Sustainability Commons^™

Complexity, Polycentricity, And Climate Change: An Embedded, Multi-Level Case Study Of A Climate Meta-Network, Timothy Staub

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The earth is in crisis, and without urgent, systemic, and collective global action to address the emerging threat of climate change, we will continue to see catastrophic events impacting humanity, threatening our very survival in many regions of the world. Temperatures will rise, ice shelves will melt, seas will rise, crops will fail, water scarcity from drought and new weather patterns will increase and spread, wildfires will accelerate, and food and water insecurity, violence, and the largest human migration in history will ensue. These climate crises will displace over 1.2 billion people by 2050 at a rate currently exceeding 21.5 …

Repositioning Traditional Authority To Fight Illegal Gold Mining In Dunkwa-Offin In The Upper Denkyira East Municipal District Of The Central Region Of Ghana, Manaseh Mawufemor Mintah

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Ghana is endowed with valuable mineral resources, including gold, diamonds, and manganese. However, the country has struggled to manage these resources in a way that benefits the broader population. Illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, has become a persistent national concern. This practice involves the unauthorized extraction of mineral ore by individuals and groups operating without formal government authorization. The town of Dunkwa-Offin exemplifies the severe social and ecological consequences of galamsey, where livelihoods, public health, and environmental sustainability are increasingly compromised. This study examines the potential role of traditional authorities in Dunkwa-Offin in combating illegal small-scale mining, also …

The Role Of Floodplain Complexity In Wood Turtle Habitat Use, Laura S. Deming

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Wood turtles occupy cold, low-gradient riverine habitat throughout the northeastern United State and southeastern Canada. Stream alterations, such as dams, channel straightening, and floodplain development have diminished the natural hydrologic and sedimentation regimes that result in complex channel and floodplain geomorphology. Studies throughout the species’ range have quantified many aspects of their habitat, but none have quantified components of geomorphology of wood turtle sites. The goal of this study was to explore the role of stream channel and floodplain geomorphology in wood turtle habitat use, with specific objectives to (1) quantify components of stream channel and floodplain geomorphic complexity, (2) …

Three Essays On Sustainability Economics, Hélène Flore Nguemgaing

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As global economies face increasing resource dependencies and supply chain challenges, it becomes essential to understand the vulnerabilities that threaten economic stability. This dissertation investigates three empirical issues in agribusiness and critical minerals using econometric models to estimate the following: 1) the impact of supply chain disruptions on stock market returns during COVID-19; 2) the extraction of rare earth elements from acid mine drainage treatment by investigating the impacts of ownership and legislation in West Virginia and Pennsylvania; 3) China-to�FOBb (Free-on-Board) price transmission in rare earth elements markets: a copula-based dynamic tail dependence analysis.

The first essay evaluates how events …

Confronting The Seaport Resilience Gap: Incentives, Frameworks, And Case Studies For Enhancing Resilience To Natural Hazards In Port Planning And Policy, Rosemarie Fusco

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the critical issue of seaport resilience, focusing on the gaps in resilience planning and the role of incentives in motivating resilience investment. The research arc addresses the question: What incentivizes seaports to increase natural hazard resilience (NHR)? It is organized into three interconnected manuscripts, each examining distinct aspects of the problem.

The first manuscript critically examines the resilience planning approaches of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as outlined in their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), highlighting the limited consideration of seaports despite their critical role in economic and social connectivity. SIDS offer critical insight into seaport resilience due …

Impact Of Urban Development On Uv Exposure: A Clustering And Machine Learning Assessment, Taufik Roni Sahroni Mr., Verdi Yasin, Lulut Alfaris, Reza Ariefka, Ruben Cornelius Siagian, Mohammad Alfin Karim, Nana Rahdiana, Ade Suhara

