scholarly journals Feasibility Study of a Building-Integrated PV Manager to Power a Last-Mile Electric Vehicle Sharing System

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Fuentes ◽  
Jesús Fraile-Ardanuy ◽  
José L. Risco-Martín ◽  
José M. Moya
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Positive Energy ◽  
Energy Storage Devices ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Total Energy Consumption ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Last Mile ◽  
Mobility System ◽  
Electric Bicycle

Transportation is one of the largest single sources of air pollution in urban areas. This paper analyzes a model of solar-powered vehicle sharing system using building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), resulting in a zero-emission and zero-energy mobility system for last-mile employee transportation. As a case study, an electric bicycle sharing system between a public transportation hub and a work center is modeled mathematically and optimized in order to minimize the number of pickup trips to satisfy the demand, while minimizing the total energy consumption of the system. The whole mobility system is fully powered with BIPV-generated energy. Results show a positive energy balance in e-bike batteries and pickup vehicle batteries in the worst day of the year regarding solar radiation. Even in this worst-case scenario, we achieve reuse rates of 3.8 people per bike, using actual data. The proposed system manages PV energy using only the batteries from the electric vehicles, without requiring supportive energy storage devices. Energy requirements and PV generation have been analyzed in detail to ensure the feasibility of this approach.

Slavery in Brazil: A Case Study of Diamantina, Minas Gerais

1988 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Diamond Mining ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Special Case

The study of slave mortality and morbidity in Brazil has been very difficult because of the extreme paucity of sources. Techniques which have been useful in studying the lives of free men and women seldom are useful for analyzing their slaves. The use of parish records such as baptism and death registers is not possible because of the custom of listing only the slave's first name and the unimaginative choice of names which resulted in large numbers of Joãos, Josés, Manuels, Antônios, Antonias, Joanas, and, of course, Marias. Equally important, the types of plantation records available to students of U.S. slavery have seldom been found for Brazil.This essay is an examination of an isolated slave register, which, for a series of idiosyncratic reasons, provides information permitting a glimpse at mortality and morbidity in a distinct and carefully controlled slave population. Because the slaves involved were used in diamond mining under horrendous conditions it is probable that the conclusions reached in this essay represent a worst case scenario. Rather than typical, this is a special case where work and living conditions were probably worse than in plantation zones and certainly worse than in urban areas. It is this situation which makes the conclusions of this essay quite startling.

Assessing the First and Last Mile Problem for Intercity Passenger Rail Service

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Lorena Losada Rojas ◽  
Konstantina “Nadia” Gkritza ◽  
V. Dimitra Pyrialakou
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Short Distance ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Public Transit ◽  
Passenger Rail ◽  
Last Mile ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Rail Service

The first and last mile of a trip has been used to describe passenger travel with regards to getting to and from transit stops/stations. Solving the first and last mile (FMLM) problem extends the access to transportation systems and enlarges the number of passengers from a remote community, such as rural areas. The FMLM problem has been addressed in different public transit contexts, mainly within urban areas. However, it is also an important part of the journey in an intercity trip; yet, limited research efforts have been undertaken to examine the FMLM problem that intercity passenger train riders face. This paper fills in this gap and further, aims to identify the best strategies that could serve as a FMLM solution for short distance intercity passenger rail service (i.e., corridors that are less than 750 miles long according to the Passenger Rail Improvement and Investment Act, 2008). The Hoosier State Train (HST) service, a short-distance intercity passenger rail that connects Chicago and Indianapolis four days a week, was chosen as a case of study. The HST has four intermediate stops located in Indiana. For some of those intermediate stops HST is the only intercity public transit service offered to reach either Chicago or Indianapolis. In order to explore opportunities to enhance the HST ridership, an on-board survey was conducted in November and December 2016. The findings of this survey suggested that there are riders who travel from counties further away from a county with a station to reach and complete their journey on the train. Moreover, it was found that most of the respondents drove or rented a car, or were dropped off to reach a train station in Indiana. Unlike the results from the Chicago station, the majority of riders boarding the train from one of the Indiana stations did not use ridesharing services or public transportation. These findings suggest that there is a possible gap into the FMLM travel options for intercity rail riders and alternative options to fill this gap should be considered. This paper discusses the case study results of an accessibility analysis aiming to identify the areas in need of first/last mile service where there are no public transportation services and/or it is costly to reach a station from a desired origin. To that end, a cost surface for the different modes available in the area of study was created to determine the average travel cost to the nearest station. The analysis was carried out in ArcGIS using origin-destination data from the on-board survey, transportation network information from the U.S. Bureau Transportation Statistics, and general transit feed specification (GTFS) data. Subsequently, some of the best strategies identified were modeled around the station (e.g., shuttle buses to/from the station) in order to examine how the accessibility would increase after a strategy implementation. The results of this study may have far-reaching implications for planning strategies that can enhance access to the train stations. Finally, the FMLM strategies could assist intercity passenger rail service providers attract a larger number of passengers.

