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Earthquake Vulnerability Zonation of Mashhad Urban Fabric by Combining the Quantitative Models in GIS, Northeast of Iran
Mohammad Reza Mansouri Daneshvar,
Somayeh Rezayi,
Sarah Khosravi
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2013
Pages:
44-49
Received:
27 August 2013
Published:
30 September 2013
Abstract: In this study, we determined vulnerability levels of urban fabrics against earthquake risk using spatial factors. Therefore to classify risk vulnerability zones of the Mashhad urban fabric we used parameters such as ratio of open spaces, size of lands differentiation, population density, occupied area by buildings, age of buildings, deteriorated urban fabrics, proximity to faults, and seismic grading. These parameters are derived based on Mashhad municipality districts then weighted by Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and combined by the Standard Score Model in geographic information system (GIS). The results indicated that: first, the central district and districts of eight, three and four in Mashhad have the most fabric vulnerability against earthquakes, respectively. Second, the urban texture of municipal districts containing districts of nine, seven, six and ten have less vulnerability against earthquakes, respectively. Third, the parameters analysis using AHP exhibited the weighty value for lands differentiation parameter while, the correlation test revealed that the strong correlation between deteriorated urban fabrics and the final zoning map (R2 equal to 0.75).
Abstract: In this study, we determined vulnerability levels of urban fabrics against earthquake risk using spatial factors. Therefore to classify risk vulnerability zones of the Mashhad urban fabric we used parameters such as ratio of open spaces, size of lands differentiation, population density, occupied area by buildings, age of buildings, deteriorated ur...
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Mapping Enugu City’s Urban Heat Island
Enete Ifeanyi Christian,
Okwu Virginia Ugoyibo
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2013
Pages:
50-58
Received:
31 August 2013
Published:
20 October 2013
Abstract: The presence of a city has a major impact on its local environment in terms of the heat and water balance of the area. In particular, it has been widely observed that the centre of the urban area tends to be of the order of 4 to 6oC warmer than its rural surroundings (the urban heat island effect). This paper applied remote sensing data to map UHI phenomenon in Enugu urban. The selected area covered Enugu North; Enugu South; and Enugu East with a total area of 18704.25 hectares. The urban heat island was determined by using the land surface temperature (LST) information from thermal infrared band (Band 6) of landsat image with 120m pixel resolution. A subset of landsat TM acquired on October, 2008 that covered Enugu city was used in this study. Erdas imagine 8.5 was the main software for image classification of urban land cover in 2008, while GIS-Grid calculator functions were used to derive land surface temperature. This study demonstrates the spatial variation of land surface temperature (LST) within urban blocks with temperature above 37o Celsius. Urban impervious areas, highly populated areas, and areas with more anthropogenic activities were recognized to be areas with highest number of UHI- related pixels. The result revealed the effectiveness of remote sensing data application in analyzing UHI- land surface temperature relationship in Enugu.
Abstract: The presence of a city has a major impact on its local environment in terms of the heat and water balance of the area. In particular, it has been widely observed that the centre of the urban area tends to be of the order of 4 to 6oC warmer than its rural surroundings (the urban heat island effect). This paper applied remote sensing data to map UHI ...
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Sustainability Issues in Innovative Waste Reduction Technology Adoption and Assimilation
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2013
Pages:
59-67
Received:
25 September 2013
Published:
10 November 2013
Abstract: Increasing number of innovative waste reduction technologies are continuously being developed across various industrial sectors. Adoption and assimilation of proven waste reduction technologies can lead to significant resource savings, cost reduction, protection of biodiversity, and environmental conservation. However, transfer and adoption of technologies either across industrial sectors or geographical jurisdictions may pose enormous challenges to the adopters. In this study, issues affecting successful adoption and assimilation of waste reduction technologies from developed countries to developing countries and from one industrial sector to another were examined. Potential solution based on empirical study were also proposed. The study involved extensive literature survey and analysis of adoption procedures used by a number of technology adopters observed. It was discovered that the sustainability of waste reduction technology adopted depends on the fitness of the technology to the overall corporate success strategy, its compatibility with the corporate culture, availability of enabling operational infrastructure, sustained socio-political interest, and lifecycle cost of the technology.
