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Peri-urban catchment areas are increasingly susceptible to floods due to rapid land use transformations and unplanned urban expansion. This study comprehensively examines flood vulnerability in the rapidly developing peri-urban areas of North Bhubaneswar, focusing on significant changes in Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) and hydrological dynamics from 2004 to 2024, utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. The analysis reveals substantial shifts in land use patterns, with the urban footprint expanding by 71.8%, cropland decreasing by 21.7%, and forest areas by 13.6%. These changes have led to increased impervious surfaces, resulting in higher surface runoff and decreased groundwater recharge, thereby exacerbating flood risks in the region. The GRID-based vulnerability analysis classifies 90 villages within the catchment area based on their vulnerability levels, identifying 20 villages as high-risk areas requiring urgent attention, 44 villages as medium vulnerable, and 26 villages as low vulnerable. These classifications are based on factors such as proximity to drainage networks, slope, geomorphology, and LULC characteristics, with areas near drainage channels and low-lying regions being prone to flooding. The analysis integrates multiple factors to provide a comprehensive assessment of flood risk, highlighting the need for sustainable land use planning, conservation of vegetated areas, and the implementation of advanced flood prevention strategies in the peri-urban areas. Extending this research to other fringe regions could offer further valuable insights, guiding flood prevention and sustainable development strategies for areas undergoing significant land use transformations to effectively mitigate future flood risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable wildlife management requires reliable data on population, habitat, and the interaction between them. Since 1993, Hungary has maintained the National Game Management Database, which collects data on game populations and hunting bags annually. During the last three decades, populations of medium-sized predators have remarkably increased in the country. Our study analyzed changes in hunting bag data and spatial distribution of two invasive alien species, the raccoon (Procyon lotor) and the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), utilizing annual game management reports from Game Management Units from 1997 to 2021. For spatial analysis, we employed a UTM grid system (10 × 10 km) covering the country. Our findings confirmed increasing trends in the hunting bag and area (number of grid cells) containing hunting bags for both species. From the first (1997–2001) to the last (2017–2021) period, the average annual hunting bag increased (raccoon: 0.40 → 11.00 ind/year; raccoon dog: 3.40 → 8.00 ind/year), and the average number of cells with hunting bags also expanded significantly (raccoon: 2.00 → 9.60 UTM cells/year; raccoon dog: 5.80 → 15.20 UTM cells/year). These trends and the size of potentially suitable habitats suggest a further spread and population increase, posing challenges for nature conservationists and wildlife managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTIn recent years, natural areas have been exposed to increasing anthropogenic pressure related to the growing need for natural resources. Comprehensive information on the geodiversity of a territory is essential for all stakeholders in order to define effective land management toolsusefull for preserving the natural heritage for future generations. We computed geodiversity map as the summary of lithological, morphological, paedological indicators and hydrological index using a workflow based on the grid analysis, performed in a Geographic Information System environment. The geodiversity map of Italy (main map) provides a synoptic view of the geographical distribution of the abiotic component of the landscape ranked into five classes varying from very high to very low geodiversity. This map is supplemented by histograms showing the percentages of geodiversity classes for each Italian region and a Regional Geodiversity Index map that assigns a geodiversity value to each Italian region.

In recent years, natural areas have been exposed to increasing anthropogenic pressure related to the growing need for natural resources. Comprehensive information on the geodiversity of a territory is essential for all stakeholders in order to define effective land management toolsusefull for preserving the natural heritage for future generations. We computed geodiversity map as the summary of lithological, morphological, paedological indicators and hydrological index using a workflow based on the grid analysis, performed in a Geographic Information System environment. The geodiversity map of Italy (main map) provides a synoptic view of the geographical distribution of the abiotic component of the landscape ranked into five classes varying from very high to very low geodiversity. This map is supplemented by histograms showing the percentages of geodiversity classes for each Italian region and a Regional Geodiversity Index map that assigns a geodiversity value to each Italian region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distribution grids are complex networks containing multiple pieces of equipment. These components are interconnected, and each of them is described by various attributes. A knowledge graph is an interesting data format that represents pieces of information as nodes and relations between the pieces as edges. In this paper, we describe the proposed vocabulary used to build a distribution system knowledge graph. We identify the concepts used in such graphs and a set of relations to represent links between concepts. Both provide a semantically rich representation of a system. Additionally, we offer a few illustrative examples of how a distributed system knowledge graph can be utilized to gain more insight into the operations of the grid. We show a simplified analysis of how outages can influence customers based on their locations and how adding DERs can influence/change it. These demonstrative use cases show that the graph-based representation of a distribution grid allows for integrating information of different types and how such a repository can be efficiently utilized. Based on the experiments with distribution system knowledge graphs presented in this article, we postulate that graph-based representation enables a novel way of storing information about power grids and facilitates interactive methods for their visualization and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable wildlife management requires reliable data on population, habitat, and the interaction between them. Since 1993, Hungary has maintained the National Game Management Database, which collects data on game populations and hunting bags annually. During the last three decades, populations of medium-sized predators have remarkably increased in the country. Our study analyzed changes in hunting bag data and spatial distribution of two invasive alien species, the raccoon (Procyon lotor) and the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), utilizing annual game management reports from Game Management Units from 1997 to 2021. For spatial analysis, we employed a UTM grid system (10 × 10 km) covering the country. Our findings confirmed increasing trends in the hunting bag and area (number of grid cells) containing hunting bags for both species. From the first (1997–2001) to the last (2017–2021) period, the average annual hunting bag increased (raccoon: 0.40 → 11.00 ind/year; raccoon dog: 3.40 → 8.00 ind/year), and the average number of cells with hunting bags also expanded significantly (raccoon: 2.00 → 9.60 UTM cells/year; raccoon dog: 5.80 → 15.20 UTM cells/year). These trends and the size of potentially suitable habitats suggest a further spread and population increase, posing challenges for nature conservationists and wildlife managers.

