Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Environmental capacity evaluation'

Since the inception of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), considerable emphasis has been placed on the use of prospective policy analysis tools that aim to inform environmental decisions, including cost-benefit analysis and risk assessment. However, compared to the prevalence of ex ante analysis at the EPA to inform decisions, relatively little evaluation of these same environmental policies is conducted after implementation, to inform future policy development or to modify existing policies.

This dissertation applied accountability, organizational learning, evaluation capacity, and institutionalism literature in consideration of processes and determinants that affect evaluation supply at the EPA. The dissertation relied on archival documents, semi-structured interviews, and three embedded case studies of EPA’s ambient air, hazardous waste, and performance partnership programs. Ten key factors were identified across the three case studies in this research that affect EPA's production of program evaluation to inform decision-making, and a new emergent model of evaluation capacity was proposed for EPA given the agency's regulatory structure. This research concludes that evaluation has much to offer EPA decision-makers, and efforts to improve evaluation capacity will present organizational learning opportunities that can further support the agency's evidence-building practices, specifically improving the application and use of program evaluation at EPA.

Amid the global efforts surrounding United Nations' Millennium Development Goal Target 7c to improve access to safe and sustainable drinking water among populations who lack this resource, it has become essential to monitor and evaluate progress. Development initiatives working to achieve improved drinking water access often introduce appropriate technologies designed to be sustainably owned and operated by populations in rural areas suffering from water related hardships. It is valuable to thoroughly examine the degree to which these technologies satisfy intended objectives and affect user experienced water access. The accurate reflection of impact and progress can be complex, as the evaluation of water supplies can be made based on a variety of indicators that range from "improved' or "unimproved" water source definitions to measurements of the capacity of a source to satisfy desirable conditions related to water quality, quantity, reliability, or user's preference. The goals of this research are to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the effects of two appropriate technologies on local water access using an assortment of methods including: water quality analysis, visual and manual inspection, user interviews, and an overall sustainability analysis. In Panama, the indigenous Ng[oumlaut]be people in the [Ntilde][oumlaut]Kribo coastal area are a group disproportionately affected by a lack of improved access to drinking water and challenges to the feasibility of piped gravity fed water systems that typically serve the rest of the country. An NGO aiming to ameliorate this situation introduced two improved groundwater supply technologies to the region: bailers and EMAS hand pumps. This study assesses the comparative performance of these systems and evaluates the respective performances of existing water sources, using the wide variety of quantitative and qualitative data obtained. The data collected in this investigation suggested that bailers and EMAS pumps yielded a mixed level of performance based on physical, chemical, and bacteriological water quality measurements in the shallow wells of the study environment. The technologies generally satisfied international guidelines and expected ranges based on chemical and physical parameters such as conductivity, TDS, and turbidity (with 57% of samples under 5 NTU). EMAS hand pumps demonstrated excellent bacteriological water quality with all samples indicating undetectable levels of E.coli, while bailers had a fair performance with 83% of samples falling into a range signifying intermediate to no associated health risk. When comparing the overall water quality performance between the two hand augered well systems and with existing sources, the results indicated that bailers and EMAS pumps performed similarly in all aspects except for bacteriological quality. Overall, analysis based on groupings of "improved" and "unimproved" sources yielded very little distinction between the two categories when considering chemical, physical, and bacteriological parameters. This highlights the added value of using alternative indicators such as WHO guidelines to assess water sources, despite the challenges associated with field water quality sampling. Interview data demonstrated that hand augered wells significantly improved household water access in the study area based on user considerations by providing a reliable water drinking water alternative with adequate quantities of water perceived to be clean. Accordingly, the improved water systems were integrated as a resilient water source into a socio-cultural context noting variable dependence on multiple water sources with categorized, appropriate related water uses set informally by Ng[oumlaut]be families. The overall sustainability analysis found EMAS hand pump and bailer technologies to be effective and appropriate; featuring low costs, few materials, and simple designs. Bailer systems were considered to be especially promising for applications in similar remote areas with high groundwater tables. However, the ultimate sustainability of both systems in the local context was found to be largely dependent on factors related to the development strategy adopted while implementing these systems in the [Ntilde][oumlaut]Kribo area.

Kyoto University (京都大学)
0048
新制・課程博士
博士(工学)
甲第14561号
工博第3029号
新制||工||1451(附属図書館)
26913
UT51-2009-D273
京都大学大学院工学研究科都市環境工学専攻
(主査)教授 松岡 譲, 教授 酒井 伸一, 准教授 倉田 学児
学位規則第4条第1項該当

Extreme weather events can result in natural disasters, and climate change can cause these weather events to occur more often and with more intensity. Because of social and physical vulnerabilities, climate change and extreme weather often affect coastal communities. As climate change continues to be a factor for many coastal communities, and environmental hazards and vulnerability continue to increase, the need for adaptation may become a reality for many communities. However, very few studies have been done on the effect climate change and mitigation measures implemented in response to climate change have on a community’s adaptive capacity. This single instrumental case study will examine the effects of climate change and policy responses to climate change on the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe located in Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana, in order to discover how climate change affects the adaptive capacity of an indigenous population intricately tied to the surrounding ecosystem. This study will provide information on how the community plans to adapt to climate change, and the urban planning and hazard mitigation methods that can be used to facilitate the process. It also posits how government agencies can empower local communities to participate in mitigation planning, and provide local knowledge in order to make those plans more effective. As climate change continues to affect our coastal environments, it will continue to have an effect on our coastal communities. Understanding the strength and longevity of community adaptation in Pointe aux Chenes will help the community respond to the changes and increasing hazards in the environment. This understanding can be applied to all coastal communities facing similar challenges the world over.

