Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Cost of operation'
To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: Cost of operation.
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 50 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Cost of operation.'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse dissertations / theses on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Shbaita, Maher. "Relationship Between Regulatory Compliance Cost, Operation Cost, and Profitability of Credit Unions." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/7840.
Full textAbstract:
The decline in the profitability of credit unions with less than $10 million in assets harms the number of small credit unions available to serve local communities. Grounded in the financial intermediation theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between regulatory compliance costs, operation costs, and profitability. The population of this study consisted of federally insured credit unions with less than $10 million in assets and located in the state of Texas. Archival data from the National Credit Union Administration database were collected and analyzed. Multiple regression was used to identify a statistically significant predictive model, F (2, 49) = 3.834, p = .028, R2 =.135. The implications for positive social change include the potential for credit union managers to improve decision-making processes related to current and future operations and investments, which could increase profitability and contribute to the financial prosperity of employees, employees' families, communities, and local economies.
2
Stanislaw, Andrew C. "A cost benefit analysis for the bicycle as a transportation alternative." Virtual Press, 1996. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1020173.
Full textAbstract:
Cost benefit analysis is the conventional method of evaluating automobile transportation improvements. This study examined traditional automobile evaluation methods and applied the same techniques to bicycle transportation projects. Cost data from recent research is summarized and eleven costs (five internal and six external) were estimated. The cost estimates are used to calculate automobile and bicycle costs per mile of travel. A case study of a hypothetical corridor is used to demonstrate how the transportation costs can be applied to specific planning problems. The case study explores what effect shifts in modal distribution would have on the cost effectiveness of automobile and bicycle alternatives. The findings of the study begin to question the underlying premises of traditional cost benefit analysis in transportation projects. The study suggests that conventional analysis is fundamentally flawed and biased toward automobile transportation.Department of Urban Planning
3
Theron, Jenny. "The commodification and commercialisation of peace operations and security co-operations : a case study of Operation Rachel /." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2505.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MA (Political Science. International Studies))--Stellenbosch University, 2005.Peace operations and security co-operations are expensive. Even though there are a variety of factors that influences peace agents when they consider approving a new, expanding an existing, or closing down a peace operation or security co-operation, one of these factors is the cost factor. If we were to isolate the cost factor it would follow that a reduction in the cost of peace operations and security co-operations, are likely to contribute to peace agents being more willing to approve new, expand existing or to give existing missions more time to consolidate before closing them down. There are a variety of ways how the cost of peace operations or security co-operations can be lowered. This thesis suggests an alliance with the private sector in the form of corporate sponsorships. In short, that peace operations and security co-operations be commodified and commercialised. This would entail introducing corporate sponsorship of some of the commodities that are used in peace operations and security co-operations, followed by the corporate sponsor using their involvement in the peace operation or security co-operation to their commercial advantage. The commodification and commercialisation of peace operations and security co-operations should result in the relevant operations and co-operations benefiting in a cost-effective as well as practical effectiveness sense, whereas the private sponsor should benefit in either or both a financial (profit) or an image-making sense. The psychological theory supporting such an argument is that of social identity theory. This theory explains how positive connotations made with peacemaking in warlike conditions will motivate industries to use this opportunity to show that their products can succeed in such demanding circumstances. Accordingly, social identity theory provides us with evidence as to how the commercialisation and commodification of peace operations and security co-operations can succeed. We also support our argument by providing a case study, Operation Rachel, which serves as a successful example of an operation that was (partially) commodified and commercialised. Operation Rachel, which can be seen as either or both a peace operation and security co-operation, shows that in the case of security co-operations, these operations should be presented as peace operations during the commodification and commercialisation processes.
4
Johnson, J. Andrew Gates William R. Terasawa Katsuaki. "Cost estimates for Operation Desert Shield / a budgetary analysis." Monterey, Calif. : Springfield, Va. : Naval Postgraduate School; Available from the National Technical Information Service, 1991. http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA244675.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.S. in Financial Management) Naval Postgraduate School, Dec. 1991.Thesis advisors, William R. Gates and Katsuaki L. Terasawa. AD-A244 675. Bibliography: p. 151-157. Also available online.
5
Johnson, J. Andrew. "Cost estimates for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm: a budgetary analysis." Thesis, Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/10945/43740.
Full textAbstract:
Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm (DS/DS) presented unique challenges for estimating the cost of that conflict. This analysis reviews the cost estimates and methodologies developed for that purpose by DoD, CBO and GAO. It considers the budget climate and the role of foreign cash and in-kind contributions. Finally, it reviews the budgeting innovations used to provide and monitor DS/DS defense spending. At the outset of the crisis, costs were estimated to determine the defense funding requirements for DS/DS. Because of the specific provisions of the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990, these estimates focused on the incremental impact on DoD's budget. This was difficult because incremental costs were not defined and DoD's accounting structure does not measure incremental costs. As allied financial support for U.S. defense expenditures increased, cost estimates were also used to measure the relative contributions of donor countries. This led to debates over the proper definition of incremental costs. Comparing the DS/DS cost estimates and the foreign cash and in-kind contributions, it appears that foreign contributions will cover DoD's incremental budgetary costs, but not the total incremental costs of the war.
6
Abdulnabi, I. O. N. "Optimization of centrifugal pumps operation for least cost and maximum availability." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2008. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/12480.
Full textAbstract:
There are five M.O.L. Centrifugal pumps “Main Oil Line” in Ghani oil field for
transporting crude oil from Ghani oil field to Joffra oil field at a distance of about 81.25
miles (130Km) then from Joffra oil field to Ras Lanuf Terminal at a distance of about
84.40 miles (135Km).
The five centrifugal pumps do not all have the same specifications. Three of these
pumps have the same power (255 Kw) and are working with five impellers but the other
two pumps have the same power (150 Kw) and are working with six impellers. The
efficiency and the head are the same for each pump. So the total power in the pumping
system is (1,065 Kw). Usually two out of five centrifugal pumps are operational the
other three pumps are on standby in case of failure of one or more pumps. These pumps
are 24 years old and subjected to routine maintenance.
This project presents a study to optimize the existing pumping system in order to make
the capital cost less. The main change will be in pumping station design mainly to
decrease the number of the existing centrifugal pumps with less cost and to meet Veba
Oil Operations (VOO) requirements. As mentioned, the system is required to transport
45,000 BPD (298 m3/h), during the expected life of the project, which is through the
pumping system from Ghani oil field to Joffra oil field then to Ras Lanuf Terminal.
This study offers different pump design to evaluate and select the optimum design
according to the lowest cost, highest reliability and availability.
7
Lock, Jeffrey S. Weber John B. "Cost analysis for the development and operation of a mobile wireless research facility /." Monterey, Calif. : Springfield, Va. : Naval Postgraduate School ; Available from National Technical Information Service, 2004. http://library.nps.navy.mil/uhtbin/hyperion/04Mar%5FLock%FMBA.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.B.A.)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2004.Thesis advisor(s): Brian D. Steckler, George W. Thomas, Juliette A. Webb. "MBA professional report"--Cover. Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-98). Also available online.
8
Dvorak, Gary John. "Economic analysis of irrigation pumping plants." Thesis, Kansas State University, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/9834.
Full text
9
Lännevall, Joel. "Operation dependent costs of non-optimal hydropower production : Effects on the operational pattern of the Small Lule River." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Elektricitetslära, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-294867.
Full textAbstract:
In the present electrical market there is an increasing penetration of intermittent energy sources. Several studies have examined its effect on the planning of hydropower operation and the conclusion is that an increasing intermittent production is likely to result in a more variable hydropower operation, utilising a wider span of operational set points. The wear of a hydropower unit is generally at a minimum when operated close to best efficiency and increases when operating at higher or lower set points. This study introduces a method to calculate an operation dependent cost (ODC) function for an arbitrary hydropower unit or unit combination based on vibration measurements and operational data. The method is tested in a case study where an ODC is implemented in Akkats, located in the Small Lule River in order to evaluate its effect on operational pattern, profitability and balancing contribution. The results show that the implemented ODC mainly affects Akkats. For an increasing ODC, Akkats is operated closer to the best point of efficiency and the operational pattern gets less variable and the effect gets more apparent the lower the spot price. Akkats ability to follow the spot price is reduced, decreasing the earning per produced energy with a few percentages. Akkats balancing contribution decreases significantly more, due to a less variable operational pattern. The study compares the reduced ODC to the reduced spot income and concludes that the wear cost in Akkats has to be above 1,21 €/MWh in order to be economically feasible to include in the planning. The operational pattern for the simulated river is close to unchanged at highest price hours but during lower price hours an increasing ODC results in an increased production, due to an increasing mean flow and changed operational pattern in Akkats. More production during low prices hours results in a decreasing profitability for all plants along the river. The balancing contribution is close to unchanged in all plants except Akkats, since the production still follows the same pattern.
