Monitoring of urban transportation networks using wireless sensor networks

Dissertação de mestrado, Engenharia Informática, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2015

A study on dynamic state information (DSI) around users for safe urban life

To select each node by devices and by contexts in urban computing, users have to put their plan information and their requests into a computing environment (ex. PDA, Smart Devices, Laptops, etc.) in advance and they will try to keep the optimized states between users and the computing environment. However, because of bad contexts, users may get the wrong decision, so, one of the users’ demands may be requesting the good server which has higher security. To take this issue, we define the structure of Dynamic State Information (DSI) which takes a process about security including the relevant factors in sending/receiving contexts, which select the best during user movement with server quality and security states from DSI. Finally, whenever some information changes, users and devices get the notices including security factors, then an automatic reaction can be possible; therefore all users can safely use all devices in urban computing.

Marketing plan for Book-a-Cook

This thesis studies the marketing plan for the new brand Book-a-Cook. Book-a-Cook is an online platform connecting well-to-do urban Germans with professional chefs that prepare meals at consumer's homes. By analyzing the external and internal audit, it was possible to develop an appropriate strategy to launch the service in Germany. The main goals are stimulating demand and creating a strong brand in order to establish a successful business model. A quantitative research was made to identify potential customers, their needs and how Book-a-Cook can satisfy them.

Sustainable urban planning: parameters to the operational process

In modern society, energy consumption and respect for the environment have become essential aspects of urban planning. The rising demand for alternative sources of energy, coupled with the decline in the construction sector and material usage, gives the idea that the thinking on modern cities, where attention is given to reduced energy consumption, savings, waste recycling and respect for the surrounding environment, is being put into practice. If we examine development of the city over recent centuries, by means of the theories of the most famous and influential urban planners, it is possible to identify the major problems caused by this type of planning. For this reason, in recent urban planning the use of systems of indicators that evaluate and certify land environmentally and energetically guides the master plan toward a more efficient city model. In addition the indicators are targeted on key factors determined by the commissioner or the opportunities the territory itself provides. Due the complexity of the environmental mechanics, the process of design and urban planning has become a challenging issue. The introduction of the indicators system has made it possible to register the life of the process, with a spiral route that allows the design itself to be refined. The aim of this study, built around the creation of a system of urban sustainability indicators that will evaluate highly eco-friendly cities, is to develop a certification system for cities or portions of them. The system will be upgradeable and objective, will employ real data and will be concerned with energy production and consumption.

Diversité et structure du zooplancton : importance pour la conservation de la biodiversité aquatique en zone urbaine

L'écologie urbaine est un nouveau champ de recherche qui cherche à comprendre les structures et les patrons des communautés et des écosystèmes situés dans des paysages urbains. Les petits plans d’eau sont connus comme des écosystèmes aquatiques qui peuvent contenir une biodiversité considérable pour plusieurs groupes taxonomiques (oiseaux, amphibiens, macroinvertébrés), ce qui en fait des écosystèmes intéressants pour les études de conservation. Cependant, la biodiversité du zooplancton, un élément central des réseaux trophiques aquatiques, n’est pas entièrement connue pour les plans d’eaux urbains et devrait être mieux décrite et comprise. Cette étude a évalué les patrons de biodiversité des communautés zooplanctoniques dans des plans d’eau urbains sur l’Ile de Montréal et leurs sources de variation. Des suggestions pour l’évaluation et la conservation de la biodiversité sont aussi discutées. La biodiversité zooplanctonique des plans d’eaux urbains s’est avérée être assez élevée, avec les cladocères et les rotifères montrant les contributions à la diversité gamma et bêta les plus élevées. Sur l’ensemble des plans d’eau, il y avait une corrélation négative entre les contributions à la bêta diversité des cladocères et des rotifères. Au niveau de chaque plan d'eau, la zone littorale colonisée par des macrophytes s'est avérée être un habitat important pour la biodiversité zooplactonique, contribuant considérablement à la richesse en taxons, souvent avec une différente composition en espèces. Les communautés zooplanctoniques répondaient aux facteurs ascendants et descendants, mais aussi aux pratiques d’entretien, car le fait de vider les plans d’eau en hiver affecte la composition des communautés zooplanctoniques. Les communautés de cladocères dans ces plans d’eau possédaient des quantités variables de diversité phylogénétique, ce qui permet de les classer afin de prioriser les sites à préserver par rapport à la diversité phylogénétique. Le choix des sites à préserver afin de maximiser la diversité phylogénétique devrait être correctement établi, afin d’eviter de faire des choix sous-optimaux. Cependant, pour des taxons tels que les cladocères, pour lesquels les relations phylogénétiques demeurent difficiles à établir, placer une confiance absolue dans un seul arbre est une procédure dangereuse. L’incorporation de l’incertitude phylogénétique a démontré que, lorsqu’elle est prise en compte, plusieurs différences potentielles entre la diversité phylogenétique ne sont plus supportées. Les patrons de composition des communautés différaient entre les plans d’eau, les mois et les zones d’échantillonnage. Etant donné les intéractions sont significatives entres ces facters; ceci indique que tous ces facteurs devraient êtres considérés. L’urbanisation ne semblait pas sélectionner pour un type unique de composition des groupes alimentaires, étant donné que les communautés pouvaient changer entres des assemblages de types alimentaires différents. Les variables environnementales, surtout la couverture du plan d’eau en macrophytes, étaient des facteurs importants pour la biodiversité zooplanctonique, affectant la richesse spécifique de divers groupes taxonomiques et alimentaires. Ces variables affectaient aussi la composition des communautés, mais dans une moindre mesure, étant des variables explicatives modestes, ce qui indiquerait le besoin de considérer d’autres processus.

