Smart cities initiatives are developing all over the world, due to their support in favouring a better provision of services, in connection with the aim of achieving efficiency in cities management. More and more big ...Smart cities initiatives are developing all over the world, due to their support in favouring a better provision of services, in connection with the aim of achieving efficiency in cities management. More and more big corporations are interested in this topic to develop their businesses, as several issues are linked to these projects, like environment, water management, energy policies, education, culture, and so on. In literature these issues, known as drivers, were also related to sustainability aims which could be reached through the accomplishment of better performances within environment, economy, and society. This study synthesizes all the different drivers identified by scholars and industry players in a model, in order to use it as a framework to depict the linkages among the various smart cities projects. Since transport resulted as one of the most considered drivers in the analyzed contributions, the research questions were delineated to describe its role in the different phases of smart initiatives, and to understand if it could encourage and enable the other drivers＇ development. The multiple case study was chosen as the fittest methodological approach and it was conducted with the selection of three smart cities, one for each of the most cited platform models developed by industry players, which had started transport initiatives at least three years ago： Singapore （IBM）, Amsterdam （Accenture）, and San Francisco （Microsoft）. The analysis of the official documents set up by city departments and by the industry players showed transport as a driving force in smart cities projects which conveys a smart approach to different domains, especially energy savings, environment, and safety. The results also showed smart mobility as a pivot in stimulating investments and citizens＇ participation on different city drivers, especially as it concerns environment and services to both citizens and businesses. Smart transport initiatives, hardware and software infrastructures, technological devices, and people participation to smartization were closely interrelated in smart cities projects and they could be successfully used to achieve sustainability aims for different stakeholders.展开更多
Comparative performance analysis of four irrigation schemes within Cagayan River Basin was assessed using comparative performance indicators between the years 2008 and 2012. The objectives were to establish benchmarks...Comparative performance analysis of four irrigation schemes within Cagayan River Basin was assessed using comparative performance indicators between the years 2008 and 2012. The objectives were to establish benchmarks for both productivity and performance of irrigation schemes along the valley and to inquire whether small schemes function better than large schemes. The performance evaluation study of the systems composed of three general performance indicators, based on three domains-（1） system operation performance; （2） agricultural productivity and economics; （3） financial performance. Each indicator was assessed based on the prescribed descriptors used by the International Water Management Institute （IWMI） and Food and Agriculture Organization （FAO）. Analysis showed an overall system performance efficiency of 59%, 55%, 47% and 36% for Magat River Integrated Irrigation System （MARI1S）, Lucban, Garab and Divisoria Communal Irrigation Systems （CIS）, respectively. In terms of annual productivity performance, Lucban CIS dominates the three other systems with 0.35 kg/m3, which was classified as moderately performing system, while the rest were classified with low productivity index. Financial sustainability of the systems were extremely poor with cost recovery ratio of 0, 0.33, 0.41 and 0.49 for Divisoria, Garab, Lucban and MARIIS, respectively, which were exceptionally below the standard value of at least one. Also, analysis of the indicators revealed that on average, large schemes performed similarly to small-scale schemes, but small schemes were more variable, particularly in input-use efficiency. The benchmarking study will provide strategic information to policy makers of agricultural and irrigation agencies on the existing weaknesses of irrigation systems in the country and determine in a more quantifiable terms levels of potential improvement and intervention targets.展开更多
This paper has examined how the resources of the White Volta River are enhancing food availability for riparian communities in northern Ghana despite climate change and its associated effects on food security. Using p...This paper has examined how the resources of the White Volta River are enhancing food availability for riparian communities in northern Ghana despite climate change and its associated effects on food security. Using participatory methods such as focus group discussions and interviews, data was collected from households and institutions in three riparian communities. The result of the study indicates that, all things been equal, cultivation of food crops along the river bank in the rainy season gives significantly high yields as compared to yields from farms farthest from the river under rain fed agriculture. Higher organic content and moisture retention capacity of river bank soils explains the yield differential and adaptability to climate change. In addition, farmers now irrigate cereal crops which were hitherto, reserved for only rainy season production. However, inappropriate irrigation practices are accelerating erosion and sedimentation of the river and thus, threaten the sustainability of agriculture and food security in the White Volta Basin. The paper therefore, recommends the adoption of IWRM （integrated water resources management） and the participation of local communities, Government and Civil Society organisations for sustaining the productive capacity of the White Volta Basin for enabling adaptation of agriculture to climate change in the riparian communities of the basin.展开更多
