bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prior-knowledge based Green's kernel for support vector regression
Authors: Farooq Tahir
Published: June 2021

This thesis presents a novel prior knowledge based Green's kernel for support vector regression (SVR) and provides an empirical investigation of SVM's (support vector machines) ability to model complex real world problems using a real dataset. After reviewing the theoretical background such as theory SVM, the correspondence between kernels functions used in SVM and regularization operators used in regularization networks as well as the use of Green's function of their corresponding regularization operators to construct kernel functions for SVM, a mathematical framework is presented to obtain the domain knowledge about the magnitude of the Fourier transform of the function to be predicted and design a prior knowledge based Green's kernel that exhibits optimal regularization properties by using the concept of matched filters.

The matched filter behavior of the proposed kernel function provides the optimal regularization and also makes it suitable for signals corrupted with noise that includes many real world systems. Several experiments, mostly using benchmark datasets ranging from simple regression models to non-linear and high dimensional chaotic time series, have been conducted in order to compare the performance of the proposed technique with the results already published in the literature for other existing support vector kernels over a variety of settings including different noise levels, noise models, loss functions and SVM variations. The proposed kernel function improves the best known results by 18.6% and 24.4% on a benchmark dataset for two different experimental settings.
Evaluation of Driver Visual Demand on Three-Dimensional Rural Highway Alignments
Authors: He Wen Long
Published: June 2021

This research focuses on evaluating driver visual demand on three-dimensional (3D) highway alignments consisting of combined horizontal and vertical alignments which is an important part of highway design consistency research. Using a driving simulator, ten hypothetical 2D and 3D alignments for two-lane rural highways were developed, following the standard guidelines of the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) and the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Fifteen driver subjects drove in the simulator. The data relating to visual demand information were processed and analysed using Microsoft Excel and SAS statistical software. The results indicated that visual demand on 3D curves varies widely with the inverse of radius of horizontal curvature and the inverse of K value of vertical curvature. Age played another important role on visual demand. Models for evaluating visual demand on 3D highway alignments were developed for curves and tangents. The models developed in this study have been applied to horizontal and 3D alignments to carry out a design consistency evaluation. In addition, GIS virtual reality technique was applied to present the visual demand results for a real highway on the 3D visualization model. 3D visualization not only offers a better understanding of driver workload along the highway, but also represents an important tool to effectively manage information.
Fracture Energy, Fatigue and Creep Properties of Engineered Cementitious Composites Incorporating Fly Ash/Slag with Different Aggregates
Authors: Sherir Mohamed A. A.
Published: June 2021

This thesis investigates the influence of microsilica sand and local crushed sand, and different supplementary cementing materials on the mechanical properties of engineered cementitious composites (ECCs). ECC is a special type of high performance fiber reinforced cementitious composite with high ductility which exhibits strain-hardening and multiple-cracking behaviours in tension. The use of local aggregates in ECC production can lower its cost to mitigate the obstacles of wider commercial use.

The experimental results showed that multiple-cracking behaviour was developed under fatigue loading for fly ash ECC (FA-ECC) mixtures, and the number of cracks was lower at both lower fatigue stress level and higher fatigue number of cycles. FA-ECC mixtures with silica sand exhibited higher deflection evolution under fatigue loading than FA-ECC mixtures with crushed sand. Based on the experimental results on link slab specimens, both FA-ECC mixtures with silica and crushed sands exhibited almost the same creep behaviour.
Modeling And Design Of Rigid Connections Between Columns And Flat Slabs
Authors: Jenger Jasmin
Published: June 2021

When it comes to the statical calculation and the design of the connection between reinforced concrete flat slabs and columns, the usual practice is to assume a hinged connection. However, in many cases this assumption does not reflect the actual behavior of the connection and a rigid design should be targeted in order to transfer the moments from the slab into the column. This project aims to develop adequate strut-and-tie models in order to find practical solutions on how to transfer the moments from flat slabs into their supporting columns or in other words how to design a rigid slab-column connection. Special emphasis is devoted to solutions for the use of precast columns because the arrangement of the reinforcement is often limited
Unified approach for bridge deck design
Authors: Meleka Karim
Published: June 2021

