Rangeland profitability in the northern Gulf region of Queensland: understanding beef business complexity and the subsequent impact on land resource management and environmental outcomes

The farm-gate value of extensive beef production from the northern Gulf region of Queensland, Australia, is ~$150 million annually. Poor profitability and declining equity are common issues for most beef businesses in the region. The beef industry relies primarily on native pasture systems and studies continue to report a decline in the condition and productivity of important land types in the region. Governments and Natural Resource Management groups are investing significant resources to restore landscape health and productivity. Fundamental community expectations also include broader environmental outcomes such as reducing beef industry greenhouse gas emissions. Whole-of-business analysis results are presented from 18 extensive beef businesses (producers) to highlight the complex social and economic drivers of management decisions that impact on the natural resource and environment. Business analysis activities also focussed on improving enterprise performance. Profitability, herd performance and greenhouse emission benchmarks are documented and discussed.

Comparing fixed and flexible stocking as adaptations to inter-annual rainfall variability in the extensive beef industry of northern Australia

Many beef producers within the extensive cattle industry of northern Australia attempt to maintain a constant herd size from year-to-year (fixed stocking), whereas others adjust stock numbers to varying degrees annually in response to changes in forage supply. The effects of these strategies on pasture condition and cattle productivity cannot easily be assessed by grazing trials. Simulation studies, which include feedbacks of changes to pasture condition on cattle liveweight gain, can extend the results of grazing trials both spatially and temporally. They can compare a large number of strategies, over long periods of time, for a range of climate periods, at locations which differ markedly in climate. This simulation study compared the pasture condition and cattle productivity achieved by fixed stocking at the long-term carrying capacity with that of 55 flexible stocking strategies at 28 locations across Queensland and the Northern Territory. Flexible stocking strategies differed markedly in the degree they increased or decreased cattle stocking rates after good and poor pasture growing seasons, respectively. The 28 locations covered the full range in average annual rainfall and inter-annual rainfall variability experienced across northern Australia. Constrained flexibility, which limited increases in stocking rates after good growing seasons to 10% but decreased them by up to 20% after poor growing seasons, provides sustainable productivity gains for cattle producers in northern Australia. This strategy can improve pasture condition and increase cattle productivity relative to fixed stocking at the long-term carrying capacity, and its capacity to do this was greatest in the semiarid rangeland regions that contain the majority of beef cattle in northern Australia. More flexible stocking strategies, which also increased stocking rates after good growing seasons by only half as much as they decreased them after poor growing seasons, were equally sustainable and more productive than constrained flexibility, but are often impractical at property and industry scales. Strategies with the highest limits (e.g. 70%) for both annual increases and decreases in stocking rates could achieve higher cattle productivity, but this was at the expense of pasture condition and was not sustainable. Constrained flexible stocking, with a 10% limit for increases and a 20% limit for decreases in stocking rates annually, is a risk-averse adaptation to high and unpredictable rainfall variability for the extensive beef industry of northern Australia. © Australian Rangeland Society 2016.

FluxEngine: A flexible processing system for calculating atmosphere-ocean carbon dioxide gas fluxes and climatologies

The air-sea flux of greenhouse gases (e.g. carbon dioxide, CO2) is a critical part of the climate system and a major factor in the biogeochemical development of the oceans. More accurate and higher resolution calculations of these gas fluxes are required if we are to fully understand and predict our future climate. Satellite Earth observation is able to provide large spatial scale datasets that can be used to study gas fluxes. However, the large storage requirements needed to host such data can restrict its use by the scientific community. Fortunately, the development of cloud-computing can provide a solution. Here we describe an open source air-sea CO2 flux processing toolbox called the ‘FluxEngine’, designed for use on a cloud-computing infrastructure. The toolbox allows users to easily generate global and regional air-sea CO2 flux data from model, in situ and Earth observation data, and its air-sea gas flux calculation is user configurable. Its current installation on the Nephalae cloud allows users to easily exploit more than 8 terabytes of climate-quality Earth observation data for the derivation of gas fluxes. The resultant NetCDF data output files contain >20 data layers containing the various stages of the flux calculation along with process indicator layers to aid interpretation of the data. This paper describes the toolbox design, the verification of the air-sea CO2 flux calculations, demonstrates the use of the tools for studying global and shelf-sea air-sea fluxes and describes future developments.

