This thesis provides a detailed case study of the havelis of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Jaisalmer was selected as the study area not only because of the abundance and richness of the havelis in this region, but also because of the extreme nature of the climate in and around the area. In addition, the haveli has the added advantage of being a high-density urban form; economically and ecologically significant in the context of India's rapidly expanding urban population and associated energy and environmental crisis. Environmental data was collected in and around two havelis within the fort, over a period of twelve months, focusing on the larger of the two monitored buildings, Hotel Suraj. In addition a short transverse comfort survey was conducted on the streets of Jaislamer, and subsequently evaluated in the wider context of accepted adaptive model comfort prediction equations. The results of the survey are applied to the assessment of the collected environmental data, in terms of predicted occupant thermal comfort. The relationship between indoor and outdoor temperature is examined in detail and an attempt made to develop indoor temperature prediction equations for each of four long term monitored zones in Hotel Suraj. With all results revealing mass as the governing factor for the modification of climate in the havelis, a substantial portion of this thesis is subsequently focused on developing methodologies for determining the decrement factor and time lag of indoor zones in relation to outdoors. A new finding is the impossibility of a shift in daily temperature cycle of more than 6 hours (or 0.25 of the cycle frequency). Considerable effort has been expended on the visual presentation of data for this study. This has involved the development of two stand-alone computer programs for the presentation of thermal data, included on the CD at the end of this thesis.

The possibility of urban decline in metropolitan post-war inner suburbs is currently being examined in the planning literature, particularly in the United States. Inner suburbs are built between 1946 and 1971 and are therefore older and structurally different from the later suburbs. At the same time, they lack the amenities of the core and the inner cities. This thesis aims to examine whether inner suburban decline is occurring in Canada. 15 largest Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) are selected for the purpose of this study. All CMAs are then separated into five urban zones: the core, the inner suburbs, the outer suburbs, and the fringe/exurbs. All zones are then assessed for decline based on relative changes in median household income, average dwelling values, and average gross rent in the period between 1986 and 2006. Subsequently, nine of the largest CMAs are also assessed for declines in the prosperity factor and the exclusivity factor. These variables are extracted via a factor analysis which includes variables measuring demographic, socio-economic, and housing characteristics. Results indicate that inner suburbs declined in median household income, the average value of dwelling, and the prosperity factor measures. In contrast, average gross rent and the exclusivity factor showed less clear results. Overall, the results obtained in this study suggest that Canada’s inner suburbs are experiencing decline. The possible causes of inner suburban decline remain poorly understood. A number of possible explanations are offered, ranging from the lack of urban appeal of the inner suburbs, the decline of the industrial employment sector, to aging housing stock, the movement of displaced low-income immigrants, and the aging of seniors with limited income. More research is necessary in order to establish plausible mechanisms beyond preliminary speculation. A number of policy approaches to inner suburban decline are outlined. Emphasis is placed on the revitalization of housing, greater cooperation between metropolitan regions and implementation of smart growth strategies. Further research avenues include the confirmation of the phenomenon in Canada, as well as policy case studies examining the success of planning approaches in arresting inner suburban decline.

For zero-sum games, we have efficient solution techniques. Unfortunately, there are interesting games that are too large to solve. Here, a popular approach is to solve an abstract game that models the original game. We assume that more accurate the abstract games result in stronger strategies. There is substantial evidence to support this assumption. We begin by formalizing abstraction and refinement, a notion of expressive power for abstractions. We then show the assumption fails to hold under two criteria. The first is exploitability, which measures performance in the worst-case. The second is called the domination value, which measures how many mistakes a strategy makes. Despite these pathologies, we notice that larger strategies tend to make fewer mistakes and perform better in tournaments. Finally, we introduce strategy grafting, a technique that uses sub-game decomposition, which allow us to create good strategies in much larger spaces than previously possible.

Reprint from: Allergology International 54(4), 2005, p.589-599

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Performance-based earthquake engineering is an emerging field of study that complements the prescriptive methods that the design codes provide to ensure adequate seismic performance of structures. Accounting for uncertainties in the performance assessments forms an important component in this area. In this context, the present study focuses on two broad themes; first, treatment of uncertainties and the application of the first-order reliability method (FORM) in finite-element reliability analysis, and second, the seismic risk assessment of reinforced concrete structures for performance states such as, collapse and monetary loss. In the first area, the uncertainties arising from inherent randomness (“aleatory uncertainty”) and due to the lack of knowledge (“epistemic uncertainty”) are identified. A framework for the separation of these uncertainties is proposed. Following this, the applicability of FORM to the linear and nonlinear finite-element structural models under static and dynamic loading is investigated. The case studies indicate that FORM is applicable for linear and nonlinear static problems. Strategies are proposed to circumvent and remedy potential challenges to FORM. In the case of dynamic problems, the application of FORM is studied with an emphasis on cumulative response measures. The limit-state surface is shown to have a closed and nonlinear geometric shape. Solution methods are proposed to obtain probability bounds based on the FORM results. In the application-oriented second area of research, at first, the probability of collapse of a reinforced concrete frame is assessed with nonlinear static analysis. By modelling the post-failure behaviour of individual structural members, the global response of the structure is estimated beyond the component failures. The final application is the probabilistic assessment of monetary loss for a high-rise shear wall building due to the seismic hazard in the Cascadia subduction zone. A 3-dimensional finite-element model of the structure with nonlinear material models is subjected to stochastic ground motions in the reliability analysis. The parameters for the stochastic ground motion model are developed for Vancouver, Canada. Monetary losses due to the damage of structural and non-structural components are included.