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

The relocation of Indonesia's capital city is anticipated to promote inclusive economic growth while embracing cultural diversity. However, this transition may affect ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure patterns. The study investigated variations in UV exposure in the IKN region, focusing on urban development factors such as land use and population density that affect public health, sun protection, and skin cancer prevention. The research hypothesized that UV radiation is significantly correlated with these factors. UV Index data from 2010-2023, a hierarchical clustering method, identifies complex data patterns without determining the number of clusters. XGBoost, a machine learning model, was used for handling …

Mechanisms And Influential Factors Of Rock Bursts In Tunneling Roadways Of Extra-Thick Coal Seams, Peng Yujie, Wang Qiang, Cao Anye, Xue Chengchun, Lyu Guowei, Hao Qi, Liu Yaoqi, Bai Xianxi, Li Dong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Rock bursts occur frequently in tunneling roadways of extra-thick coal seams, significantly constraining safe coal mining. Investigating their mechanisms and influential factors is crucial to preventing and controlling such disasters in tunneling roadways of extra-thick coal seams. Methods Focusing on the tunneling roadway of mining face 250107-1 for an extra-thick coal seam within a coal mine in Gansu Province, this study established the discriminant indices for rock burst-induced roadway instability. By simulating the energy distribution patterns of surrounding rocks in the tunneling roadway using the FLAC^3D software, this study revealed the zonal energy characteristics of the surrounding rocks …

Coal Gasification Through Microbial Degradation In A Low-Pressure Co2 And H2 Environment: An Experimental Study, Jian Kuo, Fu Xuehai, Liu Mingjie, Liu Jian, Li Jin, Ru Zhongliang, Ji Xiaofeng, Wang Qiang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Methods This study aims to investigate the characteristics of CO₂ biomethanation and coal gasification through microbial degradation in a low-pressure environment. With low-rank bituminous coals (R_max = 0.67%) as fermentable substrates, this study conducted a 96-day gas production experiment through microbial fermentation in a low-pressure CO₂ and H₂ environment. Using techniques including gas chromatography, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and low-temperature liquid nitrogen adsorption, this study delved into the intrinsic variation patterns of biogenic gas production, microbial communities, and coal structures. Results and Conclusions The results indicate that compared to conventional fermentation, the injection …

Application Of D-Insar In Monitoring The Impacts Of Shaft Grouting On Surface And Building Deformations, Liu Hui, Lu Rumeng, Su Lijuan, Cheng Shiguang, Zhang Pengfei, Cheng Hua

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective In coal mining engineering, damaged well walls pose a threat to the safety of production facilities and mines. Comprehensively monitoring the impacts of shaft grouting on the deformations of mine surface plants and surface buildings is critical for ensuring the safe production of mines. Methods This study investigated a coal mine in the mining area within northern Anhui Province. Using the 15 scenes of Sentinel-1A image data covering the coal mine and the differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (D-InSAR) technology, this study comprehensively monitored the subsidence of mine surface plants and surface buildings before and after shaft grouting, obtaining …

Fracture Structure Of The Overburden In The Layered Mining Of Extremely Thick Coal Seams: Developmental Patterns Of Caving Zones And Hydraulically Conductive Fracture Zones And Fracture Characteristics, Zhang Xin, Chen Youkuo, Meng Hailun, Qin Qifa, Cheng Xianggang, Huang Rongjie, Dong Hairui, Sun Wenbin, Qiao Wei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The Zhunnan Coalfield, a coalfield on the southern margin of the Junggar Basin in Xinjiang, boasts abundant coal resources. However, water hazards in mines severely constrain the safe and efficient coal production in the coalfield. Since hydraulically conductive fractures in roofs serve as primary hydraulically conductive channels formed in the mining of the mining face, it is particularly crucial to investigate the developmental patterns of these fractures during the layered mining of extremely thick coal seams. Methods This study explored the (9-15)08 mining face of the Liuhuanggou Coal Mine in Xinjiang. Using ground exploration holes and borehole televiewers, this …

