Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 218-228). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:24:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-12-19Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:21:03Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000757050.pdf: 1211527 bytes, checksum: e7589291899907f7a2c5bb86c3de1113 (MD5) / Com a ocupação massiva da malha urbana e as atividades decorrentes do crescimento desordenado dessas áreas, ocorre uma alteração do clima urbano, tornando-o insalubre. Um dos fatores que contribui para a má qualidade de vida em decorrência deste fato são as ilhas de calor que consiste no acúmulo de calor na superfície e eleva a temperatura nas cidades. A vegetação urbana constituída de arborização urbana, bosques e áreas verdes, têm como função minimizar este efeito. Para conciliar esses fatores o trabalho tem como objetivo levantar os dados de temperatura de superfície através de imagens de satélite, LANDSAT 5 captada no dia 18/12/2012 dos pontos 75 e 76, órbita 221, banda 6 e levantamento in loco com termo-higrômetro, com posse dos dados, cruzar com o levantamento vegetativo realizado e proporcionar uma visão de gestão para melhorar o microclima do município em estudo. O sensoriamento remoto e o sistema de informação geográfica permitem a avaliação de diferentes temperaturas da superfície terrestre. A área reduzida do Município e a baixa resolução do sensor utilizado dificultaram a análise de temperatura da área urbana sendo necessário o uso de outros programas para auxiliar na interpretação de dados. A cobertura de vegetação na área urbana interfere diretamente na diminuição da temperatura melhorando o micro-clima urbano. As diferentes coberturas da superfície analisada também interferem na temperatura aparente. Entre as classes estudas a classe cultivo de eucalipto e mata nativa apresentaram temperatura aparente amena em torno de 22.0°C e o solo exposto a maior temperatura aparente entre 37.0°C. Os setores 4,5 e 7 apresentam uma média de temperatura de 27,0°C sendo os setores com temperatura mais amena devido a área de cobertura vegetal. A diferença de temperatura nos setores 9, 10, 12 e 13 de 32.0°C para 27.0°C é devido a existência de... / With the massive occupation of the urban and activities arising from the uncontrolled growth of these areas, a change occurs in the urban climate, making it unhealthy. One factor that contributes to poor quality of life due to this fact are the islands of heat which consists in the accumulation of surface heat and raises the temperature in the cities. The vegetation consists of urban greening, urban forests and green areas, have the function to minimize this effect. To reconcile these factors work aims to collect data on surface temperature by satellite images, LANDSAT 5 captured on 18/12/2012 point 75 e 76, orbits 221, band 6 and on-site survey with thermo-hygrometer, with possession of the data, crossing to the survey conducted vegetative and provide a management vision to improve the microclimate of the city under study. The remote sensing and the geographic information system allow the evaluation of different earth surface temperatures. The municipality reduced area and the low resolution detector used makes the temperature analyzes at the urban area more difficult requiring the use of other programs to assist in the data interpretation. The vegetation coverage at urban area directly affects in the temperature decreasing improving the urban micro-climate. The different analyzed surface coverage also affects the apparent temperature. Among the studied ranks, the eucalyptus cultivation and native forest rank show mild apparent temperature around 22.0°C and the solo exposed to the higher apparent temperature around 37.0°C. The 4,5 and 7 sectors present a 27,0°C temperature average, and these are the sectors with the milder temperature due to the vegetation coverage area. The temperatures difference at the 9, 10, 12 and 13 sectors from 32.0°C to 27.0°C is due to the existing green areas, such as squares. The site survey high temperatures measured by thermo-hygrometer are around 35.0°C due to...

