This thesis presents the distribution of strong wind and wind pressure in the Greater Victoria area associated with winter mid-latitude cyclones based on climate data from the School-Based Weather Station Network during 6 selected days in the winters of 2006, 2007 and 2008. The objectives of this study are i) to test whether synoptic conditions favourable to severe mid-latitude cyclonic storms that are well described in the literature were associated with the selected storms, ii) to determine the time patterns of high wind speed and its direction and maximum gusts, iii) to test necessity of considering the spatial variation in air density and its controls in general assessments of the spatial variation in wind pressure and wind damage potential in the local area, iv) to identify potential areas susceptible to wind damage. Observations taken every second were from Davis Vantage Pro2 TM Plus weather stations located on the southern edge of school building roofs. Thirty-minute means and gust wind speeds were used. All six storms went north of Victoria. The synoptic conditions associated with the selected mid-latitude cyclones agreed with the ones described in literature. Strongest winds at most stations were generally from the southwest, and multiple wind speed peaks were found. The daily iii  maximum gust wind speeds were found before and/or after the highest mean wind speed peak. The spatial variation in air density and its controls were found to be negligible. Although there are a number of interacting causes of the distribution, strongest winds were at stations with smooth surrounding surfaces, close to the southern shoreline, on exposed slopes and/or near relief constrictions. The area with greatest wind speeds and damage potential was found from the east of downtown extending to Lansdowne Middle School. This study provides new knowledge of winds in the Greater Victoria area and contributes to people’s better response to wind storms, land use planning and forecasting severe windstorms. / Graduate / 0368 / mmatsuda@uvic.ca

This thesis presents the distribution of strong wind and wind pressure in the Greater Victoria area associated with winter mid-latitude cyclones based on climate data from the School-Based Weather Station Network during 6 selected days in the winters of 2006, 2007 and 2008. The objectives of this study are i) to test whether synoptic conditions favourable to severe mid-latitude cyclonic storms that are well described in the literature were associated with the selected storms, ii) to determine the time patterns of high wind speed and its direction and maximum gusts, iii) to test necessity of considering the spatial variation in air density and its controls in general assessments of the spatial variation in wind pressure and wind damage potential in the local area, iv) to identify potential areas susceptible to wind damage. Observations taken every second were from Davis Vantage Pro2 TM Plus weather stations located on the southern edge of school building roofs. Thirty-minute means and gust wind speeds were used. All six storms went north of Victoria. The synoptic conditions associated with the selected mid-latitude cyclones agreed with the ones described in literature. Strongest winds at most stations were generally from the southwest, and multiple wind speed peaks were found. The daily iii  maximum gust wind speeds were found before and/or after the highest mean wind speed peak. The spatial variation in air density and its controls were found to be negligible. Although there are a number of interacting causes of the distribution, strongest winds were at stations with smooth surrounding surfaces, close to the southern shoreline, on exposed slopes and/or near relief constrictions. The area with greatest wind speeds and damage potential was found from the east of downtown extending to Lansdowne Middle School. This study provides new knowledge of winds in the Greater Victoria area and contributes to people’s better response to wind storms, land use planning and forecasting severe windstorms. / Graduate / 0368 / mmatsuda@uvic.ca

