Improved knowledge in the field of technical objects operation and control helps manufacturers to decrease energy consumption and keep construction costs low. Moreover, it helps dealing effectively with environmental problems and switching to renewable forms of energy on the path of sustainable development of the society. The methods and technologies presented in this book will allow to improve the effectiveness of technical objects control and helps achieving safe, economical, high-quality usage of power engineering and information technologies. The book presents recent advances in power engineering, electric drives, transport systems, power electronics, cybersecurity and others. Vital issues of innovative small vehicles with using hydrogen fuel as well as boring rigs and underwater hydraulic transport pipelines are considered. The book offers a fresh look at energy-saving and energy efficiency in industry, new ideas in information technologies, paying much attention to interdisciplinary specification of the results obtained.

Emission inventory is basic for the understanding of environmental behaviors and potential effects of compounds, however, current inventories are often associated with relatively high uncertainties. One important reason is the lack of emission factors (EFs), especially for the residential solid fuel combustion in developing countries. In the present study, emission factors of a group of pollutants including particulate matter, organic carbon, elemental carbon (sometimes known as black carbon) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were measured for a variety of residential solid fuels including coal, crop straw, wood, and biomass pellets in rural China. The study provided a large number of emission factors that can be further used in emission estimation. Composition profiles and isomer ratios were investigated and compared so as to be used in source apportionment. In addition, the present study identified and quantified the influence of factors like fuel moisture, volatile matter on emission performance. The publication of the study will be of interest and helpful to the readers in the field of air pollution, human health, fuel saving and energy consumption etc. Guofeng Shen works at the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Jiangsu Academy of Environmental Sciences, China.

The Nirma University International Conference on Engineering NUiCONE is a flagship event of the Institute of Technology, Nirma University, Ahmedabad. NUiCONE-2015 is focussed on events/themes in the current trends in Engineering and its research issues. Practicing engineers, technologists and technopreneurs from the industry will engage in special knowledge sharing sessions using applied technical papers by industry participants on case-study applications, white-papers, panel discussions, industrial exhibitions of innovations and technology products etc. This proceedings book includes peer reviewed and presented research papers by research scholars and professionals from academia, industry and government R&D organizations. The papers included in this proceedings volume present unpublished research of participating researchers related to some specific multi-disciplinary themes addressing sustainable engineering fields like Sustainable Manufacturing Processes; Design and Analysis of Machine & Mechanisms; Energy Conservation and Management; Concrete and Structural Engineering; Infrastructure Project Planning and Management; Chemical Process Development and Design; and Technologies for Green Environment.

This volume describes what is arguably the first and only valuation study to meet in full the reference study standards set by NOAA's Blue Ribbon Panel on Contingent Valuation. This book documents a contingent valuation study for a generic environmental good: preventing the likely injuries from oil spills on the coast of Central California. It provides a wealth of materials which will reduce the long lead time which characterizes most economic damage assessments. This is achieved by so richly documenting the design, administration, and analysis of such studies as to be effectively a 'how-to' guide for undertaking state-of-the-art contingent valuation studies. The book is supported by a CD-ROM containing a wealth of additional material, including data, questionnaires, and transcripts. Together, they constitute a unique and vital contribution to the literature concerning the valuation of non-market preferences.

This book addresses the synthesis of photosensitizers, the main emphasis being on the new methods of synthesis such as microwave, sonochemistry and the use of ionic liquids. It also addresses the photochemistry and photophysics of the photosensitizers alone and in combination with nanoparticles, the use of the photosensitizers in environmental control, safety and medicine. It discusses the common structures of the photosensitizers which are beneficial to these applications.

