abstract: Urban climate conditions are the physical manifestation of formal and informal social forces of design, policy, and urban management. The urban design community (e.g. planners, architects, urban designers, landscape architects, engineers) impacts urban development through influential built projects and design discourse. Their decisions create urban landscapes that impact physiological and mental health for people that live in and around them. Therefore, to understand possible opportunities for decision-making to support healthier urban environments and communities, this dissertation examines the role of neighborhood design on the thermal environment and the effect the thermal environment has on mental health. In situ data collection and numerical modeling are used to assess current and proposed urban design configurations in the Edison Eastlake public housing community in central Phoenix for their efficacy in cooling the thermal environment. A distributed lagged non-linear model is used to investigate the relative risk of hospitalization for schizophrenia in Maricopa County based on atmospheric conditions. The dissertation incorporates both an assessment of design strategies for the cooling of the thermal environment and an analysis of the existing thermal environment’s relationship with mental health. By reframing the urban design of neighborhoods through the lens of urban climate, this research reinforces the importance of incorporating the community into the planning process and highlights some unintended outcomes of prioritizing the thermal environment in urban design. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Geography 2020

Expansion of Pinus L. (pinyon) and Juniperus L. (juniper) (P-J) trees into sagebrush (Artemisia L.) steppe communities can lead to negative effects on hydrology, loss of wildlife habitat, and a decrease in desirable understory vegetation. Tree reduction treatments are often implemented to mitigate these negative effects. In order to prioritize and effectively plan these treatments, rapid, accurate, and inexpensive methods are needed to estimate tree canopy cover at the landscape scale. We used object based image analysis (OBIA) software (Feature AnalystTM for ArcMap 10.1®, ENVI Feature Extraction®, and Trimble eCognition Developer 8.2®) to extract tree canopy cover using NAIP (National Agricultural Imagery Program) imagery. We then compared our extractions with ground measured tree canopy cover (crown diameter and line point) on 309 subplots across 44 sites in Utah. Extraction methods did not consistently over- or under-estimate ground measured P-J canopy cover except where tree cover was > 45%. Estimates of tree canopy cover using OBIA techniques were strongly correlated with estimates using the crown diameter method (r = 0.93 for ENVI, 0.91 for Feature Analyst, and 0.92 for eCognition). Tree cover estimates using OBIA techniques had lower correlations with tree cover measurements using the line-point method (r = 0.85 for ENVI, 0.83 for Feature Analyst, and 0.83 for eCognition). Results from this study suggest that OBIA techniques may be used to extract P-J tree canopy cover accurately and inexpensively. All software packages accurately evaluated accurately extracted P-J canopy cover from NAIP imagery when imagery was not blurred and when P-J cover was not mixed with Amelanchier alnifolia (Utah serviceberry) and Quercus gambelii (Gambel's oak), which are shrubs with similar spectral values as P-J.

Entender o clima dos espaços urbanos em suas diversas conformações é objeto de grande interesse para a melhoria da qualidade de vida da população que usufrui desses espaços. Cada microclima requer intervenções específicas para a obtenção de condições favoráveis de conforto higrotérmico tendo em vista a saúde e o bem estar de seus usuários. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar elementos de vegetação como barreira aos ventos visando o conforto térmico em espaços abertos. O procedimento utilizado foi quantificar a interferência de elementos vegetais na passagem dos ventos, na altura dos pedestres, a partir de configurações de vegetação pré-estabelecidas. O cenário eleito para este estudo foi a área externa do Campus da Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba (UNIMEP), localizado no bairro Taquaral em Piracicaba, SP. Embora trate-se de clima predominantemente quente, há relatos de desconforto no local em dias frios decorrente do excesso de ventos. Foram estudadas três diferentes espécies dispostas em arranjos com intenção de barreira aos ventos: Jasminum mesnyi Hance, Pseudosasa japonica (Steud.) Makino e Pinus caribaea Morelet. As variáveis microclimáticas medidas foram temperatura do ar, umidade relativa do ar e velocidade dos ventos, em três posições distintas por espécie: em um campo aberto próximo, antes e depois da barreira. O período de coleta de dados foi das 9 às 21 horas, em intervalos