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An investigation of underground corrosion through the use of hyperspectral remote sensingArril, Benjamin Robert Lewis 25 March 2010 (has links)
This thesis investigates the potential advantage of using remote sensing techniques to assess underground transmission tower corrosion. The data used in this study was collected from three electrical transmission towers in the Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada. A comprehensive assessment of the corrosive environments have included the following factors: climate, soil pH, soil moisture content, soil resistivity, overlying plant spectral reflectance, and heavy metal content in soil and vegetation. The principal method of protection against steel tower corrosion is zinc galvanization. As zinc serves as a sacrificial coating, once corroded, it leaches into the soil, and is then absorbed by surrounding vegetation. High concentrations of heavy metals may negatively influence plant growth. Plant Root Simulator (PRS™) probes were used to assess heavy metal supply rates by continuously adsorbing charged ionic species while in soil. Heavy metal content analysis was also conducted on sampled tower vegetation using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICP-AES). Remote sensing techniques, such as field spectroscopy, have great potential for monitoring spectral reflectance variations of various vegetation types and biophysical characteristics. The energy-matter interactions in the UV, VIS, NIR and IR wavelength regions can be used for chemical analysis of compounds and mixtures. The combination of remote sensing analysis techniques, such as NDVI, leaf structural index R110/R810, water content index R900/R970, first order derivative analysis, and continuum removal can provide non-intrusive and continuous monitoring methods for the impact and content of certain heavy metals in plants growing in contaminated soils. However, in this study, the high zinc concentrations recorded from the PRS™-probes and ICP-AES could not be correlated to the reflectance spectra measured by the field spectrometer. Although using zinc as a spectral corrosion identifier was not successful in this thesis, the presence of a chemical process in which by-products were produced and leached into the soil was evident. The integration of remote sensing techniques and underground corrosion explored in this thesis presents unique opportunities for further research in this area of study.
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Indigenous peoples in action beyond the state : the lowlands of Bolivia, 1982-2002.Bajard, Anne Catherine 13 April 2010 (has links)
As an indigenous leader and member of parliament questions: "What good would having a hundred indigenous members of parliament be, if the system itself is not going to be changed, precisely if we do not propose a structural change? We have to break down the structural system if we really want democracy, if we want to move forward" (Jose Bailaba, Bolivia, August 2003). The thesis looks at the strategies for governance of the indigenous peoples of the Lowlands of Bolivia. It is a journey with key informants from the indigenous movement of the Amazon basin that raises the mariner in which strategies may vary among the peoples over time and in different contexts, while the vision itself remains constant: a vision of governance as nations. It situates their strategies in a context of transnational alliances and negotiations, with varying perceptions of the role of the state and its institutions. The research is based on six years of accompaniment of the indigenous peoples of the Lowlands of Bolivia, as well as on in-depth interviews with leaders who have held roles as community leaders, national leaders, municipal Councillors and Members of Parliament.
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Constructing a regional adolescent health and wellness index for British Columbia, CanadaMartin, Gina Chrissy 06 August 2010 (has links)
The purpose of this thesis is to construct an index of adolescent health and wellness for British Columbia, Canada, using the most recent available data. A three- round Delphi study is used in order to decide on what indicators to include in the index and each indicator’s relative weight. Spatial multi-criteria analysis (MCA) is utilized to combine the indicators into a single measure. The spatial MCA, technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) method was applied to the adolescent population as a whole and to examine male and female variation. This revealed that adolescent health and wellness is not experienced equally across the province. The Health Service Delivery Areas (HSDAs) Fraser South and Fraser North proved to have the greatest levels of adolescent health and wellness while the Northwest has the least. A rural/ urban gradient in adolescent health and wellness was revealed at the HSDA level. Male and female adolescents also experience health and wellness differently, with females achieving higher health and wellness across all HSDAs in the Province when directly comparing the two genders. The findings of this research are useful in informing discussions of resource allocation for reducing inequalities and inequities and in order to target future research.