Current Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code includes design provisions to establish live load demands in (i) reinforced concrete decks over longitudinal girders, (ii) orthotropic deck over longitudinal girders, and (iii) orthotropic deck over transverse beams. However, it only provides an equation for factored applied moment on concrete deck under single point load. Similar equations for orthotropic decks are as yet unavailable. As such, parametric study was conducted to lead to new empirical expressions for moment in bridge decks subjected to truck wheel loading considering each of the three cases of orthotropy: (i) relatively torsionally stiff, flexurally soft decks; (ii) relatively uniformly thick decks; and (iii) relatively torsionally soft, flexurally stiff decks. Using the proposed formulations, bridge deck design can be treated in a unified way across different deck types, accounting for longitudinal-transverse flexural rigidity of decks. Application of these methods can significantly simplify the analysis of decks and allow bridge engineers to make comparisons across different deck design alternatives.
Housing the Family: Re-Housing the Peterkin Family (Theresa Bywater Peterkin) Carte-De-Visite and Cabinet Portrait Album at the Art Gallery of Ontario
Authors: Hueber Melodie
Published: June 2021

This thesis project explores a method of re-housing a carte-de-visite and cabinet card album, namely the Peterkin Family (Theresa Bywater Peterkin) album, with a focus on preserving the album structure, the photographs and the narrative as well as facilitating the accessibility of the historical album within the Art Gallery of Ontario’s photographic collection. The first part of the paper assesses the historical components and the physical condition of the album, and analyzes four case studies of restored or re-housed 19th century albums within three institutions and one private collection. The second part of the paper summarizes the decision making process of three options for preservation, and outlines the digital documentation, the cataloguing process and the steps for the re-housing of the Peterkin album. 
Reading straight : an examination of heteronormativity in children's literature
Authors: Dumais Tricia Michelle
Published: June 2021

Diversity in ignored in many early childhood education settings, especially sexual diversity. The purpose of this study is to determine if children's literature in early childhood education settings represents diversity. Because identity is interconnected, this study includes an exploration of individual aspects of identity such as gender, sexuality, race, class, age, body size and ability. One hundred and nine books from four childcare classrooms were analyzed to investigate the representation of diversity in children's literature. A qualitative queer critique of two of the titles from this study supplemented the competing yet inadequate findings of the quantitative research. Results showed that beyond moderate representation racial diversity, the literature examined failed to represent significant diversity of sexuality, class, age, body size, and ability. Through the analysis of children's books it was found that oppression exists in the form of omission. Research from supplementary queer critiques of two titles showed that each book is heteronormative in nature and that one of the books may be deemed homotolerant as it positioned heterosexuality as 'normal,' represented sexuality as private, failed to celebrate difference, and failed to challenge essentialism. The findings of this study may be significant for initiating a dialogue among early childhood professionals to promote a celebration of difference.
Effects of adding old shingles to granular material and hot mix asphalt : laboratory and field investigation
Authors: Shrestha Narayan B
Published: June 2021

This thesis evaluates the potential use of processed tear-off shingles in road works. Six types of granular materials were investigated to determine the type of material that benefitted the most from using the shingles.

The effects of shingles on the stability, as measured by California Bearing Ratio, were found to depend on properties such as gradation and fines content. In general shingles enhanced the stability of materials of relatively low CBR, but decreased the stability of angular well graded material of CBR larger than 100%. Optimum amount of shingles were found to enhance the resistance of stabilized granular materials to cycles of freezing and thawing; however, amounts higher than optimum decreased the resistance to freezing and thawing. In terms of permeability, the addition of shingles did not have a significant effect on the drainage characteristics of the tested materials.

A trial road was constructed and showed that after one week of construction dust generated by the control section was found to be twice the amount of dust generated by the shingle section.
Low-dose computed tomography image denoising based on joint wavelet and sparse representation
Authors: Ghadrdan Samira
Published: June 2021

One of the most challenging issues in low dose computed tomography (CT) imaging is image denoising and signal enhancement. Sparse representational methods have shown initial promise for these applications. In this thesis we present a wavelet based sparse representation denoising technique utilizing dictionary learning and clustering. By using wavelets we extract the most suitable features in the images to obtain accurate dictionary atoms for the denoising algorithm. To achieve improved results we also lower the number of clusters which reduces computational complexity. In addition, a single image noise level estimation is developed to update the cluster centers in higher PSNRs. A new image enhancement technique is developed for low-dose CT images to improve the quality of image for diagnostic purpose and reduce the blurring artifacts. The accuracy along with the computational efficiency of the proposed algorithm are then compared with recent approaches and clearly demonstrate the improvement of the proposed algorithm proposed in this thesis.
Experimental investigations of using deep mixing method to stabilise problematic clays in Ontario
Authors: Li Shuihan
Published: June 2021

