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Issue 1, Volume 4,
January 2008
Title of the Paper: The Combined
Effects of Salts and Calcium on Growth and Mineral Accumulation of
Tetragonia tetragonioides – A Salt Removing Species
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Authors: M. A. Neves, M. G. Miguel, C.
Marques, T. Panagopoulos, J. Beltrao
Abstract: High soil salinity levels have drastic effects on the growth and
yield of horticultural crops. Salination may be controlled by environmentally
safe and clean techniques as the use of salt removing species. Tetragonia
tetragonioides, a wild halophytic species has been studied for this purpose.
It was studied the effect of high salt concentrations on growth and mineral
composition and the influence of high calcium concentration on plant
response. Plants were grown in 5 litters in randomized pots and were daily
irrigated. The NaCl concentration of the irrigation solution ranged from 0 up
to 200 mM.
Additionally, the irrigation solution provided plants with two calcium
concentrations: 2 and 10 mM
of CaCl2. T. tetragonioides present high ability for sodium and chloride leaf
accumulation. Besides that, the species provide more advantages: 1) high
biomass production potential; 2) several harvests during the year (summer and
winter); 3) high content of minerals; 4) horticultural importance, as a leaf
vegetable crop; 6) easy multiplication (seed propagation) and easy crop
management; 7) tolerance to drought and warm conditions; 8) soil erosion
control due to its excellent soil covering. The obtained results suggest that
plants supplemented with the high calcium level had longer stems than plants
in the low calcium level, accumulated greater amounts of calcium at high
salinity levels and present similar leaves dry matter.
Keywords: Salination
process; Salt tolerance; Salt removal; Calcium; Soil reclamation; Drought.
Title of the Paper: Renewable Energy
Sources in Combined Systems - On-line System for Measuring and Collecting Data
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Authors: Mastny Petr, Matousek Antonin,
Machacek Jan
Abstract: Research on the Department of Electrical Power Engineering FEEC,
Brno University of Technology is among other things focused on the
utilization of alternative power sources. The present situation within the
field of power engineering positively encourages the research development of
alternative power sources. Great attention is paid to incresing the
efficiency and effectivity of power system operation. The paper presents
results of the research in the field of alternative power sources
utilization. It mainly points the possibilities of increasing the efficiency
of alternative power sources operation by its mutual cooperation. Aspects of
the cooperation are evaluated mainly from the energy point of view but the
economic parameters of these systems are pointed as well. The paper also
presents results of longterm measuring on active solar system connected into
one unit together with a heat pump- the system has been installed in the
university laboratories. The parameters of the measuring system that has been
installed in the laboratories of the Department of Power Engineering are
described as well. The research prooved that new approach to the cooperation
of heat pump and solar system working in common power unit results in higher heating
factor of a heat pump and high efficiency of a solar system which finally
decreases prime energy demand. The conclusions presented in this paper
started up thanks to the Grant
Agency of the Czech
Republic and the Ministry of
Education of the Czech
Republic.
Keywords: solar system,
combined heating system, heating factor, measuring system, heat pump,
environment
Title of the Paper: Sustainable
Development Strategy and Product Responsibility
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Authors: Mastny Petr, Matousek Antonin,
Machacek Jan
Abstract: Research on the Department of Electrical Power Engineering FEEC,
Brno University of Technology is among other things focused on the
utilization of alternative power sources. The present situation within the
field of power engineering positively encourages the research development of
alternative power sources. Great attention is paid to incresing the
efficiency and effectivity of power system operation. The paper presents
results of the research in the field of alternative power sources
utilization. It mainly points the possibilities of increasing the efficiency
of alternative power sources operation by its mutual cooperation. Aspects of
the cooperation are evaluated mainly from the energy point of view but the
economic parameters of these systems are pointed as well. The paper also
presents results of longterm measuring on active solar system connected into
one unit together with a heat pump- the system has been installed in the
university laboratories. The parameters of the measuring system that has been
installed in the laboratories of the Department of Power Engineering are
described as well. The research prooved that new approach to the cooperation
of heat pump and solar system working in common power unit results in higher
heating factor of a heat pump and high efficiency of a solar system which
finally decreases prime energy demand. The conclusions presented in this
paper started up thanks to the Grant
Agency of the
Czech
Republic and the Ministry of
Education of the Czech
Republic.
Keywords: solar system,
combined heating system, heating factor, measuring system, heat pump,
environment
Title of the Paper: Variation
in Air Pollution Tolerance Index of Plants Near a Steel Factory: Implications
for Landscape-Plant Species Selection for Industrial Areas
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Authors: Yan-Ju Liu, Hui Ding
Abstract: Air pollution tolerance index (APTI) is used by landscapers to
select plant species tolerant to air pollution. Four physiological and
biochemical parameters including leaf relative water content (RWC), ascorbic
acid (AA) content, total leaf chlorophyll (TCh), and leaf extract pH were
used to develop an APTI. Twenty-three plant species growing near a
Beijing steel factory,
an air pollution point source, were collected during five dates from July 1
to October 16, 2001. Our data suggested that combining a variety of
physiological parameters could give a more reliable result than those air
pollution tolerance classifications based on a single biochemical parameter.
Through the growing season, some species exhibited APTI variation related to
changes in air temperature and water status of the plant. The results
highlighted the need for APTI measurements to be conducted throughout the
growing season, when evaluating pollution tolerance of individual species.
Plant species tolerant or moderately tolerant to air pollution under a
variety of environmental conditions include non-trees (shrub, herb, vine)
such as Metaplexis japonica, Ampelopsis aconitifolia var. glabra, Rhamnus
parvifolia, Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa, Pharbitis purpurea, Vitex negundo,
and trees including Broussonetia papyrifera, Robinia pseudoacacia, and
Ailanthus altissima. The APTI of species indicated as an ideal candidate for
landscape planting in the vicinity of polluting industry.
Keywords: Air pollution
tolerance index; APTI; Leaf-extract pH; Leaf total chlorophyll; Ascorbic
acid; Leaf relative water content
Title of the Paper: Installation of
Wind Power into a Weak Power System Considering System Fluctuation and
Limitation
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Authors: Jeff Huang,
Zulati Litifu, Ken Nagasaka
Abstract: This paper presents the methodology to estimate stable and dynamic
operational characteristics of Wind Power Turbines (WPT) in a targeted weak
power system under defined local wind condition; and from this to establish
the efficient installation process in planning wind power system. In this
research, operational characteristics of WPT under regular and irregular wind
speeds are considered and verified against power system operational
particularities; the losses of power system reactive power and grid voltage
drop are calculated to estimate the degree of stability of the local power
system; impact current resulting from when WPT connects with the power system
and its use for verifying the stiff condition of connecting grid. Electric
particularities under the short circuit condition of WPT and weak power
system are simulated so that to satisfy power system demand after the WPT is
installed, and the maximum capacity of wind power generation that can be
safely introduced into the targeted local power system is determined by
considering the fluctuation range of grid voltage. This paper provides a
synthetic way to judge the operational characteristics of WPT when installed
into a weak power system; and could be applied to the existing weak power
system in the rural region. This will demonstrate the value of WPT in a
practical application.
Keywords: WPT, Weak Power
System, Operational Process, Electric Fluctuation, Wind Power Limitation
Title of the Paper: Air Quality
Modelling by Kohonen’s Self-organizing Feature Maps and LVQ Neural Networks
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Authors: Petr Hajek, Vladimír Olej
Abstract: The paper presents a design of parameters for air quality modelling
and the classification of districts into classes according to their
pollution. Further, it presents a model design, data pre-processing, the
designs of various structures of Kohonen’s Self-organizing Feature Maps
(unsupervised methods), the clustering by K-means algorithm and the
classification by Learning Vector Quantization neural networks (supervised
methods). Therefore, the model generates well-separated clusters and has good
generalization ability as well.
Keywords: Air quality,
modelling, Kohonen’s self-organizing feature maps, K-means algorithm,
Learning Vector Quantization neural networks, classification.
Title of the Paper: Estimation of Flow
Rates in Naturally Ventilated Buildings Using Simplified Method
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Authors: Zahari Ibrahim, Kamaruzzaman
Sopian, Azami Zaharim, M. A. Ghoul, Baharudin Ali
Abstract: A simplified design method has been derived for use in the
estimation of the flow rates in naturally ventilated buildings. The method is
based on a one-dimensional "loop analysis" in which the buoyancy
forces are balanced by the pressure drops to due friction. Multiple zones,
multiple floor buildings are catered for with each zone characterised by its
internal gains and its discharge coefficients. Wind effects at the entrance
and exits are also taken into account. The procedure yields the zone mass
flow rates and temperatures directly by the solution of a simple cubic
equation for each loop. Interaction between loops requires a few iterations.
The procedure is straight forward and simple enough to be put on a
Spreadsheet. This methodology allows the architect to explore various
building configurations at little expense and hence to focus on those designs
which warrant further detailed analysis using a full building simulation
package. In this paper, the fundamental theory behind the loop analysis is
described together with the first results at its validation using an
emulation of the simple single stack PV cladding arrangement.
Keywords: loop analysis,
natural ventilation, multiple zone, single stack PV cladding.
Title of the Paper: Steady State
Modeling of Isolated Induction Generators
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Authors: K. S. Sandhu
Abstract: Isolated induction generators usually called self-excited induction
generators seem to be most suitable machines for wind energy conversion in
remote and windy areas. Estimation of steady state performances for such
machines is must to encounter the problems, which may appear under real
operating conditions. In this paper, a new and simple modeling approach,
including a unique equivalent developed by the author, is adopted to analyze
the steady state performance of a self-excited induction generator (SEIG).
The study reveals that the performance of self-excited induction generator is
greatly influenced by the operating speed and excitation capacitance. This
gives an opportunity for proper handling of these parameters to obtain the
required performance characteristics. Constant frequency and iterative models
have been proposed for the analysis and control of SEIG. Simulated results as
obtained have been compared with experimental results on a test machine and
found to be in close agreement. In order to neutralize the effect of speed
variations, modeling is extended to achieve rotor resistance control in case
of wound rotor induction generator.
Keywords: Isolated
Induction Generator, Renewable Generation, Steady State Analysis, Self-
Excited Induction Generator, Wind Energy Generation.
Title of the Paper: Preliminary Thermal
and Mineral Water Survey of Nisyros Volcano, Aegean Sea:
A Study Targeted Towards Sustainable Development
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Authors: Zouzias Dimitrios, St. Seymour
Karen
Abstract: Nisyros represents the ideal candidate of a Mediterranean volcano
for a pilot study on sustainable development. Nisyros was a renown
Loutropolis in the past for its baths used for medicinal purposes. In this
work, we present a preliminary survey of the thermal and mineral waters of
the island. We present chemical data revealing seawater and geothermal water
mixing processes. The aim of this work is to evaluate the water character and
include thermal and mineral waters of Nisyros volcano in the sustainable
development plan proposed for the establishment of Nisyros to the status of a
National Park and as an attraction pole for “alternative tourism”. However,
the use that agrees with the promotion of the volcano to a
Natural Park
with the consensus of the permanent inhabitants, is their use for baths and
in Spa centers. This target will redirect economy towards “alternative
tourism” and restore Nisyros to its ancient status of a renown Loutropolis.
Keywords: Thermal-mineral
waters, hydrochemistry, Spa, Nisyros, tourism, sustainable development.
Issue 2, Volume 4,
February 2008
Title of the Paper: Application of
Wavelet Transform on Airborne Suspended Particulate Matter and Meteorological
Temporal Variations
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Authors: Mokhtar Shaharuddin, Azami
Zaharim,Mohd. Jailani Mohd. Nor, Othman A. Karim, Kamaruzzaman Sopian
Abstract: Malaysia
has experienced several haze periods since early 1980s in which suspended
particulate matter (SPM) was the major components. The temporal variations
observed are the result of interactions of various meteorological variables
and pollutants emissions in different time scale. In order to study the
relationship between particulate matter, temperature, rainfall and wind
speed, non-decimated wavelet transform is applied to the time series. The low
frequency components of the meteorological time series showed significant
relationship with PM10 while the high frequency spectrums showed no
significant relationship with PM10. The findings also support the suggestion
that during the dry season, one of the major sources of particulates was from
outside the country.
Keywords: PM10, Wavelet,
Rainfall, Temperature, Wind speed, Non-decimated wavelet transform.
Title of the Paper: Processes
Innovation and Sustainable Development
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Authors: Davorin Kralj,
Mirko Markic
Abstract: The Government of the Republic
of Slovenia adopted Slovenia's National Strategy (hereinafter
SNS), which sets out the vision and objectives of Slovenia's development in June
2005. Therefore, the Strategy does not focus solely on economic issues but
also involves social, environmental, political, legal and cultural issues. Slovenia
prepared its input to the first progress report of the European Commission on
the implementation of the Renewed EU Sustainable Development Strategy. The
article focuses on Sustainable Development as a tool for environment
protection and processes innovation. Integrated environmental management
integrates the requirements of sustainable development and environmental
legislation; the EC eco-audit regulation; Sustainable development as a tool
to continual improvement cycle and with processes innovation the need to save
money in the processes via reduced resources and utility costs.
Keywords: innovation,
environment, management, processes, sustainable development strategy
Title of the Paper: Sustainable
Development Strategy and Product Responsibility
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Authors: Davorin Kralj, Mirko
Markic
Abstract: The European Union has formulated a long-term strategy to dovetail
the policies for economically, socially and environmentally sustainable
development. Taking on challenges and seeking innovative solutions is a way
to assure the future. Therefore the organization has a vital interest in protecting
the environment and natural resources. The article focuses on product
responsibility as a part of sustainable development. Integrated products
responsibility integrates the requirements of sustainable development and
environmental management. Product responsibility begins with development of
products that are environmental friendly with continual improvement cycle and
with processes innovations, even after their use, create th smallest possible
environmental load.
Keywords: innovation,
environment, management, product responsibility, sustainable development
Title of the Paper: Sustainability of
Biomass Energy Sources – Measurement and Regional Comparison
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Authors: Stefan Koenig, Juergen
Sachau
Abstract: Within this paper the authors are aiming to provide planning
authorities, investment groups as well as policy authorities with a new
method for geographical planning of renewable biomass energy systems. The key
element of this work is based on the differentiation of biomass resources in
consideration of their sustainability. Due to measure this sustainable
character, different indicators have to be used. We propose a method where we
cluster these indicators in diverse parameters and operational level
according to the core aspects of sustainability. By the usage of different
statistics, interviews and studies the various biomass resources can be given
an individual value. We have elaborated a strategy to calculate an index for
each biomass resource for comparison reasons. By using this index, entitled
as Sustainable Biomass Index SBI, we offer the possibility to compare the
biomass within a defined region in order to identify the most sustainable biomass
for an energetic use.
Keywords: Biomass and
Bio-energy, Sustainable Development, Biomass Energy Systems, Sustainability
Measurement
Title of the Paper: Evaluating
Ecological Preservative Management in a Mountainous Maoli site of Taiwan by
Multi-Stage Decision and FAHP
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Authors: Kuei-Yang Wu, Wann-Ming Wey,
Wen-Zer Lin
Abstract: The paper presents a fuzzy analytic hierarchy (FAHP) and multi-stage
objective model for optimal ecological preservative management, which
determines the decision sequences that jointly maximize economic, ecological
and social objectives, respects prescribed constraints and imprecision, and
takes the ecological preservative management system from its existing status
to the goal state. The cumulative impacts of objectives are formulated on the
basis of attributes as a sum over all products of their membership functions
and their relative importance (weights). A case study involving the
ecological preservative management in Tatung community in
Maoli, Taiwan,
is used to demonstrate the application of the presented model. The problem in
that community is presented in a form of a network, and the optimal policy
over three year periods is determined using the iteration method for the
solution of sequential decision processes of Bellman’s type. The results show
that the optimal decision sequences over the period mentioned above consist
of the biological diversity oriented decision in the first and second years,
and consider environmental loading oriented decision in the third year. In
order to solve this problem, several decision support systems and models were
developed.
Keywords: FAHP,
Ecological preservation, Multi-stage objectives model, Optimal policy,
Network.
Title of the Paper: Considerations on
Recyclable Materials Mechanical Engineering for Sustainable Development
Concept in Oltenia Region
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Authors: Adrian Rosca, Daniela Rosca
Abstract: The paper present general issues and current state concerning the
environment in Romania
and the Sectorial Operational Programme for Environment. There are presented
collaborative and interdisciplinary universitary mechanical engineering
research activities to assist government agencies, local and regional
communities and industrial companies for better implementation of recyclable
materials concept to meet the continuous changing needs of the environmental
engineering goals for regional sustainable development.
Keywords: Mechanical and
environmental engineering, Recyclable materials, Sustainable development
Title of the Paper: Risk
Assessment for Redevelopment of Contaminated Land at an Old Industrial Site
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Authors: D. F. Vendas, C. N.
