Parametric design can be used for structural design. This approach has someclear advantages compared to the conventional point-based approach using differentComputer Aided Design (CAD)-software, especially in early stage of design. Since themodel is parametrically defined, alternate designs, that are within the scope of theparametric definition, can be explored with little effort from the user compared tothe point-based models. In this way, optimization routines can be used to make moreinformed decisions about the design. Pipe bridges usually have a similar design that issuitable to be defined parametrically.The aim of the thesis is to automate the modeling of pipe bridges in the earlystages of design, to make an integrated analysis and to optimize the structure withregard to material cost and carbon dioxide equivalent-emissions as well as mass ofthe structure. Further, to investigate in what way these objectives are correlated.This thesis improves an existing grasshopper script used to design pipe bridges andimplement an automatic generation of a Bill of Quantity (BoQ).The results of the thesis case study suggests that there is potential in usingoptimization with parametric design to minimize the cost of pipe bridges. With a goodparametric design definition alternate designs can be explored with little effort fromthe user. This benefit to speed up the design process, and allowing the designer towork with adaptable design, could be reasons to turn to a parametric design method.It should also be stressed that this thesis suggests a correlation between the cost of thestructure and the carbon dioxide equivalent emission from the structure. Meaning thatwhile minimizing emissions one could also be minimizing the cost.

Thesis (MScConEcol)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of the research presented in this dissertation was to investigate localised acridid outbreaks causing damage to sugarcane in Empangeni, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. Reports of outbreaks with increasing severity have occurred for the last six or seven years, which prompted this research. In general, little is known about acridid outbreaks in sugarcane due to their sporadic nature, therefore this project set out to identify morphologically and molecularly, all species associated with Empangeni sugarcane and to determine the ecology and population dynamics of the most important species, to provide baseline data for the development of an integrated pest management (IPM) plan against these crop pests. A year-long population survey was conducted on a number of affected farms and adjacent grassland sites to determine the life cycles, population density and composition of this acridid complex on these farms. Surveys showed that this complex comprised five species: Nomadacris septemfasciata, Petamella prosternalis, Ornithacris cyanea, Cyrtacanthacris aeruginosa and Cataloipus zuluensis. Observed damage was recorded throughout the year in order to correlate with species densities. It was found that damage was closely associated with two species, namely Petamella prosternalis and Nomadacris septemfasciata, therefore these two species are of particular concern due to their higher densities and large body size resulting in them being the biggest threat to Empangeni sugarcane. All five species are univoltine but two different life cycle strategies were discovered, 3 species exhibit a winter egg diapause while 2 species exhibit a winter adult reproductive diapause, an important finding considering the knowledge intensive method of control which has been proposed. Population surveys revealed a large difference in species composition among farms (sugarcane sites) and among grassland sites. Nomadacris septemfasciata and Petamella prosternalis showed a significant preference for sugarcane while species such as Cyrtacanthacris aeruginosa, Zonocerus elegans and Orthocta sp. seemed to prefer grassland sites. Feeding potential trials were completed on the two most economically important species, Nomadacris septemfasciata and Petamella prosternalis. The results showed that Petamella prosternalis has a significantly higher feeding potential (% leaf damage) compared to Nomadacris septemfasciata even though in terms of dry weight and length, it is a smaller specimen. Feeding data were used to determine the voracity of these two species under laboratory conditions. Petamella prosternalis eats roughly 1.83 grams of fresh sugarcane per day while Nomadacris septemfasciata eats approximately 1.16 grams per day. These results were then compared to observed field damage data in order to gauge their accuracy and applicability within a field setting, which showed that although sugarcane field damage is significantly correlated with the population fluctuations of both these species, it is more closely associated with Petamella prosternalis resulting in a correlation coefficient of 0.429143 while Nomadacris septemfasciata had a correlation coefficient of 