published_or_final_version / Transport Studies / Master / Master of Arts

The population of Austin, Texas is projected to reach 1.6 million people by the year 2040, which doubles the city’s current population. The populations of cities in neighboring counties, Hays and Williamson, are projected to experience even more growth within the same time frame. For the first time in history, over half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, so sustainable development is currently relevant for urban planning. Until 2010, Austin lacked a mass public transportation system. Currently, Capital Metro, Austin’s main public transportation operator, operates the Red Line of the MetroRail, a commuter rail system. The Red Line only serves a specific subset of the population in Austin and its northern neighbors, running from the city of Leander, through northern Austin, before its final stop in downtown Austin. Because of this, Capital Metro will begin operations on a new method of rapid mass transit: a bus rapid transit system called MetroRapid. With two lines opening in 2014, MetroRapid will function as a mass rapid public transit option for two of the busiest north-south corridors in the city. The opening of MetroRapid will provide opportunities to stimulate growth in areas focused around this transit system. Transit-oriented development can be a method of guiding Austin’s future growth that will theoretically facilitate and encourage public transit use. The benefits to such growth would be reduced congestion, less dependency on automobiles and fostering communities that are vibrant and self-sustaining. This paper defines Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs), Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and analyzes the MetroRapid stations themselves as Austin moves toward becoming a sustainable city. / text

<p>Due to the pressure of hyper competitive markets, companies are forced to constantly search for improvements in their range of products and services. The success key is to be proactive and implement strategies that value innovation trough business processes and diversification of products and services. The ideal situation is when real</p><p>added values are offered to customers.</p><p>This Master Thesis, as a practice oriented project, analyzes the feasibility of a new business concept “Smart storage”, and aims to identify the existence of a real opportunity. It not only provides a practical solution to a case regarding innovation trough product diversification, but also shows the detailed processes that were used to solve it.</p><p>There were several phases in the project. The first phase included ideas generation(the discovery of different applications for the business idea); valuable information resulted</p><p>from brain storming sessions, focus groups and whishing and bug-lists of creative techniques. It was also necessary to run meetings with the consultant who is working close to the company that wants launch the new product and the Company itself. Once we come up with different applications, it was necessary to gather information about their attractiveness which constitutes the second phase of the study. In</p><p>this case we contacted several organizations and information resulted from interviews,internet search, telephone calls, e-mails and observation. The empirical data gathering phase was extremely important for the analysis of the project. Finally, for data analysis and its interpretation, we used the Feasibility analysis framework.</p><p>The conclusion points out that there is a great potential for starting a “Smart storage for Stadsarkivet-usage” project with public archive institutions. However further studies should be taken place in order to complete the feasibility analysis.</p>

In the thesis, two different model predictive control (MPC) strategies are investigated for linear systems with uncertainty in the presence of constraints: namely robust MPC and stochastic MPC. Firstly, a Youla Parameter is integrated into an efficient robust MPC algorithm. It is demonstrated that even in the constrained cases, the use of the Youla Parameter can desensitize the costs to the effect of uncertainty while not affecting the nominal performance, and hence it strengthens the robustness of the MPC strategy. Since the controller u = K x + c can offer many advantages and is used across the thesis, the work provides two solutions to the problem when the unconstrained nominal LQ-optimal feedback K cannot stabilise the whole class of system models. The work develops two stochastic tube approaches to account for probabilistic constraints. By using a semi closed-loop paradigm, the nominal and the error dynamics are analyzed separately, and this makes it possible to compute the tube scalings offline. First, ellipsoidal tubes are considered. The evolution for the tube scalings is simplified to be affine and using Markov Chain model, the probabilistic tube scalings can be calculated to tighten the constraints on the nominal. The online algorithm can be formulated into a quadratic programming (QP) problem and the MPC strategy is closed-loop stable. Following that, a direct way to compute the tube scalings is studied. It makes use of the information on the distribution of the uncertainty explicitly. The tubes do not take a particular shape but are defined implicitly by tightened constraints. This stochastic MPC strategy leads to a non-conservative performance in the sense that the probability of constraint violation can be as large as is allowed. It also ensures the recursive feasibility and closed-loop stability, and is extended to the output feedback case.

