Implementation Of Mitigation Measures Research Articles

Forecasting Meteorological Drought Conditions in South Korea Using a Data-Driven Model with Lagged Global Climate Variability

Drought prediction is crucial for early risk assessment, preventing negative impacts and the timely implementation of mitigation measures for sustainable water management. This study investigated the relationship between climate variations in three seas and the prediction of December meteorological droughts in South Korea, using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). Climate indices with multiple time lags were integrated into multiple linear regression (MLR) and Random Forest (RF) models and evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficients (PCCs) and the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The results indicated that the MLR model outperformed RF model in the western inland region with a PCC of 0.52 for predicting SPEI-2. On the other hand, the RF model effectively predicted drought states of ‘moderate drought’ or worse (SPEI < −1) nationwide, achieving an average hit rate of 47.17% and Heidke skill score (HSS) of 0.56, particularly excelling in coastal areas. Nino 3.4 turned out to be the most influential factor for short-period extreme droughts (SPEI-2) with a three-month lag, contributed by the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. For periods of four months or longer, climate variations had a lower predictive value. However, integrating autocorrelation functions to account for the previous month’s drought status improved the accuracy. A HYBRID model, which blends linear and nonlinear approaches, further enhanced reliability, making the proposed model more applicable for drought forecasting in neighboring countries and valuable for South Korea’s drought monitoring system to support sustainable water management.

Association of Online Learning Tools and Students’ Health: A Case Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: This study aimed to determine the health effects on undergraduate students from online learning and connectivity devices, characterizing the association between significant confounding factors and the prevalence of health symptoms among undergraduates.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July to August 2021 and involved 219 undergraduates selected by simple random sampling from an academic institute within Thailand. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Kendall’s tau-c tests. All data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire.Results: Among participants, (1) tablets and smartphones were the major devices used (97.7% and 77.2%, respectively), (2) the prevalence of nervous-related and mental symptoms was over 80% for headache, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, stress, tiredness and anxiety, (3) the Chi-square test results for laptop devices revealed an association with anxiety and burnout effects (p-value<0.05 for all), while anxiety presented as a positive correlation coefficient of Kendall rank (0.003), with desktop PC devices, and (4) learning media including video, PowerPoint and academic articles, played a major role in affecting health; especially academic articles, which exhibited a positive relationship in all related effects.Conclusion: The use of learning media during the Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has had an impact on students’ mental health. Decisions regarding implementing mitigation measures and monitoring programs should be reconsidered to reduce risks to students’ health.

Comparing Frequency Ratio and Analytical Hierarchy Models for Landslide Susceptibility in the Dharan Sub-Metropolitan Region of Eastern Nepal

This study compares the application of Frequency Ratio (FR) (statistical/quantitative) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) (heuristic/semi-quantitative) for landslide susceptibility analysis in Dharan Sub-Metropolitan Region of eastern Nepal. Nine different thematic layers including slope, aspect, curvature, geology, land use, distance to roads, distance to thrusts, topographic position index (TPI), and distance to streams were used for analysis. A landslide inventory map was prepared by identifying the landslides in recent Google Earth images, and it was then verified by field observations. The resulting susceptibility map with different susceptibility levels was validated using the Area Under the Curve (AUC) method, and the resulting AUC values were determined to be 78% for FR and 76.8% for AHP. Both methods offer a reliable strategy for landslide susceptibility mapping with a good prediction rate. The FR model enclosed 41%, 31%, 20%, 7% and 1% of the area as very low, low, moderate, high, and very high susceptibility, respectively, whereas AHP showed 21%, 24%, 27%, 21% and 7% of the area for the respective susceptibility levels. The specific zones identified within the range from very low to very high susceptibility provide valuable insights for local authorities, planners, and decision-makers, allowing them to identify areas susceptible to landslides and implement mitigation measures to aid in targeted risk management efforts.

