Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Texas at Arlington, 2008.

Thesis (M.S. in Operations Research)--Naval Postgraduate School, September 2003. / Thesis advisor(s): Susan M. Sanchez, Niki Goerger, Lloyd Brown. Includes bibliographical references (p. 141-143). Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, Dec., 2009. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S. in Information Technology Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, 2005. / Title from title screen (viewed Nov. 8, 2005). "September 2005." Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-66). Also issued in paper format.

Thesis (M.M.A.S.) -- U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, 2009. / "AD-A512 377." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A. in Security Studies (Homeland Security and Defense))--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2007. / Thesis Advisor(s): David Tucker. "March 2007." Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-125). Also available in print.

<p> </p> <p>A search and rescue (SAR) operation requires a rapid, accurate, and effective response to provide the missing person the best chance of being rescued. Personnel from the local area are likely to be closest to the location of the missing person, be familiar with the area, but they may not be adequately trained, experienced, or equipped with the best tools to effectively locate, identify, and retrieve the missing person. Thus, most SAR operations rely on a mix of trained personnel and volunteers. Among the trained personnel, there is a wide variance in proficiency, experience, and access to technology, leading to some emergency response agencies being better prepared than others. Volunteers, on the other hand, could be very helpful, but are largely untrained and inexperienced, reducing their inherent likelihood of success. The primary challenge to successful SAR operations is the lack of consistently trained, adequately equipped, and diversely experienced personnel. Despite the lack of desired resources, SAR operations must be completed rapidly and emergency responders often turn to volunteers. In response to this challenge, the use of unmanned aerial systems, UAS, in small volunteer teams was proposed. Available, off-the-shelf UAS technology can be used to simplify training with the help of affordable advanced technology, and thereby enable rapid, accurate, and effective SAR operations.  </p> <p>The following research was executed in the form of three independent, but related, studies. The first study focused on the efficiency of a UAS-equipped SAR operation; the second study focused on the accuracy of a UAS and image analysis software-enabled SAR operation; and the third study tested the ability of novice volunteers to learn and apply the new technologies (UAS plus image analysis) efficiently and effectively. The goal of these studies was to determine whether affordable commercial, off-the-shelf technologies could be used to enhance the efficiency and effectivity of SAR operations. The experimental methodology used specifically designed simulations of SAR operational scenarios. Two operational tactics were tested: (a) Equip the SAR team with UAS and (b) equip the SAR team with UAS and image analysis software. The specific scenarios selected were similar in complexity, but different enough to minimize the transfer of learning from the first study to the second study.  Finally, the reference times for manual SAR operations were compared against UAS and computerized image analysis software-assisted methods. The results of the proposed studies determined whether off-the-shelf UAS and image analysis technologies could be used to enable rapid, accurate, and effective SAR operations. </p>

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, 2008. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 46-05, page: 2641. Advisers: Arnold J. Schecter; Bahman S. Roudsari. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MMAS)--Command and General Staff College (CGSC), 2006. / AD-A452 186.

