Carbon emission mitigation through regulatory policies and operations adaptation in supply chains: theoretic developments and extensions

Along with carbon emission regulations launched by governments and consumers’ rising concerns about climate changes and global carbon footprint, interests of academia and industry have risen in carbon-efficient supply chain management. This research focuses on some product supply chain to make a literature review-based investigation on proposing a theoretical framework. We also solve potential research issues of how diverse carbon emission regulations can work on supply chain performance as well as emission; in what way we can find coordination mechanisms and optimal policies for supply chain operations to abate emission and enhance system profitability within different scenarios; and also to evaluate the effect on emission reduction for each emission regulation aforementioned through comparing their associated supply chain performances and system emission. Both practitioners in industry and academia might find this study useful, as it generates concepts with a formal framework of potential and values theoretical issues in the emerging field of carbon-efficient supply chain management which combines carbon emission regulations with mature operation management to enrich the theory of supply chain management. This study is perhaps to be valuable and constructive both for operational decisions in firms and for the enactment as well as implementation of emission-reduction regulations. This study should activate further potential researches.     

Comparative evaluation of GIS-based best–worst method (BWM) for emergency facility planning: perspectives from two decision-maker groups

Natural Hazards - Nowadays, organizational decisions are made collectively in decision groups to achieve more meaningful and impactful outcomes, ranging from product design, policy and strategy...     

A volcanic activity alert-level system for aviation: review of its development and application in Alaska

Avalanche warning services (AWS) are operated to protect communities and traffic lines in avalanche-prone regions of the Alps and other mountain ranges. In times of high avalanche danger, these services may decide to close roads or to evacuate settlements. Closing decisions are based on field observations, avalanche release statistics, and snow forecasts issued by weather services. Because of the spatial variability in the snowpack and the insufficient understanding of avalanche triggering mechanisms, closing decisions are characterized by large uncertainties and the information based on which AWS have to decide is always incomplete. In this paper, we illustrate how signal detection theory can be applied to make better use of the information at hand. The proposed framework allows the evaluation of past road closures and points to how the decision performance of AWS could be improved. To illustrate the proposed framework, we evaluate the decision performance of two AWS in Switzerland and discuss the advantages of such a formalized decision-making approach.     

Development of sustainability evaluation model for implementing product service systems

A new business model, product service systems, is proposed to promote a shift in focus from selling purely products to selling functions. This is achieved through a mix of products and services that fulfill the same consumer demands, while eliciting less environmental impact. Development of product service systems has become an increasingly important strategy in achieving social, economic, and environmental sustainability because product service systems advocates reducing resource consumption, while delivering better and more widely available goods and services. This paper proposes an evaluation framework of sustainable performance to implement product service systems. A literature review discusses 32 criteria categorized into two aspects: product and organization. The fuzzy Delphi method is then applied to identify the consistency of criteria. The relative weights of the selected criteria are determined using Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process. Results indicate that the top three criteria in product aspect are maintenance system (weight?=?0.172), use time or frequency (weight?=?0.145), and price of the product (weight?=?0.132). For the organization aspect, the top three criteria are integrated service plan (weight?=?0.197), product development and design (weight?=?0.144) and optimized transportation network (weight?=?0.089). The demand for implementing product service systems is completely different from selling traditional goods because product service systems must consider the issue of sustainability. The proposed evaluation framework can help companies identify the potential products suitable in implementing product service systems.     

Modeling the integrated roles of insurance and retrofit in managing natural disaster risk: a multi-stakeholder perspective

This paper introduces a new modeling framework to understand and improve regional natural disaster risk management in the USA, including the interactions among key stakeholders and between the two important risk management mechanisms of insurance and retrofit. The framework includes a stochastic programming optimization to represent insurer decisions, which interacts with a utility-based model of individual homeowners’ decisions to insure and/or retrofit. Reinsurer and government roles are represented as inputs, and the decision models are integrated with a detailed regional catastrophe loss estimation model. This modeling framework is applied to a full-scale, realistic case study for hurricane risk to residential buildings in Eastern North Carolina. Several alternative system configurations are considered that affect the incentives for adoption of alternative risk management methods. They include providing a government subsidy for insured homeowners to encourage retrofit, providing both a government subsidy and insurance rebate to reduce retrofit costs, and mandating insurance purchase with a cap on insurance premiums. For each configuration, outcomes are presented from the perspectives of all key stakeholders—primary insurer, homeowners (insured and uninsured, in high- and low-risk areas), reinsurers, and the government. Results suggest that it is possible to design policies in which all stakeholders can be better off simultaneously. Retrofit incentives for insured homeowners can be effective in linking and strengthening the benefits of retrofit and insurance. Mandatory insurance coupled with capped profit loading factors and possibly retrofit rebates from the insurer to the homeowner can also reduce overall system risk.     