Assessing the potential for gas supersaturation downstream of hydropower plants in Norway, Austria and Germany

Hydroelectric power facilities can generate episodic total dissolved gas supersaturation (TDGS), which is harmful to aquatic life. We developed a decision tree-based risk assessment to identify the potential for TDGS at hydropower plants and conducted validation measurements at selected facilities. Applying the risk model to Norway's hydropower plants (n = 1696) identified 473 (28 %) high-risk plants characterized by secondary intakes and Francis or Kaplan turbines, which are prone to generating TDGS when air is entrained. More than half of them discharge directly to rivers (283, 17 % of total). Measurements at 11 high-risk plants showed that 8 of them exhibited biologically relevant TDGS (120 % to 229 %). In Austria and Germany, the analysis of hydropower plants was limited due to significant data constraints. Out of 153 hydropower plants in Austria, 80 % were categorized at moderate risk for TDGS. Two Austrian plants were monitored, revealing instances of TDGS in both (up to 125 %). In Germany, out of 403 hydropower plants, 265 (66 %) fell into the moderate risk, with none in the high-risk category. At a dam in the Rhine River, TDGS up to 118 % were observed. Given the uncertainty due to limited data access and the prevalence of run-of-river plants in Austria and Germany, there remains an unclarified risk of TDGS generation in these countries, especially at spillways of dams and below aerated turbines.The results indicate a previously overlooked potential for the generation of biologically harmful TDGS at hydropower installations. It is recommended to systematically screen for TDGS at hydropower installations through risk assessment, monitoring, and, where needed, the implementation of mitigation measures. This is increasingly critical considering the expanding global initiatives in hydropower and efforts to maintain the ecological status of freshwater ecosystems.

Seabird bycatch in European waters

AbstractThe incidental capture (bycatch) of seabirds is a global conservation issue and a top threat to European species that demands urgent conservation and management action. Here, we present the first European review of seabird bycatch data, considering all fishing gears and data collection methods available in the region. We calculate seabird bycatch numbers per species, family, country and European marine region and assess the reliability of the data available. The cumulative bycatch estimate extracted from this review suggests that about 195,000 seabirds (ranging from around 130,000 to 380,000) are bycaught in European waters annually. The most affected seabird species is the Common Guillemot Uria aalge with over 31,000 birds killed per year. The marine region with the highest bycatch estimate is the Northeast Atlantic (over 115,000 seabirds year−1). Gillnet fisheries are responsible for the highest bycatch levels, with over 95,000 seabirds year−1, followed by longline fisheries. The families most affected by bycatch are Anatidae and Alcidae. These numbers are likely an underestimation since we were unable to find bycatch estimates, or to extrapolate estimates from available bycatch data for 12 (out of 34) European coastal states. Our assessment also identified significant data gaps in key areas such as Gran Sol (in the north‐east Atlantic), the central and Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Combining systematic data collection with immediate implementation of mitigation measures will be crucial to fill in knowledge gaps, reduce current mortality levels and meet international conservation commitments such as those of the European Union and the Convention on Migratory Species.

Evaluation of the intensity of urban heat islands during heat waves using local climate zones in the semi-arid, continental climate of Tehran

Increasing land surface temperature (LST) and urban heat island intensity (UHII) have been reported to be closely associated with a large number of environmental issues. Understanding LST and UHII rise in cities during heatwaves is crucial for implementing mitigation measures. This paper aims to explain these variations in response to LST and UHII during a heat wave in the metropolis of Tehran in Iran. 13 heat waves were selected and evaluated during the years 2000 to 2020. The average LST was 3.34 °C higher at the same time as the heat wave event compared to the period without the wave. Despite the increase in LST during the heat wave occurrence, UHII experienced lower values compared to the time without the wave. The outputs in this regard show that the average UHII value for the period without a heat wave is 5.11 °C, while during the heat wave, its rate is 3.62 °C. The maximum intensity of the heat island for both periods before and at the same time as the heat wave is related to man-made compact midrise buildings and heavy industry. Extra-local factors during heat waves can lead to diminish land use diversity and vegetation density's effectiveness in reducing UHII.

