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Public recharging for electric vehicles : the business model challenge
Get PDFPhD ThesisThe thesis investigates how to increase public electric vehicle (EV) recharging
provision at the early-market stage when financial returns are poor. Mass adoption of
EV is required to reach the UK’s carbon emission reduction target, however the scarcity
of public recharging infrastructure is seen as a major barrier to uptake. Longitudinal
public recharging data required to make informed infrastructure investment and policy
decisions is lacking. This research captures and analyses nine years of recharging
data to address this gap.
The performance of North East England’s (NE) recharging network was analysed and
compared with a UK-wide network using recharging event, infrastructure cost and
revenue data. The relationship between EV sales and public recharging was
investigated using vehicle registration data, and future adoption and recharging
demand forecasts were created for the NE region. Preference data was collected from
drivers and stakeholders using questionnaires and workshops to investigate their
requirements and wider objectives for public recharging.
The UK EV market is at the earliest Innovators stage in the Diffusion of Innovations
cycle. Public recharging demand was found to be low in all real-world scenarios studied
and introducing fees for recharging reduced demand further. Low recharging demand
provides a poor financial return for recharging networks, which limits further
investment. EV drivers reported a preference for rapid charging services, but with only
a low willingness to pay. Stakeholders reported a range of dissimilar objectives
governing their actions, including environmental and social benefits not captured within
traditional financial models. Exploring broader non-financial measures to justify public
recharging provision required diverse stakeholder analysis and qualitative research
investigating stakeholders’ perceptions of recharging infrastructure value. The
research concludes that social and environmental value could be used to assist in
recharging investment decisions to improve our environment now and for future
generations, but further work is required to determine appropriate indicators.Zero Carbon Futures
(ZCF) and the EPSRC-funded iBUILD projec
Corporate sustainability: The role of co-creation of value by multiple stakeholders in the food and beverage sector of Pakistan
Get PDFPhD ThesisBurgeoning consumer demands result in the depletion of resources and cause environmental
degradation and social distress. The emphasis on addressing this issue inspires various business
organizations to incorporate sustainable business practices, which not only enable them to fulfill
the demands of the current population but also preserve for the next generations to satisfy their
needs. Many business organizations have understood that they are unable to resolve
sustainability issues in isolation and require the involvement of diverse stakeholders to integrate
resources for sustainable outcomes. This thesis aims to understand the processes through which
social interactions between business organizations and their stakeholders mutually create values
for sustainable outcomes.
To fulfill the desired objective of this research, this thesis uses a multiple case study research
design to have an in-depth understanding of the value co-creative processes in the food and
beverage sector of Pakistan. A conceptual framework is developed to structure the empirical
work, which comprises of six conceptual categories including values, stakeholders,
motivations, service ecosystem, resources, and outcomes. The findings from the fieldwork
identify diverse aspects of value co-creation processes. Firstly, it categorizes various
stakeholders of companies who are directly or indirectly associated with sustainable outcomes.
Secondly, it recognizes companies’ practices, accountability relationships with stakeholders,
and unique factors in the business ecosystem as additional significant aspects of value cocreation processes. Thirdly, the empirical analysis highlights that the aspects of value cocreative processes, such as values, motivations, resources, stakeholders’ relationships, company
practices, and factors in the business ecosystem are interconnected. Further, the study also
identifies that the complex and interdependent aspects of value co-creation process are
holistically developing an integrated framework for corporate sustainability.
Overall, the findings depict that corporate sustainability is a proactive approach, which requires
concerted efforts from companies and stakeholders to jointly create long-term values by the
creation of accounts beyond economic focus and articulating social and environmental
outcomes. We can also infer that sustainability is not a stand-alone approach, as it is dependent
upon various values, motivations, resources, factors, and relationships in an ecosystem.
Integrating various aspects of value co-creation processes demands companies to build
capacities by taking into account values, motivations, and resources of different stakeholders,
which are relevant in developing a sustainable future. Thus, creating mutual values for the
benefits of all the parties involved
Argon oxy-hydrogen combustion for power generation employing linear joule cycle engine generator
Get PDFPhD ThesisThe global awareness of the unfavourable environmental effects due to fossil fuels' continuous
use as the primary energy source has increased significantly. In order to tackle the adverse
environmental consequences, innovative technologies will play a significant role. As a result,
this thesis presents an investigation of the Linear Joule Engine Generator (LJEG) and its
potential for zero-emissions power generation. It is believed that the results of the investigation
will guide the further development of the LJEG. A background study on LJEG related
technologies was conducted, focusing on the challenges and advantages of the reciprocating
Joule Cycle engine and the free-piston engine generator. The semi-closed cycle argon-oxyhydrogen combustion LJEG was identified as the potential technology path towards LJEG
development. This version of LJEG operated on dry friction principle, and an accurate friction
model is required for a proper analysis of the engine. A novel friction model of the LJEG is
proposed, and the proposed model validation was against test data from a lab-scale LJEG
prototype. The dynamic and thermodynamic model of the LJEG was developed, and the
numeric model validation was executed with the prototype's test data. The performance
characteristics of the LJEG with different inputs and operating conditions were analysed.
