Every place on earth has a voice. This voice resonates from the shaping events that have long passed and the current conditions that continue to give each place its individual character. The voice continually evolves as the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth leaves its trace. This voice in its endless variety of forms expresses the beauty that is inherent within each and every location on earth. The potential of architecture is the translation of this voice into human terms and the formal declaration that we as humans play a meaningful part in the cycle. The guiding forms, surfaces, substances of architecture allow the human body to move in grace, unhindered, and inspires the mind to sense the essential connection between matter spirit; between the individual and the whole. The role of the architect is to become sensitive to this voice; to silence the mind enough to hear, and to respond to it in material form. The resulting dialogue between the edifice and the encompassing site reaches a certain completeness that enriches the living experience of the end user, bringing the wandering mind to the present long enough to inspire the thought that "I belong here, among all of this." The technical training required in order to gain an inherent understanding of structure and materials takes years of experience in the field of architecture. However, it has been the focus of my graduate career to further develop this sensitivity to the site and make my first attempts at formulating an architectural response, suggesting structures that could achieve this engagement with the end user and the site itself. / Master of Architecture

This thesis addresses various aspects related to site-specific propagation prediction using ray tracing techniques. Propagation prediction based on ray tracing techniques requires that all the different physical objects, which affect the propagation of radio waves, be modeled. The first part of the thesis concentrates on modeling the buildings and the terrain for the above-mentioned application. A survey of the various geographic products that are available to model the environment is presented. The different methods used to model the terrain are analyzed and the most suitable method for a ray based application is suggested. A method to model the buildings in an environment from commercially available data is described. A novel method to combine the building information with the terrain information is presented. An in depth discussion of deterministic propagation prediction using ray tracing is presented in the latter half of the thesis. An overview of the various ray based algorithms that exists in the literature are presented and the limitations and the computational complexity of ray based methods are discussed. All ray based algorithms model the receivers as point objects and predict the propagation characteristics at a particular point in space. However, to optimize the design of a wireless broadcast or a point to multi point system such as a Wireless LAN (WLAN) or a cellular system, propagation characteristics at multiple points in space need to be known. The standard ray tracing algorithms can be notoriously time consuming when used to predict the characteristics of multiple receivers. A new, computationally less intensive algorithm to predict the propagation characteristics of multiple receivers is described. This algorithm significantly reduces the computation time by using "grid mode" predictions for broadcast channels. / Master of Science

Undertaking a work of architecture utilizing modular construction is, in most cases, a design project dominated, or at least driven by, the most technical aspects of architecture. Technical aspects which haven't been completely figured out yet. Rather than making the decision to use a pre-determined structural system in the project before going through the design process, my thesis offers an example of how a more traditional and balanced approach can improve resulting buildings. In addition, rather than allowing the technology of the module to create the form of the building, show how a thorough study of program and form can influence the structure, even in an endeavor which usually requires such hard-nosed engineering. / Master of Architecture

Seismic hazard analyses require an estimate of earthquake ground motions from future events. These predictions are achieved through Ground Motion Prediction Equations, which include a prediction of the median and the standard deviation of ground motion parameters. The differences between observed and predicted ground motions, when normalized by the standard deviation, are referred to as epsilon (𝜖). For spectral accelerations, the correlation structure of normalized residuals across oscillator periods is important for guiding ground motion selection. Correlation structures for large global datasets have been studied extensively. These correlation structures reflect effects that are averaged over the entire dataset underlying the analyses. This paper considers the effects of site response, at given sites, on the correlation structure of normalized residuals. This is achieved by performing site response analyses for two hypothetical soil profiles using a set of 85 rock input motions. Results show that there is no significant difference between correlation coefficients for rock ground motions and correlation coefficients after considering the effects of site response for the chosen sites. / Master of Science