In this century of crisis in water and energy the problem of water resources development is very crucial, especially in countries like Kosova with relatively scarce water resources. In this context the use of water fo...In this century of crisis in water and energy the problem of water resources development is very crucial, especially in countries like Kosova with relatively scarce water resources. In this context the use of water for the production of hydro-energy is essential. Actually the energetic system of Kosova is based on thermo-energy, so the use of water resources for the production of hydro energy will increase further the energy production of the country. On the other hand, a master plan of multiple use of water resources, based on the principle of integrated and sustainable management, will insure better services for other users of the country. There are four basins in Kosovo： basin of the Drini i Bardhe River, basin of Ibar River, basin of Morava e Bing^s and Lepenci Rivers. The watershed of Bistrica e Pejes belongs to the basin of Drini i Bardhe, which belongs to the Adriatic Sea catchment. It has an admirable capacity therefore should be treated as a complex capacity, in which important economic components of water can be introduced such as： drinking water supply, water for irrigation in both sides of valley, fish economy and recreation, hydro-energy etc..展开更多
The paper follows possible specification of a control algorithm of a WS （water management system） during floods using the procedures of AI （artificial intelligence）. The issue of minimizing negative impacts of flo...The paper follows possible specification of a control algorithm of a WS （water management system） during floods using the procedures of AI （artificial intelligence）. The issue of minimizing negative impacts of floods represents influencing and controlling a dynamic process of the system where the main regulation elements are water reservoirs. Control of water outflow from reservoirs is implicitly based on the used model （titled BW） based on FR （fuzzy regulation）. Specification of a control algorithm means dealing with the issue of preparing a knowledge base for the process of tuning fuzzy regulators based on an I/O （input/output） matrix obtained by optimization of the target behaviour of WS. Partial results can be compared with the regulation outputs when specialized tuning was used for the fuzzy regulator of the control algorithm. Basic approaches follow from the narrow relation on BW model use to simulate floods, without any connection to real water management system. A generally introduced model allows description of an outflow dynamic system with stochastic inputs using submodels of robust regression in the outflow module. The submodels are constructed on data of historical FS （flood situations）.展开更多
文摘Smart cities initiatives are developing all over the world, due to their support in favouring a better provision of services, in connection with the aim of achieving efficiency in cities management. More and more big corporations are interested in this topic to develop their businesses, as several issues are linked to these projects, like environment, water management, energy policies, education, culture, and so on. In literature these issues, known as drivers, were also related to sustainability aims which could be reached through the accomplishment of better performances within environment, economy, and society. This study synthesizes all the different drivers identified by scholars and industry players in a model, in order to use it as a framework to depict the linkages among the various smart cities projects. Since transport resulted as one of the most considered drivers in the analyzed contributions, the research questions were delineated to describe its role in the different phases of smart initiatives, and to understand if it could encourage and enable the other drivers＇ development. The multiple case study was chosen as the fittest methodological approach and it was conducted with the selection of three smart cities, one for each of the most cited platform models developed by industry players, which had started transport initiatives at least three years ago： Singapore （IBM）, Amsterdam （Accenture）, and San Francisco （Microsoft）. The analysis of the official documents set up by city departments and by the industry players showed transport as a driving force in smart cities projects which conveys a smart approach to different domains, especially energy savings, environment, and safety. The results also showed smart mobility as a pivot in stimulating investments and citizens＇ participation on different city drivers, especially as it concerns environment and services to both citizens and businesses. Smart transport initiatives, hardware and software infrastructures, technological devices, and people participation to smartization were closely interrelated in smart cities projects and they could be successfully used to achieve sustainability aims for different stakeholders.