de 3 minutos, durante três dias por espécie, nos meses de agosto e setembro de 2014. Os resultados obtidos no campo aberto foram comparados aos registrados na estação meteorológica da ESALQ-USP no mesmo período. Foi feita a medição do LAI (Índice de Área Foliar) das espécies. Foram realizadas simulações computacionais em modelagem da área no programa ENVI-met® 3.1, com os dados de Densidade de Área Foliar (LAD) estimados a partir dos valores de LAI obtidos nas medições, como parte dos estudos de viabilidade para adoção do LAI como parâmetro na previsão de resultados, o que permitiria sua aplicabilidade a outras espécies. Os resultados obtidos indicam uma tendência favorável a este princípio, porém estudos com maior intensidade amostral são necessários para obtenção desta correlação. Outras aplicações podem ser beneficiadas com esta linha de estudo, como a previsão do risco de queda de árvores. / Understanding the climate of urban spaces in their various conformations is subject of great interest to improve the quality of life of the population that occupies these spaces. Each microclimate requires specific interventions to obtain favorable terms of hygrothermal comfort owing to health and welfare of its members. The objective of this research was to evaluate plant matter as a barrier to winds targeting the thermal comfort in open spaces. The procedure was quantifying the interference of tree elements in the passage of winds, at a pedestrian level, from pre-established vegetation settings. The chosen scenario for this study was the campus of the Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba (UNIMEP), located in the Taquaral neighborhood in Piracicaba, SP. While dealing is predominantly warm weather, discomfort is reported in cold weather due to the excessive winds in the external areas. We studied three different species placed in arrangements intended as wind barriers: Jasminum mesnyi Hance, Pseudosasa japonica (Steud.) Makino and Pinus caribaea Morelet. Microclimate variables measured were air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed, in three different positions by species: in a nearby open field, before and after the barrier. The data collection period was from 9 to 21 o\'clock, at 3-minute intervals for three days by species, in August and September 2014. Results obtained in open field were compared with those recorded at ESALQ-USP\'s weather station during the same period. The LAI (Leaf Area Index) of the species was measured. Computer simulations were performed by modeling the area in ENVImet® 3.1 program, with the Leaf Area Density data (LAD) estimated from the LAI values obtained in measurements, as part of feasibility studies for the adoption of LAI as a parameter in the forecast results, allowing its applicability to other species. The results indicate a positive trend towards this principle, however, studies with larger sample intensity are required in order to achieve this correlation. Other applications may benefit from this line of study, such as the prediction of falling trees risks.

Entender o clima dos espaços urbanos em suas diversas conformações é objeto de grande interesse para a melhoria da qualidade de vida da população que usufrui desses espaços. Cada microclima requer intervenções específicas para a obtenção de condições favoráveis de conforto higrotérmico tendo em vista a saúde e o bem estar de seus usuários. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar elementos de vegetação como barreira aos ventos visando o conforto térmico em espaços abertos. O procedimento utilizado foi quantificar a interferência de elementos vegetais na passagem dos ventos, na altura dos pedestres, a partir de configurações de vegetação pré-estabelecidas. O cenário eleito para este estudo foi a área externa do Campus da Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba (UNIMEP), localizado no bairro Taquaral em Piracicaba, SP. Embora trate-se de clima predominantemente quente, há relatos de desconforto no local em dias frios decorrente do excesso de ventos. Foram estudadas três diferentes espécies dispostas em arranjos com intenção de barreira aos ventos: Jasminum mesnyi Hance, Pseudosasa japonica (Steud.) Makino e Pinus caribaea Morelet. As variáveis microclimáticas medidas foram temperatura do ar, umidade relativa do ar e velocidade dos ventos, em três posições distintas por espécie: em um campo aberto próximo, antes e depois da barreira. O período de coleta de dados foi das 9 às 21 horas, em intervalos de 3 minutos, durante três dias por espécie, nos meses de agosto e setembro de 2014. Os resultados obtidos no campo aberto foram comparados aos registrados na estação meteorológica da ESALQ-USP no mesmo período. Foi feita a medição do LAI (Índice de Área Foliar) das espécies. Foram realizadas simulações computacionais em modelagem da área no programa ENVI-met® 3.1, com os dados de Densidade de Área Foliar (LAD) estimados