Swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus) are a bottomland hardwood forest specialist undergoing contraction at the northern extent of their range. This decline is often attributed to the loss of bottomland hardwood forest and frequent, intense flooding. To mitigate this decline and inform decisions regarding the swamp rabbit’s conservation status, there is a pressing need for long-term monitoring efforts. Although currently listed as imperiled (S2) in Missouri, shifts in occupancy trends may warrant a reassessment of the swamp rabbit’s state rank. The Missouri Department of Conservation has conducted decadal surveys for swamp rabbits since 1991, and the work presented here describes the fourth iteration of this study – 2022-2023. Repeated latrine surveys at 176 previously surveyed sites were conducted from November 2022 – April 2023 across 16 counties in southeast Missouri. Dynamic occupancy models were then used to estimate occupancy, colonization, extinction, and detection probabilities and identify environmental factors driving distribution changes since 2012. Additionally, I examined the impact of including ground latrines in swamp rabbit detection histories for the 2022-2023 survey season in a comparative single-season occupancy analysis. This analysis aimed to evaluate how the incorporation of ground latrines, as opposed to restricting detections to latrines on elevated surfaces, influenced estimates of occupancy and detection probabilities. Swamp rabbits were detected at 148 sites in 15 counties in 2022-2023, with a noted increase in occupancy probability from 0.66 (SE = 0.01) in 2010-2012 to 0.79 (SE = 0.01) in 2022-2023. As expected, site isolation negatively impacted occupancy probability, but predictors for patch richness density, site area, flood frequency, and flood severity had varying levels of support. For example, occupancy probability was negatively influenced by patch richness density but positively influenced by site area, while colonization probabilities were high and positively influenced by both flood frequency and severity. Extinction probability was low but was negatively influenced by flood frequency. Models with occupancy, colonization, and extinction as a function of the proportion of bottomland hardwood forest at a site were not supported. Detection probability decreased from 0.90 (SE = 0.19) in 2010-2012 to 0.78 (SE = 0.13) in 2022-2023. The inclusion of ground latrines in analyses did increase detection (0.68 to 0.84) and estimates of occupancy probabilities (0.95 to 1.00) but the change in estimates of occurrence was not biologically meaningful. Despite concerns about decline at the northern edge of their range, swamp rabbit populations in southeast Missouri appear to be expanding, evidenced by the increased occupancy and promising colonization and extinction rates. While long-term monitoring efforts should continue, managers should consider changing the swamp rabbit’s state rank from imperiled (S2) to vulnerable (S3).

Localization is one of the fundamental components of autonomous vehicles by enabling tasks as overtaking, lane keeping and self-navigation. Urban canyons and bad weather interfere with the reception of GPS satellite signal which prohibits the exclusive use of such technology for vehicle localization in urban places. Alternatively, map-aided localization methods have been employed to enable position estimation without the dependence on GPS devices. In this solution, the vehicle position is given as the place that best matches the sensor measurement to the environment map. Before building the maps, feature sof the environment must be extracted from sensor measurements. In vehicle localization, curbs and road markings have been extensively employed as mapping features. However, most of the urban mapping methods rely on a street free of obstacles or require repetitive measurements of the same place to avoid occlusions. The construction of an accurate representation of the environment is necessary for a proper match of sensor measurements to the map during localization. To prevent the necessity of a manual process to remove occluding obstacles and unobserved areas, a vehicle localization method that supports maps built from partial observations of the environment is proposed. In this localization