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A surface roughness parameterization study near two proposed windfarm locations in Southern OntarioLaporte, David J. 24 August 2010 (has links)
This thesis presents a study on the applicability of common roughness parameterization guidelines in determining values of the surface roughness length (z0). These guidelines are often used for vertical extrapolation of wind speeds in the renewable energy industry. The specific goal of this thesis is to determine whether these guidelines (most notably the Davenport roughness classification system) can provide a quality estimate of the roughness length for wind resource assessment purposes. To test this hypothesis, empirical relationships between calculated values of z0 derived from logarithmic profile fitting and those estimated from subjective terrain analyses guidelines are compared at two prospective wind farm locations in Southern Ontario. The results suggest that the use of roughness parameterization guidelines for extrapolating wind speeds can cause serious underestimation of the local wind resources, especially at locations where local topographic challenges exist. Their use in energy assessments should be avoided if possible through on-site measurements of the wind profile.
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Fine-scale temporal and spatial variability in the coastal waters of Clayoquot SoundKing, Stephanie 14 September 2010 (has links)
An oceanographic buoy with 10 atmospheric and oceanographic instruments was
deployed in Clayoquot Sound on the west coast of Canada in 2007. The high-resolution
time series was used to monitor the fine-scale variability in the coastal ocean. Over 700 CTD profiles measuring temperature, salinity and chlorophyll fluorescence made in the region of the buoy were used to relate the buoy data to spatial patterns. Analysis showed that large-scale upwelling in combination with the localized winds and tidal currents affect water properties at time scales of hours to days. At low tide the buoy represented inland water and at high tide the buoy represented offshore water. Both the buoy data and CTD profiles measured a strong offshore/onshore gradient. For temperature the gradient depended on the direction of the wind, salinity was always higher offshore compared to onshore, and the chlorophyll fluorescence was higher onshore in the early spring and higher offshore for the rest of the time series. The fine scale temporal resolution of the buoy was able to capture the variability measured by the CTD profiles in a 40km2 area. This work shows the importance of making high-resolution temporal measurements in the coastal ocean. However, these types of moorings also require
frequent maintenance. In Clayoquot Sound, the optical sensors needed to be cleaned
every 4-6 days.
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Regional, temporal and age trends in avoidable hospitalization rates among older adults in British Columbia, Canada, 1991-2000Druyts, Eric Bene Furnes 10 November 2010 (has links)
Certain indicators are useful in examining the impact of health care restructuring on the population. Avoidable hospitalization rates are used as an indicator of access to primary care. The purpose of this study was to examine regional, temporal, and age-related trends in avoidable hospitalization rates among older adults during a decade of significant health care restructuring in British Columbia, 1991-2000. The specific objectives of this study were 1) to calculate avoidable hospitalization rates among older adults in British Columbia by regional health authority and health services delivery area, 2) to examine the extent to which avoidable hospitalization rates among older adults in each regional health authority and health service delivery area differ from the provincial avoidable hospitalization rate, and 3) to examine the temporal changes in avoidable hospitalization rates among older adults in British Columbia by regional health authority.
Analyses draw on linked administrative health data from the province of British Columbia for the population of health system users age 55 and older. Analyses are stratified by age group (55 to 64, 65 to 74, and 75 and older) and regional health authority and health service delivery area. Age-sex standardized avoidable hospitalization rates for the years 1991 through 2000 were first calculated. Analysis of means for rate data were also undertaken to examine the extent to which avoidable hospitalization rates in each region differed from the provincial average. Additionally, joinpoint regression analyses of annual avoidable hospitalization rates were performed to examine temporal changes in the trends.
Comparing the avoidable hospitalization rates observed in the health authorities and health service delivery areas to the avoidable hospitalization rates for the province revealed regional disparities, whereby the most rural and northern health authorities and health service delivery areas tended to have higher avoidable hospitalization rates. Joinpoint regression results showed significantly decreasing trends over time. The results also generally indicated that as age increased, so did the likelihood of encountering an avoidable hospitalization. This was consistent across geographical locations and time.
