Railroad bridges are the most important connection parts of railroad networks. These bridges are exposed to heavier train loads compared to highway bridges as well as various detrimental ambient conditions during their life span. The railroad bridges in Turkey are mostly constructed during the late Ottoman and first periods of the Turkish Republic / therefore, they are generally close to about 100 years of age / their inspection and maintenance works are essential. Structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques are widely used around the world in order to increase the effectiveness of the inspection and maintenance works and also evaluate structural reliability. Application of SHM methods on railway bridges by static and dynamic measurements over short and long durations give important structural information about bridge members&rsquo / load level and overall bridge structure in terms of vibration frequencies, deflections, etc. Structural Reliability analysis provides further information about the safety of a structural system and becomes even more efficient when combined with the SHM studies. In this study, computer modeling and SHM techniques are used for identifying structural condition of a steel truss railroad bridge in Usak, Turkey, which is composed of six spans with 30 m length each. The first two spans of the bridge were rebuilt about 50 years ago, which had construction plans and are selected as pilot case for SHM and evaluation studies in this thesis. Natural frequencies are obtained by using 4 accelerometers and a dynamic data acquisition system (DAS). Furthermore, mid span vertical deflection member strains and bridge accelerations are obtained using a DAS permanently left on site and then compared with the computer model analyses results. SHM system is programmed for triggering by the rail load sensors developed at METU and an LVDT to collect mid span deflection high speed data from all sensors during train passage. The DAS is also programmed to collect slow speed data (once at every 15 minutes) for determination of average ambient conditions such as temperature and humidity and all bridge sensors during long term monitoring. Structural capacity and reliability indices for stress levels of bridge members are determined for the measured and simulated train loads to determine structural condition of bridge members and connections. Earthquake analyses and design checks for bridge members are also conducted within the scope of this study.

Submitted by Neusa Fagundes (neusa.fagundes@unioeste.br) on 2018-09-10T16:56:04Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Thiago_Nunes2018.pdf: 2241164 bytes, checksum: f455055e715541d1d8b45a0358484420 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-10T16:56:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Thiago_Nunes2018.pdf: 2241164 bytes, checksum: f455055e715541d1d8b45a0358484420 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The drip irrigation system stands out among other irrigation methods because of its high efficiency and uniformity. One of the advantages of the drip system is that pressurizing the system can be performed by gravity, avoiding costs with energy and equipment. In urban gardens, one should expect small irrigation systems and little technology involved; still, however simple it may be, the system must have a good uniformity of application. Thus, the objective of this work was to verify the uniformity of the system under different hydraulic loads using quality control tools. The experiment was carried out in an urban garden of the municipality of Cascavel, PR. The dripping tube used was of the brand Siplast, model P1. The uniformity of the system was evaluated by the method of Keller & Karmeli (1975), using irrigation and fertigation under hydraulic loads of 1.20, 1.40, 1.60, and 1.80 mca. The CUD, CUC, CUE, and CV were calculated and classified to verify uniformity. The quality control tools used were the Shewhart Individual, MMEP, and CUSUM control charts, as well as the process capability index. Regression analyzes were also performed, to know the effect of the change of hydraulic load on the flow and the uniformity of the system. In all regression analyzes, the fittest model was the exponential, and the higher the hydraulic load, the higher the system flow and uniformity. In all the cases studied, the different coefficients of uniformity were classified as excellent, and the coefficient of variation as low. The excellent uniformity of application was further confirmed by the control charts and process capability indices, which in all cases classified the uniformity of the system as adequate. The individual Shewhart control chart was less sensitive to possible changes, while the MMEP and CUSUM charts were more accurate, the latter being more sensitive to variation. / O sistema de irrigação por gotejamento destaca-se entre os demais métodos de irrigação por sua alta eficiência e uniformidade. Uma das vantagens do sistema de gotejamento é que a pressurização do sistema pode ser feita por gravidade, economizando energia e equipamentos. Referindo-se a hortas urbanas, deve-se esperar por sistemas de irrigação de pequeno porte e pouca tecnologia envolvida; porém, por mais simples que seja, o sistema deve apresentar uma boa uniformidade de aplicação. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a uniformidade do sistema sob diferentes cargas hidráulicas utilizando ferramentas de controle de qualidade. O experimento foi realizado em horta urbana do município de Cascavel, PR. O tubo gotejador utilizado foi da marca Siplast, modelo P1. A uniformidade do sistema foi avaliada pelo método de Keller e Karmeli (1975), utilizando-se irrigação e fertirrigação sob as cargas hidráulicas de 1,20, 1,40, 1,60 e 1,80 mca. Foram calculados e classificados o CUD, CUC, CUE e CV para a verificação da uniformidade. As ferramentas de controle de qualidade utilizadas foram os gráficos de controle de Shewhart Individual, MMEP e CUSUM, além do índice de capacidade de processo. Ainda, foram realizadas análises de regressão, para saber o efeito da mudança de carga hidráulica sobre a vazão e a uniformidade do sistema. Em todas as análises de regressão, o modelo de melhor ajuste foi o exponencial, sendo que quanto maior a carga hidráulica, maior a vazão e a uniformidade do sistema. Em todos os casos estudados, os diferentes coeficientes de uniformidade foram classificados como excelentes e o coeficiente de variação como baixo. A excelente uniformidade de aplicação ainda foi confirmada pelos gráficos de controle e pelos índices de capacidade de processo, que em todos os casos classificou a uniformidade do sistema como adequada. O gráfico de controle de Shewhart individual mostrou-se menos sensível a possíveis alterações, enquanto os gráficos de MMEP e CUSUM se mostraram mais rigorosos, sendo este último o que apresentou mais sensibilidade a variações.

