The importance of cultural aspects in impact assessment and project development: reflections from a case study of a hydroelectric dam in Brazil

Abstract

Failure to consider the cultural and social factors of projects can lead to situations where mitigation does not effectively address the impacts they were intended to alleviate, and can even create other impacts. We critically analyse the processes of designing and implementing a social and environmental compensation program for the Lajeado Hydroelectric Dam in the Amazon region of central-northern Brazil. This mitigation program caused a wide range of social and environmental impacts on the Xerente Indigenous people, such as intra-group conflict, and changes in agricultural practices and food regime. Based on qualitative fieldwork and an extensive document analysis, we present a contextualization of the region, the project, the Xerente people, and their cosmological understandings. We consider the perspectives of a broad range of stakeholders about the compensation program and its outcomes, and demonstrate how traditional cultural practices and values played a role in the unfolding of the program. Better comprehension of sociocultural aspects through the use of ethnography, ongoing consultation, and meaningful community participation in the planning and implementation of mitigation measures are recommended.     

Books

Abstract

Climate change mitigation and adaptation can be perceived as neglected in environmental impact assessment (EIA). In the light of amendments to the European Union EIA Directive (2014), we developed a novel criteria-based review package to assess climate change mitigation and adaptation as documented in environmental statements, and applied this to a sample of 10 transport developments from England. Justifications relating to climate policy, climate science, the effect of climate change on the development and its vulnerability to climate risks were well explained in most projects. Many projects lacked detail of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures and their benefits, whilst evidence of commitment to mitigation and adaptation or to post-decision monitoring was poor or non-existent; reportedly due to costs, time constraints and absence of mandatory requirements. It is recommended that to improve the effectiveness of the consideration of climate change mitigation and adaptation in EIA, the production of guidelines, change of behaviour of EIA practitioners, more holistic consideration of climate change issues, rigorous post-decision monitoring and use of climate change terminology are more widely adopted.     

Determining what is important for sustainability: scoping processes of sustainability assessments

Over recent decades, there has been a significant proliferation of types of impact assessments. While some argue that this is threatening future use of impact assessments, sustainability assessments have emerged as a potential approach to bridge these diverse approaches. This research focuses on examining sustainability assessments at the project level, looking specifically at scoping practices key to integration. Nine multinational enterprises operating within Indonesia are studied, utilising a case study methodology with semi-structured interviews with 32 respondents. Findings emphasise that while these multinationals sought to address key regulatory requirements through their scoping practices, international standards and global sustainability platforms were critical in informing the practices of these organisations. The recognition of these standards and guidelines saw them addressing a broad range of key sustainability issues; also using prescribed techniques to engage with stakeholders and identify the most critical sustainability issues to focus on in assessment. There was integration of scoping processes through different levels and across the organisations, which were generally managed by teams providing sustainability expertise, including through affiliate personnel for local contextualisation.

Abbreviation AMDAL - Analisis Mengenai Dampak Lingkungan (EIA); BAPEDALDA - provincial/regional-level of the Environmental Impact Management Agency; CAQDAS – computer assisted data analysis software; CSR – corporate social responsibility; EIA – environmental impact assessment; EU – European Union; FDI – foreign direct investment; GRI – Global Reporting Initiative; ILO – International Labour Organization; MCA – multicriteria analysis; MNE – multinational enterprise; MOE - Ministry of Environment (now Ministry of Environment and Forestry); NGO – non-government organisation; OECD – Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development; OH&S – occupational health and safety; SPPL - Letter of Statement on Environmental Management Effort; UKL – Environmental Management Effort; UN – United Nations; UNGC – United Nations Global Compact; UPL - Environmental Controlling Effort.     

Ecological compensation in spatial planning in Italy

Ecological compensation or biodiversity offsets are increasingly recognized as a key element for environmental sustainability; however, more attention has been paid so far to compensation applied at the project level rather than to spatial planning. Meanwhile, there is a growing acknowledgement that extensive environmental depletion is being caused by the cumulative effects of small developments allowed by spatial/land use plans. This paper aims to collect empirical evidence on the requirements for ecological compensation at a strategic level of decision-making – spatial planning – in Italy. Results indicate that spatial plans are increasingly introducing offset requirements for residual impacts of new urban developments; however, methodological and operational aspects are not sufficiently addressed and enforcement mechanisms appear weak. The lack of legal frameworks and of established methods appears to be the main element currently hindering biodiversity offset implementation at the planning level. It is suggested that, in the Italian context, a way to foster better implementation is the design of environmental stewardship schemes involving farmers, developers and planning authorities.     

