Urban tinkering

Cities are currently experiencing serious, multifaceted impacts from global environmental change, especially climate change, and the degree to which they will need to cope with and adapt to such challenges will continue to increase. A complex systems approach inspired by evolutionary theory can inform strategies for policies and interventions to deal with growing urban vulnerabilities. Such an approach would guide the design of new (and redesign of existing) urban structures, while promoting innovative integration of grey, green and blue infrastructure in service of environmental and health objectives. Moreover, it would contribute to more flexible, effective policies for urban management and the use of urban space. Four decades ago, in a seminal paper in Science, the French evolutionary biologist and philosopher Francois Jacob noted that evolution differs significantly in its characteristic modes of action from processes that are designed and engineered de novo (Jacob in Science 196(4295):1161–1166, 1977). He labeled the evolutionary process “tinkering”, recognizing its foundation in the modification and molding of existing traits and forms, with occasional dramatic shifts in function in the context of changing conditions. This contrasts greatly with conventional engineering and design approaches that apply tailor-made materials and tools to achieve well-defined functions that are specified a priori. We here propose that urban tinkering is the application of evolutionary thinking to urban design, engineering, ecological restoration, management and governance. We define urban tinkering as:

A mode of operation, encompassing policy, planning and management processes, that seeks to transform the use of existing and design of new urban systems in ways that diversify their functions, anticipate new uses and enhance adaptability, to better meet the social, economic and ecological needs of cities under conditions of deep uncertainty about the future.

This approach has the potential to substantially complement and augment conventional urban development, replacing predictability, linearity and monofunctional design with anticipation of uncertainty and non-linearity and design for multiple, potentially shifting functions. Urban tinkering can function by promoting a diversity of small-scale urban experiments that, in aggregate, lead to large-scale often playful innovative solutions to the problems of sustainable development. Moreover, the tinkering approach is naturally suited to exploring multi-functional uses and approaches (e.g., bricolage) for new and existing urban structures and policies through collaborative engagement and analysis. It is thus well worth exploring as a means of delivering co-benefits for environment and human health and wellbeing. Indeed, urban tinkering has close ties to systems approaches, which often are recognized as critical to sustainable development. We believe this concept can help forge much-closer, much-needed ties among engineers, architects, evolutionary ecologists, health specialists, and numerous other urban stakeholders in developing innovative, widely beneficial solutions for society and contribute to successful implementation of SDG11 and the New Urban Agenda.

     

Chemical content and source apportionment of 36 heavy metal analysis and health risk assessment in aerosol of Beijing

The concentration levels of 36 airborne heavy metals and atmospheric radioactivity in total suspended particulate (TSP) samples were measured to investigate the chemical characteristics, potential sources of aerosols, and health risk in Beijing, China, from September 2016 to September 2017. The TSP concentrations varied from 6.93 to 469.18 μg/m³, with a median of 133.97 μg/m³. The order for the mean concentrations of heavy metals, known as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), was as follows: Mn > Pb > As > Cr > Ni > Se > Cd > Co > Sb > Hg > Be; Non-Designated HAPs Metals: Ca > Fe > Mg > Al > K > Na > Zn > P > Ba > Ti > Cu > Sr > B > Sn > I > V > Rb > Ce > Mo > Cs > Th > Ag > U > Pt. The median concentration of As was higher than China air quality standard (6 ng/m³). The gross α and β concentration levels in aerosols were (1.84?±?1.59) mBg/m³ and (1.15?±?0.85) mBg/m³, respectively. The enrichment factor values of Cu, Ba, B, Ce, Tl, Cs, Pb, As, Cd, Sb, Hg, Fe, Zn, Sn, I, Mo, and Ag were higher than 10, which indicated enriched results from anthropogenic sources. Pb, As, and Cd are considered to originate from multiple sources; fireworks released Ba during China spring festival; Fe, Ce, and Cs may come from stable emissions such as industrial gases. The health risks from anthropogenic metals via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal pathway were estimated on the basis of health quotient as well as the results indicated that children faced the higher risk than adults during the research period. For adults, the health risk posed by heavy metals in atmospheric particles was below the acceptable level.

     

Effects of temperature and relative humidity on the methane permeability rate of biogas storage membranes

Selecting a material for biogas storage membranes is becoming increasingly vital because of the wide applications of biogas storage membranes in biogas plants. Material selection has numerous influencing factors, including gas permeability, strength, density, and so on. Among these, gas permeability has a vital role in biogas storage membranes. In this study, three kinds of biogas storage membranes with the same thickness were selected to investigate the effects of temperature (10, 20, 30, and 40°C) and relative humidity (RH; 0%, 50%, and 100%) on the permeability rate of biogas storage membranes. Results demonstrated that when various membrane samples with the same RH values were tested, temperature exhibited a strong effect on permeability rate. Kinetic analysis showed that the relationship between permeability and temperature agrees with the Arrhenius equation. However, no remarkable variation in methane permeability was observed for membranes with the same temperature but different RH values, thus suggesting that RH nearly has no obvious direct influence on the permeability rate of membranes.     