Champlain Sea clay is a sensitive marine clay which can lose more than 90% of its strength when disturbed. Organic silty clay, commonly found in Ontario, has a high compressibility and a low shear strength. In this experimental study, different binders were applied to Champlain Sea clay and organic silty clay to improve its strength properties. The results indicate that cement and slag/cement can significantly improve the strength of these problematic clays. A cement dosage ranging from 150 kg/m3 to 250 kg/m3 can consistently improve the undrained shear strength of Champlain Sea clay and organic silty clay with the maximum strength improvement ratio of 10 and 18 respectively. A slag/cement dosage of 290 kg/m3 with a mass ratio of 3:1 can improve the undrained shear strength of Champlain Sea clay for more than 50 times. Lime was found to be effective in treating organic silty clay as well.
Development of a web-based collaborative PPGIS to support municipal planning.
Authors: Butt Muhammad Atif
Published: June 2021

The use of computing technologies to support workflows related to the planning and development of a municipality dates back to the late 1950s. The main boosts of computing technologies and applications, Geographic Information System (GIS) and Geographic Information Technology (GIT), in relation to a planning and decision-making context, became evident when the use of Public Participation GIS (PPGIS) started in the 1980s.

Collaboration is an important part of many tasks involving people from different organizations, in which maps often play a central role in informing and improving debates and facilitating the decision-making process. It allows diverse stakeholders to share and view maps or spatial images interactively over the Web in real-time, among other platforms. The geospatial collaboration technology not only provides an effective solution to decision makers, but also facilitates scientific and public debates with real-time geospatial information. More recently, some efforts have been made using open map services to develop simple map-sharing applications. However, little has been done on designing and developing such online open source tools in the context of municipal planning and management. Further, a literature review indicates the lack of scientific publications on empirical studies of their practical applications.

Web-based PPGIS applications, among others, have now been widely recognized as an efficient and integral part of sound planning and development processes to support public participation. However, GIS alone cannot make the planning process more participative. Demands for Web-based PPGIS tools, integrated with other information and computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) tools, have rapidly become increasingly important for supporting collaborative participation during a decision-making process. Therefore, the establishment of public participation in GIS-based applications is an optimistic step taken by the researchers that are progressively working on municipal planning projects that incorporate public participation.

The main aim of this research is to provide a Collaborative PPGIS (Co-PPGIS) to enhance public participation in municipal planning related workflows. A research prototype has been developed and its usability is evaluated by adopting the evaluation criteria for the research prototype, as only proper testing will demonstrate whether the prototype is usable or the Co-PPGIS design framework is successful in meeting end-users’ requirements.
Environmental monitoring of landfill sites using multi-temporal remote sensing images
Authors: Faisal Kamil Said
Published: June 2021

In this study, multi-temporal Landsat images obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey are used to monitor two landfill sites, the Trail Road landfill (Ottawa, Canada) and the Al-Jleeb landfill (Al-Farwanyah, Kuwait). The objectives are: 1) to study the land surface temperature (LST) of the two landfill sites; 2) investigate the relationship between the LST and landfill gas in the Trail Road landfill; and 3) detect suspicious dumping areas within the Al-Jleeb landfill. It was found that the LST of the landfill sites are always higher than the air temperature and the immediate surroundings. The correlation between the LST and the methane recorded in the Trail Road landfill is not obviously strong, and five suspicious locations were identified within the Al-Jleeb landfill by overlaying the highest LST contours. The study demonstrates the usefulness of remote sensing techniques that can provide supplementary information for landfill monitoring
Test Methods For Evaluating The Oxidization Potential Of Sulphide –Bearing Aggregates And Its Effects On Concrete Durability
Authors: Guirguis Bassili
Published: June 2021

This research project focuses on the development and validation of test methods to evaluate the potential oxidation of sulphide-bearing aggregates, which can cause severe damage when used in concrete. The mechanism of damage is believed to consist of two parts: (a) the oxidation of sulphide minerals, which results in the formation of ferric hydroxide, and (b) the formation of sulphuric acid, which reacts with calcium hydroxide in concrete leading to an internal sulphate attack. Both parts produce a volume increase, damaging the concrete. A simple, quick and economical test method was developed and used to test thirty-one aggregates with different sulphur content. This test involves soaking the aggregate in an oxidizing agent at room temperature, washing the aggregate on a specific sieve, and drying it at 80°C. The soaking and drying cycle is repeated and the disintegration of the aggregates is measured as % mass loss. The composition of the oxidizing solution was evaluated, and the assessment of the aggregate was related to the presence of iron and sulphur ions in the solution after the test. The aggregate oxidation test developed here is anticipated to be adopted as a screening test method by North American standards due to its simplicity and applicability to a wide range of aggregates. The expansion of recently developed mortar bar samples containing a limited number of aggregates proves that the test can show expansion in aggregates with sulphide as well as high silica content; however, the high-silica aggregate did not show significant expansion in the second stage of the test, unlike the sulphide-bearing aggregates. The test was examined for its ability to evaluate the effects of supplementary cementing materials (SCM`s) on mitigating the damage in mortars containing sulphide-bearing aggregates. The results revealed that extended exposure to the oxidizing agent caused damage in the bar due to reasons other than the oxidation of sulphide phases when SCM with high reactive alumina is used. In addition, the results revealed that silica fume and low-calcium fly ash were effective in mitigating the damage, however, the efficacy of SCM`s is mainly linked to their ability to reduce the penetration of oxidizing agents into the mortar bars. These results need to be validated using field investigations. Concrete samples were tested under different conditions in an attempt to replicate the damage mechanisms in concrete samples under lab conditions. Some of the testing regimes showed promising results and are recommended for future studies.
Axial Strength Of Lightweight Self-Consolidating Concrete Columns With Engineered Cementitious Composite
Authors: Parajuli Sandeep
Published: June 2021