Orientador: Sérgio Campos / Banca: Ellen Fitipaldi B. Carrega / Banca: Fernanda Leite Ribeiro / Resumo: Com a ocupação massiva da malha urbana e as atividades decorrentes do crescimento desordenado dessas áreas, ocorre uma alteração do clima urbano, tornando-o insalubre. Um dos fatores que contribui para a má qualidade de vida em decorrência deste fato são as ilhas de calor que consiste no acúmulo de calor na superfície e eleva a temperatura nas cidades. A vegetação urbana constituída de arborização urbana, bosques e áreas verdes, têm como função minimizar este efeito. Para conciliar esses fatores o trabalho tem como objetivo levantar os dados de temperatura de superfície através de imagens de satélite, LANDSAT 5 captada no dia 18/12/2012 dos pontos 75 e 76, órbita 221, banda 6 e levantamento in loco com termo-higrômetro, com posse dos dados, cruzar com o levantamento vegetativo realizado e proporcionar uma visão de gestão para melhorar o microclima do município em estudo. O sensoriamento remoto e o sistema de informação geográfica permitem a avaliação de diferentes temperaturas da superfície terrestre. A área reduzida do Município e a baixa resolução do sensor utilizado dificultaram a análise de temperatura da área urbana sendo necessário o uso de outros programas para auxiliar na interpretação de dados. A cobertura de vegetação na área urbana interfere diretamente na diminuição da temperatura melhorando o micro-clima urbano. As diferentes coberturas da superfície analisada também interferem na temperatura aparente. Entre as classes estudas a classe cultivo de eucalipto e mata nativa apresentaram temperatura aparente amena em torno de 22.0°C e o solo exposto a maior temperatura aparente entre 37.0°C. Os setores 4,5 e 7 apresentam uma média de temperatura de 27,0°C sendo os setores com temperatura mais amena devido a área de cobertura vegetal. A diferença de temperatura nos setores 9, 10, 12 e 13 de 32.0°C para 27.0°C é devido a existência de ... / Abstract: With the massive occupation of the urban and activities arising from the uncontrolled growth of these areas, a change occurs in the urban climate, making it unhealthy. One factor that contributes to poor quality of life due to this fact are the islands of heat which consists in the accumulation of surface heat and raises the temperature in the cities. The vegetation consists of urban greening, urban forests and green areas, have the function to minimize this effect. To reconcile these factors work aims to collect data on surface temperature by satellite images, LANDSAT 5 captured on 18/12/2012 point 75 e 76, orbits 221, band 6 and on-site survey with thermo-hygrometer, with possession of the data, crossing to the survey conducted vegetative and provide a management vision to improve the microclimate of the city under study. The remote sensing and the geographic information system allow the evaluation of different earth surface temperatures. The municipality reduced area and the low resolution detector used makes the temperature analyzes at the urban area more difficult requiring the use of other programs to assist in the data interpretation. The vegetation coverage at urban area directly affects in the temperature decreasing improving the urban micro-climate. The different analyzed surface coverage also affects the apparent temperature. Among the studied ranks, the eucalyptus cultivation and native forest rank show mild apparent temperature around 22.0°C and the solo exposed to the higher apparent temperature around 37.0°C. The 4,5 and 7 sectors present a 27,0°C temperature average, and these are the sectors with the milder temperature due to the vegetation coverage area. The temperatures difference at the 9, 10, 12 and 13 sectors from 32.0°C to 27.0°C is due to the existing green areas, such as squares. The site survey high temperatures measured by thermo-hygrometer are around 35.0°C due to... / Mestre

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Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)

The objective of this thesis was to identify the mechanisms associated with the recurrence of rock-slope instability along the R518 and R523 roads in Limpopo. Advanced geotechnical methods and ASTER imagery were used for the purpose while a predictive rockfall hazard rating matrix chart and rock slope stability charts for unsaturated sensitive clay soil and rock slopes were to be developed. The influence of extreme rainfall on the slope stability of the sensitive clay soil was also evaluated. To achieve the above, field observations, geological mapping, kinematic analysis, and limit equilibrium were performed. The latter involved toppling, transitional and rotational analyses. Numerical simulation was finally resorted to. The following software packages were employed: SWEDGE, SLIDE, RocData, RocFall, DIPS, RocPlane, and Phase 2. The simulation outputs were analyzed in conjunction with ASTER images. The advanced remote sensing data paved the way for landslide susceptibility analysis. From all the above, rockfall hazard prediction charts and slope stability prediction charts were developed. Several factors were also shown by numerical simulation to influence slope instability in the area of study, i.e. sites along the R518 and R523 roads in the Thulamela Municipality. The most important factors are extreme rainfall, steep slopes, geological features and water streams in the region, and improper road construction. Owing to the complexity of the failure mechanisms in the study area, it was concluded that both slope stability prediction charts and rock hazard matrix charts are very useful. They indeed enable one to characterize slope instability in sensitive clay soils as well as rockfall hazards in the study area. It is however recommended that future work is undertaken to explore the use of sophisticated and scientific methods. This is instrumental in the development of predictive tools for rock deformation and displacement in landslide events. / Electrical and Mining Engineering / D. Phil. (Mining Engineering)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Over the past two decades, northern parts of the United States have experienced extreme heat conditions. Some of the notable heat wave impacts have occurred in Chicago in 1995 with over 600 reported deaths and in Philadelphia in 1993 with over 180 reported deaths. The distribution of extreme heat events in Indianapolis has varied since the year 2000. The Urban Heat Island effect has caused the temperatures to rise unusually high during the summer months. Although the number of reported deaths in Indianapolis is smaller when compared to Chicago and Philadelphia, the heat wave in the year 2010 affected primarily the vulnerable population comprised of the elderly and the lower socio-economic groups. Studying the spatial distribution of high temperatures in the vulnerable areas helps determine not only the extent of the heat affected areas, but also to devise strategies and methods to plan, mitigate, and tackle extreme heat. In addition, examining spatial patterns of vulnerability can aid in development of a heat warning system to alert the populations at risk during extreme heat events. This study focuses on the qualitative and quantitative methods used to measure extreme heat events. Land surface temperatures obtained from the Landsat TM images provide useful means by which the spatial distribution of temperatures can be studied in relation to the temporal changes and socioeconomic vulnerability. The percentile method used, helps to determine the vulnerable areas and their extents. The maximum temperatures measured using LST conversion of the original digital number values of the Landsat TM images is reliable in terms of identifying the heat-affected regions.