|
Showing 1 - 4 of
4 matches in All Departments
This book describes the modelling and optimisation of vibration
reduction systems in an integrated fashion using nonlinear
equations of motion. It proposes an effective optimisation method
for determining the basic characteristics of the non-linear
visco-elastic elements used in passive vibration reduction systems.
In the case of semi-active and active vibration isolators, a design
process of the advanced control systems is proposed that makes
possible to optimise the controller settings relatively to the
selected vibro-isolation criteria. The approach developed here is
subsequently tested by means of experimental investigations
conducted on various sample vibration reduction systems: passive,
semi-active and active. The book presents a biomechanical modelling
approach that allows users to select the properties of
vibro-isolation systems for different types of oscillation and
different optimisation criteria - and can significantly reduce the
harmful vibrations that can affect the human body in the process.
Further, the book equips readers to evaluate the viscoelastic
characteristics of passive systems and design control systems for
semi-active and active systems. Modelling and Control Design of
Vibration Reduction Systems offers a valuable guide for researchers
and practitioners alike. It also provides students and academics
with systematic information on the procedures to be followed in the
design process for semi-active or active vibration reduction
systems.
In this report we underline the importance of studying the social
representation of climate change for climate policy, especially in
a democracy such as India. Social representations are, from a
social science point of view, no epiphenomena of 'real' issues, but
the very fabric of individual reality and, building on that,
collective decision making. If climate change is not socially
represented, it is not there in a society. We brie y characterise
the Indian climate discourse, which we perceive as being more
complex (heterogeneous) than the European or American one. After a
brief look at other studies of climate change perceptions, we turn
to our own small sample of qualitative interviews (n=16) in
Hyderabad, covering a broad range of issues. We then focus on the
way our respondents do represent climate change in the context of
weather changes, of its causes, and of possible solutions. We
present a typology of cognitive maps of climate change, and relate
them to the lifestyle and the social context of the respondents
that adhere to it. We also try to identify some starting points for
a meaningful climate change discourse in Hyderabad, aiming at the
improvement of both local adaptation and local mitigation. The
report ends with some general conclusions.
This paper analyses the structure of local, regional and national
stakeholders that might be relevant for a transition of Hyderabad
into a low-carbon megacity. The main angle of the stakeholder
selection in this report is de ned by the leading question of our
research: How do (local) lifestyle dynamics contribute to climate
change, and how can lifestyle changes help to reduce local
emissions and the vulnerability to global climate change? Our
analysis reveals that climate change actually is a medium to low
attention issue for the majority of stakeholders in Hyderabad (as
in India in general). At the same time, the identi ed minority of
individual or collective actors that actually do rate climate
change higher on their agendas have the potential to form a
critical mass for socioecological change in the city if (1) they
improve their cooperation, if (2) institutional reforms in the
urban space increase their impact, and if (3) they manage to align
with a still 'silent majority' of stakeholders that by now rate
climate change to be of minor relevance. The latter point is based
on another key nding of our analyses: Actors with high structural
power (based either on political, economic or network power) might
be turned into potential 'allies' of a low-carbon strategy, if (1)
they can interpret adaptation and mitigation options as new
opportunities in their option space, (2) climate issues are more
closely linked to sustainability issues, and (3) they perceive
institutional reforms and stakeholder involvement as being bene
cial for their daily operations. From these insights we derive some
consequences for future pilot projects and policy advice.
Currently 23 cities exceed the 10 million inhabitants' threshold.
The number of world's megacities is expected to grow to 39 in 2025
with 32 of these in emerging economies. While today cities cater
for over half of the world's population, they are facing ever
increasing environmental problems. Whether or not an emerging
megacity will be able to cope with expected climate change impacts
and increased scarcity of natural or man-made resources depends on
its capacity to change human behaviour in different areas of what a
city constitutes. On-going research on various responses to
anticipated climate change impacts on the emerging megacities aims
to generate knowledge for an effective and feasible transition
towards sustainable development. Where different disciplines and
approaches seem to overwhelmingly agree is that mitigation and
adaptation measures are urgently needed. This implies not only
identifying available technological options but also exploring
institutions - defined as "sets of rules" and governance
structures, i.e. those "modes of organization" that are necessary
to put rules into practice. Thus, in order to arrive at feasible
mitigation and adaptation measures, technical solutions and social
construction need to be combined. This Emerging megacities series
presents findings of current inter- and trans- disciplinary
research on different topics concerning the sustainable growth of
these rapidly expanding cities.
|
|