Thesis and Research Data Repository Leeds Beckett University
Not a member yet
631 research outputs found
Sort by
Environmental life cycle analysis of Qatar's construction industry
No full textThe production of waste, the effects of global warming, and embodied energy use are all significantly impacted by the construction industry. The fastest-growing industry in Qatar has been construction over the past two decades, which is predicted to expand by 3.6% in real terms in 2023 after expanding by an estimated 4.7% per year in 2022. From 2024 to 2027, the construction industry is anticipated to grow at an average annual rate of 3.8%, helped along by investments in the housing, oil and gas, industrial, and renewable energy sectors. Qatar has committed to achieving a significant portion of its goal to construct a substantial number of 'green or carbon-neutral' buildings across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by the year 2030. If the construction is not monitored and kept under control, it will consume a significant amount of energy and produce waste that will impact the surrounding ecosystem. Life cycle assessment, often known as LCA, has become an essential component in the building industry's push toward green infrastructure design. This is because LCA provides a method that is both objective and reliable for determining the environmental implications of various building techniques, components, and assemblies. Using an approach known as life cycle assessment, the purpose of this study is to determine the environmental impacts that are most significant to construction projects across their full life cycles in Qatar. This study helps identify potential risks and possibilities in the Qatari construction project by conducting a thorough and analytical analysis of the existing literature. The results of this study show that the construction industry has a significant adverse impact on Qatar's environment in terms of energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste generation. According to research, LCA can help identify areas in the construction industry where sustainable practices can be promoted and environmental effects reduced.</p
An Evaluation of the Impact of Oil Exploration on Sustainable Development Objectives for the Communities Within the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria
No full textOil exploration has been on-going in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria for six decades. The oil production in the region, which accounts for about ninety percent of Nigeria’s crude oil turnover, foreign export earnings and revenues, has resulted in massive degradation of the environment, negatively impacted the biodiversity, and caused irreversible damage to the built environment and sustainable development of the communities. Similarly, the communities close to the oil fields and installations have experienced high corrosion rates for building roofs caused by gas flare-induced acid rain, soot deposition on buildings and farmlands, and contamination of soil and water bodies. This has impacted negatively on the sustainable development of these communities. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to explore the impact of the oil exploration activities on the promotion of sustainable development objectives for the communities. The study adopted a quantitative approach and obtained primary data using questionnaires which were administered to government ministries, departments, agencies, key leaders of the affected communities and representatives of oil producing companies in the Niger Delta region to explore the government’s sustainability policy programmes and the oil exploration practices in the Niger Delta. Secondary data from existing literature was also reviewed to compliment the primary data. Findings from the study revealed that substandard practices by the oil companies, the quest to maximise profits, poor governance, and lack of political will on the part of the government are responsible for the lack of attention given to the promotion of sustainable development objectives for the communities in the Niger Delta. These findings hold a salient implication for the country’s efforts towards the attainment of sustainable development goals for the oil producing communities and brought to bear the key issues underlying oil exploration and its associated sustainability problems for the built environment in the region.</p
An examination of Nature-Based Solutions’ ability to retain New and Emerging Pollutants – Preliminary results from a UK field test
No full textNew and Emerging Pollutants (NEPs) include a vast range of compounds which are often not included in water quality monitoring campaigns or legislation for environmental protection. Traditional water treatment systems are not designed to treat NEPs and previous research has highlighted that many NEPs can persist through them and enter the aquatic environment. NEPs then cause a range of sub-lethal negative effects on wild organisms. The issue of NEP pollution is even more acute in informal settlements which lack formal drainage systems of any kind. This study describes a UK field test of Nature-based Solutions designed to retain and treat NEPs and constructed with low cost and recycled materials at its forefront. The test site consists of 6 individual test beds, 3 of which have been left to self-seed as controls and another 3 which were planted with Salix viminalis propagated from an existing tree on site. The systems were watered multiple time a week with water spiked with 8 NEPs (Amoxicillin, Caffeine, Ibuprofen, Nevirapine, Paracetamol, Sulfamethoxazole, Triclosan, Trimethoprim) at 1000 ng/L to simulate NEP addition by informal settlement dwellers, starting February 2023. Water samples were collected from each test bed monthly and NEP concentrations were evaluated by online-SPE LC-MS, while microplastic emissions were assessed via µFTIR microscope. In the system’s first year since initial construction in spring 2022, a total of 40+ species of plants were identified in the self-seeded systems, along with multiple animal species. All test bed systems showed a great capacity to deal with extreme summer heat without requiring large inputs of water and were capable of absorbing large volumes of water from winter rain before flooding. Initial results have demonstrated the presence of microplastics being emitted from the system predominantly in the form of PET, PTFE, and cellophane. Analysis of chemicals NEPs is ongoing.</p
