In the Australian wine industry, cold stabilisation is a widely used industrial process to prevent tartrate instability in bottled wines. This process involves cooling the wine close to its freezing point for extended periods, thereby inducing tartrate precipitation. However, it has several important disadvantages. Consequently, alternative methods to cold stabilisation have been developed. This includes electrodialysis, nanofiltration and contact processes. In this study, current knowledge regarding performance and cost of cold stabilisation and alternative technologies for tartrate stabilisation is reviewed. Whilst there have been occasional cost comparisons between cold stabilisation and alternative technologies, existing data is not suitable for properly evaluating the relative economics of the different process options. Therefore, alternative technologies to cold stabilisation, including the Westfalia process, nanofiltration and electrodialysis were compared for both technical and economic performance. Berri Estates Winery was used as the basis for engineering calculations and conceptual cost estimates. This is the first time that such a comprehensive evaluation has been undertaken of a broad range of alternative technologies for tartrate stabilisation during wine production. Product loss was a key cost driver in differentiating tartrate stabilisation processes. Cold stabilisation was found to be the most economic treatment process irrespective of scale or winery size. The Westfalia process and nanofiltration were the next most cost effective options. Data for economic evaluation and environmental assessment were summarised in a survey form that was circulated to technical experts from Hardy Wine Company, the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) and the University of Adelaide. The purpose of the survey was to obtain the experts’ opinions on the merits of the alternative technologies. The results of this survey were used for comparison between current cold stabilisation and alternative technologies, by performing multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). This represents an original application of MCDA techniques to decision making in the wine industry. The MCDA analysis identified a strong preference by experts for nanofiltration combined with centrifugation as an alternative to cold stabilisation. As a consequence, laboratory investigations and field testing of nanofiltration were conducted to obtain new and practical information which was not presently available and relevant to understanding and implementing this process for tartrate stabilisation of wine. The laboratory experiments were performed with a range of membranes and tartrate unstable wines (i.e. Semillon, Colombard and Shiraz) using a purpose-designed laboratory-scale continuously-stirred batch-test membrane cell. The results showed that a range of commercial nanofiltration membranes with a nominal molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) between 200 and 500 Daltons (Da) were able to achieve tartrate stabilisation of all wines tested. This was achieved at moderate pressures less than 20 bar with a recovery of at least 50 %. It was also observed that seeding of wine following nanofiltration might reduce the holding time required to achieve stability and also enable reductions in the recovery rate to values of less than 50 %. The field testing was performed at Berri Estates Winery in the Riverland region of South Australia. The testing was performed using an existing commercial membrane system. This membrane system was already used for juice/wine concentration. The nanofiltration membranes had a nominal MWCO of 300 Da. The testing was conducted on Colombard and Shiraz wines. The field tests confirmed that nanofiltration could successfully tartrate stabilise Colombard and Shiraz wines at recoveries of 50 %; without seeding; within relatively short holding periods of less than four hours; and at flux rates between 5 and 10 L/m²/h. Crystallisation kinetics were also studied. At low recovery, the crystallisation was initially controlled by diffusion step, then surface integration. However, at high recovery, the crystallisation was controlled solely by surface integration. Sensory testing (by duo-trio difference tests) produced adverse sensory outcomes when compared with treatment of the same wines by cold stabilisation. Unfortunately, it could not be established whether this problem was inherent to the process or arose from unrelated factors. Setting aside the adverse sensory result, this is the first time that technical feasibility of nanofiltration for tartrate stabilisation has been successfully demonstrated. Further field testing and sensory evaluation of nano-filtered wines should be carried out to verify the effect of nanofiltration on wines. If the process is successful and favourable, the process design for implementation of a production scale nanofiltration for tartrate stabilisation should then be optimised. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1292872 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Chemical Engineering, 2007.

