Master of Landscape Architecture / Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Mary C. Kingery-Page / The purpose of this study is to investigate and design public light art installations. The investigation consisted of evaluating select examples of public light installations in order to develop a typology, and designing two site-specific light art installations: one in Wichita, Kansas, and the other, in Denver, Colorado. Though public light art is found in most cities, its potential is often lost or unrecognized. In certain cases, public light art can be ‘plop art,’ which is plopped senselessly without much regard to context or experiential qualities. This project seeks to explore the different types of public light art and to find what approach or qualities should be considered when designing public light art. My approach can be described as artistic research. The methods include an apprenticeship to an artist, a precedent study, development of a light typology, an analysis of site and context, establishing a design matrix for two design projects, and an iterative process of making. Each of these methods were undertaken in order to effectively address my research question: What type of public light art is most appropriate for a specific site and how does it relate to creative placemaking? This project overlaps with a collective project group entitled Creative Place-Making, which is comprised of other fifth-year master of landscape architecture students with an underlying interest in art and design as place-making tools. Each student in the group addressed the site in Wichita, Kansas in a unique way. I addressed this site as a temporary landscape, creating an interactive light installation intended to be in place up to five years. In contrast, I addressed the Denver, Colorado site as a long term landscape, and designed a sculptural illuminating gateway. Each of these light art installations were informed by a particular set of characteristics that make each design site-specific.

Atmospheric monitoring is a vital part of environmental management. Monitoring temporal changes in atmospheric pollution on a local, regional and global scale is important in order to mitigate adverse effects on health and the environment. Currently there is general agreement that atmospheric pollution should be monitored, however, less emphasis is often placed on what should be achieved and the specific monitoring that should be included. Atmospheric pollution monitoring is often hampered by geographically restricted and site specific effects resulting in inefficient or ineffective information transfer to the local manager. The scientific community in the developed world often underestimate problems associated with the maintenance of comprehensive atmospheric measurement stations in Africa. A holistic approach is needed to optimise atmospheric monitoring according to specifications set out by system design; this includes site selection, site design, maintenance and quality control. The aim of this dissertation is to apply the Systems Engineering approach to a case study, the Welgegund atmospheric measurement station (WAMS), to offer a holistic view of interaction between different operational systems and the complexity behind their management in order to be informative to students and personnel from a non-engineering background. A knowledge gap exists that links practical industry related sciences such as engineering to more fundamental and theoretical sciences. In this dissertation the customer need was determined and an operational concept was developed for the WAMS system. The high level goals of the WAMS were derived and stated as applicable to other new as well as established measurement stations. Technical and fundamental requirements such as trained staff for appropriate logistical support and a broad spatial coverage of air quality monitoring were identified. The system boundaries and operational constraints were established for the WAMS, exposing weaknesses and proposing solutions to ensure long term sustainability. Weaknesses include irregular funding periods and retention of expertise (trained students leave academia for industry) whereas a possible solution included overlapping projects and contracts. Functional analysis highlighted the design and establishment process of the WAMS. Physical architectures and interfaces were explored and finally the success of the establishment of the WAMS was evaluated by a reliability block diagram. The reliability of the WAMS system was calculated to be 96.6 %. This agrees well with the percentage data coverage calculated for the gaseous (95.9 %), aerosol (93.4 %) and meteorological (94.6 %) systems (15 min averages). The reliability of the national grid to supply power to the WAMS was found to be the main restrictive component. It may be a challenge interacting and coordinating projects with different disciplines, branches or sectors outside of a speciality project. This study has bridged the gap between industry related sciences such as engineering to more fundamental and theoretical sciences. A framework has been provided that highlights the techniques of Systems Engineering and