Engaging Communities for Success: social impact assessment and social licence to operate at Northparkes Mines,NSW

Social issues are critical to the mining industry. This study investigates how social issues have been, and are being, assessed and managed within this industry through a case study of Northparkes Mines in central west New South Wales (NSW). The research involved 29 interviews with mining executives, environmental consultants and citizens of Parkes, plus a document analysis of four environmental impact statements prepared between 1990 and 2012. Where appropriate, findings were extrapolated to the wider mining industry. The standard for social impact assessment in NSW and emerging industry guidelines on social responsibility were analysed against internationally accepted good practice. Interviews indicated greater potential to recognise the social impacts of mining in NSW and identified good practice impact assessment as only one component of a successful community engagement strategy. Complementary strategies are essential to extend the benefits of development to local communities and for companies to establish a ‘social licence to operate’. The successful approach taken by Northparkes Mines combined good practice impact assessment with a localised workforce, an integrated management team and context-specific community engagement practices. This study highlights that local communities can be empowered through development, that benefits can extend to both the community and the business and that the ongoing management of social issues will increasingly be critical to the success of the mining industry.     

Environmental impact assessment: a review

The review is divided into two main sections. The first section contains a survey of the growth in the use of EIA during the 1970s in Western industrialized economies, Third World countries and international agencies. It highlights a number of key issues associated with these developments—notably the types and numbers of actions which should be submitted to EIA, and the quality of EIA studies and the time and cost incurred in their preparation—and recommends that the focus of future development should be directed towards a more cost-effective ‘tiered’ system of environmental impact assessment. The second section contains a review of the technical methods which are used in the preparation and publication of EIA studies. These are grouped according to the kind of task they perform in the EIA process: identification, data assembly, prediction, evaluation and communication. This review concludes with recommendations for improvement in the EIA methods in use in such areas as: clearer identification of ‘best existing practice’, publication of technical guidance based on best practice, provision of training facilities in the use of EIA methods, and re-examination of priorities in environmental monitoring and research.     

Climate variability impact assessment on the flood risk in Slovenia

Assessment of climate change or climate variability is a significant topic in most geophysical disciplines. In this study, the flood frequency approach was selected to analyze changes in flood series. Discharge data from 55 gaging stations in Slovenia were used. The annual maximum method was applied to define the samples. The data sets were divided into 30-year periods based on a 10-year moving window. For each part of the data-set, the flood frequency analysis was performed. Changes in the estimated design discharge values with a 10-year return period, which is commonly used in engineering design, were observed for the two selected 30-year periods, namely 1961–1990 and 1981–2010, and the results were compared with the Mann–Kendall (MK) test. The results indicate that no uniform pattern can be found in the differences between estimated design discharge values for the two selected periods. The same applies to the MK trend test results, which were positive and statistically significant with the chosen significance level of 0.05 only for approximately 5% of stations. However, our comparison of the results of the flood frequency analyses among different 30-year periods showed considerable changes in the design discharge for some stations.     

中国城市高温特征及社会脆弱性评价

极端高温对人类健康与城市社会发展影响显著,如何衡量城市高温特征及其社会后果是地理学人地关系研究的新命题。将社会脆弱性分析工具应用到该命题研究中,以中国296个城市为研究对象,采集各城市日最高气温数据、社会经济统计数据和人口普查数据,建立了高温日数、高温强度、热浪频次、热浪持续时间和热浪强度等表征城市高温特征的量化指标,对1960—2016年中国主要城市高温特征进行了系统分析;基于城市高温社会脆弱性分析框架,从暴露度、敏感性和适应能力3个维度构建中国城市高温社会脆弱性评价指标体系,并开展社会脆弱性评价,划分社会脆弱性等级,分析城市社会脆弱性致脆原因。结果表明：① 中国极端高温和热浪事件的分布主要集中在南方城市,尤其是在华东和华中地区,尽管北方城市高温热浪事件较少,但高温强度较为突出。② 中国城市高温暴露度指数具有明显的空间集聚特征,而各城市的敏感性指数和适应能力指数分布较为分散。③ 中国高社会脆弱性指数城市主要集中在华东和华中大部分地区,以及西南和华北少部分地区;高、中、低社会脆弱性指数城市比例分别为25.3%、46.3%和28.4%。④ 社会敏感致脆型城市数量最多（46.9%）,其次为高温暴露致脆型（44.3%）,适应能力不足致脆型城市数量最少（8.8%）,在高社会脆弱性城市中,暴露度指数贡献度最大,中、低社会脆弱性城市中敏感性指数贡献度最大,适应能力指数对城市高温社会脆弱性的贡献度较小。本研究可在灾害-社会关系研究、城市高温特征的量化表达与高温社会脆弱性评价等方面提供借鉴和启示。     