Análisis de la viabilidad técnica y financiera de la generación de energía eléctrica a partir del recurso eólico en el municipio de Pereira

La electricidad es un insumo fundamental para el desarrollo actual de la humanidad, es la pieza clave en aspectos que cubren desde necesidades básicas como el acceso a la salud, educación, vivienda y alimentos, hasta hacer parte esencial del desarrollo tecnológico y económico de un territorio -- En Colombia, la cadena productiva de la generación de energía -bajo una matriz predominante hidroeléctrica- tiene asociados impactos ambientales y sociales como la alteración de los regímenes hidrológicos, el transporte de sedimentos, las migraciones ícticas, el desplazamiento de las comunidades, las condiciones de seguridad alimentaria de las poblaciones afectadas aguas abajo y los procesos de erosión remontante asociados con la construcción de represas, entre otros -- El impacto no solo se presenta en la etapa de construcción, puesto que la generación, transmisión, distribución y uso final generan una huella de carbono bastante significativa -- Si bien el sector eléctrico no es el único generador de gases nocivos, dicha plataforma económica genera por sí sola el 40% de emisiones de dióxido de carbono mundiales y por lo menos el 25% del total de todos los gases efecto invernadero, tal como lo afirma el GWEC, Global Wind Energy Council (Sawyer, 2011: 66); por lo que la implementación de una solución de producción de energía limpia implica la reducción sustancial de las emisiones nocivas para el planeta tierra -- Con el propósito de intensificar la aplicación de energías renovables dentro de la matriz energética internacional, la ONU designó el 2012 como el año oficial de las energías renovables -- El resultado se ve reflejado en la iniciativa Energía Sostenible para Todos - SE4ALL, mediante la cual se plantean tres objetivos que deberán ser alcanzados con la participación y contribución de los países miembros de la ONU: 1) Acceso universal a servicios modernos de energía, 2) Mejora en eficiencia energética y 3) Duplicación de la participación de energías renovables en la matriz energética mundial (SE4ALL, 2012) -- Sumado a esto, el desarrollo y aplicación de energías renovables son herramientas importantes para la mitigación y adaptación al cambio climático en la medida en que reducen gases de efecto invernadero (GEI) y diversifican la canasta energética de los países (FEDESARROLLO, 2013) -- Este trabajo evalúa la posibilidad de incrementar la competitividad nacional y regional a partir de la generación local de energía en el municipio de Pereira y las ventajas de la generación distribuida respecto a la generación centralizada en términos de eficiencia energética, evidenciando el potencial eólico del municipio para su utilización en la generación de energía eléctrica -- La energía eólica, fuente autóctona de electricidad, representa una alternativa para la modificación del modelo productivo convencional, siendo una tecnología competitiva no solo dentro de las renovables sino también con respecto a la cogeneración de energía -- La implementación de ella tiene implícito un mejor aprovechamiento del espacio, un impacto ambiental bajo y un desarrollo a nivel de investigación y tecnología importante -- Su implementación no contamina, contribuyendo a la disminución de emisiones de dióxido de carbono, aportando de este modo en la solución de la crisis ecológica mundial y la desaceleración del cambio climático -- La tecnología eólica representa entonces una alternativa a tener en cuenta para la generación de energía limpia, frente a otras formas tradicionales altamente contaminantes o de gran impacto ambiental -- Pese a todos los factores de importancia que ha adquirido el desarrollo en la materia, existe un número muy limitado de investigaciones que aborden la temática de aplicabilidad de estos criterios en Colombia; específicamente en Pereira no existía a la fecha ningún adelanto investigativo -- La importancia de este estudio radica en el potencial descubierto en un entorno que no había sido explorado, llegando a ser determinante para el futuro desarrollo tecnológico en este campo y dando apertura a otras investigaciones que complementen el presente estudio

