Cost Of Protection Measures Research Articles

Optimal Resilience and Risk-Driven Strategies for Pre-Disaster Protection of Electric Power Systems against Uncertain Disaster Scenarios

Pre-disaster protection strategies are essential for enhancing the resilience of electric power systems against natural disasters. Considering the budgets for protection strategies, the dependency of other infrastructure systems on electricity, and the uncertainty of disaster scenarios, this paper develops risk-neutral and risk management models of strategies for pre-disaster protection. The risk-neutral model is a stochastic model designed to maximize the expected value of resilience (EVR) of the integrated system. The risk management model is a multi-objective model prioritizing the minimization of risk metrics as a secondary goal alongside maximizing the EVR. A case study conducted on the energy infrastructure systems in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) validates the effectiveness of the models. The findings reveal the following: (i) increasing the budget enhances the EVR of the integrated system; however, beyond a certain budget threshold, the incremental benefits to the EVR significantly diminish; (ii) reducing the value of the downside risk often results in an increase in the EVR, with the variation in Pareto-optimal solutions between the two objectives being non-linear; and (iii) whether for the risk-neutral or risk management protection strategies, there are reasonable budgets when considering disaster intensity and the cost of protection measures. The models can help decision-makers to select effective protection measures for natural disasters.

Upgrading strategies for long-haul quantum key distribution networks

Quantum key distribution (QKD) has become a promising option for transmitting sensitive data due to the increased maturity of QKD devices and the threat scalable quantum computers imposes on asymmetric public-key cryptosystems. By utilizing existing infrastructure, e.g., amplifier huts and dark fibers, the cost and complexity of deploying QKD networks (QKDNs) can be reduced. In this study, we develop a topology optimization algorithm that minimizes the cost of the QKDN deployment and maximizes the key capacity between any pair of nodes. We present three deployment upgrade strategies for facilitating the encryption of increasing throughput of QKD-secured optical transport networks and enabling a pay-as-you-grow approach. Comparing different strategies in a capacity-planning study allows operators to assess the scalability of deployments and upgrades. Depending on the availability requirements, our results compare the cost of protection measures. We confirm that adding trusted nodes is the most cost-efficient upgrading strategy based on our analysis.

Rapid detection and quantification of Aphanomyces cochlioides in sugar beet

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is an economically important crop in temperate climates providing nearly 30% of sugar production worldwide. The oomycete Aphanomyces cochlioides is the causative agent of seedling damping-off and root rot disease in sugar beet. The pathogen is responsible for plant degeneration and drastic yield losses in all major sugar beet producing areas. The identification of resistant germplasm is essential to reduce the use of chemical treatments as well as the costs of protective measures and to effectively limit the damage caused by the pathogen. In this study we aimed to establish a qPCR-based method to quantify the pathogen DNA in infected plants and to predict the resistance levels of different sugar beet genotypes in response to A. cochlioides. The difference in the response to A. cochlioides isolates with different geographical origins was investigated. In addition, confocal microscopy was performed in order to observe the spatial and temporal colonization pattern in infected seedlings of susceptible and partially resistant breeding lines. The research presented in this article provides a tool to understand the progress of the infection in infected tissues and to identify the genetic background of resistance to A. cochlioides that can be used to support breeding programs.

Determination of the excess excavation ratio from the data of geodesic monitoring

Introduction: During constructing tunnels by trenchless method using the shield driving method soil surface subsides. Buildings and structures which fall into the zone of influence of new construction receive additional settlements. To determine it in the calculations it is necessary to take into account the excess excavation ratio. The purpose of the study is to determine the excess excavation ratio for increasing the sample and determining the normative values of the ratio for application in design.Materials and methods: in the article there is examines the construction of a tunnel in the city of Moscow. Calculations are carried out using the PLAXIS software package in two-dimensional and three-dimensional formulations. In the calculations the normative excess excavation ratio was included and a backward calculation was also carried out in order to determine the actual excess excavation ratio according to the data of geodesic monitoring. Results: the results showed that the excess excavation ratio varies from 0.1% to 1.2%. It is much less than the values that are included in the project according to the regulatory documentation.Conclusions: due to the fact settlement is less than the calculation settlement, the cost of building tunnels can be reduced by reducing the cost of protective measures for buildings and structures, as well as reducing the number of buildings that can receive excess settlement.

