1,147 research outputs found
Verification of Open Interactive Markov Chains
Interactive Markov chains (IMC) are compositional behavioral models extending both labeled transition systems and continuous-time Markov chains. IMC pair modeling convenience - owed to compositionality properties - with effective verification algorithms and tools - owed to Markov properties. Thus far however, IMC verification did not consider compositionality properties, but considered closed systems. This paper discusses the evaluation of IMC in an open and thus compositional interpretation. For this we embed the IMC into a game that is played with the environment. We devise algorithms that enable us to derive bounds on reachability probabilities that are assured to hold in any composition context
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Adaptive reuse of industrial buildings for sustainability : analysis of sustainability and social values of industrial facades
This thesis examines an adaptive reuse approach to industrial facades for sustainability. It is natural that buildings become redundant for many reasons, such as changes in economic and industrial practices, cost of maintenance, and people’s perceptions. Most of these buildings are no longer suited for their original function and a new use has not been decided for them. Adaptive reuse enables the conversion of existing, obsolete buildings and sites into new, mixed-use developments that will play an essential role in enhancing local communities. Recently, many coal-fired power plants in the United States have been retired because of the environmental regulations and the increased availability of natural gas. Through adaptive reuse, coal-fired power plants and abandoned industrial sites can contribute to life enhancement as a new source of vibrancy for the community, especially through focusing on the adaptive reuse of industrial facades. This thesis explores the changed ratio of facades comparing old industrial facades to new proposed ones. Based on Bollack’s diagrams of architectural transformation (Bollack 2013), I re-categorize the diagrams and add other types of adaptive reuse dealing with facades of industrial buildings. Additionally, analyzing several specific adaptive reuse projects, this thesis describes what potential values are in those projects and why it is important to focus on abandoned industrial buildings for urban sustainability. This thesis conducts a literature review on sustainability of adaptive reuse based on economic, environmental, and social values. The findings of this research show design criteria for industrial facade preservation and illustrate the positive effects of adaptive reuse. Through analysis of the case studies, this thesis proposes that the sustainable adaptive reuse of industrial buildings has great potential in social benefits.Architectur
Developing Energy and Economic Initiatives for Rural Namibia
Namibia\u27s off grid settlements suffer from poor economic development due to an inadequate energy infrastructure. Limited resources in arid regions of Namibia have caused a surge in alternative energy use and resourceful capacity building. This report consists of designs for containerized services and an evaluation of small-scale wood gasification technologies for rural settlements where resource scarcity is an enormous hindrance
Shades of Green: Improving the Energy Efficiency and Environmental Impact of Historic Building
The recent dramatic increase in oil prices as well as a growing worldwide concern with climate change has brought renewed attention and interest in energy efficiency and consideration for the environment among all areas of industry, in particular the built environment. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, operational energy consumption in residential and commercial buildings accounted for 40% of total energy consumed in the United States in 2007, and produced nearly 48% of the country\u27s greenhouse gas emissions. While architects have been making their contribution to the environmental cause, designing more efficient buildings with tools such as the U.S. Green Building Council\u27s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, historic preservationists are edging their way into the green movement within a complex set of constraints and guidelines, such as the Secretary of the Interior\u27s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, but equally motivated to reduce the historic building stock\u27s adverse effect on the environment and energy consumption
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Third Sector Acquisition of Surplus Federal Heritage Buildings in Canada: Challenges and Opportunities
The continued ownership and operation of heritage buildings by the Federal Government of Canada is at risk. Economic and political changes have mandated accountability and a focus on generating revenue while reducing expenditures. Rationalization (reorganization to achieve efficiencies, often through reductions) is increasingly being pursued, and the disposal of surplus real estate is one area in which reductions can not only decrease costs, but also generate revenue. Within this climate, a lack of regulations and oversight that might afford protection to designated federal heritage buildings within the disposal process places them at risk of inappropriate management. While the disposal reporting data for federal heritage buildings is neither readily available nor retained by the federal government, an increased rate of disposal of federal heritage buildings has been noted in government directives and reports, as well as announcements concerning the large-scale disposal of use-specific heritage buildings. Concurrently, the third sector has been increasing its capacity, assuming responsibilities formerly held by the public sector and breaking into the private market through real estate acquisition, the pursuit of revenue generating activities, and increasing cooperation amongst organizations. Operating for the benefit of “civil society,” third sector organizations in Canada are viable community partners for both the public and private sector to engage. This thesis recognizes the third sector as having significant agency, understanding that it has the ability to be a proactive participant in heritage conservation processes. The third sector can play an important role in the adaptive reuse of surplus public heritage buildings. As the private sector assumes greater responsibility in the provision of public services, many of the buildings that facilitated public service delivery are becoming obsolete. As noted by Susan Macdonald and Caroline Cheong, public sector rationalization is a significant challenge for both publicly and privately owned heritage buildings. The third sector can play an important stewardship role in both the short- and long-term for surplus federal heritage buildings, and can provide a means of ensuring community management is a part of the future-use planning of community assets. This thesis seeks to position the third sector as a potential solution in the disposal of federal heritage buildings, proposing that the disposal process can be an opportunity to evidence how significant public benefit might be derived through third sector acquisition, should the right tools be made available. Federal heritage buildings are unique assets that have the potential to retain both financial and community value, and the third sector is singularly positioned to conserve these buildings as community landmarks that contribute to civil society while financially benefiting from their ownership and operation of the properties
Small cities face greater impact from automation
The city has proven to be the most successful form of human agglomeration and
provides wide employment opportunities for its dwellers. As advances in
robotics and artificial intelligence revive concerns about the impact of
automation on jobs, a question looms: How will automation affect employment in
cities? Here, we provide a comparative picture of the impact of automation
across U.S. urban areas. Small cities will undertake greater adjustments, such
as worker displacement and job content substitutions. We demonstrate that large
cities exhibit increased occupational and skill specialization due to increased
abundance of managerial and technical professions. These occupations are not
easily automatable, and, thus, reduce the potential impact of automation in
large cities. Our results pass several robustness checks including potential
errors in the estimation of occupational automation and sub-sampling of
occupations. Our study provides the first empirical law connecting two societal
forces: urban agglomeration and automation's impact on employment
City of Cuero Site Analysis and Redevelopment Recommendations
Cuero is a small south Texas town which prides itself on preserving the history and heritage of its community while providing southern hospitality to its residents and visitors.Cuero Development Corporation Master Plan- Developed a plan for the best use of a 4.519-acre property. Conducted a comprehensive assessment of options for the development of the property.Texas Target Communitie
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