NASA Sustainability Base - Building N232

The steel and aluminium used were chosen because they had high recycled content and were regionally available, thereby reducing transportation energy.https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/bcs/1193/thumbnail.jp

2017 air emissions inventory

The SCPA has undertaken the largest environmental and community mitigation package in South Carolina to offset potential negative environmental impacts. SCPA recognizes the importance of maintaining good air quality in surrounding communities and minimizing emissions, therefore the package is one of the first in the nation to consider “people” impacts. This 2017 air emissions inventory (AEI) was compared with previous inventories to identify trends. This inventory quantifies pollutants primarily from combusting fuels in mobile sources occurring directly on SCPA terminal property, as well as emissions from ships, locomotives, and trucks that occur outside the terminals but within the tri-county area

Mesh Development, Tidal Validation, and Hindcast Skill Assessment of an ADCIRC Model for the Hurricane Storm Surge Operational Forecast System on the US Gulf-Atlantic Coast

The Coast Survey Development Laboratory (CSDL) of the National Ocean Service (NOS) previously developed an Extratropical Surge and Tide Operational Forecast System (ESTOFS) for the US coastal waters (Funakoshi et al. 2013). Now, to extend the capability of ESTOFS to include tropical storm event simulation and ensemble prediction, CSDL is preparing a prototype Hurricane Storm Surge Operational Forecast System (HSSOFS). Under direction from CSDL, a technical team led by Riverside Technology, inc. has developed a hydrodynamic model of the US East Coast and Gulf of Mexico and has validated the model for 10 major tropical and extratropical events. Eventually, this model will form the basis for an operational system on National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) computers. The prototype model described in this document is called NOMAD: NOAA Operational Model with ADCIRC

An Assessment of Mitigation Translocations for Reptiles at Development Sites

All native reptile species are protected against harm through their inclusion on UK legislation. With the exception of two species, this protection does not extend to reptile habitat. As a result, reptiles are frequently subject to mitigation translocations to facilitate the development of land. However, there are few published studies of the effects of mitigation translocation on reptile populations and whether such translocations are effective conservation interventions. The effectiveness of translocation was tested through a combination of: 1) field surveys of sites subject to mitigation across England and Wales; 2) the radio tracking of translocated adders; 3) the monitoring of a population of slow-worms at site where they were released 20 years ago; and 4) a penning experiment to test whether viviparous lizards attempt to disperse from the release site. Very few translocated reptiles were encountered during the monitoring of release sites. This paucity of recaptures is either due to post-release mortality, imperfect detection or dispersal. Translocated male adders dispersed farther and had larger home range sizes than resident conspecifics. Some male adders undertook large unidirectional migrations back to the donor site crossing areas of unsuitable habitat as they did so. A population of slow-worms persisted at an isolated site two decades after translocation, albeit in relatively small numbers. Body condition improved over 20 years and the population resumed breeding and recruitment. The temporary penning of viviparous lizards was effective in preventing post-release dispersal and resulted in an increase in recapture rates of greater than 16 times when compared to unpenned viviparous lizard populations. The fact that no lizards were recaptured in the unpenned areas provides strong evidence for the effect of post-release dispersal. Although, mitigation translocations may prevent the immediate death of animals that would otherwise be destroyed with their habitat, there is little evidence that they are compensating for the loss of populations on a broad scale

Estudi i comparativa de possibles ubicacions per a la instal·lació del nou CAP Casc Antic.

Sol·licitant de l’informe: Districte 1. Ciutat Vell

Estudi i comparativa de possibles ubicacions per a la instal·lació del nou CAP Barceloneta.