Towards energy-efficient retrofitting of social housing in the UK: Assessing the occupant behaviour and indoor environmental quality of a council block in London
No full textThe UK is confronted with a significant challenge as it possesses one of the oldest building stocks in Europe. This necessitates extensive retrofitting efforts to upgrade these buildings and bring them up to par with the environmental requirements. This is even more challenging when it comes to social housing, where they usually suffer from poor energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) issues. Therefore, there is an inherent demand to understand the current environmental conditions of these buildings. This study focuses on assessing indoor air quality (IAQ), thermal comfort, occupant behaviour and energy performance with the aim of improving the current conditions and identifying strategies for achieving energy-efficient retrofits. The paper utilises quantitative field measurements, and questionnaires conducted with the residents to evaluate the current state of the building's IEQ and energy performance. IEQ parameters such as air temperature, relative humidity, and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are measured to assess thermal comfort, overall IAQ, and potential health implications for residents. These measurements were conducted using data loggers installed for 6 weeks during March and April in 2023 in 13 selected case study flats within the council block. Simultaneously, weekly meter readings were also collected for each of the flats. The measurements collected by the data loggers were then compared to the UK standards, guidelines, and benchmarks to evaluate the current conditions. Moreover, the analysed data was linked with the questionnaire survey conducted in the case study flats, to assess the impact of occupants’ behaviour on IEQ and energy performance. The findings highlight the importance of considering IEQ and occupants’ behaviours alongside energy performance during retrofitting initiatives, aiming to create healthier and more sustainable living environments for social housing residents. These results contribute to the development of evidence-based retrofitting guidelines and policy recommendations for social housing in the UK.</p
A comparative analysis of energy consumption and carbon emissions of CloudSim, CloudAnalyst and CloudReports cloud simulators.
No full textThe technological advances, popularity and complexity of cloud computing systems make the need for cloud simulators evident. Cloud simulators are programs that simulate a real datacenter into your personal computer. Their main objective is evaluating the infrastructure, trying different configurations to find the best one and provide more energy-efficient solutions. By doing all these assessments, these programs consume energy and produce emissions. This paper studies the energy consumption of three Java based simulators respectively CloudSim, Cloud Analyst and CloudReports. All of these applications are extensions of CloudSim and are event oriented. To analyze and achieve a conclusion, descriptive, and inferential statistics are implemented on the data gathered from Joulemeter measurements. According to the results of this experimental study, by conducting the deployments of the same infrastructure, CloudReports is found to consume more energy and produce more carbon emissions compared to the other two programs. This is related to the complete graphical user interface it provides. However, it should be noted that CloudSim consumes almost 9 times less energy and has a command line interface.</p
Surviving: A grounded theory of the sustainability of children’s play services in England
No full textAbstract The playwork sector has, since its development in the 1950’s, experienced periods of boom and bust. The 2000’s, saw significant investment and prioritisation of children’s right to play across the United Kingdom. This was followed by significant disinvestment during the 2010’s, as provision for children’s play became “a casualty of the austerity drive” (CRAE, 2015, p. 34). During the early 2010’s, in response to the increasingly marketised approach to funding for the third sector, many local authorities moved from direct play service delivery and grant allocation for children’s play, to commissioning services from the third sector. This study began as an exploration of the affects of commissioning on children’s play services. However, as a study adopting the Constructivist Grounded Theory Method, it soon became clear through early engagement with the field, that commissioning was not a route to sustainability for playwork provision. In the face of ever-decreasing funding for children’s play, the sector was looking to alternative ways to maintain their non-statutory but essential service for children, families and communities. Interviews with respondents representing 21 playwork projects from across England revealed that playwork provision was surviving not because of income generated through the process of commissioning, but through the deployment of skilled and knowledgable, committed and hard-working staff and volunteers. These individuals maintain a deep commitment to the underpinning professional and ethical framework for playwork, alongside the ethos of their very unique provision.
The outcome of this study is a substantive theory, grounded in data, which provides a conceptual framework for how adventure playgrounds have survived a period of significant political and economic turbulence. This is underpinned by The Four Principles of Surviving, which provide a framework for practice for organisations not only in the playwork field, but across other third sector organisations.</p
The Role of Governance in the Building of Arenas for Popular Music in France and England 1980-2019
No full textThe thesis investigates the evolution of arenas for popular culture since 1980 in Europe, and specifically in France and England. Using a qualitative research strategy and a thematic and comparative approach the research focuses on arena developing in France and England, using two case studies, the cities of Bordeaux and Leeds. The timeframe for the research is c1980s to 2019, a period which saw the emergence of the ‘dedicated’ indoor music arenas. The thesis explores the development of arenas through a governance perspective exploring, decision-making, cultural attitudes, and urban spaces for new consumerism.