a partir dos valores de LAI obtidos nas medições, como parte dos estudos de viabilidade para adoção do LAI como parâmetro na previsão de resultados, o que permitiria sua aplicabilidade a outras espécies. Os resultados obtidos indicam uma tendência favorável a este princípio, porém estudos com maior intensidade amostral são necessários para obtenção desta correlação. Outras aplicações podem ser beneficiadas com esta linha de estudo, como a previsão do risco de queda de árvores. / Understanding the climate of urban spaces in their various conformations is subject of great interest to improve the quality of life of the population that occupies these spaces. Each microclimate requires specific interventions to obtain favorable terms of hygrothermal comfort owing to health and welfare of its members. The objective of this research was to evaluate plant matter as a barrier to winds targeting the thermal comfort in open spaces. The procedure was quantifying the interference of tree elements in the passage of winds, at a pedestrian level, from pre-established vegetation settings. The chosen scenario for this study was the campus of the Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba (UNIMEP), located in the Taquaral neighborhood in Piracicaba, SP. While dealing is predominantly warm weather, discomfort is reported in cold weather due to the excessive winds in the external areas. We studied three different species placed in arrangements intended as wind barriers: Jasminum mesnyi Hance, Pseudosasa japonica (Steud.) Makino and Pinus caribaea Morelet. Microclimate variables measured were air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed, in three different positions by species: in a nearby open field, before and after the barrier. The data collection period was from 9 to 21 o\'clock, at 3-minute intervals for three days by species, in August and September 2014. Results obtained in open field were compared with those recorded at ESALQ-USP\'s weather station during the same period. The LAI (Leaf Area Index) of the species was measured. Computer simulations were performed by modeling the area in ENVImet® 3.1 program, with the Leaf Area Density data (LAD) estimated from the LAI values obtained in measurements, as part of feasibility studies for the adoption of LAI as a parameter in the forecast results, allowing its applicability to other species. The results indicate a positive trend towards this principle, however, studies with larger sample intensity are required in order to achieve this correlation. Other applications may benefit from this line of study, such as the prediction of falling trees risks.

<p>Asplund, L (2007). Systematiskt arbetsmiljöarbete. Nyckelpersonsintervjustudie om uppfattning kring arbetsmiljöarbete, lönsamhet och prioriteringar på en arbetsplats 15 högskolepoäng, Magisterprogrammet. Högskolan i Gävle, Institutionen för Pedagogik, didaktik och psykologi.</p><p>Bakgrund</p><p>Att arbeta systematiskt med arbetsmiljöarbete är ett krav för alla arbetsgivare enligt svensk arbetsmiljölag. Alla arbetsgivare förväntas göra riskbedömningar och ta fram lösningar för att förebygga olyckor. Det systematiska arbetsmiljöarbetet på arbetsplatsen ska hanteras som en naturlig del i den dagliga verksamheten och omfattar de fysiska, psykologiska och sociala förhållandena i arbetsmiljön.</p><p>Syfte:</p><p>Att undersöka nyckelpersoners uppfattningar om vad som påverkar prioriteringar av systematiskt arbetsmiljöarbete på ett företag samt studera deras uppfattningar om arbetsmiljöförändring i relation till ökad lönsamhet.</p><p>Urval</p><p>Inför nyckelpersonsintervjuerna kontaktades personalansvarig som i sin tur valde ut nyckelpersonerna. Chefer, områdesansvariga och skyddsombud intervjuades. Intervjupersonerna valdes ut då en speciell kompetens för området krävdes. Sex av intervjuerna utfördes under en veckas tid på de intervjuades arbetsplats. En kort intervju med skyddsombudet utfördes fyra veckor senare på företaget.</p><p>Design och metod</p><p>För att besvara frågeställningarna utfördes intervju på sex nyckelpersoner utifrån en intervjuguide. Intervjuerna tog cirka 30 minuter vardera. Halvstrukturerade intervjuer användes. Intervjuerna transkriberades och analyserades och ytterligare en intervju utfördes efteråt med ett skyddsombud. Intervju användes som metod för datainsamlingen som kom att stå för resultatet.</p><p>Resultat</p><p>Resultatet visar att informanterna anser att det som mest påverkar prioriteringar kring det systematiska arbetsmiljöarbetet på arbetsplatsen är ekonomin och chefer/ledningens inställning. Annat som påverkar är arbetsmiljölagen och koncernens riktlinjer och budget. Sjuk-frånvarouppföljningar görs i en del i sin strävan att uppnå ökad lönsamhet. Arbetsmiljöförändringar som utförts i strävan att nå ökad lönsamhet och bättre arbetsmiljö har mestadels varit av fysisk ergonomisk art.