In the Australian wine industry, cold stabilisation is a widely used industrial process to prevent tartrate instability in bottled wines. This process involves cooling the wine close to its freezing point for extended periods, thereby inducing tartrate precipitation. However, it has several important disadvantages. Consequently, alternative methods to cold stabilisation have been developed. This includes electrodialysis, nanofiltration and contact processes. In this study, current knowledge regarding performance and cost of cold stabilisation and alternative technologies for tartrate stabilisation is reviewed. Whilst there have been occasional cost comparisons between cold stabilisation and alternative technologies, existing data is not suitable for properly evaluating the relative economics of the different process options. Therefore, alternative technologies to cold stabilisation, including the Westfalia process, nanofiltration and electrodialysis were compared for both technical and economic performance. Berri Estates Winery was used as the basis for engineering calculations and conceptual cost estimates. This is the first time that such a comprehensive evaluation has been undertaken of a broad range of alternative technologies for tartrate stabilisation during wine production. Product loss was a key cost driver in differentiating tartrate stabilisation processes. Cold stabilisation was found to be the most economic treatment process irrespective of scale or winery size. The Westfalia process and nanofiltration were the next most cost effective options. Data for economic evaluation and environmental assessment were summarised in a survey form that was circulated to technical experts from Hardy Wine Company, the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) and the University of Adelaide. The purpose of the survey was to obtain the experts’ opinions on the merits of the alternative technologies. The results of this survey were used for comparison between current cold stabilisation and alternative technologies, by performing multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). This represents an original application of MCDA techniques to decision making in the wine industry. The MCDA analysis identified a strong preference by experts for nanofiltration combined with centrifugation as an alternative to cold stabilisation. As a consequence, laboratory investigations and field testing of nanofiltration were conducted to obtain new and practical information which was not presently available and relevant to understanding and implementing this process for tartrate stabilisation of wine. The laboratory experiments were performed with a range of membranes and tartrate unstable wines (i.e. Semillon, Colombard and Shiraz) using a purpose-designed laboratory-scale continuously-stirred batch-test membrane cell. The results showed that a range of commercial nanofiltration membranes with a nominal molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) between 200 and 500 Daltons (Da) were able to achieve tartrate stabilisation of all wines tested. This was achieved at moderate pressures less than 20 bar with a recovery of at least 50 %. It was also observed that seeding of wine following nanofiltration might reduce the holding time required to achieve stability and also enable reductions in the recovery rate to values of less than 50 %. The field testing was performed at Berri Estates Winery in the Riverland region of South Australia. The testing was performed using an existing commercial membrane system. This membrane system was already used for juice/wine concentration. The nanofiltration membranes had a nominal MWCO of 300 Da. The testing was conducted on Colombard and Shiraz wines. The field tests confirmed that nanofiltration could successfully tartrate stabilise Colombard and Shiraz wines at recoveries of 50 %; without seeding; within relatively short holding periods of less than four hours; and at flux rates between 5 and 10 L/m²/h. Crystallisation kinetics were also studied. At low recovery, the crystallisation was initially controlled by diffusion step, then surface integration. However, at high recovery, the crystallisation was controlled solely by surface integration. Sensory testing (by duo-trio difference tests) produced adverse sensory outcomes when compared with treatment of the same wines by cold stabilisation. Unfortunately, it could not be established whether this problem was inherent to the process or arose from unrelated factors. Setting aside the adverse sensory result, this is the first time that technical feasibility of nanofiltration for tartrate stabilisation has been successfully demonstrated. Further field testing and sensory evaluation of nano-filtered wines should be carried out to verify the effect of nanofiltration on wines. If the process is successful and favourable, the process design for implementation of a production scale nanofiltration for tartrate stabilisation should then be optimised. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1292872 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Chemical Engineering, 2007.

