Optimization of the Resources Management in Fighting Wildfires

Wildfires lead to important economic, social, and environmental losses, especially in areas of Mediterranean climate where they are of a high intensity and frequency. Over the past 30 years there has been a dramatic surge in the development and use of fire spread models. However, given the chaotic nature of environmental systems, it is very difficult to develop real-time fire-extinguishing models. This article proposes a method of optimizing the performance of wildfire fighting resources such that losses are kept to a minimum. The optimization procedure includes discrete simulation algorithms and Bayesian optimization methods for discrete and continuous problems (simulated annealing and Bayesian global optimization). Fast calculus algorithms are applied to provide optimization outcomes in short periods of time such that the predictions of the model and the real behavior of the fire, combat resources, and meteorological conditions are similar. In addition, adaptive algorithms take into account the chaotic behavior of wildfire so that the system can be updated with data corresponding to the real situation to obtain a new optimum solution. The application of this method to the Northwest Forest of Madrid (Spain) is also described. This application allowed us to check that it is a helpful tool in the decision-making process.     

The image and experience of high rise housing in Israel

High rise housing is characterized by two major factors—height and number of people—each of which play a role in the image created and each of which are associated with advantages and disadvantages. The purpose of this study was to compare the image of high rise housing which emerges from the literature with the image and experience of high rise living as reported within a particular physical, social and cultural context—that of Israel. Three hundred and forty four individual, structured interviews were conducted with middle-class women living in buildings from four to 20 storeys high. Data are presented on their image of high rise housing; their experience of specific aspects: such as crowding, neighbor relations, childrens' outdoor play; and their general satisfaction with the building. On the whole the results indicate that these Israeli respondents' experience does not correspond to the image of high rise housing as portrayed in much of the literature. Their image is a function of their experience, which in turn is a function of the interaction between their own personal characteristics (particularly stage in the life cycle) and the height of the building—within a particular socio-cultural context.     

甘肃陇东南贫困地区人力资源开发战略选择

由于人力资源的制约性,甘肃陇东南贫困地区资源优势无法转化为经济优势,人力资源开发与该地区经济发展无法形成良好的互动关系,以控制人口数量、提高人力资源质量为主导的人力资源开发战略成为该地区经济快速发展的战略选择.     

陇东南贫困地区人力资源开发现状与对策

陇东南贫困地区人力资源开发滞后,制约了经济的快速发展。以控制人口数量,大力推进教育发展和城市化进程,优化人力资源配置和激励机制为主导的人力资源开发战略对策成为促进陇东南贫困地区经济发展的必然选择。     

西北干旱区乌鸦的生态作用及其保护措施

鸦科鸟类在生态系统中有着消灭地下害虫、食腐尸、加速物质循环等重大有益生态作用,但因有刨食农作物种子的习性,而导致它们在我国西北城镇和农业区处于已经或濒临绝灭的状态,急需研制只杀虫而毒不死鸟兽的新拌种农药品种,以保护乌鸦等有益鸟类不致绝灭。     

Agri-Environmental Policy Measures in Israel: The Potential of Using Market-Oriented Instruments

This paper examines the possibilities of developing agri-environmental policy measures in Israel, focusing on market-oriented instruments. A conceptual framework for developing agri-environmental policy measures is presented, first in very broad lines (mandatory regulations, economic instruments and advisory measures) and subsequently focusing on economic instruments, and specifically, on market-oriented ones. Two criteria of choice between the measures are suggested: their contribution to improving the effectiveness of the policy; and the feasibility of their implementation. This is the framework used for analyzing agri-environmental measures in Israel. Israel currently implements a mix of mandatory regulations, economic instruments and advisory measures to promote the agri-environment. The use of additional economic instruments may improve the effectiveness of the policy. When comparing the effectiveness of various economic measures, we found that the feasibility of implementation of market-oriented instruments is greater, due to the Israeli public’s preference for strengthening market orientation in the agricultural sector. Four market-oriented instruments were practiced in a pilot project conducted in an Israeli rural area. We found that in this case study, the institutional feasibility and acceptance by stakeholders were the major parameters influencing the implementation of the market-oriented instruments, whereas the instruments’ contribution to enhancing the ecological or economic effectiveness were hardly considered by the stakeholders as arguments in favor of their use.     