This dissertation presents the results of an investigation of rural households’ ability to adapt to changing environmental and climatic conditions. It presents soil degradation arising from worsening soil erosion, leaching, depletion of nutrients due to years of uninterrupted cultivation and low levels of use of fertilizers; uncontrolled deforestation leading to loss of biodiversity; and climate variability seen through longer dry seasons as well as delayed and falling levels of precipitation as key issues leading to the vulnerability of households in Kakemega District in Western Province of Kenya. An enquiry has been made into the adaptation strategies of the rural households and a composite household adaptive capacity index (HACI) developed which is then used in hypothesis testing. Despite a situation laden with serious soil degradation and fears that credit taken by rural households often end up in low-return necessity-based enterprises or in consumption expenditure, the dissertation shows that the use of credit positively contributes to the HACI as does regular and optimal use of farm inputs. Diversification into non-agricultural activities, on-farm planting of trees and migration with remittances were some of the adaptation strategies observed among households with relatively high adaptive capacity indices while a secondary school level of education alongside the possession of non-land and non-livestock assets were key factors clearly associated with high adaptive capacity indices. Regarding adaptation decision making, the household head was observed to be the single most important actor in a process which was often characterized by authoritarianism. The household head’s level of information or awareness of environmental changes and open options proved to be important for adaptation. It was revealed that membership to groups and networks as well as government and NGO-activities were the most important factors in informing the household heads. Given small land sizes and a high incidence of other negative shocks, household heads tended to adopt and implement only tried and tested adaptation actions. During the study behind this dissertation, pioneers in the implementation of new strategies were observed to be better informed household heads or beneficiaries of incentives from the promoters of such strategies. Newer efforts aimed at the promotion of adaptability would therefore gain wider acceptance and adoption if preceded by a pilot phase carefully designed to include committed opinion shapers who would provide a demonstration effect. / In dieser Dissertation wurden ländliche Haushalte bezüglich ihrer Anpassungsfähigkeit an den Umwelt- und Klimawandel untersucht. Desweiteren geht die Dissertation unter anderen der Frage über Strategien nach, die von ländlichen Haushalten angesichts der Auswirkungen von Umweltproblemen eingesetzt werden. Die Feldforschung wurde unter den Haushalten im Kakamega Distrikt in Kenia getätigt. Eine Abnahme der Bodenproduktivität ist durch Erosion, einem Auslaugen und einer ununterbrochenen Kultivierung in Kakamega entstanden. Desweiteren führt eine unkontrollierte Abholzung mit resultierendem Verlust von heimischer Flora und Fauna sowie längeren Trockenperioden mit verspätetem Einsatz von Regenfällen und einer damit verbundenen Niederschlagsminimierung zu einer schwierigen Lebenssituation für die ländlichen Haushalte, die hauptsächlich durch Landwirtschaft ihre Existenz sichern. Diese Situation (gekennzeichnet durch Abholzung, Verlust der Artenvielfalt, Verminderung der Bodenqualität und unregelmäßige und wechselhafte Niederschlag) wird in dieser Arbeit als Umweltwandel (Environmental Change oder Environmental Stress) bezeichnet. Es konnte unter anderem als eines der Ergebnisse der Arbeit festgestellt werden, dass die ländlichen Haushalte aufgrund schlechten Bodens, unkontrollierten Abholzungen, längeren Trockenzeiten und sinkenden Niederschlagsmengen sehr anfällig sind. Durch den Einsatz des zusammengesetzten Haushalt-Anpassungsfähigkeitsindex (Household Adaptive Capacity Index = HACI), der im Rahmen dieser Dissertation entwickelt wurde, konnten die Bedenken gemindert werden, dass Kredite, die an ärmeren ländlichen Haushalten vergeben werden, oft für Notgründungen und Konsumausgaben eingesetzt werden. Es hat sich herauskristallisiert, dass die optimale und regelmäßige Nutzung von Düngemitteln sowie der Einsatz von Krediten, die HACI positiv beeinflusst. Als weitere Ergebnisse konnte beobachtet werden, dass Haushalte mit höheren Anpassungsfähigkeitsindexen Anpassungstrategien wie Diversifizierung in nicht-agra Aktivitäten, Aufforstung und Migration verwenden, und, dass ein Sekundarschulabschluss und der Besitz von Wirtschaftsgütern mit hohen Haushalt-Anpassungsfähigkeitsindexen assoziiert sind. Zum Anpassungsentscheidungspozess konnte festgestellt werden, dass Haushaltoberhäupter, die wichtigste Akteure sind. Entscheidungsweisen dieser Haushaltoberhäupten lassen oftmals autoritäre Züge erkennen. So entscheiden die Haushaltoberhäupter häufig auch, in welcher Art und Weise Haushalte sich anpassen dürfen. Von daher ist das Wissen des Haushaltoberhauptes über die herrschenden Umweltbedingungen und die offenen Strategien oder Handlungspielräume von Bedeutung. Die Feldforschung zeigte, dass die Zugehörigkeit zu einzelnen Gruppen sowie die Bemühungen von der Regierung und den Nichtregierungsorganisationen wichtig für die Erhöhung des Wissens von Haushaltoberhäupten sind. Da der durchschnittliche Haushaltgrundstückbesitz sinkt und andere negative Ereignisse wie Krankheit und Tod zunehmend Angst verbreiten, setzen Haushaltsoberhäupter häufig nur dann empfohlene Strategien zur Anpassung ein, wenn sie beispielsweise einen Erfolg bei einem Nachbar verzeichnen können. Oftmals werden Anpassungsstrategien auch bei finanziellen Anreizen, zum Beispiel von Förderern, umgesetzt. Es würden mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit mehr Anpassungstrategien von ländlichen Haushalten umgesetzt werden, wenn diese Strategien Pilotprojekte beinhalten würden, die Haushalten das Zusammenspiel von Anpassung und Ernteertrag präsentieren.