</p><p>Slutsatser</p><p>Informanterna gav olika information gällande det pågående arbetsmiljöarbetet. De sade att arbetsmiljöarbetet var fortgående och aktivt och de trodde att personalen ansåg att det inte arbetades särskilt mycket med arbetsmiljöarbete. Skyddsombudet ansåg att det gjordes mer än vad personalen trodde. Detta betyder att kommunikationen kan behövs bättras för att de anställda skall få mer insikt om vad som föregår gällande arbetsmiljöarbete och kan bli mer involverad i själva arbetet.</p><p>Nyckelord:</p><p>Systematiskt arbetsmiljöarbete, lönsamhet, och hälsofrämjandearbete</p> / <p>Asplund, L (2007). Systematic Work Environment Management: Key Informant Interviews about Apprehensions, Priorities and Profitability. Examination paper in Pedagogy, 15 hp. Master’s Programme. University College of Gävle. Department of Education, Curriculum Studies and Psychology.</p><p>Background</p><p>Every fourth Swedish employee has been found to suffer from some form of work-related ill-health. Legislation, termed Systematic Management of Workplace Environments (SAM), has been enacted to promote optimal physical and psychosocial workplace environments. Em-ployers are obliged to follow the regulations issued by the Swedish Work Environment Au-thority [Arbetetsmiljöverket] and are responsible for operating active workplace environ-ment management plans. Such plans can prevent ill-health and, in some cases, increase the company’s profitability.</p><p>Purpose</p><p>A medium-sized, retail trade company from in central Sweden was chosen in order to study and analyze how systematic workplace management environment practices were imple-mented in relation to other management priorities and company profitability.</p><p>Sample</p><p>The key informants were chosen out of the personal manager who was the first contact on the company. Seven key informants, selected on the basis of their knowledge of their com-pany's Systematic Work Environment Management, participated in the study. An additional key informant was later chosen to validate the results. The informant composition was: three informants from middle management, with 5 to 7 years experience of the company, one supervisor (1 year), and three other members of staff (2 and 3 years.) Six qualitative in-terviews were carried out, within the period of one week, in the interviewees' offices. The validating interview was undertaken 4 weeks later, also on the company’s premises.</p><p>Design and methods</p><p>The company specialized in retail furniture. Non-structured interviews, based on an inter-view guide with 11 open-ended questions, were used. The interviews, lasting about 30 mi-nutes each, were recorded and transcribed. Statements were analyzed for notable differ-ences, similarities, themes and patterns. The statements were then categorized and sub-jected to further analysis.</p><p>Results</p><p>All the informants felt that the company’s actual practice met the work environment stipula-tions and was on-going. They agreed that workplace environment in general is considered an important issue, but that the company could probably do more to meet the intentions of the work environment legislation. Two specific focal points appeared in the results: ergo-nomic improvement in the workplace and the informants’ aspiration to implement and de-velop a system of caring telephone calls to employees absent through illness.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Management was seen as giving contradictory signals. On the one hand they say that work environment is active and ongoing and on the other hand agree that not enough is being done. The expression of intent does not appear to be matched by actions. Improved educa-tion in systematic workplace environment management would give employees a better un-derstanding of work environment and how systematic workplace management is supposed to operate. The analysis of the informants' suggestions led to a series of proposals for im-provements in workplace environment management strategies. A new plan for employee participation would involve employees being more directly and actively involved with work environment and increase support for the work of the safety representatives.</p><p>Keywords:</p><p>Systematic Management of Workplace Environments, health and safety codes, profitability, employee participation, muscular-skeletal, psychosocial working envi-ronment, health promotion</p>

