A Multiattribute Index for Assessing Environmental Impacts of Regional Development Projects: A Case Study of Korea

Evaluating environmental impacts has become an increasingly vital part of environmental management. In the present study, a methodological procedure based on multiattribute utility theory (MAUT) has been applied to obtain a decision-maker's value index on assessment of the environmental impacts. The paper begins with an overview of MAUT. Next, we elicited strategic objectives and several important attributes, and then structured them into a hierarchy, with the aim of structuring and quantifying the basic values for the assessment. An environmental multiattribute index is constructed as a multiattribute utility function, based on value judgements provided by a decision-maker at the Korean Ministry of Environment (MOE). The implications of the results are useful for many aspects of MOE's environmental policies; identifying the strategic objectives and basic values; facilitating communication about the organization's priorities; and recognizing decision opportunities that face decision-makers of Korea.     

ENVIRONMENTAL THRESHOLD FUNCTIONS FOR USER ORIENTED RESOURCE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT1

ABSTRACT: Managers of water related outdoor recreation resources want to provide facilities and recreational opportunities of high quality that are attractive to recreationists. The reported research develops a relevant site quality assessment and measurement procedure called environmental threshold modeling. This modeling procedure is based upon the idea that individuals (i.e., recreationists) have specific, identifiable evaluative criteria which can be expressed as a mathematical function of various site characteristics. The function of interest is called a threshold function because it separates acceptable recreational settings from unacceptable settings. Individual specific threshold functions can be easily aggregated to form a population specific threshold function that estimates the proportion of a population that would find the recreational setting acceptable for some specific activity. Presented in this paper are illustrative calibration results based upon survey data collected from recreational canoeists using the Pine River in Michigan's Manistee National Forest.     

SIMULATION AS AN AID TO DECISION MAKING IN A WATER UTILITY1

ABSTRACT. Middle and high management levels within water utilities would find their decision making activities greatly enhanced if provided with a set of techniques having the following characteristics: (1) the ability to procure information and knowledge about real-life systems, (2) the ability to promote analysis of the real life system and (3) the capacity to gauge the impact of decisions. A model/simulation is presented, having the capability to mime operational aspects of water supply systems. The simulation produces time series of what are considered relevant operational variables. These series are amenable to analysis of both static and dynamic effects of alternative policies, changing environmental conditions and varying parametric specifications. Because of its modular structure and the ad hoc programming language utilized, it offers great flexibility. The model/simulation allows extensions, deletions and modifications without consequent reformulation or extensive reprogramming. It performs a number of statistical tests useful for its own verification and validation. Also available are a suggested methodology and procedures for model use, possible difficulties with data gathering and operation, plus an idea of what cannot be done with the currently extant model version.     

NON-EFFICIENCY OBJECTIVES AND DECISION-MAKING IN WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENTS1

ABSTRACT: In spite of the rather large volume of literature suggesting that non-efficiency objectives ought to be incorporated into water resource planning frameworks, little has been done to date. A partial explanation is that when goals are in conflict we have no “objective” criteria upon which to make the trade-offs. Also, there are problems of measuring the degree to which various policy actions lead to achievement of various goals. Nevertheless, this paper argues that given the magnitude of the possible gains from incorporating these considerations, considerable effort to overcome these problems is justified. Accordingly, we outline some procedures for making these trade-offs and suggest an alternative (practical) planning framework.     

莫桑比克东部滨海砂矿矿物组成及特征

滨海砂矿是目前全球最大的潜在矿产资源之一。以莫桑比克的滨海砂矿作为研究对象,利用光学显微镜、X射线衍射、扫描电镜、等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)等手段对莫桑比克东部滨海砂矿的矿物组成及特征进行了研究。并用数理统计方法讨论了重砂矿的元素赋存状态及其载体矿物。研究结果表明:(1)砂矿的矿石矿物主要为钛铁矿、金红石和锆石,脉石矿物主要为石英和长石。(2)重砂矿的主要化学组分为Ti和Zr;Hf及REE为次要组分;而主要有害元素组分Th和U,其总体含量低,故重砂矿对采选加工和产品利用均无明显环境危害。(3)重砂矿中元素含量与粒度之间呈一定相关性,显示Zr、Hf、U、Cr、Ta的载体矿物的粒度相对较细;Ti、Fe、V、Nb的载体矿物的粒度相对较粗。     