The Fate of Priority Areas for Conservation in Protected Areas: A Fine-Scale Markov Chain Approach

Park managers in alpine areas must deal with the increase in forest coverage that has been observed in most European mountain areas, where traditional farming and agricultural practices have been abandoned. The aim of this study is to develop a fine-scale model of a broad area to support the managers of Paneveggio Nature Park (Italy) in conservation planning by focusing on the fate of priority areas for conservation in the next 50–100 years. GIS analyses were performed to assess the afforestation dynamic over time using two historical maps (from 1859 and 1936) and a series of aerial photographs and ortho-photos (taken from 1954 to 2006) covering a time span of 150 years. The results show an increase in the forest surface area of about 35%. Additionally, the forest became progressively more compact and less fragmented, with a consequent loss of ecotones and open habitats that are important for biodiversity. Markov chain-cellular automata models were used to project future changes, evaluating the effects on a habitat scale. Simulations show that some habitats defined as priority by the EU Habitat Directive will be compromised by the forest expansion by 2050 and suffer a consistent loss by 2100. This protocol, applied to other areas, can be used for designing long-term management measures with a focus on habitats where conservation status is at risk.     

成都地区集装箱内部温度-湿度条件研究

某些特殊货物对温度、湿度等环境条件有特殊的要求,特别是集装箱一般为密闭的箱体,其内部环境条件更加恶劣。成都地区具有高温高湿的气候特点,为了保证这些特殊货物在成都地区安全开展集装箱运输,作者在成都地区对集装箱内部温、湿度环境条件及其影响因素即大气环境温度进行了测试,最后运用统计分析方法建立了集装箱内部温度数学模型,得出了内部最恶劣温度范围,从而为特殊货物安全进箱提供理论依据。     

山地自然资源的环境特征与可持续开发对策

本文通过分析山地自然资源环境的基本特征,从开发模式、利用规模和适当的开发场所三方面论述了山地自然资源可持续开发对策,并指出了在山地自然资源可持续开发过程中应重点注意的问题。     

安徽省大别山区资源开发与利用

本文运用生态学原理中的系统观点，从资源和山区资源的概念出发，详尽表述了我省大别山区的发展途径，并提出相应的技术措施。     

Determinants of Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Compensatory Wetland Mitigation

Development projects that impact wetlands commonly require compensatory mitigation, usually through creation or restoration of wetlands on or off the project site. Over the last decade, federal support has increased for third-party off-site mitigation methods. At the same time, regulators have lowered the minimum impact size that triggers the requirement for compensatory mitigation. Few studies have examined the aggregate impact of individual wetland mitigation projects. No previous study has compared the choice of mitigation method by regulatory agency or development size. We analyze 1058 locally and federally permitted wetland mitigation transactions in the Chicago region between 1993 and 2004. We show that decreasing mitigation thresholds have had striking effects on the methods and spatial distribution of wetland mitigation. In particular, the observed increase in mitigation bank use is driven largely by the needs of the smallest impacts. Conversely, throughout the time period studied, large developments have rarely used mitigation banking, and have been relatively unaffected by changing regulatory focus and banking industry growth. We surmise that small developments lack the scale economies necessary for feasible permittee responsible mitigation. Finally, we compare the rates at which compensation required by both county and federal regulators is performed across major watershed boundaries. We show that local regulations prohibiting cross-county mitigation lead to higher levels of cross- watershed mitigation than federal regulations without cross-county prohibitions. Our data suggest that local control over wetland mitigation may prioritize administrative boundaries over hydrologic function in the matter of selecting compensation sites.     

