scholarly journals Costs of Conservation Offset Activities: The State of Publicly Available Information in Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 5273
Author(s):  
Md Sayed Iftekhar ◽  
David Pannell ◽  
Jacob Hawkins

In various countries, offset policies allow economic developments to proceed on condition that proponents undertake agreed actions that offset the resulting losses of environmental values. Although ecological and environmental benefits are the main concern of a conservation agency when assessing an offset proposal, it is also important to be aware of the full cost of implementing the offset. However, there is currently a lack of understanding of the costs of implementing offsets, including which costs are relevant and what their magnitudes are. To address this knowledge gap, we developed a typology of costs that are relevant to offset schemes. We searched the publicly available information on costs of offset activities for thirty-four threatened species and communities in Australia to apply our cost framework. The results indicate that cost information is lacking in many cases. Information about some of the cost categories is not available for any of the species (e.g., induced costs to other areas or sectors). It is not clear whether the unreported cost categories are not considered during negotiation or whether it is just a case of lack of reporting.

2005 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis Caplan ◽  
Nahum D. Melumad ◽  
Amir Ziv

A fictional example illustrates how interdependencies among products in the production process, and the costs associated with those interdependencies, challenge the ability of cost accounting systems to generate decision-useful product cost information. The cost interdependency in the current example is a production-line change-over cost that is incurred to retool a machine whenever the production process changes from one product to another. Both marginal costing and full cost activity-based costing (ABC) are employed in an attempt to provide decision-relevant product-level information in connection with the decision to add a new product.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2644 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-118
Author(s):  
Srinivas S. Pulugurtha ◽  
Venkata R. Duddu ◽  
Synthia Tagar

State, regional, and local agencies need an established cost estimation method to improve the accuracy of programmed project funds. In particular, accurately estimating the cost of independent bicycle and pedestrian facilities helps improve prioritization, decision making, and the efficient allocation of funds for bicycle and pedestrian projects. The cost estimates vary by category as well as by the construction cost element. Obtaining cost data for an adequate number of projects of each facility type, although important, is challenging because of either the lack of available information or a reluctance in the sharing of information. This paper ( a) outlines methods to achieve a statistically significant sampling of cost data for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, ( b) addresses challenges associated with collecting the data from various agencies, and ( c) examines variations to better understand the estimates of individual construction cost elements. Recommendations pertaining to cost categories and cost elements that can help planners and engineers estimate the costs of independent bicycle and pedestrian projects are discussed.


Author(s):  
Fiona M. Hollands ◽  
Devayani Tirthali

<p>Given the ongoing alarm regarding uncontrollable costs of higher education, it would be reasonable to expect not only concern about the impact of MOOCs on educational outcomes, but also systematic efforts to document the resources expended on their development and delivery. However, there is little publicly available information on MOOC costs that is based on rigorous analysis. In this article, we first address what institutional resources are required for the development and delivery of MOOCs, based on interviews conducted with 83 administrators, faculty members, researchers, and other actors in the MOOCspace. Subsequently, we use the ingredients method to present cost analyses of MOOC production and delivery at four institutions. We find costs ranging from $38,980 to $325,330 per MOOC, and costs per completer of $74-$272, substantially lower than costs per completer of regular online courses, by merit of scalability. Based on this metric, MOOCs appear more cost-effective than online courses, but we recommend judging MOOCs by impact on learning and caution that they may only be cost-effective for the most self-motivated learners. By demonstrating the methods of cost analysis as applied to MOOCs, we hope that future assessments of the value of MOOCs will combine both cost information and effectiveness data to yield cost-effectiveness ratios that can be compared with the cost-effectiveness of alternative modes of education delivery. Such information will help decision-makers in higher education make rational decisions regarding the most productive use of limited educational resources, to the benefit of both learners and taxpayers.</p>


Author(s):  
Mark Blaxill ◽  
Toby Rogers ◽  
Cynthia Nevison

AbstractThe cost of ASD in the U.S. is estimated using a forecast model that for the first time accounts for the true historical increase in ASD. Model inputs include ASD prevalence, census population projections, six cost categories, ten age brackets, inflation projections, and three future prevalence scenarios. Future ASD costs increase dramatically: total base-case costs of $223 (175–271) billion/year are estimated in 2020; $589 billion/year in 2030, $1.36 trillion/year in 2040, and $5.54 (4.29–6.78) trillion/year by 2060, with substantial potential savings through ASD prevention. Rising prevalence, the shift from child to adult-dominated costs, the transfer of costs from parents onto government, and the soaring total costs raise pressing policy questions and demand an urgent focus on prevention strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neide Canana

