Impact of integrating disaster risk reduction philosophies into infrastructure reconstruction projects in Sri Lanka

Major impacts on infrastructures due to natural and man-made hazards could result in secondary and additional impacts, compounding the problem for those communities already affected by the hazard. Integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) philosophies into infrastructure projects has been an important solution to mitigate and prevent such disaster risks, as well as for a speedy recovery after disasters. Vulnerability reduction is defined by the research community as an enabler which facilitates the process of DRR. However, there is a research need to identify the most beneficial DRR strategies that would result in vulnerability reduction in an effective way. As part of this main aim, this paper seeks to explore the nature of various vulnerabilities within infrastructure reconstruction projects and their respective communities and to evaluate the DRR practises within these projects. Finally the paper attempts to map the effects of integration of DRR into infrastructure reconstruction on vulnerability reduction of infrastructure reconstruction projects and the communities which benefited from such projects. This study adopts the case study approach and the paper is entirely based on data collated from semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire survey conducted within one case study (a water supply and sanitation reconstruction project) in Sri Lanka and expert interviews conducted in Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. Results reveal that emergency preparedness strategies are the most important group of DRR strategies, while physical/technical strategies are also very important. However, none of the emergency preparedness strategies are satisfactorily implemented, while most of the physical/technical strategies are adequately implemented.

Static output feedback frequency stabilization of time-delay power systems with coordinated electric vehicles state of charge control

In this paper, for the first time, electric vehicles are used for both the primary and secondary frequency controls to support power plants to rapidly suppress fluctuations in the system frequency due to load disturbances. Via networked control and wide-area communication infrastructures, multiple interval time-varying delays exist in the communication channels between the control center, power plant, and an aggregation of electric vehicles. By coordinating batteries’ state of charge control, the behaviors of the vehicle owners and the uncertainties imposed by the changes of the batteries’ state of charge are taken intoconsideration. A power system model incorporating multiple time-varying delays and uncertainties is first proposed. Then, a robust static output feedback frequency controller is designed to guarantee the resulting closed-loop system stable with an H∞ attenuation level. By utilizing a novel integral inequality, namely refined-Jensen inequality, and an improved reciprocally convex combination, the design conditions are formulated in terms of tractable linear matrix inequalities which can be efficiently solved by various computational tools. The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is verified by extensive simulations.

Cloud security

Cloud computing systems and services have become major targets for cyberattackers. To provide strong protection of cloud platforms, infrastructure, hosted applications, and data stored in the cloud, we need to address the security issue from a range of perspectives-from secure data and application outsourcing, to anonymous communication, to secure multiparty computation. This special issue on cloud security aims to address the importance of protecting and securing cloud platforms, infrastructures, hosted applications, and data storage.

Élaboration d'un plan de gestion des matières résiduelles - Communauté de Long Point First Nation, Winneway

L’objectif de cet essai repose sur l’élaboration d’un plan de gestion des matières résiduelles pour la communauté algonquine de Long Point First Nation, située dans la Municipalité régionale de comté de Témiscamingue. La Politique québécoise de gestion des matières résiduelles n’établit pas clairement à qui revient la responsabilité d’une saine gestion dans le cas des communautés autochtones. Le flou législatif derrière cet enjeu ne fait qu’accentuer l’isolement de ces communautés dans leur aspiration à développer des actions précises et à les concrétiser. Pourtant, le milieu autochtone se doit de poursuivre la voie de l’amélioration continue de son administration à ce sujet puisque celui-ci participe également au bilan provincial. Cet essai s’inscrit dans le but précis d’accompagner Long Point First Nation dans son cheminement vers une gestion éclairée de ses matières résiduelles. La communauté de Long Point First Nation a introduit la collecte sélective depuis quelques années déjà et en assure elle-même sa gestion. Néanmoins, elle est aux prises avec des situations problématiques limitant la gestion adéquate de ses matières résiduelles. L’éloignement géographique, les partenariats laborieux, les coûts élevés reliés à la gestion et l’instabilité au niveau de la collecte hebdomadaire freinent sa facilité administrative et son déploiement. L’usage des dépôts sauvages pour éliminer les matières non collectées amplifie les problèmes environnementaux et de santé publique. La désuétude de certaines installations et l’absence de campagnes usuelles d’information, de sensibilisation et d’éducation n’assurent pas une gestion optimale ni sa pérennité. Un plan d’action a été réalisé dans le but ultime de contrer ces enjeux. Ce plan priorise deux objectifs fondamentaux, celui d’instaurer un système de récupération des matières organiques au niveau résidentiel et celui de développer des infrastructures pouvant accueillir les matières résiduelles non collectées par la collecte sélective actuellement en place. En plus de ces priorités, cinq autres objectifs sont mis de l’avant, soit le regroupement d’informations concernant la gestion des matières résiduelles et son suivi, la qualité de gestion de la collecte municipale, l’assurance de la qualité environnementale de son territoire, l’affinement du tri des matières recyclables et l’amélioration de la transmission d’informations auprès des résidents. Le tout représente un essai se voulant pragmatique colligeant objectifs et mesures afin d’élaborer un plan d’action réaliste à caractère environnemental.