Caracterização da tecnologia de frio comercial e profissional

Hoje em dia a preocupação ambiental e a economia são fatores de sustentabilidade que são tidos em conta em países desenvolvidos, especialmente no seio da União Europeia. Reduzir os consumos de energia é, portanto, um ponto-chave para a redução das emissões de gases com efeito de estufa e aumentar a dependência das energias renováveis. Consequentemente surge então a necessidade de aumentar a eficiência dos equipamentos, em particular no presente caso, equipamentos de refrigeração. Para isso foi adotado pela Comissão Europeia uma rotulagem nos produtos consumidores de energia, em particular na refrigeração, os frigoríficos e congeladores domésticos permitindo informar o consumidor para os equipamentos mais eficientes. Mais recentemente, frigoríficos comerciais e profissionais também terão obrigatoriedade de incluir um rótulo energético na parte externa dos mesmos. Nesses rótulos estão incluídas várias informações técnicas do aparelho representadas de uma forma compreensível e lúdica aos olhos do consumidor mais leigo, entre as quais as classes de eficiência energética. As classes de eficiência energética caracterizam-se pela componente tecnológica dos frigoríficos. Perceber quais os componentes e materiais em particular que promovem uma melhor eficiência, quantificar a sua influência e avaliar os seus custos de integração torna-se assim essencial para toda a cadeia envolvida na produção destes equipamentos. Os fluídos frigorigénios e compressores aparentam ser os que mais exercem influência na eficiência de frigoríficos de baixa potência. Tubos capilares com trocador de calor são uma escolha mais eficiente comparado com o tubo capilar padrão que é utilizado nestes frigoríficos. Por forma a obter informação adicional e relevante do ponto de vista da análise energética realizaram-se simulações para determinação do consumo elétrico anual com recurso ao software Pack Calculation Pro. Entre os fluídos frigorigénios R-134a, R-22 e R-410a, os compressores scroll apresentaram consumos mais reduzidos (no máximo de 16%) do que os compressores alternativos. No caso do amoníaco (R-717) os compressores alternativos consumiram em média 14% menos do que os compressores parafuso. O recurso a velocidade variável em compressores permite reduzir o consumo na ordem dos 25%. Válvulas de expansão eletrónicas trazem reduções no consumo de 1,5% quando comparadas com válvulas de expansão termostáticas em compressores de velocidade variável. O propano (R-290) é um gás que mostra ter um melhor desempenho do que o R-134a e R404a em vários compressores, consumindo 16% menos do que o R-404a. Em função da temperatura exterior, o R-290 também apresentou um bom desempenho consumindo em climas quentes (Belém, Brasil) 24% menos do que o R-404a.

Construção de um modelo lógico do plano ABC (Agricultura de Baixa Emissão de Carbono) como uma proposta de avaliação

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agronegócios, 2016.

Análisis de compensación de emisiones de CO2 por medio de un proyecto de reciclaje de Pet en ENKA de Colombia

Esta investigación evalúa el impacto ambiental del proceso de producción de fibra corta en Enka de Colombia teniendo en cuenta tres escenarios diferentes, utilizando la metodología establecida en el Greenhouse Gas Protocol Standard -- Generando una comparación entre dichos escenarios con el fin de evaluar si hay una compensación entre las emisiones que se generan por el uso de una carboeléctrica y las emisiones que se pueden ahorrar mediante el reciclaje de botellas PET -- A partir de lo anterior se realiza un inventario de análisis de ciclo de vida donde se evalúan las emisiones asociadas a la producción de materias primas, transporte, consumo de energía y residuos para cada escenario -- Con el desarrollo de este proyecto se logra concluir que sí hay una reducción de emisiones por el reciclaje de botellas PET, reduciendo las emisiones de CO2 en aproximadamente un 15.4%

