A Hydraulic MultiModel Ensemble Framework for Visualizing Flood Inundation Uncertainty

While deterministic forecasts provide a single realization of potential inundation, the inherent uncertainty associated with forecasts also needs to be conveyed for improved decision support. The objective of this study was to develop an ensemble framework for the quantification and visualization of uncertainty associated with flood inundation forecast maps. An 11‐member ensemble streamflow forecast at lead times from 0 to 48 hr was used to force two hydraulic models to produce a multimodel ensemble. The hydraulic models used are (1) the International River Interface Cooperative along with Flow and Sediment Transport with Morphological Evolution of Channels solver and (2) the two‐dimensional Hydrologic Engineering Center‐River Analysis System. Uncertainty was quantified and augmented onto flood inundation maps by calculating statistical spread among the ensemble members. For visualization, a series of probability flood maps conveying the uncertainty in forecasted water extent, water depth, and flow velocity was disseminated through a web‐based decision support tool. The results from this study offer a framework for quantifying and visualizing model uncertainty in forecasted flood inundation maps.     

Hydraulics Near Unscreened Diversion Pipes in Open Channels: Large Flume Experiments

Most of the water diversions on the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers (California, United States) and their tributaries are currently unscreened. These unscreened diversions are commonly used for irrigation and are potentially harmful to migrating and resident fishes. A large flume (test section: 18.29 m long, 3.05 m wide and 3.20 m high) was used to investigate the hydraulic fields near an unscreened water diversion under ecologically and hydraulically relevant diversion rates and channel flow characteristics. We investigated all combinations of three diversion rates (0.28, 0.42, and 0.57 m³/s) and three sweeping velocities (0.15, 0.38, and 0.61 m/s), with one additional test at 0.71 m³/s and 0.15 m/s. We measured the three‐dimensional velocity field at seven cross sections near a diversion pipe and constructed regression equations of the observed maximum velocities near the pipe. Because the velocity components in three directions (longitudinal, transverse, and vertical) were significantly greater near the diversion pipe inlet compared with those farther from it, they cannot be neglected in the modeling and design of fish guidance and protection devices for diversion pipes. Our results should be of great value in quantifying the hydraulic fields that are formed around fish guidance devices to design more effective protection for fishes from entrainment into unscreened water‐diversion pipes.     

COST EFFECTIVE OPERATION OF URBAN WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM USING DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING1

ABSTRACT: Efficient operation of a city water supply system is an important goal of all municipalities. Efficient operation should result in minimum operation cost through reduction in total energy use and/ or reduction in on-peak energy consumption. An optimization model was designed for operating the water supply systems of cities using groundwater. The Newton-Raphson pipe network was used for network analysis and a dynamic programming optimization algorithm was used for determining a schedule for pump operation in the pipe network system. The model is most suitable for use in small cities with up to 45,000 in population, but with large-scale disintegration techniques may also be used for larger cities. The savings in operation costs are a function of energy cost and energy use pattern and water use pattern in the area.     

Sample preparation methods for the analysis of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The vast amount of plastic waste emitted into the environment is of increasing concern because there is mounting evidence for various toxic effects of...     

An improved optimization model for predicting Pb recovery efficiency from residual of liberator cells: a hybrid of support vector regression and modified tunicate swarm algorithm

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - In this study, a hybrid of support vector regression and a modified tunicate swarm algorithm (SVR-MTSA) strategy is developed to optimize the...     

Laboratory-based assessment on similarities between dynamic behavior of MSW and clay

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The dynamic response of landfills under seismic loads is greatly dependent on stress–strain cyclic characteristics of municipal solid waste...     

Toxic heavy metals and nutrient concentration in the milk of goat herds in two Iranian industrial and non-industrial zones

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This work aimed to explore the concentration of nickel, manganese, iron, copper, chromium, and lead in the milk of goat herds in the industrial area...     

Molecular and serological study on congenital toxoplasmosis in newborn of Shiraz,Southern Iran

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by an obligatory intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. The congenital form of the disease is a...     

Relationship between electric spark sensitivity and activation energy of the thermal decomposition of nitramines for safety measures in industrial processes

This study presents a new simple correlation between electric spark sensitivity of nitramines and their activation energies of thermolysis, which are important for safety measures in industrial processes. The new correlation can help to elucidate the mechanism of initiation of energetic materials by electric spark. It can be used to predict the magnitude of electric spark sensitivity of new nitramines, which is difficult to measure. The methodology assumes that electric spark sensitivity of a nitramine with general formula C_aH_bN_cO_d can be expressed as a function of its activation energy of thermal decomposition as well as optimized elemental composition and the contribution of specific molecular structural parameters. The new correlation has the root mean square and the average deviations of 1.37 and 1.09 J, respectively, for 21 nitramines with different molecular structures. The proposed new method is also tested for 16 nitramines so that there is no experimental data of electrostatic sensitivity for them.     

Assessment of the living and workplace health and safety conditions of site-resident construction workers in Tehran,Iran

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to assess living and workplace safety conditions of construction workers in Tehran, Iran. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 410 construction sites in a municipal area of Tehran whose municipal building permits were issued in 2011. Data on ventilation, workplace safety and hygiene were collected by direct observation and interviews with site foremen. Noise levels were estimated from 10 sound-level-meter stations in the municipality area. Results. Lack of ventilation in the workers’ rooms was abundant. Bathrooms were unhygienic and minimum requirements such as lighting and ventilation did not exist in 80% of the cases. In nearly 50% of large construction sites, sewage and garbage disposal were inappropriate. Elevator safety was poor at all sites and no measures for fall prevention were present in over 88% of active construction sites. This study showed that the mean 24-h equivalent continuous sound level L_eq was over 70?dB in 80% of the sites during weekdays. Conclusions. The results of this study revealed poor health and safety living and working conditions of construction workers in Tehran.