Costa, M. G. Brito
Abstract: This paper presents an integrated two phased methodology for the
evaluation and mapping of potential human health risk areas at contaminated
sites. In a first step, a human health risk index is calculated for each
sample location based on exposure pathways and land use scenarios. In a
second step, human health risk maps are obtained by the estimation of local
index values using geostatistical models. Spatial estimation of human health
risk allowed, on one hand, the identification of most dangerous areas inside
the contaminated site and, on the other hand, the quantification of
respective polluted media, subject to further remediation. The methodology
was applied to an old industrial site, located near Lisbon,
on the left margin of the Tagus
River (Barreiro - Portugal).
The priority area, with an extension of about 30 ha, has been scenario of
several chemical industries over the last one hundred years. Nowadays, the
area is almost deactivated and designated for urban redevelopment.
Keywords: Ground
contamination, risk assessment, remediation, geostatistics, indicator
kriging, heavy metals
Title of the Paper: Comparison between
Sub-pixel Classifications of MODIS images: Linear Mixture Model and Neural
Network Model
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Authors: Hasan Roosta, Rahmatolah
Farhudi, Mohamad Ebrahim Afifi
Abstract: This study employs sub-pixel classification methods to estimate
crop acreage using low resolution satellite images. Linear mixture and Neural
Network Methods examined the relationship between the value of Normalized
Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in the context of Iran and crop
acreage that reported by administrative office. The Moderate Resolution
Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) offers a unique combination of spectral,
temporal, and spatial resolution compared to previous global sensors, making
it a good candidate for large-scale crop type mapping. However, because of
sub-pixel heterogeneity, the application of traditional hard classification
approach to MODIS may result in significant errors in crop area estimation.
Fars province in south of Iran
was selected as test zone, because of the cover type of the large majority of
agricultural fields. Neural network model and Linear Mixture model were
investigated and result in area fraction images (AFIs). The AFIs contain for
each 250 m
pixel the estimated area proportions occupied by the different cover types
(crops or other land use). The algorithm was trained with both of reference
data and in situ data which collected by GPS in Marvdasht District. For the
major classes (winter wheat, maize and other crops) the obtained acreage
estimates showed good agreement with the true values (NNR2990% and
LMMR2985%). These methods seem attractive for wide-scale, regional area
estimation in the countries that appropriate data are not available.
Keywords: Mixed pixel;
neural network; Linear Mixture Model; Area fraction images; land cover; MODIS
time series.
Title of the Paper: Use of Fuel Cells
on a Land Vehicle and its Modelling with CAD System
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Authors: Lucia Fabiano, Gaetano Florio,
Petronilla Fragiacomo
Abstract: The attainment of rational energy use can be obtained by using a
co-generation system, which is a system able to produce thermal and electric
power at the same time, or better through a trigenerative system able to
produce the necessary cooling energy to air conditioning from "waste"
thermal energy. If a system of electrical energy production gives consistent
quality and quantity of thermal energy as a by-product, it is always
convenient beyond that useful to recover it. In this way, both a higher
efficiency of the whole system and an obvious reduction of the polluting
emissions (otherwise produced if the thermal energy rate is generated in a
separate manner) are obtained. Among the energy production systems that have
the characteristic of “trigenerate” in addition to the production of primary
energy in the shape of mechanical or electrical energy, fuel cells in tandem
with heat pumps are undoubtedly among the more innovative energetic systems,
in terms of energetic sustainability or environmental sustainability. These
innovative fuel cell systems are the object of study of both research bodies
and automotive constructors as an alternative to traditional internal
combustion engines. In this paper, the analysis of these fuel cell systems,
working in the propulsion and in the trigenerative order, in the low-power
field is carried out, in terms of some significant parameters based on the
use of the fuel, on its electric power conversion performance and above all
on the environmental impact of the considered system. Then the determination
of the said system is achieved in an application to a real case relative to
land traction. Finally, through CAD modelling, the feasibility of rationally
positioning the two energetic systems, the propulsive and the trigenerative
ones, inside the vehicle, is highlighted.
Keywords: Environmental
Sustainability, Energetic Sustainability, Fuel Cell, Trigeneration, Hybrid
propulsion system, CAD system.
Issue 3, Volume 4,
March 2008
Title of the Paper: Simulated Studies
of Water Vapour Tomography
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Authors: Peep Miidla, Kalev Rannat,
Peep Uba
Abstract: The technical success and availability of numerical algorithms have
promoted the implementation of tomography to atmospheric sciences. The
principal specific character in initial constraints, data collection and
assimilation methods, obtaining the final numerical results and
interpretation of these makes the continuation of the success story for
GPS-tomography very challenging. Numerical simulation is the most time- and
money efficient way to study different processes connected with tropospheric
water vapour tomography. This paper gives a short overview of some mathematical
methods for detection, monitoring and modeling of tropospheric water vapour.
The possible mathematical approach to constructing a virtual ground-based
sensors (GPS-receivers) network for a real geographical location and
discretisation of the troposphere, also some aspects of raw data filtering
and analysis are described. The outcome of tomographical modeling of the
troposphere might to be applied to improve the results of large scale
numerical weather prediction models. The questions of voxel geometry and methods
of data processing are expected to be key questions in constructing an
effective GPS-receiver network for water vapour tomography.
Keywords: Global
Satellite Navigation System, Troposphere water vapour, GPS-tomography, Kalman
filter.
Title of the Paper: Sustainable Forest
Management Practices and Environmental Protection in Malaysia
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Authors: Kamaruzaman
Jusoff, Dato' HJ. Dahlan HJ. Taha
Abstract: Malaysia
has large tracts of forest which have been converted to give way to
settlements and agricultural and industrial areas. Despite logging is still
being carried out annually, Malaysia can still boast to be able to maintain
and protect the environment through vast areas of forested land as Permanent
Reserved Forest which account about 14.39 million ha or 43.8% of its total
land area at the end of 2006. At the same time forestry sector’s share of GDP
is 1.10% in 2006, and has contributed significantly to the economic growth
and development of Malaysia
through foreign exchange, employment opportunities, industrial development
and revenue to the State Governments. How does Malaysia achieve this? The answer
is through Sustainable Forest Resource Management (SFM). SFM involves not
only the continuous functions and services provided by forest but also about
meeting the global concerns and expectations in managing the forest with
greater emphasis on environmental protection and conservation of biological
diversity. Subsequently forest certification was introduced as market
incentive to improve the quality of forest management including protection of
environment. In this connection, Malaysian Criteria and Indicators were also
formulated to enhance social and environment aspects; compliance of the
activities will be rewarded with certificate. To date, 8 timber producing
states in Peninsular Malaysia have been awarded the certificate by Malaysian
Timber Certification Council after being assessed by independent assessors.
Issuance of forest management certification manifested itself our commitment
towards sustainable forest management through the three pillars viz,
economically viable, socially well-aware and environmentally sound. Thus, the
practice of SFM by Forestry
Department Malaysia
has proven that in managing the forest resource we are also able to protect
the environment.
Keywords: Sustainable
forest management, Tropical forest resources, Environmental protection, Forest certification, Forest harvesting
Title of the Paper: Daylighting and
Energy Savings with Tubular Light Guides
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Authors: Jitka Mohelnikova
Abstract: Energy savings are actual tasks in many technical branches
including the building industry. Buildings have to be design for low energy
consumption. Energy savings in buildings can be achieved by reduction of
energy consumption for heating, ventilation and artificial lighting. The
design of buildings with respect of solar radiation and daylighting gives
possibility for energy efficient buildings. Saving of electric energy for
permanent artificial lighting is important technical problem in internal
parts in buildings without daylighting. Modern technologies have brought
possibility to solve these problems. Tubular light guides are systems which
serve for natural illumination of internal windowless parts of buildings.
Their function is based on the principle of light transport from outdoor to
distant indoor places due to multi-reflections on their high reflective
internal surfaces. Advantage of these systems is in the possibility of
dynamic daylighting in internal parts of buildings and electric energy
savings for artificial lighting. Evaluation of indoor daylighting from a
reference tubular light guide was completed. Light guides of different
diameters and different light efficiency were compared with sources of
artificial light. Energy saving for light guides of different efficiency was
estimated.
Keywords: Energy savings,
Solar radiation, Solar energy, Daylighting, Light guides, Indoor climate.
Title of the Paper: The Evaluation Of
Performances Of Installations By Power Plants From Romania Concerning Professional
Risks
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Authors: Alice Raducanu, Aurica
Suvergel, Angela Stanca, Aurelia Meghea
Abstract: A number of workplaces where the employees work under noxes
environment exist within the thermal power plants. The infliction of the
working environment has more or less detrimental effect upon the personnel
exposed depending on the existing noxes toxicity, the concentration, exposure
duration, and constitution of the subjects exposed. At present, a number of
specific measures have been taken in the power generation sector in order to
limit or eliminate the noxes, with a view to prevent the employees to fall
ill, however these measures gave not the expected efficiency. Identification
of the places with a high noxes level and the preparing of the
technical-organisational solutions for the improvement of the physical and
chemical noxes exhaustion and elimination, including also the impact of their
application financial costs represent all factors of major importance for
lining up the occupational noxes levels with the national and European
standards. This paper describes the evaluation of a real situation by help of
the modern methodologies for the identification and monitoring of the
physical and chemical noxes from two Romanian thermal power plants, the
analysis of the health condition for the employees exposed to such physical
and chemical noxes and it establishes, in the end, the risks of the
occupational exposure. Further on, the main technical solutions for the
diminishing of the occupational noxes at the workplaces from the thermal
power plants are described. These solutions consist of various types of
phono-isolating and phonoabsorbing cabins intended for the reduction of the
noise level; ventilation systems of the honeycomb type, modern niches made of
corrosion resistant materials for the reduction of the chemical noxes, use of
the nonasbestos sealing materials. Through the implementation of the
technical solutions for the attenuation of the occupational noxes a major
desiderata is provided for lining up with the Regulations of the European
Community concerning the increase of the life quality in the workplaces from
the energy industry.
Keywords: modern
technical solutions, diminish, occupational noxes, workplaces
Title of the Paper: Energy and Exergy
Efficiencies in Urban Electric Transportation Systems
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Authors: Cornelia Aida Bulucea, Doru Adrian
Nicola,Constantin Brandusa, Daniel Cristian Cismaru, Andreea Brandusa
Abstract: This paper aimed at examining an underground railway train as a
system where different energy forms occur, so that the successive energy
conversion chain is emphasized and the energy and exergy efficiencies,
respectively, are compared. The study case presented in the paper emphasized
the operation of the static converters and the traction induction motors as
an assembly, both in the traction regime and in the electric brake regime,
for different urban underground metro trains produced by Craiova
Electroputere Factory for Bucharest Underground Trasportation System. In this
application, the exergy analysis can help improve and optimize the
underground transportation system design and operation.
Keywords: Electric
transportation, energy, environment, exergy, induction motor, static
converters, underground train
Title of the Paper: Impact Evaluation
of Electrical Equipments on Human Health
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Authors: Alice Raducanu, Aurica
Suvergel, Angela Stanca, Marin Stefan, Cornelia Marcolt, Corneliu Neagu
Abstract: The complex character of the issues the scientific community is confronted
with at present includes, besides chemical pollution, exposure to
electromagnetic fields of different intensities and frequencies. If chemical
pollution has made the object of numerous studies with actual results, the
effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields are not as well-known. The
present study aims at investigating the effects of the electromagnetic fields
on the health of the personnel exposed to this type of noxe. In order to
evaluate the health state of the personnel exposed to the possible influences
of the electromagnetic fileds generated within these stations on the
homeostasy of the human body, a medical investigation protocol, including
clinical, neuropsychological, functional investigations, laboratory exams of
the biological products (blood, urine), has been devised for establishing the
hematological and biochemical constants.The present study also determies the
levels of the melatonin neurohormone synthesis and secretion through the
ELISA method. This has also represented a major difficulty in establishing a
harvesting protocol enabling us to register the variable, physiological
concentrations of the hormone, its metabolism, respectively, as accurately as
possible. The harvesting protocol is new and unique in this field. As it is
difficult to be carried out at the site, the harvesting protocol has been
apllied in the clinic, with the subjects admitted to the clinic. The protocol
presupposes the harvesting of a urine spot for each urination over 48 hours.
This procedure has allowed us to notice the circadian variations and the
possible influence of the electromagnetic fileds due to the fact that some of
the subjects that have been admitted during the two day perio of time have
worked at least one shift.The results obtained and presented in this study
are partially confirmed by other similar studies. In the course of time, the
initial functional disorders of the melatonin circadian secretion rhythm have
been followed by circulating concentration diminishing, and, after this, by
the imbalance in the human body mechanisms protecting it against the free
radicals.This effect could be compensated by increasing the intake of natural
antioxidants such as food (vegetal) rich in carotenoids.Considering the
experimental results obtained and corroborating them with the results at the
international level, the research could be continued over a new period of
time on the same subjects, in the same substations.
Keywords: electric and
magnetic field, melatonin neurohormone, circadian secretion rhythm
Title of the Paper: Energy
Efficiency Assessment of an Aeolic Plant Installation in the Livorno Harbour:
A Wind Turbine Performance Comparison based on Meteorological Model
Estimations
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Authors: C. Busillo, F. Calastrini, G.
Gualtieri, B. Gozzini
Abstract: Exploiting wind resource is a good alternative in spite of using
traditional not renewable and polluting energy sources. However, besides
landscape restrictions and administrative practice complexity, it is
generally hard to locate a site eligible for aeolic exploitation as well as
to assess its related wind resource. As a matter of fact, an expensive wind
measuring campaign should be carried out for that, through at least one year
long period, at the height aeolic plants typically work (60 to 80 m), or to vertically
extrapolate data collected by a 10-m anemometer. The present paper is the
sequel of one previously carried out, which proved the use of meteorological
model wind estimations to provide aeolic efficiency performances being
comparable with those based on experimental data. In particular, the WRF-NMM
prognostic meteorological model has been used to calculate wind estimations,
which actually are part of a meteorological archive which was developed at
LaMMA laboratory starting from numerical elaborations provided by the weather
forecasting service. A sample application was performed through the
installation of an aeolic plant in the industrial harbour
of Livorno, Italy. After
the wind resource pattern has been analysed by using typical distributions
and statistical indicators, a site energy efficiency assessment has been
carried out by comparing three different kind of wind turbines basing on
rated power: the sizes of 1300, 2000 and 3000 KW have been taken into
account. In particular, the comparison has been made between NORDEX N60,
ENERCON E82 and ECOTÈCNIA 100 wind turbines.
Keywords: Wind resource,
Energy efficiency, Aeolic plant, Meteorological model, WRF-NMM, Livorno, wind turbine comparison.
Title of the Paper: Fuzzy Comprehensive
Assessment of Typhoon Flood
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Authors: Heng-Yi Liao, Te-Hsing Chang,
An-Pei Wang, Bo-Wen Cheng
Abstract: To reserve more volumes or to retain more water while flood is
expected is always a dilemma for reservoir operators. The former
consideration may land us in a trouble of drought if the flood is
unanticipated small; however, the latter consideration may cause great
downstream damage if the flood is unanticipated big. To make operation
decision, four decision factors of typhoons are considered, and the comprehensive
influences of each factor are analyzed by using fuzzy comprehensive
assessment (FCA) method. Typhoon distance, path, intensity, and environmental
condition at that time are the four decision factors. Instead of experiential
judgments, fuzzy membership functions of each factor are actually calculated
according to historical statistics. The concept of “flood storage grade”
which discussed the “F-flood storage” is used to judge the initial operation
water level of a reservoir before the flood. The way how fuzzy comprehensive
assessment forecast upcoming floods is shown, and a real typhoon case, Aere,
is taken as an example to demonstrate FCA of typhoon flood in this paper.
Also, rainfalls of upcoming typhoon are forecasted form the proposed method.
The final results are satisfactory, and it found that this FCA method is
appropriate for typhoon assessment.
Keywords: Typhoon flood,
Flood control, Fuzzy comprehensive assessment, Flood storage, Rainfall
forecast, Reservoir operation
Title of the Paper: Application
of an Intergrated Dynamic Model in Water Resources Carrying Capacity Study of
Zhangye in China
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Authors: Yizhong Zhu
Abstract: The water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) study is intended to
assess the scale of economy and population that local water resources can
sustain in a certain region. The fundamental purposes of the WRCC study are
to forecast the basic development path and direction of the
water–ecoenvironment–socioeconomic system and to identify the key factors to
promote its healthy development. Taking Zhangye district in northwest China
as a case, an integrated dynamic WRCC assessment model is established based
on the core model of multicriteria decision analysis and other sectoral
models, including extended input-output model, land resources spatial
distribution model, virtual water assessment model, WRCC comprehensive
evaluation modle etc. This model provides an integrated framework for the
comprehensive study of such issues as water resources development, land use,
virtual water trade and socioeconomic development. Different scenarios
established by different policy elements, including industrial structure
adjustment, watersaving technology improvement, implementation of a “water
reallocation” scheme, and virtual water trade strategy, are applied to
analyse the WRCC of Zhangye.The study indicates that provided the “water
reallocation” scheme and the necessary environment protection measures are
implemented, the WRCC of Zhangye can support continuing economic development
with an annual average GDP growth rate around 7%, and at same time, its
population can continue to enjoy a “fairly comfortable” living standard
according to agricultural products consumption criteria during 2000-2020 if
the industrial structure adjustment and water-saving technology improvements
could be achieved. The study not only assess the scale of population and
economic development, but also adopts a new perspective of virtual water
trade to examine WRCC in an open system. In addition, it provides
corresponding socioeconomic distribution and spatial land use patterns and
makes WRCC assessment results more practical.
