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Articles 5251 - 5280 of 13031

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Movement And Distribution Of Bacteria Near Surfaces, Daniel A. Quinkert, Adib Ahmadzadegan, Arezoo M. Ardekani Aug 2016

Movement And Distribution Of Bacteria Near Surfaces, Daniel A. Quinkert, Adib Ahmadzadegan, Arezoo M. Ardekani

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Bacteria are found everywhere in nature, including within human/animal bodies, biomedical devices, industrial equipment, oceans and lakes. They can be found in planktonic state within a bulk liquid phase or attached to surfaces with the potential to form biofilms. In this study we are interested in the movement and distribution of bacteria near surfaces. The concentrations and fluid interactions of bacteria were characterized at various distances from a surface. Psuedomonas putida F1 was observed in a suspension near a surface. Bacteria movements were visualized with an inverted microscope at 40x magnification. P. putida F1 exhibited greater density in close proximity …

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Applications Of Additive Manufacturing Techniques In Making Energetic Materials, Peter A. Cattani, Trevor J. Fleck, Jeff F. Rhoads, Steven F. Son, I. Emre Gunduz Aug 2016

Applications Of Additive Manufacturing Techniques In Making Energetic Materials, Peter A. Cattani, Trevor J. Fleck, Jeff F. Rhoads, Steven F. Son, I. Emre Gunduz

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Energetic materials are currently manufactured using methods such as casting, which can only produce certain geometries. Additive manufacturing enables more flexible fabrication and the potential for improved material consistency. Additive manufacturing has transformed many industries, but has only recently been applied to the manufacturing of energetic materials. This paper describes the development of two processes to apply additive manufacturing methods to energetic materials. Method one applies a fused deposition modelling approach (FDM). 5 µm aluminum powder and PVDF were mixed and made into filaments using a Filabot Original filament extruder. Energetic filaments were created composed of 90:10, 80:20, and 75:25 …

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Fiber-Optic Imaging In An Internal Combustion Engine Test Rig, Conor Martin, Michael Smyser, Aswin Ramesh, Greg Shaver, Terrence Meyer Aug 2016

Fiber-Optic Imaging In An Internal Combustion Engine Test Rig, Conor Martin, Michael Smyser, Aswin Ramesh, Greg Shaver, Terrence Meyer

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

The formation of particulate matter (PM/soot), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and other byproducts of the combustion process in diesel engines is controlled by spatiotemporally varying quantities within the engine cylinders which traditional sensors cannot resolve. This study explores the use of an advanced sensing technique using an optical probe which can be used to produce highly spatiotemporally resolved in cylinder images of the flame formation during the combustion stroke. Using a fiber optic cable and custom lensing system adapted to fit a pre-existing pressure transducer port, light from within the cylinder can be transmitted through the imaging probe to a high …

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Developing Methods To Characterize Cured-In-Place Pipe (Cipp), Emily N. Conkling, Mahboobeh Teimouri, Andrew Whelton Aug 2016

Developing Methods To Characterize Cured-In-Place Pipe (Cipp), Emily N. Conkling, Mahboobeh Teimouri, Andrew Whelton

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) is quickly growing as a method to repair aging water pipes. It’s an attractive option for states’ Departments of Transportation, as CIPP doesn’t require any long term or invasive construction. The exact composition of CIPP is poorly understood, even though CIPP leaching is assumed to be the cause of algal blooms, fish kills, and some human illnesses. The goal of this study was to develop methods to characterize what chemicals are present in uncured and cured CIPP resin and at what magnitude. An exhaust capture system was designed, and the condensate collected from this was extracted using …

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Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Of Direct And Indirect Solar Water Disinfection Processes In Developing Countries, Jason K. Hawes, Margaret M. Busse, Ernest R. Blatchley Iii Aug 2016

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Of Direct And Indirect Solar Water Disinfection Processes In Developing Countries, Jason K. Hawes, Margaret M. Busse, Ernest R. Blatchley Iii

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

In July 2010, the UN General Assembly recognized the universal human right to sufficient water for health and sanitation (UN…, 2010). The reliable disinfection of this water plays a critical role in public health (Carter and Miller, 2005), and this study investigates the use of four ultraviolet (UV) disinfection methods for use in international development and disaster relief. The study focuses on the life cycle impacts of four direct and indirect solar ultraviolet disinfection systems. Direct solar disinfection refers to exposure of water to solar radiation, while indirect solar disinfection collects solar energy and uses this to power a UV …