Orientador: Roberto Braga
Banca: Ana Maria Marques Camargo Marangoni
Banca: Pompeu Figueiredo de Carvalho
Resumo: Indicadores são ferramentas importantes para a tomada de decisões e para o empoderamento da população, na construção de melhores condições de vida. Sua utilização é uma forma de quantificar os resultados de ações de governo para, juntamente com análises e ações políticas, compor um método de avaliação global da gestão pública. Este trabalho teve por objetivo construir indicadores que avaliem a capacidade de gestão ambiental urbana dos governos locais das cidades médias paulistas, considerando que esta deve ser uma gestão essencialmente integrada aos demais setores da administração, desde sua estrutura administrativa até a participação da comunidade nas instâncias institucionais, garantindo avanços significativos na proteção ao meio ambiente. Foram consideradas três dimensões institucionais - normativa, participativa e financeira - para elaboração de índices parciais que, posteriormente, foram condensados em um indicador síntese, o Índice de Capacidade de Gestão - ICG, apresentado em três categorias, alta, média e baixa. Como decorrência, foi realizado o ranqueamento destas cidades. Na sua aplicação, é possível agregar informações quantitativas e qualitativas de várias dimensões, conferindo maior consistência às análises locais e regionais das cidades médias, configurando-se, portanto, como um importante subsídio ao planejamento regional e em avaliações de desempenho da gestão pública municipal.
Abstract: Indicators are important tools for decision-making and the empowerment of the population looking for better life conditions. Their use is a way to quantify the government actions results for, jointly with subjective and politics analysis, compose a method of global evaluation of the public management. The purpose of this work is to verify the possibility to construct indicators capable to evaluate the capacity of urban environmental management by local governments of São Paulo’ medium cities. Considering that must be a management essentially integrated to the others sectors of the administration, since the administrative structure up to community participation in the institutional instances, guaranteeing advancements towards environmental protection. Three institutional dimensions - normative, participatory and financial - were considered for partial index elaboration that were condensed in a synthesis indicator, the Index of Management Capacity - ICG, presented in three categories, high, medium and low, and in the ranking of medium cities. In its application, it is possible to add quantitative and qualitative informations of several dimensions, granting bigger consistency to the local and regional analysis of medium cities. Therefore, this index configuring itself as an important subsidy to the regional planning and management performance evaluations.
Mestre

Thesis (S.M. in Transportation)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2010.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-89).
Analyzing the capacity impact of different diverse interventions on the network is essential in understanding the causes of congestion. In this thesis, a framework to understand the effects of different disruption events and activities on the network has been presented. A common unit, independent of network and type of intervention, has been used in this regard. Expressing the capacity impacts on this common unit (referred to as 'common capacity currency' in this thesis) will be useful in assessing the relative scale or intensity of the different types of interventions across networks of different size and traffic flow levels. A network from central London, U.K. has been used to quantify the capacity impact of interventions. The network, located near Victoria station area of London, is a complex and dense urban network within the congestion charging zone. MITSIMLab, a microscopic traffic simulation laboratory developed for evaluating different traffic management systems has been used for the purpose of capacity analysis. To measure the capacity of a network in MITSIMLab, the network is flooded with vehicles by scaling the origin-destination (OD) matrix. The network is assumed to reach its capacity when pre-trip queues start forming that is no further vehicles can be loaded in the network. The total distance travelled by all the vehicles in one hour when the network has reached its capacity are noted and converted to passenger-car-unit (PCU)-km per hour. The average speeds of the vehicles at capacity are also compared. To understand the impact of interventions on network capacity, street-works and illegally parked vehicles are simulated at different levels of complexity. The common capacity. currencies (PCU-km per hour) are compared with the base case which didn't include any interventions. The results of the capacity analysis predicted a drop in network capacities and average speeds under different scenarios correctly as expected. Street-works resulted in a greater drop in network capacity and average speed than a near-side lane disruption. Further, among the scenarios tested for near side lane disruptions, a 1 minute disruption every 3 minutes caused the greatest reduction in network capacity and average speed.
by Sujith Reddy Rapolu.
S.M.in Transportation