Étude du comportement d'une section d'essais de chaussée de BAC avec des armatures en PRFV

Au Québec, l’épandage des sels de déglaçage pendant l’entretien hivernal des routes est l’une des causes de la corrosion des armatures en acier dans les ouvrages routiers en béton armé. La corrosion de l’acier crée des tensions internes dans le béton, ce qui entraine l’éclatement du béton qui enrobe l’armature d’acier. La durée de vie des infrastructures routières est par conséquent réduite et les coûts d’entretien sont augmentés. Le présent projet de recherche est né d’une collaboration entre le ministère des Transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l’Électrification des Transports (MTMDET) et l’Université de Sherbrooke. Il vise à étudier l’utilisation des barres en polymères renforcés de fibres de verre (PRFV), non sujettes à la corrosion dans les dalles en béton armé continu (BAC). Dans cette étude, une section de chaussée de 300 mètres de long a été instrumentée pendant la reconstruction de l’autoroute 40 Ouest à Montréal, pour caractériser le comportement à court et à long terme des dalles en BAC avec des armatures en PRFV. Les résultats expérimentaux montrent que les conditions climatiques affectent considérablement le comportement à la fissuration des dalles en BAC de PRFV et d’acier. Une analyse par éléments finis d’une section de la chaussée a été également réalisée avec le logiciel Abaqus en vue d’étudier l’influence de plusieurs paramètres tels que le taux d’armature longitudinale, les propriétés des barres de PRFV et leur profondeur, l’épaisseur de la dalle, le coefficient de dilatation thermique du béton et l’espacement des armatures transversales sur le comportement de la dalle en BAC de PRFV. Le modèle par éléments finis a été validé avec les résultats expérimentaux obtenus en chantier. Les résultats numériques montrent que le coefficient de dilatation thermique du béton, le taux d’armature longitudinale, les propriétés des barres de PRFV et leur positionnement dans la dalle, l’épaisseur de la dalle constituent les paramètres qui influencent le plus le comportement des dalles en BAC. Pour le dimensionnement des dalles en BAC de PRFV, des taux d’armature ainsi que des propriétés de barres de PRFV ont été proposés en tenant compte des résultats expérimentaux ainsi que de l’analyse par éléments finis.

Developing self-guided scuba dive routes in the Algarve (Portugal) and analysing visitors' perceptions

Scuba diving allows for underwater visitation of cultural and natural resources. Underwater routes can be used as a tool for guided and supervised underwater visits. Two scuba diving routes were implemented in the Algarve (South of Portugal), the "B24" and "Poco" diving sites. The perceptions of scuba divers regarding several aspects of the routes and the existing support infrastructures were studied following a survey carried out through face-to-face interviews from 2008 to 2012. Divers profile and their perceptions were analysed using 246 valid questionnaires. Divers were mainly Portuguese, over 30 years old and with more than 12 years of formal education. Some of the support infrastructures did not achieve a "good" or "acceptable" grade. This should be carefully considered by diving operators and managers, because perceptions tend to circulate throughout the diving tourists. All features of interpretative slates were graded as highly satisfactory. Overall, diver satisfaction increased slightly after route implementation, with an average ranking of "good". These findings support the implementation of underwater routes as a way to promote diving activity, and to increase divers' environmental education and awareness. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ecotourism snorkelling routes at Marinha Beach (Algarve)

Coastal ecotourism is one of the fastest growing leisure industries in the world and snorkelling is emerging as an important beach-based activity. Snorkelling has the potential to enhance biodiversity conservation when developed within environmental education framework. The aim of this study was to implement and evaluate snorkelling routes, in the Algarve (South Portugal), as a sustainable ecotourism offer. To achieve these objectives, three snorkelling routes were established at the pristine Marinha beach. After the diving experience, a face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted to collect information about individuals' opinions regarding the underwater routes, their social demographic characteristics, ecological appreciation, opinions about beach facilities and trip expenditures. The survey was undertaken during the summer months of 2008 and 2009, and 202 people were interviewed. Data was analysed using univariate and multivariate statistic methods. Most respondents perceived the existence of routes to be good for the preservation of the local biodiversity and reported this experience as "good" or "excellent". The only difference in perceptions was observed by visitor snorkelling in groups of more than two people. Interviewers consider that emergency support and sanitary facilities are the most important beach support infrastructures. Overall, these routes seem to be an effective tool for developing ecological awareness in tourists, as they enhance the preservation and the understanding of the marine coastal environment.