生态脆弱区资源型城市生态环境影响评价与调控

采用主分量分析评估模型法,对西部生态脆弱区的资源型城市鄂尔多斯市在2003-2011年时间序列内的城市生态环境影响进行了评价与分析。结果表明：鄂尔多斯城市生态系统整体处于不稳定的发展状态,其中生态质量子系统的发展水平一直处于稳步上升、逐步改善的趋势;环境质量子系统的发展水平呈现出先下降、再上升、再下降的整体下降趋势;环境治理子系统的发展水平总体处于稳步上升、中间略有波动的趋势;综合来看,鄂尔多斯城市生态环境影响的总发展水平处于整体上升、中间略有波动的状态。     

社会脆弱性概念、分析框架与评价方法

社会脆弱性作为脆弱性的维度之一,是脆弱性与可持续性科学研究领域的新兴热点问题.在分析对国内外社会脆弱性研究文献的基础上,从概念内涵、分析框架与评价方法3 方面对社会脆弱性研究进行了评述.目前学者们对社会脆弱性概念有不同的理解,尚未形成统一的概念体系与内涵特征;系统性的社会脆弱性分析框架尚未形成,现有成果多是在脆弱性框架基础上的延伸和拓展,主要从政治经济学视角、社会—生态视角和综合视角开展研究;多元化的评价方法在社会脆弱性的应用研究中仍较少见,已有研究的评价指标体系尚不完善.未来,应进一步拓展社会脆弱性研究内容,促进多学科交叉融合;逐步统一社会脆弱性概念和分析框架,深化社会脆弱性的理论研究;加强社会脆弱性评价方法与指标体系的完善,促进多元化评价方法的应用;加强社会脆弱性减缓与调控对策研究,整合社会脆弱性与适应性框架,为提高社会适应能力与可持续发展提供科学依据.     

基于位置的社交网络服务信息流的导引作用及空间影响研究

基于位置的社交网络服务LBSNS通过实时定位和共享用户的位置信息,或以签到、发表带有地理位置的信息等方式记录时空行为轨迹,使得移动互联网信息流更好地与现实人流结合,拉近现实空间中人与人之间的距离。LBSNS将基于固定互联网空间的虚拟社会化网络服务SNS归结到基于位置的本地区域中进行,实现了传统的社会化网络社区-虚拟社会化网络社区-虚拟现实社区的转化升级,重构了传统用户的空间社交行为,颠覆了传统网络媒体环境下的信息传播方式。文章分析了相关概念,解析了导引过程和导引特征,透析了空间影响,指出基于位置的社交网络服务信息流正在重构本地的微观区位,移动互联网时代,地理区位空间弱化的趋势得到了转变,LBSNS作用下形成了若干社会化人群的热点区域,并呈现以用户为中心的中心-外围多核心结构。     

New Developments in Geographic Education

Abstract

An important landmark event in the history of aerial photography in the United States occurred in the 1980s. The entire conterminous 48 state area was photographed for the first time at two uniform scales and in two emulsions. A second cycle of coverage of the same area was begun in 1987 and will be completed in 1992. These photographs are a valuable resource in all fields of geography because they are linked to the U.S. Geological Survey 7.5-minute series of quadrangles. They also will display all parts of the conterminous U.S. at two recent periods of time, thereby facilitating change detection analysis studies. Color infrared and black-and-white prints on paper are available and will be useful for stereoscopic examination as well as standard measurements and interpretation. The use of diapositives and color transparencies in readily available projection devices is described and a classroom example of their use is portrayed. Sources for these photographs and ordering procedures are indicated.     