Keywords: Water resources
carrying capacity, Water–ecoenvironment–socioeconomic system, Integrated
dynamic model, Multicriteria scenario analysis, Extended input-output
analysis, Virtural water trade strategy, WRCC comprehensive evaluation
Issue 4, Volume 4,
April 2008
Title of the Paper: Time Factor in
Microwave-enhanced Biodiesel Production
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Authors: A.A. Refaat, S. T. El Sheltawy
Abstract: Cooperative global efforts are held to confront climate change
threats by measures aiming at the stabilization of greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous
anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Biodiesel is a renewable,
energy efficient, substitution fuel which reduces net carbon dioxide
emissions. By running on biodiesel, vehicles can help reduce GHGs and
polluting emissions even more, without impairing their performance or
reducing their energy efficiency. Biodiesel production is worthy of continued
study and optimization of production procedures due to its environmentally
beneficial attributes and renewable nature. While the transesterification
process for production of biodiesel is well established, there remain
considerable inefficiencies in existing transesterification processes.
Application of radio frequency microwave energy offers a fast, easy route to
this valuable biofuel with advantages of enhancing the reaction rate and
improving the separation process. The methodology allows for the use of high
FFA content feedstock, including used cooking oil; hence it helps to reduce
the cost of production which constitutes a major hurdle towards widespread
commercialization of biodiesel. This study showed that the optimum reaction
time for microwave-enhanced biodiesel production should be highly respected.
Exceeding the optimum reaction time will lead to deterioration of both
biodiesel yield and purity.
Keywords: Biodiesel,
Vegetable Oil, Transesterification, Microwave, Bioenergy
Title of the Paper: An Evaluation Of
Sustainable Development Options: Example of “Kolubara”
Mining Basin
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Authors: Slavka Zekovic, Miodrag
Vujosevic
Abstract: The ‘’Kolubara’’ Basin faces a number of complex economic, social,
ecological and spatial problems, out of which some seriously hinder its
future development prospects. The past development pattern, being still
largely practiced, has resulted in a number of negative effects. On the other
hand, already reached development level, industrial culture and abundant
natural, human and other resources of the region, picture its future in a
brighter light. In order to get more reliable insights in the factors at work
and their impact, in this paper an ex ante evaluation of general development
options of the region is undertaken, by applying a combined approach and
method. The results of the analysis, however unequivocal, point to a general
conclusion – that the region may embark upon a new mode of development, e.g.,
that of the sustainability paradigm, provided a number of steps are timely
undertaken to remove at least some negative effects of the past development,
and to diminish the impact of negative existing factors. Also, considerable
support would be needed on the part of the Republican level, as the local
(regional) actors, acting alone, would not be able to make best use of the
‘’territorial capital’’ of this region. This in the first place pertains to
the necessary institutional and organizational adjustments of the current
planning system and practice, which are highly incompatible to the needs of a
more strategic development management approach.
Keywords: ex ante
evaluation of sustainable development options, a combined approach and
method, lignite coal basin, assessment of ‘’territorial capital’’,
environmental protection, restructuring, transition reforms, new strategic
development planning approach, institutional and organizational adjustments
Title of the Paper: Analysis
of Environmental Emissions and Greenhouse Gases in Islamic Republic of Iran
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Authors: Akram Avami, Bahare
Farahmandpour
Abstract: Concerns about energy consumption and consequential environmental
impact in Iran
has been raised in recent years. Iran's total emissions in 2006
includes 413.23 million tons of carbon dioxide, 2.18 million tons of carbon
monoxide, 2.5 million tons of NOx, 0.75 million tons of SO2, 2.26 million
tons of residual hydrocarbons, 0.59 million tons of aldehydes and 0.32
million tons of dusts. The present paper will study the energy consumption
and various types of emissions in consumption sectors in Iran. Through
analyzing the trends, it will identify technological bottlenecks and
improvement opportunities in order to decrease environmental impacts
associated with energy consumption. Introducing natural gas is the leading
opportunity of Iranian energy infrastructure. In contrast, the following
problems were identified and some solutions are proposed in this study. These
challenges include transportation sector from technological point of view;
low standard of different fuels such as gasoline, fuel oil and gas oil; Low
price of fuels; lack of logical pattern to guide the consumption sectors and
low efficiency of conversion equipment.
Keywords: Environment,
energy, household, transportation, industry, Iran
Title of the Paper: Zero
Emissions Systems in Food Processing Industry
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Authors: Uyen Nguyen Ngoc, Hans Schnitzer
Abstract: The food processing industry is part of an interlinked group of
sectors. It plays an important role in the economic development of every
country. However, a strongly growing food processing industry greatly
magnifies the problems of waste management, pushing the management of waste
(solid, gas and liquid) as well as pollution to the forefront of
environmental challenges. While concepts to minimize, reuse and recycle
wastes proposed have not solved thoroughly the negative effects on
environment and human population, zero emissions concepts have arisen. It
implies the optimization through an integrated system of processes and
requires the industries to redesign manufacturing processes to efficiently
use both raw material within the process and waste towards the aim of
sustainability. It means that utilization of waste can be brought to at
sustainable levels in closed loop processes, bearing the phenomenon of the
industrial metabolism. This paper starts with an outlook on zero emissions
systems and continues with principals of these concepts. Following this, a
zero emissions agricultural industrial system (AIZES) for the food processing
industry will be displayed, emphasizing on the utilization of all by products
as process inputs in anaerobic digestion processes. The model permits an
identification of opportunities for reducing environmental impact at process
level and driving the system toward sustainability through zero emissions
concepts. A case study, focusing on the Pineapple processing industry, will
be used to illustrate the application of the aggregated material input-output
model. The case study will also represent energy and material balances,
inputs and outputs, calculations on the economic feasibility of AIZES as well
as discussions of case study. The research can lay out a promising path to adapt
to environmentally friendly issues through alternative use of fossil fuels,
chemical fertilizers, zero emissions and reducing Greenhouse Effect gases.
Keywords: Energy, zero
emissions, waste, food industry, pineapple.
Title of the Paper: A Study of Open
Boundary Conditions for Far Field Tsunami Computation
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Authors: MD. Fazlul Karim, GD. Roy,
Ahmad Izani M Ismail
Abstract: The lethal Indian Ocean tsunami of
December 26, 2004 hit the southeast and south-Asian and east African
countries causing devastation of undescribable properties. The wave reached
the coast of Africa with considerable
intensity traveling ~ 4500
km from the epicenter. The purpose of this study is to
compute the effect of initial wave associated with a far field tsunami source
in a region of interest within a limited area model. In order to simulate the
far field tsunami, four model domains have been considered: these are the
original domain (OD) which is same as Roy et al. (2006) and three extended
domains ED(1), ED(2) and ED(3) obtained by extending the west boundary of OD
through 1100, 1500 and 4500
km respectively. The source of Indonesian tsunami 2004
is shifted to each of the extended domains to compute its response along the
western open boundary of OD. Using these data, the open boundary condition of
Roy et al. (2006) is applied along the western boundary of OD for generating
response along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia
and Thailand
in absence of any source. It is found that by proper choice of the amplitude
and scale factors associated with the boundary condition, it is possible to
generate similar response of a far field tsunami source with reasonable
accuracy.
Keywords: Open boundary
condition; Shallow water model; Far field tsunami; Indonesian tsunami 2004;
Tsunami propagation and surge; damping amplitude.
Title of the Paper: Mathematical
Model of Pollution Compounds Calculus in Function of Traffic Capacity from
Urban Areas
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Authors: Stelian Tarulescu, Radu
Tarulescu, Adrian Soica
Abstract: The Brasov city is one of the biggest towns in Romania. In
the central area of the Brasov
city can be found the biggest concentration of the carbon monoxide, nitrogen
oxides, the ozone and the volatile organic compounds. For intersection’s
analysis there were collected data about the road traffic and data about the
chemical pollution in the neighborhood of the road. In order to realize the
model there were made tables with the traffic values and the values of the
three pollutants, in function of the intersections of the analyzed route. For
calculus were used the equations corresponding to the determined polynomial
curves, for each pollutant, using the values obtained experimentally. The
working page of the mathematical model was made grouping the four analyzed
situations.
Keywords: Chemical,
pollution, traffic, mathematical, model, etalon vehicle
Title of the Paper: Role of Yarn
Hairiness in Knitting Process and its Impact on Knitting Room’s Environment
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Authors: N. Bhowmick, S. Ghosh
Abstract: Cotton fibre fly generated in knitting process due to interactions
of frictional surfaces with the hairiness of ring spun yarn. This fibre fly
creates a serious indoor pollution. The working personnel suffer from acute
and chronic respiratory problem after inhaling cotton dust particles and
fibre fly. Experimental results show that most of the fibre fly are shorter
in nature compared to virgin cottons. The knitting performance is badly
affected by its deposition at different places and responsible to produce
poor quality fabric. The mechanical means to remove fibre fly from indoor
atmosphere do not provide any cost- effective way to control it. Search for
an alternative solution to control the fibre shedding problem, researchers
have found the level of yarn hairiness is one of the major contributors
amongst other parameters. However, our study shows the length distribution of
protruding hairs from yarn surface is directly responsible to shed fly in
knitting process mainly in cone unwinding zone.
Keywords: Fibre fly,
Cotton dust, Bysinosis, Ring -spun yarn, Knitting.
Title of the Paper: A New Approach For
Predicting Solar Radiation In Tropical Environment Using Satellite Images –
Case Study Of Malaysia
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Authors: Ayu Wazira Azhari,
Kamaruzzaman Sopian, Azami Zaharim, Mohamad Al Ghoul
Abstract: Satellite images have been indentified as an alternative and
accurate method for predicting average annual daily solar radiation of a
specific location. These images can be use to predict the performance and
sizing of various solar energy systems such as solar thermal and photovoltaic
applications. The data from satellite images are used and compared with the
actual readings from solar instruments. The results are then used to estimate
solar intensity for other places where solar instrument is not available. Malaysia lies
entirely in the equatorial region. The tropical environment has been
characterized by heavy rainfall, constantly high temperature and relative
humidity. The annual average daily solar irradiations for Malaysia were
from 4.21 kWh/m2 to 5.56 kWh/m2. The highest solar radiation was estimated at
6.8 kWh/m2 in August and November while the lowest was 0.61 kWh/m2 in
December. The Northern region and a few places in East
Malaysia have the highest potential for solar energy application
due to its high solar radiation throughout the year.
Keywords: Solar radiation
modeling, solar radiation mapping, satellite images, renewable energy, solar
energy.
Title of the Paper: Health Care Waste
Management
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Authors: Davorin Kralj, Marko
Stamenkovic
Abstract: Health services have an exceptional role in the spheres of
preventive medicine and public health promotion, in the sense of keeping a
favorable balance between costs and benefits. Health care waste management
(HCWM) is a process to help ensure proper hospital hygiene and safety of
health care workers and communities. Collecting, transporting, processing and
disposing waste material is known as waste management. Poor management of HCW
exposes healthcare workers, waste handlers and the community to infections,
toxic effects and injuries.
Keywords: health care,
environment, management, waste treatment, quality
Issue 5, Volume 4,
May 2008
Title of the Paper: Recycling and
Environmental Waste Management in Constructions
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Authors: Davorin Kralj
Abstract: The article focuses on a recycling and on the issue of importance
of environmental management in constructions. Construction Waste Management
is a part of a growing movement toward a sustainable world. Recycling and
reuse of materials have long been associated with wise construction practices
. Recycling, reusing, and salvaging construction waste can save money. The
role of the manager of construction systems is to direct to and guarantee
reduced pollution and also to prevent the negative effects of the
environmental pollution. Method shows great possibilities for increasing use
of construction waste materials from lightweight concrete with aggregates
containing expanded glass in order to benefit from better use of available
capacity of existing construction waste.
Keywords: constructions,
environment, waste, management, recycling.
Title of the Paper: Sustainable
Management and Business Excellence in Dravske Elektrarne Maribor
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Authors: Davorin Kralj, Marjan
Smon
Abstract: Hydropower is a major renewable energy resource that can play an
increasingly important role in enabling communities around the world to meet
sustainability objectives. The International Hydropower Association has
produced Sustainability Guidelines to promote greater consideration of
environmental, social and economic aspects in the sustainability assessment
of new hydro projects.The role and significance of sustainable management, as
a part of business excellence, becoming ever more important in the future.
The increasingly limited environment resources demand managers of
organisational systems to perform alternative measures in managing
organisational systems. On e of the techniques being developed for this
purpose is Business Excellence Model. The article focuses on Sustainable Management
as a part of Business Excellence of Dravske Elektrarne Maribor (DEM).
Keywords: business
excellence, environment, hydropower, management, sustainable management.
Title of the Paper: Building Materials
Reuse and Recycle
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Authors: Davorin Kralj, Mirko
Markic
Abstract: The building industry has not only become a major consumer of
materials; it ha salso become a source of polluttion.. Environmental
integrated production and reusing and recycling is of great importance for
the competitev position in EU Member States. EU Member States shall ensure
that the technical, environmental and economic feasibility of alternative
systems is considered and is taken into account before construction starts .
The article focuses on Reuse Building Materials as a way for environment
protection and sustainable development. Integrated environmental management
integrates the requirements of sustainable development and LCA. There are
many methods used to reduce waste and increase profits through salvage,
reuse, and the recycling of construction waste. Sustainable development as a
tool to continual improvement cycle and with processes innovation the need to
save money in the processes via reduced resources and utility costs. This
article demonstrates that alternatives to modern building materials are
available.
Keywords: environment,
management, reuse, salvage, sustainable development
Title of the Paper: Global Marketing and
Environmental Excellence
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Authors: Davorin Kralj, Mirko
Markic
Abstract: Environmental issues have become an important element in the management
of both private and public organizations. The Global Compact’s environment
principles are derived from the Rio Declaration on Environment and
Development. The process of market globalization has lead to many changes.
The global economic system needs to show a more human and environment
friendly face. Companies must ensure that their traditional focus on
corporate profits and shareholder value is accompanied by equal concern for
the needs of society and the environment. The article focuses on environmental
excellence as a part of global marketing. Integrated marketing management
integrates the requirements of sustainable development and environmental
excellence. Sustainable development as a tool to continual improvement cycle
and with processes innovation the need to save money in the processes via
reduced resources and utility costs.
Keywords: environmental
excellence, globalization, marketing, management, sustainable development
Title of the Paper: Environmental
Effects of Irregular Extracting of Gravel from River Beds
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Authors: Siamak Boudaghpour, Seyyed
Arman Hashemi Monfared
Abstract: Extracting gravel from river beds causes steep slopes and
waterfalls and can remove up stream sources of gravel, sand and river sides.
With these slopes local fishes become unable to lay eggs or turbulent flows
remove their sperms. This paper studies the problems due to gravel extracting
from river beds and changing ecosystem. Extracted gravel and sand are washed
and processed by the factories near the river and transported to the
consuming centers. Washed gravel and sand suspend fine sediments like clay
and slit in the river. These fine sediments settle in the river and make
impermeable layers in the bed and prevent seepage of surface water to
groundwater and increase the dangers of flooding and damaging to the adjacent
regions of the river and destroy the environment.
Keywords: Extract,
gravel, Snad, Environment, river, Fish
Title of the Paper: New Technique for
Evaluation of Crop Water Requirement
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Authors: H. V. Hajare, N. S. Raman and ER
Jayant Dharkar
Abstract: Knowledge of exact amount of water required by different crop in a
given set of climatological condition of a region is great help in planning
of irrigation scheme, irrigation scheduling, effective design and management
of irrigation system and also for mid term planning in case of mid season
drought therefore a case study was undertaken for determination of crop water
requirement. The main aim of study is to standardize the fortnightly crop
water requirement by introducing the concept of development of iso lines for
crop water requirement for the Nagpur
region. These iso lines will give directly crop water requirement at any
location in region as well as it is useful for well irrigation. This paper
has presented iso lines for wheat and sunflower only.
Keywords: Crop water
requirement, crop, reference evapotranspiration, Modified Penman Method
Title of the Paper: Effect of Water
Parameters on Ephemeroptera Abundance in Telipok
River, Sabah Malaysia
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Authors: Kamsia Budin, Zainodin Jubok,
darmesah Gabda, Noraini Abdullah, Amran Ahmed
Abstract: This research was conducted to investigate the relationship between
Ephemeroptera with water parameter such as pH, conductivity, turbidity,
dissolved oxygen and total suspended solid in Telipok River, Sabah (Malaysia)
using multiple linear regression. There were 32 possible models were
considered in this work derived from the four significant correlation coefficients
(between the dependents and independents variables). Eight selection criteria
(8SC) were used in selecting a best model which signified the abundance of
Ephemeroptera in the river. In order to understand the effect of the water
parameters on Ephemeroptera numerical illustrations given in this work.
