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In Sweden fall-related injuries among the elderly lead to over a thousand deaths and close to 300.0000 hospital visitations annually. Fall related injuries can in many cases lead to serious head injuries along with other fractures. The elderly are more prone to fall and sustain an injury because of conditions such as osteoporosis and weak muscles. Researchers at KTH from the Division of Neuronic Engineering have developed a special floor that absorbs energy from an impact which can reduce the severity of injury when a person falls. There has been research done on the floor focusing on hip fractures which have shown good results. The floor has been set up in an elderly home in Stureby, Stockholm, Sweden, however further testing is needed to fully develop the floor to its maximum capacity. One goal of this master thesis was to investigate certain obstacles with the floor which arose during testing in Stureby. One of the challenges was that the floor had greater rolling resistance since it is softer than a normal concrete floor. The experiment was done by using a dynamo meter to measure the force needed to move a test wagon with a fixed weight and different sizes of wheels. Another goal of this thesis was to investigate head impacts on the KTH floor. That was done in a helmet testing lab at Mips helmet company. There a dummy head was dropped from various heights and the acceleration was measured. The 1st principle strain of the brain was calculated from the collected data. Other companies have created similar floors so it was a part of the thesis to compare the KTH floor with its competitors. The results from the rolling resistance showed that by increasing the width and diameter of the wheels there was less force needed to move the test wagon. Further tests are needed to investigate the problem regarding the indentation issues seen on the floor set up in Stureby. Some research has already begun with different types of linoleum and glue. In the head impact studies, the KTH floor showed the best results of all tested floors when dropped from 60 cm. However, when dropped from 100 cm a competitor floor showed better results in the resultant translational acceleration.

Luftverkehrsprognosen stellen ein wichtiges Instrument dar, die Luftverkehrsinfrastruktur zu beeinflussen. Hinter vielen der Projekte, die von Luftverkehrsprognosen begleitet werden, stehen Interessen. Dies gilt insbesondere für Ausbauvorhaben von Flughäfen, die von eindeutigen Zielen und Wünschen getragen werden. Die Gutachter, die im Rahmen solcher Ausbauvorhaben tätig werden, sind der Gefahr ausgesetzt, beeinflusste Prognosen zu erstellen. Die Art und Intensität dieser Beeinflussung sowie die Methodik dieser Analysen sind Gegenstand dieses Aufsatzes. Zunächst wurden neuere Ergebnisse der OECD und EU erarbeitet und denen der Flughafenstudien gegenübergestellt. Nachfolgend wurde die Intensität der Beeinflussung auf Grundlage einer eigenen Untersuchung analysiert. Dabei wurden politische Entscheidungsträger im Rhein-Main-Gebiet nach Ihrer Verwendung von Studien und deren Ergebnisse befragt. Die Impact Study, als häufigste Forschungsmethodik, wurde in ihre Bestandteile zerlegt und mit der Full Cost-Benefit-Analyse, welche die durch die FAA empfohlene Methode ist, verglichen. Grundsätzlich sind solche Gutachten meist externe Analysen aus privatwirtschaftlicher Hand, die einerseits im Auftrag von regionalen Entscheidungsträgern, aber andererseits auch im Auftrag von Flughafen- und Fluggesellschaften angefertigt wurden. Die Unabhängigkeit der Prognosen ist damit gefährdet. Auf Grundlage der (neutralen) OECD- und EU-Ergebnisse zeigte sich, dass etwaige regionale Wirtschaftsimpulse und damit einhergehendes Beschäftigungswachstum durch erhöhten Flugverkehr nicht zu finden sind. Die kritische Analyse von „bezahlten Studien“ ist demnach von Bedeutung. Die Mehrzahl der politischen Amts- und Entscheidungsträger in Deutschland trifft allerdings Entscheidungen auf Basis keiner oder ausschließlich nicht-neutraler, bezahlter Auftragsstudien. Historisch betrachtet ist dies kein Novum. Bereits in den 60er Jahren kann man solche Studien und Entscheidungen nachweisen. Bezüglich des Forschungsdesign zeigte sich, dass Impact-Studien kaum für zur Beurteilung des Luftverkehrs geeignet sind. Sie beziehen die relevanten Effekte nur teilweise in ihre Berechnungen ein. Es wurde eine Reihe von systematischen Fehlern identifiziert. Die