system,maps are formed by curb and road markings extracted from multilayer laser sensor measurements. Curb structures are detected even in the presence of vehicles that occlude the roadsides, thanks to the use of robust regression. Road markings detector employs Otsu thresholding to analyze infrared remittance data which makes the method insensitive to illumination. Detected road features are stored in two map representations: occupancy grid map (OGM) and Gaussian process occupancy map (GPOM). The first approach is a popular map structure that represents the environment through fine-grained grids. The second approach is a continuous representation that can estimate the occupancy of unseen areas. The Monte Carlo localization (MCL) method was adapted to support the obtained maps of the urban environment. In this sense, vehicle localization was tested in an MCL that supports OGM and an MCL that supports GPOM. Precisely, for MCL based on GPOM, a new measurement likelihood based on multivariate normal probability density function is formulated. Experiments were performed in real urban environments. Maps were built using sparse laser data to verify there ronstruction of non-observed areas. The localization system was evaluated by comparing the results with a high precision GPS device. Results were also compared with localization based on OGM. / No contexto de veículos autônomos, a localização é um dos componentes fundamentais, pois possibilita tarefas como ultrapassagem, direção assistida e navegação autônoma. A presença de edifícios e o mau tempo interferem na recepção do sinal de GPS que consequentemente dificulta o uso de tal tecnologia para a localização de veículos dentro das cidades. Alternativamente, a localização com suporte aos mapas vem sendo empregada para estimar a posição sem a dependência do GPS. Nesta solução, a posição do veículo é dada pela região em que ocorre a melhor correspondência entre o mapa do ambiente e a leitura do sensor. Antes da criação dos mapas, características dos ambientes devem ser extraídas a partir das leituras dos sensores. Dessa forma, guias e sinalizações horizontais têm sido largamente utilizados para o mapeamento. Entretanto, métodos de mapeamento urbano geralmente necessitam de repetidas leituras do mesmo lugar para compensar as oclusões. A construção de representações precisas dos ambientes é essencial para uma adequada associação dos dados dos sensores como mapa durante a localização. De forma a evitar a necessidade de um processo manual para remover obstáculos que causam oclusão e áreas não observadas, propõe-se um método de localização de veículos com suporte aos mapas construídos a partir de observações parciais do ambiente. No sistema de localização proposto, os mapas são construídos a partir de guias e sinalizações horizontais extraídas a partir de leituras de um sensor multicamadas. As guias podem ser detectadas mesmo na presença de veículos que obstruem a percepção das ruas, por meio do uso de regressão robusta. Na detecção de sinalizações horizontais é empregado o método de limiarização por Otsu que analisa dados de reflexão infravermelho, o que torna o método insensível à variação de luminosidade. Dois tipos de mapas são empregados para a representação das guias e das sinalizações horizontais: mapa de grade de ocupação (OGM) e mapa de ocupação por processo Gaussiano (GPOM). O OGM é uma estrutura que representa o ambiente por meio de uma grade reticulada. OGPOM é uma representação contínua que possibilita a estimação de áreas não observadas. O método de localização por Monte Carlo (MCL) foi adaptado para suportar os mapas construídos. Dessa forma, a localização de veículos foi testada em MCL com suporte ao OGM e MCL com suporte ao GPOM. No caso do MCL baseado em GPOM, um novo modelo de verossimilhança baseado em função densidade probabilidade de distribuição multi-normal é proposto. Experimentos foram realizados em ambientes urbanos reais. Mapas do ambiente foram gerados a partir de dados de laser esparsos de forma a verificar a reconstrução de áreas não observadas. O sistema de localização foi avaliado por meio da comparação das posições estimadas comum GPS de alta precisão. Comparou-se também o MCL baseado em OGM com o MCL baseado em GPOM, de forma a verificar qual abordagem apresenta melhores resultados.

