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Achievements, History and Challenges in Geophysics: 60th Anniversary of the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences (GeoPlanet: Earth and Planetary Sciences)
by Robert Bialik Mariusz Majdański Mateusz MoskalikOver the last six decades, the field of geophysics has experienced rapid development. Seismic methods, magnetic studies, hydrology and atmospheric sciences have expanded thanks to a boom in the computer sciences and measurement techniques. The frontiers of geophysics have also expanded, now including research on the polar areas, both Arctic and Antarctic. All these events are clearly reflected in the 60-year-long history of the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences. This volume describes the most prominent achievements, the history of research and also the future potential of the Institute of Geophysics PAS. It describes measurements in various projects, methods of interpreting scientific data, and last but not least the people who have driven this research in many scientific projects.
Achieving a Just Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy
by Raphael J HeffronThe ambition of most countries across the world is to develop a low-carbon economy, evidenced by the fact that the vast majority of countries have signed the Paris COP21 agreement. This book contends that this global societal transition to a low-carbon economy must be just. As such, it will be an invaluable and accessible reference for scholars from all research disciplines who aim in their research to see a fairer, more equitable and inclusive world where sustainability is at the fore and climate targets are achieved.This is the first in-depth and original analysis to explore the central importance of law in achieving a just transition to a low-carbon economy. In addition, it advances the JUST framework, a unique framework for assessing the just transition. This important research and theoretical tool provides a practical perspective as it ensures the geographical space and timelines of development are factored into analysis. The research also provides analysis on the just transition movement around the world and the influence of international institutions.Through several case studies on Just Transition Commissions and Critical Mineral Development, the book details and demonstrates key elements of justice, including distributive, procedural, restorative, recognition, and cosmopolitan justice. It is clear from the analysis that while these are vast areas for analysis, if applied in practice, they all centrally contribute to ensuring society will advance in achieving a just transition to a low-carbon economy.
Achieving Biodiversity Protection in Megadiverse Countries: A Comparative Assessment of Australia and Brazil (Routledge Studies in Biodiversity Politics and Management)
by Paul Martin Márcia Dieguez Leuzinger Solange Teles da Silva Gabriel Leunziger CoutinhoThis volume systematically analyses why legal doctrines for the protection of biodiversity are not sufficiently effective. It examples implementation in Australia and Brazil, two megadiverse countries with very differing legal and cultural traditions and natural environments. Substantial effort goes into the development and interpretation of legal doctrines for the protection of biodiversity in national and international law. Despite this, biodiversity continues in steep decline. Nowhere is this more evident than in megadiverse countries, such as Australia and Brazil, which possess the greatest number and diversity of animals and plants on Earth. The book covers a wide range of topics, including farming, mining, marine environments, indigenous interests and governance. Achieving Biodiversity Protection in Megadiverse Countries highlights specific causes of underperformance in protecting diverse terrestrial and marine environments. It provides proposals for more effective implementation in these two jurisdictions, relevant to other megadiverse territories, and for biodiversity protection generally. Each chapter was written by teams of Australian and Brazilian authors, so that similar issues are considered across both jurisdictions, to provide both country-specific and generalisable insights. Achieving Biodiversity Protection in Megadiverse Countries will be of great interest to students and scholars of environmental law and governance and biodiversity conservation, as well as policymakers, practitioners and NGOs working in these fields.
Achieving Building Comfort by Natural Means (Innovative Renewable Energy)
by Ali SayighAchieving Building Comfort by Natural Means explores examples of green building designs and methods that are currently being used around the world to achieve human comfort in buildings. The operation of buildings accounts for more than 40% of total energy use and is a major source of carbon emissions. It is imperative that this consumption be substantially decreased and that energy needed for building comfort is obtained from renewable and environmentally friendly sources. This book brings together a global group of contributors who look at factors such as location, climate, building materials, energy management, ventilation, thermal environmental conditions, shading, lighting, acoustics, and more that are critical for achieving buildings that are more sustainable.Thermal comfort and climatic potential of ventilative cooling in Italian climates is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.
