API src

Found 51 results.

Das Energiewende-Szenario 2020 - Ausstieg aus der Atomenergie, Einstieg in Klimaschutz und nachhaltige Entwicklung

Between Path Dependence and Path Creation: The Impact of Farmers' Behavior and Policies on Structural Change in Agriculture

Farm structures are often characterized by regional heterogeneity, agglomeration effects, sub-optimal farm sizes and income disparities. The main objective of this study is to analyze whether this is a result of path dependent structural change, what the determinants of path dependence are, and how it may be overcome. The focus is on the German dairy sector which has been highly regulated and subsidized in the past and faces severe structural deficits. The future of this sector in the process of an ongoing liberalization will be analyzed by applying theoretical concepts of path dependence and path breaking. In these regards, key issues are the actual situation, technological and market trends as well as agricultural policies. The methodology will be based on a participative use of the agent-based model AgriPoliS and participatory laboratory experiments. On the one hand, AgriPoliS will be tested as a tool for stakeholder oriented analysis of mechanisms, trends and policy effects. This part aims to analyze whether and how path dependence of structural change can be overcome on a sector level. In a second part, AgriPoliS will be extended such that human players (farmers, students) can take over the role of agents in the model. This part aims to compare human agents with computer agents in order to overcome single farm path dependence.

Profiling methane emission in the Baltic Sea: Cryptophane as in-situ chemical sensor

To overcome the limitation in spatial and temporal resolution of methane oceanic measurements, sensors are needed that can autonomously detect CH4-concentrations over longer periods of time. The proposed project is aimed at:- Designing molecular receptors for methane recognition (cryptophane-A and -111) and synthesizing new compounds allowing their introduction in polymeric structure (Task 1; LC, France); - Adapting, calibrating and validating the 2 available optical technologies, one of which serves as the reference sensor, for the in-situ detection and measurements of CH4 in the marine environments (Task 2 and 3; GET, LAAS-OSE, IOW) Boulart et al. (2008) showed that a polymeric filmchanges its bulk refractive index when methane docks on to cryptophane-A supra-molecules that are mixed in to the polymeric film. It is the occurrence of methane in solution, which changes either the refractive index measured with high resolution Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR; Chinowsky et al., 2003; Boulart et al, 2012b) or the transmitted power measured with differential fiber-optic refractometer (Boulart et al., 2012a; Aouba et al., 2012).- Using the developed sensors for the study of the CH4 cycle in relevant oceanic environment (the GODESS station in the Baltic Sea, Task 4 and 5; IOW, GET); GODESS registers a number of parameters with high temporal and vertical resolution by conducting up to 200 vertical profiles over 3 months deployment with a profiling platform hosting the sensor suite. - Quantifying methane fluxes to the atmosphere (Task 6); clearly, the current project, which aims at developing in-situ aqueous gas sensors, provides the technological tool to achieve the implementation of ocean observatories for CH4. The aim is to bring the fiber-optic methane sensor on the TRL (Technology Readiness Level) from their current Level 3 (Analytical and laboratory studies to validate analytical predictions) - to the Levels 5 and 6 (Component and/or basic sub-system technology validation in relevant sensing environments) and compare it to the SPR methane sensor, taken as the reference sensor (current TRL 5). This would lead to potential patent applications before further tests and commercialization. This will be achieved by the ensemble competences and contributions from the proposed consortium in this project.

FP6-SUSTDEV, An innovative approach of Integrated Wildland Fire Management regulating the wildfire problem by the wise use of fire: solving the FIRE PARADOX (FIRE PARADOX)

Wildfires are a major problem for many European societies threatening human lives and property with disastrous impacts particularly at the wildland-urban interface. On the other hand humans always used fire as a tool to regulate nature and traditional use of fire is known in many regions of Europe. The understanding of this paradox, is thus essential for finding solutions for integrated wildland fire management.This concept requires considering the various aspects of fire, from its use as a planned management practice (prescribed fire) to the initiation and propagation of unplanned fires (wildfires) and to the use of fire in fighting wildfires (suppression fire). Prescribed or suppression fires will therefore set the limits for wildfires by vontrolling their spatial extent, intensity and impacts. This is the main approach adopted aiming at the creation of the scientific and technological bases for new practices and policies under integrated wildland fire management and in the development of strategies for its implementation in Europe. Three major domains of related activities were considered: research, development and dissemination. In research, the project will focus on understanding the machanisms and modelling the processes associated with fire, from physics to biology and social sciences. Experimental and sampling methods will be used. The scientific and technical knowledge gathered will allow the development of a technological platform that will integrate the fire model, the temporal and spatial variability of fuels and weather, and the potential ecological and social-economical impacts. Documentation and demonstration platforms will also be extensively used for dissemination, focusing in the development of stategies for public awarness, academic and professional training using new communication technologies and networks, and for the implementation of new practices, policies and regulations under the concept of integrated wildland fire management. Prime Contractor: Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa, Instituto Superior de Agronomia; Lisboa; Portugal.