广西石山区土地石漠化的成因及防治对策

石漠化即喀斯特荒漠化、石化,是广西生态环境最突出的问题。为了促进石山区经济的可持续发展,作者采用了文献调查、实地调查、定性分析和定量分析等方法探讨了广西石漠化的成因和防治对策,认为导致广西石漠化加剧的因素是多方面的,既有自然的、更有人为的;其治理也是一个系统工程,需要在释放人口压力、提高人口素质、调整产业结构与布局、加大整治力度、执行财政补偿制度等方面继续努力。     

Determinants of deforestation in Nepal's Central Development Region

The process of deforestation in the Central Development Region (CDR) of Nepal is diverse in space and time, with rapid deforestation still occurring in areas outside the national parks and wildlife reserves. This paper identifies the spatial driving forces (SDFs) of deforestation in the CDR for 1975–2000 using satellite data of 1975 (MSS), 1990 (TM), and 2000 (ETM+) along with socio-demographic and socioeconomic variables. Radiometrically calibrated satellite images are individually classified into seven distinct classes and merged together to cover the entire CDR. Classification accuracies are also assessed. Areas of land use and cover within the areas of each Village Development Committee (VDC) and municipality represented by GIS polygons are calculated from the classified images by overlaying vector files of 1845 polygons representing sections of VDCs and municipalities in 30–1199 m, 1200–2399 m, 2400–4999 m and >5000 m elevation levels. These elevation levels were estimated from the DEM compiled from 24 ASTER scenes taken on different dates. Only the first three elevation levels are used in the analysis because area >5000 m is under permanent snow cover where human related forestry activities are almost negligible. A transition matrix is generated for 1975–1990 using classified images of 1975 and 1990 and then this product is used to further develop another transition matrix for 1990–2000 with the classified ETM+ 2000 images as the final stage. The GIS polygon layer is overlaid on the transition matrices to calculate deforestation areas for 1975–1990 and 1990–2000. Biophysical and socioeconomic information collected from various sources is then brought into a GIS platform for statistical analyses. Six linear regression models are estimated using SAS; in effect, two models for each elevation range representing the 1975–1990 and 1990–2000 periods of change to identify SDF influences on deforestation. These regression analyses reveal that deforestation in the CDR is related to multiple factors, such as farming population, genders of various ages, migration, elevation, road, distance from road to forest, meandering and erosion of river, and most importantly the conversion of forestland into farmland.     

格尔木地区集装箱内部温度-湿度条件研究

某些特殊物资对温度、湿度等环境条件有特殊的要求,特别是集装箱作为密闭的箱体,其内部环境条件更加恶劣。为了保证进藏特殊物资安全开展集装箱运输,作者在格尔木地区对集装箱内部温、湿度环境条件及其影响因素即大气环境温度、太阳辐射强度和风速进行了测试,最后运用统计分析方法建立了集装箱内部温度数学模型,得出了内部最恶劣温度范围,从而为特殊物资安全进箱提供理论依据。     

The Influence of Nutrients and Physical Habitat in Regulating Algal Biomass in Agricultural Streams

This study examined the relative influence of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and habitat on algal biomass in five agricultural regions of the United States. Sites were selected to capture a range of nutrient conditions, with 136 sites distributed over five study areas. Samples were collected in either 2003 or 2004, and analyzed for nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) and algal biomass (chlorophyll a). Chlorophyll a was measured in three types of samples, fine-grained benthic material (CHL_FG), coarse-grained stable substrate as in rock or wood (CHL_CG), and water column (CHL_S). Stream and riparian habitat were characterized at each site. TP ranged from 0.004–2.69 mg/l and TN from 0.15–21.5 mg/l, with TN concentrations highest in Nebraska and Indiana streams and TP highest in Nebraska. Benthic algal biomass ranged from 0.47–615 mg/m², with higher values generally associated with coarse-grained substrate. Seston chlorophyll ranged from 0.2–73.1 μg/l, with highest concentrations in Nebraska. Regression models were developed to predict algal biomass as a function of TP and/or TN. Seven models were statistically significant, six for TP and one for TN; r ² values ranged from 0.03 to 0.44. No significant regression models could be developed for the two study areas in the Midwest. Model performance increased when stream habitat variables were incorporated, with 12 significant models and an increase in the r ² values (0.16–0.54). Water temperature and percent riparian canopy cover were the most important physical variables in the models. While models that predict algal chlorophyll a as a function of nutrients can be useful, model strength is commonly low due to the overriding influence of stream habitat. Results from our study are presented in context of a nutrient-algal biomass conceptual model.