Noise pollution monitoring during Diwali festival in Golden city Jaisalmer of Rajasthan, India

Noise is an important pollutant of environment causing various health hazards. In the present study, ambient noise levels were measured in two different areas within Jaisalmer city viz., commercial and residential area, on festive day and non-festive day (after) of Diwali. The results of noise level monitoring revealed the fact that due to higher amount of firecrackers on Diwali festival noise level was enhanced. The average equivalent noise level was increased from 61.94?dB to 72?dB (A) and 64.68?dB to 73.74?dB (A) on festive day, respectively, in selected residential and commercial areas, where noise was 30 and 13.44?% higher than standards of Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi for residential and commercial areas, respectively.     

油气田噪声对环境的影响

噪声对人体在生理及心理上的危害和影响是相当严重的。随着油气田开发建设的进展，油气田环境噪声污染日益引起人们的关注。弄清油气田噪声污染及治理现状，正确预测噪声污染的发展趋势，将有利于噪声污染的控制和治理。通过对1986年以来油气田噪声监测数据的统计，详细阐述了区域环境、功能区及道路交通三方面的噪声污染现状，指出交通、工业、施工和生活等噪声源是我国城市目前主要的噪声污染源，预测了我国噪声污染将继续增大的发展趋势并提出了相应的控制和治理措施以及改革建议。     

住宅遭受交通噪声污染时开发商应承担的民事责任初探

从分析住宅遭受交通噪声污染时开发商民事责任的性质入手,探讨了现行声环境质量标准对开发商的适用性和合理性,阐明了开发商的责任范围,提出了完善住宅声环境质量标准的建议。主要结论:目前我国尚缺乏合理的约束开发商的住宅声环境质量标准;开发商的隔声减噪义务主要包括留出与道路之间的防噪距离和采取安装隔声窗、封闭阳台等隔声措施;应将门窗封闭状态下的室内噪声限值颁布为住宅声环境质量标准。     

A preliminary study on solid waste generation at Har Ki Pauri,Haridwar, around the Ardh-Kumbh period of sacred bathing in the river Ganga in 2004

The amount of solid waste in the vicinity of the river Ganga increased rapidly during the festive days of Ardh-Kumbh. The initial amount of solid waste was 775.0 kg, observed on 30th January 2004 in the Har Ki Pauri area, which increased to 4,550.0 kg on the main bathing day of 4th May 2004, showing nearly a six-fold increase. The total amount of solid waste collected during nine days of observations was 23,865.0 kg. The rate of solid waste generation fell sharply during the following week, after the main bathing day, and was found to be 1,155.0 kg, which is still about 14.90% higher than the initial value.     

STORM WATER RUNOFF QUALITY FROM THREE LAND-USE AREAS IN SOUTH FLORIDA1

ABSTRACT: Storm water runoff studies of three small basins (20, 40, and 58 acres) in the Fort Lauderdale area of Florida were conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1974–78. The basins were homogeneously developed with land uses being: commercial, single family residential, and high traffic volume highway. Synchronized data were collected for rainfall, storm water discharge, storm water quality, and bulk precipitation (rainfall plus dry fallout) quality. Analysis of the storm water discharge data showed that most runoff was from impervious areas hydraulically connected to drain inlets. Regression analyses of the storm water discharge and water quality data indicated that storm loads from the single family residential area correlated strongly with peak discharge and length of antecedent dry periods. Storm loads from the highway area correlated strongly with rainfall and less strongly with peak discharge and antecedent dry periods. Storm loads from the commercial area correlated strongly with peak discharge and rainfall, and less strongly with antecedent dry periods. On a unit area basis, the single family residential area yielded the largest loads of nitrogen, phosphorus, and dissolved solids. The commercial area yielded the largest loads of lead, zinc, and chemical oxygen demand. Yields of carbon were about the same for the three areas. Constituent loadings derived directly from the atmosphere were estimated on the basis of bulk precipitation samples and compared with storm runoff loads from the highway and commercial areas.     

