Water Quality Modelling Using Multivariate Statistical Analysis and Remote Sensing in South Florida

The overall objective of this dissertation research is to understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of water quality parameters in different water bodies of South Florida. Two major approaches (multivariate statistical techniques and remote sensing) were used in this study. Multivariate statistical techniques include cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA), factor analysis (FA), discriminant analysis (DA), absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) and PMF receptor modeling techniques were used to assess the water quality and identify and quantify the potential pollution sources affecting the water quality of three major rivers of South Florida. For this purpose, a 15-year (2000–2014) data set of 12 water quality variables, and about 35,000 observations were used. Agglomerative hierarchical CA grouped 16 monitoring sites into three groups (low pollution, moderate pollution, and high pollution) based on their similarity of water quality characteristics. DA, as an important data reduction method, was used to assess the water pollution status and analysis of its spatiotemporal variation. PCA/FA identified potential pollution sources in wet and dry seasons, respectively, and the effective mechanisms, rules, and causes were explained. The APCS-MLR and PMF models apportioned their contributions to each water quality variable. Also, the bio-physical parameters associated with the water quality of the two important water bodies of Lake Okeechobee and Florida Bay were investigated based on remotely sensed data. The principal objective of this part of the study is to monitor and assess the spatial and temporal changes of water quality using the application of integrated remote sensing, GIS data, and statistical techniques. The optical bands in the region from blue to near infrared and all the possible band ratios were used to explore the relation between the reflectance of a waterbody and observed data. The developed MLR models appeared to be promising for monitoring and predicting the spatiotemporal dynamics of optically active and inactive water quality characteristics in Lake Okeechobee and Florida Bay. It is believed that the results of this study could be very useful to local authorities for the control and management of pollution and better protection of water quality in the most important water bodies of South Florida

Cross Domain IW Threats to SOF Maritime Missions: Implications for U.S. SOF

As cyber vulnerabilities proliferate with the expansion of connected devices, wherein security is often forsaken for ease of use, Special Operations Forces (SOF) cannot escape the obvious, massive risk that they are assuming by incorporating emerging technologies into their toolkits. This is especially true in the maritime sector where SOF operates nearshore in littoral zones. As SOF—in support to the U.S. Navy— increasingly operate in these contested maritime environments, they will gradually encounter more hostile actors looking to exploit digital vulnerabilities. As such, this monograph comes at a perfect time as the world becomes more interconnected but also more vulnerable

Uso de imágenes satelitales para determinar los parámetros de calidad del agua en los ríos amazónicos Neshuya y Aguaytía - Perú

