The rise of the Environmentalism in every sector of the Industry has lead the aircraft and engine manufacturing companies to develop new generations of more environmentally friendly engines. The companies, encouraged to this purpose, are in a constant research for new manufacturing and production techniques, in order to improve their products, from the environmental point of view, by gaining efficiency in the manufacturing techniques and reduce the fuel consumption and emissions in-flight. Having in mind this scenario, the sponsor of this Project is interested in understanding how changing the materials of the blades, titanium alloys currently, for other lighter materials, such as composites, is going to have an effect in the overall gas turbine efficiency. In the particular case of this Project, it will be studied the influence of the Stiffness and coating Thickness of those non-metallic materials suitable to be employed as coatings on gas turbine fan blades, from the icing point of view. The work procedure will be based on a study of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics of bi-material junctions and will extrapolate the general problem to the ice-coatings case, by getting experimental data from tests carried out in an Icing Tunnel. It will be observed that the coating Stiffness has an influence on the Adhesion Level of ice to less stiff materials, if compared with the Adhesion Level of ice to metals. Besides, it will be described how a 0.5 millimetres thin polymeric coating placed over a metallic substrate is enough to reduce the Adhesion Level of ice, hiding any effect that the underneath materials might have on the Adhesion Level.

The rise of the Environmentalism in every sector of the Industry has lead the aircraft and engine manufacturing companies to develop new generations of more environmentally friendly engines. The companies, encouraged to this purpose, are in a constant research for new manufacturing and production techniques, in order to improve their products, from the environmental point of view, by gaining efficiency in the manufacturing techniques and reduce the fuel consumption and emissions in-flight. Having in mind this scenario, the sponsor of this Project is interested in understanding how changing the materials of the blades, titanium alloys currently, for other lighter materials, such as composites, is going to have an effect in the overall gas turbine efficiency. In the particular case of this Project, it will be studied the influence of the Stiffness and coating Thickness of those non-metallic materials suitable to be employed as coatings on gas turbine fan blades, from the icing point of view. The work procedure will be based on a study of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics of bi-material junctions and will extrapolate the general problem to the ice-coatings case, by getting experimental data from tests carried out in an Icing Tunnel. It will be observed that the coating Stiffness has an influence on the Adhesion Level of ice to less stiff materials, if compared with the Adhesion Level of ice to metals. Besides, it will be described how a 0.5 millimetres thin polymeric coating placed over a metallic substrate is enough to reduce the Adhesion Level of ice, hiding any effect that the underneath materials might have on the Adhesion Level.

abstract: Cordon pricing strategies attempt to charge motorists for the marginal social costs of driving in heavily congested areas, lure them out of their vehicles and into other modes, and thereby reduce vehicle miles traveled and congestion-related externalities. These strategies are gaining policy-makers` attention worldwide. The benefits and costs of such strategies can potentially lead to a disproportionate and inequitable burden on lower income commuters, particularly those commuters with poor accessibility to alternative modes of transportation. Strategies designed to mitigate the impacts of cordon pricing for disadvantaged travelers, such as discount and exemptions, can reduce the effectiveness of the pricing strategy. Transit improvements using pricing fee revenues are another mitigation strategy, but can be wasteful and inefficient if not properly targeted toward those most disadvantaged and in need. This research examines these considerations and explores the implications for transportation planners working to balance goals of system effectiveness, efficiency, and equity. First, a theoretical conceptual model for analyzing the justice implications of cordon pricing is presented. Next, the Mobility Access and Pricing Study, a cordon pricing strategy examined by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority is analyzed utilizing a neighborhood-level accessibility-based approach. The fee-payment impacts for low-income transportation-disadvantaged commuters within the San Francisco Bay area are examined, utilizing Geographic Information Systems coupled with data from the Longitudinal Employment and Household Dynamics program of the US Census Bureau. This research questions whether the recommended blanket 50% discount for low-income travelers would unnecessarily reduce the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the cordon pricing system. It is proposed that reinvestment of revenue in transportation-improvement projects targeted at those most disproportionately impacted by tolling fees, low-income automobile-dependent peak-period commuters in areas with poor access to alternative modes, would be a more suitable mitigation strategy. This would not only help maintain the efficiency and effectiveness of the cordon pricing system, but would better address income, modal and spatial equity issues. The results of this study demonstrate how the spatial distribution of the toll-payment impacts may burden low-income residents in quite different ways, thereby warranting the inclusion of such analysis in transportation planning and practice. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Environmental Design and Planning 2013

