Characteristics analysis of spatial and temporal variation on extreme weather events in Anhui Province for recent 50 years

To mitigate the impact of natural or man-made hazards on the services of an infrastructure facility, it is important to quantitatively assess its available capacity. For example, in a post-disaster scenario, critical infrastructure is likely to experience (i) excessive demand for the service of an infrastructure and/or (ii) compromised capacity because of damage to the infrastructure and the failure of infrastructure interdependencies. As the demand grows and nears the capacity limit of an infrastructure facility, a shortage of services required for the community’s recovery will occur. The development of mitigation strategies and an assessment of their effectiveness require a systematic approach. In this paper, a functional stress–strain principle for infrastructure facilities is proposed to quantitatively assess their serviceability in post-disaster scenarios. Functional stress in infrastructure management represents a service-related demand on an infrastructure facility, while strain indicates its coping capacity. The dynamic nature of infrastructure services will be considered depending on the relationship between demand and available capacity. The allowable range of functional stress is then defined, considering plastic and elastic patterns of responses of a facility during recovery to explore strain capacity variations. The proposed principle facilitates a systematic understanding of how infrastructure facilities can adapt themselves to growing stress and the maximum level of stress they can handle. The application of the proposed functional stress–strain principle is demonstrated through case studies of two infrastructure facilities in a post-earthquake scenario: a medical facility and a power facility.     

Spatial equity in urban facility versus residents’ satisfaction: challenge for the unplanned cities—a case study of Barasat city,India

Spatial equity in urban facilities or service distribution is considered as a critical determinant of the quality of urbanization. Spatial equity simply means the presence of adequate facilities and equal proximity. Many initiatives have mostly focused on one type of facility, obviating the holistic understanding of the equity of distribution of all basic facilities in cities. Moreover, the perceptions of the citizens in the process of planning are hardly considered. In this paper, an integrated facility-satisfaction index is presented to evaluate the balance between the distribution of facilities and the level of residents' satisfaction derived from those facilities. This method has taken all possible urban facilities and categorized them as educational, health, financial, recreation, and others. The per capita facility availability is calculated by incorporating the spatial distribution of urban facilities, the service range of facilities, population distribution, and weight. The proper weights have been given by employing the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The satisfaction index has been derived from the citizens’ perception of each facility, marked on a 5-point Likert scale during the field survey. The paired-sample t-test demonstrated that there is a significant difference between the facility availability and satisfaction index at the significance level of 0.05. The application of the method is demonstrated in fast urbanizing Barasat city, West Bengal, India. Based on the degree of facility-satisfaction differences or correspondences, the entire region has been categorized into four zones viz. satisfied people with favorable facility availability, unsatisfied people with poor facility availability, unsatisfied people with relatively high facility availability, and satisfied people with relatively low facility availability. The pattern has been validated by identifying spatial clusters and spatial outliers of facility availability and satisfaction using local Moran’s I. This approach can help a city to distribute the facilities to satisfy the citizens of all corners which will help to overcome the constant problems of policy decisions without adequate and reliable information about the actual demand of the residents.

     

Expanding a network of public facilities with some fixed supply points

Conclusions In general terms, this paper has demonstrated how the expansion of public facilities can be phased and implemented within the framework of certain policy objectives. Given an existing network of hospitals, for instance, it is possible to plan and implement the provision of additional facilities in a manner that enhances the spatial efficiency of the expanded network. The expansion can be executed in such a way that with the addition of each new facility, not only is aggregate travel minimized, but also a specified proportion of the population can be brought within easy reach of hospital services. This method is a particularly useful one because in planning the location of facilities, authorities hardly ever start off with a clean slate. Usually some facilities of the same kind might already be occupying some locations which may or may not be optimal. But whether or not the already existing network is optimal, the overall efficiency of the expanded network can be enhanced by proceeding in the manner outlined above.This method can be applied to a wide range of public facilities, like schools for instance. But its application depends, among other things, on the clear definition of locational and policy objectives. Different objectives could produce different locational patterns. Even variations in the measures of distance used can produce different locational patterns.     

