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Multi-Criteria Evaluation Of Control Strategies In Wwtp Removing Organic Carbon, Nitrogen And Phosphorus, Xavier Flores-Alsina, Lluís Corominas, Peter A. Vanrolleghem Jul 2010

Multi-Criteria Evaluation Of Control Strategies In Wwtp Removing Organic Carbon, Nitrogen And Phosphorus, Xavier Flores-Alsina, Lluís Corominas, Peter A. Vanrolleghem

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

The objective of this paper is to show the usefulness of multivariate statistical techniques to structure and visualize the information contained in multi-criteria matrixes obtained from the evaluation of control strategies in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). The performance of sixteen different control strategies is evaluated by measuring their degree of satisfaction for twenty-four environmental, technical, economical and legal objectives using the “Neptune Simulation Benchmark” (an A2O WWTP removing organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus). Cluster analysis (CA), principal component /factor analysis (PCA/FA) and discriminant analysis (DA) are applied to the simulation output of the tested control strategies. The results of the …

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Mapping, Modelling And Managing Ecosystems Services In New Zealand, Daniel T. Rutledge, John Dymond, Suzie Greenhalgh, Anne-Gaelle Ausseil, Robyn Sinclair, Alexander Herzig, Fraser Morgan, Robbie Andrew, Alison Collins Jul 2010

Mapping, Modelling And Managing Ecosystems Services In New Zealand, Daniel T. Rutledge, John Dymond, Suzie Greenhalgh, Anne-Gaelle Ausseil, Robyn Sinclair, Alexander Herzig, Fraser Morgan, Robbie Andrew, Alison Collins

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Central and local government agencies in New Zealand are calling for a paradigm shift in natural resource management. A unified approach is required to deliver a wide range of services and outcomes in a sustainable manner. Our new, 4-year research project aims to provide the scientific basis for such an approach. We are taking a threephase approach. First, we will characterize, classify and quantitatively map past and current state of a comprehensive suite of ecosystem services nationally. We will use a tiered approach that reflects the level of knowledge available about various services. Second, we will explore how future changes …

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Parameter Optimization And Bayesian Inference In An Estuarine Eutrophication Model Of Intermediate Complexity, P. Ding, C. E. S. Hoyle, M. E. Borsuk Jul 2010

Parameter Optimization And Bayesian Inference In An Estuarine Eutrophication Model Of Intermediate Complexity, P. Ding, C. E. S. Hoyle, M. E. Borsuk

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

The Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina, has been experiencing severe consequences of eutrophication in recent years including excessive algal blooms, low levels of dissolved oxygen, declining shellfish populations, large fishkills, and outbreaks of toxic microorganisms. As in many other marine systems, nitrogen has been identified as the pollutant of concern in the estuary because it is believed to stimulate the excessive algal growth that is at the root of other ecological problems. A model incorporating the mechanisms of algal growth and nutrient consumption in the Neuse River Estuary is formulated mathematically and implemented in the computer software AQUASIM. Key model …

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Modelling Needs Assessment For Social Adaptation To Climate Change In Siberia, G. A. Alexandrov, G. Inoue, T. Matsunaga Jul 2010

Modelling Needs Assessment For Social Adaptation To Climate Change In Siberia, G. A. Alexandrov, G. Inoue, T. Matsunaga

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Despite the common expectation that climate change may make Siberia a warm heaven, this would not be good for local people. Surprisingly the people of Siberia do rely on the winter cold. Warming may be a serious challenge here. Climate change threatens Siberian forests, lakes and permafrost. In the region where landscapes are unstable this implies the risks of losing the traditional means of subsistence, at least for a while. Social adaptation to climate change is becoming an urgent issue, as the first signs of warming are becoming noticeable to local people. This article reports an attempt to explore the …

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Effective Microorganisms (Em) Technology For Water Quality Restoration And Potential For Sustainable Water Resources And Management, Zuraini Zakaria, Sanjay Gairola, Noresah Mohd Shariff Jul 2010