If a landowner‘s main objective is to maximize his/her profits from planted forest investments, questions such as when and where exactly they should fertilize, thin and clearcut must be answered. We take advantage of an experiment established in 5 different states in the US South. Forest inventory data was collected for different combinations of thinning densities where some of them received fertilization. We use the Land Expectation Value methodology where our assumptions are the infinite amount of Pine rotations while costs and stumpage prices are known and constant, and markets are perfect. One of the main results we found is that fertilization has a decreasing marginal benefit on site index quality. / M.S. / If the landowner‘s main objective is to maximize profit from forest investments, questions such as when and where they should fertilize, thin and clearcut must be answered. Fertilization‘s main objective is to provide essential nutrients for tree growth. Thinnings have two main objectives: a source of revenue in the middle of the forest rotation by selling the thinned trees and secondly to open space to the residual trees so they grown in diameter and gain value. We analyze how thinning and fertilization impact forest management from an economic perspective by checking their benefits and costs to landowners. We found that for low site index, fertilization has a positive impact in the sense its benefit is greater than the fertilization application cost. For better site indices, the opposite is true. For those who want to maximize economic benefits from planted forests. we end up with recommendations of which type of thinning and fertilization should be done according to the landowner site quality.

Chan Chan, the prehistoric capital of the Chimu culture (ca. A.D. 900 to 1450), is located in the Moche Valley close to the Pacific Ocean on the North Coast of Peru. Its sandy desert environment is dominated by the dry onshore turbulent and gusty winds from the south. The nucleus of this large urban community built of adobe is visually and spatially dominated by 10 monumental rectilinear high walled citadels that were thought to be the domain of the rulers. The form and function of these immense citadels has been an enigma for scholars since their discovery by the Spanish ca. 1535. Previous efforts to explain the citadels and the walls have emphasized the social, political, and economic needs of the culture. The use of the citadels to control the effects of the wind, sand, and dust in the valley had not been previously considered. Through the use of theoretical constructions and wind tunnel experiments, it is established that the form of the classic variant of the citadel was developed from a longtime interaction between the man—built environment and the natural environment. The Chimu had designed a courtyard system that reduced stress and discomfort from wind, sand, and dust by means of architectural features that included: the rectilinear citadel plan with the long axis parallel to the prevailing winds; the contiguous courtyards with the long axis in common; the high exterior walls; the high interior transverse walls; and the triangular cross section of the walls. It is demonstrated that these features kept out the blowing sand, reduced the wind speeds at pedestrian level, and kept dust, entrained in the airstream by the anthropogenic activity outside the walls, from entering the enclosures. It is also demonstrated that there is a correlation between the degree of protection afforded in a sector of the citadel and the social, political, and economic activities that took place in that sector. / PH. D.

Tomträtten är en speciell form av nyttjanderätt som ger innehavaren rätt att använda en fastighet under obegränsad tid mot en årlig avgift, medan marken ägs av staten, kommunen eller annan allmän ägo. Vid införandet i svensk lagstiftning 1907 var syftet att motverka bostadsbrist i storstäderna och att samhället skulle kunna dra nytta av värdestegringar från investeringar i infrastruktur. Tomträttshavaren har nästan samma rättigheter som en fastighetsägare, vilket ökar kreditvärde och trygghet.Syftet med denna uppsats är att identifiera brister och problem med tomträtt som upplåtelseform samt att undersöka dess styrkor och framtida möjligheter. Uppsatsen undersöker om dessa utmaningar och fördelar skiljer sig mellan tomträtter för småhus, flerbostadshus och kommersiella fastigheter. För att undersöka detta har intervjuer genomförts med representanter från olika kommuner i Stockholmsområdet.Resultaten visar att de långvariga avtalen och de komplexa omvärderingsprocesserna är stora utmaningar för kommunerna. Trots detta uppskattar kommunerna tomträtten som en stabil intäktskälla och ett verktyg för att styra markanvändning och främja byggandet av viktiga samhällsfunktioner. Utmaningarna och styrkorna varierar dock mellan småhus, flerbostadshus och kommersiella fastigheter. Småhus kräver mer administrativt arbete, medan flerbostadshus och kommersiella fastigheter generellt innebär högre intäkter och mindre administrativt arbete, men där det istället finns risker för långdragna domstolsprocesser.För att förbättra tomträttssystemet föreslår kommunerna flera förändringar, bland annat tydligare lagstiftning för beräkning av avgälder, möjligheten att indexera avgälder och bättre informationsöverföring från mäklare till köpare. Dessa förändringar syftar till att skapa större tydlighet och förutsägbarhet, minska rättsliga tvister och administrativ börda samt öka den ekonomiska säkerheten för både kommuner och tomträttshavare. / Site leasehold is a special form of usufruct that grants the holder the right to use a property for an indefinite period in exchange for an annual fee, while the land is owned by the state, municipality, or other public entity. When it was introduced into Swedish legislation in 1907, the aim was to alleviate housing shortages in major cities and enable society to benefit from land value increases resulting from infrastructure investments. The site leaseholder has almost the same rights as a property owner, which enhances credit value and security. The purpose of this thesis is to identify deficiencies and problems with site leasehold as a form of tenure, as well as to examine its strengths and future opportunities. The thesis investigates whether these challenges and benefits differ between site leaseholds for single-family homes, multi-family housing, and commercial properties. To explore this, interviews were conducted with representatives from various municipalities in the Stockholm area.The findings reveal that long-term contracts and complex revaluation processes are significant challenges for municipalities. Despite these challenges, municipalities appreciate site leasehold as a stable source of income and a tool for controlling land use and promoting the construction of essential public services. The challenges and strengths, however, vary between single-family homes, multi-family dwellings, and commercial properties. Single-family homes require more administrative work, whereas multi-family dwellings and commercial properties generally generate higher revenues and involve less administrative work, though they carry the risk of prolonged court proceedings.To improve the site leasehold system, municipalities propose several changes, including clearer legislation for calculating ground rents, the possibility of indexing ground rents, and better information transfer from real estate agents to buyers. These changes aim to create greater clarity and predictability, reduce legal disputes and administrative burdens, and increase economic security for both municipalities and site leaseholders.

