R-3 Repository :: Browsing by Author "Rowe, Peter G."

Browsing by Author "Rowe, Peter G."

Now showing 1 - 20 of 20

A computer-aided spatial synthesis system for architectural desig
(1984) Matsushita, Satoshi; Rowe, Peter G.; Bavinger, Bill A.; Todd, Anderson
A system for computer-aided spatial synthesis for application to architectural design was developed. It receives information about the spaces to be arranged and proposes a geometrical form for their organization. The special feature of this system is the ability to deal with relationships between spaces and the surrounding environment in three dimensions. After data input, the number of floors in the ultimate organization is decided and every space is assigned to an appropriate floor. Planning of each floor is then undertaken in a sequential manner. Each space is allocated to minimize the relative circulation cost, which is calculated on the basis of both relative proximity and distance among spaces. Some example solutions are presented, ranging from a simple single-story building to a four-story complex.
An assessment of point and nonpoint pollution loads into Lake Houston
(1981) Newell, Charles J.; Bedient, Philip B.; Rowe, Peter G.; Tomson, Mason B.
The urbanization process has affected the characteristics of pollutant loads from both stormwater runoff (or nonpoint sources) and from sewage treatment plants (or point sources) in the tributaties of the 2828 mi lake Houston watershed. Land use projections indicate the urban development, which has caused water quality deterioration in seme tributaties, will continue at nearly the same overall rate in the 198 to 199 period as in the 197 to 198 period. The patterns of growth, however, will shift from development concentrated in the Cypress Creek and Lake Environs areas to several of the previously undeveloped watersheds; this will impact on water quality of the streams in these areas. A detailed point source analysis indicated that most of the larger sewage treatment plants acconmodating the increases in population in the Cypress Creek watershed had difficulty in providing accepted levels of treatment. All violated State of Texas standards for effluent quality to some degree, and treatment process upsets greatly increased effluent loads for sane parameters. The fate of the plant's nutrient loads at low flow was also examined: almost all of the nutrients were carried to the lake by the Cypress Creek low flow transport process. During these low flow periods, critical for lake water quality, point sources accounted for 25% of the nitrate-nitrogen (NOg) and 75% of the total phosphorus (TP) loads to Lake Houston. The nonpoint source analysis showed that urban development has increased total suspended solids (TSS) loads to lake Efouston. The rapidly urbanizing watershed, Cypress Creek, contributes 27-35% of the annual TSS load to the lake although it accounts for only 11% of the entire basin's area. The load analysis provided the following yearly pollutant loads to the lake (for an average year's flow under present development conditions): 159 • 16Kg TSS/y ear,31.8 * 1° Kg N^NO^/year, and 1.4 • 1 Kg TP/year. Because of continuing development in the entire basin, lake TSS loads are expected to rise to 194 • 1 Kg TSS/year in 199, a 22% increase. Two different basin-wide management policies were examined and results indicated that although stormwater detention sedimentation ponds were an effective measure to prevent this increase in TSS loads, they probably could not be applied to reduce TSS loads much below present levels. The instantaneous load-runoff methodology using periodic grab sample data, used to calculate nonpoint pollutant loads, seemed to work well for TSS loads in general and for nutrient loads in the undeveloped watersheds. The method seemed to underestimate nonpoint nutient loads from developing watersheds, probably because of the high variability of stormwater runoff concentrations in these areas. An intensive storm sampling program on two storms, used in the management policy analysis, was also applied to the load-runoff methodology. This analysis indicated that future studies designing monitoring programs to calculate annual pollutant budgets to Lake Kbuston should employ intensive storm sampling techniques rather than the sampling at regular intervals performed by earlier studies.
An investigation of problems and opportunities in the provision of urban housing in Iraq
(1981) Al-Izzi, Zuhair Hatim Attia; Santos, Tony; Rowe, Peter G.; Underhill, Michael
The quality and quantity of housing available to the population are issues of governmental and public concern in Iraq. The government's recent policy is to provide public housing to fulfill the demand. However, because of the problems that arise from the implementation of these housing projects, there is general concern about the success of these projects in dealing with local urban problems and answering the needs of the individual family. Also, the application of this policy does not seem to deal with the rapid growth of the city, compounding the already existing urban problems. Consequently, a deep understanding of the nature of the local situation and its problems is very necessary and important, in order to outline a comprehensive plan to deal with housing problems. This work presents an exploration of the local situation in Iraq, focusing on the capital, Baghdad, as an example of a rapidly developing city. This exploration covers the country's background, emphasizing its location, history, housing policy, type of urban dwellings, economy, climate, demography, social structure, socio-economic groups, and city growth. Three urban case studies are presented as example of different social groups and layouts of localities. The first deals with traditional low-income settlements; the second deals with low-income public housing projects; and the third with middle-income public housing projects. A comparison between these case studies enables us to clearly see the differences between them and to identify the local situation. This study addresses some of the problems of the individual family, and the problems of the urban community, such as utilities, building industry, community facilities, accessibility, and the quality of the environment. Finally, as a result of this study, three levels of recommendations are advanced covering the city, site, and unit levels. These recommendations are based on understanding of the local situation, the problems identified above, and strategy discussions in dealing with reducing the demand. This work offers a reference for understanding and dealing realistically with low- and middle-income public housing, by exploring the problems of existing housing and the local community. It can also enable decision-makers to comprehend these serious problems and- to suggest more adequate solutions.