FAA-Richtlinien in den USA für methodisch korrekte Studien greifen nur wenig. Für weitere Forschung sehen wir die wichtige Aufgabe, die Methodik der Full Cost-Benefit-Analyse für die Prognose möglicher Effekte zur Anwendung zu bringen. / Aviation traffic forecasts and airport analyses are important instruments which influence decisions on aviation related infrastructure. Behind many of such infrastructure projects, which are supported by forecast analyses, one finds political interests. This is especially the case for aviation projects, such as infrastructure enlargement projects of airports, which are motivated by distinct goals and desires. Referees who act within this framework are exposed to the risk of producing biased results. The form and degree of intensity of such influence and manipulation, as well as the methodology of such forecast analyses, are the subject of this working paper. To begin with, newer research results by the OECD and the EU have been formulated and further compared to results of studies commissioned by airport operators. Subsequently, the degree of intensity of such influence has been analysed on the basis of our own research. A survey was thereby produced, investigating the application of neutral and non-neutral studies in the decision-making processes of the public administration in the Rhein-Main-area. Impact studies, which are currently the most used method, have been segmented and compared with studies using full cost-benefit-analysis, the recommended method by the FAA. With regard to these results, it can be argued that most forecast analyses are produced by private consultancies, by order of public entities but also by order of airport operators. The independence of such research and its results is therefore endangered. Recent OECD and EU research results have shown that eventual effects, such as regional economic stimulus and employment growth, are absent. Thus, care in the application of study results in this field is necessary. However, the majority of policy makers (in Germany) unfortunately base their decisions mostly on non-neutral studies. Historically seen, this is not a novelty. Regarding the research design, impact studies are hardly suitable for airport studies. Further, it can be shown that impact studies incorporate mostly only non-negative items in their cash flow calculations, compared to full cost-benefit-analyses which incorporate all relevant items. A number of systematic flaws are further identified. The regulation-guidelines by the FAA, which demand to incorporate all items, have had little impact on the research design of airport studies in the US so far. The promotion and fostering of full cost-benefit-analyses is necessary to lift the quality of airport studies.

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Information on tourism trends and visitor numbers is often lacking at a local level. Municipalities and stakeholders are often unaware of important tourism trends that affect their businesses. This is especially true for the rural town of Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal. To address this lack of information an exploratory study has been conducted to estimate the economic impact of tourism in the district. Surveys and interviews were used to gain insight into the behaviour and expenditure of visitors and into the business of accommodation establishments. The findings of these surveys allow for estimations of tourism impact to be calculated for different levels of occupancy in the district. These provide an indication of the magnitude of the tourism sector in the district. The calculations also take into account the secondary effects of tourism through the use of applicable tourism multipliers that provide an idea of the total effect of tourism on the economy. The study demonstrates that certain segments spend more than others and confirms the notion that nature and adventure tourism activities are the major contributors to the tourism economy. The effect of events, timeshare and the ownership of property is also taken into account in these estimations as they have a tangible impact on the economy. While only an estimation, the results indicate quite clearly that tourism is a significant contributor to the district’s economy. An analysis of employment created by tourism, along with an applicable tourism multiplier, suggests that up to 30 per cent of the employed people in the district are directly or indirectly employed by tourism activities. Key to the development of tourism in the district is the need for proper destination management that will lead to an increase in visitor days as well as an increase in tourism revenue. The information generated here will assist in devising strategies for proper destination management. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inligting oor toerismetendense en besoekergetalle is gewoonlik gebrekkig op ’n plaaslike vlak. Munisipaliteite en rolspelers is dikwels onbewus van belangrike tendense wat hul ondernemings beïnvloed. Dit geld veral vir die landelike dorp Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal. Om aandag te skenk aan hierdie gebrek aan inligting word ’n verkennende studie onderneem om die ekonomiese impak van toerisme in die distrik te bepaal. Vraelyste en onderhoude is ingespan om insig te verkry in die gedrag en besteding van besoekers, en die ondernemings van akkommodasieverskaffers. Die bevindinge van hierdie opnames maak dit moontlik om die geraamde toerisme-impak vir verskillende vlakke van okkupasie in die gebied te bereken. Dit verskaf ’n aanduiding van die omvang van die toerismesektor in die distrik. Die berekeninge neem ook die sekondêre uitwerking van toerisme in ag en gebruik toepaslike toerismevermenigvuldigers om beter insig in die algehele uitwerking van toerisme op die ekonomie te verkry. Die studie toon aan dat sekere segmente meer as ander spandeer en bevestig die vermoede dat natuur- en avontuur-toerismeaktiwiteite die vernaamste bydrae tot die toerisme-ekonomie lewer. Die uitwerking van spesifieke byeenkomste, deeltitel en die eienaarskap van eiendom word ook in ag geneem omdat dit ’n tasbare uitwerking op die ekonomie het. Hoewel die berekening slegs ’n beraming is, toon die resultate baie duidelik dat toerisme ’n beduidende bydrae tot die distrik se ekonomie lewer. ’n Ontleding van werkskepping deur toerisme tesame met ’n toepaslike toerismevermenigvuldiger dui daarop dat tot 30 persent van die werknemers in die omgewing direk of indirek van toerisme-aktiwiteite vir werk afhanklik is. Die behoefte aan behoorlike bestemmingsbestuur is van deurslaggewende belang vir die ontwikkeling van toerisme, ’n toename in die aantal besoekerdae en ’n toename in inkomste uit toerisme. Die inligting wat uit hierdie navorsingsverslag voortspruit, sal help om strategieë vir behoorlike bestemmingsbestuur te ontwikkel.

A presente dissertação aborda o significado das formas alternativas de financiamento para projetos de habitação para a população de baixa renda. O estudo inicia-se com uma contextualização histórica da importância dos investimentos em parceria público-privada para a formação da cidade de São Paulo, tomando, como exemplos, o arruamento de terras, as ferrovias, o saneamento básico e a macro drenagem urbana. Desenvolve-se com a descrição de três estudos de caso baseados em propostas levadas a discussão pela Prefeitura Municipal de São Paulo à Caixa Econômica Federal entre os anos de 2003 e 2004, destacando e analisando principalmente os instrumentos utilizados e a estrutura da operação para financiamento das obras. Por fim, culmina no apontamento de aspectos sociais e ambientais, econômicos, urbanísticos, mercadológicos, financeiros, institucionais e de gestão, que impactam na análise de viabilidade dos empreendimentos realizados mediante essa forma de parceria. Assim, pretende permitir uma visão geral sobre as modalidades não convencionais de financiamento e suas implicações, observadas nos empreendimentos estudados. / This dissertation covers the meaning of alternative ways for public-private partnership on low budget house design funding. The study begins by presenting the historical context on the value of public-private partnership investments on the São Paulo city development, shown on street planning, railways, city sanitation and wide area rain draining. It continues describing three cases, established on project reasoning between São Paulo city council and Caixa Econômica Federal, over the years of 2003/2004, analyzing and detaching mostly the means and the operation framing for building and infrastructure funding. At last, it shows the social, environmental, economic, urban design, marketing, financial, institutional and managing features that driven the viability analysis on house planning designs that explored that specific partnership. Thus, the outcome is an wide view over these funding forms and its implications, identified on these cases analysis.

