Using socioeconomic data to predict multi-family residential electricity consumption

Electricity supply responds to changes in demand, and changing populations alter energy demands for an area. This project characterizes how different population compositions affect electricity consumption using Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) anonymized meter-level data, which show the electricity usage at 30-minute intervals in 2016 for the whole service area, sorted by zip code. The following tasks were completed: -- Compare multi-family residences with different population densities and median incomes in Chicago. -- Characterize different electricity profiles for different zip codes using mean electricity usage for an average day in each month for each zip code. -- Predict multi-family electricity consumption as a function of zip-code-level socioeconomic predictor variables using linear regression. This analysis shows that median age of home, mean commute time, percent of multi-family housing units, median age of population, and percent female are statistically significant predictors of multi-family residential electricity consumption. Daily and monthly electricity profiles also vary notably across zip codes in Chicago. These results can inform electricity providers regarding how forecasted changes in population will likely affect the electricity demand of a particular area.Ope

Phenomenological study in understanding how paradigm shifts can occur, A

Department Head: Mostaffa Khattab.2010 Spring.Includes bibliographical references (pages 105-110).The building industry is uniquely positioned in the context of contemporary societal trends as it was one of the industries hardest hit by the financial recession of 2007 and is one of the most environmentally unsustainable industries in the United States. While green building and sustainable design initially emerged as a way to affect change toward environmental sustainability, the share of global energy use from buildings continues to rise. Building leaders claim that in order to make a meaningful impact on looming environmental problems and pressures, an all-encompassing paradigm shift is needed in the building industry from an anthropocentric paradigm to one that more fully values and understands the interconnectedness between humans and nature. Little is known about what factors and activities facilitate transformative shifts in thinking for building professionals. This study examined the experiences of participants of the 2009 Whole Thinking Workshop hosted by the Center for Whole Communities in Vermont. The workshop was designed for leaders of environmental stewardship and social equality and included building and land use professionals. Like many professionals, the leaders in attendance were generally entrenched in their thinking and professional approach in their respective movements. The workshop provided a framework for leaders to explore their own biases and achieve a shift in thinking for how their work relates to the whole. The goal of the research was to understand and describe the participants' perception of the specific activities and factors of the workshop that facilitated a shift in their thinking. This study was conducted within a phenomenological framework and data were collected from participant observation, a focus group, and in-depth interviews. Three major themes emerged in the data and are characterized as dimensions of how to facilitate paradigm shifts in a workshop setting, and include: (1) Time, (2) Systems, and (3) Humanity. The Time Theme documented that time was a factor in facilitating paradigm shifts in two ways including an uninterrupted and appropriate amount of time during activities, in silence and during open dialogue, and time spent away from regular responsibilities. The Systems Theme documented the elements that created an environment conducive for shifting thinking, including shared understanding, diversity, safety, consistency, and engaging activities. The Humanity Theme documented elements that facilitated a shift in thinking by cultivating the quality of being human, including spirituality, contemplative practice, storytelling, aligning values, and open dialogue. This study provided insights to offer building professionals by revealing factors and activities of the Whole Thinking Workshop that were perceived as successfully facilitated shifts in thinking, therefore expanding understanding in how paradigm shifts can occur

Pre - service teachers’ reflections on good and bad mathematics teaching

Research suggests that teachers’ beliefs about teaching are strongly influenced by their personal experiences with mathematics. This study aimed to explore Pacific Island pre-service secondary mathematics teacher’s perceptions about good and bad mathematics teachers. Thirty pre-service teachers, enrolled in a mathematics teaching methods course during their third year of University study were asked to write reflections on their personal mathematical memories. Results indicate that pre-service teachers rate good mathematics teachers using a varied combination of characteristics

Content Management Systems and 3D Models: Creation, Interaction and Display

This presentation will explore methods of creating and displaying 3D images in relation to Content Management Systems and online collections. Examining the creation of 3D models through various platforms, we will discuss the interaction and feasibility for implementation of several common 3D formats. The online display of 3D models has been in use for several years, most notably in archaeological reconstruction projects and more recently in digital imaging within the field of medical science. For this presentation, a 3D model is a visual representation that can be manipulated with various tools, which enable it to be turned, rotated and magnified among other functions. Apart from large-scale examples, the use of such models has yet to be fully utilized for the online display of cultural heritage objects and in particular within Content Management Systems such as CONTENTdm and Digital Commons. The 3D file formats that this presentation will address necessarily carry over into the display of 3D models. Discussion will then also consider the relationship between these file formats and external or internal methods of display. This presentation will also address recent developments in the area of 3D model representation and how subsequent applications may change

Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) at SFA

The SFA Graduate School and the Center for Digital Scholarship developed a pilot electronic thesis submission program for graduate degree students utilizing ScholarWorks, the University’s institutional repository platform. The program began in Spring 2016

Elements of Successful Online Journal Publishing

At the Center for Digital Scholarship (CDS) at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU), we have discovered that there are many complex details to launching a successful online journal-publishing program. In our lead role at SFASU, we have streamlined implementation to make this a relatively straightforward process for the journal managers and editors. Most of the journal editors with whom we currently work are experienced authors and reviewers, but they rely upon us to assist them with the design, implementation and editorial processes. Following this, we have found it beneficial to provide comprehensive and personalized customer support and training. Some of these complex details that need our active support include layout and design, management, training and the creation of policies and procedures. Through practical experience, the CDS has learned how to guide the process and decisions and take an active role in the success of the online journal-publishing program

Repositories: Models & Images

Digital repositories most often collect traditional materials, such as theses, articles and images that do not require unique workflows or practices. While these types of items are common, repositories can also expect to encounter non-traditional materials that can challenge the knowledge and experience of the repository manager. Whether because of new file formats, visual effects or certain aspects of performance art, there are certain items that require unique expertise and innovative design. These can include items such as 3D models, embeddable media, student exhibits and other unique works. As librarians, we should actively solicit these materials in order to more accurately represent the full scope of the intellectual output of the university. In this session, we will present our experience with receiving non-traditional materials into our digital repositories

First Steps to Promoting Open Access for Research Data and Publications on Campus.

Open Access (OA) is “the free, immediate, online availability of research articles coupled with the right to use these articles fully in the digital environment.” (SPARC, 2014) While much of the conversation about OA centers on business models, economics, workflow processes, institutional policy, and the transformative influence on academic publishing, limited dialogue occurs about best practices to guide educational and research institutions when planning to develop a policy on Open Access. In 2015, the Dean’s Council at Stephen F Austin State University (SFASU) agreed to support Open Access on campus for research data and publications. The SFA Scholar Works, the University’s institutional repository would archive a wide range of research and scholarship produced by the academic community (i.e., faculty-student research, electronic thesis and dissertations (ETDs), and multimedia items). The Steen Library and Center for Digital Scholarship would play an active role in encouraging and educating members of the academic community on adopting Open Access and developing a policy for open research data and publications. However, many concerns among faculty on campus in regard to adopting a required mandate to open research created the need to consider methods that first focused on faculty interests, concerns, and ultimately acceptance. Student research: undergraduate and graduate were viewed as essential tools for building consensus. Results one year later were surprising and reveal how key measures when considered can help to initiate change. This presentation will discuss best practices and provide examples of the innovative steps taken to generate support for Open Access at SFASU

Comparison of Geophysical Model Functions for SAR Wind Speed Retrieval in Japanese Coastal Waters

Abstract: This work discusses the accuracies of geophysical model functions (GMFs) for retrieval of sea surface wind speed from satellite-borne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images in Japanese coastal waters characterized by short fetches and variable atmospheric stability conditions. In situ observations from two validation sites, Hiratsuka and Shirahama, are used for comparison of the retrieved sea surface wind speeds using CMOD (C-band model)4, CMOD_IFR2, CMOD5 and CMOD5.N. Of all the geophysical model functions (GMFs), the latest C-band GMF, CMOD5.N, has the smallest bias and root mean square error at both sites. All of the GMFs exhibit a negative bias in the retrieved wind speed. In order to understand the reason for this bias, all SAR-retrieved wind speeds are separated into two categories: onshore wind (blowing from sea to land) and offshore wind (blowing from land to sea). Only offshore winds were found to exhibit the large negative bias, and short fetches from the coastline may be a possible reason for this. Moreover, it is clarified that in both the unstable and stable conditions, CMOD5.N has atmospheric stability effectiveness, and can keep the same accuracy with CMOD5 in the neutral condition. In short, at the moment, CMOD5.N is thought to be the most promising GM

Wavelet Analysis for Wind Fields Estimation

Wind field analysis from synthetic aperture radar images allows the estimation of wind direction and speed based on image descriptors. In this paper, we propose a framework to automate wind direction retrieval based on wavelet decomposition associated with spectral processing. We extend existing undecimated wavelet transform approaches, by including à trous with B3 spline scaling function, in addition to other wavelet bases as Gabor and Mexican-hat. The purpose is to extract more reliable directional information, when wind speed values range from 5 to 10 ms−1. Using C-band empirical models, associated with the estimated directional information, we calculate local wind speed values and compare our results with QuikSCAT scatterometer data. The proposed approach has potential application in the evaluation of oil spills and wind farms