Abstract: Increasing number of innovative waste reduction technologies are continuously being developed across various industrial sectors. Adoption and assimilation of proven waste reduction technologies can lead to significant resource savings, cost reduction, protection of biodiversity, and environmental conservation. However, transfer and adoption of tech...
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Comprehensive Evaluation of Low-Carbon City in China Using Intuitionistic Fuzzy Set Theory
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2013
Pages:
68-75
Received:
6 October 2013
Published:
10 November 2013
Abstract: Low carbon city is the direction of the development of city in the future. Firstly, this paper constructed the comprehensive evaluation index system of the low carbon economy city that including six primary indexes and 12 secondary indexes by summarizing the recent research of low-carbon connotation and low-carbon evaluation index. These indexes are low-carbon economy, low-carbon energy, low-carbon construction, low-carbon traffic, low-carbon society and low-carbon policy. And then, we discussed the development of low-carbon economy of Beijing, Shanghai and Baoding by using intuitionistic fuzzy set approach for urban low-carbon economy comprehensive evaluation index system. The result that Beijing first and Shanghai second and the last is Baoding, that have important practical significance to regulate and guide the construction of low-carbon cities.
Abstract: Low carbon city is the direction of the development of city in the future. Firstly, this paper constructed the comprehensive evaluation index system of the low carbon economy city that including six primary indexes and 12 secondary indexes by summarizing the recent research of low-carbon connotation and low-carbon evaluation index. These indexes ar...
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Using Sustainability Criteria in Law
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2013
Pages:
76-78
Received:
26 September 2013
Published:
10 November 2013
Abstract: The purpose of the article is to raise interest for using sustainability criteria as a means to promote and safeguard sustainability for traded products and their production. The focus is put on how sustainability criteria can be efficiently used in legal constructions. Practical examples from the biofuel sector are provided.
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Measuring Progress toward Environmental Sustainability Using a Quantitative Model
Shaho Karami,
Mohammad rezvani,
Farzam Pourasghar Sanghachin,
Hatef Marefat
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2013
Pages:
79-87
Received:
1 October 2013
Published:
10 November 2013
Abstract: During last tow century and after industrial revolution, especially in last fifty years, the world underwent considerable changes in its economical, social, technological and environmental areas. Crisis of underdevelopment, increasing effect of population on environment, uncontrolled exploitation and destruction of environment, poverty, malnutrition in developing countries, the growth of terrorism and social abnormalities, emerging diseases, a variety of social disorders, the income gap between rich and poor countries, and finally increasing destruction of environment are problems that affect human society, both developed and developing ones. Sure, continuity of this situation can face international community with a serious crisis which its miss effects will affect both developed and developing countries. Therefore, confronting these challenges require collaboration of all world countries. Thus, U.N. Millennium manifesto, in terms of millennium development goals in 2000, provided by U.N and approved by majority of world countries, Seventh goal of millennium, “Ensure environmental sustainability” was the main cornerstone of millennium development goals and reaching other goals and objectives of millennium development goals needs protecting environment and assuring its sustainability. By approving these goals, designed models and methods for determining actions and activities in terms of quantitative models. In this survey first, eight indicators of seventh MDG goals, some with positive relationship with sustainable development and some with negative relationship were chosen and information related to performances of 6 indices of 65 countries of world in years 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 extracted. After extracting indices and processing them, indices were standardized. In the next step and after standardizing, using McGranahan method, correlation matrix of indices was calculated by SPSS software and weight of each index was determined. After this step, weight of each index was multiplied on each standardized index and at the end composite index for each country was calculated for 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. Then, these composite indexes were sorted by descending. Stability numbers obtained using this method for Iran for these years are 141, 114, 131 and 139 respectively, which was always lower than the average of 65 countries. Iran’s rank was always between 40 and 45 showing undesirable performance which requires suitable actions.
Abstract: During last tow century and after industrial revolution, especially in last fifty years, the world underwent considerable changes in its economical, social, technological and environmental areas. Crisis of underdevelopment, increasing effect of population on environment, uncontrolled exploitation and destruction of environment, poverty, malnutritio...
