As part of the drive to improve coffee and cocoa production in Ivory Coast, studies are carried out to identify soils that are favourable for these crops. It is therefore necessary to orientate soil investigations bas...As part of the drive to improve coffee and cocoa production in Ivory Coast, studies are carried out to identify soils that are favourable for these crops. It is therefore necessary to orientate soil investigations based on reliable criteria that best discriminate soil cover. With this in mind, this study is being carried out to help improve survey methods by mapping soil landscapes. It uses GIS and weighted multicriteria analysis. To do this, satellite images were processed and the geological map of the square degrees of M’Bahiakro and Daloa was reclassified. The results show that relief is the main factor in soil landscape differentiation, with respective weights of 0.58 and 0.67 for the forest and pre-forest zones. In contrast, the weight of geological formation in soil landscape differentiation remains low (0.05 for the forest zone and 0.07 for the pre-forest zone). The criteria used on the base of aggregation sum methods have made it possible to formulate soil landscape mapping prediction functions according to agro-ecological environments in the humid intertropical zone. This is essential for the orientation of soil survey work. Nevertheless, other comparative methods, such as the coding mapping method, could provide elements for discussion to validate the models.展开更多
In the basement of southwestern Niger, weathering and fractured zones concentrate most of the groundwater. This study focuses on fractured media and aims to identify areas of productivity in this aquifer to improve th...In the basement of southwestern Niger, weathering and fractured zones concentrate most of the groundwater. This study focuses on fractured media and aims to identify areas of productivity in this aquifer to improve the region’s water coverage. The cartographic approach developed made it possible to establish synthetic maps based on multi-criteria analysis. The hydrogeological parameters selected include fracturing data, drainage system, slope and piezometric level as well as shallow and deep lithology. The choice of these criteria is based on their physical meaning but also on the availability of data. The integration of all the criteria in a GIS allowed to generate maps of recharge and potential productivity of fractured aquifers in the area. The validation of these thematic maps with independent data confirms their utility as reference standards for accessibility for future resource exploitation. Like any spatialization tool, potential recharge maps will provide valuable information about areas where infiltration is more important, and help control and manage risk zoning. The upward evacuation effect is even more prominent along the lineaments, faults or fractures: thus, to avoid possible pollution and to locate the future hydraulic structures, the analysis of the potential recharge zones remains necessary. The potential productivity index map, in addition to the very punctual sites identified by the fracturing study, made it possible to define areas of high potential productivity.展开更多
Landfill is a common solution for the final disposal of MSW(Municipal Solid Waste)in Albania.Landfill sitting is an extremely difficult task to accomplish because the site selection process depends on different factor...Landfill is a common solution for the final disposal of MSW(Municipal Solid Waste)in Albania.Landfill sitting is an extremely difficult task to accomplish because the site selection process depends on different factors and regulations.To ensure that an appropriate site is chosen,a systematic process should be developed and followed.In this study,10 candidate sites for an appropriate landfill area in Dibra Region are determined by using the MCE(Multi-criteria Evaluation).From the application of the exclusion criteria provided in the study methodology,it was able to find the best three alternatives.The statistical processing for the determination of the best place was accomplished through MCA(Multi-criteria Analysis)and Environmental Management,for three scenarios with different weights of criteria.The application of this method has led to the identification of the most suitable site for the construction of sanitary landfill in the Dibra Region.展开更多
Assessment of agricultural production sustainability is a multi-dimensional task that involves the quantification of various economic,social and environmental indicators at different scales and uncertainty levels.In t...Assessment of agricultural production sustainability is a multi-dimensional task that involves the quantification of various economic,social and environmental indicators at different scales and uncertainty levels.In this context,a particularly challenging approach is proposed involving the appropriate selection of the most representative criteria that ensure economic viability,eco-friendliness and social development,in order to overcome the limitations of other methodological approaches that are often vague and contradictory.In this study,a holistic methodology that integrates life cycle analysis(LCA),environmental risk assessment(ERA)along with on-site farm and regional surveys using the multi-criteria environment of the Analytical Hierarchy Process(AHP)is designed for the identification of the most sustainable agricultural management practices at regional level.Based on a set of 13 representative sub-criteria,the proposed approach was applied to Pistacia vera L.production in Aegina island,Greece,where narrow range of resources is available,groundwater supply is scarce and of poor quality.Overall,three alternative scenarios,i.e.Baseline scenario representing the current production(BL)as well as Composting(CO)and Biochar Use(BU)scenarios aiming at sustainability improvement were investigated.Results of multi-criteria and sensitivity analyses suggest that the optimal sustainable management scenario is CΟ,which involves on-site composting of organic solid waste,mainly produced at farm site,and subsequent application in the field.The proposed methodology shows significant potential as a valuable multi-criteria tool that can be easily adapted at regional level to assist decision makers such as farmers and their associations,policy makers,local and regional authorities to efficiently explore a range of alternative farm management practices and thus identify pathways toward sustainability.展开更多
Appropriate quantification and identification of the groundwater distribution in a hydrological basin may provide necessary information for effective management,planning and development of groundwater resources.Ground...Appropriate quantification and identification of the groundwater distribution in a hydrological basin may provide necessary information for effective management,planning and development of groundwater resources.Groundwater potential assessment and delineation in a highly heterogeneous environment with limited Spatiotemporal data derived from Gelana watershed of Abaya Chamo lake basin is performed,using integrated multi-criteria decision analysis(MCDA),water and energy transfer between soil and plant and atmosphere under quasi-steady state(WetSpass)models.The outputs of the WetSpass model reveal a favorable structure of water balance in the basin studied,mainly using surface runoff.The simulated total flow and groundwater recharge are validated using river measurements and estimated baseflow at two gauging stations located in the study area,which yields a good agreement.The WetSpass model effectively integrates a water balance assessment in a geographical information system(GIS)environment.The WetSpass model is shown to be computationally reputable for such a remote complex setting as the African rift,with a correlation coefficient of 0.99 and 0.99 for total flow and baseflow at a significant level of