Urbanization and its impact on groundwater: a remote sensing and GIS-based assessment approach

The perils of unplanned urbanization and increasing pressure of human activities on hydro-geomorphologic system often result in modification of the existing recharge mechanism, which leads to many environmental consequences. In the present research, an attempt has been made to investigate the applicability of remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) in dealing with spatial and temporal variability of dynamic phenomena, like urbanization and its impact on groundwater. This paper covers primarily, quantitative and qualitative impacts of urban growth on the behavior of aquifer in Ajmer city (India). Urban growth of the Ajmer city in last 17 years has been estimated from the satellite images. Database related to urbanization and groundwater has been created in GIS. Groundwater recharge has been computed using a water balance approach known as Water Level Fluctuation Methodology. Recharge estimation methodology has been implemented in GIS to introduce the spatial variability of hydro-geological characteristics. Further, temporal and spatial variations in groundwater quality and quantity have been correlated with urban growth using overlay analysis in GIS. The study reveals a general decline in water table and quality with urbanization. Further, remote sensing and GIS technologies have been found useful in assessment of spatial and temporal phenomena of urbanization and its impact on groundwater system.     

长江干线船舶碰撞原因的故障树分析一以武汉海事局辖区水域为例

以2007年武汉海事局辖区船舶碰撞资料为基础，利用故障树分析方法构建该水域船舶碰撞故障树，进行定性、定链分析，得到包括航行疏于戒备、车舵控制失误、疏于了望等14个主要危险因素及各因素的相关事故数。在故障树分析的基础上，构建布尔代数和最小割集，计算各危险旧素的概率重要度，以衡精各危险因素发生概率的变化给碰撞事故发生概率带来的影响；计算临界重要度，从敏感度和概率双重角度衡量每个危险因素的重要度。通过分析发现应急操作不当、违反其他规定、航行疏于戒备、违反分道通航、疲劳驾驶等人为因素是引起该水域船舶碰撞的重要原因。建议船公司重视船员应急培训，提高船员应急处置能力，海事管理机构加大相关法规宣传力度和监管力度。     

Design considerations for environmental sustainability in high density development: a case study of Hong Kong

This study has indicated that there is close relationship between development density and environmental quality; therefore, it is necessary to decide the form of development carefully beforehand. The form of development is shaped either by new development or urban renewal which is a major tactic nowadays adopted by the Hong Kong Government to improve the living condition of the citizens and the quality of the built environment. This study is limited to urban renewal and aims to find out the major urban design considerations for sustaining the environment. Through a questionnaire survey carried out in Hong Kong, the opinions of architects, planners, property development managers, and local citizens were sought and evaluated, and critical design factors for enhancing environmental sustainability of urban renewal projects are highlighted. The results derived from factor analysis indicated that certain design considerations should be incorporated for sustaining the urban environment. “Land Use Planning”, “Quality of Life”, “Conservation & Preservation”, “Integrated Design”, “Provision of Welfare Facilities”, and “Conservation of Existing Properties” were believed to be the significant underlying factors for achieving environmental sustainability of local urban renewal projects. Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

A methodology for assessing urban sustainability: Aalborg commitments baseline review for Riga, Latvia

Both the Aalborg Commitments and the guidance on integrated urban environmental management and sustainable urban transport plans proposed by the EU Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment foresee a baseline review as the first step in developing integrated urban management plans and systems. A baseline review of urban sustainability undertaken in Riga reveals significant discrepencies between the sustainability criteria of the Aalborg Commitments and the: responsibilities and competencies of the municipal government and administration as defined by statutes; policy goals and measures defined in municipal planning documents; policy goals and measures defined in the Riga Development Plan. To better orient the mandate of the municipality towards sustainable development, municipal statutes should be supplemented to more fully reflect the issues defined by the Aalborg Commitments and should include sustainability as a goal. In order to strengthen the implementation of sustainable development specific policy goals, measures and targets should be formulated for all the Aalborg Commitments issues when revising existing municipal planning documents or developing a municipal sustainable development management plan. An analysis of the European Common Indicators and the State of the Environment in Riga 2001 indicators indicates that they can only partially fulfill a monitoring function for the implementation of the Aalborg Commitments. This highlights a need to better coordinate sustainable development initiatives at the European level. The methodology used for the baseline review in Riga is useful for assessing the status of urban sustainability when preparing integrated urban management plans or systems, but requires testing elsewhere. Readers should send their comments on this paper to BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