Potential for mitigating hurricane wind impact on informally-constructed homes in Puerto Rico under current and future climate scenarios

This study investigates the resilience of informally-constructed light-frame timber houses in Puerto Rico, a region where households with limited resources face significant risks from climate hazards, notably hurricanes. This study conducts a component-based, performance-based wind engineering assessment of informally-constructed house typologies, defined based on extensive fieldwork, under both existing and projected future climate conditions. Key findings highlight the effectiveness of certain mitigation strategies, such as reinforcing roof-to-wall connections, in significantly reducing the probability of failure. Fully-mitigated cases, which involve applying mitigation measures to the roof envelope, roof-to-wall connections, and shear walls, exhibited annual probabilities of failure that are much closer to, but do not necessarily meet, the threshold targeted by American building standards (i.e., ASCE 7). The results also show a dramatic increase in probability of failure of these houses projected by the adopted climate change model scenarios, driven by the increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes in Puerto Rico. Results from feedback from those working in the informal construction sector also identify challenges hindering the effective implementation of mitigation measures in Puerto Rican communities, including a lack of knowledge about how to implement the mitigation strategies and barriers related to real and perceived costs. Taken together these results underscore the urgent need for changes in building practices and revising building standards and suggesting potentially feasible mitigation strategies to improve those practices.

Exploring groundwater depletion and land subsidence dynamics in Taiwan’s Choushui river alluvial fan: insights from integrated GNSS and hydrogeological data analysis

The Choushui River Alluvial Fan (CRAF) is a major agricultural area in Taiwan with heavy groundwater usage. The extraction of groundwater here has caused land subsidence, which is now a significant global environmental issue. This study analyzes land subsidence in the CRAF by integrating hydrogeological data from 233 groundwater monitoring stations across four aquifers (CRAF Groundwater_NET) and data from 50 continuous GNSS stations (CRAF GNSS_NET). We developed an automated processing flow for GNSS static surveying within CRAF GNSS_NET, and further employed a time-series fitting method to examine the long-term trends and annual changes for both GNSS and groundwater level data. Our analysis of the time-series data from the past decade identifies areas of significant groundwater level depletion and subsidence hotspots. We explore the relationship between groundwater level variations and surface displacements within CRAF, utilizing GNSS data to analyze horizontal and vertical displacement trends, as well as annual changes. We integrate these findings with hydrogeological data to understand regional subsidence patterns. Our results indicate that CRAF is characterized by distinct hydrogeological features. The study finds that the amplitudes of annual changes in both groundwater level and vertical displacement generally increase from northeast to southwest in the analyzed region. One particular area shows significant groundwater level decline, with the most severe rate recorded at 0.54 m/year. Similarly, GNSS analysis indicates pronounced subsidence trends in the same area, with rates ranging from 4.2 to 5.2 cm/year. These findings highlight the critical need for the development of effective groundwater management strategies to ensure sustainable use of groundwater resources and to implement mitigation measures against land subsidence in similar multiple-aquifer settings.

SHEA position statement on pandemic preparedness for policymakers: introduction and overview.

Throughout history, pandemics and their aftereffects have spurred society to make substantial improvements in healthcare. After the Black Death in 14th century Europe, changes were made to elevate standards of care and nutrition that resulted in improved life expectancy.1 The 1918 influenza pandemic spurred a movement that emphasized public health surveillance and detection of future outbreaks and eventually led to the creation of the World Health Organization Global Influenza Surveillance Network.2 In the present, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed many of the pre-existing problems within the US healthcare system, which included (1) a lack of capacity to manage a large influx of contagious patients while simultaneously maintaining routine and emergency care to non-COVID patients; (2) a "just in time" supply network that led to shortages and competition among hospitals, nursing homes, and other care sites for essential supplies; and (3) longstanding inequities in the distribution of healthcare and the healthcare workforce. The decades-long shift from domestic manufacturing to a reliance on global supply chains has compounded ongoing gaps in preparedness for supplies such as personal protective equipment and ventilators. Inequities in racial and socioeconomic outcomes highlighted during the pandemic have accelerated the call to focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within our communities. The pandemic accelerated cooperation between government entities and the healthcare system, resulting in swift implementation of mitigation measures, new therapies and vaccinations at unprecedented speeds, despite our fragmented healthcare delivery system and political divisions. Still, widespread misinformation or disinformation and political divisions contributed to eroded trust in the public health system and prevented an even uptake of mitigation measures, vaccines and therapeutics, impeding our ability to contain the spread of the virus in this country.3 Ultimately, the lessons of COVID-19 illustrate the need to better prepare for the next pandemic. Rising microbial resistance, emerging and re-emerging pathogens, increased globalization, an aging population, and climate change are all factors that increase the likelihood of another pandemic.4.

Safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity of SAR439459, a TGFβ inhibitor, as monotherapy and in combination with cemiplimab in patients with advanced solid tumors: Findings from a phase 1/1b study.

SAR439459 (SAR'459), a "second-generation" human anti-transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) monoclonal antibody, enhances the activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors. In this phase I/Ib study, we evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity of SAR'459 ± cemiplimab (intravenous) in patients with advanced solid tumors. Increasing doses of SAR'459 were administered every 2 or 3 weeks (Q2W, Q3W) alone (Part 1A) or with 3 mg/kg cemiplimab Q2W or 350 mg Q3W (Part 1B). In Part 2A (dose expansion), melanoma patients were randomly (1:1) administered 22.5 or 7.5 mg/kg SAR'459. In Part 2B (dose expansion), 22.5 mg/kg SAR'459 and 350 mg cemiplimab Q3W were administered. The primary end points were maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or maximum administered dose (MAD; Part 1), preliminary antitumor activity (Part 2B), and optimal monotherapy dose (Part 2A). Twenty-eight and 24 patients were treated in Parts 1A and 1B, respectively; MTD was not reached, MAD was 15 (Q2W) and 22.5 mg/kg (Q3W) alone and in combination, respectively. Fourteen and 95 patients, including 14 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, were treated in Parts 2A and 2B, respectively. The population PK model yielded satisfactory goodness-of-fit plots and adequately described the observed data by a two-compartment PK model with linear elimination. Objective responses were not observed in Parts 1 and 2A. In Part 2B, objective response rate was 8.4% and 7.1% across tumor types and the HCC cohort, respectively. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse effects were hemorrhagic events (43.5%), keratoacanthoma (6.8%), and skin neoplasms (6.2%). Fatal bleeding occurred in 21.4% HCC patients despite the implementation of mitigation measures. SAR'459 monotherapy and combination with cemiplimab appeared relatively safe and tolerable in limited number of patients in dose escalation. However, the study was discontinued due to the unclear efficacy of SAR'459 and bleeding risk, particularly in HCC patients.

How Green Are Romania’s Motorways? An Analysis of the Impact Avoidance and Mitigation Measures Proposed for Motorway Projects in Romania

Abstract The development of infrastructure, particularly motorway infrastructure has been one of the main goals of Romania after 1990. However, the sustainable development of this type of infrastructure has only become an issue in the last few years. In this paper are presented the results of a literature review and analysis of the environmental impact mitigation measures which were proposed for motorway and express road projects in Romania within their Environmental Impact Assessments. The paper analyses whether appropriate measures have been proposed in the Environmental Impact Assessment Reports and how consistently they were proposed in different EIAs done in Romania. It analyses how much the measures proposed address impacts such as habitat loss, habitat alteration, fragmentation, species disturbance, and mortality So far, there is no known analysis on this topic Romania, although these types of projects have been implemented for many years. The hypothesis for this analysis is that the measures proposed for motorway and express road projects are not completely adequate for addressing identified impacts and that they are not in accordance with best practices. The results of the analysis indicate important gaps in the implementation of measures, particularly in regards to maintenance of ecological connectivity, as a response to potential fragmentation, and light pollution mitigation. It also highlights the lack of available data on the effectiveness of implemented mitigation measures, indicating the need for rigorous post-implementation monitoring and assessment of effectiveness. The paper proposes a more comprehensive and consistent approach to environmental impact mitigation in infrastructure projects, and for the public availability of post-implementation evaluation results.