Axial load behavior of confined columns with engineered cementitious composite (ECC)
wrapping was investigated through experimental, analytical and finite element (FE) investigations.
The variables in the study were: geometry (cylindrical and rectangular), presence or absence of
longitudinal and tie reinforcement, ECC wrap thickness, types of concrete core (lightweight and
normal weight self-consolidating concrete) and type of loading (applied through both core and
wrap or core only). The effect of these variables on axial load-deformation response, strain
characteristics, failure modes, ductility, energy absorption capacity and axial strength were
evaluated. The confined concrete strengths predicted from existing analytical and developed FE
models were found to be in good agreement with those of experiments. The axial load capacity
and ductility were increased for columns with highest ECC wrap thickness (50 mm) while thinner
wrap increased stiffness instead of ductility. Canadian code conservatively predicted axial strength
of columns having increased thickness of ECC wrap.
The Potential for Perennial Vines to Mitigate Summer Warming of an Urban Microclimate
Authors: Blake Michelle
Published: June 2021

Shading and evapotranspirative cooling by vegetation are important controls on moderating rise in city temperatures and mitigating urban heat islands. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the potential of Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) to mitigate warming of building surface temperature in an urban core. Temperature loggers were placed on vine-shaded and non-shaded walls in Toronto, Canada to collect surface temperatures over a six-month period. During peak solar access periods, average vine-shaded and non-shaded temperature differentials of up to 6.5 °C and 7.0 °C for the south and west-facing walls were measured, respectively. Predictive models were developed to estimate daily degree hour difference (DHD), a metric for capturing the temperature moderating potential of vines. At ambient air temperatures exceeding 22 °C, ambient air temperature and solar radiation were significant positive drivers of DHD. Results are important to further understanding urban plant-microclimate interactions and strategies for heat island management.
Diverging paradigms : the interaction of identities and norms in Canadian human trafficking policies
Authors: Wu Grace Yu-An
Published: June 2021

Human trafficking policies in Canada, to date, focus primarily on border control and punitive measures against human traffickers. However, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) continue to point out that addressing the structural conditions that lead to such trafficking and respecting the human rights of trafficked persons is the most effective way of addressing the exploitation of trafficked persons. The difference in perspectives between government agencies and NGOs make developing a comprehensive and coherent response very difficult. However, continued incoherence of policy implementation is too costly to ignore. This paper compares the diverging perspectives of government policies and NGO approaches to international human trafficking in Canada. Such research is necessary in order to understand the ideas that inform the policies and to deconstruct the meanings of the policies. Moreover, this research will explore why policies are interpreted in diverging ways and explores how identities and norms interact to produce policies.
Wavelet-based image compression using mathematical morphology and self organization feature map
Authors: Mohammed Abdul Adeel
Published: June 2021

Image compression using transform coding technique has been widely used in practice. However, wavelet transform is the only method that provides both spatial and frequency domain information. These properties of wavelet transform greatly help in identification and selection of significant and non-significant coefficients from amongst the wavelet coefficients. Wavelet transform based image compression result in an improved compression ratio as well as image quality and thus both the signficant coefficients and their positions within an image are encoded and transmitted. In this thesis a wavelet based image compression system is presented that uses mathematical morphology and self organizing feature map (MMSOFM). The significance map is preprocessed using mathematical morphology operators to identify and creat clusters of significant coefficients. A self-organizing feature map (SOFM) is then used to encode the significance map. Experimental results are shown and comparisons with JPEG and JPEG 2000 are made to emphasize the results of this compression system.
Magnetic Resonance Image Segmentation and its VHDL Implementation
Authors: Zhang Wei Li
Published: June 2021