Keywords: multiple
regression, eight selection criteria, interaction, best model, ephemeroptera,
water parameter
Title of the Paper: A Novel
Semi-Passive Actuator for Drinking Water Tank Washer
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Authors: Chieh-Tsung Chi
Abstract: The objective of the present paper is to develop an innovative
washer for washing the accumulated sewage inside drinking water tank. This
new washer was composed of a semi-passive control actuator and electronic
control module. Many outstanding characteristics such as easy installation,
cheap, water-saving and friendly associated with this new washer. Especially,
it was able to continue to supply pure drinking water with consumers during
washing job was ongoing. When the waiting timer was time out, the washer
actuator was energized, and then the solenoid value was alternately turned on
and off depended on the setting value of duty cycle. Based on the water
hammer effect, the actuator mechanism rotated along the radial axis of tank
and wash simultaneously, and its velocity was dependent upon the length or
diameter of sewage discharging pipe or the duty cycle of the solenoid valve
of controlling electrical signals. In order to verify the feasibility and
working performance about proposed new washer, the experimental prototype was
first constructed in the laboratory. Moreover, experiments were carried out
by using this prototype. Finally, those experimental results clearly point
out that new developed actuator for drinking water tank washer is feasible,
water-saving and operating friendly.
Keywords: Drinking water,
water tank, semi-passive control actuator, duty cycle, solenoid valve.
Title of the Paper: Impact of Grid
Management on Wind Energy In Turkey
A Case Study – The Marmara Region
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Authors: Eralp Ozil, Alper Ozpinar
Abstract: Turkey
has one of the largest and fastest growing populations within the EU-27
Member States and Candidate Countries. This population growth comes with a
rapid urbanization and high demand for electricity. However, Turkey’s
conventional energy resources are limited and this high energy demand has
resulted in a high dependency on energy imports; primarily oil and natural
gas. At present, around 30 per cent of the total energy demand is being met
by domestic resources, while the rest originates from a diversified
import-portfolio. Turkey,
on the other hand, is blessed with ample renewable energy resources such as
wind energy and solar energy. This paper makes a quick review of Turkish
Energy outlook and emphasizes the importance of renewable energies for Turkey.
Afterwards it analyzes the new era of Renewable Energy in Turkey,
through the analysis of the recent advances in the legal infrastructure,
latest agreements and projects for the advancement of renewable energy sector
in the country. It is accepted that the most important renewable resource of
the country is the wind energy and this paper concentrates on the wind energy
potential in general. One of the most significant criteria for the
feasibility of the wind related investments is the grid connectivity. Since
Turkey acts like a network hub between the Europe and Asia, the quality and
the management of the grid and the grid connectivity of the renewable
projects is important not only for this country, but for EU member states as
well. Because, the Marmara region has the highest wind energy potential and
it is the western most region of the country, this paper concentrates on this
region as a case study. The final part of the paper analyzes the grid
connectivity to Europe, EU directives and their impact on Turkey’s grid
management.
Keywords: Renewable
energy, grid management, electricity production, wind energy, Turkey.
Issue 6, Volume 4,
June 2008
Title of the Paper: Introduction of a
Mathematical Storage Function Model Based on lumping Process of Infiltration
Theory
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Authors: Siamak Bodaghpour, Seyyed
Ahmad Mirbagheri, Seyyed Arman Hashemi Monfared
Abstract: Estimation and water prediction of the infiltration of rainfall has
been always an important task for hydrologists. Richard equation is adopted
as a fundamental equation to develop a storage function model. At first
stage, a new boundary condition has been introduced and its accuracy has been
cross checked with experiments. In the second stage, on the lumping process
of non-dimensional form of Richard equation, a compensation factor has been
proposed to equalize the semi-lumped equations. Finally the relation between
storage and discharge has been achieved by fully lumped equation.
Keywords: Richard
equation, lumping of unsaturated flow equation, semi lumped equations,
storage function model
Title of the Paper: Characterization
of Sea Breezes and their Effects on Air Pollution in the Tunisian
Mediterranean Region
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Authors: K . Bouchlaghem, B. Nsom, N.
Lattrache, H. H. Kacem
Abstract: A measurement campaign of pollutants concentration has been
undertaken during the two months of July-August 2004 in the Mediterranean
region of Sousse (35° 48’
N, 10° 38’
E), Tunisia. The results display that O3 and SO2 episodes are connected to
the sea breeze circulations. Two types of sea breeze characterize
Sousse region. First,
once a synoptic wind which blows at night and in the early morning is opposed
to the sea breeze direction, the later can only be launched in the afternoon.
The sea breeze circulation incites the formation of front breeze and the
return flow on the summit of the atmospheric boundary layer. On the surface,
we have shown the fast rising of O3 concentration in the afternoon period (up
to 70 ppb). Second, the night and morning winds share the same direction of
the sea breeze. During these events, the wind deviates and gets stronger in
the sense that the described angle is the weakest, and the sea breeze is
launched in the morning. No breeze front and no backward wind flow were
recorded. In the light of these conditions, SO2 morning concentration (toward
0900 LT) is multiplied three times compared to the non breeze cases. At the
same time, the ozone concentration rises reaching 50 ppb.
Keywords: Mediterranean Sea, Sea breeze, Recirculation, Ozone,
Air pollution.
Title of the Paper: An
Exploration of Relationships between Environmental Practice and Manufacturing
Performance using the PLS Path Modeling
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Authors: Ming-Lang Tseng, Wei-Wenwu,
Yuan-Hsu Lin, Chi-Horng Liao
Abstract: Many manufacturers turn to highlight the concept to improve product
development, quality goals, waste reduction, energy conservation, and to enhance
manufacturing performance. Environmental practices involve complex components
ranging from planning the product/process design, top management support,
production practice to organizational design. Only few works concern about
the relationship between environmental practice and manufacturing
performance. However, there is lacking of a model to facilitate the
comprehensive relationships between environmental practice components and
manufacturing performance. In this study, the conceptual framework is proposed
and tested between an environmental practices and the manufacturing
performance. This empirical assessment collects 616 respondents from
Taiwanese high-tech manufacturing firms and modelizing used partial least
squares path.
Keywords: environmental practice;
manufacturing performance; PLS path modeling
Title of the Paper: Land
Subsidence Modeling due to Ground Water Drainage Using “WTAQ” Software
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Authors: Kaveh Kumarci, Arash Ziaie, Arash Kyioumarsi
Abstract: Subsidence is settling of the earth's surface because of different
factors. Ground movements, mining activities, gas, oil and water, withdrawal
are some examples that can causes ground subsidence. In recent years it has
been proven that in dry areas because of extensive ground water withdrawal,
the rate of subsidence increases rapidly (more than 10 centimeters in
a year). A decrease in ground water level will causes an increase in effective
stresses at clay layers which results consolidation of lower layers. The
behavior can be modeled using finite element technique to predict the future
settlement. In this paper the relationship between classical soil parameters
and parameters used in numerical is driven for a single well water table
lowering. It is possible to approximate the model by assuming elastic time
dependent behavior due to decrease in water table level that calculates with
a computer software that’s name is ’WTAQ’’ (Water Table Aquifer). For this
purpose specialized finite element model was established and related to
classical soil mechanics consolidation parameters. In this research
subsidence of different lands in Sirjan and also Shahrekord are compared.
Keywords: Subsidence- Finite
Element- Single Well- WTAQ- Ground Water- Drainage
Title of the Paper: Regional
Analysis and Calibration for the South of Portugal of a Simple
Evapotranspiration Model for Use in an Autonomous Landscape Irrigation
Controller
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Authors: Jose Teixeira, Shakib
Shahidian, Joao Rolim
Abstract: This work is part of the development of an automatic and autonomous
landscape irrigation controller which uses a simpler method for computing ETo
than the FAO Penman-Monteith method (FAO-PM) in order to reduce the number of
sensors required and lower the system cost. It is also intended to select a
simple equation, since one of the requirements of this controller is that it
should use an ETo formula with a reduced number of programming instructions
due to its limited capacity. The controller to be developed should be
autonomous and inexpensive, enabling it to be installed in small green areas
such as small parks and gardens, having as main users the municipalities.
Thus a regional analysis was made about the suitability of 6 methods for
computing reference evapotranspiration (Hargreaves, Hargreaves-Samani,
Jensen-Haise, Makkink, Priestley-Taylor and Turc) based only on the weather
parameters temperature and solar radiation in the Alentejo. For this analysis
a network of automatic weather stations was used, providing the
meteorological data with a daily time-step for the period from 2003 to 2007.
Results show that after the calibration, for each station, these methods
present a good correlation with the ETo values calculated by the FAO-PM
method. The best results were obtained by the Jensen-Haise method, and the
worst results were computed by the Priestley-Taylor, Makkink, and Hargreaves-
Samani methods. A considerable variation exists in the adjustment parameters
from one weather station to another, so one can not use a single set of
medium parameters to calibrate these functions for the entire region. Thus,
it can be concluded that the Jensen-Haise is the best method for the Alentejo
conditions, and it should be calibrated for each meteorological station. The
results obtained by the Hargreaves-Samani method, based only on temperatures,
are similar to other 5 methods and is the only one that does not need
calibration, which indicates that this method can be considered for the
elimination of the radiation sensor.
Keywords:
Evapotranspiration, Landscape irrigation, Water management, Hargreaves, Hargreaves-Samani,
Jensen-Haise, Makkink, Priestley-Taylor, Turc.
Title of the Paper: Application of an
Indoor Greenhouse in the Energy and Thermal Comfort Performance in a
Kindergarten School
Building in the South of Portugal in
Winter Conditions
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FULL PDF
Authors: Eusebio Z. E. Conceicao, M.
Manuela J. R. Lucio, Margarida. C. Lopes
Abstract: In this work a numerical model, which simulates the buildings thermal
response and evaluates the indoor environment comfort, in transient
conditions, is used in the application of an indoor greenhouse in the energy
and thermal comfort performance in a kindergarten school building, in the
South of Portugal, in Winter conditions. In the numerical simulation of the
kindergarten school building, the 25 compartments, the 498 building main
bodies and the 42 windows glasses, as well as two schools and three
residential surrounding main buildings, are considered. This numerical model
is applied in the evaluation of the kindergarten thermal behavior, using the
indoor temperature field, and the occupants thermal comfort levels, using the
PMV and PPD indexes. After to be compared the numerical and experimental
indoor air temperatures field and identified the indoor thermal uncomfortable
spaces, the numerical model is used in the evaluation of the indoor
greenhouse performance, in order to increase the indoor air temperature and
thermal comfort levels, using solar renewable energy, without increase of the
kindergarten energy consumption. It is analyzed in detail the greenhouse
ventilation operating time and the warm airflow transport way, using an
internal ducts system or a corridor space, from the greenhouse to the indoor
coldest spaces.
Keywords: Kindergarten
school building, Numerical simulation, Experimental tests, Building thermal
behavior, Energy, Indoor greenhouse, Thermal comfort.
Title of the Paper: Sustainable Water
Reuse in Portugal
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Authors: Maria Helena F. Marecos Do
Monte
Abstract: Portugal,
like most of Mediterranean EU member states, regularly experience severe
water supply and demand imbalances, particularly in the summer months. Half
of Portugal
mainland suffers of water deficit. Tourism is a very important economic
activity in Portugal and
is pushing water demand particularly in regions suffering of water deficit,
like the Algarve.
Golf courses are an important tourist factor contributing to water demand
rising. A number of golf courses are installed in tourist areas and need high
amount of water for irrigation. Water reuse is a very important management
strategy in situations of water scarcity. Portugal badly needs to include
treated wastewater as a dependable water in the nation water resources
management. Safe water reuse requires guidelines. This standard presents
guidelines on: water quality, irrigation practice, management of
environmental impacts, protection of public and animal health and aspects of
control and monitoring.
Keywords: Golf course,
guidelines, irrigation, reuse, wastewater, water.
Title of the Paper: Combined
Effects of Potassium and Wastewater Application on the Yield and Quality of
Bermuda Grass (Cynodon Dactylon) in the Mediterranean Regions
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Authors: Jose Beltrao, Rui Santos,
Pedro Jose Correia
Abstract: The reuse of treated wastewater is considered as an alternative
disposable to potable water in the mediterranean agriculture and landscape,
namely in golf courses. Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon, Peers) is used very
often on the fairways, roughs and tees of golf courses of the Mediterranean
Basin due to its tolerance to drought,
salinity, high temperatures and damages. The objective of this work is to
study the response of this cultivar to the combined effects of municipal
wastewater and two levels of potassium fertilization, during Spring and
Summer. The experimental design known as sprinkle point source was used to
simulate the various levels of wastewater application, expressed by the crop
coefficient kc. This procedure is characterized by the assumption that a
point creates a linear irrigation gradient from the water point source,
producing a gradual change in water application, and a high degree of
irrigation uniformity must be obtained in parallel isohyets. Chemical
analysis of wastewater irrigation water was monitored through all the
experimental period (from April to September). Climatic data was also
recorded. Yield (aboveground biomass) and the good visual appearance (GVA) of
the lawn were assessed in two sampling dates, May and July. Municipal
wastewater can be used to irrigate Bermuda grass, without an apparent
decrease on grass quality. As concluding remarks, it may be seen that the
irrigation water amount is the most pronounced limiting production factor of
bermuda grass (Cynodon dactilon, Peers), when compared with potassium
fertilization, but it is possible that there is a positive interaction
between water and irrigation. This response is modulated by evaporative air
conditions since lower yields were obtained in summer. On the other hand, if
the potassium fertilization is increased, two situations may occur: 1) with
high amounts of water application, leaching problems may occur, mainly on
sandy soils, and production may decrease; 2) if potassium fertilization
increases, and irrigation water decreases, yield decreases due to the
increase of salinity (potassium fertilizers are salts), mainly on salt
affected soils.
Keywords: GVA – good
visual appearance, kc – crop coefficient, salination, leaching, point source.
Title of the Paper: Rural
Areas towards a Challenge to Territorial Governance: The Case of the
Portuguese Municipality of Almeida
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Authors:
Fernando P.
Fonseca, A. R.
Ramos
Abstract: Rural development is a multidimensional process. To be successful,
the development strategies in rural areas should be supported in appropriate
governance patterns in order to stimulate the dialog and the cooperation
between public and private entities. In fact, local governance is often a key
factor of rural development, allowing the integration of objectives and
policies, establishing relations of power distribution, and defining
resources, accountability, priorities and choices. Thus, territorial
governance reflects the local capacity of involvement and cooperation in the
development process, the degree of organisational innovation to surpass
internal debilities and the external concurrence. Consequently, territorial
governance configures a sustainable perspective of development and takes
important territorial core values such as coherence and diversity in areas
under pressure, such as the peripheral rural areas. This paper aims at
analysing a particular and paradigmatic Portuguese rural and peripheral
territory, the municipality
of Almeida that is
living a trend of socio-economic decline. Anchored on a research developed in
this territory, the paper attempts to examine the characteristics and reasons
of the present governance structure, its reflexes in the local
(sub)development, and the opinion and position of some influent entities in a
context of a new governance. Furthermore, the paper explores and highlights
the benefits and constraints that emerge when governance is contextualised in
rural territories, once it poses several questions and challenges to the
local capacity of institutional articulation. Due to the same nature of the
problems involved, the main conclusions obtained could be extrapolated to
much more rural and peripheral territories.
Keywords: Rural
development, Sustainable development; Territorial governance, Almeida.
Issue 7, Volume 4,
July 2008
Title of the Paper: Effects
of Manure and Sludge Application on a Citrus Orchard
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Authors: Manuel Costa,
Jose Beltrao, Joao Carrasco De Brito, Carlos Guerrero, Lidia Dionisio
Abstract: The urban sludge is a solid residue originated from wastewater
treatment – its application as an organic fertilizer may decrease the
pollution effects in nature, when compared to mineral fertilizers and other
soil amendments. An orchard of orange-trees (Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck) was
used to compare the effects of sludge and manure application. The chemical
responses of the soil-plant-atmosphere system were observed. Hence, analysis
of soil were performed in order to study the variation of soil salinity (ECs)
and other parameters such as pH, organic matter OM, N, P2O5, K2O, Fe, Mn, Zn,
Ca, Mg and Na. Trace elements (Cd, Ni, Pb and Cr) were also analyzed in the soil.
In the citrus leaves, when sludge and manure were applied, N and Cl-
parameters showed no significant variation, but an increase of Pb in the
first year of the experiments was noticed. In the soil no significant
chemical differences was observed, in relation to the different treatments,
except the increase in salinity levels, when sludge and manure were applied.
This effect was observed after the first experimental year, but not after the
second year. Therefore no relevant disadvantages was found, at the end of the
experiments, related to nutrients, salinity and trace elements, in the soil
and in the citrus leaves, due to the application of urban sludge and manure.
On the contrary, these residues represent a profitable alternative for the
use of mineral fertilizers and other soil amendments. An overall and flexible
legislation is an essential tool in order to integrate resources, users and
environment.
