Finite birth-and-death models in randomly changing environments

This report provides computational methods for studying properties of birth-death processes whose transition rates (infinitesimal generator) varies in accordance with a random, 'environmental', process. In particular, the models may be used to represent the availability fo redundant systems subject to external shocks or other 'common cause' failures. These models also represent search for an object when the search environment (e.g. weather) varies randomly in time. (Author)