Vulnerability Assessment Index Research Articles

Research Framework of Regional Economic-Ecological System Vulnerability Evolution and Adaptive Leap under the Background of Climate Change

This study focuses on the vulnerability evolution mechanism of regional economic-ecological systems and its adaptive leapfrogging path under the background of climate change. Based on the theory of complex adaptive systems and the framework of social-ecological system coupling, a regional economic-ecological system vulnerability assessment index system was constructed. Using the system dynamics model and scenario simulation method, the impact transmission mechanism of climate change on regional economic-ecological systems was analyzed, and the spatiotemporal evolution law of system vulnerability was revealed. The study found that climate change has aggravated the vulnerability of regional economic-ecological systems by changing resource endowments, disturbing industrial structure, and affecting ecological service functions. In response to this problem, this study proposed a leapfrogging path based on adaptive management: including building a climate-resilient industrial system, optimizing resource allocation efficiency, enhancing ecosystem service functions, and improving regional adaptive governance mechanisms. The research results have important theoretical value and practical significance for promoting regional sustainable development and ecological civilization construction.

Integrated risk assessment of landslide in karst terrains: Advancing landslides management in Beiliu City, China

Beiliu City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, like other karst landscape areas, is also suffering from the threat of landslides. This research applied the circular variance method to delineate 31,465 slope units and then combined it with a geographic information system and a well-established risk assessment system to synthesize three perspectives-susceptibility, hazard, and vulnerability to realize the risk assessment of karst landslides in Beiliu City. Using perennial field surveys, aerial images-derived landslide inventories, slope unit investigations, and a literature review combined with a Fully Convolutional Neural Networks approach, we present a culminating in the derivation of landslide susceptibility assessment outcomes within the study area. Because Beiliu City is located in a karst area, this research employs the quantification of soil erosion intensity as a metric to assess landslide hazard. In this study, based on a comprehensive analysis of the basic characteristics of landslides and their associated disaster-bearing bodies, a robust landslide vulnerability assessment index system was constructed for risk assessment of karst landslides in Beiliu City. The landslide risk assessment model in karst area is constructed by combining the landslide susceptibility and the vulnerability in the danger range. Detailed field surveys verified the scientific validity and accuracy of the assessment results. This research extends beyond merely furnishing scientific data support for local governmental efforts in disaster prevention and mitigation. It impressively enhances the methodological framework for conducting landslide risk assessments within karst landscapes, thereby offering a robust foundation for both immediate and strategic responses to the inherent geological vulnerabilities of these areas.

Spatial Vulnerability Assessment for Mountain Cities Based on the GA-BP Neural Network: A Case Study in Linzhou, Henan, China

Mountain cities with complex topographies have always been highly vulnerable areas to global environmental change, prone to geological hazards, climate change, and human activities. Exploring and analyzing the vulnerability of coupling systems in mountain cities is highly important for improving regional resilience and promoting sustainable regional development. Therefore, a comprehensive framework for assessing the spatial vulnerability of mountain cities is proposed. A vulnerability assessment index system is constructed using three functional systems, ecological protection, agricultural production, and urban construction. Subsequently, the BP neural network and the genetic algorithm (GA) are combined to establish a vulnerability assessment model, and geographically weighted regression (GWR) is introduced to analyze the spatial influence of one-dimensional systems on the coupling system. Linzhou, a typical mountain city at the boundary between China’s second- and third-step terrains, was selected as a case study to demonstrate the feasibility of the framework. The results showed that the vulnerability of the ecological protection system was highly aggregated in the east–central region, that of the agricultural production system was high in the west, and that of the urban construction system was low in the central region and high in the northwestern region. The coupling system vulnerability was characterized by multispatial distribution. The complex topography and geomorphology and the resulting natural hazards are the underlying causes of the vulnerability results. The impact of ecological and urban systems on the coupling system vulnerability is more prominent. The proposed framework can serve as a reference for vulnerability assessments of other similar mountain cities with stepped topographies to support the formulation of sustainable development strategies.

