Public health impacts of storm water canals in Nelson Mandela Bay communities

The Queen's Ditch is located three kilometers north of Comox on Vancouver Island and is roughly 1300 hectares in size. In 1998, the watershed experienced a 1 in 200-year rain event that flooded much of the lower watershed. The Regional District of Comox-Strathcona is responsible for land-use planning in the watershed and initiated an investigation into the stormwater runoff problem. This thesis is divided into two components: a planning phase to identify problems with watershed hydrology; and a design phase to illustrate urban design that manages stormwater runoff. Watershed assessments were conducted at the watershed and sub-watershed scale. Watershed assessments were descriptive and helped predict future trends in land-use change. These assessments were not able to identify site specific problems. Sub-watershed assessment was useful at quantifying and identifying stormwater problems. Planners should use sub-watershed hydrological performance to guide land-use planning decisions and assess hydrological and ecological effects of development. The planning phase provides planners with a process to prioritize candidate areas for development, conservation, and rehabilitation. The design phase compares urban design and stormwater performance standards of a proposed conventional design with a sustainable design. The goal of the sustainable design was to mimic the site's natural hydrology to help reduce off-site runoff, and to ensure adequate groundwater recharge. Objectives of the sustainable design were to preserve natural vegetation; maintain x>£ time of concentration; reduce and disconnect impervious surfaces,, and treatment first flush flows. Comparisons of conventional and sustainable designs indicate that stormwater runoff and pollution can be managed at the site level. The sustainable design provides forty-seven percent more dwelling units and exports no stormwater. The sustainable design achieves this without an expensive stormdrain infrastructure. Stormwater is managed at the site level using small infiltration depressions and swales. The design works with the natural hydrological processes of the site to generate a hydrologically sustainable design. Simulated stormwater outputs were used to test and size infiltration ponds and to assess flooding risks. The sustainable design effectively manages stormwater production, runoff, and pollution from storm events ranging from polluted first flush flows to large, flood producing rainstorms. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), School of / Graduate

ABSTARCT The aim of this thesis is to treat the problem of wastewater pretreatment on the sewer network with a focus on storm water overflow and their impact on waterways with regard to The Methodological Manual for Assessment of storm water overflow within uniform sewerage systems in urban areas. This work describes the legislation relating to storm water overflow and includes comparison with other countries. Furthermore, there is processed the outline of objects and equipment which can be used for wastewater pre-treatment in the sewer network. In the practical part of the thesis there is designed a new solution for the mobile spillway edge of the storm water overflow OK2A, which is located within the sewer network in Brno. In the practical part of the paper there is depicted the project documentation of newly designed equipment and objects. Water management companies, design offices, students and the general public can use this thesis as an inspiration.

This Diploma thesis deals with design sanitation installation in a residential building in Prague. The theoretical part is aimed at determining the calculation of flow in the sup-ply duct according to standards. The work also focuses on the alternative solutions of the given specialization. The computational part and project includes a proposal sani-tary and storm sewer, water supply system and their connection to the current pipes. It is a residential building with four overground floors and with two underground floors.

Identifying factors associated with appropriate and inappropriate therapies in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) could help to identify those at risk and reduce the incidence of this emergency situation which has detrimental effect on mortality and morbidity in patients with ICD. These studies were designed to find the prevalence and factors associated with appropriate and inappropriate therapies in patients with ICD.

This paper examines how precision resources, such as Precision Guided Munitions (PGM) and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), can affect the OODA loop decision making cycle. PGMs add precision and force to kinetic strikes, whilst UASs bring precision and endurance to the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) field. The research is conducted as a qualitative case study with two cases - the first one being Operation Desert Storm (1991) where precision weapons were first introduced in a large scale operation, and the second one being Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003) which was conducted in a similar environment and organization, but with a huge technological advancement when it came to PGMs and UASs. The four phases of the OODA loop are examined separately, and the two cases are compared to reveal any similarities or differences. The results indicate that precision resources have a beneficial impact on the speed and accuracy of all four phases, as well as the overall efficiency of the OODA loop. The results also indicate the importance of having sound intelligence (which cements John Boyd’s claim that Orientation is the most important part of the loop) and that the next challenge after precision and ISR-capabilities might be successful coordination of the joint forces on tactical and operational levels to gain speed even further.