Behavioral Response to Environmental Taxation: Evidence from the Transportation Sector

This dissertation analyzes how individuals respond to the introduction of taxation aimed to reduce vehicle pollution, greenhouse gases and traffic. The first chapter analyzes a vehicle registration tax based on emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), a major greenhouse gas, adopted in the UK in 2001 and subject to major changes in the following years. I identify the impact of the policy on new vehicle registrations and carbon emissions, compared to alternative measures. Results show that consumers respond to the tax by purchasing cleaner cars, but a carbon tax generating the same revenue would further reduce carbon emissions. The second chapter looks at a pollution charge (polluting vehicles pay to enter the city) and a congestion charge (all vehicles pay) adopted in 2008 and 2011 in Milan, Italy, and how they affected the concentration of nitrogen dioxides (NOx). I use data from pollution monitoring stations to measure the change between areas adopting the tax and other areas. Results show that in the first quarter of their introduction, both policies decreased NOx concentration in a range of -8% and -5%, but the effect declines over time, especially in the case of the pollution charge. The third chapter examines a trial conducted in 2005 in the Seattle, WA, area, in which vehicle trips by 276 volunteer households were recorded with a GPS device installed in their vehicles. Households received a monetary endowment which they used to pay a toll for each mile traveled: the toll varied with the time of the day, the day of the week and the type of road used. Using information on driving behavior, I show that in the first week a $0.10 toll per mile reduces the number of miles driven by around 7%, but the effect lasts only few weeks at most. The effect is mainly driven by a reduction in highway miles during trips from work to home, and it is strongly influenced by past driving behavior, income, the size of the initial endowment and the number of children in the household.

Del videojuego a la realidad : sistema interactivo para la seguridad vial

El vertiginoso crecimiento de los centros urbanos, las tecnologías emergentes y la demanda de nuevos servicios por parte de la población plantea encaminar esfuerzos hacia el desarrollo de las ciudades inteligentes. Éste concepto ha tomado fuerza entre los sectores político, económico, social, académico, ambiental y civil; de forma paralela, se han generado iniciativas que conducen hacia la integración de la infraestructura, la tecnología y los servicios para los ciudadanos. En éste contexto, una de las problemáticas con mayor impacto en la sociedad es la seguridad vial. Es necesario contar con mecanismos que disminuyan la accidentalidad, mejoren la atención a incidentes, optimicen la movilidad urbana y planeación municipal, ayuden a reducir el consumo de combustible y la emisión de gases de efecto de invernadero, así como ofrecer información dinámica y efectiva a los viajeros. En este artículo se describen dos (2) enfoques que contribuyen de manera eficiente dicho problema: los videojuegos como juegos serios y los sistemas de transporte inteligente. Ambos enfoques están encaminados a evitar colisiones y su diseño e implementación requieren componentes altamente tecnológicos (e.g. sistemas telemáticos e informáticos, inteligencia artificial, procesamiento de imágenes y modelado 3D).

Modelling global pyrogeography using data derived from satellite imagery

Doutoramento em Engenharia Florestal e dos Recursos Naturais - Instituto Superior de Agronomia - UL

Comunidades energéticas sustentáveis: estudo de Implementação de uma comunidade eólica no Algarve

Tese de Doutoramento, Gestão da Inovação e do Território, Faculdade de Economia, Universidade do Algarve, 2016

Impacts of climate change and species distribution modelling: future scenarios to endangered species in South Brazil.

Earth climate has changed significantly in the last century and the different models indicate that it will continue to change over the next decades, even if the emission of greenhouse gases stop immediately. These changes have impact on different plant populations, as well as in the actual distribution of several species. As plants, in general, have a smaller capacity of dispersion compared with the animals it is likely that they will suffer the impacts of the climate change more intensively.