scholarly journals Regenerating Stormwater Infrastructure into Biophilic Urban Assets. Case Studies of a Sump Garden and a Sump Park in Western Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5461
Author(s):  
Agata Cabanek ◽  
Maria Elena Zingoni de Baro ◽  
Joshua Byrne ◽  
Peter Newman
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Social Functions ◽  
Local Case ◽  
Regenerative Design ◽  
Stormwater Infiltration

The main purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the old modernist engineering technologies, such as single purpose stormwater infiltration basins, can be transformed into quality environments that integrate ecological and social functions and promote multiple sets of outcomes, including biodiversity restoration, water management, and cultural and recreational purposes, among other urban roles. Using the principles and theories of biophilic urbanism, regenerative design, and qualitative inquiry, this article analyzes and discusses the actors, drivers, strategies, constraints, and values motivating the stakeholders to reinvent Perth’s stormwater infrastructure through two local case studies. The “WGV sump park” was developed through a public-private partnership, including professional consultants with community input, and the “Green Swing sump garden” was an owner-builder community-driven project involving volunteers, who maintain it. The results of this research suggest that both projects are successful at managing stormwater in a way that creates multiple community and biodiversity benefits. Communities could gain improved access to nature, social interaction, health, and well-being if local governments support these alternative approaches to regenerate underutilized stormwater infrastructure by promoting biophilic interventions. Mainstreaming this design approach identified some issues that may arise during the implementation of this biophilic urban approach, and the paper suggests ways to enhance the wider delivery of regenerative and biophilic design into urban planning, involving volunteer delivery and maintenance for small scale projects and fully professional assessments for large scale projects.

scholarly journals Balanced reconnection intervals: four case studies

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 3897-3912 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. DeJong ◽  
A. J. Ridley ◽  
C. R. Clauer
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The Other ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Reconnection Rate ◽  
Magnetospheric Convection ◽  
The Third ◽  
New Name ◽  
Definition Of

Abstract. During steady magnetospheric convection (SMC) events the magnetosphere is active, yet there are no data signatures of a large scale reconfiguration, such as a substorm. While this definition has been used for years it fails to elucidate the true physics that is occurring within the magnetosphere, which is that the dayside merging rate and the nightside reconnection rate balance. Thus, it is suggested that these events be renamed Balanced Reconnection Intervals (BRIs). This paper investigates four diverse BRI events that support the idea that new name for these events is needed. The 3–4 February 1998 event falls well into the classic definition of an SMC set forth by Sergeev et al. (1996), while the other challenge some previous notions about SMCs. The 15 February 1998 event fails to end with a substorm expansion and concludes as the magnetospheric activity slowly quiets. The third event, 22–23 December 2000, begins with a slow build up of magnetospheric activity, thus there is no initiating substorm expansion. The last event, 17 February 1998, is more active (larger AE, AL and cross polar cap potential) than previously studied SMCs. It also has more small scale activity than the other events studied here.

scholarly journals Practitioners’ and Policymakers’ Successes, Challenges, Innovations, and Learning in Promoting Children’s Well-being During COVID-19: Protocol for a Multinational Smartphone App Survey (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer C Davidson ◽  
Dimitar Karadzhov ◽  
Graham Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Children’S Wellbeing ◽  
Smartphone Technology