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Sustainability of Transport Biofuels from a Legal Perspective
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2013
Pages:
88-93
Received:
7 November 2013
Published:
20 November 2013
Abstract: The article investigates the notion of transport biofuels, their possible advantages and disadvantages in comparison to traditional fossil fuels, and sustainability requirements that need be stated to their quality and production methods from a legal perspective. The research results indicate that the understanding of what makes the quality and production of transport biofuels sustainable is still unclear. Sustainability parameters for biofuels will differ depending on the types and purposes of biofuel production. There is no clearly agreed definition on what biofuels, and particularly sustainable biofuels are. The task of law in this situation can be to contribute to the sustainable production of biofuels through the use of the traditional and newly emerging legal approaches and instruments, such as e.g. sustainability criteria for biofuels in Directive 2009/28/EC.
Abstract: The article investigates the notion of transport biofuels, their possible advantages and disadvantages in comparison to traditional fossil fuels, and sustainability requirements that need be stated to their quality and production methods from a legal perspective. The research results indicate that the understanding of what makes the quality and pro...
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Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); A Useful Tool to Address Climate Change in Ghana
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2013
Pages:
94-100
Received:
23 October 2013
Published:
20 November 2013
Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since its inception in 1994 has been responsible for the implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulation in Ghana. Many EIA have been performed on major projects such as mining, dams, gas projects but much has not been done in the mitigation of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions which is said to be the main driving force of climate change. This reviewed paper therefore proposes the extension of the EIA regulations to small projects or activities such as deforestation, extensive land clearing, small scale mining and emissions from vehicles that have the potential of influencing climate change. The research was carried out by an extensive review of literature, reports, interaction with opinion leaders, lecturers, colleagues and students. The paper has attempted to explain the use of EIA in addressing the numerous environmental challenges by outlining the effect of climate change, EIA procedure in Ghana, the role of EIA in addressing climate change especially the emission of CO2. It was also established that the principle of EIA could be used to regulate pollution abatement, wastes management, conservation of natural resources, proper agricultural practices, development of clean and efficient energy sources. This application of EIA in climate change mitigation will safeguard the environment and improve the standard of living of the people. The paper concludes with some suggested recommendations.
Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since its inception in 1994 has been responsible for the implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulation in Ghana. Many EIA have been performed on major projects such as mining, dams, gas projects but much has not been done in the mitigation of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions which is said...
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Effectiveness of Drought Mitigation Strategies in Bikita District, Zimbabwe
Terence Darlington Mushore,
Chipo Muzenda/Mudavanhu,
Theresa Makovere
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2013
Pages:
101-107
Received:
21 November 2013
Published:
10 December 2013
Abstract: Drought induced famine has been the worst disaster from which most rural people experience immense anguish. It still remains a National Policy agenda and a problem in most developing countries like Zimbabwe. Due to climate change, the impacts of droughts are expected to deepen where the capacity to adapt is low. Though it remains a challenge in communities, local people have devised different coping mechanisms based on the resources that are locally available but the effectiveness of these mechanisms are questionable. Therefore, using both qualitative and quantitative research methods this paper aims at identifying the drought mitigation strategies used in the Ward 2 of Bikita District, assess the impacts of these strategies and examine the challenges faced during attempts to implement them. Results indicated that in Ward 2 of Bikita District, people are using drought mitigation strategies which include food aid, food for work, and sale of livestock, remittances and irrigation scheme. It was also revealed that the most effective drought mitigation strategies were provision of food aid and food for work whereas the least effective were remittances and irrigation. The study also revealed that 72% of the community was not satisfied with the effectiveness of all the drought mitigation strategies being used. These strategies are held back by challenges in the Ward which include poor service delivery by NGOs and Government departments in mitigating droughts, poverty, corruption, lack of resources and unclear selection criterion of beneficiaries as well as lack of markets thereby leading to inefficiency of the drought mitigation strategies. The study recommended the construction of more dams and necessary infrastructure for irrigation, adoption of local knowledge into mitigation strategies, improving access to agricultural inputs and enhanced provision of technical assistance to farmers in the area.
Abstract: Drought induced famine has been the worst disaster from which most rural people experience immense anguish. It still remains a National Policy agenda and a problem in most developing countries like Zimbabwe. Due to climate change, the impacts of droughts are expected to deepen where the capacity to adapt is low. Though it remains a challenge in com...
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