ERA-Net: SUSME - Laborerprobung und Wissenstransfer nachhaltiger Strategien zur Nutzung von Meeresenergie, Teilvorhaben: Evaluierung der technischen Machbarkeit von Meeresenergiewandler-Konzepten und deren techno-ökonomische Perspektiven im europäischen Markt

Supporting SME driven olive industry to comply with EU directives directives by turining olive oil waste water into energy through innovative bioreactor biotechnology, and extraction of olive oil industry by-products (EN-X-OLIVE)

Technical scenario: Olive production is a significant economic sector in southern Member States, especially in Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal. However, the extraction process involved in olive oil production generates non biodegradable phytotoxic waste, and is therefore a significant source of pollution. Despite the introduction in the 90s of improved separation systems such as 2-phase centrifugation system, that reduce both water use and the quantities of liquid residues produced, the problems of waste toxicity, high energy consumption and the disposal of final residues remain. Olive oil production gives a final waste consisting in a solid and very humid by-product called alperujo (AL) or Olive wet cake. The problem of AL disposal has not been fully resolved and research into new technological procedures that permit its profitable use is needed. In addition, these wastes also contain valuable resources such as phenolic compounds, (approximately 53Prozent in olive oil mill waste waters), characterised by different biological activity properties which could be of interest in industry (i.e. their strong antioxidant activity). Current extraction of these compounds is not available from olive oil waste water, since technology is not fully developed and optimised to get large scale prototyping such as Pilot plant stage. Proposed solution: We propose a method focused on both treatment of olive waste waters with by anaerobic digestion transforming biomass into biogas, basically Methane, and extraction from liquid fraction of valuable products, such as polyphenols. vSynergy between these technologies will allow overcome technical barriers such as polyphenol inactivation of the digestion process, making more efficient the process and letting a higher purity of the waste water product.

Hydrazine-assisted Routes to 1D Nitride and Oxide Nanomaterials for Environmental and Energy Applications

The development of new technologies for the synthesis of innovative one dimensional (1D) materials is a key issue for fabricating advanced nanodevices with unique surface-related effects and quantum phenomena. The nitride nanomaterials, particularly group III nitrides, have attracted great interest due to their blue light and UV emission properties, piezoelectricity, high stability etc. In contrast to oxides, the synthesis of stoichiometric nitrides is a considerably more complicated task due to the lower reactivity of nitrogen. Therefore, the development of new nitridation technologies operating at low synthesis temperatures is a key challenge for modern materials science. The purpose of this project is to develop a hydrazine-based simple and efficient new technology for fabricating new 1D nanomaterials (nitrides, oxynitrides, oxides of Ge and Ge-In, Ge-Sn, Ge-Zn, Ge-Ga systems) and to furthermore investigate the properties of the emerging novel nanomaterials in order to evaluate their application potential in different nanodevices. Our new technological approach is based on the application of hydrazine for producing nitride and oxide nanomaterials. The advantage of hydrazine over ammonia as the conventionally used agent is its low pyrolysis temperature. Semiconductor surfaces then serve as catalysts for the low temperature decomposition of hydrazine via a chain reaction. Due to the low pyrolysis temperature and the formation of active radicals, a decrease of nitridation temperatures with hydrazine as a nitrogen source is expected. Oxynitride 1D nanomaterials will be synthesized following a similar route based on water-hydrazine mixtures. Preliminary syntheses of germanium nitride nanowires by annealing a Ge source in hydrazine vapor containing 3 molProzent of water molecules demonstrate the efficiency of our strategy as a simple, low-cost technology aiming for the mass production of functional nitride nanomaterials. Special emphasis will furthermore be placed on the application of the newly synthesized 1D nanomaterials in sensors for environmental control and on the fabrication of nano-sized photocatalysts for solar hydrogen production by water splitting. Germanium nitride was the first non-oxide photocatalyst which was used for water splitting. We suggest that the application of this material in the form of flat nanobelts can increase its catalytic efficiency, because a considerable fraction of the atoms are located at the surface of the nanobelts. The insights obtained from the project will lead to a deeper understanding of 1D nanomaterial growth mechanisms and they will facilitate the transition to the zero dimensional (0D) quantum-dot devices.

Partizipative Technikgestaltung und nachhaltige Entwicklung - Eine sozialwissenschaftliche Analyse

