Public Evaluation of Open Space in Illinois: Citizen Support for Natural Area Acquisition

Numerous studies have indicated a broad-based support for open space preservation and protection. Research also has characterized the public values and rationale that underlie the widespread support for open space. In recognition of the widespread public support for open space, various levels of government have implemented programs to provide public access to open space. There are many different types of open space, ranging from golf courses, ball parks, wildlife areas, and prairies, to name a few. This paper addresses questions related to the types of open space that should be prioritized by planners and natural resource managers. The results of this study are based on a stratified random sample of 5000 households in Illinois that were sent a questionnaire related to their support for various types of open space. Through a comparatively simple action grid analysis, the open space types that should be prioritized for public access include forest areas, stream corridors, wildlife habitat, and lakes/ponds. These were the open space types rated of the highest importance, yet were also the open space types rated the lowest in respondent satisfaction. This kind of analysis does not require the technical expertise of other options for land-use prioritizations (e.g., conjoint analysis, contingent valuation), yet provides important policy directives for planners. Although open space funds often allow for purchase of developed sites such as golf courses, ball parks, and community parks, this study indicates that undeveloped (or nature-based) open space lands are most needed in Illinois.     

Memory for the spatial layout of the everyday physical environment: Factors affecting rate of acquisition

That a memory representation of the spatial layout of a large-scale environment may be acquired very fast was shown in two experiments in which subjects (48 undergraduates and high-school students) were taken on tours through a residential area with which they were unfamiliar. Memory for the path traversed was almost perfect after the first trial, as indicated by almost perfect recall of the order in which a number of designated landmarks had been passed. Memory for the locations of the same landmarks appeared to reach an asymptotic level after the second of three trials. The memory representation of the locations were however not perfectly accurate, thus the asymptotic level might have been an acquisition plateau. The rate of acquisition was slightly faster for subjects driven in a car slowly through the area than for those who walked the same path. Men tended to improve slightly faster than women if they were driven by car but there were no other sex differences. Finally, the acquired memory representation appeared to be resistant to forgetting. Re-learning after a one-week retention interval was faster and rate of learning was not negatively affected whether the trials were massed or distributed with one week in between. The results are discussed in terms of hypotheses concerning the order in which different types of information about spatial layouts (landmarks, paths, and locations) are acquired. The bearing of the results on the question of why memory representations of the spatial layout are often found to be distorted is also discussed.     

A transition in the Dutch wastewater system? The struggle between discourses and with lock-ins

ABSTRACT

Recently, calls have increased for a paradigm shift or transition towards resource recovery and a circular economy in the Dutch wastewater system. However, we have observed diverging interpretations on the nature of the transition. This reflects the political environment of sustainability transitions: political struggle emerges over the definition of problems, futures and strategies to be used. In order to help clarify the emerging debate and identify political choices, we conducted a discourse analysis. We identified three discourses that reveal some of the political choices to be made. One discourse is becoming dominant and focusses on optimising the large-scale infrastructure, market development and legislative changes. The discourse draws on the existing infrastructure and current political-economic institutions, which gives it an advantage in becoming dominant. Our findings also suggest that this discourse shapes a transition pathway that is characterised by lock-in effects and, at most, incremental changes instead of a fundamental shift in the established Dutch wastewater system.     

Field trial experiment: Phytoremediation with Salix sp. on a dredged sediment disposal site in Flanders,Belgium

Remediation of heavy metal contamination in soil is a widespread environmental issue. Conventional remediation techniques are invasive and often too expensive, particularly if large areas of soil are contaminated. Phytoremediation is the use of plants to remediate soil and groundwater. Phytoremediation of inorganic comtaminants such as metals can be further catagorized into phytostabilization and phytoextraction. These techniques have gained an increasing amount of attention and research over the last ten years. Phytoextraction of heavy metals and periodical removal of harvestable plant parts results in a gradual decrease of pollutant levels in the top soil. Woody species such as Salix sp. (willow) do not represent the fastest phytoextraction procedure compared to uptake by herbaceous species; however, they offer the added advantage of possible reuse of the produced biomass (wood) for the production of renewable energy. Here we present the results of a field experiment conducted to evaluate the use of Salix to remediate soil contaminated with cadmium and zinc at a dredged sediment disposal site in Flanders, Belgium. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A MODEL TO ENHANCE WETLAND DESIGN AND OPTIMIZE NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION CONTROL1