10
Moreno, Vieyra Rodrigo Andres. "Reliability and cost-benefit-based standards for transmission network operation and design." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/9503.
Full textAbstract:
The growing interest in decarbonising electricity systems together with advances in communication and information technologies that may support the application of demand and generation solutions to solve network problems has initiated reviews of traditional operational practices and security grid standards in a number of jurisdictions. The key concern is that these historical practices and standards, mostly developed in the 1950‘s, might be inappropriate for the new emerging systems as they may pose entry barriers for both renewable generation and smart grid technologies. This thesis presents a probabilistic cost-benefit framework for the development of future efficient operating and design strategies and network security standards enabled by new technologies. By optimally balancing the costs of network constraints with various operational measures composed of preventive and corrective control actions, considering potential outages of network and generation facilities, optimal network capacity that could be released to network users in real time is determined along with its impacts on network design. This framework is compatible with smart grid concepts which integrate new generation, network, and demand technology. Together with the aforementioned framework, a full optimisation model that serves to scrutinise the characteristics of the proposed probabilistic standards in the presence of high penetration of wind is developed by means of a Benders algorithm. To reduce the computational times and memory usage, a novel technique that eliminates redundant scenarios (i.e. outages) that do not contribute towards the optimum solution and hence simplifies the optimisation procedure is presented and successfully tested. The studies demonstrate that various operational measures (such as generation and demand response) can be effectively used to release additional network capacity with small (or even nil) increases in risk. It is also demonstrated that the GB system would benefit in terms of network investment and congestion costs if the changes proposed were adopted.
11
Lock, Jeffrey S., and John B. Weber. "Cost analysis for the development and operation of a mobile wireless research facility." Thesis, Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10945/9945.
Full textAbstract:
Approved for public release, distribution is unlimitedMBA Professional Report
Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited
The Nemesis program's primary objective is to provide a mobile wireless research facility for Federal agencies and other authorized agencies. The report provides estimates of the Nemesis program's original cost, replication cost, scheduled costing for operational requirements, and budgeting guidelines. The report provides future funding request justification for both labor and equipment lifecycle costs. The report also provides the program funding agencies a more precise cost benefit analysis, to project future operating costs, and to provide standardized budget guidelines. The estimate of the original cost includes equipment acquisitions, software and reference material acquisition, inventory validation, billed labor, estimated non-billed labor, estimated nonbilled infrastructure support, billed training and certification, estimated project management, and estimated administrative support. The estimate of the original cost does not include legal support and Governmental administrative requirements. The replicating cost is determined from the original cost with discovery costs removed. The discovery cost includes initial research/evaluation of alternate methods of system implementation, reduced expertise in labor due to documented replicating procedures, and an improved training process for operators. The costing schedule is based on the projected program-operating tempo. The budgeting guidelines provide the budget format, target parameters for inventory, and capital reinvestment to offset depreciation expenses.
12
Musa, Sharmin. "Cost and benefit of conflict and co-operation in burying beetles Nicrophorus vespilloides." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.679056.
Full text
13
Kamhi, J. Frances, Wulfila Gronenberg, Simon K. A. Robson, and James F. A. Traniello. "Social complexity influences brain investment and neural operation costs in ants." ROYAL SOC, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/621590.
Full textAbstract:
The metabolic expense of producing and operating neural tissue required for adaptive behaviour is considered a significant selective force in brain evolution. In primates, brain size correlates positively with group size, presumably owing to the greater cognitive demands of complex social relationships in large societies. Social complexity in eusocial insects is also associated with large groups, as well as collective intelligence and division of labour among sterile workers. However, superorganism phenotypes may lower cognitive demands on behaviourally specialized workers resulting in selection for decreased brain size and/or energetic costs of brain metabolism. To test this hypothesis, we compared brain investment patterns and cytochrome oxidase (COX) activity, a proxy for ATP usage, in two ant species contrasting in social organization. Socially complex Oecophylla smaragdina workers had larger brain size and relative investment in the mushroom bodies (MBs)-higher order sensory processing compartments-than the more socially basic Formica subsericea workers. Oecophylla smaragdina workers, however, had reduced COX activity in the MBs. Our results suggest that as in primates, ant group size is associated with large brain size. The elevated costs of investment in metabolically expensive brain tissue in the socially complex O. smaragdina, however, appear to be offset by decreased energetic costs.
14
Fugate, Dirk Lee. "Investigation and improvement of the conveyor system at a bottle packaging operation." [Johnson City, Tenn. : East Tennessee State University], 2004. http://etd-submit.etsu.edu/etd/theses/available/etd-0517104-220204/unrestricted/Fugate062404f.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.S.)--East Tennessee State University, 2004.Title from electronic submission form. ETSU ETD database URN: etd-0517104-220204 Includes bibliographical references. Also available via Internet at the UMI web site.
15
Avetisyan, Hakob G. "Sustainable Design and Operation of the Cement Industry." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1225820445.
Full text
16
Belford, Carlene. "Essays on airine competition and network structure." Thesis, McGill University, 2008. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=115602.
Full textAbstract:
The dynamics of airline deregulation have resulted in significant changes in airline competition and network structure. This dissertation examines airline competition and network structures in the presence of low-cost entry in a deregulated environment.The first chapter investigates the effect of low-cost entry on the equilibrium network choice of a monopolistic air carrier. This essay differs from previous analyses in that it incorporates asymmetric city sizes, and distances as a determinant of costs into the model. Numerical exercises illustrate that the threat of entry may result in an entry accommodating, an entry deterring or even an interlining equilibrium, depending on demand and cost conditions and on the level of fixed costs of connecting city pairs. In particular, when the demand in city-pair markets are identical and cities are equal distance apart, the monopolist restructures its network in an attempt to minimize the competitive effect of entry. If demands vary across city pairs and distance is a factor of cost, then the restructuring of the network may be an entry deterring strategy. The incorporation of distance not only influences the number of direct connections between city pairs but may also affect how city pairs are connected within the network.
In Essay Two the model is extended to a duopolistic airline market in which network structures are endogenously determined by the competition between two incumbent airlines; numerical exercises are then used to demonstrate how the threat of entry by a low-cost airline affects the network choices of these incumbent carriers. The main result of the essay is that, in many situations, incumbent carriers restructure their networks in order to compete with potential entrants. The results indicate that incumbents' response to the threat of entry depends on the potential entrant's cost advantage and on the fixed costs of connecting city pairs. In particular, if the fixed costs of connecting city pairs are low and the cost advantage of the entrant is significant then entry may not affect the network structure of incumbent carriers. However, at higher fixed costs at least one incumbent will adjust its network in an attempt to soften the competitive effect of entry. Furthermore, the numerical exercises show that the threat of entry not only affects the equilibrium network structure but may also result in one incumbent leaving the industry and the potential entrant actually entering.
Essay Three studies network competition and welfare implications in partially and fully liberalized transatlantic markets using the model developed in Essay Two. This essay illustrates some conditions under which the price and welfare effects of an open-skies agreement depend on the equilibrium network choice of the competing airlines. In particular, network choices of airlines may result in higher prices on some transatlantic routes and if pre-liberalized domestic markets are competitive price reductions on domestic routes could be negligible. Another finding is that the opening of transatlantic markets mainly redistribute airlines' market shares and as a result the expected increase in passenger traffic may not be realized.
17
Thomas, John Heulyn. "Managing a metro rail project to avoid cost overruns." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2009. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/195599/.
Full textAbstract:
While technical failures remain the most common triggers for overruns in metro projects, the causes have not typically been deficiencies in the underlying engineering principles but in project management. This work involves the complementary use of requirements and risk management processes and real options theory. The Crossrail project provides a case study with a scheme design for an underground station at Farringdon being considered in detail. The requirements process documented in this research is capable of providing an interactive format for managing project requirements and importantly, any changes that are made to them. This is achieved using commercial software (Telelogic DOORS®) and it is shown that this process is effective when working on multidisciplinary metro projects. This process is then expanded to consider the interaction between risks on a project. This is identified as being crucial given the impacts that technical, project and external risks can have on each other. The developed risk process therefore allows the interactions between all risks to be recorded and provides a holistic view of all risks for management purposes. The requirements and risk processes are complemented by a fuzzy logic methodology to evaluate global and elemental risks (such as political or client risks). Over 50 external risk factors which are known to have caused overruns on previous projects are identified and the performance of Crossrail is evaluated against each risk factor by way of a questionnaire circulated to industry professionals. An approach to avoiding cost overruns is demonstrated by the application of real options theory where the chosen design for Farringdon station is developed alongside an alternative design. Real options theory is used to value the cost of implementing the design alternative should it be needed during the project construction cycle due to cost increases and the potential occurrence of major risks. This implementation cost is presented as a fixed cost agreed prior to construction rather than being an added cost to the agreed budget once construction has started. It is proposed that using real options in this context can avoid significant cost overruns by predetermining the value of payments to be made for changing from one design to another. This thesis will show how additions and adjustments to existing processes and the inclusion of real options valuation in the procurement of metro projects can help practitioners avoid cost overruns in a metro rail project.
