Future Ground Research Articles

The SCORE project: finding Earth 2.0 Does life exist elsewhere in the Universe?

The SCORE project: finding Earth 2.0 Does life exist elsewhere in the Universe? The goal of the SCORE project is to enable the detection of other Earths orbiting bright, close-by Sun-like stars for which future ground and space-based missions will be able to characterise their atmosphere in the search for signatures of life elsewhere in the Universe.

Imaging the Kanto Basin seismic basement with earthquake and noise autocorrelation functions

SUMMARYSedimentary basins can strongly amplify seismic waves from earthquakes. To better predict future ground motions, detailed knowledge of the sediment thickness and internal structure of basins is required. We image the sediment-to-bedrock interface of the Kanto Basin in Japan using the P-wave reflectivity response from earthquake and ambient seismic noise autocorrelation functions (ACFs) at 286 shallow borehole stations. Earthquake ACFs are computed using P-wave records from 50 Mw 6+ teleseismic events. Noise ACFs are obtained using 1 month of continuous data. Both methods are used to retrieve P-wave traveltimes between the surface and the bedrock interface and map the basin basement geometry. Our prediction of the basement depth agrees generally well with that from a reference velocity model, except for smoother variations in the central part of the basin. Using full-wavefield simulations, we show that the nature of the autocorrelated wavefield has a significant impact on the shape of the ACF waveforms and that earthquake ACFs yield more accurate results in the Kanto Basin.

Adaptive school grounds design in response to COVID-19: Findings from six primary schools in South East England

The purpose of this research is to look at how primary schools in England have adapted their outdoor spaces in the context of COVID-19 rules and guidelines to meet the needs of students returning from school closures and national lockdown of Spring/Summer 2020, how that impacted play and learning value of their grounds, and to consider how these findings might inform future school grounds design. Thus, we used a mixed-method approach that included qualitative interviews with representatives from six primary schools (three in rural and three in urban areas), quantitative desk research, and in-person site surveys. We used literature-based scoring criteria to quantify changes in the playground before and after the implementation of COVID-19 measures. The research reveals that the zoning of play areas and other aspects of the school grounds may negatively affected the value of play and learning. We also found a substantial disparity in the amount of outside space per pupil (OSPP) available across schools. Those with the lowest OSPP also had the lowest outdoor and environmental learning provision, lacking the flexibility to accommodate this alongside other requirements of staggered play breaks and PE. The amount of outdoor space that a school has available per pupil averaged at 32 m2 for urban schools and 43 m2 for rural schools. Finally, we have explored how spatial layout and design elements may have supported or inhibited schools' abilities to respond to children's needs, and how this might inform adaptive school grounds design considerations for the future.

Effects of stratification and charge cooling on combustion in a gasoline direct-injection compression ignition (GDCI) engine

With the development of low temperature engine combustion strategies, performance of gasoline-type fuels under compression ignition conditions has attracted extensive research interest. Meanwhile, for the sake of co-optimization of engines and fuels for future ground transportation, identification and evaluation of general fuel properties should be a core research priority instead of endless testing of specific fuels. In this study, the roles of fuel octane sensitivity in characterizing the ignition performance of gasoline surrogates have been systematically investigated under typical gasoline direct ignition compression ignition (GDCI) engine conditions using 3D combustion CFD simulation, especially considering the subsequent in-cylinder charge stratification and charge cooling. Two different operating conditions, high boost pressure low boost temperature (beyond-RON) case and low boost pressure high boost temperature (beyond-MON) case, were considered. By comparing with our previous zero-dimensional chemical kinetic study of gasoline surrogates in advanced compression ignition (ACI) engines, the effects of stratification and charge cooling on the combustion processes are investigated. It is found that different fuel octane sensitivities lead to slight difference in equivalence ratio stratification and charge cooling due to differences in volatility. However, fuel reactivity is still the more dominant factor than the stratification and charge cooling effects in determining combustion phasing. The present results help to justify the P-T domain framework for engine autoignition analysis of overlapping pressure-temperature trajectory with ignition delay iso-contour. The results also provide useful guidance to the understanding of GCI combustion process, and to the evaluation of controlling fuel properties and the selection of alternative fuels in GCI engines