The data suggest that access to primary care services may be problematic in several areas of the province, including northern British Columbia, and rural and remote areas. Although avoidable hospitalization rates decreased over time, it may be the case that health care restructuring initiatives in the 1990s have not completely addressed regional disparities in access to primary care. Additionally, the finding that the oldest adults tend to be more prone to an avoidable hospitalization is of concern. Policy efforts intended to reduce the overall number of avoidable hospitalizations should address the complexities associated with access to the primary care system.
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Dendroclimatological and dendroglaciological investigations at Confederation and Franklin glaciers, central Coast Mountains, British Columbia, CanadaCoulthard, Bethany L. 15 November 2010 (has links)
It has become increasingly clear that climate fluctuations during the Holocene
interval were unusually frequent and rapid, and that our current understanding of the
temporal and spatial distribution of these oscillations is incomplete. Little
paleoenvironmental research has been undertaken on the windward side of the central Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. Very high annual orographic precipitation totals, moderate annual temperatures regulated by the Pacific Ocean, and extreme topographic features result in a complex suite of microclimate conditions in this largely unstudied area.
Dendroclimatological investigations conducted on a steep south-facing slope near
Confederation and Franklin glaciers suggest that both mountain hemlock (Tsuga
mertensiana) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) trees at the site are limited by previous year mean and maximum summer temperatures. A regional subalpine fir chronology for the central and southern Coast Mountains indicates that subalpine fir trees at the study site experience physiological stress with warm summer temperatures, despite the high
annual precipitation totals experienced there. This response is likely a result of the extreme gradient and the aspect of the slope at the sampling location, underscoring the importance of site characteristics on annual radial tree growth. Local (AD 1820-2008) and regional (AD 1700-2008) tree ring width chronologies were used to reconstruct
previous July mean and maximum temperatures, explaining between 13% and 36% of the
variance in climate. The proxy record features cool intervals that are comparable to other paleoenvironmental research from the region, and cyclical oscillations in temperature commonly associated with the El Niño Southern Oscillation and Pacific Decadal
Oscillation. Century-scale fluctuations may be connected to changes in solar irradiance.
Dendroglaciological investigations were undertaken at the confluence of the
Confederation and Franklin glaciers with the intention of exploring the Holocene
behaviour of low-elevation maritime glaciers in this region. These glaciers are suspected
to be sensitive to variations in the mean position of winter freezing level heights and
warm winter temperatures, and may respond differently to changes in climate than more
continental glaciers. Buried wood samples were radiocarbon-dated and cross-dated to
construct three floating chronologies. Float A (r = 0.467) suggests an early Little Ice Age advance of the two glaciers, and Float B (r = 0.466) suggests an early Tiedemann
advance of Confederation Glacier. Float C (r = 0.519) is dated to the Garibaldi Phase of
glacier expansion, but may not have been killed by glacial activity. The temporal
synchronicity of these findings with glacial events documented throughout the region
suggests a spatially coherent response of maritime and continental glaciers to the
dominant climate–forcing mechanisms operating in Pacific North America throughout
the late Holocene.
The dendroclimatological and dendroglaciological findings of this study help to fill a spatial research gap in the current understanding of Holocene climate variations in British Columbia. Because of the complex and at times topographically-controlled response of conifers to climate in the study area, this region may provide a particular challenge in terms of reconstructing Holocene climate variability.
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Application of a Bayesian belief network to model black bear intertidal habitat qualityHowes, Jason 15 November 2010 (has links)
In this study, I document the steps taken to develop and apply a Bayesian belief network (BBN) model for identifying the probable black bear intertidal habitat quality of Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia. Initial model outputs provide a narrow range of probability values, resulting in three high quality intertidal habitat classes applied to the study area. Day-time, summer observations of bear intertidal utilization improve previous knowledge of bear behaviour and highlight preferred resources and habitat characteristics, along coastal margins. Black bear encounter rates are calculated for the individual and some combinations of the key environmental variables used within the model. Bear encounter rates increase with higher probability class. A revised BBN model is implemented through systematic methods applied to the comparison of the initial model conditional probability tables and black bear encounter rates. This final model improves the discrimination of intertidal habitats resulting in four classes. The range of probability values increases as do the encounter rates with successive higher probability classes. Future recommendations for improvements are presented.