A presente dissertação aborda o significado das formas alternativas de financiamento para projetos de habitação para a população de baixa renda. O estudo inicia-se com uma contextualização histórica da importância dos investimentos em parceria público-privada para a formação da cidade de São Paulo, tomando, como exemplos, o arruamento de terras, as ferrovias, o saneamento básico e a macro drenagem urbana. Desenvolve-se com a descrição de três estudos de caso baseados em propostas levadas a discussão pela Prefeitura Municipal de São Paulo à Caixa Econômica Federal entre os anos de 2003 e 2004, destacando e analisando principalmente os instrumentos utilizados e a estrutura da operação para financiamento das obras. Por fim, culmina no apontamento de aspectos sociais e ambientais, econômicos, urbanísticos, mercadológicos, financeiros, institucionais e de gestão, que impactam na análise de viabilidade dos empreendimentos realizados mediante essa forma de parceria. Assim, pretende permitir uma visão geral sobre as modalidades não convencionais de financiamento e suas implicações, observadas nos empreendimentos estudados. / This dissertation covers the meaning of alternative ways for public-private partnership on low budget house design funding. The study begins by presenting the historical context on the value of public-private partnership investments on the São Paulo city development, shown on street planning, railways, city sanitation and wide area rain draining. It continues describing three cases, established on project reasoning between São Paulo city council and Caixa Econômica Federal, over the years of 2003/2004, analyzing and detaching mostly the means and the operation framing for building and infrastructure funding. At last, it shows the social, environmental, economic, urban design, marketing, financial, institutional and managing features that driven the viability analysis on house planning designs that explored that specific partnership. Thus, the outcome is an wide view over these funding forms and its implications, identified on these cases analysis.

La place des activités de recherche scientifique dans les dynamiques économiques, et en particulier leurs liens avec les entreprises et les territoires, ont fait l’objet de nombreuses études depuis les années 1990, et ont donné lieu à une littérature abondante. Après un travail de synthèse et de mise en perspective de l’ensemble de ces travaux, cette thèse se propose de contribuer à l’analyse du rôle de la recherche dans le développement économique des territoires, en se focalisant sur le territoire local. Notre réflexion se fonde sur un double cas d’étude, à la fois thématique et géographique : le cas des sciences de la mer, avec comme support les territoires de Brest et de la Bretagne occidentale (France). Trois types de méthodes sont mis en oeuvre. Tout d’abord, afin de caractériser le champ de la recherche marine, la production scientifique dans ce domaine est analysée à l’échelle mondiale. Cette étape met en évidence l’inscription de ce champ dans des réalités institutionnelles et territoriales : celles d’ensembles scientifiques localisés, voire dans certains cas de systèmes locaux de recherche. Ensuite, les retombées économiques liées à la dépense localisée de l’activité de recherche sont estimées, à l’aide principalement d’une modélisation entrées-sorties adaptée aux échelles régionales et locales. Si les résultats révèlent le caractère relativement limité de ces retombées dans notre cas d’étude, ils font aussi apparaître le potentiel significatif de l’activité de recherche en termes de multiplicateurs de production, de valeur ajoutée et d’emploi. Enfin, sont appréhendés les effets de la recherche sur les acteurs de l’offre, soit des effets de type « transferts de connaissance ». Une enquête comparative est menée sur deux territoires : Brest et Bergen (Norvège). Plusieurs facteurs, à la fois endogènes et exogènes aux institutions scientifiques, apparaissent déterminants dans le niveau et la qualité de ces transferts au sens large : en particulier le degré d’adéquation entre les recherches menées et les activités économiques présentes localement. Une forte hétérogénéité dans la diffusion de ces effets, à la fois disciplinaire, sectorielle et spatiale est également observée. L’ensemble des résultats apporte un éclairage singulier et novateur sur l’intégration potentielle de l’activité de recherche dans une stratégie de développement territorial. / The place of scientific research activities in the economic dynamics, especially their links with enterprises and territories have been studied largely since the 1990s, and have produced extensive literature. After first synthesizing and putting those studies into perspective, this thesis intends to contribute to the analysis of the role of this research in the economic development of territories, focusing on the local territory. Our reflexion is based on a double case study, both thematic and geographical: the field of marine sciences, with the territories of Brest and Western Brittany (France) as a baseline case. Three types of methods are implemented. First, to characterize the field of marine research, scientific production in that field is analyzed on a global scale. This step highlights the inclusion of this field in the institutional and territorial realities: locally based scientific entities, and even in some cases whole local research systems. Then, the economic benefits related to the localized spending of the research activity are estimated, mainly using an input-output modeling adapted to the regional and local scales. If the results do reveal the relatively limited nature of these benefits in our case study, they also reveal the good potential of the research activity in terms of outputs multipliers, added value and employment. Finally, the impacts of research on supply actors are grasped, namely "knowledge transfer" types of effects. A comparative survey is conducted on two territories: Brest and Bergen (Norway). Several factors, both internal and external to scientific institutions, appear to be decisive in the level and quality of such transfers at large: more specifically, the extent to which the research conducted locally and the locally existing economic activities match. A strong heterogeneity in the distribution of those effects – disciplinary, sectorial and spatial – can also be observed. Overall, the results shed singular and innovative light on the potential integration of the research activity in a territorial development strategy.

