Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Charleston, Sc Branch Pilots Association And Noaa Ports, Christopher Diveglio

Benefits of Ocean Observing Catalog (BOOC)

1. Sources and type of data and information used

The Charleston, SC Branch Pilots Association (end user 1) make “go-no-go” decisions based on data from the National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON), Official NOAA Tide Predictions and Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (PORTS) sensors for tall, deep draft vessels transiting through Charleston Harbor and into the associated tributaries.

Specific datasets for this use case include:

• Charleston, SC NOAA NWLON station (8665530)

• NOAA PORTS Ravenel Bridge Air Gap, SC (8665353)

• NOAA PORTS Don Holt Bridge Air Gap, SC (8664753)

• Army Depot, SC NOAA Tide Prediction location (8664662)

Data can be accessed in …

Book Reviews, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

From The Acting Editor In Chief, C. Anthony Pfaff

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Welcome to the Autumn 2024 issue of Parameters. The Autumn issue consists of a special piece from the US Army War College Commandant and Provost on their strategic vision for the college, three In Focus special commentaries, three forums (Cooperative Partnerships, Professional Development, and Historical Studies), two regular forums (A Major’s Perspective and the Civil-Military Relations Corner), and a review essay focused on strategy in India.

Parameters Autumn 2024, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Welcome to the Autumn 2024 issue of Parameters. The Autumn issue consists of a special piece from the US Army War College Commandant and Provost on their strategic vision for the college, three In Focus special commentaries, three forums (Cooperative Partnerships, Professional Development, and Historical Studies), two regular forums (A Major’s Perspective and the Civil-Military Relations Corner), and a review essay focused on strategy in India.

Exploring Strategy In India, Vinay Kaura

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This review essay discusses Rajesh Basrur's Subcontinental Drift: Domestic Politics and India’s Foreign Policy and Feroz Hassan Khan's Subcontinent Adrift: Strategic Futures of South Asia and explores Indian strategy, especially concerning domestic issues and the relationship between Pakistan and India. The review concludes by noting that the two books agree on the oversized role of the Pakistani military in India’s national politics, where most security and foreign policy decisions are directed toward Pakistan.

Eisenhower As Supreme Allied Commander: A Reappraisal, Richard D. Hooker Jr.

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that the historical assessment of Dwight D. Eisenhower as Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in World War II lacks objectivity and balance. It identifies several strategic errors and missteps attributable to Eisenhower, which resulted in severe casualties and prolonged the war in Europe. The conclusions can help US military practitioners and policymakers assess the background and qualities required for successful theater command during wartime and senior commanders’ performances.

The State Of Democracy In South Africa, Heidi Van Dyk

The Confluence

Abstract:

On pen and paper, the country of South Africa fulfills the requirements to be a democracy. However, the country has been evaluated to be a flawed democracy and there is an elevated warning issued for the state by The Fragile State Index. This research seeks to find the root causes contributing to the decline of the state of democracy in South Africa. This state plays an important role in global politics. South Africa is a member of both G20 and BRICS, which are influential groups in the global arena. Further, the country exercises considerable regional influence as well as …

Preventing Arms Diversion In Wartime Ukraine: A Brief Overview, Olena Kryzhanivska Ph.D.

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Ukraine has entered its third year defending against Russia’s full-scale invasion, and despite emerging as one of the largest importers of weapons, it manages to prevent their major diversion. Experts evaluate the current arms control and weapons and ammunition management efforts by Ukraine and its allies with cautious optimism. Although obtaining detailed information about the intricacies of weaponry management in Ukraine is challenging, open sources allow us to glimpse some of the current measures taken during wartime. This article presents a brief overview of Ukraine's counter-diversion efforts and those of its partners, encompassing monitoring and control of international military aid, …

What Can Artificial Intelligence Offer Humanitarian Mine Action?, Russell Gasser Ph.D.

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Would you walk on land declared safe by an unproven technology, developed by enthusiastic proponents who do not have long experience in the world of mine action? What if the system for locating hazards will be tested in only one or two trials, even though the type of machine learning system they are using is known to sometimes give false but completely plausible results (so-called hallucinations1)? Furthermore, in the proposed machine-learning system there will be no audit trail for analysis if a serious error occurs, and no way of knowing for sure how to prevent its repetition.