Embodied Tree: Empowering Its Symbolic Strength Through Creative Arts Therapy

Creative Arts Educ Ther (2021) 7(2):138–148 DOI: 10.15212/CAET/2021/7/10 Embodied Tree: Empowering Its Symbolic Strength Through Creative Arts Therapy Abstract When fear and anxiety for the future gain ground inside of us, nature helps to restore our inner balance and strengthen our link to life. In a webinar for creative arts therapists, we used movements and art to connect with the wisdom of the tree. We embodied its symbolic power, which subsequently represented it in an art form. The tree’s resemblance to the human body and its use as a symbol in myths made it a vehicle to regain a sense of life’s continuation and transformation. As trees are interconnected through their roots, participants co-constructed a unity and a continuity with each other, a precious feeling in a time of isolation and absence of contact. Keywords: creative process, art and movement, interconnection, embodied tree, transformation 摘要 当对未来的恐惧和焦虑在我们内心占据主导地位时, 大自然有助于恢复内心的平衡, 加强我们与生命的联结。在一次为创造性艺术治疗师举办的网络研讨会上, 我们用动作和艺术与树的智慧连接。我们具身化了树的象征性力量, 随后以一种艺术形式呈现出来。树与人体有相似性, 它在神话中作为一种象征使用, 这使它成为重获生命延续感和转化的载体。由于树木通过它们的根部相互连接, 参与者在彼此之间共建了一种整体性与联结感, 在一个孤立和缺乏联系的时代, 这是一种珍贵的感觉。 关键词： 创作过程，艺术和动作, 相互连接, 具身化的树, 转化.

Development an Artificial Neural Network Model for Estimating Cost of R/C Building by Using Life‐Cycle Cost Function: Case Study of Mexico City

This paper addresses the importance of engineering asset management decisions and control. For this purpose, a Life‐Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis is conducted for typical reinforced concrete (R/C) buildings located in Mexico City. The objective of this study is to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) model that can estimate the total expected cost of R/C buildings by using LCC functions. The total cost includes the initial cost and the cost of the damage caused by future possible ground motions at the site of interest. The present value of the cost includes: initial cost, repair or reconstruction cost, cost of damage to the contents, costs associated with the loss of life or injuries and economic losses. The structural performance is evaluated using probabilistic models, artificial neural networks models are used to obtain the seismic response of the buildings. The methodology is applied to a set of reinforced concrete buildings with 4, 8, and 12 stories which are located at the soft soil of Mexico City. Finally, it is concluded that the life‐cycle cost is efficiently obtained using artificial neural network models for estimating the structural reliability of reinforced concrete buildings, in such a way that it can be used as an excellent planning tool that covers long spans of time.