Les méthodes d’évaluation environnementale sont de plus en plus utilisées pour mieux apprécier les impacts environnementaux générés par les activités humaines (produits, services, systèmes). L’analyse de cycle de vie (ACV) est sans doute la méthode d’évaluation la plus répandue. Elle est aussi souvent considérée comme la plus avancée, bien qu’elle comporte de sérieuses limites (elle n’intègre pas de réels indicateurs économiques ou sociaux, par exemple). Dans cette thèse de doctorat, j’examine plus particulièrement la problématique de l’intégration du temps dans les modèles d’inventaire et les calculs d’impact tout au long du cycle de vie. J’y présente une évolution de la méthodologie d’ACV traditionnelle pour le cas du réchauffement climatique, qui incorpore des aspects dynamiques et cumulatifs exprimés directement en équivalent-CO2. Cette perspective orientée vers une meilleure prise en compte dans les pratiques de reporting et/ou les politiques publiques est ensuite déclinée sur trois cas d’application de complexité croissante pour l’analyse. L’hypothèse centrale de ce travail est que le passage d’une ACV traditionnelle à une ACV dite « dynamique » permettrait d’obtenir des résultats d’évaluation d’impacts plus proches de la réalité des phénomènes environnementaux / Environmental impact assessment methods are now widely used in order to measure environmental impacts associated with human activities (for products, services, and systems). Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is without doubt the foremost assessment method. LCA is also often thought of as the more advanced one, despite serious limitations (e.g. LCA does not include properly economical or social dimensions). In this PhD report, I explore more specifically the issue of integrating time in both inventory models and impact assessments along the life-cycle. In the case of climate change, I offer an evolution of traditional LCA towards a framework that includes dynamic and cumulative aspects as expressed directly in CO2-equivalent. This approach, which is oriented towards reporting practices and/or public policies, is afterwards applied to three different case studies of growing complexity. The central hypothesis of this work is that switching from traditional to so-called “dynamic” LCA would allow for better results with regards to one reality of environmental processes

Luftverkehrsprognosen stellen ein wichtiges Instrument dar, die Luftverkehrsinfrastruktur zu beeinflussen. Hinter vielen der Projekte, die von Luftverkehrsprognosen begleitet werden, stehen Interessen. Dies gilt insbesondere für Ausbauvorhaben von Flughäfen, die von eindeutigen Zielen und Wünschen getragen werden. Die Gutachter, die im Rahmen solcher Ausbauvorhaben tätig werden, sind der Gefahr ausgesetzt, beeinflusste Prognosen zu erstellen. Die Art und Intensität dieser Beeinflussung sowie die Methodik dieser Analysen sind Gegenstand dieses Aufsatzes. Zunächst wurden neuere Ergebnisse der OECD und EU erarbeitet und denen der Flughafenstudien gegenübergestellt. Nachfolgend wurde die Intensität der Beeinflussung auf Grundlage einer eigenen Untersuchung analysiert. Dabei wurden politische Entscheidungsträger im Rhein-Main-Gebiet nach Ihrer Verwendung von Studien und deren Ergebnisse befragt. Die Impact Study, als häufigste Forschungsmethodik, wurde in ihre Bestandteile zerlegt und mit der Full Cost-Benefit-Analyse, welche die durch die FAA empfohlene Methode ist, verglichen. Grundsätzlich sind solche Gutachten meist externe Analysen aus privatwirtschaftlicher Hand, die einerseits im Auftrag von regionalen Entscheidungsträgern, aber andererseits auch im Auftrag von Flughafen- und Fluggesellschaften angefertigt wurden. Die Unabhängigkeit der Prognosen ist damit gefährdet. Auf Grundlage der (neutralen) OECD- und EU-Ergebnisse zeigte sich, dass etwaige regionale Wirtschaftsimpulse und damit einhergehendes Beschäftigungswachstum durch erhöhten Flugverkehr nicht zu finden sind. Die kritische Analyse von „bezahlten Studien“ ist demnach von Bedeutung. Die Mehrzahl der politischen Amts- und Entscheidungsträger in Deutschland trifft allerdings Entscheidungen auf Basis keiner oder ausschließlich nicht-neutraler, bezahlter Auftragsstudien. Historisch betrachtet ist dies kein Novum. Bereits in den 60er Jahren kann man solche Studien und Entscheidungen nachweisen. Bezüglich des Forschungsdesign zeigte sich, dass Impact-Studien kaum für zur Beurteilung des Luftverkehrs geeignet sind. Sie beziehen die relevanten Effekte nur teilweise in ihre