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1 – 10 of over 1000
Article
Publication date: 1 January 2013

Frank Warwick and Susanne Charlesworth

Sustainable drainage (SUDS) techniques seek to address problems associated with excess water quantity, poor water quality, and attempt to improve environmental quality. SUDS have…

1127

Abstract

Purpose

Sustainable drainage (SUDS) techniques seek to address problems associated with excess water quantity, poor water quality, and attempt to improve environmental quality. SUDS have also been proposed as suitable for adapting to and mitigating climate change. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the contribution of SUDS to carbon mitigation for a local planning authority.

Design/methodology/approach

Carbon sequestration rates of SUDS techniques were obtained from published literature. A Geographical Information System was used to identify potential sites for future SUDS implementation across the area covered by a local planning authority, Coventry, UK. The carbon mitigation potential of different SUDS techniques was estimated, taking account of land cover and land use limitations on new build and retrofit implementation.

Findings

Vegetated SUDS in new developments and retrofit green roofs provided the greatest potential for carbon storage in this urban setting.

Research limitations/implications

This study undertook a rapid assessment of the carbon mitigation that SUDS offers in an urbanised environment. The impact of factors such as greenhouse gas emissions from SUDS devices, management regimes and embedded carbon in engineered structures was not taken into account. The mitigation potential of associated shading and insulation by vegetated SUDS was not evaluated.

Practical implications

Retrofit of, for example, green roofs should be prioritised to take advantage of SUDS for climate change mitigation. The relatively low level of carbon stored over a 15‐year analysis period compared to the scale of forecast emissions revealed the extent of carbon mitigation challenges facing Coventry.

Originality/value

This study provides a methodology to evaluate the carbon mitigation potential of SUDS in an urban setting. Current UK legislative and regulatory emphasis focuses on new build. However, retrofit approaches appear to offer greater potential for carbon sequestration.

Details

Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, vol. 24 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7835

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 August 2012

Rachel A. Dearden and Simon J. Price

The purpose of this paper is to describe the decision‐making framework and datasets behind a national geographical information system (GIS) map that assesses the suitability of…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the decision‐making framework and datasets behind a national geographical information system (GIS) map that assesses the suitability of the subsurface for infiltration sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). In combination they provide geoenvironmental information on the necessary geological and hydrogeological considerations to facilitate preliminary site assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

The national suitability map comprises four parts, each of which considers a geoenvironmental factor essential to SuDS planning, installation and performance. The first three comprise: drainage; ground stability; and pollutant attenuation potential. The final map highlights those areas where infiltration may result in negative consequences such as the initiation or exacerbation of flooding or ground instability.

Findings

The application of the suitability map is demonstrated for an urban setting, showing its relevance to both planning for wide spatial‐assessment and site‐scale assessment.

Research limitations/implications

The suitability map aims to provide the data necessary for the assessment of subsurface suitability, rather than a recommendation on the type of infiltration system appropriate to the ground conditions. Future research could address this limitation by incorporating the use of quantitative site‐scale information, although it is unlikely that this would be possible at a national scale.

Practical implications

The suitability map is valid for use by developers and planners for the preliminary assessment of sites, but also by unitary authorities for the consideration of planning applications.

Originality/value

The paper introduces an innovative decision‐making framework to enable preliminary site assessment for infiltration SuDS and demonstrates the feasibility of the approach through an urban case study.

Details

Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, vol. 23 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7835

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 2012

Describes how top managers at luxury‐tour operator Kuoni went back to the shop floor on one of the travel industry's busiest Saturdays of the year as part of an initiative to work

Abstract

Purpose

Describes how top managers at luxury‐tour operator Kuoni went back to the shop floor on one of the travel industry's busiest Saturdays of the year as part of an initiative to work with and support their 21 new travel stores around the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

Examines the reasons for the initiative and the benefits it brought.

Findings

Explains that the initiative aimed to connect management with customers face to face and so further ensure that the company is meeting customers' holiday needs and expectations.

Practical implications

Reveals that many new ideas and insights came out of the initiative, which also confirmed to the managers involved that small details can make a big difference.

Social implications

Highlights how returning to the shop floor can help top managers to reconnect with their company's employees and customers and the issues that arise day‐to‐day.

Originality/value

Furnishes first‐hand accounts from managers who returned to the shop floor for a day.

Details

Human Resource Management International Digest, vol. 20 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0967-0734

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 2015

Chen Kun Chung

The purpose of this paper is to find the possibility of extending the capacity of urban drainage in highly urbanized cities with limited available space for flood management…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find the possibility of extending the capacity of urban drainage in highly urbanized cities with limited available space for flood management, while the anticipated increase in extreme rainfall is expected to raise the demand for higher capacity of water drainage or storage systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The concept of the three-layer approach is introduced to identify the crucial factors which had impacted the historical change of natural water system. These factors can further help identifying potential spaces for new designs of flood management based on the spatial context of local history.