This dissertation presents the results of an investigation of rural households’ ability to adapt to changing environmental and climatic conditions. It presents soil degradation arising from worsening soil erosion, leaching, depletion of nutrients due to years of uninterrupted cultivation and low levels of use of fertilizers; uncontrolled deforestation leading to loss of biodiversity; and climate variability seen through longer dry seasons as well as delayed and falling levels of precipitation as key issues leading to the vulnerability of households in Kakemega District in Western Province of Kenya. An enquiry has been made into the adaptation strategies of the rural households and a composite household adaptive capacity index (HACI) developed which is then used in hypothesis testing. Despite a situation laden with serious soil degradation and fears that credit taken by rural households often end up in low-return necessity-based enterprises or in consumption expenditure, the dissertation shows that the use of credit positively contributes to the HACI as does regular and optimal use of farm inputs. Diversification into non-agricultural activities, on-farm planting of trees and migration with remittances were some of the adaptation strategies observed among households with relatively high adaptive capacity indices while a secondary school level of education alongside the possession of non-land and non-livestock assets were key factors clearly associated with high adaptive capacity indices. Regarding adaptation decision making, the household head was observed to be the single most important actor in a process which was often characterized by authoritarianism. The household head’s level of information or awareness of environmental changes and open options proved to be important for adaptation. It was revealed that membership to groups and networks as well as government and NGO-activities were the most important factors in informing the household heads. Given small land sizes and a high incidence of other negative shocks, household heads tended to adopt and implement only tried and tested adaptation actions. During the study behind this dissertation, pioneers in the implementation of new strategies were observed to be better informed household heads or beneficiaries of incentives from the promoters of such strategies. Newer efforts aimed at the promotion of adaptability would therefore gain wider acceptance and adoption if preceded by a pilot phase carefully designed to include committed opinion shapers who would provide a demonstration effect.:Acknowledgment......................................................................................i Dedication................................................................................................ii Summary.................................................................................................iii Zusammenfassung (summary in the German language).........................iv List of Tables....................................................................................................vii List of Figures.........................................................................................ix List of Abbreviations...............................................................................xi 1.0 Introduction: Structure and Objectives.............................................1 1.1 Background.................................................................................5 1.2 Problem Statement.....................................................................7 1.3 Theoretical and Methodological Contribution..............................8 1.4 Objectives...................................................................................9 1.5 Research Questions..................................................................10 1.6 Hypothesis................................................................................10 1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study...........................................11 1.8 Structure of the Dissertation.....................................................12 2.0 Environmental and Climate Change................................................13 2.1 Climate Change.........................................................................13 2.2 Environmental Changes............................................................15 2.3 Vulnerability..............................................................................22 2.4 Adaptation and Coping Strategies............................................32 2.5 Household Adaptability.............................................................40 3.0 Study Design and Setting................................................................57 3.1 Study Area................................................................................76 3.2 Sampling and Data Collection....................................................85 4.0 Rural Households and their Environment........................................87 4.1 General Descriptive Statistics....................................................87 4.2 Observed Vulnerability Causes and Coping Strategies.............92 4.3 Role of the Government............................................................98 5.0 Rural Household Adaptive Capacity...............................................101 5.1 HACI without External Sub-index................ ............................101 5.2 HACI including External Sub-index..........................................167 5.3 Hypothesis Testing..................................................................171 5.4 Towards Enhanced Adaptability: Factors and Strategies........180 6.0 Conclusion and Recommendations................................................185 7.0 Appendix.......................................................................................197 / In dieser Dissertation wurden ländliche Haushalte bezüglich ihrer Anpassungsfähigkeit an den Umwelt- und Klimawandel untersucht. Desweiteren geht die Dissertation unter anderen der Frage über Strategien nach, die von ländlichen Haushalten angesichts der Auswirkungen von Umweltproblemen eingesetzt werden. Die Feldforschung wurde unter den Haushalten im Kakamega Distrikt in Kenia getätigt. Eine Abnahme der Bodenproduktivität ist durch Erosion, einem Auslaugen und einer ununterbrochenen Kultivierung in Kakamega entstanden. Desweiteren führt eine unkontrollierte Abholzung mit resultierendem Verlust von heimischer Flora und Fauna sowie längeren Trockenperioden mit verspätetem Einsatz von Regenfällen und einer damit verbundenen Niederschlagsminimierung zu einer schwierigen Lebenssituation für die ländlichen Haushalte, die hauptsächlich durch Landwirtschaft ihre Existenz sichern. Diese Situation (gekennzeichnet durch Abholzung, Verlust der Artenvielfalt, Verminderung der Bodenqualität und unregelmäßige und wechselhafte Niederschlag) wird in dieser Arbeit als Umweltwandel (Environmental Change oder Environmental Stress) bezeichnet. Es konnte unter anderem als eines der Ergebnisse der Arbeit festgestellt werden, dass die ländlichen Haushalte aufgrund schlechten Bodens, unkontrollierten Abholzungen, längeren Trockenzeiten und sinkenden Niederschlagsmengen sehr anfällig sind. Durch den Einsatz des zusammengesetzten Haushalt-Anpassungsfähigkeitsindex (Household Adaptive Capacity Index = HACI), der im Rahmen dieser Dissertation entwickelt wurde, konnten die Bedenken gemindert werden, dass Kredite, die an ärmeren ländlichen Haushalten vergeben werden, oft für Notgründungen und Konsumausgaben eingesetzt werden. Es hat sich herauskristallisiert, dass die optimale und regelmäßige Nutzung von Düngemitteln sowie der Einsatz von Krediten, die HACI positiv beeinflusst. Als weitere Ergebnisse konnte beobachtet werden, dass Haushalte mit höheren Anpassungsfähigkeitsindexen Anpassungstrategien wie Diversifizierung in nicht-agra Aktivitäten, Aufforstung und Migration verwenden, und, dass ein Sekundarschulabschluss und der Besitz von Wirtschaftsgütern mit hohen Haushalt-Anpassungsfähigkeitsindexen assoziiert sind. Zum Anpassungsentscheidungspozess konnte festgestellt werden, dass Haushaltoberhäupter, die wichtigste Akteure sind. Entscheidungsweisen dieser Haushaltoberhäupten lassen oftmals autoritäre Züge erkennen. So entscheiden die Haushaltoberhäupter häufig auch, in welcher Art und Weise Haushalte sich anpassen dürfen. Von daher ist das Wissen des Haushaltoberhauptes über die herrschenden Umweltbedingungen und die offenen Strategien oder Handlungspielräume von Bedeutung. Die Feldforschung zeigte, dass die Zugehörigkeit zu einzelnen Gruppen sowie die Bemühungen von der Regierung und den Nichtregierungsorganisationen wichtig für die Erhöhung des Wissens von Haushaltoberhäupten sind. Da der durchschnittliche Haushaltgrundstückbesitz sinkt und andere negative Ereignisse wie Krankheit und Tod zunehmend Angst verbreiten, setzen Haushaltsoberhäupter häufig nur dann empfohlene Strategien zur Anpassung ein, wenn sie beispielsweise einen Erfolg bei einem Nachbar verzeichnen können. Oftmals werden Anpassungsstrategien auch bei finanziellen Anreizen, zum Beispiel von Förderern, umgesetzt. Es würden mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit mehr Anpassungstrategien von ländlichen Haushalten umgesetzt werden, wenn diese Strategien Pilotprojekte beinhalten würden, die Haushalten das Zusammenspiel von Anpassung und Ernteertrag präsentieren.:Acknowledgment......................................................................................i Dedication................................................................................................ii Summary.................................................................................................iii Zusammenfassung (summary in the German language).........................iv List of Tables....................................................................................................vii List of Figures.........................................................................................ix List of Abbreviations...............................................................................xi 1.0 Introduction: Structure and Objectives.............................................1 1.1 Background.................................................................................5 1.2 Problem Statement.....................................................................7 1.3 Theoretical and Methodological Contribution..............................8 1.4 Objectives...................................................................................9 1.5 Research Questions..................................................................10 1.6 Hypothesis................................................................................10 1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study...........................................11 1.8 Structure of the Dissertation.....................................................12 2.0 Environmental and Climate Change................................................13 2.1 Climate Change.........................................................................13 2.2 Environmental Changes............................................................15 2.3 Vulnerability..............................................................................22 2.4 Adaptation and