From experiments, it is shown that the Co-occurrence matrix for one still MRI brain image does not provide enough information for segmentation. The 6D Co-occurrence image segmentation idea for 3D MRI image is modified and implemented in 2D MRI image segmentation. That idea is to take two or three images as input at the same time and then process them with 3D Co-occurrence matrix. With this kind of processing a lot of information was brought into the Co-occurrence matrix, which is enough to segment the images. To compare the result, some other segmentation ideas were tested in this project. From the results, it can be seen that the MRI image segmentation based on the Co-ocurrence texture analysis with two images or three images sampling is practical and the result satisfying. The segmentation is simulated in MATLAB. After the simulation, the segmentation is implemented in FPGA using VHDL. MODELSIM is used for FPGA functionality simulation. The result is close the MATLAB simulation. This makes it possible to implement the system with FPGA hardware.
One man's west : photographs by Edwin Hendrie Grant : the development and proposal of a photographic exhibition
Authors: Goldberg Rachel
Published: June 2021

This thesis project is meant to provide an example of the decision-making process and best practices required for writing a comprehensive exhibition proposal. This project outlines the conceptualization of an exhibition and preparation of supporting materials such as the written exhibition proposal necessary for preparing the visitor-centered exhibition of photographs One Man's West: Photographs by Edwin Hendrie Grant. This paper includes the following information: (1) An introduction to the materials used and photographs selected, (2) an explanation and analysis of the decisions made regarding the structure and organization of the exhibition proposal, and (3) the exhibition proposal and budget.
The Luis Medina Archive at The Art Institute of Chicago
Authors: Furlani Sasha
Published: June 2021

This applied thesis project details the processing of photographic materials and ephemera collectively referred to in this report as the “Luis Medina Archive,” housed at the Art Institute of Chicago since the death of Cuban-American photographer Luis Medina in 1985. This collection of materials has never been accessioned into the permanent collection of the AIC and has remained in bureaucratic limbo for most of its life at the museum. The contents of the archive were undocumented in the records of the Department of Photography and were functionally inaccessible for research and study. To address this issue, my project took an inventory of the 22,000+ objects in the archive; created a database to house the results of this inventory; and provided a recommendation of a selection of prints and materials to add to the permanent collection. This project resulted in the addition of 101 prints to the permanent collection.
Reference and Reverence: An Exhibition of Photographic Works
Authors: Chou Kenneth
Published: June 2021

Reference and Reverence is a two-year long photographic project on the emerging trend of ecological burial in the United States. The body of work is a photo-based documentary that considers natural burial as an alternative to standard funeral practices. My thesis project is in book form as well as an exhibition installation. The work addresses green burial’s newfound re-emergence as well as the examination of visual culture regarding death, dying, and funeral practices. In an era of environmental concern, the importance of planet stewardship and modern industrial burial practices are questioned. The reflection is one of re-visiting death as tradition, as well as one of contemplating our co-existence with the world.
Kodak Canada: increasing access to advertising materials in Ryerson University Library's Special Collections
Authors: Kauffman Keri Lee
Published: June 2021

In 2005, amidst declining sales of film-based photographic materials, Kodak Canada Inc. ceased manufacturing operations at its Toronto headquarters. Before the property’s sale, the material in its corporate archive and employee museum was donated and removed to Ryerson University, where it became the keystone of Ryerson University Library’s newly established Special Collections department.
While some Kodak Canada material has been processed and utilized in displays and other forms of presentation, the advertising collection - ordered chronologically from 1922 to 1987 in heavy ledger books, but not catalogued at item level - has remained largely untouched. This project’s goal has been to create avenues of access to this portion of the Kodak Canada Heritage Collection through its cataloguing and digitization, and to facilitate its presentation on a Special Collections website. The following pages present the historical background of Kodak Canada and the advertising collection, provide reference data, and describe the practical methodologies applied to the project.
Investigating strut and tie model in deep beams
Authors: Abousaeidi Laleh
Published: June 2021

The Strut-and-Tie model (STM) approach evolves as one of the most useful design methods for shear critical structures and for other disturbed regions in concrete structures. The model provides a rational approach by representing a complex structural member with an appropriate simplified truss model. The literature review showed that there is no single unique STM for most design situations encountered. This report summarizes the STM approach and related research as well as the results of linear and nonlinear analysis of a deep beam using SAP2000 and ABAQUS Software.
Volumetric Deformations and Crack Control in Reinforced Concrete Structures
Authors: Acarcan Mahmut
Published: June 2021