Context: In this thesis we considered Knowledge Transfer (KT) in Global Software Development (GSD) from both the state of art and state of practice, in order to identify what are the challenges that hamper the success of KT in global software teams, as well as to find out what are the mitigation strategies that can be practiced to overcome these challenges. Objectives: The main objective of this research is to find an in-depth understanding of knowledge transfer challenges and mitigation strategies from both literature studies and industrial experienced employees. It also identifies the similarities and differences of challenges and strategies from literature studies and industrial experienced employees. The overall aim of this work is to provide a list of mitigation strategies to challenges, as guidelines to enable successful knowledge transfer in GSD. Methods: In order to fulfill the aim of the research, we collected the data through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and industrial interviews. Through SLR we found 35 articles relevant to our objectives. The data is extracted from those articles and conclusions are drawn. The relevant data is collected from databases such as Engineering village, ACM Digital Library, Science Direct, Wiley Inter Science, Scopus, ISI Web of Science and IEEE Xplore. We conducted 8 interviews from 8 different multinational companies. For analyzing the data we used grounded theory and qualitative comparative analysis. Results: In total, 72 different challenges and 107 mitigation strategies were identified from both SLR and interview results. In most of the studies, KT challenges in GSD are categorized into 3Cs (Communication, Control and Coordination). We also came up with a different view known as 2PT which conceptualizes the KT challenges and strategies into Personnel, Project and Technology factors. Conclusions: In future, researchers have to focus on the personnel, project and technology factors for implementing an effective KT process. From a practitioner‘s view, the results can be used to identify critical factors for effective KT. The challenges to KT show to what extent these results can be industrially applicable. / Srinivas Nidhra S/O Nidhra. Bikshamaiah H No:8-3-230/C/40, Plot No:351, Yousufguda, Venkatagiri, Hyderabad, Pin:500045 Andhra Pradesh, India. phone: 04023545378 Muralidhar, S/O Y. Rama Rao, Prasad leboratories, Jaggampeta, Andhra Pradesh, India, pin: 533435 phone: +919885995887

Context: Group dynamics play an important role in software projects. All of the existing software engineering methodologies (like Rational Unified Process, Microsoft Solutions Framework, Agile, etc.) use the concept of the teamwork and emphasize the necessity to manage them in order to organize the business processes in the best way. The application of group dynamic techniques is aimed at improvement of teamwork management to make it more efficient. The implementation of group dynamic techniques has an impact on teams working in software engineering and it also faces some challenges for industry such as lack of resources and preparation. Both need additional investigation which regard to the actual practiced situation in industry. Objectives: The given work is devoted to identification of group dynamics techniques and their impact on teams in the context of industrial software development projects. The objectives of the research is to identify the existing and in an industrial context, actually used group dynamics techniques in software engineering as well as their impact and methods of its evaluation. Since the application of group dynamics techniques is not a trivial task, we also identify those challenges and corresponding mitigation strategies. Methods: The basic methods applied during the research conduction are systematic literature review and survey. Literature review was used in order to collect the data on group dynamics techniques, their impact and implementation challenges. The survey and additional interviews with the practitioners from the software development companies were done with the purpose to find out which of the techniques are applied in practice. Results: Based on the data from systematic literature review we identified group dynamics techniques such as equalizing participation, electronic communication, conflict resolution, summarizing, whole and small group discussions, brainstorming, etc. The discovered impacts include team performance and cohesiveness, staff satisfaction and communication quality, software quality, reasonable decision-making and knowledge sharing. The possible challenges of group dynamics techniques implementation are company’s limited resources, lack of leadership and preparation, over-dominating of some team members and cultural diversity. The survey provided us with additional information about the importance of mentioned group dynamics techniques and their impact on team performance and cohesiveness, job satisfaction and software quality. Conclusions: We conclude that group dynamics techniques in software development projects influence the performance and cohesiveness of the teamwork as well as the quality of the software solutions and products. The possible challenges can be overcome by promotion of open communication and trust among team members, and additional psychological preparation and training of facilitator. The research discovered a slight difference in the literature review and survey results. In particular we found out that, some group dynamics techniques are overestimated in literature, while the others are undervalued. Also the survey results helped to identify the techniques such as small group discussion, conflict resolution and many more were used by the teams of definite size, which was not possible to discover in the SLR for example large teams pay much attention to feedback and electronic communication The obtained results can be used by software engineering practitioners in order to organize and rearrange their teamwork, which can positively affect team performance and project success. / SANDEEP KUMAR GOUD DOMMATA: +91-9848783435

