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Seasonal underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in porous media provides an as yet untested method for storing surplus renewable energy and balancing our energy demands. This study investigates the technical suitability for UHS in depleted hydrocarbon fields and one deep aquifer site in Taranaki Basin, Aotearoa New Zealand. Prospective sites are assessed using a decision tree approach, providing a "fast-track" method for identifying potential sites, and a decision matrix approach for ranking optimal sites. Based on expert elicitation, the most important factors to consider are storage capacity, reservoir depth, and parameters that affect hydrogen injectivity/withdrawal and containment. Results from both approaches suggest that Paleogene reservoirs from gas (or gas cap) fields provide the best option for demonstrating UHS in Aotearoa New Zealand, and that the country's projected 2050 hydrogen storage demand could be exceeded by developing one or two high ranking sites. Lower priority is assigned to heterolithic and typically finer grained, labile and, clay-rich Miocene oil reservoirs, and to deep aquifers that have no proven hydrocarbon containment. • UHS could provide temporary storage for a large surplus of renewable energy. • The technical feasibility of potential storage sites in Taranaki Basin is assessed. • Two methods for site evaluation are applied, using multi-criteria decision analysis. • Depleted gas fields are considered the best option for demonstrating UHS technology. • The projected 2050 storage capacity demand for NZ could be met by developing 1–2 sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground coal gasification is of great strategic significance to the effective and clean development of coal resources and scale up production of natural gas worldwide. Selection evaluation is the foundation of the exploration and development of underground coal gasification. In this paper, the differences between mid-deep (500–2200 m) and shallow layer (

Underground gas storage plays an important role in the strategic reserve, peak shaving and stable supply of natural gas. Due to the complex geological conditions in China, very limited sites are available for the construction of gas storage. Thus, it is a good choice to build gas storage in the abandoned coal mine with rich resources. For this purpose, it is particularly important to establish an evaluation method for abandoned coal mine type gas storage. Hence, the factors affecting the conversion of abandoned coal mines into gas storage were summarized and analyzed based on the research results of gas storage site selection at home and abroad from the five aspects of hydrogeology, caprock tightness, geologic structure, influencing factors of abandoned coal mine, and other safe and economic factors. Then, a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model based on hierarchical analysis was established and a comprehensive evaluation table of storage sites was prepared to evaluate the sites of abandoned coal mines. Besides, the evaluation model was applied to the site evaluation of a coal mine in Shaanxi. The evaluation results show that the coal mine is at an excellent grade and has the potential to be transformed into gas storage. Generally, the evaluation method has certain guiding implications for China to develop abandoned coal mine type gas storage.

Renewable energy sources are replacing other energy sources to minimize the cost of due to the conventional sources of energy. Solar and wind are readily available sources which will minimize the cost of electricity if implemented properly. Considering the weather and other relevant advantages, solar energy is a favorable option for a particular site. But it is extremely difficult for the implementation of the suggested renewable energy in a site which already has specific resources and existing infrastructure to replace. Several factors should be counted in for the selection and implementation of appropriate renewable source for fulfilling the demand. As a possible energy option, on-grid infrastructure is selected looking at its low necessity of development and hardware cost. This paper aims to impart the detailed designs of alternative energy options that will offset the annual irrigation costs of the Rainbow Youth Golf Education Program in Klamath County. Using simulator, a practical modeling of the system is performed to look at the cost associated with each case. After selecting a combination with the minimum cost, it is shown that the model decreases the irrigation cost compared to previous year. Other technological implications are also evaluated. Finally, worst case scenario is modeled using the simulator to show that even in the bad weather, the site's energy supply model serves well both electrically and economically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the strategic importance of the Abydos archaeological site in Egypt as a source of wealth for Egyptian tourism, this study was concerned with carrying out geophysical measurements to detect subsurface succession and measure variations in the geotechnical engineering features of the soils/rocks in order to protect this significant area. The findings will assist geologists and seismologists in collaborating with archaeologists for future site development, revitalization, and investment. The primary objectives of this work were to determine the subsurface lithology, evaluate the engineering geotechnical properties of soils/rocks, identify the layer thicknesses, and identify the site class by calculating Vs30. To achieve these goals, seventeen (17) seismic refraction tomography (SRT) P- and S-wave measurements were executed in front of the Osirion location. SeisImager Software was used for the processing and interpretation of the