18
Bolha, Rosemarie. "Design and development of the missile system Operation and Support Cost AnalyzeR model and database." Master's thesis, This resource online, 1991. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-01202010-020201/.
Full text
19
Dibennardo, Maurizio. "Performance based contracting: A concept for cost-effective operation and maintenance of wind power plants." Thesis, Högskolan på Gotland, Institutionen för kultur, energi och miljö, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-217024.
Full text
20
Hatkoff, Daniel. "Production cost structure and commercial success in the new film industry." Oberlin College Honors Theses / OhioLINK, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=oberlin1355255118.
Full text
21
Anderson, Sandra Mains. "The cost of operation of state-level boards for higher education and the cost of administration in public, four-year institutions of higher education." Diss., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/52332.
Full textAbstract:
Forty-seven of the fifty states had some form of state-level board for higher education in 1981. Critics have expressed concern that the level of those boards' involvement in institutional affairs has steadily increased, while others have observed that administrative costs at the institutional level have gradually risen. It is not known if there is a relationship between the cost of operation of state-level boards and their level of involvement in the affairs of the institutions under their purview; nor, is it known if there is a relationship between the cost of operation of state-level boards and the cost of administration at the institutional level. The purpose of this study was to investigate these relationships.
The population for the study consisted of twenty state-level boards for higher education, eleven governing boards and nine coordinating boards. The population further consisted of 216 public, four-year bachelor degree and higher degree granting institutions located in twenty-three states, including Delaware, Vermont, and Wyoming which had no state-level board for higher education in 1980-1981.
Seven variables were hypothesized as factors either influencing the cost of administration in public, four-year institutions, the cost of operation of state-level boards for higher education, or the relationship between the two. These variables were formulated with data obtained from a survey of State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) member agencies and from Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS) financial and enrollment tapes.
Pearson product-moment correlation and one-way analysis of variance were used to test for significance of relationships between pairs of variables. An analysis of each of the research questions was presented in textural and tabular form.Ed. D.
22
Morin, Jean-François. "Conception of an intelligent tutoring system in cost engineering : knowledge representation, pedagogical interactions, and system operation." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp01/MQ38158.pdf.
Full text
23
Barham, P. A. J. "The effect of time-window constraints and fleet size on the cost of a distribution operation." Thesis, Cranfield University, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/1826/3865.
Full textAbstract:
Adopting a Continuous Space Modelling-type scenario of
no detailed data being available at a customer-specific
level, and on the basis, therefore, of basic information on
delivery-area size, total number of locations to be visited
and average road-speeds etc., quantitative expressions are
derived for,
the relationship between the number of vehicles
operating from a central depot and the total
fleet mileage that is required to visit a set
of locations, and,
2. the effect of time-window constraints on the
total cost of a similar operation.
These expressions are derived using a simulation-based
methodology, involving the setting-up of a computer program
which both generates Travelling-Salesman tours and provides
information on these tours at a detailed, disaggregated
level. In the time-constrained context, it was necessary to
develop a heuristic route-building procedure for solving
Travelling-Salesman Problems due to the algorithmic
24
Kusakana, Kanzumba. "Optimal operation control of hybrid renewable energy systems." Thesis, Bloemfontein: Central University of Technology, Free State, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11462/670.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (D. Tech. (Electrical Engineering)) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2014For a sustainable and clean electricity production in isolated rural areas, renewable energies appear to be the most suitable and usable supply options. Apart from all being renewable and sustainable, each of the renewable energy sources has its specific characteristics and advantages that make it well suited for specific applications and locations. Solar photovoltaic and wind turbines are well established and are currently the mostly used renewable energy sources for electricity generation in small-scale rural applications. However, for areas in which adequate water resources are available, micro-hydro is the best supply option compared to other renewable resources in terms of cost of energy produced. Apart from being capital-cost-intensive, the other main disadvantages of the renewable energy technologies are their resource-dependent output powers and their strong reliance on weather and climatic conditions. Therefore, they cannot continuously match the fluctuating load energy requirements each and every time. Standalone diesel generators, on the other hand, have low initial capital costs and can generate electricity on demand, but their operation and maintenance costs are very high, especially when they run at partial loads. In order for the renewable sources to respond reliably to the load energy requirements, they can be combined in a hybrid energy system with back-up diesel generator and energy storage systems. The most important feature of such a hybrid system is to generate energy at any time by optimally using all available energy sources. The fact that the renewable resources available at a given site are a function of the season of the year implies that the fraction of the energy provided to the load is not constant. This means that for hybrid systems comprising diesel generator, renewable sources and battery storage in their architecture, the renewable energy fraction and the energy storage capacity are projected to have a significant impact on the diesel generator fuel consumption, depending on the complex interaction between the daily variation of renewable resources and the non-linear load demand. V This was the context on which this research was based, aiming to develop a tool to minimize the daily operation costs of standalone hybrid systems. However, the complexity of this problem is of an extremely high mathematical degree due to the non-linearity of the load demand as well as the non-linearity of the renewable resources profiles. Unlike the algorithms already developed, the objective was to develop a tool that could minimize the diesel generator control variables while maximizing the hydro, wind, solar and battery control variables resulting in saving fuel and operation costs. An innovative and powerful optimization model was then developed capable of efficiently dealing with these types of problems. The hybrid system optimal operation control model has been simulated using fmincon interior-point in MATLAB. Using realistic and actual data for several case studies, the developed model has been successfully used to analyse the complex interaction between the daily non-linear load, the non-linear renewable resources as well as the battery dynamic, and their impact on the hybrid system’s daily operation cost minimization. The model developed, as well as the solver and algorithm used in this work, have low computational requirements for achieving results within a reasonable time, therefore this can be seen as a faster and more accurate optimization tool.
25
Swart, Christopher. "Optimising the operation of underground mine refrigeration plants and ventilation fans for minimum electricity cost / Christopher Swart." Thesis, North-West University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/339.
Full textAbstract:
This study describes the development and use of a mathematical model that will enable mine operators to
minimise the costs of electricity consumed by the ventilation and refrigeration systems used for
environmental control in deep mines.
This model was calibrated and tested by using actual data from a gold mine near Welkom in South
Africa. In a first simulation, the mine's current practice of controlling conditions to a wet bulb
temperature (Twb) of 25S°C, was optimised. The model demonstrated that this environmental condition
could be sustained at lower electricity consumption. In so doing, the mine realised a saving of 30 000
kWh per day. The energy saving and load management led to a cost saving of R 1.5 million per year.
However, a better indicator of environmental conditions is the Air Cooling Power index, (ACP).
Research has shown that for hard physical work in hot conditions workers need an ACP of 300 w/m2. It
was found that the case study mine actually supplied their workplace with a cooling capacity of 422
w/m2. The new model optimised the refrigeration and ventilation systems in such a manner that the
workers were supplied with exactly 300 w/m2, no more and no less. It was found that by doing this, an
electricity saving of 57 600 kWh per day could be realised when compared with the current mine
practices. The energy saving and load management led to a potential cost saving of R 2.55 million per
year. (Certain capital costs, such as for variable speed drives may have to be incurred to realise these
savings.)
The new model could be further extended to take advantage of the new Real Time Price offerings from
Eskom It will be able to identify an operating point for the refrigeration and ventilation systems to
supply 300 w/m2 for the workers, in real time, at the lowest electricity cost.Thesis (Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.
26
Loving, Easton. "Components of logging costs." Thesis, This resource online, 1991. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-10222009-124937/.
Full text
27
Clark, Jennifer Anne. "Value Engineering for Small Transportation Projects." Digital WPI, 2000. https://digitalcommons.wpi.edu/etd-theses/1162.