BACKGROUND The advent of COVID-19 abruptly thrust the health and safety of children and families into greater risk around the world. As regional and local governments, nongovernmental organizations, communities, families, and children grapple with the immediate public health impact of COVID-19, the rights and well-being of children, especially those who are already marginalized, have been overlooked. Those working with children have likely encountered unprecedented challenges and responded in innovative ways in efforts to address the needs and rights of all children. OBJECTIVE This paper presents a protocol for a large-scale, multinational study using a new smartphone app to capture the real-time experiences and perspectives of practitioners and policymakers supporting children and families during the COVID-19 pandemic around the globe in relation to a children’s human rights <i>4P</i> framework of protection, provision, prevention, and participation. METHODS This protocol describes a mixed methods survey utilizing a custom-built iOS and Android smartphone app called the COVID 4P Log for Children’s Wellbeing, which was developed in close consultation with 17 international key partner organizations. Practitioners and policymakers working with and for children’s well-being across 29 countries and 5 continents were invited to download the app and respond to questions over the course of 8 weeks. The anticipated large amount of qualitative and quantitative response data will be analyzed using content analysis, descriptive statistics, and word frequencies. RESULTS Formal data collection took place from October 2020 until March 2021. Data analysis was completed in July 2021. CONCLUSIONS The findings will directly inform the understanding of the ways in which COVID-19 has impacted practitioners’, managers’, and policymakers’ efforts to support children’s well-being in their practices, services, and policies, respectively. Innovative and ambitious in its scope and use of smartphone technology, this project also aims to inform and inspire future multinational research using app-based methodologies—the demand for which is likely to continue to dramatically rise in the COVID-19 era. Mitigating the risks of longitudinal remote data collection will help maximize the acceptability of the app, respondents’ sustained engagement, and data quality. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/31013

scholarly journals Tracking WhatsApp behaviors during a crisis: A longitudinal observation of messaging activities during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edina YQ Tan ◽  
Russell RE Wee ◽  
Young Ern Saw ◽  
Kylie JQ Heng ◽  
Joseph WE Chin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Communication ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Longitudinal Observation ◽  
Usage Patterns

During a crisis, the messaging platform WhatsApp allows crisis-related information to be disseminated quickly. Although case studies have documented how WhatsApp has shaped crisis outcomes in both beneficial and harmful ways, little is known about: (i) how crisis-related content is spread; (ii) characteristics of users based on usage patterns; or (iii) how usage patterns link to well-being. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, this study used the experience sampling method to track the daily WhatsApp usage of 151 adults throughout one week (capturing a total of 924 days of crisis-related communication). Each day, participants reported the extent to which they had received, forwarded, or discussed COVID-19- related content. During the week-long monitoring, most participants (94.7%) reported at least one COVID-19 related use of WhatsApp. Those who engaged with more COVID-19 content in personal chats were more likely to report having COVID-19 thoughts throughout the day. We further observed that around 1 in 10 individuals (14%) were chronic users who received and shared forwarded COVID-19 messages at a high volume; this group may represent everyday "super spreaders" of crisis-related content. Together, these findings provide an empirical base for policy makers to manage risk communication during large-scale crises.

South-to-South and Donor-driven Diffusion in Sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 158-180
Author(s):  
Brian Wampler ◽  
Stephanie McNulty ◽  
Michael Touchton
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Development Projects ◽  
Marginalized Communities ◽  
New Development ◽  
Sub Saharan

Governments in sub-Saharan Africa began to adopt PB in the early 2000s. The World Bank, USAID, DFID, and other international organization led the push to expand PB. By 2019, the region included more than nine hundred programs. PB’s diffusion across sub-Saharan Africa has led to its transformation in scale, rules, and impact. Most PB programs in sub-Saharan Africa focus on building accountability and allowing participants to select small-scale development projects. These programs are located both in major cities (Maputo, Nairobi) as well as in poor, rural areas across the region. These programs are intended to improve local governance, but the involvement of international donors means that local governments must address their concerns as well as those of participants. The programs also emphasize placing new development projects in poor, marginalized communities, thus retaining potential for improving well-being. This chapter documents these trends by focusing on PB in Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, and Uganda.

scholarly journals Detection of Deception in a Virtual World

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren B. Collister
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
World Of Warcraft ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Detection Of Deception

This work explores the role of multimodal cues in detection of deception in a virtual world, an online community of World of Warcraft players. Case studies from a five-year ethnography are presented in three categories: small-scale deception in text, deception by avoidance, and large-scale deception in game-external modes. Each case study is analyzed in terms of how the affordances of the medium enabled or hampered deception as well as how the members of the community ultimately detected the deception. The ramifications of deception on the community are discussed, as well as the need for researchers to have a deep community knowledge when attempting to understand the role of deception in a complex society. Finally, recommendations are given for assessment of behavior in virtual worlds and the unique considerations that investigators must give to the rules and procedures of online communities.