The fiscal-geographic nexus: An overview of fiscal impact assessment in local policy development

Fiscal impact assessments exist to provide decision makers with the tools to make informed decisions regarding local government finances. Every type of change in a community will have a unique impact on the local economy. This impact cannot be evaluated without careful attention to the particular geographic setting of the study. Unfortunately, geography is currently underutilized in the practice of fiscal impact analysis. This paper argues that the increased application of geographic tools is a key to improving the accuracy of fiscal impact reports.     

2000年以来国内旅游的社会文化影响的研究回顾

旅游的社会文化影响研究是学界关注的重要话题,梳理和总结相关研究内容有助于理清研究脉络,为未来的深入和拓展研究提供参考.本文在整理国内相关文献的基础上总结了国内学者自2000年以来在该领域的主要研究内容,发现旅游的社会文化影响研究的主要内容集中于四个方面,即:旅游对居民感知的影响、对文化变迁的影响、对身份认同的影响和对社会结构的影响;同时,指出已有的研究内容和深度仍有待于拓展.在研究内容上,有关居民感知影响案例的历时性和共时性对比;旅游对文化变迁的影响模式、规律、应对和调控之策;身份认同的多维视角探索和地区差异对比;旅游对社区结构的外部影响等问题是未来可以拓展的方向.在研究内容的深度上,更应关注对深层机制和影响模式的讨论.     

Estimating gambling venue catchments for impact assessment using a calibrated gravity model

Gambling using electronic gaming machines (EGMs) has emerged as a significant public health issue. While social impact assessments are required prior to the granting of new gaming machine licenses in Australia, there are a few established techniques for estimating the spatial distribution of a venue’s clientele. To this end, we calibrated a Huff model of gambling venue catchments based on a geocoded postal survey (n = 7040). We investigated the impact of different venue attractiveness measures, distance measures, distance decay functions, levels of spatial aggregation and venue types on model fit and results. We then compared model estimates for different behavioural subgroups. Our calibrated spatial model is a significant improvement on previously published models, increasing R² from 0.23 to 0.64. Venue catchments differ radically in size and intensity. As different population subgroups are attracted to different venues, there is no single best index of venue attractiveness applicable to all subpopulations. The calibrated Huff model represents a useful regulatory tool for predicting the extent and composition of gambling venue catchments. It may assist in decision-making with regard to new license applications and evaluating the impact of health interventions such as mandated reductions in EGM numbers. Our calibrated parameters may be used to improve model accuracy in other jurisdictions.     

Social impact assessment and resource development: issues from the Australian experience

Several approaches to Social Impact Assessment have been applied to resource development projects in Australia since the early 1970s. Debate amongst researchers and other participants has raised crucial issues for the practice of social scientists generally, and economic geographers in particular. Differences have emerged between those who see SIA as a formal inquiry process in a specific legislative framework, and those who see SIA as a means of empowering communities affected by resource development, particularly Aboriginal communities. This paper reviews the debate, focusing on the work of the Berger Inquiry in Canada and the Ranger Inquiry, and projects to monitor the social impact of mining in the Northern Territory and East Kimberley region. It outlines a relational framework which situates SIA conceptually in its dynamic political context.     

The distribution of capital forms between cities and suburbs and their impact on social justice in space

Questions of justice have been raised in recent years when contending with the social costs of urban sprawl. But this field of inquiry suffers from the difficulty of translating the abstract notion of justice into measurable spatial indices. The aim of this paper is to empirically measure the liberal notion of justice in the metropolitan region of Tel Aviv by adopting Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of three forms of capital. Under this theory, the formation of economic, cultural, and social capital in the individual’s living environment determines the person’s exposure to different sets of life-chances (i.e., capabilities), thus influencing equality of opportunity (i.e., social justice) in space. The analysis reveals that suburban inhabitants benefit from a larger accumulation of the three forms of capital than do urban inhabitants. Accumulation of these capitals has a positive effect on exposure to life-chances, thus enhancing spatial segregation between cities and suburbs.     