Logistics managers work to create practices that reduce technostress, which is associated with diminished productivity in supply chain management. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the mitigation strategies that logistics managers at distribution centers used to reduce technostress with their employees in the Los Angeles County, California area. The conceptual framework included in this study was the sociotechnical systems theory. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 6 logistics managers from large distribution centers who implemented mitigation strategies that demonstrably reduced technostress with their employees. Public documents and physical artifacts reviewed in this study included productivity assessment tools, information and communication technology system training materials, technostress mitigation instruments, and information from technological devices. Data were analyzed through a process of pattern matching, cross-case synthesis, and systematic text condensation. The findings included 6 themes: reliance on internal information technology experts; hiring temporary experts; maintaining communication and training; using time management skills and organizing priorities; identification and understanding of employee differences; and implementing well-being, fitness, and health programs. These findings could contribute to positive social change by providing logistics managers with strategies to reduce technostress, which could lead to improved employee well-being, better work conditions, and increased productivity for greater company profitability that could produce a more thriving and prosperous community.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第24887号 / 工博第5167号 / 新制||工||1987(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市社会工学専攻 / (主査)教授 角 哲也, 教授 堀 智晴, 教授 山上 路生 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DGAM

Urban flooding presents a significant challenge to cities worldwide, resulting in loss of life and economic damage. Factors such as urbanization, climate change, and extreme weather events compound the vulnerability of urban areas to flooding, with rapid urbanization emerging as a primary driver of increased flood risk. In response to this pressing issue, this thesis embarks on a transformative exploration, advocating for a paradigm shift in urban stormwater management through the lens of "Hydro-Urbanism." Central to this concept is recognizing stormwater as a valuable resource rather than a mere liability. By implementing targeted strategies to curb runoff, detain stormwater, and replenish groundwater, cities can mitigate the adverse impacts of urban flooding while enhancing resilience and livability. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature and analysis of case studies, this research explores the efficacy of diverse stormwater management techniques in alleviating urban flooding and fostering sustainable urban development. In addition to technical aspects, the study delves into the socioeconomic dimensions of Hydro-Urbanism, highlighting the significance of community engagement and participatory planning in creating resilient and inclusive urban environments. Focused on Hyderabad city in Telangana, India, this project lies at the intersection of cultural heritage and modernity, confronting significant challenges posed by urban flooding amidst rapid urban expansion. By reframing the narrative around water from vulnerability to resilience and opportunity, the project aims to harness the power of stormwater as a catalyst for change. A tailored typology-based approach seeks to nurture a future where cities and water coexist harmoniously, protecting urban areas from flooding and fostering a more harmonious relationship between urban communities and the natural world. / Master of Science / Urban flooding, characterized by the inundation of urban streets, buildings, and infrastructure, arises when rainwater overwhelms drainage systems or water bodies overflow due to heavy rainfall or storms. It is a significant challenge faced by cities globally, leading to property damage, transportation disruptions, and risks to public safety. In response to the pressing issue of urban flooding, this project adopts a novel approach called "Hydro-Urbanism," emphasizing the interconnection between water and urban landscapes and aiming to transform how cities manage stormwater resources. Unlike traditional methods that view stormwater as a problem to be mitigated, Hydro-Urbanism recognizes stormwater as a valuable resource that can be harnessed for various purposes. It seeks to establish a symbiotic relationship between urban environments and water, wherein stormwater is managed strategically to mitigate flooding risks and enhance urban resilience while improving the quality of urban life. Amid rapid urbanization, exemplified vividly in cities like Hyderabad in the Telangana state of India, the balance between expanding urban sprawl and natural ecosystems has become increasingly fragile. Here, the challenge of managing stormwater looms large, threatening public safety, infrastructure integrity, and economic stability. Nevertheless, what if we could flip this narrative? What if stormwater could be a resource instead of being a menace? Focused on Hyderabad, a city at the crossroads of tradition and modernity, this project proposes a typology-based approach tailored to its unique urban fabric. By harnessing the potential of stormwater, the project aims to pave the way for a more resilient and adaptive urban future. Ultimately, the goal is to foster a harmonious coexistence between urban communities and stormwater resources, ensuring cities' long-term viability and well-being in the face of environmental uncertainties.

