Quantifying external cost of air pollution and GHG emissions from private road transport in Catalonia using theory of planned behavior and contingent valuation

Internalizing environmental externalities is a market-driven approach to correcting people's private costs and benefits. One way of quantifying these externalities is estimating people’s willingness to pay (WTP) to reduce those externalities. To better understand the determinants of this WTP, we use the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). This theory is a commonly used approach for predicting behavioral and pro-environmental intentions. Our study focuses on air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from private road transport. We gathered survey data from 406 residents of Catalonia to explore the relationships among the psychological factors determining willingness to pay to quantify the mentioned externalities. We expanded the TPB by adding as antecedent Environmental Concern (EC) prior to the theory's three main factors (Attitude, Subjective Norms and Perceived Behavioral Control). Next, we used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze structural relationship between the proposed model constructs. The results of our study show that environmental concern is positively related to the three main factors of TPB. Our model accounts for most of the variation of WTP (R-squared is 94.7%). Moreover, the results also revealed that a majority of the respondents in Catalonia (61.57%) are willing to pay to reduce air pollution and GHG emissions from private road transport. The results of the estimation of the logit model for the overall user sample, revealed that the mean WTP is 64.47€ for implementing plan “L” and 120.17€ for implementing plan “H” regarding the hypothetical scenario of the studyInternalizar las externalidades ambientales de las actividades humanas es un enfoque impulsado por el mercado para corregir los costos y beneficios privados de las personas. Una forma de cuantificar estas externalidades es estimar la voluntad de pago (VDP) de las personas para reducir dichas externalidades. Para entender mejor los determinantes de esta DAP, hemos utilizado la Teoría del Comportamiento Planificado (TCP). Esta teoría es un método que se usa normalmente para predecir el comportamiento y las intenciones pro-ambientales humanas. Nuestro estudio se centra en la contaminación del aire y las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI) del transporte privado por carretera. Hemos recogido datos de una encuesta realizada a 406 residentes de Cataluña para explorar las relaciones entre los factores psicológicos que determinan la voluntad de pago para cuantificar las externalidades mencionadas. Hemos ampliado el TCP añadiendo como antecedente la Preocupación Ambiental (EC) antes de los tres factores principales de la teoría (Actitud, Normas Subjetivas y Control del Comportamiento Percibido). Luego, hemos utilizado el Modelado de Ecuaciones Estructurales (MEE) para analizar la relación estructural entre los constructos del modelo propuesto. Los resultados de nuestro estudio muestran que la preocupación medioambiental está relacionada positivamente con los tres factores principales de la TCP. Nuestro modelo representa la mayor parte de la varianza de la VDP (R2 es 94,7%). Además, los resultados también han revelado que la mayoría de los encuestados en Cataluña (61,57%) están dispuestos a pagar para reducir la contaminación atmosférica y las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero del transporte privado por carretera. La estimación del modelo logístico para la muestra global de usuarios ha dado como resultado que la VDP media es 64,47€ para la ejecución del plan "L" y 120,17€ para la ejecución del plan "H" en el escenario hipotético del estudio.Postprint (published version

Quantifying external cost of air pollution and GHG emissions from private road transport in Catalonia using theory of planned behavior and contingent valuation

