Delineation of Site-Specific Management Zones Based on Temporal and Spatial Variability of Soil Electrical Conductivity

A coastal saline field of 10.5 ha was selected as the study site and 122 bulk electrical conductivity (ECb) measurements were performed thrice in situ in the topsoil (0-20 cm) across the field using a hand held device to assess the spatial variability and temporal stability of the distribution of soil electrical conductivity (EC), to identify the management zones using cluster analysis based on the spatiotemporal variability of soil EC, and to evaluate the probable potential for site-specific management in coastal regions with conventional statistics and geostatistical techniques. The results indicated high coefficients of variation for topsoil salinity over all the three samplings. The spatial structure of the salinity variability remained relatively stable with time. Kriged contour maps, drawn on the basis of spatial variance structure of the data, showed the spatial trend of the salinity distribution and revealed areas of consistently high or consistently low salinity, while a temporal stability map indicated stable and unstable regions. On the basis of the spatiotemporal characteristics, cluster analysis divided the site into three potential management zones, each with different characteristics that could have an impact on the way the field was managed. On the basis of the clearly defined management zones it was concluded that coastal saline land could be managed in a site-specific way.

Delineation and Scale Effect of Precision Agriculture Management Zones Using Yield Monitor Data Over Four Years

In this study, precision agriculture management zones were delineated using yield data over four years from the combine harvester equipped with yield monitor and DGPS receiver. Relative yields measured during each year were interpolated to 4 m2 grid size using ordinary kriging. The resultant interpolated yield maps were averaged across years to create a map of the mean relative yield, which was then used for cluster analysis. The mean yield map of post-classification was processed by applying majority filtering with window sizes that were equivalent to the grid sizes of 12, 20, 28, 36, 44, 52 and 60 m. The scale effect of management zones was evaluated using relative variance reduction, test of significant differences of the means of yield zones, spatial fragmentation, and spatial agreement. The results showed that the post-classification majority filtering （PCMF） eliminated lots of isolated cells or patches caused by random variation while preserving yield means, high variance reduction, general yield patterns, and high spatial agreement. The zoned result can be used as yield goal map for preplant or in-season fertilizer recommendation in precision agriculture.

Determination of potential management zones from soil electrical conductivity,yield and crop data

One approach to apply precision agriculture to optimize crop production and environmental quality is identifying management zones. In this paper,the variables of soil electrical conductivity (EC) data,cotton yield data and normalized differ-ence vegetation index (NDVI) data in an about 15 ha field in a coastal saline land were selected as data resources,and their spatial variabilities were firstly analyzed and spatial distribution maps constructed with geostatistics technique. Then fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm was used to define management zones,fuzzy performance index (FPI) and normalized classification entropy (NCE) were used to determine the optimal cluster numbers. Finally one-way variance analysis was performed on 224 georefer-enced soil and yield sampling points to assess how well the defined management zones reflected the soil properties and produc-tivity level. The results reveal that the optimal number of management zones for the present study area was 3 and the defined management zones provided a better description of soil properties and yield variation. Statistical analyses indicate significant differences between the chemical properties of soil samples and crop yield in each management zone,and management zone 3 presented the highest nutrient level and potential crop productivity,whereas management zone 1 the lowest. Based on these findings,we conclude that fuzzy c-means clustering approach can be used to delineate management zones by using the given three variables in the coastal saline soils,and the defined management zones form an objective basis for targeting soil samples for nutrient analysis and development of site-specific application strategies.

Adaptive Integrated Coastal Zone Planning:History,Challenges,Advances,and Perspectives

Coastal zones are dynamic,rich environments,now densely populated,and increasingly challenged by human and climatechange pressures.Effective long-term integrated coastal zone planning is needed to ensure sustainable environmental protection and economic development.In this study,we reviewed the history of coastal zone planning since its birth in the 1950s based on the literature retrieved from the Web of Science(Core Collection)from 2000–2023,then summarized the tools and spatial allocation methods commonly used in the planning process,and finally proposed potential solutions to the challenges faced.The results show that after decades of development,coastal zone planning has changed from a decentralized activity to a targeted and integrated one,with an increasing emphasis on the ecosystem approach and the use of multiple planning tools.Spatial analysis techniques and environmental modelling software have become increasingly popular.Linear programming and overlay analysis are common approaches when performing spatial optimization,but land-sea interactions and planning in the marine parts still lack in-depth analysis and practical experience.We are also aware that the challenges posed by the integration of administrative hierarchies,scoping and conservation objectives,stakeholder participation,consideration of social dimensions,and climate change are pervasive throughout the planning process.There is an urgent need to develop more flexible and accurate spatial modelling tools,as well as more efficient participatory methods,and to focus on the holistic nature of the land-sea system to create more resilient and sustainable coastal zones.

