Digital Commons Network^™

The Sulu Sea Mandate: A Diplomatic And Military Initiative To Ensure Freedom Of The Seas, John Cheney

Theses

This thesis advocates the establishment of an official US government diplomatic policy, and recommends specific means for its implementation. By combining a written narrative with a unique and highly detailed Geographic Information System (GIS,) this thesis argues that securing the Philippines archipelago from further Chinese annexations is a US strategic imperative. To that end, US military forces and capabilities- particularly those of the US Marine Corps (USMC)- would be integrated into the revamped defense of the Philippines.

Utilizing a variety of datasets, the thesis GIS depicts such features as geopolitical boundaries, conflict zones, maritime trade routes, bathymetry, navigational hazards, undersea …

Connecting Children With Artists Through A Children's Art History Book, Katie Meyer

Theses

This project is a children’s art history book that is set in an art museum. The goal of the book is to help children connect with Contemporary artists and their art. A museum setting is utilized to introduce children to museums and as an appropriate environment for viewing art. The theme of the exhibit that will be presented in the book is titled the “Innovators Exhibit.” This exhibit features six Contemporary artists from different art styles/mediums. The artists come from diverse backgrounds to expose children to a variety of cultures. Thought provoking questions will also be asked throughout the book …

Evidence Of The Complexity Of The Conversion To Christianity In Early Medieval Funerary Stone Carvings Of Pagan Cultures In Scotland And Scandinavia, Cameron Genet

Theses

This thesis focuses on stone monuments created between the late fifth to late twelfth centuries CE, specifically in Scotland and Sweden. The aim of this thesis is to interpret the symbols or images inscribed onto the stone monuments to determine what they reveal about the Christianization of these regions. The Picts in Scotland and the Norse in Sweden left behind several standing stones such as the Craw Stane from the Picts and the Ledberg Stone from the Norse which have various symbols carved into them. These stones were sometimes created in connection with a burial, allowing the interpretations of their …

The Intersection Of Spirituality, Commerce, And Art In The Work Of William Keith, Joan Gallagher

Theses

This thesis examines the nineteenth-century Tonalist artist William Keith, focusing on how he successfully integrated commerce, art, and spirituality to achieve financial success, artistic innovation, and spiritual depth. While scholars often emphasize the symbolism and religiosity in his work, they tend to overlook his financial accomplishments. This study explores Keith's background, religious influences, and artistic development within the cultural, economic, and social context of nineteenth-century America. As a Tonalist, Keith produced popular works for the art market; as a Swedenborgian, his art reflected the spiritual principles of that faith. Unlike his East Coast counterparts, Keith’s California-based landscapes captured the dramatic …

Realmweaver: Designing A Sandbox Simulation Game With Ai-Driven Storytelling, Tianzhe Fan

Theses

This paper introduces Realmweaver, a sandbox simulation game concept that combines artificial intelligence (AI) and procedural generation to balance player creativity and system automation. Realmweaver empowers players to create dynamic characters, build expansive worlds, and co-author narratives through adaptive AI systems. By leveraging technologies such as natural language processing and layered procedural algorithms, the game addresses challenges in maintaining narrative coherence and balancing user agency with system autonomy. The design framework integrates intuitive interfaces, including highlighted narrative systems and interactive hover functionality, ensuring accessibility while enhancing engagement. These features enable players to navigate complex systems and shape immersive worlds with …

Waylight: Mapping The Journey Of Faith, Emma Woerle

Theses

Waylight is a digital learning platform that reimagines how we explore the life of Jesus through maps, movement, and meaningful interaction. Designed to bridge the gap between static Bible study tools and the physical settings of Scripture, the platform allows users to follow curated journeys such as Miracles or Timelines across ancient Israel. The project began with experimental designs using three-dimensional terrain and literal religious symbols. These early versions lacked cohesion and felt visually heavy. As the work progressed, the design shifted toward a more refined two-dimensional aesthetic inspired by textures like layered paper and the craft of carpentry. This …

Countering The Traditional Feminine: The Abject In The Works Of Johanna Hamann, María Evelia Marmolejo, And Regina José Galindo, Sierra Myers

