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Earth Materials And Health: Research Priorities For Earth Science And Public Health
by National Research Council Institute of Medicine of the National AcademiesA range of natural earth materials, like arsenic or fluoride, have long been linked to significant human health effects. Improved understanding of the pervasive and complex interactions between earth materials and human health will require creative collaborations between earth scientists and public health professionals. At the request of the National Science Foundation, U.S. Geological Survey, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration, this National Research Council book assesses the current state of knowledge at the interface between the earth sciences and public health disciplines. The book identifies high-priority areas for collaborative research, including understanding the transport and bioavailability of potentially hazardous earth materials, using risk-based scenarios to mitigate the public health effects of natural hazards under current and future climate regimes, and understanding the health risks that result from disturbance of earth systems. Geospatial information - geological maps for earth scientists and epidemiological data for public health professionals - is identified as one of the essential integrative tools that is fundamental to the activities of both communities. The book also calls for increased data sharing between agencies to promote interdisciplinary research without compromising privacy.
Earth Materials: Components of a Diverse Planet
by Adam C. Simon Dexter Perkins Kevin R. Henke Lance D. YarbroughThere is a large and growing need for a textbook that can form the basis for integrated classes that look at minerals, rocks, and other Earth materials. Despite the need, no high-quality book is available for such a course. Earth Materials is a wide-ranging undergraduate textbook that covers all the most important kinds of (inorganic) Earth materials. Besides traditional chapters on minerals and rocks, this book features chapters on sediments and stratigraphy, weathering and soils, water and the hydrosphere, and mineral and energy deposits. Introductions to soil mechanics and rock mechanics are also included.This book steers away from the model of traditional encyclopedic science textbooks, but rather exposes students to the key and most exciting ideas and information, with an emphasis on thinking about Earth as a system. The book is written in such a manner as to support inquiry, discovery and other forms of active learning. All chapters start with a short topical story or vignette, and the plentiful photographs and other graphics are integrated completely with the text.Earth Materials will be interesting and useful for a wide range of learners, including geoscience students, students taking mineralogy and petrology courses, engineers, and anyone interested in learning more about the Earth as a system.
Earth Matters on Stage: Ecology and Environment in American Theater (Routledge Studies in Theatre, Ecology, and Performance)
by Theresa J. MayEarth Matters on Stage: Ecology and Environment in American Theater tells the story of how American theater has shaped popular understandings of the environment throughout the twentieth century as it argues for theater’s potential power in the age of climate change. Using cultural and environmental history, seven chapters interrogate key moments in American theater and American environmentalism over the course of the twentieth century in the United States. It focuses, in particular, on how drama has represented environmental injustice and how inequality has become part of the American environmental landscape. As the first book-length ecocritical study of American theater, Earth Matters examines both familiar dramas and lesser-known grassroots plays in an effort to show that theater can be a powerful force for social change from frontier drama of the late nineteenth century to the eco-theater movement. This book argues that theater has always and already been part of the history of environmental ideas and action in the United States. Earth Matters also maps the rise of an ecocritical thought and eco-theater practice – what the author calls ecodramaturgy – showing how theater has informed environmental perceptions and policies. Through key plays and productions, it identifies strategies for artists who want their work to contribute to cultural transformation in the face of climate change.
