Thesis (M.S.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Geosciences. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Fire incidents are a central issue in Saudi civil defence. Despite detailed regulation concerning firefighting equipment dealing with dwelling fires, fires occur frequently. Globally, research on dwelling fire safety is relatively new. Most studies focus on human factors, incidence and causal issues. Few studies examine management or policy-making perspectives towards managing these individual agents. Thus, a detailed study on understanding the management of these factors for dwelling fires is long overdue. The study uses an inductive approach to investigate key management issues in reducing dwelling fires in Saudi Arabia. This qualitative study consisted of twelve indepth semi-structured interviews and four focus groups with senior managers of the Civil Defence Division dealing with fire safety. A sustainability-based framework is developed to map the critical issues in generating a long-term planning solution to policy and management of fire hazard and risk in Saudi Arabia. Critical drivers of this sustainability approach are good management, regulation, governance practices: especially accountability and transparency; reduction of tribalism, bureaucracy, and burns unit efficiency. However, given the modern environment of communications, information technology and communications, and in particular public education, are viewed as important mediators between drivers and sustainability. The critical role of knowledge generation is also positioned as a mediator. The framework proposed is a paradigm shift from merely managing fire incidents on a case by case basis to a proactive risk reduction strategy. This represents an original solution to managing fire hazards at a national level and an important contribution to the fire management literature.

Fire incidents are a central issue in Saudi civil defence. Despite detailed regulation concerning firefighting equipment dealing with dwelling fires, fires occur frequently. Globally, research on dwelling fire safety is relatively new. Most studies focus on human factors, incidence and causal issues. Few studies examine management or policy-making perspectives towards managing these individual agents. Thus, a detailed study on understanding the management of these factors for dwelling fires is long overdue. The study uses an inductive approach to investigate key management issues in reducing dwelling fires in Saudi Arabia. This qualitative study consisted of twelve indepth semi-structured interviews and four focus groups with senior managers of the Civil Defence Division dealing with fire safety. A sustainability-based framework is developed to map the critical issues in generating a long-term planning solution to policy and management of fire hazard and risk in Saudi Arabia. Critical drivers of this sustainability approach are good management, regulation, governance practices: especially accountability and transparency; reduction of tribalism, bureaucracy, and burns unit efficiency. However, given the modern environment of communications, information technology and communications, and in particular public education, are viewed as important mediators between drivers and sustainability. The critical role of knowledge generation is also positioned as a mediator. The framework proposed is a paradigm shift from merely managing fire incidents on a case by case basis to a proactive risk reduction strategy. This represents an original solution to managing fire hazards at a national level and an important contribution to the fire management literature.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:50:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 7655092 bytes, checksum: deb2af3640678bf8e990443a62ad5e7c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-02-13 / Vegetation fires are the second source of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. An important step to reduce the climate impact of these emissions is the investigation of the atmospheric susceptibility of a region for fire development (fire risk). This study aims to investigate the environmental susceptibility to fires, based on two fire risk models: the Haines Index (IH) and the Setzer Index (IS). The study is carried out with data from the ECHAM5/MPI-OM climate model and the NCEP reanalysis data, to calculate both indices during two periods: present day (1980- 2000) and climate projections for the end of the 21st century (2080-2100). The results demonstrate that the fire risk models accurately reproduced the areas with the observed vegetation fire as detected by satellite under actual conditions. A comparison between the results proposed by the IH and IS shows that the Setzer methodology intensified the maximum risk level, and under global warming (GW) conditions, there exist an increase in the atmospheric favorability to fire development in the Amazon region. This is associated with the drying of the atmosphere due to less precipitation and increase in temperature, especially in