outcomes. The results were the travel time–distance curves, which were used for building the 2D seismic models that exhibited the velocity and the depth of the layered models. These models were validated by our previous works using electric resistivity tomography and borehole data. The results indicated that this site consisted of three geoseismic subsurface layers. The first layer was the surface that was made up of wadi deposits, which were a mixture of gravel, sand, and silt and were characterized by incompetent to slightly competent materials. The second layer corresponded to the sand and muddy sand deposits of competent rock that was of fair to moderate quality. The third layer (clay deposits) had a higher velocity and was more compact and may be employed as a bedrock layer. The elastic moduli, Vs30, petrophysical, and geotechnical properties of the three geoseismic layers were appraised as essential parameters. Integration of petrophysical and geotechnical parameters and elastic moduli revealed that the third layer was composed of competent clays, which were characterized by low values of porosity, void ratio, Poisson ratio, and stress ratio. It also had a high rigidity, Young's and bulk moduli, concentration and material indexes, N-value, ultimate bearing capacities, and high density values, and vice versa for the first layer. The standard NEHRP site class was B (rocks). These parameters are ordinarily used as key indications and serve as significant inputs for any future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-three ancient-hillfort sites were investigated to evaluate the potential for the in situ conservation of medicinal- and aromatic-plant populations. An evaluation of the site's suitability was carried out by employing three major groups of criteria: species-specific, site-specific, and threat assessment. The species-specific criteria included the total species number, target species number, the cover-abundance of the target species estimated by mean Braun–Blanquet score, and, as an additional criterion, the number and cover-abundance of crop wild relatives. The site-specific criteria included site evaluation with respect to climatic region, the area size of a site, the habitat type, and the site's protection status. The threat assessment was focused on anthropogenic activities, such as recreational, agricultural, and others. The total number of vascular plant species inventoried was 264, including 82 species of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP). There was a strong and highly significant correlation between the total and the MAP species numbers (rs = 0.77, p < 0.001), and the two most species-rich sites, Žuklijai and Pamiškė, contained the highest total and MAP species numbers. The investigated hillfort sites covered the populations of 49 species, or about 33% of the priority species list, with 5 or more populations. The most frequent species, Hypericum perforatum, occurred at 21 sites. The twenty-three hillfort sites represent three of the four climatic regions and six of the ten climatic subregions of Lithuania. Although these hillfort sites are quite small (1.24 ± 0.75 ha on average, without buffer zone), they are scattered across the country and are state-protected as archaeological objects, which makes them suitable for the in situ conservation of MAP genetic resources. In addition, seven hillfort sites (30.4% of the investigated ones) belong to the European network of special areas of conservation of habitats (Natura 2000), thus increasing their international importance. The threat assessment showed that anthropogenic activities (recreational, agricultural, etc.) are among the major factors affecting target-species populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategies and guidelines for best practice environmental design typically have a singular focus and intended outcome, for example, green infrastructure management for urban cooling in a hotter climate. However, when applied to specific situations such as aged care, matters such as accessibility, wayfinding, and safety are also critical. Combining various audit tools offer multiple benefits to meet a variety of needs for thermal comfort, health, and well-being, as well as cost-effectiveness. In the absence of such a tool, using a place-based analysis, we developed a novel audit tool for external settings of residential aged care facilities (ACFs) incorporating urban cooling, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), and universal design criteria. To determine how ACFs perform in the face of increased levels of urban heat required evaluation of additional urban cooling measures. The Audit Tool was developed and tested in collaboration with ACFs across sub-tropical and tropical areas of Australia, varying in climate, scale, and urban density. Quality of life for residents, visitors, and staff of ACFs can be supported by the provision of green infrastructure to improve the thermal comfort of outdoor settings and, if located appropriately, reduce the need for an increase in internal air-conditioning. The aim of this article is to propose a user-friendly Hybrid Environmental Design Audit Tool (HEDAT) to support facility managers, planners, and design consultants to inform the prioritization and targeting of interventions and monitoring of implementation and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes tridimensional (3D) laser scanning to architects and lighting designers as a lighting enquiry and visualization method for existing built environments. The method constitutes a complement to existing lighting methods by responding to limitations of photometric measurements, computer simulation and HDR imagery in surveying and visualizing light in actual buildings. The research explores advantages and limitations of 3D laser scanning in a case study addressing a vast, geometrically