考虑吸附水的非饱和土耗散本构关系研究

为了探索土水吸附特征对非饱和土力学特性的影响,根据赋存环境把土中水分为储存在毛细管内液面张力吸纳作用占主导的自由水和包裹在土颗粒周围基质静电吸着作用占主导的吸附水。通过把土颗粒基质与吸附水一起共同视为非饱和土骨架相,自由水视为液相、土中气视为气相,获得了考虑吸附水的非饱和土功表达式。根据热力学耗散理论,利用功表达式和局部热力学平衡假定,获得非饱和土在绝热变形过程中的熵流和熵产。基于热力学吸附平衡理论获得土中吸附水的吸附方程,进而提出具有实用性的吸附水土-水特征曲线。利用熵产表达式中的热力学共轭量和耗散空间的Drucker 塑性公设,采用纯简化有效应力和有效吸力这一对双应力变量,建立了考虑吸附水的土水完全耦合的非饱和土弹塑性理论框架,据此获得采用净应力和吸力表示的弹塑性柔度矩阵,用于采用上述本构理论建模时理论模型与土工试验成果之间直接相互验证。     

Quantifying impacts of forecast uncertainties on predicted storm surges

In this paper, we propose a framework for quantifying risks, including (1) the effects of forecast errors, (2) the ability to resolve critical grid features that are important to accurate site-specific forecasts, and (3) a framework that can move us toward performance-based/cost-based decisions, within an extremely fast execution time. A key element presently lacking in previous studies is the interrelationship between the effects of combined random errors and bias in numerical weather prediction (NWP) models and bias and random errors in surge models. This approach examines the number of degrees of freedom in present forecasts and develops an equation for the quantification of these types of errors within a unified system, given the number of degrees of freedom in the NWP forecasts. It is shown that the methodology can be used to provide information on the forecasts and along with the combined uncertainty due to all of the individual contributions. A potential important benefit from studies using this approach would be the ability to estimate financial and other trade-offs between higher-cost “rapid” evacuation methods and lower-cost “slower” evacuation methods. Analyses here show that uncertainty inherent in these decisions depends strongly on forecast time and geographic location. Methods based on sets of surge maxima do not capture this uncertainty and would be difficult to use for this purpose. In particular, it is shown that surge model bias can play a dominant role in distorting the forecast probabilities.     

Decision-support systems for groundwater protection: innovative tools for resource management

Governmental authorities are forced by law to make decisions within the framework of European, national and regional directives in the fields of spatial planning, groundwater and environmental protection. These tasks can be supported by a decision-support system, which integrates data from various sources and helps to make decision processes more effective and transparent. Basic work for such a decision support system has been done in a transnational and interdisciplinary project (Interreg II C: KATER), including metadata definition, metadata system, cartographic tools and GIS tools. The direct integration of these tools and information in the decision process will be implemented in the next few years (project KATER II).     

全球LAI地面验证方法及验证数据综述

叶面积指数(LAI)的地面验证是LAI反演算法研究及LAI产品验证的重要部分。近年来,为了验证遥感参数产品以及对大气、地表的系统性研究,国际上在全球主要大洲开展了多个针对主要植被类型的大型观测项目,逐渐形成了较完善的地面采样框架与全球尺度不同植被类型的地面验证数据集。国内外已开展的大型观测项目采用的采样框架对以后观测试验中LAI的地面验证框架的制定与研究具有重要的借鉴意义,同时,已观测到的全球LAI地面验证数据集是开展全球LAI算法及产品验证的基础数据集,因此,有必要对目前全球LAI地面验证方法及验证数据情况做个综述。首先综述全球主要LAI地面观测项目及其所采用的地面验证框架。在此基础上,分析比较各大观测项目中所采用的地面测量方法、采样方法及像元真值估算方法。最后,指出全球LAI产品地面验证中存在的不足,并对尚需进一步研究的方向进行展望。     