Assessing the landscape health of suburban forest parks is a prerequisite for achieving the dual objectives of forest resource conservation and recreational services. However, studies that analyze landscape health in suburban forest parks at a landscape scale by subdividing the landscape into multiple sampling units and adopting a multi-functional perspective have been limited. This study focuses on Xiqiao Mountain National Forest Park and establishes a landscape classification system and indices, taking into account its multifunctionalities. The study employs the entropy weight method to determine indicator weights and utilizes grid analysis and spatial interpolation to analyze the spatial distribution of landscape health under multiple sampling units and functionalities, along with the differences in its impact and influencing factors. The results indicate that: (1) regions with "very poor" and "poor" landscape health grades under multiple sampling units and functionalities exhibited a sheet-like distribution pattern, covering approximately 69.46% to 98.86% of the total area. In contrast, regions with "very good" and "good" grades are primarily located in block-like or linear patterns in the northern, central, and southern regions of the park, accounting for approximately 1.07% to 17.20% of the total area. (2) The area ratios of "very good" and "good" landscape health grades for recreational landscapes under varying sampling units were consistently higher than those of the same grades for eco-conservational landscapes, with a 5.03%–15.43% difference. This suggests a greater emphasis on recreational functionality. (3) The impact of three different sampling unit sizes on the landscape health of Xiqiao Mountain National Forest Park under multifunctionalities is not significantly different; however, the forest/non-forest area ratio and quantity ratio are vital factors influencing its landscape health. The landscape health assessment results, considering multiple sampling units and functionalities in this study, serve to provide technical method support and practical case references for the planning, construction, and management decision-making of suburban forest parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to determine and analyze the groundwater ecological level in Changling County, a total of Landsat 8 series remote sensing images from 2017 to 2021, buried depth data of 51 groundwater observation Wells and 47 phreatic salinity detection data in 2021 were collected. Based on the field investigation and laboratory experiment, the spatial and temporal changes of groundwater level and vegetation coverage in the study area from 2013 to 2017 were determined by using remote sensing technology (the Environment for Visualizing Images) and geographic information system. Through the analysis of the vegetation coverage ratio and the relationship between the groundwater depth and diving salinity, we determine the appropriate growth of vegetation in the study area of diving level and diving salinity water. The results showed that from 2017 to 2021 in the average groundwater level and vegetation cover degree decline year by year, the study area northwest shallow depth of groundwater, vegetation cover degree better, however, in the central and eastern regions, the groundwater depth is larger and the vegetation coverage degree is poor. When the depth of local groundwater is 3.3–4.5 m and the phreatic salinity is less than 0.85 g/L, the ecological water level and phreatic salinity are suitable for vegetation growth in the study area. When the depth of local water is less than 3 m, soil salinization occurs in the surface soil near the lake marsh. When the depth of local water was greater than 8.4 m, the phenomenon of soil desertification appeared in some areas of central China.