Full textAbstract:
Although Value Engineering (VE) studies are mandated by the Federal Highway Administration for large ($25 million or more) federal-aid highway projects, many state Departments of Transportation do not conduct voluntary VE studies on smaller projects. Those who have done so have seen project improvements and savings as a result. The success of the existing voluntary VE programs indicates that VE application to small transportation projects represents a significant opportunity for savings. The goal of this thesis work was to develop a methodology for conducting VE studies on small transportation projects that would make efficient use of available personnel and require little VE training. The author examined the results and procedures of several DOT VE programs, including some that conduct studies on projects as small as $1 million. The analyses revealed sources of past savings, trends and common methods in VE studies, and procedures and forms that are best suited to the types of project under study. Based on the research and analyses, the author developed a VE study methodology that is tailored to small transportation projects, including a workbook and both general and specific guidelines. This report proposes an approach to VE on small transportation projects using this methodology, which is characterized by conformance with accepted VE practice and FHWA guidelines, efficient use of personnel, and ease of use. In particular, these recommendations are intended for use by any state DOT with an existing but limited VE program, such as MassHighway, which currently conducts only mandated studies.
28
Ebersohn, Piet. "Die lewensvatbaarheid van nuuswebwerwe : 'n vergelykende ondersoek." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/17245.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The publication of news websites mushroomed since the establishment of the World Wide Web, but their viability and/or profitability still tend to pose a problem. This study approaches the question from the viewpoint of the niche theory and gratification and investigates the advantages and disadvantages of publishing news on the Internet, as well as possible elements of news-website business models. The latter comprises firstly, costs such as labour, content, production, marketing and distribution, and secondly possible income sources. It also compares a number of different business models. It found, inter alia, that a greater variety on the broader news menu, as well as the development of cost-effective ways to utilise the unique features of the Internet in the presentation of news will be fundamental to the eventual success of news websites. A generally acceptable norm for the measurement and auditing of traffic to news websites will be crucial in the optimal utilisation of the potential advertisingsales income. The study concludes that it is doubtful whether news websites on their own will ever succeed as media enterprises. In most cases news websites will probably only exist as a minor component of websites deriving their income from a variety of other sources. However, technological innovation may come up with new possibilities that may revolutionise the e-news industry in such a way that it may become profitable on its own.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die publikasie van nuuswebwerwe het soos ʼn paddastoel opgeskiet sedert die daarstelling van die Wêreldwye Web, maar die lewensvatbaarheid en/of winsgewendheid van sulke webwerwe blyk steeds ʼn probleem te wees. Hierdie studie benader die vraagstuk uit die oogpunt van die nisteorie en voldoening, en ondersoek die voor- en nadele van nuuspublikasie op die Internet, sowel as die faktore waaruit bedryfsmodelle vir nuuswebwerwe saamgestel kan word. Die laasgenoemde omvat eendersyds koste, soos arbeid, inhoud, produksie, bemarking en verspreiding; en andersyds die moontlike inkomstebronne. Dit vergelyk ook ʼn aantal verskillende bedryfsmodelle. Die bevindings sluit in dat ʼn groter verskeidenheid op die breër nuusspyskaart sowel as die vind van kostedoeltreffende maniere om die unieke eienskappe van die Internet ten volle in die aanbieding van die nuus te benut, onderliggend tot die uiteindelike sukses van nuuswebwerwe sal wees. ʼn Algemeen aanvaarbare norm vir die meting en ouditering van die verkeer na nuuswebwerwe sal deurslaggewend wees in die optimale benutting van die potensiële inkomste uit advertensieverkope. Die studie kom tot die slotsom dat daar twyfel bestaan of nuuswebwerwe as sulks op die lang duur as onafhanklike media-ondernemings sal slaag. In die meeste gevalle sal nuuswebwerwe waarskynlik hoofsaaklik net voortbestaan as ʼn ondergeskikte komponent van webwerwe wat hul verdienste uit ʼn verskeidenheid van ander bronne put. Tegnologiese vernuwing kan egter nuwe moontlikhede daar stel wat ʼn ommekeer in die winsgewendheid van die e-nuusbedryf teweeg kan bring.
29
López, Claudio David. "Shortening time-series power flow simulations for cost-benefit analysis of LV network operation with PV feed-in." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Elektricitetslära, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-242099.
Full textAbstract:
Time-series power flow simulations are consecutive power flow calculations on each time step of a set of load and generation profiles that represent the time horizon under which a network needs to be analyzed. These simulations are one of the fundamental tools to carry out cost-benefit analyses of grid planing and operation strategies in the presence of distributed energy resources, unfortunately, their execution time is quite substantial. In the specific case of cost-benefit analyses the execution time of time-series power flow simulations can easily become excessive, as typical time horizons are in the order of a year and different scenarios need to be compared, which results in time-series simulations that require a rather large number of individual power flow calculations. It is often the case that only a set of aggregated simulation outputs is required for assessing grid operation costs, examples of which are total network losses, power exchange through MV/LV substation transformers, and total power provision from PV generators. Exploring alternatives to running time-series power flow simulations with complete input data that can produce approximations of the required results with a level of accuracy that is suitable for cost-benefit analyses but that require less time to compute can thus be beneficial. This thesis explores and compares different methods for shortening time-series power flow simulations based on reducing the amount of input data and thus the required number of individual power flow calculations, and focuses its attention on two of them: one consists in reducing the time resolution of the input profiles through downsampling while the other consists in finding similar time steps in the input profiles through vector quantization and simulating them only once. The results show that considerable execution time reductions and sufficiently accurate results can be obtained with both methods, but vector quantization requires much less data to produce the same level of accuracy as downsampling. Vector quantization delivers a far superior trade-off between data reduction, time savings, and accuracy when the simulations consider voltage control or when more than one simulation with the same input data is required, as in such cases the data reduction process can be carried out only once. One disadvantage of this method is that it does not reproduce peak values in the result profiles with accuracy, which is due to the way downsampling disregards certain time steps in the input profiles and to the averaging effect vector quantization has on the them. This disadvantage makes the simulations shortened through these methods less precise, for example, for detecting voltage violations.
30
Standridge, Zachary Dakotah. "Design and Development of Low-cost Multi-function UAV Suitable for Production and Operation in Low Resource Environments." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/83877.
Full textAbstract:
A new flying wing design has been developed at the Unmanned Systems Lab (USL) at Virginia Tech to serve delivery and remote sensing applications in the developing world. The fully autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), named EcoSoar, was designed with the goal of creating a business opportunity for local entrepreneurs in low-resource communities. The system was developed in such a way that local fabrication, operation, and maintenance of the aircraft are all possible. In order to present a competitive financial model for sustained drone services, EcoSoar is made with reliable low-cost materials and electronics. This paper lays out the rapid prototyping and flight experiment efforts that went into polishing the design, test results from an EcoSoar centered drone workshop in Kasungu, Malawi, and finally a range optimization study with flight test validation.Master of Science
31
Du, Minzhen. "Assessment of a Low Cost IR Laser Local Tracking Solution for Robotic Operations." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/103320.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis aimed to assess the feasibility of using an off-the-shelf virtual reality tracking system as a low cost precision pose estimation solution for robotic operations in both indoor and outdoor environments. Such a tracking solution has the potential of assisting critical operations related to planetary exploration missions, parcel handling/delivery, and wildfire detection/early warning systems. The boom of virtual reality experiences has accelerated the development of various low-cost, precision indoor tracking technologies. For the purpose of this thesis we choose to adapt the SteamVR Lighthouse system developed by Valve, which uses photo-diodes on the trackers to detect the rotating IR laser sheets emitted from the anchored base stations, also known as lighthouses. Some previous researches had been completed using the first generation of lighthouses, which has a few limitations on communication from lighthouses to the tracker. A NASA research has cited poor tracking performance under sunlight. We choose to use the second generation lighthouses which has improved the method of communication from lighthouses to the tracker, and we performed various experiments to assess their performance outdoors, including under sunlight. The studies of this thesis have two stages, the first stage focused on a controlled, indoor environment, having an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAS) perform repeatable flight patterns and simultaneously tracked by the Lighthouse and a reference indoor tracking system, which showed that the tracking precision of the lighthouse is comparable to the industrial standard indoor tracking solution. The second stage of the study focused on outdoor experiments with the tracking system, comparing UAS flights between day and night conditions as well as positioning accuracy assessments with a CNC machine under indoor and outdoor conditions. The results showed matching performance between day and night while still comparable to industrial standard indoor tracking solution down to centimeter precision, and matching simulated CNC trajectory down to millimeter precision. There is also some room for improvement in regards to the experimental method and equipment used, as well as improvements on the tracking system itself needed prior to adaptation in real-world applications.Master of Science
This thesis aimed to assess the feasibility of using an off-the-shelf virtual reality tracking system as a low cost precision pose estimation solution for robotic operations in both indoor and outdoor environments. Such a tracking solution has the potential of assisting critical operations related to planetary exploration missions, parcel handling/delivery, and wildfire detection/early warning systems. The boom of virtual reality experiences has accelerated the development of various low-cost, precision indoor tracking technologies. For the purpose of this thesis we choose to adapt the SteamVR Lighthouse system developed by Valve, which uses photo-diodes on the trackers to detect the rotating IR laser sheets emitted from the anchored base stations, also known as lighthouses. Some previous researches had been completed using the first generation of lighthouses, which has a few limitations on communication from lighthouses to the tracker. A NASA research has cited poor tracking performance under sunlight. We choose to use the second generation lighthouses which has improved the method of communication from lighthouses to the tracker, and we performed various experiments to assess their performance outdoors, including under sunlight. The studies of this thesis have two stages, the first stage focused on a controlled, indoor environment, having an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAS) perform repeatable flight patterns and simultaneously tracked by the Lighthouse and a reference indoor tracking system, which showed that the tracking precision of the lighthouse is comparable to the industrial standard indoor tracking solution. The second stage of the study focused on outdoor experiments with the tracking system, comparing UAS flights between day and night conditions as well as positioning accuracy assessments with a CNC machine under indoor and outdoor conditions. The results showed matching performance between day and night while still comparable to industrial standard indoor tracking solution down to centimeter precision, and matching simulated CNC trajectory down to millimeter precision. There is also some room for improvement in regards to the experimental method and equipment used, as well as improvements on the tracking system itself needed prior to adaptation in real-world applications.
