Browsing by Subject "evaluation"
Now showing 1 - 13 of 13
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item An Exploration of Multi-touch Interaction Techniques(2013-08-16) Damaraju Sriranga, Sashikanth RajuResearch in multi-touch interaction has typically been focused on direct spatial manipulation; techniques have been created to result in the most intuitive mapping between the movement of the hand and the resultant change in the virtual object. As we attempt to design for more complex operations, the effectiveness of spatial manipulation as a metaphor becomes weak. We introduce two new platforms for multi-touch computing: a gesture recognition system, and a new interaction technique. I present Multi-Tap Sliders, a new interaction technique for operation in what we call non-spatial parametric spaces. Such spaces do not have an obvious literal spatial representation, (Eg.: exposure, brightness, contrast and saturation for image editing). The multi-tap sliders encourage the user to keep her visual focus on the tar- get, instead of requiring her to look back at the interface. My research emphasizes ergonomics, clear visual design, and fluid transition between modes of operation. Through a series of iterations, I develop a new technique for quickly selecting and adjusting multiple numerical parameters. Evaluations of multi-tap sliders show improvements over traditional sliders. To facilitate further research on multi-touch gestural interaction, I developed mGestr: a training and recognition system using hidden Markov models for designing a multi-touch gesture set. Our evaluation shows successful recognition rates of up to 95%. The recognition framework is packaged into a service for easy integration with existing applications.Item Cost Estimation and Production Evaluation for Hopper Dredges(2010-07-14) Hollinberger, Thomas E.Dredging projects are expensive government funded projects that are contracted out and competitively bid upon. When planning a trailing suction hopper dredge project or bidding on the request for proposal for such a project, having an accurate cost prediction is essential. This thesis presents a method using fluid transport fundamentals and pump power characteristics to determine a production rate for hopper dredges. With a production rate established, a number of financial inputs are used to determine the cost and duration of a project. The estimating program is a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet provided with reasonable values for a wide arrange of hopper dredging projects. The spreadsheet allows easy customization for any user with specific knowledge to improve the accuracy of his estimate. Results from the spreadsheet were found to be satisfactory using the default values and inputs of 8 projects from 1998 to 2009,: The spreadsheet produced an estimate that was an average of a 15.9% difference from the actual contract cost, versus a 15.7% difference for government estimates of the same projects.Item Design guidelines and evaluation of an ergonomic chair feature capable of providing support to forward-leaning postures(Texas A&M University, 2005-02-17) Stevens, Edward MartinThis research investigated the need, design, and evaluation of a product capable of providing support to forward-leaning postures. Due to the high occurrence of low-back pain in industry potentially due to workers performing their tasks while assuming forward-leaning postures, along with the biological plausibility of these postures causing low-back pain, the need was established for a product that provides forward-leaning support. An envelope was quantified, ranging from the 5th percentile female to the 95th percentile male, to establish the range of potential forward-leaning postures. The design of a Support-Arm for use with current ergonomic chairs was discussed and design feature specifications were then provided. A Latin Square statistical design was employed to evaluate a Support-Arm model alongside 8 other commonly used chairs over 3 different postures. Subjects, overall, had lower peak pressures for the buttock-thigh region, increased productivity, higher comfort levels, and higher buttock-thigh contact areas when seated in the Support-Arm model chair as compared to the other chairs. Subjects, overall, also ranked this chair first over the other chairs for preferred use after having sitting experience in all 9 chairs. In an additional part of the evaluation, subjects chose their own set-up of the Support-Arm model chair. Eleven of the 18 subjects chose to use the Support-Arm when their workstation was located 36? above the floor. Subjects confirmed the need to design a Support-Arm capable of providing forward leaning support to the entire envelope of forward-leaning postures. Statistical evaluation revealed several significant differences between the chairs. The results gave no indication that the use of a Support-Arm for forward-leaning support may cause detrimental effects to users or overall chair ergonomics. Future research could track workers? use of a Support-Arm in industry and compare their occurrence of low-back pain to a control group.Item Enhancing Learning through Assessment: Case Study using feedback from a Human Dimension Survey(2010-01-14) Windham, Marian K.The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University