Keywords: citrus leaves,
nutrients, organic fertilizers, salinity, soil, soil amendments, trace
elements.
Title of the Paper: IrrigRotation,
A Time Continuous Soil Water Balance Model
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Authors: Joao Rolim, Jose Teixeira
Abstract: The aim of this work was the development of the IrrigRotation
software which is a soil water balance simulation model, based on the dual Kc
methodology, that performs the soil water balance continuously in time using
a daily time step. This continuous simulation allows to overcoming one of the
greatest sources of uncertainty in the use of water balance models, which is
the amount of available water in the soil profile at the beginning of the
simulation. Thus, the initial error is diluted over the data time series,
loosing is relevance. This model was built to be more flexible as possible,
regarding the time series intervals, simulating time intervals from one day
up to several years. The IrrigRotation can be applied either at a field level
or at a regional level allowing the assessment of regional water irrigation
requirements, trough its integration into the GIS software Geomedia 6.0. This
model was implemented following an information system (IS) approach, and is
composed by a graphic user interface, by several mathematical modules and a
database. The methodology developed in this model, due to its continuous
characteristic allows to consider the water needs of a sequence of crops and
taking into account the water stored in the soil profile during the
off-season time period, using a soil reservoir calculated according to the
deepest root of the crop sequence/rotation. This way is possible to take into
account the water requirements of a sequence of crops, including crop
rotations, in opposition to traditional water balance models such as CROPWAT,
ISAREG, PILOTE or more recently the SIMDualKc which typically perform the
soil water balance only for the irrigation season and considering only one
culture. The model was experimentally applied and tested for the Beja region,
in Alentejo South of Portugal,
providing irrigation requirements information based on the soil, crop,
rotation scheme, climate and irrigation systems data. Weather data was
obtained from a nearest meteorological station (Quinta da saúde - Beja).The
first version of this system was successfully developed, allowing to compute
the irrigation requirements of the sugar beet-maize-tomato-wheat crop
rotation for the Beja region for the 2003-2007 period. Tests preformed
evidence good model results.
Keywords: Irrigation,
Crop rotations, Crop water requirements, Soil water balance, Water
management, Simulation models, Information systems, GIS.
Title of the Paper: Bonsai
as Reflection of Nature's Beauty: Styles and Aesthetic Value
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Authors: Katarzyna Pietraszko, Jerzy
Sobota
Abstract: The Art of Miniaturization is an Organic Architecture, thus a
combination of art and science. The combination of elements of philosophy,
painting, sculpting, architecture, design and gardening is what makes it a
unique discipline. While working on living plants, the creator of this unique
art is lead by the elementary rules of aesthetics, the skill of connecting
various forms, board, colors and space. The Art of Miniature Landscapes is
also dependant on the knowledge of nature: abilities to perceive the change
of nature and the diversity of different forms met in nature. In the European
art of Landscape Miniaturization two tendencies are met; the first relates to
the traditional Japanese art, the second is a link of the traditional
Japanese and European Organic Art.
Keywords: Bosai, Bonsai
styles, Landscape Miniaturization, Far-eastern Art, design theory, aesthetic
value
Issue 8, Volume 4,
August 2008
Title of the Paper:
Development of New Economic Districts in
Belgrade
Metropolitan Area
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Authors: Slavka Zekovic,
Tamara Maricic
Abstract: Paper discusses new economic districts and spatial structures of
the economic activities in metropolitan areas influenced by transitional
processes and globalisation. It indicates the impacts of new economic trends
and economic districts on creation of metropolitan areas’ spatial
organisation. Paper shows mechanisms of the agglomeration of new economic
poles and spatial-economic clusters in metropolitan areas. These mechanisms
have consequences on economic and spatial changes, on changes of urban,
regional and social structures, on environmental degradation, etc. New
economic zones in metropolitan areas are result of market pressures, the
increase of economic competitiveness and influences of foreign and domestic
companies on the territorial capital of those areas and their urban/ spatial
structures. There are indications of possible development impacts on creation
of new economic districts with the preliminary analyses of
Belgrade metropolitan area. Paper concludes
that new economic districts – new industrial, commercial, entrepreneurial
zones that developed systematically or spontaneously in the suburban areas
(along highways) of Belgrade metropolitan area, have a major role in spatial
development of economic activities and in the planning of territorial
organization of this area.
Keywords: new economic
districts, spatial clusters, business activities, sustainable development,
urban policy, urban development.
Title of the Paper:
Multifunctional Clusters in Post-Industrial
Landscapes: Rising from What's Left
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Authors: Luis Loures,
Tim Heuer, Dina Horta, Raul Santos, Sandra Silva
Abstract: Development in the post-industrial landscape is one of many contexts
that designer’s will be forced to participate in as contributors to a
sustainable future. The rapid expansion and globalization of industry over
the past century has had a profound impact on industrial areas all over the
world. A changing global economic and energy paradigm from industry to
technology has and will continue to produce a vast landscape of obsolete
industrial facilities. These facilities and their surrounding service
industries are often strategically located near waterways, cities, and great
centers of population, while simultaneously being segmented from the very
people and communities that support their existence. The question then, for
today’s designer, is how to plan for the future of these post-industrial
landscapes facing the new growth management paradigm. The re-use of
postindustrial sites in order to develop multifunctional landscapes, as
opposed to the consumption of previously undeveloped land is seen as a great
possibility to the achievement of the new growth management paradigm – the
accomodation of economic development and population growth while sustaining
the spirit of community and the physical environment. To demonstrate the
relevance of the reclamation of these sites, and a design approach that
considers environmental, social, and economic aspects, this paper presents
and analyzes two postindustrial reclamation studies. One located in
Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America, (West 3rd Street Peninsula) and
the other in Lagoa, Portugal (left margin to the Arade River), both presenting
a vast potential for redevelopment. The main objective of this article is to
show the post-industrial landscape as a complex resource, which can be
recovered, re-used, and reintegrated into the surrounding community as a
multifunctional landscape; a diverse environment that provides economic,
social, and environmental benefits for the community and the land-
investigating the benefits that may arise from the reclamation of urban
postindustrial environments using a multifunctional cluster approach -.
Additionally, the theory of the overall design strategy is discussed in
detail in a manner such that it can be used as a resource for other
designer’s for non site-specific challenges.
Keywords: Irrigation,
Crop rotations, Crop water requirements, Soil water balance, Water
management, Simulation models, Information systems, GIS.
Title of the Paper: Research on the
Environmental Burden Evaluation of Building Construction- Comparing with
Different Construction Methods
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Authors: Shih-Hung Yang, Zhi-Shu Lin, Ming Huang-Fu
Abstract: This paper focuses on the influence of energy consumption and CO2 emission
by different building methods during all the process from the producing of
material to completion of construction. The research is primarily to
understand the impact of ecological environment and human live by the energy
and greenhouse gas on earth. Secondly, try to establish the estimation method
and calculation procedure by concluding literatures about ”Building structure
& construction” and ”Environmental burden evaluating system”.Finally,
this paper analyze and compare with the difference of environmental burden
generating by the different construction methods by case studying on Taipei
municipal athletic field in Taiwan. The main goal of this thesis is to
establish the environmental burden assesment tool for calculating and
evaluating.
Keywords: Environmental
Burden, Energy Consumption, CO2 Emission, Prefabricate method
Title of the Paper: Application of an
Indoor Greenhouse in the Energy and Thermal Comfort Performance in a
Kindergarten School
Building in the South of Portugal in
Winter Conditions
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FULL PDF
Authors: Eusebio Z. E.
Conceicao, M. Manuela J. R. Lucio, Margarida. C. Lopes
Abstract: In this work a numerical
model, which simulates the buildings thermal response and evaluates the
indoor environment comfort, in transient conditions, is used in the
application of an indoor greenhouse in the energy and thermal comfort
performance in a kindergarten school building, in the South of Portugal, in
Winter
conditions. In the numerical simulation of the kindergarten school building,
the 25 compartments, the 498 building main bodies and the 42 windows glasses,
as well as two schools and three residential surrounding main buildings, are
considered. This numerical model is applied in the evaluation of the
kindergarten thermal behavior, using the indoor temperature field, and the
occupants thermal comfort levels, using the PMV and PPD indexes. After to be compared the numerical and
experimental indoor air temperatures field and identified the indoor thermal
uncomfortable spaces, the numerical model is used in the evaluation of the
indoor greenhouse performance, in order to increase the indoor air
temperature and thermal comfort levels, using solar renewable energy, without
increase of the kindergarten energy consumption. It is analyzed in detail the
greenhouse ventilation operating time and the warm airflow transport way,
using an internal ducts system or a corridor space, from the greenhouse to
the indoor coldest spaces.
Keywords: Kindergarten school building, Numerical simulation,
Experimental tests, Building thermal behavior, Energy, Indoor greenhouse,
Thermal comfort.
Title of the Paper: The Application of
the Surrounding Landform to the Landscape Design in
Japanese Gardens
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Authors: Keita Yamaguchi, Isao Nakajima, Masashi Kawasaki
Abstract: In modern cities, people generally have the desire to strike a
proper balance between man and nature. This paper aims to discuss the method
of using landforms in landscape design, particularly focusing on three
functions of the landform: enclosure forming, viewpoint setting, and view
setting. We selected Japanese gardens as case studies and adopted a
three-layer model to classify a landscape design based on functions of the
landform, site planning, and architectural planning. As a result, we have
found some common methods of utilizing the unique landform characteristic to
form an enclosed space and make viewpoints not to be seen, and to
characterize various types of views, as a deep mountain view and a prospect view.
Keywords: Landform
Characteristics, Japanese garden, Landscape Design, View and Viewpoint
setting, Kyoto.
Title of the Paper: Comparative Studies
and Impact Analysis of Environmental Noise Modeling from Malaysian Industrial
Projects
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Authors: A. R. Ismail, M. R. A. Mansor,
M. J. M. Nor, M. Z. Nuawi, R. Zulkifli, M. N. Ab. Rahman, K. Sopian
Abstract: This paper presents the
results obtained in a study on environmental noise pollution due to
industrial project proposals at four different places in Malaysia. The
different projects included in this case study are Petronas refinery
extension project MG-3, Janamanjung power station in Perak, RCC plant in
Semenyih and Co-generation plant in Melaka. Noise level measurements and
analysis for the projects were categorized in three different stages namely,
existing environmental noise level, noise scenario during construction stage
and noise contours predicted during operation stage. This paper presents
typical environmental noise scenarios and impact analysis due to industrial
project activities in Malaysia.
Keywords: noise, modeling, legislation, discomfort
Title of the Paper: Regional
Analysis and Calibration for the South of Portugal of a Simple
Evapotranspiration Model for use in an Autonomous Landscape Irrigation
Controller
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FULL PDF
Authors: Jose Teixeira, Shakib
Shahidian, Joao Rolim
Abstract: The Art of Miniaturization is an Organic Architecture, thus a combination
of art and science. The combination of elements of philosophy, painting,
sculpting, architecture, design and gardening is what makes it a unique
discipline. While working on living plants, the creator of this unique art is
lead by the elementary rules of aesthetics, the skill of connecting various
forms, board, colors and space. The Art of Miniature Landscapes is also
dependant on the knowledge of nature: abilities to perceive the change of
nature and the diversity of different forms met in nature. In the European
art of Landscape Miniaturization two tendencies are met; the first relates to
the traditional Japanese art, the second is a link of the traditional
Japanese and European Organic Art.
Keywords: Bosai, Bonsai
styles, Landscape Miniaturization, Far-eastern Art, design theory, aesthetic
value
Title of the Paper: Industrial
Heritage: The Past in the Future of the City
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Authors: Luis Loures
Abstract: The concept of cultural heritage has clearly meant different things
to different groups of scholars and the public interested in reclaiming
traditions and cultural landscapes. Changes associated with urban growth
often involve the destruction of built characteristics and natural elements,
eradicating the physical expression of former indigenous ways of life that
are a very important part of people’s culture. This fact was particularly
evident after the Second World War, when industrial landscapes faced deep
transformations that in several cases contributed to its dereliction and to
the disappearance of numerous industrial values, commonly known as industrial
heritage. This phenomenon added to the necessity of reusing abandoned industrial
landscapes in detriment of consuming new ones, increases the need to enlarge
the interpretation of the term “cultural heritage”, to analyse and interpret
the value and significance of post-industrial landscapes and to develop new
mechanisms to preserve it. Furthermore, it is increasingly acknowledged that
the values connected with culture and heritage are highly significant for
people’s lives and need to be identified and highlighted. This paper presents
a set of design principles that will be applied to the post-industrial
landscape of left margin to the Arade
River. These principles
describe in a general manner the ways in which relevant resources created and
deposited by the industrial society can be enhanced and how they can best be
reclaimed and used.
Keywords:
Arade River, Culture, Industrial Heritage, Landscape
Reclamation, Sustainable Development, Urban Redevelopment.
Title of the Paper:
An Investigation of Architectural and Archaeological
Tasks Involving Digital Terrestrial Photogrammetry
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Authors: Seyed Yousef
Sadjadi
Abstract: Surveying and structural engineers, archaeologists and architects
need precise information. Close range digital photogrammetric techniques
provide the means to do exactly that, particularly with respect to the
spatial information, by allowing 3-D coordinates of photographed features to
be accurately gathered, with a precision of about 0.4cm, and archived in an information
system. This greatly enhances the flexibility of data usage, allowing it to
be translated and interpreted in many different forms, including output as
drawings or as 3-D CAD models.
Geographical Information System (GIS) represent a highly relevant branch of
information technology. GIS support the import of geospatial data from a
variety of sources, including imagery. An appropriate environment for
providing the spatial information needed by architects working with historic
buildings and archaeologists might be soft-copy photogrammetry coupled with,
or linked to, GIS, forming an Archaeological/Architectural Information System
(A/AIS).
The practical methodology for using digital terrestrial photogrammetry in
sites of archaeological and architectural interest depends on the location,
position, shape, size, dimension, accuracy and location of the object. More
specifically guidelines have emerged from the author’s investigations in the
presented project, the Hunter Memorial (located at the
University of Glasgow)
survey was with a digital camera.
Keywords:
AutoCAD-A/AIS-GIS-Digital-Photogrammetry-Imagery-Technology.
Title of the Paper: Prediction of
Parametric Value of Drinking Water of
Hyderabad City
by Artificial Neural Network Modeling
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Authors: Niaz. A. Memon, M. A. Unar,
A. K. Ansari, G. B. Khaskheli, Bashir A. Memon
Abstract: This paper focuses on the influence of energy consumption and CO2
emission by different building methods during all the process from the
producing of material to completion of construction. The research is
primarily to understand the impact of ecological environment and human live
by the energy and greenhouse gas on earth. Secondly, try to establish the
estimation method and calculation procedure by concluding literatures about
”Building structure & construction” and ”Environmental burden evaluating
system”. Finally, this paper analyze and compare with the difference of environmental
burden generating by the different construction methods by case studying on
Taipei municipal athletic field in Taiwan. The main goal of this thesis is to
establish the environmental burden assessment tool for calculating and
evaluating.
Keywords: Environmental
Burden, Energy Consumption, CO2 Emission, Prefabricate method.
Issue 9, Volume 4,
September 2008
Title
of the Paper: Sustainable Water Reuse in Portugal
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FULL PDF
Authors: Maria Helena F. Marecos Do
Monte
Abstract: Portugal,
like most of Mediterranean EU member states, regularly experience severe
water supply and demand imbalances, particularly in the summer months. Half
of Portugal
mainland suffers of water deficit. Tourism is a very important economic
activity in Portugal and
is pushing water demand particularly in regions suffering of water deficit,
like the Algarve.
Golf courses are an important tourist factor contributing to water demand
rising. A number of golf courses are installed in tourist areas and need high
amount of water for irrigation. Water reuse is a very important management
strategy in situations of water scarcity. Portugal badly needs to include
treated wastewater as a dependable water in the nation water resources
management. Safe water reuse requires guidelines. This standard presents
guidelines on: water quality, irrigation practice, management of
environmental impacts, protection of public and animal health and aspects of
control and monitoring.
Keywords: Golf course,
guidelines, irrigation, reuse, wastewater, water.
