Prime Land Research Articles

Shear Strength Characteristics of Municipal Solid Waste

Disposal of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) has become a serious problem all over the world which is affected by the rising population and rapid urbanization. Most of the developed countries tend to proceed with engineered landfilling or incineration of solid waste while developing countries continue with open dumping. Most of these open dump sites are located on marshy lands or low lying land areas due to the high demand for prime lands in city areas, and they are expanded in vertical direction, saving the horizontal spaces. Therefore, physical, chemical and shear strength properties of MSW are timely important to overcome the stability failures of the dump sites during the operational period and after the closure of the dump sites. In this study, engineering properties of MSW were investigated using several laboratory experiments for disturbed waste samples collected from Meethotamulla dump site. In order to represent the aging effect of MSW, samples were extracted at different depths and variation of geotechnical properties with aging was analysed. Based on the laboratory test results, it can be noted that MSW in open dump sites in wet zone of Sri Lanka mainly consists of fine residue, aggregated soil, polythene and textiles. Further, higher shear strength parameters were obtained for MSW due to presence of textiles within the waste body. As such, it can be concluded that, it is necessary to consider the influence of textiles in analyzing the stability of open dump sites.

Between the devil and the deep blue sea: Trends, drivers, and impacts of coastal reclamation in Malaysia and way forward

Cities all over the world are edging further into the ocean. Coastal reclamation is a global conservation issue with implications for ocean life, ecosystems, and human well-being. Using Malaysia as a case study, the coastal reclamation trends over three decades (1991–2021) were mapped using Landsat images and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) via the Google Earth Engine platform. The changes in drivers and impacts of these coastal expansions throughout the decades were also reviewed. Twelve out of the 14 states in Malaysia had planned, active, or completed reclamations on their shorelines. Between 1991 and 2021, an absolute area of 82.64 km2 has been or will be reclaimed should all the projects be completed. The most reported driver for coastal expansion in Malaysia is for development and modernization (41 %), followed by rise in human population (20 %), monetary gains from the development of prime land (15 %), and agriculture and aquaculture activities (9 %). Drivers such as reduction of construction costs, financial advantage of prime land, oil and gas, advancement of technology, and tourism (Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)) had only started occurring within the last decade, while others have been documented since the 1990's. Pollution is the most reported impact (24 %) followed by disruption of livelihoods, sources of income and human well-being (21 %), destruction of natural habitats (17 %), decrease in biodiversity (11 %), changes in landscapes (10 %), erosion / accretion (8 %), threat to tourism industry (6 %), and exposure to wave surges (3 %). Of these, changes in landscape, shoreline alignment, seabed contour, and coastal groundwater, as well as wave surges had only started to surface as impacts in the last two decades. Efforts to protect existing natural coastal and marine ecosystems, restore degraded ones, and fund endeavours that emphasize nature is needed to support sustainable development goals for the benefit of future generations.

Changing Land Use and Political Economy at Neolithic and Bronze Age Knossos, Crete: Stable Carbon (δ13C) and Nitrogen (δ15N) Isotope Analysis of Charred Crop Grains and Faunal Bone Collagen

Excavations at Knossos have uncovered faunal and archaeobotanical archives spanning the Neolithic and Bronze Age (7th–2nd millennia bce), during which one of Europe’s earliest known farming settlements developed into its first major urban settlement and centre of one of its oldest regional states. Through stable isotope (δ13C, δ15N) analysis of seeds and bones (as evidence for the growing conditions of cereal and pulse crops and for the types of forage consumed by livestock), land use and, ultimately, political economy are explored. Changing husbandry conditions overwrite any effects of long-term aridification. Early (7th–6th millennium bce) Knossian farmers grew intensively managed cereals and pulses (probably in rotation) that were closely integrated (as manured sources of forage) with livestock. Through the later Neolithic and Bronze Age, settlement growth accompanied more extensive cultivation (eventually with cereals and pulses not in rotation) and greater use of rough graze and, by goats, browse. Pasture on cultivated land remained central, however, to the maintenance of sheep, cattle, and pigs. Variable diet of early sheep suggests management at the household level, while thereafter progressive dietary divergence of sheep and goats implies their separate herding. Until the Old Palace phase (early 2nd millennium bce), urban growth was matched by increasingly extensive and probably distant cultivation and herding but somewhat more intensive conditions during the New and Final Palace phases (mid-2nd millennium bce) perhaps reflect greater reliance on surplus from prime land of previously rival centres that now came under Knossian control.

