single and multi-bolts. Reported are a series of open-hole tension tests carried out to characterise the by-pass load situation in multi-rowed connections. A reduction factor of 0.6 between single and double lap configuration is found, with the possibility of multiple mixed failure modes, including block shear. The SuperStructural material has a tri-axial stitched fabric mat reinforcement (usually in pultrudates the mat is a continuous filament mat) which is influencing the strength of bolted connections. Using the procedure in Eurocode 1990, a partial factor of 1.3 for pin-bearing resistance has been calibrated by combining the WUTS and lap-shear bolted connection tests results. Results from an open-hole tension study have shown that the correlation coefficient proposed in the 1970s by Hart-Smith does not satisfactorily relate the isotropic stress concentration factor to the orthotropic stress concentration factor. The findings and recommendations from the 1500 individual and 230 batch strength test results presented in this thesis have been successful in addressing or partially addressing a number of the key gaps in knowledge.
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Fleming, Sheila Macom. "Design aspects of flexible institutional buildings : a case study of the main academic buildings at MIT." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45696.
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Zhang, Dongxiao 1967. "Some aspects of stochastic flow and transport in complex geologic media." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/278215.
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This thesis has analyzed some aspects of stochastic flow and transport in geologic media with a random stationary and statistically isotropic hydraulic conductivity field. Explicit expressions for cross-covariances between velocity and head, and velocity and log conductivity as well as covariances of velocity under steady state uniform mean three-dimensional flow with an exponential log conductivity covariance are derived to first order and their structure is examined. An exact early time solution due to Batchelor for the mean concentration is compared with other existing stochastic solutions and its range of validity is determined for the case of an instantaneous point source. This early time solution is simpler and more general than any other stochastic transport solution at early time. A Monte Carlo simulation scheme is developed to study the ensemble behavior of solute particles traveling in such a field. The thesis concludes with a concentration estimation scheme conditioning on site measurements.
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Kong, Kong Hang. "Chemical aspects of coagulation in water treatment." Thesis, University of Macau, 2000. http://umaclib3.umac.mo/record=b1445036.
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Walker, Robert J. "Aspects of the prevention and repair of chloride-induced corrosion of steel in concrete." Thesis, Aston University, 1994. http://publications.aston.ac.uk/14301/.
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Sodium formate, potassium acetate and a mixture of calcium and magnesium acetate (CMA) have all been identified as effective de-icing agents. In this project an attempt has been made to elucidate potentially deleterious effects of these substances on the durability of reinforced concrete. Aspects involving the corrosion behaviour of embedded steel along with the chemical and physical degradation of the cementitious matrix were studied. Ionic diffusion characteristics of deicer/pore solution systems in hardened cement paste were also studied since rates of ingress of deleterious agents into cement paste are commonly diffusion-controlled. It was found that all the compounds tested were generally non-corrosive to embedded steel, however, in a small number of cases potassium acetate did cause corrosion. Potassium acetate was also found to cause cracking in concrete and cement paste samples. CMA appeared to degrade hydrated cement paste although this was apparently less of a problem when commercial grade CMA was used in place of the reagent grade chemical. This was thought to be due to the insoluble material present in the commercial formulation forming a physical barrier between the concrete and the de-icing solution. With the test regimes used sodium formate was not seen to have any deleterious effect on the integrity of reinforced concrete. As a means of restoring the corrosion protective character of chloride-contaminated concrete the process of electrochemical chloride removal has been previously developed. Potential side-effects of this method and the effect of external electrolyte composition on chloride removal efficiency were investigated. It was seen that the composition of the external electrolyte has a significant effect on the amount of chloride removed. It was also found that, due to alterations to the composition of the C3A hydration reaction products, it was possible to remove bound chloride as well as that in the pore solution. The use of an external electrolyte containing lithium ions was also tried as a means of preventing cathodically-induced alkali-silica reaction in concretes containing potentially reactive aggregates. The results obtained were inconclusive and further practical development of this approach is needed.