Environmental Planning Strategies Research Articles

Spatiotemporal analysis of water quality indicators in a watershed in Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract Tools for monitoring and evaluating water quality are necessary for the measurement of environmental impacts arising from diverse activities in hydrographic basins. Here, the water quality of the Verdinho River, an important hydrographic basin of Brazilian Cerrado, was evaluated using 16 physical–chemical parameters. The indicators with major interference with water quality were identified by principal component analysis (PCA), in order to suggest less laborious and less expensive assessments. The water quality index (WQI) was applied considering seasonal changes and the analysis of eutrophication potential was determined using the trophic state index (TSI). The concentrations of chemical water quality indicators (e.g., nitrate, total phosphorus, total nitrogen) increased mainly in the rainy season. The PCA explained 73.69% of the variance among the data. Total solids, temperature, turbidity, alkalinity, biochemical oxygen demand, hardness, total phosphorus, nitrite, nitrate and ammonia showed strong correlations. The water quality was classified in the ‘good’ category in most of the evaluations. The TSI presented conditions between mesotrophic and eutrophic. The indicators that are analyzed seasonally and spatially are associated with natural and anthropic factors. The future implementation of a water catchment project water depends on environmental planning strategies to reduce the impacts on the water quality of this hydrographic basin.

Decision support tools for wind and solar farm site selection in Isfahan Province, Iran

Optimizing the location of wind and photovoltaic solar power plants is a significant environmental management problem. The effectiveness of the site selection process for renewable energy systems (RES) could be strengthened by flexible spatial and environmental planning strategies using decision support systems (DSS) to critically identify the most productive, environmentally friendly and acceptable sites for the production of sustainable and reliable wind and solar energy. This study discusses hybrid DSS, using multi-criteria evaluation based on the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), a geographical information system (GIS), fuzzy logic, and a weighted linear combination (WLC) approach to determine optimal locations for renewable energy generation infrastructure. In the first stage, the most decisive factors for evaluating the site suitability were identified, based on experts’ opinions. Next, raster layers of ecological and socioeconomic sub-criteria were prepared GIS software. After incorporating the raster maps of each parameter, fuzzy membership functions were applied to normalize each raster layer between 0 and 1. The relative weights of different indicators were calculated using super decision software. Prioritizing vital elements were performed using AHP. In the final stage, the WLC approach was utilized to amalgamate layers in the GIS environment, which afforded the final site suitability maps. In Isfahan Province, Iran, 26% of the land area was found to be highly suitable for solar farms with 18% being highly suitable for wind farms. The results illustrate that using and comparing the results from combinations of computer-based DSS are more likely to result in better decisions than using individual DSS tools for the determination of the most suitable sites for RES location.

Análisis geomático espacial del cambio de uso del suelo en Huimanguillo, Tabasco (2000-2010-2030)

El cambio de uso del suelo representa uno de los grandes desafíos que se antepone a la sostenibilidad, debido a que contribuye al cambio climático y a la pérdida de biodiversidad. Ante esto, y con base en el desconocimiento de los patrones de cambios de usos del suelo y sus efectos en los ecosistemas de Huimanguillo, Tabasco, se planteó realizar un análisis con Land Change Modeler (2000-2010) para estimar la distribución de las coberturas naturales con mayor presión ambiental. A partir de ello se construyó una proyección con Cadenas de Markov y Autómatas Celulares (2030). Así, durante 2000 y 2010 se detectaron importantes ganancias en los humedales (39 236 ha) y en la vegetación arbórea (24 773 ha), lo cual es favorable para el mantenimiento de los servicios ecosistémicos. Sin embargo, se registraron aumentos en la zona urbana (1 266 ha) con disminución en la agropecuaria (53 639 ha), aunque esta aún constituye la mayor superficie en el territorio. Además, con el análisis espacial del 2010 contra la proyección 2030, se detectó que continuaron las tendencias de crecimiento de los humedales (7 197 ha), vegetación arbórea (9 937 ha) y uso urbano (1 498 ha); así como la disminución del área agropecuaria (16 433 ha). Este estudio generó información cartográfica útil para la definición de las estrategias y políticas de planificación territorial, que conlleve a la implementación de un modelo de ordenamiento ecológico territorial de desarrollo urbano, y, en su caso, al decreto de áreas naturales protegidas.

