E-governance in cities

This paper describes and analyses the way European urban policymakers guide their city into the information age. We develop an analytical framework to be able to analyse, assess and compare urban ICT policies. In the empirical part, the frame is applied to a number of cities. We conclude that the most successful cities apply a balanced mix of content, infrastructure and access policies. Furthermore, success depends on the capacity of urban management to engage in local networks with local companies, citizens and intermediary organisations, as well as their ability to mobilise external resources.

High area-to-mass ratio hybrid propulsion Earth to Moon transfers

This paper examines the design of transfers that are useful to micro or nano spacecraft with high area-to-mass ratio, propelled by a simple propulsion engine (such as chemical with a specifc impulse ca. 100 to 300 s or arcjet/resistojet), and possessing relatively small solar reflective panels to provide power and a small thrust due to solar radiation pressure. This type of transfer is becoming of greater interest as advances in structures, materials, and small spacecraft design & propulsion are made. Such a hybrid design especially offers possibilities of cheaply exploring the Moon using multiple vehicles. With this small hybrid design, interior transfers in the circular restricted 3-body problem between the pair of primary and secondary masses (e.g. the Earth and Moon) are attempted using solar radiation pressure and multiple small impulses. The source of the outside solar radiation pressure is modeled using an external source rotating about – and in the plane of – the co-rotating set of primary and secondary masses. Starting from a GTO about the primary mass a basic optimization method of sequences of manoeuvres is used to achieve the transfer, where the segments are patched together using ideally small maneuvers. The spacecraft coasting arc is controlled by a number of locally optimal control laws to optimize performance while minimizing computational cost. The spacecraft hops onto a stable invariant manifold leading to the system’s Lagrange L1 point after successive small maneuvers and coasting arcs. Following connection with a manifold and subsequent arrival at a periodic orbit at L1, temporary or permanent capture around the Moon can be performed using the remaining resources at hand

Application of Laplace transforms for the solution of transient mass- and heat-transfer problems in flow systems

A fast numerical technique for the solution of partial differential equations describing timedependent two- or three-dimensional transport phenomena is developed. It is based on transforming the original time-domain equations into the Laplace domain where numerical integration is performed and by subsequent numerical inverse transformation the final solution can be obtained. The computation time is thus reduced by more than one order of magnitude in comparison with the conventional finite-difference techniques. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is demonstrated by illustrative examples

Mathematical modelling of a flow-injection system with a membrane separation module

A mathematical model for a flow-injection system with a membrane separation module based on the axially dispersed plug flow model was developed. It takes into account the geometrical dimensions and dispersion properties of the main sections of the manifold, the mass transfer in the channels of the separation module and the characteristics of the membrane (thickness and diffusion coefficient within it). The model was solved analytically in the Laplace domain. The inverse transformation was found to give satisfactory results for reactor Peclet numbers less than 120. Otherwise a numerical solution based on the implicit alternating-direction finite difference method was preferred. The adequacy of the model was confirmed experimentally on a flow-injection manifold with a parallel-plate dialysis module. The unknown flow and membrane parameters were determined by curve fitting. The membrane parameters were determined also by steady-state measurements. Fairly good agreement between the dynamic and steady-state results and with results given in the literature was observed, which, together with other experimental results, supported the validity of the model and showed that it can be used successfully for the mathematical description and optimization of flow-injection systems with membrane separation modules. In this connection, the influence of the reactor parameters and the sample volume on the performance of such a system were investigated and conclusions for improving its sensitivity and sample throughput were drawn. Other possible applications of the model are in membrane technology for characterizing of various membranes and in process engineering for investigating the mass transfer in different dialysers

ICT cluster developments in European cities during the 1990's: developoment patterns and policy lessons

