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Transition to the Circular Economy Model: The Case of Turkey (CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance)
by Natalya KetenciThis edited volume provides a multisectoral, multidisciplinary analysis of the circular economy in Turkey. The chapters delve into different segments of the economy, monitoring the progress of the transition to circularity as it is occurring. Written by experts in the circular economy, chapters touch on different aspects of the sustainability transition—from AI and entrepreneurship to luxury fashion to green finance. Chapters also refer directly to applicable UN Sustainable Development Goals, noting the progress made towards related development targets. This volume will be of use to students, academicians, experts, and professionals interested and working on different aspects of circular and green economies.
Trash or Treasure: Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Waste Management
by Pardeep Singh Anwesha BorthakurIn this book, we have contributions from experts working on diverse aspects of waste management and waste entrepreneurship with an aim to contribute toward a holistic understanding of the existing and forthcoming waste handling challenges. Waste entrepreneurship refers to the practice of creating and operating businesses that aim to address the problem of waste management. It signifies businesses that are dedicated to finding innovative solutions for managing waste and plays a crucial role in building a sustainable future. Waste entrepreneurs identify waste as a valuable resource and use state-of-the-art tactics to reduce, reuse, recycle, and re-purpose it. By developing new technologies, services, and products that help reduce waste and recycle materials, they can create new economic opportunities while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact of waste. The primary audience of this book are researchers (from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds) working in the field of waste management (especially E-waste, Plastics, Paper and Cardboard Waste, Organic Waste, and Construction and Demolition Waste) and environmental sustainability. This book also contains descriptions of various facets of waste entrepreneurship from different countries which will be helpful for different entrepreneurs looking for business opportunities in the waste management sector, NGOs, government agencies, international agencies, and new researchers working in the related fields. In particular, the book could provide start-up ideas to the enthusiastic readers.
Trauma Informed Placemaking
by Courage, Edited by Cara Anita McKeownTrauma Informed Placemaking offers an introduction to understanding trauma and healing in place. It offers insights that researchers and practitioners can apply to their place-based practice, learning from a global cohort of place leaders and communities.The book introduces the ethos and application of the trauma-informed approach to working in place, with references to historical and contemporary trauma, including trauma caused by placemakers. It introduces the potential of place and of place practitioners to heal. Offering 20 original frameworks, toolkits and learning exercises across 33 first- and third-person chapters, multi-disciplinary insights are presented throughout. These are organised into four sections that lead the reader to an awareness of how trauma and healing operate in place. The book offers a first gathering of the current praxis in the field – how we can move from trauma in place to healing in place – and concludes with calls to action for the trauma-informed placemaking approach to be adopted.This book will be essential reading for students, researchers and practitioners interested in people and places, from artists and architects, policy makers and planners, community development workers and organisations, placemakers, to local and national governments. It will appeal to the disciplines of human geography, sociology, politics, cultural studies, psychology and to placemakers, planners and policymakers and those working in community development.
Tree Plantation Extractivism in Chile: Territories, Fundamental Human Needs, and Resistance (Routledge Studies of the Extractive Industries and Sustainable Development)
by Alejandro Mora-MottaThis book examines how extractivism transforms territories and affects the well-being of rural people, drawing on in-depth fieldwork conducted on tree plantations in Chile.The book argues that pine and eucalyptus monoculture plantations in southern Chile are a form of extractivism representing a mode of nature appropriation that captures large amounts of natural resources to produce wooden-based raw materials with little processing and an export-oriented focus. The book discusses the nexus of extractivism, territorial transformations, well-being, and emerging resistances using a participatory action research methodological approach in the Region of Los Ríos, southern Chile. The findings show how the configuration of an extractivist logging enclave generated a substantial and irrevocable reordering of human-nature relations, resulting in the territorial and ontological occupation of rural places that disrupted the fundamental human needs of peasants and indigenous people. The book maintains that Chile's green growth development approach does not challenge the consolidated tree plantation enclave controlled by large multinationals. Instead, green growth legitimises the extractivist logic. The book draws parallels with other countries and regions to contribute to wider debates surrounding these topics.This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of the extractive industries, development studies, political ecology, and natural resource governance.