the central part of Brazil. / As queimadas, a nível global, são a segunda maior fonte de emissões de gases de efeito estufa. Um passo importante para a redução dos impactos das queimadas é por meio de investigação da suscetibilidade que um determinado ambiente possui para a queima ou mesmo para o alastramento do fogo (risco de fogo). Diante da necessidade de se conhecer possíveis implicações das mudanças na circulação atmosférica, em um futuro próximo, pretendeu-se, neste trabalho, investigar a suscetibilidade do ambiente a ocorrência de queimadas, baseado em dois índices de risco de queimadas: Índice de Haines (IH) e Índice de Setzer (IS). Para tanto, dados de modelagem numérica do modelo ECHAM5/MPI-OM, e dados das reanálises do NCEP são empregados para os cálculos dos referidos índices em dois períodos: atual (1980-2000) e projeções climáticas para o final do século (2080-2100). Com base nos resultados, concluiu-se que os modelos de risco de fogo reproduziram bem as áreas com maior incidência de queimadas sob condições atuais. A comparação entre os resultados proposto pelo IH e o IS mostra que a metodologia de Setzer intensifica o nível de risco máximo, e sob condições de Aquecimento Global (AG) observou-se um aumento na área de risco em especial para a região Amazônica em ambos os conjuntos de dados. Isto resulta do maior secamento da atmosfera associada à escassez de chuvas e ao aumento da temperatura, em particular para a região Centro-Oeste do Brasil.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-12T20:12:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGEF14MA011.pdf: 2057019 bytes, checksum: 230c76c381dec0b6aa736817205d3552 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The forest fire risk zoning (ZRIF) is a very important tool for the prevention, monitoring, planning, fire and definition of public policies regarding the maintenance of the ecological heritage. Fires risky to the environment, in addition according to their proportion it can be very difficult to control and combat. Then thinking in terms of monitoring and prevention arises need to develop methodologies to perform ZRIF of native forest reserves in the state of Santa Catarina, which is the main focus of this research. The study was conducted at Aguaí Biological Reserve which is located in the foothills of the Serra Geral in the southern state, with an elevation between 200 and 1400 meters and area of 7,672 ha. The study areas were divided into REBIO of Aguaí with 7,874 ha and the surrounding area with 18,441 ha. The study areas are home to the sources from which the rivers that supply the southern Santa Catarina region, directly affecting 450,000 people. The research sought to validate and improve techniques for ZRIF already applied by authors such as Oliveira (2000 ) , Koproski (2010 ), Nunes (2011 ) , Tetto (2007 ) among others , have developed models for weighting and weights assigned to different levels of information which is based on each factor that affects the occurrence of fire in a particular location ( human presence , prevailing wind , combustible material , slope , vegetation cover and exposure of slopes ) through map algebra technique performed using the software " ArcGIS 9.3 ". Aerial imagery of flight state of SC for construction of cartographic base, altimetry ASTER / GDEM data and BDMEP / INMET San Joaquin to determine the prevailing winds of the region station were used, in addition to mapping data from IBGE . The product of this research are maps with six classes of forest fire risk ; zero , low, moderate , high, very high and extreme. For the boundaries of the Aguaí REBIO presented respectively the proportions of 3.4% , 42.5 % , 19.7% , 20.6 % , 9.6% , and 4.2 % from the total area of the reserve ( 7874 ha ) and 14.2 % , 30.7 % , 19.8 % , 13.4% , 16.7% and 5.1 % for the surrounding area ( 18441 ha ) . The application of the ZRIF methodology to the area of REBIO and the surrounding area offers grant to improve the management of the reserve and the surroundings. The ZRIF offers the possibility of a more assertive planning prevention and monitoring related classes of high risk on the map . The methodologies adopted have proved satisfactory for the zoning of fire risk of the REBIO Aguai and surrounding area / O zoneamento de risco de incêndios florestais (ZRIF), é uma ferramenta importante para a prevenção, monitoramento, planejamento, combate a incêndios e definição de políticas públicas relativas à manutenção do patrimônio ecológico. Os incêndios oferecem risco ao meio ambiente, além disso de acordo com sua proporção podem se tornar muito difíceis de controlar e combater. Pensando então em termos de monitoramento e prevenção surge necessidade de se desenvolver metodologias para realizar o ZRIF de reservas de florestas nativas no estado de Santa Catarina, que é o enfoque principal desta pesquisa. O trabalho foi realizado na Reserva Biológica do Aguaí que está localizado nos contrafortes da Serra Geral no sul do estado, com altitude entre 200 e 1400 m e área de 7.672 ha. A áreas de estudo foram divididas em REBIO do Aguaí com 