A web-based Decision Support System for the optimal management of construction and demolition waste

Wastes from construction activities constitute nowadays the largest by quantity fraction of solid wastes in urban areas. In addition, it is widely accepted that the particular waste stream contains hazardous materials, such as insulating materials, plastic frames of doors, windows, etc. Their uncontrolled disposal result to long-term pollution costs, resource overuse and wasted energy. Within the framework of the DEWAM project, a web-based Decision Support System (DSS) application - namely DeconRCM - has been developed, aiming towards the identification of the optimal construction and demolition waste (CDW) management strategy that minimises end-of-life costs and maximises the recovery of salvaged building materials. This paper addresses both technical and functional structure of the developed web-based application. The web-based DSS provides an accurate estimation of the generated CDW quantities of twenty-one different waste streams (e.g. concrete, bricks, glass, etc.) for four different types of buildings (residential, office, commercial and industrial). With the use of mathematical programming, the DeconRCM provides also the user with the optimal end-of-life management alternative, taking into consideration both economic and environmental criteria. The DSS's capabilities are illustrated through a real world case study of a typical five floor apartment building in Thessaloniki, Greece.     

我国环境侵权专门立法构想

我国环境侵权规范分散于相关立法,存在体系性不足和制度性缺陷等问题,因此,必须出台环境侵权专门立法。在构成要件方面,必须构建环境侵权二元规则,即人身损害适用无过错责任,财产损失适用过错推定责任;在责任承担方面,故意违法排污应当引入惩罚性赔偿。《侵权责任法》第67条适用于环境共同侵权内部责任份额的确定。环境侵权专门立法应当规定环境公益诉讼。     

Drivers influencing adaptive management: a retrospective evaluation of water quality decisions in South East Queensland (Australia)

This article analyzes interviews with natural resource managers in South East Queensland (SEQ), Australia. The objectives of the research are (i) to apply and test deductive/inductive text analysis methods for constructing a conceptual model of water quality decision-making in SEQ, (ii) to understand the role of information in the decision-making process, and (iii) to understand how to improve adaptive management in SEQ. Our methodology provided the means to quickly and objectively explore interview data and also reduce potential subjective bias normally associated with deductive text analysis methods. At a more practical level, our methodology indicates potential intervention points if one is to influence the decision-making process in the region. Results indicate that relevant information is often ignored in SEQ, with significant consequences for adaptive management. Contextual factors (political, social, and environmental) together with effective communication or lobbying strategies often prevent evidence-based decisions. We propose that in addition to generating information to support decisions, adaptive management also requires an appraisal of the true character of the decision-making process, which includes how stakeholders interact, what information is relevant and salient to management, and how the available information should be communicated to stakeholders and decision-making bodies.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-014-0537-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Decision analysis on fire safety design based on evaluating building fire risk to life

This study presents a framework of decision analysis on fire safety design alternatives based on evaluating building fire risk to life. A probabilistic risk assessment method for occupant life is presented with consideration of some uncertainties of evacuation process and fire development at first. For occupant evacuation time assessment, occupant pre-movement time is characterized by normal distribution. For onset time to untenable conditions assessment, its uncertainty is considered as probability distribution according to the range of design fires. Based on event tree technique, probable fire scenarios are analyzed with consideration of the effect of fire protection systems, employees extinguishing, etc. It is difficult to make a precise assessment on probability and consequence of every fire scenario, but their lower bound and upper bound can be achieved based on statistical data. Therefore, Supersoft Decision Theory [Malmnäs, P.E., 1995. Methods of Evaluation in Supersoft Decision Theory. Department of Philosophy, Stockholm University, 365 Stockholm; Johansson, H., Malmnäs, P.E., 2000. Application of supersoft decision theory in fire risk assessment. Journal of Fire Protection Engineering 14, 55–84] that allows decision maker to utilize vague statement is utilized to integrate with risk assessment to make decision on different fire safety design alternatives. To express how to make decision on different fire safety design alternatives based on evaluating building fire risk to life, two hypothetical fire safety design alternatives for a commercial building are presented.     