Perceived Profitability of Agroforestry in Rural Multan of Pakistan

Agroforestry remained a profitable venture across the globe if managed well spatially and temporarily. Farmlands are viable option to practice agroforestry in Pakistan for sustaining farmers’ livelihoods as well as to provide products and services for ever increasing population. This study focusses on how agroforestry is being perceived as profitable enterprise by the farmers in Multan, Punjab Pakistan. Rural areas of Multan were selected for this study and 200 farmers were selected randomly from 10 villages across 02 union councils using multi-stage sampling procedure. The results revealed that agroforestry remained the prime land use system as reported by the farmers (99%) belonging to agropastoral and agroforestry practice. Moreover, agroforestry perceived as high-income system providing variety of product (increased crop and fodder production, variety of products and income) and services (Carbon sequestration, climate amelioration, soil conservation). The study concluded the need for public-private partnership for the promotion of agroforestry in the region.

The fast-track land reform programme in Zimbabwe: implications for land restitution

ABSTRACT This study explores implications of the failure to accommodate formal land restitution in the Zimbabwean Fast-Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP), resulting in neglect of local communities’ autochthonous connections to land especially where their interests clash with those of political elites. It makes the point that this opened land reform to abuse by political elites and marginalized competing local community interests in prime land and valuable agricultural properties. In the absence of a formal policy for restitution, elites mobilized political and state power to enforce their commercial interests over those of neighbouring communities. Drawing from international experiences, the study argues that a formal policy of land restitution would enable local communities, including ethnic minorities, to legally reclaim lost ancestral land and limit elite capture of valuable agricultural properties.

‘On the brink of a fever stricken swamp’: Culturally modified trees and land-people relationships at the Lower Laura (Boralga) Native Mounted Police camp, Cape York Peninsula

The archaeological record of Lower Laura (aka Boralga) Native Mounted Police camp, a longstanding base for Queensland’s frontier war in Cape York Peninsula, includes a diverse assemblage of culturally modified Erythophleum chlorastychys (Cooktown ironwood) trees. Analysis of cultural scar attributes and tool marks – which were found to be variously associated with Aboriginal stone tools, tomahawks of different types, and long handled axes – reveals a scenario of nineteenth century land use and technology that transcends the pre-conflict era of Aboriginal clan estates. As well as reflecting traditional patterns of Aboriginal tenure of prime waterfront land, the assemblage reveals innovations that occurred in Aboriginal technology in the lead-up to war. However, an unusual style of cultural scar cut using long handled axes appears to signal transformations in demography and land use following Native Mounted Police occupation. By integrating historical, oral history, spatial, typological, and botanical data this study provides evidence of demographic and environmental changes set in train by the gold-rush invasion. It also highlights the complexities of documenting Cooktown ironwood trees of advanced age and their fragile, deteriorating cultural modifications.

Reflections on the Acquisition of Land by Non-citizens in Botswana

There are rising public concerns about the acquisition of prime land by non-citizens/foreigners in Botswana, especially in the sprawling urban and peri-urban areas. Indians, Nigerians and Chinese, among others, are allegedly involved in such land transactions. There is a salient local resentment towards them and/or such transactions. Sensational media reports, emotive public statements by politicians, chiefs and government officials, and anger from ordinary citizens dominate the discourse. These emotive public debates about this issue warrant some academic comment. This article argues that the acquisition of land by foreigners in Botswana, in each land category—tribal, state and freehold—is legally allowed by the relevant laws. But this does not mean that citizens have no right to raise concerns and/or show their disapproval of some of these legal provisions. Aware of the public outcry, the government has since passed the Land Policy in 2015, revised in 2019, and amended the Tribal Land Act in 2018, not yet operational, to try and strictly regulate the acquisition of land by non-citizens. There is no readily available statistical data, indicating the ownership of land by foreigners in each land category. This issue is multifaceted and needs to be cautiously handled, lest it breeds xenophobia or the anti-foreigner sentiments.