0.250. Phase polyphenism in the red locust Nomadacris septemfasciata was investigated using three methods including traditional morphometrics (Elytra/Femur (E/F) ratio), hopper colouration and eye stripe data. The E/F ratio indicated that the majority of the Empangeni population sampled is in the transiens and gregarious phase with a mean E/F ratio of 2.0063 and that they seem to be becoming more gregarious over time, with populations in 2012 having a mean E/F ratio of 1.9973 and in 2013 a mean E/F ratio of 2.01315. Hopper colouration also indicates that populations are generally showing gregarious tendencies with the majority of hoppers exhibiting gregarious type colouration. Eye stripe data showed that the majority of adult specimens observed had seven eye stripes, an indication of gregarious individuals. Geometric morphometrics, a relatively new, software based technique which has not been used in phase polyphenism studies before was used as a means to accurately measure variations among populations of N. septemfasciata by measuring the variation in forewing shape according to allocated landmarks. The resulting shape variation were compared to traditional morphometrics in an attempt to relate the two techniques so that geometric morphometrics can possibly be used as a tool to study phase polyphenism in locusts in the future. The results indicate that similarities in terms of location and gender exist between the two methods, however the exact same individuals should be used for both methods which will improve the accuracy of comparisons. This study, for the first time identified the acridid complex causing damage to Empangeni sugarcane and provided a broad summary of the potential impact the complex has on the crop as well as what may be causing them to occur in this area such as optimal habitat conditions and sugarcane as a preferable host plant being two factors which are likely to be having an influence. The findings of this study provide the baseline data needed in order to develop a more integrated and sustainable approach to controlling these acridids pests. Understanding the biology of the species enables practitioners to make more effective management decisions which is clearly needed as the current techniques being used have not solved the ‘grasshopper problem’. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die navorsing wat in hierdie verhandeling was om ondersoek in te gelokaliseerde acridid uitbrekings veroorsaak skade aan suikerriet in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal, Suid-Afrika. Verslae van die uitbreek met toenemende erns plaasgevind het vir die laaste 6-7 jaar, wat gelei het tot hierdie navorsing. In die algemeen, is min bekend oor acridid uitbreek in suikerriet as gevolg van hul sporadiese aard, daarom is hierdie projek uiteengesit morfologies en molekulêre identifiseer, al die spesies wat verband hou met Empangeni suikerriet en die ekologie en bevolkingsdinamika van die belangrikste spesies te bepaal, te voorsien basislyn data vir die ontwikkeling van 'n geïntegreerde plaagbestuur (GPB) plan teen hierdie oes peste. 'N jaar lank bevolking opname is uitgevoer op 'n aantal plase wat geraak is en aangrensende grasveld plekke om die lewensiklus te bepaal, bevolkingsdigtheid en samestelling van hierdie acridid kompleks op die plase . Opnames het getoon dat hierdie komplekse bestaan uit vyf spesies: Nomadacris septemfasciata, Petamella prosternalis, Ornithacris Cyanea, Cyrtacanthacris aeruginosa en Cataloipus zuluensis Waargeneem skade is aangeteken deur die jaar ten einde te ooreenstem met spesie digtheid. Daar is gevind dat die skade was nou verbind met twee spesies, naamlik P. prosternalis en N. septemfasciata, dus is die twee spesies van besondere belang as gevolg van hul hoër digtheid en 'n groot liggaam grootte lei daartoe dat hulle die grootste bedreiging vir die Empangeni suikerriet. Al vyf spesies is univoltine maar twee verskillende lewensiklus strategieë ontdek, 3 spesies toon 'n winter eier diapouse terwyl 2 spesies toon 'n winter volwasse reproduktiewe diapouse, 'n belangrike bevinding oorweging van die kennis intensiewe metode van beheer wat is voorgestel. Bevolking opnames openbaar 'n groot verskil in spesies samestelling onder plase (suikerriet webwerwe) en onder grasveld webwerwe. Nomadacris septemfasciata en Petamella prosternalis het 'n beduidende voorkeur vir suikerriet, terwyl spesies soos Cyrtacanthacris aeruginosa, Zonocerus elegans en Orthocta SP. gelyk grasveld webwerwe te verkies. Voeding potensiaal proewe is op die twee mees ekonomies belangrike spesies voltooi, Nomadacris septemfasciata en Petamella prosternalis Die resultate het getoon dat Petamella prosternalis het 'n aansienlik hoër voeding potensiaal(% blaarskade) in vergelyking met Nomadacris septemfasciata selfs al in terme van droë gewig en lengte, is dit is 'n kleiner model. Voeding data is gebruik om die gulzig van hierdie twee spesies onder laboratorium toestande te bepaal. Petamella prosternalis