Optimization and capacity expansion of a water distribution system

This paper develops an iterative procedure for capacity expansion studies for water distribution systems. We propose a methodology to analyze an existing water distribution system and identify the potential bottlenecks in the system. Based on the results, capacity expansion alternatives are proposed and evaluated for improving the efficiency of water supply. The methodology includes a network flow based optimization model, four evaluation indices, and a series of evaluation steps. We first use a directed graph to configure the water distribution system into a network. The network flow based model optimizes the water distribution in the system so that different expansion alternatives can be evaluated on a comparable basis. This model lends itself to linear programming (LP) and can be easily solved by a standard LP code. The results from the evaluation tool help to identify the bottlenecks in the water distribution system and provide capacity expansion alternatives. A useful complementary tool for decision making is composed of a series of evaluation steps with the bottleneck findings, capacity expansion alternatives, and the evaluation of results. We apply the proposed methodology to the Tou-Qian River Basin, located in the northern region of Taiwan, to demonstrate its applicability in optimization and capacity expansion studies.     

建设韧性城乡的技术途径

中国地震多发、灾害严重,迫切需要提升抗震能力,实现韧性城乡的建设。本文围绕建设韧性城乡的技术途径,梳理了工程抗震技术发展的历史沿革,阐述了韧性城乡的提出背景。基于震害类比、实验验证和理论分析,总结提炼工程结构抗震能力“散”、“脆、”偏、“单”评估法,指出应以“整而不散”、“延而不脆”、“匀而不偏”、“冗而不单”的传统抗震技术及隔震与消能减震新技术作为实现韧性城乡的技术途径。     

基于多源数据约束的成矿动力学模拟——以宁芜盆地钟姑矿田典型矿床为例

数据驱动是大数据分析的特点之一。成矿过程的数值模拟即采用数据驱动方式,在基本的物理化学方程及地质模型基础上,通过定量的手段,模拟不同阶段、不同条件下成矿系统的演化过程,从而能够更深入、直观的讨论各种地质要素对成矿系统的影响,验证已有的成矿理论,获得新的认识。姑山铁矿床和杨庄铁矿床是宁芜火山岩盆地钟姑矿田内的典型矿床。前人研究显示,杨庄铁矿床为典型的充填-接触交代型热液矿床,而姑山铁矿床目前在成因上仍存在争议,存在岩浆成因和热液成因等多种观点。为了更好的对比和了解姑山铁矿床和杨庄铁矿床的成因及成矿过程,本文基于多源数据的综合解译剖面,采用力-热耦合数值模拟方法对与热液矿床密切相关的扩容空间的形成机制和特点开展研究。模拟结果显示,姑山铁矿床和杨庄铁矿床可能分属不同的成因类型;随着岩体的逐渐冷却,杨庄铁矿床内岩体和地层接触带会出现明显的扩容空间,可为成矿流体的汇聚及矿质的沉淀提供良好的条件,有利于热液矿床的形成;而姑山铁矿床内岩体和地层接触带只有局部区域出现扩容空间,同时体应变数值较小且形态变化大,并不利于大规模的流体汇聚及矿质的沉淀,姑山铁矿床可能主要为岩浆成因,并受少量热液的叠加改造。     

SEAS-ERA: An overarching effort to coordinate marine research policies across Europe

The aim of the SEAS-ERA initiative (2010–2014), developed within the European Union Framework Programme (EU FPVII) (contract 249552), was to coordinate the structure of national and regional marine and maritime research programs to empower and strengthen marine research all across Europe. A major goal was the development and implementation of common research strategies and programs related to European seas basins. To achieve this goal, SEAS-ERA was applied at two different levels, regional and pan European, to identify common priorities and needs in five areas, namely strategic planning (marine research agendas), joint research activities (common programs and joint calls), marine research infrastructures and human capacity building to reduce imbalances among regions. SEAS-ERA was also strongly committed to enhancing public awareness of marine and maritime scientific and policy issues in Europe.     

