Search

Spatial modelling is a resourceful approach largely used in land use planning and occupation dynamics. The use of land change and urban growth simulations are indispensable for supporting the development and implementation of urban planning policies. This paper develops potential scenarios of land use change (status-quo and law enforcement) and urban occupation in the north coast of São Paulo using spatial dynamics modelling. Cellular automata-based modelling and EGO Dynamic simulations were used to produce past and future scenarios of land use occupation and growth expansion. These scenarios are compared between them and with vulnerability maps to identify areas at risk. The outcomes show that the north coast of São Paulo is highly vulnerable to expansion of irregular occupations when regulations are not enforced. Forest areas are the first areas to be suppressed by an unsystematic urban development. The extent to which people are exposed to environmental and climatic changes is influenced by urban infrastructure developments and decision making regulations. Findings of this work can guide future planning decisions on such as the revision of the ecological-economic zoning and local land use plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents an object-oriented framework to perform dynamical studies in electrical power systems. The proposed methodology is also useful to the development, upgrade and maintenance of software for power system studies. The framework was designed to be used by developers of power system software. Based on software engineering concepts, user''s requirements are, firstly, mapped to atomic classes which, in turn, are subsequently used to build state-space representation for each dynamic device in the power system under study, such as electrical generators, turbines and automatic controllers. The developed framework automates the whole process of building a global system model, providing a standard space-state model suitable for implementing by direct code in C++ language. By using the proposed methodology, a power system simulation tool was specially developed to study electromechanical phenomena observed at Tucuruí hydroelectric power plant, a large power plant of the Brazilian Interconnected Power System. The results were validated by comparing the simulated to the actual plant response obtained from field tests carried out at the Tucuruí power plant. The results have shown a very good level of performance of the developed simulator system. The simulator was able to reproduce the dominant dynamical phenomena observed at the Tucuruí power plant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In a new concept of offloading operation, the oil from a spread moored FPSO is transferred to a conventional Tanker with an intermediate Cargo Transfer Vessel (CTV) equipped with a DP system. A comprehensive numerical analysis of the CTV offloading operation is here developed considering the sea states in the Libra Field, Brazil. First, the environmental loads on the vessels were estimated. Current and wind forces coefficients were obtained using the CFD software StarCCM+, while wave coefficients were obtained using WAMIT. For the 10-year metocean data, the multi-body static equilibrium configurations of the system – composed of the CTV, Conventional Tanker and Tugboat - were calculated. With those results, it was possible to estimate the downtime considering different offloading sectors and to compare with the DP Shuttle Tanker operation. Finally, a 5-day campaign of real-time simulations was carried out with the presence of DP Operators and captains, to verify critical conditions, considering the human factor. Each vessel was simulated in an individual cabin. For the simulations, the real DP System was integrated with the numerical simulator in a Hardware-in-the-loop configuration, resulting in a more realistic simulation. • Fast and real-time simulators are used to estimate the uptime of a complex multi-body offloading operation. • The real DP System is integrated with the simulator in a hardware-in-the-loop architecture, better representing the reality. • Extra terms in the DP logic eliminate the longitudinal motion instability of a large tanker coupled to the DP vessel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A dynamic climate change impact evaluation framework is proposed. • Bamboo bio-concrete is a good climate change mitigation and adaptation alternative. • Bamboo bio-concrete presents a reliable carbon-thermal energy solution. • Bamboo bio-concrete provides a promising alternative for developing countries. This study aims to present a framework to quantify the climate change impact during the buildings' life cycle. The proposed framework is tested on a bamboo bio-concrete (BBC) building and compared with conventional constructive systems, in a Brazilian housing project considering six cities using Dynamic Life Cycle Assessment (DLCA) and thermal energy simulation. The increase of BBC in the building envelope, from 10 cm to 20 cm, leads to the improvement of carbon stock and reduces operational carbon. The BBC can be considered a potential alternative for climate change mitigation and adaptation and developed where bamboo is an available source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]