Effective Microorganisms (Em) Technology For Water Quality Restoration And Potential For Sustainable Water Resources And Management, Zuraini Zakaria, Sanjay Gairola, Noresah Mohd Shariff

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Water quality has received considerable attention in allocation processes formaximizing the satisfaction of various sectors. However, pollutant impurities that impedeadequate supply of water have a detrimental effect on the quality and harmful for livingorganisms including aquatic life. For the reduction of water pollution level, variouschemical and biological treatments are available but the emergence of an amazingtechnology of a multiculture of anaerobic and aerobic beneficial microorganisms ispresently gaining popularity due to its environmentally friendly nature. This effectivemicroorganism (EM) technology uses naturally occurring microorganisms which are ableto purify and revive nature. Applications of EM using the formula known as effectivemicroorganism activated solution …

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Learning How To Model Ecosystem Trade-Offs At The Farm Scale, E. Pilgrim, C. J. A. Macleod, D. Beaumont, M. S. A. Blackwell, R. Bol, A. Del Prado, B. Griffith, R. Orr, A. Shepherd, L. Wu, L. G. Firbank Jul 2010

Learning How To Model Ecosystem Trade-Offs At The Farm Scale, E. Pilgrim, C. J. A. Macleod, D. Beaumont, M. S. A. Blackwell, R. Bol, A. Del Prado, B. Griffith, R. Orr, A. Shepherd, L. Wu, L. G. Firbank

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

The ecosystem service framework provides a forum for scientists from a rangeof disciplines to communicate and work together alongside other key stakeholders.However to be effective, place-based comparison of the tradeoffs of ecosystem servicesneed further development. These place-based comparisons are vital in agricultural systemsdue to the increasing global demand for food production, coupled with the realization thatthis should be achieved with minimal negative impact on the environment. The farm is thelogical unit of management in agricultural systems and hence there is a need for ecosystemtradeoff assessments at the farm scale. We have carried out a literature review of thetradeoffs in the …

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New Software Methods In Radar Ornithology Using Wsr-88d Weather Data And Potential Application To Monitoring Effects Of Climate Change On Bird Migration, Reginald Mead, John Paxton, Richard S. Sojda Jul 2010

New Software Methods In Radar Ornithology Using Wsr-88d Weather Data And Potential Application To Monitoring Effects Of Climate Change On Bird Migration, Reginald Mead, John Paxton, Richard S. Sojda

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Radar ornithology has provided tools for studying the movement of birds,especially related to migration. Researchers have presented qualitative evidence suggestingthat birds, or at least migration events, can be identified using large broad scale radars suchas the WSR-88D used in the NEXRAD weather surveillance system. This is potentially aboon for ornithologists because such data cover a large portion of the United States, areconstantly being produced, are freely available, and have been archived since the early1990s. A major obstacle to this research, however, has been that identifying birds inNEXRAD data has required a trained technician to manually inspect a graphically renderedradar sweep. …

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Informing Regional Planning In Alberta’S Oilsands Region With A Land-Use Simulation Model, Matthew Carlson, Terry Antoniuk, Dan Farr, Shawn Francis, Karen Manuel, John Nishi, Brad Stelfox, Mika Sutherland, Cornel Yarmoloy, Craig Aumann Jul 2010

Informing Regional Planning In Alberta’S Oilsands Region With A Land-Use Simulation Model, Matthew Carlson, Terry Antoniuk, Dan Farr, Shawn Francis, Karen Manuel, John Nishi, Brad Stelfox, Mika Sutherland, Cornel Yarmoloy, Craig Aumann

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Planning for regional sustainability requires strategic understanding of ecological and socioeconomic trade-offs associated with alternative land use options. We discuss a scenario analysis being undertaken to assess trade-offs for a 93,000 km2 region in northeastern Alberta containing the world’s second largest oil deposit. Due to its immense economic and ecological value, the region presents both an opportunity and challenge for the objectives of sustainable prosperity and healthy ecosystems put forth by the Alberta government’s Land-Use Framework. ALCES® simulation and mapping software are being applied to inform government planners and stakeholders about possible future outcomes associated with land-use options. Two characteristics …

