A review of the water-related energy consumption of the food system in nexus studies

This study reviewed nexus researches, synthesize and discuss insights, methodological practices, and future outlook of water-related energy consumption assessment of the food system. For the first time, the study assessed: (i) the trends and drivers of water-related energy research in different countries, (ii) how water-related energy in the food system is being evaluated (objectives & scale, study dimension & analysis focus, and methods) and (iii) the significance of food-system water-related energy in comparison with other sectors. Of 686 nexus studies undertaken since 1990, 104 studies (15%) quantified water-related energy. Studies have generally broadened in scope through time. The USA, China, and Australia have conducted most studies representing 23%, 17%, 15% of total respectively. A few of the identified major drivers in these countries leading water-related energy assessment are: providing optimal solutions and avoiding problem-shifting, analyzing the challenges and opportunities to reduce water-related energy, and exploring the energy-saving benefits by saving water. Of the 104 water-related energy studies, 65 articles (∼60%) related to the food system, focussed on the agriculture phase for irrigation energy consumption. Existing nexus studies often ignored other phases such as food processing and cooking, which are more energy-intensive. Over 50% of studies used material flow analysis to evaluate water-related energy in the food system. Few of the nexus studies evaluated inter-regional flows or changes through time. Absence of a comprehensive study of the entire food system, and wide variations in study system boundary and definitions, make it difficult to compare sectoral significance. However, the order of sectoral water-related energy consumption (from highest to lowest) identified as industrial, residential, agriculture, and water and wastewater service. Our review demonstrates a tremendous opportunity and need for an overarching framework to enable systematic evaluation and benchmarking of water-related energy consumption of the food system

A multi-regional input-output analysis of direct and virtual urban water flows to reduce city water footprints in Australia

This study focused on understanding what sector-region combinations could be targeted to reduce total city water footprints? We used multi-regional input-output analysis of direct and virtual water, across five Australian capital cities and their supporting regions. The key novelty of this study is the high spatial resolution policy-relevant sub-sectoral analysis to identify sector-region combinations to reduce city water footprints. Virtual water footprints were 8-10 times higher than direct water consumption (per capita) in all studied cities. Virtual water from outside the city boundary is almost 20 times higher than the virtual water sourced from within the city boundary in all studied cities. Water-efficiency programs can significantly reduce the virtual water footprints of the studied cities. This includes water-efficiency and recycling on farm, and in food processing (e.g. livestock feed growing, dairy cattle farming, vegetable growing and processing) in rural regions of New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. The results are relevant to strategic city water footprints reduction, sustainable sourcing and planning for future disturbance of product supply, and water-sensitive city developments considering both direct and virtual water flows

Models for Water-sensitive Middle Suburban Infill Development

Infill development in Australian cities over the coming decades is expected to have considerable negative influence on the hydrology, resource efficiency, liveability and amenity of our cities. This project aims to develop and apply a performance evaluation framework to understand infill impacts, create design options and processes for improved outcomes through case studies, and identify improved governance options and arrangements. A 'typologies catalogue' of spatial configurations and architectural models relevant to high amenity medium density infill development has been prepared, with different arrangements and combinations of buildings and open spaces applied on a case study development site in Adelaide, SA. Design scenarios from the catalogue are evaluated against a range of qualitative and quantitative performative criteria, developed in consultation with industry partners, including water and urban heat performance assessment. The case study site designs offer practical models and methods for achieving infill development and densification in a manner that improves amenity within the dwelling, across the site and for the surrounding precinct – while maintaining or improving water and urban heat performance. During this process, a set of key design principles for water sensitive infill development is defined, with prospects to further inform infill development practice and related policies

Water sensitive outcomes for infill development: Infill performance evaluation framework

Most major Australian (and many global) cities expect intensified infill development over the coming decades. Infill development is promoted nationwide as a way of accommodating growing urban populations by increasing urban densities (densification) rather than allowing urban sprawl. Currently, the bulk of infill development occurring in Australian capital cities involves subdivisions of single suburban lots into denser single- and multi-unit dwellings, and apartment buildings around transport nodes. This pattern achieves higher density targets but increases building footprint and thus imperviousness of the redeveloped lot, most often at the expense of usable greenspace.Without significant intervention, 'business as usual' redevelopment will have a considerable negative influence on urban hydrology, resource efficiency, urban heat, liveability and amenity. The water sensitive city approach aims to resolve these challenges. This document is prepared as a component of Integrated Research Project 4 (IRP4): Water Sensitive Outcomes for Infill Developments. It sets out the Infill Performance Evaluation Framework, which is intended to help guide the assessment and design of water sensitive cities. Specifically the Framework assesses the performance of an ‘urban entity’ defined as the components within a three-dimensional physically bounded system including all flows and storage of piped and natural water flows

Monte Carlo renormalisation group studies of SU(3) lattice gauge theory: CERN-DESY-Edinburgh Collaboration

Bowler KC, Hasenfratz A, Hasenfratz P, et al. Monte Carlo renormalisation group studies of SU(3) lattice gauge theory: CERN-DESY-Edinburgh Collaboration. Nuclear Physics, B. 1985;257(2):155-172.Results are reported of Monte Carlo renormalisation group studies of the approach to asymptotic scaling in SU(3) lattice gauge theory. By comparing measurements on 8 4 and 16 4 lattices, estimates are obtained for the shift, [Delta][beta], in the fundamental plaquette coupling, [beta9, corresponding to a change of length scale by a factor of 2. The definitions of block link variables contain a free parameter whose value can be optimised to minimise the transient flow to a renormalised trajectory. Our results, at [beta] = 6.0, 6.3 and 6.6, are consistent with those obtained previously with the improved ratio method, which is also briefly discussed. In both methods simulation is performed only with the standard Wilson action. An important feature of the results is the appearance of a pronounced dip in [Delta][beta] which implies that in the presently accesible range of [beta] the asymptotic value is approached from below, and its onset is delayed