Effect of superimposed oscillations on creep behaviour of Al – 2 4·.5Cu and Al – 2 4·5Cu – 2 0·1In (wt-%) alloys containing θ′ precipitates

Abstract

The behaviour of both transient and steady state creep of Al – 4·5Cu and Al – 4·5Cu – 0·1In (wt-%) alloys was investigated using a constant stress where torsional oscillations of different frequencies and shear strain amplitudes were operated at various working temperatures. An augment in both transient and steady state creep rates was observed by increasing both frequency and shear strain amplitude of the applied oscillations. The mean values of the activation energy of both alloys for both creep stages were found to be equal to that quoted for dislocation intersection mechanism.     

Impression creep behaviour of tin based lead free solders

Abstract

Growing concern about the toxic effects of lead in conventional solders has prompted the development of lead free solders. Creep owing to heating in service is one of the causes of solder joint failures in electronic packages. The present study deals with the impression creep behaviour of eutectic Sn – 58Bi, Sn – 57Bi – 1˙3Zn and Sn – 38Pb alloys in the temperature range 303 – 393 K and stress range 2˙6 – 180 MPa. Power law creep with stress exponent n varying from 2 to 6˙3 is observed. All the alloys reveal a strong stress dependence of activation enthalpy with values 155, 120 and 112 kJ mol^-1 for Sn – 58Bi, Sn – 57Bi – 1˙3Zn and Sn – 38Pb, respectively, which are well above those for self-diffusion. The steady state impression velocity varies linearly with punch diameter for all three alloys. It is concluded that a mechanism such as forest intersection involving attractive junctions controls the creep flow in these alloys.     

Magnetic Compensation of Gravity and Centrifugal Forces

This paper deals with the theoretical combination of magnetic forces, centrifugal forces, and gravity acting on low-χ magnetic fluids contained within a cylindrical shaped zone with a horizontal axis. The magnetic field is created by a combination of both quadrupolar winding and dipolar fields, as exists in superconducting coils developed for particle accelerators. Such a ground based device, if static, simulates a rotation – in space conditions – of a paramagnetic substance such as liquid oxygen. When the cylinder rotates, it creates exact gravity compensation – on Earth – for diamagnetic fluids such as hydrogen. These results go beyond a previous result that found it impossible to reach perfect magnetic compensation of gravity in a 3D domain.     

Precipitation hardening of Cu – Ti – Zr alloys

Abstract

The influence of age hardening temperature and time on the hardness, tensile properties, electrical conductivity, and microstructure of Cu – 4Ti – 0.1Zr and Cu – 3Ti – 0.1Zr alloys has been investigated. The resulting microstructure of these alloys suggests that zirconium addition prohibited the formation of compositional modulations in the solution treated condition. These alloys exhibited maximum hardness and strength on peak aging at 450°C for 24 h by the formation of a coherent and metastable Cu₄Ti phase (β') in modulated structure while overaging occurred by the formation of equilibrium phase β-Cu₃Ti. The electrical conductivity of both the alloys increased moderately on aging. Unlike in an earlier study of binary Cu – Ti and some ternary Cu – Ti – X alloys, overaging did not cause any discontinuous precipitation in the Cu – Ti – Zr alloys investigated. Modulated structure formed on peak aging persisted on prolonged aging at 450°C for 80 h or at 500°C for 8 h.     

Recrystallisation behaviour of supersaturated Al–Mn alloys Part 1 – Al–1.3 wt-%Mn

Abstract

The effects of concurrent precipitation on recrystallisation during the isothermal annealing of a supersaturated and deformed Al – Mn alloy have been investigated. At low annealing temperatures precipitation on the prior boundaries prevents recrystallisation whereas at high temperatures recrystallisation is complete before precipitation occurs. In the temperature range 375 – 500°C, recrystallisation is affected by precipitation and complex microstructures containing high fractions of low angle boundaries are formed. It is shown that strain induced boundary migration of very large boundary areas is an important recrystallisation mechanism in this temperature range. The interactions between precipitation and recrystallisation are analysed in terms of a simple model. The heating rate is shown to substantially affect the recrystallisation behaviour.     

