This comprehensive second edition provides an up-to-date introduction to the nature of ecological degradation in a world of dramatic environmental change.

eBook available with sample pages: 020301961X

Series Information:
Routledge Introductions to Development

An accessible introduction to large rivers, including coverage of the geomorphology, hydrology, ecology, and environments of large river systems This indispensible book takes a structured and global approach to the subject of large rivers, covering geomorphology, hydrology, ecology, and anthropogenic environment. It offers a thorough foundation for readers who are new to the field and presents enlightening discussions about issues of management at the worldwide scale. The book also examines possible future adaptations that may come about due to climate change. The book has benefitted from contributions by Professor W.J. Junk on the ecology of floodplains and Professor Olav Slaymaker on the large arctic rivers. Introducing Large Rivers is presented in three parts. Part 1 provides an introduction to the world's large rivers and their basins. It covers source, transfer, and storage of their water and sediment; Pleistocene inheritance; the ecology of channels and floodplains; deltas; and more. Several large rivers are discussed in the next part. These include the Amazon Mississippi, Nile, Ganga-Brahmaputra System, Mekong, and Yangtze. The last part examines changes in large rivers and our management of river systems. It studies anthropogenic alterations such as land use and deforestation in large river basins; structural control systems like dams and reservoirs on channels; and ecological changes. It finishes with chapters on the management of large rivers, covering both technical and political aspects, and the future of the world's big river systems. Introducing Large Rivers is ideal as an introductory textbook on large rivers for future earth and environmental scientists and river managers. It will also benefit advanced undergraduate and graduate students studying geography, geology, ecology, and river management.

This book presents previously unexamined connections between teaching practices and specific philosophical ideas, locating the prior beliefs and practical knowledge of early childhood practitioners in urban India within the broader social and historical religio-philosophical context.

This book presents previously unexamined connections between teaching practices and specific philosophical ideas, locating the prior beliefs and practical knowledge of early childhood practitioners in urban India within the broader social and historical religio-philosophical context.

Software Reliability Assessment with OR Applications is a comprehensive guide to software reliability measurement, prediction, and control. It provides a thorough understanding of the field and gives solutions to the decision-making problems that concern software developers, engineers, practitioners, scientists, and researchers. Using operations research techniques, readers will learn how to solve problems under constraints such as cost, budget and schedules to achieve the highest possible quality level. Software Reliability Assessment with OR Applications is a comprehensive text on software engineering and applied statistics, state-of-the art software reliability modeling, techniques and methods for reliability assessment, and related optimization problems. It addresses various topics, including: unification methodologies in software reliability assessment; application of neural networks to software reliability assessment; software reliability growth modeling using stochastic differential equations; software release time and resource allocation problems; and optimum component selection and reliability analysis for fault tolerant systems. Software Reliability Assessment with OR Applications is designed to cater to the needs of software engineering practitioners, developers, security or risk managers, and statisticians. It can also be used as a textbook for advanced undergraduate or postgraduate courses in software reliability, industrial engineering, and operations research and management.

An updated treatment of management and geomorphology of large rivers around the world The newly revised Second Edition of Large Rivers: Geomorphology and Management delivers a thoroughly updated exploration of the form and function of major rivers. The book brings together a set of papers on the large rivers of the world, offering readers an insightful examination of a demanding subject. The new Second Edition of the book includes fully updated and revised chapters, as well as two entirely new chapters on the Ayeyarwady and the Arctic rivers. This fascinating volume describes the environmental requirements for creating and maintaining a major river system, case studies on over a dozen large rivers from different continents in a variety of physical environments, and the measurement and management of large rivers. Unmatched in scope, Large Rivers sheds light on a subject lacking in comprehensive study. Readers will benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to the geology of large river systems, hydrology and discharge, transcontinental moving and storage of sediment, and the greatest floods and largest rivers An exploration of the classification, architecture, and evolution of large-river deltas Discussions of sedimentology and stratigraphy of large river deposits, including their recognition in the ancient record and the distinction from incised valley fills An examination of the effects of tectonism, climate change, and sea-level change on the form and behavior of the modern Amazon river and its floodplain Measurement and management of large rivers The effect of climatic change on large rivers Perfect for postgraduate students and researchers in fluvial geomorphology, hydrology, sedimentary geology, and river management, Large Rivers: Geomorphology and Management will also earn a place in the libraries of engineers and environmental consultants in the private and public sectors working on major rivers around the world.