Theses

This thesis explores the ways in which Contemporary Latin American feminist artists have been able to subvert the Western constructed ideas of gender that work to locate the feminine Other as subordinate and inferior. Focusing on the installations and performances by Johanna Hamann, María Evelia Marmolejo, and Regina José Galindo, there is an emphasis on the role of the abject which is used to defamiliarize our established concepts of the traditional feminine in order to allow space for a redefinition and portrayal that excludes a detrimental modern semiology rooted in a zero point epistemology. By analyzing these artists' works in …

Pottery As A Socio-Economic Marker In Prehistoric Burials Along The Southern Coast Of South Korea, P. Codi Shoemaker

Theses

This thesis investigates the role of pottery as a socio-economic marker in prehistoric burials along the southern coast of South Korea, with a focus on the Late Jeulmun to Early/Mid-Mumun Pottery Periods. Through an interdisciplinary analysis of burial sites at Janghang (Gadeok-do), Sangchonri, and Yulha-ri, the study examines how ceramic design, placement, and associated grave goods reflect evolving social structures within early Korean communities. While pottery has long been examined through functional and chronological lenses, this research considers its symbolic and cultural value in funerary contexts. Findings suggest that pottery served not only utilitarian or ritual purposes, but increasingly signaled …

“For There Is Hope Of A Tree…”: A Study Of Two Historic African American Cemeteries In Pope County, Illinois, Martha Clare Buchert

Theses

To add to a growing body of academic literature regarding historic African American cemeteries, this study examines two such cemeteries located in Pope County, Illinois: the Miller Grove Cemetery and the Hill Cemetery. Utilizing several different investigative methods, including pedestrian survey, geophysical survey, and historic research, the archaeological features and material culture of both cemeteries were studied to see what could be learned about their associated communities without ground disturbance. The results of these methods demonstrate the connections of members within these communities and the interconnectedness of historic African American settlements throughout southern Illinois and the greater Midwest. They also …

Groundwater Storage Dynamics In Abu Dhabi Emirate Using In-Situ And Grace Data, Tala Jalal Maksoud

Theses

Water scarcity presents a significant challenge to the sustainable development; especially in arid regions like Abu Dhabi Emirate. Addressing concerns over nonrenewable aquifer depletion, caused by agricultural expansion and lifestyle advancements, has, therefore, become crucial in such regions. This thesis investigates Groundwater Storage (GWS) dynamics in Abu Dhabi Emirate by integrating satellite data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) with in-situ data from 257 wells over two decades (2002-2022), employing GIS and RS technologies. The main aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive approach to evaluate GWS dynamics considering multiple perspectives including: dealing with missing datasets, …

Criminal Activity Monitoring System: Targeting Africans And East Asian Communities In Dubai, Hamdan Kalantar

Theses

This dissertation investigates crime patterns among African and East Asian communities in Dubai, focusing on geographic hotspots, temporal trends, victim demographics, and the use of machine learning for predictive crime modeling. The research addresses the challenges faced by these communities, including labor exploitation, financial fraud, and human trafficking, within the socio-economic context of a rapidly growing urban city. Building on existing studies of urban crime, this research aimed to explore the spatial, temporal, and demographic dynamics of crimes and assess the potential of predictive models to assist law enforcement in crime prevention and resource allocation. A mixed-methods approach was employed, …

Predicting The Probability Of Crime Related Danger In Los Angeles, Joshua Oghenetega Okpako

Theses

This thesis examines the use of advanced machine learning to predict crime danger in Los Angeles, where 2023 violent crime rates (503 per 100,000) surpass the national average (363.8 per 100,000). Rooted in theories like social disorganization and victim vulnerability, it addresses the lack of combined victim-centric modeling by focusing on three questions: (1) Do blended ensemble models outperform individual models in predicting crime danger? (2) Can unsupervised learning techniques enhance supervised models’ accuracy through label generation or augmentation? (3) How can we interpret accurate machine learning models' decision-making processes? Using historical crime data from Los Angeles (2020–2025) and various …

Modelling And Load Frequency Control (Lfc) Design Of Microgrid Frame-Worked As Technological Norm To Multi Energy System (Mes), Mekonnen Shewarega Worku