Master Plan for Renewable Energy based Electricity Generation in The Gambia

The principal objective of this paper is to develop a methodology for the formulation of a master plan for renewable energy based electricity generation in The Gambia, Africa. Such a master plan aims to develop and promote renewable sources of energy as an alternative to conventional forms of energy for generating electricity in the country. A tailor-made methodology for the preparation of a 20-year renewable energy master plan focussed on electricity generation is proposed in order to be followed and verified throughout the present dissertation, as it is applied for The Gambia. The main input data for the proposed master plan are (i) energy demand analysis and forecast over 20 years and (ii) resource assessment for different renewable energy alternatives including their related power supply options. The energy demand forecast is based on a mix between Top-Down and Bottom-Up methodologies. The results are important data for future requirements of (primary) energy sources. The electricity forecast is separated in projections at sent-out level and at end-user level. On the supply side, Solar, Wind and Biomass, as sources of energy, are investigated in terms of technical potential and economic benefits for The Gambia. Other criteria i.e. environmental and social are not considered in the evaluation. Diverse supply options are proposed and technically designed based on the assessed renewable energy potential. This process includes the evaluation of the different available conversion technologies and finalizes with the dimensioning of power supply solutions, taking into consideration technologies which are applicable and appropriate under the special conditions of The Gambia. The balance of these two input data (demand and supply) gives a quantitative indication of the substitution potential of renewable energy generation alternatives in primarily fossil-fuel-based electricity generation systems, as well as fuel savings due to the deployment of renewable resources. Afterwards, the identified renewable energy supply options are ranked according to the outcomes of an economic analysis. Based on this ranking, and other considerations, a 20-year investment plan, broken down into five-year investment periods, is prepared and consists of individual renewable energy projects for electricity generation. These projects included basically on-grid renewable energy applications. Finally, a priority project from the master plan portfolio is selected for further deeper analysis. Since solar PV is the most relevant proposed technology, a PV power plant integrated to the fossil-fuel powered main electrical system in The Gambia is considered as priority project. This project is analysed by economic competitiveness under the current conditions in addition to sensitivity analysis with regard to oil and new-technology market conditions in the future.

Perspectives of Urban Growth Management and Sustainable Development In West Bank, Hebron District as a case Study