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Many large mathematical models, not only models arising and used in environmental studies, are described by systems of partial differential equations. The discretization of the spatial derivatives in such models leads to the solution of very large systems of ordinary differential equations. These systems contain many millions of equations and have to be handled over large time intervals by applying many time-steps (up to several hundred thousand time-steps). Furthermore, many scenarios are as a rule to be run. This explains the fact that the computational tasks in this situation are enormous. Therefore, it is necessary to select fast numerical methods; to develop parallel codes and, what is most important when the problems solved are very large to organize the computational process in a proper way.
The last item (which is very often underestimated but, let us re-iterate, which is very important) is the major topic of this book. In fact, the proper organization of the computational process can be viewed as a preparation of templates which can be used with different numerical methods and different parallel devices. The development of such templates is described in the book. It is also demonstrated that many comprehensive environmental studies can successfully be carried out when the computations are correctly organized. Thus, this book will help the reader to understand better that, while (a) it is very important to select fast numerical methods as well as (b) it is very important to develop parallel codes, this will not be sufficient when the problems solved are really very large. In the latter case, it is also crucial to exploit better the computer architecture by organizing properly the computational process.
- Use of templates in connection with the treatment of very large models
- Performance of comprehensive environmental studies
- Obtaining reliable and robust information about pollution levels
- Studying the impact of future climatic changes on high pollution levels
- Investigating trends related to critical levels of pollution

This edited volume presents new data and insights from the most internationally respected PGE experts, representing a variety of disciplines ranging from chemistry, geochemistry, biology, environmental science to toxicology and environmental health. It builds upon three previous co-edited books published by Springer, Zereini and Alt (Eds.) (1999, 2000 and 2006), incorporating the most recent advances on the topic. The book covers the following topical areas related to PGE: sources and applications, analytical methods, environmental fate, bioavailability and chemical behaviour, use of bioindicators and human exposures and health risk potential. Highly interdisciplinary in orientation, this book is a comprehensive guide to academics, students and professionals working in a number of different scientific fields, who are interested in topics related to platinum metal emissions in the environment.

The 5th volume of Green Chemical Processing considers sustainable chemistry in the context of governmental and corporate interests, explaining how "red tape" can help or hinder the "greening" of industry processes. The American Chemical Society's 12 Principles of Green Chemistry are woven throughout this text as well as the series to which this book belongs.

sector. This ensured eventual transfer of the technology demonstrated at the wo- shops and Technical Meetings to marketable devices. BIOSET provided assistance for researchers from European laboratories to meet to exchange ideas, use equ- ment, and establish a basis for new joint projects. The secretariat of the Concerted Action BIOSET supported the Technical Meetings. There were three Technical Meetings held, two in Berlin in 1997 and 1998, and the third in Barcelona, in April 2000. The goal of these technical meetings was to join different research and industrial teams to evaluate the performance of their biosensor technology in field conditions with common and standardized surface and waste waters. As a result of these field experiments, the additional information that biosensors can offer to environmental monitoring was also evaluated. Thus, these three Technical Meetings were useful accompanying measures and practical additions to the currently organized yearly workshops. The concerted action BIOSET was f- lowed by the SENSPOL network. The 1st SENSPOL Workshop was held on the 9-11 May 2001 on Sensing Technologies for Contaminated Sites and Groundwater at the University of Alcala. There was one special Workshop on "Genotoxicity Biosensing (TECHNOTOX)" supported by the European Commission DG XII D-1 and BIOSET in the year 2000. The TECHNOTOX meeting at the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) in Mol was organized by Phillippe Corbisier (VITO), Peter-D. Hansen (TU Berlin) and Damia Barcelo (CSIC Barcelona).

Environmental forensics is the application of scientific techniques for the purpose of identifying the source and age of a contaminant. Over the past several years, this study has been expanding as a course of study in academia, government and commercial markets. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are among the governmental agencies that utilize the study of environmental forensics to ensure national security and to ensure that companies are complying with standards. Even the International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE), a group supported by the European Commission and the World Bank, utilizes the study of environmental forensics as it applies to terror threats.
This title is a hands-on guide for environmental scientists, engineers, consultants and industrial scientists to identify the origin and age of a contaminant in the environment and the issues involved in the process. An expansion of the authors' first title with Academic Press, "Introduction to Environmental Forensics," this is a state-of-the-art reference for those exploring the scientific techniques available.
* Up-to-date compendium for referencing forensic techniques unique to particular contaminants.
* International scientific unit system
* Contributors from around the world providing international examples and case studies.

