In the past, the study of Emergency Vehicle (EV) signal preemption has been mostly done using field studies. None of the simulation models that are currently commercially available have the capability to model the presence of EVs and simulate the traffic dynamics of the vehicles surrounding them. This study presents a macroscopic traffic model for examining the effect of signal preemption for EVs on traffic control measures, roadway capacity, and delays incurred to the vehicles on the side streets. The model is based on the cell transmission model, which is consistent with the hydrodynamic theory of traffic flow. A special component, in the form of a moving bottleneck that handles the traffic dynamics associated with the presence of EVs, was developed in the model. Several test scenarios were constructed to demonstrate the capabilities of the model for studying the impact of signal preemption on an arterial with multiple intersections under various traffic demand levels and varying frequencies of the arrival of EVs. Performance measures, such as average vehicle delay, maximum delay, and standard deviation of delay to traffic on all approaches, were obtained. An additional advantage of the model, apart from the capability to model EVs, is that the state-space equations used in the model can be easily incorporated into a mathematical programming problem. By coupling with a desired objective function, the model can be solved analytically. Optimal solutions can be generated to obtain insights into the development of traffic control strategies in the presence of EVs. / Master of Science

Existing traffic models are widely used in multiple frameworks, most prominently, microscopic vehicle-scale occurring on the scale of seconds and macroscopic city-scale flow patterns that develop over the scale of hours. Research works and practical applications usually employ either one or the other framework, and there is little overlap in the respective research communities. This dissertation develops mathematical techniques to bridge the two scales. The particular case of bridging the micro and macro scales of models in the stable traffic regime has been extensively studied, however what has been often overlooked is the unstable regime. Thus, of particular importance are models that can capture dynamic instabilities and traveling traffic waves called phantom jams. Such models are particularly challenging to analyze, as many papers on PDE models explicitly exclude the unstable situation. This thesis (i) outlines the mathematical foundations of microscopic and macroscopic models of interest, (ii) establishes a principled procedure of generating macroscopic flow quantities from microscopic models in the unstable regime, (iii) presents a study addressing the averaging of scales and the understanding of macroscopic manifestations of microscopic car-following traffic waves based on a framework of systematic hierarchy of tests that isolate the car-following dynamics, (iv) explains the corresponding effective traffic state and non-equilibrium wave structures that rise in the fundamental diagram, (v) and derives and validates vehicle type specific simple fuel consumption rate models that are accurate, computationally fast, and have desirable physics-like properties. The insights gained from this study has many applications. One of them presented here is the relevance of dampening traffic waves in the presence of sparse control and in light of the energy demand of traffic at the vehicle-scale, waves-scale, and city scale. / Mathematics

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Computing and Information Sciences / David Gustafson / We use probabilistic graphs to predict the location of swarms over 100 steps in simulations in grid worlds. One graph can be used to make predictions for worlds of different dimensions. The worlds are constructed from a single 5x5 square pattern, each square of which may be either unoccupied or occupied by an obstacle or a target. Simulated robots move through the worlds avoiding the obstacles and tagging the targets. The interactions between the robots and the robots and the environment lead to behavior that, even in deterministic simulations, can be difficult to anticipate. The graphs capture the local rate and direction of swarm movement through the pattern. The graphs are used to create a transition matrix, which along with an occupancy matrix, can be used to predict the occupancy in the patterns in the 100 steps using 100 matrix multiplications. In the future, the graphs could be used to predict the movement of physical swarms though patterned environments such as city blocks in applications such as disaster response search and rescue. The predictions could assist in the design and deployment of such swarms and help rule out undesirable behavior.

