An integrated method for the assessment of social sustainability in public-works procurement

Today, critical deficiencies hinder the effective inclusion of social criteria in public-works procurement. The primary reasons for this are the lack of information and objective social assessment methods in the construction industry. Hence, this paper proposes a method to assist agencies in including indicators and objective assessments of social sustainability in public-works procurement. This method applies to civil engineering projects in the infrastructure life-cycle construction stage using design-bid-build delivery. Eight social categories and 22 factors are organized into two organizational levels (project and company). Quantitative and semi-quantitative indicators are proposed to assess the social commitment of construction companies in their organizations and projects. Additionally, two aggregation formulas are established as assessment criteria in public-works procurement. The results highlight that the indicators' importance in assessing social commitment in a project can be defined depending on the local context. Moreover, the method to assess corporate social responsibility can also measure and compare a company's performance, regardless of size. The proposed method can be used in procurement procedures, helping public-works procurers develop transparent decision processes.     

滇池蓝藻水华监测预警平台设计

传统的人工监测无法实现大规模蓝藻的实时监测预警,该研究运用基于Python的ArcGIS Server自动发布地图服务、多元数据预警分析、人工水质监测数据预警分析等技术,以滇池为研究区,构建了水华预警系统。通过预警体系业务子系统和预警信息共享与发布子系统,结合滇池蓝藻水华监测预警综合数据库,实现了大规模蓝藻预警信息的实时生成、共享和发布,提出了地表变化动态监测预警的思路。系统建成后,通过对滇池流域生态红线预警范围内的地表覆盖变化情况监测,可及时发现导致水华发生的潜在陆源污染因素。同时配合排污点污染成分检测实现预警,从源头防止水华发生。     

龙江河流域水环境突发事件智能监控预警系统构建研究

系统调研分析广西龙江河流域内工业企业发展情况、重点污染源排污特征及流域污染监控现状,探索该河流域水环境突发事件智能化监控预警系统构建的思路。提出以水质常规五参数、有机物指标、富营养化指标、特征性指标、生物指标等为重点监控因子,根据全流域监控与分片监控相结合的原则,在现有的河流水质自动站基础上增加建设2座水质自动站。同时,结合龙江河流域的实际情况,提出运用新一代物联网技术构建智能化监控预警系统,实现立体感知、多维数据融合、数据高速传输、信息实时发布、超标预警、可视化展示、应急决策指挥等功能。     

基于SWOT分析的我国环境统计持证上岗制度发展对策

我国环境统计数据质量不高、质量保障体系缺乏、数据综合分析不足等问题都与环境统计人才队伍的规模、稳定性和综合素质密切相关。文章从环境统计持证上岗制度内部条件的规范化管理,到外部环境制度的推行等方面进行了SWOT分析。制定了以加强环境统计岗位管理、设置获取证书的缓冲期限、建立激励配套机制和完善培训考核机制4条途径为核心的环境统计持证上岗制度综合发展策略,对提高环境统计人员的综合素质,实现环境统计体系的制度化和规范化均具有良好的促进作用。     

吉林省地方生态环境标准体系研究及发展思考

地方生态环境标准是国家生态环境标准的有效补充。以吉林省为例,通过系统研究地方生态环境标准体系现状,发现吉林省地方生态环境标准存在体系不健全、黑土地分布区生态环境协同保护待加强、标准的全过程管理机制待加强等问题,提出加强顶层设计,完善地方生态环境标准体系,并推动东北黑土地分布区地方生态环境标准体系协同发展,紧跟政策完善重点区域和流域污染物协同管控标准,强化标准宣贯等发展构想,可为其他地区生态环境标准体系构建工作提供参考。     

Application of remote sensing data and GIS for landslide risk assessment as an environmental threat to Izmir city (west Turkey)

In this study, landslide risk assessment for Izmir city (west Turkey) was carried out, and the environmental effects of landslides on further urban development were evaluated using geographical information systems and remote sensing techniques. For this purpose, two different data groups, namely conditioning and triggering data, were produced. With the help of conditioning data such as lithology, slope gradient, slope aspect, distance from roads, distance from faults and distance from drainage lines, a landslide susceptibility model was constructed by using logistic regression modelling approach. The accuracy assessment of the susceptibility map was carried out by the area under curvature (AUC) approach, and a 0.810 AUC value was obtained. This value shows that the map obtained is successful. Due to the fact that the study area is located in an active seismic region, earthquake data were considered as primary triggering factor contributing to landslide occurrence. In addition to this, precipitation data were also taken into account as a secondary triggering factor. Considering the susceptibility data and triggering factors, a landslide hazard index was obtained. Furthermore, using the Aster data, a land-cover map was produced with an overall kappa value of 0.94. From this map, settlement areas were extracted, and these extracted data were assessed as elements at risk in the study area. Next, a vulnerability index was created by using these data. Finally, the hazard index and the vulnerability index were combined, and a landslide risk map for Izmir city was obtained. Based on this final risk map, it was observed that especially south and north parts of the Izmir Bay, where urbanization is dense, are threatened to future landsliding. This result can be used for preliminary land use planning by local governmental authorities.     

