No description available.

Master of Science / Department of Architecture / R. Todd Gabbard / This thesis presents design possibilities for reducing the ecological impact of the operational systems of high-rise buildings in Kolkata, India. This research is supported by a study of the current urban situation of Kolkata which shows a recent growth in number of high-rise buildings and a need for ecological considerations in their operational systems. To fulfill this need this thesis studied recent developments in alternative operational system design and explored the possibility of developing operational systems in a proposed residential high-rise building. In the process of developing an alternative operational system for a high-rise building in Kolkata this thesis firstly studied development of operational systems in high-rise buildings and recent sustainable architectural guidelines to understand the primary design necessities for ecological considerations. Secondly a study of alternative design strategies and techniques was done and a research for the development of a building integrated solar thermal updraft façade was carried out. The research into a building integrated solar thermal updraft façade showed the possibility of developing a façade system in high-rise buildings which can generate electricity. Finally on the basis of the studies and the research an analysis was done to check the reduction in carbon footprint and improvement in the design of operational systems in a hypothetical high-rise residential building in Kolkata.

The purpose of my thesis is to establish a simple thermal model for a Parker GVM 210-150P motor and a SEVCON Gen4 Size8 inverter. These models give temperature variations of critical components in the motor and the inverter. My thesis will help Georgia Tech's EcoCAR-3 team in understanding the physics behind thermal modeling and why thermal study is necessary. This work is a prerequisite for Software in the Loop (SIL) simulations or Hardware in the Loop (HIL) simulations for a hybrid electric vehicle.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Global warming will result in a sea level rise of between 0.25 and 0.82 m by 2090, as well as an increase in intensity and frequency of both extreme sea level and extreme rainfall events. In consequence, low-lying areas will be permanently inundated, extreme waves will penetrate further inland and flood intensity and frequency will increase. Estuaries are subject to the effect of both extreme sea levels and extreme floods and water levels in estuaries are expected to increase, under both open and closed conditions. As a response to expected higher flood levels, setback lines have been legislated in South Africa. For cases where a flood level study has not been undertaken, a minimum setback line at the 5 m above mean sea level (MSL) contour is prescribed in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998). This study assessed the adequacy of the 5 m setback line, under the effects of climate change, for Great Brak estuary. Local features of the Great Brak estuary may influence flood levels. Specifically, the lagoon of the Great Brak estuary, below the N2 Bridge, is small at 1.1 x 0.7 km. Further, it is constrained at the upstream end by road and rail embankment, and on the left bank by steep slopes. A sand barrier at the mouth is at times breached, both naturally and artificially. Artificial breaching is initiated when the sand barrier is between 1.5 and 2.0 m high, or when a flood is forecast. The barrier has previously reached 2.7 m, higher than the still water level of the sea, which has not exceeded 2 m above MSL. There is a populated island about 180 m upstream of the mouth. The greater extent of the island is below 2.5 m above MSL. Mike11 software was used to generate flood levels on which the conclusions of this study are based. The study determined that the influence of the increased sea levels does not extend much beyond the N2 Bridge. This may be a peculiarity of the Great Brak estuary, due to the influence of the three bridges and the road and rail embankments. For the scenario where Mean High Water Springs coincides a with an extreme sea storm and there is a 100-year riverine flood, the flood level in the estuary is 3.16 m at the mouth, increasing to 4 m upstream of the N2 bridge. In the scenario where the barrier height was raised to 4 m above MSL, the flood levels were 4.52 m downstream of, and 5 m upstream of, the N2 Bridge. Extensive inundation of properties in the floodplain and on the Island will occur, as well as the inundation of the N2 embankment. The probability of such an extreme sea level event occurring at the same time as peak runoff of a 100-year riverine flood is unlikely. It is the conclusion of this study that, for the Great Brak River, the 5 m setback line, as prescribed, is sufficient for an extreme situation where a future 100-year flood coincides with the MHWS coincides and an extreme sea storm raising the sea level to 2.65 above current MSL. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aardverwarming sal lei tot 'n styging van seevlakke van tussen 0.25 en 0.82 m teen 2090, sowel as 'n toename in intensiteit en frekwensie van beide stormseevlak en reënval. Gevolglik sal laagliggende gebiede permanent oorval word, stormgolwe verder in die binneland dring en vloed intensiteit en frekwensie toeneem. Riviermondings is onderhewig aan die effek van beide hoë seevlakke en vloede. Om die negtaiewe effekte van hoër vloedvalktes te bekamp word ‘n minimum terugsetlyn van 5 m bo seevlak voorgeskryf, in terme van die Wet op Nationale Omgewingsbestuur (Wet 107 van 1998). Hierdie is van toepassing waar ‘n vloedlyn studie nie onderneem is nie. Hierdie studie beoordeel die geskiktheid van die 5 m terugsetlyn, onder die invloed van klimaatsverandering, vir Groot Brak rivier monding. Plaaslike kenmerke van die Groot Brak monding mag vloed vlakke beïnvloed. Spesifiek, die Groot Brak monding meer het ‘n oppervak van net 1,1 x 0,7 km; is in die stroomop rigting beperk deur pad en spoor walle; en word op linkeroewer deur steil hellings vesper. Die sandversperring by die word kunsmatig oopgemmak wanneer die sand versperring tussen 1,5 en 2,0 m hoog is, of wanneer 'n vloed voorspel word. Hierdie sandversperring het al voorheen 2.7 m hoogte beriek, hoër as die 2 m maksimum historiese stilwater vlak van die seë. Daar is 'n bevolkde eiland sowat 180 m stroomop van die mond. Die die eiland is meestelik onder 2.5 m bo seevlak. Mike11 sagteware is gebruik om vloed vlakke, waarop die bevindinge van hierdie studie gebaseer is, te bepaal. Hiedie studie bevind dat die effek hoër voedvlakke trek nie veel verder stroomop as die N2 brug, oontlike weens die voorkoms van die drie bruë. In die geval waar ‘n uiterste seëstorm terselfde tyd voorkon as die lente hoogwater gety endie 100 jaar river vloed, sal die watervlak in the mondingsmeer tot 3.16 m bo huidiglike seëvlak styg by die mond, en tot 4 m bo huidiglike seëvlak by die N2 brug. In die geval waar die sandversperring by the riviersmond 4 m verhoog is, sal die watervlak in the mondingsmeer tot 4.5 m bo huidiglike seëvlak styg by die mond, en tot 5 m bo huidiglike seëvlak by die N2 brug. Faktore nie in ag geneem in hierdie studie sluit in die uitwerking van die verhoogde afloop, sediment verandering en die effek van windgolwe oor die ondingsmeer. Wydverspreide vloeding van ontwikkelde areas aangrensend to vloedvlakte sal voorkom, insluitend die oorstroing van die N2 padwal. Die waarskynlikheid is klein dat ‘n uiterste seëstorm terselfde tyd voorkom as the lengte hoogwater gety en die 100 yaar rivier vloed. Dit is dus die gevolgtrekking van hierdie studie dat die 5 m terugsetlyn soos voorgeskryf, voldoende is vir Groot Brak rivier vir so ‘n uiterste geval.