Findings

In Pingtung case, a roadway surface drainage design is found as a complementary strategy by this method, which could effectively and practically extend the capacity of urban drainage without the need for requisitioning private lands or rearranging the complicated underground pipe and cable systems.

Research limitations/implications

This is an initial exploration from the perspective of urbanism to respond to hydrological problems under the impact of extreme rainfall. The more precise hydrologic simulation need to be further established.

Practical implications

This concept could be applied in delta cities to improve urban drainage by three steps: first, clarify the flooding problems; second, identify the available space; third, redesign hydrologic instrument with a multi-use of urban space.

Originality/value

This research provides hydrologists and urban planners with a practical collaboration base for the issues of extreme storm events.

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management, vol. 24 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 April 2012

Pradeep K. Rawat, C.C. Pant, P.C. Tiwari, P.D. Pant and A.K. Sharma

The main objective of the study is to identify the vulnerable areas for river‐line and flash flood hazard and its mitigation through GIS Database Management System (DBMS) of…

1575

Abstract

Purpose

The main objective of the study is to identify the vulnerable areas for river‐line and flash flood hazard and its mitigation through GIS Database Management System (DBMS) of geo‐hydrometeorological parameters. The Dabka watershed constitutes a part of the Kosi Basin in the Lesser Himalaya, India in district Nainital has been selected for the case illustration.

Design/methodology/approach

The Dabka DBMS is constituted of three GIS (Geographic Information System) modules, i.e. geo‐informatics (consists of geomorphology, soils, geology and land use pattern, slope analysis, drainage density and drainage frequency), weather informatics (consists of daily, monthly and annual weather data about temperature, rainfall, humidity and evaporation) and hydro‐informatics (consist of runoff, sediment delivery, and denudation). The geo‐informatics and weather informatics modules carried out by comprehensive field work and GIS mapping than both modules used to carry out hydro‐informatics module. Through the integration and superimposing of spatial data and attribute data with their GIS layers of all these modules prepared Flood Hazard Index (FHI) to identify the level of vulnerability for flood hazards and their socio‐economic and environmental risks.

Findings

The results suggest that geo‐environmentally most stressed areas of barren land (i.e. river‐beds, flood plain, denudational hills, sites of debris flow, gullies, landslide prone areas etc.) have extreme vulnerability for flood hazard due to high rate of runoff, sediment load delivery and denudation during rainy season (i.e. respectively 84.56 l/s/km2, 78.60 t/km2 and 1.21 mm/year) whereas in geo‐environmentally least stressed dense forest areas (i.e. oak, pine and mixed forests) have low vulnerability due to low rate of stream runoff, sediment load delivery and denudation (i.e. respectively 20.67 l/s/km2, 19.50 t/km2 and 0.20 mm/year). The other frazzled geo‐environment which also found high vulnerable for flood hazard and their risks is agricultural land areas due to high rate of stream runoff, sediment load delivery and denudation rates (i.e. respectively 53.15 l/s/km2, 90.00 t/km2 and 0.92 mm/year).

Research limitations/implications

For hydro‐informatics module it is quite difficult to monitor water and sediment discharge data from each and every stream of the Himalayan terrain due the steep and rugged topography. It requires strategic planning and trained man power as well as sufficient funds; therefore representative micro‐watershed approach of varied ecosystem followed for a three years (2006‐2008) period.

Practical implications

The study will have great scientific relevance in the field of river‐line flood and flash flood hazard and its socio‐economic and environmental risks prevention and management in Himalaya and other mountainous terrain of the world.

Originality/value

This study generated primary data on hydro‐informatics and weather informatics to integrate with geo‐informatics data for flood hazard assessment and mitigation as constitutes a part of multidisciplinary project, Department of Science and Technology (D.S.T.) Government of India.

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, vol. 21 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 September 2023

Haden Comstock and Nathan DeLay

Climate change is expected to cause larger and more frequent precipitation events in key agricultural regions of the United States, damaging crops and soils. Subsurface tile…

Abstract

Purpose

Climate change is expected to cause larger and more frequent precipitation events in key agricultural regions of the United States, damaging crops and soils. Subsurface tile drainage is an important technology for mitigating the risks of a wetter climate in crop production. In this study, the authors examine how quickly farmers adapt to increased precipitation by investing in drainage technology.

Design/methodology/approach

Using farm-level data from the 2018 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) of soybean producers, the authors construct a drainage adoption timeline based on when the operator began farming their land and when tile drainage was installed, if at all. The authors examine both the initial investment decision and the speed with which drainage is installed by adopters. A Heckman-style Poisson regression is used to model the count nature of adoption speed (measured in years taken to install tile drainage) and to correct for potential sample-selection bias.

Findings

The authors find that local precipitation is not a significant determinant of the drainage investment decision but may be highly influential in the timing of adoption among drainage users. Farms exposed to crop-damaging levels of precipitation install tile drainage faster than those with low to moderate levels of rainfall. Estimates of farm adaptation speeds are heterogeneous across farm and operator characteristics, most notably land tenure status.