AN ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE LAND DEVELOPMENT AROUND LAKES1

ABSTRACT: The objective of the study was to evaluate alternative land developments around New Hampshire lakes. Alternative development patterns, evaluated by their impacts on the lake area environment and area economy, included residential patterns, commercial patterns, and combinations of these two types. Phosphorus loading of the lake water was used as a proxy variable for changes in the lake water quality. Commercial developments yielded the highest revenues to the town and the local area. It also attracted the most lake users to the area as well as contributing the largest phosphorus loading in the lake waters. Residential developments, although contributing high revenues to the businessmen in the area, yielded less net income to the town. Phosphorus loading levels from residential developments were much lower than lake phosphorus loading by commercial developments.     

城市居民区配套设备噪声频率特性分析

对绵阳市某居住区典型的配套设备噪声源进行分析，选取变配电房噪声、车库噪声、电梯井噪声、电梯控制室噪声、家用空调室外机、水泵房等6种典型噪声源。分析这些噪声源的频谱及低、中、高频段的能量比率。结果表明，各声源最大声压级所在频段以低频段最多（6种典型噪声中占5种），最大能量分布频段也是以低频段最多（6种典型噪声中占5种），因而低频噪声已经成为居住区中影响最大的噪声源。     

油田区域交通噪声污染现状分析

通过对油田中心区域主要交通干线昼间交通噪声及环境噪声的监测分析,找出噪声的污染现状,及对人们生活、学习产生的影响,为改善中心区域的交通噪声污染,提高人们的生活质量提供了监测依据。     

大连市交通噪声环境质量二级模糊综合评价

采用基于模糊数学的综合二级评判方法评价大连10条城市道路交通环境噪声污染程度。结果表明，受交通噪声冲击影响最大的是西安路大连商业城居民小区路段，影响最小的是如意街大连商业城居民小区路段，与实际调查结果基本一致，体现了该评价方法的合理性和科学性。     

湛江市农村居民点用地面积变化及驱动力分析

利用湛江市1996—2005年农村居民点用地面积数据及相关社会经济数据,在分析农村居民点用地面积变化的基础上,采用主成分分析法对其进行了驱动力分析。结果表明,近十年来湛江市农村居民点用地总面积呈逐年上升的趋势,而农村居民点人均用地面积总体呈减少趋势。湛江市农村居民点用地面积增加主要集中在徐闻、吴川和市区。湛江市农村居民点用地面积变化主要受农村人口增长、农村经济发展、农业结构调整、农村交通发展和乡镇企业发展等因素的影响。     

Multicriteria decision support in a technology competition for cleaning polluted soil in Helsinki

Due to expansion of the capital area in Finland, industrial areas are being replanned for residential and commercial use. The soil in these areas is sometimes contaminated, and must therefore be cleaned before building. In spring 1997 the City of Helsinki and the National Technology Agency of Finland declared a contract-based competition for cleaning the polluted soil of the planned Toukolanranta residential area. Nine proposals entered the competition, and the problem was to choose three best candidates for test-cleaning a small part of the region considered. The winner of the test-cleaning phase will get the contract for cleaning the whole area. The proposals were evaluated based on five criteria defined by the competition board consisting of eight experts. The finalists were chosen aided by the SMAA-2 Stochastic Multicriteria Acceptability Analysis technique. SMAA-2 is a method for analysing what kind of preferences favour each alternative. This method is particularly useful in applications, where it is difficult or impossible to obtain accurate preference information. In this application SMAA-2 was observed to suit well for choosing a small set of best alternatives with different strengths and weaknesses.     