complex and fragmented naturally and artificially lit space. Lighting patterns and geometry of the case study are captured with a 3D laser scanner through a series of four scans. A single 3D model of the entire space is produced from the aligned and fused scans. Lighting distribution patterns are showcased in relation to the materiality, geometry and position of windows, walls, lighting fixtures and day lighting sources. The point cloud model of the case study is also generated into a video format representing the entire building as well as different viewpoints. The study shows that the proposed method provides powerful visualization results due to the unlimited number of images that can be generated from a point cloud and facilitates understanding of existing lighting conditions in spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] Site factors selection and classification of Eucalyptus urophylla X E. grandis plantation were investigated to provide basis for site selection and cultivation of large-diameter timber. [Method] A total of 40 plots of Eucalyptus urophylla X E. grandis at the age of 7.5 years were set up by typical sampling method. Growth (height, diameter at breast height and dominant height), climatic factor (annual sunshine hours) and topographic factors (slope direction, slope, slope position and altitude) were collected, and chemical and physical properties of soil were analyzed. Principal component analysis and quantitative theory I were used to analyze the relationship between site factors and tree growth. Cluster analysis was used to classify the productivity levels and site types. [Result] The quantitative model obtained with selected site factors of slope direction, slope, slope position, altitude, soil nutrient grades, soil texture, soil density and annual sunshine hours had complex correlation coefficient of 0.956, reaching extremely significant level (P<0.01). In the quantitative model, altitude, soil texture, slope direction and annual sunshine hours had extremely significant correlation with dominant height of Eucalyptus urophylla X E. grandis(P<0.01), and total contribution rate of annual sunshine hours, altitude and soil texture to dominant height was 62.75%. According to the quantitative regression model and site factors of survey sites, the predicted values of dominant height of Eucalyptus urophylla XE. grandis were obtained and site productivity levels were divided into 3 groups. The dominant heights were 27.16 m, 24.19 - 25.45 m and 21.77 - 23.40 m, respectively. The site types were divided into 10 types based on annual sunshine hours, altitude and soil texture. Annual sunshine hours and soil clay were significantly different among different yield groups (P<0.05). The longest annual sunshine hours was in high yield group and the shortest was in low yield group. The soil clay in high yield group was higher than that in middle and low yield groups. Altitude in high yield group was significantly lower than that in middle and low yield groups. Soil organic matter, total P, available Mg and available Cu in high yield group were significantly higher than those in middle and low yield groups, and soil available Mn in high yield group was significantly higher than that in low yield group. [Conclusion] The main site factors affecting productivity of Eucalyptus urophylla X E. grandis plantation were annual sunshine hours, altitude and soil texture. Eucalyptus urophylla X E. grandis grew better in site environment with longer annual sunshine hours, lower altitude and higher contents of soil clay, organic matter, total P, available Cu, available Mg and available Mn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-three ancient-hillfort sites were investigated to evaluate the potential for the in situ conservation of medicinal- and aromatic-plant populations. An evaluation of the site’s suitability was carried out by employing three major groups of criteria: species-specific, site-specific, and threat assessment. The species-specific criteria included the total species number, target species number, the cover-abundance of the target species estimated by mean Braun–Blanquet score, and, as an additional criterion, the number and cover-abundance of crop wild relatives. The site-specific criteria included site evaluation with respect to climatic region, the area size of a site, the habitat type, and the site’s protection status. The threat assessment was focused on anthropogenic activities, such as recreational, agricultural, and others. The total number of vascular plant species inventoried was 264, including 82 species of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP). There was a strong and highly significant correlation between the total and the MAP species numbers (rs = 0.77, p < 0.001), and the two most species-rich sites, Žuklijai and Pamiškė, contained the highest total and MAP species numbers. The investigated hillfort sites covered the populations of 49 species, or about 33% of the priority species list, with 5 or more populations. The most frequent species, Hypericum perforatum, occurred at 21 sites. The twenty-three hillfort sites represent three of the four climatic regions and six of the ten climatic subregions of Lithuania. Although these hillfort sites are quite small (1.24 ± 0.75 ha on average, without buffer zone), they are scattered across the country and are state-protected as archaeological objects, which makes them suitable for the in situ conservation of MAP genetic resources. In addition, seven hillfort sites (30.4% of the investigated ones) belong to the European network of special areas of conservation of habitats (Natura 2000), thus increasing their international importance. The threat assessment showed that anthropogenic activities (recreational, agricultural, etc.) are among the major factors affecting target-species populations.