The main objective of this PhD research study is to provide a perspective on the urban growth management and sustainable development in Palestine, and more specifically in Hebron district as a case study. Hebron is located 36 km south of Jerusalem, with an overall population size of around 600,000 people living in a total area around1246km2. Hebron is the biggest Palestinian district that has 16 municipalities and 154 localities. The research discusses and analyzes the urban planning system, economical and environmental policies and the solution required to manage and integrate the development elements to develop a sustainable development plan for Hebron. The research provides answers for fundamental questions such as what kind and definition of sustainable development are applicable to the Palestinian case?. What are the sustainability problems there and how the Israeli occupation and unstable political condition affect the sustainable development in Palestine? What are the urban growth management and sustainability policies and actions required from government, public and privets sector in Palestine? The fast urban growth in Palestine is facing many problems and challenges due to the increase in the population size and the resulting impact of this increase including, but not limited to, the demand of new houses, need for more infrastructure services, demands on new industrial, commercial, educational and health projects, which in turn reduces the area of agricultural lands and threatens the natural resources and environment. There are also other associated sustainability problems like the absence of effective plans or regulations that control urban expansion, the absence of sufficient sustainable development plans at the national levels for the district, new job requirements, Israeli restrictions and occupation for more than 60 years, existence of construction factories near residential areas, poor public awareness and poor governmental funds for service projects and development plans. The study consists of nine chapters. Chapter One includes an introduction, study objectives, problems and justifications, while Chapter Two has a theoretical background on sustainability topic and definitions of sustainability. The Palestinian urban planning laws and local government systems are discussed in Chapter Three and the methodology of research is detailed in Chapter Four. As for Chapter Five, it provides a general background on Hebron District including demographical and economical profiles, along with recommendations related to sustainable development for each profile Chapter Six addresses the urban environment, sustainability priorities and policies required. Chapter Seven discusses and analyzes infrastructure services including transportation, water and wastewater. As for Chapter Eight, it addresses the land use, housing and urban expansion beside the cultural heritage, natural heritage with relevant sustainable development polices and recommendations. Finally, Chapter Nine includes a conclusion and comprehensive recommendations integrating all of urban and sustainability event in one map. Hebron has a deep history including a rich cultural heritage aged by thousands of years, with 47% of Hebron district population under 14 years old. Being the biggest Palestinian district, Hebron has thousands of industrial and economical organizations beside a large agricultural sector at Palestine level. This gives Hebron a potential to play major roles in developing a national sustainability plan, as the current urban planning system in Palestine needs urgent reform and development to fulfill the sustainability requirement. The municipalities and ministers should find permanent financial aid for urban planning and development studies so as to face future challenges. The Palestinian government can benefit from available local human resources in development projects; hence Palestinian people have sufficient qualifications in most sectors. The Palestinian people also can invest in the privet sector in Palestine in case businessmen have been encouraged and clear investment laws and plans have been developed. The study provides recommendations associated to the sustainable development in Palestine in general and Hebron, as a case study, in specific. Recommendations include increasing the privet sector as well as the public involvement in urban growth management, and stopping unplanned urban expansion, subjecting granting building permits of new projects to the no-harm environmental impact assessment, increasing the coordination and cooperation between localities and central bodies, protection and renovation of old cites and green areas, increasing the quality and quantity of infrastructure services, establishing district urban planning department to coordinate and organize urban planning and sustainable development activities. Also, among recommendations come dividing Hebron into three planning and administrative areas (north, central and south), and dividing the sustainable development and implementation period (2010 to 2025) into three main phases. Finally, the study strongly recommends benefiting from the same urban development plans in similar districts at national and international levels, also to use new technologies and information systems in urban planning process.

Understanding Recreational Services of Urban Riverfront Space for Planning Purposes

