Thesis (M.Hous.M.)--University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-56). Also available in print.

Page V not included in the thesis. / <p> This project report includes classification of a design of high-rise buildings. Then the survey of recent optimisation techniques is made. The optimum design of one-way flab, beam and girder slab is presented. Also optimum design of flat plate is presented as both problems are part of overall optimum design of high-rise buildings.</p> <p> The project report also describes the development of the computer programs for optimum design of one-way slab and flat plate. The behaviour of cost function in vicinity of optimum solution is presented and comparison of conventional versus optimized design method is made.</p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

One of the chief characteristics of a high-rise building is its verticality. However, it seems that most high-rise buildings do not directly pursue the architecture of verticality. Moreover, verticality is rarely perceived within this building type. This thesis investigates the potential of verticality in a residential high-rise building. Together with the aspect of verticality, the thesis pursues an idea that even in a residential high-rise, the sense of community that typically exists in low-rise settlements on the ground and other connections to the outside can be at least partially preserved. In summary, the proposal aims the architecture to celebrate the verticality of the high-rise as a part of the skyline, expressing the verticality through its facade. For the dwellers, sky gardens offer a sense of verticality with constructed views connecting the outside world. Six two-story-apartments adjoin the sky garden with a double height living room suggesting the apartments in a high rise shouldn't be flats. This double height vertical space extends into the balcony spaces suggesting a local verticality at the apartment level. / Master of Architecture

No description available.

Thesis (M.Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1979. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 212-216). / by Jan Tokuichi Taniguchi. / M. Arch.

Thesis (M. Hous. M.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 96-111).

Thesis (M.Hous.M.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-111). Also available in print.

Une évaluation de l'évaluabilité du programme d'intervention Son-Rise a été réalisée. Ce programme de stimulation relationnelle, basé à la maison et dirigé par les parents, s'adresse aux enfants autistes et à leur famille, et vise à développer les habiletés sociales par le jeu en suivant les intérêts de l'enfant. Le peu de littérature scientifique disponible au sujet de ce programme fait ressortir la pertinence de l'évaluer en commençant par une évaluation de son évaluabilité. Une analyse des documents principaux du programme ainsi que dix entrevues avec des parties prenantes variées ont mené à des recommandations pour les évaluations futures. Le programme Son-Rise serait suffisamment bien construit et stable pour être évaluable, mais son contexte d'implantation pourrait être un obstacle à l'évaluation.

Increase in urbanization and industrialization around the world in recent years has led to a consequent rise in energy demand. In recent years it has been reported that approximately 75% of generated power is consumed in cities. It also worth to mention that about 50% energy consumption in U.S is in building sector which 41.7% is for operating buildings. With the global energy demand in 2040 being expected to be about 30% higher than that of 2010. For this reasons, an urgent need for the incorporation of alternative energy as well as energy efficiency measures has to be incorporated in urban planning and construction. Until now, two main approaches that have been integrated into large scale wind energy in urban settings are either locating wind energy farm in the periphery of the urban areas or integration of wind energy systems into the building design. It was observed that the installation of wind turbines in order to meet 10–15% of global energy demand might cause surface warming by increasing the temperature by 1 °C on land. Moreover, there some issues that can be considered as a disadvantage for large wind turbines. For Instance: noise production, the social aesthetic acceptability, negative impact on birds, the cost of maintenance, transportation, sufficient infrastructure and etc. In contrast to large-scale wind turbines, small wind turbines are much simpler and exploitation of building. In high-rise buildings, the heights and onsite energy generation imply an absence of big towers required to capture high wind speeds and minimum transmission losses, as well as a contribution to the configuration of zero-energy buildings. On the other hand, to improve safety and serviceability of super-tall buildings in strong winds, aerodynamic optimization of building shapes is considered to be the most efficient approach. Aerodynamic optimization is aimed at increasing the structural resistance against winds. The idea of generating wind power in high rise buildings is experienced in some constructions that the further study reveals the cons and pros about them. The Pearl River Tower, which is one of the latest and successful building in this type, considered as the case study for this research. The research proposing the distributed opening as an effective modification to improve the aerodynamic behavior of the high rise buildings and devising the micro-turbine within the penetration for wind energy generating. The CFD simulation shows the improvement in coefficient drag factor in the proposal design option and the wind tunnel test reveals better aerodynamic performance as well. The conclusion shows better performance for wind harvesting and wind energy generating beside reducing the structural weight that would be needed in comparison to the original building. On the other hand, the proposal design shows more lift forces on the building and the other challenging issue would be maintenance the higher number of the small turbine. The further study will be needed to controlling the vibration and noise level inside the wind ducts and optimizing the wind penetration pattern on the building façade.

Accelerating sea-level rise (SLR) poses an imminent threat to salt marshes, which sit within meters of mean sea level. In order to assess marsh vulnerability to SLR, we must first understand the fundamental processes governing marsh response to SLR. The objective of this dissertation work is to examine how marsh sedimentation and erosion affect the morphological development of marshes as sea level rises, over a broad range of spatial and temporal scales. At the smallest scale, the effects of bioturbation by Sesarma reticulatum crabs on sediment erodibility are examined using a laboratory flume. Measurements of surface elevation, erosion, and turbidity show that S. reticulatum bioturbation repackages formerly compacted sediment and deposits it above the surface, decreasing the threshold velocity for erosion and increasing eroded volume. S. reticulatum-induced sediment erosion can have broader impacts on creek development and marsh morphology. S. reticulatum has facilitated drainage network expansion in salt marshes at Sapelo Island, GA and Cape Romain, SC in response to local SLR. Burrowing by this crab directly adjacent to tidal creeks at these locations leads to rapid headward growth. The effects of site-specific conditions on creek expansion are examined through comparison of sediment properties, surface elevations, and historical rates of creek growth at each site. Results suggest that while similar processes are occurring at both locations, the higher elevation of the marsh in GA leads to greater shear strength and a larger volume of material to be eroded by creeks. These combined effects have led to slower creek growth compared to SC. At the largest spatial scale, and projecting forward over a 100-year period, a model for marsh response to SLR at the Great Marsh in Massachusetts is developed. This model takes into account limitations imposed by both low sediment availability and steep topography in the surrounding uplands. Results indicate that while the marsh may persist for several decades, it undergoes a dramatic shift in ecology and hydrology. As the rate of SLR accelerates, marsh loss increases due to the lack of sediment available for accretion and the physical barriers to migration presented by surrounding topography.