Earth Matters: Indigenous Peoples, the Extractive Industries and Corporate Social Responsibility
by Ciaran O'Faircheallaigh Saleem AliIndigenous peoples have historically gained little from large-scale resource development on their traditional lands, and have suffered from its negative impacts on their cultures, economies and societies. During recent decades indigenous groups and their allies have fought hard to change this situation: in some cases by opposing development entirely; in many others by seeking a fundamental change in the distribution of benefits and costs from resource exploitation. In doing so they have utilised a range of approaches, including efforts to win greater recognition of indigenous rights in international fora; pressure for passage of national and state or provincial legislation recognising indigenous land rights and protecting indigenous culture; litigation in national and international courts; and direct political action aimed at governments and developers, often in alliance with non-governmental organisations (NGOs). At the same time, and partly in response to these initiatives, many of the corporations that undertake large-scale resource exploitation have sought to address concerns regarding the impact of their activities on indigenous peoples by adopting what are generally referred to as "corporate social responsibility" (CSR) policies. This book focuses on such corporate initiatives. It does not treat them in isolation, recognising that their adoption and impact is contextual, and is related both to the wider social and political framework in which they occur and to the activities and initiatives of indigenous peoples. It does not treat them uncritically, recognising that they may in some cases consist of little more than exercises in public relations. However, neither does it approach them cynically, recognising the possibility that, even if CSR policies and activities reflect hard-headed business decisions, and indeed perhaps particularly if they do so, they can generate significant benefits for indigenous peoples if appropriate accountability mechanisms are in place. In undertaking an in-depth analysis of CSR and indigenous peoples in the extractive industries, the book seeks to answer the following questions. What is the nature and extent of CSR initiatives in the extractive industries and how should they be understood? What motivates companies to pursue CSR policies and activities? How do specific political, social and legal contexts shape corporate behaviour? What is the relationship between indigenous political action and CSR? How and to what extent can corporations be held accountable for their policies and actions? Can CSR help bring about a fundamental change in the distribution of benefits and costs from large-scale resource exploitation and, if so, under what conditions can this occur? Earth Matters gathers key experts from around the world who discuss corporate initiatives in Alaska, Ecuador, Australia, Canada, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Russia. The book explores the great diversity that characterises initiatives and policies under the name of "corporate social responsibility", the highly contingent and contextual nature of corporate responses to indigenous demands, and the complex and evolving nature of indigenous–corporate relations. It also reveals much about the conditions under which CSR can contribute to a redistribution of benefits and costs from large-scale resource development. Earth Matters will be essential reading for those working in and studying the extractive industry worldwide, as well as those readers looking for a state-of-the-art description of how CSR is functioning in perhaps its most difficult setting.
Earth Observation Data Policy and Europe
by Ray HarrisEarth observation data policy has received little attention, even though the conditions of access to Earth observation data are fundamental to the exploitation of and the further growth of the Earth observation sector. This unique book addresses this limitation.
Earth Observation Open Science and Innovation (ISSI Scientific Report Series #15)
by Pierre-Philippe Mathieu Christoph AubrechtThis book is published open access under a CC BY 4. 0 license. Over the past decades, rapid developments in digital and sensing technologies, such as the Cloud, Web and Internet of Things, have dramatically changed the way we live and work. The digital transformation is revolutionizing our ability to monitor our planet and transforming the way we access, process and exploit Earth Observation data from satellites. This book reviews these megatrends and their implications for the Earth Observation community as well as the wider data economy. It provides insight into new paradigms of Open Science and Innovation applied to space data, which are characterized by openness, access to large volume of complex data, wide availability of new community tools, new techniques for big data analytics such as Artificial Intelligence, unprecedented level of computing power, and new types of collaboration among researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and citizen scientists. In addition, this book aims to provide readers with some reflections on the future of Earth Observation, highlighting through a series of use cases not just the new opportunities created by the New Space revolution, but also the new challenges that must be addressed in order to make the most of the large volume of complex and diverse data delivered by the new generation of satellites.
Earth Observation Satellites: Task Planning and Scheduling
by Jun Li Hao Chen Shuang Peng Chun DuThis book highlights the practical models and algorithms of earth observation satellite (EOS) task scheduling. EOS task scheduling is a typical complex combinatorial optimization problem with NP-Hard computational complexity. It is a key technology in aerospace scheduling and has attracted global attention. Based on the actual needs of the EOS operation control center, the book summarizes and reviews the state of the art in this research and engineering field. In both deterministic scenarios and dynamic scenarios, the book elaborates on the typical models, algorithms, and systems in centralized, distributed, and onboard autonomous task scheduling. The book also makes an outlook on the promising technologies for EOS task planning and scheduling in the future. It is a valuable reference for professionals, researchers, and students in satellite-related technology. This book is a translation of an original Chinese edition. The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence. A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content, so that the book will read stylistically differently from a conventional translation.
Earth Observation Science and Applications for Risk Reduction and Enhanced Resilience in Hindu Kush Himalaya Region: A Decade of Experience from SERVIR
by Rajesh Bahadur Thapa Birendra Bajracharya Mir A. MatinThis open access book is a consolidation of lessons learnt and experiences gathered from our efforts to utilise Earth observation (EO) science and applications to address environmental challenges in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. It includes a complete package of knowledge on service life cycles including multi-disciplinary topics and practically tested applications for the HKH. It comprises 19 chapters drawing from a decade’s worth of experience gleaned over the course of our implementation of SERVIR-HKH – a joint initiative of NASA, USAID, and ICIMOD – to build capacity on using EO and geospatial technology for effective decision making in the region. The book highlights SERVIR’s approaches to the design and delivery of information services – in agriculture and food security; land cover and land use change, and ecosystems; water resources and hydro-climatic disasters; and weather and climate services. It also touches upon multidisciplinary topics such as service planning; gender integration; user engagement; capacity building; communication; and monitoring, evaluation, and learning. We hope that this book will be a good reference document for professionals and practitioners working in remote sensing, geographic information systems, regional and spatial sciences, climate change, ecosystems, and environmental analysis. Furthermore, we are hopeful that policymakers, academics, and other informed audiences working in sustainable development and evaluation – beyond the wider SERVIR network and well as within it – will greatly benefit from what we share here on our applications, case studies, and documentation across cross-cutting topics.
