33 research outputs found
Charitable food aid in Finland : from a social issue to an environmental solution
Since the establishment of the first food bank in 1995, charitable food aid (CFA) has become entrenched in Finland as a seemingly irreplaceable solution to food poverty. Further, it has recently been suggested that the focus of food aid activities is shifting from food poverty and temporary hunger alleviation towards environmental sustainability through addressing food waste via organized re-distribution of expiring food from retail to charitable organizations. This potentially creates a mechanism that (1) solidifies food poverty and (2) fortifies the paradoxical situation where charitable organizations delivering food aid are dependent on food waste rather than trying to reduce it. To understand the process that has led to this shift, a longitudinal media data analysis on the evolution of the discussion and the interpretations on CFA is presented. By conducting an inductive frame analysis, the paper answers three key questions: How was CFA framed by and through the media in Finland between 1995 and 2016? Has any single frame dominated the discussion at any given point? Finally, what are the characteristics of the frame that focuses on food surplus redistribution? The results suggest that when the practices are framed as potential receivers and redistributors of surplus, perception of CFA is mainly favourable and the root causes for food insecurity are not addressed. Thus, by focusing on environmental sustainability, food aid practicesâhitherto depoliticized as a poverty problemâhave gained policy relevance in the discursive space of the circular economy; perhaps at the cost of poverty policy and with unintended consequences.peerReviewe
Työmaan valmiusasteen seuranta
TÀmÀn insinöörityön tavoitteena oli kÀsitellÀ valmiusasteen seurantaa maa- ja infrarakentamisen työmailla. Työn toimeksiantajana toimi Terrawise Oy, jonka yksi tÀrkeimmistÀ pÀÀmÀÀristÀ työllÀ oli löytÀÀ tehokkaita keinoja haasteeseen, miten valmiusasteeseen liittyviÀ mÀÀriÀ voidaan hallita ja mitÀ tietoa työn valmiusasteesta voidaan saada.
Tavoitteena oli laatia työ, joka kÀsittelisi infrarakentamisen tuotantovaiheen mÀÀrÀ- ja kustannuslaskentaan liittyvÀÀ teoriapainotteista tietoa. Työn lÀhteenÀ kÀytettiin rakennusalan projektin- ja taloudenhallintaan liittyviÀ kirjallisuus- ja tutkimuslÀhteitÀ. LÀhteenÀ kÀytettiin myös toimeksiantajan kÀynnissÀ olevaa hanketta, jonka avulla valmiusasteen mÀÀrittÀmiseen pyrittiin löytÀmÀÀn keinoja. TyöllÀ pyrittiin havaitsemaan mahdollisimman paljon eri tekijöitÀ, jotka liittyvÀt projektin valmiusasteen mÀÀrittÀmiseen.
Työn tuloksena saatiin laadittua insinöörityön toimeksiantajalle teknisen ja taloudellisen valmiusasteen seurantaan Excel-työkalu. Excel-työkalun avulla valmiusasteen mÀÀrittÀmiseen löydettiin tehokkaita keinoja toimeksiantajayrityksen projekti- ja kustannushallinnan tueksi
Two decades of discussion on charitable food aid in Finland : analysing the framing by and through the media
Jo kaksi vuosikymmentaÌ virallisen sosiaalipolitiikan rajapinnoilla toiminut ruoka-apu on murrosvaiheessa: Tulisiko toiminta hiljaisen hyvaÌksynnaÌn sijaan tunnustaa, jolloin avun kohdentamista ja jaÌrjestaÌmistaÌ voidaan avoimesti kehittaÌaÌ yhdessaÌ kirkon, kunnallisen sosiaalitoimen ja yksityisen sektorin kesken? Onko toiminnan fokus siirtymaÌssaÌ vaÌliaikaiseksi tarkoitetusta akuutin naÌlaÌn torjunnasta kohti sosiaalipoliittisen ruoka- koÌyhyyden ja ekologisen ruokahaÌvikin ongelmat yhdistaÌvaÌaÌ ratkaisumallia? Julkisen, yksityisen ja kolmannen sektorin yhteistyoÌnaÌ toteutettavan saksalaisen ruoka-apumallin (Berliner Tafel -ruokapankkiverkosto) rantautuminen Suomeen (Yhteinen PoÌytaÌ Vantaalla) sekaÌ mallin heraÌttaÌmaÌ valtakunnallinen kiinnostus osoittavat, ettaÌ aiemmin paÌaÌsaÌaÌntoÌisesti kirkon ja kolmannen sektorin toteuttama ruoka-apu on laajentumassa eri toimijoita yhdistaÌvaÌksi, jaÌrjestelmaÌlliseksi kokonaisuudeksi.
