Some particularities of dam rehabilitation projects

The number of dams, which need rehabilitation, is growing, not only in countries that have a long tradition in dam building and operation but,also in those regions where the infrastructure is still in full development. Though rehabilitation projects generally deal with problems that are common in dam engineering practice there are some peculiarities which are a characteristic of such projects and which must be duly taken into account to avoid unsuccess and/or unnecessary costs. Regular safety inspection is essential to forestall the development of structural, hydrological and operational unsafety. if need of major repair or overall rehabilitation of a dam becomes apparent design oft he rehabilitation project must be preceded by a comprehensive checkup of the structure and appurtenant works, as well as by an evaluation of its hydrological safety inclusive of all relevant environmental aspects. The availability of complete records on the clam's structural behaviour and on meteorological and hydrological data, as well as the knowledge of the materials properties of the existing structure are important for the successful design of a rehabilitation project. To this end the installation of monitoring devices in the existing structure may be necessary to generate representative data. While the criteria to be used in structural design should correspond to current standards, the definition of hydrological design criteria depends on considerations that vary widely from region to region or even from one country to another. Some basic hydrological safety requirements, however, are recommended for general acceptance. Dam rehabilitation projects demand very careful and detailed construction planning because of their dependence on river flow conditions, operational restrictions and, often, on procedures or limitations imposed to avoid harm to the environment. of utmost importance is the timely availability of the financial funds required to complete the project, in order to avoid delays which could result in structural or operational unsafety. Since every dam sooner or later will have to undergo major repair or updating of safety, rehabilitation may evolve to a speciality of dam engineering.

Product development process: Using real options for assessments and to support the decision-making at decision gates

Enterprises need continuous product development activities to remain competitive in the marketplace. Their product development process (PDP) must manage stakeholders' needs - technical, financial, legal, and environmental aspects, customer requirements, Corporate strategy, etc. -, being a multidisciplinary and strategic issue. An approach to use real option to support the decision-making process at PDP phases in taken. The real option valuation method is often presented as an alternative to the conventional net present value (NPV) approach. It is based on the same principals of financial options: the right to buy or sell financial values (mostly stocks) at a predetermined price, with no obligation to do so. In PDP, a multi-period approach that takes into account the flexibility of, for instance, being able to postpone prototyping and design decisions, waiting for more information about technologies, customer acceptance, funding, etc. In the present article, the state of the art of real options theory is prospected and a model to use the real options in PDP is proposed, so that financial aspects can be properly considered at each project phase of the product development. Conclusion is that such model can provide more robustness to the decisions processes within PDP.

A territorial perspective: towards the consolidation of human settlements in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Tendiendo puentes entre el desarrollo sostenible y la cohesión social

Incluye Bibliografía

Ecoeficiencia y desarrollo de infraestructura urbana sostenible en Asia y América Latina: revisión de las prácticas vigentes y los criterios utilizados para integrar aspectos ambientales y sociales en la infraestructura urbana de Chile, Colombia y México

Incluye bibliografía

Ecoeficiencia y desarrollo de infraestructura urbana sostenible en Asia y América Latina: Residuos y reducción de gases de efecto invernadero: el caso de Chile

Incluye bibliografía

Ecoeficiencia: marco de análisis, indicadores y experiencias

Incluye Bibliografía

Water management and river basins in Latin America

Includes bibliography

The licensing of a laboratory for manipulating radionuclides in Brazil

Radionuclides take a major role in guidelines of environmental agencies/national organizations of countries worldwide. In Brazil, CNEN-Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear is responsible for managing all subjects related to nuclear energy in the country. Thus, laboratories employing radionuclides for the development of their activities must submit a Radioprotection Plan to CNEN in order to get an operation license. Such plan must indicate that the laboratory is exempt of risks to the people involved and designed to fit all related environmental aspects. This was the case of LABIDRO-Hydrochemical and Isotopes Laboratory that belongs to IGCE-Geosciences and Exact Sciences Institute from UNESP - the University of the State of São Paulo Júlio de Mesquita Filho, located at Rio Claro city, São Paulo State, Brazil. The total monthly activity of the radionuclides utilized during the laboratorial activities held at LABIDRO corresponds to 0.01 μCi. This paper describes all information provided by LABIDRO in order to get the CNEN license. The LABIDRO plan also showed the expected radioactive waste released when the experiments take place and CNEN decided that it fits the guidelines established by Brazilian legislation. Therefore, LABIDRO received its license for utilizing radionuclides, which is valid until September 2016. © 2013 WIT Press.

Seleção de informações de guia de rota para a concepção de sistemas de navegação

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Etanol: impactos sócio-ambientais de uma commodity em ascensão

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Cinética do crescimento miceliano de Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler em bagaço de cana-de-açúcar e serragem de eucalipto

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Levantamento e caracterização dos atrativos naturais da Bacia do Rio Passa Cinco, através de geoprocessamento

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estudo da eutrofização do reservatório da Floresta Estadual Edmundo Navarro de Andrade (FEENA) - Rio Claro (SP)

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Proposta para o uso e manejo sustentável da bacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão Guaratinguetá, SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)