Achieving Education for All through Public–Private Partnerships?: Non-State Provision of Education in Developing Countries (Development in Practice Books)
by Pauline RoseConcern for achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 has led to a focus on the role that non-state providers (NSPs) can offer in extending access and improving quality of basic services. While NSPs can help to fill a gap in provision to those excluded from state provision, recent growth in both for-profit and not-for-profit providers in developing countries has sometimes resulted in fragmentation of service delivery. To address this, attention is increasingly given in the education sector to developing ‘partnerships’ between governments and NSPs. Partnerships are further driven by the expectation that the state has the moral, social, and legal responsibility for overall education service delivery and so should play a role in facilitating and regulating NSPs.Even where the ultimate aim of both non-state providers and the state is to provide education of acceptable quality to all children, this book provides evidence from diverse contexts across Africa, South Asia, and Latin America to highlight the challenges in them partnering to achieve this. This book was published as a special issue of Development in Practice.
Achieving Sustainability: Critical Barriers and Future Perspectives
by Karen BlincoeThe book provides an assessment of whether sustainability is realizable in the current societal framework. What are the challenges and the barriers - and what are the levers necessary to meet and overcome them?Through a revision of the essence of sustainability the book provides an opportunity to understand the deeper level of the radical change that sustainability represents, and the resistance that is preventing its realization.To build the argument the sustainable development model is compared with current development theories as well as alternative solutions based on utopian models of the past. The book assesses the results that can be achieved within the current systemic framework, based on case stories. It outlines the limitations to sustainability, pointing out and defining the multiple, cross-sectoral and systemic barriers that hinder the transition.Finally, the book offers perspectives on achieving a sustainable future, encompassing the impacts from recent events including the pandemic as well as the multiple mitigation and transition initiatives undertaken globally.Brian Goodwin's QuoteLike the caterpillar that wraps itself up in its silken swaddling bands prior to its metamorphosis into a butterfly, we have wrapped ourselves in a tangled skin from which we can emerge only by going through a similarly dramatic transformation.
Achieving Sustainability in Ukraine through Military Brownfields Redevelopment (NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security)
by Cezar Morar Laurel Berman Serap Erdal Liudmyla NiemetsThis book is written by international experts who are brownfields practitioners from over 15 countries. Blighted and contaminated properties, including military, industrial, commercial, and multi-residential properties, globally referred to as “brownfields,” are a shared phenomenon among NATO and NATO-partner countries. They provide practical solutions to addressing, evaluating, and cleaning up brownfields, including multiple case studies. Topics include reuse of military brownfields, sustainable site reuse, community engagement, risk assessment, impacts of the war in Ukraine related to military brownfields development and redevelopment, a free training to improve capacity to evaluate environmental and health risks of brownfields, and shared best practices.
Achieving the Paris Climate Agreement Goals: Global and Regional 100% Renewable Energy Scenarios with Non-energy GHG Pathways for +1.5°C and +2°C
by Sven Teske<p>This open access book presents detailed pathways to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050, globally and across ten geographical regions. Based on state-of-the-art scenario modelling, it provides the vital missing link between renewable energy targets and the measures needed to achieve them. Bringing together the latest research in climate science, renewable energy technology, employment and resource impacts, the book breaks new ground by covering all the elements essential to achieving the ambitious climate mitigation targets set out in the Paris Climate Agreement. For example, sectoral implementation pathways, with special emphasis on differences between developed and developing countries and regional conditions, provide tools to implement the scenarios globally and domestically. Non-energy greenhouse gas mitigation scenarios define a sustainable pathway for land-use change and the agricultural sector. Furthermore, results of the impact of the scenarios on employment and mineral and resource requirements provide vital insight on economic and resource management implications. <p>The book clearly demonstrates that the goals of the Paris Agreement are achievable and feasible with current technology and are beneficial in economic and employment terms. It is essential reading for anyone with responsibility for implementing renewable energy or climate targets internationally or domestically, including climate policy negotiators, policy-makers at all levels of government, businesses with renewable energy commitments, researchers and the renewable energy industry.</p>
Achieving the Paris Climate Agreement Goals: Part 2: Science-based Target Setting for the Finance industry — Net-Zero Sectoral 1.5˚C Pathways for Real Economy Sectors