Because of the strategic importance of the Abydos archaeological site in Egypt as a source of wealth for Egyptian tourism, this study was concerned with carrying out geophysical measurements to detect subsurface succession and measure variations in the geotechnical engineering features of the soils/rocks in order to protect this significant area. The findings will assist geologists and seismologists in collaborating with archaeologists for future site development, revitalization, and investment. The primary objectives of this work were to determine the subsurface lithology, evaluate the engineering geotechnical properties of soils/rocks, identify the layer thicknesses, and identify the site class by calculating Vs30. To achieve these goals, seventeen (17) seismic refraction tomography (SRT) P- and S-wave measurements were executed in front of the Osirion location. SeisImager Software was used for the processing and interpretation of the outcomes. The results were the travel time–distance curves, which were used for building the 2D seismic models that exhibited the velocity and the depth of the layered models. These models were validated by our previous works using electric resistivity tomography and borehole data. The results indicated that this site consisted of three geoseismic subsurface layers. The first layer was the surface that was made up of wadi deposits, which were a mixture of gravel, sand, and silt and were characterized by incompetent to slightly competent materials. The second layer corresponded to the sand and muddy sand deposits of competent rock that was of fair to moderate quality. The third layer (clay deposits) had a higher velocity and was more compact and may be employed as a bedrock layer. The elastic moduli, Vs30, petrophysical, and geotechnical properties of the three geoseismic layers were appraised as essential parameters. Integration of petrophysical and geotechnical parameters and elastic moduli revealed that the third layer was composed of competent clays, which were characterized by low values of porosity, void ratio, Poisson ratio, and stress ratio. It also had a high rigidity, Young’s and bulk moduli, concentration and material indexes, N-value, ultimate bearing capacities, and high density values, and vice versa for the first layer. The standard NEHRP site class was B (rocks). These parameters are ordinarily used as key indications and serve as significant inputs for any future work.

Globalization, combined with health professional students increasingly seeking international interprofessional service learning (IISL) experiences, presents new challenges and opportunities for faculty establishing these programs. This paper describes the novel process of utilizing a faculty-led team of health professions graduate students to evaluate IISL opportunities with an international partner. An interprofessional task force recruited student volunteers to travel abroad for the purpose of evaluating the potential learning opportunities at an international site. Faculty and students utilized an assessment tool adapted from the University of Minnesota's "Health and Safety Site Visit Checklist" to evaluate various aspects of the site. Findings were compiled, and students developed a program-specific list of potential collaborative opportunities with a corresponding evaluation of the value and feasibility of these learning experiences. Five students representing the schools of pharmacy, physical therapy, and physician assistant studies were accompanied by two faculty task force members. Compilation of faculty and student assessments revealed general congruence between both evaluation findings and subsequent recommendations for collaboration. There was an expected difference in the focus of faculty and student observations, though all evaluators were in agreement regarding the potential to develop a seven to 10 day IISL experience at the site. Overall, students provided positive feedback regarding their experience as part of the site evaluation team. Incorporating students as part of the site evaluation process is a valuable and effective method for assessing the logistical and educational characteristics of an IISL experience when developing a relationship with an international partner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical sites may be found in nearly all small towns in Poland. Some are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. The purpose of the paper is to discuss the role of these resources in the broader set of elements shaping the tourism potential of towns, and also to illustrate the regional differences among small towns in Poland in terms of their potential to develop a local or regional tourism sector. The study provides a typology of towns based on local natural and landscape elements, cultural heritage resources as well as hotels and other tourist accommodations. The statistical data discussed in this paper was obtained from the Local Data Bank of Statistics Poland for the period 2012–2014, while historical sites were chosen from the National Heritage Board of Poland. The study covers all small towns in Poland and has shown unequivocally that the presence of a historical site is not necessarily a factor in the overall development of a local tourism sector. The cultural resources appear to be an undervalued asset, which can be used to develop a local tourism sector, especially in towns which are searching for new development paths.