综合管廊电缆火灾窒息灭火试验与数值模拟研究

为研究综合管廊电缆火灾窒息灭火有效性,采用缩尺寸试验与数值模拟方式,研究不同线缆数量、线缆布置间距、线缆分层情况对窒息灭火时间的影响,以及火灾过程中线缆热释放速率、烟气高度、环境温度、CO体积浓度、O₂体积浓度等关键参数的变化,判定最佳防火门关闭时间与电缆火灾窒息灭火时间。研究结果表明：在密闭情况下,线缆数量越多,综合管廊电缆火灾窒息时间越短;对于相同线缆数量,在线缆按一定间距布置情况下,窒息时间更短;对于双层线缆布置,线缆按一定间距布置情况下的窒息时间反而更长;防火门关闭时间t_关为350 s时,可满足人员安全疏散需求;采用窒息灭火方式时,电缆火灾灭火时间t_灭约为1 620 s。研究结果可为地下管廊电缆灭火提供试验方法参考和数据支持。     

Adaptation to Climatic Variability and Change: Asian Perspectives on Agriculture and Food Security

The impacts of climate change on potential rice production in Asia are reviewed in the light of the adaptation to climatic variability and change. Collaborative studies carried out by IRRI and US-EPA reported that using process-based crop simulation models increasing temperature may decrease rice potential yield up to 7.4% per degree increment of temperature. When climate scenarios predicted by GCMs were applied it was demonstrated that rice production in Asia may decline by 3.8% under the climates of the next century. Moreover, changes in rainfall pattern and distribution were also found suggesting the possible shift of agricultural lands in the region. The studies however have not taken the impacts of climatic variability into account, which often produce extreme events like that caused by monsoons and El Niño. Shifts in rice-growing areas are likely to be constrained by land-use changes occurring for other developmental reasons, which may force greater cultivation of marginal lands and further deforestation. This should be taken into account and lead to more integrated assessment, especially in developing countries where land-use change is more a top-down policy rather than farmers' decision. A key question is: To what extent will improving the ability of societies to cope with current climatic variability through changing design of agricultural systems and practices help the same societies cope with the likely changes in climate?     

Handling Three Types of Correlation in Contaminated Land Site Assessment

This paper outlines the three types of correlation that will characterise most attempts to model land contamination and optimise site assessment strategies. The first type of correlation is that which exists between indicators of contamination. A potential methodology for handling these correlations is given. The second type of correlation is the spatial (auto) correlation between different locations on a site. This has been previously handled through methods such as Kriging interpolation. The possible benefits of integrating the analysis of the first two types of correlation are very briefly discussed. The third type of correlation is that which exists between the information from site samples. Examples of this type of correlation are given.     

城市景观生态价值的边际效用分析法

本文从城市景观价值量的测定出发,引入经济学的效用和边际效用概念．提出城市景观价值量边际效用分析法,在理想状态下,以城市景观结构边际效用递减率为依据。通过面积-效益损益比,揭示城市景观经济效益与环境效益之间的内在联系．结果表明：在城市自然景观面积按比例递减的条件下,不但使环境效益损失趋于无穷大,而且使增加人工景观面积带来的城市经济效益锐减。     

Utility assessment of a map-based online geo-collaboration tool

Spatial group decision-making processes often include both informal and analytical components. Discussions among stakeholders or planning experts are an example of an informal component. When participants discuss spatial planning projects they typically express concerns and comments by pointing to places on a map. The Argumentation Map model provides a conceptual basis for collaborative tools that enable explicit linkages of arguments to the places to which they refer. These tools allow for the input of explicitly geo-referenced arguments as well as the visual access to arguments through a map interface. In this paper, we will review previous utility studies in geo-collaboration and evaluate a case study of a Web-based Argumentation Map application. The case study was conducted in the summer of 2005 when student participants discussed planning issues on the University of Toronto St. George campus. During a one-week unmoderated discussion phase, 11 participants wrote 60 comments on issues such as safety, facilities, parking, and building aesthetics. By measuring the participants' use of geographic references, we draw conclusions on how well the software tool supported the potential of the underlying concept. This research aims to contribute to a scientific approach to geo-collaboration in which the engineering of novel spatial decision support methods is complemented by a critical assessment of their utility in controlled, realistic experiments.