O aumento das regiões de escassez de água ao redor do mundo traz à tona questionamentos acerca de como a sociedade moderna utiliza a água e de que forma isso afetará a disponibilidade hídrica futura. Os resultados políticos, que têm influência significativa no agravamento destes eventos, são moldados por estratégias que refletem as preferências políticas dos atores envolvidos na gestão da água. Exemplos dessas estratégias são: a gestão da oferta, a gestão da demanda e o water soft path. A gestão da oferta é caracterizada pela dependência quase sistemática da busca por novas fontes de água. Enquanto a água estiver disponível para ser alocada, mesmo de locais distantes, há pouca discussão sobre medidas alternativas. A política de coalizão existe quando pessoas de dentro e fora do governo se mobilizam e interagem para traduzir suas crenças e ideias em ações concretas. Estas interações podem resultar em mudança ou na continuidade política. A pesquisa visou responder à questão de quais coalizões são identificadas no subsistema de gestão da água na crise hídrica da RMSP e quais abordagens de gestão essas utilizam. Para isso, valeu-se do Modelo de Coalizões de Defesa como ferramenta teórica, bem como de ferramentas computacionais de análise de redes sociais e de frequência de palavras como ferramentas metodológicas. Esse trabalho explorou a reafirmação da coalizão político-tecnocrática ao longo do período da crise hídrica. Essa coalizão foi articulada em torno do governo do Estado e de técnicos e gestores da Companhia Estadual de Saneamento; de forma que eles conseguiram centralizar as decisões em um grupo restrito de atores políticos e traduzir suas ideias em planos de obras emergenciais, guiados pelo paradigma da gestão da oferta. / The increase of water scarcity regions around the world raises questions about how modern society uses water and how this could affect future water availability. Political outcomes, which ones have a significant influence on the aggravation of these events, are shaped by strategies that reflect the political preferences of stakeholders involved in water management. Examples of these strategies are: supply management, demand management and water soft path. Supply- side management is characterized by the dependence from new water sources exploration. While water is available to be allocated, even from distant locations, there is few discussions about alternative measures. Coalition policy exists when people inside and outside the government mobilize and interact to translate their beliefs and ideas into concrete actions. These interactions can result in change or political continuity. The present research aims to answer the follow question: which policy coalitions could be identified into water policy subsystem during the water crisis in São Paulo Metropolitan Area? In order to achieve this goal, we applied The Advocacy Coalition Framework as theoretical tool and computational network analysis and word frequency as methodology. This work explores the politic-technocrat coalition continuity during water crisis. This coalition is articulated around State Government and State Sanitary Company, so they can translate their ideas in contingence plans underpinning by water supply paradigm.

Various commercial software packages are available for simulating compressed air network operations. However, none of these software packages are able to dynamically prioritise compressor selection on large compressed air networks in the mining industry. In this dissertation, a dynamic compressor selector (DCS) will be developed that will actively and continuously monitor system demand. The software will ensure that the most suitable compressors, based on efficiency and position in the compressed air network, are always in operation. The study will be conducted at a platinum mine. Compressed air flow and pressure requirements will be maintained without compromising mine safety procedures. Significant energy savings will be realised. DCS will receive shaft pressure profiles from each of the shafts’ surface compressed air control valves. These parameters will be used to calculate and predict the compressed air demand. All pipe friction losses and leaks will be taken into account to determine the end-point pressure losses at different flow rates. DCS will then prioritise the compressors of the compressed air network based on the overall system requirement. This software combines the benefits of supply-side and demand-side management. Potential energy savings with DCS were proven and compressor cycling reduced. A DCS user-friendly interface was created to easily set up any mine’s compressed air network. / Thesis (MIng (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Various commercial software packages are available for simulating compressed air network operations. However, none of these software packages are able to dynamically prioritise compressor selection on large compressed air networks in the mining industry. In this dissertation, a dynamic compressor selector (DCS) will be developed that will actively and continuously monitor system demand. The software will ensure that the most suitable compressors, based on efficiency and position in the compressed air network, are always in operation. The study will be conducted at a platinum mine. Compressed air flow and pressure requirements will be maintained without compromising mine safety procedures. Significant energy savings will be realised. DCS will receive shaft pressure profiles from each of the shafts’ surface compressed air control valves. These parameters will be used to calculate and predict the compressed air demand. All pipe friction losses and leaks will be taken into account to determine the end-point pressure losses at different flow rates. DCS will then prioritise the compressors of the compressed air network based on the overall system requirement. This software combines the benefits of supply-side and demand-side management. Potential energy savings with DCS were proven and compressor cycling reduced. A DCS user-friendly interface was created to easily set up any mine’s compressed air network. / Thesis (MIng (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013