Land User Participation in Developing a Computerised Decision Support System for Combating Desertification

Combating desertification in natural rangelands has recently become a priority in large parts of southern Africa. Rangeland managers, farmers, scientists, conservationists and land users have been applying a variety of restoration technologies to address this problem. Bush encroachment, as part of the desertification process, involves the natural replacement of the herbaceous plant cover by undesirable problem woody species. The active and passive restoration technologies that are applied, are mainly based on indigenous knowledge and include the chemical, mechanical or manual reclamation of unproductive rangelands, as well as the combating of woody and alien species encroachment. Indigenous practices and knowledge play a major role in the effectiveness and success rate of these technologies. This project faces the challenge of bringing together both local and scientific knowledge in a single user-friendly, computerised Decision Support System (DSS) which is directly accessible by land users to support them in the process of decision making, concerning the combating of desertification. Case studies from central and northern Namibia were used to combine qualitative and quantitative data to develop this Decision Support System. The DSS currently consists of two databases and an expert system, which evaluates the results of land users’ management practices, and provides easily accessible information and advice for participants in the system, based on the incorporated data. The DSS is also linked to national and international web sites and databases to offer a wider range of information on technologies concerning agricultural and conservation practices.     

An environmental stress information system

This paper reports on the development of an environmental stress information system (ESIS) for the purpose of storing, updating and analysing environmental stress data related to noise, heat, improper illumination and air contaminants. The information system (ESIS) consists of a set of programs as well as a set of data base files for the purpose of efficient data processing. The system is user-friendly and, once started, guides the user with the help of menu-driven options. All data related to noise, heat, illumination and air contaminants can be entered, updated, displayed or printed in certain specified formats. Finally, the use of the ESIS in evaluating air contaminants such as total suspended particles, certain specified metals and inorganic gases in the Jeddah Industrial estate is also reported.     

新疆温室气体排放清单编制浅析

本文旨在介绍温室气体排放清单的编制方法及应用建议,重点介绍了在编制过程中排放因子本地化研究成果,并得到以下结论:新疆温室气体排放清单编制工作已形成常态化机制,相关工作流程已经基本完善;在将来的工作中,可以将温室气体排放结果应用到政策研究和目标考核当中,通过网络化建设和本地排放因子研究进一步提高工作效率和编制水平.     

Residential Construction, Land Use and the Environment. Simulations for the Netherlands Using a GIS-Based Land Use Model

The present generation of geographical information systems supports strategic planning processes in several ways. They are able to store, manage and analyse the enormous amount of data needed. Another more output-oriented use is the visualisation of the diversity of locational preferences and perspectives of different interest groups and stakeholders. For the simulation of (more indirect) effects of autonomous or planned developments land use modelling can be applied. A step further is the definition and implementation of a set of indicators that show the impact of land use change on different aspects of space and the environment in order to facilitate the (political) discussions, that are an essential part of strategic planning.This paper focuses on the application of a GIS-based simulation model in the framework of the Fifth National Physical Planning Report in the Netherlands. The simulation model generates future land use in the Netherlands given several growth scenarios and a spatial strategy that comprises both foreseen strategic and autonomous developments. Special attention is paid to residential construction because this is expected to be one of the major driving forces in land use changes. An analysis of residential construction for the period 1980–1995 reveals that residential construction has been relatively concentrated in areas close to existing urban areas. New town policies also played a rather strong role during this period. The presence of natural areas (woods and wetlands) plays a significant though limited role in the choice where to build new dwellings. The simulation results for the year 2020 are used to assess the effects of land use changes for a range of environmental indicators.     

Community air monitoring for pesticides. Part 1: selecting pesticides and a community

The CA Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) developed methods to select pesticides and a community to fulfill criteria for an ambient air monitoring study it conducted as part of the CA Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Justice Action Plan. Using a scoring system, CDPR evaluated 100 pesticides based on statewide-reported pesticide use, volatility, and priority in CDPR's risk assessment process (indicators of exposure and toxicity) to produce a list of pesticides to consider as candidates for monitoring. The CDPR also evaluated and scored 83 communities based on demographics and health factors, availability of cumulative impacts data, and reported pesticide use to create a list of community candidates. The scores provide relative rankings to distinguish more highly impacted communities from less impacted ones and to identify which pesticides might contribute most to potential adverse health effects. These methods use criteria that can be quantified, validated, and verified in order to provide a transparent and fair selection process. Based on public comments and highest scores, CDPR recommended 40 pesticides (including some of their degradation products) and one community for its yearlong monitoring study. The CDPR then further refined its list of pesticides by soliciting input from local and technical advisory groups. The CDPR plans to use these methods to select pesticides and communities in future monitoring activities.     

