UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IMPLEMENT PUBLIC POLICY RURAL COMMUNITY ACTION WITH A WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT1

ABSTRACT: This report summarizes the findings of a ten week study made by the eight member Urban and Environmental Studies Program student staff of the Rock Creek Area Community Projects Board to assist the Village in its search for funds to improve its inadequate water and sewage systems. The ten year history of the Village of Rock Creek in its previous attempts to secure funding from outside sources is summarized. An analysis of federal funding programs’criteria is developed. Recommendations and a step by step analysis of how to precure these funds by the Village Council is presented. This report highlights the ten week activity which successfully produced earmarked federal funds for the Village's water project.     

Accuracy and traceability concepts applied to environmental speciation analysis

Traceability issues are of increasing concern in all fields where chemical measurements form the basis for decisions. The concepts of accuracy and traceability as applied to environmental analysis are, however, still prone to misunderstandings, which has been recently illustrated by controversial discussions among the analytical community with respect to accuracy and traceability issues in the area of speciation analysis. Analytical techniques used for the determination of chemical species (speciation analysis) are generally based on a succession of steps (e.g. extraction derivatisation, separation, detection) which are all prone to various sources of systematic errors. Many speciation measurement techniques have been studied within the last decade through interlaboratory studies and certification of reference materials. These collaborative efforts have been understood as being directed towards strive for accuracy (trueness and precision). It has been recognised recently that the achievements actually enabled mostly to establish reference points (e.g. certified values in reference materials) which does not necessarily correspond to 'true values' but rather offer a mean for laboratories to compare their data internationally and, hence, achieve traceability. This ambiguity still generates confusion and misunderstandings among the scientific community. This communication discusses this issue, focusing on analytical measurements only. Extending discussions on general traceability issues would imply an examination of steps prior to laboratory work (sampling, storage, etc.) which is beyond the scope of this contribution.     

SOIL SOLUTION CONCENTRATIONS: EFFECT OF EXTRACTION TIME USING POROUS CERAMIC CUPS UNDER CONSTANT TENSION1

ABSTRACT: Porous ceramic cups under constant tension (0.45 bar) were used to extract solutions from undisturbed soil columns. Solution concentration changed with length of extraction time. Significant relationships were found between extraction time and concentrations of P, Ca, and K in soil solution for two sample depths in an Omega loamy sand soil column. At two extraction time classes and at two sample depths, combined data from 12 soil columns representing two soil series reinforce the relationship. As time to extract a sample increases, the sample probably represents solution held by soil at tensions approaching those applied to the ceramic cup. We recommend that the choice of an extraction tension be given consideration in studies using porous ceramic cups under constant tension for monitoring constituents of soil solution. In addition, care must be taken to attain good physical contact between the cups and the soil material.     

Ecological Information System: Analyzing the Communication and Utilization of Scientific Information in Mexico

/ This study is concerned with the role that communication can play in facilitating the utilization of ecological information by different sectors of society involved in environmental decision-making. The ecological information system is used as a conceptual framework. This system is a model for the analysis of interactions between three sectors involved in the management of natural resources: researchers in ecology, change agents, and rural producers. Two case studies of organizations carrying out scientific research aimed at finding and implementing sustainable strategies of resource management were carried out. The purpose was to examine how real situations function in terms of communication strategies and to analyze such situations in relation to the model proposed. The analysis revealed the importance of promoting the feedback of information from change agents and rural producers to the research sector and the incorporation of this information into the research process. It also emphasized the relevance of having "active utilizer constituencies" within the rural producers who make demands upon the entire system in order to satisfy information needs. The creation of linkage systems facilitating the connection between the generation and utilization of information was supported. In particular, the establishment of special teams within research institutions is proposed, which could promote the links between the sectors through the use of communication as an instrument of work.     

MISSISSIPPI EMBAYMENT AQUIFER SYSTEM IN MISSISSIPPI: GEOHYDROLOGIC DATA COMPILATION FOR FLOW MODEL SIMULATION1

ABSTRACT: As part of the Gulf Coast Regional Aquifer System Analysis (GC RASA) study, data from 184 geophysical well logs were used to define the geohydrologic framework of the Mississippi embayment aquifer system in Mississippi for flow model simulation. Five major aquifers of Eocene and Paleocene age were defined within this aquifer system in Mississippi. A computer data storage system was established to assimilate the information obtained from the geophysical logs. Computer programs were developed to manipulate the data to construct geologic sections and structure maps. Data from the storage system will be input to a five-layer, three-dimensional, finite-difference digital computer model that is used to simulate the flow dynamics in the five major aquifers of the Mississippi embayment aquifer system.     