Restraint temperature and shrinkage strains are one of the major reasons for cracking of reinforced concrete. Cracking of concrete reduces structural integrity, initiates or accelerates deterioration mechanisms, causes serviceability problems and may raise aesthetical concerns. Particularly for liquid retaining structures, cracks are vital for structural functionality. Measures must be take to prevent or control crack. In most cases, it may not be feasible to prevent crack formation, but crack width can be controlled by providing sufficient amount of reinforcement. Design guides provide limited information on adequate reinforcement design for temperature and shrinkage cracks in reinforced concrete structures. The Finite Element Method(FEM) was used in order to investigate the crack risk, magnitude of crack width, and adequate reinforcement ratio for controlling cracks within the design specifications. In order to find the thermal and shrinkage strains effect during early ages, computer simulations was performed for hardening concrete. Using the computer program ABAQUS/6.4, incremental numerical analysis technique was implemented that provided realistic simulation of stress/strain history. Considering an appropriate value for thermal and shrinkage strains, a parametric study was carried out to estimate the reinforcement ratio for fixed base walls. The crack width was estimated based on the calculated steel stress and the ACI 318-02 crack prediction equation. With consideration of ACI 350-01 specification for allowable crack width, the required amount of reinforcement ratio for various wall dimensions was recommended.
Who's afraid of the big bad wolf : examining attacks on Canada's federal centre-right political parties in the televised negative political advertisements between 1993 and 2006 using propaganda analysis
Authors: Brosens Mark Adrian
Published: June 2021

This thesis uses a triangulated methodology of focus groups, semiotic analysis, and content analysis to categorize and analyze the televised negative political advertisements aired during the Canadian federal elections between 1993 and 2006. How these attacks made against the conservative parties during this timeframe were interpreted by mothers of adolescent children receives particular considerations. The findings demonstrate that during this period the Canadian debate between individualism and communitarianism was prevalent in these political advertisements. It is argued that propaganda methods, namely the name calling technique, were used effectively by the left-wing parties to emphasize specific ideological traditions in conservatism and to link the conservative parties to the United States of America for strategic purposes. The author contends that political advertisements are complex expressions of a party's ideology and goals, thus this campaign tool ought to be studied more by Canadian academics.
Strengthening Full-Scale Damaged Precast/Prestressed Concrete Double-Tee Girders Using CFRP Sheets
Authors: Cofini Antonio
Published: June 2021

Canada is facing a major crisis with the deterioration of its infrastructure (bridges, harbours, buildings, water structures, sewers, parking garages, etc.). Many of these structures were build using precast prestressed concrete members. These members may be under-strength because of deficiencies in design, increase in applied loads, loss of prestress, or damage due to the effects of corrosion, collision or military operations. Epoxy-bonding composite materials to the tension side of prestressed concrete girders is an effective technique for shear/flexural rehabilitation and strengthening of such members. To ensure successful and cost-effective applications of such materials, engineers need to improve their knowledge with respect to the actual behavior of full-size girders so that they can gain confidence on using these materials on structural strengthening and rehabilitation. This can be achieved by providing more data on testing-to-collapse and on field conditions full-scale prestressed girders strengthened using FRP materials. This study details the use of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) Sheets to repair and strengthen precast presetressed concrete Double-Tee (DT) girders in flexure and shear. Three actual-size partially-damaged DT precast pretensioned girders were obtained from the manufacturer. All three of the girders were repaired and strengthened, and then tested to failure to determine flexural and shear capacities. The stems of two of these girders were strengthened in flexures using U-shape un-directional carbon fiber reinforced polymer sheets (CFRP), extending from the mid-span to the quarter points of the girders. Two girders were strengthened in shear the dapped ends using 0° wrapping technique around the stem, while the dapped ends of the third girder were strengthened using 0°/90° wrapping technique. Each girder was loaded incrementally up to failure using Jersey Barriers. This project summarizes the loading history and reports test results that can be further used to demonstrate the practicality of girder strengthening with CFRP sheets in field conditions.
Challenges and Enabling Practices in Management of External Consultants In ICT Projects: an Exploratory Study of Managers’ Perspectives
Authors: Josipovic Ronald
Published: June 2021

While there are many external consultants who greatly contribute to the success of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) projects, not all consulting engagements are without challenges. In order to make the best use of consulting resources and increase return on investment (ROI), it is important to identify what challenges may arise in management of consultants and what practices can help managers in dealing with these challenges. Therefore, the objective of this research is to gain additional insights into potential challenges and enabling practices in management of consultants by examining experiences and perspectives of managers. This is an exploratory qualitative research that employs semi-structured interviews, and coding and thematic analysis. The empirical data is examined through the lenses of agency theory and transaction cost economics. A number of constructs from these two theoretical frameworks are extended into new sub-constructs that are grounded in the empirical data.
Development Of In-Vehicle Collision Warning System For Intersections
Authors: Dabbour Essam M.S.A.E.A.
Published: June 2021

