"The Wildland/Urban Interface, in which homes are intermingled with forested areas, presents unique challenges to fire protection and fire prediction, owing to the different fuel loads, conditions, and terrain. Computer models that predict fire spread through such an area require data for multiple scales, from crown fire spread to the heat release rates and ignition conditions for individual trees, as well as an understanding of fire behavior and spread. This discussion investigates a means by which fire behavior for Douglas-fir trees can be determined from quantifiable characteristics, such as height and moisture content. Mass, flame height, peak heat release rate, and total energy can be estimated from these simple measurements. A time scale of 60 seconds, combined with a peak heat release rate estimated from tree size characteristics, provides an approximation of total energy that is within 11% of measured values. Pre-heating of trees with a low (2.5 kW/m2) radiant heat flux did not have a noticeable impact on the resulting heat release rate. In addition, fire spread between trees was highly dependent on the presence of ambient wind; in the absence of wind or wind-borne embers, the trees were very resistant to ignition even when in close proximity (3 spacing). With the addition of wind, the fire would spread, although the heat release rates were dramatically reduced for trees of sufficiently high moisture content (< 70%)."

Αντικείμενο της εργασίας μας, είναι η δημιουργία ενός γραφικού περιβάλλοντος για τη διαχείριση του συστήματος VOIP υπηρεσιών. Αυτό είναι ο Opensips Web Manager, μια ολοκληρωμένη λύση, από άποψη διαμόρφωσης, χρήσιμο για τον διαχειριστή ενός τηλεφωνικού συστήματος. Ο OWM είναι ένα web user interface, που έχει σχεδιαστεί με PHP. Χρησιμοποιείται για τη διαχείριση των πληροφοριών του συστήματος όσο και για τη διαχείριση της κατάστασης λειτουργίας των εξυπηρετητών, που στηρίζουν ένα VOIP σύστημα. O OWM. Ο διαχειριστής έχει πρόσβαση στον OWM μέσω ενός web browser και έτσι η φυσική θέση του διαχειριστή δεν περιορίζεται από την φυσική θέση του SIP εξυπηρετητή. Η αναζήτηση πληροφοριών, που αφορούν συνδρομητές, στοιχεία κλήσεων κ.α. γίνεται με τη δημιουργία «query», προς τη βάση δεδομένων του SIP εξυπηρετητή. Η μέθοδος ανάπτυξης της εφαρμογής μας ήταν δισδιάστατη. Αρχικά έγινε η υλοποίηση συστήματος VOIP υπηρεσιών, που περιελάμβανε τις διαμορφώσεις των εξυπηρετητών DHCPs , DNSs και OpenSIPs. Ακολούθησε η εγκατάσταση του WEBs εξυπηρετητή, που φιλοξενεί τον OWM. Τέλος σχεδιάστηκε το web user interface. / The subject of our project is to create a graphical user interface for managing systems that provide VOIP services. This is the Opensips Web Manager, a integrated solution regarding configuration, useful for the administration of a telephone system. OWM is a web user interface, designed using PHP. Especially OWM is used to manage system’s data and to control server’s status, which support a VOIP system. The administrator has access to the OWM through a web browser, so the physical location of the manager is not limited by SIP server’s physical location. The search for subscriber’ s and calling feature’s data, is performed by creating «query», to SIP server’s database. The method we use to develop our application has been two-dimensional. First was the implementation of VOIP service, which included the configurations of servers like DHCPs, DNSs and OpenSIPs. Next step was the installation of a WEB server that hosts OWM. Finally, we designed the web user interface.

The aim of the theoretical part is a summary of commonly used graphics components for developing web applications in Java. In the introduction, theoretical part contains basic principles and terms related to the topic of work. Below is an overview of components, which is based mostly on documentation most widely used frameworks for building web applications. Individual components are divided into groups and there are descriptions and alternative names for each of them. Description of each component is aimed at its appearance as well as at routine use in practice. The practical part results from the list of components and categories created in the theoretical part. The first part is a description of the framework and its fundamental principles, especially creation of components. Each category and the components identified in the theoretical part are analyzed from the perspective of their applications in the Wicket framework. In the case of non-existing components in the framework are given options and mechanisms that replace the functionality of missing components.

The recent surge in fire activity and the extent of displaced communities as a result of wildfire has increased awareness of wildfire issues nationwide (Syphard et al., 2017). Climate change, population growth, and continued development in the wildland urban interface (WUI) has contributed to a growing body of research into the underlying causes of this continued destruction (Kramer et al., 2019). There is no doubt that statewide policies, such as defensible space or building regulations, are associated with home survival (Keeley & Syphard, 2019). However, the relative effectiveness of wildfire mitigation depends on a myriad of factors specific to individual communities impacted by wildfire. This study focuses on factors that contributed to structure loss as a result of the 2017 Thomas Fire in Ventura, CA. Through spatial analysis utilizing GIS software, we were able to determine that defensible space played a minimal role in structural survivability during the Thomas Fire. Our research shows that fence type (noncombustible, combustible, or none) is a more significant factor at decreasing the odds of structure loss for homes experiencing wildfire under similar conditions. Effective wildfire mitigation relies on multiple factors, and government agencies must take a holistic approach rather than singular, “one size fits all” approaches to reduce the impact of future catastrophic wildfire.