This dissertation contributes to the disaster resilience policy literature by examining the diffusion of hazard mitigation policy in the U.S. Using the three-paper model, it investigates the adoption of local hazard mitigation plans (LHMPs) from an intergovernmental perspective. The first paper focuses on horizontal diffusion in hazard mitigation planning among local communities. Special attention is paid to the potential factors affecting the adoption of FEMA-approved LHMPs, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) projects and Pre-Disaster Program (PDM) projects at the county level. The Event History Analysis (EHA) Logit Model and Spatial Autocorrelation Models test the hypotheses corresponding to external factors such as the neighboring effects and internal factors, including disaster risks, neighborhood disadvantage and affluence, government capacity, local disaster resilience advocacy groups, and political support. The empirical results confirmed the significant influence of neighboring effects, indicating that counties are more likely to implement the same mitigation strategies if neighboring counties have done so. The results also revealed that disaster experience, government capacity, and strong democratic support significantly impact the likelihood of adopting LHMP and HMGP. Additionally, the results suggested that disadvantaged communities were more likely to adopt mitigation policies, while affluent communities were less likely to adopt such policies. The second paper evaluates the effectiveness of the FEMA's Program Administration by State Pilot (PAS). By integrating the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) technique with the Difference-in-Differences (DID) analysis, the empirical evidence demonstrated a significant reduction in the approval times for both LHMP and HMGP in pilot states compared to non-pilot states, with an average reduction nearing 30%. This suggests that the PAS program has effectively streamlined administrative processes, thereby enhancing efficiency in disaster management within pilot states. The analysis also indicated that the impact of PAS on the actual funding received through HMGP was insignificant, suggesting that while administrative processes were expedited, the allocation of financial resources remained unaffected. The third paper attempts to understand how local governments respond to top-down policy pressures in vertical diffusion by analyzing the text similarities of hazard mitigation strategies between state hazard mitigation plans and county LHMPs in Ohio using the word embedding technologies. The study employs the Word2Vec algorithm to assess the policy similarity between the hazard mitigation goals outlined in LHMPs and SHMPs. Building on this initial analysis, this research further uses the Beta Regression model to examine the textual similarities within LHMPs in Ohio, focusing on how the type of author - government versus private consultants, and the nature of the goals, whether action-based or hazard-based, affect these alignments. The regression analysis shows that LHMPs authored by government entities tend to exhibit higher textual similarity, reflecting the influence of standardized approaches driven by state and federal guidelines. This suggests a compliance-driven alignment in government-written plans. Conversely, LHMPs authored by private consultants display greater variability, suggesting that these plans are customized to the specific needs and risk assessments of local communities. Additionally, the regression results indicate that action-based and mixed-goal LHMPs are associated with higher textual similarity across counties. To carry out the empirical analysis mentioned above, this dissertation builds a panel dataset for all counties from 2000 to 2020, which contains data on LHMPs, HMA projects, disaster risks, socioeconomic characteristics, regional economic and political indicators, etc. / Doctor of Philosophy / Hazard mitigation in the United States is a critical issue, especially as the frequency and cost of disasters continue to rise. This dissertation investigates the dynamics of hazard mitigation planning within a multi-level governmental framework, focusing on the adoption of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Local Hazard Mitigation Plans (LHMPs), Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) projects, and Pre-Disaster Program (PDM) projects. across U.S. counties and the influence of federal and state policies on these local initiatives. The first paper examines the horizontal diffusion of LHMPs among local communities, revealing the significant influence of neighboring counties. This "neighboring effect" shows that counties are more likely to adopt similar mitigation strategies if their neighbors have done so, emphasizing the role of regional collaboration in spreading effective disaster resilience practices. Additionally, the study found that counties with more disaster experience and greater governmental capacity are more likely to implement LHMPs, highlighting the importance of preparedness and resources in driving policy adoption. Furthermore, this research finds counties with higher socioeconomic disadvantages are more proactive in adopting mitigation policies, which could be attributed to the higher perceived risks and available federal funding targeted at these communities. The second paper evaluates the impact of FEMA's Program Administration by State (PAS) pilot program on the administrative efficiency of LHMP and HMGP approvals. The findings indicate a significant reduction in approval times in pilot states, suggesting that the PAS program has successfully streamlined administrative processes. However, this expedited process did not lead to increased funding or broader adoption, pointing to the need for further policy enhancements to ensure that administrative improvements translate into real-world benefits for disaster preparedness. The third paper explores the vertical diffusion of policy from state to local governments, using Ohio as a case study. It employs advanced text analysis to measure the similarity between state and local hazard mitigation plans. The results show that government-authored LHMPs tend to closely follow state guidelines, indicating a top-down influence that ensures compliance with federal and state objectives. In contrast, LHMPs authored by private consultants were more varied and aligned to the specific needs and risks of local communities. This suggests that a balance is needed between standardized policies and local customization to effectively address the unique challenges of different regions. By integrating these findings, this dissertation provides a comprehensive overview of how hazard mitigation policies are adopted and implemented across various governmental levels. The research concludes with policy recommendations that advocate for sustained reforms in hazard mitigation funding, emphasizing the need for equitable resource distribution among disadvantaged communities. It also offers critical insights into improving intergovernmental cooperation and policy effectiveness, ensuring that all communities, regardless of their socio-economic status, can enhance their resilience and better prepare for future disasters. This research ultimately serves as a guide for policymakers to refine strategies that foster robust, community-centered resilience practices, enhancing the nation's overall disaster preparedness and response capabilities.