7.874 ha e área do entorno com 18.441 ha. As áreas de estudo abrigam as nascentes que dão origem aos rios que abastecem a região sul catarinense, influenciando diretamente 450.000 pessoas. A pesquisa procurou validar e aprimorar as técnicas de ZRIF já aplicadas por autores como Oliveira (2000), Koproski (2010), Nunes (2011), Tetto (2009) entre outros, que desenvolveram modelos de ponderação e pesos atribuídos a diferentes planos de informações que tem como base cada fator que afeta a ocorrência de incêndio em um determinado local (presença humana, vento predominante, material combustível, declividade, cobertura vegetal e orientação das encostas) por meio da técnica de álgebra de mapas realizada com uso do software "ArcGis 9.3". Foram utilizadas imagens aéreas do voo do estado de SC para construção da base cartográfica, dados altimétricos ASTER/GDEM e dados da estação BDMEP/INMET de São Joaquim para determinação dos ventos predominantes da região, além de dados de cartografia do IBGE. O produto do trabalho são mapas com seis classes de risco de incêndio florestal; nulo, baixo, moderado, alto, muito alto e extremo. Para os limites da REBIO do Aguaí apresentaram respectivamente as proporções de, 3,4%, 42,5%, 19,7%, 20,6%, 9,6%, e 4,2% em relação à área total da reserva (7874 ha) e 14,2%, 30,7%, 19,8%, 13,4%, 16,7% e 5,1% para a área do entorno (18441 ha) para as classes de risco nulo, baixo, moderado, alto, muito alto e extremo respectivamente. A aplicação da metodologia de ZRIF para a área da REBIO e para área do entorno oferece subsídio para a melhoria na gestão da reserva e do entorno. O ZRIF oferece a possibilidade de um planejamento mais assertivo de ações de prevenção e monitoramento relacionadas às classes de risco elevado presentes no mapa. As metodologias adotadas se mostraram satisfatórias para o zoneamento de risco de incêndio da REBIO do Aguaí e da área do entorno

Modern buildings increasingly include the usage of innovative materials aimed at improving sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment. Phase Change Materials (PCMs) are one such group of novel materials which reduce building energy consumption. These materials are typically flammable and contained within wall linings yet there has been no detailed assessment of their fire performance. Current standard fire test methods provide means to compare similar materials but do not deliver knowledge on how they would behave in the event of a real fire. Thus, the aim of this thesis is to develop a novel testing framework to assess the behaviour of these materials in realistic fire scenarios. For PCMs, a flammability study is conducted in the bench-scale cone calorimeter to evaluate the fire risk associated with these materials. Then, micro-scale Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) is used to identify the fundamental chemical reactions to be able to confidently interpret the flammability results. Finally, intermediate-scale standard fire tests are conducted to evaluate the applicability of the bench-scale results to realistic fire scenarios. These take the form of modified Lateral Ignition and Flame spread Test (LIFT) and Single Burning Item (SBI) tests to understand flame spread and compartment fires respectively. Finally, a simplified method to combine this knowledge for use in building design is proposed. This method allows the balancing of potential energy benefits with quantified fire performance to achieve the specified goals of the designer. Hemp-lime insulation is a material which has also becoming increasingly popular in the drive towards sustainability. The porous nature of the material means that smouldering combustions are the dominant reaction mode but there is currently no standardised test method for this type of behaviour. Thus, hemp-lime materials also represent an unquantified risk. The work in this thesis defines a simple, accessible and economically viable bench-scale method for quantifying the fire risk associated with rigid porous materials. This is applicable for both downward opposed flow and upward forward flow smoulder propagation conditions. The behaviour is then interpreted using micro-scale thermogravimetric analysis to understand the underlying pyrolysis and oxidation reactions. Designers can utilise this framework to quantify the smouldering risk associated with hemp-lime materials to enable their usage in the built environment. The holistic fire risk assessment performed in this thesis has quantified the behaviour of PCMs and hemp-lime insulation applicable to realistic fire scenarios. The simplified design method empowers designers to be able to realise innovative buildings through fundamental understanding of the fire behaviour of these materials. The outcomes of this thesis allow designers to mitigate the fire risk associated with these materials and achieve optimised engineering solutions. Furthermore, the novel fire testing frameworks provide the economically viable means to assess the fire performance of future PCMs and hemp-lime products which ensures lasting relevance of this research in the future.