is in the process of developing an assessment plan for measuring and evaluating each academic degree program (including student learning outcomes) in order to achieve objectives for institutional effectiveness. Assessment is a necessary component of any truly dynamic and progressive educational program. Assessment by evaluation can enhance student learning as well as augment instruction given by the professor. It also allows professors to determine which students reach or exceed learning targets and inform them so students can work to improve their weaknesses. Because there is no assessment plan currently in place for Texas A and M University's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, I evaluated results from a previously developed survey that had been given in multiple years to students enrolled in Wildlife Conservation and Management (WFSC 201), an entrance level course of the department. In 2008 I administered the survey to students enrolled in WFSC 201 and to senior-level students enrolled in Conservation Biology and Wildlife Habitat Management (WFSC 406), an upper level course, to evaluate undergraduate students' beliefs on various wildlife issues, interest in animals, and knowledge status of endangered species. The research presented in this thesis contributes a general overview of assessment as it relates to undergraduate degree programs in wildlife and fisheries sciences. The focus was in particular to the evaluation of student conservation issues, animal interest, and species knowledge as it relates to student background (student classification, gender, hometown population size, and participation in youth groups. The results from analyses of responses to specific questions from a survey administered to undergraduates in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University suggest that conservation beliefs and animal interest were highly correlated with gender and hometown population size. Students responding as males and having small hometown population size were more concerned about issues related to land or wildlife usage by humans and students responding as females and having large hometown population sizes were more concerned about issues related to habitat degradation and species viability. Males were also interested in mostly game species and females were interested in those of conservation, domestic, and herptiles. Lastly, the results from the knowledge question suggest that males attain and retain more knowledge of endangered species over females, and this relationship remains the same in non seniors and seniors. These results should be useful to the faculty currently and in the future as they develop an effective departmental assessment plan for the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University.Item Evaluation of acid fracturing based on the "acid fracture number" concept(Texas A&M University, 2006-08-16) Alghamdi, AbdulwahabAcid fracturing is one of the preferred methods to stimulate wells in carbonate reservoirs. It consists of injecting an acid solution at high enough pressure to break down the formation and to propagate a two-wing crack away from the wellbore. The acid reacts with the carbonate formation and this causes the etching of the fracture surfaces. After the treatment, the created etched surfaces do not close perfectly and that leaves behind a highly conductive path for the hydrocarbons to be produced. We distinguish the issue of treatment sizing (that is the determination of the volume of acid to be injected) and the issue of creating optimum fracture dimensions given the size of the treatment. This is reasonable because the final cost of a treatment is determined mainly by the volume of acid injected and our goal should be to achieve the best performance of the treated well. The well performance depends on the created fracture dimensions and fracture conductivity and might change with time due to various reasons. This research evaluates two field cases from Saudi Aramco where acid fracturing treatment has been used to stimulate a carbonate formation. I investigated the following issues: a) how effective was the treatment to restoring the initial productivity, b) how did the productivity of the well change with time; c) what are the possible reasons for the change in performance, d) what are our options to improve acid fracture design in the future? Based on our research work both near-well liquid drop-out and fractureconductivity deterioration can impact the production in different proportion. Moreover, the fracturing model tends to overestimate the fracture conductivity in some cases as shown in SA-2. Also, the ??Acid fracture Number?? concept proves to be an effective way to evaluate the acid fracturing treatment. Several recommendations were made based on this research work as described in the last part of my thesis.Item Evaluation of fracture treatment type on the recovery of gas from the cotton valley formation(2009-05-15) Yalavarthi, RamakrishnaEvery tight gas well needs to be stimulated with a hydraulic fracture treatment to produce natural gas at economic flow rates and recover a volume of gas that provides an acceptable return on investment. Over the past few decades, many different types of fracture fluids, propping agents and treatment sizes have been tried in the Cotton Valley