Rivers are vital for sustaining biodiversity and human development, yet globally only a small fraction of rivers enjoy protection and those with protections are often impaired or modified. Rapid rates of freshwater species’ extinctions indicate current conservation practices are failing. Despite over fifty years of scientific evidence justifying river conservation, it remains that less attention is focused on protecting ecosystems than on developing water resources for economic growth. This disparity is indicative of the ‘nature as resource’ versus ‘conservation of nature’ paradigm. Today, this paradigm is complicated by new attentions centering both on water resource development projects and conservation policy as climate change adaptation strategies. Policies protecting rivers are recommended for contending with more intense storms and flooding, increasing resilience for species, forests, and agricultural areas, and fostering some types of water security. Creating, implementing, and managing climate adaptation policies will require a strong state presence in water resource governance. We know, however, the aforementioned paradigm hinders conservation policymaking. Therefore, understanding how conservation policy has already been rationalized, implemented, and managed is critical to advancing climate adaptation policymaking. Yet, little empirical research has been conducted on federal river conservation policy creation or application across the U.S. To that end, this dissertation, presented in three discrete original research articles, examines the United States National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Specifically, this study investigates the socio-ecological drivers behind the creation of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (WSRA hereinafter) and the spatial dimensions of the policy’s application and management over time. This study is grounded empirically in extensive archival materials, interviews with federal land management agency personnel, conservation advocates, and technical experts, as well as spatial and temporal analysis of a geodatabase. Together, these methods were employed to answer the following research questions which guide this study: (1) What factors influence the temporal and spatial distribution of river segments protected under the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act? (2) What does the history of management in designated segments suggest about emerging trends and patterns in river conservation? (3) How are competing environmental values and ideologies understood and reconciled in the context of river conservation?

Submitted by JOÃO MARCELO RIBEIRO SOARES null (joaomarcelorsoares@gmail.com) on 2016-04-27T14:14:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 SOARES_JMRS_2016_Tipografia_versDigital.pdf: 5578151 bytes, checksum: 861a74a6bd7b2c2f489ad67f04e5082c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Felipe Augusto Arakaki (arakaki@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-04-29T18:57:10Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 soares_jmr_dr_bauru.pdf: 5578151 bytes, checksum: 861a74a6bd7b2c2f489ad67f04e5082c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T18:57:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 soares_jmr_dr_bauru.pdf: 5578151 bytes, checksum: 861a74a6bd7b2c2f489ad67f04e5082c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-29 / Pesquisa para verificar o nível de usabilidade de composições tipográficas de textos com quatro fontes ( Rockwell, Garamond, Franklin Gothic e Bodoni ) na tarefa de leitura em suporte de leitura em papel branco e em tela digital ( LCD ). Efetuou-se tal verificação por meio de três parâmetros: eficácia ( teste de assimilação do texto ), eficiência ( tempo de leitura ) e satisfação ( opinião do leitor ), os quais possibilitaram determinar o nível de usabilidade da interface de um objeto dentro de uma escala com intervalo de níveis (Ótimo, Bom, Satisfatório e Péssimo ). Os dados dos grupos amostrais obtidos foram tratados por estatística inferencial, sendo dois grupos para cada uma das fontes tipográficas as quais foram lidas em cada um dos suportes. O texto padronizado utilizado faz parte de um conjunto de textos utilizados na Oftalmologia para testes de velocidade de leitura. Os resultados obtidos permitiram verificar que não há influência significativa no nível de usabilidade de leitura de um texto padronizado composto com diferentes fontes tipográficas. O tempo médio de leitura da amostra foi 51,87 ( ± 16,51 ) segundos, em uma escala que variou de 1-106,13 segundos. O número de acertos médios nas cinco questões do teste de interpretação foi 2,90 ( ± 1,64 ) numa escala de 0-5 acertos. A taxa média de satisfação dos leitores em relação as fontes tipográficas verificadas foi 66,24 % ( ± 20,94 ), numa escala de 0-100%. O método utilizado para se calcular a taxa de usabilidade das fontes foi a média aritmética entre as taxas percentuais dos três parâmetros já descritos. As taxas de usabilidade foram distribuídas na escala de usabilidade de quatro níveis onde se verificou que todas fontes apresentaram uma taxa de usabilidade próxima a 60 %, equivalendo, portanto, a um bom nível de usabilidade. Concluiu-se que os traços comuns das letras e a equiparação da altura-x pode equilibrar o nível de usabilidade de diferentes fontes tipográficas na leitura tarefa. / Research to verify the usability level of typographic compositions of texts with four fonts (Rockwell, Garamond, Franklin Gothic and Bodoni) on the task of reading, as in white paper media reading as in digital display reading (LCD). Such verification was performed by three parameters: effectiveness (interpretation test), efficiency (reading time) and satisfaction (reader's opinion), which had enabled to determine the usability level of the interface of an object within a scale range of levels (Excellent, Good, Satisfying and Poorly). The data sample groups obtained were processed by inferential statistical, being two groups for each of the typographical fonts, which had been read in each media. The standardized text is part of a set of texts used in Ophthalmology to measure the reading speed. The results obtained allowed to verify that there is no influence on reading usability of a standardized text composed with different typographical fonts. The average reading time of the subjects was 51.87 (± 16.51) seconds on a scale ranging from 1 to 106.13 seconds. The average hits on the five questions from the interpretation test was 2.90 (± 1.64) on a scale 0-5 hits. The average rate of satisfaction of the readers about the typographic fonts checked was 66.24% (± 20.94), on a scale of 0-100%. The average rate of the readers satisfaction regarding the verified typefaces was 66.24% (± 20.94), on a scale of 0-100% of the three parameters already mentioned. The usability rates were distributed in a four-level usability scale, where it was found that all the fonts showed a close usability rate near to 60%, indicating a good level of usability. It concluded that the commonality between letterforms and equalization of x-height balances the level of usability among different fonts in task reading.

