scholarly journals Resilience Assessment Framework for Nature Based Solutions in Stormwater Management and Control: Application to Cities with Different Resilience Maturity

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 10040
Author(s):  
Paula Beceiro ◽  
Ana Galvão ◽  
Rita Salgado Brito

Cities face unprecedented demographic, environmental, economic, social, and spatial challenges. In recent years, the implementation of nature-based solutions (NBS) is becoming more relevant in cities to improve urban resilience and to cope with climate change. NBS represent cost effective solutions that simultaneously provide environmental, social, and economic benefits and help build resilience. A comprehensive and multi-dimension Resilience Assessment Framework (RAF) to evaluate the NBS contribution to urban resilience, focused on NBS for stormwater management and control, was developed. This RAF is aligned with the RESCCUE RAF and the main assessment frameworks focused on NBS and urban resilience. This RAF for NBS is driven by the definition of resilience objectives and is able to evaluate short- and long-term changes, considering a comprehensive definition of the urban resilience and addressing the environmental, social, and economic capabilities. Regarding the initial resilience maturity and the available information in the city, three analysis degrees were proposed for the RAF application, namely, the essential, complementary, and comprehensive degrees, for which a pre-defined selection of metrics is proposed. This paper aims to present the application of the RAF essential analysis degree and its extensive validation regarding cities with different resilience maturity and available information. The application to seven cities with different resilience and NBS challenges allowed an in-depth validation of the pre-defined metrics included in the RAF essential analysis. In this sense, the analysis of the resilience maturity of the participating cities is presented, the main challenges and consolidated aspects in the cities are identified, and the cities ready to apply the complementary analysis degree are recognized. To conclude, to validate the essential analysis degree, the assessment of the main requirements of the RAF for NBS are verified, based on the RAF metrics results for the cities. In this light, the main requirements of the RAF for NBS were aggregated in three main categories, namely, NBS aspects, resilience capabilities, and the performance, risk and cost analysis.

Author(s):  
Alma Schaafstal ◽  
Raegan M. Hoeft ◽  
Martin van Schaik

The process of training teams increasingly occurs in synthetic environments. However, it is often still modeled after live team training, including the disadvantages of live training, for example, the fact that all teammates must be available. This paper explores overcoming the disadvantages of human teammates in training teams in synthetic environments, while keeping the advantages of learning in a collaborative and cooperative fashion. Simulated teammates are a promising alternative because they are always available, may be modeled after experienced training personnel, and may be more cost effective in the long run. This paper details a research approach towards the definition of requirements for simulated teammates. In our approach, we carry out a set of experiments using confederates as simulated teammates, in a well-controlled simulation of a military command-and-control task The results of a first experiment show slightly better teamwork skills for those teams trained with simulated teammates.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Beceiro ◽  
Rita Salgado Brito ◽  
Ana Galvão

Urban waters represent a crucial component for the enhancement of urban resilience due to their importance in cities. Nature-based solutions (NBS) have emerged as sustainable solutions to contribute to urban resilience in order to meet the challenges of climate change. In order to promote the use of NBS for increasing urban resilience, tools that demonstrate the value of this type of solutions over the long-term are required. A performance assessment system provides an adequate basis for demonstrating this value, as well as for diagnosing the current city situation, selecting and monitoring the implementation of solutions. Regarding NBS management, some assessment approaches have been published, focusing on assessing the effectiveness of NBS in the face of climate change and supporting their design and impact assessment. Nevertheless, an integrated approach to assess the NBS contribution for urban resilience has not been published. This paper presents a comprehensive resilience assessment framework (RAF) to evaluate the NBS contribution for urban resilience, focused on solutions for stormwater management and control. Furthermore, details on stakeholders’ validation, with focus on the metrics’ relevance and applicability to cities, is also presented.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1438
Author(s):  
Mingkun Xie ◽  
Ruijun Wang ◽  
Jing Yang ◽  
Yuning Cheng

