Yes / The top-down-bottom-up (TDBU) methodology for defining bespoke sets of sustainability criteria for specific civil engineering project types is introduced and discussed. The need to define sustainability criteria for specific civil engineering project types occurs mainly in one or both of the following cases: (1) when a more comprehensive and indicative assessment of the sustainability of the project type in question is required; and/or (2) there is no readily available bespoke sustainability assessment tool, or set of criteria, for assessing the sustainability of the project type. The construction of roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, flood banks, bridges, water supply, and sewage systems and their supporting systems are considered to be unique civil engineering/infrastructure project types. The normative definition of sustainable civil engineering/infrastructure projects and the framework for assessing its sustainability is defined and provided by the authors. An example of the TDBU methodology being applied to define sustainability criteria for transport noise reducing devices is presented and discussed. The end result of applying the methodology is a systematically researched and industry validated set of criteria that denotes assessing the sustainability of the civil engineering/infrastructure project type. The paper concludes that the top-down-bottom-up will support stakeholders and managers involved in assessing sustainability to consider all major research methods to define general and unique sustainability criteria to assess and so maximize sustainability.

Global warming is one of the biggest challenges of our society. The road transport sector is responsible for a big share of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, which are considered to be the dominant cause of global warming. Although most of those emissions are associated with traffic operation, road infrastructure should not be ignored, as it involves high consumption of energy and materials during a long lifetime. The aim of my research was to contribute to improved road infrastructure planning by developing methods and models to include a life cycle perspective. In order to reach the aim, GHG emissions and energy use at different life cycle stages of road infrastructure were assessed in three case studies using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). These case studies were also used for development of methodology for LCA of road infrastructure. I have also investigated the coupling of LCA with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the possibility to integrate LCA into Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The results of the first case study indicated that operation of the tunnel (mainly, lighting and ventilation) has the largest contribution in terms of energy use and GHG emissions throughout its life cycle. The second case study identified the main hotspots and compared two methods for asphalt recycling and asphalt reuse. The results of the third case study indicated that due to the dominant contribution of traffic to the total impact of the road transport system, the difference in road length plays a major role in choice of road alternatives during early planning of road infrastructure. However, infrastructure should not be neglected, especially in the case of similar lengths of road alternatives, for roads with low volumes of traffic or when they include bridges or tunnels. This thesis contributed in terms of foreground and background data collection for further LCA studies of road infrastructure. Preliminary Bill of Quantities (BOQ) was identified and used as a source for site-specific data collection. A new approach was developed and tested for using geological data in a GIS environment as a data source on earthworks for LCA. Moreover, this thesis demonstrated three possible ways for integrating LCA in early stages of road infrastructure planning. / <p>QC 20160329</p>

Energy sector transformation is of interest to policy makers and energy researchers. Critical to this transformation is efficient (i.e. least-cost) infrastructure investment planning for new generation and transmission infrastructure investments. Similarly, energy policies designed to encourage low carbon electricity generation have fueled much of the transformation globally over the past two decades. However, knowledge gaps remain with respect to the unique economic and geographic features of Small Island Developing States (SIDS); recommendations from previous studies often have limited applicability to the SIDS context. This dissertation addresses these concerns, contributing to our understanding of least-cost planning methods for new infrastructure investments as well as energy policies appropriate for small, isolated and often heavily indebted nations. The island of Jamaica is used as a case study to gain insights more applicable to the broader SIDS context.