Secondary analysis of time of day on simulated driving performance

PROBLEM: Age and gender are frequently controlled for in studies of driving performance, but the effects of time of day or circadian cycles on performance are often not considered. Previous research on time of day effects of simulated driving is contradictory and provides little guidance for understanding the impact of these variables on results. METHODS: Using driving simulator data from 79 subjects ages 18 to 65, this paper focuses on the impact of age, gender, and time of day on the simulated driving performance of subjects who self-selected the time of participation. RESULTS: Time of day effects were consistently evident for drivers' speed overall and across different simulated environments. Drivers in the late afternoon period consistently drove significantly slower than drivers in other time periods. Age and gender affected speed such that women and those participants 50 and older tended to drive more slowly. Time of day also had an effect on reaction time and on speed variability measures. Gender did not have significant effects on reaction time or variability measures, but age effects were present. SUMMARY: Taken together, the results suggest that time of day effects should be considered as part of simulated driving performance, and that interactions between time of day and other variables, notably age, should be controlled for as part of future research. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Implications of these findings on current efforts for older driver testing are discussed.     

The water supply footprint (WSF): a strategic planning tool for sustainable regional and local water supplies

This paper introduces a new methodological approach of the ecological footprint explicitly addressing the sustainability of water supplies, which we call the water supply footprint (WSF). The WSF calculates the catchment area or water supply hinterland of a certain society and can serve as a strategic planning tool for local or regional water supplies linking the water demand with the water supply in a water supply footprint matrix. Based on regional water balances it estimates how much water can be appropriated for human use in an environmentally sustainable way.The proposed method is tested on the South East Queensland water supply in Australia, an area where water use restrictions are regularly imposed on the population. Applying the proposed method indicates that supply shortages may be avoided by considerably changing the organisation of water supply, thereby reducing and possibly even avoiding the necessity for large-scale supply side measures like additional sweet water reservoirs or desalination plants. In that way it is demonstrated that the WSF method is applicable at an early and strategic stage of water supply planning.     

基于Landsat TM遥感数据的沈阳市生态环境监测与评价

以近年Landsat TM 遥感图像为基础数据源,利用遥感与GIS技术对沈阳市生态环境状况进行了监测.结果表明,2009年间沈阳市生态环境质量处于一般水平,与2008年相比,生态环境质量指数上升,生态环境状况呈现变好的趋势.     

以生态足迹法分析评估抚顺市可持续发展

在介绍生态足迹理论和计算模型的基础上,对抚顺市2007年的可持续发展状态进行了实例计算和分析,结果表明抚顺2007年的生态赤字为4.986 3hm2,其城市处于非可持续发展的状态.在此基础上,提出了促进抚顺可持续发展的建议.     

云南星云湖南岸生态整治规划

阐述了高原湖泊星云湖的自然条件、污染根源和景观特点,在此基础上通过本项目星云湖南岸(一期)生态整治规划,尝试在整个流域范围内运用GIS分析生态湿地建设、农业面源污染控制和重现滨水空间等,改善星云湖的水质,提高星云湖及周边的生态旅游价值.规划采用顶端控制和底端治理相结合的策略,恢复星云湖流域的生态功能,解决星云湖流域现有...     

蒲河流域污染状况与生态修复技术对策的研究

概述了2010年以前蒲河的污染状况及形成原因,介绍了目前通过蒲河综合整治系列工程实施及生态修复技术的应用,蒲河污染状况和生态环境得到了明显改善,由2009的劣V类水质提高到目前V类水质,同时,提出目前尚存在的问题及蒲河水污染控制和水环境建设的对策和方案,为"十二五"沈阳市创建生态城市和消除劣五类水体的既定目标的实现奠定基础。     

化工建设规划生态环境影响评价研究

规划环境影响评价是以可持续发展的思想为出发点,通过调整规划布局或规模从规划源头预防环境污染和生态破坏.文章探讨了化工建设规划的生态环境影响评价理论和方法学体系,并以武汉化工新城为例,对该理论方法体系进行探讨.     

生态经济城市建设的SWOT分析与策略研究——以粤北山区韶关市为研究样本

生态经济城市通过城市生态、经济与社会系统的动态协调,形成一个生态高度有效保护、经济良性高效发展、人与自然和谐相处的整体功能系统,代表了现代和未来城市发展的方向.作为全国首批六个生态文明建设试点地区之一和广东省的生态发展区,韶关市加快生态经济城市建设符合这一发展潮流和趋势.根据SWOT分析方法,对韶关市生态经济城市建设面临的优势、劣势、机遇和挑战进行分析,不仅为韶关生态经济城市建设提供策略依据,而且为其它类似地区的生态经济城市建设提供借鉴.     

重金属污染土壤的植物修复技术研究进展探讨

大多数传统的重金属污染治理技术成本高,会引起土壤肥力下降,对各类生态系统造成负面影响。植物修复技术是一种成本低、环境友好的方法,不会对土壤性质和生态系统产生不利影响。文章综述了植物修复治理重金属污染土壤的研究进展,探讨如何通过采取物理、化学、生物技术及农艺措施等方法提高修复植物的生物量和重金属积累量并展望了今后的研究方向。     

宁夏灵武市庙梁子沟生态经济流域综合治理模式探讨

宁夏灵武市庙梁子沟流域把沙漠化治理与经济产业开发相结合起来,形成了具有特色的"外围草方格固沙,四周乔木林防风,核心发展经济产业"的水土保持综合治理模式、"五位一体"的经济产业发展模式和"水保搭台、政府导演、各部门协助、全社会参与同唱一台戏"的运行管理模式,在宁夏风沙区及周边同类型地区水土流失治理和开发中值得推广。