provides an understanding for the need and process of atmospheric monitoring. / MIng (Development and Management Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Atmospheric monitoring is a vital part of environmental management. Monitoring temporal changes in atmospheric pollution on a local, regional and global scale is important in order to mitigate adverse effects on health and the environment. Currently there is general agreement that atmospheric pollution should be monitored, however, less emphasis is often placed on what should be achieved and the specific monitoring that should be included. Atmospheric pollution monitoring is often hampered by geographically restricted and site specific effects resulting in inefficient or ineffective information transfer to the local manager. The scientific community in the developed world often underestimate problems associated with the maintenance of comprehensive atmospheric measurement stations in Africa. A holistic approach is needed to optimise atmospheric monitoring according to specifications set out by system design; this includes site selection, site design, maintenance and quality control. The aim of this dissertation is to apply the Systems Engineering approach to a case study, the Welgegund atmospheric measurement station (WAMS), to offer a holistic view of interaction between different operational systems and the complexity behind their management in order to be informative to students and personnel from a non-engineering background. A knowledge gap exists that links practical industry related sciences such as engineering to more fundamental and theoretical sciences. In this dissertation the customer need was determined and an operational concept was developed for the WAMS system. The high level goals of the WAMS were derived and stated as applicable to other new as well as established measurement stations. Technical and fundamental requirements such as trained staff for appropriate logistical support and a broad spatial coverage of air quality monitoring were identified. The system boundaries and operational constraints were established for the WAMS, exposing weaknesses and proposing solutions to ensure long term sustainability. Weaknesses include irregular funding periods and retention of expertise (trained students leave academia for industry) whereas a possible solution included overlapping projects and contracts. Functional analysis highlighted the design and establishment process of the WAMS. Physical architectures and interfaces were explored and finally the success of the establishment of the WAMS was evaluated by a reliability block diagram. The reliability of the WAMS system was calculated to be 96.6 %. This agrees well with the percentage data coverage calculated for the gaseous (95.9 %), aerosol (93.4 %) and meteorological (94.6 %) systems (15 min averages). The reliability of the national grid to supply power to the WAMS was found to be the main restrictive component. It may be a challenge interacting and coordinating projects with different disciplines, branches or sectors outside of a speciality project. This study has bridged the gap between industry related sciences such as engineering to more fundamental and theoretical sciences. A framework has been provided that highlights the techniques of Systems Engineering and provides an understanding for the need and process of atmospheric monitoring. / MIng (Development and Management Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Stephanie A. Rolley / “Toward a Critical Practice: Tracing Theory Through Design” is an exploration of Elizabeth Meyer’s idea of critical inquiry as a mode and process for professional practice as a landscape architect. Critical practice involves the application of ideas embodied in critical theory as a creative endeavor that is both self-critical and self-renewing. Critical theory is essential in bringing a deeper level of understanding to the design of landscape architecture. Critical practice is the application of critical theory to the understanding of built work and the process of design. Using Meyer’s stated intentions for this design process Noonan develops a personal framework for that process. As the framework develops it rapidly becomes multiple, overlapping, mutually supportive frameworks. Multiple perspectives are gained from using multiple viewpoints represented in theory. The frameworks serve to include the dynamics of change and provide access to a deeper understanding of the interrelatedness of forms and processes inherent to any site or project. Issues of representation become more clear and strategies are identified although this aspect of practice deserves much more attention in the future. Theories, frameworks and sources of knowledge are identified and used to question assumptions and biases, challenge orthodoxies of practice, test ideas, develop written and formal vocabulary and inspire, motivate and guide design work. Ideas and theories used in the framework are related to the formal and textual work of other designers past and present. The framework is tested through application to a design project, which is used as the case study for this paper.