<p><p>The municipality of Sandviken is in a state of strong growth. This affects the need for more hotel rooms in Sandviken, in a way that it’s profitable to invest in a new hotel. Sandvikens largest company, the steal industry Sandvik AB, grows just like Sandviken, and have great influence on the need of more hotel rooms. Today there are three hotels placed in Sandviken, and these hotels aren’t enough when the pressure of hotel guests is at its top.</p><p>The purpose with the project was to analyse the criteria’s that are important for localization of a new hotel in the Sandviken, and to clarify what kind of hotel Sandviken is in need of. The need of hotel rooms in Sandviken where to be challenged during the investigation.</p><p>To find the most appropriate locations, a multi-criteria analysis was used that was based on the weighting of criteria from a questionnaire study. The questionnaire study contained two parts. The first part where selecting which criteria’s the multi-criteria analysis would include. The other part was weighting the selected criteria’s to be able to input them in the multi-criteria analysis. The weighting where made by selected persons, chosen due to their skills in the particular area. The selected criteria’s in the multi-criteria analysis where: traffic noise, proximity to sports arena, proximity to park area, proximity to travel centre, proximity to restaurants, proximity to Sandbacka park and proximity to Sandvik AB.</p><p>When the multi-criteria analysis was done, it presented which areas that had the highest values. The mean value for all the selected weightings gave the results of high values in the central parts of Sandviken. This analysis where then complimented with a visual stock-taking of selected areas around Sandviken that where considered free space for building new hotel.</p><p>The investigation shows that there is a need for more hotel rooms in Sandviken at the moment. This need for hotel rooms will probably grow cause of the recruitment of new personnel by Sandvik AB, and the fact that three new sports arenas is planned to be built in Sandviken. The questionnaire studies shows that the category of hotels with the most need in Sandviken, is especially business hotels. The reason for this is mostly due to Sandvik AB. The areas that are most appropriate for hotel establishment in Sandviken, are located in the central parts of Sandviken.</p></p> / <p><p>Sandvikens kommun befinner sig i ett starkt växande tillstånd, det påverkar behovet av fler hotellrum på så sätt att ny etablering av hotell är aktuellt. Sandvikens största företag, stålindustrin Sandvik AB, växer precis som Sandviken, och det har stor påverkan på behovet av fler hotellrum. I Sandvikens tätort finns idag tre hotell, som inte klarar behovet av hotellgäster när antalet gäster är som mest. Dessa är Alséns hotell, Stadshotellet Princess och Högbo Brukshotell.</p><p>Syftet med arbetet var att analysera vilka kriterier som är viktiga för lokalisering av ett nytt hotell i Sandvikens tätort, samt att klargöra vilken kategori av hotell Sandviken är i behov av. Behovet av fler hotellrum i Sandvikens tätort ifrågasattes även under utredning.</p><p>För att hitta de platser som är lämpligast, användes en multikriterieanalys som grundade sig på viktade kriterier från en enkätundersökning. Enkätundersökningen bestod utav två delar. Den ena delen valde ut vilka kriterier som skulle ingå i multikriterieanalysen. Den andra delen viktade de utvalda kriterierna för att sedan matas in i multikriterieanalysen, viktningen skedde med hjälp utav utvalda personer som ansågs kunniga på området. De utvalda kriterierna till multikriterieanalysen var: närhet till större idrottsanläggning, buller (hur viktigt det är med låg nivå av buller), närhet till handel, närhet till parkområde, närhet till resecentrum, närhet till restauranger, närhet till Sandbacka park och närhet till Sandvik AB.</p><p>Multikriterieanalysen visade sedan vilka områden som gav de högsta värdena. Medelvärdet för alla de utvaldas viktningar gav ett resultat av höga värden vid centrala delarna av Sandvikens tätort. Denna analys kompletterades sedan med en visuell inventering av utvalda områden som ansågs lediga platser för hotellbygge.</p><p>Utredningen visar att det i dagsläget finns behov av fler hotellrum i Sandvikens tätort. Detta behov kommer med all sannolikhet att öka på grund av att Sandvik AB anställer ny personal, samt att tre nya idrottsarenor byggs i Sandvikens tätort. Enkätundersökningarna visar att den kategori av hotell som det finns störst behov av i Sandvikens tätort är framförallt företagshotell. Detta beror framförallt på storföretaget Sandvik AB. De områden som är lämpligast för etablering av hotell i Sandvikens tätort, enligt den multikriterieanalys som gjorts, är de centrala delarna av Sandvikens tätort.</p></p>

This thesis studies the use of a collaborative spatial Multi-Criteria Analysis tool in site evaluation with multiple participants. The approach is situated within the context of three concepts of space, choice and participation, and is informed by fields as diverse as Decision-Making, Participatory Planning, Geographical Information Systems, Decision Support Systems, Voting, and Group Collaboration. A collaborative spatial Multi-Criteria Analysis software tool called MapChoice was designed for this thesis, built upon open source components and featuring easy-to-use decision support functionality in both single-user and collaborative modes. MapChoice was then evaluated in a real-world site selection situation with a case study on the location of much-needed affordable housing in the Town of Collingwood, Ontario. Based on previous discussions and workshops on the project, a workshop was held with a group of community housing advocates to compare a set of possible sites for an affordable housing project according to a set of spatial and aspatial criteria. The study indicates that a collaborative spatial MCA approach can be used in dealing with complex planning problems, and that it has the potential to contribute to improved consensus between participants.