Analysis of tsunami impact scenarios at an oil refinery

This work analyses the potential consequences of two tsunami scenarios and their impacts on an oil refinery located in Sicily. Two credible tsunamis originating in the Tyrrhenian Sea were selected based on historical data. The potential for damage and hazardous materials releases resulting from the tsunami impacts to a refinery was assessed. The results obtained by the JRC tsunami propagation and inundation code HyFlux2 indicate that in both scenarios there would be eighteen storage tanks (of 43 located within 400 m from the shoreline) at the refinery subject to flooding. Water flow velocities were found to be generally low, <1 m/s, except for a central section of the refinery near the shoreline where the water flow velocities reach 3?C4 m/s. These results indicate that any damage would most likely occur due to buoyancy loads particularly in the western part of the facility where inundation levels are higher and storage tanks are less protected. Potential damage caused by impact of floating debris may be a problem in the central area of the refinery near the shoreline due to high flow velocities (3?C4 m/s) in both tsunami scenarios. Small hazardous materials releases could occur due to breakage of connected pipes and flanges caused by floating off of almost empty storage tanks or other equipment. Salt water intrusion could affect electrical equipment, such as control panels, pumps, and motors that are not raised above the inundation level. We conclude that in the two tsunami scenarios analysed, the risk to nearby residents and neighbouring facilities from potential hazardous materials releases, fires or explosions triggered by the tsunamis is likely to be small. Nonetheless, recommendations are made on prevention measures to reduce the risk of tsunami-triggered accidents and to mitigate their consequences if they do occur. The results of this study are limited by the uncertainty in the input data and most importantly by the accuracy of the elevation data and the model resolution.     

Effect of rainfall characteristics on removal efficiency evaluation in vegetative filter strips

The efficiency of a facility to remove non-point source pollution is likely to fluctuate according to conditions such as facility type and rainfall events; therefore, it is required to use a proper method to estimate removal efficiency. This study was conducted to estimate the efficiency of a facility with vegetative filter strips to remove pollutants by using methods previously used for the estimation of removal efficiency and compensate for weaknesses of the known methods. Other ways were presented to estimate an efficiency by which rainfall events were classified according to meteorological condition and amount of rainfall. Rainfall of frequency and summation of load as rainfall of frequency, where the frequencies per rainfall class were considered in efficiency ratio and summation of loads, respectively, seemed to have higher removal efficiencies than those estimated with the previous methods. Although it rained at the basin site, often in small quantity (below 10 mm), the rainfall events of below 10 mm were less frequent, during the monitored rainfall events, which accordingly resulted in low removal efficiencies. However, if the frequencies per rainfall class were considered, overall removal efficiencies of VFS might be increased because the removal efficiencies of the rainfall class under 10?mm was higher than other rainfall classes. Therefore, it is desirable to take into account such factors as effects of rainfall when it comes to measuring the removal efficiency of a non-point source pollutant of a factor, because those facilities are likely to be influenced by meteorological conditions including rainfall characteristics.     

Trends in Abundance Indices of Fishes in Maryland’s Coastal Bays During 1972–2009

Maryland’s coastal bays provide habitat for juveniles of many commercially and recreationally important species of shellfish and finfish. Since 1972, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has conducted the Maryland Coastal Bays Trawl and Seine Survey to monitor the populations of key species. The survey has undergone substantial spatial and methodological changes affecting the interpretation of simple indices of abundance. We developed generalized linear models to standardize the indices of abundance of five commonly caught fish species: Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus, weakfish Cynoscion regalis, spot Leiostomus xanthurus, bay anchovy Anchoa mitchilli, and summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus. Density declined significantly since 1972 for menhaden, bay anchovy, and spot in at least one region within the coastal bays. The northern bays had significantly higher densities than the southern bays for all species. Changes in abundance indices of the five species examined were not related to sea grass coverage, temperature, salinity, nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios, and other habitat variables but were likely a result of stock-wide recruitment processes.     

Reconciling indigenous need with the urban welfare state? Evidence of culturally-appropriate services and spaces for Aboriginals in Winnipeg, Canada

Despite the increasing urbanization of the Aboriginal population in Canada over the past 50 years, most municipalities have not developed services and programs designed to meet their unique social and cultural needs. Faced with numerous health and social problems, the Aboriginal population is mainly forced to rely on the non-Aboriginal social services sector. However, little is known about the extent to which such sectors seek to accommodate Aboriginal populations in their programming. We examine the extent to which the recovery system makes space for Aboriginal healing through the provision of culturally-appropriate services and programming. Through the use of 24 in-depth interviews with staff members at seven treatment facilities in Winnipeg (Canada), we find an entrenched reluctance, indifference and lack of desire to create Aboriginal spaces of healing in treatment, save for one facility where Aboriginal healing spaces serve as a focal point of treatment. We discuss the implications in terms of the effectiveness of the non-Aboriginal recovery system (along with other social services) in meeting the needs of Canada’s urban Aboriginal population.     