Låga moln definieras av att ha molnbasen från 0 till 2 km ovanför markytan. Molnbildande bygger på att den relativa fuktigheten stiger med höjden tills vattenångan i luften kondenseras. Prognosmodeller för moln bygger på grundläggande termodynamiska och fluiddynamiska ekvationer. Områden delas in i ett rutnät och ekvationerna löses med numeriska metoder. För jämförelse kan mätinstrument samt observationer användas, såsom ceilometrar, radar eller observatörer.  Resultat från fyra olika experiment med prognosmodeller för moln används i detta arbete, som är en litteraturstudie för att undersöka modellers förmåga att simulera låga moln. Olika platser, på global och lokal skala, undersöks. Makroskopiska parametrar såsom molnandel och molnfrekvens är i fokus.  WRF-modellen fungerar bäst med 12 km horisontell upplösning, med en viss överskattning av molnfrekvensen. Modellen CAM5 simulerar molnandel väl men vatteninnehåll och isinnehåll underskattas respektive överskattas. Säsongscykler av låga moln fångas väl av modellerna ECMWF, ARPEGE, RACMO och Met Office, med viss överskattning från samtliga modeller. GFS-modellen överskattar molnandelen långt från ekvatorn med upp mot 80% men underskattar nära ekvatorn med 10–20%. Överskattningar och underskattningar kan bero på faktorer såsom otillräcklig representation av mikrofysik eller möjligtvis felaktiga mätdata. Det denna studie visar är däremot att prognosmodeller på lokal skala kan ge bra simuleringar av makroskopiska parametrar av låga moln. / Cloud types are defined by the height of their bases. Low-level clouds have cloud base heights between 0 and 2 km. They are formed when the relative humidity in the air reaches 100 %, leading to the formation of cloud droplets. Forecast models simulate clouds by integrating thermodynamic and fluid dynamic equations using numerical methods. Instruments and observations, such as ceilometers or observers, are used to assess the accuracy of these simulations.  This study uses four previous works, where forecast models have been used to forecast clouds, to study the accuracy of low-level cloud forecasts. This is done on both local and global scales, focusing on macroscopic characteristics such as cloud fractions and frequencies. The results show that the WRF model works best with a horizontal resolution of 12 km, with slight overestimation of cloud frequencies. The climate model CAM5 simulates cloud fractions well, but liquid- and ice content deviate significantly from measurements. Seasonal cycles are generated well by ECMWF, ARPEGE, RACMO and Met Office Unified Model, with reoccurring overestimations by all models. The GFS model overestimates cloud fractions in higher latitudes by up to 80%, but underestimates near the equator by 10-20%.  Lacking representation of microphysics in the models, or faulty data, can be the causes for deviations in the models. However, this study has shown that forecast models can simulate macroscopic parameters of low-level clouds on a local scale well.

La crise énergétique marquée par une flambée des prix du pétrole et les impératifs d’un développement durable font des énergies renouvelables une alternative qui suscitent aujourd'hui l’intérêt de plusieurs équipes de recherches. Le Sénégal, pays subsaharien, non producteur de pétrole n’est pas épargné par cette crise. Celle-ci se traduit par, une faible couverture du pays (en particulier les zones rurales) par le réseau électrique national. Pour faire face à cela, la nouvelle orientation en matière de politique énergétique met l’accent sur l’utilisation des énergies renouvelables notamment, le solaire et l’éolienne. L'objectif principal de cette thèse est de dégager une méthodologie de conception d’un site isolé de production d’énergie électrique à partir des énergies alternatives. Il s'agit à partir des caractéristiques d’un site (ressources d’énergie disponibles, besoins énergétiques) de :- mettre en place une démarche qui permette le choix d’une architecture du réseau et de dimensionner de façon optimale l’ensemble des constituants du réseau (machines, sources et dispositifs de stockage) en tenant compte de toutes les contraintes- concevoir un dispositif de commande des composantes et de gestion des flux d’énergie Cette thèse comprend trois chapitres :- Chapitre 1 : pose la problématique de l’énergie au Sénégal. L’organisation institutionnelle du sous-secteur de l’électricité, les réalisations et les projets en cours sont présentés. Aussi, une étude sur les architectures de micro-réseaux est faite. - Chapitre 2 : traite des outils et logiciels. Une étude comparative des principaux logiciels d’analyse, de conception et simulation des micro-réseaux est réalisée. L’ensemble des composants de notre système ont été modélisées. Les méthodes d’optimisation et des outils de représentation graphique (Bond Graph, GIC et REM) des systèmes ont été présentés. Une enquête menée et une recherche bibliographique nous ont permis d’évaluer le potentiel énergétique du site et les besoins des populations.- Chapitre 3 : il s’agit de l’application de notre outil sur un site isolé identifié au Sénégal (MBoro/Mer). L’optimisation à travers la fonction objectif coût annualisée du système (ACS) nous a permis de dimensionner de façon optimale notre système. Aussi la commande du système avec la Représentation Energétique Macroscopique (REM) a été conçue.Pour la suite du travail, il faudrait envisager une prise en charge des problèmes de disponibilité du système à travers une surveillance et une supervision du dispositif. Le volet socio-économique aussi est à intégrer dans le futur afin de satisfaire l’évolution des besoins et des habitudes des populations. / The energy crisis characterized by the oil products price rising and the imperatives of sustainable development do that renewable energies are an alternative today witch attract the interest of several research teams. Senegal, sub-Saharan country, not oil producer is not spared by this crisis. The consequence of this is a low coverage of the country (especially rural areas) by the national grid. For solving this, the new orientation of the energy policy focuses on the use of renewable energy particularly solar and wind.The main objective of this thesis is to identify a methodology of design of an isolated site of electrical energy production from alternative energies It is consists on, from site characteristics (energy resources, energy requirements):- to develop an approach that allows the choice of network architecture and sizing optimally all components of the network (machines, sources and storage devices) taking into account all the constraints- to design a device for controlling components and managing the energy flowsThis thesis contains three chapters:- Chapter 1 - poses the problem of energy in Senegal. The institutional organization of the electricity sub-sector and the ongoing projects are presented. Also, a study of micro- architectures networks is made.- Chapter 2 deals with tools and software. A comparative study of the main software of analysis, design and simulation of micro- network is realized. The components of our system have been modeled. Optimization methods and tools for graphical representation (Bond Graph, GIC and EMR) systems were presented. A survey and a literature review allowed us to evaluate the energy potential of the site and the needs of populations.- Chapter 3: This is the application of our tool on an isolated site identified in Senegal (MBoro / Mer). Optimization through the Annualized Cost of the System (ACS) objective function has allowed us to scale our system optimally. As the control system with Energetic Macroscopic Representation (EMR) has been designed.For further work should be considered a treatment of problems of availability of the system through monitoring and supervision of the system. The socio- economic component is also integrated in the future to meet the changing needs and habits of the population.