WATER USE RELATIONSHIPS AND PROJECTION CORRESPONDING WITH REGIONAL GROWTH,SEATTLE REGION1

ABSTRACT: The paper outlines both the methods used and the results obtained in a study of the demand for municipal and industrial water for the Seattle region. The study was made as part of a regional water management study program, one objective of which is to “… identify, quantify, and set priorities for all current and future water uses …”. A basic concept in the study of municipal and industrial water use is that the demand for water is derived from the demand for output and the direct services that water provides. Principal characteristics of the study are: (1) Water use is studied by type - residential, commercial, industrial and public -with identification of factors affecting each; (2) Water demands are studied by season as well as on an annual basis; (3) Projections of future water use are tied directly to projections of economic change in the service area; and (4) The effects of alternative policies on water use are estimated. Water use levels are projected under alternative regional growth assumptions provided by the Puget Sound Governmental Conference, a regional planning agency. Thus, the water use planning is consistent with other regional planning programs in this respect. The results can be varied according to changes in specific factors affecting water use. The factors considered in the present study include: single-family residential lot size, distribution of population between single- and multi-family units, per capita water use by multi-family unit residents, and industrial and commercial water use per employee. An income elasticity of demand was estimated for single-family residential water use.     

Objective exposure to road traffic noise,noise annoyance and self-rated poor health – framing the relationship between noise and health as a matter of multiple stressors and resources in urban neighbourhoods

Borrowing from concepts of socio-environmental epidemiology and psychology, we conceived self-rated health as a function of multiple physical and psychosocial stressors and resources at the residential neighbourhood and individual level. In this model of multiple stressors, objective exposure to road traffic noise was specified as a physical stressor whose effect on health may be mediated and modified by residents’ subjective response to noise (serious noise annoyance). Self-reported hearing disability, recreational coping in green areas and residential neighbourhood satisfaction were examined as additional psychosocial stressors or resources, independently of socio-demographic and -economic factors. Results from our empirical analysis based on two studies and multivariable logistic regressions might support the idea that environmental planning should overcome sectoral boundaries and adopt an integrative approach including objective exposures, residents’ subjective responses, and perceived resources.     

我国农村居民点整理潜力测算方法研究进展

农村居民点整理是我国农村土地整理的重要内容之一，已成为当前土地整理工作的重要组成部分，引起众多学者的关注。在阅读大量相关文献资料的基础上，结合近年来我国农村居民点整理研究现状，针对其中的农村居民点整理潜力及其测算方法这一技术问题进行了简要综述，并就存在的问题及未来的发展趋势进行了探讨。该研究不但有助于农村居民点整理工作的开展，而且可完善其理论研究。     

FECAL COLIFORM SOURCE ASSESSMENT IN A SMALL,MIXED LAND USE WATERSHED1

ABSTRACT: This study presents the results of fecal coliform (FC) sampling in the Rawls Creek, South Carolina, watershed during 1999 and 2000. The work was undertaken because the watershed is listed on the 303(d) list for South Carolina due to FC excursions. The watershed is 43.8 percent residential, 35 percent forest, 5.7 percent mixed urban, 4.9 percent commercial, and 4.8 percent agriculture. Samples were taken at 15 stations during eight field trips divided into two phases to characterize FC inputs from subbasins and to integrate results from upstream sampling. FC concentrations ranged from 135 to 730 colonies/100 ml. Results suggest that retention ponds in the area are a significant factor in attenuation of FC concentrations. Catchments with the largest contiguous impervious areas are the greatest source of FC. The highest concentrations of FC were observed at stations just downstream from a large detention basin that intercepts storm runoff from a large commercial area. Further analysis of the design and performance of that structure is suggested. The Koon Branch tributary is less than 20 percent of the land area in the watershed but may contribute 40 percent of the fecal loading. The results of this study confirm the importance of site assessments to aid understanding of nonpoint source pollution in complex watersheds.     