Wie Studien im Bereich der Innovationsforschung zeigen, haben NutzerInnen (das können sowohl Einzelpersonen, als auch Firmen sein) oft eine wichtige Funktion bei der Entwicklung und Diffusion von Technologien - und zwar nicht nur im Rahmen der (passiven) Akzeptanz oder der Nachfrage nach diesen Produkten. Vielmehr ist auch die aktive Aneignung der Produkte durch NutzerInnen von großer Bedeutung für den Erfolg einer Innovation, d.h. deren Integration in die Praxis des Alltags sowie deren Besetzung mit Bedeutung und Sinn. Auch spielen AnwenderInnen vielfach eine aktive Rolle in der Verbesserung und Gestaltung neuer Technologien. Es gibt guten Grund zur Annahme, dass dies unter spezifischen Rahmenbedingungen auch für die Entwicklung und Verbreitung ökologisch nachhaltiger Techniken gilt und einen wichtigen Faktor für den Erfolg solcher Produkte darstellt. Im Vordergrund dieses Projekts steht die Frage nach der Rolle von NutzerInnen im Rahmen der Entwicklung und Verbreitung von technischen Innovationen, die zu einer ökologisch nachhaltigen Entwicklung unserer Gesellschaft beitragen. Dies wird in Fallstudien zu drei Technologiefeldern untersucht, in denen Österreich eine Rolle im internationalen Spitzenfeld einnimmt: thermische Solaranlagen, moderne Biomasseheizanlagen sowie ökologisches Bauen. In allen drei Feldern gibt es wichtige Anstöße und Beiträge von EndanwenderInnen für die technische Entwicklung - besonders prägnant bei Solaranlagen (und mit Einschränkungen bei Biomasseanlagen), wo Selbstbaubewegungen zu einer massiven Verbreitung beigetragen und den Boden für die Entstehung exportorientierter Firmen gelegt haben. Doch stellt sich zu Recht die Frage, inwieweit der Beitrag von NutzerInnen von sehr spezifischen sozialen und technischen Bedingungen abhängt. Mit dem Projekt soll ein Beitrag zu einem besseren sozialwissenschaftlichen Verständnis solcher Innovationen geleistet und eine breitere Basis für technologiepolitische Handlungsmöglichkeiten zur Förderung nachhaltiger Technologien geschaffen werden.

IMproved Phosphorus Resource efficiency in Organic agriculture Via recycling and Enhanced biological mobilization (IMPROVE-P)

Phosphorus (P) is one essential element for plant, which can neither be produced synthetically nor substituted by any other element. In organic farming, long term P management is one of the most important management challenges, as high soluble P fertilizers derived from fossil sources are not allowed and their use does not meet the basic ideas of closing nutrient cycles by effective management measures. Organic farming systems rely on the efficient use and recycling of available resources. Currently, some mineral nutrients like phosphorus (P) are used only once to produce food. Subsequently, they are lost due to poor recycling of organic wastes back to farmland. There is an urgent need to improve the recycling of P from urban areas and the food industry, back to cropland. However, the traditional application of some of these waste products in agriculture is facing increasing concerns about pollutants (heavy metal, xenobiotics) and protection of soils and environment. There are many technological alternatives to recycle and clean the phosphorus already available, affecting P bio-availability and pollutants content. The different options will be evaluated from an agronomical and ecological point of view in the frame of this project.

Assessment of satellite constellations for monitoring the variations in earth s gravity field

More than a decade has passed since the launch of the GRACE satellite mission. Although designed for a nominal mission lifetime of 5 years, it still provides valuable science data. An eventual systems failure and, thus, mission termination is expected any time soon, though. Despite a relative low spatial and temporal resolution, the monthly gravity fields have proved an invaluable and novel parameter set in several geoscience disciplines, allowing new research venues in the study of Global Change phenomena. The hydrological cycle is now subject to quantification at continental scales; the state of the cryosphere, particularly ice sheet melting over Greenland and Antarctica, can be monitored; and steric effects of sea-level change have become separable from non-steric ones. The enormous success of the mission has driven the need for continuation of monitoring mass changes in the Earth system. Indeed, a GRACE Follow-On (GFO) mission has been approved for launch in August 2017. Like its predecessor it will consist of two satellites flying en echelon with intersatellite K-Band ranging as the main gravitational sensor. Despite a number of planned technological improvements, including a laser link as demonstrator, GFO will mostly be based on GRACE heritage. Given a similar orbit configuration and a similar systems setup, the quality of eventual gravity field products can be expected to be in the same range as the current GRACE products. To guarantee the continuation of such successful gravity field time series ESA has embarked several years ago on a long term strategy for future gravity field satellite missions, both in terms of technology development and in terms of consolidating the user community. Scientists from academia and industry held a workshop on The Future of Satellite Gravimetry at ESTEC premises, 12-13 April 2007, (RD-9). Similar workshops have been organized by other organizations, e.g. the joint GGOS/IGCP565 workshop Towards a Roadmap for Future Satellite Gravity Missions in Graz, September 30 - October 2, 2009. ESA furthermore played a key role in consolidating the international user community by funding a series of study projects, cf. (RD-1) to (RD-5). Similar projects have been funded and conducted at national level, e.g. the German BMBF-funded Geotechnologies III project Concepts for future gravity field satellite missions (PI: N. Sneeuw). These studies, together with GRACE experience, have provided a clear understanding of the current limitations of a GRACE-type mission. In particular the limitations in sampling and sensitivity of a single pair of satellites with in-orbit in-line sensitivity are well documented. At the same time, these studies have shown the design options and a roadmap towards a next generation gravity field mission.

1 2 3 4 5 6