Degradation of the nation's waters continues to be a problem and urban runoff is a large contributor to it. New stormwater management policies stress the importance of using stormwater control practices that reduce the quantity and improve the quality of stormwater runoff. The new approaches tend to emphasize small-scale, on-site practices over large scale. Yet to achieve water quality benefits, stormwater control practices must be maintained over time. Maintenance costs of these facilities, however, are poorly understood. A case study of five municipalities around the United States is used to estimate inspection and enforcement costs for each case site. Maintenance activities and costs were collected at the case sites for the following stormwater controls: dry ponds, wet ponds, wetlands, bioretention facilities, sand filters, and infiltration trenches. Cost estimates indicate that inspection and enforcement is not influenced by type. Maintenance cost estimates change depending on the BMP type. Estimated annual post-construction costs applied to a hypothetical 1,000-acre indicate that moving from large-scale to small-scale stormwater controls has a large impact in terms of financial obligation. / Ph. D.

The increasing number of space-related applications and the development of miniaturized satellites (sometimes called CubeSats) recently became an exciting area in modern space science. Due to their diverse applications, smaller size, and low development cost. More sophisticated CubeSat missions have been recently introduced, signaling that CubeSats have started to progress from solely technical demonstration platforms to providing opportunities for low-cost actual research missions with a highly promising benefit in terms of commercial revenue. Despite major advancements in CubeSat technology, there is still a range of fundamental concerns regarding CubeSat barriers, pitfalls, and commercial effects. From both an academic and an industrial perspective, this report offers a thorough overview of various facets of CubeSat manufacturing and launch costs. The latest trends in CubeSat were discussed as well as an analysis of the launch cost and other variables that could influence the mission. An information-gathering approach was used from various proposed and launched missions, including journal articles, the official space mission webpages, and other publicly accessible satellite databases. Using data collected from various sources, we found that the latest launching price for future missions is influenced and modeled by various reasons. The Liquid propellant, miniaturized thrusters for small satellites, and modernized payload carriers could play a part in lowering the cost of potential launches. For instance, the RP-1 fuel used in Falcon 9 is expandable and reusable, increasing launch opportunities and low per-unit launch costs. Likewise, tiny satellites with miniaturized thrusters will significantly help change aerodynamics and launch processes. Whereas systemic payload structures can bear maximum weight, theoretically expanding the number of Nanosatellites deployed per launch. This paper attempts to facilitate various elements that make it practical in enabling a decision-making process related to technical aspects of the launch cost and future utilization of CubeSat technology.

Introduction: In Ontario, prior to 1994, planned home birth attended by midwives was a self-paid service. Since the introduction of regulated midwifery in 1994, home birth is a government-funded service, and uses common resources. As such, there is a need to examine the impact that choice of planned location of birth puts on scarce resources. To date, costs associated with planned place of birth in Ontario have not been evaluated. Objectives: The primary objective is to answer the question: Do planned midwifery-attended home births from the onset of labour cost the Ontario health care system more or less than planned midwifery-attended hospital births from the onset of labour among a comparable low-risk cohort of women? Specifically, this analysis examines the cost of midwifery intrapartum care, from the onset of labour until hospital discharge or the first two days after delivery. Methods: This cost-analysis used a third-party payer perspective (health services costs) to analyze data from the Ontario Midwifery Program, which included 12, 886 midwife-attended births that occurred between April 1, 2003 and March 31, 2006. Three main sources of information were used to determine unit cost and health care utilization: the Ontario Midwifery Program data (2003-2006); data from the Ontario Case Costing Initiative; and the 2010 Schedule of Benefits for Physician Services. Data was analyzed using an intention to treat approach, i.e. based on planned rather than actual location of delivery. Results: Hospital birth is more expensive than planned home-birth. Results were significant with a P value =< .001. The median cost from the onset of labour was $995.95 (IQR $995.95 to $995.95) for planned home birth compared to $2118.12 (IQR $1467.12 to $3610.00) for planned hospital birth. Conclusions: Home birth, a choice that women in Ontario will continue to choose, does not result in costing the Ontario health care system more money. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / This thesis answers the question: Do midwifery-attended planned home births cost the Ontario health care system more or less than midwifery-attended planned hospital births? This thesis examined midwifery-attended births that occurred in Ontario between April 1, 2003 and March 31, 2006 and associated costs that were incurred for both the mother and the baby from the onset of labour until two days following the birth. Since 1994 when midwifery was legislated in Ontario, registered midwives have been providing care to women in both home and hospital settings. While there is general consensus within the midwifery community that home births do not cost the health care system more money, a thorough analysis of costs incurred by midwifery-attended births has not been meaningfully analyzed. Midwifery is the only group of health care professionals providing maternity care that is increasing in size. Given the shortage and the current crisis of maternity care providers, the number of midwives in this province is likely to continue growing. At the same time, a cost analysis of the resources consumed through the provision of maternity care – both at home and at hospital- has not been conducted. This study provides key stakeholders with information regarding resources used and needed and the costs associated with these resources so that resource allocation and planning can be conducted in a responsive manner.

