Use of demand for and spatial flow of ecosystem services to identify priority areas

Policies and research increasingly focus on the protection of ecosystem services (ESs) through priority‐area conservation. Priority areas for ESs should be identified based on ES capacity and ES demand and account for the connections between areas of ES capacity and demand (flow) resulting in areas of unique demand–supply connections (flow zones). We tested ways to account for ES demand and flow zones to identify priority areas in the European Union. We mapped the capacity and demand of a global (carbon sequestration), a regional (flood regulation), and 3 local ESs (air quality, pollination, and urban leisure). We used Zonation software to identify priority areas for ESs based on 6 tests: with and without accounting for ES demand and 4 tests that accounted for the effect of ES flow zone. There was only 37.1% overlap between the 25% of priority areas that encompassed the most ESs with and without accounting for ES demand. The level of ESs maintained in the priority areas increased from 23.2% to 57.9% after accounting for ES demand, especially for ESs with a small flow zone. Accounting for flow zone had a small effect on the location of priority areas and level of ESs maintained but resulted in fewer flow zones without ES maintained relative to ignoring flow zones. Accounting for demand and flow zones enhanced representation and distribution of ESs with local to regional flow zones without large trade‐offs relative to the global ES. We found that ignoring ES demand led to the identification of priority areas in remote regions where benefits from ES capacity to society were small. Incorporating ESs in conservation planning should therefore always account for ES demand to identify an effective priority network for ESs.     

基于能力谱的地震建筑破坏造成人员伤亡评估

为准确计算地震导致的人员伤亡数量,提高灾后应急保障及救援效率,根据能力谱方法计算建筑物的损坏程度,在此基础上计算相应人员伤亡数量。采用SELENA软件中能力谱方法的计算公式,利用Matlab软件编程得到建筑物破坏及人员伤亡计算程序,计算8度地震条件下建筑物不同破坏状态的概率。根据HAZUS软件中建筑物破坏和人员伤亡关系,计算地震发生在02∶00,14∶00和17∶00时不同伤亡等级的伤亡人数。计算结果表明,多数伤者为轻伤,只需基本药物及简单治疗;地震导致的钢筋混凝土建筑破坏是造成人员伤亡的主要原因;能力谱方法可为震后物质配置及震前防灾规划提供决策支持。     

工业事故调查与分析的发展历程及趋势

工业事故调查伴随着工业革命的发展而开展,而事故分析,特别是系统的分析开展于上世纪的五六十年代。事故调查和分析研究的发展历程可以分成四个阶段,单一原因-结果阶段、多原因-结果阶段、系统化分析阶段以及产业化发展阶段。事故调查和分析从最早的仅仅查找事故（直接）原因单一目的,发展到现在查找（根本）原因、分析原因、制定措施、监督执行等多个目的。事故调查和分析已经发展成为一个学科,一种职业。事故调查和分析的理论和方法也从最初的单方面、表面、短期发展到了全面、深入和系统化。本文在介绍事故调查和分析的发展阶段和过程的同时还将对各阶段代表性的调查方法和理论给予介绍,主要包括＂鱼骨（F ishbone）图＂、＂领结图（BowTie）＂、＂直根（Taproot）图＂和＂三脚架（Tripod）＂。     

SoundPLAN在噪声预测中的技巧及存在的问题

本文介绍了SoundPLAN软件与《环境影响评价技术导则声环境》（HJ2．4—2009）预测模型的相符性,建模及计算过程。以某新建热电项目声环境影响评价为例,研究了SoundPLAN软件在火力发电声环境影响评价中的应用技巧,指出了软件使用过程中存在的问题,并针对这些问题提出了建议。     

Constraints to implementation of sustainability indicator systems in five Asian cities

Contemporary studies on sustainability indicator systems (SISs) typically focus on the technical advancement of indicator construction, on qualitative impacts of indicator programmes and on impacts on governance, decision-making and sustainability as a social construct. Yet, their implementation so far has rarely been addressed, even though monitoring and the use of indicator results fall far behind the number of SISs developed. This study aims at the identification of requirements for the development of and constraints to the implementation of SISs in five Asian cities of developing countries. Interviews with local key actors are held, and a qualitative content analysis is carried out. Findings include evidence on the degree of indicator implementation in the case study cities, a hexagonal model for the classification of requirements and constraints, as well as general conclusions for barriers to the use of SISs.     