文摘Comparative performance analysis of four irrigation schemes within Cagayan River Basin was assessed using comparative performance indicators between the years 2008 and 2012. The objectives were to establish benchmarks for both productivity and performance of irrigation schemes along the valley and to inquire whether small schemes function better than large schemes. The performance evaluation study of the systems composed of three general performance indicators, based on three domains-（1） system operation performance; （2） agricultural productivity and economics; （3） financial performance. Each indicator was assessed based on the prescribed descriptors used by the International Water Management Institute （IWMI） and Food and Agriculture Organization （FAO）. Analysis showed an overall system performance efficiency of 59%, 55%, 47% and 36% for Magat River Integrated Irrigation System （MARI1S）, Lucban, Garab and Divisoria Communal Irrigation Systems （CIS）, respectively. In terms of annual productivity performance, Lucban CIS dominates the three other systems with 0.35 kg/m3, which was classified as moderately performing system, while the rest were classified with low productivity index. Financial sustainability of the systems were extremely poor with cost recovery ratio of 0, 0.33, 0.41 and 0.49 for Divisoria, Garab, Lucban and MARIIS, respectively, which were exceptionally below the standard value of at least one. Also, analysis of the indicators revealed that on average, large schemes performed similarly to small-scale schemes, but small schemes were more variable, particularly in input-use efficiency. The benchmarking study will provide strategic information to policy makers of agricultural and irrigation agencies on the existing weaknesses of irrigation systems in the country and determine in a more quantifiable terms levels of potential improvement and intervention targets.
文摘This paper has examined how the resources of the White Volta River are enhancing food availability for riparian communities in northern Ghana despite climate change and its associated effects on food security. Using participatory methods such as focus group discussions and interviews, data was collected from households and institutions in three riparian communities. The result of the study indicates that, all things been equal, cultivation of food crops along the river bank in the rainy season gives significantly high yields as compared to yields from farms farthest from the river under rain fed agriculture. Higher organic content and moisture retention capacity of river bank soils explains the yield differential and adaptability to climate change. In addition, farmers now irrigate cereal crops which were hitherto, reserved for only rainy season production. However, inappropriate irrigation practices are accelerating erosion and sedimentation of the river and thus, threaten the sustainability of agriculture and food security in the White Volta Basin. The paper therefore, recommends the adoption of IWRM （integrated water resources management） and the participation of local communities, Government and Civil Society organisations for sustaining the productive capacity of the White Volta Basin for enabling adaptation of agriculture to climate change in the riparian communities of the basin.
文摘In this century of crisis in water and energy the problem of water resources development is very crucial, especially in countries like Kosova with relatively scarce water resources. In this context the use of water for the production of hydro-energy is essential. Actually the energetic system of Kosova is based on thermo-energy, so the use of water resources for the production of hydro energy will increase further the energy production of the country. On the other hand, a master plan of multiple use of water resources, based on the principle of integrated and sustainable management, will insure better services for other users of the country. There are four basins in Kosovo： basin of the Drini i Bardhe River, basin of Ibar River, basin of Morava e Bing^s and Lepenci Rivers. The watershed of Bistrica e Pejes belongs to the basin of Drini i Bardhe, which belongs to the Adriatic Sea catchment. It has an admirable capacity therefore should be treated as a complex capacity, in which important economic components of water can be introduced such as： drinking water supply, water for irrigation in both sides of valley, fish economy and recreation, hydro-energy etc..
文摘The paper follows possible specification of a control algorithm of a WS （water management system） during floods using the procedures of AI （artificial intelligence）. The issue of minimizing negative impacts of floods represents influencing and controlling a dynamic process of the system where the main regulation elements are water reservoirs. Control of water outflow from reservoirs is implicitly based on the used model （titled BW） based on FR （fuzzy regulation）. Specification of a control algorithm means dealing with the issue of preparing a knowledge base for the process of tuning fuzzy regulators based on an I/O （input/output） matrix obtained by optimization of the target behaviour of WS. Partial results can be compared with the regulation outputs when specialized tuning was used for the fuzzy regulator of the control algorithm. Basic approaches follow from the narrow relation on BW model use to simulate floods, without any connection to real water management system. A generally introduced model allows description of an outflow dynamic system with stochastic inputs using submodels of robust regression in the outflow module. The submodels are constructed on data of historical FS （flood situations）.
