Biotechnologies and bioinspired materials for the construction industry: an overview

Looking back to less than three centuries of industrialization, responsible for alarming levels of pollution and consumption of non-renewable resources that has led to the exhaustion of the earth's capacity, the humankind only now begins to grasp the overwhelming potential of natural systems. During almost 40 million centuries, Nature has developed materials and processes with optimal performance which are totally biodegradable. Analysis of bioinspired materials requires the knowledge of both biological and engineering principles which are being a part of a large research area termed biotechnology. This hot area is one of the six strategic Key Enabling Technologies that will be funded under the EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020. This paper reviews the current knowledge on the potential of this emerging field, particularly in the development of materials and technologies for the construction industry. It covers the use of bacteria for enhancing concrete durability and for soil stabilization. It also covers bioinspired tough composite materials, bioinspired adhesives and coatings, and self-cleaning materials. Incorporation of biology basics in the civil engineering curriculum would ease the communication between biologists and civil engineers, helping to foster research on biotechnologies and bioinspired materials for the construction industry.     

A framework for habitat monitoring and climate change modelling: construction and validation of the Environmental Stratification of Estonia

Environmental stratifications provide the framework for efficient surveillance and monitoring of biodiversity and ecological resources, as well as modelling exercises. An obstacle for agricultural landscape monitoring in Estonia has been the lack of a framework for the objective selection of monitoring sites. This paper describes the construction and testing of the Environmental Stratification of Estonia (ESE). Principal components analysis was used to select the variables that capture the most amount of variation. Seven climate variables and topography were selected and subsequently subjected to the ISODATA clustering routine in order to produce relatively homogeneous environmental strata. The ESE contains eight strata, which have been described in terms of soil, land cover and climatic parameters. In order to assess the reliability of the stratification procedure for the selection of monitoring sites, the ESE was compared with the previous map of Landscape Regions of Estonia and correlated with five environmental data sets. All correlations were significant. The stratification has therefore already been used to extend the current series of samples in agricultural landscapes into a more statistically robust series of monitoring sites. The potential for applying climate change scenarios to assess the shifts in the strata and associated ecological impacts is also examined.     

常见绿化植物角质层对PAHs的吸附作用

为准确预测萘(Naphthalene,Nap)菲(Phenanthrene,Phe)、芴(Fluorene,Fl)和芘(Pyrene,Pyr)在植物叶面的吸附行为,用化学分离法分离得到马尾松(Pinus massoniana)、海桐(Pittosporum.tobira)、桂花(Osmanthus fragrans)叶面角质层,研究了角质层对Nap、Phe、Fl和Pyr的吸附特征及影响因素。结果表明:3种植物角质层吸收Nap、Phe、Fl和Pyr的作用机理是分配作用。根据线性等温吸附曲线斜率K_d值表明,3种植物角质层对Nap的吸附性能非常强,表现为桂花强于海桐和马尾松;马尾松和桂花对Phe的吸附性能相似,略强于海桐;马尾松对的Fl吸附性能强于桂花和海桐,桂花对Pyr的吸附性能强于马尾松和海桐。通过扫描电镜观测发现,马尾松角质层具有丰富的微观形貌,两侧气孔器排列紧密。桂花角质层表面粗糙呈褶皱状,海桐角质层表面平滑,但两者都未观察到气孔器。植物角质层微观结构的不同是导致植物吸附多环芳烃(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs)存在种间差异的重要原因。通过傅里叶红外光谱观测显示:海桐、桂花和马尾松在C=O(～1 734 cm~(-1))均有信号,表明其表皮都有明显的酯键吸收峰;3种植物表皮角质层的C-O-C峰(～1 057 cm~(-1))也最为突出,这与其叶片中糖类含量有关。     

中国独立型环境税方案设计研究

结合目前我国的环境保护形势和任务,借鉴国外环境税收实践经验,初步设计了我国独立型环境税政策方案.设置了污染排放、特种污染产品、生态保护和二氧化碳排放四类税目;提出了"环保代核,税务部门征收"、"由环保代征,税务审核"及"税务部门征收"的三种征管模式;以2006年的税基测算,全国环境税总收入为2 330亿元,建议主要作为中央与地方共享税,地方和中央按照8:2比例分成.在各级财政建立"环保基金",实行专款专用;应根据"整体税负中性"和"税费改革同步"的原则,相应降低其他税种的税负,调整排污收费范围,保持现有税负水平基本不变;采取先易后难、逐步推进的战略,最终建立支撑科学发展的财税政策体系.     