Asplund, L (2007). Systematiskt arbetsmiljöarbete. Nyckelpersonsintervjustudie om uppfattning kring arbetsmiljöarbete, lönsamhet och prioriteringar på en arbetsplats 15 högskolepoäng, Magisterprogrammet. Högskolan i Gävle, Institutionen för Pedagogik, didaktik och psykologi. Bakgrund Att arbeta systematiskt med arbetsmiljöarbete är ett krav för alla arbetsgivare enligt svensk arbetsmiljölag. Alla arbetsgivare förväntas göra riskbedömningar och ta fram lösningar för att förebygga olyckor. Det systematiska arbetsmiljöarbetet på arbetsplatsen ska hanteras som en naturlig del i den dagliga verksamheten och omfattar de fysiska, psykologiska och sociala förhållandena i arbetsmiljön. Syfte: Att undersöka nyckelpersoners uppfattningar om vad som påverkar prioriteringar av systematiskt arbetsmiljöarbete på ett företag samt studera deras uppfattningar om arbetsmiljöförändring i relation till ökad lönsamhet. Urval Inför nyckelpersonsintervjuerna kontaktades personalansvarig som i sin tur valde ut nyckelpersonerna. Chefer, områdesansvariga och skyddsombud intervjuades. Intervjupersonerna valdes ut då en speciell kompetens för området krävdes. Sex av intervjuerna utfördes under en veckas tid på de intervjuades arbetsplats. En kort intervju med skyddsombudet utfördes fyra veckor senare på företaget. Design och metod För att besvara frågeställningarna utfördes intervju på sex nyckelpersoner utifrån en intervjuguide. Intervjuerna tog cirka 30 minuter vardera. Halvstrukturerade intervjuer användes. Intervjuerna transkriberades och analyserades och ytterligare en intervju utfördes efteråt med ett skyddsombud. Intervju användes som metod för datainsamlingen som kom att stå för resultatet. Resultat Resultatet visar att informanterna anser att det som mest påverkar prioriteringar kring det systematiska arbetsmiljöarbetet på arbetsplatsen är ekonomin och chefer/ledningens inställning. Annat som påverkar är arbetsmiljölagen och koncernens riktlinjer och budget. Sjuk-frånvarouppföljningar görs i en del i sin strävan att uppnå ökad lönsamhet. Arbetsmiljöförändringar som utförts i strävan att nå ökad lönsamhet och bättre arbetsmiljö har mestadels varit av fysisk ergonomisk art. Slutsatser Informanterna gav olika information gällande det pågående arbetsmiljöarbetet. De sade att arbetsmiljöarbetet var fortgående och aktivt och de trodde att personalen ansåg att det inte arbetades särskilt mycket med arbetsmiljöarbete. Skyddsombudet ansåg att det gjordes mer än vad personalen trodde. Detta betyder att kommunikationen kan behövs bättras för att de anställda skall få mer insikt om vad som föregår gällande arbetsmiljöarbete och kan bli mer involverad i själva arbetet. Nyckelord: Systematiskt arbetsmiljöarbete, lönsamhet, och hälsofrämjandearbete / Asplund, L (2007). Systematic Work Environment Management: Key Informant Interviews about Apprehensions, Priorities and Profitability. Examination paper in Pedagogy, 15 hp. Master’s Programme. University College of Gävle. Department of Education, Curriculum Studies and Psychology. Background Every fourth Swedish employee has been found to suffer from some form of work-related ill-health. Legislation, termed Systematic Management of Workplace Environments (SAM), has been enacted to promote optimal physical and psychosocial workplace environments. Em-ployers are obliged to follow the regulations issued by the Swedish Work Environment Au-thority [Arbetetsmiljöverket] and are responsible for operating active workplace environ-ment management plans. Such plans can prevent ill-health and, in some cases, increase the company’s profitability. Purpose A medium-sized, retail trade company from in central Sweden was chosen in order to study and analyze how systematic workplace management environment practices were imple-mented in relation to other management priorities and company profitability. Sample The key informants were chosen out of the personal manager who was the first contact on the company. Seven key informants, selected on the basis of their knowledge of their com-pany's Systematic Work Environment Management, participated in the study. An additional key informant was later chosen to validate the results. The informant composition was: three informants from middle management, with 5 to 7 years experience of the company, one supervisor (1 year), and three other members of staff (2 and 3 years.) Six qualitative in-terviews were carried out, within the period of one week, in the interviewees' offices. The validating interview was undertaken 4 weeks later, also on the company’s premises. Design and methods The company specialized in retail furniture. Non-structured interviews, based on an inter-view guide with 11 open-ended questions, were used. The interviews, lasting about 30 mi-nutes each, were recorded and transcribed. Statements were analyzed for notable differ-ences, similarities, themes and patterns. The statements were then categorized and sub-jected to further analysis. Results All the informants felt that the company’s actual practice met the work environment stipula-tions and was on-going. They agreed that workplace environment in general is considered an important issue, but that the company could probably do more to meet the intentions of the work environment legislation. Two specific focal points appeared in the results: ergo-nomic improvement in the workplace and the informants’ aspiration to implement and de-velop a system of caring telephone calls to employees absent