Context matters: general practice and social work – the Birmingham story

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Lotinga
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Practical Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Local Case ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Barriers And Opportunities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the approach adopted to building relationships between health and social care in Birmingham. Design/methodology/approach – This is a practical case study, reflecting on personal experience of being directly involved in the situations and discussions described. It supplements a 2012 paper (Lotinga and Glasby, 2012) on the creation of Birmingham’s Health and Well-being Board. Findings – Local history and context is crucial in shaping the nature of local joint working initiatives – understanding where local services have come from and why they have made the choices they have is a crucial pre-requisite for understanding current and future opportunities. Research limitations/implications – This paper aims to place joint working between general practice and social work in a broader organisational, financial and policy setting – and placing local developments in this wider context is crucial for understanding barriers and opportunities locally. Originality/value – In the absence of a detailed evidence base, front-line practice is often far ahead of the current research evidence. This means that local case studies like this are crucial in terms of sharing learning with other areas of the country, with policy makers and with researchers. While many case studies of joint working are small in nature, Birmingham is the largest local authority in Europe – so this paper also contributes learning based on trying to develop joint working in very large, complex authorities.

scholarly journals On the Management and Financial Resources Formation of Local Budgets

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-46
Author(s):  
M. S. Nurmaganbetova ◽  
G. R. Dauliyeva ◽  
A. A. Niyazbaeva
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Financial Resources ◽  
Empirical Observation ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Budget Planning ◽  
The Republic

The purpose of the study is to determine the role and significance of measures for the management of financial resources of local budgets. The objectives of the study include: conducting a theoretical study of management issues and the formation of financial resources of local budgets, studying the financial reports of the regions of Kazakhstan, statistical processing of the data obtained.Materials and methods. In the process of preparing the article, the issues of introducing the fourth level of the budget, on the participation of citizens in budget planning were considered. The authors analyzed the financial reports of the regions for the execution of the 2019 budget. In the process of preparing the materials for the article, the authors used the information of the website of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, analytical statistical materials, and scientific works of scientists of Kazakhstan.The following research methods were used in the work: theoretical (analysis, synthesis, generalization), empirical (observation), statistical analysis, etc.Results. The public financial management system, in particular, has been the subject of large-scale reforms in recent years aimed at strengthening the country’s strategic development potential. In recent years, the orientation of budget planning to results has noticeably improved. The priorities of the “model of socio-economic development of the country” are agreed by the government and put forward by the Ministry of National Economy, and are duly reflected in the annual strategic plan of each ministry. Based on recent reforms, the programs outlined in the strategic plans are broadly aligned with the budget programs of the ministries, and management responsibilities in each province have been clarified.In recent years, important changes have occurred in relation to access to information, an online portal “Open Budgets” was developed, a civil budget was introduced, and centralized guidelines for their preparation were presented.Since 2018, Kazakhstan has introduced a fourth budget level for local governments. 90% of these budgets are formed from taxes and payments by residents themselves. Since January 1, 2020, in the cities of regional significance, villages, settlements and rural districts of the Republic of Kazakhstan with a population of 2,000 people and below, an independent local government budget has been introduced. In 2020, the corporate income tax (CIT) from small and medium-sized businesses as a revenue item was transferred from the republican budget to the local one. Thus, CIT receipts will be credited to the republican budget only from large business entities. Also, the maslikhats (local representative body) of the regions have the right to establish the standard for the distribution of CIT from small and medium-sized businesses between the regional and district budgets.Conclusion. Effective management of budgetary resources in accordance with the current budget policy should be guided by the implementation of the general goals facing the country’s budget system: impact on economic growth and employment, ensuring the economic and political functions of the state.The main priority in planning government revenues and expenditures is the well-being of citizens of Kazakhstan, namely, their social support, health and education, as well as creating conditions for high-quality post-crisis economic growth. Therefore, it is especially important to note the role and importance of measures to manage financial resources of local budgets.