The late third millennium B.C. in Israel until recently was known by funerary deposits only. At Jebel Qaᶜaqir, the domestic and funerary remains provide an unprecedented assemblage and permit a reassessment of Early Bronze IV society and events culminating in the collapse of the Early Bronze III urban centers. Historically, pottery studies have focused on chronological issues. After reviewing the history of ceramic analysis in Israel for the past one hundred years, the Jebel Qaᶜaqir collection is presented. Variation in the manufacturing technique and incised patterns are described in detail for the purpose of identifying the work of individual potters. Ethnoarchaeological research of pottery production, especially the Filipino potters of Paradijon, provide the model for this analysis. The nature of the late third millennium B.C. pastoral nomadic society is examined in terms of subsistence strategies and settlement distribution. Inferences regarding social organization drawn from mortuary practices, settlement types and organization of labor challenge the idea that an egalitarian society persisted. Finally, these results provide a new perspective on the events following the collapse of the third millennium B.C. urban centers and the succeeding era of a non-sedentary lifestyle in Israel. The nomadic pastoralists are considered in their regional setting as an integral, indigenous part of Early Bronze Age society. Rather than viewing the pastoralists as a new phenomenon, they are considered as an ever-present characteristic of the urban hinterland.

The Wolf Willow site (FbNp-26) is a multicomponent Precontact site located within the confines of Wanuskewin Heritage Park approximately 2 km north of the city of Saskatoon Saskatchewan. The site was excavated during 2010 and 2011 field seasons with the participation of The University of Saskatchewan’s archaeological field school and the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society’s field school. As a result of these excavations, 30 m2 were exposed and four distinct cultural levels were identified. These include the Plains Side-Notched complex, Prairie Side-Notched complex, McKean series, and Oxbow complex cultures. An analysis of artifacts, ecofacts, and features from each cultural level was undertaken in order to determine site usage for each time period. Ecological concepts are often used as heuristic devices in archeological studies. The theory of island biogeography and the study of patch dynamics are two concepts that can lend themselves to the archeological study of past human groups. Island biogeography was developed to explain speciation in insular environments. In archeological studies, the same mechanisms affecting speciation can be employed to study the development of culture. Patch dynamics can be used to hypothesize how resource availability affected the behavior of past populations. Using the aforementioned concepts, the Wanuskewin/Opimihaw Valley area can be viewed as a terrestrial island. The unique combination of resources both tangible and intangible combined to make the area a draw for Precontact populations for the past 6000 years. Wanuskewin continues to attract people from around the world as a centre of spiritual and cultural renewal, a world class tourism destination, and an educational facility.

This is an investigation of a mobile prefabrication factory´s competitiveness and profitability which also will result in a suggestion for a design of the factory. The mobile prefabrication factory is an idea of a new concept for production which is meant to be used in the manufacture of slab. The main intention with this concept is that by using a fast established prefabrication factory to produce elements near the construction site, thus avoiding transport from the factory to the building site. This means not only an environmental and economic gain, but also that you can avoid risking damage the elements which often occur during transportation. The contractor is owner of the mobile prefabrication factory and can thus avoid long waiting times and cyclicality. These are parameters that often can be a concern when using prefabricated element from factory´s off-site. When the building is finished, the prefabrication factory is able to be packed onto trucks, moved, and reestablished close to next building site. The portable production capacity also means that production can be kept close to the product development and can therefore quickly test new solutions, thus this concept facilitating a continuous improvement.   After a rough estimate of the cost for the establishment, operation and maintenance turned out that the mobile prefabrication factory needs to be established by large projects that require more than 7 970 m2 of slab in order to recoup these expenses. Then to recoup the investment cost of 5, 64 million crones the project must have a need for more than these 7 970 m2 of slab. Counting on a life expectancy of 30 years for the mobile factory, the factory needs to produce 1 568 m2 of slab á year, in addition to the slab required for accrued cost for establishment.