Tropical House Design Handbook: Bioclimatic, Safe, Comfortable, Economical and Respectful of the Environment
by Etik2aPacked with accessible information, this book covers all the technical and practical aspects of home design in tropical environments. . It begins by outlining the prerequisites needed to understand the issues involved (climate, heat, thermal comfort, etc.) and discusses the solutions offered by traditional housing. It then identifies current solutions for protecting buildings and their occupants from solar radiation and external heat, while promoting bioclimatic and environmentally friendly approaches. . The economic viability of the solutions identified is discussed, as are the advantages and disadvantages of the materials, depending on the context and standards in force. . Numerous examples illustrate how buildings can be adapted to local realities, from the avant-garde creations of Jean Prouvé to those of today’s architects who are committed to sustainable development, as well as specific projects incorporating the recommendations made in this book. More than 460 photos, drawings, diagrams, tables, maps, house plans, logos and pictograms illustrate this reference work for all those involved in construction in tropical regions, particularly students in the field and, more generally, anyone – from professionals to private individuals – looking for useful information on this subject.
Tunnelling for a Better Life
by Jinxiu YanTunnelling for a Better Life contain the contributions presented at the ITA-AITES World Tunnel Congress 2024, which was held from 19-25 April 2024 in Shenzhen, China. As urbanization accelerates, the pivotal role of tunnels and underground spaces in fostering environmental sustainability and improving quality of life becomes ever more pronounced. These underground structures serve as sustainable solutions to the challenges posed by rapid urban growth. By seamlessly integrating into urban landscapes, they alleviate congestion, reduce pollution, and enhance overall mobility, thus contributing to a greener and more sustainable urban environment. Moreover, tunnels and underground works provide vital support for various urban functions, such as accommodating economic activities, providing safe shelters during emergencies or disasters, and facilitating efficient utility management. They address immediate urban needs and lay the foundation for a better and more resilient future.By focusing on the latest trends in tunnelling and underground engineering, and looking ahead to the era of low-carbon and intelligent technology, the papers in this book illustrate the transformative potential of tunnels and underground works in shaping a better life for present and future generations. The contributions cover a comprehensive range of topics on tunnel engineering, showcasing the latest advancements, insights, and innovations across the following areas:1. Planning and General Aspects2. Design and Methodology3. Geotechnics, Geology and Geophysical Prospecting4. Ground Stability and Consolidation5. Support and Lining6. Conventional Tunnelling7. Mechanized Tunneling (TBM, shield)8. Immersed Tunnels9. Waterproofing and Drainage10. Instrumentation and Monitoring/ Testing and Inspection11. Digital and Information Technology12. Machine Learning13. Underground Caverns/Underground Space Use14. Operational Safety, Maintenance and Repair15. Contractual Practices and Risk ManagementTunnelling for a Better Life is a must-read for professionals, engineers, owners, and other stakeholders worldwide in tunnelling and underground engineering.