A geodiversity assessment is one of the basic steps in the development of geoprotection activities. It is important to establish parameters that quantify the elements and locations of abiotic nature. Here, the focus is on those who are richer than the average population. In doing so, it is possible to manage areas for the protection of important geoheritage and develop sustainable activities, e.g., geotourism. The monitored territory (Slovenské rudohorie Mts.) lies in southeast Slovakia and occupies an area of 4986 km2. The geodiversity assessment is based on overlaying a grid onto different maps at a scale of 1:500,000, where the final geodiversity index is the sum of six indices calculated in 5 × 5 km grid squares. These indices consist of a geological index, a geomorphological index (composed of two sub-indices: geomorphological subdivision and morphological–morphometric types), a hydrological index (composed of three sub-indices: the type of aquifer, the density of the river network, and the occurrence of springs and mineral waters), a soil index, a tectonic index, and a mineral resources index (composed of four sub-indices: the occurrence of ore, non-ore, construction, and energy resources). The resulting geodiversity index map is presented in the form of five isoline classes: very high (10% of the monitored area), high (28%), medium (32%), low (23%), and very low (7%). The geodiversity map of the territory of the Slovenské rudohorie Mts., together with the indices, creates a useful tool for conservation, management, sustainability programs, and education at the national level. However, Slovak legislation does not mention the concept of geodiversity, its protection, valuation, restoration, or responsible usage. Only its specific forms and processes are preserved as a natural resource supporting biodiversity. Considering the mineralogical richness of the area, some locations with a very high geodiversity may be the focus of mineral exploration. It is very important to set up appropriate landscape management for these sites. Valuable geotopes located in biodiversity cold spots that are not subject to protection within the state's nature protection program should be considered as small protected areas (up to 1000 ha) at the fourth or fifth level of protection under Act No. 543/2002 Coll. or could form the core areas of a possible Geopark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Actas de Diseño is the property of Facultad de Diseno y Comunicacion, Fundacion Universidad de Palermo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Distribution grids are complex networks containing multiple pieces of equipment. These components are interconnected, and each of them is described by various attributes. A knowledge graph is an interesting data format that represents pieces of information as nodes and relations between the pieces as edges. In this paper, we describe the proposed vocabulary used to build a distribution system knowledge graph. We identify the concepts used in such graphs and a set of relations to represent links between concepts. Both provide a semantically rich representation of a system. Additionally, we offer a few illustrative examples of how a distributed system knowledge graph can be utilized to gain more insight into the operations of the grid. We show a simplified analysis of how outages can influence customers based on their locations and how adding DERs can influence/change it. These demonstrative use cases show that the graph-based representation of a distribution grid allows for integrating information of different types and how such a repository can be efficiently utilized. Based on the experiments with distribution system knowledge graphs presented in this article, we postulate that graph-based representation enables a novel way of storing information about power grids and facilitates interactive methods for their visualization and analysis.

BACKGROUND The precise measurement for Na and K in silicate glass is usually difficult in electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Ti-containing silicate glass has an important value in basic scientific research and application technology development, and it is urgent to carry out accurate composition analysis to provide important data support for further scientific research work. The glass is of amorphous form and damageable under electron bombardment. Moreover, the alkali Na and K elements can easily diffuse and migrate during the electron bombing. Therefore, it is often necessary to set the appropriate analysis conditions through conditional experiments to ensure that the sample can be kept as stable as possible under these conditions, so that relatively accurate quantitative analysis results can be obtained. OBJECTIVES To determine the proper analytical conditions for Na and K analyses in the silicate glass. METHODS Electron probe quantitative analyses for Na and K were performed in the synthetized silicate glass samples of NTS (Na2O-TiO2-SiO2) and KTS (K2O-TiO2-SiO2). By changing the probe diameter (10-100μm), beam current (3nA, 5nA and 10nA) and count time (10s, 20s, 30s and 40s) orderly in a series of experiments, the optimal analytical conditions for accurate quantitative results were established. RESULTS The results showed a systematic change with positive trend of Na, K, Si and Ti contents with probe diameter and count time increases, but a contrasting trend for beam current. In most cases, the conditions of larger probe diameter up to 80-100μm and lower beam current (3nA or 5nA) provided the highest Na or K content that maximumly approaches the normal value before synthesis. This was different from the previous glass analysis conditions, which may be related to the high Na, K and Ti content of the samples. In grid analysis for elemental map modeling, certain correlation(s) among Na, K, Si and Ti were revealed, which provided further perspectives for potential chemical bonds, i.e. crystallochemical structure of the sample. CONCLUSIONS A larger probe diameter of 100μm and lower beam current of 3-5nA for Na and K analyses in silicate glass are recommended for optimum analysis.