Most of the current collision warning systems are mainly designed to detect imminent rear-end, lane-changing or lane departure collisions. None of them was designed to detect imminent intersection collisions, which were found to cause more fatalities and injuries than other types of collisions. One of the most important factors that lead to intersection collisions is driver’s human error and misjudgement. A main source for human errors is the insensitivity of human vision system to detect the speed and acceleration of approaching vehicles; and therefore, any algorithm for an intersection collision warning system should give consideration to the speed and acceleration of all approaching vehicles to mitigate the inadequacy in the human vision system. Moreover, when designing any collision warning system, false warnings should be minimized to avoid nuisance for drivers that might lead to the loss of the system’s reliability by potential users.

This research proposed an intersection collision warning system that utilizes commercially-available detection sensors to detect approaching vehicles and measure their speeds and acceleration rates in order to estimate the time-to-collision and compare it to the time required for the turning vehicle to clear the paths of the approaching vehicles. By comparing these times, the system triggers a warning message if an imminent collision is detected. Minimum specifications for key hardware components are established for the proposed system which does not depend on specific technology.

To estimate the time require to clear the paths of the approaching vehicles, statistical models were developed to estimate the perception-reaction time for the driver of the turning vehicle and the rate of acceleration selected when departing the intersection. The statistical models include regression models that were calibrated from data collected through driving simulation and more-sophisticated artificial neural network models that are based on actual data collected from a specific driver on a specific vehicle.

The proposed system was validated by computer simulation to verify the accuracy of the developed algorithms and to measure the impact of different components on the functionality and reliability of the system. Final conclusions are provided along with recommendations for further research.
A full catalogue and analysis of a collection of postcards at the Art Gallery of Ontario depicting scenes of Toronto
Authors: Piitz Brian
Published: June 2021

This applied thesis is focused on the full cataloguing and contextualizing of a collection of one hundred and sixteen postcards at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) depicting scenes of Toronto a the beginning of the twentieth century. Twenty-seven publishers representing international, national and regional manufacturers are identified with their imprint on the verso of the postcard. The applied thesis includes a literature survey discussing a rationale for the cataloguing of postcards, as well as a brief overview of the history of postcards and the history of the urbanization of the City of Toronto. A description and analysis of the AGO postcards provides information about the production cycle of postcards, the scope of commercial photography and the dissemination of photographic imagery in Toronto. The thesis also examines the way images were altered in the production cycle and the manner in which photographers and publishers exchanged photographs intended for postcard production.
Effect of corrosion on the bond strength of self consolidated lightweight concrete
Authors: Mumtaz Tariq
Published: June 2021

Self-consolidating lightweight concrete (SCLWC) is a concrete with excellent filling ability, good passing ability, and adequate segregation resistance. The use of SCLWC can be beneficial for structures due to significant reduction in dead loads as well as structures in seismic zone. In addition, economic impacts on construction industry by using SCLWC will be significant because of its benefits. Three SCLWC mixtures are developed by using two types of lightweight aggregates (LWA) (such as blast furnace slag and expanded shale), two supplementary cementing materials (such as fly ash and metakaolin). In addition to fresh and strength properties, the effect of different degrees of accelerated corrosion on bond characterists of deformed steel bars in SCLWC is investigated by analyzing pullout test results such as load-slip relationship, voltage versus time data, failure modes, aggregate of specimens and concrete material characteristics.
Current bridge deck rehabilitation practices : use and effectiveness
Authors: Ramcharitar Melvin
Published: June 2021

Approximately thirty to forty percent of all bridges across North America have some form of deterioration on them. Many organizations/agencies across North America are investing significant amounts of money on repairing and rehabilitating their bridges. The reason being, these bridges are deteriorating due to heavy use (overloading from today's oversized trucks), old age (many built in late 1950s and 1960s) and environmental and chemical attacks (deicing salt applications during the winter season).

The purpose of this thesis concentrated on one area, namely bridge decks. To better understand how these organizations/agencies were dealing with bridge deck deterioration, a survey containing thirteen questions was developed and sent out throughout North America, to Department of Transportation, Ministry of Transportation, Municipalities, Bridge Authorities and Consultants.