Can We Manage Coastal Area? Will We?——The Institutional Change of the Coastal Area Management of Taiwan

The Coastal Zone Management Act was finally promulgated in 2015,while Ministry of the Interior was asked to draft a coastal management act in 1991 by Executive Yuan.It was until the government’s lifting of martial law in 1987,vigorous activities started prevailing on coastal areas.And relevant legal documents were on sea reclamation for development in the 1980’s by Council of Agriculture.The approval of“Taiwan Coastal Area Natural Environment Protection Plan”showed an era of environmental protection in 1980s.However,it was surely not market driven,similar to land development,but some efforts by the administration systems.Through all the years,the efforts were put on drafting plans and these efforts were not quite sounding.The coastal disasters and further climate change caught the attention of relevant NGOs,scholars,politicians,and the society.At the critical juncture the government was made to react to outside demands.And then the Coastal Zone Management Act was passed by Legislative Yuan,establishing an integrated coastal management system in Taiwan.As such,it is proposed to look into this long process of the attempt with the concept of institutional change in order to understand this coastal environmental preservation and protection issue in a broader scope.

An Integrated Coastal Zone Management （ICZM） Project： CoastLearn in Black Sea （CLBS）

The importance attached to the need for sustainable development in the coastal areas is increasing. A management plan is required to minimize the environmental destruction resulting from the complexity of the property in coastal areas, of human activities and of natural systems and to utilize the coastal resources effectively. The utilization of coasts, besides becoming very important particularly in views of tourism, has faced pressures caused by huge. These areas are mostly self-contradictory demands for the environmental protection. The project is an EU Life Long Learning Programme Project and the project duration is 24 months. The aim of the CoastLearn in Black Sea （CLBS） is to mobilize the human resources in the tourism and coastal management sector in Black Sea in general and notably Sinop, Varna and Constanta by raising awareness among the local decision making mechanisms of the integrated coastal zone management in order to encourage people to utilize the coastal resources in a coherent and balanced way.

Study on Model Establishment of Regionalization Management of Specific Equine Disease-free Zone

[Objective]The model of regionalization management of specific equine disease-free zone were analysed and discussed. [Methods]International animal epidemics regionalization management experience and specific equine disease-free zone establishment were analysed and discussed based on the State and OIE principles. [Results]The regionalization management of specific equine disease-free zone with county administrative regions level of international recognition was established first in China,combined with the region＇s geographical barrier and animal health. [Conclusion]The aim is to to provide experience and reference for other areas to establish specific disease-free zone.

Theoretical analysis and applications of Y-Inversion Ventilation System in a mine fire zone

Based on mine fire fighting practices at the 1110 working face of the Brapukuria Coal Mine,Bangladesh,we introduce and discuss the Y-Inversion Ventilation System,the latest technology used both in mine fire zone management and the unsealing process.This ventilation system can ensure that all miners breathed fresh air,providing protection for them during fire fighting and unsealing the fire zone.On the other hand,adjusting the amount of air at the working face and forming a CO leakage path controlled the state of the fire and as well ensured that the different fire extinguishing measures could be applied successfully.These are all fundamental techniques which ensured successful fire extinguishing and unsealing of the fire zone.We also analyzed the main reasons for the spontaneous coal combustion that occurred at the 1110 working face.Successful application of advanced composite polymer colloidal perfusion techniques,polymer foam MEA perfusion and fire-prevention technology by infusing nitrogen,used in mine fire zone management and unsealing,are presented.We value the experience with these techniques very highly and are of the opinion that these techniques could be widely used in mine fire fighting practices under similar spontaneous coal combustion conditions elsewhere.

Validating Governance Performance Indicators for Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management in the Southeast Region of Cuba

The importance of evaluating the success of policies developed to effectively manage coastal and marine resource use is well documented. However, few frameworks exist that allow for a comparative examination of existing policy instruments, as opposed to specific initiatives, which assess governance performance aimed at addressing issues arising in the coastal zone. This paper describes the process and findings for evaluating the feasibility of a modified Coastal Sustainability Standard (CoSS) framework that seeks to measure the effectiveness of individual planning instruments within overlapping spatial boundaries in the landward and marine areas in the southeast region of Cuba. Through workshops conducted in Santiago de Cuba and Guamá municipalities with key representatives involved in coastal management and planning, the utility of the framework was assessed using the main instruments of territorial planning in Cuba, namely integrated river basin management, territorial planning in coastal municipalities and marine and coastal management. While, the findings suggest that the modified CoSS framework can be used to assess the effectiveness of these planning instruments in the region, and workshop participants also suggested improvements to better match its use to the characteristics of the study region.