scholarly journals Noise Impact Assessment of Thermal Plant Facilities on Receptor Environments

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (Issue 1) ◽  
Author(s):  
O.A Olu-Arotiowa ◽  
J.A Adeniran ◽  
R.O Yusuf ◽  
M.O Abdulraheem ◽  
A.S Aremu
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Interpolation Method ◽  
Kriging Interpolation ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Noise Emission ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Kriging Interpolation Method

Noise pollution is considered as a serious environmental nuisance in the urban areas. This study has used the VDI code 2714 to investigate the impacts of the noise from all the power generation and ancilliary facilities in the proposed Independent Power Plant, Agbara, Ogun State receptor environment. Kriging interpolation method in SurferR 8.0 software to predict noise emission levels within the fence line of the proposed Independent Power Plant. Calculations of possible noise levels at some receptors locations around the plant were carried out using the VDI code 2714. Four operation scenarios were considered in this study. The scenarios considered include: Noise emission from power generation facilities only (Scenario 1); Noise from the use of Compressors and Transformers (Scenario 2); Noise emission from the operation of power generation and ancillary equipment (Scenario 3); and Noise emission from the use of Backup Generators (Scenario 4). The maximum noise from the four scenarios were 112.34, 114.58, 116.61 and 110.01 dB(A), respectively, which is above the 8-hour 90 dB(A) limit recommended by the Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv). The operation of the proposed power plant will not have significant impact on the receptor environments except for Karogbaji which receives less than 12 dB(A) for the worst-case scenario (Scenario 3). The modeling results show that the predicted noise levels generated by the proposed operation would generally be within the established noise criteria at all the receptor locations under all conditions.

scholarly journals Climate Change, Migration, and Civil Strife

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 404-414
Author(s):  
Satchit Balsari ◽  
Caleb Dresser ◽  
Jennifer Leaning
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
World War Ii ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Adaptation Strategy ◽  
Human Migration ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Civil Strife ◽  
Changing Climate

Abstract Purpose of Review In this article, we examine the intersection of human migration and climate change. Growing evidence that changing environmental and climate conditions are triggers for displacement, whether voluntary or forced, adds a powerful argument for profound anticipatory engagement. Recent Findings Climate change is expected to displace vast populations from rural to urban areas, and when life in the urban centers becomes untenable, many will continue their onward migration elsewhere (Wennersten and Robbins 2017; Rigaud et al. 2018). It is now accepted that the changing climate will be a threat multiplier, will exacerbate the need or decision to migrate, and will disproportionately affect large already vulnerable sections of humanity. Worst-case scenario models that assume business-as-usual approaches to climate change predict that nearly one-third of the global population will live in extremely hot (uninhabitable) climates, currently found in less than 1% of the earth’s surface mainly in the Sahara. Summary We find that the post–World War II regime designed to receive European migrants has failed to address population movement in the latter half of the twentieth century fueled by economic want, globalization, opening (and then closing) borders, civil strife, and war. Key stakeholders are in favor of using existing instruments to support a series of local, regional, and international arrangements to protect environmental migrants, most of whom will not cross international borders. The proposal for a dedicated UN agency and a new Convention has largely come from academia and NGOs. Migration is now recognized not only as a consequence of instability but as an adaptation strategy to the changing climate. Migration must be anticipated as a certainty, and thereby planned for and supported.