Kuinka ruoka-avulle annetut kaÌsitykset ja merkityksenannot ovat kehittyneet kahdessa vuosikymmenessaÌ alun kriittisestaÌ laÌhestymisestaÌ nykyiseen hyvaÌksyvaÌaÌn naÌkoÌkulmaan? EntaÌ miten aiheesta kaÌyty keskustelu on muuttunut taÌnaÌ aikana? TaÌmaÌ tutkielma pyrkii kehystaÌmisen ja kehysten kaÌsitteiden avulla vastaamaan seuraaviin kysymyksiin: miten ruoka-aputoiminta on kehystetty viimeisen 20 vuoden aikana; kenen toimesta, millaÌ tavalla ja minaÌ ajankohtina kehyksiaÌ on kaÌytetty; sekaÌ mitkaÌ ovat keskeisimpien kehysten tunnuspiirteet? Tutkielma tulkitsee ruoka-avun vakiintumista Pohjoismaisen hyvin- vointivaltion kontekstissa, kaÌyttaÌen aineistona Helsingin Sanomista koottua media- aineistoa (N=529). Kehysanalyysin (frame package analysis) avulla pyritaÌaÌn tarkastelemaan ruoka-aputoiminnan ympaÌrillaÌ kaÌydyn keskustelun kehitystaÌ suhteessa hyvinvointivastuun siirtymiin sekaÌ yhteiskunnassa tapahtuneisiin muutoksiin.
Tutkielman tulokset osoittavat, ettaÌ i) ruoka-apua ja etenkin leipaÌjonoja kaÌytetaÌaÌn aineistossa ensisijaisesti retorisena keinona, visuaalisena merkkinaÌ ja osoituksena tulokoÌyhyydestaÌ Suomessa; ii) kun toimintaa kaÌsitellaÌaÌn ruoka-avun ja haÌvikin yhdistaÌvaÌn kehyksen kautta, toiminta naÌhdaÌaÌn laÌhes poikkeuksetta positiivisena, eikaÌ naÌlaÌn tai ruokaturvattomuuden juurisyitaÌ kaÌsitellaÌ; iii) epaÌmaÌaÌraÌisen ânaÌlkaÌâ âkaÌsitteen kaÌyttaÌminen ruoka-avun kontekstissa on aineiston perusteella johtanut tilanteeseen, jossa avuntarvitsijoiden subjektiivisia kokemuksia naÌlaÌstaÌ pyritaÌaÌn arvioimaan jotta apua voitaisiin kohdistaa, ja samalla keskustelu paÌaÌtyy keskittymaÌaÌn laÌhinnaÌ naÌlaÌn taustalla vaikuttavaan tulokoÌyhyyteen; iv) hyvinvointivastuun siirtymaÌt, etenkin siirrettaÌessaÌ vastuuta valtiolta kirkolle, ovat liittyneet ruoka-avusta kaÌytyyn keskusteluun laÌpi aineiston aikavaÌlin; ja v) ruoka-apua jakavat toimijat ovat aineiston perusteella jokseenkin aliedustettuina mediassa.For two decades, charitable food aid has operated at the fringes of official social policy in Finland. In recent years, these practices, that were until recently regarded as a national shame, have become widely accepted means of not only feeding the food insecure, but also of managing food waste. At the same time, the tasks of the state, the civil society and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland are being redefined. For example, the Berliner Tafel âfood bank network scheme, which incorporates actors from the public sector, the private sector and the church and civil society, has been implemented in Vantaa. This reform has been well received and it has piqued interest in other cities as well.
But how have the interpretations of charitable food aid evolved from the highly criticized beginnings in the 1990âs to the situation of the present? And how has the discussion on charitable food aid changed during this time period? By utilizing the concepts of framing and frameworks, this thesis endeavours to answer three key questions: how has charity food aid been framed during the 20-years of discussion; who is using these frames, how do they use the frames and at what times; and finally what are the characteristics of the essential frames? The rooting of charitable food aid is studied in the context of a Nordic welfare regime by analysing the frames utilized in Helsingin Sanomat newspaper between 1995 and 2016 (N=529). Utilizing frame package analysis, the thesis attempts to explore the tentative linkages between the evolution of frames utilized within the discussion and the more abstract notions of changes in welfare responsibilities and the Finnish welfare state as a whole.
