Cobia fish cage is the most popular marine culture species raised in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam. For its sustainable development, there is a need to determine the carrying capacity to avoid nega-tive marine environmental impact in the future. This study was carried out to collect water samples each two months at the lowest and highest tides at four points around the farming area in Rach Vem, Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province from February to October 2011. Water quality in cobia cage culture was surveyed to assess the environmental status of coastal aquaculture areas including seven parameters such as DO, COD, BOD, TSS, TN, TP and Chlorophyll-a. These parameters are suitable to rear cobia fish cage in this area. Nitrogen and phosphorus are considered as the principal nutrients produced by the cobia fish farm and affecting water environment. This study found that the carrying capacity for fish cage farming in the area is 290.96 to 727.81 tons (based on total nitrogen) and 428.64 to 1,383.88 tons (based on total phosphorus) from February to Au-gust 2011. The maximum number of cobia cages should be, based on total nitrogen, from 64 to 266 and, based on total phosphorus, from 94 to 253. Moreover, this study examined the possibility of remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) technique based on Object-based Image Analysis (OBIA) method by THEOS imagery for mapping of cage culture facilities and detect the location for cobia cage culture in study area. / Cá bớp nuôi lồng bè là một trong những loài cá nuôi phổ biến khu vực ven biển Phú Quốc, Việt nam. Nhằm phát triển bền vững vùng ven biển, đề tài thực hiện đã xác định và đánh giá hiện trạng môi trường nước và sức tải môi trường của nghề nuôi cá bớp lồng bè ở đảo Phú Quốc. Nghiên cứu này được thực hiện thông qua việc thu mẫu môi trường nước mỗi 2 tháng theo mức nước triều cao nhất và thấp nhất tại 4 điểm quanh khu vực nuôi tại ấp Rạch Vẹm, huyện Phú Quốc, tỉnh Kiên Giang từ tháng 02-10/2011. Chất lượng nước khu vực nuôi thủy sản cũng được khảo sát với 7 chỉ tiêu gồm DO, COD, BOD, TSS, TN, TP, Chlorophyll-a. Các thông số chất lượng môi trường này phù hợp nuôi cá bớp tại khu vực nghiên cứu dựa trên tiêu chuẩn chất lượng môi trường. Trong nghiên cứu này, đạm và lân là 2 thông số được sử dụng để tính toán sức tải môi trường. Sức tải môi trường được tính toán cho khu vực nuôi cá bớp dao động khoảng từ 290.96 tấn đến 727.81 tấn (tính trên hàm lượng đạm tổng số) và từ 428,64 tấn đến 1.383,88 tấn (tính trên hàm lượng lân tổng số) trong thời gian từ tháng 2 đến tháng 10 năm 2011. Số lượng tối đa lồng bè nuôi cá bớp khoảng từ 64 đến 266 (đạm tổng số) và từ 94 đến 253 (lân tổng số) dựa vào phân tích hồi quy tương quan. Bên cạnh đó, công nghệ viễn thám và hệ thống thông tin địa lý (GIS) đã được ứng dụng bằng cách sử dụng ảnh THEOS để xác định vị trí và phân bố không gian khu vực nuôi cá lồng bè dựa trên phương pháp phân tích đối tượng theo hướng (OBIA).