Habitat disturbance and marina development: An assessment of ecological effects. I. Changes in primary production due to dredging and marina construction

Potential impacts on primary production were estimated for an 800-slip marina previously planned for Davids Island, located in the extreme western portion of Long Island Sound, New York. Macroalgal and microalgal production in the area of the proposed marina was analyzed on the basis of six depth zones ranging from an existing seawall (at about +2.2 m MLW) seaward to a depth of ?2.4 m MLW. Productivity measurements were based on in situ ¹⁴C uptake studies, chlorophyll a determinations, and varying light exposures within the euphotic zone that were the estimate of daily production calculated for eight dominant macroalgae and microalgae, and summed to estimate existing production in the proposed marina. Similarly, post-construction production was estimated by applying the calculated daily production to the appropriate areas of hard substrate (breakwater, pilings, etc.) in the euphotic zone. Pre- and post-construction macroalgal production values were 50,608 and 42,152 g C d^?1, respectively. This represents a 17% reduction in macroalgal production. It should be noted, however, that production on the seafloor of the marina was not accounted for. Consquently, reductions in macroalgal production that might occur are likely overestimated. Microalgal production constituted less than 3% of total primary production in the nearshore areas of Davids Island. The pre- and post-construction microalgal production values were 1,542 and 743 g C d^?1, respectively. This represents a 48% reduction in microalgal production in unconsolidated sediment. However, micoalgal production would likely occur on hard substrates in the marina. Overall, pre- and post-construction estimates of primary production were remarkably similar, suggesting that production on hard substrates in the marina would compensate for lost production from deepening of the nearshore zone during construction. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY074 00012     

The origin and distribution of nitrate in groundwater from village wells in Kotagede, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The causes and nature of nitrate pollution of wells in a village within Kotagede, a subdistrict of the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, were investigated in a detailed hydrological study. Nitrate concentrations in groundwater frequently exceeded the WHO recommended limit of 50 mg L^− 1. Groundwater nitrate concentrations were measured over a 19-month period in monitoring wells and in piezometers placed strategically in relation to sewage tanks within the village. Results indicate that the tanks are major sources of nitrate in the groundwater and that the input is markedly dependent on rainfall, resulting in a surge of nitrate into the groundwater at the beginning of each wet season. That the tanks are a major source was confirmed by measuring nitrate in soil cores obtained by augering close to selected tanks. Washrooms, where people wash themselves, are not significant sources of nitrate. Faecal coliform counts in groundwater from a random selection of wells are very high. The results have implications for the siting of wells and toilets within villages in Indonesia. Received, January 1999/Revised, August 1999/Accepted, August 1999     

Assessment of the effect of a planned marina on groundwater quality in Enfida plain (Tunisia)

The Enfida aquifer system is of importance to the economic activity of the eastern center of Tunisia. The planning of a marina is likely to present a significant risk on groundwater. Classical physically based modeling is used to better understand salty water intrusion in the aquifers. The transport model (MT3DMS) is coupled with the groundwater model (Modflow). Model calibration was carried out over the period 1972–2005. Four scenarios were then simulated for a 50-year period, to assess the effects of both planned marina and future abstraction regime. We predict a rise in the groundwater salinity generated by the planned pumping infrastructure. The impact of the planned project will be observed only near the marina. However, limited measurements of transmissivity may affect the model’s results. Thus, the second part of the paper is aimed to assess the models output error due to the uncertainty in transmissivity, using a stochastic approach. Hundred realizations of a log-normal random transmissivity field had been performed. According to the most pessimistic realizations, the uncertainty may reach 49 % in the sector of an important pumping field. Accordingly, the calculated concentration may reach 6.5 g/l in 2055 instead of 3.2 g/l.     