Syfte: I många städer finns områden som ligger lägre än omgivande terräng (lågstråk). I dessa lågstråk finns det stor risk att dagvatten ansamlas vid skyfall och medför över-svämningar och skador på byggnader och anläggningar. I denna studie har det genom-förts en undersökning av olika teorier, metoder och tillämpningar som kan ligga till grund för en teknisk lösning för att lösa problematiken med översvämningsrisken i en urban miljö (dvs stadsmiljö) med lågstråk. Metod: Först genomfördes en litteraturstudie i syfte att bland annat fördjupa kunskapen om ämnet. Därefter gjordes fyra intervjuer där målet var att tillgodogöra den kunskap som sakkunniga har om bland annat vilka tekniska lösningar som är lämpliga i urban miljö och vilka kostnader som olika dagvattenanläggningar har. Det sista steget var att utföra en fallstudie i Växjö stad där en utvald lösning studerades med målet att under-söka lämpligheten i att anlägga just den lösningen. Resultat: Av intervjuerna framgick det att det är många parametrar att ta hänsyn till när man ska projektera och bygga dagvattenanläggningar som är effektiva vid skyfall. Öppna lösningar såsom översvämningsytor och diken/kanaler föredrogs då de dels var mer effektiva, dels att de oftast var billigare att konstruera. Även litteraturstudien gav liknande resultat men det var större variation på vilka lösningar som var lämpliga. Fall-studien visade att den föreslagna lösningen kunde svälja upp till 60% av nederbörden vid ett 30-årsregn men endast i värsta fall 16% av ett 100-årsregn. Konsekvenser: Av resultatet att döma var den föreslagna lösningen inte tillräcklig för att lösa översvämningsproblematiken vid ett 100-årsregn, vilket var den återkomsttid som Växjö kommun har störst problem vid. För att hantera den stora nederbördsmäng-den måste det till mycket stora magasinsvolymer eller många små lösningar för att en accepterad nivå kan uppnås, vilket den lösning som testades inte klarade av. I intervju-erna framgick detta också att det ofta var detta som var problemet vilket i grunden beror på för liten tillgänglig yta och för mycket hårdgjord yta. Rekommendationen blir att komplettera med flera andra lösningar alternativt anlägga så kallade kassetter under gatan för att öka magasineringskapaciteten. Begränsningar: Resultatet begränsas av att det är platsspecifikt och därmed svårare att applicera på andra platser. Eftersom det har genomförts intervjuer på flera olika kom-muner så har dock denna aspekt minskat något eftersom många olika åsikter har note-rats och presenterats. De beräkningar som utfördes var inte genom en datamodellering vilket möjligtvis kan påverka tillförlitligheten något även om det enligt litteraturen an-sågs hålla en tillräcklig nivå för att kunna användas på mindre arealer. / Purpose: In many cities there are areas that are lower than the surrounding terrain (low-lying areas). In these low-lying areas, there is a great risk that stormwater will accumu-late in the event of heavy rainfall and cause floods and damage to buildings and facili-ties. In this study, a review has been carried out of various theories, methods and appli-cations that can form the basis for a technical solution to solve the problem of flood risk in an urban environment with low-lying areas. Method: First, a literature study was conducted to, among other things, deepen the knowledge of the subject. Subsequently, four interviews were conducted where the goal was to utilize the knowledge that experts have about which technical solutions are suit-able in an urban environment and what costs different stormwater facilities have. The last step was to carry out a case study where a selected solution was studied with the aim of investigating the suitability of constructing that solution. Findings: The interviews showed that there are many parameters to take into account when designing and building stormwater facilities that are effective in the event of a downpour. Open solutions such as flood surfaces and ditches / canals were preferred as they were partly more efficient and partly because they were often cheaper to construct. The literature study also gave similar results, but there was greater variation in which solutions were suitable. The case study showed that the proposed solution could swal-low up to 60% of the precipitation in a 30-year rain but in the worst case only 16% of a 100-year rain. Implications: Judging by the results, the proposed solution was not sufficient to solve the flood problem in the event of a 100-year rain, which was the return time that Växjö municipality has the biggest problem with. To handle the large amount of precipitation, very large magazine volumes or many small solutions are needed in order for an ac-cepted level to be achieved, which the solution that was tested could not achieve. In the interviews, it also emerged that this was often the problem, which is basically due to too little available space and too much hardened surface. The recommendation will be to supplement with several other solutions or to install so-called cassettes under the street to increase storage capacity. Limitations: The result is limited by the fact that it is site-specific and thus more diffi-cult to apply in other locations. Since interviews have been conducted in several differ-ent municipalities, however, this aspect has diminished somewhat as many different opinions have been noted and presented. The calculations performed were not through a data modelling, which could possibly affect the reliability somewhat, even though according to the literature it was considered to maintain a sufficient level to be able to be used on smaller areas.