In the process of urbanization, natural and semi-natural landscapes are increasingly cherished as open space and recreational resource. Urban rivers are part of this kind of resource and thus play an important role in managing urban resilience and health. Employing the example of Tianjin, this doctoral dissertation research aims at learning to understand how to plan and design for the interface zones between urban water courses and for the land areas adjacent to such water courses. This research also aims at learning how to link waterfront space with other urban space in order to make a recreational space system for the benefit of people. Five questions of this dissertation are: 1) what is the role of rivers in spatial and open space planning? 2) What are the human needs regarding outdoor open space? 3) How do river and water front spatial structures affect people's recreational activities? 4) How to define the recreational service of urban river and waterfront open space? 5) How might answering these question change planning and design of urban open space? Quantitative and qualitative empirical approaches were combined in this study for which literature review and theoretical explorations provide the basis. Empirical investigations were conducted in the city of Tianjin. The quantitative approach includes conducting 267 quantitative interviews, and the qualitative approach includes carrying out field observations and mappings. GIS served to support analysis and visualization of empirical information that was generated through this study. By responding to the five research questions, findings and lessons include the following: 1) In the course of time rivers have gained importance in all levels and scales of spatial planning and decision making. Regarding the development of ecological networks, mainly at national scale, rivers are considered significant linear elements. Regarding regional and comprehensive development, river basins and watersheds are often considered as the structural link for strategic ecological, economic, social and recreational planning. For purposes of urban planning, particularly regarding recreational services in cities, the distribution of urban open spaces often follows the structure of river systems. 2) For the purpose of classifying human recreational needs that relate to outdoor open space Maslow's hierarchy of human needs serves as theoretical basis. The classes include geographical, safety, physiological, social and aesthetic need. These classes serve as references while analyzing river and waterfront open space and other kinds of open space. 3) Regarding the question how river and waterfront spatial structures might affect people's recreational activities, eight different landscape units were identified and compared in the case study area. Considering the thermal conditions of Tianjin, one of these landscape units was identified as affording the optimal spatial arrangement which mostly meets recreational needs. The size and the shape of open space, and the plants present in an open space have been observed as being most relevant regarding recreational activities. 4) Regarding the recreational service of urban river and waterfront open space the results of this research suggest that the recreational service is felt less intensively as the distances between water 183 front and open space user’s places of residence are increasing. As a method for estimating this ‘Service Distance Effect’ the following formula may be used: Y = a*ebx. In this equation Y means the ‘Service Distance’ between homes and open space, and X means the percentage of the people who live within this service distance. Coefficient "a" represents the distance of the residential area nearest to the water front. The coefficient "b" is a comprehensive capability index that refers to the size of the available and suitable recreational area. 5) Answers found to the questions above have implications for the planning and design of urban open space. The results from the quantitative study of recreational services of waterfront open space were applied to the assessment of river-based open space systems. It is recommended that such assessments might be done employing the network analysis function available with any GIS. In addition, several practical planning and designing suggestions are made that would help remedy any insufficient base for satisfying recreational needs. The understanding of recreational need is considered helpful for the proposing planning and designing ideas and for the changing of urban landscapes. In the course of time Tianjin's urban water system has shrunk considerably. At the same time rivers and water courses have shaped Tianjin's urban structure in noticeable ways. In the process of urbanization water has become increasingly important to the citizens and their everyday recreations. Much needs to be changed in order to improve recreational opportunities and to better provide for a livable city, most importantly when considering the increasing number of old people. Suggestions made that are based on results of this study, might be implemented in Tianjin. They are 1) to promote the quality of the waterfront open space and to make all linear waterfront area accessible recreational spaces. Then, 2), it is advisable to advocate the concept of green streets and to combine green streets with river open space in order to form an everyday recreational network. And 3) any sound urban everyday recreational service made cannot rely on only urban rivers; the whole urban structure needs to be improved, including adding small open space and optimize the form of urban communities, finally producing a multi-functional urban recreational network.

Influencia de la formulación del Plan de Desarrollo bajo el modelo de Planeación Participativa, en la construcción de ciudadanía y gobernabilidad, en el Municipio de Zipaquirá, periodo 2008 2011

El texto permite al lector aproximarse al conocimiento de las dinámicas de participación en las ciudades y reconocer su importancia para la generación de una cultura cívica, el surgimiento de la acción colectiva y la consolidación de una responsabilidad compartida entre la sociedad civil y el Estado. La ciudadanía y la gobernabilidad son dos aspectos necesarios para la vida en los centros urbanos en la actualidad, para su construcción es necesario realizar procesos impulsados desde las administraciones municipales o por los ciudadanos, uno de los mecanismos es la formulación de los planes de desarrollo bajo el modelo de planeación participativa.

Plan exportador para la empresa Croc Ltda. en su línea de productos "Don Chicharrón"

Este trabajo de grado pretende realizar un Plan Exportador mediante el cual sea posible determinar si la empresa Croc Ltda. está o no preparada para exportar su línea de producto “Don Chicharrón”. El proceso se desarrolla a través de: Descripción del estado actual de la empresa, Realización del “Diagnóstico de la Empresa”, Inteligencia de Mercados sumado a la Matriz de Proexport y finalmente el Diseño del Plan de Logística incluido una simulación de costos de exportación al mercado objetivo; en este caso Perú. Como resultado de la investigación se logro determinar que la empresa Croc Ltda. se encuentra en un nivel medio de internacionalización debido a que existen falencias en la ejecución de la Gestión de Mercados, Gestión de Operaciones, Gestión Financiera y Gestión de Talento Humano. Después de seleccionar posibles países para exportar y variables a investigar para construir la “Matriz de Proexport” se concluyo el país objetivo, alterno y contingente; Perú, México y España respectivamente. De esta manera, se comienza la investigación de mercados para los tres países. Para finalizar, en el diseño del plan de logística se determino que la mejor forma para exportar “Don Chicharrón” al Perú es por vía marítima a través del Incoterm DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid). Es así como se puede concluir este trabajo de grado, y darle cierre a la investigación y entregar a la empresa Croc Ltda. en su línea de productos “Don Chicharrón” un Plan Exportador para que se pueda hacer uso de éste en su proceso de internacionalización.