汽车γ能谱测量在某盆地的应用

文中介绍了在某盆地使用我们研制和组装的、新的汽车γ能谱测量系统取得了有效的地质成果。与区域地质、遥感地质工作相配合在工作区内圈出了五片较为有希望的铀成矿远景地带。文中阐述了在地形较为平担地区的野外测量方法。在区域踏勘性工作中以剖面测量为主,在偏高场和异常场地段采用蛇曲剖面测量,并将测点画在1:50000地形图上。文中还阐明了在没有可供汽车γ谱仪使用的饱和模型条件下,使用标定地面γ谱仪的饱和模型和校正场地标定汽车γ谱仪的方法。此外,还介绍了降雨对汽车γ测量的影响和野外定性测量铀镭平衡的简易方法。     

Airborne gravity survey of Lincoln sea and Wandel Sea,North Greenland

In June 1998 National Survey and Cadastre — Denmark (KMS) carried out an airborne gravity survey over the Polar Sea to the north of Greenland. A Twin Otter from Greenlandair, equipped with autopilot and additional fuel tanks, was employed for the survey. A modified marine LaCoste & Romberg gravimeter and geodetic GPS receivers operating in differential mode made up the basic scientific instrumentation used to monitor the gravity field variations. A laser altimeter and a low cost inertial measurement unit consisting of three gyros and three accelerometers were included to sustain the postprocessing of the GPS data. The presentation will focus on the integration and validation of the system, including comparison with marine and ice gravity measurements. Gravity results from Lincoln Sea and Wandel Sea between latitude 82 N and 85 N, covering the shelf region and the continental slope and rise, will be presented.     

Environmental assessment of Poplar Island Dredged Material Placement Site, Talbot County, Maryland

The Poplar Island Dredged Material Placement Site in Talbot County, Maryland is proposed to be used for the restoration of Poplar Island and for the creation of desirable habitats lost through erosion of Poplar Island by the beneficial use of clean and uncontaminated dredged material from the Chesapeake Bay approach channels to the Port of Baltimore. The Poplar Island baseline environmental assessment studies included among others, seasonal water quality, benthic community, and benthic tissue contaminants, that were carried out by the Maryland Department of the Environment, in cooperation with the University of Maryland, from September 1995 to July 1996. The purpose of the study was to document the present-day levels of nutrients, trace metals, and organic contaminants in the area to establish a baseline against which subsequent levels and biological responses may be compared. The overall results of the study indicate that Poplar Island and vicinity areas are non-impacted in terms of water quality and benthic tissue contamination. The nutrient levels in the water column were below average for this region of Chesapeake Bay, while the trace metals and organic contamination in the benthic tissues were comparable to other sites within Chesapeake Bay that are not impacted by direct inputs. Concentrations were equivalent or lower than those found at Hart-Miller Island, a disposal facility outside Baltimore Harbor, Maryland containing dredged material.     

Factors influencing human beach choice on three South African beaches: A multivariate analysis

Knowledge of recreational use patterns, preferences and opinions of beach users can be useful in developing beaches in such a way as to ensure quality recreational experiences. This paper investigated, by means of questionnaire survey, a) the factors influencing human beach choice on three beaches with different levels of development and b) whether respondents on the different beaches considered different characteristics important on an ideal beach. By means of multiple discriminant analysis, visitors could be classified according to the beaches they were interviewed on, based solely on the different reasons given for visiting the beach as well as on the characteristics they considered important on a beach.Although factors relating to level of beach development were the most important in influencing beach choice on highly developed King's Beach and undeveloped Sardinia Bay, traditional/historical, socio-economic factors and accessibility (all unrelated to beach development) were more important on semi-developed Joorst Park, visited by people of a lower-socio-economic level. These people considered Joorst Park underdeveloped but were prevented by socio-economic restraints from visiting a beach of their choice, eg King's Beach. The highly and semi-developed beaches were visited for their facilities, social activities and accessibility. The undeveloped beach was visited for experiencing nature, peace and quiet, its few people and because dogs were allowed there. In addition, respondents' opinions were obtained on litter, additional facilities, preferred distances between groups on the beach and in the surf and whether dogs and off-road vehicles should be allowed on beaches. More basic facilities (toilets and refuse bins) were considered necessary on all beaches, especially on the semi-developed beach. Beyond a minimal level of amenities, additional comforts were undesired by users on the undeveloped beach and limited funds should rather be used to upgrade and improve beaches such as Joorst Park, that are already developed to attract people with greater demands for a wider range of facilities. However, beaches with different levels of development are necessary to cater for people who desire different recreational experiences. Limiting beach access beyond a certain number of visitors seems to be unpopular with the public.     