Exact Power Function of Compendial Test Requirements for Content Uniformity

Abstract

The exact distributions associated with the current compendial test requirements are generated by resorting to the well known Computer Intensive Algorithm method to establish the exact percentage point (limit) for RSD, corresponding to each selected cut-off probability level (confidence level) for each of the four possible experimental outcomes based on the USP-NF test requirements. A table is constructed to present the two-dimensional power function. The similarities between these tabular values and the current compendial RSD limits for 10 and 30 dosage units are extremely remarkable.

Minor differences exist, however. It is suggested that both the theoretical as well as the numerical approaches should be carried out to arrive at a comprehensive solution.     

Surface properties of bio-implant Nitinol modified by ECR cold plasma

Abstract

The combination of shape memory effect and superelasticity with good biocompatibility makes the nickel – titanium shape memory implant alloy especially suitable for medical applications. One of the main problems of using Nitinol has been surface-induced thrombus formation, which is initiated by the adsorption of certain plasma proteins. The purpose of this study is to improve the biocompatibility of Nitinol for surgical implant applications. A plasma-polymerised tetraglyme coating has been prepared on the surface of Nitinol under ECR cold plasma conditions. Based on high resolution XPS and ATR-FTIR spectral analysis, this coating is a thin poly (ethylene glycol)-like film and built up mainly of – CH₂ – CH₂ – O – linkages in surfaces. Human plasma protein is adsorbed on to Nitinol and then evaluated by SEM; the surfaces are particularly effective in preventing protein adsorption.     

Structural applications of adhesives in civil engineering

Abstract

The use of adhesives in civil engineering is reviewed by considering typical applications and experience gained, together with some results of research. The properties and requirements of structural adhesives as used to bond construction materials are discussed briefly. It is concluded that, with an appropriate design of joint, careful selection of a suitable adhesive, and adequate surface preparation, bonded connections may be used in structural applications – at least in the short term. However, caution should be exercised for longer–term applications, particularly if the joint is to be subjected to extreme environmental conditions under sustained load.

MST/271     

Institutional considerations in watershed cumulative effects assessment and management

This paper examines the role of institutional arrangements as either facilitating or constraining the practice of watershed cumulative effects assessment and management (W-CEAM) within the context of the Grand River watershed (GRW), Canada. The research is based on document review, a focus group and 29 interviews conducted with academic experts, project proponents, government and watershed agencies representatives, non-governmental organization researchers, First Nations, and others with interest in the GRW. Information was gathered on existing policy and planning instruments, and relationships among the authorities and other partners that enable water resource management. Key facilitating factors for W-CEAM in the GRW include established institutions, a mature conservation authority and an ecological focus to resource management strategies, while constraining factors include obfuscation of leadership roles and lack of multi-scalar approaches to watershed science. We conclude that it is useful to conceptualize W-CEAM as characterized by both a managerial and a scientific ethos – the former facilitating the latter – and that institutional goodwill, political will and institutional capacity for innovation and creativity are additional institutional core requisites to W-CEAM.     

Evolution of the metal–oxide interface during the initial stage of the high temperature oxidation of ferritic stainless steels

Abstract

Two grades of ferritic stainless steel, a bi-stabilised Ti, Nb (AISI 441) and a stabilised Ti (AISI 439), were oxidised at 1060°C under the simulated process atmosphere for durations between 45 and 1800 s. Focused ion beam coupled with field emission gun and scanning electron microscopy was carried out to investigate the cross-section morphology of the oxide growing on ferritic stainless steels. Matrix protrusions localised at the metal – chromia interface through the silica layer are observed and the following mechanism for their formation is proposed. During the first step of oxidation, interface undulation, induced by growth stresses, in combination with silica precipitation at the metal – oxide interface lead to the formation of matrix protrusions in the chromia layer. For an increased oxidation time, due to the laterally silica growth matrix protrusions are trapped into the Cr₂O₃ layer as matrix inclusions.     

IoT-based networking for humanoid robots

Abstract

In this paper, a new network communication approach, named real-time network (RTNET), is designed and implemented for humanoid robots. The proposed five network objects – alarm, condition, message, mail, and file are used to represent the task and priority of the communication data. Compared to the existing protocols, the network scheduling mechanism of RTNET arranges, more efficiently, the priority and flow control of the five network communication objects to meet real-time requirements for the limited bandwidth of the local area network. RTNET can be further integrated with other protocols, such as EtherCAT or controller area networks (CAN Bus) for local control systems, e.g. robot arms, to improve the communication mechanism. The RTNET can also be used over Ethernet to connect each subsystem and to exchange information among those systems. Also, an Internet of things (IoT) network structure based on RTNET is proposed in this paper. The information of each subsystems is collected through RTNET and users can access all components in the IoT network. In this paper, the concept of RTNET is presented and RTNET has been implemented on a National Taiwan University (NTU) humanoid robot control system with CAN Bus.     