Sol·licitant de l’informe: Districte 1. Ciutat Vell

Stream Simulation Design of Conn Creek Culvert

Abstract Conventional culvert designs based on hydraulic capacity often result in high velocities or inadequate water levels that are not conducive for fish migration. For fish-bearing stream crossings, alternative designs need to be developed in order to secure timely approval from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Stream simulation is one of those alternatives. It was proposed to, and accepted by, DFO for the Conn Creek Culvert replacement in Fort McMurray, an environmentally sensitive site due to the controversy over Alberta oil sand projects. The existing 4.2 m diameter, 82 m long culvert carries four lanes of Highway 63 traffic across Conn Creek, a tributary to the Athabasca River. As part of the $530 million Highway 63:11 upgrading project, the existing culvert required extension. During the review of the proposed alternatives, DFO cited the high flow velocity within the existing culvert as a barrier to fish passage, resulting in the separation of upstream and downstream habitats. Authorization for the works would need to ensure fish passage was restored. Challenges encountered during the design and construction of the replacement culvert included: Traffic accommodation for a busy highway with over 50K Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) Tight construction schedule demanding a quick approval from DFO Providing fish passage for weak swimming fish species across a 120 m span Enabling fish passage by reducing flows and providing velocity refuge while also addressing constructability and economics. Reducing flow velocity in a system that had been significantly altered historically (stream length shortened by removal of large meander sections of the natural stream). Shallow limestone bedrock demanding blasting for closed bottom culvert installation Owner's concerns of high construction cost and potential scouring of open bottom culvert This paper presents the background of the project, the existing fisheries, and details of the stream simulation design used to satisfy regulatory and project requirements. It is also the authors' intention to share their experiences and lessons learned in securing a timely approval from DFO on an extremely tight schedule.

Utilization of AVL/GPS Technology: Case Studies

MnDOT Contract No. 1026092TPF-5(218)Winter road maintenance accounts for roughly 20 percent of state DOT maintenance budgets. State and local agencies spend over $2.3 billion on winter operations annually. As such, effective winter maintenance operations incorporating smart uses of methods, techniques, technologies, equipment and materials becomes essential. Among various winter maintenance technologies, automated vehicle location (AVL) and global positioning systems (GPS) have been widely used by transportation agencies to monitor vehicle locations and equipment operational status for winter road maintenance operations. This report summarizes the information gathered during the study conducted for the Clear Roads project entitled Utilization of AVL/GPS Technology: Case Studies. The research team surveyed multiple state DOTs on the current state of AVL/GPS system usage for the purpose of gathering information on the planning, processes, steps, and results observed by agencies with their respective systems. Six state DOTs (Utah, Washington State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Colorado) were selected to conduct detailed case studies. The case studies were performed through in-person interviews with multiple levels of DOT staff involved in AVL/GPS system planning, procurement, implementation, management and operations. This final report summarizes the key results, findings and lessons learned from the case studies. It also identifies best practices and provides a series of recommendations for winter maintenance agencies to consider in the procurement, deployment and integration of an AVL/GPS system for winter maintenance operations

Expanded Use of AVL/GPS Technology: Final Report

MnDOT Contract No. 1044528Summer road maintenance is a critical activity for highway maintenance agencies that involves a wide range of maintenance and construction vehicles that can be active at any given time, which makes vehicle and maintenance asset management challenges. Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technologies installed in winter maintenance vehicles have the potential to support summer road maintenance vehicles to improve asset tracking and management practices, as well as other purposes such as process automation and paperwork reduction for field staff in terms of activity reporting. The use of AVL/GPS systems to support both winter and summer maintenance activities can help justify the expenses incurred with respect to hardware / software acquisition and training costs across a wide range of applications. This report continues building upon prior Clear Roads research and helps highway maintenance agencies optimize the value gained from the acquisition of AVL/GPS systems by deploying them year-round, rather than being limited to winter maintenance operations. This report summarizes agencies\u2019 experiences and lessons learned in using AVL/GPS technologies in summer and year-round maintenance activities. It also highlights the types of issues other highway maintenance agencies should consider prior to system procurement, provides guidance for successful transition and implementation of the technology, and serves as a possible template for agencies to get the best value out of different levels their AVL/GPS applications