An Integrated Ecosystem Monitoring Technology For Coal Mining Subsidence Areas And Its Application In The Shendong Mining Area, Cheng Yang, Liu Wei, Zhang Na, Li Guanjie, Liu Kai, Zhang Chengye, Li Jun

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background The ecosystem monitoring of arid and semi-arid coal mining subsidence areas acts as a significant prerequisite for regional ecosystem conservation and management, holding critical significance for accelerating green mine construction. Methods Based on the Chinese government's regulatory requirements for mine ecosystems, this study analyzed the difficulties in ecosystem monitoring in the coal mining subsidence area of the Shendong mining area (also referred to as the Shendong coal mining subsidence area). By detailing the integrated coal-rock-water-soil-air-vegetation-carbon monitoring technology system, this study determined the factors, principal methods, and technology roadmap for the integrated ecosystem monitoring in the Shendong coal mining subsidence …

Predicted Water Yield Of Open-Pit Metal Mines Based On A Bi-Rnn And Gms Coupling Model, Zhao Yuxing, Li Xiangwen

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Accurately predicting water yield of mine before mining can provide directive guidance for preventing potential water hazards and ensuring safe production. Methods To enhance the prediction accuracy and stability of water yield of open-pit metal mines, for which atmospheric precipitation acts as the primary recharge source of water, this study developed a prediction model that coupled a bidirectional recurrent neural network (Bi-RNN) and the Groundwater Modeling System (GMS) software. Specifically, based on historical forecasted precipitation data provided by the Global Forecast System (GFS), the fluctuation pattern of differences between predicted forecasted and actual precipitation was analyzed. After being corrected …

An Experimental Study Of The Application Of The Spectral Acoustic Method To The Advance Detection Of Geologic Structures In Tunnelling Working Site, Zhang Jianguo, Feng Zhicheng, Wei Fengqing, Ma Ji, Zhao Kai, Wang Man, Guo Minggong, Шилов Владимир Иванович

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The practice of coal mine production has proved that the vast majority of coal and gas outbursts are controlled by geological structures, and mainly occur in tunnelling working site. Therefore, continuous advanced detection of geological structures is an important technical means to prevent and control coal and gas outbursts in tunnelling working site, and is of great significance to ensure safe production in mines. Methods Based on the research results of spectral acoustic method in Russia for many years, the resonance phenomenon generated at the weakened contact surface of the roof rock layer by the artificial acoustic signal excited …

Application Of Microseismic Monitoring In The Optimization Of Control Strategy For Roofs Composed Of Composite Hard Sandstone Masses, Zhang Yin, Li Jiajun, Zhao Qian, Yang Chenchen, Liu Jiaqi, Zhou Yu

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective With a gradual increase in the coal mining depth in China, the movement of overlying thick and hard rock layers exerts increasingly complex impacts on the mine pressure. Methods In the Ordos area, the overburden of the mining face of most mines hosts composite hard sandstone masses, serving as key layers characterized by considerable thicknesses, high hardness, and close proximity. Results and Conclusions As a result, the risks of mine earthquakes and dynamic manifestation co-exist in the mining face. With the roof of mining face11-3106 in a coal mine within the Ordos mining area as the engineering background, this …

Spatiotemporal Response Characteristics Of Transient Electromagnetic Field In Water-Bearing Goaves And Their Applications, Song Guilei, Gong Xufei, Yang Fuqiang, Cui Jianting, Li Zhanling, Liu Lina

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Methods This study aims to enhance the accuracy of the mine transient electromagnetic method (MTEM) in of imaging of water-bearing goaves. Based on the geological conditions of the Gaojialiang Coal Mine, this study simulated the spatiotemporal response characteristics of the induced magnetic field in the water-bearing goaf model under varying stratigraphic spacings using finite element software COMSOL. Accordingly, this study analyzed the distribution patterns of the induced magnetic field on the apparent resistivity pseudosections and the plots of the differentials of longitudinal apparent conductivity. Using the results, the water-bearing conditions of goaves in the Ordos Gaojialiang Coal Mine …