<div><br></div><div>The first problem this dissertation addresses is the impact of simultaneously planning for generation and transmission infrastructure instead of sequentially optimizing these decisions, as is commonly done. Energy infrastructure planning in SIDS treats transmission infrastructure as an afterthought once generation investments have been determined, potentially leading to sub-optimal investments. Using a dynamic optimization model of generation and transmission infrastructure, we find that it is more cost effective to co-optimize generation and transmission investments. The substitutability between local generation and remote generation, facilitated by transmission infrastructure, underpins this result. <br></div><div><br></div><div>The second empirical problem we address is the impact of loop flow on optimal infrastructure investment decisions. The Energy Information Agency (EIA) defines loop flow as “the movement of electric power from generator to load by dividing along multiple parallel paths; it especially refers to power flow along an unintended path that loops away from the most direct geographic path or contract path” (EIA, n.d.). We find no evidence that loop flow affects optimal investment decisions in Jamaica. We attribute this to an abundance of transmission capacity and the relative simplicity of Jamaica’s network design. Results may differ for other SIDS with different starting configurations.<br></div><div><br></div><div>The third problem this dissertation addresses centers on energy policy. We quantify the cost to the Jamaican society under four different policy scenarios: a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) of 30% by year 2030, a carbon tax, a production tax credit and an investment subsidy for specific renewable energy resources (solar and wind). We find that if the decision makers’ primary concern is reducing carbon emissions, a carbon tax is the economically efficient choice (of the four options); an RPS has the second-lowest cost to society. Assessing the tradeoffs associated with each option, a carbon tax is efficient but increases the average annual cost of electricity. If, however, the decision makers’ primary objective is energy independence and not carbon emissions reduction, then the RPS may be a better alternative than a carbon tax.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Collectively, this dissertation demonstrates a method for improving long-term planning in the electricity sector in SIDS. It also quantifies the cost to society of implementing a menu of carbon mitigating policies, removing the ambiguity that persists in energy policy setting. Not only does this dissertation advance the energy economic literature by specifically addressing the economic and geographic features of SIDS, but we make our data and program files freely accessible. This is one measure that helps to overcome the data limitation hurdle that is a main contributor to the dearth of energy economics research more applicable to SIDS.<br></div>

In South Africa, urbanized environments are often studied individually, not taking the surrounding natural environment into account (McConnachie and Shackleton, 2012: 2). Current approaches focussing on the integration of Urban Planning and Urban Ecology seek to address these issues of integrated planning. Urban Ecology practice aims to describe the study of (1) humans in human settlements, of (2) nature in human settlements, and of (3) the joined relationships between humans and nature. Urban Ecology thus forms a major part of Urban and Spatial Planning, with regard to the objectives of sustainable planning and development, green infrastructure planning, and resilience. The role and impact of green spaces to support sustainable human settlements are no new phenomenon (Byrne & Sipe, 2010: 7). This is related to the different benefits which nature provides, referred to in this research as ecosystem services (or environmental benefits) of green spaces. Green spaces, in this sense, are fundamental areas in human settlements, in need of intentional and structured planning approaches to enhance sustainability and said environmental benefits. It is important to realise that the environment in urbanized areas is dependent on the local communities (in terms of conservation and appropriate planning approaches), but that local communities (society) are also dependent on the environment (in terms of certain benefits which are provided by the said green spaces and environment). Rural settlements in South Africa experience various problems and challenges in terms of planning for the environment through green spaces (as well as sustainability), mainly as a result of the fragmentation of these rural areas, the existence of lost spaces, urbanisation, urban sprawl and poverty (Trancik, 1986; Barnett, 1995; IIED, 2000; DEAT, 2006; McMahan et al, 2002). This research attempted to address the challenges of integrated planning and green space provision in a local rural context, by means of: (1) A literature study encompassing research on Urban Ecology; Urban Planning; environmental dimension of planning; provision of ecosystem services; green infrastructure planning; resilience, and relevant policies and legislation; (2) An empirical investigation and comparative evaluation of international case studies, along with a local case study; and (3) drawing conclusions and recommendations for the local case study, based on the international approaches and identified best-practices. This research evaluated the spatial and environmental benefits of green space and enhanced the importance of planning for such benefits in rural South African areas. / MArt et Scien (Urban and Regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