There is dangerously …

Securing Land To Contribute To Food Systems: Preliminary Findings On Humanitarian Mine Action Cumulative Effects On Food Security In Lebanon, Riccardo Labianco Ph.D., Myriam Rabbath

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In a country or region affected by explosive ordnance (EO), the related contamination and, when present, humanitarian mine action (HMA), should be considered as part of the country’s food systems. Accordingly, understanding the cumulative effects of HMA on food security can be better appreciated by considering the whole food system and how local citizens view the impact of contamination. Through a preliminary series of community-level interviews in southern and northeast Lebanon from August to September 2023, Mines Advisory Group (MAG) started a research project on the impact of EO contamination on people’s ability to produce and procure adequate food and …

Navigating The Unintended Consequences Of Language, Imagery, And Meaning Has Never Been More Difficult Or More Important, Jon Brown

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Words matter. The imagery we use matters. When we tell the wrong story (or the right story in the wrong way), it damages us as organizations, damages us as a sector, and, most importantly of all, causes distant but lasting harm to the very communities we exist to serve and of which we are a part of. Let’s be clear: we at Mines Advisory Group (MAG) are certainly as guilty as the rest of the sector in getting things wrong, but we are putting steps in place to try to get it right.

The world has moved on from the …

The Journal Of Conventional Weapons Destruction Issue 28.2, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.

Local Is Possible: An Analysis Of Hma Localization Efforts And A Proposed Pathway For Future Projects, Mark Wilkinson Ph.D., Lisa Mueller-Dormann, Camilla Roberti, Lene Rasmussen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This paper aims to address the relevance of localization in humanitarian mine action (HMA), delineating principles, challenges, and advocating for increased attention. Drawing upon evidence from localization initiatives from DanChurchAid (DCA) and Danish Refugee Council (DRC) programming, we list tenets we believe should guide future project design and development. Contrary to the perception that localization offers limited value in mine action, this paper argues that applying it to HMA projects is both urgent and highly beneficial. As discussions on localization in the humanitarian sphere progress, so too should the implementation of localized approaches in HMA, driven by the evolving landscape …

Angola: Hidden Danger, Sean Sutton

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Lucala-2 is a small village located in the northern part of Angola, with 750 residents situated by a bridge crossing the Lucala river. This area gained strategic importance during the Angolan Civil War (1975–2002), particularly due to the Lucala bridge, which served as a critical crossing point. Throughout the war, minefields were strategically laid at all four corners of the bridge, illustrating the extensive use of landmines that has continued to impact Angola. These mines remain a harrowing legacy, contributing to ongoing casualties and significantly hindering development efforts long after the war's conclusion. The community explained how they have been …

The Prioritization Of Survey Through Open-Source Research In Ukraine, Anda Riza, Andro Mathewson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With the increasing quantity of available and relevant open-source information online, the mine action sector is well poised to take advantage of its accessibility for conducting research, analysis, and investigations. In current conflicts, such as in Ukraine and Yemen, online sources are a rich repository of information which can be leveraged for survey and clearance operations. Humanitarian mine clearance actors can harness this vast quantity of information to map conflicts and their effects, including the location of landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). In turn, this can be used to help prioritize survey efforts, especially in contexts where …

Studying The Effects Of Aging On Ammunition Under Water, Nicole Neitzey, Colin King

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The world’s oceans and waterways contain untold amounts of munitions, whether dumped or fired, and the sometimes-harsh underwater environment can make their clearance difficult. Yet we are approaching a time when we will have to face the reality of removing them to continue enjoying the planet’s most abundant natural resource. Much of the ammunition in areas from the Baltic Sea to the rivers of Cambodia to the Gulf of Mexico has been immersed for decades, subject to a variety of underwater influences. Many studies have examined the impacts of degrading explosives on the surrounding environment, but few look at what …

Situation, Needs, And Countermeasures Of Innovation Development In The Yellow River Basin, Kaihua Chen, Jie Lin, Chaokai Xue, Weiyu Duan, Langmei Zhu, Dongzhu Lu, Baorong Hou

