Web-based GIS for collaborative planning and public participation: an application to the strategic planning of wind farm sites

Spatial planning typically involves multiple stakeholders. To any specific planning problem, stakeholders often bring different levels of knowledge about the components of the problem and make assumptions, reflecting their individual experiences, that yield conflicting views about desirable planning outcomes. Consequently, stakeholders need to learn about the likely outcomes that result from their stated preferences; this learning can be supported through enhanced access to information, increased public participation in spatial decision-making and support for distributed collaboration amongst planners, stakeholders and the public. This paper presents a conceptual system framework for web-based GIS that supports public participation in collaborative planning. The framework combines an information area, a Multi-Criteria Spatial Decision Support System (MC-SDSS) and an argumentation map to support distributed and asynchronous collaboration in spatial planning. After analysing the novel aspects of this framework, the paper describes its implementation, as a proof of concept, in a system for Web-based Participatory Wind Energy Planning (WePWEP). Details are provided on the specific implementation of each of WePWEP's four tiers, including technical and structural aspects. Throughout the paper, particular emphasis is placed on the need to support user learning throughout the planning process.     

A hybrid design methodology for structuring an Integrated Environmental Management System (IEMS) for shipping business

The International Safety Management (ISM) Code defines a broad framework for the safe management and operation of merchant ships, maintaining high standards of safety and environmental protection. On the other hand, ISO 14001:2004 provides a generic, worldwide environmental management standard that has been utilized by several industries. Both the ISM Code and ISO 14001:2004 have the practical goal of establishing a sustainable Integrated Environmental Management System (IEMS) for shipping businesses. This paper presents a hybrid design methodology that shows how requirements from both standards can be combined into a single execution scheme. Specifically, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy Axiomatic Design (FAD) are used to structure an IEMS for ship management companies. This research provides decision aid to maritime executives in order to enhance the environmental performance in the shipping industry.     

Work environment risk factors for injuries in wood processing

Problem

The reported injury rate for wood product manufacturing in Maine, 1987-2004, was almost twice the state-wide average for all jobs. Method: A case-control study was conducted in wood processing plants to determine preventable risk factors for injury. A total of 157 cases with injuries reported to workers' compensation and 251 controls were interviewed. Results: In multivariable analyses, variables associated with injury risk were high physical workload, machine-paced work or inability to take a break, lack of training, absence of a lockout/tagout program, low seniority, and male gender. Different subsets of these variables were significant when acute incidents and overexertions were analyzed separately and when all injuries were stratified by industry sub-sector. Impact on industry: Generalizability may be limited somewhat by non-representative participation of workplaces and individuals. Nevertheless, these findings provide evidence that many workplace injuries occurring in wood processing could be prevented by application of ergonomics principles and improved work organization.     

Accuracy assessment of a small-area method for estimating the spatial distribution of the degree of tree damage

Tree damage, gauged by the amount of defoliation, is one of the basic criteria used to determine treatments for protected and economic forests. Monitoring should include an assessment of the degree of tree damage in different spatial scales. Therefore, in addition to the commonly applied large-area methods, small-area methods should be used. The aim of the paper is to present the results of the accuracy assessment of a small-area method, proposed by Podlaski (2005) [Podlaski, R. (2005). Inventory of the degree of tree defoliation in small areas. Forest Ecology and Management, 215, 361–377], for monitoring the degree of tree damage. The degree of tree damage was shown in sub-blocks P₃ of the system of information on natural environment (SINUS). To estimate the spatial distribution of the degree of tree defoliation, survey sampling, based on simple random sampling with replacement (SRSWR), was used. The degree of damage to fir (Abies alba Mill.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) was analysed in the Święty Krzyż forest section in the Świętokrzyski National Park. The maximum total estimation errors for the proportion of trees with a degree zero of damage, and with second and third degrees of damage together (for α = 0.05) were at most 30.8% for fir and 24.3% for beech trees. For standard, small-area evaluations, these are satisfactory values. In the Święty Krzyż forest section, the number of P₃ sub-blocks with 0.00–5.00% of undamaged trees and with 80.01–100.00% of moderately- or severely-damaged trees was significantly greater for fir than for beech. These results indicate that the fir population was unhealthier than the beech group in the study area. P₃ sub-blocks of the SINUS system, in which the proportion of the healthiest trees was highest, were situated at the forest margin, bordering on meadows and arable fields (in the case of fir) and forming dense patches consisting of several sub-blocks, or occurring singly in the whole study area (in the case of beech). The results show the significant differentiation of forest tree health in small areas.     