Målet med studien är att med hjälp av multikriterieanalyser hitta platser i Gävle tätort att anlägga fickparker på. Till en början gjordes en litteraturöversikt som bland annat bidrog med uppfattningen om vad som är viktigt för fickparker och vilka kriterier som är användbara för att hitta platser att anlägga fickparker på. Utifrån denna uppfattning samt intervjuer valdes kriterierna. Kriterierna skapades i form av restriktioner och faktorer i programmet ESRI ArcGIS 10.2. Intervjuer genomfördes med tre sakkunniga personer. Respondenterna rangordnade och diskuterade kriterierna utifrån vad de ansåg var minst respektive mest viktigt vid anläggandet av fickparker. Rangordningarna blev underlag till viktning av kriterierna (enligt rank-sum-weights). En känslighetsanalys genomfördes också för att testa kriterierna mot fler uppsättningar av vikter. Resultatet av analyserna redovisas på tre kartor baserat på en egen rangordning samt respondenternas. Kartorna visar de bästa platserna att anlägga fickparker på enligt respektive rangordning. Skillnader finns mellan kartorna, men oavsett hur kriterierna rangordnades blev ungefär samma platser valda som de bästa att anlägga fickparker på. De tre bästa platserna som är gemensamma för alla tre rangordningar är alla lokaliserade på Norr (norr om Gavleån). Resultatet av analysen visade att platser som inte på förhand är uppenbara kan bli valda som lämpliga för fickparker. / The purpose of this study is to locate places in Gävle to create pocket parks in, using multi criteria analyzes. Initially a literature review was made that, among other things, contributed with an understanding of what is important to pocket parks and which criteria that is useful in order to locate places to create pocket parks in. The criteria were chosen based on that understanding and interviews. The criteria were produced in the form of constraints and factors in ESRI ArcGIS 10.2. Interviews were conducted with three experts in the field. The interviewees ranked and discussed the criteria based on what they considered to be least and most important in the creation of pocket parks. Weighting of the criteria was based on the gathered rankings (using rank-sum-weights). A sensitivity analysis was conducted to test the criteria against more sets of weights. The results from the analyzes are presented on three maps based on a self-made rank as well as the ones that the interviewees made. The maps show the best locations to create pocket parks in accordance to each rank. There are differences between the maps, but approximately the same locations are chosen as the best ones no matter how the criteria were ranked. The three best locations that the ranks have in common are all located in Norr (north of Gavleån). The results from the analysis demonstrate that locations that pre-analysis aren’t obvious can be chosen as suitable for the creation of pocket parks.

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The eight topological RCC8(or Egenhofer-Franzosa)- relations between spatial regions play a fundamental role in spatial reasoning, spatial and constraint databases, and geographical information systems. In analogy with Halpern and Shoham’s modal logic of time intervals based on the Allen relations, we introduce a family of modal logics equipped with eight modal operators that are interpreted by the RCC8-relations. The semantics is based on region spaces induced by standard topological spaces, in particular the real plane. We investigate the expressive power and computational complexity of the logics obtained in this way. It turns our that, similar to Halpern and Shoham’s logic, the expressive power is rather natural, but the computational behavior is problematic: topological modal logics are usually undecidable and often not even recursively enumerable. This even holds if we restrict ourselves to classes of finite region spaces or to substructures of region spaces induced by topological spaces. We also analyze modal logics based on the set of RCC5relations, with similar results.

The hydrograph at the watershed outlet was simulated using the time-area curve concept implemented in a geographic information system (GIS). The goal of this study was to determine if hydrograph prediction accuracy would be improved by accounting for spatial and temporal variation of excess rainfall. Three models with different methods of estimating excess rainfall were developed: the Distributed Curve Number (DCN) model uses a CN for each cell, generating spatially distributed excess rainfall using the Soil Conservation Services curve number method (SCS, 1972); the Uniform Curve Number (UCN) model uses a single "average" CN for the whole watershed, thus generating a uniform excess rainfall; the Phi index model which uses the Phi-index method to generate uniform excess rainfall. With the aid of a GIS, the cumulative flow time to the watershed outlet is estimated for each cell in the watershed and the isochrones of equal travel time are developed. The time-area curve is developed in the form of an S curve. The spatially distributed 1-hr unit hydrograph is derived from the S curve as the difference between the S curve and its value lagged by 1-hr. The models used in this study describe the physical processes and flow mechanisms. They also reflect effects of watershed characteristics (slope, landuse, soil drainage potential) and excess rainfall intensity on the resulting hydrograph at the watershed outlet. Surface flow is divided into channel flow and overland flow based on the upstream drainage area. Flow is routed to the watershed outlet through a channel network derived from the watershed Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The models developed were tested against observed rainfall-runoff data from the 1153-ha Virginia Piedmont watershed (Owl Run). A total of 30 storms were simulated, with statistical comparison of peak flow rate, time to peak flow rate, and the hydrograph shape. The hydrograph shape was compared both visually and statistically. Results indicated that the two models which account for temporal variation in excess rainfall (DCN and UCN) predicted the output hydrograph much more accurately than the Phi model which lacks the ability to capture the temporal variation of excess rainfall. For this watershed, results showed that the spatial variability in excess rainfall which was accounted for by the DCN model did not improve the prediction accuracy over the UCN model which lacks that ability. However, a sensitivity analysis for the effect of the spatial distribution of the excess rainfall indicated that can be a significant effect of spatial distribution on the predicted hydrograph. / Master of Science

