Wave energy has the potential to be a major contributor to the global energy mix. It is estimated that commercial deployment of wave and tidal energy arrays could meet as much as 20% of the UK’s current electricity demand, with an installed capacity of 30-50 GW providing up to 16,000 jobs. However, the wave energy sector has not yet developed into a commercial industry due to several key challenges. One reason private investors have been reluctant to back the sector is that the uncertainty surrounding lifetime costs of wave energy arrays makes it difficult to obtain reliable estimates for overall cost of energy. In order to improve these estimates, a better understanding of the operations and maintenance (O&M) phase of wave energy arrays needs to be gained. This thesis presents an O&M simulation tool designed for wave energy arrays. The work presented uses the model to assess aspects of O&M strategies for two different types of wave energy converter. Uncertainty in the model inputs is also addressed by undertaking a series of sensitivity analyses. The methods and results presented in this thesis highlight the importance of using an O&M simulation tool to plan lifetime logistics for wave energy arrays and obtain realistic cost estimates. The work has also shown how an O&M tool can be used to identify critical components in wave energy converters, thereby helping to design the best device possible for the challenging marine environment. Understanding lifetime costs of wave energy arrays will drive the sector towards commercialisation, bringing wave energy a step closer to fulfilling its potential as a major contributor to global energy production.

This dissertation develops a new methodology and associated solution tools to achieve optimal operations and maintenance strategies for wind turbines, helping reduce operational costs and enhance the marketability of wind generation. The integrated framework proposed includes two optimization models for enabling decision support capability, and one discrete event-based simulation model that characterizes the dynamic operations of wind power systems. The problems in the optimization models are formulated as a partially observed Markov decision process to determine an optimal action based on a wind turbine's health status and the stochastic weather conditions. The rst optimization model uses homogeneous parameters with an assumption of stationary weather characteristics over the decision horizon. We derive a set of closed-form expressions for the optimal policy and explore the policy's monotonicity. The second model allows time-varying weather conditions and other practical aspects. Consequently, the resulting strategy are season-dependent. The model is solved using a backward dynamic programming method. The bene ts of the optimal policy are highlighted via a case study that is based upon eld data from the literature and industry. We nd that the optimal policy provides options for cost-e ective actions, because it can be adapted to a variety of operating conditions. Our discrete event-based simulation model incorporates critical components, such as a wind turbine degradation model, power generation model, wind speed model, and maintenance model. We provide practical insights gained by examining di erent maintenance strategies. To the best of our knowledge, our simulation model is the rst discrete-event simulation model for wind farm operations. Last, we present the integration framework, which incorporates the optimization results in the simulation model. Preliminary results reveal that the integrated model has the potential to provide practical guidelines that can reduce the operation costs as well as enhance the marketability of wind energy.

Digital twins (DT) describe the integration of the physical and digital worlds with the aim of optimizing real world operations and functions. The digital twin concept has gained increasing attention across industries in the past decade including the building sector. However digital twins remain ambiguous with various existing definitions and characteristics. While DTs include all life cycle phases, ultimately their goal is optimization of operations during the use phase. Of the building life cycle phases, building facilities management (FM) is responsible for considerable costs and energy consumption and has potential for improvement through DT implementation. Along with increased building information modeling (BIM) implementation, recent advances in data driven technologies have encouraged the exploration of DT in the building sector. BIM has been coupled with technologies such as internet of things (IoT), data analytics, and cloud computing to optimize various FM functions often resembling DT. This study has reviewed existing literature on digital twins in facilities management using a structured literature review and characterized similar characteristics and definitions by different authors. Additionally, DT implementation in different FM application areas was quantified and analyzed. Results show that DT implementation in FM is still at nascent stages with major challenges surrounding standardization and data integration. / Master of Science / Digital twins (DT) describe the integration of the physical and digital worlds with the aim of optimizing real world operations and functions. The digital twin concept has gained increasing attention across industries in the past decade including the building sector. However digital twins remain ambiguous with various existing definitions and characteristics. DTs include all building life cycle phases from design, construction, to operation and maintenance. Ultimately their goal is optimization of operations also referred to as facilities management during the use phase. Of the building life cycle phases, building facilities management (FM) is responsible for considerable costs and energy consumption and has potential for improvement through DT implementation. Building information modeling (BIM) describes geometric and semantic information of physical assets and has been used to optimize operations in FM. Along with increased BIM implementation, recent advances in data driven technologies have encouraged the exploration of DT in the building sector. BIM has been coupled with technologies such as internet of things (IoT), data analytics, and cloud computing to optimize various FM functions often resembling DT. This study has reviewed existing literature on digital twins in facilities management using a structured literature review and characterized similar characteristics and definitions by different authors. Additionally, DT implementation in different FM application areas was quantified and analyzed. Results show that DT implementation in FM is still at nascent stages with major challenges surrounding standardization and data integration.