The current energy context is characterized by the absolute necessity to reduce carbon emissions in order to tackle climate change and avoid its bleakest consequences. Furthermore, the overall energy supply system presents plentiful inefficiencies that lead to outrageous waste of energy.                 Spain's energy outlook is also marked by its astonishingly high energy dependence, which has contributed to its secular deficit in the trade balance.                 District heating systems permit to cover the heat demand from the residential, service and some components of the industrial sector utilizing excess heat that otherwise would be wasted, thus, reducing the total primary energy demand. In addition, they ease the development of renewables and enable a a reduction of greenhouse emissions and other hazardous gases.                 Despite its their advantages towards the fulfilment of climate change goals and the improvement of the country's economic situation,  they they only represent an insignificant contribution to Spain's heat demand. The main target of this dissertation has been to determine the economic feasibility of regarding the development of a district heating system in the Spanish city of Gijón.                 The city of Gijón counts on several parameters that allow the development of a centralized supply, such as several sources of excess heat and a high population density with little urban sprawl. However, other circumstances such as the low specific heat demands endanger the success of these systems.                 The first step towards the determination of the economic feasibility has been to assess the heat demands of the different subsectors that comprise the building stock. Particular care has been taken in order to attain the most realistic figures to supplement lack of official statistics with other sources. Furthermore, the final results have been compared to other independent evaluations, allowing to determine its accuracy.                 Following the calculation of heat demands, the attention is focussed on the estimation of the costs of the different elements that entail the construction and operation of a district heating system; the construction and maintenance of the distribution network, the heat supply, and the interface between the distribution network and the customer's systems, the substations. The assessment of these expenses has endeavoured to be rather conservative.                 The estimation of the specific cost of heat for the district heating system and its contrast with current forms of heat supply has allowed drawing the conclusion that the new network would be economically competitive despite the conservative assumptions taken. In addition, the system would practically eliminate the emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides from the building stock.                 Finally, the viability of the system to changes in certain key parameters has been evaluated. Overall, the system's economic performance is not jeopardized by different configurations and solely two factors, the cost of capital and the connection rate could put at risk the success of the undertaking.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Vincent R. Amanor-Boadu / Nationwide, the craft brew industry has enjoyed massive growth. Hops are an important ingredient in craft brew beer and rapid growth of this industry has created many opportunities to grow hops. Currently, hops production is concentrated in the Pacific Northwest. That is beginning to change with new hops acres being planted every year across the country. The study looks at how economically feasible it is to plant hops in Nebraska. Is there enough local demand? Finally, given that Nebraska’s weather is dramatically different than the Pacific Northwest, can hops flourish there? The research begins by assessing all costs associated with a starting a three acre hops operation. Estimated yield and income is projected for ten years to establish cash flow. Instances of hail, wind and tornados for Clay County Nebraska for the years 2006-2016 were calculated to determine a probability of those weather events occurring. The probability was then used to determine the effect it could have on yield of hops per year. In addition to cost of production, the study also documented the growth of Nebraska’s craft brew industry to establish demand for locally grown hops. The researched concluded that if production stayed constant and our discount rate at 5%, assuming prices remain where they are or higher, then it is economically feasible to grow hops in Nebraska. Wind, hail and tornadoes do pose a threat in the Midwest but their effect on yield is not enough to deter someone from planting hops there. Access to reliable capital to begin and sustain a hops operation appears to have a greater impact. In addition, Nebraska’s craft brew industry continues to expand rapidly suggesting a strong market for locally grown hops. This information is important for anyone who is considering planting a commercial hops yard. Given how expensive the start-up costs are and how labor intensive the crop is, this research can provide guidance to those seeking to add hops production to their new or existing farming operation.

FAKULTA TĚLESNÉ VÝCHOVY A SPORTU UNIVERZITY KARLOVY V PRAZE DIPLOMOVÁ PRÁCE NA TÉMA Technickoekonomická studie sportovně - regeneračního centra VEDOUCÍ PRÁCE: ZPRACOVAL: Doc. Ing. Eva Čáslavová, Csc. Matěj Kaplan Prohlašuji, že jsem diplomovou práci vypracoval samostatně a použil pouze uvedené zdroje. _______________________ Matěj Kaplan Děkuji paní Doc. Ing. Čáslavové, Csc. za praktické a teoretické rady vztahující se k diplomové práci. Abstrakt Diplomová práce na téma Technickoekonomická studie sportovně - regeneračního centra navrhuje investiční projekt ve formě technickoekonomické studie pro zřízení a provoz sportovně - regeneračních služeb v Roztokách u Prahy. Obsah technickoekonomické studie tvoří marketingová strategie, geografická strategie, lidské zdroje, materiálové vstupy a energie, organizace a řízení, finanční plán a analýza a analýza rizik. Klíčová slova: Technickoekonomická studie, finanční analýza, rizikovost projektu. Abstract The thesis on subject of Feasibility study of sport&regeneration centre is showing the investment project in form of feasibility study for development and running of the sport&regeneration facilities in Roztoky u Prahy. The feasibility study is made of marketing strategy, geographical strategy, human resources, costs of material and energy bills, organisation and...