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Functional Linear Models To Test For Differences In Prairie Wetland Hydraulic Gradients, Mark C. Greenwood, Richard S. Sojda, Todd M. Preston Jul 2010

Functional Linear Models To Test For Differences In Prairie Wetland Hydraulic Gradients, Mark C. Greenwood, Richard S. Sojda, Todd M. Preston

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Functional data analysis provides a framework for analyzing multiple time seriesmeasured frequently in time, treating each series as a continuous function of time.Functional linear models are used to test for effects on hydraulic gradient functionalresponses collected from three types of land use in Northeastern Montana at fourteenlocations. Penalized regression-splines are used to estimate the underlying continuousfunctions based on the discretely recorded (over time) gradient measurements. Permutationmethods are used to assess the statistical significance of effects. A method foraccommodating missing observations in each time series is described. Hydraulic gradientsmay be an initial and fundamental ecosystem process that responds to climate change. …

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Estimates Of Seasonal Methane Emissions From Paddy-Rice Cropped At Pindamonhangaba Municipality, Brazil, Using Dndc Model, Maria Conceição Peres Young Pessoa, Magda Aparecida De Lima, Omar Vieira Vilella Jul 2010

Estimates Of Seasonal Methane Emissions From Paddy-Rice Cropped At Pindamonhangaba Municipality, Brazil, Using Dndc Model, Maria Conceição Peres Young Pessoa, Magda Aparecida De Lima, Omar Vieira Vilella

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Agricultural activities have been pointed out as one of anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gas emissions, which influence on climatic changes. Information available at Intergovernmental Panel on Climatic Changes (Ipcc) indicated that methane emissions (CH4) generated during the paddy-rice culture development phases is one of these activities and must be better investigated at field conditions. Computer tools that allow following the space-time dynamic of methane emissions from paddy-rice culture, considering the management involved, should also contribute to identify alternatives in order to minimize the high emission rates. Thereby, the Denitrification-Decomposition model (DnDc) can be used to investigate alternative scenarios in order …

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Renyi's-Entropy-Based Approach For Selecting The Significant Input Variables For The Ecological Data, Can-Tao Liu, Bao-Gang Hu Jul 2010

Renyi's-Entropy-Based Approach For Selecting The Significant Input Variables For The Ecological Data, Can-Tao Liu, Bao-Gang Hu

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Recently, data-driven approaches including machine-learning (ML) techniqueshave played a key role in the research on ecological data and models. One of the mostimportant steps in the application of a ML technique is the selection of significant modelinput variables. Among ML methods, artificial neural networks and genetic algorithm arewidely used for the sake of the above aim; however entropy-based learning methods havenot been well adopted in the field of selecting the significant input variables for ecologicalmodel. In this paper, we utilize Renyi’s entropy to estimate mutual information, and thencompute maximum relevance and minimum redundancy of the input variables by themutual information …

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Integrated Model Of Municipal Waste Management Of The Czech Republic, Jiří Hřebíček, Jana Soukopová Jul 2010

Integrated Model Of Municipal Waste Management Of The Czech Republic, Jiří Hřebíček, Jana Soukopová

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

An integrated model of municipal waste management of the Czech Republic was developed as a balanced network model for a set of municipal solid waste (MSW) sources (mostly municipalities) connected with a set of chosen waste treatment facilities processing their waste. The model involves composting, energy utilisation, material recycling, and land-filling. It is implemented as a combination of four sub-models (GIS transport submodel, quantification and composition of MSW sub-models, cost economic sub-models of all facilities and sub-model optimizing greenhouse gases expressed as CO2 equivalent) and it is easily scalable. It enables the optimisation of environmental impacts (land-filling and greenhouse emissions). …