ASICs estruturados com leiautes regulares representam uma das soluções para a perda de rendimento de fabricação de circuitos integrados em tecnologias nanométricas causada pela distorção de fotolitografia. Um método de projeto de circuitos integrados ainda mais restritivo resulta em ASICs estruturados configuráveis apenas pelas camadas de vias, que são compostos pela repetição do mesmo modelo de bloco em todas as camadas do leiaute, exceto as camadas de vias. A escolha do modelo de bloco tem grande influência nas características do circuito final, criando a demanda por novas ferramentas de CAD que possam avaliar e comparar tais modelos em seus diversos aspectos. Esta tese descreve um ambiente de CAD baseado em SAT, capaz de avaliar o aspecto de capacidade lógica em padrões de blocos configuráveis por vias. O ambiente proposto é genérico, podendo tratar quaisquer padrões de bloco definido pelo usuário, e se comporta de maneira eficiente quando aplicado aos principais padrões já publicados na literatura.
Structured ASICs with regular layouts comprise a design-based solution for IC manufacturing yield loss in nanometer technologies caused by photolithography distortions. Via-configurable structured ASICs is even a more restrictive digital IC design method, based on the repetition of a block template comprising all layout layers except the vias one. The choice of such a design strategy impacts greatly the final circuit characteristics, arising the need for specific CAD tools to allow template evaluation and comparison in different aspects. This work presents a SAT-based CAD environment for evaluating the logical capacity aspect of via-configurable block templates. The proposed environment is able to support any user-defined template, and behaves efficiently when applied to block templates presented in related literature.

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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)
Indicadores são ferramentas importantes para a tomada de decisões e para o empoderamento da população, na construção de melhores condições de vida. Sua utilização é uma forma de quantificar os resultados de ações de governo para, juntamente com análises e ações políticas, compor um método de avaliação global da gestão pública. Este trabalho teve por objetivo construir indicadores que avaliem a capacidade de gestão ambiental urbana dos governos locais das cidades médias paulistas, considerando que esta deve ser uma gestão essencialmente integrada aos demais setores da administração, desde sua estrutura administrativa até a participação da comunidade nas instâncias institucionais, garantindo avanços significativos na proteção ao meio ambiente. Foram consideradas três dimensões institucionais - normativa, participativa e financeira - para elaboração de índices parciais que, posteriormente, foram condensados em um indicador síntese, o Índice de Capacidade de Gestão - ICG, apresentado em três categorias, alta, média e baixa. Como decorrência, foi realizado o ranqueamento destas cidades. Na sua aplicação, é possível agregar informações quantitativas e qualitativas de várias dimensões, conferindo maior consistência às análises locais e regionais das cidades médias, configurando-se, portanto, como um importante subsídio ao planejamento regional e em avaliações de desempenho da gestão pública municipal.
Indicators are important tools for decision-making and the empowerment of the population looking for better life conditions. Their use is a way to quantify the government actions results for, jointly with subjective and politics analysis, compose a method of global evaluation of the public management. The purpose of this work is to verify the possibility to construct indicators capable to evaluate the capacity of urban environmental management by local governments of São Paulo medium cities. Considering that must be a management essentially integrated to the others sectors of the administration, since the administrative structure up to community participation in the institutional instances, guaranteeing advancements towards environmental protection. Three institutional dimensions - normative, participatory and financial - were considered for partial index elaboration that were condensed in a synthesis indicator, the Index of Management Capacity - ICG, presented in three categories, high, medium and low, and in the ranking of medium cities. In its application, it is possible to add quantitative and qualitative informations of several dimensions, granting bigger consistency to the local and regional analysis of medium cities. Therefore, this index configuring itself as an important subsidy to the regional planning and management performance evaluations.

Road infrastructures play an important role in the economic improvement of the community in the surrounding area. The better speed, flexibility, and accessibility to reach virtually all points are the distinct features that road infrastructure offers compared with other transport systems. In major disasters, road transportation infrastructure is one of the largest sectors which frequently suffer the most damage and losses. Road transport disruptions are also suggested as the critical constraints to providing effective and efficient responses in an emergency, and that the limited access results in high transport costs and procurement lead times. Accordingly, the reconstruction of the road infrastructure is among the highest post-disaster reconstruction priorities and is expected to help accelerate the overall disaster-recovery process. To achieve the maximum benefit of the investment made in the reconstruction, the road infrastructure requires adequate maintenance. Road maintenance offers significant benefits to the road users through the provision of better access, comfort, and lower vehicle operating costs. Road maintenance neglect may therefore result in increased vehicle costs, accelerated deterioration due to the heavier and more frequent traffic, and severe damages requiring early reconstruction of road. In the case of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia, the pledges made to Aceh exceeded the required amount to restore the affected areas to their original conditions. Accordingly, more than 3600 km of roads were reconstructed whilst initially around 2700 km of roads were destroyed by the disaster. Most of the local roads were reconstructed either by the national government or a donor agency, which were transferred back to the local governments for the operational and maintenance needs. As nearly 80% of the road networks in Indonesia are district roads, the overall quality and sustainability of the road infrastructure are significantly dependent on the capacity of the local governments in road maintenance. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the capacity of the local governments in the maintenance of the road infrastructure assets within the context of the post-disaster reconstruction process. In order to achieve the aim and objectives of the research, this study implemented a pure qualitative method. Multiple case study was selected as the research strategy. Three districts xix were included as the case studies, the district of Aceh Besar, Aceh Jaya and Aceh Barat Daya. Semi-structured interviews with high-level officials, policy makers, and the stakeholders of post-disaster road infrastructure reconstruction at the national, provincial, and the local level were conducted as the primary data collection methods. The data was analysed using the content analysis technique, with the aid of NVivo version 10 software. The findings of the research were validated by the means of the literature review and expert interviews. The findings suggest that the road infrastructure was generally neglected from maintenance. The local governments of the case studies lacked the preventive maintenance culture, and their general responses to preserve the road infrastructure were to postpone the maintenance need by using the more expensive high standard pavement types (HMA) and to repair the roads when they have broken. This condition was affected by a number of internal and external factors. The local political condition, the socio-economic condition, the conflict of authorities between government agencies involved in road maintenance, and the poor financial capacity of the districts, were exacerbated by the poor capacity of the road authorities’ personnel. A framework for the reconstruction and maintenance of road infrastructure assets was also suggested indicating the different phases of road infrastructure life cycle in a post-disaster context.