32
Teixeira, Roberto de Barros. "An heuristic approach for the improvement of aircraft departure scheduling at airports." Thesis, Loughborough University, 1992. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/12617.
Full textAbstract:
This work considers the management in the short run of aircraft departures from their parking stands at major airports where traffic congestion is noticeable. At the ground level, congestion is patent when carefully designed departure time tables become unworkable, causing ever increasing delays which penalize heavily passengers, airlines and the airport surrounding community. The study is composed of two parts: First an overall analysis of the considered problem is performed to provide background knowledge and to display basic principles for the management of aircraft ground movements at modem airports. Physical components as well as current operational rules are discussed and their interdependence is revealed. A particular importance is given to new and foreseeable developments in communication and guidance technology which allow an improved prediction of runway occupancy times or gaps. Capacity issues are also discussed with respect to aircraft ground activities and the airfield capacity is analysed. This first part of the work ends with the description of levels of fuel consumption and of pollution emission by aircraft ground operations and thus shows the relevance of the problem considered in this study. The second part of this work is devoted to the design of a just-in-time clearance policy which should minimise environment, fuel and pollution levels and made possible a delay-free ground traffic for departing aircraft A mathematical formulation of the considered decision problem, characterized as a real time scheduling problem, is built up. Then possible solution strategies are appraised and an "ad hoc" heuristic solution algorithm is designed. This solution is first compared in theoretical terms with a First Come First Served policy showing that in an error-free situation the proposed solution cannot be worse than its competitor. Then a simulation study is performed which confirms in practical terms the above result The influence of the main design parameters of the solution algorithm on its performance are also examined giving some insights in relation to necessary communication and prediction aids. Finally, possible extensions of the proposed method and its integration in a global aircraft traffic management system are discussed.
33
Peterson, Erica Kay. "An Econometric Analysis of Cost Changes in U.S. Trucking and the Implications of Implementing the NAFTA Trucking Provisions." Thesis, North Dakota State University, 2007. https://hdl.handle.net/10365/29800.
Full textAbstract:
The United States trucking industry underwent deregulation starting in 1980. There was much opposition to the process in fears that trucking companies would be adversely affected by increased competition. There were also many proponents and researchers who proved that the increased competition due to regulatory reform only helped strengthen the industry by forcing firms to become more cost efficient. There has been similar opposition and support for the trucking provisions of NAFTA. Although the provisions have not been fully implemented, the trucking industry is well aware it will only be a matter of time. In early 2002 it was announced that the process to begin implementing the trucking provisions would begin in mid-2002. Many in the industry and other groups have opposed implementing the
provisions, concerned that U.S. trucking firms would be subject to competition from Mexican firms, just as they feared trucking firms would be adversely affected by deregulation more than 25 years ago. This thesis analyzes the effects the 2002 announcement of the process to begin implementing the trucking provisions has had on the cost structure of the industry. It uses a translog cost function to determine if firms have become more efficient in the years following the announcement in anticipation of increased competition from Mexican firms after the provisions are fully implemented. The translog cost function is used to determine what effects the NAFTA variable has had on costs and what specific operating characteristics have caused the costs to increase or decrease.
34
Naghashian, Mohammad Hossein. "Generalised cost benefit analysis for large infrastructure projects : the case of the Channel Tunnel rail link." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2015. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/5633/.
Full textAbstract:
Even in the absence of specific evidence it is surely unthinkable to imagine Napolean Bonaparte himself, when considering the potential benefits of invading England, failing to weigh against them the costs of building a tunnel under \(La\) \(Manche\). In the light of the considerable literature of cost benefit analysis (CBA) and by gathering together several analyses that have been performed on the Channel Tunnel in more recent times, this thesis demonstrates that a comprehensive ‘big picture’ CBA framework is missing, and then provides one: a new methodology, represented in Data Flow Diagram (DFD) form, for the generalised cost benefit analysis of large infrastructure projects.
35
曾伯裕 and Pak-yu Tsang. "Application of life cycle costing (LCC) technique in Hong Kong warehouse industry." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2000. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31251626.
Full text
36
Quagliato, Giuliano Batagin. "Estudo de caso brasileiro sobre redes de distribuição." [s.n.], 2009. http://repositorio.unicamp.br/jspui/handle/REPOSIP/258184.
Full textAbstract:
Orientador: Douglas TaclaDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo
Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-12T11:18:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Quagliato_GiulianoBatagin_M.pdf: 1392096 bytes, checksum: 2348fe37c161006a95ff3803b0ad4412 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009
Resumo: Atualmente, há uma grande quantidade de pesquisas realizadas para determinar o perfil de redes de distribuição em função de conceitos existentes na literatura. Há vários estudos disponíveis que apresentam modelos com base em variáveis que ao serem combinadas entre si proporcionam determinações teóricas de redes de distribuição, tais quais, volumes, distâncias, entre outros. Em contra partida, existem no mercado empresas do setor logístico que operam através de redes de distribuição construídas com embasamento prático para atender uma demanda de clientes de qualquer parte do país ou do mundo. Sendo assim, esta dissertação de mestrado visa realizar um estudo sobre redes de distribuição comparativamente aos modelos propostos na literatura disponível e confrontar com a realidade de redes de distribuição do Brasil através de um estudo de caso. Para isso, a proposta é utilizar dados provenientes de um operador logístico para que, quando aplicados, seja possível comparar métodos propostos na literatura de redes de distribuição com resultados práticos. Feitas as comparações relevantes, cria-se um procedimento e calculam-se os custos de transportes e de armazenagem através de uma ferramenta de análise e identificam-se potenciais ganhos monetários. Por fim, a conclusão se dá com exposição dos resultados obtidos através da aplicação dos procedimentos criados e comparando as fontes sobre redes de distribuição validadas através da aplicação de dados reais.
Abstract: At the present, there is a big quantity of researches to determine the profile of the supply chain in function of existent concepts in the literature. There are several available studies that present models based on variables that while being combined between each other provide theoretical determinations of supply chain, just like, volumes, distances, between others. On the other hand, there are in the market companies of the logistics sector which operate through supply chain built with practical foundation to attend a clients' demand of any part of the country or of the world. Being so, this dissertation of master's degree aims to carry out a study on supply chain comparatively to the models proposed in the available literature and to confront with the reality of supply chain of Brazil through a case study. For that, the proposal is to use data originating from a Third Party Logistics Provider to, when applied, be possible to compare methods proposed in the literature on supply chain with practical results. When the relevant comparisons were done, a proceeding is created and the transportation and storage costs are calculated through a tool of analysis and the potential monetary profits are identified. Finally, the conclusion will be with the exhibition of the results obtained through the application of the procedures previously built and comparing with the sources on supply chain and taking the application of real case as a validation.
Mestrado
Transportes
Mestre em Engenharia Civil
37
Lundquist, Philip. "Operation strategies of using energy storage for improving cost efficiency of wind farms. : Examining emergency power supply and support services." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Elektricitetslära, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-447078.