Neste trabalho apresentamos uma análise de possíveis processos de tunelamento em sistemas unidimensionais através do estudo do potencial de barreira dupla com região intermediária confinante, conseguimos verificar a existência de um processo de tunelamento que ocorre através da ocupação virtual da região intermediária. Uma modelagem deste fenômeno é proposta baseando-se em uma teoria perturbativa realizada em termos de estados \"quase-localizados\" da partícula. Além da descrição qualitativa do fenômeno, determinamos as condições físicas para que este processo de tunelamento, também chamado de cotunelamento ou tunelamento de ordem superior, ocorra. Como resultado, recuperamos com boa aproximação o coeficiente de transmissão exato do sistema escolhido. Por fim, um outro resultado obtido durante o desenvolvimento deste trabalho foi uma prova conclusiva da convergência do método de diferenças finitas FDTD aplicada à equação de Schrödinger. Esta prova, diferente das demais encontradas na literatura, conseguiu demonstrar de maneira conclusiva a inclusão do limite superior para o passo temporal, de maneira a assegurar a convergência das soluções numéricas, algo até então testado numericamente, mas sem uma prova rigorosa da sua validade. / In this work, we present a study about tunnelling processes occurring in one-dimensional systems. Choosing a double well potential with a confining region as a case study, we verified that there is a tunnelling process which is due to virtual occupation of the confining region. Using perturbative theory of quasi-localized states to describe the particles dynamics, we provide a qualitative description of the phenomenon of tunnelling through virtual occupation, and we are capable of determining the conditions for which such a tunneling (also known as cotunnelling or high-order tunneling) should be present. With this analysis we could calculate with good approximation the particle transmission coefficient through the barrier. Finally, we also provide a rigorous proof of the convergence conditions for the numerical calculation of the Schrödinger equation using the finite difference method.

Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2017-01-06T16:59:11Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Walid Abdala Rfaei Jradi - 2016.pdf: 5339936 bytes, checksum: 0a0a6bdc4791ee31c229b5175ae3af03 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-01-09T09:29:25Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Walid Abdala Rfaei Jradi - 2016.pdf: 5339936 bytes, checksum: 0a0a6bdc4791ee31c229b5175ae3af03 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-09T09:29:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Walid Abdala Rfaei Jradi - 2016.pdf: 5339936 bytes, checksum: 0a0a6bdc4791ee31c229b5175ae3af03 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-11-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The present work studies and proposes GPU-based parallel algorithms and implementations for the problem of macroscopic assignment of urban traffic on large-scale networks, promoting an in-depth investigation on each sub-problem that must be efficiently solved during the traffic assignment process. Among the main contributions of this work, there are: 1) the first GPU-based algorithm for the enumeration of chordless cycles; 2) a new parallel GPU-based shortest path algorithm that takes advantage of some common properties of urban traffic networks; a refinement in the parallel reduction implementation proposed by one of the leaders in the GPU market, which resulted in a 2.8x speedup relative to its original version; and finally, 3) a parallel algorithm for the macroscopic traffic assignment problem, 39x faster than the equivalent sequential approach when applied to large scale networks. The main goal of this thesis is to contribute to the extension of the PET-Gyn software, proposing efficient GPU data structures and parallel algorithms for a faster resolution of two well known problems in the literature: The Traffic Assignment Problem (TAP) and the Enumeration of Chordless Cycles. When applied to difficult input sets, the performed experiments showed a clear advantage of the parallel algorithms over their sequential versions. / O presente trabalho estuda e propõe algoritmos e implementações paralelas baseadas em GPU para o problema de alocação macroscópica de tráfego urbano em redes de grande porte, promovendo uma investigação aprofundada de cada sub-problema que deve ser resolvido de forma eficiente durante o processo de atribuição de tráfego. Entre as principais contribuições deste trabalho, estão: 1) o primeiro algoritmo baseado em GPU para a enumeração de ciclos sem corda; 2) um novo algoritmo de caminho mínimo paralelo que tira vantagem de algumas propriedades comuns das redes de tráfego urbano; Um refinamento na implementação de redução paralela proposta por um dos líderes no mercado de GPU, o que resultou em uma aceleração de 2,8x em relação à sua versão original; 3) e, finalmente, um algoritmo paralelo para o problema de alocação macroscópica de tráfego, 39x mais rápido do que a abordagem equivalente sequencial quando aplicado a redes de larga escala. O objetivo principal desta tese é de contribuir para a expansão do software PET-Gyn, propondo estruturas de dados de GPU eficientes e algoritmos paralelos para uma resolução mais rápida de dois problemas bem conhecidos na literatura: O Problema de Alocação de Tráfego e a Enumeração de Ciclos sem Corda. Quando aplicados a conjuntos de entrada difíceis, os experimentos realizados mostraram uma clara vantagem dos algoritmos paralelos sobre suas versões sequenciais.

The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo method is a computational tool for modelling rarefied flows. The Macroscopic Chemistry Method was developed to simplify the modelling of dissociation and recombination reactions in DSMC. The ability to understand and predict the behaviour of chemically reacting, rarefied flows is a critical aspect in the development of high altitude, high speed bodies such as re-entry craft, high altitude aircraft, space transport vehicles and missiles. Computational methods are an invaluable source of information when experimental techniques are difficult, costly or time-consuming. However, traditional methods of modelling chemical kinetics using DSMC suffer from a number of drawbacks. The Macroscopic Chemistry Method overcomes a number of these problems, but has previously only been applied to simulations of a single diatomic gas. The Macroscopic Chemistry Method (MCM) is extended to consider multiple species and multiple reaction sets, thermal non-equilibrium effects, trace species modelling, unsteady flows, vibrational state specific chemistry, electronic excitation, relaxation and ionization and coupled nonequilibrium radiation emission. The Macroscopic Method is described as a general DSMC modelling philosophy rather than as a single formulated method. That is, the flexibility and utility of the method are shown through examples of applying a macroscopic approach to a number of problems, and by highlighting instances where a macroscopic approach is useful or even necessary. The problems investigated include reservoir relaxation calculations, 1-D shock, expansion and shock-expansion calculations, two-dimensional flows over a vertical step and through a cavity, and axis-symmetric flow about a sphere. The studies demonstrate that although MCM may often present a simplified approach as compared to traditional 'non-macroscopic' methods, it does not necessarily lead to more approximate solutions. On the contrary, the ability of macroscopic methods to combine different models of physical processes with the most recent (verified) data means that they are particularly suited to simulate high altitude, rarefied flows. It is also shown that, like any model approach, the validity of the approximations employed must be justified for a particular problem. In general, macroscopic methods of varying complexity and accuracy may be implemented to model a specific physical process. Adoption of the Macroscopic Chemistry Method in DSMC has the potential to enhance the modelling of chemical kinetics, charged-particle effects and radiation in rarefied hypersonic flows. This capability may be attributed to the simplicity and flexibility which the macroscopic approach affords over methods which seek to avoid the use of collective information. Macroscopic methods have already been employed to model weakly ionized flows. Their further application to model chemical kinetics and other processes would be useful for modelling and understanding the behaviour of objects in rarefied hypersonic flow-fields.

