The social and economic impact of urban flooding is becoming more severe in the United States over time. Urban areas are mostly vulnerable to flash floods because of the impervious surface, which increases the surface runoff. More than 80 percent of people live in urban areas in the United States, and they are at higher risk of urban flooding. Although many urban areas have a higher risk of urban flooding, there is still a significant knowledge gap of understanding between the minority's and nonminority's vulnerability to urban floods. Therefore, using Birmingham, Alabama, as a study area, this research designs a quantitative thematic mapping method to assess the flood risks of urban population and buildings. In this research, census data was used to assess urban residents' vulnerability to flooding using thematic mapping method – location quotient (LQ) and compare it with the widely used social vulnerability index. The findings suggest that the aggregation of White populations is much higher compared to minorities. This research also developed a flood risk model using integrated GIS and cartographic approach considering different environmental factors that influence the urban floods. This study found that the Valley Creek area is the highest flood risk zone in Birmingham, and has the highest percentage of residential (i.e., 56.14 %) and commercial (i.e., 75.34 %) buildings located in very high flood risk areas. The decennial census data from 1990 to 2015 was used to examine whether vulnerable population groups aggregated more in the flooding areas or moved away from Birmingham's flooding areas in the past thirty years. The findings of this research indicate that most minorities are aggregating more in the floodplain areas, whereas the non-minorities are moving away from the flooding regions.

Frequent climatic shocks have presented challenges for rainfed agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. Appropriate water management practices are among the solutions to the challenges. The role of water harvesting in achieving sustainable agricultural intensification and specified resilience was explored. Suitable areas for water harvesting in the Upper Blue Nile basin were identified. The usefulness of the Curve Number method for surface runoff estimation was evaluated, and was found to perform satisfactorily. The impact of climate change in the Lake Tana sub-basin was studied. A decision support system was developed for locating and sizing of water harvesting ponds in the SWAT model. Methodological developments enabled analysis of the implications of water harvesting intensification in a meso-scale watershed in the Lake Tana sub-basin. Results suggest that water harvesting can increase agricultural productivity, sustain ecosystems and build specified resilience, and thereby contribute to sustainable agricultural intensification. There is considerable potential for water harvesting in the Upper Blue Nile Basin. Rainfall may increase in the Lake Tana sub-basin due to climate change. Supplementary irrigation from water harvesting ponds and better nutrient application increased staple crop production by up to three-fold. Moreover, a substantial amount of cash crop was produced using dry seasonal irrigation. Water harvesting altered the streamflow regime, and reduced sediment loss from the watershed.       Water harvesting can play an important role in food security. It showed potential to buffer climatic variability. In the watershed studied, water harvesting will not compromise the environmental water requirements. Instead, increased low flows, and reduced flooding and sediment loss may benefit the social-ecological systems. The adverse effects of disturbance of the natural flow variability and sediment influx to certain riverine ecosystems warrant detailed investigation. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript. Paper 3: Manuscript. Paper 5: Epub ahead of print. Paper 6: Manuscript.</p> / Water resources management and social-ecological resilience

Biocultural approaches to Environmental Management (EM) and monitoring are an emerging strategy in sustainability planning. Unlike functional ecological approaches to EM, which exclude humans from ecological systems, biocultural EM approaches incorporate humans, communities and their values as integral part of ecological systems, and are grounded in collaborative processes that develop locally relevant management objectives and monitoring practices. Biocultural indicators are a key aspect of biocultural EM, providing links between worldviews, knowledge systems, agencies and institutions at various scales to guide and streamline implementation of management objectives. Although many Indigenous Peoples have been continually practicing biocultural approaches to EM for thousands of years, challenges exist in contemporary EM scenarios where multiple worldviews, political boundaries and knowledge systems collide. Some of the challenges or gaps in contemporary biocultural approaches are based in theory, and others are in practice. In Chapter One I highlight one of these gaps – the lack of guiding criteria to develop biocultural indicators in contemporary biocultural EM and monitoring. To address this gap, I propose a novel suite of six criteria (culturally salient, supportive of place-based relationships, inclusive, sensitive to impacts, perceptible, linked to human well-being) drawn from a case study in Kitasoo/Xai’xais Territory in the area now referred to as the North and Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada. In Chapter Two, I highlight a challenge in practice—the development of spatial models that incorporate a community-led approach. I show how this community-engaged approach benefitted the development and application of a landscape scale suitability model for culturally modified trees, a priority biocultural indicator. In conclusion, this theoretical and practical work identifies opportunities to amend existing Provincial and Federal legislation in order to support biocultural approaches to EM in Canada and shows how biocultural approaches may be applied in other social-ecological systems near and abroad. / Graduate