The Affordability of Flood Risk Property-Level Adaptation Measures.

The affordability of property-level adaptation measures against flooding is crucial due to the movement toward integrated flood risk management, which requires the individuals threatened by flooding to actively manage flooding. It is surprising to find that affordability is not often discussed, given the important roles that affordability and social justice play regarding flood risk management. This article provides a starting point for investigating the potential rate of unaffordability of flood risk property-level adaptation measures across Europe using two definitions of affordability, which are combined with two different affordability thresholds from within flood risk research. It uses concepts of investment and payment affordability, with affordability thresholds based on residual income and expenditure definitions of unaffordability. These concepts, in turn, are linked with social justice through fairness concerns, in that, all should have equal capability to act, of which affordability is one avenue. In doing so, it was found that, for a large proportion of Europe, property owners generally cannot afford to make one-time payment of the cost of protective measures. These can be made affordable with installment payment mechanisms or similar mechanisms that spread costs over time. Therefore, the movement toward greater obligations for flood-prone residents to actively adapt to flooding should be accompanied by socially accessible financing mechanisms.

Komparativna analiza rizika u pomorstvu i cijene sprečavanja pogibelji u Republici Hrvatskoj

Given the fact that every maritime venture is exposed to continuous risks, it is necessary to create a hierarchic structure of its predictors and to manage them efficiently. In view of that, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) suggests the possibility of risk management through the Formal Safety Assessment (FSA). The key element in the implementation of this method is to determine the optimum point of investment in risk reduction with the purpose of achieving the balance between the costs of protective measures and the profit. Although it may be inappropriate to discuss the price of a human life, it is nevertheless possible to calculate it by formal mathematical procedures through the Cost of Averting a Fatality (CAF) and the Implied Cost of Averting a Fatality (ICAF). This methodology has allowed to produce – and to present in this paper – the above values for the Republic of Croatia for the very first time. In addition, by using the ϰ2 test, it has been possible to examine the relations between the observed actions (foundering, collision / impact, flooding, fire, disabled and adrift, man overboard) and the period (years 2006-2017). The results clearly show a statistically relevant dependence (ϰ2(88)=143, 17 ; p<0, 001) among the observed categories, which probably results from various implementation dynamics of the risk reduction measures that are performed in Croatia on a yearly basis. The results obtained by this research can provide important additional guidelines for the optimisation of the risk management model.

Risk Analysis of Lightning and Surge Protection Devices for Power Energy Structures

This paper studies the risk data and protection measurements of lightning based on the IEC62305 standard. In addition, Visual Basic (VB) is used to build a lightning risk calculation program with a Graphical User Interface (GUI). The data structure, including environment data, line data, zone data, economic data, and protection measures is designed to simulate risk of loss of human life (R1) and risk of loss of economic value (R4). To achieve the most economical protection structure design, additional protection measurements and annual savings are considered. In the practical application, the main purpose is to discuss effective protection distances of surge protective devices (SPDs) for low-voltage power distribution. This paper takes advantage of Electromagnetic Transients Program (EMTP) to simulate the voltage of equipment with different types of loads and length of the cable. After using the protection measures, the value of risk of human life reduces form 21.299 × 10−5 to 0.439 × 10−5 and the value of risk of economic value reduces from 2696.754 × 10−5 to 98.062 × 10−5. The results mean that the protection measures let the values of the risk below the tolerance. By considering the annual cost saving. Assume the cost of protection measures, the interest rate, the depreciation rate, and the maintenance rate are 150,000 $, 4%, 5%, and 1%, respectively. The annual cost before using protective measures, the annual cost after using protective measures, the annual cost of protective measures, and the annual cost saving are $925,000, $33,635, $15,000 and $876,365, respectively. Consequently, it is feasible that the simulation result can provide users with great suggestions to choose the best installation location and achieve the most effective protection design.