p-value<0.05,respectively.The simulated annual water budget reveals that 77.22%of annual precipitation loses through evapotranspiration,of which 16.54%is lost via surface runoff while 6.24%is recharged to the groundwater.The calibrated groundwater recharge from the WetSpass model is then considered when determining the controlling factors of groundwater occurrence and formation,together with other multi-thematic layers such as lithology,geomorphology,lineament density and drainage density.The selected five thematic layers through MCDA are incorporated by employing the analytical hierarchy process(AHP)method to identify the relative dominance in groundwater potential zoning.The weighted factors in the AHP are procedurally aggregated,based on weighted linear combinations to provide the groundwater potential index.Based on the potential indexes,the area then is demarcated into low,moderate,and high groundwater potential zones(GWPZ).The identified GWPZs are finally examined using the existing groundwater inventory data(static water level and springs)in the region.About 70.7%of groundwater inventory points are coinciding with the delineated GWPZs.The weighting comparison shows that lithology,geomorphology,and groundwater recharge appear to be the dominant factors influence on the resources potential.The assessment of groundwater potential index values identify 45.88%as high,39.38%moderate,and 14.73%as low groundwater potential zones.WetSpass model analysis is more preferable in the area like Gelana watershed when the topography is rugged,inaccessible and having limited gauging stations.展开更多
The Lower Mekong River basin (LMB) covers the lower part of the Mekong river basin, including Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Due to numerous pressures from high population growth and intensive hydropower develo...The Lower Mekong River basin (LMB) covers the lower part of the Mekong river basin, including Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Due to numerous pressures from high population growth and intensive hydropower development, the LMB has been facing significant challenges concerning its biodiversity and ecosystem. In 2017, Mekong River Commission (MRC), an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1995 among LMB countries, established the Council Study, which analysed the impacts of water development scenarios concerning the environmental, socioeconomic aspects of the LMB. This paper explores the nature of risks to the LMB water development and subsequently evaluates LMB’s water development scenarios described in the Council Study by using a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) method. MCDA method has been widely applied in the field of water resource management in order to assist the decision-making process by systematically evaluating a certain number of alternatives against well-selected criteria through a preference rating scheme. By implementing a risk-based comprehensive assessment of the LMB transboundary water, this study provides insights into the impacts of the increasing risks to the ecosystem and human beings on the water development of the basin over time, which assists to change the awareness and the perspective toward humans’ risks and transboundary river ecosystem of decision-makers. This paper provides valuable recommendations for MRC to improve their policy concerning benefit-sharing scheme, water planning and risk mitigation strategies.展开更多
The electrification of powertrains leads to an increasing diversification of powertrain configurations. Each single configuration has its specific advantages which appear depending on the usage profile. To find the us...The electrification of powertrains leads to an increasing diversification of powertrain configurations. Each single configuration has its specific advantages which appear depending on the usage profile. To find the usage based optimal powertrain in consideration of a variety of evaluation criteria, the powertrains have to be optimized for the usage profile and characteristics have to be extracted from the usage profile. The carbon dioxide emissions of the optimized powertrains and usage based criteria are used in a multi-criteria decision analysis to determine the optimal powertrain for a specific usage profile. The description of characteristic maps forms the objective function of a minimization problem. The determined carbon dioxide emissions are one criterion in a multi-criteria decision process. All considered criteria are at least partly objective so that subjective ratings are eliminated as far as possible. The result is an optimized powertrain for a desired usage under the consideration of objective criteria that are extracted from the usage profile.展开更多
Multi-criteria decision analysis deals with decision problems in which multiple criteria need to be considered. The criteria might be measured on different scales so that comparability is difficult. One approach to he...Multi-criteria decision analysis deals with decision problems in which multiple criteria need to be considered. The criteria might be measured on different scales so that comparability is difficult. One approach to help the user to organize the problem and to reflect on his or her assessment on the decision is Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical Based Evaluation TecHnique (MACBETH). Here the user needs to provide qualitative judgment about differences of attractiveness regarding pairs of options. MACBETH was implemented in the M-MACBETH software using the additive aggregation model. The present article introduces the software tool “AniFair” which combines the MACBETH approach with the Choquet integral as an aggregation function, because the Choquet integral enables the modeling of interaction between criteria. With the Choquet integral, the user can define constraints on the relative importance of criteria (Shapley value) and the interaction between criteria. In contrast to M-MACBETH, with every instance of “AniFair” the user is made available at least two aggregation level. “AniFair” provides Graphical User Interfaces for the entering of information. The software tool is introduced via an example from the Welfare Quality Assessment protocol for pigs. With this, “AniFair” is applied to real data that were collected from thirteen farms in Northern Germany by an animal welfare expert. The “AniFair” results enabled a division of the farms into five groups of comparable performance concerning the welfare principle “Good feeding”. Hereby, the results differed in how much the interaction between criteria contributed to the Choquet integral values. The shares varied from 5% to 55%. With this, the vulnerability of aggregation results towards relative importance of and interaction between criteria was stressed, as changes in the ranking due to the definition of constraints could be shown. All results were exported to human readable txt or csv files for further analyses, and advice could be given to the farmers on how to improve their welfare situation.展开更多
In Burkina Faso, rice consumption is currently common and increasing in both, rural and urban areas. Although several efforts have been made by the state to develop land for rice cultivation, the population’s demand ...In Burkina Faso, rice consumption is currently common and increasing in both, rural and urban areas. Although several efforts have been made by the state to develop land for rice cultivation, the population’s demand is still greater than the supply. Nevertheless, the country has great potential for rice cultivation. This study aims to analyze the suitability of land for rice cropping in the province of Nahouri. Field and satellite data were collected to map the rice crops developed areas. Furthermore, morphopedological, topographic, land use/cover, and accessibility to land data were collected and integrated into a Geographic Information System (GIS) based on simple Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA). Land suitability for rice crop was performed. The results show that the total suitable area for rice cultivation in the province is 106,373 ha (28% of the province) where the most suitable areas cover 32,614 ha and the suitable areas cover 73,759 ha. Already 3144 ha of the province area had been developed for rice cultivation with 815 ha and 845 ha of most suitable and suitable areas respectively whereas more than 45% of the developed lands were not fit for the rice crop suitable land.展开更多