This action research study investigated the feasibility of building evaluation capacity into the design process of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s (GMFRS) community initiatives. GMFRS runs over 400 community initiatives every year and an appropriate evaluation framework is needed to provide evidence of their impact and effectiveness. Information that previous evaluation processes had failed to provide. The feasibility of establishing an evaluation framework for use by non-specialists users was explored, the development of a new evaluation system for GMFRS was examined critically, and the processes and challenges involved in embedding evaluation within a large public sector emergency service investigated. Mixed research methods -- document analyses, qualitative interviews, observations and focus groups -- were used in the three action research cycles conducted between April 2008 and April 2010. In cycle one, existing evaluation materials and key characteristics of the initiatives were assessed. GMFRS’s community initiatives were found to lack direction, and the existing evaluation tool lacked the detail required for use by personnel with no previous evaluation experience. Hence, new evaluation materials were developed and, in the second cycle, their use was observed, and interviews conducted to ascertain the barriers to evaluation practices. Lack of resources, organisational guidance, and support with evaluation activities were identified as barriers. In the third cycle focus groups were used to gain feedback on the usability of the new evaluation material and processes. The principal conclusions of the research are that there were no theoretical models and/or guidance to assist Emergency Services to develop internal evaluation capacity. Insufficient attention has been paid to organisational support processes to nurture individuals’ evaluation skills and abilities, and to assist complex organisations utilise evaluations. For evaluation to become an embedded and systematic activity, it has to be supported by a project management methodology that underpins evaluation processes.

Since the turn of the last century, a substantial increase in nutrient load to the Baltic Sea is apparent. Adding the ongoing environmental change with raising temperatures and increased precipitation, this will continue to have a prominent environmental impact on our coastal ecosystems, especially in northern latitudes. Constructed wetlands are becoming more important as a mitigation measure to retain nutrients, however, they are until this day not well studied in northern latitudes. In this paper, nutrient retention in a newly constructed wetland is studied during its first month after activation, as well as potential downstream effects in associated sea bay. An additional literature study compiles information about the current knowledge, use and functionality of wetlands surrounding the Baltic Sea. This is done to widen knowledge regarding effectiveness of wetlands as nutrient traps in general, as well as to compare with the studied wetland. A net retention of 30 % for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total phosphorus (TP) was found, as well as 27 % for total nitrogen (TN), 25 % for phosphate (PO43-) and 21 % for nitrate (NO3-). TP was found to be within range of expected retention capacity, when comparing with wetlands included in the synthesis. TN retention, however, seemed to be somewhat greater than in other wetland studies. Furthermore, the retention varied and seemed to be highest during an increased discharge, in the beginning and end of March. This was partly reflected by greater inlet concentrations and transports in most of the parameters during the initial time period. Decreasing temporal trends was seen in concentrations of DOC, total nutrients and NO3- concentrations in the sea bay, indicating an immediate downstream effect of the wetland installation. Findings from the synthesis indicate that there are very few studies in, and thus little knowledge about, wetlands in northern climate. Overall, the results from the pioneer northern wetland in Sörleviken suggest that net retention is possible during its first month post-activation.

