IMPACT OF FLOOD HAZARD ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUES IN GALT (CAMBRIDGE), ONTARIO1

ABSTRACT: This study is an examination of the relationship between flooding and property values for an urban community in southwestern Ontario which has a lengthy history of flooding. As well, peoples’perceptions of the effect of flooding on property values is discussed. Analysis of sales prices and assessment data demonstrated no statistically significant differences in values of property for residences located in high- and low-risk areas either before or after a major flood in 1974. With both the high- and low-risk areas, sales prices after the 1974 flood were significantly higher than sales prices before the flood. The perceived property values followed a similar pattern. We concluded that differences in flood risk and flood experience did not adversely affect actual or perceived long-term property values.     

ISOLATING THE RANDOM RAMSTORM COMPONENT FROM BASIN RESPONSE FACTORS IN RAINFALLRUNOFF DATA1

ABSTRACT: Gaged watersheds can provide information as to geomorphic, and geologic influence on the spatial variability of rainfall-runoff relationships. However, correlations between raingages distributed throughout the basin, and stream discharge are influenced by both storm patterns and drainage basin characteristics. Factor analysis has been applied to rainfall-runoff relationship to isolate the storm pattern from a basin response factor. Comparing two periods of time separated by eight years reveals relative stability in the rainfall attenuation (basin response) factor, while storm patterns for the two periods of record are quite disparate.     

RESERVOIR OPERATION THROUGH OBJECTIVE TRADE-OFFS1

ABSTRACT: Water resource development has progressed to the stage where various human factors are now being considered in reservoir design and operation. The introduction of human factor objectives complicates the problem since they are noncommensurate with other objectives and they are difficult to identify quantitatively. Some of the problems that now arise concern the proper methods for consideration of several different, sometimes subjectively identified, objectives in reservoir planning. The classical systems analysis approach to decision making for multiple objective problems is outlined and the inherent difficulties associated with multiple objectives and subjective estimates are identified. Techniques being used in reservoir design and operation are reviewed and discussed. An alternate technique for considering noncommensurate, subjectively identified, objectives, which relates the objectives in terms of real trade-off costs and eliminates the need for a priori estimates of objective worth is then presented. The method is illustrated with three examples, including a reservoir operation problem and a cooling tower design problem.     

Net Present Biodiversity Value and the Design of Biodiversity Offsets

There is an urgent need to develop sound theory and practice for biodiversity offsets to provide a better basis for offset multipliers, to improve accounting for time delays in offset repayments, and to develop a common framework for evaluating in-kind and out-of-kind offsets. Here, we apply concepts and measures from systematic conservation planning and financial accounting to provide a basis for determining equity across type (of biodiversity), space, and time. We introduce net present biodiversity value (NPBV) as a theoretical and practical measure for defining the offset required to achieve no-net-loss. For evaluating equity in type and space we use measures of biodiversity value from systematic conservation planning. Time discount rates are used to address risk of non-repayment, and loss of utility. We illustrate these concepts and measures with two examples of biodiversity impact–offset transactions. Considerable further work is required to understand the characteristics of these approaches.     

江苏省地理标志概况与价值评估体系构建研究

以江苏省43个地理标志为研究对象，根据国家地理标志的分类方法对其进行分类，构建价值评估体系，探讨地理标志产品的内在价值及发展重点。研究表明，江苏省地理标志类型较为单一，分布均匀；开发程度不同，可分为开发匮乏型、有待开发型和开发成熟型。通过价值体系评价可见，江苏省应重点挖掘产品的自身特色，发展价值意义突出的地理标志。     

Benzene Exposure Assessment at Indoor, Outdoor and Personal Levels. The French Contribution to the Life MACBETH Programme

Many VOC represent hazards to human health through chronic exposure. Recent European and world-wide legislation proposes limit values for ambient concentrations of these compounds. However, very little experimental data exists for true population exposure. In 1996, the European MACBETH initiative set out to measure population exposure to benzene in six European cities. This study details the French contribution to this program. Six campaigns were carried out, each comprising measurements at 100 outdoor sites and the participation of 50 non-smoking volunteers who wore personal samplers and had passive monitors installed in their homes. Iso-concentration maps were drawn for each campaign and the results showed that outdoor concentrations were significantly lower than indoors. Almost 75% of the volunteers were exposed to mean concentrations higher than the limit value of 5µgm³. It is demonstrated that personal exposure levels cannot be deduced simply by combining indoor and outdoor background concentrations. It is also shown that there is need for better knowledge of the contributions to overall exposure of outdoor microenvironments and the authors hope that future European directives will take this into account.     

