Information technologies and the sharing of disaster knowledge: the critical role of professional culture

A comparative survey of a diverse sample of 96 US and Italian emergency management agencies shows that the diffusion of new information technologies (IT) has transformed disaster communications. Although these technologies permit access to and the dissemination of massive amounts of disaster information with unprecedented speed and efficiency, barriers rooted in the various professional cultures still hinder the sharing of disaster knowledge. To be effective the available IT must be attuned to the unique settings and professional cultures of the local emergency management communities. Findings show that available technology, context, professional culture and interaction are key factors that affect the knowledge transfer process. Cultural filters appear to influence emergency managers' perceptions of their own professional roles, their vision of the applicability of technology to social issues, and their perspective on the transferability of disaster knowledge. Four cultural approaches to the application of IT to disaster communications are defined: technocentric; geographic,; anthropocentric; and ecocentric.     

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.     

知识经济对云南环境科技的影响

知识经济对环境保护产生正面和负面方面的影响。对云南环境科技的影响，表现在思想观念的解放、思维方式的转变、科技方法的创新、常规技术升华、科技成果转化、环保产业结构调整等方面。我们应从不断总结、发展知识经济型环保产业、培养和储备人才等方面抓住机遇，实现云南环境科技的跨越。     

汽车覆盖件冲压工艺设计KBE系统中的知识表示技术

根据汽车覆盖件冲压工艺设计的特点 ,阐述了与汽车覆盖件冲压工艺设计有关的不同类型知识的表示方法 ,主要有一阶谓词逻辑、语义网络、产生式规则、框架和剧本、可视化文本和图象 ,以及面向对象的方法等 ,并比较了各种方法的优缺点。面向对象的集成知识表示等方法成功地应用于汽车覆盖件冲压工艺设计KBE系统的知识表示     

安全工程专业本科教育培养模式的探讨

本文分析了当前安全工程专业本科教育存在的一些问题，如本科基础知识教育欠系统和规范，知识结构的行业限制性过重，课程设置不甚合理等，这些问题对培养高素质安全科学人才及本专业自身的发展不利，笔者就合理的培养模式作了探讨，提出本科教育应有明确的目标，业务能力应有具体要求，专业知识结构应划分为四个层次。     

基于特征和知识的自由锻CAPP系统

建立了基于特征和知识的自由锻CAPP系统模型 ,论述了特征、基于知识的工艺决策等有关问题。通过总结几年来开发该系统的经验 ,从系统原理、专家系统等方面探讨了该系统的开发研制 ,并简单介绍了该系统的主要功能和特色     

CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURAL HAZARDS IN NORTHERN CANADA: INTEGRATING INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES WITH GOVERNMENT POLICY

A study of the relationship between natural hazards and climate change in the international context provides the background for a discussion of the expected changes. In the context of this global discussion, this paper reviews the current perspectives of those natural hazards that are likely to be influenced by climate change, using northern Canada as a regional case study. The northern implications of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are examined, including the status of climate change action by the northern territorial governments, the evolving role of indigenous people, and the responsibility for climate change impacts. The difficulties surrounding natural hazards research in remote locations, and the approaches of indigenous people to natural hazards are then presented. The paper concludes with a suggested policy approach for climate change and natural hazards in northern Canada, underscoring the need for more comprehensive adaptive strategies to complement the current tendency to focus on the mitigation of greenhouse gases produced in this region.