Title of the Paper: Combined
Effects of Potassium and Wastewater Application on the Yield and Quality of
Bermuda Grass (Cynodon Dactylon) in the Mediterranean Regions
DOWNLOAD
FULL PDF
Authors: Jose Beltrao, Rui Santos,
Pedro Jose Correia
Abstract: The reuse of treated wastewater is considered as an alternative
disposable to potable water in the mediterranean agriculture and landscape,
namely in golf courses. Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon, Peers) is used very
often on the fairways, roughs and tees of golf courses of the Mediterranean
Basin due to its tolerance to drought,
salinity, high temperatures and damages. The objective of this work is to
study the response of this cultivar to the combined effects of municipal
wastewater and two levels of potassium fertilization, during Spring and
Summer. The experimental design known as sprinkle point source was used to
simulate the various levels of wastewater application, expressed by the crop
coefficient kc. This procedure is characterized by the assumption that a
point creates a linear irrigation gradient from the water point source,
producing a gradual change in water application, and a high degree of
irrigation uniformity must be obtained in parallel isohyets. Chemical
analysis of wastewater irrigation water was monitored through all the
experimental period (from April to September). Climatic data was also
recorded. Yield (aboveground biomass) and the good visual appearance (GVA) of
the lawn were assessed in two sampling dates, May and July. Municipal
wastewater can be used to irrigate Bermuda grass, without an apparent
decrease on grass quality. As concluding remarks, it may be seen that the
irrigation water amount is the most pronounced limiting production factor of
bermuda grass (Cynodon dactilon, Peers), when compared with potassium fertilization,
but it is possible that there is a positive interaction between water and
irrigation. This response is modulated by evaporative air conditions since
lower yields were obtained in summer. On the other hand, if the potassium
fertilization is increased, two situations may occur: 1) with high amounts of
water application, leaching problems may occur, mainly on sandy soils, and
production may decrease; 2) if potassium fertilization increases, and
irrigation water decreases, yield decreases due to the increase of salinity
(potassium fertilizers are salts), mainly on salt affected soils.
Keywords: GVA – good
visual appearance, kc – crop coefficient, salination, leaching, point source.
Title of the Paper: Control
of Fungi Diseases on Turfgrass using Trichoderma Harzianum
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Authors: C. Guerrero, J. Vitoriano,
L. Neto, L. Dionisio
Abstract: The use of biocontrol agents becomes, nowadays, more and more
important for plant disease management acting as a good alternative to the
chemical control. The main objective of the present work was to test the
effect of an antagonistic fungus on the control of fungal disease in
turfgrass. The experimental work was carried out in nine greens of «Silves
Golf», a golf course at southern Portugal. Different
concentrations of a commercial product containing Trichoderma harzianum were
compared to each other. To isolate pathogenic fungi, samples were taken from
all the places where fungal disease symptoms appeared. From these samples,
fungi of the genus Rhizoctonia (brown patch) and Lepista (fairy ring) were
isolated. Fusarium sp. and Sclerotinia sp. were also isolated. The concentration
of Trichoderma harzianum concentration in the commercial product was
evaluated; a laboratorial trial was carried out to confirm Trichoderma
presence in the soil + turfgrass due to the commercial product spreading. The
identification of pathogenic and antagonistic fungi morphological
characteristics were carried out to confirm their presence in the soil +
turfgrass samples. Trichoderma antagonistic activity was studied. According
to the severity of disease symptoms, differences were observed between plots
where the studied product was sprayed and the plots without application
(untreated). The disease symptoms appeared, throughout the experimental
study, in all plots, but the severity was always higher in the control. Our
results showed that the tested product would be a useful environmental sound
approach to control disease of turfgrass in the Algarve region.
Keywords: antagonist
fungi, biological control, Fusarium sp., golf course, Lepista sp.,
Rhizoctonia sp., Sclerotinia sp.
Title of the Paper: Assessment of
Contaminated Soils by Heavy Metals in Municipal Solid Waste Landfills in
southern Brazil
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Authors: Flavia Schenato,
Nadia T. Schroder, Flavia B. Martins
Abstract: The paper presents an evaluation of the environmental impact of
inadequate solid waste disposal in Municipal Solid Waste landfills in
southern Brazil.
It was found that inorganic contamination can reach critical levels according
to the reference values recommended by the Brazilian environmental protection
agencies. The physical-chemical parameters (granullometric analysis, pH, CEC,
TOC and heavy metal concentrations) and mineralogical analyses were assessed
for the potential mechanisms of retention and migration of contaminants in
surface soil and water in the studied area. The relative abundance of the
reactive mineral phases are the primary controllers of sorption processes in
soils, and plays a critical role in the regulation of contaminant fate and
transport. Furthermore, phytoremediation experiments were conducted with
Impatiens walleriana Hook. f., a flower species well adapted to the Brazilian
climate. I. walleriana was effective in
removing metals from contaminated soils and showed bioaccumulation of Cu, Zn,
Cr and Ni. The remediation program proposed here is inexpensive as this
species adapts itself easily.
Keywords: Municipal solid
waste landfills, surface soil, heavy metals, contamination, phytoremediation.
Title of the Paper: Generate
Disaggregated Soil Allocation Data using a Minimum Cross Entropy Model
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Authors: Rui Fragoso, Maria De Belem
Martins, Maria Raquel Ventura Lucas
Abstract: Montado ecosystem in the Alentejo Region, south of Portugal, has
enormous agro-ecological and economics heterogeneities. A definition of
homogeneous sub-units among this heterogeneous ecosystem was made, but for
them is disposal only partial statistical information about soil allocation
agro-forestry activities. The paper proposal is to recover the unknown soil
allocation at each homogeneous sub-unit, disaggregating a complete data set
for the Montado ecosystem area using incomplete information at sub-units
level. The methodological framework is based on a Generalized Maximum Entropy
approach, which is developed in thee steps concerning the specification of a
r order Markov process, the estimates of aggregate transition probabilities
and the disaggregation data to recover the unknown soil allocation at each
homogeneous sub-units. The results quality is evaluated using the predicted
absolute deviation (PAD) and the “Disagegation Information Gain” (DIG) and
shows very acceptable estimation errors.
Keywords: Montado
ecosystem, Cross Entropy, Maximum Entropy, incomplete information, Alentejo.
Title of the Paper: Using Geographic
Information Systems in Visual and Aesthetic Analysis: the Case Study of a
Golf course in Algarve
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Authors: Pedro Vargues, Luis Loures
Abstract: Adequate information about the existing landscape and about the nature
of places that it is desirable to create and to experiment, can no longer be
the result of superficial approaches based exclusively on designers and
planners’ ideas. Even if, planning and monitoring programs frequently use
remote sensing data, focusing on changes in land cover and land use in
relation to values such as biodiversity, land capability and recreation, they
often neglect landscape aesthetics and culture. Aesthetics, a concept
developed by the western civilization, has been a subject of debate for
philosophers and artists, from the time of the ancient Greece, and
more recently for architects, urban and environmental managers and even
policy makers. In the present study a quantitative landscape assessment
method was used in order to estimate visual impact, landscape quality,
landscape fragility and visual absorption capability of a planned golf course
which will be implemented in a forest landscape in the Algarve. The
Study area is an enclosed, meadow, riverside landscape in
Loulé, Portugal.
Numerical values were used to assign factors such slope, vegetation
observation distance, visual magnitude and human activities in order to
analyze, evaluate and characterize the landscape. Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) were used in order to understand and manage the visual
resources and to mitigate the visual impacts that may arise from the
implementation of the proposed golf course development.
Keywords: Geographic
information system, aesthetics, landscape quality, landscape fragility,
visual absorption capability, visual impact, landscape assessment.
Title of the Paper: Democracy
in Progress: Using Public Participation in Post-Industrial Landscape
(Re)-Development
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Authors: Luis Loures,
Pat Crawford
Abstract: The last decades have seen a rapid change in attitudes towards the
environment, which reflects a greater environmental awareness of environment
amongst professionals as well as the general public. Public participation has
become increasingly more important, playing a relevant role in determining
the way society will manage, protect and reclaim the environment. This trend
is “now” recognized by landscape architects, landscape ecologists, and
sociologists, among others. A wide range of methods have been established all
over the world, including new ways of people interacting, new types of
events, new services and new support frameworks. This paper addresses the
benefits of using public participation in the reclamation of post-industrial
landscapes, and the ways in which the introduction of public opinion can
improve the design process. Although public participation has gained wide
acceptance among private and public domains, academic literature and research
offers still limited understanding on how to accomplish it and what
contributes to its success. The relevance of public participation is
discussed through exploring the definitions of public participation, why the
public should be involved and the role of participation in project
acceptability. Using a best practice approach, this article discusses the use
of public participation in the re-development of a post-industrial landscape,
Emscher Park,
located in the Ruhr Region, Germany.
This case is selected to explore contributions to achieve sustainable
development and the reasons why public participation should be an integral
part of post-industrial landscape reclamation. We conclude that public
participation may encourage awareness of “belonging to” a community, sharing
common culture and creating identity. It improves community consciousness and
responsibility while fostering a “collective sense”. These are “feelings” of
considerable importance in the development of new, satisfying and concerted
projects.
Keywords: Public
Participation, Landscape Reclamation, Democracy, Involvement, Consensus,
Postindustrial Landscapes, Emscher
Park.
Title of the Paper: Developing
a Course for Teaching Space and Nature Values to Student-Teachers
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Authors: Konstandia Tamoutseli
Abstract: Redefining educational curricula to address sustainability issues
is something that could occur at all levels of formal education [1]. Spatial
education could also be sought in the framework of formal education [2].
Spatial education contributes to raising awareness of space and nature values
and of planning for sustainable development. This article presents a paradigm
of a strategy drawing from “action research methodology.” It was developed
within the framework of an optional course offered to future primary school
teachers at the Education Department of Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki, Greece. The course sought to
raise future teachers’ interest in incorporating spatial concepts in their
school’s culture. The article also includes a preliminary evaluation of this
initiative based on student teachers’ interviews and their project designs.
Participants demonstrated an appreciation of the course both for its contents
and its methodology.
Keywords: spatial
education, education for sustainable development, school grounds, spatial
values, student teachers
Title of the Paper: An Investigation of
Architectural and Archaeological Tasks Involving Digital Terrestrial Photogrammetry
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Authors: Seyed Yousef Sadjadi
Abstract: Surveying and structural engineers, archaeologists and architects
need precise information. Close range digital photogrammetric techniques
provide the means to do exactly that, particularly with respect to the
spatial information, by allowing 3-D coordinates of photographed features to
be accurately gathered, with a precision of about 0.4cm, and archived in an
information system. This greatly enhances the flexibility of data usage,
allowing it to be translated and interpreted in many different forms,
including output as drawings or as 3-D CAD models. Geographical Information
System (GIS) represent a highly relevant branch of information technology.
GIS support the import of geospatial data from a variety of sources,
including imagery. An appropriate environment for providing the spatial
information needed by architects working with historic buildings and
archaeologists might be soft-copy photogrammetry coupled with, or linked to,
GIS, forming an Archaeological/Architectural Information System (A/AIS). The
practical methodology for using digital terrestrial photogrammetry in sites
of archaeological and architectural interest depends on the location,
position, shape, size, dimension, accuracy and location of the object. More
specifically guidelines have emerged from the author’s investigations in the
presented project, the Hunter Memorial (located at the
University of Glasgow)
survey was with a digital camera.
Keywords:
AutoCAD-A/AIS-GIS-Digital-Photogrammetry-Imagery-Technology.
Title of the Paper: Application of
Seismic Tomography Techniques in Dam Site
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Authors: Kambiz Teimoornegad, Neda
Poroohan
Abstract: In this paper seismic data obtained from several boreholes located
at Nimroud dam site in the east part of Tehran,
was used to model 2D tomography of the subsurface model. To increase the
accuracy in the modeling procedure, back projection , damped least squares
and smoothest function method were used and their results were compared. The
back projection method is an approximation weighted solution , while the
second method is based on the damped least squares operator. The third method
is more stable for estimation of the model parameter than the two previous
mentioned methods. Analysis of the model sensitivity showed that , variation
of the final residual time with respect to the obtained velocity values
diagrams from four boreholes at dam axis differs from the other diagrams.
These differences are between 25 to + 10 percentage greater values. The
geological information , sample core from the boreholes as well as the
velocity values abnormality obtained at the study area were attributed to a
hidden fault at the dam site area.
Keywords: Seismic
Tomography , East of Tehran , Back Projection method ,Damped least square
method , smoothest function ,fault.
Issue 10, Volume
4, October 2008
Title
of the Paper: How do Small
Firms from European Rural Regions Learn and Innovate?
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Authors: Marisa Cesario,
Maria Teresa De Noronha Vaz
Abstract: Contrarily to big firms, small firms interact intensively with the
territory in which they located, as a signal of their embeddedness. The
particular tight links they develop with their external environment reduce
uncertainty risks. In general, for them, geographical and sociological
proximities constitute the main sources of assets and information determining
their perspectives and strategic choices. The present study uses a set of
enquires, developed within the framework of a European research project, with
the purpose of modelling the determinants of innovation in a bi-univocal
relationship of interdependencies between small firms and their environmental
contexts. We dealt mainly with lagging regions and a panel of 323 firms from
the agro-food sector, located in 11 different European rural regions from six
different countries. Using a set of variables able to characterise the
innovative processes and through the application of k-mean clusters
statistical analysis, it was possible to detect behavioural patterns towards
innovation among those firms. Non-innovators, pioneer innovators and follower
innovators were the identified patterns. Using cross tabs analysis between
those patterns and a set of attributes dealing with the importance of human
capital, the profile of each group were drawn.
Key words: patterns of
innovation, determinants of innovation, regional innovation systems, rural
areas.
Title
of the Paper: Prediction of Parametric Value of Drinking Water of Hyderabad
City by Artificial Neural Network
Modeling
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Authors: Marisa Niaz. A.
Memon, M. A. Unar, A. K. Ansari, G. B. Khaskheli, Bashir A. Memon
Abstract:
- In order to ascertain the quality of drinking water of the city of
Hyderabad one of the
significant parametric values of the drinking water was predicted. Like other
parameters Electrical Conductivity (EC) is also imperative. The determination
of electrical conductivity provides a prompt and expedient way to measure the
accessibility of electrolytes in the water. There are swayed health effects
on human life through these electrolytes, like disorder of salt and water
balance in infants, heart patients, individuals with high blood pressure, and
renal diseases. Salty taste is one of the aesthetic effects of EC if it
exceeds 150 mS/m and if greater than 300 mS/m it does not slake the thirst.
The drinking water supplied to Hyderabad
city is taken from River Indus and the EC of this river remains questionable.
The values of EC in drinking water of Hyderabad
at selected locations were recorded. From 49 samples, the average values
ranged from 658 to762. In order to determine the optimal value of EC with in
the distribution system, where it deteriorates, it is necessary to predict it
at different locations. The use of conventional methods to predict parametric
values in the distribution systems is suffered from certain precincts. To get
better drinking water quality by tumbling operational costs, Advance process
control and automation technologies are the tools to be used normally. The
application of Artificial Neural Networks in Water Supply Engineering is
enticing and more accepted because of its high predictive accuracy. In this
paper Radial Basis Neural Network has been demonstrated. The data sets were
prepared for training the model. It was observed that the model has high
predictive potentiality to predict the values of Electrical conductivity at
07 locations of distribution system of water supply in Hyderabad city. The removal of noisy and
uninformative input variables from the data improved the efficiency of the
network.
Key-Words:
- Electrical Conductivity, Drinking water, Distribution System, ANNs, RBF,
modeling, prediction Hyderabad..
Title
of the Paper: Methanol
Blends as Motor Fuels
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Authors: Charalampos I. Arapatsakos, Anastasios N.
Karkanis, Panagiotis D. Sparis
Abstract:
- In this paper will be examined the use of gasoline-methanol mixtures in a
four-stroke engine, which is used for the move of an alternative generator.
In the tests the gas emissions and the fuel consumption, where examined at
idle and under full load(1KW) conditions. Specifically, the mixtures:
gasoline, gasoline-10%methanol 20%methanol, gasoline-30%methanol,
gasoline-40%methanol, gasoline-50%methanol, gasoline-60%methanol, and
gasoline-70%methanol where tested, without any regulation of the engine
relatively to the air/fuel ratio, maintaining the original adjustment that
concerned gasoline was maintained. An important reduction of emissions was
noted while the percentage of the methanol was increased. During the tests
the fuel consumption was recorded for every mixture separately and for every
load condition. It was observed a small increase of consumption when the
percentage of methanol in the fuel was increased.
Key-Words:
- Gas emissions, Methanol, Biofuels.
Title
of the Paper: Emissions and
Fuel Consumption when Gas Propane is used as Fuel
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Authors: Charalampos I.
Arapatsakos, Anastasios N. Karkanis, Panagiotis D. Sparis
Abstract:
- At the following essay it will be examined the use of gas propane in a small
four-stroke engine of internal combustion that is used for the movement of a
small alternative generator. The generator functioned at different electrical
loads 500W, 1000W, 1500W and 2000W. During the use of propane was observed CO
and HC emissions decrease under different load. The flow of propane was
regulated so as until the load of 2000W the behavior of the engine from the
aspect of efficiency to be the same with that of gasoline. This means that
when gasoline was used and also when propane was used the engine rpm were the
same for every electrical load. During the tests, the consumption of gasoline
and propane was recorded and it was observed that it increased when the
electrical load was increased. The gas propane consumption that was recorded
was that which gives the same behavior of the engine from the aspect of power
that the manufacturer gives for the use of gasoline.
Key-Words:
- Gas emissions, Propane, Biofuels, Fuel consumption.