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Modelling Flow And Concentration Field In Rectangular Water Tanks, F. Javier Martínez-Solano, Pedro L. Iglesias Rey, C. Gualtieri, P. Amparo López-Jiménez Jul 2010

Modelling Flow And Concentration Field In Rectangular Water Tanks, F. Javier Martínez-Solano, Pedro L. Iglesias Rey, C. Gualtieri, P. Amparo López-Jiménez

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Water storage tanks are usually designed with two objectives, i.e. to provide a specified maximum storage volume and to fix a certain total head over the water supply network. Only more recently, some attention has been paid to the water quality inside the storage tank since this can significantly affect the quality in the distribution systems. Sometimes conceptual models were proposed in the literature, but computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods can be considered as the best analysis and predictive tool in storage tanks water quality studies. In this paper, FLUENT®, a commercial CFD code, was applied to model flow and …

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Nonlinear Optimization For Improving The Operation Of Sewer Systems: The Bogot´A Case Study., J. M. Giraldo, S. Leirens, Mario Díaz-Granados, Juan Pablo Rodríguez Jul 2010

Nonlinear Optimization For Improving The Operation Of Sewer Systems: The Bogot´A Case Study., J. M. Giraldo, S. Leirens, Mario Díaz-Granados, Juan Pablo Rodríguez

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Sewer systems are considered as complex large-scale systems that traditionally collect and transport stormwater and sanitary sewage out from urban areas. Each subsystem is in itself composed of a large number of elements with time-varying behavior, exhibiting several operating modes and subject to changes due to external conditions and operational constraints. Sewer systems are mainly operated using pumping stations and pollutants are removed from sewage by treatment plants before water is released into the environment. When a sewer overflow occurs, e.g., caused by a strong rainfall, sewage is discharged directly into the environment with some dilution but without treatment. An …

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Reasoning About Actions For The Management Of Urban Wastewater Systems Using A Causal Logic, Dario Garcia-Gasull, Juan Carlos Nieves, Ulises Cortés Jul 2010

Reasoning About Actions For The Management Of Urban Wastewater Systems Using A Causal Logic, Dario Garcia-Gasull, Juan Carlos Nieves, Ulises Cortés

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

The management of Urban Wastewater Systems (UWS) is a critical and difficult process. Handling polluted water in UWS requires planning and decision making regarding sectors such as environmental, energetic, industrial, etc. In order to represent all the significant concepts, a powerful and flexible formalism is needed. Nowadays, there are solid approaches based on nonmonotonic reasoning which can capture dynamic domains such UWS. In this paper, we present an implementation of a real UWS in the action language Causal Calculator (CCalc-C+) which displays all the singularities of such domain and within which complex queries can be performed. The nonmonotonic causal theory, …

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Integrated River Assessment By Coupling Water Quality And Ecological Assessment Models, Ine S. Pauwels, Gert Everaert, Peter L. M. Goethals Jul 2010

Integrated River Assessment By Coupling Water Quality And Ecological Assessment Models, Ine S. Pauwels, Gert Everaert, Peter L. M. Goethals

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

The European Water Framework Directive has a high impact on current watermanagement in Belgium. Several restoration scenarios have been worked out by thegovernment. To compare the effect of these scenarios, a combination of a water quality(PEGASE) and ecological assessment models (data driven models based on regression trees)has been developed and applied for the major part of the large river systems in Flanders(Belgium). The simulation results illustrate that the currently foreseen investments in waterquality improvement will lead to drastic improvements of the ecological water quality, but arenot enough to meet the target status in most of the streams in Flanders. Moreover, …

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Multi-Criteria Evaluation Of Control Strategies In Wwtp Removing Organic Carbon, Nitrogen And Phosphorus, Xavier Flores-Alsina, Lluís Corominas, Peter A. Vanrolleghem Jul 2010

Multi-Criteria Evaluation Of Control Strategies In Wwtp Removing Organic Carbon, Nitrogen And Phosphorus, Xavier Flores-Alsina, Lluís Corominas, Peter A. Vanrolleghem

