Selection and modeling sustainable urbanization indicators: A responsibility-based method

The responsibility borne by governmental departments measured by a set of indicators is a key factor affecting the performance of urban sustainability. Thus, responsibility analysis can guide the selection of sustainability indicators. In line with the principle of Management by Objective (MBO), this paper aims to introduce a responsibility-based method, named Strategic goal-Responsibility department-Response (SRR), for selecting sustainable urbanization indicators. By applying this method, indicators are selected from the perspective of concerned departments’ responsibility. In developing the SRR model, the tool of Responsibility Assignment Matrix is used to identify the concerned departments who assume responsibilities in the process of implementing sustainable urbanization. The content analysis is used to analyze the work scope and definitions of the concerned departments and sustainable urbanization indicators that can measure the responsibility performance of the concerned departments are filtered out. A case study of Jinan city in China is used to demonstrate the procedures of using the proposed method. Based on the strategic goals of Jinan city, 20 responsibility departments and 152 initial indicators are identified by using the SRR framework. The case study reveals that the method is a feasible and effective tool in assisting policy makers to select sustainable urbanization indicators.     

An integrated approach to hydropower impact assessment. I. Environmental features of some Norwegian hydro-electric lakes

This paper launches concepts instrumental to environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies on hydropower schemes and lake regulations. Norwegian hydro-electric lakes (hydrolakes) and their environmental features are described, and evaluated against non-manipulated waters. A tentative classification of hydrolakes vs. natural waters is proposed. The need for a multiple approach to habitat classification is emphasized. Recommendations for future biological impact assessment approaches are suggested.Hydrolakes differ broadly from natural lakes by combining physical features not ordinarily co-occurring in non-manipulated water bodies. Storage type hydrolakes (reservoirs) feature winter draw-downs and enhancement of yearly level fluctuations; whereas other types of hydro-electric lakes have elevated water levels throughout winter. Hydrochemistry and optics of the studied hydrolakes exhibited no clear differences to non-impacted Norwegian inland waters. All lakes had signs of sublacustrine erosional activity related to internal waves and thermocline movements.     

Comments on the antarctic Rotifera

The Southern and Western water of L. Kyoga is characterised by low mean alkalinities, 1.23±0.08 m eq 1^-1; conductivities, 106±5 µS cm^-1; pH, 7.2±0.2 and high transparencies, 1.7±0.3 m. In the east, comparatively high alkalinities, 1.96±0.34 m eq 1^-1; conductivities, 168±21 µS cm^-1; pH of 7.4±0.2 and low transparencies, 0.8±0.2 m are encountered. Hardness varies as closely as alkalinity from 0.6±0.1 m eq 1^-1 in the west to 1.0±0.2 m eq 1^-1 in the east. SiO₃·Si and SO₄·S decrease westwards from the eastern lake arms, while NO₃·N and PO₄·P vary seasonally in the lake, which is mostly saturated with oxygen (86–120%) from the surface to the bottom. Some evidence of polymixis was encountered.A rich plytoplankton flora occurred with the major groups well represented. Chlorophyceae (37%), Bacillariophyceae (36%) and Cyanophyceae (26%). Synedra spp. (20%). Anabeana spp. (16°10), Nitzschia spp. (10%) were the dominant species groups during July–August 1981. The macrophyte genera Vallisneria, Potamogeton, Nymphaea, Ceratophyllum, Hydrilla occur prominently in the clearer southern lake water. Rotifers and Crustacean Zooplankters found are also recorded. Meroplanktonic crustaceans, chironomids and insects often occur in large numbers.     

Effects of the geometry of reinforcement on physical properties of sodium caseinate/TiO2 nanocomposite films for applications in food packaging

Plastic materials for food packaging are being replaced by biodegradable films based on biopolymers due to the adverse effects they have had on animal life and the environment. In this study, nanocomposite films containing 2.5 wt% sodium caseinate and 2 wt% glycerol were reinforced with 0.1 or 0.2 wt% nano TiO₂ prepared in two forms: spheres (P25) and tubes. The effects of nanoreinforcement geometry on mechanical, tensile, barrier, thermogravimetric, and optical properties, and distribution of nanoparticles were described. The interactions among film components were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Addition of nanotubes significantly increased E' (341 wt%) and E" (395 wt%) moduli, the Young modulus E (660 wt%), the residual mass at 500°C (38 wt%), and color change (6.78) compared to control film. The compositional mapping studies showed that P25 nanoparticles were homogeneously distributed between the surfaces of the film while nanotubes were found on the bottom surface. The changes in position of the FTIR spectra signals as compared to pure protein signals indicated strong matrix/reinforcement interactions. In addition, the changes in intensity in 1100, 1033, and 1638 cm⁻¹ FTIR signals suggested formation of a protein/Tween 20 ester. The geometry of reinforcement was highly relevant regarding physical properties, showing nanotubes as being very successful for enhancing tensile properties.     

