Community Informatics in Cities: New Catalysts for Urban Change.

Peer reviewe

ESTABLISHING A SAFE WORKING PRESSURE DURING EXCAVATION OF A PIPELINE IN A ROCK DITCH

ABSTRACT In order to perform pipeline maintenance it is often necessary to excavate the pipeline. To ensure this is conducted safely, the expected condition of the pipeline and possible failure scenarios are considered in order to establish a safe operating pressure during the excavation and subsequent work. For pipelines that are laid in rocky terrain, consideration must be given to the possibility of a large rock impacting the pipeline. The purpose of this work is to describe the application of a numerical procedure to establish the safe working pressure during the excavation of a pipeline in a rocky terrain. A numerical procedure, developed previously [1] was shown to conservatively estimate a safe working pressure for the case of a rock falling on the pipeline. FEA was used to determine the relationship between the available kinetic energy of a falling rock and the energy to puncture the pipeline (as a function of internal pressure). The resulting puncture dimensions were then compared to the critical-crack-length to cause rupture. The safe pressure was obtained from the pressure where rupture first occurs, reduced by an appropriate safety factor. This paper describes the application of the numerical procedure described to cover a large range of pipe toughnesses and internal pressures

Genome-wide identification and phenotypic characterization of seizure-associated copy number variations in 741,075 individuals

Copy number variants (CNV) are established risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders with seizures or epilepsy. With the hypothesis that seizure disorders share genetic risk factors, we pooled CNV data from 10,590 individuals with seizure disorders, 16,109 individuals with clinically validated epilepsy, and 492,324 population controls and identified 25 genome-wide significant loci, 22 of which are novel for seizure disorders, such as deletions at 1p36.33, 1q44, 2p21-p16.3, 3q29, 8p23.3-p23.2, 9p24.3, 10q26.3, 15q11.2, 15q12-q13.1, 16p12.2, 17q21.31, duplications at 2q13, 9q34.3, 16p13.3, 17q12, 19p13.3, 20q13.33, and reciprocal CNVs at 16p11.2, and 22q11.21. Using genetic data from additional 248,751 individuals with 23 neuropsychiatric phenotypes, we explored the pleiotropy of these 25 loci. Finally, in a subset of individuals with epilepsy and detailed clinical data available, we performed phenome-wide association analyses between individual CNVs and clinical annotations categorized through the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO). For six CNVs, we identified 19 significant associations with specific HPO terms and generated, for all CNVs, phenotype signatures across 17 clinical categories relevant for epileptologists. This is the most comprehensive investigation of CNVs in epilepsy and related seizure disorders, with potential implications for clinical practice

From associations to info-sociations : civic environmentalism and information communication technologies in three Asian tiger cities

This multi-year, multi-city investigation seeks to examine how and why civic associations are employing information communication technologies (ICTs) in their work and the extent to which these uses are transforming urban ‘civic space.’ Rather than being passive non-state actors shaped by technologies in the ‘networked city,’ civic environmental associations are treated in this study as co-evolving ‘actor-networks’ that are both shaping and shaped by their ICT practices. This study systematically examines how ICT-linked tools or platforms are reconfiguring civic associations and civic space in the three ‘tiger city’ settings of Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei. This investigation employs grounded theory, case study methods, and actor-network theory to examine the co-evolution of ICTs and civic environmental associations. The concept of info-sociations (ICT-associations) is employed in constructing a socio-technical model for analysis of the fast-evolving ICT practices of civic associations. Such an approach suggests that diverse forms of ICT-linked praxis—where civic ideals and knowledge are being put into practice—involves multimodal digital practices; alongside blended or multiplexed physical and virtual practices; and multiscalar practices. The info-sociational model compares ICT-linked organizational, participatory and spatial practices at the associational level by examining digitally-linked: internal and external organizational change; reconfigurations in the public sphere and cyberactivism; scalar transformations and associational alliance formations. Analyses of city-specific ‘civic space’ storylines; alongside a discussion of the problems and potentialities of ICT-linked practices also contributes to an integrated info-sociational model. An info-sociational approach therefore serves to examine transformations in knowledge, power and space as civic environmentalists employ ICTs. The info-sociational model supports an analysis of three pairs of age-distinct civic environmental associations in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei. These six cases (as units of analysis) were selected for their diverse civic environmental activities; their differences in age; and their variety of ICT-linked practices, including uses for: public deliberations, and mobilizing activism; networked alliance formations; identifying environmental and spatial issues in city regions; and creating alternative green media. Employing the info-sociational model in analyses of the six civic environmental associations led to the observations that: ‘externally-oriented’ ICT-linked practices were of greater importance than ‘internal practices’ amongst civic associations; that groups prioritized ‘digital green public sphere’ practices compared to ‘cyberactivism’; and these associations employed ICTs more frequently for ‘alliance-building’ than for ‘spatial transformations.’ Several of the cases illustrated how ICTs can enhance or augment existing alliances and potentially support new types of civic-cyber formations. By touching on questions of knowledge, power and space an info-sociational approach therefore can contribute to integrated explanations of how and why civic associations are using and (re)shaping ICTs in pursuit of their diverse aims for more livable and just cities.published_or_final_versionUrban Planning and DesignDoctoralDoctor of Philosoph

