A data mining approach to deriving safety policy implications for taxi drivers

Introduction: Traffic safety issues associated with taxis are important because the frequency of taxi crashes is significantly higher than that of other vehicle types. The purpose of this study is to derive safety implications to be used for developing policies to enhance taxi safety based on analyzing intrinsic characteristics underlying the cause of traffic accidents. Method: An in-depth questionnaire survey was conducted to collect a set of useful data representing the intrinsic characteristics. A total of 781 corporate taxi drivers participated in the survey in Korea. The proposed analysis methodology consists of two-stage data mining techniques, including a random forest method, with data that represents the working condition and welfare environment of taxi drivers. In the first stage, the drivers’ intrinsic characteristics were derived to classify four types of taxi drivers: unspecified normal, work-life balanced, overstressed, and work-oriented. Next, priority was determined for classifying high-risk taxi drivers based on factors derived from the first analysis. Results: The derived policies can be categorized into three groups: ‘the development of new policies,’ ‘the improvement of existing policies,’ and ‘the elimination of negative factors.’ Establishing a driving capability evaluation system for elderly drivers, developing mental health management programs for taxi drivers, and inspecting the taxi's internal conditions were proposed as new policies. Improving the driver's wage system, supporting the improvement of rest facilities, and supporting the installation of security devices for protecting taxi drivers are methods for improving existing policies to reinforce the traffic safety of taxi drivers. Last, restricting overtime work for taxi drivers was proposed as a policy to eliminate negative factors for improving taxi traffic safety. Practical Applications: It is expected that by devising effective policies using the policy implications suggested in this study, taxi traffic accidents can be prevented and the quality of life of taxi drivers can be improved.     

EU policy on the move – mobility and domestic translation of the European Union’s renewable energy policy

We discuss how the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive was designed to be mobile, and how it was moved to and implemented in Finland by translating it to enhance wood-based energy production through specific subsidies. We study policy-making as a mobile process, which approach has its original roots in political science and more recent basis in political geography. The article aims to develop conceptual understanding of how the mobility of a supranational policy is generated and how a policy is translated into complex and contentious geographical contexts. We aim to show that mobility of a directive is enabled by an empty governance space which is aimed to be ‘filled in’ in each spatial context, and that the filling in process makes each translation a contentious and path-dependent process. In Finland, the selected policy tools and practices continued the path-dependent ways of favouring forestry industry’s traditional position as the primary utiliser of forest resources.     

Eco-efficiency assessment of options for metal recovery from incineration residues: A conceptual framework

Residues from municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration in Switzerland have been a hot topic in recent years, both in the research and practice communities. Regarded by many as an economically and environmentally sound solution to this issue, technological retrofitting of existing grate incinerators has the dual purpose of enhancing the metal recovery of bottom and fly ashes and improving the inertization of residues to be landfilled. How does context influence the economic and environmental performance of this particular technological option? Under which conditions would this technological option be implemented nationwide in the future? What are stakeholders’ views on sustainable transitions of MSW incineration? We propose a three-stage methodological procedure to address these questions.     

经济发展、能源消费与资源环境协调性分析规划环评案例研究

新疆作为国家重要的能源资源战略基地,面临水资源短缺,绿洲生态系统脆弱等多种资源环境制约因素。文章改进经济-能源-资源环境复合系统协调性分析模型,以《新疆维吾尔自治区“十二五”能源发展规划环评》为案例对象,研究新疆2001年-2009年经济发展、能源消费和资源环境的协调性历史演变过程,结合实际数据探讨其发展过程中呈现的特征,预测“十二五”末复合系统的协调度发展趋势,为新疆今后实现协调可持续发展给出对策建议。     

环境影响评价类型的发展

通过对区域环境影响评价（ＲＤＥＩＡ）及累积影响评价（ＣＩＡ）、战略影响评价（ＳＥＡ）的产生原因、概念、研究方法，研究状况等方面的介绍及与项目ＥＩＡ的比较，说明ＲＤＥＩＡ、ＣＩＡ、ＳＥＡ的兴起是实行可持续发展战略的要求．     

中国区域环境影响评价的发展

我国区域环境影响评价的发展，根据其理论方法研究和环境评价管理的进程，可分为提出、探索和开展３个阶段，并具有理论方法研究和环境评价管理建设密切配合，着重于规划控制技术和顺应发展中国家经济发展对环境管理的需要等发展特点。     

我国推动清洁生产的政策机制

针对我国目前推行清洁生产中的实际问题，提出了应由政策建立起综合强制，激励，压力，支持多种作用的政策机制，以推动企业清洁生产持续实施，结合我国具体的条件，建议了近期和远期的实施措施。     

我国环境保护中的公众参与问题研究

阐述了公众参与的内涵和意义，介绍了公众参与在国际法、外国和我国环境立法实践的发展和现状。从参与形式、参与领域、参与过程、参与组织方式和参与基础5个方面分析了我国环境保护中公众参与存在的问题，并从法制保障、参与渠道和公众素养3个层面提出了完善我国环境保护中的公众参与的对策。     

完善环境保护强制性政策的探讨

从目前我国实施强制性政策的现实必要性出发，合理界定强制性政策的科学内涵，剖析了其执行不力的症结与难点，探讨进一步完善、强化和实施的若干对策。     

前后对比分析法在战略环境评价中应用初探

分析战略环境评价基本内涵，提出战略环境评价实施框架，并重点分析了评价战略筛选与评价者确定、战略分析、战略环境影响识另与建立评价指标体系、战略环境影响预测与综合评价以及制定战略环境影响减缓措施等关键问题；初步研究了战略环境评价方法，重点研究前后对比 政策评价方法类型、特点及其在战略环境评价中的应用。最后以长春经济技术开发区战略为例进行实证分析。