Approaches and Tools for a Socio-economic Assessment of GM Forest Tree Crops: Factors for Consideration in Cost–Benefit Analyses

Author(s):  
Vassiliki Kazana ◽  
Lambros Tsourgiannis ◽  
Valasia Iakovoglou ◽  
Christos Stamatiou ◽  
Angelos Kazaklis ◽  
...  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 240-247
Author(s):  
Kevin Laven ◽  
Fionn Boyle ◽  
Roel Diemel ◽  
Paul Murray

Abstract When facing pipeline replacement decisions, asset managers face a dilemma. Factual information about the condition of the pipelines allows better replacement decisions and capital efficiency gains. On the other hand, gathering this information is costly. Performing a cost-benefit analysis is also challenging, as the benefits are difficult to project. This paper models the financial impact of pipeline condition assessment by considering the financial risk associated with decision making errors. An economic optimization equation using the model is presented. This equation yields the Economic Assessment Level: the amount of condition information needed to minimize the total combined spending on information gathering and incorrect decisions. Case studies and examples of the impact of different levels of information gathering are presented. The results of these programs are compared with the predictions of the model, illustrating how the calculations can be used to improve capital improvement program efficiency real world situations.


2013 ◽  
Vol 368-370 ◽  
pp. 1289-1295
Author(s):  
Ren Jun ◽  
Peng Wang ◽  
Xiang Yang Jiang

The Paper, based on the theory of technical and economic assessment, puts forward to make financial assessment (on net present value, payback time, risk-benefit ratio, etc.) as the economic control index in accordance with the ideology of entire life cycle during the energy-saving reconstruction of public buildings. Then the Paper makes analysis on cost-benefit ratio of energy-saving reconstruction measures taken on various parts and equipment of outer protective structure, finds out approaches to energy-saving reconstruction with high efficiency, and finally adopts the method of sensitivity analysis on individual energy-saving reconstruction measures to further optimize reconstruction plan, thus improving economic benefits of energy saving.


2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 875-892
Author(s):  
Piotr Krawczyk ◽  
Marzena Majer ◽  
Joanna Krzemień

Abstract The paper presents possibilities of an economic evaluation of hard coal mines, using Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA). Suggested methodology for CBA applied to the economic evaluation of a mine allows to conduct a complex evaluation of mine’s functionality in connection to Polish conditions. Additionally to financial aspects, significant from the point of view of the mine’s owner, the paper includes social and environmental effects as a result of mining activities. Proposed methodology has undergone tests which used averaged data obtained from two selected hard coal mines located in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. Presented results confirm the validity of social costs and benefits, and environmental losses resulting from mining operation, which were included in analysis comprehensively evaluating the efficiency of hard coal mines.


GeoScape ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenka Dubová ◽  
Jan Macháč

Abstract Recent effects of globalization, urbanization and climate change have resulted in an increasing interest in the quality of life in cities and seeking pathways for its improvement. At the same time, there are changes in society and lifestyles that may challenge or facilitate these pathways. Community gardens (CGs) represent an effort to provide more sustainable urban economies, while reflecting on the public demand for cultivation of own crops. However, members of CGs may not perceive all the benefits that CGs provide for their surroundings. Using two case studied from Czechia (CG Kuchyňka and CG Vidimova in Prague) the aim of this paper is a comparison of the benefits perceived by community garden members and the evaluated net social benefits of community gardens in cities for all local residents. Through a questionnaire survey, the paper answers the research question of the benefits of community gardens perceived by community garden members. An economic assessment based on cost-benefit analysis was made to answer the question of the value of the net social benefits of community gardens in cities. Our comparison shows that the net social benefits are higher than perceived by their members. Net present benefits of EUR 31 550 for CG Kuchyňka and EUR 1 175 for CG Vidimova were quantified in a 50-year horizon. This economic analysis should contribute to greater support for community gardens by city governments and spatial planners.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 2422-2434
Author(s):  
Sara Corvaro

Abstract The focus of the paper is the evaluation of the performance of domestic rainwater harvesting (DRWH) systems in multi-family buildings with one- to three-floor elevations by means of a cost–benefit analysis. The rainwater is here used for both indoor and outdoor non-potable water consumption. The study was carried out with reference to different residential building typologies (flat and condominium) in a specific local climate condition (Ancona). The buildings are characterized by different rooftop areas (100–400 m2), building floor elevations (one to three floors) and inhabitant numbers (3–54 persons). Moreover, in order to highlight the role of the tank capacity on the performance of DRWH, its capacity was changed in the range 50–200%. The combinations of all these parameters led to 276 test cases. The technical performance is evaluated by means of the water saving and retention efficiencies. The economical assessment is provided by comparing the costs and the savings due to the replacement of the water supplied with the rainwater. It is found that the payback periods changed in the range 10–35 years for the site-specific variables such as local rainfall and water service tariff. Cost–benefit analysis can help the design of DRWH systems, with particular attention to the sizing of the tank.