地级市环境监测站信息系统建设构想

分析国内环境监测业务和环境监测信息化建设的现状和发展趋势,提出地级市环境监测站信息系统的监测业务、数据中心、综合应用3层构架思路,对信息系统各层次的主要功能作出描述,着重对环境监测业务系统的集成和分工进行阐述。进行环境监测信息系统建设,在先进性、安全性、稳定性和可扩充性等方面满足地级市环境监测部门今后相当长一段时期内的信息化建设需求。     

Revising river water quality monitoring networks using discrete entropy theory: the Jajrood River experience

This paper aims at evaluating and revising the spatial and temporal sampling frequencies of the water quality monitoring system of the Jajrood River in the Northern part of Tehran, Iran. This important river system supplies 23% of domestic water demand of the Tehran metropolitan area with population of more than 10 million people. In the proposed methodology, by developing a model for calculating a discrete version of pair-wise spatial information transfer indices (SITIs) for each pair of potential monitoring stations, the pair-wise SITI matrices for all water quality variables are formed. Also, using a similar model, the discrete temporal information transfer indices (TITIs) using the data of the existing monitoring stations are calculated. Then, the curves of the pair-wise SITI versus distance between monitoring stations and TITI versus time lags for all water quality variables are derived. Then, using a group pair-wise comparison matrix, the relative weights of the water quality variables are calculated. In this paper, a micro-genetic-algorithm-based optimization model with the objective of minimizing a weighted average spatial and temporal ITI is developed and for a pre-defined total number of stations, the best combination of monitoring stations is selected. The results show that the existing monitoring system of the Jajrood River should be partially strengthened and in some cases the sampling frequencies should be increased. Based on the results, the proposed approach can be used as an effective tool for evaluating, revising, or redesigning the existing river water quality monitoring systems.     

浅谈公路建设期的环境保护

随着可持续发展的观点被越来越多的人们所接受,公路建设中的环境保护问题日益引起更多人的关注.本文根据公路工程建设中对沿线环境产生的影响因素进行分析,结合现场监测中发现、总结出的实际情况,提出了公路建设中环境保护的内容和要点.     

Water quality assessment programs in Australia deciding what to measure,and how and where to use bioindicators

Effective water quality assessment programs require the formulation of common objectives between managers who are making decisions and scientists who are obtaining the information on which those decisions are to be made. The data collected must be apropriate for use in the decision making process. After the objectives have been formulated a number of testable hypotheses can be proposed and evaluated in terms of what information is required for decision making.From a management perspective it is important to know if an impact occurs and what management strategy to adopt to reduce or eliminate the impact. When bioaccumulators are used to indicate environmental quality the organisms proposed need to be fully evaluated before being used. Communities, which are often used to assess levels of impact, have the capacity to assimilate pollutants and they will function under pollutant stress. Thus managers need to make value judgements about when a community structure or function has shifted from acceptable to adverse. Bioassays in which the effects of pollutants on growth, biochemistry and behaviour are measured, give an indication of the sub-lethal effects of a pollutant, but it is difficult to set meaningful levels that are not to be exceeded for use by managers.Difficulties in using chemical and biological data mainly arise from a lack of appreciation of environmental heterogeneity. The data obtained must meet the needs for statistically testing hypotheses. Before programs can be designed to meet statistical needs the potential sources of variability must be considered. Once the minimum differences that are seen as important have been determined, the number of replicates needed can be calculated. Data verification is also needed, as if the validity of data is questioned, so will any decisions that have been made based on those data. Finally programs should be designed to minimize the sampling effort/cost to meet the objectives.     

Hierarchy of factors affecting the social perception of dam reservoirs

This study presents an assessment of factors that influence how people who live in the vicinity of dams view such projects. The usefulness of the principal component analysis (PCA) method for identifying variables that determine individuals' opinion about large dam projects was reviewed. The study focuses on people affected by the construction of the Mucharski Reservoir in the Polish Carpathians. The construction took over 30 years and took place at a time when Poland transitioned from a planned economy to a free market one.We used in-depth interviews (N = 96) and a set of 18 factors classified as personal, emotional and economic. Our results indicate that the variables that significantly affect social perception of dam projects by the local population include their opinion regarding the viability of the project, sense of security, personal benefits, the extent to which they have accepted the structure, respecting the local community's interests when drafting the development plans and new opportunities. The results allow for the future optimization of research tools used to comprehensively examine social perception of hydraulic structures. Using PCA allowed us to take semi-structured data from interviews and extract meaningful relationships between the various inputs, show correlations between seemingly unrelated data, as well as explain the variances within the studied population. It also shows that PCA can be a useful tool for analyzing data that is not formally structured.     