The commune of Tamou, located in the Department of Say in Niger, occupies the southwestern part of the Liptako crystallophyllian basement domain. In this area, the problem of the drinking water supply of the populatio...The commune of Tamou, located in the Department of Say in Niger, occupies the southwestern part of the Liptako crystallophyllian basement domain. In this area, the problem of the drinking water supply of the populations is acute, because of the low flow rates of the drillings capturing the crystallophyllian formations and the Voltaian sandstones, the failure rates of the drillings are very high there. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to improve the knowledge of the areas potentially favorable for the implantation of drillings likely to give more satisfactory flow rates. The methodological approach, based on the collection of data (Landsat 7 ETM+ satellite imagery, borehole data, geological and topographical maps) and their processing by a combination of remote sensing and GIS tools and a field check, allowed the elaboration of maps of availability, accessibility and exploitability of the groundwater resources in the study area. The maps developed were analyzed with a Spatial Reference Hydrogeological Information System following the technique of aggregation by weighting to generate the map of productive drilling sites. The results show that the area is moderately rich in groundwater (58%) and that only 31% of the potential is exploitable. The groundwater potential map shows that 46% of the study area is suitable for drilling.展开更多
There exists a growing demand for potable water resources to fill the abysmally insufficient water needs for domestic and industrial especially in the Basement Complex terrains of Nigeria. This situation is attributab...There exists a growing demand for potable water resources to fill the abysmally insufficient water needs for domestic and industrial especially in the Basement Complex terrains of Nigeria. This situation is attributable to its complex hydrogeologic character. The present challenge has worsened due to the non-incorporation of integrated methods in groundwater exploration campaigns. To effectively combat the challenge of unacceptable failure rates in drilled water well development, there is a need for innovative scientific principles and quantitative assessment of groundwater resources to enhance sustainable and proper utilisation of these resources. Hence, it is the objective of this research to exploit the potential application of remote sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS), and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) techniques and freely open datasets in mapping groundwater potential zones. Seven thematic maps have been produced based on factors that are deemed to influence and deemed to have significant control on the occurrence and movement of groundwater. These factors are geology, lineament density, slope, drainage density, rainfall, land-use/land cover, and soil class. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to assign normalised weights to the thematic maps based on the various relative contributions to groundwater occurrence and movement. These thematic maps were then processed in a GIS environment using the Weighted Overlay tool which implements the MCDA. The resulting Groundwater Potential Zones (GPZ) of the area gave rise to Five classes viz: Very good, Good, Moderate, Poor and Very Poor </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">representing 19%, 8%, 14%, 47% and 13% respectively. It is recommended that the GPZ map should be used as a reconnaissance tool for selecting prospective sites for detailed groundwater resource exploitation.展开更多
Improper land use results in land degradation as well as decline in agricultural productivity.To obtain optimum benefit from the land,proper utilization of its resources is necessary.Land suitability analysis is the e...Improper land use results in land degradation as well as decline in agricultural productivity.To obtain optimum benefit from the land,proper utilization of its resources is necessary.Land suitability analysis is the evaluation and grouping of specific areas of land in terms of their suitability for a defined use,which is a precondition for sustainable land use planning.This study investigated the applicability of Geographical Information System(GIS)techniques in combination with multi-criteria land evaluation for analysing land suitability.The study used the weighted overlay technique for multi-criteria evaluation with GIS for the assessment of suitability of wheat cultivation in Beko watershed(Purulia,India).The watershed area is moderately suitable for wheat crop production,with constraints like imperfect drainage and poor soil depth.展开更多
Concerns for biodiversity loss, wildlife conservation, and habitat destruction have dominated the policy agenda worldwide for decades. Unsustainable human-induced development and negative interaction between humans an...Concerns for biodiversity loss, wildlife conservation, and habitat destruction have dominated the policy agenda worldwide for decades. Unsustainable human-induced development and negative interaction between humans and wildlife have emerged as predominant issues globally. The present study deals with human and elephant conflicts (HEC) in the Polpitigama Divisional Secretariat, Sri Lanka, which is located in the Kahalla-Pallekele elephant corridor and connects Wilpattu and Kaudulla wildlife sanctuaries. The research objectives are identifying spatial patterns of elephant habitat suitability and probable risk zones for HEC. The elephant habitat suitability and HEC risk zones were identified on spatial and temporal scales using Geographic Information System integrating Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. Different factors, including habitat suitability, distance to roads, distance to croplands, distance to forests and protected areas, settlements, and population density, were considered to determine HEC risk zones in the area. Topography, water, and vegetation criteria are considered when determining elephant habitat suitability. The results of the Analytic Hierarchy Process run the spatially explicit model. The results revealed that of the total area, 15.3% is very highly suitable for elephant habitats, while the least suitable areas contribute only 4%. About 33.8% of the area is moderately suitable for elephants. The risk map indicates that 23.7% of the total area is under very high risk for HEC, and the least risk areas only account for 5.4%. About 26.2% of the area falls under the moderate risk zone for HEC. Since the model considered three aspects of HEC, it will help policymakers in wildlife conservation to avoid and minimize the HEC.展开更多