eet ongeveer 1.83 gram vars suikerriet per dag, terwyl Nomadacris septemfasciata eet ongeveer 1,16 gram per dag. Hierdie resultate is dan in vergelyking met waargeneem veld skade data om die akkuraatheid en toepaslikheid in 'n veld omgewing, wat getoon het dat hoewel suikerriet veld skade beduidend gekorreleer met die bevolking skommelinge van beide hierdie spesies, is nouer dit verband hou met Petamella prosternalis te meet lei tot 'n korrelasie koëffisiënt van 0.429143 terwyl Nomadacris septemfasciata het 'n korrelasie koëffisiënt van 0.250408 Fase polyphenism in die rooisprinkaan Nomadacris septemfasciata is ondersoek met behulp van drie metodes, insluitend tradisionele Morphometricsveld (Elytra/Femur (E/F) verhouding), hopper kleur en oog streep data. Die Elytra te Femur verhouding (E/F -verhouding) het aangedui dat die meerderheid van die bevolking is Empangeni in die transiens en gesellige fase met 'n gemiddelde E/F verhouding van 2,0063 en dat dit lyk asof hulle meer kuddedier met verloop van tyd, met bevolkings in 2012 met 'n gemiddelde E/F verhouding van 1,9973 en in 2013 'n gemiddelde E/F verhouding van 2,01315 . Hopper kleur dui ook aan dat die bevolking in die algemeen toon kuddedier neigings Thye meerderheid van hoppers uitstal gesellige tipe kleur. Oog streep het getoon dat die meerderheid van die volwasse eksemplare waargeneem het sewe oog strepe: 'n aanduiding van die gesellige individue. Geometriese Morphometricsveld, 'n relatief nuwe, sagteware gebaseer tegniek wat nie gebruik is in fase polyphenism studies voor was gebruik as 'n middel tot verskille tussen bevolkings van die rooisprinkaan akkuraat te meet deur die variasie meet in voorvlerk vorm volgens toegeken landmerke Die gevolglike vorm variasie is in vergelyking met die tradisionele Morphometricsveld in 'n poging om die twee tegnieke in verband te bring , sodat meetkundige Morphometricsveld kan moontlik as 'n instrument fase polyphenism om te studeer in sprinkane in die toekoms gebruik kan word. Die resultate dui daarop dat die ooreenkomste in terme van ligging en geslag bestaan tussen die twee metodes is egter presies dieselfde individue moet gebruik word vir beide metodes wat die akkuraatheid van vergelykings verbeter. Hierdie studie, wat vir die eerste keer geïdentifiseer die acridid kompleks om skade aan Empangeni suikerriet en verskaf 'n breë opsomming van die potensiële impak van die kompleks het op die gewas sowel as wat kan veroorsaak word om hulle te kom in hierdie gebied soos optimale habitat toestande en suikerriet as 'n beter gasheer plant. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie verskaf die basislyn data wat nodig is om 'n meer geïntegreerde en volhoubare benadering tot die beheer van hulle as die begrip van die biologie van die spesie in staat stel om praktisyns meer effektiewe bestuur besluite wat duidelik nodig is as 'n die huidige tegnieke gebruik moet maak om te ontwikkel nie opgelos die "sprinkaan probleem".

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The demand for complex structures and the urge to perform more detailed structural analyses in an early stage of the project design phase has increased the use of parametric design in the construction sector, especially among architects and structural engineers. Also, an increasing demand for sustainable structures is creating pressure on engineers and architects to design optimized structures that consume as little resources as possible. Keeping these demands in mind, this thesis tries to uncover the benefits of parametric design and optimization by applying these processes to industrial roof truss structures.The primary objective of the thesis is to investigate the feasibility and reliability of parametric design and optimization processes in real-life designs. For this purpose, a parametric algorithm has been developed in the visual programming software Grasshopper 3D. The workflow performs structural analysis and design verification on a parametric FE-model using the FEA software for parametric engineering, Karamba 3D in combination with Python where standards for design verification were scripted. These procedures were developed to be applied on both steel and timber truss structures. The workflow then performs a constrained cross-sectional and geometrical optimization of the truss structures. For the optimization process, the plug-in Galapagos have been used which uses evolutionary and simulated annealing techniques.After analyses of different cases and on comparison of the results from the model response verification, the resulting models showed that the workflow and analysis procedure was capable of obtaining a solution that is more effective and as reliable as the traditional structural analysis procedures and thus can be used for real case. When used during preliminary design, the parametric design procedure displayed great potential in saving time, thus saving resources and cost which paves a promising path for implementations in this sector.