GEOSENSING SYSTEMS ENGINEERING FOR OCEAN SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT

Three major threats to ocean security and coastal zone sustainability - global warming, the loss of ocean biodiversity, and pollution - are combining to threaten the ecological integrity of our marine environment and life support systems. We put forward a geomatics-based systems engineering architecture to identify the location and extent of oil spills, thereby improving the ecological integrity of the world＇s oceans and helping contingency planners to determine required assets, personnel and other resources. This real-time, event-based and cost effective emergency management decision support system can aid in the classification, detection, and monitoring of oil spills in the marine environment. The developed Synthetic-Aperture Radar （SAR） processing and calibration techniques efficiently monitor environmental changes in inaccessible ocean regions, characterize oil spill scenarios, and help to identify spill sources. The system is used to improve emergency management in the Gulf of Mexico, with application to oil spills arising from Hurricane Katrina.

Coastal management plan in the south of the Black Sea

Objective:To describe the environmental factors that effect to the shoreline and how they interact with tourism development.Methods:In the study,both the existing problems of the coastal area of Sinop and the probable solutions to these problems are stated.The system of the coast area of the province was examined with all details and the system was examined in 3 sections,namely anthropogenic components,natural components and tourism components.Results:Tourism which is also referred as smokeless industry provides a tremendous potential for the coastal cities.This sector is a considerable resource of income for coastal cities,so long as environmental factors are also paid attention.Otherwise,it is a mistake to expect sustainable proceeds from tourism.Coastal management is a dynamic,multi-disciplinary process.It includes a complete cycle such as collecting information,planning and decision making and the monitoring management and application,and revealing the problems for the purpose of ensuring a sustainable tourism.Conclusions:This study examines the environmental factors that have driven new approaches to shoreline management and how they interact with tourism development.Then,the integrated coastal zone management study procedure and its prospected outcomes are explained,and importance of the findings on Sinop’s integrated coastal zone management is emphasized.

A Shoreline Change Analysis Along the Coast Between Kanyakumari and Tuticorin, India, Using Digital Shoreline Analysis System

The shoreline is one of the rapidly changing landforms in coastal areas. They are the key element in coastal GIS and provide the most information on coastal land form dynamics. Therefore, accurate detection and frequent monitoring of shorelines is very essential to understand the coastal processes and dynamics of various coastal features. The present study is to investigate the shoreline changes along the coast between Kanyakumari and Tuticorin of south India （where hydrodynamic and morphologic changes occur continuously after the December 2004 tsunami） by using Digital Shoreline Analysis System （DSAS）, an extension of ArcGIS. Multidate 1RS and Landsat Satellite data （1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009） are used to extract the shorelines. The data is processed by using the ERDAS IMAGINE 9.1 software and analyzed by ArcGIS 9.2 workstation. The rates of shoreline changes are estimated by three statistical methods, namely, End Point Rate （EPR）, Linear Regression Rate （LRR）, and Least Median of Squares （LMS） by using DSAS. The study reveals that most of the study area has undergoing erosion. Both natural and anthropogenic processes along the coast modify the shoreline configuration and control the erosion and accretion of the coastal zones. The coastal zones along the estuary have experienced accretion due to the littoral processes. The zones with headlands have more eroded than other zones along the study area. The study also shows that the coastal zones where sand is mined have relatively more rate of erosion than that of the other zones. Improper and unsustainable sand mining may also lead to severe erosion problem along this area. The shoreline change rates are altered by various geological processes along the coast. Thus, the present study implies that proper beach filling and nourishment projects should be made in the study area to save from hazards. It also indicates the advantage and suitability of DSAS to assess the shoreline changes compared with the traditional manual shoreline change analysis and promising its applications for coastal zone management in other regions.

An analysis on possibility of intelligent speed adaptation in terms of drivers' consciousness

Intelligent speed adaptation （ISA） is considered as an effective measure to reduce number of traffic accidents in the field of intelligent transportation systems （ITS）. On the other hand, its effects for traffic safety are still doubted by many people. To make the possibility analysis, an experiment is conducted by using driving simulator. Regarding ISA ap- proaches, there are three modes： mandatory, voluntary and advisory. Among them, the advisory type seems to be the easiest one to introduce. Therefore, we focus on the advisory mode in this study by considering ISA just at the beginning stage in Japan. The experiment consists of four steps： without ISA, ISA using pictures, ISA using voices and again without ISA. The outputs obtained from the driving simulator are analyzed combined with the consciousness of the participants. The experiment shows that the ISA can improve recognition of speed limitation especially for people who have random rambling or looking aside tendency. Furthermore, the ISA especially when using voices can contribute in changing the consciousness of people who are aggressive in driving. Their driving speeds can reduce so that positive effects on traffic safety can be concluded.