A 15.5-mile portion of the I-85 high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane in the metropolitan area of Atlanta, GA was converted to a high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane as part of a federal demonstration project designed to provide a reliable travel option through this congested corridor. Results from the I-85 demonstration project provided insight into the results that may follow the Georgia Department of Transportation's planned implementation of a $16 billion HOT lane network along metropolitan Atlanta's other major roadways [2]. To evaluate the impacts of the conversion, it was necessary to measure changes in corridor travel speed, reliability, vehicle throughput, passenger throughput, lane weaving, and user demographics. To measure such performance, a monitoring project, led by the Georgia Institute of Technology collected various forms of data through on-site field deployments, GDOT video, and cooperation from the State Road and Toll Authority (SRTA). Changes in the HOT lane's speed, reliability or other performance measure can affect the demographic and vehicle characteristics of those who utilize the corridor. The purpose of this particular study was to analyze the changes to the vehicle characteristics by comparing vehicle occupancy, vehicle classifications, and vehicle registration data to their counterparts from before the HOV-to-HOT conversion. As part of the monitoring project, the Georgia Tech research team organized a two-year deployment effort to collect data along the corridor during morning and afternoon peak hours. One year of data collection occurred before the conversion date to establish a control and a basis from which to compare any changes. The second year of data collection occurred after the conversion to track those changes and observe the progress of the lane's performance. While on-site, researchers collected data elements including visually-observed vehicle occupancy, license plate numbers, and vehicle classification [25]. The research team obtained vehicle records by submitting the license plate tag entries to a registration database [26]. In previous work, vehicle occupancy data were collected independently of license plate records used to establish the commuter shed. For the analyses reported in this thesis, license plate data and occupancy data were collected concurrently, providing a link between occupancy records of specific vehicles and relevant demographic characteristics based upon census data. The vehicle records also provided characteristics of the users' vehicles (light-duty vehicle vs. sport utility vehicle, model year, etc.) that the researchers aggregated to identify general trends in fleet characteristics. The analysis reported in this thesis focuses on identifying changes in vehicle characteristics that resulted from the HOV-to-HOT conversion. The data collected from post-conversion are compared to pre-conversion data, revealing changes in vehicle characteristics and occupancy distributions that most likely resulted from the implementation of the HOT lane. Plausible reasons affecting the vehicle characteristics alterations will be identified and further demographic research will enhance the data currently available to better pinpoint the cause and effect relationship between implementation and the current status of the I-85 corridor. Preliminary data collection outliers were identified by using vehicle occupancy data. However, future analysis will reveal the degree of their impact on the project as a whole. Matched occupancy and license plate data revealed vehicle characteristics for HOT lane users as well as indications that the tested data collectors are predominantly synchronized when concurrently collecting data, resulting in an argument to uphold the validity of the data collection methods. Chapter two provides reasons for why HOT lanes were sought out to replace I-85's HOV lanes. Chapter two will also provide many details regarding how the HOT lanes function and it will describe the role the Georgia Institute of Technology played in the assessment the HOV-to-HOT conversion. Chapter three includes the methodologies used to complete this document while chapter four provides results and analysis for the one year period before the conversion and the one year period after the conversion.

Localization is one of the fundamental components of autonomous vehicles by enabling tasks as overtaking, lane keeping and self-navigation. Urban canyons and bad weather interfere with the reception of GPS satellite signal which prohibits the exclusive use of such technology for vehicle localization in urban places. Alternatively, map-aided localization methods have been employed to enable position estimation without the dependence on GPS devices. In this solution, the vehicle position is given as the place that best matches the sensor measurement to the environment map. Before building the maps, feature sof the environment must be extracted from sensor measurements. In vehicle localization, curbs and road markings have been extensively employed as mapping features. However, most of the urban mapping methods rely on a street free of obstacles or require repetitive measurements of the same place to avoid occlusions. The construction of an accurate representation of the environment is necessary for a proper match of sensor measurements to the map during localization. To prevent the necessity of a manual process to remove occluding obstacles and unobserved areas, a vehicle localization method that supports maps built from partial observations of the environment is proposed. In this localization system,maps are formed by curb and road markings extracted from multilayer laser sensor measurements. Curb structures are detected even in the presence of vehicles that occlude the roadsides, thanks to the use of robust regression. Road markings detector employs Otsu thresholding to analyze infrared remittance data which makes the method insensitive to illumination. Detected road features are stored in two map representations: occupancy grid map (OGM) and Gaussian process occupancy map (GPOM). The first approach is a popular map structure that represents the environment through fine-grained grids. The second approach is a continuous representation that can estimate the occupancy of unseen areas. The Monte Carlo localization (MCL) method