scholarly journals Global 1-km present and future hourly anthropogenic heat flux

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alvin Christopher Galang Varquez ◽  
Shota Kiyomoto ◽  
Do Ngoc Khanh ◽  
Manabu Kanda
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Population Distribution ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Heat Emission ◽  
Anthropogenic Heat ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Anthropogenic Heat Flux

AbstractNumerical weather prediction models are progressively used to downscale future climate in cities at increasing spatial resolutions. Boundary conditions representing rapidly growing urban areas are imperative to more plausible future predictions. In this work, 1-km global anthropogenic heat emission (AHE) datasets of the present and future are constructed. To improve present AHE maps, 30 arc-second VIIRS satellite imagery outputs such as nighttime lights and night-fires were incorporated along with the LandScanTM population dataset. A futuristic scenario of AHE was also developed while considering pathways of radiative forcing (i.e. representative concentration pathways), pathways of social conditions (i.e. shared socio-economic pathways), a 1-km future urbanization probability map, and a model to estimate changes in population distribution. The new dataset highlights two distinct features; (1) a more spatially-heterogeneous representation of AHE is captured compared with other recent datasets, and (2) consideration of future urban sprawls and climate change in futuristic AHE maps. Significant increases in projected AHE for multiple cities under a worst-case scenario strengthen the need for further assessment of futuristic AHE.

What's the 'Big' Deal with Shared Micromobility? Evolution, Curb Policy, and Potential Developments in North America

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 499-514
Author(s):  
Susan Shaheen ◽  
Adam Cohen ◽  
Jacquelyn Broader
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Service Area ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Evolution And Development ◽  
Last Mile ◽  
Essential Services ◽  
Service Models ◽  
The Future

Shared micromobility – or short-term access to shared bikes and scooters – provides a flexible alternative for households living in urban areas, individuals seeking first- and last-mile connections to public transportation, and those without access to a private vehicle trying to reach jobs and essential services. In this paper, the authors discuss the history, growth, and evolution of bike and scooter sharing in North America; summarize the demographics and impacts of shared micromobility; and explore shared micromobility policies and practices for managing devices and operations such as: device caps, service area limitations, designated parking areas, fees, equipment/operational requirements, and enforcement. In the future, enhancements in device automation, battery range, charging times, and weight are likely to contribute to the evolution and development of additional devices and service models, which could allow improved range and e-hail for shared micromobility devices.

scholarly journals Disproportionate Collapse Mitigation in Tall Mass Timber Buildings

2019 ◽  
pp. 413-420
Author(s):  
Hossein Daneshvar ◽  
Ying Hei Chui
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Tall Buildings ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Unique Type ◽  
Structural Robustness ◽  
Concrete Members ◽  
Disproportionate Collapse ◽  
Mass Timber

Tall buildings are a unique type of structure with their own characteristic behaviour. They are most often occupied by a large number of people; therefore, their damage, loss of functionality, or, in worst case scenario, collapse will lead to catastrophic consequences. There are methodologies intended to provide structural integrity or increase structural robustness in tall buildings, thereby making structures resistant to disproportionate collapse, which is characterized by a cascading progression of damage that is not proportionate to the initial failure. Tall buildings are commonly constructed with steel and concrete. As a result, most of the attempts at providing structural integrity are dedicated to mitigating the effect of disproportionate collapse in the steel and concrete members, connections, and their systems. On the other hand, with rising demand for new sustainable buildings in urban areas, tall mass timber buildings have attracted increased attention nationally and internationally. Ease of modularization and offsite construction is one of the greatest advantages of using mass timber in tall building construction in the congested urban areas of major cities. A major challenge facing the engineering community is the lack of research studies regarding the structural robustness required to mitigate the potential of disproportionate collapse. The current study seeks to begin the process of understanding the behaviour of mass timber components and assemblages, and make recommendations regarding their performance and possible means to mitigate the occurrence of disproportionate collapse. These recommendations would lead to safer structural performance in the event of localized damage that has the potential to spread to a disproportionately large part of the structure.

