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The protection and preservation of biodiversity, a term that encompasses all living organisms on Earth, is becoming an exceedingly important topic as we are losing species at an alarming speed. Inspired by the UN conference, COP15, on biodiversity, this project seeks to engage and educate audiences about the importance of biodiversity conservation in the context of gardening, in close cooperation with two local gardening-related organisations based in Norrköping, Sweden.  The design project utilises motion graphics as a medium to depict the interconnections between biodiversity and gardening practices visually. By combining animation, visual effects, and audio elements, the motion graphics attempt to communicate the significance of preserving biodiversity and sustaining healthy garden environments. This thesis essay explores the research question using a Research Through Design (RtD) approach. The project was conducted through research, concept- and prototype development, finalising in an evaluation and validation phase.  The conclusion of this thesis suggests that motion graphics allow for a visual representation of complex environmental concepts, making them further accessible to a wide audience. By bridging the gap between scientific information and public understanding, motion graphics can empower individuals to adopt sustainable gardening practices and contribute to the preservation and protection of biodiversity.

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The attitudes of Virginia explorers and colonists toward the land and its resources and how these attitudes informed their treatment of them was investigated. The effect of the expectation that Virginia was a newly discovered Garden of Eden on plant cultivation was explored, in terms of agriculture and domestic utilitarian and pleasure gardens. It was determined that the expectation of an Eden in Virginia resulted in the exploitation of Virginia's resources and the creation of formal gardens as a symbol of control over the land. Garden designs and plants used during specific periods in Virginia history were described. In Part II of this thesis, this information was used to determine historical gardens for Airfield Conference Center in Sussex County, Virginia. / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1959 F53

This study presents the results of a modeling effort to explore the role that sustainable roofing technologies play in impacting the rooftop energy balance, and the resultant net sensible heat flux into the urban atmosphere with a focus on the summertime urban heat island. The model has been validated using data from a field experiment. Roofing technologies explored include control dark membrane roof, a highly reflective (cool) roof, a vegetated green roof, and photovoltaic panels elevated above various base roofs. Energy balance models were developed, validated with experimental measurements, and then used to estimate sensible fluxes in cities located in six climate zones across the US. To evaluate the impact on urban air temperatures, a mesoscale meteorological model was used. Sensible flux profiles calculated using a surface energy balance were used as inputs to the mesoscale model. Results for a 2-day period in Portland, OR are analyzed. Average findings indicate that the black roof and black roof with PV have the highest peak daily sensible flux to the environment, ranging from 331 to 405 W/m2. The addition of PV panels to a black roof had a negligible effect on the peak flux, but decreased the total flux by an average of 11%. Replacing a black roof with a white or green roof resulted in a substantial decrease in the total sensible flux. Results indicate that if a black membrane roof is replaced by a PV covered white or a PV covered green roof the corresponding reduction in total sensible flux is on the order of 50%. Mesoscale modeling results indicate peak daytime temperature reduction of approximately 1°C for both white and green roofs. However, there is a nighttime penalty on the order of 0.75°C for the green roof case, which has been attributed to the additional thermal storage of a green roof. Findings also reveal that the addition of PV panels to a roof has a nighttime cooling effect. This is most pronounced on a white roof, with magnitudes of 1°C. The methodology developed for this analysis provides a foundation for evaluating the relative impacts of roof design choices on the urban climate and should prove useful in guiding urban heat island mitigation efforts.