through illness. Conclusions Management was seen as giving contradictory signals. On the one hand they say that work environment is active and ongoing and on the other hand agree that not enough is being done. The expression of intent does not appear to be matched by actions. Improved educa-tion in systematic workplace environment management would give employees a better un-derstanding of work environment and how systematic workplace management is supposed to operate. The analysis of the informants' suggestions led to a series of proposals for im-provements in workplace environment management strategies. A new plan for employee participation would involve employees being more directly and actively involved with work environment and increase support for the work of the safety representatives. Keywords: Systematic Management of Workplace Environments, health and safety codes, profitability, employee participation, muscular-skeletal, psychosocial working envi-ronment, health promotion

Für die Luftqualitätsbewertung in Städten sind Informationen zur raumzeitlichen Variabilität luftgetragener Feinstäube auf kleiner Skala von wichtiger Bedeutung. Standardisierte Messverfahren, zur Bestimmung von Partikelkonzentrationen, sind mit hohem Aufwand verbunden, weshalb dichte Messnetze fehlen. Partikelausbreitungsmodelle sind kompliziert in der Anwendung und/oder benötigen hohe Computerrechenleistung. Infolgedessen gibt es bezüglich örtlicher Partikelkonzentrationen große Informationslücken. Diese Arbeit untersucht die mikroskalige Variabilität von Aerosolen in Raum und Zeit mit unterschiedlichen Methoden. Es wurden Erhebungen mit mobilen Sensoren und eine Passantenbefragung durchgeführt. Weiterhin wurden in dieser Arbeit die physikalischen Partikeltransportmodelle ENVI-met und Austal2000 in ihrer Leistung bewertet und in angewandten Studien eingesetzt. Weiterhin wurde ein neuronales Netzwerk zur Vorhersage von Partikelkonzentrationen entwickelt. Die Untersuchungen erfolgten in den Städten Aachen und Münster. Es konnten unerwartete Verteilungsmuster hinsichtlich der Massekonzentration von Partikeln beobachtet werden. In einem innerstädtischen Park wurden diffuse Partikelquellen identifiziert, mit einem deutlichen Hinweis darauf, dass feuchtgelagerte Wegedecken einen maßgeblichen Anteil an lokalen Partikelimmissionen hatten. Weiterhin wurde Straßenverkehr als wichtiger Beitrag zum städtischen Aerosol identifiziert. Passanten, die verschiedenen Partikelkonzentrationen ausgesetzt waren, konnten diese perzeptiv nicht unterscheiden. Simulationsergebnisse von Austal2000 und ENVI-met wiesen Unterschätzungen im Vergleich zu Messwerten auf. Das entwickelte neuronale Netzwerk prognostizierte Partikelkonzentrationen teilweise mit hoher Genauigkeit. Das große Potenzial von neuronalen Netzen für die Vorhersage von Partikelkonzentrationen in räumlicher und zeitlicher Ausdehnung, auch für den Bereich der Luftqualitätsüberwachung, wurde aufgezeigt. / Knowledge about the micro-scale variability of airborne particles is a crucial criterion for air quality assessment within complex terrains such as urban areas. Due to the significant costs and time consumption related to the work required for standardized measurements of particle concentrations, dense monitoring networks are regularly missing. Models that simulate the transmission of particles are often difficult to use and/or computationally expensive. As a result, information regarding on-site particle concentrations at small scales is still limited. This thesis explores the micro-scale variability of aerosol concentrations in space and time using different methods. Experimental fieldwork, including measurements with mobile sensor equipment alongside a survey, and modeling approaches were conducted. Applied simulation studies, a performance assessment of two popular particle dispersion models, namely Austal2000 and ENVI-met, as well as the development of an ANN model are presented. The cities of Aachen and Münster were chosen as case studies for this research. Unexpected patterns of particle mass concentrations could be observed, including the identification of diffuse particle sources inside a park area with strong evidence that unpaved surfaces contributed to local aerosol concentration. In addition, vehicle traffic was proved to be a major contributor of particles, particularly close to traffic lanes. Results of the survey reveal that people were not able to distinguish between different aerosol concentration levels. Austal2000 and ENVI-met turned out to have room for improvement in terms of the reproduction of observed particle concentration levels, with both models having a tendency toward underestimation. The newly developed ANN model was confirmed to be a fairly accurate tool for predicting aerosol concentrations in both space and time, and demonstrates the principal ability of the approach also in the domain of air quality monitoring.

