Worldwide, wind energy added to the energy mix of electricity suppliers may be seen as way of improving energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, due to wind's variability wind electricity cannot be used to meet demands which require a continuous supply of electricity. One solution to the variability problem is to adopt services that are capable of storing energy for use at a later time. Five new wind-allocation methods are considered to maximize its use of wind-electricity while at the same time reducing emissions. Simulations results, show that households benefit from an annual savings of about 30% to 36% with an estimated payback period ranging between 3.5 and 5.5 years. Emissions reduction in the off-peak scenarios is between 32% and 35% and about 86% in the anytime scenario. Heating demands satisfied ranges between 75% and 96% and total wind used for heating is between 3%-4%.

Master of Science / Department of Statistics / John E. Boyer Jr / The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the methods used for allocating disaster funds to assist commercial fishery participants as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita of 2005 and to examine alternative methods to aid in determining an efficient criterion for allocating public funds for fisheries assistance. The trip ticket data managed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries were used and analyzed using a cluster analysis. Results from the clustering procedures show that commercial fishermen consist of seven clusters, while wholesale/retail seafood dealers consist of six clusters. The three tiers into which commercial fishermen were originally classified can be extended to at least eleven (11) clusters, made up of three (3) clusters in tier 1 and an equal number of clusters (4) clusters in tier 2 and tier 3. Similarly, the original three tiers of wholesale/retail seafood dealers can be reclassified into at least nine (9) clusters with two clusters in tier 1, four (4) clusters in tier 2 and three (3) clusters in tier 3. As a result of the clustering reclassifications, alternative compensation plans were developed for the commercial fishermen and wholesale/retail seafood dealers. These alternative compensation plans suggest a reallocation of disaster assistance funds among individual groups of fishermen and among individual groups of dealers. We finally recommend that alternative classification methods should always be considered in order to select the most efficient criterion for allocating public funds in the future.

Este trabalho investiga a influência dos efeitos da mistura de quatro ondas (FWM -. Four- Wave Mixing) durante o estabelecimento de caminhos ópticos em uma rede GMPLS/DWDM (Generalized MultiProtocol Label Switching/Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing). Para minimizar seus impactos e assim reduzir o bloqueio total da rede, são propostas estratégias por meio de extensões ao RSVP-TE (Resource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering). A partir de uma plataforma de simulação que emula e integra a camada óptica e o Plano de Controle da arquitetura GMPLS, a solução proposta é validada. Os vários métodos de alocação de comprimentos de onda são avaliados e as contribuições na redução dos sinais interferentes quantificadas. Para minimizar o bloqueio na rede, uma nova classe de métodos de alocação, classificados como híbridos, é definida e seu desempenho é avaliado. O bloqueio da rede em função da variação de parâmetros que reforçam a eficiência da FWM, tais como a quantidade e espaçamento entre canais, é observado, confirmando a necessidade de métodos de alocação especialistas para gerenciamento do QoS (Quality of Service) óptico em cada caminho a ser estabelecido. Os resultados obtidos comprovam a eficiência da solução proposta e evidenciam a necessidade de um Plano de Controle GMPLS com acurada visibilidade das restrições da camada física, tanto os efeitos estáticos quanto às degradações associadas ao comportamento dinâmico da rede. / This work investigates the effects of the Four-Wave Mixing (FWM) during the lightpaths establishment in a GMPLS/DWDM (Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching / Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) network. In order to minimize their impacts and thus reduce network blocking, strategies based on RSVP-TE (Resource Reservation Protocol- Traffic Engineering) extensions are proposed. The proposed solution is validated using a simulation platform that integrates and emulates the optical layer and the GMPLS Control Plane. The various wavelength allocation methods are evaluated and their contributions on the reduction of interfering signals are quantified. In order to minimize the network blocking, a new class of allocation methods (classified as hybrids) is defined and its performance is evaluated. The network blocking caused by the parameters that enhance the FWM efficiency, such as the number and spacing between channels, is also observed, confirming the need of specialized wavelength allocation methods for managing the optical QoS for each lightpath. The results obtained ascertain that the proposed solution is efficient and demonstrate the need for a GMPLS Control Plane endowed with an accurate visibility of the restrictions in the physical layer, concerning both static and dynamic effects.

Este trabalho investiga a influência dos efeitos da mistura de quatro ondas (FWM -. Four- Wave Mixing) durante o estabelecimento de caminhos ópticos em uma rede GMPLS/DWDM (Generalized MultiProtocol Label Switching/Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing). Para minimizar seus impactos e assim reduzir o bloqueio total da rede, são propostas estratégias por meio de extensões ao RSVP-TE (Resource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering). A partir de uma plataforma de simulação que emula e integra a camada óptica e o Plano de Controle da arquitetura GMPLS, a solução proposta é validada. Os vários métodos de alocação de comprimentos de onda são avaliados e as contribuições na redução dos sinais interferentes quantificadas. Para minimizar o bloqueio na rede, uma nova classe de métodos de alocação, classificados como híbridos, é definida e seu desempenho é avaliado. O bloqueio da rede em função da variação de parâmetros que reforçam a eficiência da FWM, tais como a quantidade e espaçamento entre canais, é observado, confirmando a necessidade de métodos de alocação especialistas para gerenciamento do QoS (Quality of Service) óptico em cada caminho a ser estabelecido. Os resultados obtidos comprovam a eficiência da solução proposta e evidenciam a necessidade de um Plano de Controle GMPLS com acurada visibilidade das restrições da camada física, tanto os efeitos estáticos quanto às degradações associadas ao comportamento dinâmico da rede. / This work investigates the effects of the Four-Wave Mixing (FWM) during the lightpaths establishment in a GMPLS/DWDM (Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching / Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) network. In order to minimize their impacts and thus reduce network blocking, strategies based on RSVP-TE (Resource Reservation Protocol- Traffic Engineering) extensions are proposed. The proposed solution is validated using a simulation platform that integrates and emulates the optical layer and the GMPLS Control Plane. The various wavelength allocation methods are evaluated and their contributions on the reduction of interfering signals are quantified. In order to minimize the network blocking, a new class of allocation methods (classified as hybrids) is defined and its performance is evaluated. The network blocking caused by the parameters that enhance the FWM efficiency, such as the number and spacing between channels, is also observed, confirming the need of specialized wavelength allocation methods for managing the optical QoS for each lightpath. The results obtained ascertain that the proposed solution is efficient and demonstrate the need for a GMPLS Control Plane endowed with an accurate visibility of the restrictions in the physical layer, concerning both static and dynamic effects.

M. Ing. / The report presents and analyses allocation methods for assigning limited resources to project tasks. The report is partitioned into five chapters beginning with an introductory chapter. Chapter 1 summarises the problem and describes the process followed in addressing the problem. A literature chapter covers the literature for the development and analysis of the methods presented in the report. Chapter three presents the allocation methods and discusses the role of the methods in single and multi-project resource allocation. Two commercial methods (Hu’s Algorithm; and Coffman’s and Munt’s Algorithm) along with a recipe for implementation are discussed. It is followed by the introduction and formulation of two additional methods that base their resource allocation on critical and least slack chains (Least Slack and Least Slack Ancestors First methods). A final method, based on locating the best possible solution, is presented and formulated (Best Fit method). A case study is presented in chapter four which is applied to each of the formulated methods in chapter three. Key metrics are derived and necessary compassions among the methods are performed. Chapter 4 concludes with an analysis of the comparisons. Finally Chapter five presents a conclusion to the report summarising the results of chapters three and four. Future recommendations are also discussed with the main emphasis on a possible investigation of a hybrid method stemming from the application and analysis in chapter four.