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Cardin, M-A (2011) Quantitative performance-based evaluation of a procedure for flexible design concept generation, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Chiang, R (2002) Agency and incentive contract in private investment of transport project: An exploration of fundamental relationships, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Garvin, M J (2001) Strategic indicators for characterization of water system infrastructure and management, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Kristinsdottir, A (2012) Risks and decision making in development of new power plant projects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Kua, H W (2006) The design of effective policies for the promotion of sustainable construction materials, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Lee, S (2006) Dynamic planning and control methodology: Understanding and managing iterative error and change cycles in large-scale concurrent design and construction projects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Miller, J B (1995) Aligning infrastructure development strategy to meet current public needs, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Minelli, P (2020) Improved methods for managing megaprojects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Moret, Y (2011) Modeling cost and time uncertainty in rail line construction, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Park, M (2001) Dynamic planning and control methodology for large-scale concurrent construction projects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Slaughter, E S (1991) Rapid innovation and integration of components: Comparison of user and manufacturer innovations through a study of residential construction, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Sousa, R L (2010) Risk analysis for tunneling projects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Taylor, D D J (2018) Tools for managing intermittent water supplies, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

  • Type: Thesis
  • Keywords: duration; revenues; utilities; regulation; safety; sustainable development; water supply; performance-based contract; India
  • ISBN/ISSN:
  • URL: https://www.proquest.com/docview/2162826754
  • Abstract:
    Nearly one billion people receive water from piped networks that are not always pressurized. These intermittent water supplies (IWS) are more likely to recontaminate the distributed water than continuously-operated (or `24x7') water supplies. In addition, IWS may not, provide customers with enough water. Improving the safety and sufficiency of IWS requires new management tools. This thesis proposes some such tools. Specifically, this thesis develops a suite of hydraulic, financial, and water quality models that show how each is affected by a utility's operational decisions. The proposed models are simple and do not require information about a pipe network's topology. To contextualize this work, an overview of Delhi, India's IWS is provided. The hydraulic model relates the supply pressure, supply duration, leakage rate, and volume of water received by customers. It shows that an IWS' behavior changes substantially when its customers receive the water they demand (i.e., are satisfied) and suggests why IWS exist and persist. The financial model additionally considers a utility's variable revenues and costs. It finds that low-pressure and intermittent operations maximize a utility's (short-term) gross margin and that current performance indicators encourage inequity. Where utilities are financially-motivated (e.g., performance-based contracts) the need for careful regulation and better benchmarks is demonstrated. Optimal performance penalties are proposed to ensure leak repair and high-pressure continuous water supply. The water quality model considers the conditions in which external contaminants can enter a pipe network. It shows that IWS have opposite effects on water quality during steady-state and non-steady-state operations. Both states should be regulated, modeled, and sampled. These models show that knowing the point at which customers become satisfied is crucial to managing and optimizing IWS. To better measure this point, a more accurate multi-jet water meter, which does riot measure air, is designed and tested for use in IWS. The tools presented in this thesis support measuring and making progress towards global efforts such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the human right to water, promoting "safe" water supplies that are "available when needed." (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, libraries.mit.edu/docs - docs@mit.edu)

Tsai, I T (2007) Default and renegotiation: Financial structure and incentive in public-private partnership contracts, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Viteri, V R (2003) Experiential learning environments for structural behavior, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Wang, M-T (1989) Knowledge processing for a construction management database, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Wooldridge, S C (2002) Balancing capital and condition: An emerging approach to facility investment strategy, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Yan, S (1992) Intermodal pricing and operations using network flow techniques, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.