In the design of all marine craft the prediction of a vessel??s resistance characteristics is a major consideration. The accurate prediction of resistance is particularly important in the design of modern high-speed vessels where the primary contractual obligation placed upon the builder is the vessel??s achievable speed. Investigation was made of the methods of Doctors and Day, whereby the traditional Michell wave-resistance theory, published in 1898, is improved on through a better understanding of the hydrodynamics of transom sterns and the application of statistically determined form factors. One of the difficulties with the Michell theory is how to account for the hollow that forms behind a transom stern, a feature prevalent in high-speed vessels. A common approach in the numerical prediction of wave resistance for transom-stern vessels is to discretize the hollow as a geometrically-smooth addition to the vessel. Therefore, of great importance in accurate prediction of wave resistance is the hydrodynamics of, and in particular, the length and depth of the hollow formed behind the transom stern. Accordingly, a systematic series of transom-stern models were tank tested at various drafts and speeds in order to determine experimentally the length and depth of the hollow as a function of vessel speed, draft and beam. From the experimental data, algorithms for the determination of the length and depth of the transom hollow, have been developed and utilised in the discretization of the transom hollow for prediction of resistance using the Michell wave- resistance theory. Application of the developed hollow algorithms produced significant improvements in correlation of the experimental and theoretical predictions of total resistance, particularly in the lower Froude range. In addition to the transom-hollow investigation, form factors were obtained using least-squares regression of existing experimental data. The form factors were based on the major geometric parameters of the models used. In the research presented here, the method was applied to a large range of published resistance data for high-speed displacement vessels. Considerable improvement in correlation, between theoretical and experimental predictions of total resistance, was obtained by incorporating the calculated form-factors into the total resistance formulation.

The oil shortages and price rises of the 1970s led to a broad spectrum of policies designed to save fuel in transport. One such group of policies concentrated on utilising the longstanding observation that congestion-free driving improves vehicular fuel economy. In particular, improving the average speed of urban traffic was believed to reduce urban fuel use. Strategies to create free-flowing traffic networks through traffic engineering and management techniques became an integral part of most transport energy conservation strategies. At the same time urban systems studies were appearing which suggested that urban land use factors are fundamental in determining transport energy demand. Some cities with denser, more centralised developnent patterns and congested traffic systems appeared to have lower per capita transport energy use than cities with low density, dispersed land use and free-flowing traffic networks. Conflicts thus began to be recognised between these land use studies and the traffic studies but they were never systematically examined. This thesis focuses on explaining and attempting to resolve these apparent conflicts by drawing out the relative importance of freeflowing, fuel efficient traffic and broader land use/transport factors in determining urban system fuel efficiency. It does this by showing how a holistic understanding of transport energy use can be achieved by recognising the different levels of know1edge involved and by integrating research a t all these levels. Adopting this approach, a detailed examination is made of transport energy use in Perth, Western Australia. Spatial and temporal patterns of urban driving and vehicular fuel consumption are derived using a computer-instrumented vehicle within a framework of urban ecology. These patterns are described in detail and are found to be understandable in terms of a simple model of intersection and vehicle-based traffic events. Using this simple model, urban driving and fuel consumption patterns are then systematically linked back to their urban ecological framework. Centrality, as expressed by urban activity intensity emerges as the major underlying factor in both the urban ecological framework and driving patterns. Driving cycles for central to outer areas as well as the whole city are produced and a detailed examination is made of driving cycle development procedures, including the issue of data resolution. Two new methods of driving cycle synthesis are formulated. Driving cycles together with travel survey and land use/transport model data are then used to estimate spatial differences in transport energy use per capita within the urban ecological framework. This case study is used to test two conceptual models of transport energy conservation implied by the traffic and land use studies: a linear assumptions model which suggests reductions in urban system fuel use through freer-flowing traffic and a feedback assumptions model which introduces some possible broader system effects of free-flowing and congested traffic. The results suggest very strong support for the feedback model and a reversal of the linear model. Urban structural factors such as distance from the CBD and density are found to be the major explanatory factors of Perth's transport energy use. The much higher vehicular fuel consumption in Perth's inner areas due to restricted traffic flows are completely offset by energy conserving land use and transport features which result in lower per capita energy use in these areas; the lower vehicular fuel consumption in uncongested outer areas is swamped by land use factors which result in longer travel distances and less use of energy conserving modes, resulting in markedly higher per capita energy use, i .e. a trade-off is found between a fuel efficient traffic system and a fuel efficient urban system. It is concluded that policies which propose fuel savings from "blanket" improvements in urban trraffic flow, such as major road building programmes will be counter-productive, while urban planning policies which encourage higher density, more compact cities will tend to lower energy use. It is suggested that a key area of research is now how to combine selective traffic system improvements with urban land use policies so that both may work in concert to produce a more fuel efficient urban system.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references.

Univ., Diss.--Zürich, 1993.