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Development of a modelling system for prediction and regulation of livestock waste pollution in the humid tropics

Introduction: In Malaysia, excessive nutrients from livestock waste management systems are currently released to the environment. Particularly, large amounts of manure from intensive pig production areas are being excreted daily and are not being fully utilised. Alternatively, the excess manure can be applied as an organic fertiliser source in neighbouring cropping systems on the small landholdings of the pig farms to improve soil fertility so that its nutrients will be available for crop uptake instead of being discharged into water streams. Thus, there is a need for better tools to analyse the present situation, to evaluate and monitor alternative livestock production systems and manure management scenarios, and to support farmers in the proper management of manure and fertiliser application. Such tools are essential to quantify, and assess nutrient fluxes, manure quality and content, manure storage and application rate to the land as well as its environmental effects. Several computer models of animal waste management systems to assist producers and authorities are now available. However, it is felt that more development is needed to adopt such models to the humid tropics and conditions of Malaysia and other developing countries in the region. Objectives: The aim is to develop a novel model to evaluate nutrient emission scenarios and the impact of livestock waste at the landscape or regional level in humid tropics. The study will link and improve existing models to evaluate emission of N to the atmosphere, and leaching of nutrients to groundwater and surface water. The simulation outputs of the models will be integrated with a GIS spatial analysis to model the distribution of nutrient emission, leaching and appropriate manure application on neighbouring crop lands and as an information and decision support tool for the relevant users.

Eine systematische Übersicht über Fragebögen aus Lärmwirkungsstudien

In Fragebogen-Untersuchungen zur Lärmwirkung wurden bisher sehr unterschiedliche Operationalisierungen von Wirkungsvariablen (wie z.B. Belästigung, Störung von Aktivitäten) und außer-akustischen Faktoren (sog. Moderatoren wie z.B. Lärmempfindlichkeit, misfeasance) verwendet. Deshalb hat sich die Arbeitsgruppe community response der International Commission on the Biological Effects of Noise (ICBEN, Team No. 6) als langfristiges Ziel die Entwicklung von Fragebogen-Guidelines und die Formulierung eines Muster-Fragebogens für die Lärmwirkungsforschung gesetzt. D.h. es soll ein Vorschlag erarbeitet werden, in welcher Form globale und spezifische Lärmwirkungen in Befragungen erhoben werden sollten. Um dieses Vorhaben zu unterstützen, hat der Arbeitskreis Ökologische Lärmforschung die Erstellung einer systematischen Übersicht über vorhandene Fragebögen aus Lärmwirkungsstudien auf internationaler Ebene in Angriff genommen. Diese Übersicht soll es u.a. ermöglichen, die Struktur von verschiedenen Fragebögen sowie die in ihnen verwendeten Operationalisierungen für Lärmwirkungs- und Moderatorvariablen (hinsichtlich Art der Frageformulierung sowie der Antwortformate) zu vergleichen. Für den/die einzelne/n Lärmforscher/in bietet diese Übersicht die Möglichkeit, sich auf sehr effiziente Art und Weise darüber zu informieren, wie bestimmte Konstrukte in bisherigen Untersuchungen operationalisiert worden sind bzw. welche Alternativen zu den bereits selbst angewandten Operationalisierungen bestehen. Nach einer systematischen Ermittlung von Namen und Adressen einschlägiger Lärmforscher/innen, wurden diese um die Zusendung von Fragebögen sowie ergänzender Materialien aus eigenen Lärmwirkungsstudien gebeten. Die zugesandten Fragebögen werden gegebenenfalls übersetzt und mit der Methode der qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse ausgewertet. Hierbei werden die Fragebögen im Hinblick auf formelle Aspekte (z.B. Jahr der Erhebung, Sprache, Art der Befragungsmethode) wie auch im Hinblick auf strukturelle Aspekte (z.B. Umfang des Fragebogens, abgefragte Variablengruppen, Antwortformate) ausgewertet. Hauptgegenstand der Auswertung ist aber insbesondere die Auswertung der Lärmwirkungsvariablen (z.B. die Abfrage der globalen Lärmbelästigung, Aktivitätenstörungen, Kommunikationsstörungen) sowie der Moderatorvariablen (z.B. Lärmempfindlichkeit, Lärmbewältigungsvermögen, misfeasance). Parallel dazu wurde eine Datenbank entwickelt, in der die Ergebnisse der Analysen dargestellt und verwaltet werden. Diese Datenbank wird ab November 2001 im Internet unter http://www.eco.psy.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/nqd für jede/n interessierte/n Forscher/in zugänglich und nutzbar sein. Langfristig ist darüber hinaus geplant, ein Archiv mit den Original-Fragebögen aufzubauen, in dem einzelne Fragebögen auf Wunsch eingesehen werden können.