Changing communal habitat patterns in the Tzotzil region of the Chaipas highlands in Mexico
(1984) Roman Pina, Cristina, Ma; Waldman, Peter; Rowe, Peter G.; Taylor, Julie
For the past forty years, Chiapas, Mexico has undergone industrialization and modernization, due to both the development of natural resources and the social programs of the Mexican government. These recent changes are altering indigenous culture through changes introduced without serious consideration of the consequences of such national integration. The survival of traditional settlement patterns is a major problem for the cultural continuity of these societies during their period of adaptation to modern life. The problem of development and modernization with respect to evolving cultural patterns in the Chiapas Highlands is addressed. Hence, primacy is given to the study of the indigenous population's construal of natural and social environments in determining physical patterns of settlement. Specific analysis and recommendations are made with the aim of insuring cultural continuity and self-sufficiency, as well as the preservation of viable forms of cultural expressions.
Conclusions
(Rice University, 1979-01) Bedient, Philip B.; Rowe, Peter G.; Electronic version made possible with funding from the Rice Historical Society and Thomas R. Williams, Ph.D., class of 2000.
Constructing a Geographic Information System for Watershed Management
(Rice University, 1979-01) Rowe, Peter G.; Bavinger, Bill A.; Electronic version made possible with funding from the Rice Historical Society and Thomas R. Williams, Ph.D., class of 2000.
Dynamic optimization of detention storage in urbanizing areas
(1982) Flores, Alejandro C.; Bedient, Philip B.; Tomson, Mason B.; Rowe, Peter G.
Rapid urban development in many areas has increased stormwater runoff and outdated traditional open channel drainage systems. Stormwater management alternatives such as channel enlargement are often difficult to implement in developing urban areas due to downstream land use restrictions. Detention storage in upper watershed areas is an effective stormwater control, but random or unplanned placement can significantly reduce its effectiveness and in some cases aggravate potential flood hazards. Earlier approaches to size and locate detention storage in a watershed have generally relied on trial-and-error methods. The purpose of this research is to develop a method to optimize the size and location of detention storage in a watershed. Hydrologic models were used in the method including two existing models, HEC-1 a flood hydrograph package and STOREME a single reservoir routing. DBOPTE, a multiple detention basin and channel network routing especially developed for this research, was used to optimize the size and location of detention storage. The method was applied to a one and a ten square mile hypothetical watershed with typical rainfall, physiography, soils, drainage patterns and land use data for the Houston area. The general methodology developed can he applied to any watershed where local data are available for runoff hydrograph prediction. Results for the one square mile watershed showed that the 25 year detention storage design is very effective in the peak runoff reduction for any flood frequency. For the ten square mile watershed, several physiography shapes were studied and results showed a higher peak runoff response for concentrated shapes than for elongated under developed conditions. Detention storage is more effective when located in the upper portion (67-8%) of the watershed rather than the downstream portion. For the 1 year flood frequency, detention storage volumes were .5 Acre-ft per acre of development and land requirements for a 5 ft basin depth were less than 1% of the watershed area. Land use distribution affects the detention storage volumes; for example, developing areas from downstream to upstream can require 28% more detention storage volumes than developing in both directions with undeveloped land in the middle.