This master's thesis deals with extensions of TOPSIS method, which is one of methods for multi-criteria evaluation of alternatives. These extensions use theory of fuzzy sets (FS) and their futher extensions to interval-valued (IVFS), intuitionistic (IFS) and hesitant (HFS) fuzzy sets and their combinations (IVIFS, IVIHFS). Significant part of this thesis explains the principle of fuzzy sets and their generalizations. Descriptions of operators for aggregations of grades of membership has very important role here. Next, very short description of multi-criteria evaluation problems and detailed description of TOPSIS method are contained. The second half of this thesis is dedicated to four existing extensions of TOPSIS metod that uses theories of FS, IVFS, IVIFS and IVIHFS. Every method is illustrated with an example that shows principle of calculations. It illustrates new possibilities of the methods that use new sets theories and potential complications and deviations from the original TOPSIS method. At the end of this thesis, evaluation of usefulness of used approaches is mentioned.

The thesis deals with the design and arrangement of a new paint line at company Automotive Ligting s.r.o in Jihlava. It deals with design of several possible options of arrangement of machines that are required for the processing of polycarbonate granules and their conversion into acrylic glass using two-component injection molding. The glass is then coated with the coating line which is part of the arrangement included in this project. Design of the individual sites and their organization is based on both the company's requirements and the principles of technological design. The best of the three options is analyzed in detail and evaluated from the economic point of view.

Baigiamajame magistro darbe nagrinėjamos traukinių ant magnetinės pagalvės (MAGLEV) technologijos. Atlikta išsami traukinių ant magnetinės pagalvės pasaulinės patirties analizė. Ištirti šių traukinių pagrindiniai privalumai ir trūkumai lyginant su įprastiniais greitaisiais traukiniais. Parinkti traukinių eksploatavimo lyginamieji parametrai. Pateikiami riedmenų TRASNRAPID 08 (MAGLEV) ir ICE 3 (tradicinės sistemos) techniniai ekonominiai lyginimo rezultatai. Atliktas daugiakriteris vertinimas. Pabaigoje suformuluotos išvados. Baigiamajame magistro darbe sudarytos 37 lentelės, pavaizduota 60 paveikslų. Darbo apimtis 95 psl. / Final master work analyzes technologies of trains on magnetic cushion (MAGLEV). World experience analysis of trains on magnetic cushion is made. Advantages and disadvantages of MAGLEV systems in comparison with other high speed trains are also discussed. Performance comparative parameters were chosen. Technical economical analysis results are made using TRASNRAPID 08 as MAGLEV system train and ICE 3 as traditional system train. Also multi criteria evaluation is made. Finally, conclusions are formed. Final master work consists: 37 tables, 60 figures and 4 appendixes. Work size 95 pages.