Theses

In today's world, the trend of using renewable energy sources as an alternative energy source is becoming more and more common due to various driving factors, such as energy scarcity (fossil fuel depletion, etc.) and environmental issues (carbon footprint). This trend is leading to a steady increase in the penetration of renewable energy sources (RESs) through microgrid (MG), which is formed from combination of various distribution energy sources (DERs). The inherent intermittent nature of RESs coupled with abrupt load changes can instigate sustained frequency fluctuations and can keep the frequency deviation out of the allowable range that leads to an …

A Review Of Smart Public Transport Systems: Challenges, Technological Innovations, And Future Directions, Ahmed Masam Alfalasi

Theses

Urbanization has created greater demand for effective and sustainable public transport systems in smart cities. Yet, overcrowding, congestion, and old infrastructure remain the main challenges to the effectiveness of these systems. This literature review discusses the major issues affecting smart public transport, such as reliability issues, environmental sustainability, and improved integration and coordination between modes of transport. Technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics are being applied to enhance public transportation efficiency, alleviate congestion, and improve passenger experience. Qualitative research methods were used, relying on secondary data from academic journals, government reports, and …

Moonstorm In The Mainstream Or On The Margins?: Constellating St. Louis Lesbian Rhetorics From The Archives, Aurora Blanchard

Theses

Combining rhetorical analysis, oral history collection, and archival study, this multi-genre research project explores lesbian feminist organizing in the 1970s. Moonstorm was a St. Louis lesbian feminist magazine that operated in the 1970s and 1980s. The sample in this research project focuses on the issues of Moonstorm published between 1973 and 1977. Issues of Moonstorm are available for viewing in the archives of the State Historical Society of Missouri. Building on V. Jo Hsu’s theory of constellating, the poems and stories found in Moonstorm serve as sites of both contested and unconditional belonging for modern LGBTQ+ activists. Constellating, specifically in …

How Bats View Their Flowers: Exploring The Use Of Visual Floral Cues By Nectarivorous Neotropical Bats, Lindsey R. Dennison

Theses

Neotropical nectar bats in cloud forest ecosystems must navigate and forage in dark, complex landscapes containing an incredible diversity of flowering plants. Despite these challenges, nectar bats are extremely successful at exploiting nectar resources from plants. Much of the sensory ecology behind these bat-plant interactions has been investigated and we know from previous studies that echolocation and olfaction are critical sensory modalities to nectar bats. Echo-acoustically conspicuous floral and vegetative structures as well as sulfur-containing volatile compounds function as signals, allowing bats to sense plants. However, not all plants exhibit conspicuous echo-acoustic and/or olfactory characteristics. Furthermore, many neotropical bat-pollinated plants …

Enhancing Pedestrian Safety Around Jacksonville State University: A Gis-Based Perception And Crash Analysis, Husain O. Alegimenlen

Theses

This study uses a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based approach to assess pedestrian safety around Jacksonville State University (JSU) by combining vehicle crash data with perception surveys from 111 pedestrians and 97 drivers. The research identifies high-risk areas, explores contributing factors, and recommends targeted safety improvements.

A total of 209 geocoded crash records (2021 to 2024) were analyzed using Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and hotspot analysis in ArcGIS Pro. Crash clusters appeared along Pelham Road North and Mountain Street, marking key vehicular risk zones. Three major pedestrian danger areas were found: (1) Nisbet Street NW and Cardinal Lane NW, (2) …

Flood Risk Assessment In Humanitarian Contexts: A Remote Sensing And Gis Methodology Applied To Nyarugusu Refugee Camp, Tanzania, Carolyne Vincent Mbirika

Theses

Flooding is a global challenge, with effects mostly experienced in developing countries due to insufficient data for effective flood risk assessment and management. Refugee settlements are particularly vulnerable to flooding due to their remote locations, high population density, and temporary shelters, necessitating flood susceptibility mapping to effectively mitigate risks and minimize damage prior to flooding events. This study assessed flood susceptibility in the Nyarugusu refugee camp, Tanzania, through Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and Analytical Hierarchy Process using remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) approaches. The flood susceptibility map that resulted from this process categorizes flood-prone areas into three classes: …

Study Of The Extension Of Cavities In Jebel Hafeet By Implementing Geophysical Methods, Mai Rashed Alkaabi