Ecological risk as a tool for evaluating the effects of offshore wind farm construction in the North Sea

Offshore wind power generation represents a chance to supply energy in a more sustainable way; however, the ecological risks associated with the construction and operation of offshore wind farms are still largely unknown. This paper uses the concept of ecological risk for analysing ecological changes during construction of offshore wind farms. “Ecological risk” is defined as the potentially reduced ability of providing ecosystem services. The ERSEM ecosystem model allows assessing ecological risk based on a number of selected variables (integrity indicators) and under the assumption that increased suspended matter concentration during construction of wind farms affects ecosystem functioning. We conclude that ecological risk is adequate to describe the effects of wind farm constructions, although the computation procedure still needs to be refined and the choice of indicators further optimised. In this context, the choice of indicators available in modelling as well as in monitoring time-series may offer the way forward.     

房地产市场促进城镇化建设的作用机理与协调发展研究

新型城镇化建设是中共十八大提出的重要发展目标,其建设水平直接关乎我国经济发展方式转变路径,房地产市场作为国民经济运行的重要组成部分,其市场化程度对于城镇化建设至关重要,因此,如何实现房地产市场与城镇化建设的同步和协调发展是当前中国经济社会发展亟需解决的现实问题。本文基于理论模型和经验分析,从系统分析入手,通过综合指标建立"房地产市场—城镇化建设水平"系统(系统Ⅰ:房地产市场;系统Ⅱ:城镇化建设水平),运用熵值法进行评价指标权值的求取,进而运用耦合协调度模型,重点分析不同等级城市两个系统的运行成效、耦合阶段和协调趋势,以期强化政策制定的针对性和现实性。研究表明:1房地产销售价格、预期与信贷和人口流动是房地产市场作用于城镇化建设的主要渠道;2系统Ⅰ—房地产市场,序参量的空间规律表现为:三线城市二线城市一线城市;系统Ⅱ—城镇化建设水平,序参量的空间规律表现为:一线城市二线城市三线城市;3我国现阶段房地产市场和城镇化建设水平的耦合度还处于较低水平,且地区差异较大,耦合程度从大到小依次表现为:二线城市三线城市一线城市;从协调度来看,整体表现为中度协调,但应注意北京市已表现为低度协调状态。最后本文提出了相应的政策建议:首先要限制一线城市"以速度为纲"的城镇化发展思路;二是依靠房价、信贷和户籍等政策约束引导新型城镇化建设,有效控制一线城市的体量;三是放宽中小城市和城镇户籍限制,鼓励符合条件的农业转移人口逐步在城镇落户,注重提升三线城市的城镇化发展质量。     

Tree Ontogeny and Its Reflection in the Structure and Dynamics of Plant and Soil Covers

Based on the results of our own long-term experiments and the analysis of published data, the process of individual development (ontogeny) of trees and the parameters of ontogenetic stages are described. Changes in the environment-forming (edificatory) role of a tree in the course of ontogeny and upon its completion are characterized. The performance of this role leads to the formation of the following components of biogeocenosis heterogeneity: phytogenic fields of trees, gaps in the tree canopy, and windfall–soil complexes. The data concerning the interrelation of structural transformations of the plant and soil covers in the course of forest vegetation and soil formation on the primary substrate are reviewed.     

