Interdisciplinary models of water systems

To evaluate the complex interactions of various types of water systems, a water resource management agency is invariably involved in the preliminary step of reviewing the available quantitative methods for formulating interdisciplinary aspects of the water systems. With a view to supplement their efforts, an attempt is made in this paper to review briefly the major useful concepts and models which are intended to broaden the technical horizon of the professionals associated with the regional water resource management programs. Initially, various pathways of model building procedure are outlined. Then associated ecological, economic, social, political, technological and environmental models are discussed in light of some reported quantitative examples. With the understanding of the basic mechanics of these interdisciplinary models, the adequacy of these models and their applications can be examined by the concerned professionals to aid the decision making process for the specific water system in question.     

湿地鸟类多样性及其环境影响因子的研究进展

湿地鸟类在能量转换和维护生态系统的稳定性方面起着举足轻重的作用，同时也是监测、评价湿地生态环境极其敏感的指标．本文从物种多样性、遗传多样性和生态系统多样性三个方面分析了湿地鸟类多样性．总结了环境因子对湿地鸟类多样性的影响，最后对湿地鸟类多样性的研究提出展望，为更好地保护湿地鸟类资源及生态环境提供科学依据．     

Natural resource depletion and the economic performance of local districts: suggestions from a within-country analysis

SUMMARY

Studying the interactions among ecological factors and economic performance measured at the local scale is necessary to suggest policies able to mitigate natural resource depletion in complex ecosystems, like those in the Mediterranean region. The aim of this paper is to explore the relationship among natural resource depletion due to land degradation (LD) and some economic characteristics of local labour systems in Italy, a country where many areas, especially southern regions, are vulnerable. LD was estimated using an environmental sensitive area index, covering the national territory at a fine scale, which takes into account ecological factors such as climate, soil and vegetation. Economic indicators used here consider per capita income, land productivity, production and labour productivity by sector (agriculture, industry and services). A regression analysis was built-up at the LLS scale using an index change over time (1990–2000) as dependent variable and economic variables as predictors. A principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out to synthesise the outputs of the regression analysis. Results indicate a negative relationship among per capita income and LD over the whole study area. However, other variables showed a significant correlation with the dependent variable, highlighting the importance of local factors to increase land vulnerability. In order to clarify the contribution of economic factors to natural resource depletion it is necessary to drive integrate policies to combat LD in dry Mediterranean areas.     

Influence of eco-innovation on Indian manufacturing sector sustainable performance

Manufacturing firms are striving to improve their sustainable performance in order to satisfy multiple stakeholders. Eco-innovation is a promising approach that decreases environmental impact and helps firms to increase their business value. There are several antecedents which help the firms to innovate and improve their triple bottom line performance. Among the antecedents, management and innovative practices are directly related to eco-innovation. It is not well known what practices and innovations help the firms to eco-innovate as well as to improve sustainable performance. Hence, the research objective of this paper is to identify the suitable combination of management and innovative practices that help firms to eco-innovate as well as to achieve overall sustainable performance. The paper develops an eco-innovation conceptual model which relates the management and innovative practices (antecedents) and overall sustainable performance (consequences) of eco-innovation using institutional theory. Using Indian manufacturing sector’s empirical data and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach, this paper determines the effect of eco-innovation’s antecedents and consequences. In the Indian context, this study suggests that the role of management practice is more significant towards eco-innovation than innovative practices. The results reflect practitioners’ view on how to increase innovation rate and to focus more on social aspects. The finding suggests that training on environmental related practices could tackle innovation and social aspects in the Indian manufacturing sector context.     

Sustainability indicators for environmental performance and sustainability assessment of the productions of four fine Italian wines

Increased awareness of the importance of environmental protection and the introduction of international standards like ISO 14001 stimulated development of environmental sustainability indicators as a means to measure systems environmental performance. Here, a thermodynamic approach, emergy analysis (Odum, 1988) was used to obtain sustainability indicators able to analyse and quantify the productive and ecological performance of four famous Italian wine productions: Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano, and Barbera d'hti. The application to agricultural production was motivated by the growing need for productive and environmentally sound development in modern agriculture, in which the resource base, the environment, is preserved. The choice of wines, more precisely, grape production, is due to their importance for Italian agriculture and the economy. All the wines demonstrated a good long-term environmental sustainability, especially in view of their high quality and in comparison with the average Italian wine production. Emergy analysis proved a powerful tool for assessing environmental performance of these systems, and its use could easily be extended to other wine productions to obtain a form of environmental performance classification of this product. Systematic use of emergy analysis to assess environmental performance of different processes and products, not necessarily in agriculture, could be useful for environmental certification.     