Tall buildings are becoming more common in the modern built environment and the method of evacuating or moving to a place of safety using the stairs is still the primary means of egress. Typically designers use tools such as computer models and hand calculations to predict the time taken for occupants to evacuate to an exit or place of safety. However, increasing trends of obesity, age and a sedentary lifestyle is raising questions about the accuracy of some of the tools. As the tools are based on case study data carried out in the 1980’s. This research compares evacuation performance of case study buildings to the predictions by Pauls’ simplified hand calculation and the EvacuatioNZ computer model. The comparison uses four multi-storey buildings from the case study data, ranging from 11 to 27 stories high. The research will also investigate the effect of how the building is represented in EvacuatioNZ on the performance of the prediction and make recommendations in best practice for further work. Results from the comparisons shows EvacuatioNZ is within 15% for total egress time of the case study data in six out of eight of the stairs. The average difference of EvacuatioNZ to the case study is 8.6%. Further comparisons of exit flow rate and descent speed show EvacuatioNZ is within 10% of the case study data in five out of eight of the stairs. Paul’s simplified hand calculation predicts a total egress time which is 6% to 38% shorter than the case study data. Modifying the equation to equalise stair entry delay improves the prediction to a difference of 0.9% to 31%. The modified equation is within 10% in five out of eight stairs. The comparisons for EvacuatioNZ indicate predictions which are generally with 10-15%. However individual performance is not investigated and this area should be fully investigated to answer concerns about contemporary occupants and their ability to descend multiple flights of stairs. Further work should include a larger range of data, particularly exploring building height and population. Given the recommendations are followed and more data becomes available for further work to support this research; EvacuatioNZ could be used as a tool for predicting evacuations in multi-storey buildings. Pauls’ hand calculation is not recommended for predictions of multi-storey evacuations without a safety factor. Differences between the prediction and case study result were improved with a modification of the equation to account for the case study stair entry times.