The Middle Eastern small towns

In recent years there has been a large increase in the number of small towns with populations between 5,000 and 10,000 in the Middle East. They represent an immense variety of urban types fulfilling a great range of functions. This paper looks at the characteristics of these settlements and argues that they have been largely neglected in the study of Middle East urbanisation and calls for comprehensive national urban planning orientated towards the needs of small towns.     

WATER RECLAMATION BY PHYSICOCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF WASTEWATER1

ABSTRACT. Treatment of a high strength acidic industrial chemical waste, which had a COD of about 3000 mg/1 and a pH of 3, was attempted by activated carbon adsorption to evaluate the feasibility of yielding effluents of reusable qualities. The experimental methods which were employed in this investigation included batch and column studies. The former was used to evaluate the rate and equilibrium of carbon adsorption while the latter was used to determine treatment efficiencies and performance characteristics. Parallel operations of fixed-bed and expanded-bed adsorbers were contrasted in the column study. Results of this investication indicate that activated carbon was very efficient in removing the COD of the chemical waste. Initial pH adjustments for the wastewater to 7.0 or 11.4 did not increase the COD removal efficiency. Turbidity and nitrogen (total Kjeldahl- and ammonia-N) were removed to some extents by the carbon bed adsorbers while phosphorus (total-and ortho-P) was totally unaffected by the carbon treatment.     

Power,politics, and culture of marine conservation technology in fisheries

The term conservation technology is applied widely and loosely to any technology connected to conservation. This overly broad understanding can lead to confusion around the actual mechanisms of conservation in a technological system, which can result in neglect and underdevelopment of the human dimensions of conservation technology. Ultimately, this hinders its effectiveness as technological fixes for conservation problems. Through a process of concept mapping based on key case studies and literature, I devised precise definitions of marine conservation technology and technological marine conservation system. Concerns about the use of marine conservation technologies included unintended consequences, halfway technologies that address the symptoms but not the causes of problems, and misguided techno-optimism (i.e., technology is a panacea that can solve any problem). Technology and technological systems can have power, politics, and culture, and these characteristics can influence the contextual fit of a technology, requiring that technology be thoughtfully created or adapted to the circumstances in which it will be used. Power, politics, and culture inherent in technology can also influence the distribution of conservation risks and benefits and potentially widen gaps in wealth, privilege, opportunities, and justice. Addressing these concerns can potentially be achieved through the better integration of social sciences in marine conservation technology and technological marine conservation system design and development and the application of the social-ecological-technological systems framework. This framework melds key concepts from the socioecological systems framework and science and technology studies. It recognizes as and elevates technology to be a central actor that can shape societies and the natural world. Such a framework incorporates broader understanding, so that the values and concerns of society are more effectively addressed in the creation and implementation of marine conservation technologies and technological marine conservation systems.     

Evaluation of the International Vehicle Emission （IVE） model with on-road remote sensing measurements

Intemational Vehicle Emissions （IVE） model funded by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency （USEPA） is designed to estimate emissions from motor vehicles in developing countries. In this study, the IVE model was evaluated by utilizing a dataset available from the remote sensing measurements on a large number of vehicles at five different sites in Hangzhou, China, in 2004 and 2005. Average fuel-based emission factors derived from the remote sensing measurements were compared with corresponding emission factors derived from IVE calculations for urban, hot stabilized condition. The results show a good agreement between the two methods for gasoline passenger cars＇ HC emission for all 1VE subsectors and technology classes. In the case of CO emissions, the modeled results were reasonably good, although systematically underestimate the emissions by almost 12%-50% for different technology classes. However, the model totally overestimated NOx emissions. The IVE NOx emission factors were 1.5-3.5 times of the remote sensing measured ones. The IVE model was also evaluated for light duty gasoline truck, heavy duty gasoline vehicles and motor cycles. A notable result was observed that the decrease in emissions from technology class State II to State I were overestimated by the IVE model compared to remote sensing measurements for all the three pollutants. Finally, in order to improve emission estimation, the adjusted base emission factors from local studies are strongly recommended to be used in the IVE model.