A geodiversity assessment is one of the basic steps in the development of geoprotection activities. It is important to establish parameters that quantify the elements and locations of abiotic nature. Here, the focus is on those who are richer than the average population. In doing so, it is possible to manage areas for the protection of important geoheritage and develop sustainable activities, e.g., geotourism. The monitored territory (Slovenské rudohorie Mts.) lies in southeast Slovakia and occupies an area of 4986 km2. The geodiversity assessment is based on overlaying a grid onto different maps at a scale of 1:500,000, where the final geodiversity index is the sum of six indices calculated in 5 × 5 km grid squares. These indices consist of a geological index, a geomorphological index (composed of two sub-indices: geomorphological subdivision and morphological–morphometric types), a hydrological index (composed of three sub-indices: the type of aquifer, the density of the river network, and the occurrence of springs and mineral waters), a soil index, a tectonic index, and a mineral resources index (composed of four sub-indices: the occurrence of ore, non-ore, construction, and energy resources). The resulting geodiversity index map is presented in the form of five isoline classes: very high (10% of the monitored area), high (28%), medium (32%), low (23%), and very low (7%). The geodiversity map of the territory of the Slovenské rudohorie Mts., together with the indices, creates a useful tool for conservation, management, sustainability programs, and education at the national level. However, Slovak legislation does not mention the concept of geodiversity, its protection, valuation, restoration, or responsible usage. Only its specific forms and processes are preserved as a natural resource supporting biodiversity. Considering the mineralogical richness of the area, some locations with a very high geodiversity may be the focus of mineral exploration. It is very important to set up appropriate landscape management for these sites. Valuable geotopes located in biodiversity cold spots that are not subject to protection within the state’s nature protection program should be considered as small protected areas (up to 1000 ha) at the fourth or fifth level of protection under Act No. 543/2002 Coll. or could form the core areas of a possible Geopark.

Supply and demand for amenities in expanding urban areas undergo continuous adjustment. In this study, we explored the relationship between supply of and demand for amenities in expanding urban areas to evaluate the rationality and effectiveness of amenity distribution, improve urban governance, and promote urban accessibility and justice, thereby facilitating sustainable urban development. We selected the central urban area of Huai'an City, China as the research area. We used point-of-interest data, Baidu population heatmap data, and residential housing prices to develop supply and demand indices for amenities and analyze the spatial characteristics of the supply of and demand for amenities in expanding urban areas. The results revealed that (1) the supply–demand relationship in the study area was mainly balanced, followed by relationships in which supply was lower than demand, and the relationships of supply exceeding demand is less, accounting for 68.35%, 26.06%, and 5.59%, respectively. (2) The core of the old urban area and the areas surrounding the old urban area had high supply–demand balance, the transitional and new urban areas had less supply than demand, and the developing urban areas had low supply–demand balance; the supply–demand relationship of amenities followed a clear circular distribution pattern. (3) The Chinese government's continuous renewal of old urban areas has made the quantitative proportion of supply and demand components be positively correlated with the oldness of urban development, which has enlightening effects on the construction of other cities. Finally, we developed suggestions for adjusting the distribution of amenities in the central urban area of Huai'an to facilitate high-quality development in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the present study is to investigate, delineate, and evaluate the shallow Miocene groundwater aquifer with vertical and lateral facies variations in the Gara oasis, western desert of Egypt. This oasis represents a typical arid region in North Africa. Through grid texture analysis, lineament detection, edge detection, thresholding, and identifying areas of structural complexity from the filtered residual reduced-to-pole magnetic anomaly map, it is possible to outline the fracture zones that principally control the groundwater aquifers and water flow in the area. The groundwater quality and quantity are examined hydro-geochemically through nine groundwater samples that were gathered from wells and springs distributed throughout the area around Gara Lake. Measurements of physio-chemical parameters (TDS, pH, and EC) are carried out and its spatial distribution is critically studied. The results reveal that the ion-exchange process caused by water-rock interaction is the dominant process. Furthermore, the main ions in the groundwater in the study areas were Na and Cl. This might be due to evaporation or halite dissolution with the upward flow of waters through the fractures from the deep aquifer of the Nubian sandstone to the shallow aquifer of the fractured Miocene limestone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The precise measurement for Na and K in silicate glass is usually difficult in electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Ti-containing silicate glass has an important value in basic scientific research and application technology development, and it is urgent to carry out accurate composition analysis to provide important data support for further scientific research work. The glass is of amorphous form and damageable under electron bombardment. Moreover, the alkali Na and K elements can easily diffuse and migrate during the electron bombing. Therefore, it is often necessary to set the appropriate analysis conditions through conditional experiments to ensure that the sample can be kept as stable as possible under these conditions, so that relatively accurate quantitative analysis results can be obtained. OBJECTIVES: To determine the proper analytical conditions for Na and K