Results indicated that the friction model and the dynamic and thermodynamic model were
reliable. The performance indicators of the LJEG depended on the input and operational
parameters, and the most essential included the working fluid type, cycle pressure, valve
timing, and electric load. The valve timing and electric load are optimised depending on
preference between engine efficiency and power output. Operational parameter optimisation
indicated that the efficiency decreased with extended expander intake duration but could
improve with extended expander exhaust duration. Power output increased with longer
expander intake duration; however, its relationship with compressor/expander diameter ratio
(CER) depended on adopted expander exhaust duration. Substituting air with argon as the
major working fluid resulted in over 60% improved indicated efficiency, and peak efficiencies
of 40% and 60% are achieved with CER of 0.70 and 0.93, respectively. However, there could be
a need for further fluid flow investigation; since the working volume of the expander and
compressor is not fixed but could vary according to operation, and the fluid flow in the LJEG is
pulsating
Assessing pulmonary ventilation and perfusion properties with 19F-MRI
Get PDFPhD ThesisPulmonary imaging with conventional MRI remains challenging, owing to the low proton
density of lung tissue and magnetic susceptibility gradients that exist at ubiquitous air-tissue
interfaces. The use of exogenous gas agents can overcome these challenges by direct
visualisation of inhaled gases within the airways, facilitating assessment of regional
ventilation properties. To date, this has largely been achieved in research settings using
hyperpolarised-gas MRI, a well-established technique that is capable of providing clinically
useful metrics of lung function (e.g. the percentage ventilated lung volume, %VV). However,
the requirement for specialised gas polarising equipment and expertise remains a barrier to
widespread clinical adoption. Recently, 19F-MRI of inhaled perfluoropropane (PFP) has
emerged as a viable approach to human ventilation imaging, offering an alternative to
hyperpolarisation with potential for translation to clinical practice.
This thesis presents methods for performing human 19F-MR ventilation imaging, focussing
on the application of novel scan procedures in healthy volunteers, patients with asthma, and
patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Initial experiments were
conducted within the framework of a dual-centre study (LIFT), enabling the establishment of
reproducible imaging methods in healthy volunteers for the evaluation of static %VV
measurements across different study sites. The utility of these methods to quantify ventilation
defects in patients with asthma and COPD, including bronchodilator response, is reported and
discussed. In addition, this thesis explores the feasibility of performing dynamic ventilation
and perfusion imaging, employing 19F-MRI of inhaled PFP in combination with a widely
used intravenous gadolinium-based contrast agent. Experiments were conducted within the
framework of two small feasibility studies (VQ MRI and LungGas). Initial results of these
studies are presented, alongside a discussion of the wider implications for future assessment
of regional pulmonary ventilation/perfusion properties. This work supports the use of 19FMRI as a novel imaging modality for the assessment of respiratory disease
Moving Moments: Uses of European Pasts in Heritage and Political Discourse
Get PDFPh. D. Thesis.References to particular historical moments can be a powerful tool of persuasion in political discourse. This project interrogates the uses of two historical moments in heritage sites and political discourse: the 1215 first writing of Magna Carta and the 1683 breaking of the Siege of Vienna.
The thesis explores how Magna Carta is used as a means of asserting British (or, more precisely, English) national identity against a European other, particularly in the context of the Brexit referendum. The breaking of the Ottoman siege of Vienna in 1683, meanwhile, is used by right-wing populist and extremist European groups to assert a notional ‘European’ identity against a migrant and Muslim other.
I follow the use of these moments across heritage sites, political discourse in legacy media, and through their use on Twitter. In doing so, I focus on constructions of British, Western and European shared identity and history in right-wing populist and extremist discourse.