Jordan and Syrian Refugees: Avoiding the Worst Case Scenario

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-335
Author(s):  
Doris Carrion
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Refugee Crisis ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Political Effect ◽  
Development Support ◽  
Perceived Impact ◽  
Competition For Resources

Civil war in Syria has provoked a major refugee crisis in neighbouring Jordan, raising the latter’s population by 8 per cent. For Jordanians, the highly visible presence of many thousands of refugees living in their midst – mostly in urban areas, rather than camps – raises fears over competition for resources and opportunities. Host communities have partly benefited from the presence of refugees, but many Jordanians feel they are worse off because of the Syrians. The refugee crisis has hit the most vulnerable people in their country hardest. Local inhabitants feel increasingly disenfranchised and neglected by both their government and international donors due to a real and perceived impact on rents, prices, public services and public order. If current trends continue, resentment and alienation in the northern governorates are likely to increase in the coming years. Local discontent may subside if Syrians are given more opportunities to earn a living legally, which would mean that Jordan would benefit more from their presence. In order to minimize a negative political effect, a more open livelihood policy should be accompanied by a significant increase in international development support for host communities. It does not look like refugees will be able to return to Syria any time soon, no matter how hard life in Jordan becomes. Jordan and the international community should take the difficult but necessary steps to prevent the crisis from making life even worse for the country’s most vulnerable residents.

Reducing Probabilistic Weather Forecasts to the Worst Case Scenario: Anchoring Effects

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Savelli ◽  
Susan Joslyn ◽  
Limor Nadav-Greenberg ◽  
Queena Chen
Keyword(s):  
Case Scenario ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Weather Forecasts ◽  
Worst Case Scenario ◽  
Anchoring Effects

EXPEDITION TO MALI, 2020

2020 ◽  
pp. 12-28
Author(s):  
D. V. Vaniukova ◽  
◽  
P. A. Kutsenkov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Murder ◽  
The State ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Traditional Art ◽  
Peter The Great ◽  
State Museum ◽  
Bobo Dioulasso ◽  
Oriental Studies ◽  
The Village

The research expedition of the Institute of Oriental studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences has been working in Mali since 2015. Since 2017, it has been attended by employees of the State Museum of the East. The task of the expedition is to study the transformation of traditional Dogon culture in the context of globalization, as well as to collect ethnographic information (life, customs, features of the traditional social and political structure); to collect oral historical legends; to study the history, existence, and transformation of artistic tradition in the villages of the Dogon Country in modern conditions; collecting items of Ethnography and art to add to the collection of the African collection of the. Peter the Great Museum (Kunstkamera, Saint Petersburg) and the State Museum of Oriental Arts (Moscow). The plan of the expedition in January 2020 included additional items, namely, the study of the functioning of the antique market in Mali (the “path” of things from villages to cities, which is important for attributing works of traditional art). The geography of our research was significantly expanded to the regions of Sikasso and Koulikoro in Mali, as well as to the city of Bobo-Dioulasso and its surroundings in Burkina Faso, which is related to the study of migrations to the Bandiagara Highlands. In addition, the plan of the expedition included organization of a photo exhibition in the Museum of the village of Endé and some educational projects. Unfortunately, after the mass murder in March 2019 in the village of Ogossogou-Pel, where more than one hundred and seventy people were killed, events in the Dogon Country began to develop in the worst-case scenario: The incessant provocations after that revived the old feud between the Pel (Fulbe) pastoralists and the Dogon farmers. So far, this hostility and mutual distrust has not yet developed into a full-scale ethnic conflict, but, unfortunately, such a development now seems quite likely.

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