青海湖裸鲤自然产卵场的生境特征及无人机遥测判别——以泉吉河为例

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 青海湖裸鲤自然产卵场的生境特征及无人机遥测判别——以泉吉河为例 DOI: 10.5846/stxb202107191949 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 青海省自然科学基金面上项目（2018-ZJ-908）；中央公益性基本科研业务费项目（2020TD08，2019HY-JC01） The spawning habitat characteristics of Gymnocypris przewalskii and its identification by the UAV in tributary of Qinghai Lake—taking Quanji River as an example Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: Natural Science Foundation of Qinghai Province, Central public welfare basic scientific research business expenses project 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:自然产卵场是维持物种延续最关键的栖息地，青海湖裸鲤（Gymnocypris przewalskii）的自然繁殖栖息地状况和生境特征尚缺乏详细的定量研究。以青海湖入湖河流泉吉河为例，在平水期采用现场调查和无人机遥测的方法对青海湖裸鲤的自然产卵场分布及生境状况进行调查，确定其产卵场生境特征参数，建立基于无人机遥测识别产卵场的方法并进行复核验证。结果表明：泉吉河河道形态可分为弯曲型、分汊型和顺直型等三种典型河型，青海湖裸鲤自然产卵场主要分布在弯曲型和分汊型河道中，分汊型河道几乎100%都有产卵场分布，弯曲型河道有70%为产卵场；产卵场河道平均长度（135.13±61.13） m，平均宽度（30.01±17.51） m，平均曲折度1.09±0.07；平均面积（4586.6±4201.61） m2；产卵场常位于缓水浅滩处，平均水深（0.19±0.10） m （范围：0.03-0.44m），平均流速（0.24±0.20） m/s （范围：0.01-0.81m/s），河床质为含有沙粒的卵石（粒径：163-256mm）底质。河道形态、沙洲分布、水深特征等特征参数可作为无人机遥测识别产卵场的判断条件，并实现验证成功。研究结果可为开展整个流域的青海湖裸鲤自然产卵场现状评估及保护对策制定提供技术支撑。 Abstract:The natural spawning grounds are the most critical habitat for maintaining the Gymnocypris przewalskii resources in the Qinghai Lake, while they were not well studied yet. This study aims at analyzing the habitat characteristics of the spawning grounds of G. przewalskii in one of the tributaries of the Qinghai Lake, Quanji River, via field survey and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) identification technique. The results showed that the morphology of Quanji River could be divided into three types:meandering, braided and straight river channels. The natural spawning grounds of G. przewalskii were mostly located in the braided river channel (100%), less in the meandering channel (70%), and rare in the straight channel. The average length, width, tortuosity and area of the spawning grounds in the Quanji River was (135.13±61.13)m, (30.01±17.51)m, (1.09±0.07)and the (4586.60±4201.61)m2, respectively. The spawning grounds often located in the river with riffles, the average water depth was (0.19±0.10)m(range 0.03-0.44m) and an average velocity was (0.24±0.20)m/s (range 0.01-0.81m/s), the substrate was pebble and sand (particle size 16-256mm). The riverbank morphology, the distribution of the island and the water depth could be used in UAV image for identifying the potential spawning grounds in the whole Quanji River, the result can be verified by the field data. The research is benefit for the assessment and protection of the natural spawning grounds for G. przewalskii and provides a case study for future spawning grounds investigation in some tough field survey areas. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Church of St. Pantaleon in medieval Halych in light of the architectural and archaeological research

The history of the study and the results of architectural and archaeological research of the Church of St. Pantaleon of the XII century, preserved near Halych on the Dniester River, are considered. During excavations in the inner part of the monument, the crypts with burials of the XVI–XVIII centuries were examined, areas of the foundations of the ancient temple were recorded and other important artifacts were found. A series of 26 survey trenches were excavated at the outer perimeter of the object. Regular foundation projections for supporting the pilasters of the ground walls, as well as two projections at the base of the side wings of the main perspective portal are localized and recorded there. The discrepancy in the planning of the underground and aboveground parts of the building was stated. A unique feature in the composition of the altar part of the church was noticed among the monuments of medieval Romanesque architecture. Based on the analysis of planning, construction-technological, stratigraphic features of the object, well-argued hypotheses of dating, sequence of construction, and use of the measurement module in the construction of the architectural form of the monument are presented. It is noted that the temple was built in a poorly developed area. After the leveling of the area, the strip foundations of the external walls were established on it initially, and before the foundations of the internal sub-cupola columns were built, the plan of the future ground structure was corrected due to the change of the customer of the construction. It is assumed that the strip foundations of the building were established during the first short reign of Roman Msyislavovych in Halych in 1188, and construction was completed before 1193 during the reign of Volodymyr Yaroslavovych. It is established that a measuring foot of 30 cm long was used when planning the ground part of the temple. The importance of the Romanesque monument of European significance is emphasized in the conclusions. The instruction of its protection, preservation, and further comprehensive study is expressed, with the use of fundamental methods of architectural archaeology. Key words: Ancient Halych, Church of St. Pantaleon, architectural and archaeological research, foundations, planning structure, metrology.

Forensic investigation of Gumbasa irrigation main canal damage due to large-scale flow liquefaction in Sibalaya caused by the 2018 Sulawesi Earthquake

This study conducted an extensive soil investigation in the Sibalaya liquefaction area to identify the Gumbasa main canal’s damage triggered by flow liquefaction. Several field tests and trenches with approximately 4 m were excavated to observe liquefied soil layers directly near the canal. A borehole, standard penetration test, and multichannel analysis surface waves (MASW) were performed beside the trench to obtain each layer’s penetration resistance. This research aims to understand the landslide’s whole aspect. The ground movements were analyzed by using satellite photos before and after the earthquake. The displacement of the main canal, the typical damage inventory, and the proposed reconstruction of the main canal are the focus of this study. As a result of the forensic investigation, the liquefied layers and debris flow contributing to the massive landslide were identified to impact the primary canal. The typical damage of the canal was due to surface rupture that occurred both horizontally and vertically. A solution for reconstructing the main canal is to use a flexible pipe canal structure. That will be resilient to future earthquake and ground movements, stabilize the ground downslope of the existing canal to limit the risk of future lateral movement in future earth tremors.