Title
of the Paper: The Earth Dam
Overtopping Risk Model and Computational Method for Tow Reservoirs in Series
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Authors: Lijuan Zhang,
Zhong Li, Zhaohe Chen, Suping Peng
Abstract:
In this paper, the earth dam overtopping risk theory for cascade reservoirs
is developed considering all uncertainties of inflow flood, wind wave,
reservoir storage, discharge capacity and interactions between two
consecutive reservoirs. The theory for cascade reservoirs is generalized from
the overtopping risk theory for single reservoir developed by previous
researchers. A computational method for risk, called AFOSM-JC method for
cascade reservoirs, is developed according to the risk computation method such
as Direct integration, Monte Carlo, MFOSM, AFOSM, Rackwitz—Fiessler(JC), WU
method, and so on. A case study for two existing reservoirs in series is
given by applying the method and corresponding computational procedure
presented herein. In the application the overtopping risk is calculated for a
series of cascade reservoirs including Xiao Nanhai and Zhang Wu reservoirs;
and the possibility of driving up the limiting level before flood (LLBF) is
discussed.
Key-Words:
Overtopping risk , reservoirs in series , AFOSM-JC method ,safety reliability
, earth dam.
Title
of the Paper: Soy Oil as
Fuel in a Four Stroke Engine
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Authors: Charalampos Arapatsakos, Dimitrios
Cristoforidis, Anastasios Karkanis, Konstantinos Mitroulas
Abstract:
- Due to the fact that petroleum is decreased in nowadays and also the fact
that the environment sustains a lot of damage, it is necessary to be replaced
by renewable fuels that can be used in the engines and are friendlily to the
environment. This paper examines the use of diesel-sun oil mixtures in Diesel
four-stroke engine. The mixtures used are the following: diesel-5% soy oil,
diesel-10% soy oil, diesel-20% soy oil oil, diesel-30% soy oil, diesel-40%
soy oil, diesel-50% soy oil. For those mixtures the gas emissions of carbon
monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen monoxide (NO) are being measured
and the fuel consumption is also examined.
Key-Words:
- Gas emissions, Soy oil fuel, Biofuels
Title
of the Paper: Tractor Engine
and Gas Emissions
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Authors: Charalampos I. Arapatsakos, Theofanis A.
Gemtos
Abstract:
- The following experiment is based on the gas emissions (CO, HC, NOx) of a
farm tractor with diesel engine. It has been used a laboratory investigation
in order to loud the tractor engine and measure the emissions by using Diesel
fuel. Then the tractor was used for ploughing a field and the exhaust
emissions were measured. According to measurements an estimation of the total
emissions produced during field works were made for winter wheat and maize
for silage crops under Greek conditions. The results showed that considerable
emissions are produced contributing to environmental pollution. CO emissions
are much higher than HC and NOx.
Key
words: Diesel engine, Emissions, Farm tractor, Field works.
Title
of the Paper: The Operation
of Pump Using Alcohol as Fuel
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Authors: Charalampos I.
Arapatsakos, Theofanis A. Gemtos
Abstract:
- The following document examines the four-stroke gasoline engine, which is
used for the operation of a small irrigation pump. The engine was fuelled by
gasoline and gasoline-10%ethanol mixture. During the experiments air
pollution caused by the engine and its fuel consumption was measured. The
engines’ power output was estimated by measuring the discharge produced by
the pump keeping the pressure stable. A series of laboratory instruments was
used for the realisation of the experiments and the results showed that the
use of gasoline-ethanol mixture results in a CO and HC reduction. Engine
speed was decreased and fuel consumption increased when alcohol petrol
mixture was used, but not significantly.
Keywords:
Gasoline-ethanol mixtures, Gas emissions, Biofuels.
Issue 11, Volume
4, November 2008
Title
of the Paper: Traditional Environmental Architecture in Re-Use: The
“Courtyard of Miracles” in Athens, Greece
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Authors: Nikolaos
Charkiolakis, Aggeliki Koumna, Maria Leni, Manos Mikelakis, Maria Psallida
Abstract:
While working out an architectural research on a quarter of buildings called
the “Courtyard of Miracles” in Athens, the Directorate of Restoration of
Modern and Contemporary Monuments revealed and studied certain 19th century
methods of environmental cooling, heating and insulating the houses.
Therefore, the Restoration Service faces a double challenge: it has to
preserve the traditional ways of environmental architecture and propose
contemporary methods of maintaining the thermal balance, taking into account
the re-use of the whole quarter as a museum. New suggestions should not offend
the traditional ones, but on the contrary they should bring them out.
Keywords:
Traditional Building, Heritage Architecture, Ecological Restoration, Historic
Sites
Title
of the Paper: Historical Preview of the Recreational Parks and Botanical
Gardens of Athens, Greece
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Authors: Nikolaos
Charkiolakis, Manos Mikelakis, Maria Psallida
Abstract:
This paper aims to make a historical and landscape architectural preview of
the recreational parks and botanical gardens of 19th century in Athens. The
Royal Garden, known today as National Garden, the Haseki’s Farm and
Heptalophos land are Queen’s Amalia main projects, through which she tried to
contribute to the development of liberated Greece. Amalia, the first Queen of
Greece cooperated with architects, botanologists and gardeners and followed
certain principles and European movements like the German Romantic Historism
for their formulation. Zappeion Gardens are a miniature version of French
style parks. The benefactors E. and K. Zappas contributed to the construction
of Zappeion Hall and Zappeion Gardens which bring out the beauty of the
historical landscape of Ilissos riverside area.
Keywords:
Romantic Historism, Royal Garden, Hasekis’ Farm, Heptalophos, Zappeion Gardens
Title
of the Paper: Tower as an Architectural and Urban Planning Dominant in the
Cultural Landscape of Poland
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Authors: Renata Gubanska
Abstract:
The tower-type buildings have been present in human life since the beginning
of conscious construction activity. As early as in the first settlement units
the towers were used as perfect observation points. In the Middle Ages the
towers became characteristic of Polish towns. They almost symbolise the town
where they were constructed. In Poland over the centuries the towers have
become more and more popularly used as architectural and urban planning
dominants. The preserved towers have an interesting structure and unique
architectural details. These features and also the fact that the towers
constitute history of architecture, our cultural heritage and properties
bequeathed to us by our ancestors make us protect the towers from damage, thus
preserving the richness of Polish, and consequently, European, cultural
landscape.
Keywords:
Αrchitectural predominant, cultural landscape, Polish towns, space structure,
urban predominant
Title
of the Paper: The Disposal of Biosolids and Water Treatment Residuals on
Soils of Arid Regions: Effect on Wheat Biomass and P and Al Availability
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Authors: E. A. Elkhatib,
A. M. Mahdy
Abstract:
Land co-application of biosolids and WTR is a new concept. Therefore,
information on the effect of co-application of biosolids and WTR on plant
growth and elements uptake are very limited especially in alkaline soils. A
glasshouse experiments was established to evaluate the effects of
co-application of WTR and biosolids on agronomic performance of wheat crop
grown in alkaline soils as well as P and Al plant concentration and uptake,
and to improve management of industrial and toxic wastes and provides
environmentally sound guidelines for their disposal. The results indicated
that increases of 47, 359 and 55 % in total dry matter yield were achieved as
a result of applying 40 gkg-1 WTR and 10 gkg-1 biosolids to clay, sandy and
calcareous soils respectively. In all studied soils treated with a constant
biosolid rate 10 gkg-1, application of 20 gkg-1 WTR significantly increased
plant P concentration in the plant materials. Combined analyses of all soils
,all treatments of biosolid and WTR rates studied indicated clearly
significant relationships between ABDTPA P concentration and P uptake (r =
0.81, p < 0.001). Application of WTR combined with biosolid showed significant
increases in extractable Al in all the soils studied. However, application
rates of WTR and biosolid did not increase extractable Al in amended soils
beyond 6.06 mg Al kg-1.
Keywords:
Biosolids, Water treatment residuals, Phosphorus, Aluminum, Availability
Title
of the Paper: Exploratory Research Regarding the Evolution and Nowadays
Condition of Romanian Eco-Businesses
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Authors: Camelia Ioana
Ucenic, Laura Bacali
Abstract:
Survival in a continuously changing market depends on its development and not
on diversification of the present supply. In this context, to be
entrepreneurial is equivalent with having the capacity to create new products
that will motivate consumers. The entrepreneur is defined as “somebody who
starts his own business of small dimensions.” It is a mistake to assume that
the entrepreneurial system and innovation are natural and spontaneous
phenomena. The good aspect is that the entrepreneurial system can be learnt.
This means that the firm has to be receptive to innovation and perceive the
change as an opportunity not as a threat. It is believed that the
entrepreneurial system is very risky. The eco-businesses are poorly
represented in Romania, in comparison with the average of EU. The increase of
weight of eco-industries is among the development objectives in medium and
long run. Romania has to implement a plan of 28 actions for promotion of
eco-technologies and increase their competitiveness. There continue to exist
obstacles in the manner of the expansion of eco- market such as the still
low-scale production, a reduced range of products, higher prices (up to 150 %
more) than for standard products, low level of consumer information and low
promotion level. In spite of all these aspects it is a great potential in the
medium and long term. An exploratory research was carried out in order to
evaluate the state of Romanian ecological producers. The survey had 18
questions. The aim of this exploratory research is to offer information for
the set-up of a new eco-business. The Romanian eco-businesses understood the
necessity of development and implementation of the latest patterns in order to
assure a sustainable development of the business. The entrepreneurs are
conscious about the poor state of it in comparison with other European
companies.
Keywords:
Eco-business, eco-market, eco-product, entrepreneurship, exploratory research,
sustainability, survey
Title
of the Paper: Modelling Emission Scenarios Variations: An Inert-Mode
CALGRID Long-Term Application over the Florence Metropolitan Area to Improve
PM10–Related Air Quality Standards
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Authors: G. Gualtieri,
C. Busillo, F. Calastrini
Abstract:
The RAMS-CALMET-CALGRID modelling system developed by the LaMMA consortium has
been used as a supporting tool in the framework of the “MODIVASET” project
promoted by the Tuscan Regional Government with the aim of modelling emission
scenarios variations. The system is based on the RAMS meteorological model
forecasting and the CALGRID photochemical grid dispersion model, being
suitably modified for the present work to be applied for inert pollutants. As
a matter of fact, the attention was paid to particulate matter (PM10) primary
component, as well as Nitrogen Dioxides (NOx), which is one of main precursors
of PM10 secondary inorganic component. Both pollutants have been treated as
inert ones. A one-year long-term application of RAMS-CALMET-CALGRID has been
carried out over the Florence metropolitan area, Italy. The study area is
49x40 Km2 wide, featuring a 1-Km spaced 3-D computational grid. The main
project’s aim is to assess possible air quality improvements after a number of
interventions on emission scenarios have been planned by local authorities.
Therefore, basing on IRSE regional emission inventory, two PM10 and NOx
emission scenarios have been set: a present one, updated to 2003, and a future
one, projected to years 2010-2012, where “business as usual” emission
variations are supposed to occur. All types of emission sources have been
taken into account, i.e. point, line and area (split into 4 sub-categories)
ones. This enabled single contributions brought by any to be assessed, as well
as the overall one. Summarizing, a total of 28 run combinations (2 scenarios
by 2 pollutants by 7 source categories) have been performed by the modelling
system. CALGRID-calculated PM10 and NOx concentrations resulting from present
and future emission scenarios have been compared, both in terms of spatial
pattern over the study area and local one to a number of chemical stations.
The final result was a general NOx concentration reduction in the order of
10?35%, particularly effective over the Florence and Prato urban areas. On the
contrary, primary PM10 concentrations proved to decrease, about 15% over the
Florence urban area, as well as increase, 10?15% over the mountainous area
Northwest to Pistoia. Summarizing, the proper use of an integrated modelling
system proved to be a fundamental tool for planning emission scenarios
variations to improve air quality standards. Moreover, methodologies
implemented and results achieved in the present paper are in agreement with
other similar scenarios analysis works.
Keywords:
Air quality planning, Emission scenarios, Dispersion models, PM10, NOx,
CALGRID, RAMS,
Title
of the Paper: Gaseous Pollutants Removal by Combined Ionizing and
Non-ionizing Radiation Treatment
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Authors: Daniel
Ighigeanu, Diana Martin, Ioan Calinescu, Constantin Matei
Abstract:
The paper presents the test results obtained for SO2, NOx and VOCs removal at
semi-pilot scale by combined electron beams (EB) and microwaves (MW) induced
non-thermal plasma processes, named EB+MW-NTP. Also, it is described a
demonstrative installation consisting of an EB source of 1.8 MeV and 10.8 kW,
a microwave source of 2.45 GHz and 4.2 kW and a reaction chamber of 1.102 m x
0.73 m x 0.243 m inner dimensions, in which are injected both, EB and MW. For
VOCs removal is used combined EB+MW-NTP and catalytic oxidation, named EB+MW-plasma
catalysis, by introducing a catalyst bed at the bottom end of the reaction
chamber. The high power EB and MW sources are able to activate the catalyst
without additional heat supply. The EB+MW-NTP process, compared with separate
EB-NTP or separate MW-NTP process, provides higher pollutants removal
efficiencies. The results suggest that chemical reactions driven in both types
of plasma, EB-plasma and MW-plasma, complete and sustain each other at a
higher rate level in the case of pollutants treatment by EB+MW-plasma.
Keywords:
SO2, NOx, VOC, Catalyst, Electron Beams, Microwaves, Combined Treatment
Title
of the Paper: Depreciated Food Treatment by Combined Ionizing and
Non-Ionizing Radiations
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Authors: Diana Martin,
Gabriela Craciun, Iulian Togoe, Elena Manaila, Daniel Ighigeanu, Adelina
Ighigeanu
Abstract:
The combined effects of ionizing radiations (electron beams of 5.5 MeV) and
non-ionizing radiations (microwaves of 2.45 GHz) on the inactivation of total
number of germs (TNG) and moulds in depreciated food such as wheat bran, wheat
flour and minced beef are presented. The following types of treatments were
performed with electron beams (EB) and microwaves (MW): separate EB
irradiation, separate MW irradiation, successive irradiation (EB irradiation
followed by MW heating) named (EB+MW), successive irradiation (MW heating
followed by EB irradiation) named MW+EB and simultaneous irradiation with EB
and MW named S(EB+MW). The first interesting experimental result is that the
microorganism’s survival fraction diminishes exponentially with EB dose for
the separate EB irradiation while for the separate MW irradiation the
microorganism’s survival fraction exhibits an oscillatory decrease versus MW
dose: periods of microorganism inhibition are followed by periods of
microorganism stimulation. The second important result is that all combined
irradiation procedures such as S(EB+MW), followed by MW+EB and then by EB+MW,
cause greater reduction of NTG and mould survival fractions than separate EB
irradiation or separate MW irradiation. The S(EB+MW) treatment type produces
the maximum reduction of NTG and moulds. The third important result is that
the EB dose level could be reduced by a factor in the range of 1.5-2.5 by
combined EB and MW irradiation.
Keywords:
Waste food treatment, Electrons, Microwaves, Combined irradiation
Title
of the Paper: A Comparative Review of Stormwater Treatment and Reuse
Techniques with a New Approach: Green Gully
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Authors: Sharmina Begum,
M. G. Rasul, R. J. Brown
Abstract:
Water restrictions are currently in place in most of the major cities of
Australia in response to the severe drought. In order to manage water
resources in a sustainable manner and to help reduce the restrictions,
developing methods to recycle and reuse the stormwater and effluent
water/waste water has become an important and urgent issue. This paper
presents a review of the available stormwater treatment and reuse techniques
and introduces a new technology known as ‘Green Gully’ that collects, purifies
and reuses stormwater throughout an automated network system. The component of
Green Gully along with experimental set-up and procedures are described.
Preliminary experimental result on performance of Green Gully is provided and
discussed. A comparative study of available treatment measures with respect to
advantages, disadvantages and pollutant trapping efficiency is presented and
discussed. This paper also highlights the current stormwater reuse techniques
to reduce the water crisis. Conclusions based on a comparative study of
stormwater treatment measures and reuse techniques are presented, which will
be useful for stormwater researchers, planners and stormwater management in
general.
Keywords:
Stormwater management, Stormwater treatment, Stormwater reuse, Stormwater
quality improvement device (SQID), Pollutant, Water restriction, Road Gully,
Green Gully.
Title
of the Paper: Thermodynamic Analyses for Optimizing the Design of HTGR's
Helium Brayton Cycles
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Authors: Florin Alexe,
Victor Cenusa
Abstract:
The paper analyzes the close-circuit Brayton (Joule) cycles for High
Temperature Gas (Helium) cooled nuclear Reactors (HTGR). Analyzed cycles are
with Regenerative Heat Exchanger (RHE), Fragmented Compression and
Inter-Cooling (FC&IC). The HTGR imposes the working agent and hot source’s
parameters. The cooling conditions give the cycle’s minimal temperature. In
the 1st paper’s section, for ideal processes cycles, we show that: A) the
boundary parameters and design schemes inflict: A1) the compression ratios
(e), A2) the specific net work per 1 kg He (wnet), and A3) the thermal
efficiencies ( th); B) the performances are increasing with the IC’s number.