In South Africa, urbanized environments are often studied individually, not taking the surrounding natural environment into account (McConnachie and Shackleton, 2012: 2). Current approaches focussing on the integration of Urban Planning and Urban Ecology seek to address these issues of integrated planning. Urban Ecology practice aims to describe the study of (1) humans in human settlements, of (2) nature in human settlements, and of (3) the joined relationships between humans and nature. Urban Ecology thus forms a major part of Urban and Spatial Planning, with regard to the objectives of sustainable planning and development, green infrastructure planning, and resilience. The role and impact of green spaces to support sustainable human settlements are no new phenomenon (Byrne & Sipe, 2010: 7). This is related to the different benefits which nature provides, referred to in this research as ecosystem services (or environmental benefits) of green spaces. Green spaces, in this sense, are fundamental areas in human settlements, in need of intentional and structured planning approaches to enhance sustainability and said environmental benefits. It is important to realise that the environment in urbanized areas is dependent on the local communities (in terms of conservation and appropriate planning approaches), but that local communities (society) are also dependent on the environment (in terms of certain benefits which are provided by the said green spaces and environment). Rural settlements in South Africa experience various problems and challenges in terms of planning for the environment through green spaces (as well as sustainability), mainly as a result of the fragmentation of these rural areas, the existence of lost spaces, urbanisation, urban sprawl and poverty (Trancik, 1986; Barnett, 1995; IIED, 2000; DEAT, 2006; McMahan et al, 2002). This research attempted to address the challenges of integrated planning and green space provision in a local rural context, by means of: (1) A literature study encompassing research on Urban Ecology; Urban Planning; environmental dimension of planning; provision of ecosystem services; green infrastructure planning; resilience, and relevant policies and legislation; (2) An empirical investigation and comparative evaluation of international case studies, along with a local case study; and (3) drawing conclusions and recommendations for the local case study, based on the international approaches and identified best-practices. This research evaluated the spatial and environmental benefits of green space and enhanced the importance of planning for such benefits in rural South African areas. / MArt et Scien (Urban and Regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This thesis follows the process of introducing natural gas in Sweden and the construction of a Northern European gas grid from 1967 to 1991. Natural gas is a relatively unnoticed fuel in Sweden today, but this relative anonymity stands in contrast to an extensive historical activity that has taken place behind the scenes of Swedish energy policy. The single pipeline constructed between Denmark and Sweden in the early 1980s was both preceded and followed by many other attempts to construct a larger natural gas pipeline in the region made in the last 50 years. Åberg traces these attempts while discussing the complex and messy process of constructing and managing a transnational energy infrastructure.Åberg follows actors in Sweden and other countries in their attempts to negotiate and construct a natural gas infrastructure, and puts this process into a national as well as transnational context. The perceived risks and opportunities surrounding natural gas are examined, together with factors that have influenced the development of natural gas in a broader sense. By seeing the changing and messy natural gas projects as arenas where different actors construct and negotiate risks and opportunities, as well as contexualize the projects, Åberg shows how the natural gas sector in Sweden has evolved and taken shape.The study shows that natural gas in Sweden has suffered from unstable actor coalitions on different levels, a difficult market situation, and a changeful political context, especially with regard to energy policy. The import status of the fuel and the consequential transnationality of the natural gas infrastructure have also made the process of constructing a pipeline more complex. However, natural gas was introduced in Sweden, showing that when a strong enough actor coalition agreed that there was enough reason to warrant a natural gas introduction and was ready to join this endeavor, a connection could be achieved. This puts into question to what degree general explanations in terms of finance and policy drive energy decisions, and makes a case for showing how these explanations are adapted into their social and historical contexts in sometimes surprising ways. / <p>QC 20130507</p> / The integration of energy markets across system and nation boundaries