Rock cavern development in Hong Kong: past, present and future

The steep hilly terrain of Hong Kong is a significant constraint on surface development but offers great opportunities for underground rock caverns. With multi-dimensional planning vision, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has recently published a territory-wide Cavern Master Plan, broadened cavern applications and reappraised cavern engineering practice to enable future cavern development. For example, the recent project to relocate Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works in 32 m span caverns will release approximately 28 ha of prime land for other beneficial uses. This paper gives an overview of the past and present cavern development in Hong Kong and discusses future cavern development from planning and engineering perspectives, with particular reference to the Sha Tin project.

Tsetse Invasion as an Emerging Threat to Socioecological Resilience of Pastoral Communities in Karamoja, Uganda

Over 70% of Uganda is infested by the tsetse fly, which has negative effects on human and livestock health. From colonial to post-independent Uganda, the Government of Uganda has worked to eradicate the tsetse menace. Despite these efforts, recent veterinary reports from the Karamoja sub-region have indicated widespread tsetse invasion. This study investigated the potential impact of tsetse invasion on the socioecological resilience of pastoral communities in the Karamoja sub-region. Results indicated that tsetse invasion is spreading from north to south of Karamoja. The tsetse transmission route emerging from southern Karamoja is perceived to be a continuation of the tsetse belt from West Pokot, Kenya. Cases of livestock deaths, livestock abortions, decreased milk yields, restricted access to prime grazing lands, heightened human-wildlife conflicts and disruption on crop cultivation have been reported. A computed socioecological resilience index in the study area was positive but low. Owing to the transboundary characteristics of tsetse invasions and sources and the associated documented effects, an urgent, strategic and system-wide intervention should be undertaken to control the tsetse invasion in this sub-region.

Land quality, land rights, and indigenous poverty

Agricultural land endowments should contribute positively to economic growth, but in countries colonized by European powers this has not always happened. Productive land attracted colonization, which disrupted Indigenous institutions in ways that can stunt development. American Indian reservations provide a powerful example. Where land quality was high, the federal government facilitated land titling and non-Indian settlement through the General Allotment Act of 1887. The evidence suggests this process caused a U-shaped relationship between American Indian per capita income over 1970 to 2010 and a reservation’s share of prime agricultural land, in contrast to a positive relationship across U.S. counties. The downward slope of the U is due to land ownership fractionation that disproportionately affected reservations with mid-quality land and now requires federal administration. After controlling for fractionation, the effect of prime land is positive, implying land quality has indirectly suppressed income growth through its effects on land rights.

Geological characterization of Chandrayaan-2 landing site in the southern high latitudes of the Moon

ISRO's lunar orbiter-lander-rover mission Chandryaan-2 is scheduled to be launched in the mid of 2019. In this contribution, we have carried out detailed geological characterization of the prime landing site (70.9°S, 22.8°E) of the Chandrayaan-2 lander – “Vikram”. The proposed landing site is located amidst the nearside lunar highlands at high southern latitudes, which is ~350 km north of South Pole Aitken (SPA) basin rim. Topography of the region is generally flat and it is largely confined by craters of varying diameter. The majority (94%) of the landing ellipse (~15 × 8 km) is within the boundary of intercrater plains with a slope <15° and yields a crater retention age of ~3.7−0.04+0.03 Ga. Craters (diameter: ~2.28 m to ~1.13 km) consistent with morphologies varying from fresh to degraded are common within the landing ellipse, though the ellipse center is devoid of craters with significant depth. Analysis of the spectral reflectance data suggests that the landing ellipse is dominantly feldspathic/highland material. The estimated average abundance of elements within the landing ellipse are Fe: 4.2 wt%, Mg: 5.4 wt%, Ca: 10 wt%, and Ti: 0.3 wt%. Results indicate that the surface composition might correspond to FAN dominated material. Based on elemental and spectral analysis results, we envisage possible mixing of highland material with ejecta from multiple craters surrounding the landing ellipse and/or SPA basin, resulting in hybridisation of highland regolith. Together, the results provide a contextual framework for in situ investigations at the proposed landing site.