No Nordeste do Brasil, o estuário do Rio São Francisco apresenta extensas áreas de manguezais (32 km2) cujos recursos são utilizados por populações humanas. Este estudo considerou a metodologia de sistemas sócio-ecológicos complexos para analisar a pesca nos manguezais desse estuário, com ênfase no caranguejo Ucides cordatus. Por meio da integração de dados de diferentes áreas (etnobiologia, levantamentos socioeconômicos, estrutura populacional do caranguejo, características da vegetação, arranjo espacial da paisagem, sensoriamento remoto e geoprocessamento) em uma análise multicritério foi determina e mapeada a aptidão dos manguezais para a conservação e a pesca dessa espécie. Uma diversidade de recursos pesqueiros do manguezal (por exemplo, peixes, caranguejos e moluscos), constitui a principal base da economia de subsistência local, em que o caranguejo U. cordatus é o mais importante. As populações locais possuem um vasto conhecimento sobre o tamanho populacional e corporal, ciclo de vida, diferenciação sexual e habitat dessa espécie, e aplicam práticas conservacionistas no uso da redinha. A estrutura populacional do caranguejo revelou um alto potencial pesqueiro, com maior abundância de caranguejos de tamanho comercial do que os de tamanho não comercial. Os manguezais mais aptos para a conservação de U. cordatus (9,4 km2) estão localizados próximos à foz e apresentam alta abundância de caranguejos não comerciais, baixa densidade de caranguejos comerciais e baixo grau de utilização para a pesca. Os manguezais mais aptos para a pesca (10,2 km2) estão distantes da foz e apresentam alta abundância de caranguejos de tamanho comercial, baixa densidade de caranguejos em tamanho não comercial, caranguejos grandes, médio a alto grau de uso e estão próximos aos povoados. Os mapas de aptidão gerados podem auxiliar as agências governamentais no delineamento de áreas extrativistas e de exclusão da pesca, como sugerido no Plano Nacional de Gestão para o Uso Sustentável do Caranguejo-uçá / In Northeastern Brazil, the São Francisco River Estuary comprises a significant mangrove area (32 km2) used by local human populations. This study considered the framework of socio-ecological systems to analyze the mangrove fishery in this estuary, with emphasis on the crab Ucides cordatus. By the integration of data from different fields (etnobiology and socio-economic surveys, crab population structure, vegetation features, landscape arrangement, remote sensing and geoprocessing) in a multi-criteria analysis, we determined and mapped the suitability of the mangroves for the conservation and fishery of this species. We found that a diversity of mangrove fisheries (e.g. fish, crabs and mollusks) constitute the main base of the local subsistence economy, wherein the Ucides cordatus is the most important. The local populations have a substantial knowledge about this crab population and body sizes, life cycle, sexual differentiation, behavior and habitat, and apply conservation practices in the use of the \"redinha\". The population structure of the crab U. cordatus revealed a high fishery potential, with higher abundance (frequency and density) of crabs in commercial size than the non-commercial sized crabs. The mangroves more suitable for the crab conservation (9.4 km2) are those close to the river mouth, showing high abundance of non-commercial crabs, low density of commercial crabs and low degree of use for fishery. On the other hand, the mangroves more suitable for the crab fishery (10.2 km2) are those located far from to river mouth, showing high density and frequency of crabs in commercial size, low density of crabs in non-commercial size, big sized crabs, medium to high degree of use, and are close to the fishery villages. The maps of suitability can aid government agencies in delineating extractive and fishery exclusion areas, as stated by the Proposal of a National Management Plan for this crab, in order to achieve a sustainable fishery

Nekilnojamojo turto rinkos tyrimai yra svarbūs žemės reformos metu privatizuojant valstybinę žemę, nekilnojamojo turto apmokestinimui, sudarant nekilnojamojo turto sandorius, nustatant realią turto vertę. Skirtingos rūšies nekilnojamasis turtas savo fizinėmis bei teisinėmis savybėmis skiriasi, todėl, atliekant nekilnojamojo turto analizę, būtina žinoti vertinamojo turto rūšį ir ją apibūdinančias savybes. Pagal vieną metodiką sistemą ir skalę įvertintą nekilnojamąjį turtą galima tarpusavyje palyginti. Turėdami nekilnojamojo turto įvertinimą, išreikštą tam tikrais jo naudingumą vaizduojančiais skaičiais (balais), žinosime kiek kartų, keliais procentais ir balais vienos kokybės, vienodų teisinių ir techninių charakteristikų nekilnojamasis turtas yra geresnis ar blogesnis už kitos kokybės nekilnojamąjį turtą. Atlikus tyrimą nustatyta, kad didžiausią reikšmę individualių gyvenamųjų namų vertei turi pastatų įvertinimo veiksniai, sklypo teritorinis išsidėstymas, rinkos konjunktūra, mažiausią reikšmę - sklypo patrauklumas, oro, aplinkos užterštumo, triukšmo lygis. Galima prognozuoti, kad artimiausius kelerius metus viso nekilnojamojo turto kainos kasmet mažės nuo 5 iki 10 %. Alytaus rajone didžiausia individualių gyvenamųjų namų pasiūla yra balandžio - rugpjūčio mėnesiais, o mažiausia lapkričio - vasario mėnesiais. 2003 - 2004 metais nekilnojamojo turto kainos didėjo. Pasiūlos kainos šiek tiek aukštesnės nei kainos, gautos atlikus daugiakriterinį nekilnojamojo turto vertinimą taip... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Investigations of the real property market are very important while privatising state-owned land during the land reform as well as for the real property taxation, while making real property agreements and defining the real property value. The real property of different types differs in its physical and legal characteristics, therefore, while carrying out the analysis of the real property, the type of the valuated property and characteristics defining it should be known. The evaluated real property could be compared according to one method, system and scale as well as between them. Having the evaluation of the real property, expressed in particular numbers (points) representing its usefulness, we will be aware of how many times, in how many percents or points the real property of the same quality, the same legal and technical characteristics is better or worse than that of other quality. After the investigation it has been determined that the biggest influence on the value of individual dwelling-houses has building evaluation criterion, territorial distribution of parcels, market conjuncture, and the smallest one has attractiveness of parcel, air and environmental pollution, noise level. One can prognosticate that the real property prices at an early date will increase from 5 to 10%. The biggest supply of individual dwelling-houses in Alytus district is during the period of April - August, and the smallest one - during the period of November - February. During the period of 20... [to full text]