Trata-se de uma pesquisa quantitativa, com delineamento transversal a partir do levantamento de dados survey, que objetivou avaliar a capacidade para o trabalho de enfermeiros do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre RS e suas características laborais, hábitos de vida e as medidas de promoção da capacidade para o trabalho. Definiu-se como população do estudo enfermeiros em atividade no hospital. A amostra foi composta por 195 enfermeiros selecionados aleatoriamente. Foi utilizado o instrumento Índice de Capacidade para o Trabalho, validado no Brasil. A leitura dos dados foi realizada pelo Software Sphinx, sendo os mesmos convertidos para o SPSS, V.15 para análises estatísticas. Foram realizadas análises estatísticas descritivas e analíticas; utilizou-se confiança de 95%, a significância de 5%. Os dados mostram que 94,5% dos enfermeiros do hospital são do sexo feminino; com idade média de 42,6 anos (dp=8,5); 66,5% casados ou com companheiros; 76,7% possuem pós – graduação; 92,8% atuam diretamente na assistência. Quanto ao turno de trabalho 36,0% são da noite; 28,4% da manhã e 20,8% da tarde. Trabalham no hospital em média há 14,0 anos (dp=9,4), e no turno atual, em média, há 9,4 anos (dp=8,7), 87,4% dizem sentir-se satisfeitos freqüentemente, 56,8% sentem se valorizados, 85,2 %, não trabalha em outra instituição e estão 70,0% satisfeitos com o seu salário. O escore médio de ICT dos enfermeiros atingiu 41,8 pontos e houve correlação significativa com a remuneração (p-valor<0,05). Há evidências de diferença estatística do ICT médio relacionado à satisfação com o local de trabalho (p-valor=0,001), sentimento de valorização por parte da instituição (p-valor=0,003), e turno de trabalho (p-valor= 0,032). Os aspectos laborais que apresentaram associação com o ICT médio foram: sobrecarga de trabalho (p-valor=0,001), reconhecimento do trabalho real (p-valor=0,003), reconhecimento profissional (p-valor=0,001), comunicação no ambiente de trabalho (p-valor=0,042), possibilidade de tomar decisões com tempo suficiente (p-valor=0,005), possibilidade de fazer melhorias no esquema de trabalho (p-valor=0,001), e número suficiente de pessoas na escala (p-valor=0,050). Constatou-se diferença significativa para o ICT médio do grupo de enfermeiros que realiza programas e atividades em família (p-valor=0,009). Houve diferença significativa para o ICT médio entre os tipos de doenças digestivas, psiquiátricas e geniturinárias (p-valor<0,05). Em relação às medidas sugeridas para melhorar a capacidade para o trabalho, o grupo de enfermeiros com ICT moderado relatou maior número de medidas quando comparado com o grupo que apresentou escores bom e ótimo. Os grupos com capacidade para o trabalho bom ou ótimo apresentaram semelhanças em relação às medidas relatadas. A população de enfermeiros apresentou perfil sociodemográfico e estilo de vida diferenciado, com elevado padrão de saúde e capacidade para o trabalho.
This is a quantitative research, with a cross-sectional delineation from the compilation of the survey data, which aimed to evaluate the work ability of nurses of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre RS and labor characteristics, lifestyle and promotional measures that promote the capacity to work. The study’s population was the nurses in activity at the hospital. The sample consisted of 195 randomly selected nurses. The study used the Work Ability Index, validated in Brazil. The reading of data was performed by Sphinx Software, and they were converted to SPSS V.15 for statistical analysis. There were made descriptive statistics and analytical analysis, we used 95% confidence, the significance of 5%. The data show that 94.5% of hospital nurses are female, with an average age of 42.6 years (SD = 8.5), 66.5% married or with partners, 76.7% have a post - graduate, 92.8% work directly with assistance. As for the shift work, 36.0% work at night, 28.4% in the morning and 20.8% in the afternoon. Working in the hospital for an average of 14.0 years (SD = 9.4), and the current turn, on average, for 9.4 years (SD = 8.7), 87.4% say they feel pleased often, 56.8% feel valued, 85.2%, does not work at another institution and 70.0% are satisfied with their salary. The average score of WAI of nurses reached 41.8 points and had significant correlation with payment (p <0.05). There are evidences of statistical difference of the medium WAI related to satisfaction with the workplace (p = 0.001), feelings of appreciation from the institution (p = 0.003), and shift work (p = 0.032). The labor aspects that were associated with the WAI average were: work overload (p = 0.001), recognition of the real work (p = 0.003), professional recognition (p = 0.001), communication in the workplace (p-value = 0.042), possibility to make decisions with enough time (p = 0.005), possibility to make improvements to the work scheme (p = 0.001), and enough people working (p-value = 0.050). It was found a significant difference for the medium WAI of the group of nurses who carry out family programs and activities (p = 0.009). There was a significant difference in the medium WAI between types of digestive diseases, psychiatric and genitourinary (p <0.05). Regarding the measures suggested to improve the ability to work, the group of nurses with moderate WAI reported more measures when compared with the group that the scores showed good or excellent. The groups with the ability to work good or excellent had some similarities in the measurements reported. The population of nurses showed a sociodemographic profile and distinctive lifestyle with high standard of health and work ability.
Esta es una encuesta cuantitativa, de corte transversal de los datos de la encuesta, que tiene por objeto evaluar la capacidad para el trabajo de las enfermeras del Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, RS y características del trabajo, estilo de vida y medidas de promoción capacidad de trabajo. Se define como el estudio de las enfermeras de la población en la actividad hospitalaria. La muestra consistió de 195 enfermeras seleccionadas al azar. El estudio utilizó el Índice de la Capacidad de Trabajo(ICT), validado en Brasil. La lectura de los datos se realizó mediante la Esfinge de software, y se convierten en V.15 SPSS para el análisis estadístico. Se analizaron con estadística descriptiva y analítica, que utilizó el 95% de confianza, la significación del 5%. Los datos muestran que el 94,5% de las enfermeras de hospicio son mujeres, con una edad media de 42,6 años (SD= 8,5), el 66,5% casados o con los socios, el 76,7% tenían un post - grado , el 92,8% trabaja directamente con la atención. En cuanto al cambio son 36.0% de la noche, el 28,4% y 20,8% en la tarde por la mañana. Trabajo en el hospital por un promedio de 14,0 años (SD=9,4), y el turno actual, en promedio, 9,4 años (SD=8,7), 87,4% dicen que se sienten felices con frecuencia 56,8% se sienten valorados, el 85,2%, no funciona en otra institución y el 70,0% están satisfechos con su salario. La puntuación media de Lo ICT de las enfermeras alcanzó 41.8 puntos y correlación significativa con goce de sueldo (p <0,05). No hay evidencia de diferencia estadística de ICT decir respecto a la satisfacción con el trabajo (p = 0,001), los sentimientos de aprecio por parte de la institución (p = 0,003), y el trabajo por turnos (p = 0,032) . Los aspectos del mercado de trabajo que se asociaron con la media de los ICT fueron: sobrecarga de trabajo (p = 0,001), el reconocimiento del trabajo real (p = 0,003), el reconocimiento profesional (p = 0,001), la comunicación en el lugar de trabajo (p-valor = 0,042), capacidad de tomar decisiones con suficiente tiempo (p = 0,005), la capacidad de introducir mejoras en el esquema de trabajo (p = 0,001), y bastante gente en la escala (valor de p = 0.050). Se encontró una diferencia significativa para el grupo ICT promedio de enfermeras que lleva a cabo programas y actividades de la familia (p = 0,009). Hubo una diferencia significativa entre los tipos ICT promedio de las enfermedades digestivas, psiquiátricas y genitourinarias (p <0,05). Para las medidas sugeridas para mejorar la capacidad de trabajo, el grupo de enfermeras com ICT informó de las medidas más moderadas en comparación con el grupo que mostró resultados buenos o excelentes. Los grupos con la capacidad de trabajo bueno o muy bueno había algunas similitudes en las mediciones reportadas. La población de enfermeras mostró diferencias sociodemográficas y de estilo de vida con el máximo nivel de capacidad de la salud y el trabajo.