Urban green infrastructure (UGI) can be used as a sustainable stormwater management approach. UGI can bring numerous ecological benefits to cities, including increased urban resilience, increased availability of water resources, and optimization of habitats. This paper used empirical research methods to describe an Internet of things (IoT)-based UGI monitoring and control system for stormwater management (MCSSWM). Using a Xuzhou-based practical project in China as a case study, we introduce the construction process, method, and monitoring results of the system. The results showed that the MCSSWM could be beneficial for UGI ecological performance evaluation and management.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 858
Author(s):  
Xi Huang ◽  
Yuanqiao Wen ◽  
Fan Zhang ◽  
Zhongyi Sui ◽  
Xiaodong Cheng

A framework for risk assessment due to inland waterway transportation of dangerous goods is designed based on all possible event types that may be caused by the inland transportation of dangerous goods. The objective of this study is to design a framework for calculating the risks associated with changes in the transportation of dangerous goods along inland waterways. The framework is based on the traditional definition of risk and is designed for sensitive riverside environmental conditions in inland waterways. From the perspective of transportation management, this paper introduced the concept of transportability of dangerous goods and constructed a transportability assessment framework, which consists of a multi-index evaluation system and a single metric model. The result of the assessment is as an auxiliary basis to determine the transportation permit and control intensity of dangerous goods in an inland waterway specific voyage. The methodology is illustrated using a case study of transporting fireworks in the Yangtze River.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Assumma ◽  
Marta Bottero ◽  
Giulia Datola ◽  
Elena De Angelis ◽  
Roberto Monaco

The present paper focuses on the role covered by dynamic models as support for the decision-making process in the evaluation of policies and actions for increasing the resilience of cities and territories. In recent decades, urban resilience has been recognized as a dynamic and multidimensional phenomenon that characterizes urban and metropolitan area dynamics. Therefore, it may be considered a fundamental aspect of urban and territorial planning. The employment of quantitative methods, such as dynamic models, is useful for the prediction of the dynamic behavior of territories and of their resilience. The present work discusses the system dynamics model and the Lotka–Volterra cooperative systems and shows how these models can aid technicians in resilience assessment and also decision makers in the definition of policies and actions, especially if integrated in wide evaluation frameworks for urban resilience achievements. This paper aims to provide an epistemological perspective of the application of dynamic models in resilience assessment, underlying the possible contribution to this issue through the analysis of a real case study and methodological framework. The main objective of this work is to lay the basis for future compared applications of these two models to the same case study.


2004 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.D. Chadee

AbstractThe population densities of Aedes aegypti Linneaus in four towns in Trinidad were studied using standard house-to-house inspections of all water-holding containers to determine whether persistently positive containers and premises existed over a three-month period in the wet season, from May to July 2002. From a total of 1503 houses inspected, 223 were positive with 41 persistently positive over the three month period and classified as ‘key premises’. The definition of the term key premises is described and the rationale for its utilization discussed. A total of 24,439 containers was inspected from Santa Margarita (6407), Mt Lambert (5709), St Augustine (5384) and Curepe (6939) of which 1.3% or 334 containers were positive for A. aegypti larvae and pupae. A total of 16,507 immatures of A. aegypti were retrieved from these containers which comprised 17 container types but when these were ranked according to productivity levels, only water drums (average 53.5%), buckets (22.2%), tubs and basins (8.0%), water tanks (5.4%), brick holes (4.2%) and tyres (2.0%) were significant (P < 0.001) producers. The role that key premises play in the introduction and re-infestation of A. aegypti-free communities is described and illustrated. These results suggest that A. aegypti control programmes could be more cost effective and sustainable by concentrating efforts on key premises and key containers to control mosquito densities and Dengue transmission while reducing manpower needs and insecticide use.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (3) ◽  
pp. 60408-1-60408-10
Author(s):  
Kenly Maldonado ◽  
Steve Simske

