The primary goal of this study was to analyze the characteristics of current registered sex offenders in Collin County, Texas, as well as to compare age and gender of the victims of these offenders in order to know who sex offenders primarily target in these crimes. The study also sought to discover geographic patterns of where the registered sex offenders reside for the purpose of keeping communities aware. Participants consisted of 175 registered sex offenders (N = 175) in Collin County, Texas, found on Collin County's and the Texas Department of Public Safety's online public registries. The findings demonstrate that there were significant trends among the sex offenders, their victims, location of residence, and housing complications as a result of progressing sex offender laws. Treatment programs and the reintegration of offenders in the community were also addressed. The meaning of the results in this study can aid in the development of safety and prevention strategies, provide an understanding about the utilization of sex offender registries, and can benefit law enforcement to predict the movement of current sex offenders, along with knowing where to find other potential offenders.

The coastal planning has been developed in purpose of the ¡§safely¡¨, ¡§landscaping¡¨, ¡§ecology¡¨ and ¡§water affinity¡¨ in Taiwan nowadays. Moreover, the hendland bay beachs and beach nourishment have been hailed for the protection of shoreline. One of the main affection of erosion is a storm, which retreads shoreline and reduces nearshore by storm surge. This essay reports an application of 2-D SBEACH software to simulate the beach profile changes. The data of large wave tank (LWT), which tests by the Coastal Engineering Research Center (CERC), US Army Corps of Engineers, is used to calibrate the parameters by SBEACH. Then, using the results of experimentation to indicate the accuracy of model from Grosser Wellen Kanal (GWK), which tests by the University of Hannor. Finally, simulating beach profile, with a berm (height of 2.5m and width of 100m) and a slope of 1:25, is used to simulate the profile changes and analyze the results by different storm conditions from CECI. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the suitable distance of shoreline and location of bar for a beach buffer zone by SBEACH during different storm conditions. The present study confirms that the simulated results of shoreline erosion rate and the position of bar crest by SBEACH comform to the LWT and GWK experiments. The major parameters of SBEACH, the transport rate coefficient, K influences the sediment transport, coefficient for slope-dependent term, £` controls the slope of beach profile and shape of bar, the transport rate decay coefficient multiplier, Kb affects the shoreline erosion, and the landward surf zone depth, db influences the shape of berm. The result of analysis by SBEACH indicates that a constant slope beach profile changes by different storm conditions and the extent of non-dimensional shoreline retreat Xt/Lo is found in good linear relationship with deepwater wave steepness Ho/Lo. Therefore, the linear regress function is used to compute the less beach buffer zone in different storm conditions.

Global warming is caused by Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions produced from the use of fossil fuel-based energy sources. Buildings consume about 30%-35% of the global energy use, which makes buildings a major contributor to the global warming problem. A long-term plan has been established at the Thermal Processing Laboratory (TPL) at McMaster University to investigate the use of various renewable energy-based technologies to achieve Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) in Canada. This paper presents results of an investigation of the effectiveness of using a thermal buffer zone (TBZ) in real buildings. A TBZ is a closed passage built around the building that allows air to passively re-distribute heat energy from solar radiation received on the south side throughout the building. A TBZ offers an effective solution of the overheating problem usually experienced on the south side of the building and, at the same time, it helps in reducing the heating load of the north side of the building. An experimental setup employing TBZ in a model of a typical building floor has been built. An analytical model of the TBZ has been developed. The experimental data has been used to validate the developed analytical model, which then was used to simulate the performance of a TBZ implemented in a real building floor. Results showed that the effectiveness of TBZ could reach 117% in the winter (cold climate countries). Moreover, the study considered the effect of integrating the TBZ with a fan. Results showed that the use of the fan is beneficial for a certain gap width, beyond which the use of the fan is not recommended. In conclusion, results of this study confirm that the TBZ can offer an effective means of replacing parry of building consumption of fossil fuel-based energy using solar energy. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

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The area of investigation for this study falls within a small urban island called Westbury. Situated 7km to the West of Johannesburg’s CBD, it is isolated from the adjacent urban fabric as a result of its historical and also recent development. Westbury itself also consists of a series of fragmented islands with undefined boundaries, weak urban blocks and a disorientated grid. The area has recently been identified as a high priority region for densification1 by the city of Johannesburg, supported by transport-oriented infra-structural investment. The questions raised by this study are contextualized against this backdrop. How could densification in Westbury be achieved towards the creation of a more inter-connected, cohesive, accessible and therefore sustainable urban environment? Following from this: How could Westbury be better integrated with the immediate surrounding urban fabric whilst combating its own fragmentation? What is the role of urban blocks and boundary conditions to help shape a future more integrated Westbury, and also towards meaningful place-making? In what ways can architecture contribute in order to improve the urban fabric that operates on various scales: from the very scale of the house to that of an urban boundary to that of the urban block and ultimately the greater urban network? The hypothesis outlined in this study is that architecture is too weak to stand in isolation, that a network of buildings is necessary to achieve a more sustainable, accessible, cohesive, and inter-connected urban environment. This is tested through a rigorous analysis of boundary conditions at different scales as reflected in the urban blocks of Westbury and the resultant architectural strategies. Finally, a block and its attendant boundaries is singled out to test the architectural contribution towards densification of the suburb, the making of place, and better inter-connectivity. The process is envisaged as driven from both the scale at which urban issues inform the architecture, and the reverse scale the architecture in Westbury informs the urban master plan. The architecture in style and scale sets the conditions for the proposed urban blocks. The boundary wall being the medium where urban meets architecture. “For these dreams to flourish in reality, we must recognise that there can be no ready-made solutions in housing, no recipes or / Mini Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2018. / Architecture / MArch (Prof) / Unrestricted