The Politics of Land Use for Distributed Renewable Energy Generation

2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 524-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rizalino B. Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Transaction Costs ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Energy Generation ◽  
Policy Adoption ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Renewable Energy Generation

Many studies on energy generation have focused on large-scale systems. But as the search for alternative sources of clean energy becomes imperative, there is the need to examine how local governments leverage their authority on land use to permit small-scale energy facilities. This study examines various factors shaping policy adoption on distributed renewable energy generation through the lens of transaction-cost politics. It deviates from existing land-use perspectives, which usually highlight competition between traditional land-use forces to capture the gains from policy. Policy adoption here implies that actors in their exchanges have been able to identify and reduce the transaction costs that would otherwise have prevented citizens from harvesting renewable energy at their place of residence. These actors minimize transaction costs by making use of the transaction resources available to them in the political market. These resources could ease barriers to political contracting and enable actors to shape policy. They include green firms, network memberships, dedicated staff for the sustainability effort, forms of government, and educated populace, which the study found significant in shaping the adoption of zoning codes that permit distributed renewable energy generation.

scholarly journals Enhancing Food Security by Institutionalizing Collaborative Food Alliances in Urban Areas

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 4103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vibhas Sukhwani ◽  
Arie Nurzaman ◽  
Nadia Paramitha Kusumawardhani ◽  
Anwaar Mohammed AlHinai ◽  
Liu Hanyu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Policy Coordination ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas ◽  
Multi Stakeholder ◽  
Key Aspects

Narrowing the food supply-demand gaps between urban and rural areas within a regional space has today become a serious challenge due to the growing urban population. Resultantly, urban markets are increasingly being dominated by industrial food chains, despite their negative socio-environmental impacts. To address this issue, this paper discusses the need and significance of ‘Collaborative Food Alliances’ (CFAs), which promote the direct supply of food products from rural farmers to urban residents through improved producer–consumer relationships. Based on the literature survey, this study underlines that the current CFAs are confronted with several challenges including the small scale of functioning and limited financing. While the current research on CFAs is focused on theoretical place-based studies, this paper argues that institutionalization of CFAs at a large scale is highly important for enhancing food security in urban areas. It mainly deliberates on two key aspects: (a) The process of institutionalizing CFAs and (b) A feasible financing mechanism to support CFAs. This paper emphasizes that urban local governments have a central role to play in institutionalizing CFAs, either as a lead agency or as a facilitator. It concludes with specific suggestions on three key determinants of multi-stakeholder engagement, financial constraints and policy coordination at a regional level.

Challenges and possibilities for re-wilding education policy in Japan

2020 ◽  
pp. 147821032097694
Author(s):  
Yuko Oguri ◽  
Takako Takano
Keyword(s):  
Education Policy ◽  
Educational Policy ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mountainous Area ◽  
Farming Community ◽  
History Of ◽  
Legal Frameworks

This paper discusses human relationships with the natural world in Japanese educational policy. Based on two case studies, we argue that policy must recognize the cultural and spiritual ties that people in Japan have fostered in order to live well, which this paper considers to be part of “re-wilding education policy.” We briefly review the history of educational policy in Japan and identify its core features before clarifying the existing power structure between national and local governments regarding such policy. We also describe the characteristics of the Japanese education system, which stem partly from tensions between central and local governments due to the interpretation of legal frameworks. Through two case studies—situated in a traditional farming community in a mountainous area, and a community on a group of remote islands—this paper focuses on educational practices derived not from the dominant education policy but from local realities. These two cases allow us to demonstrate effective efforts made in these communities to rebuild traditional human–nature relationships on a small scale based on the everyday lives of the inhabitants. We conclude that any successful re-wilding of education policy in Japan will depend on the central government’s release of power, recognition of the unique features of diverse localities in Japan, and support for spontaneous activities emerging in local communities.

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