Despite the potential synergism, integrated watershed management and ecosystem services frameworks are rarely used jointly to address the myriad of current water-related issues. The two frameworks are used in this stu...Despite the potential synergism, integrated watershed management and ecosystem services frameworks are rarely used jointly to address the myriad of current water-related issues. The two frameworks are used in this study to spatially identify ecosystem hotspots and coldspots for priority setting in natural resource management programs. Inferred proxies of carbon storage, groundwater supply, surface water supply, and soil retention ecosystem service production potentials were quantified for Texas, U.S., using two complimentary hydro-ecological models, and valued using a non-monetary multi-criteria valuation approach. Maps of individual and composite ecosystem service values showed that several services were co-located and unevenly distributed with most of the high-value hotspots clustered in the eastern part of the state. Individual impacts of land use, climatic and soil properties on the distribution and value of ecosystem services across space were discernable. The study underscored the need for holistic management of landscapes to take advantage of the multiplicity of benefits provided by nature. The approach can readily be incorporated into resource management programs to identify high-value ecosystem service production areas that need conservation, low-value areas that may need restoration, and anthropogenic activities influencing the distribution of ecosystem services.展开更多
Forests produce several types of benefits to both forest landowners and society.The social benefit of private forestry is equal to private benefit plus positive externalities minus negative externalities.This study de...Forests produce several types of benefits to both forest landowners and society.The social benefit of private forestry is equal to private benefit plus positive externalities minus negative externalities.This study developed alternative metrics for the evaluation of the social benefit of forest management.Forest management was assessed in terms of five criteria:economic,socio-cultural,environmental and ecological performance and the resilience of the forest ecosystem.Each criterion was described with three numerical indicators.Alternative performance indices were calculated from the indicator values using methods developed for multi-criteria decision making.It was concluded that indices based on the multiplicative Cobb-Douglas utility function might be the most recommendable when forestry should produce a balanced combination of different ecosystem services.When the indices were used to compare alternative silvicultural systems in terms of their social performance,continuous cover management was ranked better than even-aged management.The performance of even-aged management improved when it aimed at increasing the share of mixed stands and broadleaf species.Maximizing net present value(NPV) with a 1 % discount rate led to better social performance than maximizing NPV with a 4% discount rate.展开更多
Payment schemes for environmental services face serious budget constraints in Mexico. Payments are equally distributed among forest owners, and the governmental agencies that make payments to beneficiaries do not eval...Payment schemes for environmental services face serious budget constraints in Mexico. Payments are equally distributed among forest owners, and the governmental agencies that make payments to beneficiaries do not evaluate the amount of environmental services produced by forested areas. This lack of evaluation could lead to economic and environmental deficiencies that restrict the possible benefits of such programmes. In general, these programmes do not achieve their conservation objectives, and local beneficiaries are not involved in the design or application of these programmes. Similarly, the Payments for Hydrological Environmental Services(PHES) programme of the State of Mexico, Mexico, makes equal payments to beneficiaries of forested areas considering tree density. The objective of the present work was to create a methodology for determining differentiated payments schemes for hydrological environmental services, prioritising areas that contribute the most to groundwater recharge and promote the participation of society. In the Nevado de Toluca Natural Protected Area, the environmental criteria of forest type, tree density and aquifer overexploitation as well as social participation were considered in a multi-criteria analysis implemented in a Geographic Information System. A methodology was developed to determine differentiated payments based on specific forest characteristics that influence the potential capacity of forests to recharge groundwater reserves in addition to the level of social participation. In particular, social participation is key as it could ensure the viability of PHES programmes as conservation alternatives in forested areas with high groundwater recharge potential.展开更多
Single or multi-layer infiltration rate models describe water penetration into soil porous zone at a variety of comparable complexity levels. Commonly, those models are indicating a route leading from general to more ...Single or multi-layer infiltration rate models describe water penetration into soil porous zone at a variety of comparable complexity levels. Commonly, those models are indicating a route leading from general to more specific case depending on the mathematical structure and the simulated ongoing phenomenon. For the purpose of wastewater flow quantification through porous media, an algorithmic procedure was developed which includes certain interconnected activity stages and decision nodes. Furthermore, a schematic cross shaped representation of the infiltration rate models’ ontology is presented within a route, leading from general to more specific models and evaluation criteria are introduced to determine highest ranking and thus the best model amid those placed on the horizontal axis of the cross shaped scheme, via a simple Multi-Criteria Analysis Decision Making.展开更多
Groundwater is an important natural resource for all human activity. Today, due to climate change and population growth, the demand has increased considerably, thus requiring their evaluation to ensure sustainability....Groundwater is an important natural resource for all human activity. Today, due to climate change and population growth, the demand has increased considerably, thus requiring their evaluation to ensure sustainability. However, one of the important but difficult to estimate parameters due to its variability is the recharge. This work aims to map the potential recharge of aquifers in the departments of Yamoussoukro and Toumodi. Saaty’s AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) multi-criteria analysis technique was used by integrating different thematic layers. First, a reclassification then weighting of these parameters was made according to their influence in the recharge process. Finally, they were integrated into a GIS to produce the map of potential groundwater recharge zones. The results indicate that the potential high recharge areas represent approximately 43.11% of the area of the study area. These areas appear scattered in the sub-prefecture of Yamoussoukro, Kokoumbo Attiegouakro, Toumodi et Kpouèbo.展开更多
Groundwater is considered as the main portion of the water supply in arid and semi-arid regions. The Sfax plain area is part of the arid/semi-arid areas of Tunisia that are subject to the impact of climatic and human ...Groundwater is considered as the main portion of the water supply in arid and semi-arid regions. The Sfax plain area is part of the arid/semi-arid areas of Tunisia that are subject to the impact of climatic and human pressures. Water scarcity in combination with groundwater exploitation is a major concern in this region. Therefore, sustainable management and protection of groundwater resources, it necessary. The delineation of groundwater potential (GP) zones becomes an increasingly important tool for implementing successful management programs. The purpose of the present paper is to assess the potential zone of groundwater resources in the study area. An efficient approach using geographical information system (GIS), hydrological modelling and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was developed. At first, six groundwater parameters that affect groundwater occurrences are derived from the spatial geodatabase. Those parameters are: Infiltration rate estimated from a GIS linked model, lineament density, drainage density, slope, rainfall and Land use/land cover. Then, the assigned weights of thematic layers based on expert knowledge were normalized by eigenvector technique of AHP. The parameter layers were integrated and modeled using a weighted linear combination (WLC). The resulting map was classified into four categories: very low, low, good, and excellent. The results showed that about 26% of the study area falls under very-low-potential zone, with 30% on low-potential zone, 21% with good potential zone, and 23% falling under excellent zone. The results of the analysis were validated using pumping rate data and curve trend of sensitivity classes theory validation of outcomes indicated a good prediction accuracy. The results of the present study can serve to prepare a comprehensive groundwater development and management plans proving its efficacy in this art of exploratory investigations.展开更多