A ComprehensiveNoise Management Strategy for an Urbanized River Catchment

The Brisbane River serves multiple functions in both its upper catchment and its lower reaches. The lower reaches are highly urbanized where the river flows through Australia's third largest city, and here the river sustains transport activities, waste water disposal, a port, and both motorized recreation and active and passive non-motorized recreation. In the city the river also serves as a locality for community events, as a cultural icon and as a residential neighbour. Many of these functions are spatially and temporally congruent and, amongst other issues, this congruency has the potential to generate significant levels of noise conflict. This paper describes the approach adopted to assess the nature and extent of noise conflicts and to develop a comprehensive strategy of noise management-allas part of a larger scheme for an integrated approach to manage the Brisbane River and its catchment. Noise management strategies recommended for implementation include noise zoning of the river, planning and approval processes for land-based waterway facilities, noise planning and approval processes for residential and other noise-sensitive uses, codes of practice for rowing and similar activities, as well as the more conventional approach of regulatory limits on river-based noise sources. The paper demonstrates that a wide range of strategies are necessary to handle complex pollution problems of this sort, and provides a model of comprehensive action for management of noise from river-related activities that may find application elsewhere.     

WATER PRICE RESPONSIVENESS OF COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS1

ABSTRACT: Pricing policy in water allocation has become of more concern as some areas find water is indeed a scarce resource. Demand estimates, where the quantity purchased-value in use relationships are of concern, have been made in other studies for residential, industrial, and agricultural uses in many areas of the country. The price-quantity relations for water use in commercial firms are estimated and discussed for several different types of stores in this study. A derived demand model is used to estimate commercial demand in the Miami, Florida, area. The price elasticity was generally low (inelastic) for all groups studied except for department stores. This group was found to have an elastic demand for water at all prices above $0.93 per thousand gallons purchased per month, where the mean price for this part of the sample was $1.24. The major implication of the study is that commercial establishments may be responsive to price changes over the long run, much as has already been shown for other types of user groups in other studies.     

Low-impact development for impervious surface connectivity mitigation: assessment of directly connected impervious areas (DCIAs)

Urbanization increases directly connected impervious area (DCIA), the impervious area that is hydraulically connected to downstream drainage by closed pipelines. Although the benefits of low-impact development (LID) have been examined in other studies, its effect on alleviating DCIA levels has seldom been assessed. This study measured the DCIA of urban watersheds in Houston, TX, USA. Five land-use types were categorized and the contribution of LID facilities to reducing DCIA in each type was estimated by using Sutherland's equations. The results showed (1) DCIA in commercial areas was greater than that in residential areas, especially for big-box retailers; (2) the percentage of DCIA reduction by LID varied by land-use type; and (3) optimal combinations of LID application could maximize the effectiveness of DCIA reduction. The results contribute to prioritizing land-use type for implementing LID practices and providing local governments with a useful measure to estimate runoff volume.     

WATER CONSERVATION IN CASABLANCA,MOROCCO1

ABSTRACT: This study examines water consumption characteristics in Casablanca and analyzes approaches for sustainable water demand management. Research procedures involve the development and estimation of water demand models for the residential/commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors; forecasts of water demand to 2010; and simulation of the effects of a complex of water conservation methods on the forecasted demands. The results indicate that residential/commercial water demand is weakly responsive to price changes (elasticity =?0.448) while institutional water demand is slightly more responsive (elasticity =?0.648). The conservation approaches used in the simulations included public education, plumbing code revisions to require use of water conservation devices, leak detection and repair, pricing policy, metering, and pressure reduction. The results indicate that considerable saving in water use can be attained through a comprehensive water demand management program.     

Use of Small-area Data to Support a Community Agenda in Boston Chinatown

Boston Chinatown is a community that grapples with a constant pressure from the downtown area to build new and larger buildings. The effort to preserve the residential aspect of Chinatown has used data analysis in recent years by forming partnerships with academics. This has allowed for more sophisticated studies of traffic injuries, scientific surveys of residents about environmental health, the measurement of noise levels and the construction of physical and electronic mapping of data. While not the only factor contributing to the community's efforts to question the role of development, these data have added useful tools that reduce, but do not eliminate, the disparity between what the community brings to discussions about the environmental impact of development and what the developers have at their disposal.