Airline delays lead to a tremendous loss of time and resources and cost billions of dollars every year in the United States (U.S.). At certain times, individual airports become bottlenecks within the National Airspace System (NAS). To explore solutions for reducing the delay, it is essential to understand factors causing flight delay and its impact on airports in the NAS. Major causal factors of flight delay at airports include over-scheduling, en-route convective weather, reduced ceiling and visibility around airports, and upstream delay propagation. Delay at one airport can be passed on to other airports in the NAS, in another word, operational improvement at one airport will have network effect and benefit to other airports as well. Moreover delay at different airports in a region might agglomerate to cause delay at different regions in the NAS. Hence, to optimally allocate NAS resources, e.g. capital investment for airport capacity expansion, the impact of single airport delay to the NAS and vice versa need to be investigated and quantified. For air transportation planning and policy purposes, this study concentrates on providing answers from a macroscopic point of view without being distracted by volatile operational details. In the first part, we estimate the interaction between flight delay at one single airport and delay at the rest of the NAS (RNAS) using case study for LaGuardia (LGA) and Chicago O'Hare (ORD) airports. In the second part, this research applies multivariate simultaneous regression models to quantify airport delay spillover effects across 34 of the 35 Operational Evolution Plan (OEP) airports and the RNAS. Observing the interactions between these two models, they are regressed with an econometric technique; three stage least square (3SLS). Thus, the regression results help us to determine the delay interactions between different airports and the RNAS and compare these airports based on delay propagation characteristics. Another significant contribution of this research is that, the estimated coefficients can be used for determining the marginal effects of all the delay causal factors presented in the model. Also, regional airport system development has been a hot topic of research in the air transportation community in recent years. Many metropolitan regions are served with more than one airport making their operations synchronized and interdependent and are known as regional airport system. This paper studies nine different prospective regions with multi-airport systems in the U.S. and identifies various key factors affecting the delay in these regions. Econometrics models and three stage least square (3SLS) estimation method are used to explore interdependency of delay at the multi-airport system and the RNAS. Along with it, different factors affecting delay at the system and the RNAS is being identified from the research. The outcomes from this research will help aviation planners understand the spillover effects of delays from multi-airport systems and provide decision support for future NAS improvement.

Diffuse Layer Modeling was used to describe single and multi-solute adsorption of Pb(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) to ferrihydrite and As(V), V(V) Si and Ca(II) on granular ferric hydroxide, a commercially available iron oxide. Macroscopic data were used in conjunction with x-ray adsorption spectroscopy (XAS) data to evaluate the diffuse layer surface complexation model (DLM) for predicting sorption over a range of conditions. A self-consistent database was created for each of the adsorbents. The DLM provided excellent fits to the single solute data for the ferrihydrite system with the incorporation of spectroscopic evidence. Little competition was seen in the bisolute systems, except under very high coverages. While the DLM captured the lack of competition under low and medium coverages, competitive effects were not adequately modeled by the updated DLM for high coverages. Challenges remain in adequately describing metal removal when sorption may not be the primary mechanism of removal. The capabilities of the DLM were then evaluated for describing and predicting multisolute sorption to granular ferric hydroxide (GFH). The model can adequately describe anion competition, but the electrostatic effects due to outer sphere sorption were overpredicted, leading to an inadequate model fit for As(V) and Ca²⁺ systems. Despite the limitations of the DLM, it may be an appropriate compromise between goodness of fit and number of parameters for future integration into dynamic transport models and thermodynamic databases. / text