云南鲁甸地震灾害应急救援环境分析与影响快速评估

2014年8月3日16时30分,云南省昭通市鲁甸县发生6.5级地震,此次地震危害性较大。在快速收集震区地震烈度分布、地形状况、土地利用/覆盖现状、乡镇人口、居民点分布、房屋建筑物以及高分辨率遥感图像等信息的基础上,应用GIS空间分析和定量评估模型,对重灾区自然环境状况,受灾人口、房屋建筑物及道路交通等敏感受体影响,牛栏江沿岸次生地质灾害风险等级,坡耕地退耕及水土流失防治4个方面进行了快速评估,并针对震区人员救助、地质次生灾害防治以及灾后重建生态治理提出了科学的对策建议。     

快速空间扩张下西安市边缘区社会脆弱性多尺度评估

社会脆弱性评估是解析社会脆弱性要素关系、量化社会脆弱性程度、识别脆弱空间单元或社会群体的重要途径,是实现社会脆弱性精准治理的重要依据。本文从外部扰动、内在结构、构成维度、尺度层级4个方面阐释了社会脆弱性概念内涵,并建立起社会脆弱性评估框架（SVAF）,明确了社会脆弱性评价流程、评价目标、评价要素和数据方法,提出从暴露度、敏感性和适应能力3个维度构建社会脆弱性评价指标体系。在此基础上,以西安城市边缘区为例,视快速空间扩张为城市边缘区社会系统的主要扰动因子,开展多尺度社会脆弱性评价,得出街道、社区和农户3个尺度上的社会脆弱性空间（类型）分异结果。街道尺度上,低社会脆弱性街道占主体（48%）,且多邻近市中心;社区尺度上,居住开发型社区社会脆弱性最高,教育功能型最低;农户尺度上,社会脆弱性以中等为主（52.7%）,高社会脆弱性农户（17.5%）少于低社会脆弱性农户（29.9%）。随着街道-社区-农户尺度的下降,社会脆弱性指数的低值化集中趋势愈发显著,在农户-社区尺度之间,社会脆弱性指数等级对应关系相对明显,而其他两个尺度间并不显著。本研究可在社会脆弱性评价流程、评价指标体系、数据方法组织以及多尺度评价等方面为社会脆弱性评估理论研究与实践应用提供有益的探索。     

水电开发对河流水沙变化的综合影响评价新方法(英文)

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) of cascade dams building in international rivers has been widely discussed in China and ASEAN countries since the 1990s. In Southwest China, all the great mountainous rivers have been the major state base for large-scale hydropower development. Among these rivers, the environmental change and response of the watercourse under the cascade dams building in the upper Mekong (called Lancang River in China) has been the focus in recent 20 years. In this paper, the Lancang River, which has over 25 years of large-scale hydropower development, was chosen as a case study for establishing the affected evaluation indicators system and its regression model of runoff and sediment, determining the indicators weight by the hierarchy analysis method and factor analysis method, and setting up the quantitative evaluation models of indicators affected level based on the "marginal efficiency" principle. Using these methods and model established, the influence degree of runoff and sediment in the Lancang River from 1986 to 2007 were assessed. The major results are: (1) the impact of sediment transport change by the cascade development is much higher than that of the runoff change; (2) the years’ number with different impact levels respectively are 72.7% as the "smallest" level, 18.2% as "smaller", and 9.1% as "general"; (3) the change process of runoff and sediment shows a "U-shaped" pattern, which indicates the balance of sediment change because of the interaction of sediment reduction by Manwan reservoir storage and the increase by the Dachaoshan dam construction.     

Community transport, social capital and social exclusion in rural areas

The concept of social capital has been used by numerous authors to investigate various topics. As yet, however, little attention has been paid to its relationship with mobility and social exclusion. Those findings which have been published suggest that the maintenance of social capital and associated networks within and between communities largely depends on mobility, but that local social networks are being undermined as a result of growing car ownership and use. This paper draws on the results of recent rural transport research to suggest that, at the same time, strong local social capital appears important in conferring mobility on certain social groups, especially those without access to a car. In the context of community transport, our analysis uses a geographic framework to attempt to explore these positions and reviews arising policy and research implications.