Internalizing environmental externalities is a market-driven approach to correcting people's private costs and benefits. One way of quantifying these externalities is estimating people’s willingness to pay (WTP) to reduce those externalities. To better understand the determinants of this WTP, we use the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). This theory is a commonly used approach for predicting behavioral and pro-environmental intentions. Our study focuses on air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from private road transport. We gathered survey data from 406 residents of Catalonia to explore the relationships among the psychological factors determining willingness to pay to quantify the mentioned externalities. We expanded the TPB by adding as antecedent Environmental Concern (EC) prior to the theory's three main factors (Attitude, Subjective Norms and Perceived Behavioral Control). Next, we used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze structural relationship between the proposed model constructs. The results of our study show that environmental concern is positively related to the three main factors of TPB. Our model accounts for most of the variation of WTP (R-squared is 94.7%). Moreover, the results also revealed that a majority of the respondents in Catalonia (61.57%) are willing to pay to reduce air pollution and GHG emissions from private road transport. The results of the estimation of the logit model for the overall user sample, revealed that the mean WTP is 64.47€ for implementing plan “L” and 120.17€ for implementing plan “H” regarding the hypothetical scenario of the studyInternalizar las externalidades ambientales de las actividades humanas es un enfoque impulsado por el mercado para corregir los costos y beneficios privados de las personas. Una forma de cuantificar estas externalidades es estimar la voluntad de pago (VDP) de las personas para reducir dichas externalidades. Para entender mejor los determinantes de esta DAP, hemos utilizado la Teoría del Comportamiento Planificado (TCP). Esta teoría es un método que se usa normalmente para predecir el comportamiento y las intenciones pro-ambientales humanas. Nuestro estudio se centra en la contaminación del aire y las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI) del transporte privado por carretera. Hemos recogido datos de una encuesta realizada a 406 residentes de Cataluña para explorar las relaciones entre los factores psicológicos que determinan la voluntad de pago para cuantificar las externalidades mencionadas. Hemos ampliado el TCP añadiendo como antecedente la Preocupación Ambiental (EC) antes de los tres factores principales de la teoría (Actitud, Normas Subjetivas y Control del Comportamiento Percibido). Luego, hemos utilizado el Modelado de Ecuaciones Estructurales (MEE) para analizar la relación estructural entre los constructos del modelo propuesto. Los resultados de nuestro estudio muestran que la preocupación medioambiental está relacionada positivamente con los tres factores principales de la TCP. Nuestro modelo representa la mayor parte de la varianza de la VDP (R2 es 94,7%). Además, los resultados también han revelado que la mayoría de los encuestados en Cataluña (61,57%) están dispuestos a pagar para reducir la contaminación atmosférica y las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero del transporte privado por carretera. La estimación del modelo logístico para la muestra global de usuarios ha dado como resultado que la VDP media es 64,47€ para la ejecución del plan "L" y 120,17€ para la ejecución del plan "H" en el escenario hipotético del estudio

Vehicle taxes in EU countries : how fair is their calculation?

La presión fiscal existente en los vehículos de la UE3 es muy compleja debido a que los sistemas implementados en los estados miembros de la UE pueden ser complejos en si mismos y muy diferentes de un país a otro. Y no siempre los impuestos que se calculan gravan de forma eficaz y/o justa a los vehículos que más contaminan o que más pueden afectar al medioambiente o a la salud. En este trabajo se hace un repaso a la forma de calcular los impuestos sobre los vehículos en los países de la UE. Esta revisión analiza tres tipos de impuestos: 1) impuesto de compra (matriculación e IVA4), 2) impuestos sobre la propiedad del vehículo (impuesto anual o impuesto de circulación), y 3) los impuestos sobre el uso del vehículo (impuesto sobre el combustible e IVA). Se comparan los impuestos de los mismos vehículos en diferentes países de la UE. Además, se examinan diferentes escenarios sobre las distancias que cada vehículo puede recorrer en un año. Finalmente, se hacen algunas sugerencias sobre posibles formas más racionales, especialmente desde el punto de vista ambiental, de calcular dichos impuestos que pueden ser objeto de investigación futuraPostprint (published version

Monitoring the suitability of the fit of a lower-limb prosthetic socket using artificial neural network in commonly encountered walking conditions

Prosthetic sockets are still routinely designed without the aid of quantitative measurement, relying instead on the experience and skill of clinicians. Sockets remain the most common cause for complaint regarding the suitability of a prosthesis, and poor pressure distribution is implicated in many forms of unacceptable care outcomes. Monitoring pressure distribution has been effectively restricted to laboratory settings, and only limited work has examined conditions other than flat walking. In this work, a transtibial amputee completed static and dynamic tasks on flat ground, on slopes and with changes to prosthetic materials and alignment. This was achieved using a set of wireless measurement nodes and custom LabView and MATLAB code, using external strain measurements and a neural network to understand the internal pressure distribution. Future work will focus on modifying the software to be more user-friendly for a clinical operator, and in simplifying the required hardware. Although the system in its current form facilitated the desired measurements effectively, it required engineering support to function accurately. Improving the reliability and stability of the system will be necessary before routine use is possible