Coping Strategies............................................32 2.5 Household Adaptability.............................................................40 3.0 Study Design and Setting................................................................57 3.1 Study Area................................................................................76 3.2 Sampling and Data Collection....................................................85 4.0 Rural Households and their Environment........................................87 4.1 General Descriptive Statistics....................................................87 4.2 Observed Vulnerability Causes and Coping Strategies.............92 4.3 Role of the Government............................................................98 5.0 Rural Household Adaptive Capacity...............................................101 5.1 HACI without External Sub-index................ ............................101 5.2 HACI including External Sub-index..........................................167 5.3 Hypothesis Testing..................................................................171 5.4 Towards Enhanced Adaptability: Factors and Strategies........180 6.0 Conclusion and Recommendations................................................185 7.0 Appendix.......................................................................................197

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T19:24:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Michael_ S A.pdf: 2204905 bytes, checksum: 95f172e9117213f43a2e88631cfe2b2b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-11 / Poultry farming has increased and so does the amount of residues from producing areas with poultry litter and dead broilers, consequently, there is a major environmental problem for the poultry industry. Poultry litter, rich in organic matter, commonly applied on soil without treatment, acidifies it by releasing hydrogen ions since it stabilizes organic matter and also because it is a nitrogen fertilizer. Therefore, other applications for poultry litter are needed and should be studied, as for example, its use for power generation by anaerobic digestion. This process is attractive for the sector by treating waste and generating biogas that may replace the energy used in poultry. There is, however, an environmental restriction to this system because it requires a large amount of water to hydrolyze poultry litter. Therefore, this study has evaluated the anaerobic digestion of poultry litter in a digester built with glass fiber boxes whose total volume was 40.0 m3. There was a system of effluent reuse from the digester to dilute its next feeding and reduce water consumption during this process. The effluent was reused with its recirculation at the feeding moment with a motor pump, in a semi-continuous system (once a day). The anaerobic digestion has been stabilized at the organic feeding charges of 0.5 and 1.0 kg total volatile solids by m3 digester, so, the evaluations 1 and 2 were created, respectively. There was a hydraulic retention time of 10 days for both evaluations. The stabilization process occurred by Shewhart charts while the process analysis occurred by the process capacity and operational energy viability of the system indexes. At the evaluation number 2, the process was capable and viable for power operations, whose energy production as methane was 4.41 times superior to the electric energy consumed on operations of the treating system, 0.0182 m3 methane kg-1 VTS-1added. The produced effluent was not characterized as an adequate biofertilizer for crop yield because it showed small amounts of nutrients content. On the other hand, the sludge is available as organic manure since a great amount of nutrients has sedimented on the bottom of the digester. At the final period, after evaluation number 2, the digester and motor pump did not present any adequate feeding flux due to the large content of solids in the effluent; so, it was not possible to operate the digester. However, pH (close to 7.00) and the ratio between volatile acidity and total alkalinity of the effluent (below 0.3) at the final period indicated that anaerobic digestion showed some potential to be continued. This fact highlights the importance of other studies about dilution of poultry litter mechanism on the effluent of digester / O crescimento da produção de frangos tem concentrado resíduos nas regiões produtoras, cama de aviário e aves mortas, gerando um grande problema ambiental para a indústria avícola. A cama de aviário, rica em matéria orgânica, comumente aplicada no solo sem tratamento, acidifica o mesmo por liberar íons de hidrogênio ao estabilizar sua matéria orgânica e por ser um fertilizante nitrogenado. Portanto, outras aplicações para a cama de aviário são necessárias e devem ser estudadas, como o seu uso para geração de energia pela biodigestão anaeróbia. Este processo é um atrativo para o setor por tratar o resíduo e gerar biogás que pode substituir a energia usada na criação dos frangos. Existe, porém, um entrave ambiental neste sistema por necessitar de grande quantidade de água para hidrolisar a cama de aviário. Por isso, esse trabalho avaliou a biodigestão anaeróbia da cama de aviário em um biodigestor construído com caixas de fibra de vidro no volume total de 40 m3 com sistema de reutilização do digestato do biodigestor na diluição da próxima alimentação, para reduzir o consumo de água no processo. O digestato foi reutilizado pela recirculação do mesmo no momento da alimentação do biodigestor com uma motobomba, em sistema semi-contínuo (uma vez ao dia). A biodigestão anaeróbia foi estabilizada nas cargas orgânicas de alimentação de 0,5 e 1,0 kg sólidos totais voláteis por m3 de biodigestor, para a construção das avaliações 1 e 2, respectivamente. O tempo de retenção hidráulica foi