Denna studie har gjorts i syfte att utreda vilka effekter som kommun, byggherre och bank upplever då en exploateringsfastighet överlåts till en byggherre först efter att byggnationer påbörjats inom ramen för en kommunal markanvisning. Studien har gjorts på förslag av Gävle kommun som sökt svar på om en överlåtelsetidpunkt efter byggstart kan vara ett instrument att uppnå rätt resultat då exploatering görs på kommunalt ägd mark.   För att belysa effekterna har studien gjorts genom jämförelse av hur aktörer upplever förfarandet som tillämpas av Örebro kommun med hur aktörer upplever förfarandet som tillämpas av Gävle kommun. I Örebro kommun genomförs marköverlåtelsen till byggherren först efter att byggnationer påbörjats på fastigheten. I Gävle kommun sker normalt överlåtelsen innan byggstart även om svävarvillkor ibland förekommer vilket fördröjer byggherrens möjlighet att erhålla lagfart.   För att förstå hur aktörerna kommun, byggherre och bank upplever effekterna har (1) semi-strukturerade, kvalitativa telefonintervjuer gjorts med aktörer på respektive orter. (2) Avtal om markanvisning har granskats för att förstå hur kommunerna reglerar sina respektive överlåtelsetidpunkter.   Resultatet visar att tidpunkten för exploateringsfastighetens överlåtelse kan användas som instrument att förhindra spekulation med kommunalt ägd mark. Resultatet visar också att mindre byggherrar behöver mer egna medel för att klara ökade kostnader i exploateringsprocessens tidiga skeden som följd av att byggnationer behöver påbörjas innan finansiering genom byggnadskreditiv finns på plats. Av de svar som erhållits från banker indikeras att tidpunkten som sådan inte har någon betydelse för bankens möjlighet att ställa ut ett byggnadskreditiv, så länge banken kan erbjudas tillräcklig säkerhet. Utöver panträtt i fast egendom kan vissa banker godta en moderbolagsborgen som säkerhet.   Som medel att förhindra markspekulation kan också köpets bestånd göras beroende av att byggnationer påbörjas på exploateringsfastigheten. I det fallet påbörjas överlåtelseprocessen innan byggstart med ett giltigt köpekontrakt och panträtt kan upplåtas i fastigheten med den lagfarna ägarens medgivande. Det kommunala målet att säkerställa rätt resultat förefaller snarare vara beroende av kommunala förvaltningars samordning och hur exploateringsprocessen bedrivs i sin helhet. / This study has been conducted to investigate how municipalities, developers and banks perceive the effects of having to commence construction as a prerequisite for vesting of the real estate to be developed, within the scope of municipal land allocations. The municipality of Gävle suggested the study as they sought to establish if the time of vestment, as an activity in the land developing process, could be used as an instrument to ensure the correct results of such a process.   The study was conducted as a comparison between the municipalities of Gävle and Örebro and how stakeholders in the respective areas perceive the effects. In the municipality of Örebro real estate is vested to the developer once construction work on the property has commenced. In the municipality of Gävle the real estate is normally vested prior to commencement of construction work. In some cases, however, full ownership rights are delayed by means of contractual conditions requiring the developer to commence construction work for the contract to become fully valid, and thus allowing the developer to receive the title deed.   To understand how the stakeholders municipality, developers and banks perceive the effects, (1) semi-structured qualitative telephone interviews have been conducted across the mentioned stakeholder groups in both locations. (2) Contracts of land allocation have been studied to understand how the time of vesting is regulated by both municipalities.   The results show that the time of vesting of the real estate to be developed can be used as an instrument to prevent speculation with publicly owned property. The results also show that small scale land developers require more funds to cope with increased costs that result from the inability to receive building loans using the real estate as security for such funding. Interview answers from banks imply that the time of vesting the real estate to be developed is of no importance to them as long as sufficient security can be offered towards building loan funding. Apart from liens in real estate, parent company guarantees were mentioned as a possible alternative.   As a means to prevent land speculation, contract clauses delaying the title deed to be transferred until commencement of construction, may be used. In this case the vesting process is initiated prior to commencement of construction using a valid contract, and a lien in the real estate to be developed can be offered to the bank with the permission of the municipality as the title deed holder. The aim of the municipality to ensure the correct results of the development process appears to be more dependent on how the council boards interact and how the land development process is carried out in its entirety.