污染源在线监控系统平台应用过程质量控制

根据质量管理的要求,结合污染源在线监控的特殊性,探讨了如何根据国家环境监测的质量管理体系,通过在线监控系统平台实现在线监测的质量管理目标,并提出了在线监控系统的质量控制指标体系及解决方案.     

新《环保法》背景下的环境监测立法改革取向

对照《中华人民共和国环境保护法》（2014版）中对环境监测的总体要求,指出了目前环境监测监管体系中存在的面对新型环境问题监测滞后、监测基本制度尚不完善、全过程监管出现真空区、法律责任追究软弱乏力、环境监管监测信息封闭、社会监测力量发展缓慢等问题。提出,应构建现代监测管理制度,加快监测信息主动公开,加强全过程的质量控制,充分依靠社会监测力量,推进以人为本环境监测,细化监测法律责任。     

新型区域γ辐射监测系统

对新型区域γ辐射监测系统的组成和功能进行介绍,详细分析剂量仪、数据收发器和上位机软件的设计。将该系统用于涉核场所核辐射的监测,运行测试结果正常,表明该系统具有功耗低和自组网的特点,能适用于区域γ辐射监测。     

Simulation and evaluation on the eco-industrial system of Changchun economic and technological development zone, China

Reasonable structure, adaptive patterns and effective regulation of society, economy and environment subsystems should be taken into account in order to obtain harmonious development of urban eco-industrial system. We simulated and evaluated a redesigned eco-industrial system in Changchun Economic and Technological Development Zone (CCETDZ) in the present work using system dynamics and grey cluster methods. Four typical development strategies were simulated during 2005–2020 via standard system dynamic models. Furthermore, analytic hierarchy process and grey cluster allowed for the eco-industrial system evaluation and scenarios optimizing. Our dynamic simulation and statistical analysis revealed that: (1) CCETDZ would have different development scenarios under different strategies. The total population in scenario 2 grew most rapidly and reached 3.28 × 10⁵ in 2020, exceeding its long-term planning expected population. And the GDP differences among these four scenarios would amount to 6.41 × 10¹⁰ RMB. On the other hand, environmental pollution would become serious along with economy increasing. As a restriction factor, positive or negative increment of water resource will occur according to the selected strategy. (2) The fourth strategy would have the best efficiency, which means that the most efficiently development of CCETDZ required to take science, technology, environment progress and economy increase into account at the same time. (3) Positive environment protection measures, such as cleaner production, green manufacture, production life cycle management and environment friendly industries, should be attached great importance the same as economy development during 2005–2020 in CCETDZ.     

The Great Lakes Hydrography Dataset: Consistent,Binational Watersheds for the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin

Ecosystem‐based management of the Laurentian Great Lakes, which spans both the United States and Canada, is hampered by the lack of consistent binational watersheds for the entire Basin. Using comparable data sources and consistent methods, we developed spatially equivalent watershed boundaries for the binational extent of the Basin to create the Great Lakes Hydrography Dataset (GLHD). The GLHD consists of 5,589 watersheds for the entire Basin, covering a total area of approximately 547,967 km², or about twice the 247,003 km² surface water area of the Great Lakes. The GLHD improves upon existing watershed efforts by delineating watersheds for the entire Basin using consistent methods; enhancing the precision of watershed delineation using recently developed flow direction grids that have been hydrologically enforced and vetted by provincial and federal water resource agencies; and increasing the accuracy of watershed boundaries by enforcing embayments, delineating watersheds on islands, and delineating watersheds for all tributaries draining to connecting channels. In addition, the GLHD is packaged in a publically available geodatabase that includes synthetic stream networks, reach catchments, watershed boundaries, a broad set of attribute data for each tributary, and metadata documenting methodology. The GLHD provides a common set of watersheds and associated hydrography data for the Basin that will enhance binational efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes.     

基于GPRS技术电除尘器高频电源智能监测系统研究

电除尘器是火电厂重要环保设备,其运行的稳定性和参数合理性直接影响粉尘排放浓度。针对上述问题,详述利用ARM微处理器和GPRS网络相结合,开发电除尘器高频电源智能监测系统设备,在远距离处可以获得现场的实时数据,实现对高频电源远程监控和诊断。