国际企业环境绩效评估指标体系差异分析

随着人类社会经济活动的不断发展,环境问题日益突出,为顺应可持续发展战略,企业环境绩效评估被提上日程。对国际上两种企业环境绩效评估指标体系(ISO14031指标体系和生态效益指标体系)进行了差异分析,为我国企业环境绩效评估指标体系的建立和完善起到借鉴作用。     

The integration of land and marine spatial planning

Whilst spatial planning has evolved as a tool to manage the development and use of the terrestrial environment over decades, the development of spatial planning systems for the marine environment are in their infancy. This paper focuses on the integration of land and marine based spatial planning systems. This is informed by a brief overview of the regional development of the lands and seas of Europe which underlie spatial planning systems and by a discussion of respective spatial planning systems in terms of economic sectors, land use, and sea use. The integration of spatial planning systems is then considered, followed by evaluation of relationships between spatial planning, and the wider field of environmental management. This includes consideration of organisational and geographical scales, technical management including legal aspects, policy, strategic planning and time scales of decision-making. The paper identifies the significant factors which must be considered in the integration of marine and terrestrial planning systems over the coming decades.     

Development and the environment in the next two decades

This paper considers the environmental problems which might face the state of Western Australia in the next two decades, against the background of a development scenario, current concern over the environment, and the Doomsday Syndrome which seems to be conditioning much of current thinking. Two important aspects of the State's future are considered: resource depletion and pollution. A positive view of the resource depletion problem is taken in that it is impossible to assess reserves of natural resources without considering the impact of science and technology upon resource development and discovering new resources. There is also considerable evidence of success in combating pollution within the present system.It is a difficult task, particularly for the layman, to decide just what to believe in the face of the great and growing volume of errors of fact which find their way into the media on environmental matters. The result of this seems to be that an adversary approach has been adopted in environmental stances, and development tends to be halted whilst debates are carried on.The current status of environmental science is reviewed and leads to the proposition that growth and environmental quality can be compatible if new philosophies of growth and resource management are developed based on conservation and progress. The major difficulties are not seen as the predictions of doom but Western society's growing incapacity for action and an unwillingness toassume control of its own destiny.Based on a paper presented to Prospect 2000-A Conference on the Future, Australia and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science, Perth, Western Australia, 14–18 May, 1979.     

Disturbance and resource availability act differently on the same suite of plant traits: revisiting assembly hypotheses

Understanding the mechanisms of trait selection at the scale of plant communities is a crucial step toward predicting community assembly. Although it is commonly assumed that disturbance and resource availability constrain separate suites of traits, representing the regenerative and established phases, respectively, a quantification and test of this accepted hypothesis is still lacking due to limitations of traditional statistical techniques. In this paper we quantify, using structural equation modeling (SEM), the relative contributions of disturbance and resource availability to the selection of suites of traits at the community scale. Our model specifies and reflects previously obtained ecological insights, taking disturbance and nutrient availability as central drivers affecting leaf, allometric, seed, and phenology traits in 156 (semi-) natural plant communities throughout The Netherlands. The common hypothesis positing that disturbance and resource availability each affect a set of mutually independent traits was not consistent with the data. Instead, our final model shows that most traits are strongly affected by both drivers. In addition, trait-trait constraints are more important in community assembly than environmental drivers in half of the cases. Both aspects of trait selection are crucial for correctly predicting ecosystem processes and community assembly, and they provide new insights into hitherto underappreciated ecological interactions.     

资源-环境双重约束下的区域生态效率的时序特征——以广西壮族自治区为例

为了探讨资源—环境双重约束下我国生态赤字地区资源环境绩效水平,利用生态脆弱指数和资源环境绩效指数（REPI）对地处珠江三角洲的广西资源环境绩效进行了系统分析和比较研究。结果表明：尽管资源环境绩效水平从2000年的72.4上升为2007年的116.1,但趋势并不明显,资源环境综合绩效水平在全国的第24—26位徘徊。综合绩效指数、SO2排放绩效指数、工业固体废弃物排放绩效指数和生物资源指数呈现＂N＂型变动,水污染指数下呈＂∧＂变动态势,大气污染指数呈现＂W＂型剧烈变动,生态承载力处于超载状态,生态脆弱性趋势没有明显改变。资源消耗和污染物排放的下降态势并不稳定。1995—2007年,广西区域环境水平呈下降趋势,区域环境水平和资源转化效率呈剧烈变动的下降趋势,抗逆水平和生态保护指数有所提高,土地资源指数呈现下降态势,排放强度指数下降明显,生态脆弱指数保持恒定,气候变异指数呈波浪状变动,环境治理指数呈剧烈变动。广西面临生态环境的整体不稳定性和对外力干预敏感性的双重压力。广西应发挥地处泛珠三角的地缘优势和辐射＂东盟＂的区位优势,加大结构调整和制度创新力度,缩短目前资源密集型的发展阶段,改善生态效率和承载力,提升广西在泛珠江三角洲地区的综合竞争力。     