The thesis proposes the concept of the moving moment. This views historical moments as constantly in movement, temporally and spatially. In political discourse, particular actors ‘pull’ these moments into the present, giving them new relevance for their political purposes. These historical moments are also viewed as having the power to move us emotionally. This emotional movement is key to the successful use of these pasts by political groups.
Through developing an understanding of how right-wing groups use historical moments to foster a politics of division, this thesis seeks to contribute to decision-making among other political activists and heritage organisations. It argues that heritage sites and museums need to acknowledge, if not interact with, the divisive uses of the pasts in question. In doing so, such sites can better engage actively in a politics of inclusion.Newcastle University’s Research Excellence Academ
Landscape character and public perception: a participatory Historic Landscape Characterisation approach in Northumberland
Get PDFPh. D. Thesis.The public perception of landscape character has been recognised and legitimised as a
fundamental aspect of landscape policy and research through the European Landscape
Convention (ELC). However, the practice of integrating the way communities perceive and
value landscape in management decisions remains limited. The aim of this research is to gain a
better understanding of how landscape and its historic character is perceived by people and to
map and operationalise public perception to inform participatory Historic Landscape
Characterisation (HLC). This study uses two qualitative approaches: map-based interviews and
walking and talking interviews with local people in two Northumbrian case study areas,
Heddon-on-the-Wall and the Wallington Estate, to develop insights into the factors influencing
landscape perception. Having gathered and analysed the qualitative data, the findings were
incorporated within a GIS designed to inform the HLC project of Northumberland.
Three main conclusions were reached as a result of the analysis and discussion of the research:
(1) landscape perception must be understood as a dynamic synergy between four dimensions:
personal, collective, space and time. (2) The unique combination of these dimensions mean that
landscapes are interpreted differently by different people and mean that a landscape is perceived
differently by the same individual at specific locations and at specific times. (3) To be included
in characterisation processes and to include public perception in landscape management,
people’s views cannot be focussed individually but must be generalised in line with the
philosophy and principles of HLC.
HLC databases form an ideal platform to integrate the multiplicity of views on landscapes and
open them up for more focussed discussion during problem-oriented moments in the landscape
management process.Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC
Phylogenetic inference using Hamiltonian Monte Carlo
Get PDFPh. D. Thesis.Phylogenetics is the study of evolutionary structure, aiming to reconstruct the branching structure
of speciation from a common ancestor. There are many methods of infering the tree-like structure
from the most basic, physical traits (morphology) to analysing the distances between genetic code
based on a prede ned metric. For viruses such a method is the best way to access their hereditity.
Bayesian inference enables us to learn a region of possible trees and alter the distribution of
trees according to prior beliefs. The most common method of conducting Bayesian inference
over evolutionary trees, called Tree space (Billera et al., 2001), is by Markov Chain Monte Carlo
(MCMC). Tree space is big and exploration is slow; a modern technique for speeding up MCMC
is Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC), developed by Duane et al. (1987). We incorporate HMC
into Tree space by creating our own algorithm: Cross-Orthant HMC (COrtHMC). Many methods
of increasing HMC convergence speed have been developed, such as Riemannian Manifold HMC
(RM-HMC) (Girolami et al., 2011). Where applicable, we adapted such methods to COrtHMC
and then compared COrtHMC to pre-existing methods of phylogenetic inference and probabilistic
path HMC (Dinh et al., 2017). We found that all forms of COrtHMC perform similarly, including
ppHMC, but that the increased computational cost in using such HMC methods outweighs any
bene t.EPSR
The lived experiences of a mainstream primary teacher in an inclusive classroom in Hong Kong
Get PDFEdD ThesisResearch related to the development of inclusive education repeatedly and
persistently calls for more appropriate teacher training. However, in some
cases even when training is provided, teachers who are struggling with
inclusion, may still feel inadequate. What struggles and problems do
inclusive teachers face in the classroom? What kind of lived experiences are
they having? How do teachers in different national contexts learn
‘inclusiveness’ as it applies to their own unique education and school
systems? In this study, a narrative approach is used to narrate a teacher’s
inclusive experiences in a primary school in Hong Kong. The narrative is restoried and retold by a school support agent who works closely with the
teacher. Through lesson observation, interviews and reflection journal, seven
permeating themes have been identified in the narrative. They include (i)
catching in emotional struggle, balancing the needs of different groups of
students; (ii) influence of life stories; (iii) language of imagery and metaphor;
(iv) understanding students with special educational needs (SEN) as persons;
(v) difficulties caused by poor learning attitudes, not purely ability problem;
(vi) more than inclusive practice, creating ‘feel good’ experiences; (vii)
students need teachers to help them set goals. These themes, though
presented as separate items, are connected and overlapping. Together they
weave the story of inclusion, the story inundated and infused with people,
things, events and happenings. This narrative gives meanings to the inclusive
experiences in a particular social, cultural, political and personal context.