The effect of municipal sludge compost on the mobility and bioavailability of Cd in a sierozem-wheat system in an arid region northwest of China

The effect of sewage sludge on the mobility and the bioavailability of trace metals in plant-soil systems have aroused wide interested and been widely explored. Based on a wheat-cultivating experiment, the effect of municipal sludge compost (MSC) on the mobility and bioavailability of Cd in a soil-wheat system was studied. With the application of MSC, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) in the soil increased significantly, while concentrations of trace metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd) were below the China’s minimum thresholds. The application of MSC could improve wheat growth. The application of MSC at the rate of 0.5 % had no significant effect on the chemical fraction distribution of Cd in soil. In two soil treatments, Cd mainly existed in the labile chemical fractions (exchangeable chemical fraction (EXCF) and carbonate chemical fraction (CABF)). However, the application of MSC could reduce accumulation of Cd by wheat. Cd contents in each part of the MSC-applied wheat were significantly less than that of non-MSC-applied wheat. In the tested soils, the extractable concentrations decreased in the order: EDTA > MgCl₂ ≈ NH₄OAc > DTPA. There were no significant differences between soil treatments in the amounts of extractable Cd when the extraction was done under neutral conditions, although significant differences were observed when the extraction was done under alkaline conditions. In this study, the DTPA extraction procedure provided a good indication of Cd bioavailability. Our results suggest that, in the short term at least, amending soils with MSC may benefit crop dry matter production while not increasing the risk of human exposure to Cd through consumption of wheat grown on MSC-amended soils.     

Novel bacterial consortia isolated from plastic garbage processing areas demonstrated enhanced degradation for low density polyethylene

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study aimed to formulate novel microbial consortia isolated from plastic garbage processing areas and thereby devise an eco-friendly approach for...     

石油和天然气开采业危险废物判定要点分析

在油气田开发生产过程中,会产生大量危险废物,如处置不当会造成严重污染,但如何判别危险废物是环境管理中的难点问题。文章分析了石油和天然气开采业生产工艺流程,对石油和天然气开采业的油井、联合站、集输管道产生危险废物的类型、环节进行了分析,可为有关人员对危险废物判定提供参考。     

红浅稠油污水回用锅炉处理技术研究与应用

文章介绍了红浅稠油污水处理站采用的"离子调整旋流反应+216t/h软化水"处理工艺,该工艺创新性的采用了分置式反应罐,将混凝、反应、加药、沉降、颗粒吸附有机结合,优选出高效的污水处理药剂,首次在新疆油田公司污水处理工艺中应用改性纤维束过滤器和216t/h软化水处理装置,优化了各节点的配套工艺,使处理后的污水水质达到回用锅炉水质标准,取得了良好的效果。同时,通过对加药浓度、隔油、反冲洗周期等参数优化,保证了红浅稠油污水回用锅炉处理系统的平稳运行,累计处理回用污水约730万m3,有效地节约了水资源,保护了环境,综合效益显著。     

用微电极测定曝气量对SBR系统中硝化作用的影响

为了研究曝气量对硝化作用的影响,实验采用3个相同的SBR装置,分别在曝气量为4、10和16 L/h的条件下处理人工污水,并采用自制的溶解氧、NO3-、NH4+和pH微电极测定了活性污泥絮体内部微元环境中相应基质的浓度。结果表明,曝气量为4 L/h时,活性污泥絮体内存在厌氧微区,NO3--N浓度减小了,发生了反硝化作用;而曝气量为10 L/h和16 L/h时,活性污泥絮体内发生的都是硝化反应,且NH4+-N浓度的减小量、NO3--N浓度的增大量都随着曝气量的增大而增大,pH随着曝气量的增大而减小。     

"二重源解析"技术及其系统实现

化学质量平衡是被广泛用于空气质量管理的受体模型之一.由于混合源(城市扬尘)和单一源因颗粒物源谱的严重共线性,采用美国环境保护署推荐使用的EPA-CMB8.2,无法定量解析出各排放源初始态和扬尘态颗粒物的贡献值和分担率.针对这一问题,完善和规范了"二重源解析"技术原理,开发了具有"二重源解析"功能的NKCMB3.0.对鞍山市样品污染物来源解析的试验结果表明,"二重源解析"技术在对混合源和单一源同时进行源解析时是有效的.     

高效铁系除臭剂净化制药污泥带滤间恶臭的工程应用研究

在实验室条件下考察了自制高效铁系除臭剂的吸附性能,确定出了最佳工艺条件。将该除臭剂应用于制药厂污水处理污泥带滤间的恶臭气体净化,设计了废气处理量为11 000 m³/h的吸附净化系统。工程实际运行效果良好,H₂S去除率可达97％以上。结果表明：该除臭剂对于处理含硫恶臭气体具有良好的实际应用价值,工业应用前景广阔。