Vulnerability assessment for physical protection systems of cave temples: A fuzzy petri net approach

Preservation of cultural relics is crucial for cultural sustainability, particularly in the case of cave temples, which are a unique and immovable part of our heritage, nested within mountains. These structures bear immense historical significance and possess considerable economic value, making them vulnerable to criminal activities, notably theft. Establishing a robust physical protection system (PPS) is imperative to safeguard these relics from potential damage. This paper proposes a novel approach for assessing the vulnerability of cave temples' PPS. Based on the fuzzy Petri net (FPN) principle, a comprehensive vulnerability assessment index system was developed within the PPS framework, considering the unique characteristics of cave temples. This study refines the formal definition of the FPN, enhancing its precision and effectiveness for vulnerability assessment. The practicality and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified through simulation experiments. An illustrative example is provided to demonstrate this approach.

Riverine Community Vulnerability to Flooding: An Insight from the Bramhaputra-Jamuna River at Harirampur Upazila, Manikganj

Bangladesh is one of the nations that has a distinctive environment for floods. Most of the land is low-lying, and 80% is a floodplain, making it highly susceptible to frequent flooding. This research aims to investigate the susceptibility of riverine communities to flooding and display the spatial distribution of vulnerability for the study region (Harirampur Upazila). A vulnerability assessment index is developed using multiple variables related to social, physical, and economic vulnerability. A quantitative survey is conducted to gather data on physical, social, and economic factors contributing to household vulnerability to floods. The results reveal that out of the five unions in Harirampur Upazila, Gopinathpur, and Lesraganj unions, they have been found to have a high vulnerability to flooding (vulnerability scores of 3.19 and 3.10, respectively). Kanchanpur Union is severely vulnerable to flooding (score 3.57). On the other hand, Gala Union is designated as a lowly vulnerable (score of 2.23) area, and Ramkrishnapur Union is classified as a moderately vulnerable (score of 2.83) area. Finally, this study would help to assign government and non-government initiatives following the vulnerability category during critical conditions of any disaster period. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(2): 195-214, 2023 (December)

Combining CENTURY model and vulnerability assessment index to estimate aboveground biomass and ecological vulnerability of grassland: An analysis in Northwest Sichuan Plateau

Evaluating the impact of climate change on grassland productivity using grassland ecological models is of great significance for the sustainable use of grasslands. Based on meteorological, soil, and grassland data, this study employed the Grassland Ecosystem Model (CENTURY) to scrutinize the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of above-ground biomass (AGB) of grasslands in the northwest Sichuan Plateau (NWSP) and established a spatial distribution pattern of grassland vulnerability levels in the NWSP. Utilizing five on-site verification points, the CENTURY model worked well in simulating the AGB of grasslands in the NWSP and was suitable for investigating the impact of climate change on grassland productivity in the NWSP. Simulation outcomes revealed a zonal distribution pattern of the annual average AGB in grasslands across the NWSP, with the central region exhibiting higher levels surpassing 800 g m−². From 1961 to 2020, the AGB of grasslands showed a significant increase trend, with growth rates ranging from 14.2 to 25.9 g m−2·(10a)−1. Overall, the northern and central regions of the NWSP experienced substantial climate impacts, coinciding with a marked increase in biomass. From 1961 to 2020, the overall vulnerability of grasslands in the NWSP was relatively low, with areas exhibiting moderate or lower vulnerability levels accounting for 83.8 %. The overall spatial distribution pattern showed low vulnerability in the north and central regions, and high vulnerability in the eastern and southwestern edges.

Framework development for the physical vulnerability assessment index of hand-dug Wells in Are-Ekiti, Southwestern Nigeria.