Objective To sort out the dimension and indicators of comprehensive value assessment of anti-tumor drugs abroad,and provide a reference for constructing a similar system in China.Methods The keywords such as anti-tumo...Objective To sort out the dimension and indicators of comprehensive value assessment of anti-tumor drugs abroad,and provide a reference for constructing a similar system in China.Methods The keywords such as anti-tumor drugs,value,assessment,method,and framework were used to search CNKI,WanFang database,VIP database,Embase,PubMed and Web of Science.Results and Conclusion According to the research on the value framework of anti-tumor drugs,6 first-level dimensions and 8 second-level indicators with common characteristics were summarized.In view of China’s national conditions,this study summarizes the available value judgment dimensions of anti-tumor drugs at home and abroad,so as to learn from international experience and their mature methodologies,and provide ideas for constructing a multi-dimensional value system of anti-tumor drugs in China.展开更多
文摘As part of the drive to improve coffee and cocoa production in Ivory Coast, studies are carried out to identify soils that are favourable for these crops. It is therefore necessary to orientate soil investigations based on reliable criteria that best discriminate soil cover. With this in mind, this study is being carried out to help improve survey methods by mapping soil landscapes. It uses GIS and weighted multicriteria analysis. To do this, satellite images were processed and the geological map of the square degrees of M’Bahiakro and Daloa was reclassified. The results show that relief is the main factor in soil landscape differentiation, with respective weights of 0.58 and 0.67 for the forest and pre-forest zones. In contrast, the weight of geological formation in soil landscape differentiation remains low (0.05 for the forest zone and 0.07 for the pre-forest zone). The criteria used on the base of aggregation sum methods have made it possible to formulate soil landscape mapping prediction functions according to agro-ecological environments in the humid intertropical zone. This is essential for the orientation of soil survey work. Nevertheless, other comparative methods, such as the coding mapping method, could provide elements for discussion to validate the models.
文摘In the basement of southwestern Niger, weathering and fractured zones concentrate most of the groundwater. This study focuses on fractured media and aims to identify areas of productivity in this aquifer to improve the region’s water coverage. The cartographic approach developed made it possible to establish synthetic maps based on multi-criteria analysis. The hydrogeological parameters selected include fracturing data, drainage system, slope and piezometric level as well as shallow and deep lithology. The choice of these criteria is based on their physical meaning but also on the availability of data. The integration of all the criteria in a GIS allowed to generate maps of recharge and potential productivity of fractured aquifers in the area. The validation of these thematic maps with independent data confirms their utility as reference standards for accessibility for future resource exploitation. Like any spatialization tool, potential recharge maps will provide valuable information about areas where infiltration is more important, and help control and manage risk zoning. The upward evacuation effect is even more prominent along the lineaments, faults or fractures: thus, to avoid possible pollution and to locate the future hydraulic structures, the analysis of the potential recharge zones remains necessary. The potential productivity index map, in addition to the very punctual sites identified by the fracturing study, made it possible to define areas of high potential productivity.
文摘Landfill is a common solution for the final disposal of MSW(Municipal Solid Waste)in Albania.Landfill sitting is an extremely difficult task to accomplish because the site selection process depends on different factors and regulations.To ensure that an appropriate site is chosen,a systematic process should be developed and followed.In this study,10 candidate sites for an appropriate landfill area in Dibra Region are determined by using the MCE(Multi-criteria Evaluation).From the application of the exclusion criteria provided in the study methodology,it was able to find the best three alternatives.The statistical processing for the determination of the best place was accomplished through MCA(Multi-criteria Analysis)and Environmental Management,for three scenarios with different weights of criteria.The application of this method has led to the identification of the most suitable site for the construction of sanitary landfill in the Dibra Region.
基金The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of the European Commission(LIFE+Environment Policy&Governance)in the framework of the LIFE11 ENV/GR/951 project“Sustainable strategies for the improvement of seriously degraded agricultural areas:The example of Pistacia vera L(AgroStrat)”www.agrostrat.gr.
文摘Assessment of agricultural production sustainability is a multi-dimensional task that involves the quantification of various economic,social and environmental indicators at different scales and uncertainty levels.In this context,a particularly challenging approach is proposed involving the appropriate selection of the most representative criteria that ensure economic viability,eco-friendliness and social development,in order to overcome the limitations of other methodological approaches that are often vague and contradictory.In this study,a holistic methodology that integrates life cycle analysis(LCA),environmental risk assessment(ERA)along with on-site farm and regional surveys using the multi-criteria environment of the Analytical Hierarchy Process(AHP)is designed for the identification of the most sustainable agricultural management practices at regional level.Based on a set of 13 representative sub-criteria,the proposed approach was applied to Pistacia vera L.production in Aegina island,Greece,where narrow range of resources is available,groundwater supply is scarce and of poor quality.Overall,three alternative scenarios,i.e.Baseline scenario representing the current production(BL)as well as Composting(CO)and Biochar Use(BU)scenarios aiming at sustainability improvement were investigated.Results of multi-criteria and sensitivity analyses suggest that the optimal sustainable management scenario is CΟ,which involves on-site composting of organic solid waste,mainly produced at farm site,and subsequent application in the field.The proposed methodology shows significant potential as a valuable multi-criteria tool that can be easily adapted at regional level to assist decision makers such as farmers and their associations,policy makers,local and regional authorities to efficiently explore a range of alternative farm management practices and thus identify pathways toward sustainability.