Motility of cryopreserved spermatozoa for the ecotoxicological evaluation of aquatic environments

A new approach to environmental studies was investigated by the authors, who propose the use of cryopreserved biological systems in ecotoxicological bioassays. The feasibility of spermiotoxicity tests using cryopreserved semen of the sea bream Sparus aurata, with sperm motility parameters as the endpoint, was evaluated. Thawed sperm was incubated in environmental samples (sediment elutriate and dumpsite leachate) and in a reference toxicant (cadmium) at scaled concentrations. Motility was then evaluated by video-microscopy using both visual and computer-assisted analyses. Activation time, sperm motility and velocity and motility duration were assessed on thawing and at the end of the incubation time, and the difference with respect to the control was statistically evaluated. All the endpoints of the bioassay proved to have good sensitivity even at the highest dilutions of the tested matrices. Observed differences in the sensitivity thresholds of the endpoints were considered to be representative of different aspects of sperm physiology. Therefore the proposed bioassay is a promising starting point for the development of toxicity tests that are increasingly tailored to the needs of ecotoxicology and environmental quality evaluation strategies for aquatic environments.     

Life cycle assessment and sustainable engineering in the context of near net shape grown components: striving towards a sustainable way of future production

Technical product harvesting (TEPHA) is a newly developing interdisciplinary approach in which bio-based production is investigated from a technical and ecological perspective. Society‘s demand for ecologically produced and sustainably operable goods is a key driver for the substitution of conventional materials like metals or plastics through bio-based alternatives. Technical product harvesting of near net shape grown components describes the use of suitable biomass for the production of technical products through influencing the natural shape of plants during their growth period. The use of natural materials may show positive effects on the amount of non-renewable resource consumption. This also increases the product recyclability at the end of its life cycle. Furthermore, through the near net shape growth of biomass, production steps can be reduced. As a consequence such approaches may save energy and the needed resources like crude oil, coal or gas. The derived near net shape grown components are not only considered beneficial from an environmental point of view. They can also have mechanical advantages through an intrinsic topology optimization in contrast to common natural materials, which are influenced in their shape after harvesting. In order to prove these benefits a comprehensive, interdisciplinary scientific strategy is needed. Here, both mechanical investigations and life cycle assessment as a method of environmental evaluation are used.     

城市生态工业系统模拟、优化调控方法研究

工业化是城市实现现代化与可持续发展的必经阶段,但面临着严重的资源与环境问题。生态工业是实现生产发展、资源利用和环境保护良性循环的有效模式。文章在依据工业生态学原理对长春经济技术开发区玉米、汽车零部件产业链进行规划基础上,采用系统动力学vensim模型进行模拟与优化调控。最后结合灰色系统方法完成系统多种替代方案的多级评价,促进以工业代谢过程为核心的资源高效利用和环境影响最小化。结果表明,所建立的长春经济技术开发区生态工业系统动力学仿真模型可对其结构、功能进行分析,确定不同子系统间的动态作用关系,并得到不同规划方案时变条件下的发展结果。结合灰色聚类评估能够定量地反映系统在不同发展战略下的行为,并确定最优方案,具有较强可操作性。长春经济技术开发区生态环境现状较好,但随着经济发展和人口聚集,环境压力将加大,就此问题提出相应环境影响减缓和保护措施。     

基于秀丽隐杆线虫的微量水样环境毒理学研究

目前,环境水样个体水平的毒理学检测成本较高、耗时长,且检测后的水样若处理不当易造成环境的二次污染。通过使用易于培养和观察、个体微小的模式生物—秀丽隐杆线虫作为实验对象,利用毛细玻璃管的虹吸原理将线虫暴露于微量的环境水样进行染毒培养,实现微量水样在个体水平的毒理学评价。为了验证该方法的可行性,检测了暴露组线虫与对照组线虫的生殖腺细胞损伤水平、活性氧自由基(ROS)产生量、氧化应激水平、脱氧核糖核酸(DNA)损伤水平等生物终点的差异性。研究结果有助于为微量环境水样在个体水平的毒理学分析提供一种快速、可行、廉价的评价手段。     

Central and individual air-conditioning systems — A comparison of environmental impacts and resource consumption in a life cycle perspective

This paper compares individual (split) and central systems of air-conditioning in a life cycle perspective, taking into account the environmental impacts and resource consumption during resource extraction, material production, production of the air-conditioning units, their use, disposal and recycling. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is used in conducting this comparison.

Central systems have a longer lifetime than individual systems, lower electricity consumption and maintenance requirements during the use phase, and a higher recycling potential during the disposal phase. However, to transfer cool air, central systems use a large quantity of water pipes or air ducts, the production of which contributes significantly to resource use. The LCA study reveals that, on the whole, the central systems generally use less resources than split systems and result in lower environmental impacts.