Throughout the world's arid regions, and particularly in northern and eastern Africa, formerly nomadic pastoralists are undergoing a transition to settled life. Pastoral sedentarization represents a response to multiple factors, including loss of livestock due to drought and famine, increased competition for range land due to growing populations, land privatization or appropriation for commercial farms, ranches, and tourist game parks, and to fear of increasing violence, ethnic conflict, and civil war. Although pastoral settlement is often encouraged by international development agencies and national governments as solutions to food insecurity, poor health care and problems of governance, the social, economic and health concomitants of sedentism are not inevitably beneficial. Biosocial studies presented in this volume, for example, point to greater nutritional and health benefits among nomadic livestock keepers, but increased opportunities in education, employment, and food security in towns.
This book examines from an interdisciplinary perspective pastoral sedentarization in one region of Africa - Marsabit District in northern Kenya - an isolated and arid region bordering Ethiopia and which contains multiple pastoral groups including Rendille, Samburu, Ariaal, Borana and Gabra peoples. Within this locale, we present recent studies conducted by cultural and biological anthropologists, veterinary biologists, economists, geographers and medical and community health personnel, linked by the common goal of delineating the consequences, both positive and negative, of settlement for formerly nomadic pastoral populations. For many of these former pastoralists, settled life does notnecessarily constitute a break with their pastoral kin and neighbors, but represents one more opportunity with which to survive in a difficult physical and social environment.
This edited work is a collection of international contributors from North America, Africa and Europe and focuses on a dilemma that affects many parts of the indigenous world. This book will be essential reading for professionals and students of social change in the developing world particularly in applied anthropology, development economics, rural sociology, environment and ecology, and medicine and public health

This book presents the proceedings and the outcomes of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) on Integrated Technologies for Environmental Monitoring and Information Production, which was held in Marmaris, Turkey, between September 10- 14, 200 I. With the contribution of 45 experts from 20 different countries, the ARW has provided the opportunity to resolve the basic conflicts that tend to arise between different disciplines associated with environmental data management and to promote understanding between experts on an international and multidisciplinary basis. The prevailing universal problem in environmental data management (EDM) systems is the significant incoherence between data collection procedures and the retrieval of information required by the users. This indicates the presence of problems still encountered in the realization of; (1) delineation of objectives, constraints, institutional aspects of EDM; (2) design of data collection networks; (3) statistical sampling; (4) physical sampling and presentation of data; (5) data processing and environmental databases; (6) reliability of data; (7) data analysis and transfer of data into information; and (8) data accessibility and data exchange at local, regional and global scales. Further problems stem from the lack of coherence between different disciplines involved in EDM, lack of coordination between responsible agencies on a country basis, and lack of coordination on an international level regarding the basic problems and relevant solutions that should be sought.

There is widespread public concern about hazardous chemicals that are contained in air, soil, water and food. Policy has therefore adopted a series of laws and regulations concerning emissions into and concentration levels in different media including food. As policy makers do not only have to consider the protection of the environment but also need to ensure a well-functioning economy at the same time, these limit or target values need to be set in a balanced way. The main problem, however, is to compare the costs for achieving these targets with the benefits to society by having a smaller exposure to hazardous substances (cost-benefit analysis).

This book sets out to improve the reliability of cost-benefit analyses particularly of hazardous substances present in air, water, soil and food. It suggests that the human health risk assessment of chemicals is performed in a bottom-up analysis, i.e., following a spatially resolved multimedia modelling approach. In order to support cost-benefit analyses, the approach is accompanied by monetary valuation of human health impacts, yielding so-called external costs. Results for selected priority metals show that these external costs are small compared to those by the classical air pollutants and involve rather long time horizons touching on the aspect of intergenerational equity within sustainable development. When including further hazardous substances, the total external costs attributable to contaminants are expected to be more substantial.