Plant/soil concentration ratios for paired field and garden crops, with emphasis on iodine and the role of soil adhesion

In the effort to predict the risks associated with contaminated soils, considerable reliance is placed on plant/soil concentration ratio (CR) values measured at sites other than the contaminated site. This inevitably results in the need to extrapolate among the many soil and plant types. There are few studies that compare CR among plant types that encompass both field and garden crops. Here, CRs for 40 elements were measured for 25 crops from farm and garden sites chosen so the grain crops were in close proximity to the gardens. Special emphasis was placed on iodine (I) because data for this element are sparse. For many elements, there were consistent trends among CRs for the various crop types, with leafy crops > root crops ≥ fruit crops ≈ seed crops. Exceptions included CR values for As, K, Se and Zn which were highest in the seed crops. The correlation of CRs from one plant type to another was evident only when there was a wide range in soil concentrations. In comparing CRs between crop types, it became apparent that the relationships differed for the rare earth elements (REE), which also had very low CR values. The CRs for root and leafy crops of REE converged to a minimum value. This was attributed to soil adhesion, despite the samples being washed, and the average soil adhesion for root crops was 500 mg soil kg⁻¹ dry plant and for leafy crops was 5 g kg⁻¹. Across elements, the log CR was negatively correlated with log Kd (the soil solid/liquid partition coefficient), as expected. Although, this correlation is expected, measures of correlation coefficients suitable for stochastic risk assessment are not frequently reported. The results suggest that r ≈ −0.7 would be appropriate for risk assessment.     

城市建设用地扩张的区域差异及其驱动因素

中国城市建设用地规模随着工业化、城镇化的不断发展而日益剧增。受经济、社会等诸多驱动因素影响,各地建设用地扩张在时间维度、空间维度都存在明显的区域差异,对上述问题进行全面考察,有助于理清建设用地扩张的机理,促进土地集约、节约利用。将城市建设用地扩张的影响因素分为政府推动和市场拉动两个方面,采用基尼系数及基于半对数回归方程的Shapley值分解方法,考察了2006—2015年中国大陆31个省(市、自治区)城市建设用地扩张的区域差异及其驱动因素的贡献程度。结果表明:(1)2006—2015年,中国城市建设用地扩张的区域差异比较明显,衡量差异程度的基尼系数先升后降,最后稳定于0.3左右;(2)财政赤字率、经济政策执行力、经济增长、人口城镇化等因素对建设用地扩张具有正向驱动作用,产业结构调整、建设用地利用效率等因素对建设用地扩张具有负向驱动作用;(3)经济增长、财政赤字率、经济政策执行力等三个因素对建设用地扩张区域差异的贡献最大;(4)影响我国东、中、西三个区域建设用地扩张的主导因素不尽相同。为此,应从促进区域经济平衡发展、拓宽政府融资渠道、加快产业结构调整、提高建设用地利用效率等多方面入手,破解城市建设用地过度扩张的困局。     

A review of steel slag usage in construction industry for sustainable development

Use of by-products from the steelmaking process can play an important role in achieving sustainable development. The available literature suggests that the use of iron and steel industry slags as mineral admixture or partial replacement of cement improves the microstructure of the concrete as well as its mechanical and durability characteristics. This paper reviews utilization of steel slag (SS) in the construction industry by considering current and possible future utilization fields, advantages of SS usage, and problems associated with its use. Strength and durability evolution of concretes or mortars containing SS in different ratios as aggregate or cement replacement material, combined use of ground granulated blast furnace slag with SS, and some relatively new fields of utilization of SS are also addressed. Improvements in and results of SS utilization in cement and concrete are discussed by addressing its beneficial effects. This article could help researchers to understand the recent developments in evaluation of SS in the construction industry.     

The influence of climate and dam construction on the Ibera wetlands, Argentina

The purpose of this work is to assess the impact on the Esteros del Ibera wetland ecosystem caused by the Yacyreta dam, a large hydroelectric power plant on the Parana River, Argentina, in comparison to other factors of environmental change. The project of the dam started around 1970. The power plant began operating in 1994. In 1989, the neighboring Ibera wetland ecosystem showed a substantial increase in the water level for which several different causes were conceivable, including climate change and the dam construction. We analyzed all existing hydrometeorological data and studied other changes that were observed in this ecosystem. A water balance model was used to analyze different scenarios. Increased groundwater inflow, generated since the construction of the dam, appears to be affecting the wetland more than any other factor. The study has implications for the assessment of global and regional consequences of building dams.

