Implementation and Testing of a Book Lookup System for the Robert E. Kennedy Library

The goal of this senior project centered around improving the quality of student and teacher experiences when visiting the library. The task of finding a book amongst the shelves is an arduous one, which I felt could be improved upon through implementation and testing of a Book Lookup system for the Cal Poly Robert E. Kennedy Library. Development for this project was done using a Python framework. Testing and earlier designs were also created using JavaScript and PHP. Repeated tests were conducted on the accuracy of the software and its ability to decrease user search-time when compared to conventional methods

ChargeUp! Data Swap: Using data from battery swapping e-motorcycles in Nairobi to assess impacts and plan infrastructure

The dearth of available data on e-motorcycle usage in African cities is a significant challenge in impact studies of e-motorcycle deployment. The ChargeUp! project aimed to fill this research gap using operational data from e-motorcycles and battery swap stations in Nairobi to perform modelling and analysis to determine several key outputs. This project included the analysis of: e-motorcycle trips; battery swapping demand; battery charging energy consumption; swap battery charging related emissions for a high renewables and high fossil energy mix scenarios; charging related electricity costs for different tariff scenarios; the effect of a co-ordinated charging scenario on emissions and tariffs; optimal battery ratios and required numbers of swap stations; and a methodology to determine optimal regions for battery swap stations based on trip data

But what do they really think? Methodological challenges of investigating young people’s perspectives of war remembrance

This is the final version. Available from UCL Institute of Education Press via the DOI in this record.This article contributes to discussions surrounding the development of ‘analytical tools’ sensitive to the fluid nature of collective memory and all its ‘varieties, contradictions, and dynamism’ (Olick, 2008: 159). It explores the methodological challenges of investigating how young people in New Zealand and the United Kingdom negotiate processes and practices of war remembrance and how, as researchers, we can begin to decipher the diverse responses young people have in recalling and making sense of their society’s violent past. Examples from earlier research projects, led by each co-author, in the UK and New Zealand are used to problematise the methodological challenges in our respective projects with the aim to encourage discussion around developing youth-centred, inclusive and participatory methodologies that unpack the cultural memories of war and situate young people’s voices prominently in the research process.Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC

Compensatory approaches and engagement techniques to gain flood storage in England and Wales

Flood storage involves creating sacrificial land for water to purposefully inundate protect land downstream. Obtaining the right or co-operation to flood on private property remains a challenge. This paper based on empirical qualitative research with 14 key stakeholders involved in the practice of gaining land to flood in England and Wales the different forms of financial and economic approach that might be used to facilitate this right. Expropriation of land, one off-payment, annual single payment and flood event losses compensation were explored. Availability of funding as compensation is the main driver for landowner adoption of flood storage schemes. Three funding approaches were revealed; flowage easement, full land purchase and Agricultural Schemes funding diffuse storage. Rather than attempting to gain partnerships between spatially dislocated stakeholders in upper storage and lower impacted catchments success resides on the storage land and persuading landowner co-operation. A clear enforced legal framework of ownership of land and funding mechanisms is also viewed as essential