By analysing the various frameworks through which charitable food aid has been interpreted throughout the timespan, the results suggest that i) charitable food aid, most notably the breadlines, are predominantly used as a rhetoric device in the discussion; ii) when the practices are framed as potential receivers and redistributors of food waste, the normative perception of charitable food aid is mainly positive and the underlying causes for Finnish food insecurity are not addressed; iii) the vague concept of âhungerâ has led to speculation on whether or not the recipients are actually in need of aid, and moreover to the discussion focusing more on economic poverty rather than dimensions of food insecurity; iv) the responsibilities within the context of the Finnish welfare regime, especially through the transition of welfare responsibilities from the state to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the civil society, have been addressed in the discussion throughout the timespan; and v) the organizers of charitable food aid are somewhat underrepresented in the media
Drone-mittauksen tarkkuus ja sen kehittÀminen kuitupuuvarastojen inventoinnissa
UPM Kaukaan tehdasintegraatin kuitupuuvarastojen kokoa valvotaan kuukausittaisissa inventoinneissa. Inventoinnissa on otettu kÀyttöön fotogrammetriaan perustuva mittausmenetelmÀ, jossa varastoalueen kuitupuupinomuodostelmat ilmakuvataan kauko-ohjattavalla dronella. KÀsittelemÀllÀ kuva-aineistoa mallinnusohjelmistossa pinoista saadaan mitattua pinojen kehystilavuus. Kertomalla kehystilavuus yleisellÀ pinokuutiokertoimella saadaan lopputulokseksi pinojen kiintotilavuus. OpinnÀytetyössÀ tutkittiin fotogrammetrisen mittausmenetelmÀn tarkkuutta sekÀ kartoitettiin sen kehitystarpeita.
Drone-menetelmÀn on havaittu tuottavan todellista kiintokuutiomÀÀrÀÀ suurempia arvioita pinojen tilavuuksista. Mittaustuloksen virheellisyyden epÀillÀÀn johtuvan pinokuutiokertoimen epÀtarkkuudesta sekÀ pinojen vÀleihin jÀÀvÀn tyhjÀn tilan vaikutuksesta. OpinnÀytetyössÀ tutkittiin mittaustarkkuuteen vaikuttavia tekijöitÀ sekÀ kÀytiin lÀpi kehitysideoita tarkkuuden parantamiseksi. Tavoitteena oli muodostaa uusi kiintotilavuuden laskennassa kÀytettÀvÀ pinokuutiokerroin.
Tutkimus toteutettiin koejÀrjestelyin mittaamalla ennalta tunnettuja kuitupuueriÀ drone-menetelmÀllÀ. Kuitupinoja mitattiin erilaisissa pinomuodostelmissa, joissa tarkasteltiin pinovÀlien vaikutusta kehystilavuuteen. Drone-mittauksen tuloksia verrattiin paino-otantamenetelmÀn sekÀ perinteisen pinomittausmenetelmÀn tuottamiin tuloksiin. Drone-mittaus tuotti keskimÀÀrin 9 % paino-otantamittausta pienemmÀn arvion koepinojen kiintotilavuudesta. Drone-menetelmÀ arvioi koepinojen kehystilauuden keskimÀÀrin 20 % pinomittauksen arviota suuremmaksi.
Tuloksien tarkastelussa havaittiin, ettÀ fotogrammetrinen mittausmenetelmÀ kaipaa vielÀ kehitystyötÀ nykyisten rajoitteiden hiomiseksi. MerkittÀvin kehitystÀ kaipaava alue on paikannuksen tarkkuus. Drone-inventoinnissa pÀÀstÀÀn tarkempiin tuloksiin hyödyntÀmÀllÀ mittauksessa RTK-satelliittipaikannusta sekÀ maastotukipisteitÀ georeferoinnissa. Drone-menetelmÀn rajoitteista huolimatta se on todettu kÀyttökelpoiseksi menetelmÀksi kuitupuuvarastojen inventoinnissa. Koemittausten rajallisen lukumÀÀrÀn vuoksi tuloksista ei voida vetÀÀ perustavanlaatuisia johtopÀÀtöksiÀ. Kiintotilavuuden laskennassa kÀytettÀvÀn yleistettÀvÀn pinokuutiokertoimen luominen edellyttÀÀ jatkotutkimuksia suuremmalla otoskoolla.The Volume of pulpwood storages of UPM Kaukas mill are monitored in monthly inventories. UPM has implemented a new photogrammetry-based method for the inventory, where the pulpwood stack formations are captured in aerial photography using a remotely controlled drone. The images are processed in photogrammetry software and converted into point cloud from which the gross volume the pulp stacks can be measured. The net volume is calculated by multiplying the gross volume by a standard conversion factor. This thesis studies the accuracy of the photogrammetric method and its developmental needs.