Climate change is a critical issue, as emphasized by the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report (2023). Business organizations significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions but also play a crucial role in developing decarbonization solutions. A surge in scholarly attention since the mid-2010s has provided valuable insights into the dynamic interplay between firms and climate change. Studies have quantified risks and assessed the impact of environmental practices, while others have examined proactive measures by firms in response to regulatory landscapes and stakeholder expectations. External stakeholders, including governments, shareholders, and business partners, play a pivotal role in steering firms toward low-carbon strategies. However, there remains a gap in understanding the true impact of firm strategies on ecosystem health – for example on firms’ carbon footprint. This research aims to explore the influence of various actors on firms' decarbonization strategies and explores how firms navigate their transition towards low carbon amid conflicting pressures from financial markets, governments, and corporate customers in global value chains. The first essay reviews the literature on the challenges faced by multinational companies (MNCs) when trying to implement more sustainable practices in their supply chains. The second essay empirically investigates MNCs' impact on their suppliers' environmental performance, highlighting the importance of scrutiny, enforcement and economic leverage. The third essay analyzes investor reactions to coal plant divestment announcements by U.S. electric utilities, revealing increasing investor support for divestment. Overall, this work contributes to the literature at the intersection between firms and the environment in a global transition context, by taking a multidisciplinary and integrative approach. It also offers valuable insights for managers and policymakers as it highlights the necessity to account for contextual dynamics (e.g., change in value among stakeholders), and the breadth of the issues at stake (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions are concentrated at the manufacturing stages) to design more efficient environmental strategies and policies. / Business Administration/International Business Administration

O clima é um dos fatores ambientais que impõe os maiores riscos para a atividade agrícola, sendo responsável pelas oscilações e frustrações das safras no Brasil. Em cenário de mudanças climáticas, os atuais níveis de produtividade do milho de 1ª e de 2ª safra deverão ser alterados. Para se avaliar tais impactos, os modelos de simulação de culturas possibilitam estimar o crescimento, o desenvolvimento fenológico e a produtividade das culturas sob ampla gama de condições ambientais e de manejo, sendo, portanto, ferramentas eficientes para esse tipo de estudo. Considerando os possíveis impactos das mudanças climáticas na produtividade da cultura do milho, o presente estudo teve por objetivos: i) realizar preenchimento de falhas em séries de dados meteorológicos e, gerar séries sob projeções futuras do clima a curto (2010- 2039), médio (2040-2069) e longo (2070-2099) prazos, para os cenários de emissão intermediária (RCP4.5) e de alta emissão (RCP8.5); ii) calibrar e validar os modelos DSSAT/CERES-Maize e MONICA para simular a produtividade do milho de 1ª e de 2ª safra, e analisar a sensibilidade desses modelos, identificando os fatores de maior influência na produtividade do milho; iii) aplicar o modelo DSSAT/CERES-Maize, para determinar a produtividade do milho de 1ª e de 2ª safra, em condições de clima atual e futuro, e avaliar possíveis estratégias de manejo, de forma individual e combinada, como épocas de semeadura, ciclo da cultivar, irrigação e adubação nitrogenada, para minimização dos possíveis impactos. Para o preenchimento de falhas em séries de dados meteorológicos, o método de Bristow- Campbell (estimação da radiação solar), e a base em ponto de grade XAVIER foram as que apresentaram melhor desempenho. As projeções de clima futuro evidenciaram condições de clima