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The Yellow River runs through nine provinces (regions) in western, central, and eastern China. It is not only an important ecological security barrier in China, but also an important region for social activity and economic development. Strategically planning the development of the Yellow River Basin at the national level can not only accelerate the high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, but also effectively promote the western development strategy and regional coordinated development strategy. Nevertheless, the poor carrying capacity of the ecological environment in the Yellow River Basin, the obvious feature of industrial development relying heavily on energy, and the …

Comparative Analysis Of Science And Technology Innovation Competitiveness In The Yellow River Basin, Weiyu Duan, Quanjing Wang, Kaihua Chen, Siqing Fang, Huiling Liang, Renhai Dai

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The assessment and comparison of the S&T innovation competitiveness among the provinces and regions in the Yellow River Basin are helpful to better utilize the supporting and leading role of S&T innovation in the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. Combined with the real characteristics of S&T innovation in the Yellow River Basin, the study considers five dimensions horizontally: S&T innovation input, S&T innovation output, S&T entrepreneurial condition, S&T innovation revenue, and S&T innovation influence. Vertically, it considers two types of indicators, namely, strength and efficiency, and constructs the index system of evaluation of S&T innovation …

Situation, Needs, And Countermeasures Of Innovation Development In The Yellow River Basin, Kaihua Chen, Jie Lin, Chaokai Xue, Weiyu Duan, Langmei Zhu, Dongzhu Lu, Baorong Hou

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The Yellow River runs through nine provinces (regions) in western, central, and eastern China. It is not only an important ecological security barrier in China, but also an important region for social activity and economic development. Strategically planning the development of the Yellow River Basin at the national level can not only accelerate the high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, but also effectively promote the western development strategy and regional coordinated development strategy. Nevertheless, the poor carrying capacity of the ecological environment in the Yellow River Basin, the obvious feature of industrial development relying heavily on energy, and the …

Current Status, Challenges, And Policy Recommendations For Industrial Development In The Yellow River Basin, Chaokai Xue, Kaihua Chen, Quanjing Wang, Yujie Zhang, Xiaohui Qu, Mengfei Zhang, Haitao Ma

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The foundation for ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin lies in the rational development of industry. This study systematically analyzes the current state of industrial development in the Yellow River Basin, examining traditional industries, strategic emerging industries, and future industries. Based on this analysis, it identifies key issues and development directions. The study reveals that the industrial structure in the Yellow River Basin is unreasonable; traditional industries have short chains and high energy consumption; the cultivation of strategic emerging industries is inadequate and poorly aligned; and comprehensive planning for future industries is inadequate. Therefore, it is …

Digital Technologies Empower Innovative Development Governance Of The Yellow River Basin, Tara Qian Sun, Yingying Jia, Gaozuo Sun, Xixi Zhao, Rongping Mu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The application of digital technologies is the core driving force for innovating traditional development and realizing a leap in productivity. The innovative development governance of the Yellow River Basin is a complex social system, involving economic, social, and ecological aspects. Its key driving force is the profound influence of digital technologies. Focused on how digital technologies empower the innovative development governance of the Yellow River Basin, the development process, problems, and challenges are analyzed at different stages, from the digital Yellow River to the digital twin Yellow River. It is found that the governance of the Yellow River Basin still …

Research On Current Situation And Optimization Strategy Of Cross-Regional Scientific And Technological Innovation Cooperation In The Yellow River Basin, Gupeng Zhang, Wenbo Guo, Huiling Liang, Jingjing Zhang, Dongzhu Lu, Baorong Hou, Yan Liang, Weiyu Duan

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Realizing effective cross-regional innovation cooperation not only helps to enhance the overall scientific and technological innovation capabilities of the Yellow River Basin, but also is crucial for promoting the western development strategy and achieving industrial upgrading and leapfrogging in the western region. The innovation collaborative network composed of various enterprises, universities, and research institutes across different regions in the Yellow River Basin helps to break down information silos and help provinces and cities fully achieve information sharing in open scientific and technological innovation cooperation platforms. The cross-regional innovation collaborative network that have been constructed in the Yellow River Basin consists …

Development Of A Serious Game As A Natural Hazard Planning Decision Support Tool, Jody A. Thompson

The Journal of Extension

As coastal populations grow, so does the exposure to natural hazards such as hurricanes and flooding, creating the potential for increased social and economic disasters. The literature indicates coastal residents remain complacent when planning before, during, and after an event. There is a growing successful use of serious games in natural resources planning, and a growth in the use of digital and electronic games. We developed the serious digital game Plan for It! in response to identified needs and to capitalize on the public’s familiarity with gamification and digital gaming.