Theses

Subsurface cavities pose challenges to the buildings and their stability, leading to ground instability and subsidence. In Al Ain City, UAE, particularly in Jebel Hafeet, cavities within carbonate formations and sedimentary rocks present risks to infrastructure and urban development. This study employs Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Gravity Surveys to detect, locate, and determine the depth of these cavities, enhancing geological understanding and geohazard assessment. The ERT survey, using a pole-dipole array, was conducted along eight lines to identify subsurface anomalies. It revealed high-resistivity anomalies (> 45 Ω·m), indicative of air-filled cavities, and low-resistivity zones (< 6 Ω·m), corresponding to water-saturated or clay-rich deposits. The ERT survey detected resistivity variations, highlighting anomalies ranging from 45 to 120 Ω·m at depths between 1 m and 17 m. The gravity survey, conducted at 28 stations, detected low-density anomalies, which aligned with high-resistivity ERT zones, confirming subsurface cavities at depths between 10 m and 220 m (below ground level). Five 3D gravity inversion models visualized density variations, revealing cavities at different depths for the models from 0 m to 195 m (a.s.l). The integration of ERT and gravity methods significantly improved cavity detection accuracy, demonstrating a strong correlation between low-density gravity anomalies and high-resistivity features. This study recommends increasing gravity station density, and avoiding heavy infrastructure in cavity-prone areas. The findings contribute to the geological understanding of Jebel Hafeet, providing insights for sustainable urban planning, risk mitigation, and infrastructure safety in Al Ain City.

This Night, Roshni Jayakrishnan Nair

Theses

"This Night" is a 2D animated Graduate Thesis Film. The story centers on a devout elderly woman who receives a vision foreshadowing her departure from life. Guided by this vision, she embarks on a profound journey. In her garden, she plucks a hibiscus and offers it to the deities in her home. As she prays with closed eyes, she envisions her hibiscus offering reaching the temple doors. Recognizing this as her sign to depart, she resolves to set out on her journey to meet the goddess at the temple. Plucking another hibiscus to carry with her, a sudden gust of …

Insights Into Covid-19 Dynamics Via The Integration Of Subpopulations, Vaccinations, And Bayesian Calibration In A Semi-Enclosed Community Model Framework, Meghan Rowan Childs

Theses

From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, universities have experienced unique challenges due to their multifaceted nature as a place of education, residence, and employment. Previous work has used mathematical models to explore varying approaches to combating COVID-19 and tailored these models to local contexts, such as hospitals. However, previous work has not broadly incorporated pharmaceutical mitigation strategies into university models. We address this gap in research by integrating subpopulations, vaccines, and COVID-19 variants into a semi-enclosed population model framework. We further improve the quantification of uncertainty in the model parameters by implementing a formal Bayesian model calibration, fusing real-world …

A Wayfarer, Roselyle Hang Zhao

Theses

This paper examines the making of A Wayfarer, a personal film that explores themes of identity, cultural belonging, and the experience of being a third-culture individual. The character Boaty represents the complexities of navigating multiple identities, as the film blends visual and sound design to convey the feeling of being "lost-in-culture." As part of my graduate thesis at the Rochester Institute of Technology, the film blends visual and sound design to convey the feeling of being "lost-in-culture." The paper discusses the creative choices behind the shift from humor to vulnerability, the challenges of depicting family dynamics, and the process of …

Under The Bay: Analysis Of Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia Mydas) Dive Behavior In The Urban San Diego Bay, Emily Carter

Theses

Sea turtles are air-breathing marine reptiles that spend their lives performing dives to travel, forage, and rest. Several dive types have been previously recorded for sea turtles, each type being associated with a different set of behaviors. U-dives, or Type 1 dives are widely characterized by extensive benthic periods preceded by and concluding with abrupt descent and ascent phases respectively (Minamikawa et al. 1997; Houghton et al. 2002; Seminoff et al. 2006). These dives are widely affiliated with turtle resting behavior though can be indicative of additional activities including benthic travel and foraging. Previous research of green turtle dive behavior …

Space-Time Analysis Of The Sea Level Variability Of The Arabian Sea Using Satellite Altimetry Data, Saleha Saeed Binishaq