Investigating domestic gardens’ densities, spatial distribution and types among city districts

Domestic gardens are the major contributor to greening the spatial plan in some compact cities. Irbid, Jordan is a densely populated city that has limited and deteriorating natural vegetation and is located in an arid to semi-arid climate. We investigated the density of domestic gardens (proportion of gardened residential units) in Irbid city and explored some properties of domestic gardens. The research focused on the city domestic garden types, their distribution, gardens proportions and association to household economic status and parcel area. Four hundred and thirty residential units were selected randomly using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). The sample size for each district was identified proportionally relative to the district’s total residential units. Parcel area, district population, household income and landscape properties information were obtained from GIS maps, homeowners’ interviews or on site observations. Sixty-two percent of the city residential units had gardens and those gardens were distributed unequally (21–100%) among city districts. Rural areas had higher garden densities (proportions) compared to that at the city center. Around 50% of the city gardens were utilitarian and were concentrated in the rural areas, while the aesthetically designed gardens represented 21% of the total gardens and were significantly concentrated near the core urban area of the city. Around 53% of the city domestic gardens were categorized as side yards. The districts’ domestic garden proportions and parcel sizes were positively correlated. The proportions of aesthetic gardens were positively correlated with districts’ median income while utilitarian garden proportions strongly and inversely correlated with districts income. This knowledge about the proportions of domestic gardens distribution, trends, garden attributes and other factors that interfere with the existence and shape of domestic gardens has implications for species composition and can serve as a basis for green infrastructure planning, sustainable environmental planning strategies, and land use policies.

Diferencias ambientales en el paisaje urbano de la ciudad de Querétaro, México: caso de estudio Juriquilla y Santa Rosa Jáuregui

The urban-environmental dynamics and evolution of the city of Queretaro reconfigures landscapes and builds new mental images on urban habitability. The present study ana lyzes the environmental differences in the urban landscape of Juriquilla and Santa Rosa Jauregui, north of the city of Queretaro, Mexico. A methodology was applied based on an urban landscape environmental quality index. The result was the visual assessment of seventeen urban-environmental variables grouped in water, soil and air. The groups of soil and water direct the environmental detriment of the landscape, mainly garbage and waste of water. It contributes with the identification of priority zones for environmental monitoring, as well as knowledge and information to generate environmental planning strategies in fast-growing urban spaces.

Classificação orientada a objeto (GEOBIA) aplicada à análise das alterações do uso e cobertura da terra da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio da Prata em Jardim e Bonito - MS

O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar as mudanças no uso e cobertura da terra da bacia hidrográfica do Rio da Prata, MS, no período de 1986 a 2016, a partir da abordagem de classificação orientada a objeto (GEOBIA - Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis). Utilizaram-se as imagens Landsat 5, sensor TM (Thematic Mapper) para os anos de 1986, 1996 e 2006 e Landsat 8, sensor OLI (Operational Land Imager) para o ano de 2016. Aplicando técnicas de sensoriamento remoto e geoprocessamento, utilizou-se o software Envi 5.1 para a correção radiométrica e atmosférica e para classificação orientada a objeto: o Ecogntion 9, além do Arcgis 10.3. Foram definidas sete classes de uso da terra: agricultura, corpos aquosos, florestal, pastagem, áreas úmidas, vegetação arbórea e reflorestamento. Os resultados indicaram uma expansão agropecuária e consequentemente um decréscimo das áreas de vegetação arbórea. No período de 1986 a 2016, a pastagem teve um aumento de 13,11%, já as áreas de vegetação arbórea tiveram uma supressão de 21,37%. Sendo assim, destaca-se a importância da análise do uso da terra, com auxílio do sensoriamento remoto e geoprocessamento, para indicar estratégias para ordenamento ambiental na bacia do Rio da Prata, MS.