Multinational corporate product strategy, spatial diversification and nationalisation: A Guyanese comparison

The imlications of corporate product strategy and spatial structure for nationalisation by developing countries have been neglected. Corporate spatial diversification to reduce the importance of the target field unit in the corporate system is an important pre-requisite of frictionless divestment. But Guyanese nationalisation suggests that even after spatial diversification a vertically integrated, dominant product strategy confers less divestment capacity than a diversified, multi-product strategy. The product strategy classification used here may provide the necessary framework within which to explain the locational behaviour of multinational corporations.     

Applications of energy analysis to mineral and metallurgical process selection and development

A presentation is made of energy analysis and of its potential applications to mineral or metallurgical process selection and development. The analytical method which has been selected is based on a comparison of the energy impact of decisions to be made as far as processes are concerned; a marginal approach has been retained to take into account the effect of variations in the demand for any product consumed in the processes; a global comparison of alternatives is carried out in order to assess, in terms of energy, the various potential combinations of processes which are available to produce simultaneously all products concerned. One application is given for the recovery of values from pyrite cinders.     

卫星云图IP广播在水利行业中应用概述

IP OVER DVB技术是现代信息技术发展的成果。水利部利用现有的卫星信道资源,通过卫星云图广播系统,将多种的气象产品实时发送到各防汛单位,为各地的防汛决策提供科学的依据。本文探讨了该系统的核心技术、分析了网络的结构并对系统的推广前景进行了展望。     

Integrated analysis of policy options for protection of groundwater quality

This paper is directed at providing an integrated framework that a regional authority should use when assessing the potential impacts of any policy initiative directed at improving groundwater quality. In particular, a policy model is developed relying on three decision components (a farm-level production decisions model, a household decisions model and a regional policy decision model) where the objective is one of identifying the trade-offs that a regional authority will be confronted with as it strives to balance the preferences of farmers and households while endeavoring to maximize net economic welfare. The basic rule developed indicates that the regional authority must choose a policy whereby any increase (decrease) in regional income is just equal to the decrease (increase) in net benefits to households.The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the views of other U.S. Department of Agriculture staff members.     

The management of sewage sludge by the water industry in England and Wales

Summary The legislative framework within which the disposal of sewage sludge is managed in England and Wales and the methods employed are outlined. Those factors which affect management decisions are analysed and consideration is given to the environmental implications of those decisions. Sewage processes and sludge disposal are considered, and the problems, especially those of heavy metal contamination, are addressed. An indication is given as to how the Water Services Companies are likely to implement the more stringent controls on disposal. Finally, the future of sludge management in England and Wales is discussed.Abbreviations BAT Best available technology - BATNEEC Best available technology not entailing excessive cost - BOD₅ Biochemical oxygen demand - BPEO Best practicable environmental option - CBI Confederation of British Industry - CEST Centre for Exploitation of Science and Technology - COD Chemical oxygen demand - CSC Customer Services Committee - DAF Dissolved air flotation - DG Director General - DoE Department of the Environment - DS Dried solids     

Modeling Combined Geological and Grade Uncertainty: Application of Multiple-Point Simulation at the Apensu Gold Deposit, Ghana

Traditionally within the mining industry, single models for both grade and geology of orebodies are created upon which all mine development decisions are based. These models provide a single interpretation of the extent and continuity of the mineralization envelope based on solids and sections interpreted from relatively widely spaced drilling. The inherent variable behavior of grade and geology cannot be understood from a single estimated resource model. To account for uncertainty in the geology and mineralization envelope, Newmont Mining Corporation uses multiple-point statistics (MPS), an emerging spatial simulation framework, which can be employed to generate multiple, geologically realistic, realizations of data representing attributes of mineral deposits that display complex non-linear features. MPS uses a conceptual model of the geology, termed a training image, to infer these high-order spatial relationships. A detailed application of the MPS algorithm at the structurally controlled Apensu gold deposit, Ghana, demonstrates the practical intricacies of the MPS framework and documents efficiency and effectiveness. Multiple realizations of the Apensu deposit allow for an assessment of the geologic and volumetric uncertainty, which is further combined with grade simulations to generate a more complete picture of the true uncertainty of the deposit.     