Wasted Space: Using Parking Lots & Vacant Land To Improve Neighborhood Completeness, Ryan Martyn

Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs

This study conducts a spatial analysis of Portland, Oregon, focusing on leveraging underutilized areas like parking lots and vacant land—termed "wasted space"—to improve the city's completeness. Central to this investigation is the concept of a "complete neighborhood," characterized by access to daily necessities within convenient active transportation trip. This comprehensive idea encompasses walkability, equitable access to services, and sustainability.

This paper aims to redefine the concept of a complete neighborhood with precision and delve into its implications. The research looks at five regional, town, and neighborhood centers as defined by the city of Portland. These centers act as pivotal hubs …

From The Editor In Chief, Antulio J. Echevarria Ii

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Welcome to the Summer 2024 issue of Parameters. We open this issue with a special “In Memoriam” by General Charles A. Flynn, Commander US Army Pacific, honoring the life and legacies of our director and consummate colleague, Carol V. Evans. We dedicate this issue to her. General Flynn’s memoriam is followed by an In Focus commentary on China’s Belt and Road Initiative. We then feature three forums covering the Russia-Ukraine War, the Middle East, and Professional Development. This issue also contains special essays on the role of professional writing, the US Army War College’s Civil-Military Relations Center, …

The Dynamics Of Us Retrenchment In The Middle East, Paul K. Macdonald, Joseph M. Parent

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that conditions favor American retrenchment from the Middle East because the United States can shift burdens to capable states in the region, there are few areas where US commitments are interdependent, and the local conquest calculus favors defense. Forward military deployments do not positively influence potential threats in the Middle East, and maintaining deployments there will detract from meeting challenges from China. Through comparisons to prior cases of great-power ordinal decline, this article puts America’s modest decline in historical perspective and finds that retrenchment policies will likely have positive consequences.

Exploring The Nexus Of Military And Society At A 50-Year Milestone, Patricia M. Shields

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

There is an ongoing dependence and tension between the military and the society it protects. This article examines the relatively new “military and society” field using the 50-year anniversary of the journal Armed Forces & Society as a focal point. This dynamic field is influenced by world events, cultural trends, and politics. Civil-military relations is at the heart of the discourse. An international and interdisciplinary journal, Armed Forces & Society reflects the changing nature of the field over the last 50 years. I have edited the journal since 2001 and bring this experience to the discussion.

Contributor Guidelines, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

The Combat Path: Sustaining Mental Readiness In Ukrainian Soldiers, Oleh Hukovskyy, James C. West, Joshua C. Morganstein, Eugene F. Augusterfer, David M. Benedek, Oleg Boyko, Robert J. Ursano, Amy B. Adler

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

In Ukraine, soldiers’ psychological resilience is of paramount concern. Therefore, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have developed a new intervention, Combat Path Debriefing, designed to address combat stress and promote unit readiness for soldiers returning to combat. This article outlines the components of Combat Path Debriefing and discusses how it is rooted in principles of combat and operational stress control and the unique characteristics of Ukrainian military life. This perspective offers US and allied leaders real-world experience that can inform future efforts to support soldiers’ mental health and combat performance.

Raven Sentry: Employing Ai For Indications And Warnings In Afghanistan, Thomas W. Spahr

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article examines Raven Sentry, a project that employed artificial intelligence to provide advance warning of insurgent attacks in Afghanistan. During 2019 and 2020, the Resolute Support Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (J2) benefited from a command culture open to innovation, the urgency created by the US drawdown, and a uniquely talented group of personnel that, aided by commercial sector experts, built an AI system that helped predict attacks. The war’s end cut Raven Sentry short, but the experience provides important lessons on AI and the conditions necessary for successful innovation.