title: Modelling post-earthquake building recovery under human resource constraints

authors: Li, Lianyan

abstract: Demand surge phenomenon as a result of shortages of human resources needed for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction can be detrimental to recovery outcomes. To quantify the impact of human resource constraints on the recovery of an urban environment, this research introduces a novel Dynamic Stochastic Queuing (DSQ) model, revealing such dynamic interplays over time. Central to this model is the incorporation of a spectrum of socioeconomic factors to formulate optimal recovery strategies under different dynamic resource mobilisation patterns. A recovery efficiency index is defined and employed as a proxy to facilitate comparisons across diverse recovery strategies. A case study is presented to illustrate the application of the model by simulating the building recovery of a portfolio of residential buildings in New Zealand following the 2010–2011 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence (CES). The findings indicate that proactive resource mobilisation strategies can significantly enhance both recovery efficiency and speed. It becomes possible to shorten the post-disaster recovery time significantly by strategically sequencing repairs of damaged structures while taking into account resource mobilisation strategies.

text: Modelling post-earthquake building recovery under human resource constraints Demand surge phenomenon as a result of shortages of human resources needed for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction can be detrimental to recovery outcomes. To quantify the impact of human resource constraints on the recovery of an urban environment, this research introduces a novel Dynamic Stochastic Queuing (DSQ) model, revealing such dynamic interplays over time. Central to this model is the incorporation of a spectrum of socioeconomic factors to formulate optimal recovery strategies under different dynamic resource mobilisation patterns. A recovery efficiency index is defined and employed as a proxy to facilitate comparisons across diverse recovery strategies. A case study is presented to illustrate the application of the model by simulating the building recovery of a portfolio of residential buildings in New Zealand following the 2010–2011 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence (CES). The findings indicate that proactive resource mobilisation strategies can significantly enhance both recovery efficiency and speed. It becomes possible to shorten the post-disaster recovery time significantly by strategically sequencing repairs of damaged structures while taking into account resource mobilisation strategies.

year: 2025

title: Lagrangian relaxation schemes for calculating force-free magnetic fields, and their limitations

authors: Pontin, D.I.

subjects: magnetic fields

abstract: Force-free magnetic fields are important in many astrophysical settings. Determining the properties of such force-free fields—especially smoothness and stability properties—is crucial to understanding many key phenomena in astrophysical plasmas, for example, energy release processes that heat the plasma and lead to dynamic or explosive events. In the present work we discuss a serious limitation on the computation of force-free fields, within the context of a Lagrangian relaxation scheme that conserves magnetic flux and ∇ • B identically. This issue has the potential to invalidate the results produced by numerical force-free field solvers even for cases in which they appear to converge (at fixed grid resolution) to an equilibrium magnetic field. Error estimates are introduced to assess the quality of the calculated equilibrium. We go on to present an algorithm, based on rewriting the curl operation via Stokes' theorem, for calculating the current which holds great promise for improving dramatically the accuracy of the Lagrangian relaxation procedure.

text: Lagrangian relaxation schemes for calculating force-free magnetic fields, and their limitations Force-free magnetic fields are important in many astrophysical settings. Determining the properties of such force-free fields—especially smoothness and stability properties—is crucial to understanding many key phenomena in astrophysical plasmas, for example, energy release processes that heat the plasma and lead to dynamic or explosive events. In the present work we discuss a serious limitation on the computation of force-free fields, within the context of a Lagrangian relaxation scheme that conserves magnetic flux and ∇ • B identically. This issue has the potential to invalidate the results produced by numerical force-free field solvers even for cases in which they appear to converge (at fixed grid resolution) to an equilibrium magnetic field. Error estimates are introduced to assess the quality of the calculated equilibrium. We go on to present an algorithm, based on rewriting the curl operation via Stokes' theorem, for calculating the current which holds great promise for improving dramatically the accuracy of the Lagrangian relaxation procedure.

year: 2009

title: Weaving the mat of Māori and Pacific learner success

authors: Tiakiwai, Sarah-Jane

subjects: Supporting learners, Pacific learner success, Māori learner success, higher education

abstract: The mat we are trying to weave at the University of Waikato to address educational outcomes, disparities and inequities in education for Māori and Pacific learners will weave rich data, stories and experience. Our goal is to use data to be better informed about what works for Māori and Pacific learners and what does not. Data is useful in building a more complete picture of what is happening to students, but student voice and previous research that has already captured the voices of Māori and Pacific experts, educators, students, families and communities can tell us more about why we are getting these outcomes. As we harness data to improve our knowledge, we must not forget the stories already in the mat and the stories being woven in the mat, for the stories are the gold.

This report details our work on this data-informed rather than data-driven project. It discusses how improved data and data analytic capability enhanced our understanding of the literature on Māori and Pacific learner success and the experience of Māori and Pacific learners at UoW. Our research and the report, however, also unapologetically privilege case studies through literature and Māori and Pacific student voices. We lay out the various materials – data, literature and voice – that will form our mat with this in mind, weaving them together in order to achieve better outcomes for Māori and Pacific learners at our university. These learners are the why of this mahi. Their success will create a beautiful pattern in the
weave.

text: Weaving the mat of Māori and Pacific learner success The mat we are trying to weave at the University of Waikato to address educational outcomes, disparities and inequities in education for Māori and Pacific learners will weave rich data, stories and experience. Our goal is to use data to be better informed about what works for Māori and Pacific learners and what does not. Data is useful in building a more complete picture of what is happening to students, but student voice and previous research that has already captured the voices of Māori and Pacific experts, educators, students, families and communities can tell us more about why we are getting these outcomes. As we harness data to improve our knowledge, we must not forget the stories already in the mat and the stories being woven in the mat, for the stories are the gold.

This report details our work on this data-informed rather than data-driven project. It discusses how improved data and data analytic capability enhanced our understanding of the literature on Māori and Pacific learner success and the experience of Māori and Pacific learners at UoW. Our research and the report, however, also unapologetically privilege case studies through literature and Māori and Pacific student voices. We lay out the various materials – data, literature and voice – that will form our mat with this in mind, weaving them together in order to achieve better outcomes for Māori and Pacific learners at our university. These learners are the why of this mahi. Their success will create a beautiful pattern in the
weave.

year: 2022-06