An integrated agro-economic and agro-ecological framework for land use planning and policy analysis

The growing concern about land resource management and the associated decline in land qualities, has led to the realisation that land use planning and policy problems cannot be addressed adequately through a single discipline. This awareness has resulted in renewed attention for integrated, interdisciplinary approaches. It is argued that such an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to problems of land use planning and policy analysis is specifically hampered by lack of an adequate methodology. Although the limitation is increasingly recognised in the various disciplines, relatively little attention has been paid to the question of how to integrate agro-ecological and socio-economic aspects of land use. The study reported here, contributes to development and operationalisation of a land use planning and policy analysis methodology that integrates agro-ecological and agro-economic information in such a way that land use policy options at sub-regional level can be formulated and evaluated with the aim of aiding policy makers.The study starts with a critical review of the current state of the formal tools of land use planning with particular emphasis on their strengths and weaknesses to integrating bio-physical and socio-economic analysis, stating a need for an alternative integrated methodology, with due recognition of the obstacles and challenges this involves. After a thorough literature search, conceptual and methodological challenges that stand in the way of integration are analysed and described. The basic structure of the framework to a methodology for integrating bio-physical and socio-economic analysis in land use planning and policy analysis is developed and outlined.The integrated framework derives its conceptual foundation largely from an adaptation of the theory of economic policy of agricultural sector analysis, the systems analytic approach, and the concepts of regional planning, to land use planning and policy analysis. The procedure of building the methodological framework is structured in a set of interrelated blocks (sub-frameworks). Each sub-framework of the methodology actually contains a number of steps, and requires a number of tools and/or methods for its operationalisation. The sub-frameworks of the methodology are further developed and operationaliesd for a case of Amol sub-region in Iran.After an identification of limitations of existing farm classification procedures, an alternative methodology is developed and outlined. The main purpose for farm classification methodology is to reduce aggregation errors, while integrating farm level with aggregate level of analysis. The methodology combines various clustering methods and proximity measures to group farms on the basis of operational parameters that reflect conditions necessary for exact aggregation. The methodology builds a step-by-step search procedure through a set of possible classifications to identify one that fits the purpose reasonably well. The methodology is illustrated for Amol Township. It allows generating and testing alternative classifications each with different resultant farm types.The study argues that land has a very strong socio-economic components that are not dealt with in the land unit concept and, therefore, a more integrated unit is defined. For this purpose the concept of "farm type land unit (FTLU)" is introduced. A FTLU is considered to be a farm type's share in a particular land unit or, alternatively, a land unit share in a particular farm type. The concept of FTLU is operationalised by establishing a (partial) link between geographic information system (GIS) and classification models. This link allows mapping of farm types and then linking them spatially with land units.An integrated approach to definition and description of land use systems, and quantification of their input and output coefficients is presented. The approach presented here considers land use systems as integral systems that include both bio-physical and socio-economic components. The concept ILUS is proposed for a specific form of describing a land use system. The term ILUS is defined as a unique combination of a farm type land unit (FTLU), a land use type (LUT), and a production technique. ILUSs are described in terms of operation sequences. Such a description then serves as a basis for the calculation of the required input-output coefficients. Each unique operation sequence within a ILUS can be interpreted as a specific (land use) activity. Each activity is defined and described quantitatively in terms of input and output coefficients which quantify the relation between inputs of production and the outputs, desired as well as undesired.Information on bio-physical and socio-economic components of land use systems is then confronted in an integrated land use planning and policy analysis (ILUPPA) model. The linear programming model. ILUPPA is a mathematical programming model in terms of solution technique, however, it is best described as a behavioural simulation model. It attempts to describe how farmers will react to certain classes of policy instruments that may influence their land allocation decisions. ILUPPA generates alternative land use policy options through the definition and description of various land use policy scenarios, corresponding to various policy instruments.Because the purpose of the model is to generate sustainable land use policy options, various land use scenarios corresponding to different policy instruments are defined. On the basis of these scenarios, the model generates a number of feasible land use policy alternatives with their associated ILUSs and corresponding input and output coefficients. A multi-criteria evaluation technique is applied to rank the set of alternative land use policy scenarios, and hence to assist policy makers in selecting the "best" or the most preferred land use alternative or to facilitate a movement towards a consensus. To take into account the multiple and conflicting views, various preferences or priorities are included in the evaluation.The rankings of the various policy scenarios, from different policy perspectives, are presented. Results show, that, for the specific situation of Amol sub-region and under the assumed policy views: non-price policy instruments are more effective in bringing about the desired changes and in achieving policy objectives;when more priority is given to environmental protection, the present situation, as reflected by the base scenario, is ranked most unfavourable; and the 'land consolidation' scenario is a good compromise among the different policy views.In conclusion, the proposed methodology proves to considerably reduce the aggregation errors when compared to the existing modelling approaches in land use planning and policy analysis and is therefore expected to make a significantly positive contribution to improved quality of agricultural planning and policy analysis. Some degree of aggregation is, of course, inevitable to facilitate modelling and to restrict the costs of the analysis to 'reasonable' levels. Implementation of the proposed methodology requires a large database and the gains in precision of the analysis must be balanced against the higher costs of developing and implementing the methodology.</p