This thesis investigates the design of atria for daylighting in large scale buildings. Athree dimensional test building with a central atrium was constructed and various parameters of the atrium altered. The impact of these changes was studied through computer simulations of annual daylight distribution by implementing state of theart software. Daylight autonomy is simulated for an annual climate file for Stockholm, Sweden. In the thesis, notion is made of basic daylighting concepts, the importance of bringing daylight into buildings is argued, and the daylighting criteria of three environmental certification tools introduced. Furthermore, a detailed comparison is made on several well known daylight simulation tools. A newly developed, state of the art, daylight simulation tool called Honeybee, is used in the simulation process. The tool utilizes the calculation engines of wellknown daylight simulation software Radiance and Daysim, which apply backward ray-tracing to reach accurate results. Honeybee is coupled to the graphical algorithmeditor Grasshopper for Rhinoceros 3D, which allows for an efficient way of parametric modelling. The comparison of five different daylight simulation tools showed that Honeybee outweighs the capabilities of many of them by offering a wast range of simulation capabilities and also giving the user exceptional control of result data within multiple zones of the test building. The results of the daylight study have been compiled into a document which purpose is to serve as early stage design guidelines of atria for architects. Many factors have been shown through simulation to have a dramatic impact on daylighton an annual basis, and several suggestions have been made on how to maximize the quantity of daylight within buildings containing atria.

The need for humanity to lessen its impact on the ecologies we’re a part of is becoming increasingly clear.  While there are many technically advanced solutions in the makings, one of the most straightforward ones is to simply use the objects we surround ourselves with longer. We can make them more durable and repairable but what happens when the needs of the user changes? How can we really know what needs the future will bring? I’m searching for a design approach that embraces this unknown. A process where the designer doesn’t have to be the enlightened figure that knows everything in advance. Because if we accept the complexity of the social and ecological reality where our objects end up, we never can be. I want to make objects that can grow and change with the user. A fertile soil for future needs. I’ve used the design process of three different objects to develop these thoughts.  An open ended loom for the weaver Vega Määttä Siltberg, a table made with designer Julie Amira that is disassemblable without tools, and lastly a piece of furniture that changes function without moving parts. The goal of this project is not to produce a solution to a specific problem or to create an object that communicates an idea as well as possible. Rather it’s the reverse. By the process of designing and building I’ve been able to explore the questions that my project is composed of. The thoughts expressed here come from this experience.

Today, 3D modelling and structural analysis of buildings are performed in various software. Collaboration between various software is common today but breaks the flow in the construction design phase. To achieve an uninterrupted flow in the construction design phase, a constellation of modelling and structural analysis is needed in a single software. To enable a constellation, there are today many developed digital methods for this.Parametric design is a digital method that is mostly used to handle complex shapes. In recent years, the parametric design has evolved even more and the algorithmic thinking in parametric design provides opportunities for performing structural analyses. The development includes various plug-in programs that have structural analysis capabilities. However, this degree project emphasizes that this can be achieved without a plug-in program that has structural analysis capabilities. With only one visualization program and a plug-in that handles visual programming, the ability to produce what is to be visualized with a script arises.The structural analysis in this thesis includes robustness analysis that is important in the context of progressive collapse, and only the alternative load path method is considered. Progressive collapse is an important analysis for buildings that arise due to known or unknown accident loads. To increase the redundancy of the bearing structure, the alternative load path method can be used, which is a branch under unknown accident loads.Robustness analysis is a time-consuming process and automation can make this more efficient. With parameter-driven modelling and robustness analysis, the constructor can indicate at an early stage possible structure failure before the building is completed. Early action also leads to a reduction in waste of material resources.The alternative load path method provides the possibility to analyze whether the building receives alternate load path in the event of loss of load-bearing elements. This research report analyses column loss. Automated visualization of alternate load path enables to be able to analyze the load redistribution after the loss of column.Today some buildings are at risk against the progressive collapse, people's lives and health are therefore at risk when all or part of the building collapses. That is why efficiency is needed. The research report showed that the script automated the modelling and robustness analysis of buildings. Two different loss scenarios were analyzed and the authors found different updated loading areas and load redistribution.