ABSTRACT: A dynamic, compartmental, simulation model (WETLAND) was developed for the design and evaluation of constructed wetlands to optimize nonpoint source (NPS) pollution control. The model simulates the hydrologic, nitrogen, carbon, dissolved oxygen (DO), bacteria, vegetative, phosphorous, and sediment cycles of a wetland system. Written in Fortran 77, the WETLAND models both free‐water surface (FWS) and subsurface flow (SSF) wetlands, and is designed in a modular manner that gives the user the flexibility to decide which cycles and processes to model. WETLAND differs from many existing wetland models in that the interactions between the different nutrient cycles are modeled, minimizing the number of assumptions concerning wetland processes. It also directly links microbial growth and death to the consumption and transformations of nutrients in the wetland system. The WETLAND model is intended to be utilized with an existing NPS hydro‐logic simulation model, such as ANSWERS or BASINS, but also may be used in situations where measured input data to the wetland are available. The model was calibrated and validated using limited data from a FWS wetland located at Benton, Kentucky. The WETLAND predictions were not statistically different from measured values for of five‐day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), suspended sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorous. Effluent DO predictions were not always consistent with measured concentrations. A sensitivity analysis indicated the most significant input parameters to the model were those that directly affected bacterial growth and DO uptake and movement. The model was used to design a hypothetical constructed wetland in a subwatershed of the Nomini Creek watershed, located in Virginia. Two‐year simulations were completed for five separate wetland designs. Predicted percent reductions in BOD₅ (4 to 45 percent), total suspended solids (85 to 100 percent), total nitrogen (42 to 56 percent), and total phosphorous (38 to 57 percent) were similar to levels reported by previous research.     

Field Intercomparison of Main Components in Air in EMEP

Within the European monitoring network (EMEP, ) several different sampling procedures for measuring the main air components have been applied. This has contributed to systematic concentration differences and a comparability problem. Since 1997 co-located experiments in 15 countries have been carried out to quantify these differences. In addition, three major measurement campaigns were organized by EMEP between 1985 and 1991. Differences among results depend on the concentration level and methods used. The decrease in SO₂ concentrations over the last twenty years has placed greater demands on the methodology. Absorbing solutions methods for SO₂, (H₂O₂ and tetrachloromercurate (TCM)) typically have higher detection limits than the reference method, which uses KOH impregnated filters. The TCM method also has problems with negative interference, especially in summertime. UV fluorescence monitors have in a few cases proven to give good results, but interferences, detection limit and poor maintenance can be problems. For NO₂, many countries are using the TGS absorption solution method, which has a higher detection limit than the reference method using NaI impregnated glass sinters. The Salzmann method gives unreliable results at concentrations below 1 μgN/m³, and even at higher concentrations the uncertainty is rather unsatisfactory. The chemiluminescence monitor with molybdenum converters tends to systematically overestimate NO₂ concentrations, possibly because zero-drift problems and the non-specific response to NO₂. Particulate sulphate measurements in general have lower bias and uncertainties than gas and other aerosol measurements.     

Developing the ethical matrix as a decision support framework: GM fish as a case study

The Ethical Matrix was developed to help decision-makers explore the ethical issues raised by agri-food biotechnologies. Over the decade since its inception the Ethical Matrix has been used by a number of organizations and the philosophical basis of the framework has been discussed and analyzed extensively. The role of tools such as the Ethical Matrix in public policy decision-making has received increasing attention. In order to further develop the methodological aspects of the Ethical Matrix method, work was carried out to study the potential role of the Ethical Matrix as a decision support framework. When considering which frameworks to apply when analyzing the ethical dimensions of the application of agri-food biotechnologies, it is important to clarify the substantive nature of any prospective framework. In order to further investigate this issue, reflections on the neologism “ethical soundness” of an ethical framework are presented here. This concept is introduced in order to provide more structured evaluations of a range of ethical tools, including ethical frameworks such as the Ethical Matrix. As well as examining the philosophical dimensions of the method, theoretical analysis and literature studies were combined with stakeholder engagement exercises and consultations in order to review the Ethical Matrix from a user perspective. This work resulted in the development of an Ethical Matrix Manual, which is intended to act as a guide for potential user groups.