Whitehead torsion of inertial h-cobordisms

We study the Whitehead torsions of inertial h-cobordisms, and identify various types representing a nested sequence of subsets of the Whitehead group. A number of examples are given to show that these subsets are all different in general

Statistical approaches for constructing runoff maps - Random forest, linear models and spatial models tested for predictive performance of ungauged catchments in Norway

In this thesis we study statistical approaches to tackle predictions of ungauged catchments in Norway. In collaboration with Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) we use observations of runoff, catchment characteristics (e.g. elevation and land use) and observations of precipitation for constructing runoff models suitable for runoff maps. The challenge of constructing suitable models for ungauged catchments is due to the lack of observations, and in the field of hydrology this problem is known as the problem of ungauged basins (Blöschl et al., 2013). It is common to either use a deterministic hydrological model or asuitable model for transferring observations from a gauged catchment to an ungauged catchment. Our statistical approach for modeling median annual runoff has been done in a three-step procedure where our main focus has been on the models predictive performance also including the uncertainty quantification. First, we did an exploratory analysis of observed median annual runoff and catchment characteristics. As a second step we fitted two initial model classes (linear regression models and random forests models) where we observed how the different explanatory variables/features influenced our predictions. With the main learning’s of our second step we built four different spatial models within the Bayesian framework. From the main learning’s we found that spatial dependency have a large effect on predictive performance, and that gradient basin was the only catchment characteristics that influenced the models. The model with the best predictive performance was a Bayesian hierarchical model of tree levels where gradient basin was included in addition to a Gaussian random field (GRF) and precipitation with a spatially varying coefficient. All models have been carefully evaluated through leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV), where each model have been evaluated in terms of predictive performance with the two evaluation metrics; root mean square error (RMSE) and continuous ranked probability score (CRPS). While RMSE describes the difference between observed and predicted runoff, we account for the whole posterior predictive distribution with CPRS, and is thus useful for quantifying the uncertainty of our predictions.Masteroppgave i statistikkSTAT399MAMN-STA

Evaluation of Hybrid Course Implementation in Construction Engineering

Engineering educators call for a widespread implementation of hybrid instruction to respond to rapidly changing demands of 21st Century1. In response to this call, a junior-level course in the Construction Engineering department entitled Construction Equipment and Heavy Construction Methods was converted into a hybrid instruction model. The overarching goal in the hybrid course development was to take the content that can be engaged outside the class to an online platform so that class time can be used more efficiently for authentic, realistic, open-ended problems and homework assignments. This study reports the design, development and evaluation of this hybrid course and provides practical implications for hybrid course development

Rapid Replacement of Bridge Deck Expansion Joints Study – Phase I

Bridge deck expansion joints are used to allow for movement of the bridge deck due to thermal expansion, dynamics loading, and other factors. More recently, expansion joints have also been utilized to prevent the passage of winter de-icing chemicals and other corrosives applied to bridge decks from penetrating and damaging substructure components of the bridge. Expansion joints are often one of the first components of a bridge deck to fail and repairing or replacing expansion joints are essential to extending the life of any bridge. In the Phase I study, the research team focused on the current means and methods of repairing and replacing bridge deck expansion joints. Research team members visited with Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) Bridge Crew Leaders to document methods of maintaining and repairing bridge deck expansion joints. Active joint replacement projects around Iowa were observed to document the means of replacing expansion joints that were beyond repair, as well as, to identify bottlenecks in the construction process that could be modified to decrease the length of expansion joint replacement projects. After maintenance and replacement strategies had been identified, a workshop was held at the Iowa State Institute for Transportation to develop ideas to better maintain and replace expansion joints. Maintenance strategies were included in the discussion as a way to extend the useful life of a joint, thus decreasing the number of joints replaced in a year and reducing the traffic disruptions

Vurdering av effekter på det biologiske mangfoldet, dyrevelferd og dyrehelse ved innførsel, oppdrett og utsetting av fasan og rapphøns i Norge