From Associations To Info-Sociations: Civic Associations And ICT In Two Asian Cities

Civic non-profit associations are experimenting with Information Communications Technologies (ICTs) as tools for transforming their work. The hybrid “info-sociation” concept—combining information and association—is introduced here for studying ICT-linked transformations. An info-sociational diagnostic supports comparisons of ICT praxis at civic associations in Hong Kong and Taipei, including transformations in: governance; organizational and participatory practices. These case studies also explore how civic environmentalists are experimenting with ICTs, including: green new media; map mash-ups for urban monitoring; digital storytelling; and e-platforms for public participation. The working diagnostic introduced in this paper serves three ends: 1) studying the shift from associations to info-sociations; 2) comparing civic strategies for ICT uses; and 3) theorizing about the co-evolution of local civic associations and ICTs

(Re)Prioritizing Citizens in Smart Cities Governance: Examples of Smart Citizenship from Urban India

By examining the community-focused informatics work of Transparent Chennai (TC) (India) we seek to contrast the Smart Cities agenda — with its focus on the consumption and commercialization of digital technologies and infrastructure — to citizen-driven approaches, what we term, Smart Citizenship. A Smart Citizenship approach engages citizens in complementary digitally mediated and face-to-face processes that respect local knowledge systems. We devise a framework for understanding Smart Citizenship and link this to our case study of Transparent Chennai. Our research identifies how information and communication technologies (ICTs) can serve to spotlight overlooked or undervalued urban infrastructural, planning and environmental issues — such as the need for access to safe and clean public toilets; road safety and pro-pedestrian planning. We conclude by suggesting that a locally grounded Smart Citizenship agenda can reprioritize the needs and interests of local communities and neighbourhoods in urban governance, rather than those of exclusivist private commercial interests

Taming the noise : soundscape and livability in a technocratic city-state

For hypergrowing Singapore, noise is an issue of everyday life. As a public problem, noise can be very relative because it deeply relates to the level of tolerance, while tolerance to noise is socially conditioned. But in a city where virtually every public issue is subject to technocratic handling, sound and noise are considered techno-environmental problems that require technocratic remedies. Drawing on the growing literature on soundscape and sound studies, this research note seeks to examine how sound and noise are being problematized in the urban spaces of Singapore. Our research note will examine a case of how cross-cutting issues of sound/noise, technology, and livability manifest at the neighborhood-level. In particular, we will draw upon our ethnographic study to explore noise issues in a high density neighborhood in Singapore. Focusing on one high density neighborhood, our study provides interesting insights into the challenges of devising policies/plans for postcolonial modern cities in a state of perpetual flux. It also shows how technocratic handling faces limitations in dealing with urban noise and public responses in the context of changing soundscapes.Ministry of National Development (MND)This paper is based on research supported by the Land and Liveability National Innovation Challenge under L2NIC award Number L2NICCFP1-2013-1

Magnesium–Antimony Liquid Metal Battery for Stationary Energy Storage

Batteries are an attractive option for grid-scale energy storage applications because of their small footprint and flexible siting. A high-temperature (700 °C) magnesium–antimony (Mg||Sb) liquid metal battery comprising a negative electrode of Mg, a molten salt electrolyte (MgCl₂–KCl–NaCl), and a positive electrode of Sb is proposed and characterized. Because of the immiscibility of the contiguous salt and metal phases, they stratify by density into three distinct layers. Cells were cycled at rates ranging from 50 to 200 mA/cm² and demonstrated up to 69% DC–DC energy efficiency. The self-segregating nature of the battery components and the use of low-cost materials results in a promising technology for stationary energy storage applications