In 2018, forest fires occurred in Sweden, which put high pressure on rescue services and society. Several parts of the country were subject to a fire ban. The purpose of the document study is to investigate whether forest fires could become a continuous danger for municipalities and their inhabitants in the future. The study also strives to investigate measures to combat forest fires and whether these measures are adequate. In order to work in the right direction and not lose course, three questions were asked, "What patterns do we see overtime regarding forest fires?", "What measures have been taken to combat forest fires?" and "Are measures against forest fires sufficient?". These issues helped to select research evidence and the right empirical material.With critical realism as a scientific approach, the problems with forest fires were highlighted and research work started. By applying applied geography / forest geography, its causes and risks could be studied. With the mapping / mapping, the potential forest fire risk could be mapped in the future. Following a survey of potential forest fire risk in the future, it turned out that Skåne risks being most affected by forest fires due to changing climate in the region. This made the study limited to Skåne. The County Administrative Board of Skåne's risk and vulnerability analysis for 2014 and the Land use plan for Östra Göinge became the documents that were analyzed in this document study. By analyzing the risk and vulnerability analysis, it explains what risks are considered to be a potential danger, how the danger is mitigated and how resources and measures are prioritized. In the overview plan we can see if the forest fire risk was taken into account and if so how. This study shows that the risk of forest fires will increase in the future due to. changing weather conditions. It also shows that risk and vulnerability analysis do not take into account the change, the increased risk and lack a long-term perspective on risk and vulnerability. The study also shows that information on what are forest fire influencing factors such as weather, vegetation and topography are not taken into account. Land use plans need to pay more attention to forest fire risk and report measures to combat it. Keywords: Forest fire, Risk, Fire risk, Physical planning, Risk analysis / 2018 förekom skogsbränder i Sverige vilket satte hög press på räddningstjänst och samhället. Flera delar av landet rådde eldningsförbud. Syftet med dokumentstudien är att undersöka om skogsbränderna kan komma att bli en kontinuerlig fara för kommuner och dess invånare i framtiden. Studien strävar även efter att undersöka åtgärder för bekämpning av skogsbränder samt om dessa åtgärder är tillräckliga. För att arbeta mot rätt riktning och inte tappa kurs sattes tre frågeställningar, ”Vilka mönster ser vi övertid gällande skogsbränder?”, ”Vilka åtgärder har vidtagits för att bekämpa skogsbränder?” och ”Är åtgärder mot skogsbränder tillräckliga?”. Dessa frågeställningar hjälpte till med att välja forskningsunderlag och rätt empiriskt material. Med kritisk realism som vetenskapligt angreppssätt uppmärksammades problematiken med skogsbränder och forskningsarbetet påbörjades. Genom att tillämpa applied geography/tillämpad geography kunde skogsbränder, dess orsaker och risker studeras. Med mapping/kartläggning kunde den potentiella skogsbrandsrisken i framtiden kartläggas. Efter kartläggning av potentiell skogsbrandsrisk i framtiden visade det sig att Skåne riskerar att drabbas mest av skogsbränder pga. förändrat klimat i regionen. Detta gjorde att studien avgränsades till Skåne. Länsstyrelsen Skånes risk- och sårbarhetsanalys för 2014 och Översiktsplan för Östra Göinge blev dokumenten som analyserades i denna dokumentstudie. Genom att analysera risk- och sårbarhetsanalysen, förklaras vilka risker som bedöms vara en potentiell fara, hur faran motarbetas samt hur resurser och åtgärder prioriteras. I översiktsplanen kan vi se om skogsbrandsrisken beaktats och i så fall hur. Denna studie påvisar att risken för skogsbränder kommer att öka i framtiden pga. förändrade väderförhållanden. Den visar även att risk- och sårbarhetsanalys inte beaktar förändringen, den ökade risken samt saknar ett långsiktigt perspektiv på risk och sårbarhet. Studien visar även att information om vad som är skogsbrandspåverkande faktorer som väder, vegetation och topografi inte beaktas. Översiktsplaner behöver uppmärksamma skogsbrandsrisken mer och redovisa åtgärder för att bekämpa den. Nyckelord: Skogsbrand, Risk, Brandrisk, Fysisk planering, Riskanalys