The rapid development of space geodesy over the last two decades has had a profound effect on geologic studies by allowing measurements of crustal motion with sub-millimeter per year precision. The focus of this work is to better understand microplate kinematics, intraplate deformation and sea level rise in Europe by use of Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements of crustal deformation. This is accomplished in three separate studies. The first study focuses on crustal motion and sea level rise along the eastern margin of Adria. We use data from tide gauge and continuous GPS (CGPS) stations. We develop a new method to separate common-mode relative sea level from spatially variable signals. From tide gauge data, we find uniform relative sea level rise along the coast that is 2-4 times lower than the estimates for global average sea level rise. In constrast, vertical motion of coastal rocks determined by CGPS varies appreciably from an average of -1.7 ± 0.4 mm/yr in the southern Adria to 0.0 ± 0.4 mm/yr in northern Adria. The most enigmnatical result of this study is that the combination of tide gauge and CGPS data shows that absolute sea level varies in such a way that relative sea level remains constant. The second study focuses on diffuse intraplate deformation of western Eurasia measured by CGPS. We find that our preferred model involves four subplates, separated by the Pyrenees, Rhine Graben, and Trans European Suture Zone, and yields residual velocities indistinguishable from random samples. We interpret the intraplate dormation as the surface manifestation of downwelling mantle lithosphere. The final component of this work is a study of the Northern and Southern Adria microplates' internal stability and tectonic motion. Results show that both Adria microplates are kinematically distinct from one another and from the slowly converging Eurasia and Nubia plates, with implications for the dynamics of the Nubia-Eurasia plate boundary zone. We also find that internal strain within the Adria microplates is statistically insignificant. We estimate appreciable fault slip rates around the periphery of Adria, with implications for slip rates and seismic hazards associated with circum-Adria fault zones.

During 1998-2012, climate change and sea level rise (SLR) exhibit two notable features: a slowdown of global surface warming (hiatus) and a rapid SLR in the tropical western Pacific. To quantify their relationship, we analyze the long-term control simulations of 38 climate models. We find a significant and robust correlation between the east-west contrast of dynamic sea level (DSL) in the Pacific and global mean surface temperature (GST) variability on both interannual and decadal time scales. Based on linear regression of the multimodel ensemble mean, the anomalously fast SLR in the western tropical Pacific observed during 1998-2012 indicates suppression of a potential global surface warming of 0.16 degrees 0.06 degrees C. In contrast, the Pacific contributed 0.29 degrees 0.10 degrees C to the significant interannual GST increase in 1997/1998. The Pacific DSL anomalies observed in 2015 suggest that the strong El Nino in 2015/2016 could lead to a 0.21 degrees 0.07 degrees C GST jump.

The ecological design considerations are focusing on the built environment and the living process of the building. It considering the environment impact in designing building, and integrating ecological responsive design methods. While the traditional Chinese building shared the same design philosophy. Our ancestors are really concerning the connection between their living space with the broader environment, not only in the time they occupying the building, but also when they construct and demolish it. They use the word "harmony" to describe this relationship with the environment, and consider it as the high-quality pursuit of life. Wooden building has been a major building type in China for thousands of years, however, over 40 thousand traditional Chinese building has been demolished in the past 30 years, most of them are wooden buildings. Since the steel, concrete and other emerging materials has become the major materials for the modern building, wooden building seems to step down from the stage of history. Not until in recent years, wooden building come into people’s view again, it’s increasingly appeared in all over the world and take part in a major role in mordent architecture. Since the wood is a sustainable and renewable building material, and a good carbon sink, it is more environmental friendly than steel, concrete or some other building materials. The wooden building has a great potential to discover its ecological benefits and as a carrier of traditional Chinese culture. In seeking the development of wood as a building material, and the future of sustainable buildings, I integrate the theory with practice that human population is growing rapidly, the high-rise wooden building might be a best solution for this quest. I expect to explore the application of wood in high rise building’s envelope and structure, integrate the wood with other material to expand its performance, emotionally and reality connect the traditional Chinese culture and people’s memory of the land to the present day.

A detailed record of the Late Holocene sea level rise and landscape evolution that has taken place on the Georgia coast is contained within the sedimentary stratigraphy of its salt marsh depositional basins. Global relative sea level (RSL) has risen during the Late Holocene, and the rate of rise has accelerated during the Anthropocene. Jones Narrows marsh stratigraphy and radiocarbon analysis indicate increasing rates of RSL rise for the late Holocene on the Northern Atlantic Coast of Georgia, while FPXRF analysis of the marsh sediments facilitates a chemostratigraphic study of Jones Narrows salt marsh deposition and landscape evolution. Sedimentation and hydrology at the site have been heavily influenced by recent local anthropogenic impacts, which are examined through stratigraphic and spatial methods.

China's increasing geo-economic blow all-inclusive has pulled in remarkable researchconsideration during recent years. As opposed to entirely embrace a national-particular and waysubordinate viewpoint, this paper investigates Chinese economic developments abroad and itsimpact around the world. Data has been collected from some reliable resources and it’s beenreviewed and analyzed by the researchers. This paper gives a deeper insight of Geoeconomics andfocuses on Industrial policy, export and strategic trade of China. Furthermore, the influence ofChina’s growing geo-economic has been discussed in detail.