The article presents a comprehensive framework for assessing the physical vulnerability of hand-dug wells within the Are Community, Southwestern Nigeria. The study spans from March to April 2023 and meticulously examines 90 wells, focusing on critical parameters such as well collar, well cover, and well lining information. The analysis reveals significant variations in well collar construction materials and dimensions, emphasizing the community's adaptive strategies. The Well Collar Height Index (WCi), Well Cover Index (WCOi), Well Lining Index (WLi), and the derived Vulnerability Index categorize wells into vulnerability classes, offering a nuanced understanding of susceptibility levels. Notably, the study identifies wells with Very High vulnerability that demand urgent attention, as well as wells with effective protective measures categorized as Very Low vulnerability. The article emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of local practices and materials, highlighting the variability in well collar construction. It discusses the implications of well cover conditions and the critical role of well linings in assessing groundwater vulnerability. The Vulnerability Index combines these parameters, guiding targeted interventions based on risk severity. The study lays the groundwork for future interventions to enhance the safety and sustainability of water sources within the Are Community. It recommends immediate comprehensive measures for highly vulnerable wells, ongoing monitoring, community engagement, and knowledge sharing. The future scope includes incorporating geochemical analysis, targeted interventions, regular maintenance, community training, and exploring alternative water sources for sustainable improvements.

Assessment of Vulnerability of Farmers to Climate Change in Zone-II of Bihar, India

"Climate unpredictability and weather extremes are additional challenges for farmers currently engaged in the low-technology based food production systems in Bihar. This study assessed the vulnerability of major crops growing farmers to climate change in zone-II of Bihar. Primary data, collected from 240 respondents using simple random sampling procedure and data were analysed employing descriptive statistic to describe the coping strategies adopted and Human Development Index (HDI) was also created to assess vulnerability of farmers to climate change. Statistical analyses indicated a vulnerability assessment index of 0.41, pointing to a fact that the Kosi region is prone to the adverse effects of climatic variability. For this reason, the study empirically under scores the need for farmers to adopt the planting of early maturing varieties of major crops in the region. Importantly, the capacity of the local communities needs to be strengthened vis-à-vis the relationship between climate change and crop production. Capacity building at the farm level is crucial for improving crop, soil and water management, enhancing the demand for and use of better and more efficient production inputs. The farm-level capacity building is the need to refocus public agricultural-based institutions towards exposing the growers to effective mitigation strategies in the wake of climate change, provision of agricultural inputs, expansion of irrigation, efficient and effective extension service delivery, market development and other forms of necessary support."

Flexible renewable energy planning based on multi-step forecasting of interregional electricity supply and demand: Graph-enhanced AI approach

Jeju Island faces curtailment problems when renewable energy generation exceeds the facility capacity. In addition, the renewable energy system cannot achieve consistent operation because of the uncertainty of renewable energy sources (RES) and their complex spatiotemporal patterns. Climate change and extreme meteorological phenomena also affect the energy system of the island. Therefore, it is essential to maximize RES exploitation to accomplish carbon-free energy production. This study developed a rolling horizon optimization–based flexible renewable energy distribution planning (FxRE-Plan) based on an artificial intelligence-driven spatiotemporal RES prediction model. An adaptive graph convolutional recurrent network (AGCRN) was used to develop a spatiotemporal prediction model. Then, FxRE-Plan was determined using a multiobjective genetic algorithm to maximize the RES potential under climate change scenarios. The FxRE-Plan was evaluated and compared with the current operation of the electric grid in Jeju Island through economic, environmental cost, and climate change vulnerability assessment index. The results of this research show that the AGCRN–based spatiotemporal prediction model exhibited superior prediction performance, achieving a 95% R2. In addition, the FxRE-Plan reduced greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 11.5% at maximum and climate change vulnerability. Hence, the proposed FxRE-Plan can be used to solve curtailments in real electric grids by pursuing carbon-free islands.