Nitrous oxide gas is a long-lived relatively active greenhouse gas (GHG) with an atmospheric lifetime of approximately 120 years, and heat trapping effects about 310 times more powerful than carbon dioxide per molecule basis. It contributes about 6% of observed global warming. Nitrous oxide is not only a potent GHG, but it also plays a significant role in the depletion of stratospheric ozone. This book describes the anthropogenic sources of N2O with major emphasis on agricultural activities. It summarizes an overview of global cycling of N and the role of nitrous oxide on global warming and ozone depletion, and then focus on major source, soil borne nitrous oxide emissions. The spatial-temporal variation of soil nitrous oxide fluxes and underlying biogeochemical processes are described, as well as approaches to quantify fluxes of N2O from soils. Mitigation strategies to reduce the emissions, especially from agricultural soils, and fertilizer nitrogen sources are described in detail in the latter part of the book.

"Natural resource Engineering" examines the physics and engineering aspects of soil and water-qulaity preservation. Topics include a quantitative overview of the hydrologic cycle, upland erosion and water quality, stream channel design, hydraulics of common management structures, ponds and embankments, drainage and irrigation, and stream and lake quality issues.

This practical text and reference:
Covers a diverse range of topics in the forefront of natural resources engineering
Stresses fundamentals, building on traditional agricultural engineering soil and water teachings
Contains chapter learning goals to help structure student study
Provides useful Internet addresses for current information and practical tips
Helps students and practicing professionals prepare environmentally friendly solutions for clients engaging in agricultural production and related commercial activities

This book addresses those involved in research or R&D. It introduces the principles of eco-innovation and the importance of the impact of their activity. This topic is considered in the context of natural and digital ecosystems powered by intelligent assistants (technology). Chapter 1 positions the innovation as a process and component of ecosystems including research, enterprises, technology (digital ecosystems) and environment. Sustainable success is a condition of survival and an expectation of those who invest in innovation. Chapter 2 describes the main elements to consider and gives some tips. Chapter 3 presents some selected initiatives at the national and European level and provides a way of measuring success.

This second volume of Frontiers articles contains a broad array of fascinating topics. The first four
papers focus on the Sun, the origin of the solar system and the early history of the Earth. The fifth, on komatiites, is also relevant to the early Earth but also forms a nice transition to three articles that focus on subduction and mantle processes. The final three articles focus on changes in our surface environment including biogeochemical cycles, the evolution of hominids and, finally, the future threat posed by near Earth asteroids.

Lightning represents a natural phenomenon of substantial interest. Due to its complex nature, research continues in many countries and reveals amazing results. Lightning is actively observed because of its relevance to Earth climate and air composition in addition to the classical aspects of related human fatalities and damage to forests, buildings, power lines, aircraft, structures and electronic devices. In this volume, the most important contemporary questions on lightning are addressed and analyzed under many experimental and theoretical aspects. Lightning detection techniques using ground-based and space-borne methods are described, along with network engineering and statistical analysis. Contributions detail research on atmospheric electricity, cloud physics, lightning physics, modeling of electrical storms and middle atmospheric events. Special phenomena such as triggered lightning and sprite observations are examined. Lightning-induced nitrogen oxides and their effects on atmospheric chemistry and climate are discussed. Each topic is presented by international experts in the field. Topics include: * air chemistry * convective storms * infrasound from lightning * lightning and climate change * lightning and precipitation * lightning and radiation * lightning and supercells * lightning and thunderstorms * lightning detection * lightning from space * lighting protection * lightning return strokes * observations and interpretations * spatial distribution and frequency * triggered lightning * weather extremes

This book focuses on the low-carbon technologies presented at the Expo 2010 in Shanghai, covering the utilization and application of renewable energy, new-type low-carbon technologies, low-carbon construction, water treatment, waste disposal and low-carbon transportation, etc. It brings together and analyzes data collected from the Expo site in connection with several aspects ranging from the initial planning and design, pavilion construction, and operational management, to concept demonstrations, with selected sample businesses and a summary at the end of each section. The author hopes that people around the world who long for an even better urban life will lend their support to the future development of low-carbon technologies. This book offers a valuable resource for researchers, professionals and graduates in the fields of low-carbon and environmental protection. Wenhua Xi is currently the Director-General of UNIDO International Solar Energy Center, Director-General of the Asia-Pacific Research and Training Center for Solar Energy, and Director-General of Gansu Natural Energy Research Institute.