ODEANA: um ambiente hidroinformático de suporte à decisão na gestão da água numa bacia hidrográfica

A aplicação da Directiva-Quadro da Água traduz-se em novos desafios para a gestão da qualidade da água no espaço da União Europeia, numa perspectiva de desenvolvimento sustentável, acentuando-se a necessidade de se poder dispor de ferramentas efectivas de suporte à decisão. O crescimento exponencial das capacidades informáticas dos últimos anos, que tem possibilitado a criação de bases de dados e a aplicação de modelos matemáticos de crescente alcance e sofisticação, favorece o desenvolvimento e a instalação de novas competências nas tarefas de planear e gerir a água no âmbito de uma bacia hidrográfica. Este trabalho faz uma apresentação do ODeAnA, sistema de suporte à decisão (SSD), presentemente em fase de desenvolvimento, para a gestão da água no Empreendimento de Fins Múltiplos de Alqueva (EFMA), que incorpora plataformas inovadoras e adaptadas às necessidades da gestão da água naquele empreendimento. Descreve-se a sua estrutura, objectivos, componentes principais e a forma como são integradas no sistema global. O ODeAnA foi concebido para funcionar em plataforma Web e compõe-se de três sistemas principais: informação, modelação e análise. O sistema de informação compreende o sistema de informação geográfica, as bases de dados e os meios de difusão de informação. O sistema de modelação constitui o núcleo central do ODeAnA e é formado pelos modelos hidrológicos, hidrodinâmicos e de qualidade da água dos principais sistemas de massas de água lóticas e lênticas e pelos modelos hidráulicos e de qualidade da água das diferentes infra-estruturas que compõem o EFMA. É apoiado no sistema de informação e alimenta o sistema de análise que contempla a definição estratégica de cenários e a análise de casos. Cada um destes sistemas é operado a partir de interfaces gráficas, especificamente desenvolvidas para o efeito, considerando o perfil definido para os seus utilizadores. A necessidade de integrar modelos, informação espacial e não-espacial e ferramentas de análise, determinou um cuidado especial no desenho de interfaces SIG amigáveis, contemplando a avaliação de múltiplos objectivos de gestão

On the random neighbor Olami-Feder-Christensen slip-stick model

We reconsider the treatment of Lise and Jensen (Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 2326 (1996)) on the random neighbor Olami-Feder-Christensen stik-slip model, and examine the strong dependence of the results on the approximations used for the distribution of states p(E).Comment: 6pages, 3 figures. To be published in PRE as a brief repor

Is it all about awareness? The normalization of coastal risk

Coastal risk is already high in several parts of the world and is expected to be amplified by climate change, which makes it necessary to outline effective risk management strategies. Risk managers assume that increasing awareness of coastal risk is the key to public support and endorsement of risk management strategies – an assumption that underlies a common worldview on the public understanding of science, which has been named the deficit model. We argue that the effects of awareness are not as straightforward. In particular, awareness of coastal hazards might not lead to more technically accurate risk perceptions. Based on research on risk perception normalization, we explored the hypothesis that coastal risk awareness reduces coastal risk perception – in particular the perceived likelihood of occurrence of coastal hazards – through its effect on reliance on protective measures to prevent risk. Individuals can rely on protective measures, even when those are not effective, as a positive illusion to reduce risk perception. This effect might be stronger for higher probability hazards and for permanent residents of costal zones. Data from 410 individuals living in coastal zones corroborated most of our expectations. Global results demonstrated a risk normalization effect mediated by reliance on current measures. Additional analyses made clear that this effect occurred in 2 of the 5 high-probability hazards (flood and storm), and not in the low-probability hazard (tsunami). Normalization might be more likely among high-probability hazards which entail catastrophic and immediate impacts. This effect was also found among permanent residents, but not among temporary residents. Results imply that coastal risk management might benefit from (a) taking risk perception normalization effects into account, (b) tailoring strategies for permanent and temporary residents and (c) promoting a higher public engagement, which would facilitate a more adaptive and effective coping with coastal risk than the use of positive illusions.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Improving operational management of wastewater systems: a case study