Class and Tenancy Relations in Calcutta, 1914-1926

In this paper, we will track the life of a street in the archives of Calcutta, during the time of the First World War and its immediate aftermath. We will show how such an exercise gives us an introduction to the rental geography of a city. In the period under review, an ambitious street scheme of the Calcutta Improvement Trust (CIT) recycled more than 200 acres of prime land of the city, and dis-housed at least 50000 individuals living in densely populated neighbourhoods of Surtibagan, Jorabagan, Jorasanko, etc, — where upper caste Bengali Hindu rentier class population lived with an increasingly prosperous Marwari community, a lower-middle class Bengali constituency, an up-country Muslim trading community, and a huge mass of migrant (male) working class population working in Barabazar area, mostly as coolies and transport workers. The Central Avenue Scheme of the CIT in this area created a speculative land market and reshuffled the ethnic distribution of property-ownership and tenancy. This paper seeks to take a ‘micro-history’ approach to study this transformation in Calcutta. The paper introduces a set of ‘new’ archival records to the study of the political economy of Indian cities in the 20th century.

Boulder abundances and size-frequency distributions on Oxia Planum-Mars: Scientific implications for the 2020 ESA ExoMars rover

This paper presents the abundances and the size-frequency distributions (SFD) of boulders identified on a sector of the prime landing site for the ExoMars 2020 rover, in Oxia Planum region. By means of a HiRISE image, boulders≥ 1.75m across have been identified and subdivided according to the two main Oxia Planum geological units: the Noachian clay-rich formation (Nc), and the Amazonian volcanic deposit (Av).The spatial density of boulders≥ 1.75m over the entire study area is 6.75 × 10−4/m2, with a size-frequency that is best fit both with power-law and exponential-law curves with indices of −4.9 + 0.1/−0.2 and −1.29 + 0.04/−0.06 respectively. Significant differences were found by analysing separately the Av and Nc geological units. The data collected in the Av unit are well-fitted with a power-law curve with an index equal to −4.8 +/−0.2 and with an exponential-law curve with an index of −1.24 + 0.05,−0.06, whilst in the Nc unit such indices are −5.5 + 0.3/−0.4 and −1.70 + 0.09/−0.12 (power-law and exponential-law curve, respectively).The spatial density of boulders in the Av unit is 7.0 times larger than in the Nc one. This may be due primarily to the distinct mechanical properties of the two units that may result in a different production rate or preservation of the boulders. Secondly, the Av unit overlies the Nc unit, possibly resulting in more impacts and/or different weathering processes throughout the ages.This study provides a quantitative evaluation of the abundances of boulders≥ 1.75m across on Oxia Planum: it is therefore a reference for the ExoMars 2020 mission, both during the landing phase and the rover traverse to specific areas of interest. The landing ellipse presents much higher abundances of boulders≥ 1.75m than all previous Martian rover landing areas. This is particularly evident when the rougher Av unit is taken into account. Contrarily, the Nc unit shows a much more comparable value, but still slightly higher, to the Mars Pathfinder landing site. We provide illustrative navigating scenarios for both the Nc and the Av units as well.

The application of satellite-based model and bi-stable ecosystem balance concept to monitor desertification in arid lands, a case study of Sinai Peninsula

Desertification is responsible for depleting natural resources in arid lands, which is globally happening in an alarming rate. It is considered as the major environmental threat that affects about 40% of the world dry lands, which are populated by approximately one billion humans. In this paper the main objective is to discuss the recent and past research in monitoring and assessing desertification and land degradation using remote sensing technology and data. Recently, the Bi-stable ecosystem balance becomes a promising framework theory to detect the spatial extent of prime land degradation in arid and semi-arid environments; it is also a potential methodology to recognize the difference between the natural variability and instantaneous/non-instantaneous desertification symptoms in dry lands. The satellite-based models are the future tools for monitoring very precisely desertification development, MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite images are becoming the best datasets for building regional desertification monitoring algorithms because of its temporal scales (8–16 days). The MODIS Based Disturbance Index (MBDI) algorithm provide accurate information at six different study sites in Sinai Peninsula and showed the seasonal and yearly changes. This application can be used for monitoring decades of desertification development in North Africa, South Europe, and the Middle East, and can be linked to several fields such as agriculture sustainability, environmental conservations, rural development, and economics.