An experimental cell was built over the Saint-Tite-des-Caps landfill in order to evaluate the efficiency of a cover with capillary barrier effect (CCBE). The latter is composed of a layer of deinking by-products (DBP) installed over a capillary barrier, which is in turn composed of a layer of coarse sand over a layer of gravel. In order to monitor the performance of this system, lysimeters, tensiometers, water content probes, settlement plates and weather station were installed. Design parameters were selected in such a way that the diversion length (DL) would be attained right before the length of the CCBE (30 m). As for the design of the cell itself, the design of the lysimeters also depended on the unsaturated properties of the materials employed, in particular their hydraulic conductivity functions. The lysimeters were designed in order to remain functional at least during the study period. The water retention curves (WRC) of the materials composing the CCBE were determined in the laboratory. These results allowed obtaining the hydraulic conductivity functions (k-fct), which is the principal element, as far as optimisation of the design of the CCBE and of the lysimeters are concerned. Using the k-fcts, it is possible to evaluate the theoretical DL. Numerical simulations showed that the DL can be significantly altered by slight changes in the parameters used to describe the WRC and the k-fcts. For each material, the WRC was determined using various experimental methods; and they all gave slightly different parameters. This caused the significant variation in the DL. The DL determined based on field data allowed for the selection of the most representative WRC. Analysis of field data, made it possible to show the change in saturated hydraulic conductivity, ksat, of DBP decreased by nearly one order of magnitude, which affected its WRC and k-fct. Field monitoring also shows that the hydraulic barrier remains saturated and that the volume of water reaching the sand/gravel capillary barrier increased progressively, as one moves downslope. Data from the four tensiometers, placed along the sand/gravel interface, and the measured infiltration rates in the 3 lysimeters installed in the gravel layer show that the DL varied between 24 m and 29 m during the 2006 monitoring period. During some short periods in 2007, the DL was greater than the 30 m of the cell. The infiltration rate into the gravel layer at the toe of the slope was continuously lower than 3,0 x 10-9 m/s, i.e. lower than the more stringent standards of low permeability cover design (Règlement québécois sur l'enfouissement et l'incinération des matières résiduelles ). In order to quantify the amount of infiltrating water trough DBP and sand layers, several simulations were performed using by Visual HELP software. Infiltrations rates obtained thereof were used as boundary conditions in steady state simulations of the response of the capillary barrier system. Software SEEP/W and Hydrus were used in these simulations and allowed to check the exactness of the initial design hypotheses and assumptions. As the measured DL is somehow similar to the simulated DL, it was concluded that the design methodology was appropriate. The simulations results also show that much greater DL can be attained using such an alternative cover system, depending on the hydraulic properties of the materials.

L'enfouissement des déchets dans des lieux d'enfouissement techniques (LET), qui est encore - malheureusement - le mode de gestion des matières résiduelles le plus répandu, engendre la dégradation anaérobie de la fraction organique des déchets, générant ainsi du biogaz. Ce gaz est principalement composé de deux gaz à effet de serre, soit le méthane (CH[indice inférieur 4], environ 60% v/v) et le dioxyde de carbone (CO[indice inférieur 2], environ 40% v/v). Au Québec, la législation impose aux exploitants de LET de recouvrir leurs cellules d'enfouissement et de récupérer le biogaz généré par la dégradation des déchets. Par contre, ces mesures ne sont pas efficaces à 100% et du biogaz peut s'échapper à l'atmosphère sous forme d'émission fugitive. Pour tenter de remédier à la situation, l'implantation de biorecouvrements d'oxydation passive du méthane (BOPM) constitue une solution techniquement faisable et économiquement rentable. L'avantage des BOPM par rapport aux recouvrements traditionnels réside dans l'oxydation biotique du CH[indice inférieur 4] en CO[indice inférieur 2] par des