Abstract Background It is frequently said that funding is essential to ensure optimal results from a malaria intervention control. However, in recent years, the capacity of the government of Mozambique to sustain the operational cost of indoor residual spraying (IRS) is facing numerous challenges due to restrictions of the Official Development Assistance. The purpose of the study was to estimate the cost of IRS operationalization in two districts of Maputo Province (Matutuíne and Namaacha) in Mozambique. The evidence produced in this study intends to provide decision-makers with insight into where they need to pay close attention in future planning in order to operationalize IRS with the existent budget in the actual context of budget restrictions. Methods Cost information was collected retrospectively from the provider perspective, and both economic and financial costs were calculated. A “one-way” deterministic sensitivity analysis was performed. Results The average economic costs totaled US$117,351.34, with an average economic cost per household sprayed of US$16.35, and an average economic cost per person protected of US$4.09. The average financial cost totaled US$69,174.83, with an average financial cost per household sprayed and per person protected of US$9.84 and US$2.46, respectively. Vehicle, salary, and insecticide costs were the greatest contributors to overall cost in the economic and financial analysis, corresponding to 52%, 17%, and 13% in the economic analysis and 21%, 27%, and 22% in the financial analysis, respectively. The sensitivity analysis was adapted to a range of ± (above and under) 25% change. There was an approximate change of 14% in the average economic cost when vehicle costs were decreased by 25%. In the financial analysis, the average financial cost was lowered by 7% when salary costs were decreased by 25%. Conclusions Altogether, the current cost analysis provides an impetus for the consideration of targeted IRS operationalization within the available governmental budget, by using locally-available human resources as spray operators to decrease costs and having IRS rounds be correctly timed to coincide with the build-up of vector populations.


2011 ◽  
Vol 121-126 ◽  
pp. 3612-3616
Author(s):  
Wen Quan Huang ◽  
Kai Shi Li ◽  
Hai Jun Liu

This paper adopts the method labor time standard, in the development environment of VC++, using Access database storage costs data, and the cost results output into Excel, developed mechanical product turning processing manufacturing cost estimation system. Using this system can realize turning processing cost estimation and feedback the cost information of mechanical product turning processing, make a design personnel to understand the cost information, to improve design, reduce the cost, improve the market competitiveness of products


2021 ◽  
pp. 85-97
Author(s):  
A. S. Titenkov ◽  
Yu. N. Utyashev ◽  
A. A. Evdoshchuk ◽  
V. A. Belkina ◽  
D. V. Grandov

Currently, most of the fields being put into development are characterized by a complex geological structure, both in terms of section and in terms of plan. The solution of all geological tasks, including such important ones as the preparation of exploration projects, operation and effective development management, is impossible without creating models that reflect the main features of the variability of target parameters. The construction of adequate models of objects with a complex structure requires the involvement of all available information. The accuracy of the geological model is mostly determined by the accuracy of the well correlation. Paleosols are a new marker for the complex-built layers of the VAk-2 and VAk-3(1) of the Tagul field, which contributes to the validity of the correlation of the section of these layers. The reliability of the model was also improved by the use of the results of facies analysis. This analysis showed that the sedimentation of the studied objects includes channel and floodplain facies. Reservoir rock properties of these facies differ significantly. The updated model is characterized by a reduction in the oil-bearing area and the amount of reserves. The implementation of the model will optimize the project fund of wells and reduce the cost of well intervention. Economically, this means reducing capital costs and increasing the profitability of the project.


2013 ◽  
Vol 772 ◽  
pp. 705-710
Author(s):  
Li Wei Ju ◽  
Zhong Fu Tan ◽  
He Yin ◽  
Zhi Hong Chen

In order to be able to absorb the abandoned wind, increasing wind-connect amount, the paper study the way of wind power, thermal power joint run and puts forward wind power, thermal power joint run optimization model based on the energy-saving generation dispatching way under the environment of TOU price and the target of minimizing the cost of coal-fired cost, unit commitment and pollution emissions. The numerical example finds, the TOU price can realize the goal of peak load shifting, increasing the electricity demand in the low load and reducing electricity demand in the peak load. The model can increase the amount of wind-connect grid, absorb the abandoned wind, reduce the use of coal-fired units under the environment, increase the average electricity sales price and profit of Power Company. Therefore, the model has significant economical environmental benefits


2011 ◽  
Vol 339 ◽  
pp. 595-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuan Wei Zhao ◽  
Zeng Liang Li

Down-hole oil-water separation and reinjection in the same well system can reduce the cost of lifting the water and the ground pollution due to the treatment of production water, which can bring good economic and environmental benefits. By combining down-hole oil-water separation technology with surface driving single screw pump oil production technology, the author designed an innovative system of down-hole oil-water separation and reinjection in the same well. In this paper, the general structure, working principle and structure characteristics of the system are introduced. The structure composition and the connection method of each part are described, and the calculation method of basic parameters of the single screw pump in the system is given.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Ekung ◽  
Isaac Odesola ◽  
Michael Oladokun

PurposeAcross the globe, the dearth of certainty about the cost of sustainable buildings (SBs) remains a critical disincentive to their adoption. This study explored the factually incorrect knowledge about the cost of SBs and their implications on adoption.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted sequenced mixed qualitative and quantitative approaches involving a literature review, Delphi study and survey. Semi-structured and structured self-study questionnaires were administered to a random sample of green building experts, researchers and registered construction professionals with deep knowledge of SB. The dataset from 254 stakeholders was analysed for commonality, principal components and critical misperceptions using multivariate approaches.FindingsThe predominant misperceptions in the study linked low adoption of SB to cost premium, portray cost premium as a property of luxury sustainable features and suggest related practices are suitable for exemplary projects only. The critical misperceptions produced various misinterpretations that inhibit the adoption of SB through the dearth of policies, increased complexities and inflation of budget to curb perceived risks.Practical implicationsThe study buttressed the imperative to improve cost information, knowledge, skills and stakeholders' risk perceptions to increase SB adoption. The results provide insight into the regional misperceptions and knowledge gaps that could explain the low adoption of SB in a typical emerging green market.Originality/valueThe study showed that the prevalent knowledge about the cost of SB among construction stakeholders are unsupported beliefs and directs attention to emerging issues critical to SBs' adoption in emerging markets.


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