de 10 dias para as duas avaliações. A estabilização procedeu-se pelo gráfico de Shewhart e a análise do processo pelo índice de capacidade do processo e pelo índice de viabilidade energética operacional do sistema. Na avaliação 2, o processo se apresentou como capaz e viável nas operações energéticas, com produção de energia na forma de metano 4,41 vezes maior que a energia elétrica gasta nas operações do sistema de tratamento, sendo 0,0182 m3 metano kg-1 STV-1adicionados. O digestato produzido não se caracterizou como biofertilizante adequado para as culturas por ter pequeno teor de nutrientes. Porém, o lodo é aplicável como adubo orgânico devido à grande parte dos nutrientes ter sedimentado no biodigestor. No período final, após a avaliação 2, o biodigestor e a motobomba não apresentaram mais fluxo de alimentação devido à quantidade de sólidos no digestato e por este motivo, não se conseguiu mais operar o biodigestor. No entanto, o pH (próximo a 7,00) e a relação entre a acidez volátil e a alcalinidade total do digestato (abaixo de 0,3) no período final indicavam que a biodigestão anaeróbia tinha potencial para ser continuada. Tal fato ressalta a importância de outros estudos sobre mecanismos de diluição da cama de aviário no afluente do biodigestor.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:47:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Michael_ S A.pdf: 2204905 bytes, checksum: 95f172e9117213f43a2e88631cfe2b2b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-11 / Poultry farming has increased and so does the amount of residues from producing areas with poultry litter and dead broilers, consequently, there is a major environmental problem for the poultry industry. Poultry litter, rich in organic matter, commonly applied on soil without treatment, acidifies it by releasing hydrogen ions since it stabilizes organic matter and also because it is a nitrogen fertilizer. Therefore, other applications for poultry litter are needed and should be studied, as for example, its use for power generation by anaerobic digestion. This process is attractive for the sector by treating waste and generating biogas that may replace the energy used in poultry. There is, however, an environmental restriction to this system because it requires a large amount of water to hydrolyze poultry litter. Therefore, this study has evaluated the anaerobic digestion of poultry litter in a digester built with glass fiber boxes whose total volume was 40.0 m3. There was a system of effluent reuse from the digester to dilute its next feeding and reduce water consumption during this process. The effluent was reused with its recirculation at the feeding moment with a motor pump, in a semi-continuous system (once a day). The anaerobic digestion has been stabilized at the organic feeding charges of 0.5 and 1.0 kg total volatile solids by m3 digester, so, the evaluations 1 and 2 were created, respectively. There was a hydraulic retention time of 10 days for both evaluations. The stabilization process occurred by Shewhart charts while the process analysis occurred by the process capacity and operational energy viability of the system indexes. At the evaluation number 2, the process was capable and viable for power operations, whose energy production as methane was 4.41 times superior to the electric energy consumed on operations of the treating system, 0.0182 m3 methane kg-1 VTS-1added. The produced effluent was not characterized as an adequate biofertilizer for crop yield because it showed small amounts of nutrients content. On the other hand, the sludge is available as organic manure since a great amount of nutrients has sedimented on the bottom of the digester. At the final period, after evaluation number 2, the digester and motor pump did not present any adequate feeding flux due to the large content of solids in the effluent; so, it was not possible to operate the digester. However, pH (close to 7.00) and the ratio between volatile acidity and total alkalinity of the effluent (below 0.3) at the final period indicated that anaerobic digestion showed some potential to be continued. This fact highlights the importance of other studies about dilution of poultry litter mechanism on the effluent of digester / O crescimento da produção de frangos tem concentrado resíduos nas regiões produtoras, cama de aviário e aves mortas, gerando um grande problema ambiental para a indústria avícola. A cama de aviário, rica em matéria orgânica, comumente aplicada no solo sem tratamento, acidifica o mesmo por liberar íons de hidrogênio ao estabilizar sua matéria orgânica e por ser um fertilizante nitrogenado. Portanto, outras aplicações para a cama de aviário são necessárias e devem ser estudadas, como o seu uso para geração de energia pela biodigestão anaeróbia. Este processo é um atrativo para o setor por tratar o resíduo e gerar biogás que pode substituir a energia usada na criação dos frangos. Existe, porém, um entrave ambiental neste sistema por necessitar de grande quantidade de água para hidrolisar a cama de aviário. Por isso, esse trabalho avaliou a biodigestão anaeróbia da cama de aviário em um biodigestor construído com caixas de fibra de vidro no volume total de 40 m3 com sistema de reutilização do digestato do biodigestor na diluição da próxima alimentação, para reduzir o consumo de água no processo. O digestato foi reutilizado pela recirculação do mesmo no momento da alimentação do biodigestor com uma motobomba, em sistema semi-contínuo (uma vez ao dia). A biodigestão anaeróbia foi estabilizada nas cargas orgânicas de alimentação de 0,5 e 1,0 kg sólidos totais voláteis por m3 de biodigestor, para a construção das avaliações 1 e 2, respectivamente. O tempo de retenção hidráulica foi de 10 dias para as duas avaliações. A estabilização procedeu-se pelo gráfico de Shewhart e a análise do