analyses in the silicate glass. METHODS: Electron probe quantitative analyses for Na and K were performed in the synthetized silicate glass samples of NTS (Na2O-TiO2-SiO2) and KTS (K2O-TiO2-SiO2). By changing the probe diameter (10-100μm), beam current (3 nA, 5 nA and 10 nA) and count time (10 s, 20 s, 30 s and 40 s) orderly in a series of experiments, the optimal analytical conditions for accurate quantitative results were established. RESULTS: The results showed a systematic change with positive trend of Na, K, Si and Ti contents with probe diameter and count time increases, but a contrasting trend for beam current. In most cases, the conditions of larger probe diameter up to 80-100μm and lower beam current (3 nA or 5 nA) provided the highest Na or K content that maximumly approaches the normal value before synthesis. This was different from the previous glass analysis conditions, which may be related to the high Na, K and Ti content of the samples. In grid analysis for elemental map modeling, certain correlation (s) among Na, K, Si and Ti were revealed, which provided further perspectives for potential chemical bonds, i.e. crystallochemical structure of the sample. CONCLUSIONS: A larger probe diameter of 100μm and lower beam current of 3-5 nA for Na and K analyses in silicate glass are recommended for optimum analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Rural Water & Hydropower is the property of China Rural Water & Hydropower Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The north of Ilam Province in Iran has a great variety of geodiversity features, and the presence of geodiversity resources, along with other geological and geomorphological values, has enriched the area. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the geodiversity in the north of Ilam Province. The main indices for assessing geodiversity in the present study include geology, geomorphology, geomorphosites, paleontology, pedology, hydrology, mineral resources, and fossil species. In addition to assessing geodiversity, the hazard maps of the area were also prepared and overlapped with the geodiversity attraction maps, to identify areas with high geodiversity attraction as well as areas with high vulnerability. The results showed that 71% of the region had moderate and high attraction in terms of geodiversity indices. The most attractive areas are located in the north, center, and southeast of the region, which include the entire protected area of Manesht, Bankul, and Ghalarang; the Gachan and Arghavan area; and to the south the Sivan Arch and the Kabir Kuh area. The hazard map analysis also showed that the areas with the highest score in terms of geodiversity indices had many hazards indicating high sensitivity, unsustainable exploitation, and a growing trend of their destruction. All areas with high geodiversity attraction are exposed to severe human hazards. Most of these hazards are concentrated in the center and southeast of the region, which corresponds to areas with high geodiversity attraction. Due to their specific sensitivities, these areas can maintain their existence if they are exploited in a sustainable manner; otherwise, we will see these resources degraded and destroyed in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effects of different energy retrofit scenarios on the residential building sector, in this study, an urban building energy model (UBEM) was developed from open data, calibrated using energy performance certificates (EPCs), and validated against hourly electricity use measurement data. The calibrated and validated UBEM was used for implementing energy retrofit scenarios and improving the energy performance of the case study city of Varberg, Sweden. Additionally, possible consequences of the scenarios on the electricity grid were also evaluated in this study. The results showed that for a calibrated UBEM, the MAPE of the simulated versus delivered energy to the buildings was 26 %. Although the model was calibrated based on annual values from some of the buildings with EPCs, the validation ensured that it could produce reliable results for different spatial and temporal levels than calibrated for. Furthermore, the validation proved that the spatial aggregation over the city and temporal aggregation over the year could considerably improve the results. The implementation of the energy retrofit scenarios using the calibrated and validated UBEM resulted in a 43 % reduction of the energy use in residential buildings renovated based on the Passive House standard. If this was combined with the generation of on-site solar energy, except for the densely populated areas of the city, it was possible to reach near zero (and in some cases positive) energy districts. The results of grid simulation and power flow analysis for a chosen low-voltage distribution network indicated that energy retrofitting of buildings could lead to an increase in voltage by a maximum of 7 %. This particularly suggests that there is a possibility of occasional overvoltages when the generation and use of electricity are not in perfect balance. • A new approach was developed by coupling UBEM and electricity grid model. • It enables the exploration of the impact of large-scale energy retrofits on the building stock and power grid. • The approach was validated and applied in large-scale combined building and power grid simulations for a Swedish city. • Findings show net-zero energy districts are feasible but risk occasional overvoltages in the grid. • The proposed UBEM-grid approach is viable, and its accuracy is expected to increase with higher EPC coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic changes in the regimes of forest fires are due to the severity of climate and weather factors. The aim of the study was to examine the trend of forest fires and to evaluate their relationship with climate parameters for the state of Telangana in India. The climate and forest fire data were used and uploaded to the GIS platform in a specified vector grid (spacing: 0.3° x 0.3°). The data were evaluated spatially and statistical methods were applied to examine any relationships. The study revealed that there was a 78% incidence of forest fires in the months of February and March. The overall forest fire hotspot analysis (January to June) of grids revealed that the seven highest forest fire grids retain fire events greater than 600 were found