The estimation and application of surface energy data for powdered systems

Abstract

Estimates of surface energies of powders can be obtained by use of contact angle data, or by use of thermodynamic parameters (e.g. calorimetric determinations). In this review, the applications of surface energy data are considered in both a pragmatic manner, which could be applied directly to the formulation and production environment, and also in a manner that could aid fundamental research into both the understanding of mechanisms by which wetting is achieved and the ways in which wetting contributes to processes such as dissolution. The approaches, which are introduced and considered, centre around spreading coefficients and compensation analysis.     

A new ferritic stainless steel with improved thermo-mechanical fatigue resistance for exhaust parts

Abstract

Over the past few years, car manufacturers have been considering ever higher service temperatures for the engine in order to comply with the constraints of depollution standards. The requirements in terms of exhaust gas temperature could easily reach and overtake the limits of common stainless steel grades used for such applications in the coming years.

A new ferritic stainless steel – named K44X – with increased high temperature resistance has therefore been developed to withstand service temperature up to 1000 °C. K44X belongs to EN 1.4521 and AISI 444 classifications and is composed of approximately 19% Cr, 2%Mo and 0.6% Nb. This specific composition leads to better mechanical properties, higher creep and fatigue resistance than EN 1.4509, while keeping comparable weldability and formability. Its coefficient of thermal expansion is lower in comparison to austenitic stainless steel grades and its resistance to cyclic oxidation is improved significantly.

High-temperature properties (mechanical properties, creep, cyclic oxidation resistance, and high cycle fatigue) of K44X are presented in this paper and compared with common ferritic and austenitic stainless steels used in the hot end of exhaust lines. A thermal fatigue test – designed to reproduce exhaust manifold service conditions – has also been carried out with the highest temperatures of the cycle in the range of 850–1000 °C. The results of these thermal fatigue tests were compared with the above-mentioned stainless steels. A thermal fatigue damage criterion was then identified based on these experimental results and using a cyclic behaviour law obtained from isothermal low cycle fatigue tests.     

On robust fixed‐order filter design

Abstract

The paper investigates the filter design problem based on linear matrix inequality (LMI) formulation. Filter design approaches to achieve bounded robust H ₈ norm, robust H ₂ norm, and robust l ₂ – l ₈ gain are developed. It is shown that these designs can all be cast in terms of LMIs. Moreover, the LMIs for robust performance assessment and filter design bear similar form with respect to these different measures. The fixed‐order filter design problem is also tackled in terms of LMIs. An example is provided to illustrate the filter design procedure.     

Influence of alloying elements on thermal conductivity and high temperature strength of copper based alloys

Abstract

The effects of alloying elements and annealing temperature on thermal conductivity and softening behaviour of Cu – 0·1Ag – xP–yMg and Cu – xSn – yTe alloys (all compositions are in wt-%) have been investigated. The Cu – 0·1Ag – xP–yMg alloys, in spite of greater amounts of P and Mg, had a higher electrical conductivity and a higher softening temperature than those of a Cu – 0·1Ag – 0·031P alloy. A Cu – 0·032Sn – 0·023Te alloy had the same levels of electrical conductivity and softening temperature as those of Cu – 0·040Sn. The conductivity and softening temperature of the Cu – 0·032Sn – 0·023Te alloy are comparable with those of the Cu – 0·1Ag – 0·013P alloy currently used for continuous casting mould materials.     

An assessment of residual stress mitigation strategies for laser clad deposits

Laser cladding can be used for reclamation or for improving the corrosion resistance of engineering components. However, the process introduces substantial levels of residual stress, which can exacerbate corrosion. In this study, the effectiveness of different residual stress mitigation strategies was investigated. Laser clad overlays were produced by melting an austenitic stainless steel powder onto either an austenitic stainless steel or a mild steel substrate. Residual stresses were measured, using the hole-drilling technique, in the as-clad condition as well as after either laser shock peening (LSP) or post-weld heat treatment (PWHT). Samples were then subjected to corrosion testing. In all cases, LSP delayed the onset of corrosion cracks. However, PWHT was only effective when the substrate and overlay materials matched.

This paper is part of a Themed Issue on Measurement, modelling and mitigation of residual stress.