was adapted to support the obtained maps of the urban environment. In this sense, vehicle localization was tested in an MCL that supports OGM and an MCL that supports GPOM. Precisely, for MCL based on GPOM, a new measurement likelihood based on multivariate normal probability density function is formulated. Experiments were performed in real urban environments. Maps were built using sparse laser data to verify there ronstruction of non-observed areas. The localization system was evaluated by comparing the results with a high precision GPS device. Results were also compared with localization based on OGM. / No contexto de veículos autônomos, a localização é um dos componentes fundamentais, pois possibilita tarefas como ultrapassagem, direção assistida e navegação autônoma. A presença de edifícios e o mau tempo interferem na recepção do sinal de GPS que consequentemente dificulta o uso de tal tecnologia para a localização de veículos dentro das cidades. Alternativamente, a localização com suporte aos mapas vem sendo empregada para estimar a posição sem a dependência do GPS. Nesta solução, a posição do veículo é dada pela região em que ocorre a melhor correspondência entre o mapa do ambiente e a leitura do sensor. Antes da criação dos mapas, características dos ambientes devem ser extraídas a partir das leituras dos sensores. Dessa forma, guias e sinalizações horizontais têm sido largamente utilizados para o mapeamento. Entretanto, métodos de mapeamento urbano geralmente necessitam de repetidas leituras do mesmo lugar para compensar as oclusões. A construção de representações precisas dos ambientes é essencial para uma adequada associação dos dados dos sensores como mapa durante a localização. De forma a evitar a necessidade de um processo manual para remover obstáculos que causam oclusão e áreas não observadas, propõe-se um método de localização de veículos com suporte aos mapas construídos a partir de observações parciais do ambiente. No sistema de localização proposto, os mapas são construídos a partir de guias e sinalizações horizontais extraídas a partir de leituras de um sensor multicamadas. As guias podem ser detectadas mesmo na presença de veículos que obstruem a percepção das ruas, por meio do uso de regressão robusta. Na detecção de sinalizações horizontais é empregado o método de limiarização por Otsu que analisa dados de reflexão infravermelho, o que torna o método insensível à variação de luminosidade. Dois tipos de mapas são empregados para a representação das guias e das sinalizações horizontais: mapa de grade de ocupação (OGM) e mapa de ocupação por processo Gaussiano (GPOM). O OGM é uma estrutura que representa o ambiente por meio de uma grade reticulada. OGPOM é uma representação contínua que possibilita a estimação de áreas não observadas. O método de localização por Monte Carlo (MCL) foi adaptado para suportar os mapas construídos. Dessa forma, a localização de veículos foi testada em MCL com suporte ao OGM e MCL com suporte ao GPOM. No caso do MCL baseado em GPOM, um novo modelo de verossimilhança baseado em função densidade probabilidade de distribuição multi-normal é proposto. Experimentos foram realizados em ambientes urbanos reais. Mapas do ambiente foram gerados a partir de dados de laser esparsos de forma a verificar a reconstrução de áreas não observadas. O sistema de localização foi avaliado por meio da comparação das posições estimadas comum GPS de alta precisão. Comparou-se também o MCL baseado em OGM com o MCL baseado em GPOM, de forma a verificar qual abordagem apresenta melhores resultados.

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.

Master of Science / Department of Biology / Craig Paukert / I evaluated sampling strategies and the effects of dike structure modifications in the lower Missouri River to better develop sampling and mitigation strategies to protect and enhance native river fishes. Sampling occurred in the lower 1,212 km of the Missouri River during October-June (coldwater season) and June-October (warmwater season) with stationary gill nets (GN), drifted trammel nets (TN), towed otter trawls (OT), and mini fyke nets (MF) from 2003-2006. We compared probabilities of detection (p), variability (coefficient of variation; CV) in catch per unit effort, and lengths for 25 species. Over 80% of adult large-bodied fishes were collected in GN during coldwater, >90% of chub spp. (Macrhybopsis) were collected in OT, and >90% of nine small-bodied and juvenile fishes were collected in MF. Trammel nets never had the highest p during coldwater, but had the highest or equally high p for 85% of adult large-bodied fishes during warmwater. Mean CV was lowest with GN for adult large-bodied fishes; chub spp. had the lowest CV in OT. Mean lengths were typically greater in GN and TN. Large river monitoring programs might best achieve the highest p, lowest variability, and widest size range of fishes by employing GN and OT during coldwater and TN, OT, and MF during warmwater sampling periods. We also compared fish community composition and the probability an un-notched and notched dike structure and channel sand bar (referred to as channel structures) was occupied by various fish species. Few differences in species richness and diversity were evident among channel structures. Notching a dike structure had no effect on proportional abundance for any habitat guild. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) was greater at notched dikes for only three (lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens, paddlefish Polyodon spathula, and shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) of 12 great river species. Occupancy at notched dikes increased for blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus and decreased for blue sucker Cycleptus elongatus, but did not differ for 17 (81%) other species. No distinct increase in occupancy at natural channel sand bars compared to engineered dike structures was evident. Mean CPUE was higher in dike structures than channel sand bars for four great river species (goldeye Hiodon alosoides, lake sturgeon, paddlefish, and shortnose gar Lepisosteus platostomus), but did not differ for ten. Our results suggest dike structures may provide necessary habitats for many fluvial species when compared to channel sand bars, but notching did not increase abundance or occupancy of most native Missouri River fishes.

