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。     

Uncertainty Models for Estimates of Physical Characteristics of River Segments Over Large Areas

Spatially comprehensive estimates of the physical characteristics of river segments over large areas are required in many large‐scale analyses of river systems and for the management of multiple basins. Remote sensing and modeling are often used to estimate river characteristics over large areas, but the uncertainties associated with these estimates and their dependence on the physical characteristics of the segments and their catchments are seldom quantified. Using test data with varying degrees of independence, we derived analytical models of the uncertainty associated with estimates of upstream catchment area (CA), segment slope, and mean annual discharge for all river segments of a digital representation of the hydrographic network of France. Although there were strong relationships between our test data and estimates at the scale of France, there were also large relative local uncertainties, which varied with the physical characteristics of the segments and their catchments. Discharge and CA were relatively uncertain where discharge was low and catchments were small. Discharge uncertainty also increased in catchments with large rainfall events and low minimum temperature. The uncertainty of segment slope was strongly related to segment length. Our uncertainty models were consistent across large regions of France, suggesting some degree of generality. Their analytical formulation should facilitate their use in large‐scale ecological studies and simulation models.     

论学校体育在终身体育中的作用及其实现途径

本文采用文献资料、逻辑分析法对学校体育的特点及其在终身体育中的地位与作用进行了分析,提出学校体育课程的设置应始终以终身体育为中心,并对学校体育促进终身体育及其与社会体育、终身体育相接轨的主要途径进行了阐述。     

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.     

环境敏感区环保技术措施的研究与实践

文章介绍环境敏感区百重7井区开发过程中的环境保护工作,为尽量降低油田开发过程中对环境的负面影响,对环境保护长效机制进行初步探索。通过油田开发前、钻井过程中、生产运行中、施工作业中各环节的环境保护技术措施的实施,节约了大量清水与天然气,实现了水资源与热能的循环利用,采出液能耗降低,废气与排放量减小。     

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。     

浅谈体育教学中的示范艺术

本文对教师在体育教学中如何进行技术动作示范,怎样取得最佳的示范效果进行了论述,并指出它对教学质量的提高有十分重要的作用。     

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 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.