Los ecosistemas acuáticos son ambientes naturales que están en constante cambio y esto es debido a las variaciones físico-químicas que pueda ocurrir en el agua, estas variaciones físico-químicas son conocidas como parámetros de calidad de agua. Existen métodos tradicionales para su medición, pero con el transcurrir del tiempo han surgido otros métodos como es el caso de las imágenes satelitales. Los parámetros de calidad de agua que han sido evaluados con imágenes satelitales son la profundidad del disco Secchi, las concentraciones de clorofila, la carga de pigmento, los sedimentos totales suspendidos, la temperatura, Demanda Bioquímica de Oxígeno (BOD), Demanda Química de Oxígeno (COD), Carbono Orgánico Total (TOC), Índice de Permanganato (CODmn) y Nitrógeno Amoniacal. Las imágenes satelitales pueden proporcionar información muy valiosa ya que puede obtener información de lugares remotos y datos en un tiempo pasado que no han sido colectados in situ. El propósito de la presente tesis fue demostrar que el uso de imágenes satelitales puede determinar los valores de calidad de agua de los ríos Neshuya y Aguaytía. Diferentes autores han propuesto métodos haciendo uso de imágenes satelitales, en esta investigación estamos usando el método de correlación y regresión múltiple. Los parámetros evaluados fueron Demanda Bioquímica de Oxígeno (BOD), Demanda Química de Oxígeno (COD), Carbono Orgánico Total (TOC), Índice de Permanganato (CODmn) y Nitrógeno Amoniacal. El análisis de los datos mostró que BOD, COD y TOC tiene un coeficiente de correlación igual a uno es decir tienen una correlación perfecta con la reflectancia de la imagen. Esto quiere decir que se puede determinar los parámetros de calidad de agua haciendo uso de las imágenes satelitales. Finalmente, aunque los datos satelitales pueden usarse para reflejar los parámetros de calidad del agua, esta técnica es valioso e importante para áreas remotas donde el acceso directo no es fácil y donde el costo de la muestra y el análisis de laboratorio es alto, se debe enfatizar que esta técnica no puede sustituir los métodos tradicionales porque algunos parámetros de la calidad del agua, como metales pesados, nitrato, el fosfato y los contaminantes orgánicos no se pueden determinar por teledetección.Aquatic ecosystems are natural environments that are constantly changing and this is due to the physicochemical variations that may occur in the water, these physicochemical variations are known as water quality parameters. There are traditional methods for its measurement, but with the passage of time other methods have emerged such as satellite images. Water quality parameters that have been evaluated with satellite images are Secchi disk depth, chlorophyll concentrations, pigment loading, total suspended sediments, temperature, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Permanganate Index (CODmn) and Ammoniacal Nitrogen. Satellite images can provide very valuable information since you can obtain information from remote locations and data in a past time that have not been collected in situ. The purpose of this thesis was to demonstrate that the use of satellite images can determine the water quality values of the Neshuya and Aguaytía rivers. Different authors have proposed methods using satellite images, in this investigation we are using the method of correlation and multiple regression. The parameters evaluated were Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Permanganate Index (CODmn) and Ammoniacal Nitrogen. The analysis of the data showed that BOD, COD and TOC have a correlation coefficient equal to one, that is, they have a perfect correlation with the reflectance of the image. This means that the water quality parameters can be determined using satellite images. Finally, although satellite data can be used to reflect water quality parameters, this technique is valuable and important for remote areas where direct access is not easy and where the cost of the sample and laboratory analysis is high, it should be Emphasize that this technique cannot replace traditional methods because some water quality parameters, such as heavy metals, nitrate, phosphate and organic pollutants cannot be determined by remote sensing

Urbanization, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Challenges and Opportunities

Urbanization is a global phenomenon and the book emphasizes that this is not just a social-technological process. It is also a social-ecological process where cities are places for nature, and where cities also are dependent on, and have impacts on, the biosphere at different scales from local to global. The book is a global assessment and delivers four main conclusions: Urban areas are expanding faster than urban populations. Half the increase in urban land across the world over the next 20 years will occur in Asia, with the most extensive change expected to take place in India and China Urban areas modify their local and regional climate through the urban heat island effect and by altering precipitation patterns, which together will have significant impacts on net primary production, ecosystem health, and biodiversity Urban expansion will heavily draw on natural resources, including water, on a global scale, and will often consume prime agricultural land, with knock-on effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services elsewhere Future urban expansion will often occur in areas where the capacity for formal governance is restricted, which will constrain the protection of biodiversity and management of ecosystem service

Flood Vulnerability of Hog Farms in Eastern North Carolina: An Inconvenient Poop

In the late 1990’s, eastern North Carolina experienced numerous devastating flood events from hurricanes and tropical storms. When Hurricane Floyd made landfall on September 16th, 1999, it caused the most disastrous floods in living memory for the region. The flooding of many very large industrial hog farms, and the potential impacts to human health by swine waste contamination, was a matter of great concern for residents across the ENC region. Few studies have been published addressing the continuing vulnerability of hog farms to flooding in this region. This study draws on many GIS techniques to create new knowledge about the flood vulnerability of hog farms in eastern North Carolina in 1998, before Hurricane Floyd struck, and compare this with current flood vulnerability of hog farms as of 2013. The findings show that a majority of the most vulnerable hog farm sites have been removed from production since 1998, but a concerning number are still operating in vulnerable locations to this day