垃圾填埋场渗滤液运移规律分析与模拟

基于多孔介质流体力学、多相流以及土壤水动力学理论，利用理论分析和数值模拟相结合的方法，研究了垃圾填埋场中渗滤液运移过程的基本规律，并对填埋场底部可渗和不可渗2种情况下渗滤液的运移规律进行了模拟比对，研究成果可为填埋场渗滤液控制系统的设计和管理提供科学的理论依据和技术支持。     

铁路运输含硫原油过程中H_2S挥发规律模拟试验研究

以塔河12区含硫原油为研究对象,通过模拟铁路运输原油工况,研究罐内原油中H_2S挥发规律.结果表明,铁路运输过程中原油里H_2S析出浓度与时间的关系近似为6次多项式,并建证了H_2S浓度随时间变化的曲线方程;对影响罐内原油中H_2S挥发的2个主要因素罐内原油温度和罐车振动强度进行了分析.结果表明,罐内原油温度是原油中H_2S挥发的主要影响因素,升高罐内原油温度可以明显增加H_2S的挥发浓度.加大罐车振动强度对原油中H_2S挥发有促进作用,但不明显.     

Effects of Road Networks on Bird Populations

Abstract: One potential contributor to the worldwide decline of bird populations is the increasing prevalence of roads, which have several negative effects on birds and other vertebrates. We synthesized the results of studies and reviews that explore the effects of roads on birds with an emphasis on paved roads. The well‐known direct effects of roads on birds include habitat loss and fragmentation, vehicle‐caused mortality, pollution, and poisoning. Nevertheless, indirect effects may exert a greater influence on bird populations. These effects include noise, artificial light, barriers to movement, and edges associated with roads. Moreover, indirect and direct effects may act synergistically to cause decreases in population density and species richness. Of the many effects of roads, it appears that road mortality and traffic noise may have the most substantial effects on birds relative to other effects and taxonomic groups. Potential measures for mitigating the detrimental effects of roads include noise‐reduction strategies and changes to roadway lighting and vegetation and traffic flow. Road networks and traffic volumes are projected to increase in many countries around the world. Increasing habitat loss and fragmentation and predicted species distribution shifts due to climate change are likely to compound the overall effects of roads on birds.     

我国城市间客运交通能源消耗趋势的分解

随着我国城镇化水平不断提高,城市作为重要的交通网络节点,其衔接交通运输线路、产生和承担客货流转换的功能日益显著。定量地探讨城市间客运交通能源消费变化的影响因素对于我国未来城市间客运交通能源需求的研究及温室气体减排具有重要意义。本文采用终端能源需求MAED模型,对我国城市间客运交通能耗的历史基期数据进行处理,同时对未来能耗进行预测,在形成ASIF结构的数据基础上,利用对数平均迪氏指数法(Logarithmic Mean Index,LMDI)对城市间客运交通能耗的活动效应、结构效应和强度效应进行分解分析。结果表明,从历史数据来看,我国"十五"期间城市间客运交通能耗的快速增加同时取决于客运周转量的增加、客运交通模式和能耗强度的转变,若延续这一发展趋势,我国中长期城市间客运交通模式将快速增长。未来城市间轨道交通网络的发展和高效利用及交通节能减排政策的落实将是促进能源消耗增速降低的可能选择。     

城市土壤重金属污染及其生态环境效应

对城市土壤中重金属的来源、空间分布特征、化学形态、在不同介质间的迁移转化及其污染的生态环境效应等近年来的研究进展进行了回顾,指出今后的研究重点是建立城市土壤重金属污染风险评价和标准体系,并应对重金属在城市环境中的迁移转化机制及城市土壤质量演变与郊区之间的关系开展研究。     

Temporal and spatial patterns of micropollutants in urban receiving waters

Based on a monitoring program over the course of a year, we characterize the temporal and spatial distribution of selected micropollutants in an urban watershed within the city of Leipzig, Germany. Micropollutants revealed a ubiquitous presence in untreated and treated wastewater, surface water and groundwater. The loads of 4-nonylphenol in the effluents of the municipal wastewater treatment plant followed a seasonal trend, whereas the loads of all other micropollutants were highly variable and not correlated to seasons. In the surface water, load seasonality of caffeine, galaxolide and tonalide resulted from a rapid removal with increased water temperature. The loads of 4-nonylphenol and of caffeine in the colder months increased when rainfall occurred. In the groundwater, complex spatial and temporal patterns were apparent and were related to varying input, retardation and removal processes. As a consequence, an assessment of micropollutants in urban waters should consider different micropollutants' temporal and spatial variability.