Ecological modelling of the phytoplankton dynamics in the northern Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea)

The Gulf of Aqaba represents a small scale, easy to access, regional analogue of larger oceanic oligotrophic systems. In this Gulf, the seasonal cycles of stratification and mixing drives the seasonal phytoplankton dynamics. In summer and fall, when nutrient concentrations are very low, Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus are more abundant in the surface water. This two populations are exposed to phosphate limitation. During winter mixing, when nutrient concentrations are high, Chlorophyceae and Cryptophyceae are dominant but scarce or absent during summer. In this study it was tried to develop a simulation model based on historical data to predict the phytoplankton dynamics in the northern Gulf of Aqaba. The purpose is to understand what forces operate, and how, to determine the phytoplankton dynamics in this Gulf. To make the models data sampled in two different sampling station (Fish Farm Station and Station A) were used. The data of chemical, biological and physical factors, are available from 14th January 2007 to 28th December 2009. The Fish Farm Station point was near a Fish Farm that was operational until 17th June 2008, complete closure date of the Fish Farm, about halfway through the total sampling time. The Station A sampling point is about 13 Km away from the Fish Farm Station. To build the model, the MATLAB software was used (version 7.6.0.324 R2008a), in particular a tool named Simulink. The Fish Farm Station models shows that the Fish Farm activity has altered the nutrient concentrations and as a consequence the normal phytoplankton dynamics. Despite the distance between the two sampling stations, there might be an influence from the Fish Farm activities also in the Station A ecosystem. The models about this sampling station shows that the Fish Farm impact appears to be much lower than the impact in the Fish Farm Station, because the phytoplankton dynamics appears to be driven mainly by the seasonal mixing cycle.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) Effectiveness in Performing Life Cycle Assessment of Building

The scope of this project is to study the effectiveness of building information modelling (BIM) in performing life cycle assessment in a building. For the purposes of the study will be used “Revit” which is a BIM software and Tally which is an LCA tool integrated in Revit. The project is divided in six chapters. The first chapter consists of a theoretical introduction into building information modelling and its connection to life cycle assessment. The second chapter describes the characteristics of building information modelling (BIM). In addition, a comparison has been made with the traditional architectural, engineering and construction business model and the benefits to shift into BIM. In the third chapter it will be a review of the most well-known and available BIM software in the market. In chapter four life cycle assessment (LCA) will be described in general and later on specifically for the purpose of the case study that will be used in the following chapter. Moreover, the tools that are available to perform an LCA will be reviewed. Chapter five will present the case study that consists of a model in a BIM software (Revit) and the LCA performed by Tally, an LCA tool integrated into Revit. In the last chapter will be a discussion of the results that were obtained, the limitation and the possible future improvement in performing life cycle assessment (LCA) in a BIM model.