文摘Appropriate quantification and identification of the groundwater distribution in a hydrological basin may provide necessary information for effective management,planning and development of groundwater resources.Groundwater potential assessment and delineation in a highly heterogeneous environment with limited Spatiotemporal data derived from Gelana watershed of Abaya Chamo lake basin is performed,using integrated multi-criteria decision analysis(MCDA),water and energy transfer between soil and plant and atmosphere under quasi-steady state(WetSpass)models.The outputs of the WetSpass model reveal a favorable structure of water balance in the basin studied,mainly using surface runoff.The simulated total flow and groundwater recharge are validated using river measurements and estimated baseflow at two gauging stations located in the study area,which yields a good agreement.The WetSpass model effectively integrates a water balance assessment in a geographical information system(GIS)environment.The WetSpass model is shown to be computationally reputable for such a remote complex setting as the African rift,with a correlation coefficient of 0.99 and 0.99 for total flow and baseflow at a significant level of p-value<0.05,respectively.The simulated annual water budget reveals that 77.22%of annual precipitation loses through evapotranspiration,of which 16.54%is lost via surface runoff while 6.24%is recharged to the groundwater.The calibrated groundwater recharge from the WetSpass model is then considered when determining the controlling factors of groundwater occurrence and formation,together with other multi-thematic layers such as lithology,geomorphology,lineament density and drainage density.The selected five thematic layers through MCDA are incorporated by employing the analytical hierarchy process(AHP)method to identify the relative dominance in groundwater potential zoning.The weighted factors in the AHP are procedurally aggregated,based on weighted linear combinations to provide the groundwater potential index.Based on the potential indexes,the area then is demarcated into low,moderate,and high groundwater potential zones(GWPZ).The identified GWPZs are finally examined using the existing groundwater inventory data(static water level and springs)in the region.About 70.7%of groundwater inventory points are coinciding with the delineated GWPZs.The weighting comparison shows that lithology,geomorphology,and groundwater recharge appear to be the dominant factors influence on the resources potential.The assessment of groundwater potential index values identify 45.88%as high,39.38%moderate,and 14.73%as low groundwater potential zones.WetSpass model analysis is more preferable in the area like Gelana watershed when the topography is rugged,inaccessible and having limited gauging stations.
文摘The Lower Mekong River basin (LMB) covers the lower part of the Mekong river basin, including Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Due to numerous pressures from high population growth and intensive hydropower development, the LMB has been facing significant challenges concerning its biodiversity and ecosystem. In 2017, Mekong River Commission (MRC), an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1995 among LMB countries, established the Council Study, which analysed the impacts of water development scenarios concerning the environmental, socioeconomic aspects of the LMB. This paper explores the nature of risks to the LMB water development and subsequently evaluates LMB’s water development scenarios described in the Council Study by using a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) method. MCDA method has been widely applied in the field of water resource management in order to assist the decision-making process by systematically evaluating a certain number of alternatives against well-selected criteria through a preference rating scheme. By implementing a risk-based comprehensive assessment of the LMB transboundary water, this study provides insights into the impacts of the increasing risks to the ecosystem and human beings on the water development of the basin over time, which assists to change the awareness and the perspective toward humans’ risks and transboundary river ecosystem of decision-makers. This paper provides valuable recommendations for MRC to improve their policy concerning benefit-sharing scheme, water planning and risk mitigation strategies.
文摘The electrification of powertrains leads to an increasing diversification of powertrain configurations. Each single configuration has its specific advantages which appear depending on the usage profile. To find the usage based optimal powertrain in consideration of a variety of evaluation criteria, the powertrains have to be optimized for the usage profile and characteristics have to be extracted from the usage profile. The carbon dioxide emissions of the optimized powertrains and usage based criteria are used in a multi-criteria decision analysis to determine the optimal powertrain for a specific usage profile. The description of characteristic maps forms the objective function of a minimization problem. The determined carbon dioxide emissions are one criterion in a multi-criteria decision process. All considered criteria are at least partly objective so that subjective ratings are eliminated as far as possible. The result is an optimized powertrain for a desired usage under the consideration of objective criteria that are extracted from the usage profile.
文摘Multi-criteria decision analysis deals with decision problems in which multiple criteria need to be considered. The criteria might be measured on different scales so that comparability is difficult. One approach to help the user to organize the problem and to reflect on his or her assessment on the decision is Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical Based Evaluation TecHnique (MACBETH). Here the user needs to provide qualitative judgment about differences of attractiveness regarding pairs of options. MACBETH was implemented in the M-MACBETH software using the additive aggregation model. The present article introduces the software tool “AniFair” which combines the MACBETH approach with the Choquet integral as an aggregation function, because the Choquet integral enables the modeling of interaction between criteria. With the Choquet integral, the user can define constraints on the relative importance of criteria (Shapley value) and the interaction between criteria. In contrast to M-MACBETH, with every instance of “AniFair” the user is made available at least two aggregation level. “AniFair” provides Graphical User Interfaces for the entering of information. The software tool is introduced via an example from the Welfare Quality Assessment protocol for pigs. With this, “AniFair” is applied to real data that were collected from thirteen farms in Northern Germany by an animal welfare expert. The “AniFair” results enabled a division of the farms into five groups of comparable performance concerning the welfare principle “Good feeding”. Hereby, the results differed in how much the interaction between criteria contributed to the Choquet integral values. The shares varied from 5% to 55%. With this, the vulnerability of aggregation results towards relative importance of and interaction between criteria was stressed, as changes in the ranking due to the definition of constraints could be shown. All results were exported to human readable txt or csv files for further analyses, and advice could be given to the farmers on how to improve their welfare situation.
文摘In Burkina Faso, rice consumption is currently common and increasing in both, rural and urban areas. Although several efforts have been made by the state to develop land for rice cultivation, the population’s demand is still greater than the supply. Nevertheless, the country has great potential for rice cultivation. This study aims to analyze the suitability of land for rice cropping in the province of Nahouri. Field and satellite data were collected to map the rice crops developed areas. Furthermore, morphopedological, topographic, land use/cover, and accessibility to land data were collected and integrated into a Geographic Information System (GIS) based on simple Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA). Land suitability for rice crop was performed. The results show that the total suitable area for rice cultivation in the province is 106,373 ha (28% of the province) where the most suitable areas cover 32,614 ha and the suitable areas cover 73,759 ha. Already 3144 ha of the province area had been developed for rice cultivation with 815 ha and 845 ha of most suitable and suitable areas respectively whereas more than 45% of the developed lands were not fit for the rice crop suitable land.