No Nordeste do Brasil, o estuário do Rio São Francisco apresenta extensas áreas de manguezais (32 km2) cujos recursos são utilizados por populações humanas. Este estudo considerou a metodologia de sistemas sócio-ecológicos complexos para analisar a pesca nos manguezais desse estuário, com ênfase no caranguejo Ucides cordatus. Por meio da integração de dados de diferentes áreas (etnobiologia, levantamentos socioeconômicos, estrutura populacional do caranguejo, características da vegetação, arranjo espacial da paisagem, sensoriamento remoto e geoprocessamento) em uma análise multicritério foi determina e mapeada a aptidão dos manguezais para a conservação e a pesca dessa espécie. Uma diversidade de recursos pesqueiros do manguezal (por exemplo, peixes, caranguejos e moluscos), constitui a principal base da economia de subsistência local, em que o caranguejo U. cordatus é o mais importante. As populações locais possuem um vasto conhecimento sobre o tamanho populacional e corporal, ciclo de vida, diferenciação sexual e habitat dessa espécie, e aplicam práticas conservacionistas no uso da redinha. A estrutura populacional do caranguejo revelou um alto potencial pesqueiro, com maior abundância de caranguejos de tamanho comercial do que os de tamanho não comercial. Os manguezais mais aptos para a conservação de U. cordatus (9,4 km2) estão localizados próximos à foz e apresentam alta abundância de caranguejos não comerciais, baixa densidade de caranguejos comerciais e baixo grau de utilização para a pesca. Os manguezais mais aptos para a pesca (10,2 km2) estão distantes da foz e apresentam alta abundância de caranguejos de tamanho comercial, baixa densidade de caranguejos em tamanho não comercial, caranguejos grandes, médio a alto grau de uso e estão próximos aos povoados. Os mapas de aptidão gerados podem auxiliar as agências governamentais no delineamento de áreas extrativistas e de exclusão da pesca, como sugerido no Plano Nacional de Gestão para o Uso Sustentável do Caranguejo-uçá / In Northeastern Brazil, the São Francisco River Estuary comprises a significant mangrove area (32 km2) used by local human populations. This study considered the framework of socio-ecological systems to analyze the mangrove fishery in this estuary, with emphasis on the crab Ucides cordatus. By the integration of data from different fields (etnobiology and socio-economic surveys, crab population structure, vegetation features, landscape arrangement, remote sensing and geoprocessing) in a multi-criteria analysis, we determined and mapped the suitability of the mangroves for the conservation and fishery of this species. We found that a diversity of mangrove fisheries (e.g. fish, crabs and mollusks) constitute the main base of the local subsistence economy, wherein the Ucides cordatus is the most important. The local populations have a substantial knowledge about this crab population and body sizes, life cycle, sexual differentiation, behavior and habitat, and apply conservation practices in the use of the \"redinha\". The population structure of the crab U. cordatus revealed a high fishery potential, with higher abundance (frequency and density) of crabs in commercial size than the non-commercial sized crabs. The mangroves more suitable for the crab conservation (9.4 km2) are those close to the river mouth, showing high abundance of non-commercial crabs, low density of commercial crabs and low degree of use for fishery. On the other hand, the mangroves more suitable for the crab fishery (10.2 km2) are those located far from to river mouth, showing high density and frequency of crabs in commercial size, low density of crabs in non-commercial size, big sized crabs, medium to high degree of use, and are close to the fishery villages. The maps of suitability can aid government agencies in delineating extractive and fishery exclusion areas, as stated by the Proposal of a National Management Plan for this crab, in order to achieve a sustainable fishery

This work analyzes the possibilities of using of Competitive Intelligence in nonprofit organizations and suggests a method of implementation of Competitive Intelligence in the existing nonprofit organization. In the theoretical part I write about the nonprofit sector in the Czech Republic and selected countries of the European Union and I briefly describe the term Competitive Intelligence. In the practical part I use a questionnaire to analyze the possibilities of using of Competitive Intelligence in the nonprofit sector and after that I perform PESTEL and PORTER analyses of the SOS Children's Villages. In the end I use a multi-criteria evaluation to select the best method of the implementation of Competitive Intelligence in the analyzed organization.