Morphology-based functional groups as effective indicators of phytoplankton dynamics in a tropical cyanobacteria-dominated transitional river–reservoir system

Cyanobacteria dominance is often associated with economic, ecological and health problems. The potential production of toxic compounds calls for frequent monitoring of cyanobacteria and their toxin production in many aquatic systems. Methods to simplify this process and facilitate management responses to sudden environmental changes are needed to improve the capability of risk-assessment. We tested the effectiveness of two different functional approaches (Functional Groups – FG, Reynolds et al., 2002; and Morphology-Based Functional Groups – MBFG, Kruk et al., 2010) as well as single species and taxonomic classifications as the best proxy of spatio-temporal phytoplankton dynamics and dominance of toxic algae in an impacted transitional river–reservoir system in the tropics. The Paraíba do Sul River and Funil Reservoir are located in one of the most heavily impacted regions of Brazil, and the latter system has a history of intense, long-lasting toxic cyanobacteria blooms. Sampling was conducted over the two climatological periods of the region: warm-rainy (October/2011 and January/2012) and cold-dry (July/2011 and May/2012), with stations in the following areas: tributary, reservoir and river (downstream from the dam). Our results showed that the MBFG classification was the most effective approach, i.e., best explained the response of the phytoplankton community to environmental variations. Environmental factors including light, nutrients, water temperature and hydrology increased the occurrence of different MBFGs on both spatial and temporal scales. The lotic areas showed a more diverse composition of MBFGs, including species with high to moderate tolerance to light limitation and flushing conditions (MBFGs I, III, IV, V and VI). In Funil Reservoir, phytoplankton biovolume was dominated by bloom-forming cyanobacteria (MBFGs III and VII) and remained high throughout the study. This dominance was related to the overall eutrophic conditions, low light availability and increased water-column stability of the reservoir. The seasonal dynamics in the reservoir was mainly related to changes in temperature and hydrology. Our results show for the first time that morphology captures efficiently eco-strategies of bloom-forming cyanobacteria and the MBFG approach can be used to predict and monitor the development of cyanobacteria HABs in temporal and spatial scales.     

Diagnosis of complex coastal ecological systems: Environmental GIS analysis of a highly stressed Mediterranean lagoon through spatiotemporal indicators

This article explores the need for implementing spatiotemporal criteria in environmental planning of special protected areas, applying the analysis of reaction patterns in the case study of the Mar Menor, a Mediterranean coastal lagoon in South-Eastern Spain. To perform this, the Mar Menor environmental patterns suffering traditionally from intense coastal urbanization, and in recent years from important eutrophication problems, will be analyzed from an integrated approach and retrospectively assessed through territorial indicators. The evaluation will provide a clear example of a protected area regulated by multiple European Natura 2000 figures of protection that nevertheless is suffering from a strong and varied anthropic process over time. The results will show that paradoxically this process sometimes has little territorial linkage origin with the area concerned. This aspect will be addressed by using GIS indicators, to present the real correlation between coastal urbanization and agricultural land transformation with Mar Menor evolution over time (in which it is pointed out that the weight of the latter is much greater than the former) and how far it is necessary to establish an area of influence of the environmental impacts by proposing a new scope of application for the resolution of the current situation of eutrophication in its waters.     

Weights and importance in composite indicators: Closing the gap

Composite indicators are very popular tools for assessing and ranking countries and institutions in terms of environmental performance, sustainability, and other complex concepts that are not directly measurable. Because of the stakes that come with the media attention of these tools, a word of caution is warranted. One common misconception relates to the effect of the weights assigned to indicators during the aggregation process. This work presents a novel series of tools that allow developers and users of composite indicators to explore effects of these weights. First, the importance of each indicator to the composite is measured by the nonlinear Pearson correlation ratio, estimated by Bayesian Gaussian processes. Second, the effect of each indicator is isolated from that of other indicators using regression analysis, and examined in detail. Finally, an optimisation procedure is proposed which allows weights to be fitted to agree with pre-specified values of importance. These three tools together give developers considerable insight into the effects of weights and suggest possibilities for refining and simplifying the aggregation. The added value of these tools are shown on three case studies: the Resource Governance Index, the Good Country Index, and the Water Retention Index.