Since 1990, thirteen fires over 100,000 acres in size have burned in California seven of which were recorded to be some of the most destructive wildfires of all time (California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection 2013). To aid the development of policy that reduces the destruction caused by wildfires, it is important to evaluate how risk changes through time in communities that are expanding into fire-prone areas. The objective of this study is to discover how the likelihood of structural loss is changing in WUI as newer; more fire resilient structures replace older structures on the edges of the WUI. Geographical Information Systems and remote sensing techniques were used to observe changes in urbanization, structural materials, housing density and defensible space over time in the communities of Rancho Santa Fe, Ramona and Julian in San Diego County. Fire Risk ratings were calculated using the equation Fire Risk= Hazard – Mitigation. Mitigation scores for each structure were informed using a binary logistic regression of variables influencing home loss in the Witch Creek Fire. Fire Risk Ratings were given to the 11,747 structures in the three communities for the years 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2012. The study found that the initial 0-1.5m zone around the home is the most critical for defensible space. In this zone, increased tree cover increases the odds of structure loss by over double that of grass cover. In Rancho Santa Fe and Julian, the majority of very high risk homes were located in high income communities despite moderate mitigation due to very high fire hazard levels. In Ramona most very high fire risk homes were located in lower income areas due to poor mitigation levels. Rancho Santa Fe and Julian decreased their fire risk over the 7 year study period with improved mitigation, Rancho Santa Fe improved the most (1.7% decrease in Very High and High risk homes). The proportion of very high fire risk homes increased in Ramona by .5% over the 7 year study period. Development on the outskirts of the WUI could increase the risk of the overall community if proper construction standards are not met and defensible space is not implemented. If fire resistant communities are constructed and maintained to high standards of defensible space, they could potentially provide a buffer for older high fire risk homes.

Though almost thirty years have passed since the 1991 Tunnel Fire, the wildfire hazard is still present in the Oakland Hills. This study was conducted to determine if the vegetation in the Oakland Hills had reverted back to fuel conditions that contributed to the Tunnel Fire, examine how the fire hazard has changed since 1991, and evaluate planned wildfire mitigation. The goal was to determine how fuel conditions have changed since 1991 and compare potential fire behavior to that of the Tunnel Fire. Additionally, the study examined the effectiveness of the mitigation actions described in the East Bay Regional Park District’s Wildfire Hazard Reduction and Resource Management Plan on lowering extreme fire behavior. Through the use of remote sensing, historical aerial imagery, satellite imagery, and Landsat imagery the 1991 and 2018 fuel conditions were analyzed. ArcGIS Pro and FlamMap 6 were used to compare hectares of fuel and changed in fire behavior between the two year. Mitigation actions were modeled with FlamMap 6 and ArcGIS Pro and fire behavior was compared between untreated conditions and post treatment conditions. The vegetation in the Oakland Hills, in the absence of fire, returned to a mature state, similar to the 1991 conditions. However, there was a reduction in the overall hectares of fuel model 147 in 2018. Modeled fire behavior indicated an overall reduction in extreme fire behavior when comparing 1991 to 2018. This reduction varied on a park level with each park performing differently. When modeled, mitigation was able to lower extreme fire behavior across the landscape but success varied on an individual park basis. In conclusion, should ignition occur presently, under foehn wind conditions, a fire would still exhibit very extreme behavior with a high potential for catastrophic loss, and implantation of planned mitigation measures may be able to lower the degree of extreme fire behavior.