Possible Options for the better integration of environmental concerns into the various systems of support for animal products - German case study

A Regional Model for Integrated Water Management in Twinned River Basins (RIVERTWIN), Sub project: University Innsbruck

The project 'RIVERTWIN' aims in adjusting, testing and implementing an integrated regional model for the strategic planning of water resources management in twinned river basins under contrasting ecological, social and economic conditions. The regional model will take into account the impacts of demographic trends, economic and technological development, the effects of global climate and land use changes on the availability and quality of water bodies in humid temperate, subhumid tropical as well as semiarid regions. The existing integration framework will be first tested in a European river basin with high data availability and data density. The Transferability of the model to other regions with different economic level, ecological standards and with low data availability will be jointly tested by the project team and river basin organisations in two river basins in Westafrica and Uzbekistan. Here, the problem of adequate human resources and the uncertainties of input data for the implementation of computer based decision suppport tools will be addressed. Capacity building through training of end users supports the transfer of the research results into application. In cooperation with stakeholders and potential users integrated scenarios of economic growth, land use and climate change will be developed and the model will be used to assess the implications for water management under the respective scenario assumptions. The twinning of river basins will promote mutual transfer of know-how and technology between European and Third countries. Based on the results, river basin management plans can be prepared. Through its holistic basin wide approach, the project contributes to the EU water directive, the Millennium Goals defined by the WSSD and the EU water initiative for Africa and Newly Independent States.

FP6-SUSTDEV, Source control of priority substances in Europe (SOCOPSE)

With the new regulations included in the Water Framework Directive (WFD) (2000/60/EC), new strategies are needed for control of Priority pollutants (PP). For decision making and implementation of the WFD, the industrial sector, local water authorities and EU policy makers need guidelines for the selection and introduction of feasible and cost-effective measures. The overall objective of this project is to support the implementation process for the WFD by providing guidelines and decision support tools for the management of priority pollutants. To fulfil this overall objective the following activities are proposed: - To conduct a material flow analysis for selected priority pollutants. - To evaluate available and emerging measures and management options for PPs. - To develop a decision support tool for identification and selection of relevant measures on European, national and regional level. - To evaluate different potential measures by applying the decision support tools in case studies. - To facilitate the development of collective action plans (i.e. river basin management plans) involving all stakeholders (industries, authorities, citizens, NGOs). - To disseminate results to stake-holders and to strongly interact with industrial organisations, research networks, authorities and NGOs. A Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) will be formed with representatives from industries, authorities and NGOs. The SAG will be consulted during all steps in the process of collecting information, developing the decision support tool and the suggested set of management measures. The cooperation with the industrial sector, the different authorities and other stakeholders (public, NGOs) will ensure the accuracy and relevance of basic data collection, as well as the applicability, acceptance and relevance of the results from this project.