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

The objective of this paper is to show the usefulness of multivariate statistical techniques to structure and visualize the information contained in multi-criteria matrixes obtained from the evaluation of control strategies in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). The performance of sixteen different control strategies is evaluated by measuring their degree of satisfaction for twenty-four environmental, technical, economical and legal objectives using the “Neptune Simulation Benchmark” (an A2O WWTP removing organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus). Cluster analysis (CA), principal component /factor analysis (PCA/FA) and discriminant analysis (DA) are applied to the simulation output of the tested control strategies. The results of the …

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A Crane Movement Model Parameterized Using Portable Radar For Evaluating Response To Wind Energy Development, Eileen M. Kirsch, Richard S. Sojda, Robert H. Diehl, Manuel Suarez Jul 2010

A Crane Movement Model Parameterized Using Portable Radar For Evaluating Response To Wind Energy Development, Eileen M. Kirsch, Richard S. Sojda, Robert H. Diehl, Manuel Suarez

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has an interest in understanding how sandhill and whooping cranes (Grus canadensis and G. americana, respectively) use habitats in the landscape surrounding Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin, USA. The refuge and adjacent state wildlife management areas contain the largest cattail marsh in the lower 48 states, providing important habitat for sandhill and whooping cranes, especially for roosting and staging for migration. Important feeding habitats are found in adjacent agricultural fields, small wetlands, and grasslands. It is in these feeding habitats that commercial wind turbines have been erected. We are studying crane movements in …

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Sustainable Forest Management For Bioenergy, Giulia Fiorese, Giorgio Guariso Jul 2010

Sustainable Forest Management For Bioenergy, Giulia Fiorese, Giorgio Guariso

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Biomass from the forest sector can be an important source of renewable energy and can contribute to climate change mitigation and bioenergy development. However, the removal of biomass from forests can have significant impacts on the forest ecosystems and therefore requires a thorough analysis. The purpose of this work is to compare different alternatives of sustainable forest management with the aim of minimizing greenhouse gases emission. The model used for the analysis, CO2FIX, describes the flows of carbon per unit area of biomass, soil storage and bioenergy products. The model was applied to the forests of the Italian region of …

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Agent Based Modelling Of Caribou Environmental Interactions In The Canadian Arctic, Glen Lesins, Kaz Higuchi Jul 2010

Agent Based Modelling Of Caribou Environmental Interactions In The Canadian Arctic, Glen Lesins, Kaz Higuchi

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Agent or individual based modelling (IBM) is recognized as an important tool in biological modelling for simulating animal behaviour and interactions with the environment at the level of the individual while maintaining a collective perspective. The method allows rules to be programmed for the interactions between like and unlike species, responses to geographic factors and impacts from human activities. By emphasizing the development of appropriate rules for the individual, one can avoid imposing ad hoc assumptions concerning the population as a whole and instead allow emergent phenomena to unfold at the larger scale. Here we report on preliminary results using …

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Effective Engagement Of Stakeholders In Total Maximum Daily Load Development And Implementation, Erica Gaddis, Carl Adams, Alexey Voinov Jul 2010

Effective Engagement Of Stakeholders In Total Maximum Daily Load Development And Implementation, Erica Gaddis, Carl Adams, Alexey Voinov

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) identify the maximum amount of pollution that a water body can receive and still support its designated uses and allocates the maximum load to specific sources in the watershed. In the United States, The Clean Water Act requires public participation in the process of TMDL development. This requirement has been met through simple presentation of results at public meetings, strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, and/or to advisory committees in which stakeholders participate in critical decisions about TMDL definition and implementation. These decisions include model selection and assumptions, selection of water quality endpoints, load allocations, TMDL …

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End-To-End Workflows For Coupled Climate And Hydrological Modeling, Kathy Saint, Sylvia Murphy Jul 2010

End-To-End Workflows For Coupled Climate And Hydrological Modeling, Kathy Saint, Sylvia Murphy

