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No description available.

No description available.

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No description available.

In this research, a novel approach that utilizes Moran’s I statistical analyses to examine the spatio-temporal dispersal patterns of the White-Nose Syndrome currently affecting North American bat species is undertaken to further understand the disease transmission mechanism(s) of this emerging wildlife epidemic. White-Nose Syndrome has been responsible for in excess of five million bat deaths to date and has the potential to alter the ecological landscape significantly; however, due to a variety of factors, little research has been conducted into the patterns of infection on a national scale. Global and Local Moran’s I analyses were performed on the spatial-temporal variable of month and location from the initial outbreak site in order to address the spread of the Geomyces destructans fungus that causes White-Nose Syndrome. A comprehensive dataset of outbreak confirmation sites has been compiled and statistical analysis using ArcGIS reveals a complex pattern of disease dispersion since initial discovery of the disease, and shows important policy and management implications, in particular the need for more standardized and rigorous data collection and reporting procedures.

Many efforts have been conducted for improving the operation and management of open channel networks. Implementing simulation models and software is an effective step in achieving better operation of control structures in open channel networks. The purpose of this study was to develop a tool in ArcGIS for assisting the open channel network managers in operating flow control structures. This model presents a time schedule for gate operation based on the demands at turnouts through the water usage schedule of the network. The developed model was designed to be added as a tool to ArcToolbox in ArcGIS. Any ArcGIS user who has access to ArcView or ArcInfo can add this tool to ArcToolbox. Using ArcGIS Geoprocessing tools, ModelBuilder, Scripting and ArcToolbox tools, the proposed model, "Arc-Canal", was created. Arc-Canal is implementable for irrigation networks that open channel network are digitized in ArcGIS. Simulation is for the gravity flow in open channels without any pump in the network. Calculations are based on steady flow. All hydraulic calculations for water level, gates, and weirs are based on the methods defined in "Open-Channel Hydraulics" (Chow 1959). Most of the available flow simulation models are complicated individual software for which user needs to be trained to install and use it. Also most of these software are not free accessible. Arc-Canal is an easy to use tool that anyone with the knowledge of working with ArcGIS can run it. By adding the tool to ArcToolbox and following the described naming method, and entering the required data, model is ready to run. The developed model is a free access tool. Most of the channels in open channel networks in south Texas have mild bottom slope and flow is steady gravity flow. It is desired that the developed model will be a tool to assist irrigation districts in south Texas.

Two kinds of earthquakes, interplate and intraplate, occur in the world. Interplate earthquakes occur at the plate boundaries and are common. Intraplate earthquakes occur within the stable continental land mass and are less common. Fatality models have been developed by a number of different research groups in the last decades to estimate losses in these types of events. This is a relatively new research area, with the added problem that a fatal event only occurs every fortnight or so, so that the data collection process is long term. This research study has two objectives; the first is to update the Generalized Poissonian distribution parameters for the period 2000 to 2009. The second is to establish the statistical properties of the set of fatal earthquakes for the world, for the interplate region, and intraplate region in the last decade and for the twentieth century. This work has not been previously completed and represents a potential insight into the cost effectiveness of current earthquake mitigation schemes. The key hypothesis is that fatal interplate earthquakes occur at a higher rate than fatal intraplate events. The results of the two analyses show that there is an increase in the average number of earthquakes and the average number of deaths caused by these earthquakes for this decade, indicating this decade has proved to be worse when compared to the earlier recorded earthquake period data. There was a total of 202 recorded fatal events in the period of 2000 to 2009. The interplate earthquakes proved to cause more fatalities compared to intraplate earthquakes during the past decade. The difference at the five percent confidence level is significant.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Kentucky, 2008. / Title from document title page (viewed on November 3, 2008). Document formatted into pages; contains: ix, 58 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 55-57).

This thesis deals with the calculation of the potential of the solar energy using the data from airborne laser scanning and the digital surface modelling. The situational model has been set up for Vrbno pod Pradědem town lying at foothills of Jeseníky mountains in Moravian-Silesian Region. The aims of the thesis are by ArcGis measure the surface of the roofs suitable for installation of solar panels, our value of solar radiation and calculate the potential nominal power of that installation .Then find out how much of the surface of the agricultural land would take up a solar power plant with the same nominal power.