Full textAbstract:
With the increase in the world energy demand and environmental incentives, renewable energy sources (RES) need to determine their place as some of the primary power sources in future power systems. However, due to uncertain energy production, renewable energy sources cause unbalance in the power system due to the unsynchronized supply and electricity demand. The intermittent power production causes undesired power fluctuation, affecting the power quality and reliability of the power source. Energy storage is one solution that is debated to increase the reliability of renewable energy production. This thesis aims to model and simulate hybrid energy storage system (HESS), constructed of hydrogen and ultracapacitor energy storage, to investigate different operation strategies for everyday use and crises. The two different energy storage technologies complement each other, where hydrogen fuel cells can produce power for long periods of time while the ultracapacitor can quickly maintain the balance of production and consumption of electricity for a short instance. The HESS showed promising results for emergency power supply and supported service operation strategies. In case of a power shortage, the HESS could cover for the disconnected production. The ultracapacitor proved to be a suitable component due to its ability to support the shortcomings of a hydrogen energy storage system. Moreover, the HESS could meet the requirements to deliver support services. However, further studies have to be done to investigate how the HESS can deliver multiple support services to increase profit and help maintain the power system's balance and security.
38
Hiasat, Shuja'a Ahmad Abdelfattah. "Stock price and cost of debt reaction to changes in cash flow from operations." Master's thesis, Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/20218.
Full textAbstract:
Mestrado em FinançasInvestigamos como o fluxo de caixa das operações afeta o retorno do preço das ações e o custo da dívida e comparamos o efeito relativo do fluxo de caixa versus o lucro líquido nos dois custos de financiamento. Este documento também compara a liquidez entre os índices STOXX Europe 600 e Amman 100 (ASE100), usando quatro medidas: Fluxo de Caixa das Operações, Retorno Ajustado ao Mercado, Retorno Anormal Cumulativo e o Custo da Dívida e seu impacto relativo na associação de fluxo de caixa com custo de capital. Os dados trimestrais utilizados para esta pesquisa são de empresas de capital aberto da Jordânia e de países europeus, de 2009 a 2018. Este estudo contribui para a literatura, pois fornece evidências sobre a associação relativa de ganhos e fluxos de caixa com o custo da dívida e retorno das ações. Também somos os primeiros a considerar qualquer efeito de liquidez de mercado nessa associação. Os resultados mostram um efeito positivo do fluxo de caixa das operações no retorno do preço das ações. Também mostra uma associação negativa e uma influência mais significativa do fluxo de caixa das operações do que o lucro líquido no custo da dívida, reduzindo-o. Além disso, o documento também mostra que o fluxo de caixa das operações tende a influenciar o retorno anormal acumulado e o custo da dívida de uma maneira melhor na Jordânia (um mercado menos líquido) do que no mercado europeu mais desenvolvido.
We investigate how the Cash Flow from Operations affects both the Stock Price Return and the Cost of Debt and compare the relative effect of Cash Flow versus Net Income on both costs of financing. This paper also compares the liquidity between STOXX Europe 600 and Amman stock exchange 100 (ASE100) indexes using four measures, Cash Flow from Operations, Market Adjusted Return, Cumulative Abnormal Return, and the Cost of Debt and its relative impact on Cash flow association with cost of capital. The quarterly data used for this research comes from publicly listed firms from Jordan and European countries, from 2009 through 2018. This study contributes to literature since it provides evidence on the relative association of Earnings and cash flows with cost of debt and stock returns. We are also the first to consider any market liquidity effect on this association. The results show a positive effect of Cash Flow from Operations on Stock Price Returns. It also shows a negative association and a more significant influence from Cash Flow from Operations than Net Income on the Cost of Debt, by reducing it. Furthermore, the paper also shows Cash Flow from Operations tend to influence the Cumulative Abnormal Return and the Cost of Debt in a better way in Jordan (a less liquid market) than in the more developed European market.
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
39
Soler, Rafael Ribeiro. "Desempenho operacional e econômico do ensaio de uma plantadora tripla automatizada de mudas florestais /." Botucatu, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11449/192922.
Full textAbstract:
Orientador: Saulo Philipe Sebastião GuerraResumo: O aumento da área plantada com florestas vem movimentando o setor de desenvolvimento de máquinas e equipamentos, que buscam inovar o mercado com novas soluções para a silvicultura. Sendo assim, novas alternativas surgem para a operação de plantio, com opções totalmente mecanizadas, a fim de aumentarem o rendimento e também agregarem funções em uma mesma operação. Com isso, avaliou-se uma plantadora tripla automatizada, que possui um sistema de georreferenciamento que controla sua movimentação e os locais a serem plantados. Foram mensurados os rendimentos operacionais em dois diferentes espaçamentos entre plantas, 3,5 x 1,8m e 3,5 x 2,3 m, sendo as mudas recém-plantadas avaliadas quanto à qualidade do plantio e seus espaçamentos aferidos como forma de avaliar o sistema de georreferenciamento. Após estas avaliações, realizou-se a análise econômica da operação, utilizando o modelo COST Action FP 0902. Os tratamentos adotados foram os espaçamentos entre plantas, adotando-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado para análise dos rendimentos operacionais. Enquanto que para a análise qualitativa do plantio foram verificados a profundidade do plantio, a posição da muda em relação a cova e número de mudas por cova, bem como os espaçamentos entre plantas para cada tratamento. Considerando a análise dos rendimentos operacionais, houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os tratamentos para o mesmo rendimento, e também entre os rendimentos para o mesmo tratamento. Os valores... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)
Abstract: The increase in the planted area with forests has been moving the sector for the development of machinery and equipment, which seeks to innovate the market with new solutions for forestry. Thus, new alternatives appear for the planting operation, with fully mechanized options, to accelerate the yield and also add functions in the same operation. Thereby, an automated triple planter was evaluated, which has a georeferencing system that controls its movement and the spots to be planted. Yields were measured in two different spacing between plants, 3.5 x 1.8 m and 3.5 x 2.3 m, with the newly planted seedlings were evaluated for planting quality and their spacing measured as a way to evaluate the georeferencing system. After these evaluations, an economic analysis of the operation was carried out, using the COST Action FP 0902 model. The treatments adopted were the spacing between plants, adopting a completely randomized design for the analysis of the yields. While for the qualitative analysis of the planting, the planting depth was verified, the position of the seedling in relation to the pitch and the number of seedlings per pitch, as well as the spacing between plants for each treatment. Considering the analysis of the yields, there was a statistically significant difference between treatments for the same yield, and also between yields for the same treatment. The average values calculated for the yield without refilling were 893 seedlings hour-1 and 703 seedlings hour-1 for t... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)
Doutor
40
Riedel, Henrik G. A. H. "The spirit of Sparta conquers the skies." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/53686.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The emergence of low cost airlines (LCAs) has attracted attention from passengers, competitors, the public, and researchers alike. It seems prodigious that LCAs prosper in today's time of economic downturn and are therefore able to counter the industry's trend. lATA's member airlines have accumulated losses of $31 billion since the beginning of the new millennium. Furthermore, industry icons such as American Airlines and British Airways are fighting for survival while some, namely Air Canada, are on the edge of bankruptcy: a fate which others, like Sabena, have not been able to escape. However, the low cost business model has triumphantly entered the aviation market since the deregulation of the markets in the U.S. in 1978. Low cost airlines like Southwest Airlines and Ryanair not only achieve double-digit profit margins, but also have the highest market capitalisation of the industry. This thesis examines the reason for the success of LCAs in the U.S. and EU. LCAs operate with a much lower cost base than most carriers, especially the major hut-and-spoke (H&S) airlines. The low cost business model aims at increasing both aircraft and staff productivity. It also simplifies the sequence of operations workflow and pricing structure. The thesis gives special consideration to the cost structure of LCAs. The advantages of LCAs lie within the areas such as labour, seat density, and distribution. The second objective of this thesis is to evaluate the development of LCAs and consider the implications for the European transport industry. Whereas American LCAs have operated for more than twenty-five years, the boom of their European counterparts did not commence until the end of the 1990s. Ryanair and easyJet have growth rates of more than thirty percent. The author agrees with the expectations of aviation experts that LCAs will grow until they serve approximately a quarter of the market; hence, the business model of low cost is sustainable. However, only three to four low cost airlines will survive the fierce competition in Europe.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die dringendheid van lae koste lugrederye (LKL'e) het die aandag getrek van passasiers, mededingers, die publiek en navorsers. Dit is vreemd dat LKL'e floreer in die huidige ekonomiese afswaai en gevolglik die tendens van die industrie teenwerk. Lugrederye, wat lid is van "lATA" , het sedert die begin van die eeu verliese gelei van 31 biljoen dollar. Daar teenoor is industriele ikone soos die Amerikaanse en Britse lugdienste (American Airlines and British Airways) besig om te veg vir oorlewing, terwyl ander soos die Kanadese lugdiens (Air Canada) op die grens van bankrotskap is: 'n ramp wat sommige soos Sabena nie kon vryspring nie. Sedert die deregulering van die lugvaart in die VSA in 1978 het die lae koste besigheidsmodel egter die mark triomfanlik betree. Lae koste lugrederye soos SuidWes lugdiens en Ryanair ervaar nie alleen dubbel-syfer wins-marges nie, maar het ook die hoogste mark-kapitalisasie in die industrie. Hierdie verhandeling ondersoek die redes vir die sukses van LKL'e in die V.SA en E.U. LKL'e werk teen 'n baie laer koste basis as die meeste vervoerders, veral die belangrikste "hub-and-spoke" lugrederye. Die doel van die lae koste besigheidsmodel is om beide die vliegtuie en die personeel se produktiwiteit te verhoog. Dit vereenvoudig ook die volgorde van prosedures, werkvloei en prysstruktuur. Hierdie verhandeling gee spesiale aandag aan die kostestruktuur van LKL'e. Die voordele van LKL'e lê op die gebied van arbeid, sitplekplasing en verspreiding. Die tweede doel van hierdie verhandeling is om die ontwikkeling van LKL'e te evalueer en te kyk na die invloed op die Europese vervoer-industrie. Die Amerikaanse LKL'e word reeds vir meer as vyf-en-twintig jaar bedryf terwyl hulle Europese eweknie nie 'n opswaai voor die einde van die 1990's ervaar het nie. Ryanair en easy Jet het 'n groei getoon van meer as 30%. Die argument is dat volgens lugvaartkundiges die LKL'e sal groei totdat dit ongeveer 'n kwart van die mark bedien; daarom sal die lae koste model die beste oorleef. Nogtans sal slegs drie of vier van die lae koste lugrederye egter die hewige kompetisie in Europa oorleef.