本研究旨在建立國小學校建築用後評估指標，透過國內外相關文獻整理，初擬出國小學校建築用後評估指標，經由國內專家進行適切性問卷與及模糊德菲術問卷評估，確立國小學校建築用後評估指標與權重，以提供未來主事之校長或教育主管機關自整體規劃階段能有所依循，將有限的預算發揮滿足教育所需最大效益。 本研究建構之指標系統共為三大構面、15個向度及104個指標項目，有關指標構面、向度權重排序為： 一、「建築設計」構面權重為36.64％，各向度權重介於3.54％至8.16％之間，依序為物理環境、設計原則、戶外空間、服務空間、教學空間、行政空間。 二、「使用與維護管理」構面權重為35.30％，各向度權重介於5.03％至8.25％之間，依序為安全性、維護成本、教學設備之使用、戶外空間之使用、室內空間之使用。 三、「整體規劃」構面權重為28.06％，各向度權重介於3.51％至9.73％之間，依序為動線規劃、空間配置、量體規劃、景觀綠美化。 在個別指標項目方面，在「整體規劃」構面下順位前3名依序為「1.1.5圖書館（室）位置符合使用需求」（1.2092％）、「1.3.3校內之人、車動線規劃，有明顯區隔」（1.0639％）、「1.3.1校門、地下停車場出入口位置已考量周邊道路鄰近社區設置」（1.0379％）。 「建築設計」構面下順位前3名依序為「2.1.2校舍屋頂形式具有良好防水及隔熱功能」（1.0968％）、「2.5.4排水系統規劃良好，不會造成校內地坪或走廊積水現象」（1.0666％）、「2.1.6校舍座向已考量日照及風向配置」（1.0653％）。 「使用與維護管理」構面下順位前3名依序為「3.4.8電動門（鐵捲門）啟動時有警示訊號」（1.0762％）、「3.5.3室內無漏水情形」（1.0749％）、「3.4.2女兒牆及欄杆的高度、型式均符合安全」（1.0721％）。 關鍵字：用後評估、學校建築、模糊德菲術 / This thesis approaches to establishing some evaltuion indexes of elemantry school buildings by studying local and global bibliography or articles. Using suitable “Questionnaire Survey” and “Fuzzy Delphi” theory on local savants and scholars by POE (Post-Occupancy Evalution), this thesis proves some evaltuion indexes and weight values those are useful and consultative for presidents of elemantry school or officials in Department of Education to manage campus more safety and spend budget more efficiency. After cases studying and database analyzing, this thesis figures out 15 factors and 104 index items in 3 principals, as follows: 1. 1st principal is “Architectural Design” (values:36.64%), and the evalution factors are physical environment > design rules > exterior > service area > teaching area > administ area.(values from 8.16% to 3.54%). 2.2nd principal is “Facility Management”(values:35.3%), and the evalution factors are safety > cost > use frequency of educational facility > use frequency of exterior > use frequency of interior(values from 8.25% to 5.03%). 3.3rd principal is “Master Plan”(values:28.06%), and the evalution factors are axials plan > spatial layout > mass plan > landscaoe plan(values from 9.73% to 3.51%). The analysis results in Index Item of “Master Plan” are as follows: (1) the location of library is suitable(values:1.2092%). (2) the path of pedestrians and vehicles is separated(values:1.0639%). (3) the exit of main door and parking lot is closed to communities(valuses:1.0379%) The analysis results in Index Item of “Aechitecture Design” are as follows: (1) the roof is water-proof and heat-protect(values:1.0968%). (2) the drainage system is useful to keep floor and balcony dry(values:1.0666%). (3) the layout of buildings is caused to sun-trace and wild-direction(values:1.0653%). The analysis results in Index Item of “Facility Management” is as follow: (1) operate the rolling door within alarm(values:1.0762%). (2) the interior is leak proof(values:1.0749%). (3) the height of parapet and railing is saft(values:1.0762%). Key wrod：Post-Occupancy Evaluation, School buildings、Fuzzy Delphi

