Evolution of architectural floor plans

Layout planning is a process of sizing and placing rooms (e.g. in a house) while a t t empt ing to optimize various criteria. Often the r e are conflicting c r i t e r i a such as construction cost, minimizing the distance between r e l a t ed activities, and meeting the area requirements for these activities. The process of layout planning ha s mostly been done by hand, wi th a handful of a t t empt s to automa t e the process. Thi s thesis explores some of these pa s t a t t empt s and describes several new techniques for automa t ing the layout planning process using evolutionary computation. These techniques a r e inspired by the existing methods, while adding some of the i r own innovations. Additional experimenLs are done to t e s t the possibility of allowing polygonal exteriors wi th rectilinear interior walls. Several multi-objective approaches are used to evaluate and compare fitness. The evolutionary r epr e s ent a t ion and requirements specification used provide great flexibility in problem scope and depth and is worthy of considering in future layout and design a t t empt s . The system outlined in thi s thesis is capable of evolving a variety of floor plans conforming to functional and geometric specifications. Many of the resulting plans look reasonable even when compared to a professional floor plan. Additionally polygonal and multi-floor buildings were also generated.

Report of the Committee on Public Expenditures on the memorial and accounts of Colonel James Thomas, Quarter-master General

U.S. 14th congress, 2nd session, 1816-1817. House. Doc. 85

Turbines Plans - General Arrangement of Shaft & Cross Section of Turbine, 1903

Two photographs of turbine drawings from the year 1903. The first drawing is titled "10000HP Turbines. Canadian Niagara Power Company. General Arrangement of Shaft." It was last revised 18 May, 1903. The second drawing is titled "10000HP Turbines Canadian Niagara Power Company. Cross Section of Turbine" This drawing revised 6 May, 1903 and 26 June, 1903.

Photograph - Deputy Post Master and Letter Carriers, 1910

A photograph of Stanley George Smith (deputy post master in bowler hat) and eight letter carriers. The photograph is dated 1910.

Optimal and Robust Designs of Step-stress Accelerated Life Testing Experiments for Proportional Hazards Models

Accelerated life testing (ALT) is widely used to obtain reliability information about a product within a limited time frame. The Cox s proportional hazards (PH) model is often utilized for reliability prediction. My master thesis research focuses on designing accelerated life testing experiments for reliability estimation. We consider multiple step-stress ALT plans with censoring. The optimal stress levels and times of changing the stress levels are investigated. We discuss the optimal designs under three optimality criteria. They are D-, A- and Q-optimal designs. We note that the classical designs are optimal only if the model assumed is correct. Due to the nature of prediction made from ALT experimental data, attained under the stress levels higher than the normal condition, extrapolation is encountered. In such case, the assumed model cannot be tested. Therefore, for possible imprecision in the assumed PH model, the method of construction for robust designs is also explored.

Notice that the Port Dalhousie and Thorold Railway map and plans have been certified by commissioners

Notice that the Port Dalhousie and Thorold Railway map and plans have been certified by commissioners. This is signed “secretary”, n.d.

List which includes costs, plans and receipts for amounts received between S.D. Woodruff and Boyd and Schurr

List (8 pages, handwritten) which includes costs, plans and receipts for amounts received between S.D. Woodruff and Boyd and Schurr, Dec. 3, 1875.

Letter (copy) to T. Stayner regarding the transaction between the Brantford Post Office and the Grimsby Post Office from the Post Master General, Quebec

Letter (copy) to T. Stayner regarding the transaction between the Brantford Post Office and the Grimsby Post Office from the Post Master General, Quebec (3 pages, handwritten), March 4, 1830.

Examination of W. George Richardson, clerk to William Richardson, Brantford, Post Master

Examination of W. George Richardson, clerk to William Richardson, Brantford, Post Master (2 pages, handwritten). This is stained and contains small holes. The text is not affected, 1830.