Genius loci: an interpretation of the idea of place in city design
(1985) Murray, Martin A.; Rowe, Peter G.; Mitchell, O. Jack; Wittenberg, Gordon
This thesis is concerned with the establishment of a conceptual framework for the investigation of "place" as it is expressed phenomenologically, that is, through its "genius loci". Part I suggests that by viewing the phenomenon of genius loci according to three specific "perspectives" -- philosophy, myth and poetic expression -- we may formulate a normatively structured interpretative schema. Here, the assumption is that such perspectives contain within them universal values representing man's reaction to "the spirit of place" - such values can form a basis from which to construct the interpretative schema. Part II introduces and develops the proposed schema and suggests a methodology of use through the presentation of a case study. It further suggests that as architecture and urban design is, at its most profound, a "place-creating" act, it too may prove susceptible to such a schema. The intention of the thesis is to show that the notion of place is a fundamental need for man; that genius loci gives rise to the expression of this need as it exists phenomenologically and that this need is representative of a delicate balance between universal wants and localized conditions and dissimilarities. Ultimately in a world where such an equilibrium is disappearing, there is an urgent need for a greater understanding of "genius loci" and a reinterpretation of it in regard to architecture, and urban design.
Housing for the urban poor
(1983) Barot, Anandkumar A.; Rowe, Peter G.; Mitchell, O. Jack; Underhill, Michael
This study, encompassing examples from the complete range of existing dwelling environments in Ahmedabad, India, emphasizes physical aspects of housing and attempts to provide an understanding of existing housing conditions for lower income groups. Several issues emerge from the case study material. Looking at population data, the urgency of the dwelling needs of this large section of the population demands a substantial increase in housing supply. However, with the limited financial resources of the public sector, traditional modes of low-income mass housing seem impossible. Other alternatives, such as site and services projects for squatters, have also usually failed due to their poor location away from employment centers. A partial solution to the problem of housing provision seems to lie in proper development of infrastructure facilities, design of more efficient physical layouts for communities, and comprehensive planning that supports indigenous settlement patterns. Furthermore, efforts to reduce rural-urban migration must be continually emphasized.
Hydrologic analysis of urbanization and related parameters on flooding in the Brays Bayou watershed
(1985) Juchs, Martha Ferrero; Bedient, Philip B.; Andrews, John F.; Rowe, Peter G.
Although floods are natural phenomena, their impact is often aggravated, if not actually caused, by man's activities and occupation of floodplains. Urbanization of a floodplain drastically alters the flood characteristics of a stream by increasing the percentage of rainfall that becomes runoff and moving that runoff into drainage channels more rapidly. Flood flows are therefore quicker to peak and peak higher for the same amount of rainfall in an urban basin. One of the most rapidly urbanizing cities in the United States is the city of Houston, Texas; a city which also has one of the nation's most severe flood problems. In 1979 alone, Houston suffered $4 million in property damages as a direct result of flooding. Consequently, this research addresses the effects of urbanization on flooding by focusing on the Brays Bayou watershed, a basin which has experienced an enormous increase in development in the past ten years and is also one of the most frequently flooded areas in Houston. By modeling the watershed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' HEC1-1 computer model, the following conclusions were reached: 1) Peak discharges are significantly increased as a result of urbanization; 2) The Brays Bayou channel can be expected to carry less than a 5-year design storm uniformly spread over the entire watershed; 3) The HEC-1 kinematic wave technique for modeling discharge is a valid simulation method when applied to a large urban watershed; the effects of storage due to backwater effects during large storms, however, must be simulated using a storage routing method in conjunction with the kinematic wave overland flow simulation.
Hydrologic simulation of storm water detention storage in an urbanizing flood-plan
(1980) Smith, David Paxton; Bedient, Philip B.; Characklis, William G.; Rowe, Peter G.
Emerging concepts of urban flood control consider the use of storage detention, especially where channel capacities are being overtaxed by urban runoff. Particular problems exist where high rainfall intensities and low topographic relief combine with rapid urban development to produce potential flooding. Traditional approaches to flood control emphasize channelization of main streams and laterals to speed urban runoff out of developed areas. However, in low relief areas where the effect of urban drainage may be to greatly increase the peak flow rate and decrease the time to peak, flood control solutions of the 195's cannot handle the increasing development of the 197's. This has been experienced in rapidly growing coastal cities such as Houston, Texas. The purpose of the present study is to analyze the effect of detention storage placement and design on downstream flood flows in an urbanizing watershed. Effects of rainfall frequency, land use condition, and storage policy are directly considered in the methodology. The approach can be applied to any urban watershed in which historical rainfall data and streamflow data as well as land use information is available. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers HEC-1 Model forms the basic tool for analysis of flood flows. A storage detention model is used in conjunction with empirical unit hydrographs which are derived as functions of land use. Storage detention is tested in both existing urban areas as well as projected future developments to discover effects on flood frequency flows. It is concluded that the ability to reduce the flooding potential of a rapidly urbanizing watershed with detention storage is limited by topography, remaining open space, and the presence of downstream development.
