Assessment and management of urbanization-induced ecological risks

The urban ecological risk incurred during the processes of urbanization has been constantly accumulating, creating a severe challenge for China to achieve sustainable urban development. At present, research on systematic evaluation of urban ecological risks is still inadequate, especially at an urban ecosystem level. In this special issue, we use Xiamen City as an example to identify the sources and receptors of urban ecological risks, to develop a methodology system of urban ecological risk assessment, and to propose a method for the management of urban ecological risks. This special issue contains 11 research articles resulting from a comprehensive research project funded by China’s National Natural Science Foundation. The innovations reported in this special issue include a framework of urban ecological risk assessment and a standardized procedure for carrying out urban ecological risk assessment using multiple stressors and endpoints.     

我国地表水中磷酸三苯酯的多层次生态风险评估

磷酸三苯酯(triphenyl phosphate,TPP)在电缆材料、塑料制品中被大量使用,是地表水中检出频率最高的有机磷酸酯类阻燃剂之一,近年来受到广泛关注。本文通过文献检索TPP的地表水环境暴露浓度以及对水生生物的毒性效应浓度,利用风险商(hazard quotient,HQ)和概率生态风险评价法(probabilistic ecological risk assessments,PERA)对我国主要地表水中的TPP进行多层次生态风险评价。结果显示,TPP在我国地表水中的浓度为0.2～96.3 ng·L~(-1),以生存为测试终点的急性毒性数据推导出的预测无效应浓度(predicted no effect concentration,PNEC)为36.49μg·L~(-1),而以繁殖、发育和生长等为测试终点的慢性毒性数据推导出的PNEC值为1.30μg·L~(-1)。基于急、慢性毒性数据计算的风险商均小于0.1。我国地表水中TPP对0.1%到1%的水生生物造成繁殖、发育和生长等慢性毒性影响的概率分别为1.40%和0.04%,存在较低的潜在生态风险。     

Taking stock of community-based flood risk management in Malawi: different stakeholders,different perspectives

Current flood risk strategies in Malawi are characterized by community-based flood risk management (CB-FRM), even though studies explicitly documenting evidence of successful CB-FRM remain limited. This paper investigates the realities and challenges of CB-FRM as seen through a lens of different stakeholders. In order to capture the experiences of CB-FRM, a predominantly qualitative research framework was developed. In 2016, 11 focus group discussions with stakeholder groups (local communities, local government and non-governmental organisations) were held. Additionally, informal discussions, field visits, a short survey and an extensive desk study were undertaken. The findings were analysed according to the major themes that emerged related to the realities and challenges of specific stakeholder groups. Although response and relief still remain prominent components of CB-FRM in Malawi, a number of mitigation and preparedness activities is observed. However, a lack of in-country resources, relief-oriented aid approaches and an ‘aid dependency’ syndrome represent obstacles. Different stakeholder groups share similar challenges in terms of financing, participation, decentralised governance and project management. Lack of project sustainability and localised ownership also emerged as major challenges. The identified challenges shed light on the frontiers and directions in which improvements are needed, thus offering a valuable contribution to the existing knowledgebase.     

Changes in transport accessibility as a result of flooding: a case study of the Mazovia Province (Eastern Poland)

This paper presents the results of research investigating the impact of flooding on the temporal aspect of transport accessibility at national, regional and local levels in the Mazovia Province – an administrative region in Poland. For the purposes of this study the authors measured the theoretical journey times by private transport between settlement units for two variants: journeys made under normal circumstances, that is, without a flood; and journeys made during a flood event, which would necessitate diversions to avoid flooded road sections. This allowed the theoretical journey time differences to be calculated. It was assumed that vehicles move at the highest permissible speed along routes allowing the shortest travel times. The methods of accessibility assessment employed in this paper are based on distance measurements and use isochrones and a cumulative approach. Analysis carried out by the authors has shown that for interregional, intraregional and local journeys, the flooding of a part of the Mazovia region results in changes in travel times, but their absolute and relative magnitudes vary widely. It was found that in the case of national scale journeys the majority of relative journey time increases were no greater than three times the normal duration, while on a local scale they do not exceed 75%. For areas with a high risk of flooding there should be obligatory analyses of changes in transport accessibility; this would facilitate effective flood risk management. Appropriate traffic management in crisis situations would facilitate emergency and rescue services and help inhabitants and any other persons in flooded areas.     