Multi-criteria decision making with linguistic labels: a comparison of two methodologies applied to energy planning

This paper compares two multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approaches based on linguistic label assessment. The first approach consists of a modified fuzzy TOPSIS methodology introduced by Kaya and Kahraman in 2011. The second approach, introduced by Agell et al. in 2012, is based on qualitative reasoning techniques for ranking multi-attribute alternatives in group decision-making with linguistic labels. Both approaches are applied to a case of assessment and selection of the most suitable types of energy in a geographical area.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Applying Ensemble Neural Networks to an Inverse Problem Solution to Prosthetic Socket Pressure Measurement

Ensemble neural networks are commonly used as a method to boost performance of artificial intelligence applications. By collating the response of multiple networks with differences in composition or training and hence a range of estimation error, an overall improvement in the appraisal of new problem data can be made. In this work, artificial neural networks are used as an inverse-problem solver to calculate the internal distribution of pressures on a lower limb prosthetic socket using information on the deformation of the external surface of the device. Investigation into the impact of noise injection was studied by changing the maximum noise alteration parameter and the differences in network composition by altering the variance around this maximum noise value. Results indicate that use of ensembles of networks provides a meaningful improvement in overall performance. RMS error expressed as a percentage of the total applied load was 3.86% for the best performing ensemble, compared to 5.32% for the mean performance of the networks making up that ensemble. Although noise injection resulted in an improvement in typical network estimates of load distribution, ensembles performed better with low noise and low variance between network training patterns. These results mean that ensembles have been implemented in the research tool under developmen

Exploring the public's willingness to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from private road transport in Catalonia

Internalizing environmental externalities is a market-driven approach to correcting people's private costs and benefits. One way of quantifying these externalities is estimating the willingness to pay (WTP) of people to reduce them. To better understand the determinants of this WTP, we use the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), which is a commonly used approach for predicting behavioral intentions. Our study focuses on air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from private road transport. We gathered survey data from 406 residents of Catalonia to explore the relationships among the psychological factors determining willingness to pay to quantify the mentioned externalities. We expanded the TPB by adding as antecedent Environmental Concern (EC) prior to the theory's three main factors (Attitude, Subjective Norms and Perceived Behavioral Control). Next, we used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to calculate an estimate of these externalities. The results of our study show that environmental concern is positively related to the three main factors of TPB. Our model accounts for most of the variation of WTP (R-squared is 94.7%). Our results also reveal that a majority of the respondents in Catalonia are willing to pay to reduce air pollution and GHG emissions from private road transportPeer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Effects of Short-term Whole Body Vibration Training on Knee Proprioception in Healthy Adults and People with Knee Osteoarthritis

Introduction: many researches have studied the short and long term effects of whole body vibration on muscle strength and proprioception. The effect of this modality in athletes and healthy population have been studied by several researchers; however, to accept it as a therapeutic procedure, it needs more studies.  In knee osteoarthritis, muscle weakness and joint instability can affect proprioception. Since some researchers reported the effect of whole body vibration on kinematic and neuromuscular control and some others have rejected this effect, the purpose of this study is to investigate the short term effect of whole body vibration on proprioception of the knee joint in patients with knee osteoarthritis and healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, two groups of the same size (21 in healthy and patient groups) went through whole body vibration ( 60 Hz frequency, low amplitude and 25 Hz frequency , high amplitude) and the knee joint properioception accuracy was assessed ( by joint angle replication test) and was compared with the no-vibration baseline results. Results The joint angle reconstruction error was different between two groups and also before and after whole body vibration. Whole body vibration with 25Hz frequency and high Amplitude was ineffective in improvement of knee properioception in osteoarthritis patients (p=0.09). But the vibration with 60 Hz and low amplitude was effective significantly in properiception improvement and decrease of joint angle reconstruction error in healthy (p=0.01) and patients groups. (p=0.02). Discussion: This study shows that the whole body vibration with proper frequency and amplitude (60 Hz and low amplitude) can have immediate effect on the knee joint properioception in patients with knee osteoarthritis and healthy people.Key words: Whole Body Vibration; Knee; Osteoarthritis; Properioceptio