The efficiency cost of protective measures in climate policy

Despite recent achievements towards a global climate agreement, climate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions remains quite heterogeneous across countries. Energy-intensive and trade-exposed (EITE) industries in industrialized countries are concerned on stringent domestic emission pricing that puts them at a competitive disadvantage against producers of similar goods in other countries with more lenient emission regulation. This paper focuses on climate policy design in the United States of America (US) and compares the economic implications of four alternative protective measures for US EITE industries: (i) output-based rebates, (ii) exemptions from emission pricing, (iii) energy intensity standards, and (iv) carbon intensity standards. Using a large-scale computable general equilibrium model we quantify how these protective measures affect competitiveness of US EITE industries. We find that protective measures can improve common trade-related competitiveness indicators such as revealed comparative advantage or relative world trade shares but at the same time may lead to a decline in the output value for EITE industries because of negative income effects. The economy-wide cost of emission abatement under protective measures increase as compared to uniform emission pricing stand-alone such that the gains of protective measures for EITE exports may be more than compensated through losses in domestic EITE demand.

A Framework for a Uniform Quantitative Description of Risk with Respect to Safety and Security

A mathematical framework is presented that describes risk in the context of safety and security problems quantitatively and in an integrative way. Great importance is laid on a clear notation with a sound semantics. Essentially, this seminal contribution is a substantially expanded version of our short paper “A quantitative risk model for a uniform description of safety and security”, which we presented to the 10th Future Security 2015 in Berlin (A quantitative risk model for a uniform description of safety and security. In: Proceedings of the 10th Future security—security research conference, pp 317–324, 2015). The key concept of this paper is a quantitative formulation of risk. Uncertainties are modelled based on probability distributions. Risk due to purely stochastic sources of danger is based on objective notions of probabilities and costs whereas risks of individuals (intelligent agents) are described from their own points of view, i.e. in a fully subjective manner, since individuals draw their decisions based on their subjective assessments of potential costs and of frequencies of event occurrence. Therefore, probability is interpreted in a Bayesian context as a degree of belief (DoB). Based on a role model for the involved agents with the three roles »source of danger«, »subject of protection« and »protector«, risk is modelled quantitatively using statistical decision theory and game theory. The set D of sources of danger is endowed with a DoB-distribution describing the probability of occurrence. D is partitioned into subsets that describe dangers which are due to random causes, carelessness and intention. A set of flanks of vulnerability F is assigned to each subject of protection. These flanks characterize different aspects of vulnerability concerning mechanical, physiological, informational, economical, reputational, psychological, … vulnerability. The flanks of vulnerability are endowed with conditional DoBs that describe to which degree an incidence or an attack will be harmful. Additionally, each flank of vulnerability is endowed with a cost function that quantifies the costs which are charged to the subject of protection, if it is affected by a harmful incidence or attack. With these ingredients the risk for the subject of protection can be quantified based on an ensemble functional with respect to all sources of danger and to all flanks of vulnerability. Depending of the respective subset of dangers such a functional is an expectation (case of random causes and carelessness) or a selection operation (case of intention), where in the latter case the attack will presumably take place at the weakest flank of vulnerability. The calculated risk can be opposed to the cost of protection measures that are offered by the protector in order to foster an effective and economical invest decision. From an attacker’s point of view a utility function is formulated which a rational attacker presumably would use to evaluate his cost-benefit ratio in order to decide whether he attacks and which of his options he exercises. The challenges of the approach are the determination of the cost functions and especially the estimation of the probabilities (DoBs) of the model. Two approaches for determining DoBs, the Maximum Entropy Principle (MEP) and the Conditioning On Rare Events (CORE), are presented and discussed. The model can be used to simulate and evaluate the endangerment of subjects of protection quantitatively, e.g. using a software agent implementation, where the agents are endowed with the cost functions and the DoBs of the presented framework.