in the north east of Warangal, east of Khammam and south east of Mahbubnagar districts. The forest fire analysis significantly followed the month wise pattern in grid format. Ten grids (in count) showed a fire frequency greater than 240 in the month of March and of these, three grids (in count) were found to be common where the forest fire frequency was highest in the preceding month. Rapid seasonal climate/weather changes were observed which significantly enhanced the forest fire events in the month of February onwards. The solar radiation increased to 159% in the month of March when compared with the preceding month whereas the relative humidity decreased to 47% in the same month. Furthermore, the wind velocity was found to be highest (3.5 meter/sec.) in the month of February and precipitation was found to be lowest (2.9 mm) in the same month. The analysis of Cramer V coefficient (CVC) values for wind velocity, maximum temperature, solar radiation, relative humidity and precipitation with respect to fire incidence were found to be in increasing order and were in the range of 0.280 to 0.715. The CVC value for precipitation was found to be highest and equivalent to 0.715 and showed its strongest association/relationship with fire events. The significant increase in precipitation not only enhances the moisture in the soil but also in the dry fuel load lying on the forest floor which greatly reduces the fuel burning capacity of the forest. The predicted (2050) temperature anomalies data (RCP-6) for the month of February and March also showed a significant increase in temperature over those areas where forest fire events are found to be notably high in the present scenario which will certainly impact adversely on the future forest fire regime. Findings from this study have their own significance because such analyses/relationships have never be examined at the state level, therefore, it can help to fulfill the knowledge gap for the scientific community and the state forest department, and support fire prevention and control activities. There is a need to replicate this study in future by taking more climate variables which will certainly give a better understanding of forest fire events and their relationships with various parameters. The satellite remote sensing data and GIS have a strong potential to analyze various thematic datasets and in the visualization of spatial/temporal paradigms and thus significantly support the policy making framework.

Supply and demand for amenities in expanding urban areas undergo continuous adjustment. In this study, we explored the relationship between supply of and demand for amenities in expanding urban areas to evaluate the rationality and effectiveness of amenity distribution, improve urban governance, and promote urban accessibility and justice, thereby facilitating sustainable urban development. We selected the central urban area of Huai’an City, China as the research area. We used point-of-interest data, Baidu population heatmap data, and residential housing prices to develop supply and demand indices for amenities and analyze the spatial characteristics of the supply of and demand for amenities in expanding urban areas. The results revealed that (1) the supply–demand relationship in the study area was mainly balanced, followed by relationships in which supply was lower than demand, and the relationships of supply exceeding demand is less, accounting for 68.35%, 26.06%, and 5.59%, respectively. (2) The core of the old urban area and the areas surrounding the old urban area had high supply–demand balance, the transitional and new urban areas had less supply than demand, and the developing urban areas had low supply–demand balance; the supply–demand relationship of amenities followed a clear circular distribution pattern. (3) The Chinese government’s continuous renewal of old urban areas has made the quantitative proportion of supply and demand components be positively correlated with the oldness of urban development, which has enlightening effects on the construction of other cities. Finally, we developed suggestions for adjusting the distribution of amenities in the central urban area of Huai’an to facilitate high-quality development in this area.

Understanding visitor travel patterns within parks and protected areas has continually been recognized as beneficial for managers. This information can identify high-use areas and locations of potential conflicts. However, visitor travel patterns can be difficult to understand in parks and protected areas that lack organizational infrastructure, such as trails, roads, or signs (e.g., open deserts and marine environments). In this article, we demonstrate a digital grid analysis of travel patterns at the Bonneville Salt Flats Special Recreation Management Area, Utah, a vast desert expanse where trails, roads, or wayfinding signs do not exist and there is no vehicular speed limit. Data were collected using GPS data loggers and analyzed using ArcGIS. We first conducted spatial descriptive analysis to understand mean center point, median center point, directional distribution, and central line feature. Mean center point and median center point were reported in decimal degrees, which can be inputted into any smartphone or GPS unit for navigation. Using ArcMap, we designed a digital grid that overlaid the study site. The grid provided insight into spatial variations of visitor use and vehicle speeds. Using hot spot analysis, we determined areas where high use and high vehicle speeds were coinciding, which informed a spatial grouping analysis to identify areas for future monitoring. Monitoring areas are reported using navigation directions for easy location. We identified two areas where high use and high vehicle speeds coincide. Both of these areas are near the end of the access road, which suggests some visitors drive fast immediately upon entering the Bonneville Salt Flats. This finding led us to recommend managers put a speed limit zone near the access road for visitor safety. The findings of this study demonstrate the utility of grid analysis for advancing understanding of spatial variations, visitor travel patterns, and identifying priority areas to monitor in a dispersed recreation environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental Science & Technology (10036504) is the property of Editorial Board of