Toward Cyborg PPGIS: exploring socio-technical requirements for the use of web-based PPGIS in two municipal planning cases,Stockholm region,Sweden

Web-based Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) are increasingly used for surveying place values and informing municipal planning in contexts of urban densification. However, research is lagging behind the rapid deployment of PPGIS applications. Some of the main opportunities and challenges for the uptake and implementation of web-based PPGIS are derived from a literature review and two case studies dealing with municipal planning for urban densification in the Stockholm region, Sweden. A simple clustering analysis identified three interconnected themes that together determine the performance of PPGIS: (i) tool design and affordances; (ii) organisational capacity; and (iii) governance. The results of the case studies augment existing literature regarding the connections between the different socio-technical dimensions for the design, implementation and evaluation of PPGIS applications in municipal planning. A cyborg approach to PPGIS is then proposed to improve the theoretical basis for addressing these dimensions together.     

Removal of Cd2+ from water by Friedel’s salt (FS: 3CaO.Al2O3·CaCl2·10H2O): Sorption characteristics and mechanisms

The development of low-cost and efficient new mineral adsorbents has been a hot topic in recent years. In this study, Friedel’s salt (FS:3CaO·A12O3 ·CaCl2 ·10H2O), a hexagonal layered inorganic absorbent, was synthesized to remove Cd2+ from water. The adsorption process was simulated by Langmuir and Freundlich models. The adsorption mechanism was further analyzed with TEM, XRD, FT-IR analysis and monitoring of metal cations released and solution pH variation. The results indicated the adsorbent FS had an outstanding ability for Cd(Ⅱ) adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity of the FS for Cd(Ⅱ) removal can reach up to 671.14 mg/g. The nearly equal numbers of Cd2+ adsorbed and Ca2+ released demonstrated that ion-exchange (both surface and inner) of the FS for Cd(Ⅱ) played an important role during the adsorption process. Furthermore, the surface of the FS after adsorption was microscopically disintegrated while the inner lamellar structure was almost unchanged. The behavior of Cd(Ⅱ) adsorption by FS was significantly affected by surface reactions. The mechanisms of Cd2+ adsorption by the FS mainly included surface complexation and surface precipitation. In the present study, the adsorption process was fitted better by the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.9999) than the Freundlich isotherm model (R2 = 0.8122). Finally, due to the high capacity for ion-exchange on the FS surface, FS is a promising layered inorganic adsorbent for the removal of Cd(Ⅱ) from water.     

Formic acid as an alternative reducing agent for the catalytic nitrate reduction in aqueous media

Formic acid was used for the nitrate reduction as a reductant in the presence of Pd:Cu/γ-alumina catalysts. The surface characteristics of the bimetallic catalyst synthesized by wet impregnation were investigated by SEM, TEM-EDS. The metals were not distributed homogeneously on the surface of catalyst, although the total contents of both metals in particles agreed well with the theoretical values. Formic acid decomposition on the catalyst surface, its influence on solution pH and nitrate removal efficacy was investigated. The best removal of nitrate (50 ppm) was obtained under the condition of 0.75 g/L catalyst with Pd:Cu ratio (4:1) and two fold excess of formic acid. Formic acid decay patterns resembled those of nitrate removal, showing a linear relationship between kf (formic acid decay) and k (nitrate removal). Negligible amount of ammonia was detected, and no nitrite was detected, possibly due to buffering effect of bicarbonate that is in situ produced by the decomposition of formic acid, and due to the sustained release of H2 gas.     

水质氨氮自动分析仪分析方法研究

氨氮自动分析仪是根据纳氏试剂分光光度法的原理,通过自动进样,自动蒸馏,来实现快速准确的分析水质氨氮样品。近年来,氨氮自动分析仪广泛应用于环境监测领域,该方法能够快速、准确、方便地测定水质中的氨氮。利用标准方法纳氏试剂分光光度法进行实验室内的比对实验,通过实验分析,氨氮自动分析仪的分析曲线线性较好,相关系数达到0．9998,方法检出限、准确率和精密度能够满足当前环境监测标准的要求,实际样品测定结果理想,适合在环境监测领域推广应用。     

