Sensing and Monitoring Technologies for Mines and Hazardous Areas: Monitoring and Prediction Technologies presents the fundamentals of mining related geotechnical risk and how the latest advances in sensing and data communication can be used both to prevent accidents and provide early warnings. Opencast mining operations involve huge quantities of overburden removal, dumping, and backfilling in excavated areas. Substantial increases in the rate of accumulation of waste dumps in recent years has resulted in greater height of dumps and also has given rise to the danger of dump failures as steeper open pit slopes are prone to failure. These failures lead to loss of valuable human lives and damage to mining machinery. This book presents the most recent advances in gas sensors, methane detectors, and power cut-off systems. It also introduces monitoring of the gas strata and environment, and an overview of the use of Internet of Things and cloud computing for mining sensing and surveillance purposes. Targeted at geotechnical and mining engineers, this volume covers the latest findings and technology to prevent mining accidents and mitigate the inherent risk of the activity.

For a long time, the dynamics of urban and coastal areas have been the focus of administrators and decision makers in charge of public policy in order to better take into account anthropogenic pressure and the impact of climate change. This volume presents applications of remote sensing in urban environments and coastal zones, including the use of remote sensing in city planning (urban expansion, light pollution, air quality, etc.), observation of the properties of ocean color, the study of coastal dynamics (identifying coastlines and estimating sediment balances, etc.) and analysis of the dynamics of mangroves. This book, part of a set of six volumes, has been produced by scientists who are internationally renowned in their fields. It is addressed to students (engineers, Masters, PhD), engineers and scientists, specialists in remote sensing applied to the coastal environment and urban areas. Through this pedagogical work, the authors contribute to breaking down the barriers that hinder the use of Earth observation data.

Environment at the Margins brings literary and environmental studies into a robust interdisciplinary dialogue, challenging dominant ideas about nature, conservation, and development in Africa and exploring alternative narratives offered by writers and environmental thinkers. The essays bring together scholarship in geography, anthropology, and environmental history with the study of African and colonial literatures and with literary modes of analysis. Contributors analyze writings by colonial administrators and literary authors, as well as by such prominent African activists and writers as Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Mia Couto, Nadine Gordimer, Wangari Maathai, J. M. Coetzee, Zakes Mda, and Ben Okri. These postcolonial ecocritical readings focus on dialogue not only among disciplines but also among different visions of African environments. In the process, Environment at the Margins posits the possibility of an ecocriticism that will challenge and move beyond marginalizing, limiting visions of an imaginary Africa. Contributors: Jane Carruthers Mara Goldman Amanda Hammar Jonathan Highfield David McDermott Hughes Roderick P. Neumann Rob Nixon Anthony Vital Laura Wright

The sudden appearance of portolan charts, realistic nautical charts of the Mediterranean and Black Sea, at the end of the thirteenth century is one of the most significant occurrences in the history of cartography. Using geodetic and statistical analysis techniques these charts are shown to be mosaics of partial charts that are considerably more accurate than has been assumed. Their accuracy exceeds medieval mapping capabilities. These sub-charts show a remarkably good agreement with the Mercator map projection. It is demonstrated that this map projection can only have been an intentional feature of the charts' construction. Through geodetic analysis the author eliminates the possibility that the charts are original products of a medieval Mediterranean nautical culture, which until now they have been widely believed to be.

'. . . provides a good overview of the issues in economic geography both in terms of theory and applications. This is a good book for starters, who want to find a direction within economic geography, and are looking for a book that provides a brief, but interesting, outlook of the main topics investigated in economic geography.' - Vitor Braga, Economic Geography Research Group This well-researched book provides a concise contribution to a large-scale debate on economic globalization. Martin Sokol introduces key theoretical approaches that help us to understand how economies work, why they suffer recessions and crises, and why economic inequalities at various levels are growing in the context of globalization. He introduces key economic geography concepts and theories, demonstrating their application to our contemporary globalizing world. The role that economic geography may play in informing policy making is highlighted, and debates surrounding the recent global financial and economic crisis are expounded. This highly accessible book will prove an essential reference tool for academics, students and researchers focusing on geography, economics, planning and regional development, development studies, international politics and international business. Policy makers and practitioners in local, regional and national authorities, international bodies and non-governmental organizations will also find this book to be an invaluable resource. Contents: Introduction 1. Economic Globalisation, Inequality and Instability 2. What is Economic Geography About? 3. Key Approaches in Economic Geography 4. Neo-classical Approach, Location Theory and Beyond 5. Marxist-inspired Approaches and Uneven Development 6. Alternative Approaches and New Economic Geography 7. Economic Geographies of the Contemporary World 8. Economic Geography and Policy Challenges Appendix: Useful Journals and Internet Sources Bibliography Index

Map reverse carries an illustrated gazetteer of sites of interest: approx. 6,600 wordsMap cover carries inside a brief history of Hull: 1,300 words. Illustrations: coloured engravings and early views of buildings, monuments and street scenesA full colour map, based on an Ordnance Survey map of 1928, with buildings and sites of interest picked out. Few cities have experienced Hull's uninterrupted position as one of Britain's leading centres of population and economic activity over nine centuries. The variety and richness of its architecture are too often overlooked. The map shows the main medieval and post-medieval buildings in this remarkable and interesting city, the second-most historic city of Yorkshire. The map's cover has a short introduction to the city's history, and on the reverse an illustrated and comprehensive gazetteer of Hull's main buildings and sites of interest, from medieval monasteries to cinemas and theatres, and the huge fortified citadel.