The municipality of Sandviken is in a state of strong growth. This affects the need for more hotel rooms in Sandviken, in a way that it’s profitable to invest in a new hotel. Sandvikens largest company, the steal industry Sandvik AB, grows just like Sandviken, and have great influence on the need of more hotel rooms. Today there are three hotels placed in Sandviken, and these hotels aren’t enough when the pressure of hotel guests is at its top. The purpose with the project was to analyse the criteria’s that are important for localization of a new hotel in the Sandviken, and to clarify what kind of hotel Sandviken is in need of. The need of hotel rooms in Sandviken where to be challenged during the investigation. To find the most appropriate locations, a multi-criteria analysis was used that was based on the weighting of criteria from a questionnaire study. The questionnaire study contained two parts. The first part where selecting which criteria’s the multi-criteria analysis would include. The other part was weighting the selected criteria’s to be able to input them in the multi-criteria analysis. The weighting where made by selected persons, chosen due to their skills in the particular area. The selected criteria’s in the multi-criteria analysis where: traffic noise, proximity to sports arena, proximity to park area, proximity to travel centre, proximity to restaurants, proximity to Sandbacka park and proximity to Sandvik AB. When the multi-criteria analysis was done, it presented which areas that had the highest values. The mean value for all the selected weightings gave the results of high values in the central parts of Sandviken. This analysis where then complimented with a visual stock-taking of selected areas around Sandviken that where considered free space for building new hotel. The investigation shows that there is a need for more hotel rooms in Sandviken at the moment. This need for hotel rooms will probably grow cause of the recruitment of new personnel by Sandvik AB, and the fact that three new sports arenas is planned to be built in Sandviken. The questionnaire studies shows that the category of hotels with the most need in Sandviken, is especially business hotels. The reason for this is mostly due to Sandvik AB. The areas that are most appropriate for hotel establishment in Sandviken, are located in the central parts of Sandviken. / Sandvikens kommun befinner sig i ett starkt växande tillstånd, det påverkar behovet av fler hotellrum på så sätt att ny etablering av hotell är aktuellt. Sandvikens största företag, stålindustrin Sandvik AB, växer precis som Sandviken, och det har stor påverkan på behovet av fler hotellrum. I Sandvikens tätort finns idag tre hotell, som inte klarar behovet av hotellgäster när antalet gäster är som mest. Dessa är Alséns hotell, Stadshotellet Princess och Högbo Brukshotell. Syftet med arbetet var att analysera vilka kriterier som är viktiga för lokalisering av ett nytt hotell i Sandvikens tätort, samt att klargöra vilken kategori av hotell Sandviken är i behov av. Behovet av fler hotellrum i Sandvikens tätort ifrågasattes även under utredning. För att hitta de platser som är lämpligast, användes en multikriterieanalys som grundade sig på viktade kriterier från en enkätundersökning. Enkätundersökningen bestod utav två delar. Den ena delen valde ut vilka kriterier som skulle ingå i multikriterieanalysen. Den andra delen viktade de utvalda kriterierna för att sedan matas in i multikriterieanalysen, viktningen skedde med hjälp utav utvalda personer som ansågs kunniga på området. De utvalda kriterierna till multikriterieanalysen var: närhet till större idrottsanläggning, buller (hur viktigt det är med låg nivå av buller), närhet till handel, närhet till parkområde, närhet till resecentrum, närhet till restauranger, närhet till Sandbacka park och närhet till Sandvik AB. Multikriterieanalysen visade sedan vilka områden som gav de högsta värdena. Medelvärdet för alla de utvaldas viktningar gav ett resultat av höga värden vid centrala delarna av Sandvikens tätort. Denna analys kompletterades sedan med en visuell inventering av utvalda områden som ansågs lediga platser för hotellbygge. Utredningen visar att det i dagsläget finns behov av fler hotellrum i Sandvikens tätort. Detta behov kommer med all sannolikhet att öka på grund av att Sandvik AB anställer ny personal, samt att tre nya idrottsarenor byggs i Sandvikens tätort. Enkätundersökningarna visar att den kategori av hotell som det finns störst behov av i Sandvikens tätort är framförallt företagshotell. Detta beror framförallt på storföretaget Sandvik AB. De områden som är lämpligast för etablering av hotell i Sandvikens tätort, enligt den multikriterieanalys som gjorts, är de centrala delarna av Sandvikens tätort.

Fire plays an important role in forest ecosystem management depending on the dual character of it. It should be managed and supervised effectively. In this particular study, the study area was located in the north part of Gävleborg County in Sweden, which is in a high- latitude region. Seven factors, divided into natural factors and human caused factors, were extracted from digital elevation model (DEM), classified land use map and feature shape files provided by National Land Survey of Sweden (Lantmäteriet). Two different weighting schemes for the factors were determined by the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. With the help of ArcGIS 9.3 and Erdas 9.3, two classified result maps were obtained, where forest fire risk ranks were shown as five classes, very low, low, moderate, high and very high. The 43 fire incidents in the year 2007 and 2008 recorded by Global Fire Management System were used to evaluate the results. The results show that the higher rank the region is, the larger is the probability for forest fire risk and higher the risk to spread the fire. Furthermore, according to the occurrence time of the fire incidents, the period of time from end of May to beginning of June was generalized as a dangerous period for forest fire risk in this study area. After analyzing and discussing, even if there might be some uncertainties caused by variable selection, resolution problem and weighting schemes, the results were generally reliable.

