Development of High Efficiency Partial Nitrification as a First Step of Nitrite Shunt Process using Ammonium-Oxidizing Bacteria (AOB)

Shortcut biological nitrogen removal is a non-conventional way of removing nitrogen from wastewater using two processes either nitrite shunt or deammonification. In this research, a complete partial nitrification as a first step of the Nitrite Shunt process has been developed under a high nitrogen loading rate (NLR) using a novel strategy to control the DO depending on using a constant air flow rate with a variable mixing speed using a Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR). The SBR has been successfully running at NLR of 1.2 kg/ (m3.d) maintaining an ammonia removal efficiency (ARE) of 98.6 ± 2.8% with a nitrite accumulation rate (NAR) of 93.0 ± 0.7%, which is 2 times higher than the previous NLR reported in the literature. Moreover, a dynamic and pseudo-state model of partial nitrification has been developed and calibrated using BioWin software for long-term dynamic behavior of the lab-scale SBR at different nitrogen loading rates (NLR)

Air transport in Ghana: some climatic constraints

Understanding a definite geographic context is essential for effective air transport management. To date, the consequences of changing weather conditions and climate on the transportation sector in Ghana has been grievous to the economy of the country. Unfortunately, the impact of climate change on the aviation industry has received very little attention in Ghanaian literature. Meanwhile, it is widely known that transport systems on the whole perform poorly under adverse weather and climatic conditions. This paper seeks to reflect a growing orientation in research and philosophy in the field of air transport and severe weather and climatic constraints. Understanding under-lying principles of climatic conditions and weather is essential to air navigation in Ghana. Clear air turbulence, ceiling and visibility, thunderstorms, electrical phenomenon, climate-induced seasonal variations, and vegetation are some of the threats to air transport across Ghana's airspace. Information is derived from literature surveys, workplace counts, and an aviation researcher. Overall, large information technology investments, consolidation, and re-structuring are all major issues that must be addressed by stakeholders ambitious to stay afloat and competitive in Ghana's airspace

Bridge Deterioration Models to Support Indiana’s Bridge Management System

An effective bridge management system that is equipped with reliable deterioration models enables agency engineers to carry out monitoring and long-term programming of bridge repair actions. At the project level, deterioration models help the agency to track the physical condition of bridge elements and to specify when bridge maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement can be expected. Also, with reliable deterioration models, the agency can customize bridge repair or replacement schedules that incorporate element condition, functional obsolescence, and pre-specified performance thresholds. At the network level, component-specific deterioration models are useful for system-wide needs assessment over a specified future time horizon, and to quantifying the system-wide consequences of funding shortfalls or funding increases in terms of specified performance measures including average values of bridge condition and remaining service life. The bridge deterioration models that are currently in use in the Indiana Bridge Management System were developed over two decades ago. Since then, significant changes have taken place in inspection methods, technologies used, advanced statistical tools for data analysis. Also, because of the lack of reliable data, such items as the truck traffic and climate conditions were not included in past modeling efforts. In recent years, these obstacles have been minimized and therefore, there is an opportunity to update the deterioration models for the various bridge components. In addressing this research need, the present study developed families of curves representing deterioration models for bridge deck, superstructure, and the substructure. The National Bridge Inventory database was used, and the models use the NBI condition ratings as the response variable. The model families were categorized by administrative region, functional class, and superstructure material type. The explanatory variables include traffic volume and truck traffic, design type, and climatic condition, and design features. Deterministic and probabilistic models were developed

Data Driven Models as A Powerful Tool to Simulate Emerging Bioprocesses: An Artificial Neural Network Model to Describe Methanotrophic Microbial Activity

The vision for sewage treatment plants is being revised and they are no longer considered as pollutant removing facilities but rather as water resources recovery facilities (WRRFs). However, the newly adopted bioprocesses in WRRFs are not fully understood from the microbiological and kinetic perspectives. Thus, large variations in the outputs of the kinetics-based numerical models are evident. In this research, data driven models (DDM) are proposed as a robust alternative towards modelling emerging bioprocesses. Methanotrophs are multi-use bacterium that can play key role in revalorizing the biogas in WRRFs, and thus, a Multi-Layer Perceptron Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model was developed and optimized to simulate the cultivation of mixed methanotrophic culture considering multiple environmental conditions. The influence of the input variables on the outputs was assessed through developing and analyzing several different ANN model configurations. The constructed ANN models demonstrate that the indirect and complex relationships between the inputs and outputs can be accurately considered prior to the full understanding of the physical or mathematical processes. Furthermore, it was found that ANN models can be used to better understand and rank the influence of different input variables (i.e., the physical parameters that influence methanotrophs) on the microbial activity. Methanotrophic-based bioprocesses are complex due to the interactions between the gaseous, liquid and solid phases. Yet, for the first time, this study successfully utilized DDM to model methanotrophic- based bioprocesses. The findings of this research suggest that DDM are a powerful, alternative modeling tool that can be used to model emerging bioprocesses towards their implementation in WRRFs