English: The Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management at Inland University of Applied Sciences was commissioned by Fuglehundklubbenes Forbund (FKF) and their Lavlandskomite (LK) to scientifically review and assess the practice of releasing common pheasants (Phasianus colchicus, pheasant) and grey partridges (Perdix perdix, partridge), and specifically evaluate ecosystem effects, effects on biodiversity, animal welfare during rearing, breeding, transport and release, and animal health and disease risks when importing, breeding, rearing and releasing these birds into Norwegian nature. Ecosystem effects of artificially augmenting populations may be positive, negative or negligible from a conservation standpoint. Negative effects include altering of species interactions via resource consumption, agonistic behaviour or predation. These forms of species interactions are amplified with increasing number of released birds. Under extreme circumstances, vegetation and invertebrate abundance have been negatively affected inside and around pheasant release pens in the UK and in the UK, released birds are also likely sustaining high populations of generalist predators. Positive effects of releases include supporting management actions that target factors limiting survival and population growth like predator control, supplementary feeding and habitat improvement. These factors are prerequisites for successful release programs, and they can benefit the conservation status of several other species. Because of low survival and unrealized reproductive potential, population simulations suggest that partridge and pheasant releases in Norway need supporting management efforts to avoid population extinctions. The goal when breeding partridges and pheasants is to select for wild behaviours and this require different rearing conditions compared to domesticated species. Yet, the knowledge base on rearing conditions that meet the need of pheasants and partridges is low. Increasing space and enriching habitats in rearing systems, however, will reduce stress-related behaviours. Rearing conditions should approximate natural conditions with regards to diet, unrestrained sociality between individuals and the possibility of exposure to natural stressors. Various pathogens have been recorded among pheasants in Scandinavia and imports from abroad can expose native galliformes to species-specific disease they would normally not encounter. Several measures can be adopted to minimize risks of spreading pathogens. They include hygiene at rearing farms, veterinary inspections of birds before import and secure pens that prevents contact with outside wildlife. When assessing unintentional effects on ecosystems following the release of captive-bred birds, it is important to consider the scale and extent of the release. Studies focusing on impacts of releases on fauna and flora have to our knowledge only been conducted in the UK where 47 million pheasants are released on an annual basis. The Norwegian release program is dwarfed by comparison and there is currently no information that supports the hypothesis that partridges and pheasants released in Norway the last decade have had negative effects on Norwegian ecosystems or biodiversity. With our current understanding of animal welfare, it is possible to tailor rearing and release programs which minimize risk of the spreading of pathogens and that produce healthy and viable individuals that are well adapted to a life outside of the release pen.Norsk: Institutt for Skog- og Utmarksfag ved Høgskolen i Innlandet fikk i oppdrag av Fuglehundklubbenes Forbund (FKF) og deres Lavlandskomite (LK) om å gjennomgå og vurdere praksisen med utsetting av fasaner og rapphøns, og spesielt evaluere økosystemeffekter, effekter på biodiversitet, dyrevelferd under oppdrett, avl, transport og utsetting, og risiko for dyrehelse og sykdommer ved import, avl, oppdrett og utsetting av disse fuglene i norsk natur. Økosystemeffektene av å øke populasjoner kunstig kan være positive, negative eller ubetydelige fra et bevaringsperspektiv. Negative effekter inkluderer endringer i artenes samhandling via ressursforbruk, agonistisk adferd eller predasjon. Disse formene for interaksjoner mellom arter forsterkes med økende antall fugler satt ut. Under ekstreme forhold har utsetting av fasan hatt negative effekter på vegetasjonsdekke og virvelløse dyr inne i og på utsiden av akklimatiseringshegn i Storbritannia, og i Storbritannia opprettholder utsatt fugl sannsynligvis også høye bestander av generalistpredatorer. Positive effekter av utsetting inkluderer støttende forvaltningstiltak som tar sikte på å begrense faktorer som reduserer overlevelse og populasjonsvekst som rovdyrkontroll, tilleggsfôring og habitatforbedring. Disse faktorene er forutsetninger for vellykkede utsettingsprogrammer, og de kan bedre bevaringsstatusen til flere andre arter. På grunn av lav overlevelse og uforløst reproduktivt potensial, antyder populasjonssimuleringer at utsatt rapphøns og fasan i Norge trenger støttende forvaltningstiltak for å unngå utdøing. Målet når man avler rapphøns og fasaner er å selektere for vill adferd, og dette krever ulike oppdrettsforhold sammenlignet med domestiserte arter. Kunnskapsgrunnlaget om oppdrettsforhold som oppfyller behovene til fasaner og rapphøns er imidlertid lavt. Å øke plassen og berike habitatene i oppdrettssystemene vil imidlertid redusere stressrelatert adferd. Oppdrettsforholdene bør tilnærme seg naturlige forhold når det gjelder kosthold, uregulert sosialitet mellom individer og muligheten for eksponering for naturlige stressorer. Forskjellige patogener er registrert blant fasaner i Skandinavia, og import fra utlandet kan eksponere norsk hønsefugl for artsspesifikke sykdommer de vanligvis ikke ville påtruffet. Flere tiltak kan iverksettes for å minimere risikoen for spredning av patogener. Disse inkluderer hygiene på oppdrettsanlegg, veterinærundersøkelser av fuglene før import, og sikre oppdrettsanlegg som hindrer kontakt med dyreliv utenfor. Når man vurderer utilsiktede effekter på økosystemer etter utsetting av oppdrettede fugler, er det viktig å ta hensyn til omfanget og skalaen på utsettingen. Studier som fokuserer fauna- og floraeffekter har hva vi kjenner til kun blitt utført i Storbritannia, der 47 millioner fasaner slippes ut årlig. Det norske utsettingsprogrammet er forsvinnende lite i forhold, og det finnes for øyeblikket ingen informasjon som støtter hypotesen om at rapphøns og fasaner som er satt ut i Norge de siste ti årene, har hatt negative effekter på norske økosystemer eller det biologiske mangfoldet. Med nåværende forståelse av dyrevelferd, er det også mulig å tilpasse oppdretts- og utsettingsprogrammer som minimerer risikoen for spredning av patogener og som produserer sunne og levedyktige individer som er godt tilpasset livet utenfor oppdrettsanlegget.Oppdragsgiver/Financed by: Fuglehundklubbenes Forbund v/Lavlandskomitee