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2017-04-19T13:47:30Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Aleciano_Lobo_Junior_Dissertacao.pdf: 9925931 bytes, checksum: bcf8228c8e29cef0e7302ea7716436ec (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-19T13:47:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Aleciano_Lobo_Junior_Dissertacao.pdf: 9925931 bytes, checksum: bcf8228c8e29cef0e7302ea7716436ec (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-24 / CNPQ / A implantação de sistemas de transportes inteligentes (Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)) representa um desafio para a comunidade científica e industrial. As melhorias na segurança e eficiência do tráfego de veículos são os principais objetivos de sistemas ITS. Em 2014, acidentes de trânsito foram responsáveis por 32.765 mortes e mais de dois milhões de feridos somente nos Estados Unidos. O Brasil teve resultados piores em 2014: foram 52.226 pessoas mortas em acidentes de trânsito. A Administração Nacional de Segurança em Tráfego de Autoestradas (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)) estima que sistemas de comunicações veiculares possam reduzir a ocorrência e severidade de 22 de 37 tipos comuns de acidentes. Assim, comunicações Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) e Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) podem melhorar a segurança por meio da complementação, ou em alguns casos, provendo alternativas aos equipamentos ativos tradicionais baseados no sensoriamento como radares, Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) ou por visão. Sobre a eficiência do tráfego de veículos, sistemas ITS implantados via Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANETs) irão também contribuir para as melhorias nestes índices por meio de ferramentas de monitoramento de tráfego, rotas dinâmicas e alertas sobre as condições da via. Em algumas localidades, estas características de tráfego variam ao longo de um mesmo dia, portanto, engenheiros ITS e pesquisadores devem estar preparados para este comportamento dinâmico de maneira efetiva enquanto analisam o desempenho do sistema. Por outro lado, uma vez que sistemas ITS dependem de serviços de rede, estudos específicos são necessários para considerar os parâmetros de comunicação e de mobilidade veicular. Este trabalho apresenta um modelo de desempenho que considera parâmetros de mobilidade e comunicação para guiar a tomada de decisões no planejamento e gerência de infraestruturas VANETs. As Redes de Petri Estocásticas (SPN) são o formalismo adotado. A dissertação também adota uma metodologia de avaliação. Para representar o comportamento das estações sem fio, foram empregadas distribuições expolinomiais. Os resultados mostram que o modelo proposto produz resultados que podem auxiliar engenheiros e projetistas a implantar e gerenciar infraestruturas VANETs. / The deployment of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) is a challenge for industry and scientific community. Improvements on safety and vehicular traffic efficiency are the main ITS goals. In 2014, car accidents were responsible for 32,675 deaths and over two million injuries in the United States alone. Brazil had worse results: in 2014, 52,226 people died in car accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that vehicular communications may reduce the severity of 22 of 37 common types of accidents. Thus, V2V and V2I wireless communications may enable improved safety system effectiveness by complementing or, in some instances, providing alternative approaches to the traditional active safety equipment based on autonomous sensing, such as radar, lidar, or vision. Regarding vehicular traffic efficiency, ITS deployed through Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANETs) will also contribute to improvements in these indices by traffic monitoring tools, dynamic routes, and road condition alerts. In some locations, those traffic characteristics change widely within a single day, therefore, ITS engineers and researchers must deal with that dynamic behavior in an effective manner while analyzing the system performance. On the other hand, once the ITS depends on networking services, specific studies are required to consider the communication parameters along with vehicle mobility. This work presents a performance model that considers both mobility and communication parameters to guide decision-making during the design and management of VANETs infrastructures. The Stochastic Petri Net (SPN) is the adopted formalism. This dissertation also adopts an evaluation methodology. We employed expolynomial distributions to represent the service rates of the wireless stations. Results show that the proposed model provides results that may assist engineers to design and manage VANETs infrastructures.