GIS-based evaluation of rockfall risk along routes in Greece

This article presents a GIS-based system, designed to assist in the management of rockfall risk along Greek routes. The system was developed in two stages; the field data collection led to the implementation of a rockfall rating system with its fundamental parameters, while the data process concluded to a rockfall data base and a GIS-based interface. The fundamental parameters were derived from the rockfall hazard rating system developed by Pierson et al. at the Oregon State Highway Division and provide a coherent approach to decide the type and the cost of protection measures to be applied in an area affected by rockfalls and presents highest rockfall risk. The system presented in this paper as well as the original system comprises exponential scoring functions that represent the increased hazard and reflected in nine categories forming the classification. The method presented in this paper modified certain categories from the original system which were described qualitatively and may lead to quite subjective estimations. These categories are ditch effectiveness; climate and presence of water on slope as well as rockfall history. Moreover, the original category “Geologic characteristic” was changed to Structural and Discontinuities Index; an index that relates blockiness of rock mass and orientation of joints with their weathering condition and their roughness. This index follows the classification of weathering and joint’s roughness suggested by International Society of Rock Mechanics, while other modifications regarding the categories “decision sight distance” and “roadway width” were applied based on Greek standards. An application of this modified method to a 3 km road which connects Athinios port and Fira, the capital of Santorini island, Greece, a high traffic intensity road where rockfalls periodically cause traffic interruptions is presented. The method was applied in fifteen cross sections of slopes adjacent to the road and the analyses showed increased risk and the need for urgent remedial works.

Study for Evaluation Index of Investment Effectiveness for Machine and Manufacturing System Includes Protection Measures

It is important for enterprise management to measure effectiveness of return on investment for machine and manufacturing system. It shall be considered not only to measure based on annual production value, but also to measure the effectiveness with cost caused by labors’ injuries and cost of protection measures that prevents industrial accidents. To make it realized, we shall define a calculation method for machine and manufacturing system includes protection measures from the aspect of the total life cycle, and a calculation method for total cost caused by industrial accidents. Then we shall define an evaluation index of investment effectiveness includes protection measures that will be led by a relation with values that comes from the above mentioned calculations.

Identifying and Managing Enterprise Security Risks in Online Business Convergence Environments

Security risks associated with networked enterprise systems is a topic that has become increasingly significant in recent years. Risks to computer systems can be anything from defacing a corporate website to sabotaging a metropolitan electricity distribution system, and anything in between. Information security risk management is the process used to identify and understand risks to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and information systems. The scope of this paper is to review the current literature on risk management and the processes that allow IT managers to balance the operational and economic costs of protective measures, as well as, achieve gains in mission capability by protecting the IT systems and data that support their organizations’ missions. Literature suggests that d eveloping a well-planned business continuity plan should be a matter of highest priority for all businesses, regardless of size, structure or function. What is crucial is to minimize risk by developing a high standard security system, while business leaders need to have it high on their agenda and do their best to ensure the overall organization’s safety.

Modelling public risk evaluation of natural hazards: a conceptual approach

Abstract. In recent years, the dealing with natural hazards in Switzerland has shifted away from being hazard-oriented towards a risk-based approach. Decreasing societal acceptance of risk, accompanied by increasing marginal costs of protective measures and decreasing financial resources cause an optimization problem. Therefore, the new focus lies on the mitigation of the hazard's risk in accordance with economical, ecological and social considerations. This modern proceeding requires an approach in which not only technological, engineering or scientific aspects of the definition of the hazard or the computation of the risk are considered, but also the public concerns about the acceptance of these risks. These aspects of a modern risk approach enable a comprehensive assessment of the (risk) situation and, thus, sound risk management decisions. In Switzerland, however, the competent authorities suffer from a lack of decision criteria, as they don't know what risk level the public is willing to accept. Consequently, there exists a need for the authorities to know what the society thinks about risks. A formalized model that allows at least a crude simulation of the public risk evaluation could therefore be a useful tool to support effective and efficient risk mitigation measures. This paper presents a conceptual approach of such an evaluation model using perception affecting factors PAF, evaluation criteria EC and several factors without any immediate relation to the risk itself, but to the evaluating person. Finally, the decision about the acceptance Acc of a certain risk i is made by a comparison of the perceived risk Ri,perc with the acceptable risk Ri,acc.