This thesis comprises three chapters involving the analysis of the body mass index (BMI) in health economics. The first chapter evaluates two correction models that aim to address measurement error in self-reported (SR) BMI in survey data. This chapter is an addition to the literature as it utilizes two separate Canadian datasets to evaluate the transportability of these correction equations both over time and across different datasets. Our results indicate that the older method remains competitive and that when BMI is used as an independent variable, correction may even be unnecessary. The second chapter measures the relationship between long-term physician costs and BMI. The results show that obesity is associated with higher longterm physician costs only at older ages for males, but at all ages for females. We find that accounting for existing health conditions that are often associated with obesity does not explain the increase in long-term physician costs as BMI increases. This indicates that there is an underlying relationship between the two that we could not account for in our econometric models. Finally, the third chapter decomposes the differences in BMI distributions of Canada and the US. The results show that the differences between BMI levels, both over time and across countries, are increasing with BMI; meaning the highest difference is observed at the right tail of the two distributions. In analysis comparing two points in time, these differences are solely due to differences in the returns from attributes and the omitted variables that we cannot account for in our models. In cross-country analysis, there is evidence that the differences observed below the mean can be explained by the differences in characteristics of the two populations. The differences observed above the mean are again due to those in returns and the omitted variables. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Groundnut production is vital to the Senegalese agricultural economy, particularly in the Groundnut Basin. However the region is increasingly affected by climate change and associated rising temperatures. This study investigates long-term changes in the frequency of extreme temperatures in the Groundnut Basin and the impact of extreme temperatures on groundnut production. The current economic costs of extreme temperatures on groundnut farmers and potential future additional economic costs associated with climate change are then calculated. The study uses a two-year panel dataset from 1,123 households in the Groundnut Basin and weather data from meteorological stations and the ERA5 climate database. Results identify a significant increasing trend in extreme temperatures across the Groundnut Basin and a negative relationship between extreme temperatures and groundnut yield. This leads to financial losses for farmers, with adaptation strategies such as input level adjustments providing partial mitigation. Future projections indicate further increases in extreme heat degrees days, resulting in significant yield losses by 2050. But the implications of extreme heat also extend beyond agriculture, affecting human habitation and exacerbating societal inequalities. The findings highlight the potential long-term effects of increasing temperatures on agricultural practices in the Groundnut Basin and underscore the need for adaptation and mitigation strategies to cope with the impacts of climate change. / Master of Science / Groundnut production plays an important role in Senegal's agricultural economy, particularly in the Groundnut Basin. However, the region is facing growing challenges due to climate change and rising temperatures. This study examines the long-term changes in extreme temperatures in the Groundnut Basin and their impact on groundnut production. By analyzing data from 1,123 households and temperature records, the study calculates the current economic costs of extreme temperatures on groundnut farmers and predicts potential future costs associated with climate change. The findings reveal a significant increase in extreme temperatures across the Groundnut Basin, which has a negative effect on groundnut yields. As a result, farmers face financial losses. However, they are employing adaptation strategies, such as adjusting input levels, to partially mitigate these losses. In the future, projections indicate that extreme heat will continue to rise, leading to substantial yield losses by 2050. But the implications of these findings also go beyond agriculture, impacting human settlements and exacerbating existing societal inequalities. The study emphasizes the potential long-term consequences of increasing temperatures on groundnut farming in the Groundnut Basin and highlights the urgency of implementing adaptation and mitigation strategies to address the impacts of climate change.

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A computer model has been developed for the purpose of allocating funds, by department, within a university. This model categorizes each class as one of three types -- lecture, problem solving, or laboratory. A standard class size is assigned to each type -- 40, 25, and 10 respectively. Combining the previous years head count for each class with the credit-hour value of each class, a faculty position count for every department is generated. Administrative positions, staff positions, operating expense, and operating capital funds are calculated using various combinations of factors involving student credit hours, faculty positions, and class type. Factors used by the model were derived from historical averages as reported in the requisite literature. These factors are generally alterable by user input to meet the general requirements of the institution. Faculty salary figures were taken from the Oklahoma Salary Survey for 1984, and staff salary figures from the Career Service Salary Plan used in the State of Florida. A frequently used computer program, Lotus 1-2-3, was used to implement the model. This software package is a spreadsheet that offers limited programming capability through a facility called "keyboard macros." This function allows a transparent operation for the user; he/she simply responds to program prompts and receives a printout of model outputs. The model was verified by testing it against an actual allocation involving the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Central Florida. The pilot study was used as a means of verifying the model's reasonableness as a budgetary tool. The model-generated allocation mix was used to apportion the actual allocation for 20 departments within a college. A study was undertaken to compare and analyze differences between actual and model-generated figures. Where large variations existed, an analysis was performed to determine the cause. This model represents a step toward incorporation the concepts of fixed and variable costs into the internal allocation process and encourages the use of personal computers to assist in budgetary planning.