formation. The treatment design engineer has to choose the optimum fluid, optimum proppant, optimum treatment size and make sure the optimum treatment is mixed and pumped in the field. These optimum values also depend on drilling costs, fracturing costs and other economic parameters; such as gas prices, operating costs and taxes. Using information from the petroleum literature, numerical and analytical simulators, and statistical analysis of production data, this research provides a detailed economic evaluation of the Cotton Valley wells drilled in the Elm Grove field operated by Matador Resources to determine not only the optimum treatment type, but also the optimum treatment volume as a function of drilling costs, completion costs, operating costs and gas prices. This work also provides an evaluation of well performance as a function of the fracture treatment type by reviewing production data from the Carthage and Oak Hill Cotton Valley fields in Texas and the Elm Grove field in Louisiana.Item Evaluation of the Landowner Incentive Program in Texas: 1997-2007(2012-02-14) Knipps, AnnaThe Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) was developed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 1997 in response to controversy and conflict between wildlife conservation agencies and landowners. The incentive was meant to encourage voluntary enhancement or establishment of habitat for rare species in the state, by providing technical assistance and a 75% cost-share. To evaluate the program in its first decade of existence, I gathered feedback from stakeholders via interviews, a mail survey, and case studies of LIP projects that focused on the black-capped vireo. The stakeholders I identified as administrators of the program, field personnel who acted as liaisons between administrators and landowners, and the landowners themselves. I used a qualitative theme analysis for interviews and open-ended survey responses to capture salient topics from the various perspectives. I analyzed closed-ended mail survey responses with descriptive statistics and ANOVA. For the case studies, I conducted vireo and habitat surveys and report the results with descriptive statistics or anecdotes. Stakeholders were generally pleased with the program in its first decade regarding rare species habitat improvements. Most of the 126 projects were completed and resulted in an increase of habitat for a variety of species across the state. The funding sources changed over the decade, bringing with them new directives, but in general LIP investments benefitted rare and declining species, whether listed under the ESA or not. Relations between landowners and conservation agencies also seemed to be improved in some cases and to be created in others. Every program has its difficulties to work through as it evolves, and LIP is no exception. The first 7 years of the program were state-administered and encountered a variety of modifications due to personnel changes and differing opinions on program priorities. In 2002, LIP became a national program, requiring Texas to compete for funds, and also federal clearance requirements that caused many administrative delays. My recommendations for program improvement included improved monitoring of project outcome, immediate evaluation of participants, increased communication and cooperation among various agencies who work with landowners, and dedicated staff to assist all other stakeholders in the LIP process.Item Hitting the Road towards a Greater Digital Destination: Evaluating and Testing DAMS at the University of Houston Libraries(2015-04-27) Thompson, Santi; Wu, Annie; Weidner, Andrew; Watkins, Sean; Prilop, Valerie; Vacek, Rachel; University of HoustonSince 2009, the University of Houston (UH) Libraries has digitized tens of thousands of rare and unique items and made them available for research through its UH Digital Library (UHDL) based on CONTENTdm. Six years later, the need for a digital asset management system (DAMS) that can facilitate large scale digitization, provide innovative features for users, and offer more efficient workflows for librarians and staff has emerged. To address these needs, UH Libraries formed the DAMS Task Force in the summer of 2014. The group’s goal was to identify a system that can support the growing expectations of the UHDL. This presentation will focus on the two core activities, needs assessment and DAMS evaluation, that the task force completed. The key portions of the needs assessment include: the process of literature review on DAMS evaluation and migration; research on tools utilized by peer institutions; and library stakeholder interviews. The presentation will then cover how task force members compiled the results of the assessment to establish DAMS evaluation criteria. The evaluation process consisted of an environmental scan of possible DAMS to test, the creation of criteria to narrow the list of DAMS down for in-depth testing, and the comprehensive testing of the DSpace and Fedora systems. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of the task force’s results as well as the lessons learned from the research and evaluation process. It will also reflect on the important role that collaboration, project management, and strategic planning played in this team-based approach to DAMS selection.Item Inspections: a self evaluation process for law enforcement agencies(Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT), 2005) Romoser, JohItem Personnel Evaluation for Police Agencies(Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT), 1994) Kniffen, G. ScottItem Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together: Forming UH Libraries Digital Preservation Landscape(2015-04-28) Thompson, Santi; Krewer, Andrew; Wu, Annie; Manning, Mary; Spragg, Rob; University of HoustonAs more institutions digitize rare and unique materials and acquire born digital objects, the need for a robust and sustainable digital preservation program is critical for long-term access to this content. In the summer of 2014, the University of Houston Libraries established a Digital Preservation Task Force to create a digital preservation policy and identify strategies, actions, and tools needed to preserve digital assets maintained by UH Libraries. This presentation will outline the digital preservation policy tool kit being used by the task force to generate a digital preservation policy and develop a digital preservation system. A substantial portion of the presentation will focus on the creation of the digital preservation policy for UH Libraries. The task force selected the Action Plan for Developing a Digital Preservation Program as a model to draft the policy. Conforming to the OAIS Reference Model and the Trusted Digital Repository guidelines, this document guides institutions through the creation of a high-level framework for digital preservation, drafting local digital preservation policies and procedures, and identifying resources needed to sustain a digital preservation program. Presenters will describe how they used this tool to generate digital preservation documentation and will share portions of their work to date. Additionally, the presentation will focus on the methods used to identify potential digital information systems to assist with the preservation process. Presenters will outline the process of selecting three potential systems to evaluate and share the task forces results from testing one system. The presentation will conclude with recommendations from the task force and a discussion on how others can apply the methods used by UH Libraries to implement a digital preservation solution for their materials.Item Teaching Students to Evaluate E-Reference Sources with Moodle Forums(2011-04-07) VanHoeck, MicheleThis presentation will describe the use of online forums in Moodle, a course management system, to teach students to evaluate both print and electronic reference sources. For two semesters I have created an online forum called the Fishing Hole Scouting Report for an in-class exercise. Students are given 2-3 background questions and told to find the answers using both a library-approved reference source and Wikipedia. Students then evaluate the reference source for effectiveness and ease of use, compared to Wikipedia, and post their comments in the forum to share with the class. I will highlight the educational benefits of using Moodle forums for this purpose and discuss best practices for selecting the most effective sources and questions.Item Utilizing body temperature to evaluate ovulation in mature mares(Texas A&M University, 2006-08-16) Bowman, Marissa CoralThe equine breeding industry continues to be somewhat inefficient, even with existing technology. On average, foaling rates are low when compared with that of other livestock. One major contributor is the inability to accurately predict ovulation in mares, which ovulate before the end of estrus, leaving much variability in coordinating insemination. A more efficient, less invasive method that could replace or reduce the need for constant teasing and ultrasonography to evaluate follicular activity is needed. In both dairy cattle and women, a change in body temperature has been shown to occur immediately prior to ovulation. Research on horses has been limited, although one study reported no useable relationship between body temperature and ovulation in mares (Ammons, 1989). The current study utilized thirty-eight mature cycling American Quarter Horse mares, and was conducted from March-August 2004. Each mare was implanted in the nuchal ligament with a microchip that can be used for identification purposes, but is also capable of reporting body temperature. Once an ovulatory follicle (>35mm) was detected using ultrasonography and the mare was exhibiting signs of estrus, the mare's follicle size and temperature were recorded approximately every six hours until ovulation. Not only was the temperature collected using the microchips, but the corresponding rectal temperature was also recorded using a digital thermometer. A significant effect (p<0.05) on body temperature was noted in relation to the presence or absence of an ovulatory follicle (>35mm) under different circumstances. When evaluating the rectal temperatures, no significant difference was found in temperature in relation to the presence or absence of a follicle. However, in the temperatures obtained using the microchip, temperature was higher (p<0.05) with the presence of a follicle of greater than 35mm. This may be due to the extreme sensitivity of the microchip implant and its ability to more closely reflect minute changes in body temperature.