Originality/value

Understanding how US farmers adapt to extreme weather through technology adoption is key to predicting the long-term impacts of climate change on America's food system. This study extends the existing climate adaptation literature by focusing on the speed of adoption of an important and increasingly common climate-mitigating technology – subsurface tile drainage.

Details

Agricultural Finance Review, vol. 83 no. 4/5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-1466

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 11 August 2021

Mazed Parvez, Nazmus Sadat, Farhana Tasnim and Israt Jahan Nejhum

Pabna is suffering from waterlogging problems from ancient times. The previous Drainage Master Plan was failed due to the lack of reflection of the general people of Pabna…

1631

Abstract

Purpose

Pabna is suffering from waterlogging problems from ancient times. The previous Drainage Master Plan was failed due to the lack of reflection of the general people of Pabna Municipality. As a result, this study focuses on identifying the causes of waterlogging in people's eyes. This paper will help the local authority and planners eradicate the waterlogging problem and build a planned and resilient community.

Design/methodology/approach

Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. Present drainage pattern, topology climatic elements were collected from the journals, websites and Municipal Ingratiated Development Plan (MIDP), Pabna-2008. The sample size was 246, and this respondent was surveyed. By the survey, the people's perception of waterlogging was collected. For that, five independent variables and one dependent variable were determined. These variables were determined by previous studies, reconnaissance survey of the study area. It used multiple linear regression and the correlation method; the causes of waterlogging were determined.

Findings

The study found solid waste disposal into the drainage, absence of operation and maintenance system, small discharge capacity with blocked in the current drains, nonappearance of combined drainage network of roadside drains and unplanned drainage system as the leading causes of waterlogging from the perception of the people. Also found that the absence of operation and maintenance system, solid waste disposal into the drainage and unplanned drainage system as the influencing causes on small discharge capacity with blocked in the current drains.

Originality/value

This study has focused on people's perceptions rather than secondary data. That is why this study will significantly impact eradicating the waterlogging problem from the Pabna Municipality and will carry out the core problems without any bias. This will lead to a sustainable, planned and resilient community.

Details

Ecofeminism and Climate Change, vol. 2 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2633-4062

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2001

K.G.B. Bakewell

Compiled by K.G.B. Bakewell covering the following journals published by MCB University Press: Facilities Volumes 8‐18; Journal of Property Investment & Finance Volumes 8‐18;…

18679

Abstract

Compiled by K.G.B. Bakewell covering the following journals published by MCB University Press: Facilities Volumes 8‐18; Journal of Property Investment & Finance Volumes 8‐18; Property Management Volumes 8‐18; Structural Survey Volumes 8‐18.

Details

Structural Survey, vol. 19 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-080X

Article
Publication date: 1 September 2001

Index by subjects, compiled by K.G.B. Bakewell covering the following journals: Facilities Volumes 8‐18; Journal of Property Investment & Finance Volumes 8‐18; Property Management…

14781

Abstract

Index by subjects, compiled by K.G.B. Bakewell covering the following journals: Facilities Volumes 8‐18; Journal of Property Investment & Finance Volumes 8‐18; Property Management Volumes 8‐18; Structural Survey Volumes 8‐18.

Details

Facilities, vol. 19 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-2772

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2006

Mathias Spaliviero

Due to its location, Mozambique suffers from cyclical flooding associated with heavy rains and cyclones. In recent years, extreme flood events affected millions of people…

Abstract

Due to its location, Mozambique suffers from cyclical flooding associated with heavy rains and cyclones. In recent years, extreme flood events affected millions of people, disrupting the economic recovery process that followed the peace agreement in 1992. Despite this natural threat, most of the population continues to live in flood prone areas both in rural environment, due to the dependency on agricultural activities, and in urban environment, since unsafe zones are often the only affordable option for new settlers.

This paper presents a brief analytical review on different issues related with urban informal settlements, or slums, based on different project activities developed by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) in Mozambique. The aim is to identify applicable strategies to reduce vulnerability in urban slums, where approximately 70 percent of the urban population live. The implemented project activities target different organisational levels in an integrated manner, seeking for active involvement of the Government, local authorities and communities at each implementation stage, from decision-making to practical implementation. They consist of three main components: 1) supporting policy-making in order to ensure sustainable urban development, 2) delivering a comprehensive training and capacity building based on the mainstreaming concept of “Learning How to Live with Floods” as valid alternative to resettlement, and 3) facilitating participatory land use planning coupled with physical upgrading interventions at the local level.

In the long-term, the intention of UN-HABITAT is to progressively focus on community-based slum upgrading and vulnerability reduction activities, coordinated by local authorities and actively monitored by central institutions, in improving and managing basic services and infrastructures (i.e. water supply, drainage, sanitation, waste management, road network, etc). This type of bottom-up experiences should then represent a basis for setting up a slum upgrading intervention strategy to be applied at the national level.

Details

Open House International, vol. 31 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0168-2601

Keywords

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