Risk analysis and risk management

Abstract Risk management is the process that allows business managers to balance operational and economic costs of protective measures and achieve gains in mission capability by protecting business processes that support the business objectives or mission of the enterprise. Senior management must ensure that the enterprise has the capabilities needed to accomplish its mission. Most organizations have tight budgets for security. To get the best bang for the security buck, management needs a process to determine spending.

Risk Analysis and Risk Management

Risk management is the process that allows business managers to balance operational and economic costs of protective measures and achieve gains in mission capability by protecting business processes that support the business objectives or mission of the enterprise. Senior management must ensure that the enterprise has the capabilities needed to accomplish its mission. Most organizations have tight budgets for security. To get the best bang for the security buck, management needs a process to determine spending.

Risk Analysis and Risk Management

Risk management is the process that allows business managers to balance operational and economic costs of protective measures and achieve gains in mission capability by protecting business processes that support the business objectives or mission of the enterprise. Senior management must ensure that the enterprise has the capabilities needed to accomplish its mission. Most organizations have tight budgets for security. To get the best bang for the security buck, management needs a process to determine spending.

Prevention of mosquito nuisance among urban populations in Burkina Faso

This paper addresses the problems of mosquito control in urban areas of Burkina Faso. The main objectives are to examine relevant socio-cultural aspects in relation to a mosquito control intervention using a biolarvicide with main emphasis on local perceptions of mosquito nuisance and existing practices of mosquito control, including the cost of protective measures at household level. This is the report of an inter-disciplinary research project carried out in the two major towns of Burkina Faso, Bobo-Dioulasso and Ouagadougou, in 1999 and 2000, respectively. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in the ethnographic part of the study. Two questionnaire surveys were conducted in both study areas: one prior to the intervention (n=1083) and the other after the intervention of the treatments with bio-larvicide (n=956). In addition, 70 in-depth interviews and 17 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted. The findings show that mosquitoes are considered an important problem in the urban areas, both as a nuisance and a health risk and that the local population is very active in applying mosquito control measures at the household level. The intervention project was received positively by the local population with a decline in the perceived level of annoyance. The causal relationship between mosquitoes and malaria is clear, but the explanatory framework of the relationship between mosquitoes and other diseases is still under debate. The most common prevention methods are mosquito coils and aerosol spray, even though bed nets are perceived to be the most efficient and effective method. The investments in coils and aerosol sprays alone would mean an increase of 40% in the national figures for health expenditure at household level.

Prevention of mosquito nuisance among urban populations in Burkina Faso

This paper addresses the problems of mosquito control in urban areas of Burkina Faso. The main objectives are to examine relevant socio-cultural aspects in relation to a mosquito control intervention using a biolarvicide with main emphasis on local perceptions of mosquito nuisance and existing practices of mosquito control, including the cost of protective measures at household level. This is the report of an inter-disciplinary research project carried out in the two major towns of Burkina Faso, Bobo-Dioulasso and Ouagadougou, in 1999 and 2000, respectively. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in the ethnographic part of the study. Two questionnaire surveys were conducted in both study areas: one prior to the intervention ( n =1083) and the other after the intervention of the treatments with bio-larvicide ( n =956). In addition, 70 in-depth interviews and 17 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted. The findings show that mosquitoes are considered an important problem in the urban areas, both as a nuisance and a health risk and that the local population is very active in applying mosquito control measures at the household level. The intervention project was received positively by the local population with a decline in the perceived level of annoyance. The causal relationship between mosquitoes and malaria is clear, but the explanatory framework of the relationship between mosquitoes and other diseases is still under debate. The most common prevention methods are mosquito coils and aerosol spray, even though bed nets are perceived to be the most efficient and effective method. The investments in coils and aerosol sprays alone would mean an increase of 40% in the national figures for health expenditure at household level.