A Random,Roadside Breathalyzer Survey of Alcohol Impaired Driving in Ghana

To ascertain the prevalence and pattern of alcohol impaired driving in an African nation, we conducted a random, roadside, breathalyzer survey of drivers in Ghana. A total of 149 (21%) of 722 drivers tested had a detectable blood alcohol concentration (BAC). In addition, 7.3% of drivers had a BAC ≥ 80 mg/dl. The prevalence of impaired driving (BAC ≥ 80) was higher among private drivers (9.8%) than commercial drivers (6.4%). However, due to a higher volume, the majority (64%) of impaired drivers were commercial drivers. Alcohol use was higher among uneducated (11%) compared to educated drivers (5.4%) and was higher among middle aged drivers (30 - 49 years, 9.1% impaired) compared with younger (< 30 years; 5.0%) or older drivers (≥ 50 years; 0%). Alcohol impaired driving is a significant problem in this African nation. Anti-drunk driving measures should be an important component of road safety efforts. Such measures may need to be different than industrialized nations and will need to target less educated drivers, middle aged drivers, and commercial drivers.     

Action-Oriented Support for Occupational Safety and Health Programs in Some Developing Countries in Asia

Action-oriented support programs have been increasingly playing vital roles in promoting safety and health in developing countries in Asia. This paper studied achievements of 3 action-oriented support programs: the WISE program for small enterprises, the WIND program for farmers, and the POSITIVE program for workers and trade unions. Special attention was paid to how the programs have strengthened local efforts for sustainable actions in safety and health improvements. The results showed that there were significant achievements in action-oriented support programs in the region, including a large number of improvement examples, integration into government policies, and network support through employers’ and workers’ organizations. Participatory, action-oriented training tools such as action-checklists, local good example photos, and group work methods played key roles in the effective implementation of the programs. It was of note that there were a number of local efforts to extend the coverage of action-oriented support even to hard-to-reach workers such as home-based workers, rural workers, and ethnic minorities. The efforts included the equal participation in the training by female and male farmers, shortened and weekend training programs, photo sheets showing local good examples, and reasonable fee collection for better sustainability. In conclusion, action-oriented support programs provided local people with concrete means to promote safety and health improvements. The successful programs commonly focused on local initiatives and were built on local wisdom and resources.     

Certification of Highly Complex Safety-Related Systems

The BIA has now 15 years of experience with the certification of complex electronic systems for safety-related applications in the machinery sector. Using the example of machining centres, this presentation will show the systematic procedure for verifying and validating control systems using Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) and microcomputers for safety functions.

One section will describe the control structure of machining centres with control systems using “ integrated safety.” A diverse redundant architecture combined with crossmonitoring and forced dynamisation is explained. In the main section the steps of the systematic certification procedure are explained showing some results of the certification of drilling machines. Specification reviews, design reviews with test case specification, statistical analysis, and walk-throughs are the analytical measures in the testing process. Systematic tests based on the test case specification, Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) and environmental testing, and site acceptance tests on the machines are the testing measures for validation.

A complex software driven system is always undergoing modification. Most of the changes are not safety-relevant but this has to be proven. A systematic procedure for certifying software modifications is presented in the last section of the paper.     

我国旅行社业存在的主要问题及发展对策

旅行社业对促进旅游业的发展起着举足轻重的作用,但随着技术化时代的到来,网络的发展,特别是中国加入WTO后,中国旅行社业面临越来越大的挑战.本文分析了目前我国旅行社业存在的主要问题,同时就旅行社业如何抓住机遇,迎接挑战,提出几点参考意见,力求探索其新的生存发展之路.     

城市开发区大气环境影响评价研究--以扬州市经济技术开发区为例

对开发区进行环境影响评价是开发区可持续发展的需要。大气作为环境的重要要素，其状况优劣对开发区的发展及布局都产生较大的影响，因而大气环境影响评价是环境影响评价体系中不可缺少的组成部分。如何进行开发区的大气环境影响评价，国内已取得了不少经验，但仍在探索之中。对城市开发区大气环境影响评价的内容和方法进行了探讨；以扬州市经济技术开发区为例，进行了分析、预测和评价，对环境评价中的公众参与环节进行了有益的探索与尝试；对开发区进行了大气功能区划分，给出了开发区大气主要污染物总量控制方案；最后，针对扬州市经济技术开发区的实情，在产业发展方向、项目规划布局、能源使用、绿化、环境管理以及土地管理等方面提出了环境保护的对策和建议。