Submitted by Sandra Maria Neri Santiago (sandra.neri@ufpe.br) on 2016-04-14T14:13:25Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO - Thalianne de Andrade Leal.pdf: 2510019 bytes, checksum: 2da7c82c8d63d8018e80a8e30f841238 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-14T14:13:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO - Thalianne de Andrade Leal.pdf: 2510019 bytes, checksum: 2da7c82c8d63d8018e80a8e30f841238 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-06-30 / O rápido e intenso desenvolvimento urbano atual vem impondo ao campo da Conservação dos monumentos novas inquietações. A tentativa de conciliação entre arquitetura contemporânea, a integridade dos monumentos e o desenvolvimento urbano está presente na pauta de especialistas preocupados com o impacto de novas estruturas sobre as heranças urbanas. Aos bens inscritos ou tombados pelos órgãos da preservação já são garantidas medidas de salvaguarda, com isso a preocupação foca-se em seu entorno. Apesar da recorrente indicação de que o entorno é parte importante para a compreensão das informações do bem ao contribuir com a manutenção da sua integridade, poucas medidas o definiram conceitualmente e não chegaram a efetivar uma metodologia que possibilitasse sua delimitação. A partir da discussão dos conceitos e de experiências de delimitação do entorno, foi adotada neste trabalho a investigação sobre as dificuldades que tardam a sua efetividade como ferramenta do campo da Conservação. Optou-se por focar no entorno de bens arquitetônicos situados em território urbano, opção esta que ligou à discussão ao território das cidades, aos seus atores, instrumentos normativos e interesses. Sendo o ambiente urbano alvo de constantes mudanças e permanências, a efetividade do entorno parte do acompanhamento das tendências para alteração da composição morfológica e dos seus atributos ao longo do tempo, os quais têm interferência sobre a continuidade na transmissão das informações dos bens. Interesses diversos sobrepõem-se nas cidades, e muitos deles dificultam as ações da Conservação. São destacadas também as dificuldades de integração entre instituições e instrumentos para a utilização da ferramenta. Compreendidas as dificuldades e sanadas as lacunas, o entorno pode efetivar-se como uma ferramenta auxiliar contra as investidas de modificações na proximidade de monumentos e contribuir para a manutenção da sua integridade. / Actually, the rapid and intense urban development has imposing on the field of monuments conservation new concerns. The attempt to reconcile contemporary architecture, the monuments integrity and urban development is present on the staff of specialists concerned with the impact of new structures on urban heritage. To property protected are warranted preservation measures, thus the concern focuses on his buffer zones. Despite the applicant's statement that the environment is an important part to understand the property information to contribute to the maintenance of its integrity, few measures have defined conceptually and failed to effect a methodology that would enable its boundaries. From the discussion of concepts and experiences of defining the buffer zone, was adopted in this research work on the difficulties that are delaying its effectiveness as a tool in the field of Conservation. We chose to focus on the buffer zone architectural property located in urban territory, that option is called to discuss the territory of the cities, its actors, instruments and regulatory interests. As the urban environment subject to constant change and permanence, the effectiveness of the buffer zone focus of the monitoring of trends and morphological change in the composition of its attributes over time, which have interference on the continuous transmission of property information’s. Diverse interests overlap in the cities, and many hinder the Conservation actions. Are also highlighted the difficulties of integration between institutions and instruments for the use of the tool. Understood the difficulties and shortcomings remedied, the buffer zone can manifest itself as an auxiliary tool against the onslaught of changes in the monuments surroundings and contribute to the maintenance of its integrity

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No description available.

<p>Tanzania is famous for it’s beautiful nature and rich wildlife. Proud of it’s natural heritage, Tanzania has dedicated over 20% of it’s territory as protected areas to shield the wildlife from human interference. But the wildlife is regarded as a menace by the local communities that lives close to the impressive national parks. At the same time, the increasing human population threatens the survival of the large migratory species in the parks by blocking vital dispersal areas.</p><p>This essay describes the human/wildlife conflict around Tarangire National Park and focuses on communities close to park borders. The intention is to examine if a buffer zone could solve the conflict in this area. By studying the political ecology of wildlife conservation in Tanzania, from local to global scale and through a historical perspective, it is concluded that the poor state-society relation as experienced in local communities is a crucial factor for the diminishing wildlife.</p>

Forest management practices usually preserves riparian buffers along watercourses in order to protect stream water from physical, chemical and ecological changes caused by clear-cutting. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate whether there is a relationship between the size of the riparian buffer zone along small streams, i.e., headwaters, and a number of physical and chemical attributes of these streams. Twelve headwaters in the Västerbotten county and twelve in Jönköpings county were investigated. These headwaters had a range of buffer widths from “No buffer” (no trees left), Thin buffer” (&lt; 5 m wide), to “Moderate buffer” (&gt;5 m wide) and “Reference” (no harvest) streams were also included. Tested physical and chemical conditions were light in the riparian zone, air and water temperature, stream bed cover and water chemistry. Buffer width had a significant effect on reducing light levels and temperature in the riparian zone; a buffer width over 13 m on each side of the stream was needed to maintain light and air temperature as in reference conditions. Regarding water temperature, increasing sedimentation and water quality, no significant reducing effect of increasing riparian buffer width was found.