The development of a new N-Line model, which provides a practical tool for simulating regional beach changes induced by short and long-term processes, is described in this thesis. The new N-Line model consists of four main modules that together describe the hydrodynamic and morphological responses. The four constituent modules have been integrated based on a wide range of research including the utility and function of commercial or freeware models. They are RCPWAVE wave module, time-averaged and depth-integrated current module, sediment transport module based on Bailard (1981) and contour change morphological module. Two different time-scales and two staggered grid systems for hydrodynamic and morphological simulations were adopted alternatively. For short-term 2D profile changes, new N-Line model applicability has been examined using data from the laboratory to the field. For ideal beaches, new N-Line can simulate an offshore storm bar generation or an onshore accretion due to high or low energy waves. For SUPERTANK large-scale flume data, the predicted profile matched the measured profile well, especially the bar height and position. For beach profile data from the Gold Coast, storm-induced variations of barred profiles were reasonably modelled. The new N-Line model compared well with other commonly used cross-shore models such as SBEACH and UNIBEST. A new schematisation for a non-monotonic profile and DUNED inclusion were introduced. Sensitivity tests on cross-shore sediment coefficient (Kq), smoothing parameter (??s) and water level fluctuations were performed. For long-term 3D beach changes, the new N-Line model applicability has been tested with various boundary conditions using idealized and real field data. Two periods, 17 and 16 months, of beach changes before and after a major bypass plant commenced operation in 2001 at Letitia Spit were simulated. The profile and shoreline changes were predicted reasonably well. Empirical model parameters were determined after a range of sensitivity and calibration testing. The new N-Line model showed its better performance compared to one-line models. It can handle various boundary conditions, especially bypass conditions. The N-Line model is not only capable of modelling planform variations but also cross-shore profile changes.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2007. / "May, 2007." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-68). Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-126).

<p>To collect data for this report a field study was performed at an orphanage in Cape Town, South Africa. I carried out volunteer work for eight weeks to find out more about the children’s situations. I wanted to find out what it was like to work at an orphanage for children in need and what the employees were doing to help. The children’s ages ranged from five to eighteen years old and they all lived together, although boys and girls slept in different rooms. </p><p>Before I went to South Africa, I thought that an orphanage was a place for children without parents, who had been abandoned when they where infants. Some of the children at the orphanage come from situations like this, but many of them have family who they need help and protection from. Their own parents cannot take care of them because of different social problems such as sexual abuse, drug abuse or poverty. </p><p>During the field study qualitative research was performed, where the people that I worked with and the children in the orphanage were participating. Observation was also included in my field work. The result of the field study was very interesting. The most important findings from my results were that all of the people I spoke to said that they would like to see some changes at the orphanage. They came up with plenty of different ideas to make the environment better. I interviewed five employees at the orphanage and all of them said that they would like to extend the amount of employees, have better communication among themselves, therapy sessions - and more weekend activities for the children. During this period of the field study I interviewed a lot of children of different ages, but out of the interviews six where used in this report.</p>

In 1996, Beach et al. first proposed the idea of mounting an echo-sounder on a Waverunner to measure nearshore beach profiles. This thesis discusses the Coastal Profiling System, an extension of the original work, which has been utilized to measure nearshore bathymetry at selected sites along the coasts of North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington. Position of the Coastal Profiling System is accurately measured five times per second using a differential global positioning system (DGPS), while depth below the hull is measured by an acoustic echo-sounder. Surveys can be conducted in waves up to 3 m and in depths of 1-15 m. The effects of waves, tides, and set-up are eliminated by the co-collection of position and depth data. In October 1997, extensive testing of the system took place at the SandyDuck '97 field experiment in Duck, NC. Nearshore bathymetric surveys were taken simultaneously by the Coastal Research Amphibious Buggy (CRAB) and the Coastal Profiling System (CPS). Comparison of the CPS with CRAB measurements interpolated to the same locations showed a mean bias of 4.6 cm too shallow in the vertical and standard deviations about the bias of 5.5 cm. The largest differences occur over the steeply sloping flanks of sand bars. The bias statistic, of central interest to these tests, is confused by the potential of boat tilt and by possible errors in the CRAB data itself. In July & August 1998, the system was tested as a tool for long-term coastal monitoring by the Southwest Washington Coastal Erosion Study in a regional morphology monitoring program (Ruggiero et al., 1997). A 2-3 km section in approximately the center of each of the four sub-cells of the Columbia River littoral cell, and an anomalous fifth site, was surveyed to map the morphology of each region. Alongshore-averaged profiles were decomposed into underlying AX[superscript m] profiles and deviations from this equilibrium profile. The mean of the exponents was close to 2/3 with m=0.70, but ranged between sites from 0.56 to 0.79. Shape parameters between 0.027 and 0.038 were estimated. Nearshore slopes (0-1 km cross-shore) were calculated from the exponential profile in the dissipative range with a minimum of 0.0067 and a maximum of 0.0089. However, no correlation was seen between the shape parameters and the 1 km nearshore slopes. An analysis of the deviations of the alongshore-averaged profiles from the equilibrium profile provided an objective method to determine sand bar positions from zero-down-crossings. Each site was characterized by a minimum of two sand bars in 2-6.5 m (NAVD 88) depths with heights of 0.2-2 m, lengths of 164-949 m and volumes of 48-534 m��/m. An additional bar in the swash zone between the +1 m elevation and 1 m depth contour was resolved in some cross-shore profiles. The crest of the bar largest in height was located at 3-4.5 NAVD 88 m at four of the five sites suggesting the profiles vary on similar cross-shore length scales amongst the sub-cells. A series of surveys in April, June, and October 1998 at the northern most site in Ocean City, WA demonstrated onshore bar migration and seaward accretion of the foreshore. This seasonal response was further quantified between August and October at Fort Canby. Three nearshore profiles surveyed by Willard Bascom et al. (1954) in the 1940s were reoccupied to compare the shape of the morphology 50 years ago to present. These profiles demonstrate accretion of approximately 2 m elevation gains in the nearshore and 26-165 m of shoreline change. Although the Coastal Profiling System is a highly accurate, mobile and efficient method to obtain nearshore profiles, several improvements have been suggested. Future modifications to the system should include an increase in the precision of the echo-sounder measurements, higher sampling rates, and improvement of the user interface. Additional components may include an onboard navigation system, a thermister to measure temperature and salinity, and a motion sensor to measure roll and pitch of the vehicle. / Graduation date: 1999