El efecto de la definición regulatoria de banda ancha sobre la difusión y la competencia del mercado de servicios de Internet fijo en Colombia

A partir de la dinámica evolutiva de la economía de las Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones y el establecimiento de estándares mínimos de velocidad en distintos contextos regulatorios a nivel mundial, en particular en Colombia, en el presente artículo se presentan diversas aproximaciones empíricas para evaluar los efectos reales que conlleva el establecimiento de definiciones de servicios de banda ancha en el mercado de Internet fijo. Con base en los datos disponibles para Colombia sobre los planes de servicios de Internet fijo ofrecidos durante el periodo 2006-2012, se estima para los segmentos residencial y corporativo el proceso de difusión logístico modificado y el modelo de interacción estratégica para identificar los impactos generados sobre la masificación del servicio a nivel municipal y sobre las decisiones estratégicas que adoptan los operadores, respectivamente. Respecto a los resultados, se encuentra, por una parte, que las dos medidas regulatorias establecidas en Colombia en 2008 y 2010 presentan efectos significativos y positivos sobre el desplazamiento y el crecimiento de los procesos de difusión a nivel municipal. Por otra parte, se observa sustituibilidad estratégica en las decisiones de oferta de velocidad de descarga por parte de los operadores corporativos mientras que, a partir del análisis de distanciamiento de la velocidad ofrecida respecto al estándar mínimo de banda ancha, se demuestra que los proveedores de servicios residenciales tienden a agrupar sus decisiones de velocidad alrededor de los niveles establecidos por regulación.

Spatial, environmental and human influences on the distribution of otter (Lutra lutra) in the Spanish provinces

In a previous survey of otters ( Lutra lutra L. 1758) in Spain, different causes were invoked to explain the frequency of the species in each province. To find common causes of the distribution of the otter in Spain, we recorded a number of spatial, environmental and human variables in each Spanish province. We then performed a stepwise linear multiple regression of the proportion of positive sites of otter in the Spanish provinces separately on each of the three groups of variables. Geographic longitude, January air humidity, soil permeability and highway density were the variables selected. A linear regression of the proportion of otter presence on these variables explained 62.4% of the variance. We then used the selected variables in a partial regression analysis to specify which proportions of the variation are explained exclusively by spatial, environmental and human factors, and which proportions are attributable to interactions between these components. Pure environmental effects accounted for only 5.5% of the variation, while pure spatial and pure human effects explained 18% and 9.7%, respectively. Shared variation among the components totalled 29.2%, of which 10.9% was explained by the interaction between environmental and spatial factors. Human factors explained globally less variance than spatial and environmental ones, but the pure human influence was higher than the pure environmental one. We concluded that most of the variation in the proportion of occurrences of otter in Spanish provinces is spatially structured, and that environmental factors have more influence on otter presence than human ones; however, the human influence on otter distribution is less structured in space, and thus can be more disruptive. This effect of large infrastructures on wild populations must be taken into account when planning large-scale conservation policies

From Landscape to Garden-with Wildflowers Meadows

Since the middle age wildflower meadows are used to bring the flowers from the natural and rural areas into urban landscapes. Wildflowers meadows can improve the quality of Green Infrastructures as they increase biodiversity. However, after a few centuries of given flowers a principal part, lawns started to be used in every kind of places leading to a green obsession. Nowadays, urban lawns are cover more than 70% of urban green spaces all over the world. Frequently design options aren’t environmental or economical friendly, and lawns are this example. Lawns are green deserts with low biodiversity, and unsustainable. Wildflower meadows are an alternative to lawns, more sustainable, less resources consumer and much more biodiverse. In the regions with a Mediterranean climate water is a limit factor, especial in summer.

Ravines in Angola. Causes and restraint methods

The Earth we know today was not always so. Over millions of years have undergone significant ch an g e s brought about by numerous geological phenomena aimed at your balance, some internal order, creating new geological formations and other external order smoothing formations previously created. From t h e tectonic standpoint, Angola is located in a relatively stable area which gives it a certain p ri v i l e g e w h e n compared with some Asian countries or even Americans where quite often occur earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. However, the same cannot be said in relation to the occurrence of an external geodynamics phenomena, such as the ravines, which in recent years has taken shape in many provinces, especially due to anthropogenic activity, giving rise to geological hazards, increasing the risk of damage in buildings and others infrastructures, losses direct or indirect in economic activities and loss of human lives. We understand that the reducing of these risks starts, in particular, by their identification, for later take preventive measures. This work is the result of some research work carried out by the authors through erosion courses of s o i l and stabilization of soils subject to erosion phenomena, carried out by Engineering Laboratory of Angola (LEA). For the realization of this work, we resorted to cartographic data query, literature, listening to s o m e o f the provincial representatives and local residents, as well as the observation in lo co o f s o m e af f e ct ed areas. The results allow us to infer that the main provinces affected by ravine phenomenon are located in Central and Northern highlands, as well as in the eastern region, and more recently in Cuando-Cub an go province. Not ruling out, however, other regions, such as in Luanda and Cabinda [1]. Relatively the causes, we can say that the ravines in Angola are primarily due to the combination of three natural factors: climate, topography and type of soil [2]. When we add the anthropogenic activit y , namely the execution of construction works, the drainage system obstructio n, exploration of m i n e ral s, agriculture and fires, it is verified an increasing of the phenomenon, often requiring immedi at e act i o n . These interventions can be done through structural or engineering measures and by the stabilization measures on the degraded soil cover [3]. We present an example of stabilization measures throu g h t h e deployment of a local vegetation called Pennisetum purpureum. It is expected that the results may contribute to a better understanding of the causes of the ravine phenomenon in Angola and that the adopted stabilization method can be adapted in other affected provinces in order to prevent and making the contention of the ravines.