Coupling Climate Damages and GHG Abatement Costs in a Linear Programming Framework

The paper discusses the coupling of non-linear non-convex damage costs due to climate change with a cost-efficiency analysis based on a technical-economic linear programming model like MARKAL and studies the implications for the computation of cooperative and non-cooperative solutions. Our empirical analysis of climate damages based on different world emissions levels and paths prove (a) that the dependency of damages on the trajectory of emissions may be neglected, so that the only relevant variables are the cumulative emissions in each country, and (b) that a linear relationship links regional damages and cumulative global emissions. Based on these results, cooperative and non-cooperative equilibria can be much more easily calculated by solving local optimization problems in a case where international trade effects of GHG policies are neglected: given the linearity of damage functions, each country chooses its non-cooperative strategy by considering only the part of its own damage cost due to its own emissions; in the cooperative case, each country takes into account its contribution to the damages done to all countries. Of course, any cost-benefit conclusion that will be produced by this approach is fully dependent on the damage functions. Also, this approach may be extended to the case where trade effects are modeled.     

长三角区域环境空气质量预测预警体系建设的思考

世博会期间长三角区域空气质量自动监测网络和数据共享平台的成功搭建和有效运行,为探索长三角区域空气质量预测预警长期合作模式提供了宝贵的经验和启示。需要建立全方位区域空气质量监测网络和数据资源共享系统、源排放清单、开发区域多模式集合预报系统,构建区域多层面运作机制和会商制度,建设一批专业技术和复合型人才队伍。区域不同层面有效的管理体制机制的保障是区域环境空气质量预测预警体系的基础支撑。     

Research on deep integration of application of artificial intelligence in environmental monitoring system and real economy

Environmental monitoring, modeling, and managing allow a better understanding of major processing and techniques for managing environmental changes. The pollution level has risen over time due to many factors such as a rise in population and the use of the vehicle, industrialization, and urbanization that have a direct impact on people ‘s health. Hence, in this paper, Artificial intelligence assisted Semantic Internet of Things (AI-SIoT) has been proposed using a wireless sensor network (WSN) for the environmental monitoring system and the real economy. The Artificial Intelligence technique can very effectively analyze data and make precise decisions on the provision of services in different types. This study provides a mathematical framework for the analysis of interdependent aspects of the WSN protocol for communication and design of signal processing. The Internet of Things (IoT) based framework comprises the complete information system from the sensor level to data management about the environment. The experimental results show that the proposed method provides an effective way to analyze the long-term monitoring of environmental data. The proposed AI-SIoT method using the WSN method enhances accuracy(95.6%), performance(98.7%) increase efficiency (93.7%) with reliability (97.4%) when compared to other existing methods.     

Exposure to rubber process dust and fume since 1970s in the United Kingdom; influence of origin of measurement data

The objective of this study was to compare measured concentrations of rubber process dust and rubber fume originating from different sources in the British rubber manufacturing industry. Almost 8000 exposure measurements were obtained from industry-based survey results collected by the British Rubber Manufacturers' Association (BRMA), and covering the years 1977 to 2002, and from a series of small surveys contained in the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) National Exposure Database (HSE-NEDB) from 1980 to 2002. The analysis investigated temporal trends in the exposure concentrations and the underlying main factors responsible for these changes. Analyses were carried out using hierarchical linear mixed effects models. Average personal exposures to rubber process dust and rubber fumes were respectively a factor 2 and 4 higher for the HSE-NEDB data when compared to data originating from the industry (BRMA data). Personal exposure to rubber process dust decreased on average by 4.1% (95% CI 4.7-3.6) annually for the BRMA data and slightly less at 2.3% (95% CI 5.2-0.7%) per annum for the HSE-NEDB data. Personal exposure to rubber fume also showed a downward temporal trend of 2.9% (95% CI 3.6-2.3%) and 4.8% (95% CI 7.4-2.1%) annually for the BRMA and HSE-NEDB data, respectively. These trends differed considerably between departments. No major changes in the estimated temporal trends in exposure concentrations were observed after including the presence of local exhaust ventilation in the models for any department in the BRMA and HSE-NEDB datasets. Lack of information on the quality and status of the local exhaust ventilation is the most likely explanation for this. In conclusion, even though there were relatively similar downward time trends in both rubber process dust and fume concentrations in both datasets, the source of exposure data was an important determinant of average exposure concentrations present in the British rubber manufacturing industry. Lack of detailed auxiliary information on company size, reason for sampling, measurement strategy and other potentially important determinants of exposure prevented an explanation for the observed differences in exposure level.