Researching corporate social responsibility in the Middle East - the current state and future directions

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has the potential to yield economic and social value in the Middle East (ME), especially given the current high environmental flux in the region. Although much scholarly has been paid to CSR issues, a key question remains about how to operate responsibly in the ME, particularly since institutional environments and stakeholders’ needs vary across ME states. The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic review of the current state of CSR in the ME. We identify thirty-eight articles that are most pertinent to CSR in the ME and examine the main theoretical frameworks, methodologies, trajectories for further conceptual development, gaps where new research pathways need to be created and also future research questions. From the systematic review, we reveal how attention on CSR in the ME is slowly gaining traction. A snapshot of the gaps identified include the collaboration between business and NGOs, the impact of stakeholders and institutions on CSR, the impact of political and economic crisis on CSR and the influence of individualistic characteristics shaping managers’ CSR behaviour. In addition to such gaps, we present an agenda for future research

Internet of Things for Sustainable Mining

The sustainable mining Internet of Things deals with the applications of IoT technology to the coupled needs of sustainable recovery of metals and a healthy environment for a thriving planet. In this chapter, the IoT architecture and technology is presented to support development of a digital mining platform emphasizing the exploration of rock–fluid–environment interactions to develop extraction methods with maximum economic benefit, while maintaining and preserving both water quantity and quality, soil, and, ultimately, human health. New perspectives are provided for IoT applications in developing new mineral resources, improved management of tailings, monitoring and mitigating contamination from mining. Moreover, tools to assess the environmental and social impacts of mining including the demands on dwindling freshwater resources. The cutting-edge technologies that could be leveraged to develop the state-of-the-art sustainable mining IoT paradigm are also discussed

Multi-objective space analysis of Ghana's emerging Northwest Gold Province

This study established and analysed patterns of potential land use conflicts, applicable conflicts mitigation mechanisms and impact assessments benchmarks in mining regions of Ghana. Using integrated geospatial tools, the study developed models for identifying and mapping the magnitude of mining sector impacts on a diversified local economy; establishing indices of mining sector-led environmental issues; and associated potential conflicts; determining local space optimisation, and a regional suitability assessment for sustainable resettlement of future displaced communities

Deterioration modeling of highway bridge components using deterministic and stochastic methods

Proper timing of bridge repair or reconstruction is critical for the bridge management functions including long-term planning and budgeting, and hinges heavily upon the reliability of bridge deterioration prediction. Bridge deterioration models can be used not only for making such predictions but also to identify the factors that affect bridge component deterioration, and to measure the strength of these factors. The current literature lacks adequate and comprehensive assessment of bridge component deterioration using recent data that accounts for a wide range of potential explanatory factors including service type, design type, and climate. In addressing this lacuna in the literature, this thesis carefully assembled a comprehensive bridge dataset using data from the National Bridge Inventory and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, developed a technique for data quality/integrity enhancement, and estimated statistical models for bridge components for each of several bridge families. The bridge families were created based on their functional classification and rehabilitation history. For each component (deck, superstructure and substructure) within each family, deterministic and stochastic models were developed. The deterministic models used ordinary least squares estimation, while the stochastic models used an ordered probit specification. The models also threw more light on the direction and strengths of influence of the explanatory factors of bridge component deterioration, including service type, design type, material type, and climate. Age was consistently found to be the most influential factor. The study results are useful for the various tasks associated with bridge management including maintenance and rehabilitation programming and budgeting, cost allocation and bridge asset valuation

Potential Contribution of Tamale International Airport to the Development of Northern Ghana

Empirical analysis of the socio-economic benefits and challenges of air transport in Ghana has not received much attention. This is in spite of the fact that policy makers and aviation operators need such analysis to implement regional development initiatives. The general objective of this study, therefore, is to examine the economic effects and challenges of air transport in Ghana, with the feasibility of the proposed development of the Tamale Airport to International status as the prime focus. Information is derived from the literature, work place counts and resource persons. Amajor finding of the study is that air transport contributes immensely to economic growth and poverty alleviation--through direct and indirect employment and through tax revenue generation (from its catalytic impact on other industries like tourism). It is argued that developing TamaleAirport must be considered as a complete business environment and a leading West African main Airport, by virtue of its strategic location. This is crucial to the growth prospects of the three regions of Northern Ghana expressed in the establishment of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).Keywords · Aviation · Economic growth and development · Ghan