The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) introduces an additional challenge to the existing spectrum under-utilisation problem as large scale deployments of thousands devices are expected to require wireless connectivity. Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) has been proposed as a means of improving the spectrum utilisation of wireless systems. Based on the Cognitive Radio (CR) paradigm, DSA enables unlicensed spectrum users to sense their spectral environment and adapt their operational parameters to opportunistically access any temporally unoccupied bands without causing interference to the primary spectrum users. In the same context, CR inspired Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications have recently been proposed as a potential solution to the spectrum utilisation problem, which has been driven by the ever increasing number of interconnected devices. M2M communications introduce new challenges for CR in terms of operational environments and design requirements. With spectrum sensing being the key function for CR, this thesis investigates the performance of spectrum sensing and proposes novel sensing approaches and models to address the sensing problem for cognitive M2M deployments. In this thesis, the behaviour of Energy Detection (ED) spectrum sensing for cognitive M2M nodes is modelled using the two-wave with dffi use power fading model. This channel model can describe a variety of realistic fading conditions including worse than Rayleigh scenarios that are expected to occur within the operational environments of cognitive M2M communication systems. The results suggest that ED based spectrum sensing fails to meet the sensing requirements over worse than Rayleigh conditions and consequently requires the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to be increased by up to 137%. However, by employing appropriate diversity and node cooperation techniques, the sensing performance can be improved by up to 11.5dB in terms of the required SNR. These results are particularly useful in analysing the eff ects of severe fading in cognitive M2M systems and thus they can be used to design effi cient CR transceivers and to quantify the trade-o s between detection performance and energy e fficiency. A novel predictive spectrum sensing scheme that exploits historical data of past sensing events to predict channel occupancy is proposed and analysed. This approach allows CR terminals to sense only the channels that are predicted to be unoccupied rather than the whole band of interest. Based on this approach, a spectrum occupancy predictor is developed and experimentally validated. The proposed scheme achieves a prediction accuracy of up to 93% which in turn can lead to up to 84% reduction of the spectrum sensing cost. Furthermore, a novel probabilistic model for describing the channel availability in both the vertical and horizontal polarisations is developed. The proposed model is validated based on a measurement campaign for operational scenarios where CR terminals may change their polarisation during their operation. A Gaussian approximation is used to model the empirical channel availability data with more than 95% confi dence bounds. The proposed model can be used as a means of improving spectrum sensing performance by using statistical knowledge on the primary users occupancy pattern.