Theses

The ongoing effects of climate change are contributing to a gradual rise in sea levels, which has become a significant environmental concern. It creates a serious threat to coastal areas, especially in the Gulf Region, which includes various cities bordering the Arabian Gulf, the Red and the Arabian Sea. This phenomenon has the potential to significantly influence the socioeconomics of the region by altering coastal marine ecosystems and can pose serious infrastructure sustainability challenges. This research focuses on analyzing the sea-level variability in the Arabian Sea using satellite altimetry data from 1993 to 2023. The analysis was conducted along a …

Comparing Role Differences Among Systems Architects, Systems Designers, And Systems Engineers, Kelly X. Campo

Theses

The roles of a systems architect (SA), systems designer (SD), and systems engineer (SE) often work together to develop systems, especially as the scale and complexity of engineered systems increase. However, management of these roles can result in ambiguity of task assignments and may reduce accountability for deliverables. Furthermore, there are few published works examining the roles of SAs, SDs, and SEs collectively. This research explores perceptions of the similarities and differences between the roles of SAs, SDs, and SEs by conducting a systematic literature review of 57 sources containing 1064 quotes in addition to a thematic content analysis, analyzed …

Motherhood Or Work: Why Not Both? Representations Of Femininity In Australian Wartime Radio Serials, Emma Price

Theses

War is a gendering activity. As media is one of the many sites where gender is constructed, this study aims to investigate through a discourse analysis of serials produced by women for radio in the 1940s, the ways these programs represented or challenged social and cultural expectations placed on women. The themes female dramatists explored through the genre of radio serials, and the statements these programs made about life as a woman during the Second World War, are under-researched areas in Australian scholarship. While it must be acknowledged that the war was not a turning point in the status of …

Leadership In The Digital Economy: An Investigation Into How Digitalisation Is Changing The Role And Practice Of Leadership In The Australian Defence Industry, Rhogan Aitken

Theses

Digitalisation is a phenomenon that is transforming society and is the process that moves an organisation to become digital. Research was conducted on senior leaders in the Australian defence industry with the purpose of investigating how the role and practice of leadership was changing because of digitalisation. A two-phased qualitative methodology was employed. An initial Delphi study on 13 experts in digital transformation was adopted to gain consensus on key issues, with the results informing a second stage of semi-structured interviews with 32 senior leaders in the Australian defence industry. The results identified factors that were influencing leadership, including increased …

Defining Barriers In Pulmonary Hypertension: Pulmonary Hypertension In Remote And Rural Settings In Australia: An Epidemiologic Study Aided By Echocardiography, Pyi Naing

Theses

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common, complex, and potentially lethal haemodynamic condition with many underlying aetiologies. It is poorly understood, and diagnosis is usually made late in the disease process resulting in poor outcomes even in the developed world. An innovative universal framework is required to achieve early and accurate diagnosis for improved outcomes, especially in remote and rural areas. The thesis documents my substantial body of work that unlocks a collective framework to assist patients with PH, particularly in areas not classically serviced by tertiary level PH care.

The first chapter of my thesis outlines the history, important milestones …

A Public For The Problem: Vocabularies Of Belonging At The Climate Precipice, Louisa Stredwick

Theses

This study proposes the central concepts of belonging and vocabulary to critically analyse and recompose current approaches to more-than-human relationship that are inadequate and counterproductive. Contemporary vocabularies of belonging are inadequate because they fail to account for the practicalities of an expansive human and more-than-human ‘we’, and they are underpinned by extractivist or idealist logics. They are counterproductive because they carry embedded dualisms that often directly counter intended messages of inherent relationality. A largely theoretical work, the thesis is informed by a field philosophy approach in the Environmental Humanities, working alongside the Martuwarra (Fitzroy) River, in North-Western Australia, and its …

How Smart City Growth Principles Can Be Adopted In The Uae To Solve The Local Housing Problems?, Shaima Abdulla Alblooki

Theses

Shaikh Zayed Housing Program “SZHP” is the governmental program that is responsible for local housing in the UAE. The program’s main aim is to offer a variety of housing services such as loans, grants, and ready-to-move houses. However, both the continuously growing urban population and liveability challenges are impeding the program to meet its goal. As mentioned on SZHP’s official website “We should continue to explore new ways to establish informed dialogue with different groups of society and to ensure adequate housing for national families, in achieving stability and community development by meeting future needs” (SZHP, 2022 ). Accordingly, this …