Vulnerability Assessment and Optimization Countermeasures of the Human–Land Coupling System of the China–Mongolia–Russia Cross-Border Transportation Corridor

In recent years, the conflicts of the human–land coupling system (HLS) in the cross-border transportation corridor areas have become increasingly severe, especially in the China–Mongolia–Russia Cross-Border Transportation Corridor (CMRTC). The vulnerability assessment of the HLS-CMRTC is the key scientific issue for regional sustainable development. Based on the nearly 20 years of a scientific expedition, we set the CMRTC as the study area, constructed the vulnerability assessment index system and quantitative model, assessed the vulnerability of the HLS-CMRTC, revealed the key influencing factors, divided vulnerability risk prevention zones, and proposed the targeted optimization countermeasures. This study found that: (1) The overall vulnerability pattern of the HLS-CMRTC showed a vulnerability level gradually increasing from south to north. (2) Permafrost instability risk, land desertification, temperature increase, and backward social development were key influences. (3) Vulnerability risk prevention zones were divided into four priority and two general zones. The targeted optimization countermeasures were proposed, such as establishing an ecological security barrier, carrying out collaborative ecological risk monitoring, and early warning. The conclusions could provide a decision-making basis for the study area to reduce the vulnerability of the HLS. They could also provide reference and scientific support for achieving sustainable development of the economy and environment in similar regions of the world.

A reliable ecological vulnerability approach based on the construction of optimal evaluation systems and evolutionary tracking models

Ecological vulnerability assessment is an effective means to monitor ecosystem stability, and its application has been an emerging hotspot. Although some progress has been made in the study of ecological vulnerability, there are few studies on the accuracy of the evaluation index and the tracking of the evolution process. Therefore, this study discussed the impact of the improved ecological vulnerability assessment index system and spatial scale on the ecological vulnerability of the target area, and conducted a confirmatory analysis of it. Taking Weinan City, a typical city in the Yellow River Basin as the research object, the evolution tracking model of ecological vulnerability was established, and the internal relationship between the dimensions of impact factors and ecological vulnerability index (EVI) was analyzed. The results showed that (1) the correlation between EVI and NDVI of the optimized index system (e) (ISe) was −0.793, and the R-value of linear fitting was 0.63, which indicated that the optimized evaluation results were closer to the actual situation. (2) From 1999 to 2019, the overall ecological condition of Weinan was positive, with the distribution characteristics of low EVI in northern and southern mountain cities and high EVI in central plain cities. (3) Hierarchical transformation of EVI in the combination area where ecological vulnerability remained stable and degraded accounted for 75.24%, indicating that the overall evolution direction of ecological vulnerability changed to a good direction. The results can provide an effective way to optimize and validate the ecological vulnerability assessment system and track the evolution of ecological vulnerability effectively.

Vulnerability assessment of hydrogen stations based on cloud center of gravity theory

Conducting a vulnerability assessment of hydrogen stations is beneficial for a more comprehensive understanding of safety risks, timely identification of weak links in hydrogen stations to reduce accident risks. This paper proposes a vulnerability assessment method for hydrogen stations in industrial parks based on the improved combination ordered weighted averaging (COWA) operator and ordinal relationship method (G1) and cloud gravity center theory. The vulnerability assessment index system for hydrogen stations considers the vulnerability of personnel, facilities, materials, environment, and emergency response capabilities. The Pythagorean fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (PFDEMATEL) method is used to determine the centrality of the evaluation index, and the comprehensive weight is determined by combining the COWA operator and the G1 method. The cloud gravity center is utilized to determine the vulnerability assessment level by calculating the weighted similarity. A hydrogen station is used as an example to verify the applicability and objectivity of the method. The simulation results indicate that the proposed method has high efficiency and is suitable for vulnerability evaluations. The research findings can provide a theoretical reference and decision-making basis for improving safety management and emergency response of hydrogen stations.