Electronic Construction Collaboration System—Phase II

During the first year of research, work was completed to identify Iowa DOT needs for web-based project management system (WPMS) and evaluate how commercially available solutions could meet these needs. Researchers also worked to pilot test custom developed WPMS solutions on Iowa DOT bridge projects. At the end of the first year of research, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was developed and issued by the Iowa DOT for the selection of a commercial WPMS to pilot test on multiple bridge projects. During the second year of research, the responses to the RFP issued during the first year of research were evaluated and a solution was selected. The selected solution, Attolist, was customized, tested, and implemented during the fall of 2009. Beginning in the winter of 2010, the solution was implemented on Iowa DOT projects. Researchers worked to assist in the training, implementation, and performance evaluation of the solution. Work will continue beyond the second year of research to implement Attolist on an additional pilot project. During this time, work will be completed to evaluate the impact of WPMS on Iowa DOT bridge projects

Evolved Art with Transparent, Overlapping, and Geometric Shapes

In this work, an evolutionary art project is presented where images are approximated by transparent, overlapping and geometric shapes of different types, e.g., polygons, circles, lines. Genotypes representing features and order of the geometric shapes are evolved with a fitness function that has the corresponding pixels of an input image as a target goal. A genotype-to-phenotype mapping is therefore applied to render images, as the chosen genetic representation is indirect, i.e., genotypes do not include pixels but a combination of shapes with their properties. Different combinations of shapes, quantity of shapes, mutation types and populations are tested. The goal of the work herein is twofold: (1) to approximate images as precisely as possible with evolved indirect encodings, (2) to produce visually appealing results and novel artistic styles.Comment: Proceedings of the Norwegian AI Symposium 2019 (NAIS 2019), Trondheim, Norwa