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Characterization Of Superabsorbent Polymers In Aluminum Solutions, Nicholas D. Macke, Matthew J. Krafcik, Kendra A. Erk Aug 2016

Characterization Of Superabsorbent Polymers In Aluminum Solutions, Nicholas D. Macke, Matthew J. Krafcik, Kendra A. Erk

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Over the past few decades, super absorbent polymers (SAPs) have been the topic of research projects all around the world due to their incredible ability to absorb water. They have applications in everything from disposable diapers to high performance concrete. In concrete, aqueous cations permeate the polymer network, reducing swelling and altering properties. One of these ions, aluminum, alters SAP properties by creating a stiff outer shell and greatly reducing absorbency, but these effects have not been well characterized. One method of characterizing the effects of aluminum on SAP hydrogels was performing gravimetric swelling tests to determine equilibrium water capacity …

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Experimental Study Of Breakage Of Particles Under Compression, Haoze Zhou, Niranjan Parab, Weinong W. Chen Aug 2016

Experimental Study Of Breakage Of Particles Under Compression, Haoze Zhou, Niranjan Parab, Weinong W. Chen

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Granular materials are used widely and can be seen in natural and industrial applications such as sand bags or pharmaceutical pills. During their manufacturing, processing, transport and use, granular materials are subjected to various kinds of loadings. If the amplitude of the loading is above the strength threshold, particles constituting granular materials may fracture. It is very important to understand the failure of particles under these loading conditions to prevent or control their failure during all stages of their manufacturing and use. Better characterization of the fracture behavior of particles composed of different materials and sizes will allow more precise …

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Development Of Data Analytics Tools For Acoustic Measurement Of Positive Displacement Machines, Dan Ding, Monika Ivantysynova, Paul Kalbfleisch Aug 2016

Development Of Data Analytics Tools For Acoustic Measurement Of Positive Displacement Machines, Dan Ding, Monika Ivantysynova, Paul Kalbfleisch

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Noise control is an important factor in evaluating the design of positive displacement machines. This research project aims to develop new tools in MATLAB, with emphasis on visual approaches, to comprehensively characterize the noise generated by positive displacement machines in spatial, temporal and frequency domains. Sound pressure level (SPL), sound intensity level (SIL) and loudness were calculated and plotted on a measurement surface surrounding the pump, which illustrates the spatial distribution of the sound field. In order to highlight the phenomenon within specific frequency bands, Butterworth filters were used to isolate desired frequencies, such that specific harmonic content or 1/3 …

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The Influence Of Thermal Conditions On The Thermomechanics Of Particulate-Composite, Mock Explosive Samples Under Near-Resonant Excitation, Jaylon B. Tucker, Allison R. Range, Jeffrey F. Rhoads Aug 2016

The Influence Of Thermal Conditions On The Thermomechanics Of Particulate-Composite, Mock Explosive Samples Under Near-Resonant Excitation, Jaylon B. Tucker, Allison R. Range, Jeffrey F. Rhoads

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Vapor detection is one of the most effective ways to find hidden plastic-bonded explosives in the field today. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that providing near-resonant vibratory excitation to explosives dramatically increases their vapor pressure, allowing for easier detection. Unfortunately, there currently exists a limited understanding of the thermomechanics of energetic material. This study seeks to help fill this technical void by exploring the thermomechanics of mock plastic-bonded explosives using direct mechanical excitation with varying thermal conditions. Using two different ambient thermal boundary conditions (insulated geometric boundaries and boundaries with free convection), a 7" by 10" by 0.5" …

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Dna Bound Avicel Network: The Beginnings Of A Self-Healing Material, Emily R. Coleman, Michael R. Ladisch, Eduardo Ximenes, Marissa Karp, Kathleen Howell, Seockmo Ku, Nathan Mosier, Iman Beheshti Tabar Aug 2016

Dna Bound Avicel Network: The Beginnings Of A Self-Healing Material, Emily R. Coleman, Michael R. Ladisch, Eduardo Ximenes, Marissa Karp, Kathleen Howell, Seockmo Ku, Nathan Mosier, Iman Beheshti Tabar