The principal objective of this research is to create a system that is quickly deployable, scalable, adaptable, and intelligent and provides cost-effective surveillance, both locally and globally. The intelligent surveillance system should be capable of rapid implementation to track (monitor) sensitive materials, i.e., radioactive or weapons stockpiles and person(s) within rooms, buildings, and/or areas in order to predict potential incidents proactively (versus reactively) through intelligence, locally and globally. The system will incorporate a combination of electronic systems that include commercial and modifiable off-the-shelf microcomputers to create a microcomputer cluster which acts as a mini supercomputer which leverages real-time data feed if a potential threat is present. Through programming, software, and intelligence (artificial intelligence, machine learning, and neural networks), the system should be capable of monitoring, tracking, and warning (communicating) the system observer operations (command and control) within a few minutes when sensitive materials are at potential risk for loss. The potential customer is government agencies looking to control sensitive materials and/or items in developing world markets intelligently, economically, and quickly.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 716-722
Author(s):  
Sneha Dhakite ◽  
Sadhana Misar Wajpeyi

The “Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19)” is caused by “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)”, a newly discovered member of the Coronaviridae family of viruses which is a highly communicable. There is no effective medical treatment till date for Coronavirus disease hence prevention is the best way to keep disease away. Rasayana proved to be highly efficacious and cost effective for the Prevention and Control of viral infections when vaccines and standard therapies are lacking. Rasayana Chikitsa is one of the eight branches of Ashtanga Ayurveda which helps to maintain healthy life style. Rasayana improves immunity and performs many vital functions of human body. Vyadhikshamatva that is immune mechanism of the body is involved in Prevention of the occurrence of a new disease and it also decreases the virulence and progression of an existing disease. In COVID-19 the Respiratory system mainly get affected which is evident from its symptoms like cold, cough and breathlessness. Here the drugs help in enhancing immune system and strengthening functions of Respiratory system can be useful. For this purpose, the Rasayana like Chyavanprasha, Agastya Haritaki, Pippali Rasayana, Guduchi, Yashtimadhu, Haridra, Ashwagandha, Tulsi are used. Rasayana working on Respiratory system are best for Prevention of Coronavirus and boosting immune system. Rasayana Chikitsa can be effective in the Prevention as well as reducing symptoms of COVID-19.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isra Revenia

This article is made to know the destinantion and the administrasi functions of the school in order to assist the leader of an organazation in making decisions and doing the right thing, recording of such statements in addition to the information needs also pertains to the function of accountabilitty and control functions. Administrative administration is the activity of recording for everything that happens in the organization to be used as information for leaders. While the definition of administration is all processing activities that start from collecting (receiving), recording, processing, duplicating, minimizing and storing all the information of correspondence needed by the organization. Administration is as an activity to determine everything that happens in the organization, to be used as material for information by the leadership, which includes all activities ranging from manufacturing, managing, structuring to all the preparation of information needed by the organization.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jagjit S Soar

he current COVID-19 pandemic now believed to be based on the mutation of the SARS-CoV virus (first reported in 2002) to SARS-CoV-2 emerging in 2019, is naturally causing extreme worry and concern around the world with sometimes mixed and incoherent messages on how to deal with it. There is a plethora of information from previous epidemics caused by other coronaviruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS (2002) and Middle East respiratory syndrome MERS (2012) from which we can extrapolate guidance on how to deal with the current pandemic. In the current absence of specific pharmaceutical agents, we propose assessing the extended tools that we already possess in our biological armoury to combat, prevent and control the spread of this virus. Using a set of precise criteria to locate such possible contenders, we conducted literature searches to find compounds that met these criteria. We have now reduced this to a shortlist of three agents that may be the best candidates. We propose vitamin C, vitamin D and Curcumin fit our criteria well. These compounds are widely available to the general public. They are available online and over-the-counter as supplements. Otherwise healthy individuals are safely able to self-administer these agents as a prophylactic to protect themselves and to enhance their immune response. This would be especially desirable for the elderly and at risk groups. These agents can also be used as adjunct therapy, particularly for those who may have early symptoms. This preventative therapy could be implemented whilst awaiting specific pharmaceutical drugs to emerge as a treatment for COVID-19. Our suggested compounds are a highly cost-effective way to potentially reduce the mortality that is regretfully mounting as a result of COVID-19 infection. The biological mode of action and the dosing of these compounds are summarised.


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