Equal treatment for people with mental retardation: having and raising children

Preface Acknowledgments PART I: INTRODUCTION Some Families Public Policy, Past and Present Changing Policies toward Mental Retardation The Current Policy Dilemma concerning Parents with Retardation Who Are Called Retarded? Causes of Mental Retardation Defining and Classifying Mental Retardation A History of Intelligence Testing Evolving Definitions of IQ IQ Testing Today PART II: PROCREATION Procreative Choice--But Whose? Different Legal Approaches Discrimination against Persons Who Have Retardation The Patient as the Appropriate Decisionmaker Benefits and Costs of Protective Measures Resolving the Problem Evolution of Policies toward Sterilization Procedural Protections The Need for Substantive Reforms Judicial Decisionmaking in a Legislative Void Ambivalence toward Eugenics Current Policy Issues concerning Sterilization Strict Prohibition of Nonconsensual Sterilization Retreat from Strict Prohibition Judicial Supervision of Third-Party Consent to Sterilization What Should the Standards for Sterilization Be? Substituted Judgment or Best Interests? Standards for Who Can Be Sterilized and When Disagreement about the Reasons for Sterilization Sex and Contraception Constitutional Law concerning Minors' Access to Sex Constitutional Law concerning Adults' Access to Sex Access to Sex for Persons with Retardation The Importance of Sex Education Preferring Contraception over Sterilization Contraception: Practice and Law Different Legal Treatment of Sterilization and Other Contraceptive Measures Distinguishing Sterilization from Other Contraception The Legal Status of Persons with Mental Retardation Conpared with that of Children The Limited Impact of Guardianship Four Scenarios Imprecise Rules about When Guardianship Is Appropriate Interactions between Guardian and Ward The Peculiar Problem of Abortion Two Differing Legal Approaches Does Practice Accord with the Law? Standards for Abortion Resistance from the Patient PART III: A PROPOSAL FOR SELF-DETERMINATION Self-Determination Explained and Evaluated The Necessity for Self-Determination Respecting a Patient's Resistance Four Scenarios Critique: Danger and Unworkability How the Proposed System Would Work The Best Available Solution Necessary Limitations on Self-Determination Nonexpressive Persons Minors The Possibility of Varying the Rule The Glen Ridge Rape Case Should Sterilization Be Available Only with Actual Informed Consent? PART IV: PARENTING Some Underlying Rules and Issues Standards for Evaluating Parents: Adoption, Neglect and Abuse, and Custody Proceedings Comparing the Standards The Difficulty and Subjectivity of Defining Unfitness Use and Misuse of Sociological Studies Written Law concerning Parenting: Important Issues for Parents with Retardation Historical Perspective: Per se Disqualification The Unconstitutionality of Disqualifying Parents Because of Unfitness of Their Group Evolution of the Standard Toward an Appropriate Legal Standard, Applicable to All Parents The Social Welfare System in Practice The Process for Parents in General Applying the Procedures to Parents Who Have Retardation Reforming the System Some Difficult Policy Issues Applying Procedural Protections to Removal Proceedings Adjusting the Interval between Removal and Termination More Flexible Kinds of Adoption Providing Assistance Devising Solutions Hope for the Future Some Key Suggested Reforms Conclusion Notes Bibliography Cases Index

Risque d'inondation : urbanisme réglementaire ou servitude négociée ?

Those who increase the risk of flooding should contribute to the cost of protective measures. However, it is difficult to develop solidarity in the area of flood protection in France because planning measures are generally imposed rather than negotiated. The established rule of denying compensation for planning restrictions in a System precarlousiy balanced between private ownership and the all-powerful State tends to block the integration of environmental constraints into planning instruments. Responsibility for preventive measures under an economie solidarity policy should be entrusted to the water agencies in order to create a « rain tax ».