Federal Register

Daily publication of the U.S. Office of the Federal Register contains rules and regulations, proposed legislation and rule changes, and other notices, including "Presidential proclamations and Executive Orders, Federal agency documents having general applicability and legal effect, documents required to be published by act of Congress, and other Federal agency documents of public interest" (p. ii). Table of Contents starts on page iii

Urbanization, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Challenges and Opportunities: A Global Assessment

Urban Ecology; Urbanism; Sustainable Development; Complex Systems; Science, general; International Environmental La

Local air quality management and health impacts of air pollution in Thailand

Air quality in urban areas of Chiang Mai Province, Thailand has seriously deteriorated as a consequence of population growth and urbanization and due to a lack of effective air quality management (AQM). As a result, respiratory diseases among Chiang Mai residents have increased in these affected areas. The health status and experiences of air pollution of both children and adults in Chiang Mai was assessed and improvements recommended to the developing AQM scheme. Air quality modelling, using ADMS-Urban was used to identify probable air polluted and control sites for further study. The polluted sites were found to be located along major roads in the city. However, ADMS-Urban was unable to predict air pollutant concentrations accurately because it could not cope with the very low wind speeds and complex topography of Chiang Mai. As a result, the utility of other air pollution modelling programmes should be investigated. The results of a questionnaire survey conducted with adults showed that urban respondents had a higher percentage of respiratory diseases than suburban respondents. However, later investigations were unable to establish a statistical linkage between air pollution concentrations and respiratory diseases. An ISAAC study was conducted among children attending schools located in the selected sites to assess the potential impacts of air pollution on health. The results showed that the prevalence of asthma was similar in all of the schools (approximately 5%) but that the prevalence of rhinitis (24.3% vs. 15.7%) and atopic dermatitis (12.5% vs. 7.2%) was higher in the urban schools which were considered to be more polluted. Logistic regression analysis identified other factors which may be involved in addition to pollution, including some components of the diet and contact with animals. In order to investigate the adequacy of the AQM system in Thailand, a comparative study was conducted between Hong Kong and Thailand. Both countries were investigated with respect to conformance to Good Urban Governance. The comparison showed that there are significant differences between the two countries and the AQM system in Hong Kong was more highly developed. For example, in contrast to the system in Hong Kong, it was found that there was insufficient involvement of the population in the development and implementation of AQM systems in Thailand. In order to better understand the reasons why the AQM system in Thailand is poor at both the provincial and local levels in Chiang Mai, prioritisation of AQM was assessed for major national environmental policies and plans; at the provincial level, fund allocations to development projects were reviewed; and at the sub-district level; a questionnaire survey was conducted among local government officials. It was concluded that AQM was not given sufficiently high priority in national plans and was generally ineffective and that, due to the non-specific nature of guidelines and frameworks in these plans, it was difficult for government organizations at the lower levels to establish AQM action plans for effective implementation. A range of appropriate measures to improve air quality in Chiang Mai were recommended. These included a more effective management of air pollution, an identified need for training and major changes in the transport system in the city