Der Bundesverkehrswegeplan (BVWP) stellt das zentrale Instrument zur Gestaltung des Verkehrs und der Mobilität in Deutschland dar. Der aktuelle BVWP 2030 sieht sich in Wissenschaft und Politik ebenso wie vorherige Fassungen des Plans der Kritik ausgesetzt, nicht zu einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung des Verkehrs beizutragen oder diese gar zu verhindern. Bisher findet sich in der Literatur jedoch keine systematische Betrachtung des Verfahrens und insbesondere der in ihm integrierten Bewertung von Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, diese Lücke zu schließen. Hierzu nutzt die Arbeit die Methodik der qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse auf Basis der Theorie zu nachhaltiger Verkehrsentwicklung und Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung. Das Ergebnis ist ein Überblick über den Weiterentwicklungsbedarf der Bundesverkehrswegeplanung aus Perspektive nachhaltiger Verkehrsentwicklung. Diese Ergebnisse werden bisheriger Kritik und bestehenden Weiterentwicklungsvorschlägen gegenübergestellt und daraus eigene Empfehlungen abgeleitet. Eine grundlegende Neuordnung der Bundesverkehrswegeplanung sollte demnach Planungsannahmen transparent reflektieren, über eine reine Infrastrukturbereitstellung hinausgehen, ein strategisches (Nachhaltigkeits-)Zielsystem entwickeln, die Betrachtung auf Gesamtplanebene in den Mittelpunkt rücken (z. B. Entwicklung von Alternativszenarien) und das Verfahren auf darunterliegenden Planungsebenen an diesen ausrichten.:1 Einleitung 2 Charakterisierung der Bundesverkehrswegeplanung 3 Nachhaltigkeit im Verkehr 4 Integration von Nachhaltigkeit in Verkehrsplanungen 5 Entwicklung der Methodik zur Analyse des BVWP 2030 6 Ergebnisse der Analyse des BVWP 2030 7 Diskussion und Weiterentwicklungsempfehlungen 8 Schlussfolgerungen und Ausblick

Les systèmes photovoltaïques de pompage d'eau (PVWPS) sont une solution intéressante pour améliorer l’accès à l’eau dans les communautés rurales des pays en voie de développement. Cette thèse développe une méthodologie de conception optimale des PVWPS pour l’accès à l’eau domestique basée sur une approche interdisciplinaire. L’objectif est de déterminer les dimensionnements du PVWPS et ses positions géographiques dans le village qui maximisent l’impact positif du système sur le développement socio-économique et minimisent son coût sur cycle de vie. Cette méthodologie est appliquée au cas d’un village rural du Burkina Faso, où nous avons collecté des données techniques et sociaux-économiques depuis 2 ans. La première originalité principale de ce travail est la modélisation du lien entre la conception du PVWPS et son impact socio-économique, ce qui permet d’inclure l’impact socio-économique comme fonction objectif de l’optimisation. La seconde originalité principale est l’intégration de la position géographique du PVWPS dans le village comme variable d’optimisation, en plus du dimensionnement du système. Cette méthodologie pourrait également être appliquée à la mise en place d'autres types de systèmes, tels que les moulins communaux alimentés par énergie photovoltaïque dans les zones isolées ou les bornes de recharges publiques pour les véhicules électriques dans les villes. / Photovoltaic water pumping systems (PVWPS) are an interesting solution to improve access to water in rural communities of developing countries. This thesis develops a methodology for the optimal design of PVWPS for domestic consumption based on an interdisciplinary approach. The objective is to determine the sizings of the PVWPS and its geographical positions in the village that maximize the positive impact of the system on socio-economic development and minimize its life-cycle cost. This methodology is applied to the case of a rural village in Burkina Faso, where we have been collecting technical and socio-economic data for 2 years. The first main originality of this work is the modelling of the link between the design of a PVWPS and its socio-economic impact, which allows to include the socio-economic impact to be included as an objective function of the optimisation. The second main originality is the inclusion of the geographical position of the PVWPS in the village as an optimisation variable, in addition to the sizing of the system. There is potential for applying the proposed methodology for the set-up of other types of systems such as community mills powered by photovoltaic energy in isolated areas and public charging points for electrical vehicles in cities.