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Delaware, 2007. / Principal faculty advisor: Young-Doo Wang, School of Urban Affairs & Public Policy. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2005. / Restricted until May 2006. Bibliography: leaves 184-194.

To collect data for this report a field study was performed at an orphanage in Cape Town, South Africa. I carried out volunteer work for eight weeks to find out more about the children’s situations. I wanted to find out what it was like to work at an orphanage for children in need and what the employees were doing to help. The children’s ages ranged from five to eighteen years old and they all lived together, although boys and girls slept in different rooms. Before I went to South Africa, I thought that an orphanage was a place for children without parents, who had been abandoned when they where infants. Some of the children at the orphanage come from situations like this, but many of them have family who they need help and protection from. Their own parents cannot take care of them because of different social problems such as sexual abuse, drug abuse or poverty. During the field study qualitative research was performed, where the people that I worked with and the children in the orphanage were participating. Observation was also included in my field work. The result of the field study was very interesting. The most important findings from my results were that all of the people I spoke to said that they would like to see some changes at the orphanage. They came up with plenty of different ideas to make the environment better. I interviewed five employees at the orphanage and all of them said that they would like to extend the amount of employees, have better communication among themselves, therapy sessions - and more weekend activities for the children. During this period of the field study I interviewed a lot of children of different ages, but out of the interviews six where used in this report.

This study examines injury in competitive bodychecking and non-body checking youth ice hockey in male and female leagues in Ontario and Quebec. This study consisted of three parts: (1) quantifying the amount of injuries; (2) document situational factors in which hockey injuries occur; (3) observe play and interview parents to understand deeper subjective feelings towards injury and bodychecking. The research utilized a mixed method approach consisting of game observation, postgame injury assessments and semi-structured interviewing with parents. For this thesis, 56 games total were attended and only parents from the bodychecking team were interviewed. All games were video recorded through a dual camera video system. Game footage was then analyzed frame by frame to pinpoint injury locations, points of impact and situational factors surrounding the injury. Field-notes and interviews with parents allowed for a comprehensive look into the feelings and emotions surrounding injury and bodychecking. Results from the research revealed; 1) a disproportionately higher rate of injury in bodychecking hockey comparared to non-bodychecking male and female hockey; 2) an overwhelming percentage of injuries were the result of player and board contact; 3) majority of injuries occurred on legal play; and 4) parents support the concept of delaying bodychecking till later ages.

This study examines injury in competitive bodychecking and non-body checking youth ice hockey in male and female leagues in Ontario and Quebec. This study consisted of three parts: (1) quantifying the amount of injuries; (2) document situational factors in which hockey injuries occur; (3) observe play and interview parents to understand deeper subjective feelings towards injury and bodychecking. The research utilized a mixed method approach consisting of game observation, postgame injury assessments and semi-structured interviewing with parents. For this thesis, 56 games total were attended and only parents from the bodychecking team were interviewed. All games were video recorded through a dual camera video system. Game footage was then analyzed frame by frame to pinpoint injury locations, points of impact and situational factors surrounding the injury. Field-notes and interviews with parents allowed for a comprehensive look into the feelings and emotions surrounding injury and bodychecking. Results from the research revealed; 1) a disproportionately higher rate of injury in bodychecking hockey comparared to non-bodychecking male and female hockey; 2) an overwhelming percentage of injuries were the result of player and board contact; 3) majority of injuries occurred on legal play; and 4) parents support the concept of delaying bodychecking till later ages.