processo pelo índice de capacidade do processo e pelo índice de viabilidade energética operacional do sistema. Na avaliação 2, o processo se apresentou como capaz e viável nas operações energéticas, com produção de energia na forma de metano 4,41 vezes maior que a energia elétrica gasta nas operações do sistema de tratamento, sendo 0,0182 m3 metano kg-1 STV-1adicionados. O digestato produzido não se caracterizou como biofertilizante adequado para as culturas por ter pequeno teor de nutrientes. Porém, o lodo é aplicável como adubo orgânico devido à grande parte dos nutrientes ter sedimentado no biodigestor. No período final, após a avaliação 2, o biodigestor e a motobomba não apresentaram mais fluxo de alimentação devido à quantidade de sólidos no digestato e por este motivo, não se conseguiu mais operar o biodigestor. No entanto, o pH (próximo a 7,00) e a relação entre a acidez volátil e a alcalinidade total do digestato (abaixo de 0,3) no período final indicavam que a biodigestão anaeróbia tinha potencial para ser continuada. Tal fato ressalta a importância de outros estudos sobre mecanismos de diluição da cama de aviário no afluente do biodigestor.

The research topic is: Tools for the revision of a maintenance strategy for an explosives manufacturing plant, using asset management principles. This research has specific reference to the SASOL Prillan plant based in SASOL, Sasolburg. The purpose of this research is to identify tools for the revision of a maintenance strategy for an explosives manufacturing plant, using asset management principles. These tools must be aimed to increase the proactive work capacity index, Figure 3, and to identify and/or develop tools that can be used by the engineering team of this explosives manufacturing plant to increase equipment reliability and performance. In this research assets include people. The meaning and application of asset management principles were researched and the tools needed to combine existing efforts and future needs are discussed. The human element to ensure the successful implementation of an asset management culture was researched and attributes of leaders and a change model is presented. This research was done into the wider engineering management discipline and not only maintenance. The method used to gather data was by means of interviews of a sample group within this organization. As this manufacturing unit makes use of subject matter experts, these support functions and plant personnel that were not interviewed, were issued with questionnaires to ensure that the sample group is a fair representation of the total manufacturing facility. To obtain a holistic view of potential shortcomings within the current maintenance strategy, all disciplines and levels within this operation were interviewed and commonalities of various asset management models were determined and used to define existing problem areas. This data was used to determine statistical correlations. The case study presented in Chapter 1 indicates that there is a case for change that can improve the proactive work capacity index of the engineering team. The results of this research confirm that there is in fact a real requirement to increase spares accuracy, improve on technical training as well as a need to establish visual performance indicators (dashboard) to measure overall equipment efficiency with the goal toTools for the revision of a maintenance strategy for an explosives manufacturing plant, using asset management principles increase equipment reliability and performance. The technical training referred to in this research reflects on training of people on equipment after investment in new technology. The current spares holding strategy is lacking equipment description accuracy. Furthermore, it is recommended that the implementation of career paths and development plans for individuals must be developed to create an environment of learning. The use of user status information captured on the computerized maintenance management system (SAP R/3) can add to the management of works orders and indicate where the focus must be to complete overdue work orders. Open work orders should be used to manage expenditure, to measure planning efficiency and to manage the cash flow of the business. The use of overall equipment efficiency and engineering efficiency measures is recommended and must be visually displayed on a “dashboard”. It was recommended that the engineering and operations personnel of this manufacturing plant be trained in asset management principles and that balanced scorecards are developed to ensure that the strategies of the various departments are aligned with the business strategy. Diagram 1 best illustrates the thinking and process flow of this research. The flow diagram shows five distinct stages and the appropriate objectives and/ or elements that were considered. The dissertation is also structured in this manner. All abbreviations, acronyms and definitions used in this document were listed in APPENDIX B / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The research topic is: Tools for the revision of a maintenance strategy for an explosives manufacturing plant, using asset management principles. This research has specific reference to the SASOL Prillan plant based in SASOL, Sasolburg. The purpose of this research is to identify tools for the revision of a maintenance strategy for an explosives manufacturing plant, using asset management principles. These tools must be aimed to increase the proactive work capacity index, Figure 3, and to identify and/or develop tools that can be used by the engineering team of this explosives manufacturing plant to increase equipment reliability and performance. In this research assets include people. The meaning and application of asset management principles were researched and the