Sinnessysteme erfassen und verarbeiten staendig die vielfaeltigen und komplexen Reize der Umwelt. Um die funktionellen Eigenschaften eines solchen Systems zu untersuchen, verwendet man jedoch oft relativ einfache, abstrakte Reize. Diese Reize erlauben aber meist nicht, die Funktion des Systems im Verhaltenskontext zu interpretieren. Ferner erhaelt man durch einfache Reize im allgemeinen eine unvollstaendige Beschreibung des Systems. Innerhalb dieser Arbeit zeige ich exemplarisch am Beispiel von auditorischen Rezeptorneuronen von Heuschrecken, wie man natuerliche Stimuli einsetzen kann, um die sensorische Codierung zu untersuchen.Heuschrecken verwenden akustische Kommunikation zur Partnerfindung und -auswahl. Dabei sind die Weibchen hochselektiv bei der Wahl eines Maennchens. Von besonderem Interesse ist daher, inwieweit Informationen ueber Unterschiede zwischen Maennchengesaengen durch die auditorischen Rezeptoren des Weibchens erhalten werden. Wie in der Arbeit gezeigt wird, liefern selbst einzelne Rezeptorneuronen hinreichend Information, um selbst kleine Unterschiede zwischen den Maennchengesaengen zu erkennen. Diese erstaunliche Aufloesung der Gesaenge dient vermutlich der Auswahl von genetisch hochwertigen Partnern. Ferner wird gezeigt, dass auditorische Rezeptoren nicht allgemein viel Information ueber Stimuli liefern, sondern auf spezifische Zeitskalen und Strukturen der natuerlichen Stimuli optimiert sind. Falls sensorische Systeme generell gut auf die jeweilig verhaltensrelevanten Stimuli abgestimmt sind, so kann man diese Stimuli auch automatisch finden. Im letzten Teil der Arbeit wird ein Online-Algorithmus vorgestellt, der dieses Ziel unter Verwendung informationstheoretischer Prinzipien erreicht. Dieser Algorithmus kann in Zukunft dazu dienen, die Effizienz elektrophysiologischer Experimente in beliebigen Systemen zu erhoehen. / In their natural environment, sensory systems process a wealth of complex stimuli. In contrast, most experimental tests of sensory systems employ simple stimuli that can be described by one or two parameters. However, these simple stimuli do usually not allow to relate the function of a specific system to an animal's behaviour. Furthermore, in many cases a complete characterisation of a sensory system cannot be achieved by simple stimuli alone. Within this thesis, I demonstrate how one can employ natural stimuli to study aspects of sensory coding. Grasshoppers use acoustic communication for mate detection and selection. Females show preferences for certain "qualities" of the signals produced by different conspecific males. In this thesis, I investigated how much information female grasshoppers obtain about differences between the mating songs of males. Already single auditory receptor neurons of female grasshoppers encode sufficient information to distinguish even fine variations of male songs. Presumably, this astonishing resolution is needed to single out males of high genetic quality. Furthermore, I show that the ensemble of stimuli that best explores the coding regime of a given receptor has features and time scales that are typical for grasshopper songs. If a close match between the behaviourally relevant stimuli and the sensory system is an evolutionary design principle, then one can extract the relevant stimuli from a given system without prior knowledge. In the last part of the thesis, an online algorithm is introduced, that achieves this goal using information-theoretic principles. This algorithm might help to improve the performance of experiments within the limited time of an electrophysiological recording session.

I byggbranschen har nya metoder för projektering utvecklats genom införandet av moderna och mer kraftfulla BIM-verktyg. Flera av dagens konstruktioner modelleras enligt tredimensionella principer.Tekla Structures är ett kraftfullt BIM-verktyg som klarar av att hantera både huskonstruktioner och anläggningskonstruktioner. Trots detta kan programmet inte hantera broar med dubbelkrökning på ett effektivt sätt. Projektörer behöver därför utgå från flera program för att kunna hantera komplexa brokonstruktioner.För att kunna utnyttja fördelar med Tekla Structures, behöver programmet att utvecklas eller kompletteras med andra tredjepartsprogram. Detta projekt syftar till att integrera nya arbetssätt och införa en metodik, i form av parametriserade modellering i Tekla Structures. En sådan form av modellering tillåter användaren att modifiera parametrar för en önskad modell.Ett skript är skapad genom ett visuellt programmeringstillägg, som genererar parametriskbaserade bromodeller. Brokonstruktionstyp som modellerades i detta projekt är en plattrambro.Resultatet av projektet pekar mot att parametriserad modellering är ett effektivt sätt att modellera och en lösning för att bland annat hantera broar med dubbelkrökningar. / New methods for project designing in the building construction industry have been developed by introducing modern and powerful BIM tools. Several of today’s constructions are designed according to three-dimensional principles.Tekla Structures is a powerful BIM tool that is capable of managing both house and infrastructure constructions. Despite this, the program cannot handle bridges with a horizontal and vertical curvature efficiently. The designers must instead rely on several other applications to manage complex bridge constructions.In order to use the advantages of Tekla Structures, the software needs to be evolved or complimented by other third party softwares. This project aims to integrate new working technics and introduce a method based on parametric design in Tekla Structures. Such form of modeling enables the modification of parameters to a desired model for the user.A script is created through a visual programming extension that generates a parametric based bridge models. The bridge type in this project was designed, is an integral bridge.The project has proved that parametric based design is more effectively and a solution to manage bridges with horizontal and vertical curvature.

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