title: Designs with a priori information for nonmarket valuation with choice experiments: A Monte Carlo study

authors: Ferrini, Silvia

subjects: experimental design

abstract: Good practice in experimental design is essential for choice experiments used in nonmarket valuation. We review the practice of experimental design for choice experiments in environmental economics and we compare it with advances in experimental design. We then evaluate the statistical efficiency of four different designs by means of Monte Carlo experiments. Correct and incorrect specifications are investigated with gradually more precise information on the true parameter values. The data generating process (DGP) is based on estimates from data of a real study. Results indicate that D-efficient designs are promising, especially when based on Bayesian algorithms with informative prior. However, if good quality a priori information is lacking, and if there is strong uncertainty about the real DGP—conditions which are quite common in environmental valuation—then practitioners might be better off with shifted designs built from conventional fractional factorial designs for linear models.

text: Designs with a priori information for nonmarket valuation with choice experiments: A Monte Carlo study Good practice in experimental design is essential for choice experiments used in nonmarket valuation. We review the practice of experimental design for choice experiments in environmental economics and we compare it with advances in experimental design. We then evaluate the statistical efficiency of four different designs by means of Monte Carlo experiments. Correct and incorrect specifications are investigated with gradually more precise information on the true parameter values. The data generating process (DGP) is based on estimates from data of a real study. Results indicate that D-efficient designs are promising, especially when based on Bayesian algorithms with informative prior. However, if good quality a priori information is lacking, and if there is strong uncertainty about the real DGP—conditions which are quite common in environmental valuation—then practitioners might be better off with shifted designs built from conventional fractional factorial designs for linear models.

year: 2007

title: Design of Building Integrated Photovoltaic Product for Long Run Metal Roofing

authors: McGuinness, Benjamin John

abstract: In this study an innovative concept for a building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) product was generated and verified at the University of Waikato in partnership with Dimond Roofing. The concept is based on a new principle which consists of laminating solar cells directly to a COLORSTEEL substrate, with a thin polymer cover, and folding this post-lamination into a profile which is capable of mating with standard long run metal roofing profiles. There were two major unknowns associated with the new concept which needed to be verified. Firstly, the suitability of laminating directly onto COLORSTEEL was in question as this material has not been used for this purpose before. More importantly, it was unsure whether the laminate would withstand the folding process without causing damage to the cells or other laminate materials. The issue of laminating to COLORSTEEL was addressed experimentally by producing small scale COLORSTEEL-EVA laminates. T peel tests were performed on samples from two different laminates - one which consisted of COLORSTEEL which had not undergone any kind of surface treatment, and another which was subjected to flame treatment to increase its surface energy. The flame treated sample exhibited a 7 fold increase in adhesion strength over the untreated sample, with average adhesion values of 56 N/cm, which is comparable to proven materials currently used in commercial quality photovoltaic modules. Untreated COLORSTEEL is not suitable for PV laminates. Further optimization of the treatment and lamination processes is likely to produce laminates with even greater adhesion strengths. Subsequently, it was necessary to fabricate equipment to replicate the commercial lamination process in order to produce laminates of high quality. These laminates were then folded on a hand brake to determine the feasibility of forming them into shapes capable of mating with existing metal roofing profiles. Folds were able to be started very close to the edge of the cell, even as close as 1 mm, without affecting the performance of the laminate, or causing any damage to the cell or laminate materials. This study was successful in designing an innovative BIPV product with huge potential to succeed in today’s market. It was shown that the product is worth further investigation, therefore it is recommended that larger scale prototypes are produced and subjected to a range of testing.

text: Design of Building Integrated Photovoltaic Product for Long Run Metal Roofing In this study an innovative concept for a building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) product was generated and verified at the University of Waikato in partnership with Dimond Roofing. The concept is based on a new principle which consists of laminating solar cells directly to a COLORSTEEL substrate, with a thin polymer cover, and folding this post-lamination into a profile which is capable of mating with standard long run metal roofing profiles. There were two major unknowns associated with the new concept which needed to be verified. Firstly, the suitability of laminating directly onto COLORSTEEL was in question as this material has not been used for this purpose before. More importantly, it was unsure whether the laminate would withstand the folding process without causing damage to the cells or other laminate materials. The issue of laminating to COLORSTEEL was addressed experimentally by producing small scale COLORSTEEL-EVA laminates. T peel tests were performed on samples from two different laminates - one which consisted of COLORSTEEL which had not undergone any kind of surface treatment, and another which was subjected to flame treatment to increase its surface energy. The flame treated sample exhibited a 7 fold increase in adhesion strength over the untreated sample, with average adhesion values of 56 N/cm, which is comparable to proven materials currently used in commercial quality photovoltaic modules. Untreated COLORSTEEL is not suitable for PV laminates. Further optimization of the treatment and lamination processes is likely to produce laminates with even greater adhesion strengths. Subsequently, it was necessary to fabricate equipment to replicate the commercial lamination process in order to produce laminates of high quality. These laminates were then folded on a hand brake to determine the feasibility of forming them into shapes capable of mating with existing metal roofing profiles. Folds were able to be started very close to the edge of the cell, even as close as 1 mm, without affecting the performance of the laminate, or causing any damage to the cell or laminate materials. This study was successful in designing an innovative BIPV product with huge potential to succeed in today’s market. It was shown that the product is worth further investigation, therefore it is recommended that larger scale prototypes are produced and subjected to a range of testing.