The paper suggests a need for producers of air-conditioners to consider a change from being suppliers of air-conditioning hardware to being suppliers of cool air in order to overcome the initial cost constraints of central systems and realize their environmental and economic improvement potential to the benefit of the environment, and the industry as well as customers.     

Die Bedeutung der Zeit

The consideration of time in environmental research allows new insights into the fundamentals of environmental research and new pathways for perceiving and answering questions which might arise in environmental research. In order to take this all into account, one must realize that ecological systems have a history and that both the spatial aspects and the chronological expansion of these systems must be taken into consideration. Considering temporalities, rhythms and time scales as well as their interdependencies in environmental research and environmental protection enables us to obtain a better understanding. The significance of relationships and functions in ecological systems can be perceived better as well. The impact of pollutants as well as the outcome of human actions in ecology, and in economics and politics, is consequently mandatory for not only a spatial, but also for the involved temporal scales.     

Application of partial order to stream channel assessment at bridge infrastructure for mitigation management

Many environmental systems and infrastructure systems are monitored using a set of indicator values that assess several aspects of site condition. The values of different indicators often convey different comparative messages for the study sites. The comparability between sites is analyzed within the theory of partially-ordered sets and visualized with Hasse diagrams. This paper demonstrates that properties of partially-ordered sets and the conversion of indicator scores into a rank matrix provide a manager or decision-maker with valuable information that would be lost if the monitored indicator data were aggregated only into a single index. Stream stability assessment data from 49 bridge crossing sites in the United States are used to demonstrate these techniques in prioritization and identification of restoration and maintenance needs of stream channels at bridge crossings.     

基于投影寻踪的广东省资源环境绩效评估与分析

采用基于投影寻踪的资源环境综合绩效指数（REPIPP）,对2007年广东省各市的资源环境绩效进行了评估与分析。研究结果表明,全省资源环境绩效水平空间差异明显,呈现珠江三角洲地区高于东西两翼和粤北地区、沿海城市高于内陆城市的特点,与广东省的区域经济发展格局基本一致;在各项指标中,工业固废排放绩效的权重较大,落后地区应特别注意加强环境保护和发展循环经济,减少工业固废排放;REPIPP与人均GDP具有一定的正相关关系,但并不完全由人均GDP决定,必须通过优化经济结构、增强科技创新水平和管理水平、加强环境保护等综合措施来提高资源环境绩效水平。     

Integrated urban ecosystem evaluation and modeling based on embodied cosmic exergy

This paper presented a thermodynamic synthesis that involved resource accounting, evaluation and modeling of urban ecosystems based on embodied cosmic exergy (EcE), which redefined embodied exergy with the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) as the reference for solar exergy. In a case study of the Beijing urban ecosystem, the major resources supporting the urban ecosystem, both from free natural resources and from the economy, were accounted for, analyzed and evaluated in the same units, Cosmic Joules (Jc). These indicators revealed the current performance of the Beijing urban ecosystem by considering five aspects of the system: EcE sources, EcE intensity, EcE welfare, environmental impacts and economic efficiency. Moreover, through the combination of the EcE synthesis with a systems dynamics, this research constructed an embodied cosmic exergy-based urban system model (EESM) using Beijing as an example of urban development. The results show that the 10 years from 2010 to 2020 will be very critical for the sustainable development of Beijing because many key factors, such as water resources, wastes and urban assets, might be confronted with great changes during this period. These changes will inevitably transform the urban system not only in its external circumstances but also in its inner structure and may lead to serious consequences. Of all the necessary resources, the most sensitive factor is water supply.     

A comparative decision-making model for sustainable end-of-life vehicle management alternative selection using AHP and extent analysis method on fuzzy AHP

Environmental protection and sustainable development are getting increasing attention in the automobile industries. Environmental consciousness has increased, and sustainability has become an important requirement for the management of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). The proper management of ELVs can bring improved sustainability performance for any society or organisation. There are several alternative options for ELVs management such as reuse, repair, reconditioning, remanufacturing and recycling. Environmental legislation is forcing original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to manage their products at the end of their life cycle to reduce their potential environmental impact. An appropriate selection model for sustainable ELV management alternatives in the dynamic, competitive and regulatory environment can enable a firm to satisfy economic, environmental, social and technological requirements. This study proposes an integrated model to select the dimensions and criteria for evaluating sustainable alternatives for the proper management of ELVs. First, the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method is used to select the most important dimensions and criteria for sustainable alternative selection. Next, a hierarchy has been constructed to develop a systematic technique to solve the alternatives selection problem. An analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and extent analysis method on the fuzzy AHP (FEAHP) model have been used based on the hierarchy to evaluate the most suitable alternatives from the sustainability point of view. The strength of the proposed model is that it compares the results of both methods, the imprecision of experts’ opinions is considered in the evaluation process and the model is easy to use.