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Fisher Information - Sustainability Analysis of Several US Metropolitan Statistical Areas

Gonzalez Mejia, Alejandra M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1318610140

Abstract Details

2011, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Engineering and Applied Science: Environmental Engineering.
The main purpose of this research was the development and application of Fisher Information (FI) as sustainability metric in the larger goal of building practical concepts of Sustainable Engineering. Thus, FI was studied for measuring and evaluating the sustainability of model and real systems. This work provides details on a numerical and analytical approach to estimate FI based on the identification of changes in the system’s trajectory for determining stable and unstable regimes, which might represent sustainable or unsustainable periods for different systems. Using this approach, FI was computed for: 1) Elementary functions (e.g. linear, quadratic, sinusoidal, and exponential) as a guide for interpreting various cases that include simple model systems such as: 2) A two-species Lotka-Volterra predator-prey model and 3) A wastewater nitrification system. Further, a real system characterized by the US Air Quality was assessed with FI, from 1980 to 2009. Accordingly, the sustainability of the abovementioned system described by the trends of air criteria pollutants including: 4) lead (univariate trajectory) and 5) carbon monoxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide (multivariate trajectory) was analyzed, as an example of the versatility of this approach. Additionally, the precision of FI computations was also examined, thereby establishing an alternative procedure for considering real systems characterized by noisy and sparse data sets, and a method for finding the proper cycle of a system was proposed. Based on this framework for evaluating and interpreting FI index, the FI-sustainability analysis of several US Metropolitan Statistical Areas was made. Thus, leading social and economic tendencies were identified, from 1970 to 2009, in order to assess local and regional sustainability in Ohio. This study comprises: 6) the cities, suburban areas, and Statistical Metropolitan Areas (MSAs) of Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland, as well as 7): Akron, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton, and Toledo MSAs. Therefore, sustainable environmental management can be understood from a retrospective point of view. In this case (6 and 7), FI was computed over 39 years of study in order to identify regime changes and evaluate stable and unstable periods for MSAs in Ohio, and also compare the overall sustainable dynamic for different geographical areas. Future work will provide tools for appropriate environmental, social and economical assessment, which will be used to prevent undesirable trends when possible in these areas of study.
Makram Suidan, PhD (Committee Chair)
Heriberto Cabezas, PhD (Committee Member)
Timothy Keener, PhD (Committee Member)
Margaret Kupferle, PhD,PE (Committee Member)
109 p.
Environmental Engineering
Fisher Information index (metric); Sustainability; Urban systems; Metropolitan Statistical Areas; US air quality; social and economic

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Gonzalez Mejia, A. M. (2011). Fisher Information - Sustainability Analysis of Several US Metropolitan Statistical Areas [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1318610140

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Gonzalez Mejia, Alejandra. Fisher Information - Sustainability Analysis of Several US Metropolitan Statistical Areas. 2011. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1318610140.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Gonzalez Mejia, Alejandra. "Fisher Information - Sustainability Analysis of Several US Metropolitan Statistical Areas." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1318610140

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1318610140
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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.