Discourse, Strategy, and Practice of Urban Resilience against Flooding

Resilience discourse is shifting the very meaning of “resilience” from “bouncing back” to “bouncing forward” in the twenty-first century. International policies have provoked cities to play a proactive role in applying land-use and environmental planning strategies for disaster resilience. Strategies of urban flood resilience include prevention, accommodation, fortification, protection, retreat, and green infrastructure. In general, four models of resilience against flooding are primarily adopted: the structure model, the non-structure model, the land-use and environmental planning model, and the retreat planning model. Results indicate that planning more space for the river, wetland planning, polder and retention areas, and permeable surface design do matter in reducing flood risks. Additionally, urban growth management, directing developments and populations away from floodplains, could reduce flood risks and damages. Finally, in retreat model, urban resilience stresses retreat and evacuation to reduce flood damages. Retreat strategies and alternatives, such as property buyouts, relocations, new towns for accommodations, and land swaps for less risky areas, could be applied in helping to achieve urban flood resilience.

The Profitability of Environmental Proactivity in Business Education Institutions: an Investigation of University Administrators

Over the last decades, the implementation of an environmentally-proactive behavior has taken on a new priority as part of the environmental planning strategies at higher education institutions. Nonetheless, this trend has exerted a heterogeneous impact on business education centres. Moreover, prior studies have found that administrators’ efforts play a crucial role to foster a school climate supportive of environmental proactivity. This paper contributes to investigate how and why universities, i.e. organizations not guided primarily by financial profits, decide to undertake an environmentally-proactive behavior. Specifically, we analyze deans’ perceptions in relation to the economic advantages that may be derived out of different levels of environmental proactivity of the centres. To that aim, we draw on a sample of 74 deans. Contrary to our original expectations, results reveal that there are no significant differences in deans’ perceptions of the economic advantages from their centres’ environmental proactivity.

Hierarchical analysis of the threats for Species of Community Interest in the Iron Gates Natural Park, Romania

Threats to biodiversity are diverse and the management of these threats is a major research direction in the conservation of biological diversity. Determining the status of a species is essential in identifying those in danger of becoming extinct and also to establish conservation priorities. For the management of all types of threats that manifest themselves for certain species of community interest in the Iron Gates Natural Park, we must first understand their causes and effects. Conservationists are increasingly interested in determining threats to biological communities, this being an important part of territorial and environmental planning strategies. The analysis undertaken for some geographical areas showed that the most important threats are the socioeconomic and demographic variables, the fragmentation, destruction and degradation of habitats through various practices, the introduction of non-native species, illegal hunting or overfishing. In this context, for elaborating sustainable patterns of habitat management we must analyze and prioritize the threats that we are dealing with. The method requires an inventory of the main threats in the Iron Gates Natural Park, the threats for certain Species of Community Interest (Tulipa hungarica, Colchicum arenarium, Pulsatilla grandis). We have also applied a method used by WWF in order to achieve a hierarchy of the main threats and to establish logical and efficient actions that can be locally applicable.

Local communities and the new environmental planning: a case study from Zanzibar

Sub–Saharan Africa is experiencing a new round of conservation initiatives, based around democratized local institutions and local knowledge of the environment. This essay uses political ecology research from a case study settlement in the Zanzibar islands of Tanzania to interrogate how to create the enabling conditions for these new conservation programmes. The case study highlights the importance of understanding social and political issues at the local scale for appreciating the problematic trajectories of progressive environmental planning strategies in Africa in the context of democratization.

Quantitative Pollution Spill Risk Assessment: Using A Gis-Based System

Federal and State agencies have recently advocated risk-based analysis as a mechanism for advancing regulatory reform and safety determination in marine systems. the present investigation promotes this objective through the development of risk-based environmental planning strategies for oil spill contingency plans. This alternative approach to contingency planning departs from conventional methodology by employing quantitative risk assessment methods to identify hazardous oil spill zones and sensitive environmental areas, Ro and Re respectively. the product of this conversion is referenced on a single “Risk” layer within a Geographic Information System (GIS) framework allowing coastal managers to evaluate natural resource data with associated elements of oil spill risk. As a new tool for coastal pollution management, risk-based environmental planning strategies have shown potential for evolving more efficient oil spill contingency plans.

Energy constraints on rice production in the developing world: an environmental perspective

Traditional, labor‐intensive, capital intensive and experimental methods of agricultural production are analyzed in terms of cultural energy input and yield potential. Comparative energy efficiencies are computed and assessed for both primary and auxiliary agricultural operations. Specific environmental planning strategies are suggested for implementation based on energy limitations and land constraints. It is concluded that both labor‐intensive and capital‐intensive technologies can be further refined and implemented to produce an optimal mix of labor and machinery to minimize energy use and environmental deterioration.