La evolución del espacio público a partir del plan estratégico Bogotá 2000: en el periodo comprendido entre los años 1996 al 2006

Análisis de la evolución del espacio público a partir del plan estratégico Bogotá 2000. Es un acercamiento a la planeación prospectiva que se realizó en la década de los noventa en la ciudad de Bogotá. Se hace un examen de los resultados de la planeación de abajo hacia arriba según el plan estratégico Bogotá 2000, en el tema del espacio público. Igualmente, es la confirmación de si los mandatarios en el periodo de 1996 al 2006 tomaron los escenarios y proyectos estratégicos para la Bogotá del futuro. Además se puede encontrar cuadros comparativos de los planes de desarrollo, líneas, escenarios y proyectos del plan estratégico. El documento recupera información que se encuentra desagregada en lo referente al espacio público.

Somos patrimonio somos ciudad - marketing social del patrimonio cultural urbano: Plan del Eje Ambiental de la Avenida Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada

En la actualidad, el patrimonio cultural se encuentra inmerso en un entorno dinámico y cambiante, caracterizado por la globalización y la diversidad, que planeta nuevos retos a su gestión. En el plano internacional dos modelos de marketing han dado algunas respuestas a esto, el economicista o tradicional y el específico de las artes y la cultura. Ambos modelos se basan en una noción materialista del patrimonio cultural, concebido como producto o como recurso patrimonial, y la existencia de cuatro elementos comunes de contexto: El mercado, la organización, el sistema de información y el marketing mix. Sin embargo, estos enfoques no le son aplicables al patrimonio urbano colombiano, porque su contexto es diferente, caracterizado por una dinámica nula o de mercado inexistente, sin fuerzas de mercado que atiendan por su valoración, conservación y preservación o garanticen su sostenibilidad, que está referido a bienes de carácter público, por cuyo consumo nadie está dispuesto a pagar de manera directa, cuya tutela está atribuida al Estado y frente al cual coexiste una pluralidad de actores. Por lo anterior, un modelo de marketing aplicable a dicho patrimonio cultural, debe construirse sobre lineamientos conceptuales de mayor complejidad e hibridación, que permitan una concepción integral de aquel y de su gestión.

Análisis de la renovación urbana como estrategia de recuperación del Centro Histórico de Santa Marta. Estudio de Caso: Plan Especial de Protección del Centro Histórico del Distrito Turístico, Cultura e Histórico de Santa Marta. Periodo 2000-2011

El presente trabajo muestra los resultados del proceso de renovación y rehabilitación urbana que se generaron en el Centro Histórico de Santa Marta con ocasión a las obras del PEP.

Qualifying urban outskirts and public areas A refl exion from Bogata’s public policies

This article presents the results and conclusions obtained from an investigation into the possibilities of qualifying urban outskirts of Bogota with regard to the construction of public areas. The discussion presents the results obtained in previous investigations which give reason to conclude that the city’s outskirts are currently equipped with insuffi cient basic urban services and equipment. Questions are raised in regards to the proposals of the Plan for Territorial Organization (POT as abbreviated in Spanish) according to now known facts. From analysis both of currently known facts as well as the proposals of the Plan for Territorial Organization advancement is made in the analysis of the existing possibilities in the latter scenario to improve the condition of the admittedly unarticulated and defi cient urban outskirts, especially for the development of low cost housing.

Plan Colombia’s Onset: Effects on Homicides and Violent Deaths

In this paper, the link between Plan Colombia and violence is explored. This paper exploits the difference in the success of the program among the different regions to identify the potential side effects on homicides and violent deaths. Results show no significant effects observed on homicides. On the other hand, evidence was found of increases in the number of violent deaths for women living in urban areas, and an opposite negative effect for men living in rural areas. These findings are consistent for different specifications of the model, the cut-off end of the program, and the classification of the regions’ criteria.