Twelve Trees: The Deep Roots of Our Future
by Daniel LewisA compelling global exploration of nature and survival as seen via a dozen species of trees, offering &“extensive insight into the ways in which humans and trees are interconnected&” (BookPage), revealing the challenges facing our planet and how scientists are working urgently to save our forests and our future.The world today is undergoing the most rapid environmental transformation in human history—from climate change to deforestation. Scientists, ethnobotanists, indigenous peoples, and collectives of all kinds are closely studying trees and their biology to understand how and why trees function individually and collectively in the ways they do. In Twelve Trees, Daniel Lewis, curator and historian at one of the world&’s most renowned research libraries, travels the world to learn about these trees in their habitats. Lewis takes us on a sweeping journey to plant breeding labs, botanical gardens, research facilities, deep inside museum collections, to the tops of tall trees, underwater, and around the Earth, journeying into the deserts of the American west and the deep jungles of Peru, to offer a globe-spanning perspective on the crucial impact trees have on our entire planet. When a once-common tree goes extinct in the wild but survives in a botanical garden, what happens next? How can scientists reconstruct lost genomes and habitats? How does a tree store thousands of gallons of water, or offer up perfectly preserved insects from millions of years ago, or root itself in muddy swamps and remain standing? How does a 5,000-year-old tree manage to live, and what can we learn from it? And how can science account for the survival of one species at the expense of others? Twelve Trees &“brims with wonder, appreciation, and even some small hope&” (Booklist) and is an awe-inspiring story of our world, its past, and its future. Note—species include: * The Lost Tree of Easter Island (Sophora toromiro) * The coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) * Hymenaea protera [a fossil tree] * The Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) * East Indian sandalwood (Santanum album) * The Bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) * West African ebony (Diospyros crassiflora) * The Tasmanian blue gum eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) * Olive tree (Olea europaea) * Baobab (Adansonia digitata) * the kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra) * The bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)
UAVs for Spatial Modelling and Urban Informatics
by Tony H. Grubesic Jake R. Nelson Ran WeiThis book aims to provide a wide range of real-world applications in using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for geographic observation, spatial modeling, and urban informatics. Specifically, UAVs are incredibly effective platforms for connecting people, places, and technology. This book explores the utility of UAVs for monitoring, measuring, and improving urban infrastructure systems, urban sustainability, and the urban environment. The dynamism of cities provides opportunities for economic, social, and environmental change, but benchmarking and measuring cities continues to be challenging. This challenge is due, at least in part, to a lack of monitoring systems that can collect and analyze data at a granular enough scale to capture the nuance of local phenomena. UAVs offer a promising mechanism to fill this niche, serving as a measurement platform that can rapidly and inexpensively collect data and monitor change in cities. However, their use is fraught with social, operational, regulatory, and technical challenges for successful deployments. This book provides a resource for urbanists (e.g., planners, geographers, sociologists, epidemiologists, engineers), educators, and students who work with geographic information and seek to enhance these data using data and information from unmanned aerial vehicles. At the same time, we provide operational and methodological frameworks for carrying out these advanced analyses in a manner that considers the challenges of incorporating UAVs in research within the urban environment. We provide six unique applications of UAVs for urban analysis, detailing relevant policy and empirical questions, UAV mission parameters, data collection, spatial modeling, and the associated empirical results. Further, we discuss how best to integrate these results into actionable geospatial intelligence and policy development to improve city infrastructure systems, sustainability, the environment, and neighborhood quality.
The Ultimate Kid's Guide to the Universe: At-Home Activities, Experiments, and More! (The Ultimate Kid's Guide to...)
by Jenny MarderWith stunning photos of outer space and easy at-home experiments, this is the only guide kids need on their journey of learning about all things astronomy: the stars, the planets, the moon, and so much more!Buckle up and let Jenny Marder, a senior writer for NASA, be your guide to the universe! First stop: the moon!A perfect read for kids, just in time for the April 2024 total solar eclipse!
The Ultimate Kid's Guide to Weather: At-Home Activities, Experiments, and More! (The Ultimate Kid's Guide to...)
by Jenny MarderWith stunning photos of Earth's wildest weather and easy at-home STEM activities, this is the only guide kids need on their journey of learning about all things meteorology.Buckle up and let Jenny Marder, a senior writer for NASA, be your guide through the Earth&’s atmosphere! First stop: the stratosphere!
The Ultimate Ocean Encyclopedia: The complete visual guide to ocean life (Ultimate Encyclopedia #3)
by Jon RichardsThis new and unique encyclopedia is an amazing new visual guide to the planet's seas and oceans. Using amazing photography and cutting edge CG images, readers can explore every aspect of our oceans, from the submarines that explore them to the vast array of life that lives in them.Discover the plants and animals that exist in every ocean habitat, from the shore to the lowest trenches. You'll learn about sealife including crustaceans, coral, anenomes, every kind of fish, as well as mammals like sealions, dolphins and orcas, and ocean giants like the Blue Whale.Readers will also be able to see how humans have lived with the ocean for millennia, and how our actions today can doom or save our amazing oceans in the years ahead. This brand new encyclopedia is packed with stunning images that truly bring the wonder and majesty of the world's oceans to life.