I december 2019 rapporterades fall av oidentifierad lunginflammation, senare känd som Covid-19. Antalet fall ökar fortfarande snabbt i världen och därmed utgör Covid-19 ett extraordinärt hot mot folkhälsan. Studier har visat en ökad mängd proinflammatoriska cytokiner TNF-α, associerade med andningssvårigheter samt en ökad kortisolproduktion. Utsöndring av kortisol och TNF-α är associerade med fysiska- och psykiska hälsoeffekter, sjukdomsgrad samt dödsfall av Covid-19. Syftet med studien var att undersöka utsöndringen av biomarkörerna kortisol och TNF-α i saliv hos individer tidigare diagnostiserade med Covid-19 samt hos individer utan diagnostiserad Covid-19 (kontrollgrupp). Det för att undersöka huruvida kvarvarande symtom kunde associeras till biomarkörerna. Studien inkluderade 40 individer, varav 20 individer tidigare diagnostiserade med Covid-19 samt 20 individer utan diagnostiserad Covid-19. Saliv och ett frågeformulär om deras allmänna hälsotillstånd och symtom kopplade till Covid-19 infektion samlades in och analyserades. Salivprover tagna på morgon analyserades med ELISA och resultatet jämfördes mellan grupperna. Inga signifikanta skillnader visade mellan grupperna gällande biomarkörer. Resultaten visade dessutom inga korrelation mellan symtom och biomarkörer samt att inga förhöjda nivåer av analyserade biomarkörer kan associeras med kvarvarande symtom efter en Covid-19 infektion. / A cluster of unidentified pneumonia cases, later known as Covid-19, were reported in December 2019. The number of Covid-19 cases is still rapidly increasing and poses an extraordinary threat to our public health. Studies have shown an increased level of the cytokine TNF-α, associated with severe respiratory symptoms as well as an increased cortisol production. Together associated with physical and mental health effects, disease severity and increased mortality of Covid-19. This study aimed to evaluate the secretion of cortisol and TNF-α in the saliva of individuals previously diagnosed with Covid-19 and individuals not diagnosed with Covid-19 (control group). This to examine whether the residual symptoms can be associated with the analyzed biomarkers. The study included 40 participants, 20 individuals diagnosed with Covid-19 and 20 individuals not diagnosed with Covid -19. Saliva and a questionnaire concerning their overall health and possible symptoms associated with Covid-19 infection were collected and analyzed. Saliva morning samples were analyzed with ELISA and results were compared between the groups. No significant differences were shown between the groups regarding the biomarkers. Also, the results showed no correlations between symptoms and biomarkers, nor elevated levels of analyzed biomarkers could be associated with residual symptoms after a Covid-19 infection.

The thermosphere-ionosphere regions are mainly controlled by the solar, but also by geomagnetic activity. In this case study, the Earth’s ionospheric response to the 25-26 August 2018 intense geomagnetic storm is investigated using the International GNSS System (IGS) Total Electron Content (TEC) observations. During this major storm, the minimum disturbance storm time (Dst) index reached -174 nT. We use observations and model simulations to analyse the ionospheric response during the initial phase and the main phase of the magnetic storm. A significant difference between storm day and quiet day TEC is observed. The O/N2 ratio observed from the GUVI instrument onboard the TIMED satellite is used to analyse the storm effect. The result shows a clear depletion of the O/N2 ratio in the high latitude region, and an enhancement in the low latitude region during the main phase of the storm. Furthermore, the Coupled Thermosphere Ionosphere Plasmasphere electrodynamics (CTIPe) model simulations were used. The results suggest that the CTIPe model can capture the ionospheric variations during storms. / Die Regionen der Ionosphären und Thermosphäre werden hauptsächlich von der Sonne sowie auch von geomagnetische Aktivität beeinflusst. In dieser Fallstudie wurde die ionosphärische Reaktion der Erde auf den starken geomagnetischen Sturm vom 25./26. August 2018 unter Verwendung der Gesamtelektronengehaltsdaten (Total Electron Content, TEC) vom Internationalen GNSS Service untersucht. Während dieses großen Sturms wurde ein ”Disturbance Storm Time Index” Dst von -174 nT erreicht. Beobachtungen und Modellsimulationen wurden verwendet, um die ionosphärische Reaktion während der Anfangsphase und der Hauptphase des magnetischen Sturms zu untersuchen. Ein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen TEC während eines Sturmtages und eines ruhigen Tages wurde beobachtet. Das vom GUVI-Instrument an Bord des TIMED-Satelliten beobachtete O/N2 -Verhältnis wurde verwendet, um den Sturmeffekt weiter zu untersuchen. Das Ergebnis zeigt eine deutliche Abnahme/Zunahme des O/N2 Verhältnis in hohen/niedrigen Breiten während der Hauptphase des Sturms. Darüber hinaus wurde das Coupled Thermosphere Ionosphere Plasmasphere ectrodynamics (CTIPe) Modell verwendet. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass das CTIPe-Modell die ionosphärischen Schwankungen während eines Sturms erfassen kann.