1980 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 725-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. O. Ojeniyi ◽  
O. O. Agbede

Agri-silviculture is the simultaneous husbandry of forest tree crops and food crops. In the first 1–3 years of forest crops such as teak, pine and Gmelina arborea, they are interplanted with food crops such as yam, maize and cassava in plantation. In humid countries such as Nigeria and Burma agrisilviculture evolved out of the needs to boost food production and satisfy labourers who work on afforestation programmes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8547
Author(s):  
Andrius Montrimas ◽  
Jurgita Bruneckienė ◽  
Vaidas Gaidelys

For more than two decades, scholars have been escalating asymmetric information issues in megaproject management linking them to enhanced public debt concerns. Most megaprojects turn out to be a burden on economy when constructions are completed. Authorities, meanwhile, continue to promote the advancement of megaprojects with overly optimistic public messages on expected socio-economic benefits. A combination of expertise in the topic, in-depth literature analysis, independent cost-benefit reassessment, and empirical survey of related documentation of three EU transport megaprojects shows political implications to be the essential causes of information asymmetries in megaproject management. Socio-economic over-estimations imply to be useful for obtaining and securing funding commitments at the political level, but then the real project value is often omitted from the assessment. This work takes a wider, strategic approach beyond the usual socio-economic reasoning. The article argues that socio-economic assessment practice is too narrow to grasp the full potential impact of a megaproject. Therefore, a strategic assessment should be performed by public authorities along with an appropriate funding mechanism. This work contributes to science by suggesting a direction to more constructive discussions between scholars and politicians that could lead to more effective future decisions on the overall sustainability of economies.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Le Coent ◽  
Cécile Herivaux ◽  
Javier Calatrava ◽  
Roxane Marchal ◽  
David Mouncoulon ◽  
...  

<p>The economic advantage of NBS solutions aiming at mitigating water-risk is widely put forward as an argument for their development. There is nevertheless limited scientific evidence to support this argument. This paper therefore elaborates a methodological framework for the economic assessment of NBS and presents its application to three NAIAD case studies (the Lez catchment, France; Rotterdam, the Netherlands and Brague catchment, France). Robust methods are particularly applied for the estimation of the benefits associated with NBS. Physical models coupled with damage estimation models are developed to estimate the avoided damages generated by NBS. A diversity of ecosystem service valuation methods are also applied to evaluate the monetary value of NBS co-benefits: contingent valuation (Brague), choice experiment (Lez) and direct valuation methods (Rotterdam). We estimate the cost of implementation and maintenance mainly through the transfer of values coming from studies in similar contexts. Proxies are used to estimate the opportunity costs associated with the development of NBS. Finally, these estimations are compiled in a cost-benefit indicator allowing the estimation of the economic efficiency of NBS strategies. The study confirms that the cost of implementation and maintenance of NBS strategies is lower than the cost of grey solutions for the same level of water risk management, emphasizing the better cost-effectiveness of these solutions. Benefits in terms of avoided damages are however not sufficient to cover investment and maintenance costs. The cost–effectiveness of NBS strategies, which are combinations of individual NBS measures, may be improved by combining cost effective individual NBS measures. There is indeed a very large heterogeneity of cost-effectiveness of individual NBS measures (cost/m<sup>3</sup> of water retention). Results also reveal that co-benefits represent the largest share of the value generated by NBS strategies. It is therefore of utmost importance that co-benefits are integrated in the economic valuation of NBS for them to be judged economically efficient. This conclusion must be taken into account in the elaboration of NBS funding strategies.There is finally no clear-cut conclusion on the overall economic efficiency of NBS throughout the case studies. Lez reveal a positive cost-benefit analysis, while Rotterdam and Brague cases do not. Results are therefore case-specific and confirm the importance to carry out thorough economic valuations of a diversity of strategies at each sites, including NBS, grey and hybrid solutions, in order to identify the most adequate strategy for water risk management and to address territorial challenges.</p>


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document