Wastewater treatment facilities collecting wastewater from longstanding sewer networks of five municipalities in the Ave River basin (located in NW Portugal) are especially vulnerable to water inflows since they have considerable extensions of sewers installed in stream and riverbeds. TRATAVE, the company responsible for operating the system, designed and implemented a monitoring network to measure discharges along the entire drainage network and treatment facilities in order to reduce those water inflows. Several flow measurement devices were installed at strategic locations within the sewer network and integrated with a SCADA system responsible for its operation. A decision support system (DSS) is being implemented using the Delft-FEWS platform, integrating monitoring data and models. Based on monitored data and model results, an estimation of infiltration volumes during wet periods is presented. Moreover, the capabilities of the DSS are illustrated in: (i) location of manholes losses along sewer networks during wet periods; (ii) identification and location of unknown connections to the sewer network using wastewater balances; and (iii) design of a PID controller for a pumping station using on-line tank water level measurement. Acquired knowledge resulting from the DSS greatly improved the utility performance both in terms of economic revenue and environmental protectionThe authors thank TRATAVE for the financial support in the installation of measurement devices, the first author’s scholarship for PhD tuition fees, and in making available the monitoring data used in this research

MILIARY TUBERCULOSIS IN THE XXI CENTURY – A CASE REPORT

Introdução: Atualmente, a tuberculose ainda representa um sério problema de saúde pública. A idade precoce e a infeção VIH constituem importantes fatores de risco para doença grave ou disseminada. Caso clínico: Apresentamos o caso de uma menina de três anos de idade observada por febre prolongada sem foco infecioso evidente ao exame físico. O estudo analítico inicial foi sugestivo de infeção urinária, pelo que iniciou antibioticoterapia empírica. A urocultura confirmou esse diagnóstico, mas a febre persistiu. Na investigação complementar, a radiografia torácica revelou um infiltrado pulmonar com padrão miliar. O Mycobacterium tuberculosis foi isolado no aspirado gástrico, líquor e urina. Iniciou tratamento com antituberculosos e corticóide, com melhoria clínica significativa. Conclusões: Nesta era de tecnologia médica avançada, a tuberculose ainda é um desafio diagnóstico, especialmente quando a apresentação clínica é atípica e extrapulmonar. Um elevado índice de suspeição clínica é fundamental, pois a instituição precoce do tratamento é decisiva para o prognóstico

Modelling of sanitary sewer systems integrating rainfall-derived infiltration and inflow

Wastewater utilities often have management difficulties when excessive wet-weather flow leads to serious impacts in public health and environment as well as disturbing operational conditions in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). This phenomenon, resulting from rainfall-derived infiltration and inflow (RDII), occurs mainly due to defects in pipes and manholes (infiltration) and to illicit connections from downspouts, foundation drains or cross-connections with storm sewers (inflow), contributing to sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). These difficulties related to SSOs negatively affect: (i) the capacity and operation of sanitary sewer collection; (ii) the performance and treatment efficiency of WWTP; (iii) the risk of a public health hazards and environmental contamination. This well-known wastewater managerial problem is very difficult to locate and quantify in practice since the needed adequate measurement equipment often entails unsustainable costs for utilities. Wastewater flow mathematical modelling integrating a digital cadastral database using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) constitutes a sound methodology in predicting sanitary sewer systems performance which is a critical issue within SSOs reduction and remediation programs. This paper presents the implementation of a methodology based on hydroinformatic tools to determine the contribution of RDII in complex municipal sewer systems in order to establish adequate urban wastewater management policies that will effectively mitigate SSOs. USEPA SWMM, and digital cadastral database with field verification were applied in a simulation study of the small scale sanitary sewer network of Espinho (Braga, Portugal) whose results will be used in a larger scale to create a city-wide model for wastewater systems management

Modelling of Sanitary Sewer Systems integrating Rainfall-Derived Infiltration and Inflow

Municipal wastewater management difficulties may occur when excessive wet weather flow determine sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) mainly caused by the contribution of rainfall-derived infiltration and inflow (RDII) into sanitary sewers. This excess of wet weather flow can lead to serious problems to public health and environment as well as to suboptimal operation of wastewater treatment plants. This paper presents the implementation of a methodology based on hydroinformatic tools to determine the contribution of RDII in complex municipal sewer systems in order to establish adequate urban wastewater management policies that will effectively mitigate SSOs. USEPA SWMM, and digital cadastral database with field verification were applied in a simulation study of a small scale sanitary sewer network whose results will be used in a larger scale to create a city-wide model for wastewater systems management