The paper is based on a research project called "MUTEIS"(Macro-economic and Urban Trends in Europe's Information Society), a research project designed to get a better understanding of the different patterns of growth of cities and their ICT clusters in 12 urban regions across Europe. The research reveals developments over the 1990's, starting a few years before the dot.com hype, end ending with the first signs of the dot.com crises. The paper is based on the results of fieldwork in two different kind of regions in Finland, Ireland, Sweden and The Netherlands. One region being the national frontrunner in taking up ICT, the other being more remote, but apparently successful in ICT too. While Europe as a whole seems to have been slow in its transition towards the new, digital economy, these smaller European economies actually witnessed a rapid uptake in computer- and internet use and in ICT investment more generally over the second half of the 1990's, accompanied by a remarkable growth and employment performance over those same years. However, behind the aggregate stories of success, sometimes initiated by the private sector, sometimes by public authorities, we can see significant differences in the regional and urban development patterns in the field of ICT- and Internet use. We aim to get a better understanding of these disparities. What are the triggers for growth of an ICT-cluster? How does it affect the growth of the region - and vice versa? Which parameters constitute the critical factors for a region's success - or failure? What do the development roadmaps look like? Are they market-driven or government-driven, or rather based on new forms of partnership? How about the impact of the European and national institutional frameworks? Does policy matter? The quantitative part of the analysis is based on statistical data. It describes the size, composition and growth patterns of the ICT sectors over the 1990's. The paper reveals some interesting findings relative to the size, the location and the national hierarchy of urban regions themselves. This is followed by an in-depth analyses of qualitative differences between the ICT-clusters in the urban regions. This part of the paper is based on available data, existing documents and approx. 20 interviews in each region. The successful regions witnessed a more rapid diffusion of IST goods and services throughout their economies, appeared to be better equipped to exploit some of the new digital growth opportunities, adapted existing "old" economic activities to the new e-business environment and more generally learnt more from the new opportunities to exploit those advantages across the European Union. Furthermore, the national policy makers appeared to be more aware of the increasingly limited degrees of freedom of their national policy actions, liberalising more rapidly their national telecommunications monopolies.

Appropriate Financial Instruments for Public-Private Partnership to Boost Cross-Border Infrastructural Development-EU Experience

The member states of the European Union (EU) and the EU institutions have increasingly been using public-private partnerships (PPPs) to accelerate the development of (ambitious) trans-national infrastructure. This paper argues that in the EU (i) private sector partners remain risk-averse; and (ii) risk-pooling across a larger number of tax-payers tends to reduce the cost of risk to zero, making EU funds highly desirable and sought after for public infrastructure development. This paper argues that private equity has not been forthcoming to the extent that had been expected by those propagating this method of finance. In those instances where private non-publicly guaranteed resources have been used, the distribution of risks between public and private partners remained asymmetric, with public governmental bodies carrying the financial risks, which ultimately may become a contingent liability for the country’s public finances. However, EU and European Investment Bank (EIB) public funding is used not simply because the risks are spread more widely, but rather because EU rules and regulations for using such funds lead to better preparation of projects and greater efficiency gains in project implementation and delivery.public-private partnerships; trans-national infrastructure; european union institutions; european union; public infrastructure development

Strategies to harmonize urbanization and flood risk management in deltas

In many countries, important economic centres and major cities are located in a flood-prone area at the confluence of a large river and the sea. The expansion of these cities increases the risk of major flood disasters, a risk that is further increased if the predicted effects of climate change come true. Recent thinking about flood prevention stresses the importance of restricting city expansions into flood-prone areas, flood-proofing cities and accomodating floods by reserving space for water. These ideas require innovative city design, cooperation between city planners and water managers, and a policy that connects various levels of government with business and the public. The choice of strategy may be culture-specific, but will in any case involve large investments, and have long-term and large-scale consequences. Thus, it is worthwhile to exchange experiences between delta's that are tackling this problem. In the paper we will compare the approaches in a number of "typical" urbanized flood-prone delta's: New Orleans in the Mississippi delta, the Randstad in the Rhine delta, Venice in the Po delta, Wuhan along the Yangtze, Yokohama along the Tsurumi, Dhaka in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta and London along the Thames.

Informed Consent to Address Trust, Control, and Privacy Concerns in User Profiling

More and more, services and products are being personalised or\ud tailored, based on user-related data stored in so called user profiles or user\ud models. Although user profiling offers great benefits for both organisations and\ud users, there are several psychological factors hindering the potential success of user profiling. The most important factors are trust, control and privacy\ud concerns. This paper presents informed consent as a means to address the\ud hurdles trust, control, and privacy concerns pose to user profiling

Determination of water in organic solvents by flow-injection analysis with Karl Fischer reagent and a biamperometric detection system

A flow-injection system with a biamperometric flow-through detector provided with two platinum plate electrodes was tested for the determination of water with a two-component pyridine-free Karl Fischer reagent. The response was shown to be linear in the concentration range 0.03–0.11% water in methanol, ethanol or 2-propanol, with methanol as the carrier solvent. The maximum sampling frequency was about 150 samples per hr. It appeared to be possible to introduce a membrane separation step, thus allowing for the determination of water in fouled process streams. To avoid direct contact between the Karl Fischer solution and the pumping tubes, and thus extend the lifetime of the tubes, an indirect delivery system, based on replacement of the solution by pumped silicone oil, was also applied