Life cycle assessment environmental data for structural steel construction in Greece

The construction industry is a critical sector in relation to sustainable development as its optimisation in terms of the consumption of resources can provide significant environmental benefits. To achieve this, a number of tools and methodologies have been developed to assist decision making. Life cycle assessment is one of the most acknowledged and widely used methodologies to assess the sustainability of construction works. Its efficient use, however, requires environmental data that in some cases are not yet available. Especially for sectors such as steel construction in which the potential for sustainable development is increased due to the recycling and reuse potential of the material, the lack of such data slows sustainability-related progress down. The current research addresses this issue by collecting primary environmental data for cold-formed structural steel and compiling the required data-sets. The data-sets are used to assess the environmental impact of an existing steel building and identify how and to what extent the environment is burdened by its construction. The findings of the research include the aforementioned environmental data which can be used in environmental analyses related to construction projects, while additional conclusions concerning the environmental impact of steel buildings in terms of quantity and type were also drawn.     

第四次工业革命对环境治理体系建设的影响与挑战

以人工智能为代表的第四次工业革命发展迅速,特别是能源和新材料技术的突破,极大可能改变人类现有能源格局,并对建立在化石能源思维下的传统环境治理体系带来巨大影响。为此,本文梳理了第四次工业革命代表性的科技进展,分析了其对国家环境治理体系的积极影响:(1)将改变建立在化石能源基础上的工业、农业和城市形态,打破经济发展对资源、能源和土地的高度依赖,彻底告别环境污染和生态破坏;(2)将真正实现面向现在和未来的数据精准决策,显著改善人类应对不确定性环境风险能力。另一方面,由于人工智能会极大提升公民个体对复杂科学技术和社会规则的掌握能力,会改变传统治理结构中政府—市场—社会三元力量对比,给政府在环境治理领域的政策制定和执行带来新的挑战:(1)公众的能力足以使得他们对政府做出的任何不利于自己的政策提出挑战,政府信息公开和透明决策压力空前;(2)社交媒体使得公众对政府及主流媒体信息的关注大大下降,对政府如何利用新型社交媒体进行环境保护宣传教育提出了新的挑战,同时也对社会管理部门如何培育环保社会组织,弥补政府影响力下降所产生的空白提出了新的课题;(3)个体可以同时具有律师、会计、记者等处理复杂社会问题的能力,挑战政府维护社会公平稳定的利益裁量权,对环境司法公正提出更高要求。当前,中国正在进行环境体制改革创新,追求环境治理体系和治理能力现代化,如何关注、分析并积极适应由于技术变革引起的经济基础和上层建筑变化,避免制度资源错配,对于我们这样一个正在进行工业化的后发型国家尤为重要。文章最后建议,要高度关注这个领域的研究前沿进展,在制定发展规划与改革措施过程中,以未来的技术环境为出发点;要加强治理创新,引导技术朝着有利环境保护的方向发展;要加强技术对国家治理体系和治理能力双向影响研究,推进政府改革与创新,为人民提供更好的公共产品。     

Plant matter decomposition in the upper timberline ecotone of the Polar Urals

A relatively high biological activity of soils has been revealed at the upper timberline in the Polar Urals. The role of the altitudinal gradient as a factor of destruction process has distinctly manifested itself upon comparing decomposition rates of flowering plant foliage and herbaceous plant roots in the forest and in the tundra. The qualitative composition of decomposing plant matter has also proved to play a significant role. The soil moisture regime of the ecotope is the leading factor of the destruction process.     