Itâs a known problem that the drone method tends to over-estimate the net volume of the pulpwood stacks. Reasons for this error is suspected to be caused by several factors: by using an inaccurate conversion factor when calculating the net volume and by the gaps between the pulpwood piles. This thesis explores the factors causing the measurement error and surveys the potential ways to improve the accuracy. One objective is to form a new conversion factor to be used in net volume calculation.
The research was conducted by measuring pre-selected pulpwood shipments using the drone method. Pulp stacks were measured in different stack formations to study the effects of the gaps between the stacks to the gross volume. Results of the drone-measurements were compared to results yielded by weight sampling and manual stack measuring methods. Drone method estimated the net volume of the pulp stacks an average of 9 % lower compared to the weight sampling method. The drone method yielded the gross volume of the pulp stacks an average of 20% higher than stack measurement method.
It was observed that the photogrammetric measuring method requires further development for patching out its defects. The most significant area in need of improvement is the accuracy of positioning. The accuracy of measurements can be increased by using RTK navigation system in positioning and ground control points in georeferencing. Despite its current limitations, the drone method has been found to be a serviceable method in the inventory of pulpwood stacks. Due to the limited number of measurement samples, no fundamental conclusions can be made based on the results of this study. Forming a standardized conversion factor for net volume calculation requires further studies with larger sample sizes
New Frames for Food Charity in Finland
In 2017 in Finland, approximately 1,843 tons of food aid was delivered by initiatives financed by the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) alone. Nationally, the FEADâs operational programme is focused exclusively on combating food poverty. It works to distribute food aid to the most deprived people throughout the country using 650 distribution centres run by partner organisations. These are usually parishes, faith-based organisations (FBOs) or nongovernmental organisations (NGOs). Altogether, 271,723 food parcels and 55,754 meals were provided to recipients within the year.peerReviewe
Power-to-gas as an emerging profitable business through creating an integrated value chain
AbstractPower-to-gas (PtG) technology has received considerable attention in recent years. However, it has been rather difficult to find profitable business models and niche markets so far. PtG systems can be applied in a broad variety of input and output conditions, mainly determined by prices for electricity, hydrogen, oxygen, heat, natural gas, bio-methane, fossil CO2 emissions, bio-CO2 and grid services, but also full load hours and industrial scaling. Optimized business models are based on an integrated value chain approach for a most beneficial combination of input and output parameters. The financial success is evaluated by a standard annualized profit and loss calculation and a subsequent return on equity consideration. Two cases of PtG integration into an existing pulp mill as well as a nearby bio-diesel plant are taken into account. Commercially available PtG technology is found to be profitable in case of a flexible operation mode offering electricity grid services. Next generation technology, available at the end of the 2010s, in combination with renewables certificates for the transportation sector could generate a return on equity of up to 100% for optimized conditions in an integrated value chain approach. This outstanding high profitability clearly indicates the potential for major PtG markets to be developed rather in the transportation sector and chemical industry than in the electricity sector as seasonal storage option as often proposed
Power-to-Gas as an Emerging Profitable Business Through Creating an Integrated Value Chain
AbstractPower-to-gas (PtG) technology has received considerable attention in recent years. However, it has been rather difficult to find profitable business models and niche markets so far. PtG systems can be applied in a broad variety of input and output conditions, mainly determined by prices for electricity, hydrogen, oxygen, heat, natural gas, bio-methane, fossil CO2 emissions, bio-CO2 and grid services, but also full load hours and industrial scaling. Optimized business models are based on an integrated value chain approach for a most beneficial combination of input and output parameters. The financial success is evaluated by a standard annualized profit and loss calculation and a subsequent return on equity consideration. Two cases of PtG integration into an existing pulp mill as well as a nearby bio-diesel plant are taken into account. Commercially available PtG technology is found to be profitable in case of a flexible operation mode offering electricity grid services. Next generation technology, available at the end of the 2010s, in combination with renewables certificates for the transportation sector could generate a return on equity of up to 100% for optimized conditions in an integrated value chain approach. This outstanding high profitability clearly indicates the potential for major PtG markets to be developed rather in the transportation sector and chemical industry than in the electricity sector as seasonal storage option as often proposed