Assessment of Pleistocene Aquifer Vulnerability to Saline Intrusion in the Coastal Region of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province Using GIS and Entropy-GALDIT

Sea-level rise, in the context of climate change, increases the likelihood of seawater intruding into coastal aquifers. This study assesses the vulnerability of the Pleistocene aquifer in the coastal area of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, Vietnam. Data for calculation and analysis were collected from 99 boreholes in the study area. Using the vulnerability assessment index (GALDIT) with expanded weights, the vulnerability of the aquifer to the influence of coastlines was evaluated and visualized in a GIS environment. The set of Entropy weights used clearly shows the significance of the component parameters and indicates the characteristics of the risk partitioning of aquifer salinization. The Entropy-GALDIT results divided the Pleistocene aquifer in the coastal area of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province into three levels of vulnerability: high vulnerability zones (3.88% of the area), medium vulnerability zones (55.47%), and low vulnerability zones (40.65%). According to the GALDIT susceptibility zoning map, the western area of Phu My town (along the Thi Vai River), the southwest region of Vung Tau City, and the southeast region of Dat Do District are highly sensitive and not recommended for any purpose. This result provides useful insights into the vulnerability of aquifers in the coastal area of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, with respect to factors such as the height of the groundwater level above sea level, the distance from the shore to the wells, and the impact of existing seawater intrusion. Accordingly, it is necessary to establish monitoring systems to warn of saltwater intrusion and to develop integrated resource management strategies to ensure the sustainability of groundwater resources in the area.

Urban Human Settlement Vulnerability Evolution and Mechanisms: The Case of Anhui Province, China

In this paper, taking the jurisdiction of Anhui Province as the research area, a vulnerability assessment index system of human settlements was constructed from “exposure–sensitivity–coping ability”. Based on the GIS spatial analysis method, the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of human settlements in Anhui Province were analyzed. The influences of human factors and natural factors on the spatial differentiation of human settlement vulnerability were explored by using geographic detectors, and the driving mechanism of the evolution of human settlement vulnerability was analyzed. An analysis of the results showed the following: ① With a change in the time scale, the human settlement vulnerability index showed a trend of decreasing year by year, the exposure and sensitivity show a downward trend year by year in the three major subsystems, and the coping ability shows an upward trend year by year. ② The evolution of the vulnerability subsystems of exposure, sensitivity, and coping ability in human settlement environments showed the directions of “medium–high–low (M-H-L)” in the early stage, “low–high–medium (L-H-M)” in the middle stage, and “low–medium–high (L-M-H)” in the later stage. ③ The causes of high vulnerability were as follows: The leading factors in the early stage were natural factors, the leading factors in the middle period were natural and human factors, and the leading factors in the later stage were human factors. ④ One-factor and two-factor interactive detection using a geodetector showed that urbanization, industrialization, land use control, and per capita income levels have become key and “short-board” factors that control the vulnerability of human settlements.

Assessing the vulnerability to drought of the farm households in Ninh Thuan province, Vietnam

Drought is the cause of severe water shortages and losses to the livelihood of farmers in the central provinces of Vietnam. This study aims to assess the drought vulnerability of farm households in Ninh Thuan province using two vulnerability assessment indices, the livelihood vulnerability index, and the IPCC vulnerability index. Data for the analysis were gathered from a survey of 231 randomly selected households across three drought-prone regions of the province. The data collected included information on the household’s sociodemographic profile, livelihood strategies, social networks, financial capital, water security, health status, and drought conditions. The research reveals that the poor farmers from ethnic minority groups with limited access to water sources, financial capital, and social networks are the most vulnerable farm households, requiring more support from the local community, and government to adopt an integrated drought risk management approach.

Electric power cyber-physical systems vulnerability assessment under cyber attack

Improving the accuracy of the vulnerability assessment of the power cyber-physical system has important practical value for protecting the vulnerable links of the system and preventing large power outages. This article studies the vulnerability assessment of power cyber-physical systems under cyber-attacks. First, from the perspective of topology, the electrical betweenness is used as the structural vulnerability index of the power system. Based on the power flow characteristics of the power network, the voltage is used as the state vulnerability index. Then, starting from the structure, the node degree and clustering coefficient are selected to analyze the structural vulnerability. Considering the service transmission characteristics of the information system, the power service importance is selected as the vulnerability assessment index of the information system. The two selected indexes are used to construct a quantitative formula, and a comprehensive index is obtained to complete the node vulnerability assessment of the power information system. Then, on the basis of the system vulnerability assessment, we screen to determine the entry and target nodes of network attacks and predict the network attack path. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method for vulnerability assessment and feasibility is verified by MATLAB programming simulation.