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Self-healing materials could potentially provide many improvements to engineering projects, including reduced maintenance and cost, and increased lifespan. It is desired to create a self-healing material proof of concept, which can then be altered for eventual application to the surfaces of small satellites with the goal of increasing material lifetimes. The intrinsic properties and abilities of DNA base pairing will be studied as a first test of proof of concept. The exploratory research reported in this short communication utilizes oxidation of small (50µm) particles of Avicel using TEMPO, followed by activation of Avicel particles via an EDC (1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride) …

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Using Elastin-Like Polypeptides For Better Retention Of Biofuels, Yu Hong Wang, Ethan T. Hilman, Kevin V. Solomon Aug 2016

Using Elastin-Like Polypeptides For Better Retention Of Biofuels, Yu Hong Wang, Ethan T. Hilman, Kevin V. Solomon

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are synthetic molecules that exhibit an interesting property of inverse temperature phase transition; they exist as soluble monomers at low temperatures and form insoluble aggregates at higher temperatures. The transition temperature depends on the pH, salt concentration, and the amino acid sequence of the ELP. This unique and reversible behavior, along with their high biocompatibility has made them a strategic tool for various biomedical applications. However, their hydrophobic properties also make them a prime candidate for biofuel production. As high levels of many commercially important organic solvents are toxic to the cells that make them, ELPs can …

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Development Of Standard Criteria To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of Helmets At Decreasing The Risk Of Concussions, Daniel Y. Shyu, Goutham N. Sankaran, Kevin G. Mciver, Nicolas Leiva, Eric A. Nauman Aug 2016

Development Of Standard Criteria To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of Helmets At Decreasing The Risk Of Concussions, Daniel Y. Shyu, Goutham N. Sankaran, Kevin G. Mciver, Nicolas Leiva, Eric A. Nauman

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

In many sports, such as American football, accumulations of mild traumatic brain injuries have been suggested as a possible link to neurodegeneration and future mental disorders. With head impacts occurring at all levels of competition and in different sports, it is critical to develop an accurate method for quantifying the effects of head impacts and determining the efficacy of helmets. This study examines the derivation of different dimensionless numbers and ascertains the critical factors needed to predict the effects of head impacts, specifically the resulting accelerations from an impact. Given a known force of impact, parameters such as peak translation …

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Decelerating I/O Power Management, Shuang Zhai, Felix Xiaozhu Lin Aug 2016

Decelerating I/O Power Management, Shuang Zhai, Felix Xiaozhu Lin

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

System suspend/resume is crucial to energy proportionality of modern computers, from wearable to cloud servers. Ironically, this OS mechanism itself is slow and energy hungry. Through characterizing the Linux kernel on a variety of modern system-on-chips (SoCs), we show the major reason as slow power state transitions of IO, which keeps CPU waiting. Furthermore, we argue that the IO wait can hardly be reduced to a satisfactory level, because most of slow transitions of IO are bounded by peripherals, low-speed buses, or physical factors. Therefore, the kernel execution for suspend/resume should be offloaded to a miniature core that waits more …

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Computer Modeling Of Graphene Field Effect Transistors, Drew M. Ryan, Robert S. Bean Aug 2016

Computer Modeling Of Graphene Field Effect Transistors, Drew M. Ryan, Robert S. Bean

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Graphene has been the centerpiece of numerous research projects since its discovery in 2004, greatly due to its multitude of unique properties. Its variable conductivity, relative strength, and electron mobility make graphene a prime candidate for applications in the field of radiation detection. While work has been performed in the past on testing radiation detection using graphene using Graphene Field Effect Transistors (GFET), due to its limited size, fabricating GFETs can be tedious and costly. Therefore, a need arose for a way to test potential GFET designs without the cost and limitations of fabricating GFETs for each test iteration. Using …

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Pt-Cu Catalysts For Catalytic Dehydrogenation Of Alkanes For Energy Production, Zixue Ma, Zhenwei Wu, Jeffrey T. Miller Aug 2016

Pt-Cu Catalysts For Catalytic Dehydrogenation Of Alkanes For Energy Production, Zixue Ma, Zhenwei Wu, Jeffrey T. Miller