Categorization and delineation of agricultural prime and marginal lands of Nagpur district, Maharashtra for different uses

Categorization and delineation of agricultural prime and marginal lands of Nagpur district, Maharashtra for different uses

Utilizing built infrastructure and otherwise non-utilizable space for solar PV power projects—A case study for an educational institution

Ground mounted solar PV systems utilize a large amount of land that could otherwise be used for different developmental activities, such as agricultural growth, fuel crops production, and industrial development. Utilizing the already built infrastructures such as building rooftops, parking sheds, and canal water systems for installation of solar PV projects has proven beneficial as it minimizes the procurement and opportunity cost of the land. Taking into consideration the best practices adopted globally, Pakistan must evolve its policy for a shift towards utilization of existing infrastructures rather than using prime lands for solar PV power projects. Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) systems have been effective for deployment and penetration of solar PV technology (SPVT) in different countries. In this paper, we present a case study, established on the basis of existing BIPV principles followed in developed countries. This case study proposes to utilize existing storm water drains, parking lots, and land across lake sites for solar PV system installation at an educational institution, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST). A detailed analysis has been performed to evaluate the project's financial feasibility in terms of economic indexes such as Payback Period, Discounted Cash Flows, Net Present Value, and Internal Rate of Return. Results show that a 5 MW distributed solar PV system installed on an otherwise non-utilizable land at the university's premises shall provide a payback period of 7.09 years at an attractive internal rate of return of 13%.

Mediterranean migration towards Europe: System failure?

The Mediterranean has historically been a space of exchange, contact, and conquest. Migration – in all directions – has always been part of the cultural, political and economic negotiation around “Mare Nostrum.” Few things, however, have thrown European identities and the European political project into question more than the recent movement of migrants and refugees across the Mediterranean. In 2014, more than 170,000 migrants reached Italian shores on maritime routes. Italy was the prime landing site for boats, departing mostly from Libya. Approximately a quarter of those crossing were Syrian refugees, while the remainder came from West Africa, Eastern Africa and the Horn of Africa. In 2015, the phenomenon transformed from a “Mediterranean problem” into a European-wide one, with a marked shift from the Central Mediterranean Route (from North Africa to Italy) to the Eastern Mediterranean Route (from Turkey towards Greece and along the Balkan route towards Central, Western and Northern Europe). Between January and mid-December 2015, more than 800,000 individuals arrived in Greece, compared to 150,000 in Italy during the same period. The distribution in 2016 to date has remained roughly the same with 147,000 arrivals in Greece and 13,000 in Italy (see infographic).

Improved forages to enhance hill country sheep production

Recently, sheep and beef farms in New Zealand have been out-competed for prime land by dairy and horticulture farming. This means that industry targets to increase sheep and beef production have to be achieved on farms with constraints on pasture production. They are increasingly restricted to hilly and other locations with variable climates and soils, and landscape constraints on farming practices. These challenges lead to the formation of two on farm projects within the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Demonstration Farm programme to improve production from permanent pastures on sheep and beef farms. The first of these was a 4 year evaluation at Whangara Farms North of Gisborne looking at improving forage supply on both noncultivatable hill and flat to easy country through spraying out existing vegetation and oversowing or direct-drilling with white clover and plantain. The second project at Aria in the King Country concentrated on improving the forage quality and quantity at critical times of the year. Clovers and plantain were established through cultivation. Both projects showed that forage and animal production increased after the introduction of clovers and plantain. However, plantain at Whangara did not persist beyond the fourth year from sowing. Poor white clover establishment at Aria resulted in substituting red and white clover for plantain from the second year with improved forage and animal performance. At both sites the costs associated with introducing new forages was repaid within the first 2 years. Keywords: hill country development, forage species, forage quality, whole farm systems

Yield potential of Milk thistle production in south western Slovakia

Yield potential of Milk thistle production in south western Slovakia

Fossil-Fuelled Power Generation during Haze

Malaysia is facing haze problems for many years and the Government's major budget has been utilized for eradicating this issue so as to provide a healthy environment for its people. Apart from the peat and forest fires, the electricity generation through fossil-fuelled power stations also significantly contributes to the environmental issues in Malaysia. For the sustainable development of the country and to become a prime land in the Asean region, the Government of Malaysia has to pay more attention to exterminate the ongoing haze problem. During haze, as the power plant emissions augment the environmental issues, two operational strategies of fossil-fuelled power stations are presented to reduce their emissions. The efficacy of the proposed strategies has been demonstrated through a 24-bus, 11 fossil-fuelled generator test system at different load conditions during a 24-hour period.