Landslide Forecast by Time Series Modeling and Analysis of High-Dimensional and Non-Stationary Ground Motion Data

High-dimensional, non-stationary vector time-series data are often seen in ground motion monitoring of geo-hazard events, e.g., landslides. For timely and reliable forecasts from such data, we developed a new statistical approach based on two advanced econometric methods, i.e., error-correction cointegration (ECC) and vector autoregression (VAR), and a newly developed dimension reduction technique named empirical dynamic quantiles (EDQ). Our ECC–VAR–EDQ method was born by analyzing a big landslide dataset, comprising interferometric synthetic-aperture radar (InSAR) measurements of ground displacement that were observed at 5090 time states and 1803 locations on a slope. The aim was to develop an early warning system for reliably forecasting any impending slope failure whenever a precursory slope deformation is on the horizon. Specifically, we first reduced the spatial dimension of the observed landslide data by representing them as a small set of EDQ series with negligible loss of information. We then used the ECC–VAR model to optimally fit these EDQ series, from which forecasts of future ground motion can be efficiently computed. Moreover, our method is able to assess the future landslide risk by computing the relevant probability of ground motion to exceed a red-alert threshold level at each future time state and location. Applying the ECC–VAR–EDQ method to the motivating landslide data gives a prediction of the incoming slope failure more than 8 days in advance.

The trade-offs in the making of the interventional heart surgeon.

The current generation of heart surgeons is experiencing growing consternation with the introduction of the so-called disruptive transcatheter procedures, seemingly threatening the stability and even existence of contemporary cardiovascular surgery. We provide a commentary reporting the comparative outcomes of transcatheter therapies and conventional surgery throughout different scenarios and the evolving superiority of the surgical techniques. The upfront conclusion is that surgeons should strive to keep their surgical skills; the downfall of surgery is not anticipated and as revealed, will hold its ground for the foreseeable future.

Development of Nitrogen Recycling Strategies for Bioregenerative Life Support Systems in Space.

To enable long-distance space travel, the development of a highly efficient and robust system to recover nutrients from waste streams is imperative. The inability of the current physicochemical-based environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) on the ISS to produce food in situ and to recover water and oxygen at high enough efficiencies results in the need for frequent resupply missions from Earth. Therefore, alternative strategies like biologically-based technologies called bioregenerative life support systems (BLSSs) are in development. These systems aim to combine biological and physicochemical processes, which enable in situ water, oxygen, and food production (through the highly efficient recovery of minerals from waste streams). Hence, minimalizing the need for external consumables. One of the BLSS initiatives is the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative (MELiSSA). It has been designed as a five-compartment bioengineered system able to produce fresh food and oxygen and to recycle water. As such, it could sustain the needs of a human crew for long-term space exploration missions. A prerequisite for the self-sufficient nature of MELiSSA is the highly efficient recovery of valuable minerals from waste streams. The produced nutrients can be used as a fertilizer for food production. In this review, we discuss the need to shift from the ECLSS to a BLSS, provide a summary of past and current BLSS programs and their unique approaches to nitrogen recovery and processing of urine waste streams. In addition, compartment III of the MELiSSA loop, which is responsible for nitrogen recovery, is reviewed in-depth. Finally, past, current, and future related ground and space demonstration and the space-related challenges for this technology are considered.

Ground heat exchanger thermal imbalance prevention using dynamic long-term ground temperature predictions

ABSTRACT The authors present the development of a novel software and hardware package that dynamically predicts future ground heat exchanger temperatures to avoid thermal imbalance and future ground source heat pump system failure. In this study, an energy meter was installed on the ground heat exchanger of an office building and software was created on a remote server that collected the measured data. The future ground temperature was dynamically calculated, and the prototype was integrated with the building automation system to prevent future ground source heat pump system failure. The results showed that the building was cooling dominate and if the current mechanical system operation continued, the system would become inefficient in 16 years from high inlet temperatures to the heat pumps. A control sequence was developed for mitigating ground heat exchanger failure on the studied building. It was also determined by adjusting the set-point temperature of the make-up air unit from 12.8°C to 4.8°C, the amount of heating performed by the ground source heat pump system would increase to 49,230 kWh which maintained the calculated 20-year ground heat exchanger temperature below 32°C. The prototype developed in this paper is critical for maintaining an efficient ground source heat pump system and adequate ground heat exchanger temperatures. The outcome of this study provides the solution of ensuring a successful adoption of sustainable green technology on a large scale and eliminates ground source heat pump system failure due to thermal imbalance.