In this study, we employed a geographic information system (GIS)-based approach to identify sites suitable for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant installations in Mongolia. Accordingly, cells of 30 × 30 m were used, and data based on seven criteria, including annual global horizontal radiation, annual average temperature, elevation, slope, slope direction (aspect), and distances from main roads and major power lines, were collected for each cell. GIS layers for these seven criteria were then converted into rated value layers using four grades. The weightings applied to the seven criteria were determined, using an analytical hierarchy process, by ten solar field experts. By combining the seven rating value layers with the weightings, a site suitability map was developed, using good, fair, low, and poor suitability grades. The results showed that sites graded as good, fair, low, and poor accounted for 3.27%, 53.06%, 42.59%, and 1.08% of the total surface area, respectively. Good sites were predominantly located in the southern and central regions of Mongolia. As the current demand for electric power in southern and central regions is low and high, respectively, we concluded that the central region of Mongolia should be prioritized for installing PV power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground coal gasification is of great strategic significance to the effective and clean development of coal resources and scale up production of natural gas worldwide. Selection evaluation is the foundation of the exploration and development of underground coal gasification. In this paper, the differences between mid-deep (500-2200 m) and shallow layer (<500 m) underground coal gasification are analyzed, the key parameters affecting underground coal gasification are clearly identified, and the selection evaluation technology system is established. The results show that there are great differences between mid-deep and shallow layer underground coal gasification in terms of furnace construction site selection, engineering process, gasification efficiency and gasification products, the former is the main development direction in the future considering the resource potential, gasification efficiency, environmental protection and technological progress. The research of mid-deep underground coal gasification selecting should be carried out step by step with "favorable area-favorable zone-favorable zone ranking-favorable target" evaluation system. In the early stage of exploration, the product of thickness and volatiles can be used as a rapid evaluation index. Within the suitable range, the larger the index is, the more favorable it is, and when the index is greater than 3, it is defined as the favorable area. Further, ten key geological parameters of coal seam geological conditions, coal-rock and coal-quality characteristics and structural hydrologic conditions are selected and graded during zone evaluation according to different threshold ranges. At the same time, a favorable zone queuing method based on the two-factor evaluation method is established. Additionally, the final target site selection is established with more detailed evaluation parameters, such as process performance parameters, gasification characteristics parameters, technical recoverable indicators, economic recoverable indicators. The study provides the siting selection technology for the middle deep coal underground gasification, which is of great significant for the development of coal underground gasification industry., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Height-age growth models and site index curves were developed for the site quality evaluation of Acacia mangium Willd and Eucalyptus pellita F. Muel stands in Korintiga Hutani plantation, Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. In this study, the Chapman-Richards growth function was used in the guide curve method to generate anamorphic site index curves for the two species. In order to evaluate the developed models, coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), bias (), absolute mean difference (AMD), and mean percent bias (MPB) were used as statistical criteria. In addition, a simple linear regression and simultaneous F-test was performed to evaluate the relationship of the observed and the predicted dominant height of each species. Based on the statistical evaluations, simple linear regression and F-test models developed for the two species showed satisfactory results. Furthermore, the developed models explained about 98.35% and 98.60% of the total variation in the estimate of total dominant height for Acacia mangium and Eucalyptus pellita, respectively. The developed site index curves are expected to be significant for forest managers in predicting the growth patterns and classifying the site productivities of the different stands in Korintiga Hutani plantation.