2000-2018年内蒙古沙区“生态-经济-社会”复合系统脆弱性演变及关键影响因素

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 2000-2018年内蒙古沙区“生态-经济-社会”复合系统脆弱性演变及关键影响因素 DOI: 10.5846/stxb202203100586 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家自然科学基金面上项目(41971253) Vulnerability evolution of the ecological-economic-social complex system and the key influencing factors in the sandy region of Inner Mongolia from 2000 to 2018 Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: National Natural Science Foundation of China(41971253) 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:在气候变化和人类活动共同影响下,沙区"生态-经济-社会"复合系统快速变化,为沙漠化治理及区域可持续发展带来了严峻的挑战。因此,揭示沙区"生态-经济-社会"复合系统脆弱性演变规律,辨识影响脆弱性演化的关键因素及区域差异对沙区可持续管理具有重要意义。以内蒙古自治区为研究区,利用"暴露-敏感-适应"评估模型构建沙区"生态-经济-社会"复合系统脆弱性评价指标体系,将空间主成分分析与时空地理加权回归模型相结合,探讨2000-2018年内蒙古"生态-经济-社会"复合系统脆弱性时空演变及关键因素作用机制。结果表明:(1)脆弱性及暴露度、敏感性和适应性三个维度在空间上均有较强的异质性特征,脆弱性具有整体分散、局部聚集的分布格局;暴露度的空间分布为中部高,两边低;敏感性的空间分布为西部高,东部低;适应性的高低值分布与脆弱性相反。(2)脆弱性的变化在总体上呈现大部分区域降低,局部区域升高的趋势,显著升高区域主要聚集在内蒙古南部地区。(3)影响脆弱性分布的因素在每年均有所不同,但总体上植被覆盖度、沙漠化程度、气象指数等生态指标是影响脆弱性显著变化区域的主要因素。 Abstract:Under the combined effects of climate change and human activities, the rapidly change of the ecological-economic-social complex system in sandy areas poses serious challenges to desertification control and regional sustainable development. Therefore, it is of great significance to reveal the vulnerability evolution law of the ecological-economic-social complex system in sandy region, identify the key factors affecting the vulnerability evolution for the sustainable management of sandy region. In this paper, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was taken as the research area, and the VSD (Vulnerability Scoping Diagram) model was used to construct the vulnerability assessment index system for the ecological-economic-social complex system. The spatial principal component analysis and spatio-temporal geographically weighted regression model were combined to explore the spatio-temporal evolution of the vulnerability of the ecological-economic-social complex system and the influencing mechanisms of the key factors from 2000 to 2018. The results show that: (1) vulnerability, exposure, sensitivity and adaptability have strongly heterogeneous characteristics in space, and vulnerability has a distribution pattern of overall dispersion and local aggregation; the spatial distribution of exposure is high in the middle and low on both sides; the spatial distribution of sensitivity is high in the west and low in the east; the distribution of high and low values of adaptability is the opposite of vulnerability. (2) Vulnerability changes generally show a trend of decreasing in most regions and an increasing trend in some areas. The areas with vulnerability significantly increase mainly concentrated in the southern Inner Mongolia. (3) The factors that affect the distribution of vulnerability are different each year, but in general, ecological indicators such as vegetation cover, desertification degree and meteorological indices are the main factors that affect significant change in vulnerability. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Identification and optimization methods for delineating ecological red lines in Sichuan Province of southwest China