Ce mémoire présente les travaux réalisés en aérodynamique afin de pouvoir disposer d’une chaîne de conception complète nécessaire au traitement des différentes problématiques sur les pales éoliennes, qui ne peuvent être pris en compte à l’aide d’une méthode unique. Afin de pouvoir faire de l’optimisation de pales en fonction de différents critères, un outil numérique simplifié (VALDAG) a été développé. Le module de simulation utilise la méthode du Disque Actif Généralisé, qui s’appuie sur la résolution des équations Navier-Stokes, complété par des corrections empiriques. Il respecte un compromis entre la précision et le coût de calcul. Cet outil pour lequel une interface web a été développée pour le rendre adapté à des travaux d’ingénierie est susceptible de se calibrer automatiquement sur une nouvelle géométrie de pale grâce à la méthode Nelder-Mead Simplex. On peut ensuite réaliser une optimisation de la performance de la pale en modifiant cette géométrie, et générer les fichiers 3D qui serviront d’entrée à la simulation 3D et de visualisation des optimisations de forme. Ces designs optimisés sont ensuite validés par des simulations DNS à l’aide de l’outil NaSCar 3D développé à l’INRIA. Cet outil résout des équations Navier-Stokes sur un maillage cartésien 3D et prend en compte des obstacles immergés via la fonction Level-Set et la pénalisation. Après des adaptations sur le traitement de la géométrie de pales, un compromis de configuration CFD est trouvé pour simuler un rotor éolien. En conclusion, ce paquet d’outils VALDAG est peu coûteux, facile à utiliser et efficace. En associant VALDAG aux simulations 3D, une chaîne de conception est complétée. / This Ph.D. thesis presents some research work on aerodynamics of wind turbine blades, in order to dispose a conception chain necessary for different problems, which cannot be treated by one unique method. A simplified numerical toolkit (VALDAG) has been developed to optimize the performance of blades in different creteria. The simulation module use the Generalized Actuator Disc model, which relies on the solution of Navier-Stokes equations and completed with empiric corrections. This tool respects a reasonable compromise between model complexity and computational reliability. An automatic calibration mechanism was implemented using the Nelder-Mead Simplex algorithm. A web users interface (WUI) is also available to adapt VALDAG for industrial engineers. Optimization is then carried on by modifying the blades’ geometry parameters and the designs optimized is stocked in files which can be used for 3D simulation and/or visualization. The blade designed with VALDAG are then simulated by a 3D numerical tool to validate previous predictions. This 3D tool called NaSCar 3D is developed in INRIA and resolve Navier-Stokes equations on to a cartesian mesh, in which the immersed obstacles are considered with the Level-Set function and the penalization method. After some necessary adaptation for the treatment of blades’ geometry, a compromise on CFD configuration is found to simulate a wind turbine rotor. To conclude, this design toolkit VALDAG is low time-costly, user-friendly and efficient. Associated with 3D simulations, a conception chain has been established.

The average intensity and frequency of wildland fires have been on the rise over the years, leading to an increase in the risk to homes located in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). Fire suppression is the most used method of wildland fire control, but this suppression can cause wildland fires to become more frequent and devastating. Increased development in the WUI also puts these homes at greater risk. Current methods of passive fire protection are effective, but these methods are expensive, time consuming to set up, and not fully effective. This research proposes a permanent passive fire protection system that is built into the structure. A flame- resistant material would be attached to the sheathing with the roofing and siding attached over the material. This system would allow the easily replaceable exterior components of the structure to burn, and the interior of the structure would be protected. This system protects the structural supports of the building, so the house does not collapse, and the exterior components can be replaced. To test this permanent passive fire protection system 21 small-scale specimens were constructed with five different flame-resistant materials and three different types of siding. The flame-resistant materials include structural wrap, Kaowool, ceramic fiber insulation, Pyrogel, and intumescent paint. The sidings include wood siding, vinyl siding, and hardie board. The testing took place in a burn room to simulate the conditions of a wildland fire. Post-burn charring evaluations and temperature analyses were conducted to determine which type of material and siding were most effective at protecting the small-scale models. The charring evaluation included determining the percent charring of the OSB face of the specimens, and the temperature analysis included determining the percent difference between the internal and external temperatures of the specimens. The performance, cost and installation, constructability, and replaceability of each of the materials were considered in deciding which materials were most effective. Overall, the Pyrogel outperformed the other materials, but this material is by far the most expensive. The ceramic fiber material was overall the second most effective flame-resistant material, and this material could be as effective as the Pyrogel if used in conjunction with the other materials tested. Further testing of material combinations is required to determine if different flame-resistant material combinations could be as effective as the Pyrogel material on its own. The results of this project did prove the feasibility of a permanent passive fire protection system, but further testing of large-scale specimens is required to test the effectiveness of the system in more complex circumstances.

I utilized forest growth model (FVS-FFE) and fire simulation software (FlamMap, Randig), integrated through GIS software (ArcMap9.3), to quantify the impacts varied landscape-scale fuel treatments have on short-term onsite carbon loss, long-term onsite carbon storage, burn probability, conditional flame length, and mean fire size. Thirteen fuel treatment scenarios were simulated on a 42,000 hectare landscape in northern California: one untreated, three proposed by the US Forest Service, and nine that were spatially-optimized and developed with the Treatment Optimization Model in FlamMap. The nine scenarios developed in FlamMap varied by treatment intensity (10%, 20%, and 30% of the landscape treated) and treatment type (prescribed fire, mastication and thin + burn). Each scenario was subjected to 10,000 simulated wildfires with random ignition locations in order to develop burn probability and average flame length values for each scenario. I also recorded mean fire size for each scenario. I used the burn probability values to represent the likelihood of future wildfire occurrence, which I incorporated into our long-term onsite carbon storage projections. Our results suggest that the influence landscape-scale fuel treatments have on carbon dynamics and fire behavior metrics (mean burn probability, flame length and mean fire size) are highly dependent upon the treatment arrangement, type, and intensity. The results suggest that treating 20% of the landscape maximizes long-term carbon storage and that prescribed fire minimizes short-term carbon loss and maximizes onsite long-term carbon storage. Treating 20% of the landscape also appears to be the optimal treatment intensity for reducing fire behavior metrics, and treating beyond this level produces diminishing returns in reduction of fire behavior. When treating 20% of the landscape, site-specific treatments appear to perform well in comparison to spatially-optimized treatments.