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

More active, selective and stable catalysts are in demand to increase the yields of olefins production from light alkane dehydrogenation. Cu was reported to promote Pt catalysts and Pt-Cu catalysts has been shown to achieve increased olefin selectivity and decreased deactivation rate. Pt-Cu catalysts with different Pt:Cu molar ratios may have different crystal structure and performance. This study seeks to understand of the promotion effect of Cu on Pt alkane dehydrogenation catalysts. Four different Pt-Cu catalysts with different atomic ratios were prepared and tested for propane dehydrogenation at 550℃. Synchrotron in situ X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy are used …

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Stimuli Responsive Fluidics Controls On A Paper-Based Bacterial Detection Platform, Siyu Zhao, Elizabeth Phillips, Jacqueline Linnes Aug 2016

Stimuli Responsive Fluidics Controls On A Paper-Based Bacterial Detection Platform, Siyu Zhao, Elizabeth Phillips, Jacqueline Linnes

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Infectious diseases are the leading causes of death around the world. Point-of-care devices using nucleic acid amplification are sensitive enough to diagnose these diseases, however, often require complex and time-intensive sample preparation steps that are not integrated with the detection process. A rapid, sensitive, and integrated sample-to-result diagnostic device will permit disease treatment planning at the point-of-care. Paper-based detection assays are a promising platform to integrate the sample preparation and detection, with minimal infrastructure, equipment, and user involvement. To integrate sample preparation with detection on paper-based assays, timing and delivery of sample fluid flow needs to be controlled. Here we …

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Dislocation Engineering In Novel Nanowire Structures, Christopher Y. Chow, Samuel T. Reeve, Alejandro Strachan Aug 2016

Dislocation Engineering In Novel Nanowire Structures, Christopher Y. Chow, Samuel T. Reeve, Alejandro Strachan

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Leveraging defects is a cornerstone of materials science, and has become increasingly important from bulk to nanostructured materials. We use molecular dynamics simulations to explore the limits of defect engineering by harnessing individual dislocations in nanoscale metallic specimens and utilizing their intrinsic behavior for application in mechanical dampening. We study arrow-shaped, single crystal copper nanowires designed to trap and control the dynamics of dislocations under uniaxial loading. We characterize how nanowire cross-section and stacking-fault energy of the material affects the ability to trap partial or full dislocations. Cyclic loading simulations show that the periodic motion of the dislocations leads to …

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Fluence Dependent Surface Modification On Tungsten Coatings Using Low Energy Helium Ion Irradiation At Elevated Temperatures, Cheng Ji, Jitendra K. Tripathi, Theodore J. Novakowski, Valeryi Sizyuk, Ahmed Hassanein Aug 2016

Fluence Dependent Surface Modification On Tungsten Coatings Using Low Energy Helium Ion Irradiation At Elevated Temperatures, Cheng Ji, Jitendra K. Tripathi, Theodore J. Novakowski, Valeryi Sizyuk, Ahmed Hassanein

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Nuclear fusion is the most promising renewable energy source for the near future. It can provide a large amount of energy using a very small amount of fuel, as compared with that of the coal, oil, or nuclear fission. The chain reaction in nuclear fusion produces the energy and fuel, from hydrogen isotopes available in see water. Tungsten (W) is a leading candidate material for the plasma-facing component (PFC) in nuclear fusion reactors such as ITER (international thermonuclear experimental reactor), because of its high melting point, high yield strength, low erosion and low hydrogen isotope retention. Recent studies showed deeply …

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Lysis And Amplifciation Of Neonatal Sepsis Causing Pathogens, Gregory Berglund, Elizabeth A. Phillips, Jacqueline C. Linnes Aug 2016

Lysis And Amplifciation Of Neonatal Sepsis Causing Pathogens, Gregory Berglund, Elizabeth A. Phillips, Jacqueline C. Linnes

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Neonatal sepsis, resulting from a bloodstream infection within the first few weeks of life, is the leading cause of newborn deaths worldwide. The gold standard of neonatal sepsis diagnosis requires a blood culture to identify the infecting bacteria, however require days of incubation, expensive equipment, and expertise. Any delay in diagnosis is critical, as the condition can be treated easily if appropriate antibiotics are administered promptly. A low-cost, rapid, and sensitive diagnostic test would enable more timely treatment and lead to better patient outcomes with fewer required resources. Point-of-care, nucleic acid amplification assays are a promising alternative to blood culture …