Information Processing as it applies to urban and natural environmental analysis
(1976) Bavinger, Bill A.; Rowe, Peter G.
The nature of problem solving in the design professions is constantly increasing in its dependency on descriptive information. The design professions have developed, or borrowed from other professions, a number of specific techniques for dealing with information, but a generalized approach to the nature of information and its possible roles in the design process is just beginning. The need for a comprehensive understanding of this area becomes increasingly important as the scale of the design problem increases. By the time we get to city and regional scales the problem arena involves so much information that it is enormously complex. In fact, it becomes very difficult, and even illogical, to a priori determine either what or how much information is relevant to any given problem. A generalized approach to information processing proposed by this thesis provides a working alternative to the questions of what information, how much, and how it can be used. This thesis is a working investigation into the nature of descriptive information, how it can be coded and processed, and what it portends for the design professions. This investigation explores and develops a number of information processing capabilities which become an interactive working system for problem exploration at the urban and natural environmental scales. Two case studies are explored as a test of the working concepts. The first deals with descriptive information about natural environmental characteristics and their relationship to existing and future development for a large section of the Texas Gulf Coast south of Houston involving some 2,76 square miles of land and three counties. The second case study deals with urban descriptive information as it relates to a large section of Houston, Texas generally referred to as the Montrose Area. The case study section summarizes the thesis by providing working examples of the range of roles that a general information processing capability can have in decision making and design processes.
An Initial Investigation of Structural and Nonstructural Flood Control Alternatives for Cypress Creak, Texas
(Rice University, 1979-01) Rowe, Peter G.; Blackburn, Jr., James B.; Bedient, Philip B.; Electronic version made possible with funding from the Rice Historical Society and Thomas R. Williams, Ph.D., class of 2000.
Model of the advancement of architectural theory
(1982) Williams, Timothy F.; Rowe, Peter G.; Mitchell, O. Jack; Todd, Anderson
The thesis presents a framework for addressing the corpus of architectural theory and its conceptual evolution. Part I outlines a general description of the functions of architecture according to five "perspectives" -- precedent, social and economic, perception, climate and physiography, and technology -- that together comprise apparent preoccupations of architectural theory. Here, the assumption is that architecture is both a functional synthesis of these multifarious perspectives, and a reconciliation of objective and subjective polarities found within each perspective. Part II sketches a model of the process by which the structure of these perspectives changes in response to external cultural and internal professional influences. In this process advancement proceeds formally, from a critical appraisal of preceding theoretical approaches, toward programmes designed to solve general classes of problems. Subsequently, when formalism becomes dogmatic, attention is once more directed toward concrete problems, and upon a critique or revision of preceding programmes the process recommences.
New Texas Country Clubs | Playing the Recreational Standards Game
(Rice Design Alliance) Fox, Stephen; Rowe, Peter G.
On-line hydrologic simulation of Lake Conroe Reservoir releases for downstream flood control
(1985) Rifai, Hanadi Said; Bedient, Philip B.; Andrews, John F.; Rowe, Peter G.
Lake Conroe was designed for water supply and not for flood control. As a result, a flood control release policy was not established for the reservoir. This study seeks to establish the effect of Lake Conroe releases on downstream flooding and to develop operational policies to release the excess stormwater from the reservoir. A computer model was programmed on a microcomputer (Apple IIe) to simulate the response of the Lake Conroe watershed to a storm event and to provide the operators at Lake Conroe with a viable method of on-line simulation. The model was calibrated with data from four historical events and verified against simulations from HEC-1, a flood hydrograph model. Recommended operational policies on four design storms were developed with the objective of minimizing peak releases from the dam. Guidelines for developing a release scheme for any design storm event were established based on the results of the HEC-1 analysis.
Planning law and urban design
(1985) Shah, Sonal; Rowe, Peter G.; Mixon, John; Blackburn, James B.
Zoning and deed restrictions are the major legal Instruments employed for land use decisions in the U.S. The land use patterns of Dallas, a zoned city with stated public goals of "health, safety and welfare" and that of non-zoned Houston with laissez-faire attitudes and an active private enterprise (with deed restrictions as a major legal instrument) have more similarities than differences. One of the major reasons for such similarities Is the American ideal of free-hold land tenure established when the nation was founded and epitomized by the single family detached housing unit. The principles of "right to private property", laid down by philosophers like Blackstone, Smith and Locke, have subsequently been maintained and strengthened by legal, fiscal and social doctrines. This American lore (ownership of single family detached residence) and the "laws" (land use laws that support and further the "ideal") suggests that this social ideal has taken the form of "natural law" in the American society, sometimes with unexpected consequences.