An evaluation of selenium concentrations in water, sediment, invertebrates, and fish from the Solomon River Basin

The Solomon River Basin is located in north-central Kansas in an area underlain by marine geologic shales. Selenium is an indigenous constituent of these shales and is readily leached into the surrounding groundwater. Portions of the Basin are irrigated primarily through the pumping of selenium-contaminated groundwater from wells onto fields in agricultural production. Water, sediment, macroinvertebrates, and fish were collected from various sites in the Basin in 1998 and analyzed for selenium. Selenium concentrations were analyzed spatially and temporally and compared to reported selenium toxic effect thresholds for specific ecosystem components: water, sediments, food-chain organisms, and wholebody fish. A selenium aquatic hazard assessment for the Basin was determined based on protocol established by Lemly. Throughout the Basin, water, macroinvertebrate, and whole fish samples exceeded levels suspected of causing reproductive impairment in fish. Population structures of several fish species implied that successful reproduction was occurring; however, the influence of immigration of fish from low-selenium habitats could not be discounted. Site-specific fish reproduction studies are needed to determine the true impact of selenium on fishery resources in the Basin. The U.S. Government’s right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty free license in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

环境准入门槛设置与指标体系构建实证

根据统筹协调、生态优先、地域差异、管理可行性等原则,从前置性和控制性两个方面,选取包括时序、空间、容量、投资规模、排放总量与强度以及资源、能源消耗标准等要素指标,建立环境准入指标体系;并以江苏省为例,根据指标门槛设置的标准和依据,进行指标门槛的定量测算。初步得到:重点企业最低投资准入、重点区域和重点污染行业环境准入指标测算值,以期为政策制定者提供可资借鉴的依据。     

杉木观光木混交林群落的能量生态

对杉木观光木混交林群落能量的研究结果表明：混交林中观光木地上部分灰分含量以皮最高，而杉则以叶最高，两者GCV（干重热值）和AFCV（去灰分热值）均以叶为最高；观光木、杉木地下各部分的灰分含量均随径级的减小而增加，GCV均以粗根最高，细根最低；观光木的平均灰分含量高于杉木，但GCV和AFCV均低于杉木；从乔木层、灌木层到草本层，灰分含量依次增加，GCV和AFCV则依次降低，混交林群落的能量现存量公占群落的很小一部分，而其能量年净增量、归还量和净固定量却占有一定比重，混交林群落的太阳能转化率为1.57%，而纯林为1.44%，表明杉观混交林是一种能量生产力较高和维持地力能力较强的杉阔混交类型。同时，混交林的能量累积比大于纯林，能量流动速率则低于纯林；乔木层的能量累积比高于林下植被，能量流动速率则低于林下植被，从能量的角度看，构建合理的群落结构必须选择高能量累积比的乔木层树种，同时须促进能量流动速率快的林下植被的发育以维持和提高地力。     

低碳消费偏好与低碳产品需求分析

低碳消费方式是低碳经济的重要环节,本文对低碳消费偏好和低碳产品需求及其影响因素作了理论分析和实证研究.首先对低碳产品的消费偏好进行了分析,低碳产品消费偏好的两个最重要特征是二元价值结构的产品和超越基本价值的消费偏好,在此基础上构建了低碳产品效用函数.然后根据低碳产品效用函数给出了低碳产品的一般需求模式,结合低碳产品置信度变量的引进,构建了一个具体的低碳产品需求函数,并对低碳产品需求函数进行分析,揭示了低碳产品需求的一些基本性质.为了验证低碳消费理论分析的结论,做了低碳产品消费的问卷调查.对问卷调查进行统计分析,结果表明:收入越高,对低碳产品支付的价格就越高;低碳产品的环境价值置信度越高,意愿支付价格就越商；低碳产品碳排放量降低越多,低碳产品需求价格就越高.最后,结合以上分析,从低碳宣传和公益广告、设立低碳产品标准、鼓励低碳产品技术研发角度提出了促进低碳消费发展的政策建议.