High-resolution landslide mapping and susceptibility assessment: Landslide temporal variations and vegetation recovery

In mountainous terrains, the frequent landslides and their associated impacts on human lives and the economy is increasing globally. Development of landslide inventory and afterward landslide susceptibility mapping are the main prerequisites for implementing landslide mitigation measures and protection in mountainous regions. The 2005 Kashmir earthquake induced different small and large landslides and some were active for the long term. So far many studies have used medium and high-resolution data to develop landslide inventory. This study aims to develop a 1st detailed, comprehensive and accurate landslide inventory using a very high-resolution image using a semi-automatic technique. The precise landslide inventory is employed to develop an accurate and comprehensive landslide susceptibility map considering the landslide inventory data logistic regression training model. Furthermore, the landslide’s temporal recovery from the earthquake and its reactivation due to rainfall in spare vegetation areas have been evaluated. Fine-resolution satellite images of Worldview-2 are applied to develop a detailed landslide inventory using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier. A total of 63,630 landslides were identified using a semi-automatic technique within a study area of 265 km2. From regression modeling, the results show that geology, topography, and road networks have a significant impact on the spatial distribution of landslides. Model performance was evaluated based on the testing data, the model gives an AUC of 0.93 and the kappa value of 0.9353. The spatiotemporal NDVI has been and assessed to identify the landslide recovery and its reactivation due to extreme rainfall. The results show that 72.1 % of the landslides occurred in Muzaffarabad formation in the study area. The developed landslide susceptibility map can be further used for land-use planning and implementing mitigation measures for the safety of roads and other infrastructure in the area.

Enhancing Flood Risk Management: A Comprehensive Review on Flood Early Warning Systems with Emphasis on Numerical Modeling

During recent decades there has been an increase in extreme flood events and their intensity in most regions, mainly driven by climate change. Furthermore, these critical events are expected to intensify in the future. Therefore, the improvement of preparedness, mitigation, and adaptation counterparts is mandatory. Many scientific fields are involved in this task, but from a meteorological and hydrological perspective, one of the main tools that can contribute to mitigating the impact of floods is the development of Early Warning Systems. In this sense, this paper presents a scientific literature review of some of the most representative Flood Early Warning Systems worldwide, many of which are currently fully operational, with a special focus on the numerical modeling component when it is developed and integrated into the system. Thus, from basic to technically complex, and from basin or regional to continental or global scales of application, these systems have been reviewed. In this sense, a brief description of their main features, operational procedures, and implemented numerical models is also depicted. Additionally, a series of indications regarding the key aspects of the newly developed FEWSs, based on recent trends and advancements in FEWSs development found in the literature, are also summarized. Thus, this work aims to provide a literature review useful to scientists and engineers involved in flood analysis to improve and develop supporting tools to assist in the implementation of mitigation measures to reduce flood damage for people, goods, and ecosystems and to improve the community resilience.

Pathways towards net zero: Assessment of enablers and barriers in Nepal

Implementing mitigation measures to limit global temperatures to below 2 °C poses several challenges. Even though Nepal's global emission contribution remains minimal, the nation is committed to the net zero targets aligned with the Paris Agreement through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and Long-Term Low greenhouse gas Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS) by 2045, where the biggest emitters like India, China and European Union (EU) aims to achieve net zero by 2070, 2060 and 2050 respectively. In this context, detailed and concrete insights on context specific factors that inhibit or enable Nepal’s mitigation measures to robust climate action are still at its infancy. We assessed the enablers and barriers to implementing mitigation measures across the energy, transport and forestry sectors. For this, an adapted version of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC’s) Feasibility Assessment Framework is used, with data triangulated through an extensive literature review, as well as qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews with sector-specific experts (n = 25), policymakers (n = 15) and industry managers (n = 10). Our results indicated that geophysical and topographical barriers are relatively less prominent. However, the institutional capacity and governance, and cross-sectional coordination inhibit the implementation of mitigation measures. Addressing institutional barriers, such as policy gaps, regulatory frameworks, capacity building and coordination challenges, is essential for unlocking the full potential of enablers and overcoming obstacles. This research serves as a valuable guide for countries like Nepal, helping them gain insights into the challenges they may encounter on their journey to net zero targets.