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

In order to examine the effects of environmental changes on local watersheds, it has become increasingly important to be able to interoperate between diverse models and document and share the resulting data. To this end, we are prototyping an end-to-end workflow that executes multiple, distributed models, loosely couples the model components, and disseminates the model results and metadata using a data portal. This project is made up of three major components and is implemented in multiple phases. The main components include the interface to the models for configuration and execution, the interface to the portal for data dissemination, and the …

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An Agglomeration Payment For Cost-Effective Biodiversity Conservation In Spatially Structured Landscapes, Martin Drechsler, Frank Wätzold, Karin Johst, Jason F. Shogren Jul 2010

An Agglomeration Payment For Cost-Effective Biodiversity Conservation In Spatially Structured Landscapes, Martin Drechsler, Frank Wätzold, Karin Johst, Jason F. Shogren

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Connected habitats are ecologically more valuable than isolated habitats for many species. A key challenge when designing payments for biodiversity in fragmented landscapes is to increase the spatial connectivity of habitats. Based on the idea of an agglomeration bonus we consider a scheme in which land-owners only receive payments if habitats are arranged in an ecologically favourable configuration. We compare the costeffectiveness of agglomeration payments to spatially homogeneous payments on a conceptual level. Our results suggest that positive efficiency gains exist for agglomeration payments. We use Large Blue butterfly habitat in Germany as a specific case study, and find the …

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Unexpected Side-Effects Of Winter Feeding: Learning From Mahalanobis Distances Factor Analysis In The Case Of Red-Crowned Cranes In Hokkaido, Japan, Yi-Liang Kuo Jul 2010

Unexpected Side-Effects Of Winter Feeding: Learning From Mahalanobis Distances Factor Analysis In The Case Of Red-Crowned Cranes In Hokkaido, Japan, Yi-Liang Kuo

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Winter feeding has become a critical approach to sustain animals in high latitude,but little literature has investigated possible side-effects in terms of ecological niches. Toexplore whether winter feeding might affect species distributions at regional scale, weemployed a novel spatial model, Mahalanobis Distances Factor Analysis, in the case ofRed-crowned Cranes (Grus japonensis) in Hokkaido, Japan. This model features betterprediction ability with more explicit ecological significance compared to conventionalmethods. Furthermore, particularly innovative is that axes are used to define ecologicalniches, with a minimal set of habitual variables to calculate habitat suitability in thealgorithm. In results, winter feeding seemed to considerably impact the …

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Uncertainty Of A Biological Nitrogen And Phosphorus Removal Model, A. Cosenza, G. Mannina, G. Viviani Jul 2010

Uncertainty Of A Biological Nitrogen And Phosphorus Removal Model, A. Cosenza, G. Mannina, G. Viviani

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

In the last few years, the use of mathematical models in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) processes has become a common way to predict WWTP behaviour. However, mathematical models generally demand advanced input for their implementation that must be evaluated by an extensive data gathering campaign, which cannot always be carried out. This fact, together with the intrinsic complexity of the model structure, leads to model results that may be very uncertain. Quantification of the uncertainty is imperative. However, despite the importance of uncertainty quantification, only a few studies have been carried out in the wastewater treatment field, and those studies …

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The Application Of Artificial Neural Network For Forecasting Dam Spillage Events., Anita Talib, Yahya Abu Hasan Jul 2010

The Application Of Artificial Neural Network For Forecasting Dam Spillage Events., Anita Talib, Yahya Abu Hasan

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Artificial Neural Network (ANN ) is applied for forecasting of dam spillage using a 10year hydrological dataset of Ahning Dam in the northern Malaysia at the Pedu-Mudaarea. During the rainy season, the Ahning Dam will overflow due to heavy rainfall.Increased siltation due to logging could contribute to worsen the overflow during thistime. This will lead to increasingly destructive floods downstream. Rainfall in the Pedu-Muda area is not constant. It is highly influenced by the monsoon seasons. During the dryseason, the dams may dry up. Siltation will further hamper the dams’ capability to storewater for irrigation.This study has shown that a …