Uncertainty, Modeling, and Decision Making in Geotechnics
by Kok-Kwang Phoon, Takayuki Shuku, and Jianye ChingUncertainty, Modeling, and Decision Making in Geotechnics shows how uncertainty quantification and numerical modeling can complement each other to enhance decision-making in geotechnical practice, filling a critical gap in guiding practitioners to address uncertainties directly. The book helps practitioners acquire a working knowledge of geotechnical risk and reliability methods and guides them to use these methods wisely in conjunction with data and numerical modeling. In particular, it provides guidance on the selection of realistic statistics and a cost-effective, accessible method to address different design objectives, and for different problem settings, and illustrates the value of this to decision-making using realistic examples. Bringing together statistical characterization, reliability analysis, reliability-based design, probabilistic inverse analysis, and physical insights drawn from case studies, this reference guide from an international team of experts offers an excellent resource for state-of-the-practice uncertainty-informed geotechnical design for specialist practitioners and the research community.
Uncommon Cause: Living for Environmental Justice in Kerala
by John MathiasHow can activists strike a balance between fighting for a cause and sustaining relationships with family, friends, and neighbors? Uncommon Cause follows environmental justice activists in Kerala, India, as they seek out, avoid, or strive to overcome conflicts between their causes and their community ties. John Mathias finds two contrasting approaches, each offering distinct possibilities for an activist life. One set of activists repudiates community ties and resists normative pressures; for them, environmental justice becomes a way of transcending all local identities and affiliations, even humanity itself. Other activists seek to ground their activism in community belonging, to fight for their own people. Each approach produces its own dilemmas and offers its own insights into ethical tensions we all face between taking a stand and standing with others. In sharing Kerala activists’ diverse stories, Uncommon Cause offers a fresh perspective on environmental ethics, showing that environmentalism, even as it looks beyond merely human concerns, is still fundamentally about how we relate to other people.
Unconventional Shale Gas Exploration and Exploitation: Current Trends in Shale Gas Exploitation (Advances in Oil and Gas Exploration & Production)
by Annapurna Boruah Sumit Verma Shib Sankar GanguliFrom the geological mysteries of shale formations to cutting-edge techniques in gas extraction, this book unveils the essential knowledge to harness the potential of shale gas. The book integrates various data types such as outcrop, well logs, core data, etc.) for hydrofracturing—from basin-scale to nano-pore-scale. The book included a wealth of information on the latest advancements, industry practices, environmental considerations, policies, and more. In a world increasingly conscious of environmental concerns, "Cleaner Energy from the Earth" offers a fresh perspective on the utilization of shale gas as a cleaner fossil fuel alternative. This comprehensive book takes the reader on a captivating journey through the science, technology, and innovation driving shale gas exploration and exploitation towards a greener future. Whether you're a seasoned industry professional, a student, or a curious reader, this book provides a comprehensive and accessible resource for all levels of expertise.
Understanding Atmospheric Rivers Using Machine Learning (SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology)
by Manish Kumar Goyal Shivam SinghThis book delves into the characterization, impacts, drivers, and predictability of atmospheric rivers (AR). It begins with the historical background and mechanisms governing AR formation, giving insights into the global and regional perspectives of ARs, observing their varying manifestations across different geographical contexts. The book explores the key characteristics of ARs, from their frequency and duration to intensity, unraveling the intricate relationship between atmospheric rivers and precipitation. The book also focus on the intersection of ARs with large-scale climate oscillations, such as El Niño and La Niña events, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). The chapters help understand how these climate phenomena influence AR behavior, offering a nuanced perspective on climate modeling and prediction. The book also covers artificial intelligence (AI) applications, from pattern recognition to prediction modeling and early warning systems. A case study on AR prediction using deep learning models exemplifies the practical applications of AI in this domain. The book culminates by underscoring the interdisciplinary nature of AR research and the synergy between atmospheric science, climatology, and artificial intelligence
Understanding Environmental Education: From Theory to Practices in India
by Chong ShimrayThe book establishes the importance of environmental education by tracing its history and the developments that have taken place subsequently to date. It provides basic understanding about environmental education as well as valuable suggestions for its effective incorporation in the school curriculum. The strength of the book lies in its content as all major areas of environmental education have been addressed such as school curriculum, professional development, and policies, especially in the context of India, thus making it a unique and go-to resource for all stakeholders working in the field of environmental education. The well-balanced content will help readers appreciate the nature of environmental education and its distinctiveness from other subject disciplines as well as environmental studies and environmental science substantiated with several examples and illustrations. What is striking about the book is its proposed road map which is critical for successful implementation of environmental education in India with the launch of the National Education Policy 2020 and the subsequent introduction of new curriculum frameworks. The book will be useful to students, preservice teachers, and teacher educators. It will also be of much value to in-service teachers, practitioners in different settings, teachers, policy makers, curriculum developers, and researchers in the field of environmental education.
