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Expansion and densification of urbanized areas can lead to increased pressure on an area's water and wastewater infrastructure. This paper presents an optimization model using geographic information systems to locate potential sources and sinks of reclaimed water within an urbanized area. A mathematical solver then maximizes the water reuse using a set of constraints on mass balance, water quality, and electricity used for pumping. Three variations of the model are applied to Vancouver, British Columbia. The first scenario identifies a number of potential industrial sources and sinks for direct cascading with a total potential water savings of 133 400 m3/year. With the implementation of a satellite water reclamation facility in scenario 2, water recycling potential is increased to a maximum of 613 800 m3/year. Scenario 3 expands to include the non-industrial water users and the potential for water reuse is increased to a maximum of 969 200 m3/year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canadian Wooden Dome (CWD) is an innovative orthotropic, monolithic modular sectional building system. The main frame of these structures is built using mill trim ends that are normally chipped or used for finger-jointing. The structure, in comparison to conventional wood-frame single-family housing, has a rapid manufacturing process, and quick, on-site assembly attempts to reduce overall construction time. Presented with these advantages and the uniqueness of the wooden-dome system, a technical study was initiated to investigate the structural performance of the modular wooden dome in earthquake-prone areas and to examine its load resistance to heavy snow. This paper describes the results from a series of static and dynamic load tests conducted on the CWD as part of this study. The test results generally indicated that based on the structural performance of the CWD under static and dynamic loads, the CWD could be an alternative to the conventional wood-frame construction system. The test results are then compared with those obtained from the tests conducted on conventional single-family wood-frame houses as part of the Earthquake 99 (EQ-99) Woodframe House Project at The University of British Columbia. The seismic performance of the CWD was superior to that of the nonengineered housing system and comparable to that of the engineered wood-frame housing system. Le système de construction « Canadian Wooden Domes (CWD) » est un système modulaire novateur de construction sectionnelle, monolithique et orthotrope. Le cadre principal de ces structures est bâti en utilisant des éboutures qui sont normalement mises en copeaux ou utilisées pour des aboutages. La structure, par rapport à celle des maisons unifamiliales conventionnelles à ossature de bois, se fabrique rapidement et l’assemblage rapide sur le site tend à diminuer le temps de construction global. En tenant compte de ces avantages, une étude technique a été lancée pour examiner le rendement de cette structure unique de dôme en bois modulaire dans les zones sujettes aux séismes et sa résistance à une charge de neige abondante. Le présent article décrit les résultats d’une série d’essais en charge statique et dynamique effectués sur les dômes en bois dans le cadre de cette étude. En se basant sur le rendement structural de ces dômes en bois sous des charges statiques et dynamiques, les résultats indiquent généralement que les dômes en bois pourraient être une solution de remplacement au système traditionnel de construction à ossature de bois. Ces résultats ont ensuite été comparés à ceux obtenus lors d’essais effectués sur des maisons unifamiliales à ossature de bois traditionnelles dans le cadre du projet « Earthquake 99 Woodframe House Project » réalisé antérieurement à l’Université de la Colombie-Britannique. Par rapport aux structures à ossature de bois traditionnellement mises à l’épreuve, le dôme en bois présentait un rendement sismique supérieur à celui des systèmes non techniques et un rendement sismique similaire à celui des systèmes techniques à ossature de bois. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparison of the two main regional damage estimation methodologies currently in use, namely the modified Mercalli intensity (MMI) based approach and the spectral parameter based approach. In the first methodology, expected damage is related to ground shaking intensity in terms of MMI through damage probability matrices. In the second methodology, the ground motion intensity is described in terms of spectral acceleration (SA), and building response in terms of spectral displacement (SD). Both methodologies were applied to buildings in Vancouver of three different construction types: single-family wood-frame houses, low-rise unreinforced masonry buildings, and high-rise concrete frame structures with concrete shear walls. The two methodologies predict damage that lies in the same general damage categories of light and moderate, which are defined by fairly broad ranges in mean damage factors. The specific mean damage factors predicted by the two methods for a given location are significantly different, however. The significant differences in mean damage factors imply significant differences in damage costs and hence in seismic risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of regional seismic risk assessment studies that were carried out for two cities in southwestern British Columbia, Vancouver and Victoria. Ground shaking intensity in the area was obtained using the seismic source zones delineated by the Geological Survey of Canada for a probability level of 10% chance of exceedance in 50 years. Building inventories were compiled by aggregating data from sidewalk surveys as well as municipal databases. Modified Mercalli intensity-based damage matrices that relate the level of ground shaking to the amount of damage expected in different types of structures were used to estimate damage to structural and non-structural components of buildings. Estimated damage and loss distributions were mapped on a block-by-block basis. The historic sections of the cities were estimated to have damage levels between 10% and 30% of the replacement cost, while in the rest of the cities the estimated damage was generally in the 5% to 10% range. The results show the estimated economic loss distribution is considerably different from the damage distribution. Although the older neighbourhoods of the cities are expected to suffer highest amount of damage, the highest amount of economic loss is estimated to occur in areas with concentration of concrete high-rise buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current methodologies for estimating the number of waste sorts require prior information on statistics (mean and standard deviation) for specific waste categories. The methods often require an iterative procedure or computer software to estimate the number of sorts required and the required statistics may change both spatially and temporally. To overcome the need for prior statistical information and avoid the need for iterative effort, a real-time methodology is developed to determine the required number of waste sorts for a waste category while sampling in the field for solid waste characterization. The information on required numbers of waste sorts is field-based and evolves during the sampling by utilizing real-time data to characterize the means and standard deviations. The proposed approach does not require prior information. The application of proposed methodology is demonstrated using the data from the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) for the primary categories of paper, glass, and secondary category glass-beverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]