UMD Theses and Dissertations
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/3
New submissions to the thesis/dissertation collections are added automatically as they are received from the Graduate School. Currently, the Graduate School deposits all theses and dissertations from a given semester after the official graduation date. This means that there may be up to a 4 month delay in the appearance of a given thesis/dissertation in DRUM.
More information is available at Theses and Dissertations at University of Maryland Libraries.
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Item INHABITUAL ASSEMBLY: PREFABRICATION DRIVING SUSTAINABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS(2024) Hussien, Abdureuf; Vandergoot, Jana; Architecture; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Beyond any point in human history has the efficiency of building construction been more critical within the realm of architecture. The future demands sustainable designs that impose minimal burdens on the environment and future generations. Meeting this demand necessitates a reevaluation of conventional fabrication and assembly systems.This study underscores the critical imperative of strengthening the symbiotic relationship between fabrication and design. Furthermore, it emphasizes the ever-growing need to embrace subtractive manufacturing, enabling the tailoring of each architectural component to precise specifications, thereby enhancing overall adaptability and functionality within constructed spaces. This comprehensive method, when used in timber-based architecture, becomes quite advantageous as it combines the efficiency of prefabrication and assembly with the flexibility of customizing parts, ultimately facilitating the creation of sustainable and innovative architectural spaces.Item Communicating Courtyards(2023) Gulisashvili, Konstantin; Bell, Matthew J; Architecture; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)This project is for a multiple story residential structure and urban redevelopment near the Shota Rustaveli square. This courtyard building is owned by different families and offers a communal frame supporting family use. The courtyard configuration promotes privacy and provides a safe semi-private space. The design goal of the project is to evolve the failing urban fabric and to develop a contemporary dwelling based on the historical and cultural precedent of the Tbilisi Courtyard house.The main feature of this project is the courtyard style residential building, which will provide multiple uses such as socializing, cooking, play space, and more. In addition, the project will attempt to reproduce city traditions via a seamless connection of redeveloped surrounding neighborhoods with the existing city fabric.Item An Ecological Analysis of the Potential for Moss-Based Green Roof Design(2016) Prince, Benjamin Alan; Kangas, Patrick C; Environmental Science and Technology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Green roofs are a maturing application of best management practices for controlling urban stormwater runoff. The majority of green roofs are planted with drought resistant, higher plant species, such as the genus Sedum. However, other plant varieties, such as mosses, may be equally applicable. Residential roofs and natural terrestrial communities were sampled in both Maryland and Tennessee to determine moss community structure and species water composition. This served as a natural analog for potential green roof moss communities. During sampling, 21 species of moss were identified throughout the 37 total sites. The average percent moss cover and water composition across all roof sites was 40.7% and 38.6%, respectively and across all natural sites, 76.7% and 47.7%, respectively. Additional maximum water holding capacity procedures were completed on sedum and 19 of the 21 sampled moss species to assess their individual potential for stormwater absorption. Sedum species on average held 166% of their biomass in water, while moss species held 732%. The results of this study are used as a basis to propose moss species that will improve green roof performance.Item Fire Hazard of the Contemporary American Home(2014) Hanson, Robert E.; Milke, James A; Fire Protection Engineering; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Annual direct property damage for one- and two- family residential fires is estimated as $5.9 billion in the United States. Recent research has suggested that the level of fire hazard in contemporary homes is greater than legacy homes. This study utilizes national fire incident data from 2003 to 2010 to examine trends and characteristics of residential fires. The Item First Ignited and Heat Source for fires are analyzed in a risk model. Structural Member is the Item First Ignited that contributes the greatest amount of risk in one- and two- family houses. The Heat Source for Structural Member is concentrated among three main categories: Operating Equipment, Electrical Arcing, and Hot or Smoldering Objects. Grouping together the items Upholstered Sofas, Mattresses, and Bedding as representing soft furnishings in the house, contribute the second greatest amount of risk. The main Heat Source for these items is Other Open Flame or Smoking MaterialsItem Performance of Residential Heating and Cooling Control Strategies using Distributed Wireless Sensor Networks(2010) Siemann, Michael; Kim, Jungho; Chopra, Nikhil; Mechanical Engineering; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Previous work has suggested that residential space heating and cooling control strategies that partition the structure into individual zones using wireless sensor networks might result in lower energy consumption compared to systems using a single-sensor thermostat. Questions have been posed as to whether these strategies can achieve the same level of performance in a variety of geographic locations and climates. This study compared four control strategies that utilized a wireless temperature and humidity sensor network to regulate the comfort of a residence in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States during the summer and winter. In particular, the energy consumption and comfort levels of each multi-sensor strategy were compared to a baseline strategy that mimicked a single thermostat. The difference in energy usage measured by each control strategy was found to be statistically insignificant. However, experiments indicated that these strategies may nevertheless result in improvements in thermal comfort.