On-line monitoring for operational control of water distribution networks

This work concerns the concept of on-line monitoring and control for water distribution networks. The problem is simple to state. It is to produce a robust scheme that can continuously provide reliable information about the state of a water network in real-time and over extended periods with the minimum of operator interaction. This thesis begins by proposing a relational database schema to store 'asset data' for a water distribution network and asserts that asset data should be used as a basis for network modelling. It presents a topology determination algorithm and a demand allocation algorithm so that a mathematical model can be maintained on-line, with operator intervention only necessary to record the change of state of non-telemetered plant items such as switch valves. In order to provide a reliable on-line model of a distribution system, an investigation has been carried out into the methods available for modelling water networks and in particular, the inherent assumptions in these practices. As a result, new methods have been produced for network element combination and for demand allocation. These methods both support the database approach and enhance the robustness of the system by increasing the range of conditions for which the resulting model is applicable. For operational control, a new technique for state estimation is proposed which combines the advantages of weighted least squares estimation with those of weighted least absolute values estimation. The proposed method is tolerant to transducer noise and to the presence of large measurement outliers. However, the method is not limited in its application to water networks and could be applied to a wide range of measurement processing problems. Lastiy, a new topology based method for processing suspect data is proposed which can determine the likely causes using identifying templates. Thus a new approach to water network monitoring is proposed via an overall framework into which the various tasks of on-line operational control can be integrated. The exercise has resulted in the production of a core software package which could realistically be used in a control room to facilitate reliable operational control of water distribution systems

The impact of AI on radiographic image reporting – perspectives of the UK reporting radiographer population

Background: It is predicted that medical imaging services will be greatly impacted by AI in the future. Developments in computer vision have allowed AI to be used for assisted reporting. Studies have investigated radiologists' opinions of AI for image interpretation (Huisman et al., 2019 a/b) but there remains a paucity of information in reporting radiographers' opinions on this topic.Method: A survey was developed by AI expert radiographers and promoted via LinkedIn/Twitter and professional networks for radiographers from all specialities in the UK. A sub analysis was performed for reporting radiographers only.Results: 411 responses were gathered to the full survey (Rainey et al., 2021) with 86 responses from reporting radiographers included in the data analysis. 10.5% of respondents were using AI tools? as part of their reporting role. 59.3% and 57% would not be confident in explaining an AI decision to other healthcare practitioners and 'patients and carers' respectively. 57% felt that an affirmation from AI would increase confidence in their diagnosis. Only 3.5% would not seek second opinion following disagreement from AI. A moderate level of trust in AI was reported: mean score = 5.28 (0 = no trust; 10 = absolute trust). 'Overall performance/accuracy of the system', 'visual explanation (heatmap/ROI)', 'Indication of the confidence of the system in its diagnosis' were suggested as measures to increase trust.Conclusion: AI may impact reporting professionals' confidence in their diagnoses. Respondents are not confident in explaining an AI decision to key stakeholders. UK radiographers do not yet fully trust AI. Improvements are suggested

An evaluation of a training tool and study day in chest image interpretation

Background: With the use of expert consensus a digital tool was developed by the research team which proved useful when teaching radiographers how to interpret chest images. The training tool included A) a search strategy training tool and B) an educational tool to communicate the search strategies using eye tracking technology. This training tool has the potential to improve interpretation skills for other healthcare professionals.Methods: To investigate this, 31 healthcare professionals i.e. nurses and physiotherapists, were recruited and participants were randomised to receive access to the training tool (intervention group) or not to have access to the training tool (control group) for a period of 4-6 weeks. Participants were asked to interpret different sets of 20 chest images before and after the intervention period. A study day was then provided to all participants following which participants were again asked to interpret a different set of 20 chest images (n=1860). Each participant was asked to complete a questionnaire on their perceptions of the training provided. Results: Data analysis is in progress. 50% of participants did not have experience in image interpretation prior to the study. The study day and training tool were useful in improving image interpretation skills. Participants perception of the usefulness of the tool to aid image interpretation skills varied among respondents.Conclusion: This training tool has the potential to improve patient diagnosis and reduce healthcare costs

An investigation of the mathematical formulation of quantum theory and its physical interpretation, 1900-1927

Imperial Users onl

Surviving our paradoxes : the psychoanalysis and literature of uncertainty

This thesis explores the importance of tolerating and facilitating uncertainty as it is recognised by British Independent and Kfeinian psychoanalysis and contemporary British magic realist fiction. In Part I, I offer some theoretical investigations, arguing that postmodem and some psychoanalytic discourses, namely Lacanian psychostructuralism, remarkably fail to address the challenges facing subjects in late- twentieth, early twenty-first century consumer culture. In their inability to tolerate paradoxes and uncertainty, these discourses objectify the subject, through processes of depersonalisation, derealisation and desubjectification. To redress these problems, I offer the work of British psychoanalysts, specifically, that of D. W. Winnicott and Melanie Klein and her followers. These perspectives, I argue, better serve the contemporary subject by recognising the importance of paradox and helping develop facilitating environments for the realisation of creative experience. In Part II, I examine how the play of paradox is fostered in contemporary British magic realist fiction. Specifically, I look at how these narrative strategies attempt to move away from the vicissitudes of internal and external, certainty and uncertainty, reason and unreason, to negotiate a Winnicottian third, potential space. The conceptualisation of such a space, I believe, offers a place from which we can begin to dialogue, to draw ourselves out of the oppositional dialectics that have plagued the bourgeois subject. I believe that in the novels of writers such as Jeanette Winterson, Joanne Harris, John Fowles, John Murray and, most especially, Angela Carter, we can find alternatives to bourgeois conceptions of reason and rationality, alternatives that are not based on the paranoid-schizoid, primitive processes and depersonalisation necessitated by the Enlightenment and capitalism but instead upon, in Kleinian terms, depressive ambivalence and the recognition of whole-objects