bactéries méthanotrophes qui se développent naturellement dans le sol, en présence d'oxygène (O[indice inférieur 2]), de CH[indice inférieur 4] et de nutriments. Depuis 2006, 5 BOPM expérimentaux ont été mis en place, instrumentés et suivi sur le site d'enfouissement de Saint-Nicéphore, Québec, Canada. Le présent projet de maîtrise s'est concentré surtout sur les deux derniers BOPM construits, soit les BOPM 4 et 5. Par contre, j'ai participé à plusieurs activités de suivi des autres parcelles (BOPM1B, 2 et 3B), activités qui ne sont pas présentées dans le cadre de ce mémoire. Les BOPM 4 et 5 ont été mis en place en 2009. On y a employé uniquement des matériaux disponibles directement sur la propriété de l'exploitant et partenaire dans le présent projet de recherche, Waste Management (WM Québec inc.). Dans le cadre de ce projet, une évaluation du potentiel d'oxydation des BOPM 4 et 5 a été réalisée, incluant la caractérisation géotechnique des matériaux candidats. L'évaluation du potentiel d'oxydation a été réalisée en laboratoire par des essais d'oxydation et de respiration en colonne. Les taux d'oxydation maximums obtenus en laboratoire ont varié entre 24 et 192 g CH[indice inférieur 4]/mCH[indice supérieur 2*]j. Lors de la réalisation des essais d'oxydation en colonne, une plusieurs configurations potentielles de BOPM ont été étudiées. Deux conclusions partielles ont pu en être tirées concernant l'influence du niveau de compaction et de la hauteur du substrat. Au cours des essais d'oxydation en colonne, on a observé que l'accélération de la charge de biogaz causait une perte rapide de l'efficacité d'oxydation. Deux «méthodes» de récupération de l'efficacité d'oxydation ont alors été testées et ont fait leur preuve, soit le maintien du taux d'alimentation en CH[indice inférieur 4] jusqu'à ce que l'efficacité d'oxydation redevienne égale à 100% (méthode 1) et la diminution du taux d'alimentation en CH[indice inférieur 4] jusqu'à ce que l'efficacité d'oxydation remonte à 100% (méthode 2, à appliquer lorsque la méthode 1 ne semble pas fonctionner). De plus, une nouvelle méthodologie a été développée pour la réalisation des essais de respiration en colonne. Suite à l'évaluation citée précédemment et à des études de modélisation numérique sur le comportement hydraulique (écoulements non saturés) faits par d'autres membres de l'équipe de recherche, les deux parcelles (BOPM 4 et 5) ont été construites (2009) et instrumentées (2010).

Résumé : Les biosystèmes d’oxydation passive du CH[indice inférieur 4] constituent une alternative techniquement et économiquement viable pour la réduction des émissions fugitives de CH[indice inférieur 4] dans l’atmosphère par les sites d’enfouissement. Directement intégrés au recouvrement final, ils sont constitués d’une succession de couche de matériaux au sein desquelles se développent les bactéries méthanotrophes capable d’oxyder le CH[indice inférieur 4] en CO[indice inférieur 2] de façon passive, en présence de l’oxygène moléculaire. La capacité des BOPMs à réduire les émissions de CH[indice inférieur 4] a été associée à plusieurs paramètres météorologiques et environnementaux, entre autres la végétation. L’objectif de ce projet est de déterminer l’effet de la végétation dans l’oxydation du CH[indice inférieur 4] par les biosystèmes. Pour atteindre cet objectif, des études de l’efficacité d’oxydation du CH[indice inférieur 4] dans des bacs pourvus de végétation, dans des conditions contrôlées de laboratoire et partiellement contrôlées de terrain, suivie d’une étude de la cinétique d’oxydation des sols de rhizosphère pré-conditionnés au CH[indice inférieur 4], ont été effectuées. Quatre bacs ont été testés, comprenant : le trèfle blanc (Trifolium repens L.), la fléole des prés (Phleum pratense L.), un mélange des deux espèces végétales (mélange) et le sol nu (dépourvu de végétation). Les résultats des bacs d’oxydation ont montré que, jusqu’à un débit de 100 g CH[indice inférieur 4]/m[indice supérieur 2]/jr, les espèces végétales n’avaient pas d’influence sur les résultats, et les efficacités d’oxydation étaient de l’ordre de ~100%. Au-delà de cette valeur, les efficacités étaient toujours élevées, et une différence statistiquement significative a été observée entre les espèces végétales. Le sol nu était le plus efficace, tandis que le mélange et le trèfle étaient les moins efficaces au laboratoire et sur le terrain respectivement. Néanmoins, les différences d’efficacités entre les bacs