The main subject of the thesis "Communication strategy of company" is analyzing the current state of the communication mix, based of the analysis result and marketing re-search to design a suitable communication mix. The thesis is divided into three main parts. The first part focuses on the theoretical interpretation and definition of important marketing concepts, communication mix, marketing environment and marketing re-search. The second part introduces basic information about reconditioning a studio and analyses the external and internal environment and based on marketing research the suit-able segment is chosen. The last part of the thesis evaluates the current state of the communication mix and based on the results of the second part of the thesis a new communication mix of reconditioning studio Figuraline is proposed.

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Syftet med detta examensarbete är att göra en jämförande studie mellan faktorerna som enligt en teoretisk ram påverkar en miljöinvestering och faktorerna som ingår i ett företags bedömnings-modell. Respondentbolaget begärde i ett tidigt skede att få vara anonymt och benämns därför som Företaget. Det är en multinationell koncern med verksamhet i många skilda branscher, men med fokus på norden och produkter som kan kopplas till lantbruk. Den teoretiska referensramen har sin utgångspunkt i begreppen värde och investering samt hur deras koppling till miljö och miljöinvesteringar för att identifiera de faktorer som påverkar en miljöinvestering. Faktorerna som ingår i den teoretiska referensramen och som jämförs mot respondentbolagets faktorer är:  Investeringens värdetillförsel  Investeringens miljöpåverkan  Hur investeringen påverkar produktionsförutsättningarna  Krav från samhället  Kundkrav Kopplingen däremellan bedöms enligt en femgradig skala. Informationen från Företaget inhäm-tades genom semi-strukturerade intervjuer med representanter från Företaget. Slutsatsen för detta arbete är att Företaget har identifierat samma faktorer som den teoretiska referensramen. De använder dock mätetal som inte fullt ut reflekterar faktorerna. Den största avvikelsen är bedömningen av en investerings värdetillförsel, då Företaget fullt ut införlivar det producerade värdet samt det faktum att en miljöinvestering skall ses som irreversibel. Enkelhet premieras hos Företaget och det är för att prioritera modellens användbarhet, som Företaget väl-jer att acceptera brister i bedömningsmodellen. För att förbättra bedömningsmodellen bör Företaget därför införliva nya mätetal som till större del reflekterar faktorerna som påverkar en miljöinvestering / The purpose of this master thesis is to present a comparison between the factors that affects an environmental investment. This is done through applying a theoretical framework on the factors affecting a company’s existing appraisal model for environmental investments. The company that was a part of this thesis asked at an initial stage for confidentiality, therefore it is called the Company in this thesis. The Company that contributes with the appraisal model is a multination-al group with operations in many different industries, but with a focus on the Nordic countries and products that may be linked to the agricultural sector. The theoretical framework has its base in the concepts of value and investments and their connection to the environment and the envi-ronmental investment. The identified factors in the theoretical framework are:  The investment’s addition to the value creation to the company  The investment’s environmental impact  How the investment affects the production  Demands from society  Customer demands From these, the factors affecting a company’s existing appraisal model were compared and their connection to theoretical framework was judged according to a 5-grade scale. Information from the Company was acquired through semi-structured interviews with representatives from the Company. The largest deviation is how the company considers an investment’s contribution to the produced value. Because of this imperfection does the company's model not fully incorporate the produced value and that an environmental investment is irreversible. The overall conclusion is that the Company has identified the same factors as the theoretical framework. The Company has though chosen to use their existing methods and performance indicators that don’t fully incorporate the factors in the theoretical framework. The largest devia-tions are how the company considers an investment’s contribution to the produced value and that it should be considered as irreversible. The Company must therefore in order to enhance their appraisal model develop new performance measures for the factors.