Environmental Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The values of geodiversity, defined through different qualitative and/or quantitative methods, represent a fundamental asset for the development of geoconservation actions. Quantitative methods can be considered those of less subjectivity since their dependence on the evaluator and its scientific knowledge is restricted. In turn, aiming to clearly expose the achieved results, this work used geoprocessing tools, as it has been used in several studies of geodiversity index in Brazil. Rio Grande do Norte, a state located in the extreme northeast and one of the smallest of the country, still does not have an assessment for its entire territory, despite being geologically diverse, with rocks dated back from the Archean until the Holocene. Thus, the objective of this work is to fill this gap in the studies of Brazilian geodiversity. For this, we used the evaluation methodology based on the grid overlay, with 5.5 × 5.5 km mesh, on the available cartographic bases: lithology, mineral occurrences, geomorphology, pedology, and hydrography. The thematic subindexes were added, which resulted in the geodiversity index map for the entire state. It was classified into five classes: very low, low, medium, high, and very high. It was verified that most of the state is in low areas in the geodiversity index and that the high and very high areas are concentrated in specific portions, mainly in three distinct regions: Eastern Seridó, Center-East, and Eastern Coast. It was observed that Rio Grande do Norte state is endowed with high potential regions of geodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest vulnerability assessment has been proven paramount from regional to global scale in order to determine the natural as well as socio-economic pressure exerted on the ecosystem. The hybrid of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with Weighted Overlay Modelling (WOM) has proven to be effective and has yielded desirable results with greater accuracies. In AHP, The highest weights were assigned to forest edge (DFE) (0.27) followed by roads (DRo) (0.22), shifting cultivation (0.11) and settlements (0.11) whereas the parameters river, slope, elevation and Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) were given lower priority values of 0.09, 0.08, 0.08 and 0.04, respectively. Among the total of 8856 number of grids of 1 km2 dimension, 1126 grids (12.71%) are under very high vulnerability and the high and medium vulnerability classes share 682 (7.70%) and 3 grids (0.03%), respectively of the total geographic area of the district. The Anthropogenic Disturbance Index (ADI) ranged from 4.6 to 61.5 and 1429.57 km2 forest area was common between the overall forest vulnerability and anthropogenically vulnerability indicating that forest vulnerability is occurring mostly due to the socio-economic activities. The causes may be attributed to the operation of two major mines and three major industries and mostly to the shifting cultivation which is one of the major socio-economic practices in the tribal dominated district. The REDD + programmes can be implemented at community levels by strengthening regional forest department and local communities for better management of forest resources through indigenous techniques without compromising the socio-economic and livelihood developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equivalent modelling for active distribution networks (ADNs) is essential for improving the efficiency of analysing transmission networks. Current equivalent modelling methods for ADNs neglect the probabilistic characteristics of renewable energy sources (RESs) and loads. To address this issue, this study proposes a probabilistic equivalent modelling method (PEMM) for ADNs considering the uncertainty of RESs and loads. The uncertainty of the RESs and loads is transferred to the equivalent boundary bus injection using the properties of cumulant and power transfer matrices. The PEMM is extended to incorporate the correlations of RESs through an orthogonal transformation. A sampling method using the Gaussian copula function is employed to generate the correlated samples and the joint cumulants, providing the input data for the PEMM. The comparative results of the case studies on two different test systems demonstrate the effectiveness of the PEMM. The equivalent model developed in this study is a practical solution for analysing the transmission network efficiently and taking the uncertainty of RESs and loads in the ADNs into account simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the literary recreation of the colloquial modality in the novel by Juan Goytisolo La Chanca, claiming the syntax as a fundamental level of the stylistic analysis, which arises from a pragmaticdiscursive perspective. Consequently, the study focuses on the colloquium syntax and applies the grid analysis developed by the Groupe Aixois de Recherche en Syntaxe. More specifically, attention is paid to the symmetry and enumeration figures, to the suspended statements, and to the cumulative syntax in the work. It is concluded that Goytisolo manages to recreate the colloquial modality in La Chanca, also from the syntactic perspective, capturing not only aspects that are characteristic of the phonetics, the morphology or the lexicon of the diatopic and diastratic variations represented, but also of the constructions which are typical of the colloquial conversation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The best available high-resolution precipitation, GDP, available freshwater and withdrawal data sets are used in a combined global analysis of physical and economic water scarcity at 50 km resolution. We find that approximately 40.7 million people are living in areas with concurrent severe economic and water-scarcity constraints. These areas are mostly in semi-arid parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid slabs with drop panels or beams are idealized as horizontal grid of rigidly connected short prismatic members, subjected to gravity loads, and prestressing forces. Creep and shrinkage of concrete and relaxation of prestressing reinforcement are considered. The effect of transient loading inducing cracking on long‐term deflection is accounted for. The analysis follows CEB‐FIP Model Code 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Ecology & Rural Environment is