Dans ce travail de thèse, on s'intéresse é l'emploi de techniques de traitement de signal de systèmes de communication MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) pour des applications aux réseaux de capteurs sans fil. Les contraintes énergétiques de cette classe de réseau font appel à des topologies particulières et le réseau peut être perçu comme étant un ensemble de grappes de nœuds capteurs. Ceci ouvre la porte à des techniques avancées de communication de type MIMO. Dans un premier temps, les différents aspects caractérisant les réseaux de capteurs sans fil sont introduits. Puis, les efforts engagés pour optimiser la conservation de l'énergie dans ces réseaux sont résumés. Les concepts de base de systèmes MIMOs sont abordés dans le deuxième chapitre et l'exploration par voie numérique de différentes pistes de la technologie MIMO sont exposées. Nous nous intéressons à des techniques de diversité de polarisation dans le cadre de milieux de communication riches en diffuseurs. Par la suite, des méthodes de type beamforming sont proposées pour la localisation dans les réseaux de capteurs sans fil. Le nouvel algorithme de localisation est présenté et les performances sont évaluées. Nous identifions la configuration pour la communication inter-grappes qui permet pour les meilleurs compromis entre énergie et efficacité spectrale dans les réseaux de capteurs sans fil. Finalement, nous envisageons la technique de sélection de nœuds capteurs afin de réduire la consommation de l'énergie dans le réseau de capteur sans fil
The aim of this work is to study from a signal processing point of view the use of MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) communication systems for algorithms dedicated to wireless sensor networks. We investigate energy-constrained wireless sensor networks and we focus on cluster topology of the network. This topology permits for the use of MIMO communication system model. First, we review different aspects that characterize the wireless sensor network. Then, we introduce the existing strategies for energy conservation in the network. The basic concepts of MIMO systems are presented in the second chapter and numerical results are provided for evaluating the performances of MIMO techniques. Of particular interest, polarization diversity over rich scattering environment is studied. Thereafter, beamforming approach is proposed for the development of an original localization algorithm in wireless sensor network. The novel algorithm is described and performances are evaluated by simulation. We determine the optimal system configuration between a pair of clusters that permits for the highest capacity to energy ratio in the fourth chapter. The final chapter is devoted to sensor nodes selection in wireless sensor network. The aim of using such technique is to make energy conservation in the network

In Canada, anticipated climate changes including an increased frequency of hot temperature extremes and intense precipitation events, are projected to affect surface water and groundwater resources with respect to water quality and water quantity. At the watershed scale, examples of these effects include changes to water flows and water availability, runoff and evaporation patterns, and dissolved oxygen and phosphorus concentrations, with potentially negative implications. In Ontario, Conservation Authorities (CAs) play an important role in managing and protecting water resources at the watershed scale, through collaboration with the municipal and provincial governments, stakeholders and community members. The projected effects of climate change on water resources will be felt at the watershed scale and will have an impact on existing activities within CAs. Research suggests that current management practices may not be sufficient to adapt to climate change effects. Therefore, CAs should be involved in climate change adaptation. This research evaluated what capacity Ontario CAs currently have for climate change adaptation, through a case-study comparison of two CAs – the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) and Credit Valley Conservation (CVC). An evaluative framework with indicators of capacity in three environments – the institutional environment (i.e., presence and quality of institutional arrangements), the organizational environment (i.e., organizational resources and organizational dynamics) and the action environment (i.e., community and political support), was developed through a literature review. The evaluative framework was used to assess CA capacity for climate change adaptation through information obtained from open-ended, semi-structured key informant interviews with CA employees, a review of documentation and direct observation. The results of the evaluation revealed that the capacity for climate change adaptation varied considerably between the NBMCA and CVC, particularly in the organizational environment. CVC had strong capacity in terms of resources availability and had already begun to adapt to climate change in its watershed management activities. The NBMCA was challenged with respect to resources availability and had not yet begun to adapt to climate change. Overall, this research highlighted the importance of developing partnerships, communicating, and sharing resources and expertise with other organizations and the local community.