Real-Time Prediction of Impending Ground Shaking: Review of Wavefield-Based (Ground-Motion-Based) Method for Earthquake Early Warning

Earthquake early warning (EEW) systems aim to provide advance warning of impending ground shaking, and the technique used for real-time prediction of shaking is a crucial element of EEW systems. Many EEW systems are designed to predict the strength of seismic ground motions (peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity, or seismic intensity) based on rapidly estimated source parameters (the source-based method), such as hypocentral location, origin time, magnitude, and extent of fault rupture. Recently, however, the wavefield-based (or ground-motion-based) method has been developed to predict future ground motions based directly on the current wavefield, i.e., ground motions monitored in real-time at neighboring sites, skipping the process of estimation of the source parameters. The wavefield-based method works well even for large earthquakes with long duration and huge rupture extents, highly energetic earthquakes that deviate from standard empirical relations, and multiple simultaneous earthquakes, for which the conventional source-based method sometimes performs inadequately. The wavefield-based method also enables prediction of the ongoing seismic waveform itself using the physics of wave propagation, thus providing information on the duration, in addition to the strength of strong ground motion for various frequency bands. In this paper, I review recent developments of the wavefield-based method, from simple applications using relatively sparse observation networks to sophisticated data assimilation techniques exploiting dense networks.

Optimisation of Cost in Ground Improvement for Upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport

This study aimed to optimise the cost of ground improvement by considering the residual settlement in marshy lands for development of new International airport by applying the appropriate treatment to overcome the issues that meets cost and time. Globally the increasing demands of trading and servicing activities require the development of an International airport in major cities. The Mumbai is one of the biggest commercial destinations of our country also necessitates the development of another airport besides the existing airport in the region. From the past few decades, researches and studies show various ways of ground improvements for the airport area in coastal regions. This study shows the cost optimization of ground improvement work by adopting the end on dumping of locally available blasted rocks instead of ground improvement techniques. This study works on principle that stone is puncturing to the very soft to soft clay and at the same time clay are getting displaced thus, effective thickness of clay is getting reduced. The objectives of this study are to optimize the cost of ground improvement and reduce the residual settlement of airport land in coastal regions. Adopting of end on dumping methods is appropriate in view of cost and feasibility of site than the ground improvement techniques. The cost of end on dumping is Thirty-six percent less than the stone columns technique. It can be concluded that for future ground development projects filling of stones by the end of the dumping method can be considered as the appropriate solution concerning time and cost.

Investigation of Employee Related Airport Ground Access Strategies from a Post-COVID Perspective

Until recently, addressing the environmental externalities associated with the use of the private car and single occupancy vehicles has been the focus of the airport ground access policies worldwide. However, with the emerging unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have already changed the way we live, work, and travel, encouraging a change in commuter behavior has become even more important. This has necessitated that existing strategies be reconsidered in favor of adapting to a highly uncertain “COVID-19 world.” Historically, there has been a dearth of literature relating to airport employees’ ground access even though as a group employees represent an important segment of airport users with complex access requirements. This paper therefore focuses on airport employee related airport ground access strategies considering an emerging understanding of the future impacts of COVID-19 on global air travel. Pre-COVID strategies are investigated by conducting a documentary analysis of the most recent ground access strategies of 27 UK airports. The findings reveal that airport ground access strategies were mainly focused on setting targets and producing policy measures in favor of reducing car use and increasing the use of more sustainable transport modes including public transport, car sharing, and active travel (walking, cycling). However, measures encouraging public transport and car sharing will be more difficult to implement because of social distancing and fear of proximity to others. Instead, initiatives encouraging remote working, active travel, and improved staff awareness will be at the forefront of the future ground access strategy development.