Les broncho-pneumopathies chroniques obstructives (BPCO) constituent un groupe de maladies des poumons caractérisées par le blocage du passage de l’air, rendant la respiration de plus en plus difficile. L’emphysème et la bronchite chronique sont les deux principales affections parmi les BPCO, mais les BPCO peuvent également être provoquées par les dégâts causés par des bronchites chroniques asthmatiques. L’emphysème pulmonaire est une maladie pulmonaire caractérisée par l’élargissement des espaces aériens distaux en amont des bronchioles terminales non respiratoires, accompagné de la destruction des parois alvéolaires. Ces modifications du parenchyme pulmonaire sont pathognomoniques de l’emphysème. La bronchite chronique est une forme de bronchite caractérisée par une production excessive d’expectoration, entraînant l’apparition d’une toux chronique et l’obstruction des voies respiratoires. Dans toutes ces affections, les dégâts causés aux voies respiratoires finissent par affecter les échanges gazeux dans les poumons. L’emphysème est généralement diagnostiqué de façon indirecte, sur la base d’un examen clinique, d’explorations de la fonction respiratoire (EFR), et d’une évaluation visuelle subjective des scanners des tomodensitogrammes. Ces tests présentent une valeur limitée dans les cas d’emphysème léger ou modéré. La présente étude aborde la possibilité d’appliquer une démarche d’analyse non linéaire à la répartition de la densité de l’air au sein de l’arbre des voies respiratoires des poumons à un quelconque niveau des ramifications. Les images sources de tomodensitométrie (TDM) du poumon sont traitées en deux phases, afin de produire un coefficient fractal de répartition de la densité de l’air. Au cours de la première phase, les valeurs brutes de pixel des images sources correspondant à toutes les densités d’air possibles sont traitées par un outil logiciel, mis au point pour construire une image cible. On y parvient par suppression en cascade des éléments indésirables (SCEI) : une étape de prétraitement dans l’analyse de l’image source. Celle-ci permet d’identifier les valeurs de densité d’air au sein de l’arbre des voies respiratoires, tout en éliminant toutes les valeurs non relatives à la densité de l’air. La seconde phase consiste en une réduction itérative de la résolution (RIR). Chaque réduction de la résolution produit un nouvel histogramme. Chaque histogramme ainsi produit comporte un certain nombre de pics, chacun d’entre eux correspondant à un ensemble de densités d’air. La courbe mettant en relation chaque réduction de la résolution avec le nombre de pics correspondant, obtenus à la résolution concernée, est tracée. Ceci permet de calculer la dimension fractale par une régression linéaire sur un graphique log – log. / Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) refers to a group of lung diseases that block airflow and make it increasingly difficult for you to breathe. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two main conditions that make up COPD, but COPD can also refer to damage caused by chronic asthmatic bronchitis. Pulmonary emphysema is defined as a lung disease characterized by “abnormal enlargement of the air spaces distal to the terminal, non-respiratory bronchiole, accompanied by destructive changes of the alveolar walls”. These lung parenchymal changes are pathognomonic for emphysema. Chronic bronchitis is a form of bronchitis characterized by excess production of sputum leading to a chronic cough and obstruction of air flow. In all cases, damage to your airways eventually interferes with the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your lungs. Habitual techniques of emphysema’s diagnosis are based on indirect features, such as clinical examination; Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT) and subjective visual evaluation of CT scans. These tests are of limited value in assessing mild to moderate emphysema. The presented work discusses the possibility of applying a nonlinear analysis approach on air density distribution within lung airways tree at any level of branching. Computed Tomography (CT) source images of the lung are subjected to two phases of treatment in order to produce a fractal coefficient of the air density distribution. In the first phase, raw pixel values from source images, corresponding to all possible air densities, are processed by a software tool, developed in order to, construct a product image. This is done through Cascading Elimination of Unwanted Elements (CEUE): a preprocessing analysis step of the source image. It identifies values of air density within the airways tree, while eliminating all non-air-density values. Then, during the second phase, in an iterative manner, a process of Resolution Diminution Iterations (RDI) takes place. Every resolution reduction produces a new resultant histogram. A resultant histogram is composed of a number of peaks, each of which corresponding to a cluster of air densities. A curve is plotted for each resolution reduction versus the number of peaks counted at this particular resolution. It permits the calculation of the fractal dimension from the regression slope of log-log power law plot.

Purpose: Villas built before 1960 represent around 45% of the dwelling in Sweden. Since the average U-value in their walls is around 0,5 W/m2K, there is a great concern to improve  these values. The Swedish government's goal is to reduce energy intensity in the country by 2020 by 20 % from 2008’s values. The aim of this study is to reach phase renovation proposals taking into account energy and moisture on houses consisting of standing shelves. With this, the authors wish to contribute and encourage renovation of existing villas, which in turn can lead to reduced energy consumption. Method: This work is based on a case study of a 1940’s wooden house located in Skillingaryd. Measurements and parameters have been taken in order to calculate the house's specific energy usage in the BV2 analysis program. Document analyses and interviews have been used to get a deeper knowledge of existing conditions, and to suggest ways to utilise the material that the market offers nowadays. This should serve the purpose of creating as energy-efficient phase resolution as possible. Result: The study shows that an outer wall of a massive wooden house should keep a U-value of 0,15 W/m2K to meet the specific energy consumption of 90 kWh/m2 and year, when the other house is additional insulated. The study presents two refurbishment proposals supported by interviewed experts in the insulation and consulting industry. The first option leaves large parts of the old facade untouched, adding new insulation layers of the desired thickness. The second option advises to tear away all old panels into the shelf frame, thus re-building with new materials. Both proposals address the issue of how the facade should be refurbished in order to make it moisture proof. They mostly solve the problem by refurbishing it outwards and by eventually placing a vapor barrier for a maximum of one third in of the insulation. This vapor barrier may or may not be a watershed according to the experts. Some think it is unnecessary when the plank is considered sufficiently diffusion-proof; some believe that it will help to identify where a possible condensation might occur in the wall.  Consequences: The study shows that by means of additional insulation, BBR 24 recommended values ​​can be achieved for an exterior wall while keeping the façade moisture proof. One strength the study shows that the two reported renovation proposals achieve the same end result, although the interference on the facade varies in size. Therefore the authors of the above study recommend to tear down the old facade and build a new control wall with a finishing facade disc. This is when you face a vapor barrier on the façade with a vapor barrier that is laid on the old baselayer of the roof. Then a new roof construction could be built up with roof beams, shavings and roof tiles. As a result, a windy, yet proportional, construction can be created.   Restrictions: The study assumes that the entire house would be refurbished in order for the specific energy use to be possible. Furthermore, the work is based of a shelf shelter located at a particular geographical site. Due to this, the study also offers suggestions on wooden facades only.  Keyword: Plank body, Phase renovation, Specific energy use, diffusion, convection, U-value, air density.