n’étaient pas très grandes et les taux d’oxydation dans les bacs n’ont pas cessé de croitre tout au long des essais, suggérant que la capacité d’oxydation maximale des bacs n’a pas été atteinte. L’étude de la cinétique d’oxydation a également montré que la végétation n’avait pas d’effet significatif sur les taux d’oxydation. Ces observations ne corroborent pas ce qui est rapporté dans la littérature concernant l’effet positif de la végétation. Néanmoins, les conclusions de cette étude ont été en adéquation par l’analyse des profils d’efficacité, de la biomasse racinaire et des caractéristiques physico-chimiques des sols du BOPM. Par ailleurs, un effet significatif de la végétation sur le degré de saturation en eau dans les BOPMs a également été observé. Cette dernière observation a été associée au mécanisme de régulation de la teneur en eau par les racines des plantes. Les principales limitations de cette étude concernaient la durée des essais et le nombre d’espèces végétales. En résumé, pour les espèces végétales testées, il a été démontré que la végétation ne constitue pas un facteur clé stimulant l’oxydation du CH[indice inférieur 4] dans les BOPMs. De plus, l’étude de la cinétique d’oxydation a montré que de meilleur taux d’oxydation étaient obtenus dans un sol de rhizosphère modérément pré-exposé au CH[indice inférieur 4] comparativement à un sol sans végétation, ou à une rhizosphère non pré-exposée ou très pré-exposée au CH[indice inférieur 4]. / Abstract : The passive CH[subscript 4] oxidation Biosystems are a cost-effective technology for the reduction of landfills fugitive CH[subscript 4] emissions in the atmosphere. As part of the final cover, they are made up of a sequence of soil layers capable to develop methanotrophic bacteria for passive CH[subscript 4] oxidation into CO[subscript 2], in the presence of molecular oxygen. The ability of biosystems to reduce CH[subscript 4] emissions was related to several meteorological and environmental parameters, including vegetation. The main objective of this project is to determine the effect of vegetation on CH[subscript 4] oxidation by biosystems. Studies of the CH[subscript 4] oxidation efficiencies of vegetated column under controlled conditions prevailing in the laboratory and under the partially controlled conditions in the field, followed by the study of the CH[subscript 4] oxidation kinetics of the preconditioned rhizospheric soil, were carried out. Four columns were tested, including: white clover (Trifolium repens L.), timothy grass (Phleum pratense L.), a mixture of both (mixture) and bare soil (control biosystem). The results of the column study showed that up to a loading of 100 g CH[subscript 4]/m[superscript 2]/d, plant species did not influence the results, and the CH[subscript 4] oxidation efficiencies were in the vicinity of ~ 100%. Beyond this value, the efficiencies were still high, and a statistically significant difference was observed between plant species. Bare soil was the most efficient while the mixture and white clover were the least in the laboratory and the field respectively. However, differences in efficiencies between the columns were not high and the oxidation rates continued to increase throughout the test, suggesting that the maximum oxidation capacity of the biosystems tested may have never been fully attained. The kinetics study also showed that vegetation did not have significant effect on CH[subscript 4] oxidation rate. These observations do not corroborate what is reported in technical literature on the positive effect of vegetation. Nevertheless, the findings of this study were adequacy with the analysis of the profiles of efficiencies, root biomass and physico-chemical characteristics of soils. Moreover, a significant effect of vegetation on the degree of water saturation in Biosystems was also observed. The latter was associated with the mechanism of water content regulation through plant roots. The main limitations of this study concerned the duration of the tests and the number of plant species. In summary, for the plant species studied herein, it was shown that the vegetation is not a key factor for enhancing CH[subscript 4] oxidation in biosystems. Moreover, the study of the kinetics of CH[subscript 4] oxidation showed that better oxidation rate were obtained in a moderately pre-exposed rhizospheric soil compared to bare soils, to never before pre-exposed or very pre-exposed rhizospheric soils to CH[subscript 4].