by Sven TeskeThis open access book is designed as a continuation of the editor’s 2019 book Achieving the Paris Climate Agreement Goals. This volume provides an in-depth analysis of industry sectors globally, and its purpose is to present emission reduction targets in 5-year steps (2025 to 2050) for the main twelve finance sectors per the Global Industry Classification System. This scientific analysis aims to support the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment initiative to give sustainability guidance for the global finance industry. The industry sector pathways presented here are based on the latest global and regional 100% renewable energy and non-energy greenhouse gas Representative Concentration Pathways in order to keep climate change significantly under +1.5 C and thereby achieve the Paris Climate Agreement goals. The heart of this book is three chapters presenting the results of industry scenario modelling. These chapters cover twelve industry and service sectors as well as transportation and buildings. The specific energy demand and specific emissions are presented based on the emission accounting concept of “Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3” emission pathways. This methodology has been developed to measure the climate and sustainability index for companies, and this research project expands the methodology to apply it to entire industry sectors. The results presented here are the first overall industry assessments under Scope 1, 2 and 3 from 2020 through 2050. The base for the energy pathways is the scenarios scenarios published in the previous volume. The nonenergy GHG emission scenarios, broken down to agriculture & forestry and industry, are detailed and include all major greenhouse gases and aerosols. The final section of the book presents the main conclusions of the industry pathway development work and recommendations for the finance industry and policy makers. Additionally, future qualitative future investment requirements in specific technologies and measures are presented.
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: Global Governance Challenges (Routledge Studies in Sustainable Development)
by Simon Dalby Susan Horton Rianne Mahon Diana ThomazThis book draws on the expertise of faculty and colleagues at the Balsillie School of International Affairs to both locate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a contribution to the development of global government and to examine the political-institutional and financial challenges posed by the SDGs. The contributors are experts in global governance issues in a broad variety of fields ranging from health, food systems, social policy, migration and climate change. An introductory chapter sets out the broad context of the governance challenges involved, and how individual chapters contribute to the analysis. The book begins by focusing on individual SDGs, examining briefly the background to the particular goal and evaluating the opportunities and challenges (particularly governance challenges) in achieving the goal, as well as discussing how this goal relates to other SDGs. The book goes on to address the broader issues of achieving the set of goals overall, examining the novel financing mechanisms required for an enterprise of this nature, the trade-offs involved (particularly between the urgent climate agenda and the social/economic goals), the institutional arrangements designed to enable the achievement of the goals and offering a critical perspective on the enterprise as a whole. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals makes a distinctive contribution by covering a broad range of individual goals with contributions from experts on governance in the global climate, social and economic areas as well as providing assessments of the overall project – its financial feasibility, institutional requisites, and its failures to tackle certain problems at the core. This book will be of great interest to scholars and students of international affairs, development studies and sustainable development, as well as those engaged in policymaking nationally, internationally and those working in NGOs.
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Through Sustainable Food Systems (Food And Health Ser.)
by Riccardo Valentini John L. Sievenpiper Marta Antonelli Katarzyna DembskaThis publication offers a systemic analysis of sustainability in the food system, taking as its framework the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations. Targeted chapters from experts in the field cover main challenges in the food system and propose methods for achieving long term sustainability. Authors focus on how sustainability can be achieved along the whole food chain and in different contexts. Timely issues such as food security, climate change and migration and sustainable agriculture are discussed in depth. The volume is unique in its multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder approach. Chapter authors come from a variety of backgrounds, and authors include academic professors, members of CSO and other international organizations, and policy makers. This plurality allows for a nuanced analysis of sustainability goals and practices from a variety of perspectives, making the book useful to a wide range of readers working in different areas related to sustainability and food production. The book is targeted towards the academic community and practitioners in the policy, international cooperation, nutrition, geography, and social sciences fields. Professors teaching in nutrition, food technology, food sociology, geography, global economics, food systems, agriculture and agronomy, and political science and international cooperation may find this to be a useful supplemental text in their courses.
Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 8: Economic Growth and Decent Work For All (Environment for Development)
by Lotta Dellve Sharon Fonn Gunnar Köhlin Katrin SkagertThis book brings together knowledge on how to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8, to bring societal change through sustainable economic growth and decent work for all by 2030.At its core is the great challenge of achieving economic growth without compromising the environment, while ensuring respect for fundamental human rights, and in particular the right to employment with equal and safe work conditions. This book provides a critical analysis of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 in the 2030 Agenda, its targets and indicators, to reveal biases, tensions and contradictions that need to be addressed to achieve this goal and to guide policymaking. The role and potential of academia to contribute to achieving this SDG is scrutinized. Chapters examine and assess specific targets for SDG 8, which includes policies, resource efficiency, youth employment, child labour and sustainable tourism. Higher education institutions’ tools for capacity building are presented, examining how education and academic research can play a role in achieving the SDG 8 targets. Overall, this book offers a synthesis of how research and higher education can make a difference in achieving a complex SDG.This book will be of great interest to academics and professionals working on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and can be used as a policymaking guide for 2030 and beyond.
Acid-Base Diagrams
by Heike Kahlert Fritz ScholzUnderstanding acid-base equilibria made easy for students in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, environmental and earth sciences. Solving chemical problems, be it in education or in real life, often requires the understanding of the acid-base equilibria behind them. Based on many years of teaching experience, Heike Kahlert and Fritz Scholz present a powerful tool to meet such challenges. They provide a simple guide to the fundamentals and applications of acid-base diagrams, avoiding complex mathematics. This textbook is richly illustrated and has full color throughout. It offers learning features such as boxed results and a collection of formulae.
Acid Mine Drainage: From Waste to Resources
by Geoffrey S. Simate Sehliselo NdlovuAcid mine drainage (AMD) is essentially the flow of water polluted with metals and other substances from existing/old mining areas and is considered to be one of the sources of pollution. A wide range of technologies are available for preventing AMD generation and/or treating AMD before discharge, but there is a shift towards recovery of industrially useful materials and products from AMD. Acid Mine Drainage: From Waste to Resources explores novel methods developed for the reuse and/or recovery of industrially useful materials from AMD including discussing generation, prediction, prevention, and remediation processes. It includes legislation and policy frameworks governing AMD and its environmental/health impacts. Provides a detailed overview of the mining operations and discusses the geochemical and hydrogeological context of acid mine drainage AMD formation, prediction and impact Presents a holistic approach to AMD generation, prediction, prevention, and remediation processes Presents exclusive material on reuse, recycling, and recovery of industrially useful materials from AMD Gives a detailed overview of the legislation and policy regulatory framework governing the management of AMD Analyses the effects of AMD on the environment and health This volume is aimed at researchers and professionals in metallurgical engineering, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, and mining engineering, including policy makers.
Acid Mine Drainage in South Africa: Development Actors, Policy Impacts, and Broader Implications (SpringerBriefs in Environmental Science)
by Suvania NaidooThis SpringerBrief focuses on Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the three basins in the Witwatersrand, South Africa. It provides a background to AMD and its impactsfrom a social science perspective. The South African government and non-governmental organizations' response to AMD is assessed, as well the socio-economic and developmental effects of AMD. This volume, which is based on the author's Master's dissertation at UNISA, involves interviews with a range of experts in the field from government departments, environmental organisations (activists), the private sector (mining), tourism sector and the agricultural sector. The book discusses existing policy documents on AMD and provides recommendations in response to the many socio-economic impacts which have not been fully addressed. A literature review on the global context of AMD is provided. South Africa's water systems are already severely harmed by climate change, different forms of pollution, and poorly managed sanitation systems. For these reasons, the country is becoming increasingly water-stressed and therefore, water will continue to become much scarcer in the future. As a result of AMD's continued impact on South Africa's water systems, as a technical or scientific matter as well as the policy implications for the mining sector, water security and socio-economic sustainability has become a highly contested issue.
Acid Rain: Rhetoric and Reality (Routledge Revivals)
by Chris C. ParkThis title, first published in 1987, provides an authoritative account of both the science and the politics of acid rain. Chris Park places the debates surrounding acid rain in context, and examines the full implications of scientific studies and the effects of acid rain on surface waters, soils and buildings. Evidence is drawn from around the world, including an examination of the damage in Scandinavia and Germany and the effects of acid rain in the U.K. and U.S.A. A comprehensive and relevant work, this is an important guide for students of geography, environment and sustainability and energy policy.