41
Frost, John Ewen. "Operations and maintenance cost for new major U.S. Coast Guard platforms: projected versus actual costs." Thesis, Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/10945/27185.
Full text
42
Lee, Wei-Shan, and 李偉山. "Airline Route Cost Analysis for Chartered Operation." Thesis, 2010. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/8hqf87.
Full textAbstract:
碩士國立虎尾科技大學
航空與電子科技研究所
99
The purpose of this research is to analyze and evaluate the route costs for chartered airline operations. In contrast to traditional scheduled route airlines, who typically use unit cost per available seat-kilometer (ASM) or passenger seat-kilometer (PSK) as the performance index, charter airlines, being exempt from the risk of load factors concerns, normally adopt block-hour rate as the cost index. As for the cost structure for the operation of a flight route, this research focuses on analyzing the direct operating costs (DOC) because indirect operating costs may vary with company strategies and marketing requirements and have no definite judging standards. Many studies and literatures have been conducted on the analysis of direct operating cost for the airline operation. However, most researches failed to classify these cost items systematically, and therefore caused it difficult to analyze cost structure effectively to support the airline operation strategy or cost control. In view of the above deficiencies, the approach of this research proceeds in the following three aspects. Firstly, literatures on cost structure for the airline operations are reviewed. The cost items of DOC are categorized into five major groups, i.e., A (Aircraft), C (Crew), M (Maintenance), I (Insurance) and O (Operation). Characteristics of respective cost items are also discussed. Secondly, navigation and related charges are collected to construct the database. The data collected range from North-eastern Asia to South-eastern Asia, including major international airports in Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia. A case study is then performed in the third part of the thesis for a charter airline, who intended to operate 「ICN-TPE-REP」 and 「PUS-TPE-REP」scheduled charter flights. The results show that the fuel cost has the biggest share and is over 44 % of the operation cost, which highlights the difficulties in cost-down control, especially for small-sized carriers, under current high-fuel price environment. Flight-related costs (the O-group) forms the second largest portion (26.7 %) of the operation cost, which may be the main field the airline may persue for cost down. On the other hand, maintenance, crews and aircraft cost, each including less than 15.2 %, respectively, of the operation cost, illustrate the facts that the common salary-cutting strategy of the direct operating personnel used by airline corporations may have little effects on the cost down. Although current research calculates the direct operating cost for a specific chartered route as a case study, the methodology, nevertheless, is also applicable for scheduled route cost evaluations. Based on the airport charges dataset we have established, the methodology of this research can be applied, with minor parameter modification, to support airline operation in evaluating route costs when they intend to operate scheduled as well as chartered regional flights in Eastern Asia.
43
Chang, Ming-Yi, and 張明宜. "Computation of Optimal Operation Cost for Deregulated Power Systems." Thesis, 2005. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/38322261698255314286.
Full textAbstract:
碩士國立中正大學
電機工程所
93
Liberation of the electricity environment has been taking place in many countries. It will bring about significant changes in generation and transmission patterns. The electric power market is gradually opened up from the monopolistic market to the competitive one. Customers will no longer deal with an integrated electric utility, and may get power from various utilities through wheeling. Therefore, study on wheeling costing is getting more and more attention in recent years. This thesis is an attempt to explore the pool operation scenarios, and the problems of power economic dispatch and operation considering power wheeling pricing in the multi-area power system. The economic dispatch problem for multi-area power systems is essentially an optimization problem, which finds optimal power generations to minimize the total cost subject to some constraints. This work attempts to provide the hybrid differential evolution (HDE) method to solve the optimization problem of determining the economic power generations and minimizing the total cost composed of the units fuel cost and the power wheeling cost. The constrains imposed on the optimization model include the power balance, unit generation capacity, and transmission capacity limits. The proposed method requires to determine the available transfer capability (ATC) of the transmission network to judge if the transmission capacity limits are observed. Finally, two example systems are used to demonstrate the proposed method, and to verify the effectiveness of the method.
44
Rosa, Tiago Miguel Raposo. "Airports’ Performance and Efficiency Concerning Low-Cost Carriers Operation." Master's thesis, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.6/7928.
Full textAbstract:
In the last decade, LCCs (Low-cost Carriers) growth has created a more complex airline–airport–
passenger relationship. Airports depend on airlines decision to operate in their infrastructures.
However, LCCs have different service demands than legacy carriers. The study of LCCs’ growth
enables airport’s decision makers to identify their positive and negative impacts on KPAs and
on KPIs and therefore the impacts on airport’s global performance and efficiency. With this
information, airports’ decision makers can structure their short and long-term actions plans
and initiatives considering LCCs’ operation impacts.
This research focuses on assessing airport’s performance and efficiency due to LCCs’ operations
through an internal benchmarking. For this purpose, MACBETH (Measuring Attractiveness by a
Categorical Based Evaluation Technique) was the Multi-Criteria Decision Analyses (MCDA)
methodology chosen using the PESA–AGB (Performance Efficiency Support Analysis – Airport
Global Benchmarking) model. Moreover, a statistical analysis is carried out, using LCCs’ traffic
and PESA–AGB model outputs, to identify and quantify the airports’ KPAs (key performance
areas) and airports’ overall scores that have a greater correlation with LCCs’ operations
evolution, during an eleven years’ period (2003-2013), using Microsoft Excel and SPSS
(Statistical Package for the Social Sciences).
The final results depict a set of KPAs with a high level of correlation with the number of LCCs’
passengers and movements. Moreover, high Pearson correlation coefficients were determined
when the correlation between the three airports’ overall performance and efficiency scores
and LCCs’ traffic was studied.Na última década, o crescimento das companhias aéreas de baixo custo criou uma nova relação mais complexa entre a companhia aérea, o aeroporto e o passageiro. Os aeroportos dependem da decisão das companhias aéreas de operar nas suas infraestruturas. No entanto, as companhias aéreas de baixo custo têm exigências operacionais diferentes das companhias de aéreas de bandeira/tradicionais. O estudo do crescimento das companhias aéreas de baixo custo permite que aos gestores dos aeroportos identificar os seus impactos positivos e negativos nas áreas e indicadores de desempenho e consequentemente os impactos no desempenho e eficiência globais do aeroporto. Com essa informação, os gestores aeroportuários podem estruturar seus planos de ações de curto e longo prazo e iniciativas considerando os impactos da operação de companhias de aéreos de baixo custo. Esta pesquisa concentra-se na avaliação do desempenho e eficiência do aeroporto devido à operação de companhias aéreas de baixo custo através de um “benchmarking1” interno. Para isso, a metodologia de análise multicritério de apoio à decisão (MCDA) escolhida foi MACBETH (Measuring Attractiveness by a Categalized Based Evaluation Technique) usando o modelo PESA-AGB (Performance Efficiency Support Analysis – Airport Global Benchmarking). É ainda, realizada uma análise estatística, utilizando o tráfego das companhias aéreas de baixo-custo e os resultados do modelo PESA-AGB para identificar e quantificar as áreas de desempenho dos aeroportos e as pontuações globais dos aeroportos que têm maior correlação com a evolução da operação das companhias aéreas de baixo custo, por um período de onze anos (2003-2013), usando Microsoft Excel e SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Os resultados obtidos permitem identificar um conjunto de áreas de desempenho que apresentam níveis significativos de correlação com o número de passageiros e movimentos das companhias aéreas de baixo custo. Foram determinados elevados coeficientes de correlação de Pearson quando estudadas as correlações entre a pontuação global de desempenho e eficiência dos aeroportos com o trafego das companhias aéreas de baixo custo.