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The primary purpose of this research was to examine institutional characteristics of four-year, public colleges and universities that closed off-site locations between 2012 and 2019 through the lens of resource dependence theory. As institutions attempt to maximize their available resources and make the best use of existing resources, there will inevitably be moments where an off-site location will come into question. Over the eight years of the study, the US Department of Education recorded the closure of 7,508 educational locations across all types of educational institutions. This study examined the closure trends that existed for public colleges and universities across the period and looked for institutional characteristics associated with a heightened risk of closing off-site locations. The results of the study indicate that most of the public closures came from a small number of institutions, with 62% of the closed off-site locations coming from 18 of the 365 institutions in the study. After examining the overall trend, data was analyzed from 365 institutions across ten self-reported variables. These research findings indicate two primary variables that significantly affected the closure of off-site locations and suggest the struggle between the access mission of public universities and prestige-maximizing behavior can drive institutional decision making. The study concludes with recommendations for future research.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The large mammal faunal sample, excavated since 1984 from the Late Pleistocene Klasies River main site, was studied. There are 27 species in eight genera represented. The bovids from the LBS member (110 000 years) and the Upper member (70 000 years) shows an increase in grazers relative to the fauna from the SAS member (100 000 years). This confirms previous research. The study of body part frequencies does not confirm the selective transport of the carcasses of larger bovids or that scavenging played an important role in the accumulation of the fauna. It is concluded that availability of marine mammals were the attraction of the locality and that all size classes of bovids were actively hunted and their carcasses returned to the site. KEYWORDS: Klasies River, Late Pleistocene, large mammal fauna, hunting. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die groot soogdier fauna van die Laat Pleistoseen vindplaas Klasies River main site, opgegrawe vanaf 1984, is bestudeer. Sewe-en-twintig spesies in agt genera is verteenwoordig. Die bokke van die LBS member (110 000 jare) en die Upper member (70 000 jare) toon 'n styging in grasvreters relatief tot dié van die SAS member (100 000 jare). Dit bevestig 'n vorige ondersoek. Die bestudering van ligaamsdeel frekwensies van alle groottes bokke bevestig nie dat selektiewe vervoer van groter bokkarkasse plaasgevind het nie, of dat aas 'n rol in die akkumulasie van die fauna gespeel het nie. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat die teenwoordigheid van marine soogdiere die rede was vir die keuse van hierdie vindplaas was. Alle groottes bokke is doelbewus gejag en hulle karkasse is teruggebring na die vindplaas. SLEUTELWOORDE: Klasies River, Laat Pleistoseen, groot soogdiere, jag.