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I argue that the physical media through which literature was experienced (books, statues, and especially libraries) are crucial for understanding how liberal studies functioned in the economy of prestige. This is a study of the interactions between literature and society. The focus is not strictly on how society influenced literature, or how literature influenced society, but rather on how material manifestations of literature can shed light on the power dynamics of Roman society. In a domestic context, libraries could be used to define the meaning of places in the house, and their physical structure could be used by a dominus to reinforce and justify his place in the social hierarchy, in particular in relation to guests. At the same time, the very materiality of libraries had a tendency to undermine their place in elite ideology by implicating them in the discourse of luxuria. Finally, control over the material trappings of the library (especially author portraits) could function as a proxy for the exercise and establishment of cultural authority, which was inextricably bound up with political power. As such, fights over library statuary provide a window into the inter-relationship between power and paideia.

Water distribution systems (WDS) worldwide face increasing challenges as population growth strains a limited water supply in many areas. In the United States, existing water infrastructure systems require significant investments to refurbish an aging stock of assets. Much of this investment is required in drinking water transmission and distribution, where a substantial amount of material and economic inputs are lost as a result of pipeline leaks. With growing worldwide concern for reducing environmental impacts of the built environment, infrastructure investment on the scale of WDSs must be accurately assessed for potential unintended consequences. U.S. water infrastructure systems have already been identified as a major consumer of energy: it is estimated that 13% of the total U.S. electricity demand is consumed by water-related energy use.The existing literature on environmental assessment of WDSs does not provide a comprehensive, detailed picture of the total impacts of utilities. The current body of knowledge either omits common WDS elements or focuses on solving theoretical design problems. This research provides a framework for the most comprehensive greenhouse-gas (GHG) emission assessment of U.S. WDSs with the most accurate data available. This research presents opportunities for incorporating environmental metrics into asset management, a popular management strategy used by utility managers worldwide. The major contributors to emissions in WDSs are identified, and cost-effective solutions for reducing GHG emissions are recommended. A major opportunity in cost-effective GHG reduction lies in effectively reducing distribution losses from leaks in pipelines. This dissertation provides a model, tool, and analysis solutions that help communicate the GHG emissions associated with leaks and the related economic costs for reducing these leaks.This dissertation employs life-cycle assessment (LCA) in determining the GHG footprint of a WDS. LCA is a commonly used, ho

Water distribution systems (WDS) worldwide face increasing challenges as population growth strains a limited water supply in many areas. In the United States, existing water infrastructure systems require significant investments to refurbish an aging stock of assets. Much of this investment is required in drinking water transmission and distribution, where a substantial amount of material and economic inputs are lost as a result of pipeline leaks. With growing worldwide concern for reducing environmental impacts of the built environment, infrastructure investment on the scale of WDSs must be accurately assessed for potential unintended consequences. U.S. water infrastructure systems have already been identified as a major consumer of energy: it is estimated that 13% of the total U.S. electricity demand is consumed by water-related energy use.The existing literature on environmental assessment of WDSs does not provide a comprehensive, detailed picture of the total impacts of utilities. The current body of knowledge either omits common WDS elements or focuses on solving theoretical design problems. This research provides a framework for the most comprehensive greenhouse-gas (GHG) emission assessment of U.S. WDSs with the most accurate data available. This research presents opportunities for incorporating environmental metrics into asset management, a popular management strategy used by utility managers worldwide. The major contributors to emissions in WDSs are identified, and cost-effective solutions for reducing GHG emissions are recommended. A major opportunity in cost-effective GHG reduction lies in effectively reducing distribution losses from leaks in pipelines. This dissertation provides a model, tool, and analysis solutions that help communicate the GHG emissions associated with leaks and the related economic costs for reducing these leaks.This dissertation employs life-cycle assessment (LCA) in determining the GHG footprint of a WDS. LCA is a commonly used, ho

I argue that the physical media through which literature was experienced (books, statues, and especially libraries) are crucial for understanding how liberal studies functioned in the economy of prestige. This is a study of the interactions between literature and society. The focus is not strictly on how society influenced literature, or how literature influenced society, but rather on how material manifestations of literature can shed light on the power dynamics of Roman society. In a domestic context, libraries could be used to define the meaning of places in the house, and their physical structure could be used by a dominus to reinforce and justify his place in the social hierarchy, in particular in relation to guests. At the same time, the very materiality of libraries had a tendency to undermine their place in elite ideology by implicating them in the discourse of luxuria. Finally, control over the material trappings of the library (especially author portraits) could function as a proxy for the exercise and establishment of cultural authority, which was inextricably bound up with political power. As such, fights over library statuary provide a window into the inter-relationship between power and paideia.