Loose threads: The translocal making of public space policy in Hanoi

This paper analyses the recent developments in public space policy in the city of Hanoi, Vietnam. It has three aims. The first is to look at a potentially progressive urban policy in contrast to most work on ‘policies in motion’ that has primarily been concerned with neoliberal policies. The second is to put the process of public space policymaking in Hanoi in historical and cultural perspective. We therefore describe public space in Hanoi as historically constituted by different layers of meaning and physical urban patterns. The paper's third aim is to analyse the translocal connections involved in a policy that is still in the making, and therefore characterized by a series of ‘loose threads’. We show how different types of connections – policy mobility, topological relations and inter‐referencing – relate Hanoi to multiple locales elsewhere. The conclusion reflects on the ‘politics of reception’ showing how analysing a policy in the making develops a critical analysis of policies in motion.     

Integrating landscape connectivity into the evaluation of ecosystem services for biodiversity conservation and its implications for landscape planning

This paper examines the integration of landscape connectivity and ecosystem services. It is based on the assumption that if a habitat within a landscape has a more significant role in connecting with other habitats, it would have a higher ecosystem services value for biodiversity conservation. The Shenzhen River watershed, a cross-border region shared by the city of Shenzhen and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in China, was used as a case study. An area-based functional connectivity index, known as the possibility of connectivity (PC), was implemented to examine the temporal and spatial dynamics of the value of ecosystem services for biodiversity conservation over the period from 1988 to 2008. To evaluate the effectiveness of the PC index, a comparison was made between the conventional assessment method for ecosystem services and the proposed method. Results suggest that our proposed method can identify significant reduction of ecosystem services that was not only due to the decrease of habitat size, but also caused by the damage of connectivity among habitat patches. Also, it can identify sites which should have a high priority in restoring the ecosystem services for biodiversity conservation. In conclusion, this study provides a way to consider landscape connectivity in the evaluation of ecosystem services which is essential for landscape planning and nature conservation.     

Route planning and cost analysis for travelling through the Arctic Northeast Passage using public 3D GIS

To plan undeveloped optimal routes between Asia and Europe via the Arctic Northeast Passages using a 3D geographic information system (GIS), voyage paths are simulated in a 3D visual form. This ensures that the distances are calculated accurately, and that other voyage data such as water depths, sea ice distribution, and seashore topology are also easily deciphered, giving a more direct and clear demonstration compared to simplified presentations on an Electronic Chart Display & Information System (ECDIS). This article also implements a higher-geometry maze router in ice zone areas to obtain the optimal path in relation to safety and costs. This article compares the optimal Arctic Northeast Passages with traditional routes through the Suez Canal for dynamic analyses of the cost efficiency (including time costs, fuel costs, and other factors) of travel between major ports in Asia and Europe. The average benefit assessment is around 30–45% in a bulk carrier comparison. Thus, a 3D GIS can easily obtain and demonstrate safe navigation routes, providing a very convenient tool for initial planning.     

Hydrological study of the potential effects of the melting of Nevado del Ruiz glacier on urban growth zones in Manizales,Colombia

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the results of a hydrological study aimed at characterizing flood-prone areas in the urban growth zone in the city of Manizales based on the potential effects of melting of the Nevado del Ruiz glacier, in Caldas, Colombia. These results constitute a basis for decision making regarding possible urban growth zones in Andean areas that face risks from volcanic eruptions producing lahars and floods caused by glacier melt. Conservative estimates of extreme flows in the Chinchiná River in the urban growth area of El Rosario can be obtained by considering the effects of rain triggered by airborne particulate material following a volcanic explosion combined with the effects of glacier melt. The effects of global warming on tropical glaciers contribute to their retreat, leading to their disappearance. Therefore, the worst scenario would take place if these events occurred in the short term as glacier volume decreases with time.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Associate editor not assigned     

THE INFLUENCE OF SLOPE AND RAIN INTENSITY ON RUNOFF AND INFILTRATION / L'influence de l'inclinaison de terrain et de l'intensité de pluie sur l'écoulement et l'infiltration

Abstract

The design and construction of a special-purpose laboratory catchment and rainfall simulator is described. The equipment consists of a soil catchment area that can be inclined at various angles. Additional instrumentation then measures the flow of water across the surface of, and through, the soil bed. Precipitation is provided by a unit that simulates rainfall at particular rates with uniform distribution.

The equipment was used to examine infiltration, runoff and other hydrological properties of a number of soils under different rainfall intensities and with different catchment slopes. Correlations were obtained for these variables.     

Appropriate monitoring techniques using bomb tritium and other geochemical parameters in hydrogeological investigations

ABSTRACT

A critical review of earlier uses of bomb tritium spotlights problems in its applications that may result in erroneous interpretations. The old monitoring technique using boreholes causes mixing of groundwaters of different age zones. In this study, the mixing problem is overcome by using modern monitoring devices of multi-level samplers and bundle piezometers that yield groundwater samples of small volumes at closely-spaced intervals. The old method may be used to determine recharge and discharge areas of aquifers and used where pollution poses no serious threat. Otherwise, the major pumpage of the aquifer distorts and reverses flow directions, causes mixing of different waters and may spread the pollutants. The disadvantages of the modern method include its restricted use in shallow aquifers and porous media.     

GIS在饮水安全管理与规划中的应用与展望

GIS已在水质监测与评价、用水量预测、饮水安全系统开发、水源保护和规划等方面得到不同程度的应用,为解决饮水安全问题作出了一定的贡献。运用人工智能、3S等新技术、新方法,实现饮水安全的多维模拟、应急管理、饮水工程规划,是实现饮水安全与GIS有机结合的主要途径。     

基于WWF和VSS技术对规划监督测量三环节一体化的研究与实现

基于VSS版本管理器将规划监督测量的3个环节：放线监督测量、基础竣工监督测量、工程竣工监督测量的工程资料进行规范管理,并应用wwF技术对工程的新建、实施、质检和验收流程进行过程控制和管理,从而实现规划监督测量3环节智能一体化,为城乡规划监督主管部门实施监督管理提供准确、重要的监督依据,提升规划监督管理信息化能力。     

区域规划空间信息系统建设与应用研究——以江苏省城乡规划信息系统为例

区域性城乡规划信息系统建设开展较晚,与城市级规划信息系统不同,其应用需求、数据构成、技术架构具有其独特性。结合新一轮江苏省城镇体系规划修编工作,开展全省城乡规划信息数据建库和应用平台的开发工作,系统根据区域规划的编制和研究应用需求,制定了面向未来区域规划工作需求的数据标准,集成了全省多源、多尺度、多时态的空间数据,实现了跨专业、跨平台空间信息的整合与共享。为江苏省城镇体系规划以及其他相关编制提供数据分析、规划决策支撑等服务,并预留未来与其他各类地理信息系统的应用接口。