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Allen M. Featherstone / As the U.S. economy has changed, the use of diesel vehicles has increased. With this increase, has come an increase in the demand of highly trained technicians to work on those vehicles. North Arkansas College of Harrison, AR is looking for opportunities to keep its program offerings current with the educational demands of its potential students. During the last few years, North Arkansas College has received requests to start a diesel vehicle maintenance program. This thesis analyzes the feasibility of a diesel vehicle maintenance program at North Arkansas College. To determine the feasibility of such a program, all major aspects of the potential program must be considered and analyzed. The key questions addressed are: what is the interest level in the community for a diesel vehicle maintenance program, what are the major capital costs of starting the program, what would the potential operating budget resemble, and how would the program fit into the current field of area diesel maintenance programs? To study the feasibility of a potential diesel vehicle maintenance program at North Arkansas College, four steps were completed. First, a survey was developed that measured the interest from potential students, prospective employers, and interested community members from the potential market of North Arkansas College. Second, research was done to understand how a potential diesel vehicle maintenance program would fit into the current marketplace of established diesel maintenance programs. This was done by researching and comparing area programs to the type of programs that North Arkansas College offers and the possible model of a potential diesel vehicle maintenance program. Next, research was conducted to estimate the capital costs of starting a diesel vehicle maintenance program, as well as the potential operating budget. This was done by developing blueprints of a potential floor plan, a building to house the program, and the potential areas of study in the program. Based on these blueprints, actual bids and estimates were collected to calculate potential capital and operating costs. Finally, analysis was conducted to determine if the outcomes of a potential diesel vehicle maintenance program would fulfill the mission of North Arkansas College. The analysis of the feasibility of a diesel vehicle maintenance program at North Arkansas College reveals that there is interest from all three parts of the community in starting a diesel vehicle maintenance program. The research also revealed that the program would be a fit in the marketplace if it was an affordable, three semester program that covered the basics of the diesel powered vehicle. Also, research of the potential costs and revenues of the program reveals that the program would be sustainable. Finally, a diesel vehicle maintenance program would have much synergy with the current programs already offered at North Arkansas College. In the end, the results suggest that it is worthwhile to move forward towards starting a diesel vehicle maintenance program.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Vincent Amanor-Boadu / Bunge is a global agribusiness company that has invested in a facility to produce extruded ingredients and inclusions in its Woodland, California rice mill. Because Bunge is not a branded food manufacturer, it is in a unique position to be a contract manufacturer to a variety of customers without the potential for a conflict of interest. Also, because Bunge is primary in three of the most common ingredients for extruded products, corn, rice and oil, this would be a move down the value chain that would allow it to be more competitive. The initial investment in Woodland has allowed Bunge to learn more about the manufacture of extruded ingredients and inclusions and also gauge overall market demand. A possible next step would be to build a second facility in the eastern half of the United States to expand capacity and be geographically situated to supply the Midwest, South and Northeast regions of the U.S. In order to begin exploring the possibility of a greenfield expansion into the contract manufacture of extruded ingredients and inclusions, this thesis considers three subjects. The first is a customer survey case study, which discovers the customer found high price and whether or not the manufacturer was considered a strategic partner to be the most significant factors in how desirable a manufacturer is. The second subject considered is the ideal location for a second manufacturing site based on a number of factors, including distance from both the customer base and inputs, labor issues, and any savings associated with a particular site. It was found that distance from the ultimate customer may be less important overall than the other factors. The third and final component of the research involved conducting a financial feasibility study. The analyses were conducted under alternative scenarios and subjected to a sensitivity analysis on a number of crucial variables. The weighted average NPV for the alternative scenarios was about $31 million and the IRR of 13.8% cleared the company’s investment hurdle rate. The payback period was estimated to be just under six years. All these suggest that the project as presented in this research is feasible and any investment in it, subject to the absence of any unforeseen event, will be profitable. It is hoped that this information can be used as a starting point and a guide to consider a future investment based on demand and other market indicators available at the time such a decision is required.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Hikaru Hanawa Peterson / Local foods is a growing market segment, and there are multiple businesses attempting to capitalize on the interest in buying from local producers. As consumer interest in local food continues to grow, businesses will be created to meet a growing demand. This research identifies areas in current customer segments in local foods that are not being serviced or are being underserviced. Potential business models are then identified in order to service the identified customer segments. One primary service gap that was identified in the research was that end consumers were not able to purchase local food per their definition of local food. Major retailers sell local produce and food items that were grown within the state boundaries, but few sell produce that is grown within the community. A cost/revenue framework simulation was built to compare three different types of business models that could potentially fill the identified service gap in the target area of Washington State. After the simulation was performed, the models were compared on net present values in lowest feasible, expected, and best case scenarios. Factors such as imitability and scalability were also considered. The three models were a micro-farming app and website, a CSA delivery and management service, and a non-profit community garden. The micro-farming site and app would allow producers and artisans, no matter the scale, to have an online marketplace to sell and trade food products. The CSA management and delivery model delivers CSA shares to customers while charging a delivery and management fee to the farm on which the CSA is based. The non-profit community garden is a five-acre parcel with a water retention system and offers tiered services for garden management in King County. Results suggest that even though each business model could potentially be feasible in the targeted areas, the most visibly promising model was the micro-farming website and app. Beyond the financial overview and analysis reported in the thesis, the business models could be ranked in a variety of ways according to an entrepreneur’s interest. More importantly, there is no better time than now to start building a business model that services customer’s interest in local food.