45
Semshikov, E. "Cost-efficient operation and control of isolated power systems." Thesis, 2022. https://eprints.utas.edu.au/47581/.
Full textAbstract:
Remote areas and islands isolated from the main electric power system ensure reliability and stability of power supply using diesel generation. Due to the high purchase and transportation costs of diesel fuel, isolated communities are exploring other options for efficient and reliable power supply.
Renewable energy sources (e.g., wind and solar) can reduce operating costs, although are unable to achieve high penetration without expensive and complex enabling technologies such as energy storage. Furthermore, the stochastic and intermittent nature of renewable sources (i.e., wind and solar) makes the control system complex, decreasing power system reliability and requiring highly qualified personnel in local control centres. To satisfy security needs system operators might keep diesel engines in operation even during high renewable energy penetrations consistently reserving some part of system load to diesel generation. The problem becomes particularly acute when diesel engines are forced to operate at partial load extensively, resulting in poor combustion efficiency and potential engine damage.
In the first part of this research, the thesis investigates how forecast-based operational frameworks of an isolated system can facilitate the transition away from fossil fuel dependency towards sustainable electricity generation. Implementation of forecasting into systems traditionally governed by non-predictive algorithms offers opportunities to reduce regulating reserve requirements and displace diesel generation with renewable energy without compromising system reliability. The impact of forecasting error is evaluated and considered in systems of different sizes and with different compositions of renewable resources. Depending on the system configuration a certain increase in renewable energy penetration, reduced operational costs or both can be observed. The findings also suggest that even a simple forecasting system can lead to substantial operational improvements.
Another part of this research is dedicated to the design of control architecture. In the quest to reduce the reliance on diesel fuel, practical isolated power systems employ
multiple enabling technologies. The isolated power system with multiple technologies may suffer from some overlap in capability and function, leading to reduced asset utilisation. This thesis suggests a cost-efficient control strategy, adopting low load diesel application to reduce fuel consumption and improve renewable energy penetration without overcomplicating the control architecture. Two common control strategies, minimization of operational cost and maximization of renewable energy penetration, are considered and analysed based on the operation of a real-world isolated power system. A mathematical model is initially developed, then validated against real data, to facilitate the comparative assessment of various control approaches. Optimised control methodologies are shown to deliver significant fuel savings, with increased renewable energy penetration, in comparison to conventional management.
46
HAN, CHOU MING, and 周明翰. "A Study of Operation Management by Transaction Cost Theory- The experience of Taipei Operation Association." Thesis, 2014. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/94420085467420401755.
Full textAbstract:
碩士世新大學
企業管理研究所(含碩專班)
102
Operation is very important all over the building, and had a long history. According to the law of business in Taiwan, Operation Association is the application platform between government and business man. This thesis was based on association to research the process of management by documentary analysis and in-depth interviewing. According to this research, Taipei Operation Association was lacked the ability to play the role of inter-communication between government and business man, because of it has not any authority and influence to do anything. By this research, we propose Taipei Operation Association to reset the function of the politics, economy, social and education role; on the other hand, Taipei Operation Association can improve the operation management and quality by activity for public welfare.
47
ni, Pj, and 倪萍均. "System planning and operation cost analysis of heat recovery chiller." Thesis, 2009. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/27506950650044491002.
Full textAbstract:
碩士國立勤益科技大學
冷凍空調系
97
ABSTRACT The different heat recovery chiller mode and chilled water system are studied to analyze the three different heat recovery modes and various design of chilled water piping. The recovered heat is kept above the minimum requirement under light air conditioning load. The energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions of the conventional chiller with various boilers are compared with the heat recovery chiller to verify its economical and environmental value in the air conditioning systems. A heat recovery chiller used in a full make-up air cleanroom system is analyzed during January 2009. The energy cost and carbon dioxide emissions are studied. The cost and carbon dioxide emission of conventional chiller with electric heater is 10.64 times of the heat recovery chiller. The cost of conventional chiller with Diesel boiler is 12.31 times of the heat recovery chiller, while the carbon dioxide emission is 5.6 times. The cost of conventional chiller with natural gas is 8.73 times of the heat recovery chiller, while the carbon dioxide emission is 4.49 times. The results show that the proper design of air conditioning system will save the energy and reduce the carbon dioxide emissions.
48
TONG, CHIA-YUN, and 董家昀. "An Optimization of Electric Scooter Battery swapping station Operation Cost." Thesis, 2018. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/e536x7.
Full textAbstract:
碩士逢甲大學
工業工程與系統管理學系
106
In this study, we used a particle swarm optimization algorithm to solve the minimize cost of an electric scooter battery swapping and used Matlab 2015b to assist in the composition of the PSO. In order to analyze the problems commonly faced by battery swapping stations, that is, sometimes no full battery can be swap, so we have built a mathematical model to solve the following problems. How many batteries should be prepare and how much battery inventory is needed, and considering the cost of damage to the charge, these issues need to be balanced. Expect to help domestic electric mobility companies, while setting up battery exchange stations and expanding the power grid, can help assess the number of batteries that need to be set up.
49
Chang, Chun-Hao, and 張君豪. "OPTIMAL OPERATION FOR COGENERATION SYSTEMS WITH CONSIDERATION OF THE WHEELING COST." Thesis, 2001. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/49858504404739492481.
Full textAbstract:
碩士大同大學
電機工程研究所
89
The discussion of this thesis aim on the co-generation System mixed with back-pressure type and extraction condensing type. Under the prerequisite of meeting the steam demand in the factory and considering the time-of-use rate and the concerned limitation, we apply Successive Approximations Dynamic Programming (SADP) to get the optimum dispatch mode for every boiler and co-generation system, and achieve the goal of reducing cost and energy. In order to minimize the error between the simulating result and real operation, this thesis cited a simple and efficient method in system identification -- Test the Goodness of the Fit of the Model─to decide the best order and coefficient of unit I/O curve. We also take the suggestion of the operation staff in Chinese Petroleum Corporation into consideration, and simulate the operation after adding new machine. We showed the result with a diagram, and also research the kinds of fine imposing regulation made between the Co-generation Plant and TPC to analyze which way can save the contract-overtaking fine and is more beneficial to the former. The liberation of electricity industry has been the main trend of electricity industry reformation in every country around the world. Following the electricity industry liberation policy of the government in the future and the transmission service is opened, more and more co-generation plants will purchase / sell power directly from the electricity consumers and or the local distribution sectors with the bilateral mode. Then the total cost of the co-generation plant includes the fuel and water cost of generator machine, and the wheeling cost in addition. The thesis also researches the influence of wheeling cost on co-generation plants, which can provide reference to co-generation plants when facing the liberation of electricity market in the future.
50
Chen, Hung-Chieh, and 陳弘杰. "A Study on Building and Operation Cost of Air Cargo Terminal." Thesis, 2012. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/48231715029165545388.
Full textAbstract:
碩士國立高雄海洋科技大學
航運管理研究所
100
ABSTRACT An air cargo terminal is one of the important spot of the international logistics process. So far, the studies were almost focus on the “Organizational Change”, ”Before and after the performance on Privatization”, “Service Quality”, “Customer Satisfaction”, and” Business Strategy” of air cargo terminal. All of them were not research about the “Building and Operation Costs”. This study were base on the case study approach, and focus on: Construct, analysis and comparison the build and operation Cost model of two types (“Traditional labor-intensive” and “Higher degree of automation”) air cargo terminal. At last, we use the actual data to investigate the cost structure of the annual handling capacity under the same premise.