In the field of stream restoration, use of a one-dimensional flow model with typical Manning’s n values for an open channel greatly over-predicts bed shear values. This, in turn, incorrectly predicts the size of the mobile fraction on the bed and if used in a bedload transport function over-predicts mass movement of the bed material. This study identified 12 sites for which watershed and reach characteristics were compiled, and bedload sampling was performed. This information was used to produce an empirical relationship between reach pebble count data and an effective Manning’s n value that can be used to produce accurate bed-shear values in a one-dimensional flow model. With this tool, simple field activities can provide sufficient information to allow a stream restoration practitioner to accurately predict bed shear values. Relationships between watershed characteristics and reach scale bed characteristics, and bed depositional patchiness and sediment supply were also explored. It was found that Wolman Pebble Count data can be used to predict an effective Manning’s n value with sufficient accuracy, while watershed characteristics were not adequate to predict reach scale bed characteristics and bed depositional patchiness was valuable as a threshold indicator but not as a predictive variable.

The research is focused on the evaluation process of airport project compliance with green building requirements during preliminary stages of project design. The primary aim of the research was to develop method and tools to check and evaluate the sustainability design performances since the early stage of project development. Airports can be constrained by environmental issues which restrict current operations and limit future potential growth. It is necessary to consider all the specific factors involved in airport design that can have an influence upon the environmental consequences of its subsequent operations and therefore impact upon integrated sustainability strategies. Life cycle and long-term planning of airport infrastructures demand a systemic approach to meet the need for change through better definition of the design process and compliance with green building requirements. The research defined specific method and tools enabling both design project control and sustainability appraisal. The method is based on systematic process, linked to the development of sustainability indicators that would inform a site-wide approach to the design of airport infrastructure. GrADE method and tools will contribute in achieving the goal of sustainable development of airport infrastructure providing a methodological framework to measure and monitor environmental sustainability performance and creating new opportunities for the aviation regulatory organisations and airport operators to define architectural and technological strategies to enhance sustainable airport infrastructure design.

Recent advances in mobile communication technology have allowed for considerable growth both in traffic and user numbers. However, in order to maintain acceptable quality of experience and service levels with increasing network capacity requirements, a mobile communications operator is challenged with high investment costs and high operating costs. Cost effectiveness and environmental sustainability are two major factors a mobile telecommunications operator must take into account in order to maintain its network planning techniques ready for the accelerated growth of traffic in future mobile networks. With the incoming LTE-Advanced system and with the increasing popularity of femtocells, it becomes necessary to evaluate and quantify the economic viability and sustainability of this new type of base station when used as a standalone deployment option, as well as when used in a two-tier network. Therefore, different cases were used with a deployment method based on capacity used with a varying non-uniform traffic distribution in order to assess the future resistance and flexibility of this proposed solution. A comparison was made between macro cell coverage only, full femtocell coverage and a two-tier joint solution. Our study has concluded that for low capacity demands, the best approach is a two-tier network with femtocells used for indoor backhaul. A joint solution also allows for the cost-effective resolution of indoor coverage issues. According to our future capacity requirements projected, it has been concluded that a full femtocell deployment, by far, the most economically viable option. A method for the quantification and suppression of carbon emissions due to energy consumption is also proposed, through which we studied and estimated the price for the achievement of a zero carbon emissions network.
Os recentes avanços na tecnologia de comunicações móveis têm permitido um crescimento considerável da indústria, tanto em termos de tráfego como em número de clientes. No entanto, para conseguir manter uma qualidade de experiência aceitável e com elevada qualidade de serviço, um operador de comunicações móveis depara-se com elevados custos de investimento e operação. A eficácia em termos de custos e a pegada ambiental são dois factores que, entre outros, um operador de telecomunicações móveis deve ter em conta de modo a manter as suas técnicas de planeamento de rede preparadas para o acelerado crescimento do tráfego nas redes móveis do futuro. Com a chegada próxima do LTE-Advanced e com a crescente popularidade de femtocells, torna-se necessário avaliar e quantificar a viabilidade económica e o potencial de poupança de energia deste novo tipo de estação de base quando utilizado como uma opção de implantação autónoma, ou quando utilizado para suporte de uma rede de macro células. Dessa forma, foram dimensionados diferentes casos de implementação baseados nos requisitos de capacidade. Foi também aplicada uma distribuição de tráfego não-uniforme, a fim de avaliar a resistência ao futuro e a flexibilidade de aplicação desta solução proposta. Fez-se uma comparação entre uma implementação apenas com recurso a macro células, uma implementação feita completamente com recurso a femtocells e uma solução conjunta destes dois tipos de estação-base. O estudo concluiu que, para requisitos de baixa capacidade, a melhor implementação é uma rede de duas camadas, com femtocells utilizadas para o backhaul das ligações indoor. A solução conjunta permite ainda a resolução eficaz de problemas de cobertura no interior de edifícios. De acordo com a nossa projecção das necessidades futuras de capacidade concluiu-se que a implementação de uma rede apenas com recurso a femtocells é a melhor opção, do ponto de vista da capacidade, financeiro e ambiental. Também foi apresentada uma metodologia para quantificar a pegada ambiental devida ao consumo de energia, através da qual se estudou e estimou os custos associados à implementação de uma rede com pegada ambiental nula.