A Sand Boil Database for Piping Risk Management in the Po River, Italy

Sand boil formation at the toe of river embankments is the typical manifestation of the initiation and progression of an internal erosion process known as backward erosion piping, which is recognized to be a major concern in many river systems worldwide. In Italy, more than 130 sand boils have been detected along the Po River, many of them experiencing recurrent reactivations during high-water events. In recent years, as part of the activities of the European project LIFE SandBoil, the Italian authority responsible for flood protection and flood damage reduction along the Po River has implemented a GIS-based web application to catalogue the sand boils observed in its operating area. The resulting database allows keeping records of a comprehensive and varied set of information, in terms of predisposing factors, initiation conditions and surface effects. Taking as a reference a well-documented cross-section of the Po River prone to piping, this paper describes the main features of this versatile and flexible tool, whose long-term aim is to support vulnerability studies and the development of risk maps against piping. The database, which might also accommodate data from different river basins, is thus meant to help in flood risk management, by suggesting priorities for the implementation of mitigation measures and allowing the monitoring of intervention effectiveness.

Assessment of gully erosion susceptibility using four data-driven models AHP, FR, RF and XGBoosting machine learning algorithms

Gully erosion is a significant global threat to socioeconomic and environmental sustainability, making it a widespread natural hazard. Developing spatial models for gully erosion is crucial for local governance to effectively implement mitigation measures and promote regional development. This study applied two machine learning (ML) models, RF and XGB, alongside an AHP-based multi-criteria decision method and FR bivariate statistics, to assess gully erosion susceptibility (GES) in the Kangsabati River basin in eastern India's Chotonagpur plateau fringe. A GIS database was created, incorporating recorded gully erosion incidents and 20 conditioning variables, which were evaluated for multicollinearity. These variables served as predictive factors for assessing gully erosion presence in the study area. The models' performance was evaluated using metrics such as RMSE, MAE, specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy. The XGB model outperformed the others, achieving a predictive accuracy of 90.22%. The study found that approximately 6.56% of the Kangsabati catchment is highly susceptible to gully erosion, with 12.39% moderately susceptible and 81.05% not susceptible. The XGB model had the highest ROC value of 85.5 during testing, indicating its superiority over the FR (ROC ​= ​81.7), AHP (ROC ​= ​79.8), and RF (ROC ​= ​83.8) models. These findings highlight the XGB model's efficacy and potential for large-scale GES mapping.

An Approach of Multi Criteria Decision Making in Analyzing Rural Road Safety in Nashik District

Abstract: Rural road safety evaluations play a significant role in the transportation industry, and most fatal accidents happen on these types of roads. Road Safety Analysis (RSA), a process to evaluate a road's safety criteria and support overall road management decision-making, ensures the avoidance of loss of life and property damage. The "Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana," which is primarily utilized in rural areas, is the main emphasis of this. In order to identify the most vulnerable roadways and implement mitigation measures, roads must be prioritized depending on safety ratings. This document presents the results of a study conducted to rank the safety criteria of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) roads, a particular category of rural roads. A questionnaire survey was used for the study's analysis, and three MCDM methods were used to examine the relationships and interactions between the various factors. The study's findings indicated that the based on input from PMGSY engineers and contractors. From the perspective of the engineers in the Nashik area, we can determine the safety impact factor that influences the safety assessment of the PMGSY route.