Acid Rain
by J. RoseOriginally published in 1994 this volume includes contributions from environmental scientists, consultants and research workers. The incidence and effects of the phenomenon of acid rain in the late 1970s, 80s and early 1990s , as well as certain remedies, are discussed at length. The roles of vehicles and power stations are examined in detail and legal aspects of curbing acid rain are considered.
Acknowledging Indigenous Knowledge: Voices of Tropical Forest People (Urbanization, Industrialization, and the Environment)
by Purabi BoseThis book explores how the landscapes in indigenous territories are rapidly changing due to increased global industrial demand. This deforestation and urbanization have isolated the indigenous people from practicing ‘traditional ways of life.’ Portrayed in this book is the indigenous people’s perspective of their indigenous knowledge (IK) about the environment and why losing IK is a threat to humans, wildlife, and nature. Insight is shared into why acknowledging IK as a science can help solve climate change, food and nutrition insecurity, and increasing new types of pandemics through evidence‑based stories from indigenous people. Features:• Bridges the fractured space between science and nature.• Documents the perspectives of indigenous peoples about their ancestral knowledge.• Provides ethnographic qualitative comparative case studies of forest‑dwelling indigenous peoples over a 19‑year period.• Covers largely remote indigenous territories of ten tropical countries in the Global South.• Provides evidence‑based stories examining indigenous knowledge’s role in the tropics in preserving diverse landscapes and providing nature‑based solutions.
ACMSM25: Proceedings of the 25th Australasian Conference on Mechanics of Structures and Materials (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering #37)
by Chien Ming Wang Johnny C. M. Ho Sritawat KitipornchaiThis book presents articles from The Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials (ACMSM25 held in Brisbane, December 2018), celebrating the 50th anniversary of the conference. First held in Sydney in 1967, it is one of the longest running conferences of its kind, taking place every 2–3 years in Australia or New Zealand. Bringing together international experts and leaders to disseminate recent research findings in the fields of structural mechanics, civil engineering and materials, it offers a forum for participants from around the world to review, discuss and present the latest developments in the broad discipline of mechanics and materials in civil engineering.
Acoustic Analysis and Design of Short Elliptical End-Chamber Mufflers
by Akhilesh MimaniThis book presents a three-dimensional analysis of acoustic wave propagation in an elliptical waveguide, and applies the equations and concepts to design axially short elliptical end-chamber muffler configurations which are an important component of a complex multi-pass muffler used in a modern-day automotive exhaust system. A general solution of the Helmholtz equation in elliptical cylindrical co-ordinates is presented in terms of the Mathieu and modified Mathieu modal functions. This is followed by the tabulation and analysis, for the first time, of the non-dimensional resonance frequencies of the transverse modes of a rigid-wall elliptical waveguide for a complete range of aspect ratio. The modal shape patterns of the first few circumferential, radial and cross-modes are examined with particular attention to the pressure nodal ellipses and hyperbolae. An analytical formulation is then outlined for characterizing a single-inlet and single-outlet elliptical muffler with the inlet located on the end face and the outlet located either on the end face or side-surface. The ensuing chapter is devoted toward analyzing the Transmission Loss (TL) performance of different short end-chamber mufflers, namely (a) the straight-flow configuration having ports located on the opposite face, (b) the flow-reversal configuration with ports located on the same end face and (c) configuration with inlet port on the end face and outlet on the side surface. Design guidelines are formulated in terms of the optimal location of inlet and outlet ports which suppresses the deteriorating influence of certain higher-order modes, thereby delivering a broadband TL performance. Directions for future work are discussed toward the end. In summary, this book is a one-stop solution for a practicing automotive engineer designing mufflers, for an applied mathematician studying wave propagation in elliptical geometries, and also as a niche area within noise control engineering.