基于DEA的燃煤电厂循环经济评价研究

燃煤电厂是我国大部分地区的主要污染来源,燃煤电厂实施循环经济既是环境保护的需要,也是节能减排的有效途径.在调查收集10个燃煤电厂生产数据的基础上,构建了常规燃煤电厂的循环经济评价指标体系,主要指标有:资源产出、资源消耗、综合利用和废物排放.基于此建立了燃煤电厂循环经济评价的投入-产出指标.应用数据包络分析(DEA)方法的C2S模型和C2GS2模型对燃煤电厂循环经济的规模有效性和技术有效性进行了评价.结果表明:电厂P02,P03和P07的规模收益呈递增趋势,即增加投入会增加一定的污染,但可以使产出有较大效率的增加.进一步的分析表明,电厂P02和P03的技术效率为1,其循环经济的实施在技术上是有效的(但在规模上是无效的);P07在技术上是无效的.通过其投入冗余和产出冗余,计算出P07实施循环经济的目标值,为循环经济改进提供了依据.     

Design for environment as a tool for the development of a sustainable supply chain

In this work, design for environment (DfE) methodologies have been used as a tool for the development of a more sustainable supply chain. In particular by combining life‐cycle assessment (LCA) techniques and by using the quality function deployment (QFD) multi‐criteria matrices, an ‘environmental compromise’ can be reached. In this work, the QFD matrices have been developed in a new way using an iterative process that involves the whole supply chain starting from the product life‐cycle, taking into consideration the machines that make the product and their components. This methodology is compatible with the requirements of the various stakeholders, suppliers, manufacturers and clients, involved in the supply chain. To assess the validity of the proposed approach a specific supply chain was studied concerning packaging systems for liquid food substances (beverage cartons). Firstly all the stages which are most critical from the environmental point of view in the supply chain of packaging systems were identified and assessed. The starting point for the analysis of environmental aspects and impacts which characterise the supply chain was LCA, which proved to be useful for the identification and the environmental assessment of the various stages in a packaging system. Through the use of ‘iterative QFD’ it is possible to arrive at a definition of the engineering characteristics of all the machinery which is involved in the supply chain. In particular in this work the authors have tried to identify the critical points in the design of those machines which either make the beverage cartons or are involved in the filling process.     

Design of indicators for measuring product performance in the circular economy

Abstract

This paper explores measurement of product performance with respect to circular economy (CE) principles. Potential indicators are assessed with special attention given to questions such as: the variables that should be measured; how these variables should be assessed; and in which format they should be presented. The resulting considerations are used to develop a prototype whose design is informed through feedback from CE experts. The prototype uses a points-based questionnaire which converges into a simple final result with minimum and maximum limits. The selected approach is critically appraised, and its utility for decision-making discussed. The prototype is tested against a product in the chemical processing industry. The strengths include: ease of use; simplicity; speed; and an effective metaphor for the diffusion of CE principles. The limitations include: the opaque and potentially misleading nature of a single metric; superficial engagement with decision-making; and the reliance on context-specific assumptions. Future developments could include refining the approach to encourage deeper reflection, and generalisation of the approach to different industry sectors or sustainability frameworks.     

气候变暖等因素对山东省种植业产出的影响

通过建立引入气候因素的种植业生产函数模型,利用1990-2009年山东省40个县市种植业生产及气象面板数据,运用产出增长分解法,实证分析气候因素和非气候因素对山东省种植业产出的影响并对产出增长的各要素贡献进行分解。结果表明:气候变暖对山东省种植业带来明显的负面影响。1990-2009年间气候因素对山东省40个县市的总体产出增长的影响为-11.03%,在其他条件不变的情况下,平均温度每升高1℃,总体种植业总产值减少2.2%,总体产值增长下降1.48%;温度升高对鲁西北地区、鲁南地区种植业产出的影响最为明显;同时,降水对种植业产出影响显著,降水因素使得山东省种植业产出增长减少16.86%;物质投入中化肥和农药对种植业产出增长贡献最大,但农业劳动力减少,特别是种植业劳动力的减少,开始显著地影响种植业产出,使得种植业产出增长减少5.90%;技术进步的影响作用在下降。