In the 2nd section we are taking into consideration the irreversibility’s
factors (temperature difference at RHE, revolving machines isentropic
efficiencies, and pressure drops) doing sensitivity analyses about their
influences on real processes cycle’s performances. We show that: 1) cycle’s
performances are not continuous growing with IC’s number, and 2) the main
influences on design’s option are given by: 21) the temperature difference at
RHE and 22) the pressure drops. In the 3rd section we adjusted all the quality
factors in a similar manner, reducing the irreversibilities, showing the
synergic influences. The 4th section relaxes the hot source’s restrictions. It
analyses the influence of HTGR output / input temperatures variation on the
main thermodynamic data, showing: a) the benefit of maximal temperature
increase and b) the need to correlate HTGR’s temperature increment output vs.
input with the maximal temperature. The final section contains the main
conclusions of the paper.
Keywords:
Brayton Cycle, HTGR, Irreversibility, Sensitivity Analysis, Numerical
Computation, and Thermodynamic Optimization
Title
of the Paper: Analysis of the Selected Processes for Hydrogen Production
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Authors: Miroslava
Smitkova, Frantisek Janicek, Juri Riccardi
Abstract:
Hydrogen is industrially produced mainly from fossil fuels by the natural gas
steam reforming, the coal gasification and as a by-product of the naphtha
reforming. In the future, with respect of a lack of fossil fuels, hydrogen
produced from water can play a very important role in the energy system. One
of the way how to produce hydrogen from water are water splitting
thermo-chemical cycles which replace thermal decomposition of water with
several partial reactions. In the study, two most promising water splitting
thermochemical cycles (Westinghouse cycle and Sulphur-Iodine cycle) were
compared with two different processes for hydrogen production (coal
gasification and coal pyrolysis). Results obtained from LCA of these processes
are reported in the paper.
Keywords:
Hydrogen production, life cycle analysis, water splitting thermochemical
cycles, Westinghouse cycle, Sulphur-Iodine cycle, solar energy, gasification,
pyrolisis
Title
of the Paper: An Analytical Methodological Framework for Managing Reverse
Supply Chains in the Construction Industry
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Authors: D. Aidonis, A.
Xanthopoulos, D. Vlachos, E. Iakovou
Abstract:
As the growing amount of waste created by the construction industry poses
severe environmental challenges, environmentally conscious construction
processes have emerged as an issue of increasing importance for both the
industry and society at large. The proper management of the construction and
demolition waste, which constitutes the major solid waste stream in the
European Union (apart from mining and farm waste) appears to be of great
merit. Reverse logistics and waste management offer the appropriate contextual
framework within which the problem can be tackled comprehensively. Towards
this effect, a conceptual framework is presented on the current status and
legislation in the field of construction and demolition waste management, as
well as on the optimal deconstruction and demolition practices of the endof-
life buildings with the goals of materials’ recycling and waste minimization.
In addition, a novel integrated decision-making model for the entire
construction and demolition supply chain is proposed starting from the
deconstruction and demolition decisions till the transportation of the
collected materials to potential recyclers/customers and waste disposal sites.
Finally, we conclude with a demonstration of the application of the developed
model is via a specific case study, and by discussing few interesting
managerial insights.
Keywords:
Construction industry; Deconstruction; Recycling; Decision-making;
Optimization; Reverse logistics; Waste management
Issue 12, Volume
4, December 2008
Title
of the Paper: Pollutant Dispersion Modelling for Portuguese River Water
Uses Protection Linked to Tracer Dye Experimental Data
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Authors: Antonio A. L.
S. Duarte, Rui A. R. Boaventura
Abstract:
Mathematical models are well known as useful tools for water management
practices, directly or indirectly related to the implementation of the Water
Framework Directive (WFD) in European countries. They can be applied to solve
or understand either simple water quality problems or complex water management
problems of trans-boundary rivers or multiple-purpose and stratified
reservoirs. Accidental spills of pollutants are of general concern and could
be harmful to water users along the river, becoming crucial to get knowledge
of the dispersive behaviour of such pollutants. In this context, the
mathematical modelling of dispersion phenomena can play an important role.
Additionally, a judicious selection of mathematical models for application in
a specific river basin management plan can mitigate prediction uncertainty.
Therefore, intervention measures and times will be established with better
reliability and alarm systems could efficiently protect the aquatic
ecosystems, the water uses and the public health. The main purpose of this
paper is to evaluate the performance of river water systems dispersion
modelling, based on tracer experiments data for calibration and validation.
The present work describes the methodology used in the monitoring programs,
basically consisting in the injection of a tracer dye (rhodamine WT) in an
upstream river section and follow-up of the dye cloud along the river to
determine the water dispersion behaviour in situ. The models were developed to
simulate different water quality management scenarios on each reach of the
three Portuguese rivers under study: Mondego, Douro and Tagus rivers. However,
further developments are needed for Douro and Tagus rivers in order to
simulate vertical and transversal dispersion processes and improve the model
correlation with the experimental data. The models were calibrated and
validated in order to produce operational tools used to estimate the
probabilistic leading edge/peak/tail times, the pollutant losses by
volatilization, adsorption, precipitation, etc. and remaining concentrations.
These tools allows to define, for example, how long water intake need to be
suspended after a pollutant spill and can be easily integrated in a future DSS,
which should be developed and implemented by each one of the river basin
management authorities. The good correlation between experimental and
simulated data allows us to conclude that the applied models are accurate
enough to describe and predict conservative pollutant transport under
different hydrodynamic scenarios. This methodology is appropriate to assess
the environmental impact of pollutant loads directly introduced into the
streams and, subsequently, to define and implement the best water sources
protection practices.
Keywords:
Dispersion modelling, Water uses protection, Rhodamine, parameter estimation,
Portuguese rivers
Title
of the Paper: Petri Nets Application for Management of Biodegradable
Components of Municipal Waste
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Authors: Robert Bata,
Ilona Obrsalova, Josef Volek, Ticiano Costa Jordao
Abstract:
The contribution presents the possibility of modelling by means of Petri nets
with the aim to find a solution, which would minimize the impact on
environment and maximize utilization of this component of municipal waste.
Various possibilities of separation, logistics and collection with technical
alternatives of these material flows solutions have been focused. There was
calculated one of possible situation for bio-waste fraction utilization and
potential environmental impacts estimated. Petri nets using gave good results
for regional decision making and offered quick tool for different scenarios
creating.
Keywords:
Petri nets, municipal waste disposal, municipal waste material utilization,
biodegradable waste, Umberto, LCA, material flow, modelling, composting.
Title
of the Paper: High Altitude Electrical Power Generation
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Authors: Guglielmo S.
Aglietti, Stefano Redi, Adrian R. Tatnall, Thomas Markvart
Abstract:
This paper investigates the technical feasibility of a system that could be
used to collect the solar irradiation at high altitude, convert it into
electricity, and then transmit it to the ground via a cable. As a first step
to assess the viability of this device, an estimate of the solar irradiation
that can be expected at a defined altitude above the ground is presented,
based on real atmospheric data. The study demonstrates that locating PV
devices at high altitude with the use of an aerostatic platform, could bring a
significant advantage in the production of electrical power, if compared with
a typical UK ground based PV system. The fundamental equations for a
preliminary design of the system are presented together with a first realistic
choice of the most relevant engineering parameters that need to be set. An
estimate of the cost of the system is provided and the possible risks
involved, applications, advantages and disadvantages of the technology are
assessed.
Keywords:
Solar Energy, Aerostat, Photovoltaic, Flying Electrical Generators, Energy
Conversion, Solar Radiation
Title
of the Paper: Mapping Air Quality: An Assessment of the Pollutants
Dispersion in Inhabited Areas to Predict and Manage Environmental Risks
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Authors: Carmen Leane
Nicolescu, Gabriel Gorghiu, Daniel Dunea, Lavinia Buruleanu, Virgil Moise
Abstract:
The momentary maximum concentration of the most important air pollutants
(nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and dusts) was determined
using the dispersion curves of the pollutants in the densely inhabited areas
of Dambovita County. In order to present the industry-wide potential impact of
air pollutants on the population and on the environment, maps showing air
pollution levels have been generated using gathered data and model
calculations. Emissions data were retrieved through an intensive survey
locating, characterizing and monitoring all important stationary sources.
Weather and wind can result in exposures that occur in different locations
from where the emissions actually occurred, and can create new pollutants due
to chemical reactions in the atmosphere. There were used on-line collected
meteorological and air quality data. Geo-applications were used to obtain
Digital Elevation Models from the corresponding orthophotos through
raster-vector conversion for each envisaged areas. Once an orthophoto has been
prepared, the images displayed are spatially attributed (accurately mapped)
and can be linked with any other data that is spatially attributed through
geographic information system (G.I.S.). New information, collected from a
combination of photo-interpretation, ground reconnaissance, and specific
measurements, were layered on top of the orthophoto for easy reference. A
Gaussian mathematical model allowed the calculation of the pollutants
dispersion in air in order to estimate the environmental risk situations. The
pollutant concentrations curves for various scenarios were overlaid on DEMs
indicating the most exposed inhabited areas to pollutants. With the aid of
measurements and scenarios, pollutant maps show the present and future air
pollution situation in Dambovita county with regard to various nocive
substances. The results presented in this paper are obtained in the frame of
the MEMDUR Project, which has as the main objective to design, develop, test
and implement in Dambovita County an advanced management system, which has to
assure the evaluation of the environmental risk in order to administrate the
crises situations.
Keywords:
Air pollution, MEMDUR Project, monitoring system, pollutant dispersion,
environmental risk
Title
of the Paper: A Model for Environmental Management in Arid Areas, with
Focus on Tourism Development - A Case Study of Desert Areas in Iran
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Authors: Ali R. Estelaji,
Majid V. Shariat Panahi
Abstract:
In spite of their prevalent fagile ecosystems, arid areas enjoy numerous
human-based and natural attractions that are in some cases unique in natural
world.
Finding of this study well reveal that arid areas of Iran enjoy a great number
of potential capacities, the most important of which are as follows:
-specific natural relief, including highlands, deserts, lakes, rivers,
springs, etc.
-vegetation coverage specific to arid areas, wonderfully adapted to its
natural environment;
-specific wildlife;
-Rural and urban architectural attractions, including for instance, existing
carevanseras, pavements and other tourism capabilities.
Regarding the available capacities for tourism development and the role it can
play in socio-economic and political aspects, necessary directions has been
provided for this purpose.Adequate investment can, thus, play a central role
in development of both domestic and foreign tourism activities.
Keywords:
Arid area, tourism sustainable development; tourism attractions; desert area
Title
of the Paper: New Methods for Recycling Plastic Materials from End-of-Life
Vehicles
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Authors: Denis
Panaitescu, Michaela Iorga, Adriana Ciucu, Sever Serban, Augustin Crucean,
Cristiana Bercu
Abstract:
The consumption of plastic materials is now 20-times greater than 50 years
ago. In the car industry plastic components are increasingly used to replace
metal. Recycling of plastic materials from end-of-life vehicles (ELV) is still
an unsolved problem. The most delicately problem in materials recycling from
ELV is the sterile recovering, which in present is sent at the municipal
waste, causing environmental problems. Some experimental results for
recovering plastic materials from bumpers are presented in this paper.
Different samples obtained from bumpers were analyzed and mechanical
characterized for the identification of polymers and their level of mechanical
strength and thermal stability. The recovered materials from ELV bumpers
presented a still high level of mechanical strength and a still good thermal
stability. New materials with interesting properties were obtained by
compounding these samples with wood flower and virgin polymers.
Keywords:
Plastic recycling, end-of-life vehicles, recycling technology, polypropylene,
DSC analysis, FTIR
Title
of the Paper: Native Regionalism in Development of Sustainable Resort in
Malaysia
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Authors: Zuhairuse Md
Darus, Siti Nurhidayah Abdul Manan, Nor Atikah Hashim, Roslan Saat, Azami
Zaharim, Zaidi Omar
Abstract:
Current growth in the tourism industry especially in the South East Asia
region has sparked the emergence of various resort amenities to cater for the
tourists’ needs. In vying for the influx of tourists, tourism spots and
destinations such as Bali, Phuket and Langkawi and other resort locations in
the region, strive to offer tourists a more culturally sensitive form of
travel accommodation. These infamous tourism and resort destinations has
distinctively portrayed the exquisiteness of the traditional regional
architecture as its prime development concept and resort identity. This
uniqueness interpreted an authentic aesthetical values and strong ethnic
cultural influence which is often translated into a concept known as
‘authentic regionalism’. The exquisiteness of the traditional Malay
architecture, known as Malay vernacular architecture, symbolizes decades of
richness of the Malays’ cultural heritage, creativities and civilization.
Traditional Malay designs interpreted strong aesthetical values and cultural
influence, which are relatively patterned from the Malays’ creative attitudes
together with their sensitivities and intimate relationships with their
surroundings. In other words, the industry strive to offer an environment as
‘local’ as possible without sacrificing creature comforts.
This paper will cover element of regionalism, approach, issue and character in
the tourism Architecture in Malaysia. It will also presents the analyses
primarily in regards of construction materials adapted in the development of
resorts in Malaysia as the fundamentals for sustainable development and how
successful the adaptation is in representing the Malay vernacular architecture
Keywords:
Tourism, Culture, Architecture, Development, Aesthetical, Regionalism,
Sustainable Development
Title
of the Paper: Investigation of Environmental Quality of Roads in Heraklion,
Crete
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Authors: Androniki
Tsouchlaraki, Eleftheria Zoaki
Abstract:
This paper analyzes the parameters that determine and affect the environmental
quality of urban roads. These parameters are grouped in five categories:
bio-climatic, urban planning, traffic parameters, artificial elements and
other parameters. After theoretically analysing all the parameters of the
above categories, they are tested in practice for 16 representative roads of
the urban complex of Heraklion. Following this, we compare the results of the
above-mentioned analysis that can be quantified and draw certain conclusions
for the current environmental quality of the roads examined and, by extension,
for all the roads of the urban complex of Heraklion. Based on these
conclusions, we propose certain interventions for upgrading the environmental
quality of the city's roads that are of relevance to the state, as well as to
the private sector.
Keywords:
Environmental quality, urban roads, bio-climatic, urban planning, traffic
parameters, Heraklion
Title
of the Paper: Key Success Factors in Implementing Renewable Energy
Programme in Malaysia
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Authors: Baharuddin Ali,
Kamaruzzaman Sopian, Chan Hoy Yen, Sohif Mat, Azami Zaharim
Abstract:
The high demand of energy of urban development has intensified the flow of
energy through the ecosystem. Due to the high energy prices, depletion of
fossil fuels and global warming impact of fossil fuels combustion, researchers
from all over the world have been urged to develop renewable energy
technology. Most of the renewable energy technologies are still not able to
compete with the conventional energy sources. Policies and strategies need to
be in placed to create renewable energy market and make the technologies
feasible. The widespread application of this technology can be enhanced by
employing several strategies namely (a) establishment of renewable technology
information services, awareness and capacity building programmes (b)
development of renewable technology market enhancement, infrastructure
development and demo projects (c) improvement of policy and financial
frameworks supportive for renewable energy technology market sustainability
(d) establishment of competitive local solar technology manufacturing
industries, enforcement of international standards for solar technology
components and enhancement R&D programmes
Keywords:
Renewable energy programme, key success, strategy, project implementation
Title
of the Paper: Review on the Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cells Materials
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Authors: Salwan S.
Dihrab, K. Sopian, A. Zaharim
Abstract:
Unitized regenerative fuel cell is a unique fuel cell can work in both
electrolyser and fuel cell in one cell at different mode, its useful in some
application in which the weight is an important issue. This article reviews
current literatures with the objective of identifying the latest development
in membrane and bipolar plate materials for the Unitized Regenerative Fuel
Cell (URFC). The result shows that the choice of both the bipolar plates and
the catalyst for URFC electrodes is a delicate task especially for oxygen side
because a very good candidate for fuel cell mode will not function well in the
electrolyser mode and therefore it is suggested that a compromise should be
considered. It is recommended that coated aluminum, titanium or titanium with
gold-coated layer to be very suitable candidates as the bipolar plate material
and IrOX , Ru or both with Pt is suitable for oxygen side catalyst in the
URFC.for hydrogen side conventional Pt even with carbon will function well for
both electrolyzer and fuel cell mode.
Keywords:
Fuel cell, bipolar plate, Unitized, titanium, membrane, catalyst
Title
of the Paper: The Impact of Renewable Energy Sources Penetration in
Achieving the Energy and Environmental Policy Goals in Greece
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Authors: Stavros Lazarou,
Kleanthis Noou, Konstantinos Siassiakos, Eleftheria Pyrgioti, Vassilis
Stylianakis
Abstract: An analysis of the measures capable of greenhouse gas control at
Greece is presented at this cohort. Greece is a member state of European Union
and is situated on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula. It operates a
capitalist economy that produced a GDP of $251.7 billion in 2006. The
principal economic activities mainly include the tourism and shipping
industries, banking & finance, manufacturing, construction and
telecommunications. The legal framework currently governing Renewable Energy
Sources (RES) electricity is Law 2773/99, which also sets the rules for the
liberalization of the electricity market in the country. Finally the Greek
energy system in relation to the energy policy goals is presented.
Keywords:
Renewable energy sources, energy policy, environment, greenhouse gas control
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