From Polluted to Swimmable Waters

Abstract

As early as the 1830s, water was pumped from the lake above the city and led via a wooden pipe to the centre of Tampere. In the 1860s, a businessman suggested that a privately held waterworks be constructed, but a city-owned works was preferred. A gravity system began distributing water in 1882, followed by a high-pressure system in 1898. The first phase of a sewerage system was completed in 1894. The bodies of water upstream and downstream from the City of Tampere deteriorated during the 1950s and 1960s but recovered surprisingly fast after the introduction of efficient water pollution control. Groundwater utilization was suggested in the 1910s, implemented partly since the 1950s, and may be followed by artificial recharge by 2010. Experiences from both water supply and water pollution control in the case of Tampere indicates that foreign solutions as such do not suit Finnish conditions. Applied development and research are needed. The role of public relations and education is becoming increasingly important as we enter the 21st century.     

Contours of diffusion of electronic data interchange in Finland: Overcoming technological barriers and collaborating to make it happen

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)—despite its basic simplicity—forms a complex and inter-organizational innovation. This necessitates multiple points of observation and the use of multiple theoretical frames in accounting EDI diffusion processes. Based on field study data we deliver a multi-level account of EDI diffusion in Finland. The study clarifies how factors located on three levels of analysis can be applied to understand the unfolding of EDI adoption in different organizational constellations, here called diffusion patterns. We examine three families of diffusion patterns: local dyadic patterns; industry-wide networks; and national initiatives. Overall we discern five distinct diffusion patterns. The analysis of the five patterns demonstrates that EDI diffusion is a complex interplay of organizational, industry and institutional factors. On the theory plane our study calls for the need to orchestrate multi-level approaches to study the diffusion of complex, and networked technologies.     

Regenerative Agents: Patient-Focused Architectures

Holistic care is nothing new. There are well-known examples across the world and throughout history – from ancient Greece, China and India to early 20th-century northern Europe – of approaches that prioritise placemaking as a facilitator for health and healing. Inspired by such precedents, London-based architects Penoyre & Prasad produce buildings that engage with nature and help put patients back in control of their recovery process. Sunand Prasad , one of the firm's cofounders, explains.     

Commercial building research threat or opportunity for customer satisfaction?

This case study of VTT Building Technology comprehensively describes the reasoning, decisions and effects in the process of change caused by the transformation to improve the applicability of research results and to increase commercial income. The change in culture, management, organizational structure, organizational strategies and research, development and dissemination activities were designed to increase customer orientation, performance quality and effectiveness in all activities. The culture change from a scientific research community to a customer-oriented and flexible commercial organization is detailed. In addition to the deep vertical levels of knowledge gained from research, a horizontal capability is developed and promoted to provide applicable knowledge (know-how) in forms suitable to the Institute's customers. Clear targets for achieving the Institute's mission and financial performance have been established to gauge progress and provide incentive for rewards. VTT Building Technology a mene cette etude de cas qui decrit de maniere exhaustive le raisonnement, les decisions et les effets du processus de changement induits par la transformation visant a ameliorer les applications des resultats de la recherche et a accroitre les recettes commerciales. Les changements qui affectent la culture, la gestion, les structures et les strategies d'organisation, la recherche et le developpement ainsi que les activities de dissemination ont ete penses afin d'orienter davantage le client, et d'ameliorer le niveau de qualite et l'efficacite de toutes les activities, L'auteur etudie en detail le changement de culture provoque par le passage d'une communaute de recherche scientifique a une organisation commerciale souple et orientee "client". Outre les niveaux verticaux profonds de connaissance issus de la recherche, il se developpe une capacite horizontale que l'on encourage pour fournir des connaissances (savoir faire) applicables et presentees dans des formes convenant a la clientele de l'Insitut. Des objectifs financiers et de programme precis ont ete fixes a l'Institut pour que l'on puisse evaluer les progres et motiver les travaux par des recompenses.     

Factors impacting district heating companies’ decision to provide small house customers with heat

District heating companies’ efficiency of providing district heating to small houses in Finland and Sweden is studied. The method used is Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The results indicate that Finnish companies, overall, are more efficient when offering district heat to small house customers. In Finland, price increases demand and impacts district heating company efficiency the most. The lower price level in Finland, compared to Sweden, might be a reflection of competition between different heating goods. In Sweden, network size and company size (large companies are more efficient in providing small houses with heat than small ones) drive the efficiency of small house district heating.     

Contemporary Reviews of Mine Water Studies in Europe, Part 2

Abstract.   Europe once was the most important mining region in the world and nearly every European country has remnants of historic and even pre-historic mining sites. Though the importance of mining activities in most European countries declines, the abandoned sites are still there and can cause environmental dangers as well as technological challenges. On the bases of selected European countries and case studies, these dangers and challenges are described and potential solutions are illustrated.     

芬兰——诗意地栖居之本质探寻

“诗意地栖居”体现了芬兰充满诗意的,与自然和谐共处的居住文化及建筑设计中所蕴涵的深刻的人本主义哲理。本文从自然与人文背景出发,对芬兰——诗意地栖居的本质进行探寻。