Urbanization has posed great challenges for environmental sustainability, human health, and wellbeing. One of these challenges is stormwater management stemming from widespread imperviousness in urban areas. For many cities, including New York City, stormwater management issues are being exacerbated by the impacts of climate change, which is increasing the frequency and intensity of wet weather flows in multiple regions of the world. In New York City, stormwater runoff is collected with wastewater sewage in a combined sewer system (CSS) that dates back to over a century ago. At the time the system was put in place, it was designed to transport a combination of storm and wastewater to local treatment plants with a capacity of about twice the dry-weather flow. With the expansion of urbanization and population growth, this outdated system is now easily overwhelmed during wet weather flow. In some areas of the City, rainfall of less than a few millimeters can cause untreated combined storm and waste water in excess of the system’s capacity (Schlanger, 2014), to be discharged directly into a nearby surface water. The combination of storm and wastewater is referred to as combined sewerage, and overflow events are referred to as combined sewer overflows (CSOs). CSOs are a leading source of local water body pollution in NYC, as well as countless other older cities in the US and abroad that operate with combined sewer systems. To solve the CSO problem, many cities, including NYC, have adopted green infrastructure (GI) plans that aim to capture stormwater locally before it can make its way into a CSS. In New York City, right-of-way bioswales (ROWBs) are composed of about 60% of the GI that has been implemented to date (The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, 2020) for stormwater management and CSO reduction. However, despite the popularity of ROWBs as a GI intervention, few research studies have focused on quantifying their hydrological performance. This can be attributed, in part, to the greater complexity of ROWB behavior in comparison to other GI interventions, such as green roofs, which have attracted wider research interest. In addition, because ROWBs are located in the public right-of-way, monitoring and measurement of the behavior of these systems also poses additional challenges. The first study in this dissertation presents three new field methods for quantifying the stormwater retention capacity of individual ROWBs. By applying the field methods at a ROWB site located in the Bronx, NYC, the influence of rainfall characteristics and the monitored soil moisture content of the ROWB on the ROWB’s hydrological performance was explored. A definition of a so-called ‘rain peaky event’ (RPE) was introduced to divide an individual storm into several sub-events. A RPE event-based empirical model for predicting the stormwater retention behavior of the ROWB was then developed based on the monitored soil moisture content of the ROWB and the rain depth recorded every 15 minutes during a storm event. This study found that the predicted stormwater retention volume per rain depth per unit drainage area of the studied ROWB, is not significantly different from that of several NYC based extensive green roofs. However, compared to the drainage area of the green roofs, which is the same as the roof’s surface area, the drainage area of the studied ROWB was about 84 times its surface area. Thus, per unit area, the ROWB was found to have significantly higher (almost two orders of magnitude) total stormwater capacity than the extensive green roofs. The second study in this dissertation assessed the applicability of the physics-based one-dimensional finite element model HYDRUS-1D, for simulating the infiltration process of a ROWB during storm events using long-term monitored soil moisture content as an input. The simulation results from the HYDRUS-1D was validated by field measurement results taken at the ROWB site located in the Bronx, NYC, and compared with the RPE event-based empirical model presented in the first study. The HYDRUS-1D model was found capable of predicting the ROWB’s cumulative stormwater retention at intervals of one minute, as well as the total retention volume of stormwater inflows into the ROWB per rain peaky event, except for events with an average stormwater inflow intensity high than 20 cm/hr. The study revealed that HYDRUS-1D has a tendency to under-predict the retention capacity of the studied ROWB for a storm with an inflow intensity high than 20 cm/hr, thus providing a lower bound on ROWB stormwater retention. The current published version of the HYDRUS-1D was also found to be erroneous when simulating the ROWB stormwater infiltration process in cases where the ROWB’s soil moisture content was close to saturation. The third study investigated the effectiveness of increased perviousness on CSO reduction and water quality improvement in NYC, toward an aim of understanding how GI implementation can improve city-wide stormwater management issues. By using the enterococci (ENT) concentration as an indicator of water quality and the runoff coefficient to represent land perviousness over an area, a random forest classification model was developed for predicting whether a water body is swimmable or not at 50 shore sites along the main waterways of NYC. The model revealed the significant contribution of land perviousness, and hence GI interventions and green space, to CSO pollution reduction for CSO-shed areas located adjacent to slower-moving waterways. For CSO-shed areas located adjacent to faster moving waterways, the influence of land perviousness was found to be negligible. The random forest classification model developed in this third study can be used as a tool for city planners and agencies as part of plans for GI implementation that focus on the optimization of local water quality, among other objectives. Overall, the research presented in this dissertation aimed to provide a deeper insight into the factors governing the hydrological performance of the most prevalent GI in NYC – namely right-of-way bioswales. In addition, the research aimed to provide insight into linkages between land perviousness and CSO pollution levels in NYC local waterways, which can be used to inform the implementation and overall performance of the entire NYC GI system.