Biomimetic Technologies For Drill Rods: Advances In Research And Development Trends, Wang Chuanliu, Ju Pei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Significance Drill rods are recognized as core tools in drilling engineering, and their performance exerts a significant influence on drilling efficiency and safety. Over recent years, applying biomimetic technologies to drill rod design has gradually emerged as a hot research topic. By imitating the remarkable structures, morphologies, and material properties of living organisms in nature, biomimetic technologies provide entirely new philosophies and approaches for the innovative design of drill rods. Advances This study summarizes the advances in research on biomimetic technologies for drill rods in terms of the biomimetic design of structures, morphologies, and materials. Regarding the biomimetic design of …

A Dc-Unet-Based Image Processing Method For Detecting Fractures Along Roadway Sections Of Coal Mines, Dong Zheng, Zhang Xuhui, Yang Wenjuan, Kang Le, Tang Duwei, Tian Chenhui

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Detecting fractures along roadway sections of coal mines allows for the characterization of the geologic conditions of roadways, thus providing guidance for roadway tunneling and support engineering. However, conventional image processing methods for fractures along roadway sections are susceptible to complex environments in underground coal mines, exhibiting a low fracture detection efficiency. Methods This study proposed a novel image processing method for detecting fractures along roadway sections based on a DC-UNet model. This method can be deployed on a mobile terminal and an embedded device, thereby allowing for real-time and effective detection of fractures along roadway sections and enhancing …

Development Of A Power Recovery-Based Dynamic Loading System For Full-Size Drill Rods In Coal Mines, Zhang Jing, Wang Jie

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective This study aims to simulate the actual forces applied to drill rods during the borehole drilling for gas drainage from underground coal mines to satisfy the requirements of drill rods’ fatigue tests. Methods This study designed a dynamic loading system for full-size drill rods in coal mines. This system consists of a drill rod loading platform, a hydraulic pump unit with power recovery, and a measurement and control system, allowing for the composite loading of dynamic torque, axial force, and radial displacement on drill rods of different specifications. In this system, torque is loaded to drill rods using the …

Commingling Production Of Deep Coal-Measure Gas Through Hydraulic Fracturing: Propagation Patterns Of Induced Fractures And Their Determinants, Chen Hao, Li Guozhang, Qin Yong, Wang Jianguo, Shen Jian, Sun Yuqi, Yuan Erjun, Li Dian

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The commingling production of coal-measure gas represents a pivotal approach to enhancing the single-well production of unconventional gas in China. However, coal-measure gas reservoirs exhibit distinctly different material compositions and physical properties, leading to uncertainty of the propagation modes and developmental degrees of fractures in different reservoirs during the hydraulic fracturing of coal-measure gas reservoirs subjected to commingling production. Therefore, effectively coordinating the stimulation of multiple reservoirs for multi-gas commingling production is crucial for minimizing production costs and maximizing production capacity. Methods This study investigated the Linxing block along the northeastern margin of the Ordos Basin as an example …

Microscopic Fracture Characterization And Permeability Evolutionary Patterns Of Granites Under Cyclic Thermal Shock, He Jiangfu, Ren Chengcheng, He Kun, Yu Qihang, Li Xinru, Deng Xu

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective This study aims to reveal the microscopic damage characteristics and permeability evolutionary patterns of high-temperature granite reservoirs fractured under cyclic thermal shock produced by low-temperature fluids like drilling fluids and circulating heat recovery media in the exploitation process of the enhanced geothermal systems (EGSs). Methods Using experiments on the fracturing characteristics of high-temperature granites under the conditions of varying cooling methods, numbers of thermal shock cycles, and cooling temperatures, this study determined microstructural characteristic parameters such as compressional wave (P-wave) velocity, pore volumetric fraction, and fractal dimension of granites across a temperature range of 25 to 700 ℃ under …