Acoustic Emission: Methodology and Application (Foundations of Engineering Mechanics)
by Zinoviy Nazarchuk Valentyn Skalskyi Oleh SerhiyenkoThis monograph analyses in detail the physical aspects of the elastic waves radiation during deformation or fracture of materials. It presents the methodological bases for the practical use of acoustic emission device, and describes the results of theoretical and experimental researches of evaluation of the crack growth resistance of materials, selection of the useful AE signals. The efficiency of this methodology is shown through the diagnostics of various-purpose industrial objects. The authors obtain results of experimental researches with the help of the new methods and facilities.
Acoustic Emission and Critical Phenomena: From Structural Mechanics to Geophysics
by Alberto Carpinteri Giuseppe LacidognaThe Acoustic Emission (AE) technique uses ad hoc transducers to detect AE events caused by crack growth in structures under external loading. This technique is similar to the one employed in earthquake control, where seismic waves reach the monitoring stations placed on the surface of the Earth. And although they take place on different scales, the
Acoustic Investigation of Complex Seabeds (SpringerBriefs in Oceanography)
by Jacques Yves Guigné Philippe BlondelOffshore drilling and constructions require exact knowledge of the geophysical properties of the seabed and sub-seabed, as unexpected objects can slow down or halt projects. This book presents the state-of-the-art in acoustic exploration of the seabed and sub-seabed, from initial designs in the 1980s to commercial contracting and operation of the Acoustic Corer(tm) in the last decade. The Acoustic Corer(tm) is a high-definition commercial acoustic sub-bottom imaging system, producing an "acoustic core" within which sub-seabed sedimentary characteristics and discrete buried objects larger than 0. 5 m can be identified and mapped. It makes use of the innovative JYG-cross design, inspired by seismic reflection and uses Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) multi-angle scattering in and within the seabed to deliver unprecedented imagery. This book was written by the inventor of these concepts, a known specialist in seabed acoustics, with help from an experienced academic and author. It is intended first and foremost as a "how-to" guide for offshore industries looking at techniques to make the installation of different types of structures safe and efficient.
Acoustic Waves in Periodic Structures, Metamaterials, and Porous Media: From Fundamentals to Industrial Applications (Topics in Applied Physics #143)
by Noé Jiménez Olga Umnova Jean-Philippe GrobyThis book delivers a comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of practical applications of metamaterials, structured media, and conventional porous materials. With increasing levels of urbanization, a growing demand for motorized transport, and inefficient urban planning, environmental noise exposure is rapidly becoming a pressing societal and health concern. Phononic and sonic crystals, acoustic metamaterials, and metasurfaces can revolutionize noise and vibration control and, in many cases, replace traditional porous materials for these applications.In this collection of contributed chapters, a group of international researchers reviews the essentials of acoustic wave propagation in metamaterials and porous absorbers with viscothermal losses, as well as the most recent advances in the design of acoustic metamaterial absorbers. The book features a detailed theoretical introduction describing commonly used modelling techniques such as plane wave expansion, multiple scattering theory, and the transfer matrix method. The following chapters give a detailed consideration of acoustic wave propagation in viscothermal fluids and porous media, and the extension of this theory to non-local models for fluid saturated metamaterials, along with a description of the relevant numerical methods. Finally, the book reviews a range of practical industrial applications, making it especially attractive as a white book targeted at the building, automotive, and aeronautic industries.
Acoustics and Vibration of Mechanical Structures – AVMS-2021: Proceedings of the 16th AVMS, Timişoara, Romania, May 28-29, 2021 (Springer Proceedings in Physics #274)
by Nicolae Herisanu Vasile MarincaThis book is a collection of contributions presented at the 16th Conference on Acoustic and Vibration of Mechanical Structure held in Timişoara, Romania, May 28, 2021. The conference focused on a broad range of topics related to acoustics and vibration, such as noise and vibration control, noise and vibration generation and propagation, effects of noise and vibration, condition monitoring and vibration testing, modelling, prediction and simulation of noise and vibration, environmental and occupational noise and vibration, noise and vibration attenuators, biomechanics and bioacoustics. The book also discusses analytical, numerical and experimental techniques applicable to analyze linear and non-linear noise and vibration problems (including strong nonlinearity) and it is primarily intended to emphasize the actual trends and state-of-the-art developments in the above mentioned topics. The primary audience of this book consist of academics, researchers and professionals, as well as PhD students concerned with various fields of acoustics and vibration of mechanical structures.