published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

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The northeast-trending transpressive Hope fault is a major tectonic element of the active Pacific-Australian plate boundary zone through New Zealand. This study presents geomorphic and paleoseismic field data from the Mt Fyffe section of the Hope fault, which in turn is used to develop a seismic hazard map for the adjacent area. The Mt Fyffe section is a 12 km long, 1 km wide zone of deformation that changes in strike and slip rate from 275° and 16 ± 5 mm/yr in the southwest, to 235° and 2 to 4.8 mm/yr in the northeast. Slip is transferred from the Mt Fyffe section to the Jordan thrust and related structures. Deformation along the Mt Fyffe section has been divided into four structural domains, from southeast to northwest: an extensional step-over, a series of four en-echelon wedges, a contractional step-over, and a contractional domain. Near surface fault zone kinematics recorded by tectonic geomorphic landforms are interpreted to reflect the change in strike of the fault zone, topographic loading and the related fault zone break-out along the range front. The south-western Mt Fyffe section has ruptured at least once between 660 AD and 1800 AD, and the north-eastern end ruptured at least once between 1410 and 1640 AD, and possible since 1640 AD. A rupture of the Mt Fyffe section with the Conway section is the foundation fault for Kaikoura. It is estimated to have a Mmax of greater than 7. Probabilistic seismic hazard models (Stirling et al., 2002; in press) estimate a rupture of the Hope fault will result in peak ground accelerations (PGA) for the 150 and 475 year events at Kaikoura of 0.45 to 0.6 g and 0.85 to 2.0 g (midpoints) respectively. Results of a deterministic seismic hazard assessment using the foundation fault, indicate PGA at the Kaikoura township will be between 0.64 g (after Stirling et al, 2000) and 0.31 g (after McVerry et al 2006), lower than that calculated by probabilistic methods. Detailed geomorphic mapping has defined two levels of seismic hazard avoidance zones along the Mt Fyffe rangefront. Zone A contains major structures that accommodate most offset and Zone B contains secondary, smaller scale deformation.

The research problem that this thesis seeks to examine is a method of predicting conventional fire hazards using data drawn from specific regions, namely the Sooke and Goldstream watershed regions in coastal British Columbia. This thesis investigates whether LiDAR data can be used to describe conventional forest stand fire hazard classes. Three objectives guided this thesis: to discuss the variables associated with fire hazard, specifically the distribution and makeup of fuel; to examine the relationship between derived LiDAR biometrics and forest attributes related to hazard assessment factors defined by the Capitol Regional District (CRD); and to assess the viability of the LiDAR biometric decision tree in the CRD based on current frameworks for use. The research method uses quantitative datasets to assess the optimal generalization of these types of fire hazard data through discriminant analysis. Findings illustrate significant LiDAR-derived data limitations, and reflect the literature in that flawed field application of data modelling techniques has led to a disconnect between the ways in which fire hazard models have been intended to be used by scholars and the ways in which they are used by those tasked with prevention of forest fires. It can be concluded that a significant tradeoff exists between computational requirements for wildfire simulation models and the algorithms commonly used by field teams to apply these models with remote sensing data, and that CRD forest management practices would need to change to incorporate a decision tree model in order to decrease risk. / Graduate / 0799 / 0478 / christos@koulas.ca

The purpose of this study is to develop probabilistic hazard maps for EskiSehir including &lsquo / Peak Ground Acceleration&rsquo / values for 10% probability of exceedance in 50-year and 100-year periods at different site classes. A seismotectonic map has been prepared in the Geographical Information Systems environment by compiling instrumental seismicity and neotectonic data for the study area. The seismic sources have been defined spatially in six areal zones, characterized by a commonly used recurrence law and a maximum magnitude value. Four attenuation relationships have been selected being one of them totaly developed from the strong-motion records of Turkey. After the implementation of a seismic hazard model by using SEISRISK software, the probabilistic seismic hazard curves and maps were developed based on the selected attenuation relationships, at &lsquo / rock&rsquo / and &lsquo / soil&rsquo / sites, with a probability of exceedance of 10% in 50-year and 100-year periods. At rock sites the highest levels of hazard were calculated based on the predictive relationship of Abrahamson and Silva (1996), whereas the lowest ones based on the one of Boore et al. (1996). On the other hand the highest hazard levels were determined at soil sites based on the attenuation relationship of Ambraseys et al. (1996), whereas the lowest ones based on the one of Boore et al. (1997). For EskiSehir, the peak ground acceleration values calculated based on attenuation relationship by Boore et al. (1997) were found to be applicable for 10% probability of exceedance in 50 and 100 years, taking into consideration the fact that a considerable portion of the city is founded over alluviums.

Thesis (M. App. Sc.)--Carleton University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 176-185). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 280-296). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 1997. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-94). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-188). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2004. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-188). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.