Aqua Terra, Understanding river-sediment-soil-groundwater interactions for support of management of waterbodies (river basin catchment areas) - AQUATERRA

Changes in climatic conditions, land use practices and soil and sediment pollution have large scale adverse impacts on water quantity and quality. The current knowledge base in river basin management is not adequate to deal with these impacts. AquaTerra is both integrating and developing knowledge to resolve this and disseminating it to stakeholders. In the water cycle, soil is a key element affecting groundwater recharge and the chemical composition of both subsurface and surface waters (the latter is additionally affected by sediments). The proper functioning of the river-sediment-soilgroundwater system is linked to key biogeochemical processes determining the filter, buffer and transformation capacity of soils and sediments. AquaTerra aims at a better understanding of the system as a whole by identifying relevant processes, quantifying the associated parameters and developing numerical models of the groundwater-soil-sediment-river system to identify adverse trends in soil functioning, water quantity and quality. The modelling addresses all relevant scales starting from micro-scale water/solid interactions, the transport of dissolved species, pollutants as well as suspended matter in soil and groundwater systems at the catchment scale, and finally the regional scale, with case studies located in major river basins in Europe. With this integrated modelling system, AquaTerra provides the basis for improved river basin management, enhanced soil and groundwater monitoring programs and the early identification and forecasting of impacts on water quantity and quality during this century. AquaTerra is committed to the dissemination and exploitation of project results through structured workshops, dedicated short courses, and the active participation of consortium partners in national and international conferences. The quality and direction of the project is supervised by a peer review panel.

Aufbau und Erprobung eines Entscheidungsunterstützenden Systems zur Optimierung der Betriebsführung der Kläranlage der BASF AG, Ludwigshafen

Die BASF AG betreibt am Standort Ludwigshafen eine Kläranlage, in der die Abwässer aus dem Werk Ludwigshafen, der Stadt Ludwigshafen, der Stadt Frankenthal sowie der Gemeinde Bobenheim-Roxheim mechanisch-biologisch behandelt werden. Im Sommer 1998 erhielt tectraa von der BASF AG Ludwigshafen den Auftrag, eine Studie zur Optimierung der Prozessführung der Kläranlage durchzuführen. Die von tectraa durchgeführte eingehende Bestandsaufnahme und -analyse ergab, dass auf der Anlage eine erhebliche Anzahl an Messgeräten vorhanden ist, die bisher jedoch fast ausschließlich zu Dokumentations- und Überwachungszwecken eingesetzt werden. Nur wenige Prozesse sind automatisiert, viele Eingriffe erfolgen manuell, eine übergeordnete Regelstrategie existiert bislang nicht. Aufbauend auf den im Rahmen der Bestandsaufnahme und -analyse gewonnenen Erkenntnissen wurde ein Gesamtkonzept zur Optimierung der Betriebsführung entwickelt. Da die vorgeschlagene Konzeption sehr komplex ist, die Umsetzung einen Zeitraum von mehreren Jahren erfordert und die BASF AG zudem nur bewährte und erprobte Strategien großtechnisch umsetzen kann, bietet sich eine sukzessive Umsetzung der Konzeption an. Das Projekt Aufbau und Erprobung eines entscheidungsunterstützenden Systems EUS zur Optimierung der Betriebsführung der Kläranlage der BASF AG, Ludwigshafen hat dabei folgende wesentlichen Inhalte: - Dem EUS werden online gemessene Größen wie bspw. der Ammonium- sowie der BSB5-/DOC-Gehalt im Zulauf der Biologie, der Zulaufvolumenstrom, die Sauerstoffkonzentrationen in der Biologie sowie Ammonium- und Nitratkonzentrationen im Ablauf der biologischen Stufe zugeführt. Daneben verwertet das EUS auch offline Messgrößen, die im Rahmen der Eigenkontrolle erhoben werden wie z. B. Trockensubstanz (TS)-Gehalte in der Biologie, Überschussschlammengen und TS-Gehalte im Überschussschlamm, Schlammspiegel und Schlammindizes. - Das EUS verwertet diese Größen zur Charakterisierung der Abwasserverhältnisse und des Reinigungsverlaufs unter Verwendung von wissensbasierten Elementen und liefert Vorschläge für die optimale Einstellung von relevanten Stellgrößen. Beispiele hierfür sind die optimale Größe der belüfteten und unbelüfteten Beckenzonen, aktuelle Sauerstoffsollwerte, das optimale Schlammalter und der hierzu erforderliche TS-Gehalt sowie der Überschussschlammabzug zum Erreichen des optimalen Schlammalters. - Die Verwertung der Vorschläge und das Umsetzen in Regeleingriffe erfolgt - nach einer entsprechenden Kontrolle durch das Betriebspersonal - auf manuellem Wege. - Nach Erprobung des Systems werden die entwickelten und dann bewährten Strategien zur aktiven Regelung der Prozesse durch eine Anbindung an die Stellglieder in die Großtechnik umgesetzt.