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Assembly Of Nucleic Acid-Based Nanoparticles By Gas-Liquid Segmented Flow Microfluidics, Matthew L. Capek, Ross Verheul, David H. Thompson Aug 2016

Assembly Of Nucleic Acid-Based Nanoparticles By Gas-Liquid Segmented Flow Microfluidics, Matthew L. Capek, Ross Verheul, David H. Thompson

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

The development of novel and efficient mixing methods is important for optimizing the efficiency of many biological and chemical processes. Tuning the physical and performance properties of nucleic acid-based nanoparticles is one such example known to be strongly affected by mixing efficiency. The characteristics of DNA nanoparticles (such as size, polydispersity, ζ-potential, and gel shift) are important to ensure their therapeutic potency, and new methods to optimize these characteristics are of significant importance to achieve the highest efficacy. In the present study, a simple segmented flow microfluidics system has been developed to augment mixing of pDNA/bPEI nanoparticles. This DNA and …

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High Strength Steel In The Reinforced Concrete Structures: Serviceability, Alan Kanybek, Aishwarya Puranam, Santiago Pujol Aug 2016

High Strength Steel In The Reinforced Concrete Structures: Serviceability, Alan Kanybek, Aishwarya Puranam, Santiago Pujol

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

The use of high-strength steel (yield stress larger than 100 ksi) in reinforced concrete structures can provide an effective alternative to using conventional steel (yield stress up to 80 ksi). The goal of this study is to investigate if slabs with reduced quantities of high-strength steel reinforcement meet the serviceability criteria. Instantaneous and long-term deflections in slab specimens with conventional steel and reduced amounts of high-strength steel (as compared with conventional steel) were studied. Two sets of two reinforced concrete slabs, each 14 ft. long, 30 in. wide, were built. The depth, quantity, and type of longitudinal reinforcement were varied …

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Measurement Of Hydrogen Peroxide Influx Into Cells: Preparation For Measurement Using On-Chip Microelectrode Array, Hannah R. Kriscovich, Sarah M. Libring, Siddarth V. Sridharan, James K. Nolan, Jose F. Rivera, Jenna L. Rickus, David B. Janes Aug 2016

Measurement Of Hydrogen Peroxide Influx Into Cells: Preparation For Measurement Using On-Chip Microelectrode Array, Hannah R. Kriscovich, Sarah M. Libring, Siddarth V. Sridharan, James K. Nolan, Jose F. Rivera, Jenna L. Rickus, David B. Janes

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is commonly known as a toxic reactive oxidative species (ROS) for cells. Recent studies have found evidence that H2O2 is also an important cellular signalling molecule. Quantifying cellular influx of H2O2 will contribute to researchers’ understanding of the role H2O2 plays in healthy cells and cells involved in the progression of cancers and degenerative diseases. This work utilizes an assay kit and fluorescence techniques to evaluate cell lines and conditions to create a model biological system for measuring cellular H2O2 consumption. …

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Membership Of Forum For Promotion Of Soil Dynamics In India, Shamsher Prakash Aug 2016

Membership Of Forum For Promotion Of Soil Dynamics In India, Shamsher Prakash

Forum for Promotion of Soil Dynamics in India

No abstract provided.

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Minutes Of The Fourth Meeting Of The Forum For Promotion Of Soil Dynamics In India, Shamsher Prakash Aug 2016

Minutes Of The Fourth Meeting Of The Forum For Promotion Of Soil Dynamics In India, Shamsher Prakash

Forum for Promotion of Soil Dynamics in India

No abstract provided.

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Fire-Spotting Modelling And Parametrisation For Wild-Land Fires, Inderpreet Kaur, Gianni Pagnini Jul 2016

Fire-Spotting Modelling And Parametrisation For Wild-Land Fires, Inderpreet Kaur, Gianni Pagnini

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

This article describes a mathematical formulation for simulating the effects of firebrands on the propagation of the wild-land fires. Among the different approaches available in literature, this formulation is defined in a way to provide a versatile approach for application to operational wildfire models. Most of the operational wildfire models like WRF-SFIRE and ForeFire model only the evolution of the fire-line according to the definition of the rate of spread, fuel characterisation and the average fire properties and concurrent atmospheric conditions. But this information is not enough to simulate the effects of turbulence and fire-spotting. The formulation presented here can …

