USING DEA AND VEA TO EVALUATE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES

In this study we use data envelopment analysis (DEA), and an extension of DEA called value efficiency analysis (VEA), to explore the production of quality of life within counties in the mid-Atlantic region and the extent to which production frontiers and efficiency differ between rural and urban counties. These methods allow us to identify counties that are inefficient in their quality of life production, and to rank those counties according to their distance from a performance standard established by other observed counties (using DEA), or by a single unit designated as most preferred (using VEA) .International Development,

Using DEA and VEA to Evaluate Quality of Life in the Mid-Atlantic States

In this study we use data envelopment analysis (DEA) and an extension of DEA called value efficiency analysis (VEA) to explore the “"production”" of quality of life within counties in the mid-Atlantic region and the extent to which production frontiers and efficiency differ between rural and urban counties. These methods allow us to identify counties that are inefficient in their quality of life production, and to rank (using DEA) those counties according to their distance from a performance standard established by other observed counties(using VEA), or by a single unit designated as "“most preferred"(using VEA).”data envelopment analysis, value efficiency analysis, quality of life, Community/Rural/Urban Development,

Integrating climate change and Blue Economy in fisheries research and education in India

Fisheries, the fastest food producing sector in the country plays a pivotal role in ensuring food and nutritional security of the growing population, employment generation, enhanced income and foreign exchange earnings. The fisheries resources, resource users and the environment have contributed in tandem to the sustained fish production and fishers welfare through technology upgradation and augmented capital investment in the sector. The sector had been growing at an impressive rate of 6.65 per cent in marine ssctor and f 26.07 per cent in inland sector. The country has earned more than 5.78 billion US dollars foreign exchange (i.e., Rs.37, 871 crores) in 2016- 17 through, exports of fish and fishery products. The present fish production is 9.3 million tonnes with a contribution of 3.93 million tonnes from marine sector and 5.46 million tonnes from inland sector. The fisheries contribution to GDP is 81400 crores contributing to around 0.82 per cent of the total GDP. The sector contributes around 7.3 per cent of the agriculture GDP. In terms of resources the country possesses a huge resource profile with an Exclusive Economic Zone of 2.02 million square km and a coastline of 8129 kms. In order to address the food security concerns of the country it is important to harness its fisheries resources

Use of wireline logs to estimate strength of cap-rock lithologies

The characterization of rock strength for cap rock, low-permeability and high capillary entry pressure, lithologies is important for modeling their response to increased fluid pressures in CO2 sequestration schemes and other geo-engineering operations such as waste disposal and recovery of fluids from plays with insufficient permeability. We investigate Mesozoic fine-grained sequences to evaluate the nature of sedimentological and structural processes that may control the nature of brittle deformation observed in these sequences. To characterize these fine-grained sequences we use a combination of data obtained from outcrop, including fracture orientation and density, lithologic stacking patterns, grain-size distributions and mineralogy to predict the potential for fluid bypass. In addition we also use publically available wireline log data to estimate the rock strength of these units in the subsurface. Outcrop observations of the mixed silisiclastic carbonate sequence of the Carmel Formation shows vertically continuous fractures crossing lithologic boundaries and analysis of scan-line and fracture orientation data indicate three discontinuity sets. Sets one and two are a conjugate pair of non-mineralized discontinuities which include faults and fractures, with a mean orientations of 323°/78° and 100°/76° respectively and discontinuity spacing ranging between 0.2-0.4 per meter. Set three is a near vertical, mineralized fracture set which is cross-cut by fractures of set one and two, with a mean orientation 31°/80 and a fracture spacing of 0.2 fractures per meter. Use of publically available wireline log data allows us to estimate rock strength over larger scales than those provided by the local outcrops. The wells selected for analysis are located within a 15-km radius from the outcrop location. Gamma ray, sonic, and density logs from 7 wells were digitized from scanned originals. The inverse of the sonic log data was taken to obtain a velocity value (Vp), no dipole sonic logs are available therefore shear velocity was calculated using empirical relationships established by other workers. Having both compression and shear velocity as well as bulk density values we are able to empirically determine Poisson’s Ratio and Young’s Modulus. Poisson’s Ratio values for these wells ranges between 0.18-0.48, and Young’s Modulus results range from 7GPa-50 GPa. Most of the results obtained by this data analysis fall within the published ranges for these rock types, but the data show variability, which must be further evaluated to understand if these are related to geology or artifacts associated with the wireline

Comparison of Mechanical and Fracture Stratigraphy between Failed Seal Analouges

A cap rock, or seal, provides a barrier to the migration of fluid or gas out of intended trap due to its low permeability, high capillary-entry pressure nature. The presence of discontinuities in seal lithologies affects both their mechanical and hydrogeologic properties; migration of fluids or gas through mm- to cm-scale discontinuity networks can lead to the failure of hydrocarbon traps or waste repositories. We examine the mechanical and fracture stratigraphy of Paleozoic and Mesozoic analogues of failed seals exposed in central and south-east Utah to understand the nature and distribution of fluid flow pathways in various sealing lithologies. We use outcrop surveys of stratigraphic changes and discontinuity distributions to identify the relationships between depositional composition, diagenesis and loading history, and to describe fluid-flow pathways across four seal types. Each seal type has experienced a varied depositional and tectonic history and all show evidence for fracture propagation and fluid flow at depth. Characterizing the distribution and morphologies of open mode fractures (mode I/II), with changes in lithology (which include depositional and structural variations), provides data for accurate quantitative subsurface geomechanical and fluid flow models