In recent years, spatial multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) has been applied to different types of spatial problems, such as solar power site suitability. MCDA can be used to support the process of identifying suitable regions for solar energy projects. To the best of our knowledge, no study has addressed the problem of site evaluation for solar photovoltaic PV systems in the Riyadh region. Therefore, a spatial MCDA framework is proposed to perform a geospatial analysis of solar energy in the Riyadh region, which includes data collection, spatial analysis, a spatial decision support system and visualization. The methodology that was used to solve the site suitability problem is described. It involved the combination of a Geographical Information System (GIS) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (GIS-AHP). The results show that the most suitable sites are in the north and northwest of the Riyadh region, with an area that represents 16,748 Km2 with an 80% suitability degree. In addition, it was proven that Afif is the largest suitable city. It has high solar radiation, at an average of 2.631687 MWh/m2/year, and low temperatures, at an average of 26.3 °C, as well as having flat areas with a slope under 5°. The results were validated using a sensitivity analysis model and also compared with those for ground-based stations.

In this study, we employed a geographic information system (GIS)-based approach to identify sites suitable for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant installations in Mongolia. Accordingly, cells of 30 × 30 m were used, and data based on seven criteria, including annual global horizontal radiation, annual average temperature, elevation, slope, slope direction (aspect), and distances from main roads and major power lines, were collected for each cell. GIS layers for these seven criteria were then converted into rated value layers using four grades. The weightings applied to the seven criteria were determined, using an analytical hierarchy process, by ten solar field experts. By combining the seven rating value layers with the weightings, a site suitability map was developed, using good, fair, low, and poor suitability grades. The results showed that sites graded as good, fair, low, and poor accounted for 3.27%, 53.06%, 42.59%, and 1.08% of the total surface area, respectively. Good sites were predominantly located in the southern and central regions of Mongolia. As the current demand for electric power in southern and central regions is low and high, respectively, we concluded that the central region of Mongolia should be prioritized for installing PV power plants.

Historical sites may be found in nearly all small towns in Poland. Some are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. The purpose of the paper is to discuss the role of these resources in the broader set of elements shaping the tourism potential of towns, and also to illustrate the regional differences among small towns in Poland in terms of their potential to develop a local or regional tourism sector. The study provides a typology of towns based on local natural and landscape elements, cultural heritage resources as well as hotels and other tourist accommodations. The statistical data discussed in this paper was obtained from the Local Data Bank of Statistics Poland for the period 2012–2014, while historical sites were chosen from the National Heritage Board of Poland. The study covers all small towns in Poland and has shown unequivocally that the presence of a historical site is not necessarily a factor in the overall development of a local tourism sector. The cultural resources appear to be an undervalued asset, which can be used to develop a local tourism sector, especially in towns which are searching for new development paths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for suitable marine areas is a prerequisite at an early stage of any offshore renewable energy system project. This paper introduces a methodological framework for identifying the maritime areas the most appropriate to implement an offshore wind turbine farm in the Hong Kong bay. The framework is based on the combined use of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). At the first stage of the analysis, unsuitable areas for the deployment of an offshore wind turbine have been first identified. At the second stage of the analysis, eligible marine areas have been ranked using a MCDA and different scenarios. Finally, a cost analysis has been performed to refine the whole approach as well as a comparison to previous studies in the Hong Kong bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, geographic information system (GIS)-based methods and their applications in solar power system planning and design were reviewed. Three types of GIS-based studies, including those on solar radiation mapping, site evaluation, and potential assessment, were considered to elucidate the role of GISs as problem-solving tools in relation to photovoltaic and concentrated solar power systems for the conversion of solar energy into electricity. The review was performed by classifying previous GIS-based studies into several subtopics according to the complexity of the employed GIS-based methods, the type of solar power conversion technology, or the scale of the study area. Because GISs are appropriate for handling geospatial data related to solar resource and site suitability conditions on various scales, the applications of GIS-based methods in solar power system planning and design could be expanded further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The objective of this paper is to devise a strategy for developing a flexible tool to efficiently install a marine energy farm in a suitable area. The current methodology is applied to marine tidal current, although it can be extended to other energy contexts with some adaptations. We introduce a three-step approach that searches for marine farm sites and technological solutions. The methodology applied is based on a combination of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), multi-criteria analysis (MCA) and an optimization algorithm. The integration of GIS and MCA is at the core of the search process for the best-suited marine areas, taking into account geographical constraints, such as human activity, pressure on the environment and technological opportunities. The optimization step of the approach evaluates the most appropriate technologies and farm configurations in order to maximize the quantity of energy produced while minimizing the cost of the farm. Three main criteria are applied to finally characterize a location for a marine energy farm: the global cost of the project, the quantity of energy produced and social acceptance. The social acceptance criterion is evaluated by the MCA method, Electre III, while the optimization of the energy cost is approximated by a genetic algorithm. The whole approach is illustrated by a case study applied to a maritime area in North-West France.