Should all disaster risks be reduced? A perspective from the systems concept of the edge of chaos

The field of disaster risk reduction (DRR) has risen to prominence since the declaration of the International Decade of Disaster Risk Reduction between 1990 and 2000. This decade provided the impetus for a change from the predominant paradigm of disaster response to that of disaster risk reduction as a means of addressing the underlying drivers that lead to disasters. In an effort to promote risk reduction, the UNISDR (the principal agency for disaster risk reduction within the UN structure) formulated policies and strategies to provide both conceptual and practical guidance as to how risk should be reduced. However noble the efforts, this paper contends that the current approach to and understanding of risk within the international community might not be cognisant of complex adaptive systems (CAS) concepts such as the edge of chaos. Specifically, this concept argues that risk (or chaos) within a system is actually a fundamental requirement to the functioning of all resilient socio-ecological systems. Therefore, the reduction of risk without an understanding of the role of that risk within the larger socio-ecological system might actually end up reducing the system’s overall level of disaster resilience. This paper aims to explore the concept of edge of chaos through a literature review of key theoretical works on the topic, followed by a discussion on its implications for the predominant paradigm of risk reduction within disaster risk management policy and practice.     

卡源故障下悬挂链式辐照室火灾危险性研究

为了分析悬挂链式辐照室的火灾危险性,采用实验测定得出室内典型辐照物品的点着温度,通过设置3组火灾场景模拟得到卡源故障下各火灾场景辐照室内温度变化曲线。结果表明:各火灾场景卡源初期1 h,温度上升速度较快。随着时间的增长,室内温度不断上升,但上升速率逐渐放缓。在火灾场景A,B,C等3组条件下卡源故障分别发生9,4,2.4 d后,室内局部温度能达到210℃,室内辐照物品有可能被引燃。     

城市管道系统风险分析及闭环管理研究

为了探索构建城市管道系统安全及可靠性风险管理体系,基于FMECA,FTA&ETA及FRACAS等技术,建立涵盖故障模式辨识、影响及危害度分析、纠正措施执行等内容,且遵循闭环管理原则的科学、完整的风险闭环管理模式。针对城市管道安全及可靠性研究存在的局限性,引入FCE改进的FMECA和模糊灰关联FTA等定量计算方法,克服统计信息匮乏、数据模糊等瓶颈。研究结果表明:基于改进“3F”一体化技术的系统风险闭环管理体系契合城市管道风险管控需求,为多态、多要素耦合、不确定性复杂系统整体风险分析研究提供新思路。     

基于HCNAM-BN的化工过程爆炸事故致因链分析

为了从源头上预防化工过程爆炸事故,依据风险耦合理论,探讨了各风险因子非线性耦合演化为爆炸事故的机理,构建了层次耦合网络分析模型（HCNAM）;从多因素风险耦合角度分析了国内外44起典型化工过程爆炸事故,统计了各风险因子之间的耦合概率并进行了耦合致因重要度分级;采用耦合概率与二态分布相结合的条件概率分布,将层次耦合网络分析模型转化为贝叶斯网络,并对氯乙烯单体槽爆炸性混合气体爆炸事故进行了应用研究。结果表明:91种双因子耦合风险状态中,47种呈现弱耦合致因特性;7种因子双耦合形成风险的概率较大;基于HCNAM-BN模型分析事故,可有效辨识事故最可能致因因素,获取各事故致因链的发生概率并确定事故网络关键节点。     

岩质高边坡运营安全风险评估指标体系研究

为建立高速公路岩质高边坡风险评估指标体系,针对指标选取代表性不足、指标分级阈值缺少定量判据、指标获取困难等问题,采用逐坡普查与重点调查、工程地质类比与复核、现场监测与数值计算相结合的方法,提出了岩质高边坡运营安全风险评估指标体系。包括边坡断面几何特征、水的影响、边坡岩体结构、支挡加固设施及边坡破坏模式等5个一级指标与坡高、坡度等15个二级指标,并确定了量化分级标准与取值方法。评估结果表明:指标体系适用性较强,为后续评估运营安全风险奠定了基础。     

铝土矿海上运输安全风险研究综述

基于易流态化固体散装货物的定义,将具有类似特性的铝土矿作为研究对象,通过梳理易流态化固体散装货物海上运输风险的研究现状,评述2类研究方法——船舶与海洋工程方法和系统安全工程方法,探讨货物含水量及其本质物理属性作为热点的研究脉络,研讨作为承载工具的船舶适装性及其稳性特征,论述自然环境对船舶和货物的影响,探究船舶营运的全过程风险,归纳了有关流态化机理的研究结论。铝土矿安全运输的研究和实践表明国际航运业对铝土矿船运时的流态化机理尚不清晰、研究方法不足、应对措施不强,展望未来应开展以下工作:健全铝土矿海上运输监管机制、强化铝土矿与散货船的耦合机理研究、开展铝土矿运输船舶营运的过程风险研究、推进铝土矿海运安全风险管理的智能化。