Provision of shelter in urban areas of Ethiopa
(1983) Wegayehu, Fisseha; Rowe, Peter G.; Todd, Anderson; Mitchell, O. Jack
In Ethiopia, the lack of adequate shelter provision has lead to a rapid deterioration of living conditions for the urban poor. To ameliorate this situation will require changes in the structure of public expenditures, and the development of alternative mechanisms for housing delivery. The magnitude of current and likely future housing problems in urban areas was estimated. Programs recently employed to resolve these problems were then documented and alternative approaches suggested, that better meet the needs of the urban poor. What emerged was an awareness that efforts should not be directed solely towards conventional low-income housing programs. Instead, a full range of environment strategies should be considered including: "site and service" schemes, housing rehabilitation and, institutional programs aimed at providing needed support for more autonomous provision of housing.
Systematic approaches for retail service location decisions
(1977) Eury, Robert M.; Rowe, Peter G.
This thesis investigates systems applications to community facility planning by focusing on the use of models in locating retail facilities. This approach was taken because a number of major concepts employed in retail location are directly transferable to most types of urban services where consumers may choose to utilize a number of different locations. A general decision making process for locating retail services is described. Review of the types of information needed by a retail location planner finds that the central issue he faces is estimating the sales volume of a proposed site. The effect of other competing locations, consumer preferences and accessibility make this task difficult without some type of systematic approach. This could be called the classical "problem" of retail location. An extensive search was made of the work of others related to this problem. A number of approaches were found which attempted to represent the interrelated elements of consumers, access, and retailers which constitute a retail system. No dominant theory has been developed in the area; instead, a number of individual lines of inquiry were found with similarities between. Several selected location models are then reviewed in application to specific problems. The major criticism provided focusses on the degree of difficulty model authors have in representing consumer-retailer behavior and the type of information required to support the modelling. It was found that no one type of model can be regarded as superior since each may have been developed for different planning applications which vary in type of retail service and geographic area represented. There are other steps in retail location decision making where further applications of systems approaches may be valuable. These include population and income forecasting for a small area and economic evaluation of location alternatives once gross sales have been estimated. Further development of these areas in conjunction with the retail models described is suggested. Finally, a number of concepts found in various approaches to retail location may have direct benefit in the successful application of planning standards commonly used by architects and urban designers. Insight gained through certain theoretical approaches to retail location imply that increased care should be taken in the derivation and application of meaningful planning standards.
Toward a comprehensive understanding of architecture: aspects of science and art re-presented
(1979) Miller, Rob (Vocalist); Rowe, Peter G.; Papademetriou, Peter C.; Mitchell, O. Jack
This thesis suggests that the current confusion in contemporary architecture may be largely due to a split in thinking that began after the Renaissance. This split in thinking, manifested as a dichotomy between science and art, developed through the Enlightenment, the Romantic Period, and the Industrial Revolution and profoundly influenced man's way of thinking, and in particular, his perception of architecture. Consequently, architects since the Renaissance have been prone to perceive of architecture as either a science or an art, and not as a holistic entity of its own. The effects of the science-art split are most evident during modern times. Coincident with the twentieth century flourish of science and technology, a rift of dissatisfaction occurred in mainstream architecture. In a search for principles, scientific methods were applied to the architectural context which led to the development of several false notions about design and architecture. These were developed and proliferated by four movements, "Empiricism," "Technicalism," "Methodism," and "Functionalism," which collectively may be called the Scientific Tradition in architecture. Among other false beliefs that plague contemporary architecture, the Scientific Tradition advanced the notion that form can be solely determined by the parameters of the problem at hand. If contemporary architecture has been misinformed by this 5 year-old tradition of dichotomous thought, then its true nature needs to be reconsidered Investigations into the essence of style, aesthetics, and the workings of design reveal that architecture is always informed by the designer's intentions. Moreover, these intentions are specified by man's physical, intellectual and emotional relationships to his built environment. A comprehensive understanding of architectural intentions would seem to be essential in remedying confusion and improving the quality of contemporary architecture. Finally, the great and timeless architecture of history supports the thesis that architecture is more than science or art. These works suggest a normative approach to design which unites and transcends the scientific and artistic perceptions of architecture. Such a holistic perception, drawn from a comprehensive understanding of the true nature of architecture, will lead to the generation of timeless solutions.

Browsing by Author "Rowe, Peter G."

Results Per Page

Sort Options