Housing quality and lost (public) space in Croatia

IN ENGLISH: In the post-socialist period and within the current social transition context, urban and rural Croatia has, just like other transition countries, experienced many changes in the social structure and space. One example is the housing quality which is a replica of the situation in the Croatian society and has also undergone some major changes. Socially oriented housing construction co-financed by the state and the cities is in an unfavourable position compared to private housing construction. In the last twenty years the amount of the social housing construction has been only a minor part of the total contruction work in the country. For instance, out of nine newly planned residential housing developments in Zagreb, the capital city, only three have been completed and the work on the rest of them has stopped and is unlikely to continue. Private construction work prevails especially on the edge of the city and is characterised by high density housing. This type of housing construction doesn't benefit the majority of citizens in search of accommodation (price per square meter is too high, low-quality building). There is also a big problem of the community facilities (primary and secondary infrastructure, schools, kindergartens, playgrounds, green areas, sidewalks, public transport etc.). The existing globalisation-transition circumstances of the Croatian society corroborate the fact which experts of various profiles often point out: ignoring the process of (urban) planning will irreparably damage the space. The city transformation shows the absence of comprehensive urban planning which results in an ever increasing number of random buildings which do not fit in the surroundings. This leads up to yet another important issue – the shrinking and, in some cases, disappearance of public space which becomes the “lost space“. In recent years there has been a lot of building in the city core and on the edge which does not quite fit in the existing urban structure, image or the skyline of the city. The current situation in the process of planning can be characterized as a conflict and imbalance between the powerful actors (mostly political and economic) and less powerful actors (mostly professional and civil). The actors who have the political power and influence and the ones who possess the capital are forming an “alliance” between two important layers of the social structure. The lack of civil and professional actors, “lost spatial actors”, and therefore of civic aggregation is also present and that is also the cause of public space “disappearance” and undermined process of public participation. --------------- IN CROATIAN: U postsocijalističkom razdoblju i trenutnom tranzicijskom kontekstu urbana i ruralna Hrvatska su, kao i ostale tranzicijske zemlje, doživjele mnoge promjene u društvenoj strukturi i samom prostoru. Na primjeru kvalitete stanovanja kao replike stanja u hrvatskom društvu mogu se vidjeti značajne promjene. Društveno usmjerena stambena izgradnja sufinancirana od strane države i gradova je stoga rjeđa i u nepovoljnijoj je situaciji prema privatnoj stanogradnji. Zadnjih dvadeset godina udjel socijalne stambene gradnje je zanemariv u ukupnoj izgradnji na razini zemlje. Primjerice, od devet planiranih stambenih naselja izgrađenih po modelu POS-a u Zagrebu samo su tri i završena. Na ostalima je proces gradnje zastao i ne čini se da će se privesti kraju. Privatna je gradnje prisutnija, posebno na rubovima grada, a obilježava je visoka gustoća gradnje. Ovakav tip gradnje ne odgovara većini stanovnika koji su u procesu potražnje stambene nekretnine (visoka cijena kvadratnog metra, a slaba kvaliteta gradnje). Postoji također i problem nedostatne opremljenosti susjedstva (primarna i sekundarna infrastruktura, škole, vrtići, igrališta, zelene površine, pješačke staze, javni transport itd.). Navedene globalizacijsko-tranzicijske okolnosti hrvatskog društva potvrđuju ono što eksperti različitih profila ističu, a to je da će ignoriranje procesa (urbanog) planiranja nepovratno uništiti prostor gradova. Ovakve transformacije pokazuju nedostatak sustavnog urbanog planiranja što rezultira sve većim brojem zgrada koje se ne uklapaju u neposrednu okolinu. To nadalje dovodi do drugog važnog aspekta – smanjivanja i u nekim slučajevima, nestanka javnog prostora koji postaje „izgubljeni prostor“. Posljednjih je godina izgrađen velik broj zgrada, i u središtu i na rubovima grada, koje se ne uklapaju u postojeću urbanu strukturu, izgled ili vizuru grada. Ovakvu situaciju obilježavaju sukob i neravnoteža između moćnijih društvenih aktera (većinom političkih i ekonomskih) i onih manje moćnih (većinom profesionalnih i civilnih). Politički i ekonomski akteri se često povezuju u „savez“ dvaju najjačih u društvenoj strukturi. S druge strane nedostatak utjecaja civilnih i profesionalnih aktera kao „izgubljenih prostornih aktera“ dovodi do „nestanka“ javnih prostora te smanjenja važnosti procesa participacije (sudjelovanja javnosti)