碩士
國立中央大學
環境工程學系
86
The ecosystem of the Earth provides resource and environment for human beings to live and development. Resource and environment are limited in the Earth. The quantity of population and their activities are limited. In order to attain sustainable development for human beings, the activities of people must be limited under the carrying capacity of the Earth. Because of the influence by elements and interactions in the ecosystem of the Earth, the carrying capacity of the Earth is the main constraint to sustainable development for human. Base on ecosystem''s thinking, this study developed a method to evaluate the carrying capacity for a river basin and offered the related information to the decision-maker. For evaluated thecarrying capacity for a river basin, this study defined the definition of the carrying capacity at first. Secondly this study explicated ecosystem''s framework. Thirdly this study used D-S-R (Driving force-State- Response) construction to develop the evaluative method. Finally, this study built an evaluative model and an evaluative program to evaluate the carrying capacity for river basin. After the program evaluated, this study could get the carrying capacity for a river basin and the land-use type of the whole watershed at the same time. This study used the model to evaluate Chung-Kang River. The carrying capacity of Chung-Kang River was about 111,159 population equivalents in the present development based on some assumptions. The carrying capacity of Chung-Kang River would be increased about 30% when the land-use type of the river basin could be changed on ten percents allocation rates. In addition, industrial waste minimization of industrial process would increase the carrying capacity of Chung-Kang River also.

碩士
義守大學
生物醫學工程學系
100
This study integrated Reversed Engineering, Finite Element Method and Computer Aided Design to a「computer-assisted design plate form」 under innovative capacity (usability)evaluation environment. The 「computer-assisted design plate form under innovative capacity evaluation environment」 develop in this study will combine the usability design and optimal design modules. This computer-assisted design plate form presents a revolutionary computer-assisted design system under innovative capacity evaluation environment for improvement design modules of foot & ankle surgery implant device. This study presents the full-scale CAD engineering technique in designing and developing the usability design for the replacement ankle joint module and uses expert system to define usability design modules. The usability analysis module with innovative capacity evaluation system can use quality and quantity index to evaluate the total ankle joint design factors. The clinical evaluation also executed by surgeons to assure the usability of foot & ankle surgery implant device. In addition, a usability analysis can determine the effectiveness, efficiency and user satisfaction of a product. This helps as early as during the design stage to make the product more attractive and user-friendly.

碩士
國立中央大學
環境工程學系
84
Land use, water demand, and water quality of a river basin are inseparable. For the sustainable development of water resource, the generation of a set of optimal land-use allocation alternatives that does not violate the river water quality will be related with the assessment of carrying capacity of a water environment. The main purpose of this study was to develop an evaluation model of the carrying capacity of a water environment. Water and land resources were considered in the model. The methodology of this study could be divided into two main stages as follows: the definition of the carrying capacity andidentification of a water environment system, and development of the solving procedure of the carrying capacity of a water environmental. For searching the maximum of carrying capacity, the study considers a muti-stag muti-option of land-use pattern system for all catchment area, and developed a FORTRAN language program to solve it. In general, the influence factors of carrying capacity of a water environment are as follows: (1) river environment;(2) terrene environment; (3) atmospheric environment; (4) ecological environment and (5) social environment. These factors would cause the change of evaluating results because of the characteristic of a water environment is uncertain and complex. According to the hypothetical case studies, the relationships between the influence factors and carrying capacity on different environmental conditions can be use to aid decision maker in finding a good water management strategy. In addition, in the real case study, the carrying capacity of Chung-Kang River is about 104,441 population equivalent in the present development based on some assumptions. Furthermore, the maximal carrying capacity would be enhanced 16.5% when the eight land-use types of the river basin were changed on some specific allocation rates. It means that the river basin can be allowed some adequately developments. In the dried-up season''s situation, the water supply and river flow rate would be decreased, the carrying capacity would be enhanced only 15.2%. It means the factor of water supply is the main constraint for catchment development.

碩士
元智大學
工業工程與管理學系
91
In recent years, is has became a common situation for many enterprises built or merged new factories around the world. Due to the fast change in marketing, it always exist variations between sales forecast and actual market demand. In order to satisfy market demand, customers always purchase by rush orders. It should be take capacity limit and cost factor into account when justifying of accept rush order or not. It will be much difficult for a multi-site factory to decide accept the rush order or not. If enterprises justify rush order without objectivity, it may cause order delay because of capacity shortage. Consequently, a model for multi-site factories to justify the rush order acceptance and capacity planning is important in global logistics supply chain environment. This research is aimed at the rush orders acceptance and capacity planning in multi-site factories. The objective of this research is to develop two integrated models in two phases. In the first phase, we can justify the optimal rush order combination in maximal rush order rewards subtract extra cost of accepting the rush orders. In the second phase, we can obtain the minimal integrated cost including normal order production cost, rush order production cost, outsourcing cost and delay cost. We also can find out the optimal capacity disposition, volume of rush order producing, order lateness and outsourcing before manufacturing. Therefore, the follow-up staffs could arrange detail product scheduling and material requirement planning according to the optimal solution of this research.