Exploring the Potential of Resident Employed Photography as a Context Sensitive Technique in Roadway Design

The purpose of the study was to explore the potential of resident employed photography as a context sensitive assessment tool in roadway design by identifying the key elements of resident employed photography and context sensitivity and then exploring the potential of the elements of resident employed photography that may contribute to context sensitivity in roadway design. State and federal transportation agencies have identified principles and potential outcomes with the intent to guide processes that are sensitive to the context of a project’s surroundings. The improved design of public roadways to meet the needs of those who live and travel along them is the goal of these agencies. Resident employed photography is the use of a photograph to obtain information from a participant. The study explored resident employed photography as a context sensitive technique in the discovery of the attributes that reflect and define participant attachment to an environment. The technique therefore relied upon the existing community in the establishment of elements of value to be used to shape and guide the roadway design of the realignment of Utah State Route 30 through a neighborhood in Logan, Utah. Cameras and photograph logs were distributed to households in the residential area and participants were invited to provide contextual information about their neighborhood with regard to the proposed realignment. This information was gathered and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. The data derived from the participant’s photos, written comments, and interviews shaped and added to the research questions and resultant theory. In the study, areas of concern and mitigation ideas as identified by the participants found that a complete streets approach focused on maintaining or improving the feel of the neighborhood may be the best possible alternative in the realignment of SR-30. However, the success of this alternative is largely dependent upon a design professional’s consideration of the contextual relevance of the data provided through resident employed photography

Automatic detection of changes in volcanic activity using ground based near-infrared cameras to monitor thermal incandescence

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2017An increase in thermal activity is a common precursor of volcanic eruptions and, if identified, can be used to advise local observatories to disseminate the appropriate advanced warnings. As continuously operating near-infrared (NIR) cameras are becoming more readily available at active volcanoes around the world, this investigation explores the use of identifying changes in pixel brightness in webcam imagery resulting from increased thermal incandescence. A fast, efficient, and fully automated Python algorithm has been developed with a primary focus on effective volcano monitoring and reducing overall financial costs. The algorithm includes three important tests (statistical analysis, edge detection, and Gaussian mixture model) to identify changes in activity in near-real time. The developed algorithm can be installed locally with a webcam or at a central location, with no need for additional costs. This algorithm approach was preliminarily tested on data from a permanently installed thermal infrared camera at Stromboli volcano, with a successful detection rate of 75.34%. The algorithm based methodology was further developed and applied to freely available online webcam imagery from Shiveluch volcano, with an overall accuracy of 96.0%, and a critical success index (CSI) of 76.7%. Further refinements to the algorithm were made to reduce the false alarm rate (FAR) and number of missed events, and applied to four additional image datasets at Shiveluch, Fuego, Popocatepetl, and Stromboli. The algorithm successfully identified two large eruptions at Shiveluch, between 40 minutes and 2.5 hours prior to other satellite remote sensing methods, correctly identified the beginning of a large eruption at Fuego, which corresponded with local seismic data, and successfully identified a 90-minutes window of increased activity leading to a large paroxysm event at Popocatepetl, which was describe by the local observatory as having 'little to no warning'. The algorithm underperformed at Stromboli as the images here were capture in the thermal infrared (TIR) instead of the NIR, identifying the need for further improvements to ensure the algorithm performs correctly across multiple datasets. Overall, the algorithm developed here identifies thermally incandescent activity from increases in image pixel brightness remarkably well, and would complement existing volcano observatory monitoring tools, especially in remote or financially restricted locations as the equipment and coding language used here are extremely cheap compared to many other monitoring methods

Long term outcomes in men screened for abdominal aortic aneurysm : prospective cohort study

PMID: 22563092 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] PMCID: PMC3344734 Free PMC ArticlePeer reviewedPublisher PD

An evaluation of the role of mystical experiences in transpersonal ecopsychology

This paper explores both transpersonal psychology and ecopsychology individually and in conjunction, followed by an inspection of their relationship with mystical experiences and the impact of these within a transpersonal ecopsychological context. Specifically, nature as a trigger for such experiences is examined, alongside an analysis of the effect of these nature mystical experiences on an individuals' ego-boundaries and their psychological well-being. A special case is made for the re-emerging study of psychedelics - as positive agents of mental health, wellbeing, spiritual and creative growth, and social change - as inherently belonging to a transpersonal ecopsychology. The final thoughts will be based upon a more critical evaluation of these key concepts and their implications in modern psychology

Visualising sport : A theory and practice of dramatic construction and cinematic form.

Between 1982 and 1991, I made twenty-five film/video productions involving sporting themes. These include both dramas and documentaries; popular action films for peak-time broadcasting and minutely researched specialised works. I am the only film director to have been official programme maker for the Union of European Football Associations, the International Federation of Football Associations and the International Olympic Committee. These organisations control the three largest television sporting-events. In order of popularity, they are: The World Cup, The Olympics and The European Football Championships. I was commissioned by them to produce distinctive works with an individual voice. These ranged from historical analyses to personal views on matters of record. These productions have enabled me to evolve and articulate a clear conception of sporting visualisation. The programmes have been broadcast, released theatrically and sold on video. They achieved world-wide distribution and most have been dubbed into eight languages. They exist as research tools in sporting archives and have been extensively used as source material for broadcasters. The films are analytical within the specialist traditions of sports journalism, they are not "live broadcasts" and all contain original material.The programmes of record have either been produced by a "dedicated film unit" able to acquire unique material (copyrighted images) or in collaboration with the host broadcasters offering additional camera positions and support from all "unmixed camera feeds". The archival productions have involved major picture research world-wide that has unearthed material thought to have been lost or not previously known to exist. Exhaustive research into newly discovered material has proved official records wrong and has proved that accepted filmed material has been incomplete or partially falsified. All the productions have been extensively authenticated. This body of work is an example of research through practice into dramatic construction and cinematic form within a particular genre

Changes in colorectal cancer screening intention among people aged 18–49 in the United States

Background: To determine whether exposure to a peer-led intervention focused on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, physical activity, and multi-vitamin intake can lead to increased intentions to be screened for CRC once age eligible among adults under the age of 50. Methods: Participants were residents of low-income housing sites, and CRC screening intentions were assessed at baseline and at follow-up (approximately 2 years later) to determine changes in screening intentions and factors associated with changes in intentions. Results: Participants (n = 692) were 78.4% female, 42.6% Hispanic and 50.8% black. At follow-up, 51% maintained their intention to be screened and 14.6% newly intended to get screened. Individuals newly intending to get screened were more likely to have participated in the intervention, be older, male, and born in Puerto Rico or the United States compared to those who maintained their intention not to get screened (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Exposure to CRC prevention messages before the age of 50 can increase screening intentions among individuals who did not initially intend to get screened. Peer-led interventions to promote CRC screening should include individual less than 50 years of age, as this may contribute to increased screening at the recommended age threshold