the property of Journal of Ecology & Rural Environment Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The evaluation of geodiversity is one of the initial and main steps in the development of geoconservation actions. It is fundamental to establish parameters that quantify elements and places of abiotic nature in order to draw attention to those that are richer than the average. In doing so, it is possible to manage areas for the protection of notable geoheritage and to develop sustainable activities such as geotourism. The literature comprises several methodologies for the quantitative assessment of geodiversity, but the use of geoprocessing tools appears to be the least subjective type of analysis. From this standpoint, this work aimed to analyze the geodiversity in an area of geological interest in the northeast of Brazil by using two methodologies. The first is widely used and involved the definition of a grid to overlay the cartographic datasets that are used to define the geodiversity index. The second method is based on a centroid analysis of intersected datasets. These investigations showed that the two methodologies have similar aspects and produce a high geodiversity index for the area. This outcome supports the reliability of these methods when the results converge, with respect to the delimitation of the valuable places where geodiversity should be protected. These methods may be used as basis for the sustainable management of natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes an investigation of Veerman's interpolation method and its applicability for determining sheet metal formability. The theoretical foundation is established and its mathematical assumptions are clarified. An exact Lagrangian interpolation scheme is also established for comparison. Bulge testing and tensile testing of aluminium sheets containing electro-chemically etched circle grids are performed to experimentally determine the forming limit of the sheet material. The forming limit is determined using (a) Veerman's interpolation method, (b) exact Lagrangian interpolation and (c) FE-simulations. A comparison of the determined forming limits yields insignificant differences in the limit strain obtained with Veerman's method or exact Lagrangian interpolation for the two sheet metal forming processes investigated. The agreement with the FE-simulations is reasonable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The ecological groundwater level is also reflected in water quality. • Determine the ecological water level of groundwater through dual factors. • Provide contributions to water resource management in the research area. In order to determine and analyze the groundwater ecological level in Changling County, a total of Landsat 8 series remote sensing images from 2017 to 2021, buried depth data of 51 groundwater observation Wells and 47 phreatic salinity detection data in 2021 were collected. Based on the field investigation and laboratory experiment, the spatial and temporal changes of groundwater level and vegetation coverage in the study area from 2013 to 2017 were determined by using remote sensing technology (the Environment for Visualizing Images) and geographic information system. Through the analysis of the vegetation coverage ratio and the relationship between the groundwater depth and diving salinity, we determine the appropriate growth of vegetation in the study area of diving level and diving salinity water. The results showed that from 2017 to 2021 in the average groundwater level and vegetation cover degree decline year by year, the study area northwest shallow depth of groundwater, vegetation cover degree better, however, in the central and eastern regions, the groundwater depth is larger and the vegetation coverage degree is poor. When the depth of local groundwater is 3.3–4.5 m and the phreatic salinity is less than 0.85 g/L, the ecological water level and phreatic salinity are suitable for vegetation growth in the study area. When the depth of local water is less than 3 m, soil salinization occurs in the surface soil near the lake marsh. When the depth of local water was greater than 8.4 m, the phenomenon of soil desertification appeared in some areas of central China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed was the grid of personal branding image of Anies Baswedanthrough Facebook and Twitter account on Banjarmasin society. This researchused quantitative approach with descriptive type. The population was Banjarmasin society aged 17-24 years old. Sample that taken was 399 people, sample retrieval techniques used cluster random sampling. The method of data collection used questionnaire and observation, while the method of data analysis used image analysis grid by Kotler with the degree of trust was 95%. The results of the research, personal branding image of anies baswedan on familiarity scale is74,44% or 297 respondents from 399 respondent of total samples, categorizedon less know about Anies Baswedan. That means only 25,56% or 102 respondents who know him. Based on favorability scale there were 76,25% or 77 respondents from 102 respondents who know Anis Baswedan, categorized him asa good image of personal branding. Based on grid analysis model Anis Baswedan’s Personal Branding are less known and good image. That means personal branding image of anies baswedan was located on grid B, that was the assessment of respondents about Anies Baswedan was he does not well known but he has a good image.

Effective electricity grid management and planning necessitates widespread installation of convenient data acquisition modules to obtain the relevant grid data in a timely manner. In this paper, we describe a ubiquitous Web-based dispatcher information system deployed on the Turkish electricity transmission grid. This large-scale system is utilized by the transmission system operator to effectively monitor the transmission grid and to analyze and summarize the gathered data automatically, in order to take proper short-term and long-term operational decisions. The system has the additional facilities to produce load forecasts and track long-term investment plans on the electricity grid. The architecture of the implemented system is described in details together with the demonstration of sample significant analysis and forecast results obtained from the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]