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Why volunteer for the environment?: an exploration of environmental volunteer motivation, satisfaction and retention.Hunter, Angela Tamara 15 November 2010 (has links)
The future of environmental conservation ultimately depends on the collective
impact of actions taken by individuals. While many people choose to engage in
environmentally responsible behaviours, such as recycling or using public transit, some people are going a step further by volunteering with environmental organizations. These environmental volunteers undertake a variety of roles that are essential to the overall functioning and program delivery of most nonprofit environmental organizations.
A major challenge of using volunteers can be the rate of volunteer turnover which increases the need to recruit and train new volunteers. Drawing on past volunteer motivation and satisfaction research, this study seeks to better understand what motivates environmental volunteers and to identify what factors contribute to volunteer satisfaction and retention. A questionnaire with Likert scale and
open ended questions was completed by 148 environmental volunteers in the Victoria
Capital Regional District. Factor analysis of the survey responses identified nine potential motives for volunteering with environmental organizations: Career, Environmental Values, Personal Growth, Protective, Social Norms, Social Interests, Efficacy, and Independence.
The identified motivational factors were used to develop a cluster analysis, which
identified six potential groupings or types of individuals attracted to volunteering with
environment and conservation organizations. The six groupings identified were Practical
Environmentalists, Concerned Environmentalist, Career Environmentalist, Budding Idealist, Social Environmentalist, and Other Helpers.
Questions regarding volunteer satisfaction identified six factors that affect volunteer
satisfaction: Organization Satisfaction, Individual Freedom, Personal Contribution,
Environmental Impact, Intrinsic Rewards, and Personal Benefits. Satisfaction with these
factors, however, was not enough to predict volunteer retention. Barriers to volunteering, such as health, location of volunteer activities, and other commitments also contribute to discontinuation of volunteer service. The results of this study can be useful for volunteer management and organization of volunteer programs in order to recruit and maintain satisfied volunteers.
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Sea otter tourism in British Columbia: the effects of interpretation on the conservation attitudes and behavioural intentions of boat-based and aquarium visitors.Poirier, Sarah Victoria 16 November 2010 (has links)
Visitation to marine wildlife viewing tours has increased steadily in the last few
decades. Despite concerns over negative impacts, one of the anticipated benefits to
wildlife viewing is increased visitor support for marine conservation. In this study, sea otters were used as a case study to determine how wildlife viewing may alter visitor attitudes and behavioural intentions towards marine conservation. In particular, the effects of the inclusion of interpretation in marine wildlife observation were analysed.
This study includes the experiences of marine wildlife visitors to boat-based tours in Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, as well as the experiences of visitors to the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre. A questionnaire was used to determine the importance of sea otters to wildlife viewing tours, how both aquarium and boat-based wildlife viewing experiences influence visitor learning, and what implications this has for marine conservation. Sea otters were found to be important incidentally-viewed species
in the boat-based tours. Sea otters were oftentimes not the main draw, but visitors very much enjoyed their presence. The provision of interpretation on its own affected visitor attitudes and behavioural intentions. However, the most significant difference in the promotion of conservation attitudes and behaviours was when the observation of sea otters was coupled with interpretation regarding sea otters. The same trend was observed in both the boat-based tours in Tofino and the captive wildlife viewing at the aquarium.
These results indicate that the most important role of the tour guide is in locating marine species, and providing targeted interpretation about the species during observation. Thus, marine wildlife tourism can increase overall visitor support for marine conservation through affecting attitudes and behaviours.
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