Factors Influencing Adoption and Implementation of Conservation Development Ordinances in Rural United States

Conservation Development (CD) is a land-use tool to reduce the impacts of development on natural resources, yetthe use of CD is highly variable. We used a collaborative conservation model to examine factors influencing adoption and implementation to improve the future application of CD. We interviewed 2–3 individuals including planners, board members, and developers (n?=?46) from 16 rural communities in the intermountain west and northeast U.S. Motivations to preserve rural character or comply with state statutes drove adoption. Greater capacity such as outside expertise, model regulations, and iterative revisions of ordinances was associated with stronger ordinances. Adoption processes including ample dialog across diverse constituents, especially those overseeing subdivision development, facilitated higher rates of implementation. Concerns over open space management, lack of successful CD examples, and inexperience with CD posed barriers to implementation. Understanding social context revealed the strengths and shortcomings of CD and provided guidance for strategically engaging communities in private lands conservation.     

喀斯特地区大直径人工挖孔桩设计及技术难点

简要分析大直径嵌岩灌注桩的承载机理，根据国家现行规范，结合地方实践经验。对岩溶地区大直径人工挖孔桩设计与施工中的若干难点技术作初步探讨。     

城市管理视角下的城市化问题及其解决途径

20世纪80年代以来中国的城市化进程不断加速,城市化水平达到46%,并且仍在稳步前进。如此迅速的城市化进程给城市管理带来两方面问题:一是城市发展与城市生态环境的矛盾,二是城市弱势群体的生存与城市管理秩序之间的矛盾。为缓解并消除上述矛盾,本文提出要加强城市管理的组织机构建设;加大城市规划政策协调引导力度;完善城市基础设施,提供优质的公共物品;出台多元化、有针对性的就业政策;完善社会保障体系。     

Estimating the confidence of earthquake damage scenarios: examples from a logic tree approach

Earthquake loss estimation is now becoming an important tool in mitigation planning, where the loss modeling usually is based on a parameterized mathematical representation of the damage problem. In parallel with the development and improvement of such models, the question of sensitivity to parameters that carry uncertainties becomes increasingly important. We have to this end applied the capacity spectrum method (CSM) as described in FEMA HAZUS-MH. Multi-hazard Loss Estimation Methodology, Earthquake Model, Advanced Engineering Building Module. Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States (2003), and investigated the effects of selected parameters. The results demonstrate that loss scenarios may easily vary by as much as a factor of two because of simple parameter variations. Of particular importance for the uncertainty is the construction quality of the structure. These results represent a warning against simple acceptance of unbounded damage scenarios and strongly support the development of computational methods in which parameter uncertainties are propagated through the computations to facilitate confidence bounds for the damage scenarios.     

生态足迹分析研究评述

生态足迹是一种定量测量人类对自然利用程度的新方法。这种方法具有很强的综合性,而且计算简便、操作性强,容易进行国家之间、地区之间的比较。但是,作为一种高度综合的测度方法,其政策含义往往具有笼统性和不明晰性。从地理学的研究角度出发,分别从空间上和时间序列上来分析区域生态足迹的空间结构及其演化特征和演化趋势,就能解决这一局限,为区域决策服务。     

Calculation of CO2 column heights in depleted gas fields from known pre-production gas column heights

Depleted gas fields have been identified as potential targets for CO₂ storage. In order to maximise storage capacity, a target field must be deep enough to ensure that the CO₂ is in a dense phase (either liquid or supercritical). Accurate assessment of the storage capacity also requires an estimation of the amount of CO₂ that can be safely stored beneath the reservoir seal which can be estimated in several ways. In this paper we develop a methodology to convert known pre-production gas column heights into CO₂ column heights in order to estimate storage capacities. Several authors have correctly identified that the differences in interfacial tension and wettability act to reduce the threshold capillary entry pressure for CO₂ compared to natural gas, consequently reducing column height estimates. However, under reservoir conditions the density of CO₂ is substantially higher than natural gas so the buoyancy force on the seal for a fixed column height is much lower for dense phase CO₂ increasing column height estimates; we investigate the effects of this trade off on storage estimates and apply it to a typical dataset, in this case the UK North Sea.