Understanding Imperiled Earth: How Archaeology and Human History Can Inform Our Planet's Future
by Todd J. BrajeA unique introduction to how understanding archaeology can support modern-day sustainability efforts, from restoring forested land to developing fire management strategiesAn essential and hopeful book for climate-conscious readersThe world faces an uncertain future with the rise of climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, overfishing, and other threats. Understanding Imperiled Earth meets this uncertainty head-on, presenting archaeology and history as critical guides to addressing the modern environmental crisis.Anthropologist Todd J. Braje draws connections between deep history and today's hot-button environmental news stories to reveal how the study of the ancient past can help build a more sustainable future. The book covers a diverse array of interconnected issues, including: how modern humans have altered the natural world conservation work of Indigenous communitiesextinction of megafauna like dire wolves and woolly rhinocerosthe risk of deforestation highlighted by Notre Dame's destructionthe extinction crisis reflected by endangered bird species in Hawai'ifish scarcity driving demand and price, like the single blue-fin tuna fish that sold for three million dollarsimportance of "action archaeology" Braje examines how historical roots offer a necessary baseline for a healthier Earth, because understanding how the planet used to be is fundamental to creating effective restoration efforts moving forward through urban forests, sustainable food webs, and more. Understanding Imperiled Earth offers an illuminating, hopeful, and actionable approach to some of the world's most urgent problems.
Unfolding Spatial Movements in the Second-Hand Book Market in Kolkata: Notes on the Margins in the Boipara (Critical Studies in Heritage, Emotion and Affect)
by Diti BhattacharyaThis insightful book unfolds the boipara, exploring the acts of thinking and writing about space and place in the context of recent key conversations at the intersections of cultural geographies, mobilities, materialities and heritage studies. This book reconsiders how we can think about space, place and spatialisation using the book market as a case study. Focusing on everyday lived and imagined experiences within the space, it provides insights into the intricacies, complexities and mobilities involved in the many ways in which temporal, material, structural and sensorial experiences of spaces are inter-implicated. As expression and method, this work aims to be a writing of space (rather than a writing about space) produced through the interleafing of the author’s lived spatial experience of the boipara with the stories, experiences and memories of other regulars who have used and continue to use it, along with the non-human materialities and mobilities that characterise it. This book is essential reading for a wide international audience, particularly those interested in the evolving discussions on mobility, or writing about space and place, materiality, assemblage theory and heritage spaces in the South Asian context.
Unhomely Life: Modernity, Mobilities and the Making of Home in China (RGS-IBG Book Series)
by Xiaobo SuHow do Chinas mobile individuals create a sense of home in a rapidly changing world? Unhomely life, different from houselessness, refers to a fluctuating condition between losing home feelings and the search for home — a prevalent condition in post-Mao China. The faster that Chinese society modernizes, the less individuals feel at home, and the more they yearn for a sense of home. This is the central paradox that Xiaobo Su explores: how mobile individuals—lifestyle migrants and retreat tourists from China's big cities, displaced natives and rural migrants in peripheral China—handle the loss of home and try to experience a homely way of life. In Unhomely Life, Xiaobo Su examines the subjective experiences of mobile individuals to better understand why they experience the loss of home feelings and how they search for home. Integrating extensive empirical data and a robust theoretical framework, the author presents a journey-based critical analysis of “home” under constant making, un-making, and re-making in post-Mao China. Su argues that the making of home is not a solely economic or rational calculation for maximum return, but rather a synthesis of resistance and compromise under the disappointing conditions of modernity. Offering rich insights into the continuity and disruption of China's great transformation, Unhomely Life: Develops an original theory of unhomely life that incorporates contemporary research and traditional Chinese ideas of home Explores the process of homemaking and its implications for understanding the costs of high-speed economic growth in China Analyzes mobile individuals across different genders, ages, ethnicities, social classes, and economic backgrounds to address the balance between meaning and money in everyday life Containing in-depth and sophisticated empirical data collected from 2002 to 2020, Unhomely Life: Modernity, Mobilities, and the Making of Home in China is an invaluable resource for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, lecturers, and academic researchers in cultural studies, migration, tourism, China studies, cultural anthropology, sociology, and social and cultural geography.