Nowadays, GIS techniques have been widely used in every walk of life. Owing to the rapid urban growth, it is of importance to plan and develop the cities in a reasonable and scientific way. As a result, optimum sites of different constructions should be considered to make full use of land resources and optimize urban structure. Although the traditional field-survey method is important, GIS-based multi-criteria analysis (MCA) provides a more reasonable and scientific way in site selection issue. Weihai, our study area, is one of the fastest developing coastal cities in China. Owing to the rapid urban expansion, Weihai government municipality planned to develop the Poyu town into a new district with multifunctions. In consideration of its advantages in natural resources and geographic position, a holiday resort is proposed. In the aim of applying GIS-based MCA in site selection, this thesis would present an experiment to select the optimal site for a holiday resort with the help of GIS techniques. The data used in this project is a satellite image and digital elevation data of Poyu town. The satellite image has been digitized to obtain the current land use map, based on which constraint maps and factor maps have been made to make preparation of multi-criteria analysis. Finally, the multi-criteria analysis model has been made. The weights for multi-criteria analysis are obtained from the advice of experienced people in Weihai Planning Bureau and also earlier studies on the site selection. There are three sets of weights based on three themes that have been used in this project. The three themes which were fruit-picking theme, seascape and seafood theme as well as leisure and recreation theme were decided based on the results of the questionnaire. Through the discussions of the results, a final selected site for the holiday resort was determined. It includes the optimal site for the main part focusing on both fruit picking theme and leisure and recreation theme and also the optimal site for an accessory part focusing on seascape and seafood theme. The final section concludes the general project work, its perspectives and the function of GIS-based MCA in site selection.

This thesis studies the use of a collaborative spatial Multi-Criteria Analysis tool in site evaluation with multiple participants. The approach is situated within the context of three concepts of space, choice and participation, and is informed by fields as diverse as Decision-Making, Participatory Planning, Geographical Information Systems, Decision Support Systems, Voting, and Group Collaboration. A collaborative spatial Multi-Criteria Analysis software tool called MapChoice was designed for this thesis, built upon open source components and featuring easy-to-use decision support functionality in both single-user and collaborative modes. MapChoice was then evaluated in a real-world site selection situation with a case study on the location of much-needed affordable housing in the Town of Collingwood, Ontario. Based on previous discussions and workshops on the project, a workshop was held with a group of community housing advocates to compare a set of possible sites for an affordable housing project according to a set of spatial and aspatial criteria. The study indicates that a collaborative spatial MCA approach can be used in dealing with complex planning problems, and that it has the potential to contribute to improved consensus between participants.

Wildfire is a naturally occurring process that regenerates vegetation in forests.  However, these fire regimes are becoming increasingly altered by human beings.  This study attempts to predict the risk of human caused forest fire incidents in the Cranbrook Fire Zone in British Columbia, Canada.  A multi-criteria analysis using 16 spatial and socioeconomic variables was developed to produce three separate outputs, each having a different weighting and ranking scheme derived from either The Rank Method, or AHP Method.  Results were compared with point locations of human caused incidents from 1950 to 2008 and the accuracy of the model is very promising; however, further study and analysis is required for true validation.

Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies and remote sensing (RS) technologies have developed rapidly in recent years, and they have been widely used indaily life of ordinary people. The combination of these two remarkable technologies isuseful for location decision making and has been applied in different kinds of study cases.Guangyuan is one of the fastest developing cities in the southwest of China. Especiallyafter the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, the development in economic and urbanreconstruction increased rapidly. Many infrastructure constructions and the reformprojects are in progress. At the same time, China's urban sewage treatment facilities areseriously inadequate. Only a small percentage of sewage has been treated by sewagetreatment plants in China. So the purpose of this study is to select an optimal site for asewage treatment plant in Guangyuan in a scientific way.In this particular study, based on GIS software and GIS-based multi-criteria analysis(MCA), a decision making model has been built for optimal site selection for a sewagetreatment plant. Two types of data were used in this study. Digital elevation model andsatellite image, several factor maps and constraint maps were created for the final analysis.The analytic hierarchy process was used to apply the weights for each factor along withformula method, in order to get the best result and find the optimal site. Finally, a MCAmodel has been made to be an example for future similar studies.In the end, an optimal site has been selected. Although aims are achieved in this study,there are still some limitations in different perspectives of the study. In the future, moreprecise data can be used in MCA studies, data limitations could be reduced with thedevelopment of RS techniques. In the future, more similar studies will be finished, whichmeans more scientific papers can provide reliable references of determining the criteriaand weights.