九龙江河口区夏季反硝化作用初探

河口反硝化是削减入海河流氮污染的重要途径,为探明地处亚热带的九龙江河口混合区的反硝化作用,于2010年7月开展13个站位的面上调查,利用N2：Ar法和膜进样质谱分析仪（MIMS）直接测定反硝化产物溶解N2浓度,用吹扫捕集-气相色谱法测定溶解N2O浓度,并估算二者净增量和水气交换通量.结果表明,溶解N2和N2O净增量有明显的区域变化,从淡水端向海域减少,N2净增量为-9.9～66.8μmol.L-1,N2O净增量为4.3～31.5 nmol.L-1;N2O饱和度为170%～562%,平均352%;N2水气通量为-2.9～53.2 mmol.（m2.d）-1,N2 O水气通量为5.2～23.9μmol.（m2.d）-1,N2 O通量占总通量的0.03%～1.2%（平均0.25%）.温度和营养盐（氮、磷）是影响九龙江河口区反硝化作用的重要因子;淡水端（盐度〈0.5）反硝化作用及其空间分布主要受硝酸盐含量控制,海水端溶解N2与N2O的增加主要来自淡水端的输送,并受盐度梯度（混合作用）影响.     

加大对重点项目和民生项目建设的环境管理,充分发挥环评在产业结构调整、工业布局优化中的重要作用

加大对重点项目和民生项目建设的环境管理,充分发挥环评在产业结构调整、工业布局优化中的重要作用,是政府和环保部门当前必须认真对待的首要问题。     

检测管法与纳氏试剂光度法测定氨氮的比较研究

对氨氮真空玻璃检测管法和纳氏试剂光度法进行检出限、精密度、准确度,以及实际样品测试方面的比较研究。研究表明,氨氮检测管的检出限为0．2mg／L,精密度测定的相对标准偏差为0％～5．75％,准确度测定的加标回收率为93％～124％。检测管法和纳氏剂法同时测定多种实际样品,结果两种方法的相对误差为-37．8％～11．8％,结论：检测管法能够满足半定量测试的需求。     

基于改进道化学指数法的野战油库安全评估

野战油库的安全性对提高其战时生存与保障能力具有重要的作用。根据野战油库的特性,通过对道化学指数评价法进行适当改进,提出了一种新的安全评估方法,该方法通过计算野战油库战时的安全指数,从而划分出野战油库的安全等级及危险程度,对指导野战油库制定安全防护措施、提高其战时生存与保障能力具有重要的作用。     

Choice of teenagers' vehicles and views on vehicle safety: survey of parents of novice teenage drivers

Objective

To examine parental decisions about vehicles driven by teenagers and parental knowledge of vehicle safety.

Methods

About 300 parents were interviewed during spring 2006 in Minnesota, North Carolina, and Rhode Island while teenagers took their first on-road driving tests.

Results

Fewer than half of parents surveyed said teenagers would be the primary drivers of the chosen vehicles. Parents most often cited safety, existing family vehicle, and reliability when explaining the choices for their teenagers’ vehicles. About half of the vehicles intended for teenagers were small/mini/sports cars, pickups, or SUVs — vehicles considered less safe for teenagers than midsize/large cars or minivans. A large majority of vehicles were 2001 models or earlier. Vehicles purchased in anticipation of adding a new driver to the family were more likely to be the sizes/types considered less safe than vehicles already owned. Few parents insisted on side airbags or electronic stability control, despite strong evidence of their safety benefits. Even when asked to identify ideal vehicles for their teenagers to drive, about half of parents identified less safe vehicle sizes/types. Most parents knew that midsize/large vehicles are safer than small vehicles, and at least half of parents said SUVs and pickups are not safe for teenage drivers, citing instability.

Conclusions

The majority of parents understood some of the important criteria for choosing safe vehicles for their teenagers. However, parents actually selected many vehicles for teenagers that provide inferior crash protection.

Impact on industry

Vehicle safety varies substantially by vehicle size, type, and safety features. Many teenagers are driving inferior vehicles in terms of crashworthiness and crash avoidance.