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Submitted by Maurílio Figueiredo (maurilioafigueiredo@yahoo.com.br) on 2013-02-22T19:51:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO_GestãoRiscoAlternativa.pdf: 41214411 bytes, checksum: 7caa77944d2a0c8f76333d07df2ca056 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Neide Nativa (neide@sisbin.ufop.br) on 2013-02-25T14:13:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO_GestãoRiscoAlternativa.pdf: 41214411 bytes, checksum: 7caa77944d2a0c8f76333d07df2ca056 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-02-25T14:13:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO_GestãoRiscoAlternativa.pdf: 41214411 bytes, checksum: 7caa77944d2a0c8f76333d07df2ca056 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / ABSTRACT: The buildings of public archives shelter documents of permanent value, which are of inalienable and imprescriptible guard. To check the level of fire protection to these permanent records in each building surveyed, it was applied the global analysis of fire risk using the Gretener Method. The text of the “IT 35-CBMMG”, based on this method of performance (widely known) provides fire protection alternatives for the historical buildings (and their contents) of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, when it is not possible or aesthetically desirable, the adoption of security normative or prescriptive measures. The research result showed that showed that the buildings where are installed the public archives are of no conformity to risk of fire due to an in the safety versus protection. Another quick observation was the high volume of documents on paper (main fire load) accommodated in rooms of insufficient area to contain them, incurring specific fire loads much higher than the stipulated level in the specific standard. With the successive employment of active and passive protection measures in these constructions, the safety factors after each trial immediately improved, giving the building and its occupants a pro-safety situation, compared to the outbreak of fire, until unfavorable. / As edificações sede de arquivos públicos custodiam documentos de valor permanente, sendo estes inalienáveis e de guarda imprescritível. Para verificação do nível de proteção contra incêndio a esses documentos permanentes, em cada uma das edificações pesquisadas, foi aplicada a análise global de risco de incêndio, decorrente do Método de Gretener. O texto da IT 35 do CBMMG, baseado nesse método de desempenho (mundialmente conhecido) fornece alternativas de proteção contra incêndio às edificações (e ao seu conteúdo) que compõem o patrimônio histórico mineiro, quando não seja possível ou esteticamente conveniente, a adoção de medidas de segurança de ordem normativa ou prescritiva. O resultado da pesquisa mostrou que as edificações onde estão instalados os arquivos públicos estão em situação de insegurança frente ao risco de incêndio, em razão de um desequilíbrio na relação segurança versus proteção. Outra rápida constatação foi o elevado volume de documentos no suporte papel (principal carga de incêndio) acomodados em espaço de superfície insuficiente para comportá-los, incorrendo cargas de incêndio específicas muito superiores ao valor estipulado em norma. Com o emprego sucessivo de medidas de proteção passiva e ativa nessas edificações, os coeficientes de segurança melhoraram imediatamente a cada ensaio, conferindo ao prédio e aos seus ocupantes uma situação pró-segurança, frente ao risco de incêndio, até então desfavorável. Edificações que abrigam instituições arquivísticas, necessitam de um de sistema de segurança contra incêndio e pânico que monitore diuturnamente as áreas de interesse, com rápida detecção de um foco de fogo e acionamento de alarme, seguido de imediato e eficiente combate por brigadistas treinados, no mínimo. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

This study investigates the management of a construction project from the building contractor’s point of view. The main aim is to describe the construction readiness process, including the technical drawings, risk assessment and OSH solutions. The literature review provides an overview of the key terminology used in the management of a construction site, contractor readiness and OSH. The practical section of this study then describes order preparation, construction readiness, risk assessment, OSH solutions and fire risk assessment for the I/43 Milonice intersection turn lane.