The research highlights the decision-making processes within different political and administrative systems, both nationally, and locally in Bordeaux and Leeds. It identifies similarities and contrasts in process. The research suggests that in both cases the actual decision-making was indecisive, with neither city having a defined vision for the development of arenas. The research findings suggest that the time scale for the development of the arenas was exacerbated by internal political conflicts in both cities – between the mayors in Bordeaux, whilst in Leeds, the external pressures of a neighbouring authority. The thesis also explores issues of arena ownership and the relationship between public and private investments in cultural infrastructure. The thesis similarly considers the impact of local cultural policy on decision-making related to the provision of local cultural infrastructure.
The thesis is situated within a literature focused on the development of venues for popular music, and more specifically presents a comparative analysis of how these develop in specific places. The thesis highlights how, within contrasting political and administrative systems, decision-making related to major cultural infrastructure projects is often faced with similar challenges. The thesis extends the discussion and understanding of decision-making in a comparative context and adds to an understanding of the response to the accommodation of popular culture since the 1980s. In so doing it contributes to knowledge through its exploration and analysis of the governance and politics of cultural infrastructure provision
Pride or for Profit?
No full textIn this essay I aim to critically conceptualise postmodern theories that facilitate the commercialisation of Pride. In doing so, I examine the contemporary intersection between commodification, neoliberalism and globalisation, thus exploring the detrimental manifestation of hegemonic cultural production. Furthermore, I explore to what extent do identity politics, the postmodern spectacle and the fetishisation of activism enable the commodification of the rainbow flag. Finally, I present the counter-progressive effects the collaboration of these critiques has on Pride, concluding that the authentic essence of the celebration becomes alienated from its true radical meaning.</p
Energy Consumption Analysis of Deep Learning Model for the Recognition of Bengali Lexical Sign Language
No full textIn today's era, with the growing threat of global warming, it is essential to incorporate sustainability into deep learning models, specifically when it comes to carrying out heavy tasks such as the classification of images. In general, image data is heavier compared to numerical or even text data. Thus, it is essential to investigate the energy consumption and carbon footprint of these image classification models. To achieve this objective, this research focuses on building an energy-efficient deep learning model used to classify Bengali Lexical Signs. This dataset comprises 10,000 locally collected images that are trained using Convolutional Neural Network-Long Short-Term Memory (CNN-LSTM) as the primary model and other CNN pre-trained models, namely DensNet, MobileNet, VGG-16 and Inception V3. Before passing the images through the model, they are pre-processed to remove any noise and to induce robustness; data augmentation is applied. On the primary model, a k-4 cross-validation is also performed. The energy consumption data is collected during the training phase of each model using the Intel Power Gadget tool. From the energy consumption data, the carbon footprint is calculated using the value of the carbon intensity found in the UK for the prior thirty days. Further, a one-way ANOVA test, descriptive statistical studies, and the average power consumption of the processor are carried out using the energy consumption data to understand the behaviour of these models. According to the results, it can be deduced that the pre-trained models, namely Inception V3, VGG-16 and DenseNet, appear to have the lowest carbon footprint, while the primary model CNN-LSTM depicts a higher carbon footprint. Another interesting fact observed in this research is that Inception V3 and DenseNet models exhibit the highest energy consumption compared to that of other models. Therefore, from the study, it can be concluded that high energy is required for deep learning models which are used to process images and for other computer vision applications.</p
Comparative Analysis of Power-Aware and Non-Power Aware Data Centre Simulations using Interquartile Range Allocation Policy and Various Virtual Machine Selection Policies in CloudSim
No full textThis project aims to investigate the impact of Resource Allocation and Selection Policies on the power consumption of a Cloud Data Centre compared also to it when it is NonPower-Aware. The study will use CloudSim, a well-known simulation tool for cloud computing, to build a virtual environment that simulates a Cloud Data Centre. The main objective of the project is to evaluate the effectiveness of these policies in reducing the energy consumption of the Data Centre while maintaining performance and availability levels. The simulation results will be analysed and compared with the Non-PowerAware scene, to demonstrate the importance of the effective implementation of policies in reducing power consumption. The project aims to contribute to the ongoing research efforts towards achieving sustainable cloud computing by providing insights into the effectiveness of Power Aware Policies in reducing the carbon footprint of Cloud Data Centres.</p