Unified Vision for a Sustainable Future: A Multidisciplinary Approach Towards the Sustainable Development Goals
by Mir Sayed Shah DanishUnified Vision for a Sustainable Future: A Multidisciplinary Approach Towards the Sustainable Development Goals focuses on energy and the environment, highlighting interdisciplinary research, innovative strategies, and global initiatives presented at the International Conference on Collaborative Endeavors for Global Sustainability (CEGS 2024). The book explores the various pillars of sustainability – environmental, social, institutional, technical, and economic – and provides readers with case studies, practical solutions, and models for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The book further examines the implications of these initiatives, analyzing their potential for long-lasting, sustainable impact.This book will appeal to a broad readership. Academics, researchers, policymakers, sustainability advocates, and anyone interested in global sustainability will find the book insightful.
Unsettled (Updated and Expanded Edition): What Climate Science Tells Us, What It Doesn't, and Why It Matters
by Steven E. KooninIn this updated and expanded edition of climate scientist Steven Koonin&’s groundbreaking book, go behind the headlines to discover the latest eye-opening data about climate change—with unbiased facts and realistic steps for the future."Greenland&’s ice loss is accelerating.""Extreme temperatures are causing more fatalities.""Rapid 'climate action' is essential to avoid a future climate disaster."You've heard all this presented as fact. But according to science, all of these statements are profoundly misleading.With the new edition of Unsettled, Steven Koonin draws on decades of experience—including as a top science advisor to the Obama administration—to clear away the fog and explain what science really says (and doesn't say). With a new introduction, this edition now features reflections on an additional three years of eye-opening data, alternatives to unrealistic &“net zero&” solutions, global energy inequalities, and the energy crisis arising from the war in Ukraine. When it comes to climate change, the media, politicians, and other prominent voices have declared that &“the science is settled.&” In reality, the climate is changing, but the why and how aren&’t as clear as you&’ve probably been led to believe. Koonin takes readers behind the headlines, dispels popular myths, and unveils little-known truths: Despite rising greenhouse gas emissions, global temperatures decreased from 1940 to 1970Models currently used to predict the future do not accurately describe the climate of the past, and modelers themselves strongly doubt their regional predictionsThere is no compelling evidence that hurricanes are becoming more frequent—or that predictions of rapid sea level rise have any validity Unsettled is a reality check buoyed by hope, offering the truth about climate science—what we know, what we don&’t, and what it all means for our future.
Urban Ecology: An Introduction
by Philip James Ian DouglasThis fully revised second edition reflects the great expansion in urban ecology research, action, and teaching since 2015. Urban ecology provides an understanding of urban ecosystems and uses nature-based techniques to enhance habitats and alleviate poor environmental conditions. Already the home to the majority of the world’s people, urban areas continue to grow, causing ecological changes throughout the world. To help students of all professions caring for urban areas and the people, animals, and plants that live in them, the authors set out the environmental and ecological science of cities, linkages between urban nature and human health, urban food production in cities, and how we can value urban nature. The authors explore our responsibilities for urban nature and greening, ecological management techniques, and the use of nature-based solutions to achieve a better, more sustainable urban future and ensure that cities can climate change and become more beautiful and more sustainable places in which to live. This text provides the student and the practitioner with a critical scientific overview of urban ecology that will be a key source of data and ideas for studies and for sound urban management.
