Existing minefields left over from previous conflicts pose a grave threat to humanitarian relief operations, domestic everyday life, and future military operations. The remaining minefields in Afghanistan, from the decade long war with the Soviet Union, are just one example of this global problem. The purpose of this research is to develop a methodology that will predict areas where minefields are the most likely to exist through use of a GIS model. The concept is to combine geospatial data layers to produce a scored raster output of the most likely regions where minefields may exist. It is a "site suitability analysis" for minefield existence. The GIS model uses elevation and slope data, observer and defensive position locations, hydrographic features, transportation features, and trafficability estimates to form a minefield prediction surface. Through use of the NATO Reference Mobility Model (NRMMII) and the Digital Topographic Support System (DTSS), trafficability estimates are generated for specific vehicles under specific terrain and weather conditions in specific areas of interest. The model could be used to create prioritized maps for minefield detection sensors, demining teams, or for avoidance. These maps could define the "high payoff" search areas for remote sensors, such as ASTAMIDS, and positively identify minefields. These maps could also be used by humanitarian relief agencies for consideration when planning movement into areas that may contain minefields. The analysis includes a model calibration and sensitivity analysis procedure and compares the model output to known training minefield locations taken from two US Army training centers. The resultant Minefield Likelihood Surface has a 91% accuracy rate when compared to known training minefield data. / Master of Science

The diffusion of Activity Based Costing (ABC) has been researched extensively in developed countries. Research on these issues in Jordan in general and within the Jordanian industrial sector more specifically is limited. The aim of the current research is to contribute to the design and successful ABC implementation in the Jordanian industrial sector. To achieve the aim of the research, the research methodology included both quantitative and qualitative data. The first stage was a quantitative study. The questionnaire survey was developed and the primary aims were to determine the current state of ABC adoption and implementation. The factors that facilitate, motivate and create barriers to ABC implementation were examined. In the second stage, semistructured interviews were used to probe the significant results of the questionnaire survey. The interviews were conducted with 6 companies that have implemented ABC in full and currently using ABC information. The survey findings indicate that ABC implementation among Jordanian industrial companies is quite satisfactory. The rate of ABC implementation is about 50.8%. Within the Jordanian industrial sector, the interaction between the following factors facilitated and motivated the implementation of ABC, namely: top management support, both training and education about the system, higher information technology, increasing proportion of overhead costs, growing costs, including product costs and administrative costs, and an increasing number of product variants. The interviews with financial managers/heads of cost accounting departments are consistent with questionnaire survey findings and both reveal and emphasise the important effect of consultants, professional management/accounting bodies and cooperation between academics and professionals upon implementing ABC within the Jordanian industrial sector. Therefore, it can be concluded that it is not only demand but also supply factors that influence implementation of ABC within the Jordanian industrial companies.