Managing Rockfall Hazard on Strategic Linear Stakes: How Can Machine Learning Help to Better Predict Periods of Increased Rockfall Activity?

When rockfalls hit and damage linear stakes such as roads or railways, the access to critical infrastructures (hospitals, schools, factories …) might be disturbed or stopped. Rockfall risk management often involves building protective structures that are traditionally based on the intensive use of resources such as steel or concrete. However, these solutions are expensive, considering their construction and maintenance, and it is very difficult to protect long linear stakes. A more sustainable and effective risk management strategy could be to account for changes on rockfall activity related to weather conditions. By integrating sustainability principles, we can implement mitigation measures that are less resource-intensive and more adaptable to environmental changes. For instance, instead of solely relying on physical barriers, solutions could include measures such as restriction of access, monitoring and mobilization of emergency kits containing eco-friendly materials. A critical step in developing such a strategy is accurately predicting periods of increased rockfall activity according to meteorological triggers. In this paper, we test four machine learning models to predict rockfalls on the National Road 1 at La Réunion, a key road for the socio-economic life of the island. Rainfall and rockfall data are used as inputs of the predictive models. We show that a set of features derived from the rainfall and rockfall data can predict rockfall with performances very close and almost slightly better than the standard expert model used for operational management. Metrics describing the performance of these models are translated in operational terms, such as road safety or the duration of road closings and openings, providing actionable insights for sustainable risk management practices.

Responding to and managing multijurisdictional outbreaks of COVID-19 in Canadian industrial worksite/work camp settings.

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Public Health Agency of Canada(PHAC) and provincial/territorial(P/T) public health identified the need for a coordinated response to complex multijurisdictional COVID-19 outbreaks. The first large multijurisdictional industrial worksite COVID-19 outbreak highlighted the risk of transmission within these congregate work settings, the risk of transmission to the broader community(ies), and the need to develop setting-specific outbreak response frameworks. PHAC assembled a team to provide national outbreak support for multijurisdictional COVID-19 outbreaks in May 2020. The COVID-19 Outbreak Response Unit (ORU) worked with P/T partners to develop guiding principles for outbreak response and outbreak investigation processes, guidance documents, and investigation tools (e.g., minimum data elements and questionnaires). The ORU, P/T partners, and onsite industrial worksite health and safety staff leveraged outbreak investigation guidelines, industrial worksite outbreak process documents (including minimum data elements), and enhanced case questionnaires to respond to multiple COVID-19 outbreak investigations in industrial worksites. Clear roles/responsibilities and processes, along with standardized data, allowed for more efficient outbreak investigations and earlier implementation of mitigation measures. Multijurisdictional COVID-19 outbreaks highlighted the importance of public health collaboration with industry partners onsite. The assembly of a national outbreak response team was important to facilitate information sharing and provide technical support. Lessons learned and recommendations on outbreak preparation, detection, management, and communication are included to enhance a response framework applicable to future emerging or re-emerging pathogens with epidemic and/or pandemic potential.

International Law Review Of Space Debris Mitigation Efforts

Space debris has become an increasingly pressing issue in space exploration and utilization. This article conducts a comprehensive review of aspects of international law relating to space debris mitigation efforts. This research analyzes existing legal frameworks, including relevant multilateral treaties and international legal principles related to the space environment. With a focus on the principles of shared responsibility and avoidance of damage to the space environment, the study identifies key challenges in managing space junk and reducing the risk of collisions in earth orbit. An in-depth analysis of the role of national space agencies and international organizations in implementing mitigation measures was also carried out. In the context of international cooperation, this article evaluates existing collaborative efforts and proposes new measures to improve the effectiveness of space debris mitigation. A better understanding of legal responsibility and burden-sharing in addressing these issues became a central point in the study. By analyzing recent developments in space law and international environmental regulations, this article provides insight into the direction the global community might take in addressing future space debris mitigation challenges. It is hoped that this research can provide guidance for policymakers, academics, and legal practitioners in their efforts to maintain a clean and sustainable space environment.