Urban Ethics as Research Agenda: Outlooks and Tensions on Multidisciplinary Debates (Routledge Studies in Urbanism and the City)
by Raúl Acosta Eveline Dürr Moritz Ege Ursula Prutsch Clemens Van Loyen Gordon M. WinderThis book provides an outline for a multidisciplinary research agenda into urban ethics and offers insights into the various ways urban ethics can be configured. It explores practices and discourses through which individuals, collectives and institutions determine which developments and projects may be favourable for dwellers and visitors traversing cities. Urban Ethics as Research Agenda widens the lens to include other actors apart from powerful individuals or institutions, paying special attention to activists or civil society organizations that express concerns about collective life. The chapters provide fresh perspectives addressing the various scales that converge in the urban. The uniqueness of each city is, thus, enriched with global patterns of the urban. Local sociocultural characteristics coexist with global flows of ideas, goods and people. The focus on urban ethics sheds light on emerging spaces of human development and the ways in which ethical narratives are used to mobilize and contest them in terms of the good life. This timely book analyses urban ethical negotiations from social and cultural studies, particularly drawing on anthropology, geography, and history. This volume will be of interest to scholars, researchers and practitioners interested in ethics and urban studies.
Urban Flood Mitigation Strategies Using Geo Spatial Tools: A Practical Approach for Cities and Towns of Developing World
by Narendar KumarThe disastrous effects of floods in urban areas of various Indian cities have been increasing in severity and extent over the past decade. This book explores flood disasters, their impact in world and Indian contexts, assessing vulnerability and risks involved, and systematic use of (GIS)-enabled platforms to map mitigation measures sustainably, with special reference to the metropolitan flood mitigation endeavors. This book balances the theoretical with empirical approaches to form a unique standpoint on the various challenges and possible solutions to urban flooding in India. Through a study of major urban flood incidents, this book analyzes the factors which contribute to the rising risk of flooding with increasing urbanization, population dynamics, growth, and urban sprawl, with particular focus on the cities of Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad in India. It also examines disaster governance on urban floods and legislative prospects of flood disasters through discussions on standing acts, United Nations (UN) directives, and internationally adopted practices and actions, which are applicable in the Indian context. An interdisciplinary study, this book brings together tools and research from various disciplines including geography, urban and regional planning, and GIS. It will be an invaluable resource for researchers, scholars, engineers, students, planners, academicians, and professionals of cross-disciplines to help them resolve the problem of urban flooding. It will also be of interest to the general reader seeking to learn more about disasters, urban flooding, engineering, and GIS.
Urban Inequalities from Space: Earth Observation Applications in the Majority World (Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing #26)
by Monika Kuffer Stefanos GeorganosRapid transformation processes occur in the Majority World, where most of the global population is living (estimated around ¾ of the global population), often deprived of access to infrastructure, services, exposed to hazards and degrading environmental conditions. The continuous urbanization in many African, Asian and Latin American cities is coupled with rapid socio-economic and demographic changes in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. These changes often increase socio-economic fragmentation and existing disparities. According to the United Nations, of the 36 fastest growing cities (with an average annual growth rate of more than 6%), seven are located in Africa, while 28 are found in Asia. On top of the socio-economic transformations, the increasing impact of climate change is expected to increase local vulnerabilities. However, data to understand these transformation processes and relationships are either unavailable, scarce or come with high degrees of uncertainty. Earth Observation information and methods have a great potential to fill data gaps, but they are not exploited to their full potential. Most urban remote sensing studies in the Majority World focus on the primary cities, while not much is known about secondary cities, urbanizing zones or peri-urban areas. Attempting to measure and map environmental and socio-economic phenomena through remote sensing is fundamentally different from extracting bio-physical parameters. In general, studies done by researchers of the Minority World do not sufficiently understand the information needs and capacity demands of the Majority World, especially related to user requirements and ethical perspectives. In this book, we aim to provide an outlook on how Remote Sensing can provide tailored solutions to information needs in urban and urbanizing areas of the Majority World, e.g., in terms socio-economic, environmental and demographic transformation processes. We will provide methodological and application pathways insupport of local and national information needs as well as in support of sustainable development, and specifically, supporting the monitoring of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The book combines an overview of innovations in applications, methodologies and data use, showing the capacity of Earth Observation to fill global knowledge gaps.