Ecological red lines (ERLs) are one of innovation regional ecological management systems, and a major strategy of construction of ecological civilization of China. Assessments of ecosystem services and the ecological sensitivity of the environment are the conventional methods for ERL delineation, which cannot quickly identify protection patterns, and also lacks the recognition of geological and geographical processes mechanism and influencing factors of ERLs. However, this omission may lead to inaccurate ERL delineation in mountainous areas. This study constructed an ecological–geological (eco–geo) environment vulnerability assessment index system to quickly identify protection patterns and optimize conventional ERL, taking Sichuan Province of Southwest China as the study region. The results showed that the conventional ERL covered 148,000 km2, accounting for 30.45 % of the total area. The extreme and severe vulnerability areas in the eco–geo environment together covered 189,700 km2, accounting for 39.10 %. The conventional ERL was almost completely included in the extreme vulnerability zone. Two optimization methods were analyzed by overlaying the vulnerability zone (extreme/extreme and severe) on nature reserves and the conventional ERLs. The first scheme covered an area of 188,600 km2 and 238,400 km2 for extreme and extreme and severe vulnerability, respectively; this reflected a more comprehensive vulnerability and protection pattern. The second scheme covered 197,600 km2 and 241,700 km2 for extreme and extreme and severe vulnerability, respectively, and could rapidly identify the vulnerability zones and protected areas. The study found that the geological and geographical processes in mountainous areas were the key factors shaping the ERLs. The assessment and the two schemes on provincial scale were practical, referential for similar mountainous area of China, and also be applied to other scales, serving the comprehensive management of ERL and the regional ecological security.

Establishment of an Ecological Security Pattern under Arid Conditions Based on Ecological Carrying Capacity: A Case Study of Arid Area in Northwest China

With the expansion of the social economy and adjustment of environmental policies, particularly with the onset of development policies for the western region, ecosystems in the arid areas of Northwest China have undergone profound changes. This study collected soil, topographical, climate, and nighttime light data to develop a set of ecological vulnerability assessment indexes based on the background ecological characteristics of the arid areas of Northwest China. The spatiotemporal evolution of ecological carrying capacity was analyzed by our team using Spatial Principal Component Analysis (SPCA) in 2000, 2007, 2012, and 2018 to construct an ecological security pattern. The results revealed that the ecological carrying capacities of the arid areas in the northwest were primarily weak, albeit decreasing, while those areas with strong carrying capacities were increasing. In terms of spatial distribution, the ecological carrying capacities of the Hexi, Northern Xinjiang, and Western Inner Mongolia regions were on the rise, while those of the Southern Xinjiang region were declining. The Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model was used to extract 51 road-type, river-type, and green corridors with a total length of 7285.43 km. A total of 71 nodes representing important patches, wet rivers, and ecologically fragile areas were extracted. According to the calculated results, the arid region of the northwest was divided into 16 ecological security patterns, which were optimized according to changes in their ecological carrying capacities.

Active and Passive Defense Strategies of Cyber-Physical Power System against Cyber Attacks Considering Node Vulnerability

Vulnerable parts in the cyber-physical power system can be maliciously attacked to trigger cascading failures. This paper proposes a defense framework with active and passive defense hybrid strategies. First, a comprehensive vulnerability assessment index is presented to identify vital nodes contributing to failure extension. The proposed index is based on both physical characteristics and topology. Physical characteristic is assessed through the optimal power flow to calculate the load losses. The topology index is obtained by the attacking node and calculating the nodes lost at the steady state. Then, the active and passive defense strategies are established. Deploying false nodes based on the comprehensive vulnerability index is set as the active defense strategy. Changing from centralized control mode to centralized-distributed control mode is the passive defense strategy. The system can defend against attacks with active and passive strategies effectively in the attacking experiments. Finally, we have made a profound study of the first-order percolation problem. The first-order percolation disappears under the active and passive defense strategies in a scale-free network, while the small world network transfers from the first-order percolation to the second-order percolation. The findings indicated that the diverse results resulted from their structure.