Floristic diversity of steppe vegetation in the region of Djelfa, North-West Algeria

This study is a floristic investigation of the steppe region of Djelfa located in northern Algeria, with the aim of characterizing and analysing the wild flora of this region. Four stations were chosen according to a stratified sampling method and phyto-ecological surveys were carried out in 32 plots of 100m2 each. This allowed us to identify 127 taxa of plants belonging to 33 families dominated by Asteraceae (29%) and Poaceae (12%). The analysis of biological types has shown the dominance of annual Therophytes (56%) in this flora, which indicates the presence of the phenomenon of Therophytization in these regions. This phenomenon was also measured by calculating the perturbation index. The analysis of chorological types has shown the dominance of the Mediterranean element (48%), with an interesting number of endemic taxa. However, all the endemic taxa cited in the literature for this region have not been found, which reinforces our fears about the state of conservation of these taxa of biological and heritage value.

Evaluation De La Dégradation De La Chamaeropaie Du Versant Sud Du Mont « jbelLakraa » (Maroc) Etudes Floristique Et Morphométrique

Our study is devoted to the chamaeropaie degradation assessment of the jbel Lakraa southern slope, located in the northern Middle Atlas in the Ribat Al Khair region. The floristic study revealed a specific richness of 124 species belonging to 95 genera and 33 vascular plants families, as well as a specific diversity relatively high with a Shannon-Weaver index of 3.88. A relatively high specific diversity with a Shannon-Weaver index of 3.88 was observed. However, the floristic composition showed a disturbance expressed by the index of equitability which is 0.58 and a strong therophytisation of 63% with a very high perturbation index of 69%. This disturbance is also illustrated by the toxic or spiny species proliferation such as Asphodelus ramosus, Drimia maritima and Scolymus hispanicus. The morphometric study was carried out on two strata (stratum 1 anthropized - stratum 2 wooded). The Statistical analysis showed that the diameter and height of the foliage, as well as the number of leaves per individual of the tree stratum are significantly higher than those of the anthropized stratum. Furthermore, an absence of correlations between the morphometric variables was recorded in the anthropized stratum. The chamaeropaie degradation state is alarming as indicated by the floristic and morphometric results, urgent measures must be taken to regulate its exploitation and preservation.

Innovating Practices in Managing Engineering Design Projects

We can address innovation from different perspectives. In engineering practices we can look to changes resulting from attempts to discover ways of overcoming difficulties. How can we manage these innovative practices in engineering design projects? Furthering our perspective we use an actor-network way to look at change processes as chains of translations between heterogeneous actors that are enrolled in changes and where patterns of action are inscribed in durable manners. In an actor-network, the chains of inscriptions are stronger if the number of aligned actors is bigger, and this is the case of engineering projects where the cost of change builds up with time. Through the use of some stylized situations, the authors construct a Perturbation Index to obtain numeric values to assess the dynamics of innovations in engineering practices. The aim is that the application of this index to real situations could lead to meaningful descriptions of such innovation processes. Managing innovation in engineering design projects has to do with the management of project scope. The proposal extends scope management from its definition and planning phases through the control of changes along the execution.

Innovating Practices in Managing Engineering Design Projects

We can address innovation from different perspectives. In engineering practices we can look to changes resulting from attempts to discover ways of overcoming difficulties. How can we manage these innovative practices in engineering design projects? Furthering our perspective we use an actor-network way to look at change processes as chains of translations between heterogeneous actors that are enrolled in changes and where patterns of action are inscribed in durable manners. In an actor-network, the chains of inscriptions are stronger if the number of aligned actors is bigger, and this is the case of engineering projects where the cost of change builds up with time. Through the use of some stylized situations, the authors construct a Perturbation Index to obtain numeric values to assess the dynamics of innovations in engineering practices. The aim is that the application of this index to real situations could lead to meaningful descriptions of such innovation processes. Managing innovation in engineering design projects has to do with the management of project scope. The proposal extends scope management from its definition and planning phases through the control of changes along the execution.

Disturbing Practices in Engineering Design Projects

Most references to innovation relate to the development of new products. In this chapter, the authors do not address innovation in these terms; instead, they address them as changes in practices an engineer creatively adopts during engineering design projects. They adopt Actor-Network Theory as a way to understand these change processes (translations). The authors design a perturbation index inspired in Earned Value management to measure translation effort, having in mind the management of scope. Then they assess changes of regime in resource allocation of tasks and conclude some changes can lead to innovative results. That means we gain a wider view about scope, and scope management, being able to observe and change good practices, something crucial in engineering design projects where requirements and goals drift.

Engineering Innovative Practice in Managing Design Projects

Most references to innovation relate to the development of new products. This paper does not address innovation in these terms, but as changes in practices an engineer creatively adopts during engineering design projects. The authors adopt Actor-Network Theory as a way to understand these change processes (translations). The authors design a perturbation index inspired in Earned Value management to measure translation effort having in mind the management of scope. The paper then assesses changes of regime in resource allocation of tasks and concludes some changes that can lead to innovative results. That means a wider view about scope, and scope management is gained, being able to observe and change good practices, something crucial in engineering design projects where requirements and goals drift.