In this study, geographic information system (GIS)-based methods and their applications in solar power system planning and design were reviewed. Three types of GIS-based studies, including those on solar radiation mapping, site evaluation, and potential assessment, were considered to elucidate the role of GISs as problem-solving tools in relation to photovoltaic and concentrated solar power systems for the conversion of solar energy into electricity. The review was performed by classifying previous GIS-based studies into several subtopics according to the complexity of the employed GIS-based methods, the type of solar power conversion technology, or the scale of the study area. Because GISs are appropriate for handling geospatial data related to solar resource and site suitability conditions on various scales, the applications of GIS-based methods in solar power system planning and design could be expanded further.

Estimating the energy potential of tidal stream site is a key feature for tidal energy system deployment. This paper aims to compare two methods of prediction of tidal current velocities. The first one is based on the use of a fully three-dimensional (3D) numerical approach. However, while being accurate, the numerical model is highly time-consuming. The second method is based on a linear approximation of the tidal current, which only requires preliminary knowledge of local current velocities time series during two typical tidal cycles. This second method allows a very quick evaluation of the tidal stream resource during a long time period. The proposed comparison is done in three different locations of a high potential tidal energy site in west of France. It is carried out in terms of current velocity and energy harnessing for several turbines technology options (with and without yaw). The achieved results show that the linear approximation gives satisfactory evaluation of the tidal stream potential and can be a very interesting tool for preliminary site evaluation and first technology options selection. However, the fully 3D numerical model can obviously be very useful in more advanced steps of a project.

Urban color has become one of the hot topics in China since 2000. To provide suggestions for making the urban color plan for Changzhou of about 253 square kilometers in 2011, the research group evaluated the visual quality of the present architectural color in real urban space and investigated the residential attitude for the present and the future ones. Open-ended questionnaire of 1065 was taken effectively face to face accompanied with NCS Cascade 980 to understand the residents' attitude about the present architectural color in Changzhou city, and the expectations for the future. At the same time, an overall survey and evaluation on the present architectural color was conducted from the aspects of materials, functions, environmental and color relationship as well as the color code itself. Data reveal the residents' attitude to color preferences is more tolerant in hue with no special color bias, and inclined to those with obvious chroma and clear color predisposition, not very vivid, nor very dark. While the site survey shows the present color focuses mostly in high or middle-high brightness, neutral ones. In site evaluation and analysis, architecture obtained good scores are those have obviously color predisposition. Colors that are inclined to good scores still have obvious color tendency but is lighter than that of good ones and mostly concentrate in the middle high and high brightness. Although still shows warm colors the most, the color tendency was not so obvious and the proportion of grayish ones increased. As to colors inclined to bad, very large proportion of grayish color existed. Actually, the most insurance color people usually thought, if has no good façade form supporting, is difficult to obtain a pleasant visual effect. Also, if the material is not in agreement with the color, the visual effect will be even worse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]