Sustainability has been heightened to a new level of importance, due to the current global race for commodities and conservation of our environment. Sustainable Buildings are of particular interest since buildings are significant contributors to consumption of resources. Since the inception of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1993, USGBC has played a key role in providing guidance to the design and construction community in building“green" structures. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system is an industry accepted standard for the design/construction and measurement of green buildings. Although USGBC provides guidance on performance measurement, a streamlined process of performance tracking and measurement has not been formalized. This research focuses on identifying vital areas of required tracking and measurement; to allow for a systematic analysis of costs and benefits, over the life of sustainable buildings. A case-study based on the recently designed and constructed East Hall LEED-Gold Certified, dormitory building at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), was undertaken to create and assess a life cycle costs analysis framework. This research is aimed at understanding what the costs of building green at WPI truly are. Life Cycle Cost Analyses of the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and roof components were evaluated to generate percent savings or percent added cost. This research reviewed the various green and non-green costs of construction, consumption, and operations and maintenance costs providing a comparative analysis to leading researchers in the field of costs and benefits of building green.

The thesis deals with the topic of mobile network diagnostics, different methods applicable for this purpose and methodology for technical diagnostics and consequent error mitigation or mobile network optimisation. Service commonly offered by mobile networks and their quality of service requirements and analysis methods are described.

The Salvation Army, a non-profit Christian Church and social service enterprise, struggles as all corporations do, with expending limited resources in the most efficient and effective manner. The Salvation Army has been recognized as a corporate leader in effectively managing administrative and programmatic resources and generating positive results in their programs designed for the benefit of society and the community of mankind as a whole. This document focuses on whether The Salvation Armys practices concerning the design, construction, and operation of facilities warrants the same praise regarding efficiencies and effectiveness. The contents of this thesis are an evaluation of, and recommendations for, the design and construction processes used by The Salvation Armys Corporate Headquarters to construct and operate Salvation Army Corps Community Centers throughout the southeastern United States. The primary objectives were to analyze the current design and construction processes, develop a prototype design, and determine through quantitative research if standardization of the design is cost effective, programmatically functional, superior in terms of constructability, maintainability, sustainability, and if and how a standard model should be implemented. The methodology used to produce this thesis included a comprehensive review of relevant literature concerning current industry standards regarding design and construction to develop an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of standardized design. Personal interviews with architects and directors of similar facilities were conducted to gain a thorough knowledge of the concept of standardization. A survey was distributed to internal personnel involved in the design, construction, and operations of Salvation Army Corps Community Centers. The survey was used to determine the experience, expertise, and limitations of those individuals and how the internal population views and implements current processes, as well as their opinion of standardization. In concert with a standard design, an integrated operations, maintenance, capital renewal plan, and emergency plan concept is discussed, produced, and incorporated into an actual constructed model. An implementation plan for each of the components mentioned above is also provided. The information gleaned from the research indicated that process improvement was warranted and that a standardized design could effectively jump start the design process which would ultimately result in cost savings, production of a programmatically functional facility that is cost effectively maintained, built from sustainable products, and incorporates an operations, maintenance and capital renewal plan as well. While the research conducted supports the implementation of a standardized design, operations, and capital renewal plan, further research will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented program. By studying the constructed model, adjustments can be made in the process and practice to further improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the standardized design process, operations, maintenance, and capital renewal plan.