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Another important finding is that: SEN students, beyond the label, are no
different from non-SE students. They have their strengths as well as
difficulties, their stories are just like other children’s stories in the classrooms
which are full of complexities and uniquenesses. The study has significant
implications for inclusive classroom practice in Hong Kong and indeed, other
countries. In particular, the study demonstrates the value of teachers’
personal knowledge in relation to inclusion and suggests making it public in
the form of teacher learning communities. In addition, instead of focusing
exclusively on SEN students, inclusive studies may consider giving narratives
of both SEN and non-SEN students, an arc of inclusion that arguably has
hitherto been significantly overlooked. Lastly, the dual role of the author, as
a researcher and a support agent who works alongside with teachers in
different institutional settings, may add significant value and richness to this
‘co-constructed’ piece of work
Aldo Rossi, architecture and the nature of memory
Get PDFPhD ThesisThis thesis poses the question of the nature of Aldo Rossi’s (1931–97) approach to
memory within his built and written work; and also of the particular cultural, political,
economic, and intellectual conditions under which his understanding of memory
emerged. Material drawn from archives at the CCA in Montreal, the MAXXI in Rome,
and numerous other sources, was cross-referenced against Rossi’s sketches, built,
and written work. In examining the aesthetic and symbolic devices in Rossi’s
architecture emphasis is placed on his interest in cinema and photography, and
particularly on his conceptualisation of architecture as theatre. Equally, Rossi’s
understanding of memory is examined in relation to influences exerted by cultural
and other conditions within Italy. Attention is also focussed on the ‘embeddedness’ of
history and memory in Italian culture, and their importance in relation to the Italian
city.
The thesis investigates whether Walter Benjamin’s highly inclusive notion of the
Denkbild, or thought-image, provides a framework for an understanding of the role of
memory in Rossi’s work and, for example, his ability to embody both aesthetic and
social meanings in his architecture. It examines whether Rossi can be said to engage
memory by exposing, and often exaggerating, the essential characteristics of what is
familiar. It also looks to how those characteristics are handled under the umbrella of
Rossi’s interest in architecture as theatre, and his view of artefacts as actors that
project meanings related to memory. Ultimately, Rossi’s approach to memory is
exposed by means of a detailed examination of the individual aesthetic and symbolic
devices in his architecture, and his ability to utilise ‘memory values’ inherent in those
devices
Assessment and correction of endogeneity problems in discrete choice models
Get PDFPhD ThesisThe term endogeneity is used when there is a correlation between one or more observed
explanatory variables (independent variables) and the error term of an econometric model.
Endogeneity is considered a practically inevitable phenomenon in econometric modelling,
as there are many potential causes behind it: omitted variables, measurement or
specification errors, simultaneous estimation and self-selection. The problem is that it may
give rise to inconsistent parameter estimates, and if its effects are not considered when
estimating a model, the analyst may come to wrong forecasts and conclusions.
Correcting for endogeneity has been widely addressed in the linear models (LM)
literature, but LM have a limited scope in certain areas. This is particularly the case in
planning and social evaluation of transport projects, where Discrete Choice Models
(DCM), which are highly non-linear, play a fundamental role. Unfortunately, DCM are
not often corrected for endogeneity, so a gap has been identified in the state of knowledge
that this thesis intends to close. Thus, the general aim of this Ph.D. dissertation is to
develop a set of guidelines that allow for the assessment and correction of endogeneity
problems in DCM.
We establish conclusions of a theoretical, empirical and methodological nature. In the first
instance, it is desired to determine adequate instrumental variables for endogeneity
correction in transport modelling and measure the impact of this correction on strategic
modal split models. We can reduce the errors associated with the estimation of DCM,
improve its forecasting capabilities, and achieve consistent parameters resulting in
corrected estimates of model valuation measures, such as the subjective value of time
(SVT). Furthermore, we formulate an empirical methodology, supported by Monte Carlo
simulation, to predict using DCM corrected for endogeneity with a new and more adequate
version of the CF method. We also define guidelines to clarify under what conditions
discrete indicators work (or not) when DCM are corrected for endogeneity using the MIS
method. Finally, we structure a methodology to detect weak DCM instruments based on
what has been proposed for linear model