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A Generator Of Landuse Application For Complex And Heterogeneous Agricultural Practices, Odile Leccia-Phelpin, Jean-Marie Lescot, Françoise Vernier Jul 2016

A Generator Of Landuse Application For Complex And Heterogeneous Agricultural Practices, Odile Leccia-Phelpin, Jean-Marie Lescot, Françoise Vernier

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Non-point source pollution from agriculture has become a major concern for water managers and institutional stakeholders. To reduce diffuse pollution, agricultural conservation measures are widely used with efficiency. On non-monitored territories environmental modelling enables the assessment of their long term impacts on water and soils and to evaluate land-use change scenarios. We developed an innovative Generator of Landuse (GenLU) application in order to build up multi-year spatial crop successions from identified crop rotations with their related management schedule s. GenLU can be used solely for generating landuse or coupled with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model so as …

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Water Supply System Classification For Water Quality Improvement, Bruno Melo Brentan, Gustavo Meirelles Lima, Edevar Luvizotto Junior, Joaquín Izquierdo, Rafael Pérez-García Jul 2016

Water Supply System Classification For Water Quality Improvement, Bruno Melo Brentan, Gustavo Meirelles Lima, Edevar Luvizotto Junior, Joaquín Izquierdo, Rafael Pérez-García

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Universal access to drinkable water is a constitutional right guaranteed in Brazil. However, not all cities in this country are able to supply the population with the expected quality. Important actions should be taken to improve the supply of drinkable water. To define a strategic plan for this purpose, classification tools can facilitate the design of plans, by grouping cities with similar quality conditions. During the last decades, neural network approaches have been used in environmental models, allowing more accurate representation of some complex systems. This work proposes the use of self-organizing maps (SOM’s) coupled with the k-means algorithm …

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Optimal Land Use?! – A Review On Optimization Techniques Used In Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, Andrea Kaim, Anna Cord, Martin Volk Jul 2016

Optimal Land Use?! – A Review On Optimization Techniques Used In Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, Andrea Kaim, Anna Cord, Martin Volk

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Agriculture, forest management, conservation planning and other related disciplines have specific land use demands, and thus different perspectives on how land should be used in an “optimal way”. One way to solve arising land use conflicts is employing the ecosystem services concept together with methods from the field of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). Especially optimization techniques provide the possibility to include socio-economic and ecological aspects as well as the protection of biodiversity. In this study, we give an overview of these methods, focusing especially on their application in agricultural areas. We explore their abilities for the identification of ecosystem service …

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The Economics Of Agricultural Water Productivity In The Blue Nile, Imeshi Weerasinghe, James Booker, Wim Bastiaanssen, Lisa-Marie Rebelo, Ann Van Griensven Jul 2016

The Economics Of Agricultural Water Productivity In The Blue Nile, Imeshi Weerasinghe, James Booker, Wim Bastiaanssen, Lisa-Marie Rebelo, Ann Van Griensven

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Agricultural Water Productivity (AWP) is often simplified as the ‘crop per drop’, described as the output in terms of yield or biomass per unit of water input. This purely physical measure of Water Productivity (WP) using only a single factor input (water) does not consider: (1) the level of other inputs used in conjunction with water, (2) the opportunity cost of water as an input, (3) the value of the output and (4) the costs of production for different crops. This study presents a justification and methodology for incorporating these factors into WP indicators. The application of these extensions to …

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Atlas: A Tool To Model Spatial-Temporal Dynamics Of Processes Influencing Ecosystem Services, Hugo Thierry, Aude Vialatte, Claude Monteil, Annie Ouin Jul 2016

Atlas: A Tool To Model Spatial-Temporal Dynamics Of Processes Influencing Ecosystem Services, Hugo Thierry, Aude Vialatte, Claude Monteil, Annie Ouin

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Biodiversity provides various benefits to humankind throughout what is defined as ecosystem services. Within a specific ecosystem, a wide range of ecosystem services can be identified. During the past decades, human intervention has aimed to increase some services such as food production through agricultural intensification, at the expense of other services such as water regulation. Mapping, evaluating and quantifying each of these ecosystem services provided by biodiversity to crop production could help to increase the multi-functionality of agricultural landscapes. In this context, we developed a spatially-explicit model called ATLAS (AgriculTural LandscApe Simulator). ATLA …

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