The proposed thesis project consists of an art presentation precinct where art works will be exhibited, presented and performed before being presented to under-exposed communities in outlying areas of Tshwane and beyond. The dissertation responds to certain identified requirements. Its approach will be preservation based, while being sensitive to the distinctiveness of the site. The aim is that the aesthetics will add to the character of the site and that, at completion, visual appropriateness will be prominent. Please note that the text on pages 28-39, 44, 46-64, 71-77, Images and Bibliography is illegible / Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Architecture / unrestricted

Studies suggest that mystery can increase curiosity and interest for certain spaces. This topic becomes highly relevant in current times when contemporary architecture turns its concerns towards sharp vision. The result is a legacy of highly instagramable buildings, that lack the quality of generating emotional engagement and pleasing other senses than vision (Pallasma, 1996). In fact, it is this impossibility to completely understand something in the visual field that characterizes mysterious spaces. Yet, the lack of clear information may cause dichotomous, sometimes overlapped, feelings. From anxiety to expectation of a pleasant reward or of finding a magical secret spot. In both cases, the consequence of mystery is feeling of anticipation and, consequently, willingness to explore the space to overcome that feeling. There seems to be a consensus among the masters of architecture about the power of light and shadow to create mysterious, curious and magic atmospheres. However, the subjectivity involved in the perception of mystery and its associations make it a hard quality to be assessed. This thesis intends to shine a light in the topic and contribute to equip architects and designers with a tool that might help to create more sensitive, engaging multisensorial architecture.

No description available.

M.S.

The thoughtful expression of building components provides a conceptual framework through which we can come to an understanding of architecture. Beyond the appreciation of individual elements involved in an assembly, numerous opportunities emerge to form architectural conditions and places. An envelope that oscillates between transparency and opaqueness introduces a modern conception of boundary. The control of natural light can also contribute to a compact space without compromising the desired level of privacy that is expected from a house. / Master of Architecture

Master of Science / Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Malgorzata J. Rys / During the last several decades, the number of drivers and the number of senior citizens driving on U.S highways has increased significantly along with the number of traffic signs. The median age of the drivers has also increased due to the aging population. Traffic signs provide a plethora of necessary information - directions, guidance, warnings, regulations, and recreation. With today's congestion and higher speed, it's very important to recognize the need for brighter and easier to read signs to increase safety among drivers. In the recent years, there has been innovation in the field of traffic engineering, giving rise to numerous innovations in retro-reflective sheeting materials and fonts. It is important to identify the combination of font and retro-reflective sheeting material, which performs best by increasing the legibility distance between the driver and the sign during both day and night time conditions. The objective of the research was to determine the combination of font (among Clearview 5-W, Series E-Modified and Clearview 5-W-R) and retro-reflective sheeting materials (DG3, Type 4 and Type 1) that produces maximum legibility distance. The objective was also to study the safety benefits of the Clearview font. Both field and computer based tests were carried out to find out which combination of font and retro-reflective material produced maximum legibility distance. From field tests it was found that the Clearview 5-W-R font along with Type 1 reflective material produced the maximum legibility distance in day time conditions, whereas Clearview 5-W-R along with Type 4 reflective material produced the maximum legibility distance at night conditions. It was also seen that while the Type 1 sheeting material performed well during day time, it failed to produce good results during night time. In fact it ended up as the worst performing sheeting material during night time. Based on these observations, it is recommended to use the Clearview 5-W-R in combination with Type 4 retro-reflective sheeting as it showed the most consistent performance compared to all other combinations of fonts and DG3 or Type 1 retro-reflective material.

Denna kandidatuppsats handlar om informationsdesign med fokus på rumslig design. Syftet med denna studie handlar om att undersöka och förstå människors beteende när det gäller att välja en parkeringsplats. Detta kan påverka trafikstopp och de orienterings strategier som finns på en bensinstation.    I studien har relevant kurslitteratur använts inom informationsdesign som navigationssystem, orienterbarhet, wayfinding/wayshowing, färg och perception som grundteorier. Med kombinerade metoder som omvärldsanalys, platsanalys och kvalitativ intervju har använts genom arbetet. För tas fram ett gestaltningsförslag som eventuell kan lösa de befintliga problem som bensinstationen har, samt en framtiddesign. Gestaltningsförslag innehåller tydliga informationsskyltar såväl som vägmarkeringar, förbättrat trafikflöde och troligtvis minska förvirring samt osäkerhet hos nya- och stamkunder. Med tillämpade regler och riktlinjer skapas en ny rumsupplevelse med ordning och struktur. / This candidate's thesis is about information design with a focus on spatial design. The purpose of this study is to research and understand people's behavior, when it comes to choosing a parking space that can affect traffic stops and the orientation strategies at a gas station.   The study has used relevant course literature within informationsdesign field, such as navigation systems, orientability, wayfinding/wayshowing, color and perception as basic theories. Combined methods such as environmental analysis, location analysis and qualitative interview have been used throughout the thesis. To come up with a design proposal that could possibly solve the existing problems the petrol station has. The design proposal included clear information signs as well as visible road markings. This is to improve traffic flow and reduce confusion and uncertainties among new and regular customers. With applied rules and guidelines created a new spatial experience which can contribute order and structure within this area.

No description available.