文摘The commune of Tamou, located in the Department of Say in Niger, occupies the southwestern part of the Liptako crystallophyllian basement domain. In this area, the problem of the drinking water supply of the populations is acute, because of the low flow rates of the drillings capturing the crystallophyllian formations and the Voltaian sandstones, the failure rates of the drillings are very high there. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to improve the knowledge of the areas potentially favorable for the implantation of drillings likely to give more satisfactory flow rates. The methodological approach, based on the collection of data (Landsat 7 ETM+ satellite imagery, borehole data, geological and topographical maps) and their processing by a combination of remote sensing and GIS tools and a field check, allowed the elaboration of maps of availability, accessibility and exploitability of the groundwater resources in the study area. The maps developed were analyzed with a Spatial Reference Hydrogeological Information System following the technique of aggregation by weighting to generate the map of productive drilling sites. The results show that the area is moderately rich in groundwater (58%) and that only 31% of the potential is exploitable. The groundwater potential map shows that 46% of the study area is suitable for drilling.
文摘There exists a growing demand for potable water resources to fill the abysmally insufficient water needs for domestic and industrial especially in the Basement Complex terrains of Nigeria. This situation is attributable to its complex hydrogeologic character. The present challenge has worsened due to the non-incorporation of integrated methods in groundwater exploration campaigns. To effectively combat the challenge of unacceptable failure rates in drilled water well development, there is a need for innovative scientific principles and quantitative assessment of groundwater resources to enhance sustainable and proper utilisation of these resources. Hence, it is the objective of this research to exploit the potential application of remote sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS), and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) techniques and freely open datasets in mapping groundwater potential zones. Seven thematic maps have been produced based on factors that are deemed to influence and deemed to have significant control on the occurrence and movement of groundwater. These factors are geology, lineament density, slope, drainage density, rainfall, land-use/land cover, and soil class. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to assign normalised weights to the thematic maps based on the various relative contributions to groundwater occurrence and movement. These thematic maps were then processed in a GIS environment using the Weighted Overlay tool which implements the MCDA. The resulting Groundwater Potential Zones (GPZ) of the area gave rise to Five classes viz: Very good, Good, Moderate, Poor and Very Poor </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">representing 19%, 8%, 14%, 47% and 13% respectively. It is recommended that the GPZ map should be used as a reconnaissance tool for selecting prospective sites for detailed groundwater resource exploitation.
文摘Improper land use results in land degradation as well as decline in agricultural productivity.To obtain optimum benefit from the land,proper utilization of its resources is necessary.Land suitability analysis is the evaluation and grouping of specific areas of land in terms of their suitability for a defined use,which is a precondition for sustainable land use planning.This study investigated the applicability of Geographical Information System(GIS)techniques in combination with multi-criteria land evaluation for analysing land suitability.The study used the weighted overlay technique for multi-criteria evaluation with GIS for the assessment of suitability of wheat cultivation in Beko watershed(Purulia,India).The watershed area is moderately suitable for wheat crop production,with constraints like imperfect drainage and poor soil depth.
文摘Concerns for biodiversity loss, wildlife conservation, and habitat destruction have dominated the policy agenda worldwide for decades. Unsustainable human-induced development and negative interaction between humans and wildlife have emerged as predominant issues globally. The present study deals with human and elephant conflicts (HEC) in the Polpitigama Divisional Secretariat, Sri Lanka, which is located in the Kahalla-Pallekele elephant corridor and connects Wilpattu and Kaudulla wildlife sanctuaries. The research objectives are identifying spatial patterns of elephant habitat suitability and probable risk zones for HEC. The elephant habitat suitability and HEC risk zones were identified on spatial and temporal scales using Geographic Information System integrating Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. Different factors, including habitat suitability, distance to roads, distance to croplands, distance to forests and protected areas, settlements, and population density, were considered to determine HEC risk zones in the area. Topography, water, and vegetation criteria are considered when determining elephant habitat suitability. The results of the Analytic Hierarchy Process run the spatially explicit model. The results revealed that of the total area, 15.3% is very highly suitable for elephant habitats, while the least suitable areas contribute only 4%. About 33.8% of the area is moderately suitable for elephants. The risk map indicates that 23.7% of the total area is under very high risk for HEC, and the least risk areas only account for 5.4%. About 26.2% of the area falls under the moderate risk zone for HEC. Since the model considered three aspects of HEC, it will help policymakers in wildlife conservation to avoid and minimize the HEC.
文摘Despite the potential synergism, integrated watershed management and ecosystem services frameworks are rarely used jointly to address the myriad of current water-related issues. The two frameworks are used in this study to spatially identify ecosystem hotspots and coldspots for priority setting in natural resource management programs. Inferred proxies of carbon storage, groundwater supply, surface water supply, and soil retention ecosystem service production potentials were quantified for Texas, U.S., using two complimentary hydro-ecological models, and valued using a non-monetary multi-criteria valuation approach. Maps of individual and composite ecosystem service values showed that several services were co-located and unevenly distributed with most of the high-value hotspots clustered in the eastern part of the state. Individual impacts of land use, climatic and soil properties on the distribution and value of ecosystem services across space were discernable. The study underscored the need for holistic management of landscapes to take advantage of the multiplicity of benefits provided by nature. The approach can readily be incorporated into resource management programs to identify high-value ecosystem service production areas that need conservation, low-value areas that may need restoration, and anthropogenic activities influencing the distribution of ecosystem services.