Berechnungen ein. Es wurde eine Reihe von systematischen Fehlern identifiziert. Die FAA-Richtlinien in den USA für methodisch korrekte Studien greifen nur wenig. Für weitere Forschung sehen wir die wichtige Aufgabe, die Methodik der Full Cost-Benefit-Analyse für die Prognose möglicher Effekte zur Anwendung zu bringen. / Aviation traffic forecasts and airport analyses are important instruments which influence decisions on aviation related infrastructure. Behind many of such infrastructure projects, which are supported by forecast analyses, one finds political interests. This is especially the case for aviation projects, such as infrastructure enlargement projects of airports, which are motivated by distinct goals and desires. Referees who act within this framework are exposed to the risk of producing biased results. The form and degree of intensity of such influence and manipulation, as well as the methodology of such forecast analyses, are the subject of this working paper. To begin with, newer research results by the OECD and the EU have been formulated and further compared to results of studies commissioned by airport operators. Subsequently, the degree of intensity of such influence has been analysed on the basis of our own research. A survey was thereby produced, investigating the application of neutral and non-neutral studies in the decision-making processes of the public administration in the Rhein-Main-area. Impact studies, which are currently the most used method, have been segmented and compared with studies using full cost-benefit-analysis, the recommended method by the FAA. With regard to these results, it can be argued that most forecast analyses are produced by private consultancies, by order of public entities but also by order of airport operators. The independence of such research and its results is therefore endangered. Recent OECD and EU research results have shown that eventual effects, such as regional economic stimulus and employment growth, are absent. Thus, care in the application of study results in this field is necessary. However, the majority of policy makers (in Germany) unfortunately base their decisions mostly on non-neutral studies. Historically seen, this is not a novelty. Regarding the research design, impact studies are hardly suitable for airport studies. Further, it can be shown that impact studies incorporate mostly only non-negative items in their cash flow calculations, compared to full cost-benefit-analyses which incorporate all relevant items. A number of systematic flaws are further identified. The regulation-guidelines by the FAA, which demand to incorporate all items, have had little impact on the research design of airport studies in the US so far. The promotion and fostering of full cost-benefit-analyses is necessary to lift the quality of airport studies.

The work observes the positive relationship between culture and tourism and quantifies the economic and social (or socio-economic) impacts of cultural tourism in the Czech Republic. The first part showcases successful cultural projects in the Czech Republic and abroad, which attract tourists and provide destinations with financial resources and create new jobs. The author characterizes these positive economic and social impacts and benefits on the development of the region and analyzes existing studies of socio-economic impacts, normally processed abroad for cultural organizations and attractions. While in the Czech Republic, these studies are not yet very widespread, they represent a a useful document for the organization itself, but also for providers of grants and financial contributions, or for agencies and authorities designing concepts of culture and tourism. The work presents the basic methodologies used by the economic impact studies and further elaborates the most accurate and also the most demanding method of calculating the impacts, input-output analysis. Using this method, the author proposes a comprehensive model for calculating the economic and socio-economic impacts and benefits. The model uses statistical data of Czech national accounts and is intended for Czech cultural organizations attracting visitors. After using financial data of the surveyed organization and the expenditure of visitors, the model can easily determine the impacts of the organization to increase production, gross value added, employment and income of workers in the Czech Republic. The work builds on a lot of foreign findings, which seeks to apply in domestic conditions while using local data.