tools needed to combine existing efforts and future needs are discussed. The human element to ensure the successful implementation of an asset management culture was researched and attributes of leaders and a change model is presented. This research was done into the wider engineering management discipline and not only maintenance. The method used to gather data was by means of interviews of a sample group within this organization. As this manufacturing unit makes use of subject matter experts, these support functions and plant personnel that were not interviewed, were issued with questionnaires to ensure that the sample group is a fair representation of the total manufacturing facility. To obtain a holistic view of potential shortcomings within the current maintenance strategy, all disciplines and levels within this operation were interviewed and commonalities of various asset management models were determined and used to define existing problem areas. This data was used to determine statistical correlations. The case study presented in Chapter 1 indicates that there is a case for change that can improve the proactive work capacity index of the engineering team. The results of this research confirm that there is in fact a real requirement to increase spares accuracy, improve on technical training as well as a need to establish visual performance indicators (dashboard) to measure overall equipment efficiency with the goal toTools for the revision of a maintenance strategy for an explosives manufacturing plant, using asset management principles increase equipment reliability and performance. The technical training referred to in this research reflects on training of people on equipment after investment in new technology. The current spares holding strategy is lacking equipment description accuracy. Furthermore, it is recommended that the implementation of career paths and development plans for individuals must be developed to create an environment of learning. The use of user status information captured on the computerized maintenance management system (SAP R/3) can add to the management of works orders and indicate where the focus must be to complete overdue work orders. Open work orders should be used to manage expenditure, to measure planning efficiency and to manage the cash flow of the business. The use of overall equipment efficiency and engineering efficiency measures is recommended and must be visually displayed on a “dashboard”. It was recommended that the engineering and operations personnel of this manufacturing plant be trained in asset management principles and that balanced scorecards are developed to ensure that the strategies of the various departments are aligned with the business strategy. Diagram 1 best illustrates the thinking and process flow of this research. The flow diagram shows five distinct stages and the appropriate objectives and/ or elements that were considered. The dissertation is also structured in this manner. All abbreviations, acronyms and definitions used in this document were listed in APPENDIX B / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Agricultural production has contributed over time to food security and rural economic development in developing countries particularly supporting the countryside. Evidence show that crop yields are declining in the Lower River Benue Basin of Nigeria. This study conducted a land use evaluation and suitability mapping for production of yam, cassava and also assessed the possible socioeconomic impediments that may hinder or enhance sustainable agricultural development in the Lower River Benue Basin. The study adopted physical assessments and socioeconomic approach coupled with mapping which incorporated processing of satellite imagery. Statistical methods were used to measure the status, trends, level of dispersion, and relationships between the variables of physical and socioeconomic parameters. Modelling techniques for determining potential impacts assessment, agricultural suitability index, adaptive capacity index, finally producing suitability maps. Geo-informatics processes were used to produce a digital elevation model, land use and land cover map, and normalised difference vegetation index map. The results were thematic maps, weighted percentages of attribute data, and suitability maps produced through weighted overlay. An intensive analysis of climatological data depicted a progressive intensity of rainfall, and a decreasing trend in the number of rain days; a gradual temperature rise; and high relative humidity during the planting season which is about 168 days. Laboratory analysis show that soils in the study area require fertility enhancement with inorganic fertilisers to encourage better crop yield. Results show that the Lower River Benue Basin is suitable for yam, cassava, and rice cultivation as classified on maps of suitable areas. Rice had the highest suitability percentages (38.30%). The study area was found to be moderately suitable for each of the crops examined by more than 40% for each crop. Cassava had the least suitability percentages (34.47%). Evidence suggests that agricultural development in the Lower River Benue Basin is under threat from potential impacts of climate variability and change, population growth, and infectious diseases. The agricultural suitability index of the study area regards the study area as suitable (70.5%) and the adaptive capacity index of the study area was moderate (50.83%), but it was found that serious attention need to be given to farm technology and infrastructure. Mitigation strategies and recommendations which are beneficial to the sustainable development of agriculture have been provided in line with the established characteristics of the Lower River Benue Basin. / Environmental Sciences / D. Phil. (Environmental Management)