文摘Forests produce several types of benefits to both forest landowners and society.The social benefit of private forestry is equal to private benefit plus positive externalities minus negative externalities.This study developed alternative metrics for the evaluation of the social benefit of forest management.Forest management was assessed in terms of five criteria:economic,socio-cultural,environmental and ecological performance and the resilience of the forest ecosystem.Each criterion was described with three numerical indicators.Alternative performance indices were calculated from the indicator values using methods developed for multi-criteria decision making.It was concluded that indices based on the multiplicative Cobb-Douglas utility function might be the most recommendable when forestry should produce a balanced combination of different ecosystem services.When the indices were used to compare alternative silvicultural systems in terms of their social performance,continuous cover management was ranked better than even-aged management.The performance of even-aged management improved when it aimed at increasing the share of mixed stands and broadleaf species.Maximizing net present value(NPV) with a 1 % discount rate led to better social performance than maximizing NPV with a 4% discount rate.
基金the Mexican National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT) for the financial grants for: (i) the postgraduate degree "Doctorado en Ciencias Agropecuarias y Recursos Naturales" of Mr. Aguilar Gómez, and (ii) the research project "Parque Nacional Nevado de Toluca: un laboratorio socio-ambiental en la innovación de políticas para la gestión de parques nacionales", on the framework of bilateral agreements Mexico-France
文摘Payment schemes for environmental services face serious budget constraints in Mexico. Payments are equally distributed among forest owners, and the governmental agencies that make payments to beneficiaries do not evaluate the amount of environmental services produced by forested areas. This lack of evaluation could lead to economic and environmental deficiencies that restrict the possible benefits of such programmes. In general, these programmes do not achieve their conservation objectives, and local beneficiaries are not involved in the design or application of these programmes. Similarly, the Payments for Hydrological Environmental Services(PHES) programme of the State of Mexico, Mexico, makes equal payments to beneficiaries of forested areas considering tree density. The objective of the present work was to create a methodology for determining differentiated payments schemes for hydrological environmental services, prioritising areas that contribute the most to groundwater recharge and promote the participation of society. In the Nevado de Toluca Natural Protected Area, the environmental criteria of forest type, tree density and aquifer overexploitation as well as social participation were considered in a multi-criteria analysis implemented in a Geographic Information System. A methodology was developed to determine differentiated payments based on specific forest characteristics that influence the potential capacity of forests to recharge groundwater reserves in addition to the level of social participation. In particular, social participation is key as it could ensure the viability of PHES programmes as conservation alternatives in forested areas with high groundwater recharge potential.
文摘Single or multi-layer infiltration rate models describe water penetration into soil porous zone at a variety of comparable complexity levels. Commonly, those models are indicating a route leading from general to more specific case depending on the mathematical structure and the simulated ongoing phenomenon. For the purpose of wastewater flow quantification through porous media, an algorithmic procedure was developed which includes certain interconnected activity stages and decision nodes. Furthermore, a schematic cross shaped representation of the infiltration rate models’ ontology is presented within a route, leading from general to more specific models and evaluation criteria are introduced to determine highest ranking and thus the best model amid those placed on the horizontal axis of the cross shaped scheme, via a simple Multi-Criteria Analysis Decision Making.
文摘Groundwater is an important natural resource for all human activity. Today, due to climate change and population growth, the demand has increased considerably, thus requiring their evaluation to ensure sustainability. However, one of the important but difficult to estimate parameters due to its variability is the recharge. This work aims to map the potential recharge of aquifers in the departments of Yamoussoukro and Toumodi. Saaty’s AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) multi-criteria analysis technique was used by integrating different thematic layers. First, a reclassification then weighting of these parameters was made according to their influence in the recharge process. Finally, they were integrated into a GIS to produce the map of potential groundwater recharge zones. The results indicate that the potential high recharge areas represent approximately 43.11% of the area of the study area. These areas appear scattered in the sub-prefecture of Yamoussoukro, Kokoumbo Attiegouakro, Toumodi et Kpouèbo.
文摘Groundwater is considered as the main portion of the water supply in arid and semi-arid regions. The Sfax plain area is part of the arid/semi-arid areas of Tunisia that are subject to the impact of climatic and human pressures. Water scarcity in combination with groundwater exploitation is a major concern in this region. Therefore, sustainable management and protection of groundwater resources, it necessary. The delineation of groundwater potential (GP) zones becomes an increasingly important tool for implementing successful management programs. The purpose of the present paper is to assess the potential zone of groundwater resources in the study area. An efficient approach using geographical information system (GIS), hydrological modelling and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was developed. At first, six groundwater parameters that affect groundwater occurrences are derived from the spatial geodatabase. Those parameters are: Infiltration rate estimated from a GIS linked model, lineament density, drainage density, slope, rainfall and Land use/land cover. Then, the assigned weights of thematic layers based on expert knowledge were normalized by eigenvector technique of AHP. The parameter layers were integrated and modeled using a weighted linear combination (WLC). The resulting map was classified into four categories: very low, low, good, and excellent. The results showed that about 26% of the study area falls under very-low-potential zone, with 30% on low-potential zone, 21% with good potential zone, and 23% falling under excellent zone. The results of the analysis were validated using pumping rate data and curve trend of sensitivity classes theory validation of outcomes indicated a good prediction accuracy. The results of the present study can serve to prepare a comprehensive groundwater development and management plans proving its efficacy in this art of exploratory investigations.
文摘Objective To sort out the dimension and indicators of comprehensive value assessment of anti-tumor drugs abroad,and provide a reference for constructing a similar system in China.Methods The keywords such as anti-tumor drugs,value,assessment,method,and framework were used to search CNKI,WanFang database,VIP database,Embase,PubMed and Web of Science.Results and Conclusion According to the research on the value framework of anti-tumor drugs,6 first-level dimensions and 8 second-level indicators with common characteristics were summarized.In view of China’s national conditions,this study summarizes the available value judgment dimensions of anti-tumor drugs at home and abroad,so as to learn from international experience and their mature methodologies,and provide ideas for constructing a multi-dimensional value system of anti-tumor drugs in China.