The survey was made up of six parts, each focusing on different areas during a bridge rehabilitation/repair operation. Areas looked at were: Condition Surveys, Concrete Removal, Rehabilitation Techniques, Environmental Impacts and Service Life.
Photography as exhibited in the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, 1851
Authors: O'Dell Robin
Published: June 2021

The 1851 Great Exhibition of the Works of All Nations was the first world’s fair and the
first time that photographs from around the world were exhibited together. To
accompany the exhibition, the Royal Commissioners created a set of volumes that
included an Official Catalogue and Reports by the Juries. These contain information
explaining how the Exhibition was organized, descriptions of content, and annotations
offered by experts in various fields.

This thesis addresses the photographic information contained in the presentation set of
these volumes held at George Eastman House’s Richard and Ronay Menschel Library.
It includes a summary of the information pertaining to photography contained within
these books, formatted into a concise and easily accessible reference source. In
addition, it offers an analysis of some of this information. The topics include the
formation of content, language and classification, photographic processes, and the
controversy regarding the awarding of prize medals.
Finite Element Modelling of the Fire Resistance of Double Skin Composite Walls Subjected to Monotonic Compressive Loading
Authors: Bournas Mohamed Yanis
Published: June 2021

The fire resistance of double skin composite wall (DSCW) system composed of two profiled steel sheets and concrete infill is investigated through use of finite element (FE) methods. The fire resistance of DSCW when exposed to elevated temperature and a constant axial compressive load with different infill materials such as self-consolidating concrete (SCC), engineered cementitious concrete (ECC) and ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is investigated. The influence of parameters such as load level, thickness of steel sheets, depth of concrete core and fastener arrangement on the fire resistance of the DSCW are established. The performance of SCC-based DSCW has the best fire resistance followed by ECC and UHPC-based composite walls. The increase in load level decreases the fire resistance while the increase in depth of concrete infill increases the fire resistance of the composite wall. The fastener arrangement and steel thickness have no significant influence on the resulting fire resistance.
Strain rate effects on ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHP-FRC) with various fiber contents
Authors: Banitabaei-Koupaei Sayed-Mohammad
Published: June 2021

Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHP-FRC) was introduced in the mid-1990s and has made striking advances in recent years. Ductal® is a UHP-FRC technology that offers a unique combination of characteristics including but, not limited to ductility, strength and durability, while providing highly moldable products with quality surfaces. Compressive strengths, and equivalent flexural strengths reach up to 200 and 40 MPa, respectively. UHP-FRC also shows an outstanding performance under dynamic loading in structures subjected to extreme loading conditions such as impact, earthquake and blast. Moreover, UHP-FRC indicates an optimized combination of properties for a specific application. Three series of tests including compression, indirect tension, and flexure were conducted under various strain rates from quasi-static to dynamic loading with low strain rates. The objective of this project is to enhance knowledge of strain rate effects on UHP-FRC with various fiber contents and to report Dynamic Increase Factor (DIF).
The impacts of climate change on the availability of granular resources in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Northwest Territories
Authors: Borsy Emily
Published: June 2021

Physical community infrastructure is vulnerable to changes in permafrost regimes resulting from warming in Arctic environments. The vulnerability of community infrastructure is greatly exacerbated by factors related to the accessibility of aggregates that are used to insulate built form from the active layer of the permafrost. The abililty of communities to address stresses brought about by melting permafrost is a function of access to aggregates, the ability to transport them, and competition for gravel between users. In the Inuvialuit Settlement Region readily accessible aggregate is in short supply, and concerns about resource allocation pre-date current prognoses about the impact of global warming. The prospect is that while demand for gravel will increase as permafrost is degraded, competition from new activities along with degradation of winter roads may further stress supplies. This research project examines the manner in which institutional arrangements, the geography of aggregate distribution, transportation, and competition from emerging new activities exacerbate vulnerabilites associated with permafrost melt in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.
Effect Of Hydrothermal Pre-Treatment On Methane Production During Anaerobic Digestion Of Thickened Waste Activated Sludge
Authors: Khan Suleman
Published: June 2021

The effects of hydrothermal pre-treatment on the production of methane and biogas on thickened waste activated sludge was investigated. This paper reviews the anaerobic digestion process and its complexities, provides an overview of the different stages of the anaerobic digestion process, different kinds of feedstocks and the essential and influential operating parameters such as temperature, pH, organic loading rate, solid retention time and particle size.

This paper also demonstrates an overview of the natural and anthropogenic sources contributing to methane in the atmosphere. It further provides a recommendation on essential practices and methods required to enhance methane capture in the atmosphere.

Furthermore, an experimental setup consisting of batch anaerobic digestion was employed for the sample analysis the purpose of this experimental research was to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the effect of the hydrothermal pre-treatment on thickened waste activated sludge and to determine the most optimum conditions to produce methane.

Keywords: Anaerobic digestion, Thickened waste-activated sludge, Hydrothermal Pre-treatment