郯庐断裂皖中段的韧性活动特征

揭示了皖中浮槎山地区郯庐断裂的韧性活动以产生大规模的韧性剪切带为特征,构造岩为各类糜棱岩,并造成浮槎山的变质变形地质休呈由剪切带围限的透镜状夹块格局,为带逆冲性质的左行平移剪切,形成时代为Ｊ１－２     

Modern statistical analysis and optimal estimation of geotechnical data

A common problem in geotechnical engineering is to estimate the parameters of a soil deposit from scattered measurements for use in deterministic models, finite elements for example. In this article two major sources of soil uncertainty are considered: measurement errors and spatial variability. A stochastic framework is then developed, in terms of the theory of random functions, to clarify dependencies and interactions between these uncertainties and the expected soil behaviour. This improves the engineering judgement leading to optimum design decisions. Spatial multivariable models describing geological processes in terms of covariances, parameter increments, recursive equations, empirical relationships or combinations thereof, improve the statistical inferences of the underlying random functions, and are of use both qualitatively and quantitatively. “Best” estimators in a well-established stochastic sense are derived from easily programmed procedures, and are tested in a number of common geotechnical applications, in an attempt to understand their properties and investigate their potential uses.     

Probabilistic criteria for volcano evacuation decisions

One of the most challenging decisions in the domain of natural hazards is whether to evacuate a densely populated region around a volcano that appears to threaten a major eruption. The economic expense of mass evacuation is high, yet the cost in possible human casualties is potentially much greater if an evacuation is not called, or is called late. To assist officials in weighing these considerations, probabilistic criteria for evacuation decision-making are developed within a cost-benefit analysis framework. It is shown that such criteria may be quantitatively expressed in terms of the proportion of the evacuees owing their lives to the evacuation call. The underlying principles are illustrated with some case studies where eruption probabilities have been estimated.     

Managing Bay and Estuarine Ecosystems for Multiple Services

Managers are moving from a model of managing individual sectors, human activities, or ecosystem services to an ecosystem-based management (EBM) approach which attempts to balance the range of services provided by ecosystems. Applying EBM is often difficult due to inherent tradeoffs in managing for different services. This challenge particularly holds for estuarine systems, which have been heavily altered in most regions and are often subject to intense management interventions. Estuarine managers can often choose among a range of management tactics to enhance a particular service; although some management actions will result in strong tradeoffs, others may enhance multiple services simultaneously. Management of estuarine ecosystems could be improved by distinguishing between optimal management actions for enhancing multiple services and those that have severe tradeoffs. This requires a framework that evaluates tradeoff scenarios and identifies management actions likely to benefit multiple services. We created a management action-services matrix as a first step towards assessing tradeoffs and providing managers with a decision support tool. We found that management actions that restored or enhanced natural vegetation (e.g., salt marsh and mangroves) and some shellfish (particularly oysters and oyster reef habitat) benefited multiple services. In contrast, management actions such as desalination, salt pond creation, sand mining, and large container shipping had large net negative effects on several of the other services considered in the matrix. Our framework provides resource managers a simple way to inform EBM decisions and can also be used as a first step in more sophisticated approaches that model service delivery.     

Product changes in multi-plant enterprises

Product change is a neglected form of locational adjustment. This exploratory study examines the changes that 64 multi-plant enterprises in the United Kingdom textile and clothing industries made to the products manufactured in their plants during a six year period. Transfers of products to and from plants and the introduction of products new to the enterprise were the most common types of change. The extension of manufacture of products to other plants and product abandonments occurred less frequently. Product change decisions were relatively important in comparison with the frequency of occurrence of other types of locational change. Altering the use made of particular locations gave an important flexibility to the operations of the companies. The most important reasons affecting the product changes were a desire to expand production of products already manufactured by the company, to introduce closely related products and to reorganise the location of products between plants. The degree of diversification, the investment strategy, the size, and the profitability of the enterprises were the most important characteristics of the companies influencing the frequencies with which the various types of product change occurred. Some types of plant were also found more likely to experience product changes than others: notably, the head office plants of parent companies, large plants, plants producing in declining industries, and recently opened plants.