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Guidelines For Good Practice In Bayesian Network Modelling, Serena H. Chen, C. A. Pollino Jul 2010

Guidelines For Good Practice In Bayesian Network Modelling, Serena H. Chen, C. A. Pollino

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Bayesian networks (BNs) are used increasingly to model environmental systems, for reasons including their ability to: integrate multiple issues and system components; utilise information from different sources; and handle missing data and uncertainty. For a model to be of value in generating and sharing knowledge or providing decision support, it must be built using good modelling practice. This paper provides such guidelines to developing and evaluating Bayesian network models of environmental systems. The guidelines entail clearly defining the model objectives and scope, and using a conceptual model of the system to form the structure of the BN, which should be …

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Overcoming Data Constraints To Create Meaningful Ecological Models, Rebecca E. Lester, Peter G. Fairweather Jul 2010

Overcoming Data Constraints To Create Meaningful Ecological Models, Rebecca E. Lester, Peter G. Fairweather

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Many techniques used to model ecosystems cannot be meaningfully applied tolarge-scale ecological problems due to data constraints. Disparate collection methods, datatypes and incomplete data sets, or limited theoretical understanding mean that a wide rangeof modelling techniques used to model physical processes or for problems specific tospecies or populations cannot be used at an ecosystem scale. In developing an ecologicalresponse model for the Coorong, a South Australian hypersaline estuary, we combinedseveral flexible modelling approaches in a statistical framework to develop an approach wecall ‘ecosystem states’. This model uses simulated hydrodynamic conditions as input topredict one of a suite of states per …

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Learning How To Model Ecosystem Trade-Offs At The Farm Scale, E. Pilgrim, C. J. A. Macleod, D. Beaumont, M. S. A. Blackwell, R. Bol, A. Del Prado, B. Griffith, R. Orr, A. Shepherd, L. Wu, L. G. Firbank Jul 2010

Learning How To Model Ecosystem Trade-Offs At The Farm Scale, E. Pilgrim, C. J. A. Macleod, D. Beaumont, M. S. A. Blackwell, R. Bol, A. Del Prado, B. Griffith, R. Orr, A. Shepherd, L. Wu, L. G. Firbank

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

The ecosystem service framework provides a forum for scientists from a rangeof disciplines to communicate and work together alongside other key stakeholders.However to be effective, place-based comparison of the tradeoffs of ecosystem servicesneed further development. These place-based comparisons are vital in agricultural systemsdue to the increasing global demand for food production, coupled with the realization thatthis should be achieved with minimal negative impact on the environment. The farm is thelogical unit of management in agricultural systems and hence there is a need for ecosystemtradeoff assessments at the farm scale. We have carried out a literature review of thetradeoffs in the …

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From Landscape-Scale Models Of Forest Biodiversity Change Towards An Integrated Planning Tool – A Gui For Building Empirical Ecological Extrapolation Models Based On Land Cover Data –, Tobias Lung, Gertrud Schaab Jul 2010

From Landscape-Scale Models Of Forest Biodiversity Change Towards An Integrated Planning Tool – A Gui For Building Empirical Ecological Extrapolation Models Based On Land Cover Data –, Tobias Lung, Gertrud Schaab

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Spatially explicit models linking biological field data with remotely-sensed landcover data have become commonplace for landscape-scale biodiversity assessments, butthey usually neither consider time series data nor include future scenarios. Extrapolationmodels addressing these deficiencies for three keystone species/groups of the Kakamega-Nandi forests in western Kenya proved to be a suitable means for investigating the effectsof long-term land change processes on the development of forest biodiversity in space andtime. However, the experimental modelling design of the approaches is not consideredconvenient for a more comprehensive, interlinked assessment including morespecies/groups and also ecosystem functions and services, nor is it adequate for a stronglocal stakeholder …

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