对区域性电法普查的一些看法

本文首先分析了区域性电法普查的必要性,认为它将可能带动物探的又一次大发展。其次讨论了区域性电法普查的可能性,指出电法探测中的一些方法及变种所探测的对象都是相同的,认为对各变种持“各有优劣,择优采用”的观点是实施区域性电法普查的思想障碍。然后对目前应用较广的各种方法进行了分析比较,得出了偶极装置的幅频激电方法是最适宜的区域性电法普查形式。最后对实施区域性电法普查的资金、组织等问题提出了一些看法。     

Location model analysis of flood relief facilities: a case study of the Fazih River floodplain,Taiwan

The continuously low efficiencies of flood relief service in responding to flooding disasters in Taiwan highlight a need for research. This service efficiency is negatively influenced by flood relief facility locations and their operational management structure. The Fazih River floodplain has been previously identified as a high-flood-risk area using an analytic hierarchy process. The purpose of this study is to use the location set covering problem and the maximal covering location problem to determine the number of relief facilities required and the maximum covering area of each facility for the case study area of the Fazih River floodplain. The findings showed that covering distances range from 3.0 to 6.6 km and the number of facilities required for improved service efficiency is between 1 and 4.

     

Are migrants exceptional resource degraders? A study of agricultural households in Ghana

Although some scholars describe migrant farmers as ‘exceptional resource degraders’ others do not. This paper uses evidence from the transitional agro-ecological zone of Ghana, to examine whether there are substantial differences between households of migrants and the host population regarding agricultural land use. The aim is to determine whether migrants are more destructive of the land (and hence the environment) than the host population. This will be examined using a standard model of the determinants of agricultural land use, to which we add variables representing demographic impacts, including in-migration. The data used are from a household survey undertaken in 2002 among 110 migrant and 142 host population farming households in central Ghana. Results are mixed. We find no support for the hypothesis that households with migrants are less likely to consider the long-term effects of land use by increasing the land area in cultivation, but at the same time there is evidence of use of more land-intensive agricultural practices which tend to degrade farm land over time.     

Marine Ecosystem—Based Management: Definition,Principles, Framework and Practice

As the largest ecosystems of the earth, marine ecosystem provides many types of ecosystem service to human. More than 60% of the global population lives the coastal area. A healthy ocean is critical to our economy, health and way of life. However, with rapid population growth and densely inhabited coastal areas, our dependence on marine resources is greater than ever. The overuse and mismanagement of ecosystem services have placed great pressure on marine systems, thereby threatening the future of marine ecosystems, and the services they provide. With anthropogenic pressures increasing in coastal cities, adopting ecosystem-based management frameworks that minimize impacts on marine environments while allowing for sustainable development is critical. Marine Ecosystem-Based Management seeks to manage marine resources in ways that protect ecosystem health while providing the ecosystem services needed by people. Rather than focusing solely on a single species or resource, MEBM incorporates science and balances the demands of user groups in a manner that produces management strategies that are more likely to be sustainable than traditional approaches. The definition, principles and framework were discussed in this paper based on the summary of literature, and two examples were introduced. Last, some suggestions were put forward to marine ecosystem management for ocean ecosystem and for healthy coastal resources sustainable utilization.     

Early use by fish of a mitigation salt marsh,Humboldt Bay,California

Fish numbers and biomass in a mitigation salt marsh, Humboldt Bay, California, were examined from July 1981 to October 1982 and were compared with a nearby established marsh to determine whether the restored marsh provided adequate mitigation for habitat lost due to construction of a nearby marina. The use by fish of channels adjacent to the two marshes and the channel at the Woodley Island Marina construction site, for which mitigation was required, were also compared. The mitigation marsh, adjacent to Freshwater Slough channel, was 5.2 km from the marina site. Fishes were sampled by otter trawl, ichthyoplankton net, fixed channel nets, drop traps, and beach seines. Thirty-one fish species and two crab species were collected. Wide ranges in seasonal salinities and water temperatures, and differences in marsh elevation influenced fish use of the mitigation marsh area. The intertidal area of the mitigation marsh, dominated by euryhaline sticklebacks and topsmelts, did not replace intertidal and subtidal habitat lost by marina construction, which had more stable salinities and water temperatures and was used extensively by juvenile English sole.     

北京矿山环境遥感监测与综合评价系统的设计

根据北京市矿产资源开发的实际情况,提出了北京市矿山环境遥感监测与综合评价系统研发的设想。该系统通过将遥感地质调查、矿山环境监测与矿产资源管理进行有效整合,将同一种数据和成果应用到管理的不同方面,充分发挥和提高遥感数据的成果效益和经济效益,服务于多个方面,降低管理成本,并形成整装成果,为矿产资源监督管理提出新的模式,对于政府行使职能、获取适时客观的基础数据、提高监督管理效益和管理质量、及时打击违法开采、维护正常的矿产资源管理秩序和矿区环境的综合整治都具有重要的意义。