一种新型的矿井突水分析与预测的支持向量机模型

针对矿井突水样本数少,信息不完整的特点,提出了矿井突水分析的线性核H-SVMs模型。推导模型的理论推广误差公式,设计自顶向下基于SVM最大间隔逐层分类构造H-SVMs的新方法,并应用于实际的矿井突水预测。实验结果表明,线性核H-SVMs模型结构简单、泛化能力强,不仅能很好地预测矿井突水,而且其层次结构能正确反映突水的等级关系,各判别函数的法向量还可以指示各突水影响因素的权重,通过判决函数能有效分析突水影响因素并提取突水预测规则,为矿井突水预测提供了新的方法。     

Scenario-based stakeholder engagement: incorporating stakeholders preferences into coastal planning for climate change

Climate change poses many challenges for ecosystem and resource management. In particular, coastal planners are struggling to find ways to prepare for the potential impacts of future climate change while dealing with immediate pressures. Decisions on how to respond to future risks are complicated by the long time horizons and the uncertainty associated with the distribution of impacts. Existing coastal zone management approaches in the UK either do not adequately incorporate changing stakeholder preferences, or effectively ensure that stakeholders are aware of the trade-offs inherent in any coastal management decision. Using a novel method, scenario-based stakeholder engagement, which brings together stakeholder analysis, climate change management scenarios and deliberative techniques, the necessary trade-offs associated with long term coastal planning are explored. The method is applied to two case studies of coastal planning in Christchurch Bay on the south coast of England and the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland. A range of conflicting preferences exist on the ideal governance structure to manage the coast under different climate change scenarios. In addition, the results show that public understanding of the trade-offs that have to be made is critical in gaining some degree of public support for long term coastal decision-making. We conclude that scenario-based stakeholder engagement is a useful tool to facilitate coastal management planning that takes into account the complexities and challenges of climate change, and could be used in conjunction with existing approaches such as the Shoreline Management Planning process.     

小城镇基础设施防灾减灾决策支持系统的研究与开发

利用信息技术研究灾害问题成为研究热点之一 ,但在小城镇防灾减灾方面仍缺少应有的关注和重视。笔者将地理信息系统 (GIS)和决策支持系统 (DSS)集成应用于开发“基于GIS的小城镇基础设施防灾减灾决策支持系统” ,简要介绍了该系统研制目标和原则、系统结构框架及各子系统的功能 ,解决了系统实现过程中的一系列关键技术 :快速、高效构建小城镇基础空间数据库及三维可视化、应急预案及历史灾情库的电子化及各类灾害分析模拟的专业模型等。实践证明 ,基于基础设施、灾害源、防护保卫目标、应急救援力量的可视化与数字化 ,该系统能够实现对其进行科学管理、对各单一灾种的模拟分析以及应急决策支持 ,有效提高小城镇政府的应急指挥决策水平 ,增强其灾害应急反应能力。     

基于模糊规则的社会力模型改进研究

针对社会力模型人员作用范围系数进行优化,基于模糊规则改进模型中人员作用范围,使其成为受到疏散速度、疏散人员间距共同影响的动态参数,使模型中人员可通过自身模糊经验判断实际速度、人员交互距离状态来确定心理期望作用范围。仿真结果符合真实疏散特性,证明了人员作用范围系数受人员运动状态的动态影响,并提供参考模糊规则制定原则。     

基于浏览器/服务器的危险废物管理区域决策支持信息系统的研究与开发

讨论了危险废物管理区域决策支持系统的体系结构、开发方法、应用环境、逻辑和功能结构、安全性设计以及系统实现方法 .该区域决策支持系统的设计方法和结构框架对其他环境信息系统开发与设计具有借鉴意义 .     

中国加入WTO所面临的机遇与挑战2001年10月在伦敦"中英论坛"上就"经济全球化中的环境与贸易"议题的发言

论述了环境与贸易的关系、中国加入WTO的环境影响,指出中国在处理环境与贸易问题上应遵循国际上公认的基本原则.