mais quente, com redução no total acumulado de chuva nas regiões Norte-Nordeste e aumento no Sul do país, e as regiões Sudeste e Centro-Oeste configurando como áreas de transição. Os modelos DSSAT/CERES-Maize e MONICA apresentaram índice de desempenho (c) muito bom para ambas as safras, na estimação da produtividade do milho, com EAM inferior a 450 e 350 kg ha-1 na 1ª e na 2ª safra, respectivamente. Para as estimativas por conjunto, os valores de c foram avaliados como ótimos para as duas safras, com EAM caindo para 276 e 194 kg ha-1, na 1ª e na 2ª safra, respectivamente. Ambos os modelos mostraram sensibilidade às alterações climáticas e de adubação, porém com o modelo DSSAT/CERES-Maize se mostrando mais adequado para estudos de impactos de mudanças climáticas na cultura do milho. As simulações sob clima futuro com o modelo DSSAT/CERES-Maize, mostraram perdas de produtividade em relação aos atuais níveis, variando de 41 a 63% para milho da 1ª safra, e de 58 a 65% para o milho da 2ª safra, com as estratégias de manejo quanto a data de semeadura, ciclo da cultivar, irrigação e adubação nitrogenada mostrando redução das perdas e até mesmo ganhos de produtividade quando adotadas em condições de clima futuro. / Climate is one of the major environmental factors that impose the greatest risks for the agricultural activity, being responsible for the oscillations and frustrations of the crops in Brazil. In a scenario of climate change, the current yield levels of maize growing in-season and offseason should be impacted. In order to evaluate such impacts, crop simulation models allow estimating the growth, phenological development and yield under a wide range of environmental and crop management conditions, being efficient tools for applying to this kind of study. Considering the possible impacts of climate change on maize crop yield, the present study had as objectives: i) to fill gaps in meteorological data series and to generate series under future climate projections in the short (2010-2039), medium (2040-2069) and long (2070-2099) terms periods, for the intermediate emission (RCP4.5) and high emission (RCP8.5) scenarios; ii) to calibrate and validate the DSSAT/CERES-Maize and MONICA models to simulate inseason and off-season maize yield and to analyze the sensitivity of these models, identifying the factors that have the major influence on yield; (iii) to apply the DSSAT/CERES-Maize model to determine maize yield in the in-season and off-season, under current and future climate conditions, and evaluate possible crop management strategies, individually and in combination, such as sowing dates, crop cycle, irrigation and nitrogen fertilization, to minimize possible negative impacts. In order to fill the gaps in meteorological data series, the Bristow- Campbell method (for solar radiation estimation) and the XAVIER daily gridded database were the ones that presented the best performance. The projections of future climate showed warmer climate conditions, with a reduction in the rainfall amounts in the North-Northeast and an increase in the South of the country, with the Southeast and Center-West regions representing transition areas. Both DSSAT/CERES-Maize and MONICA models showed very good performance index (c) in the estimation of maize yield for both seasons, with MAE lower than 450 and 350 kg ha-1 during the in-season and off-season, respectively. For the ensemble estimation, the estimation improve, with optimal performance index, with MAE falling to 276 and 194 kg ha-1, for in-season and off-season maize growing, respectively. Both models showed sensitivity to climate change and fertilization, but with the DSSAT/CERES-Maize model being more suitable for studies of climate change impacts on maize crop. The simulations under future climate with DSSAT/CERES-Maize model showed a yield loss in relation to current levels, ranging from 41 to 63% for in-season, and from 58 to 65% for off-season, with management strategies regarding sowing date, cultivar cycle, irrigation and nitrogen fertilization, showing reduction of losses and even yield gains when adopted in the future climate conditions.