Environmental and ecological life cycle inventories for present and future power systems in Europe (ECLIPSE)

The current use of Life Cycle Inventories (LCI) for energy system modelling and planning is limited by two main factors: lack of harmonisation and transparency in the methodology used in LCA studies lack of updated public database on emerging technologies, in particular on new and decentralised renewable electricity generation systems. The general objective of the project is to overcome these limitations. More specifically the goal is to provide potential users with a coherent methodological framework, including application-dependent methodological guidelines and data format requirements related to the quantification of environmental impacts from new and decentralised power systems in Europe based on a life cycle approach, a harmonised set of public, coherent, transparent and updated LCI data on new and decentralised power systems, in a format which will make them comparable to existing data of other energy technologies, easily adaptable to local conditions and technological improvement and up-datable. Project results will increase the credibility, diffusion and exploitation of LCI as a support tool for energy-environment-economy modelling (like ExternE), energy planning as well as for other uses. The work is subdivided in four workpackages plus a general workpackage for the project management.

Trees, Resilience and Livelihood Recovery in the Tsunami-affected Coastal Zone of Aceh and North Sumatra (Indonesia)

Post-Tsunami call for coastal protection forest has been quick and loud, as presence of trees could certainly have reduced loss of human lives. Coastal zone management has to provide environmental protection and meet economic targets of livelihood options based on sea plus land-based activities. Tree crops and trees preferred by farmers contribute to both. Pre-Tsunami 40-60 percent of the economy of West Aceh and Nias depended on tree crops. Our aim is to help rebuild a green infrastructure that enhances the resilience of the coastal population in the face of multiple stresses. We start with assessing damage to trees, changes in land suitability and impacts on the production-marketing chain and will follow up with activities supporting short term recovery (using existing trees) and preparing for the opportunities of rehabilitated infrastructure. Lessons learnt on resilience will be shared as international public goods.

FP6-SUSTDEV, Integrated High Resolution Imaging Ground Penetrating Radar and Decision Support System for WATER PIPEline Rehabilitation (WATERPIPE)

Many EU cities are experiencing increasing problems with their water pipeline infrastructure. The cost of replacing these old, worn-out systems, if left to deteriorate beyond repair, is astronomical and clearly beyond the resources of many communities. Replacement, however, is not the only choice as many of these systems can be rehabilitated at 30 to 70 percent of the cost of replacement. Accordingly, resources are now increasingly being allocated to address pipeline rehabilitation management issues. Due to the emphasis on sustainable management, risk-based approaches for the rehabilitation management of the water supply network need to be developed. Rehabilitation decisions should be based, inter alia, on inspection and evaluation of the pipeline conditions. Yet, utilities cannot locate a number of their old pipes and current inspection technologies typically do not provide the needed detailed information on pipeline damage. The objectives of this work are: 1. To develop a novel, high resolution imaging ground penetrating radar for the detection of pipes, leaks and damages and the imaging of the damaged region and evaluate it at a test site. 2. To produce an integrated system that will contain the equipment in 1 and a Decision-Support-System (DSS) for the rehabilitation management of the underground water pipelines that will use input from the inspections to assess, probabilistically, the time-dependent leakage and structural reliability of the pipelines and a risk-based methodology for rehabilitation decisions that considers the overall risk, including financial, social and environmental criteria. 3. To field test the equipment and the DSS. Prime Contractor: Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, Athen, Greece.

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