Classification of natural and engineered rock slopes using UAV photogrammetry for assessing stability

Ground failure on natural and engineered rock slopes is a geological hazard with potentially fatal consequences to the public or personnel in the mining industry. Aerial reconnaissance with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) is rapidly becoming standard practice for geotechnical and engineering geological site investigations, enabling faster and safer data collection on slopes, which are often difficult to access on foot. Data obtained from aerial reconnaissance alongside conventional field investigations assist in the development of an engineering geological model that can form the basis of various stability analyses including kinematic, limit equilibrium and finite element analyses, and even rock fall simulations. This paper presents two case studies in which remote reconnaissance is used as an initial method of site investigation to classify natural and engineered rock slopes. The case studies from San Leo in Italy and an open pit mine in the Caribbean are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of these techniques for developing a preliminary engineering geological model from which stability analyses can be derived to predict future ground behaviour to assist in managing risks associated with the geological hazard.

Multisource Ground Motion Attenuation Relationship Model for the Vertical Component of the Wenchuan Earthquake on May 12, 2008

In order to extend the multisource model to vertical ground motion, we fit the vertical ground motion attenuation relationship of the Wenchuan earthquake. Different from traditional attenuation relationship forms, we propose a simplified ground motion attenuation function including site effect via a flag related to VS30. The regression results show that it has site effect on the vertical ground motion of the Wenchuan earthquake and gradually weakens with the increase in periods. According to residuals analysis, the hanging-wall effect on vertical ground motion is strong for the Wenchuan earthquake, especially in short periods. The result analysis indicates that the shape of the vertical response spectrum based on regression is different from that of the horizontal component and complies with the recommended design vertical response spectrum of FEMA P-1050. V/H (vertical-to-horizontal ratios), as a main way to estimate vertical ground motion, cannot be simply fixed as 2/3. Therefore, site location, site condition, and frequency spectrum have to be considered comprehensively. The regression accuracy of the vertical ground motion of the multisource model is slightly higher than that of the point-source model and lower than that of the finite fault source model. It is expected that this model will serve as an alternative for source-to-site distance when multiple asperities are to be modeled in the absence of the detail fault model to get a general scenario of the future ground motions.

Modular Neural Networks with Fully Convolutional Networks for Typhoon-Induced Short-Term Rainfall Predictions.

Taiwan is located at the edge of the northwestern Pacific Ocean and within a typhoon zone. After typhoons are generated, strong winds and heavy rains come to Taiwan and cause major natural disasters. This study employed fully convolutional networks (FCNs) to establish a forecast model for predicting the hourly rainfall data during the arrival of a typhoon. An FCN is an advanced technology that can be used to perform the deep learning of image recognition through semantic segmentation. FCNs deepen the neural net layers and perform upsampling on the feature map of the final convolution layer. This process enables FCN models to restore the size of the output results to that of the raw input image. In this manner, the classification of each raw pixel becomes feasible. The study data were radar echo images and ground station rainfall information for typhoon periods during 2013–2019 in southern Taiwan. Two model cases were designed. The ground rainfall image-based FCN (GRI_FCN) involved the use of the ground rain images to directly forecast the ground rainfall. The GRI combined with rain retrieval image-based modular convolutional neural network (GRI-RRI_MCNN) involved the use of radar echo images to determine the ground rainfall before the prediction of future ground rainfall. Moreover, the RMMLP, a conventional multilayer perceptron neural network, was used to a benchmark model. Forecast horizons varying from 1 to 6 h were evaluated. The results revealed that the GRI-RRI_MCNN model enabled a complete understanding of the future rainfall variation in southern Taiwan during typhoons and effectively improved the accuracy of rainfall forecasting during typhoons.

The Breathing Catastrophe: COVID-19 and Global Health Governance.

In the second year of the pandemic, the malaise of global health governance has come to the fore at the intersection of the trajectories of global crises that have converged in 2020: the soaring inequalities, the climate disaster and the effects of a globalization that takes our breath away. COVID-19 puts into question most of the global health assumptions and reaffirms the political intuitions of the 1978 Alma Ata Declaration on primary health care, which positioned health at the centre of a public sector-led project for economic transformation and human dignity, based on human rights. The new coronavirus imposes a new sense of purpose to health policymaking, which is not yet captured in the current failed global response to the pandemic. This is also an opportunity for the international community that believes in public health and the role of public institutions, to re-imagine itself and project new creative ways to engage beyond classical models, so as to reconquer some ground for a healthier future.