United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations (PKOs), despite varied success outcomes, have been instrumental in mitigating conflict and promoting stability. Initially designed to support ceasefires and facilitate post-conflict activities, their role has evolved significantly since the end of the Cold War. Nowadays, peacekeepers are deployed in active conflict zones, raising critical questions about the effectiveness of their interventions. Current literature extensively analyzes the general impact of peacekeeping on conflict duration, intensity, and civilian protection. However, the local and subnational impacts of peacekeeping remain contested. Most research has focused on mission-level effects, often overlooking the spatial dynamics of conflict and the localized impacts of peacekeeping efforts. This study addresses the gap in understanding the spatial effects of peacekeeping by providing an in-depth analysis of peacekeeping deployments and their impact on the spread of armed conflicts. Utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) data at a sub-national level, this research examines how the proximity of peacekeeping forces to conflict zones influences the geographical spread of armed conflict. Employing Multinomial Logistic Regression (MLR) models with data from the UCDP Georeferenced Event Dataset (GED) 23.1 and the Geocoded Peacekeeping Operation (GEO-PKO) 2.2 dataset, the study explores interactions between peacekeeping deployments, local infrastructure, and conflict dynamics. The study tests two hypotheses: 1) Closer proximity to peacekeeping bases is associated with a greater likelihood of a reduction in conflict fatalities, and 2) The fatality-reduction effect of peacekeeping deployments varies across local geographical conditions. By leveraging PRIO Grid cells as the unit of analysis, this research contributes to the literature, highlighting the importance of local geographical features and infrastructure. The findings inform more effective, context-specific peacekeeping strategies and interventions.

Pinhole corrosion leak in home plumbing has emerged as a significant issue. In the major water distribution system managed by municipalities and water utilities the costs are distributed among all subscribers. The home plumbing repair/replacement cost and possible water damage cost must be addressed by the home owner. There are also issues of the value of home, insurance rates, health consequences, and taste and odor problems. These issues have become major concerns to home owners. Cradle to grave life cycle assessment is becoming an integral part of industrial manufacturing. In this thesis comprehensive details pertaining to life cycle assessment are presented. Copper tubing for plumbing installations is mainly obtained from recycled copper. Various stages of copper plumbing pipe manufacturing are explained. A comprehensive synthesis of various corrosion mechanisms is presented. Particular reference is given to copper plumbing pipe corrosion. A decision support tool for replacing copper plumbing pipes is presented. The deterioration process is grouped into early, normal and late stages. Because available data reflects late stage process, an optimization, neural network and curve fitting models are developed to infer early and normal stage behavior of the plumbing system. Utilizing the inferred leak rates a non-homogeneous poisson process model is developed to generate leak arrival times. An economically sustainable replacement criterion is adopted to determine optimal replacement time. / Master of Science

This study examines land cover changes and their projected future impacts on bird species conservation in and around Nairobi National Park, Kenya. 2016 and 2023 Satellite imagery, analyzed through Google Earth Engine and the MOLUSCE plugin were used to assess changes in five land cover types: grassland, shrubland, forest, urban, and water. Bird population data from the Kenya Bird Map were used to evaluate birds' responses to land cover changes. Birds were categorized into five habitat guilds—grassland-dependent, shrubland-dependent, forest-dependent, water-dependent, and urban-dependent bird species. Between 2016 and 2023, grassland and shrubland decreased by 14.21% and 5.54%, respectively, and urban increased by 19.85%. 2040 projection indicates declines in grassland (19.6%), shrubland (16%), and forest (5.64%), and increase in urbanization by 58.8% which reflect fluctuations in bird populations: grassland-dependent species declined by 27.5%, shrubland-dependent species declined by 6.3%, while forest-dependent, water-dependent, and urban-dependent species increased by 168%, 35.7%, and 101.5%.