Software Reliability Assessment with OR Applications is a comprehensive guide to software reliability measurement, prediction, and control. It provides a thorough understanding of the field and gives solutions to the decision-making problems that concern software developers, engineers, practitioners, scientists, and researchers. Using operations research techniques, readers will learn how to solve problems under constraints such as cost, budget and schedules to achieve the highest possible quality level. Software Reliability Assessment with OR Applications is a comprehensive text on software engineering and applied statistics, state-of-the art software reliability modeling, techniques and methods for reliability assessment, and related optimization problems. It addresses various topics, including: unification methodologies in software reliability assessment; application of neural networks to software reliability assessment; software reliability growth modeling using stochastic differential equations; software release time and resource allocation problems; and optimum component selection and reliability analysis for fault tolerant systems. Software Reliability Assessment with OR Applications is designed to cater to the needs of software engineering practitioners, developers, security or risk managers, and statisticians. It can also be used as a textbook for advanced undergraduate or postgraduate courses in software reliability, industrial engineering, and operations research and management.

This book presents previously unexamined connections between teaching practices and specific philosophical ideas, locating the prior beliefs and practical knowledge of early childhood practitioners in urban India within a broader social and historical religio-philosophical context.

The handbook is about the theoretical foundations, researches in forensic psychology, practices and applications in forensic settings. This handbook is divided into three parts first part of the book addresses the theoretical foundations of forensic psychology, comprising behavioural biometrics, forensic assessment, criminal behavior and overview of psychopathy. The forensic examination of suspects, and the third part of the book addresses the issues related to forensic practices and their application.

Vehicle noise, vibration, and emissions are only a few of the factors that can have a detrimental effects on overall performance of an engine. These aspects are benchmarks for choice of customers while choosing a vehicle or for engineers while choosing an engine for industrial applications. It is important that mechanical and automotive engineers have some knowledge in this area, as a part of their well-rounded training for designing and selecting various types of engines. This volume is a valuable introductory text and a handy reference for any engineer, manager, or technician working in this area. The automotive industry, and other industries that make use of engines in their industrial applications, account for billions, or even trillions, of dollars of revenue worldwide and are important in the daily lives of many, if not most, of the people living on this planet. This is an area that affects a staggering number of people, and the information needed by engineers and technicians concerning the performance of various types of engines is of paramount importance in designing and selecting engines and the processes into which they are introduced.

Environment and the Developing World brings together the various aspects of environmental studies and management (earth and natural sciences, engineering and economics) as they relate to the developing world. It discusses environmental issues as well as the techniques and infrastructure for their management at various levels: global, national and local. The examples range from global warming and ozone depletion to the management of water resources and indoor air pollution. The book stresses the interrelated and interdisciplinary nature of environment, discusses the concept of sustainable development, explores the role of non-governmental organisations, and evaluates the importance attributed by international and multilateral organisations to monitoring environmental aspects of development projects. It critically reviews various economic, social and regulatory policies which address environmental issues. The different disciplines of the two authors (a physical geographer and a public policy economist) help to maintain the balanced and interdisciplinary nature of the book. Written primarily for advanced undergraduates, this is a stimulating text for any environment related course. Written in simple language and avoiding unnecessary jargon the book explains clearly the technical aspects of environmental management. Profuse illustrations, a large number of examples from a range of geographical areas, boxed case studies and stimulating exercises make the book attractive and comprehensive. All these features make the book a unique teaching tool in environmental management in the developing world.

The only book available on liquid piston engines, covering the design, application, maintenance, troubleshooting, and advances in the technology. Whether used in irrigation, cooling nuclear reactors, pumping wastewater, or any number of other uses, the liquid piston engine is a much more efficient, effective, and "greener" choice than many other choices available to industry. Especially if being used in conjunction with solar panels, the liquid piston engine can be extremely cost-effective and has very few, if any, downsides or unwanted side effects. As industries all over the world become more environmentally conscious, the liquid piston engine will continue growing in popularity as a better choice, and its low implementation and operational costs will be attractive to end-users in developing countries. This is the only comprehensive, up-to-date text available on liquid piston engines. The first part focuses on the identification, design, construction and testing of the liquid piston engine, a simple, yet elegant, device which has the ability to pump water but which can be manufactured easily without any special tooling or exotic materials and which can be powered from either combustion of organic matter or directly from solar heating. It has been tested, and the authors recommend how it might be improved upon. The underlying theory of the device is also presented and discussed. The second part deals with the performance, troubleshooting, and maintenance of the engine. This volume is the only one of its kind, a groundbreaking examination of a fascinating and environmentally friendly technology which is useful in many industrial applications. It is a must-have for any engineer, manager, or technician working with pumps or engines.

Agility and innovation are necessary to achieve global excellence and customer value in twenty-first century business; yet most approaches to business process engineering sacrifice these in favor of operational efficiency and economics. Moreover, the IT systems used to automate and encapsulate business processes are unresponsive to the dynamic business environment. Mitra and Gupta provide insight to close this gap - showing how innovation can be systematized with normalized patterns of information, how business processes and information systems may be tightly aligned, and how these processes and systems can be designed to automatically adapt to change by reconfiguring shared patterns of knowledge. A modular approach to building business systems that parallels that of object oriented software is presented. Practical templates required for accelerating integration, analysis and design are provided. This book will appeal to consultants, analysts, and managers in IT as well as researchers and graduate students in business, management and IT.