O nordeste paulista é composto por um mosaico de ambientes fortemente antropizado, com predominância de plantios de cana-de-açúcar, além de florestas plantadas de eucalipto e fragmentos de Cerrado. Embora o veado-catingueiro (Mazama gouazoubira) seja uma espécie amplamente distribuída em diferentes biomas do Brasil, pouco é conhecido sobre a sua capacidade de adaptação em paisagens alteradas. Neste contexto, modelos de ocupação da paisagem e dados de armadilhas fotográficas foram utilizados para verificar quais fatores ambientais são importantes na escolha do uso e seleção de hábitat pelo veado-catingueiro. Foram amostradas quatro áreas em três cenas de paisagens, entre os meses de Abril e Setembro de 2013 e 2014, totalizando um esforço amostral de 6240 armadilhas/dia. Os resultados apontam que o veado-catingueiro está amplamente distribuído nos remanescentes de Cerrado do nordeste do estado de São Paulo, além de ocupar com a mesma intensidade tanto o interior como o entorno de unidades de conservação. Foi observado um efeito positivo dos plantios de silvicultura na ocupação da paisagem pela espécie. A distribuição temporal dos registros ao longo do ciclo de 24 horas também foi semelhante dentro e fora de unidades de conservação. Estes resultados sugerem que o veado-catingueiro é uma espécie ecologicamente plástica e que está se beneficiando da heterogeneidade ambiental presente no nordeste paulista. Estes hábitos generalistas lhe atribuem vantagens em comparação a outras espécies mais especialistas nesse cenário. / The northeast of São Paulo state is a region where Cerrado remants are immersed in a landscape with high human influence mediated by vast sugarcane and Eucalyptus plantations. Mammals survival in this landscape has been little explored. Brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira, Fischer 1814) is a species with widespread distribution in different biomes of Brazil, however little is known about its capacity of adaptation in landscapes with intensive agriculture. We conducted a study based on occupancy modelling from camera trapping data in order to evaluate which environmental factors are important to habitat selection by brown brocket deer. The study was carried out in three agricultural landscapes at four study areas between April and September (2013 and 2014) with a total effort of 6240 traps-day. Our results show that brown brocket deer are well adapted to Cerrado/agricultural matrix in the state of Sao Paulo, showing high ecological flexibility. This deer used non-protected areas as much as protected areas. Silviculture represented the only landscape covariate with high relative importance for brown brocket deer. Also, brown brocket deer shows rhythm of activity similar in and out protected areas. Our results suggest that brown brocket deer is extremely plastic species that is benefiting from environmental heterogeneity present in São Paulo\'s northeast. The generalist habit of this deer gives it advantage when compared to other more specialist species in this scenario.

A conscientização dos problemas que a poluição sonora acarreta e o emprego de soluções no projeto de edificações e no planejamento urbano, para amenizar tais problemas, são importantes para a melhoria da qualidade de vida do cidadão, da comunidade e da cidade. No âmbito das grandes rodovias que cortam trechos urbanizados, este estudo enfocou o conforto acústico em residências ao longo da rodovia Raposo Tavares (SP 270), a partir da análise de dados levantados por medições de grandezas acústicas, grandezas meteorológicas, contagem de fluxo de veículos, entrevistas, levantamentos físicos e fotográficos, tendo como base as normas e recomendações existentes e os procedimentos sugeridos pela metodologia de Avaliação Pós-Ocupação (APO). Verificou-se que em todos os pontos medidos, o nível contínuo médio de pressão sonora equivalente foi maior que os níveis recomendados pela norma brasileira e pela Organização Mundial de Saúde. Calculou-se a atenuação causada pelas barreiras acústicas, se estas fossem implantadas frente a residências desprotegidas e a combinação desta solução com outras tecnologias como a pavimentação porosa e o aumento do isolamento das fachadas. Com isto, foram destacadas orientações quanto ao conforto acústico na interação de projetos de implantação de moradias e vias de transporte com níveis elevados de ruído. / The awareness of the problems which the sound pollution causes and the employment of solutions in the process of building design and the urban planning, to soften such problems, are important for the improvement of the quality of life of the citizen, the community ,and the city. Within the big roads which cross urbanized areas, this study focused on the acoustic comfort, in dwellings along the Raposo Tavares road (SP 270), from the analysis of data gathered through measurements of meteorological and acoustic data, traffic flow counting, interviews, physical and photographic surveys, based on the existing standards and recommendations and the procedures suggested by the Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE). It was verified that in all the measured points, the average equivalent continuous sound pressure level was greater than the levels recommended by the Brazilian standard and the World Health Organization. It was calculated the attenuation caused by noise barriers, if they were placed in front of unprotected dwellings and the combination of this solution with other technologies such as the porous pavement and the increase of the isolation of the façades. With this, guidelines concerning the acoustic comfort in the interaction of the design of housing implantation with roads with high levels of noise were highlighted.