year: 2011

title: An evaluation of the cultural supervision prototype undertaken within the Department of Corrections, Hamilton

authors: Masters-Awatere, Bridgette

subjects: Maori

abstract: Disproportionately high rates of offending and recidivism among Māori are well documented. As part of its attempt to better meet the needs of Māori offenders, the Department of Corrections is developing cultural supervision for staff in the Community Probation Service, the Public Prisons Service and the Psychological Service. The aims of cultural supervision include improving staff members’ knowledge of Māori cultural values, providing support for staff in managing complex cultural issues, and ensuring safe practice and culturally appropriate behaviour. During 2002, the Māori and Psychology Research Unit was contracted to conduct a survey of current practices in relation to cultural supervision and a process evaluation of a prototype of cultural supervision being trialled in the Waikato among probation officers (Hamilton Area) and sentence planners (Waikeria Prison) (Karapu, Masters, Robertson, Trynes, & Waitoki, 2002). Findings from the survey indicated that most staff had informal cultural support or advice available to them. Usually, this was in the form of Māori colleagues within the Department. Less commonly, support was sought from Māori in other organisations, from knowledgeable non-Māori within the Department, kaumātua and kuia, and whānau members. About a third of Corrections staff were receiving some formal cultural supervision, most of whom regarded it positively. Among other staff, both Māori and non-Māori, there was a high level of interest in cultural supervision, and a view that it would be beneficial to their professional practice. Overall, staff felt that the support and advice currently available to them was inadequate. Findings from the evaluation of the prototype suggested that while many of the participants viewed cultural supervision as important for their job, fewer considered that the supervision they were receiving was meeting their needs. Some experienced non-Māori staff seemed to be resistant to the idea of cultural supervision, feeling that they already knew how to relate to Māori offenders. Māori staff were generally enthusiastic about cultural supervision but wanted it to focus on their personal safety as Māori within a “mainstream” institution rather than on their practice. However, both Māori and non-Māori staff generally felt that the cultural supervision sessions provided a safe environment. The prototype appeared to be a good beginning and the model should be stronger when modified in the light of experience.

text: An evaluation of the cultural supervision prototype undertaken within the Department of Corrections, Hamilton Disproportionately high rates of offending and recidivism among Māori are well documented. As part of its attempt to better meet the needs of Māori offenders, the Department of Corrections is developing cultural supervision for staff in the Community Probation Service, the Public Prisons Service and the Psychological Service. The aims of cultural supervision include improving staff members’ knowledge of Māori cultural values, providing support for staff in managing complex cultural issues, and ensuring safe practice and culturally appropriate behaviour. During 2002, the Māori and Psychology Research Unit was contracted to conduct a survey of current practices in relation to cultural supervision and a process evaluation of a prototype of cultural supervision being trialled in the Waikato among probation officers (Hamilton Area) and sentence planners (Waikeria Prison) (Karapu, Masters, Robertson, Trynes, & Waitoki, 2002). Findings from the survey indicated that most staff had informal cultural support or advice available to them. Usually, this was in the form of Māori colleagues within the Department. Less commonly, support was sought from Māori in other organisations, from knowledgeable non-Māori within the Department, kaumātua and kuia, and whānau members. About a third of Corrections staff were receiving some formal cultural supervision, most of whom regarded it positively. Among other staff, both Māori and non-Māori, there was a high level of interest in cultural supervision, and a view that it would be beneficial to their professional practice. Overall, staff felt that the support and advice currently available to them was inadequate. Findings from the evaluation of the prototype suggested that while many of the participants viewed cultural supervision as important for their job, fewer considered that the supervision they were receiving was meeting their needs. Some experienced non-Māori staff seemed to be resistant to the idea of cultural supervision, feeling that they already knew how to relate to Māori offenders. Māori staff were generally enthusiastic about cultural supervision but wanted it to focus on their personal safety as Māori within a “mainstream” institution rather than on their practice. However, both Māori and non-Māori staff generally felt that the cultural supervision sessions provided a safe environment. The prototype appeared to be a good beginning and the model should be stronger when modified in the light of experience.

year: 2003