Earth Observation for Land and Emergency Monitoring
by Heiko BalzterEarth Observation Science (EOS) is the study of the global Earth land-ocean-atmosphere system through observations. The principal tools for such studies are measurements from space since these provide the coverage of the planet that is necessary to capture the behaviour of the entire coupled system. In addition, surface observations, and measurements from aircraft, balloons and sounding rockets provide valuable contributors to what are now termed "integrated, global observing systems.” Coupled with models, the EOS measurement suites provide powerful tools for research into the factors controlling and changing the Earth system in which we live. The objectives of this book are to describe new methods and applications of satellite technology in the fields of land and emergency monitoring. It draws on new research outcomes from the European FP7 project GIONET (European Centre of Excellence in Earth Observation Research Training). GIONET combines industrial partners with universities and research institutes, and this book provides a perspective on Earth Observation applications that is motivated by the cross-fertilisation of both sectors. Hence, this book will find readers in both industry and academia. This book highlights a broad range of innovative uses of Earth Observation technology to support environmental management, decision making, crisis management and climate policies. It uses advanced concepts of multi-sensor image integration, multi-temporal analysis and synergies between data and models. This is a truly interdisciplinary subject that encompasses a range of applications in various fields which are discussed in detail throughout the text. If you are interested in remote sensing applications and looking for inspiration, this is the book for you.
Earth Observation of Ecosystem Services (Earth Observation of Global Changes)
by Domingo Alcaraz-Segura Carlos Marcelo Di Bella Julieta Veronica StraschnoyA balanced review of differing approaches based on remote sensing tools and methods to assess and monitor biodiversity, carbon and water cycles, and the energy balance of terrestrial ecosystem. Earth Observation of Ecosystem Services highlights the advantages Earth observation technologies offer for quantifying and monitoring multiple ecosystem fun
Earth Observation of Global Changes (EOGC)
by Jukka M. Krisp Liqiu Meng Roland Pail Uwe StillaThis book provides a collection of selected articles that have been submitted to the Earth Observation and Global Changes (EOGC2011) Conference. All articles have been carefully reviewed by an international board of top-level experts. The book covers a wide variety of topics including Physical Geodesy, Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing, High-Resolution and Fast-Revisiting Remote Sensing Satellite Systems, Global Change & Change Detection, Spatial Modelling, GIS & Geovisualization. The articles document concrete results of current studies related to Earth Sciences. The book is intended for researchers and experts working in the area of Spatial Data Analysis, Environmental Monitoring/Analysis, Global Change Monitoring and related fields.
Earth Observation of Wildland Fires in Mediterranean Ecosystems
by Emilio ChuviecoWildland fires are becoming one of the most critical environmental factors affecting a wide range of ecosystems worldwide. In Mediterranean ecosystems (including also South-Africa, California, parts of Chile and Australia), wildland fires are recurrent phenomena every summer, following the seasonal drought. As a result of changes in traditional land use practices, and the impact of recent climate warming, fires have more negative impacts in the last years, threatening lives, socio-economic and ecological values. The book describes the ecological context of fires in the Mediterranean ecosystems, and provides methods to observe fire danger conditions and fire impacts using Earth Observation and Geographic Information System technologies.
Earth Observation, Public Health and One Health: Activities, Challenges and Opportunities
by Brazeau Stéphanie Nicholas H. OgdenThis book reviews the contributions of Earth Observation (EO) to public health practices. It examines how EO is being used to understand, track, predict, and manage infectious and chronic diseases, and it provides discussion on the current challenges and the significant development potential of EO to a One Health approach. Its objective is to address a set of questions: How does EO currently assist public health activities? What are the challenges for operational use of EO in public health? What are the opportunities for EO to benefit public health in the near future? This review concentrates on the following priority themes to which EO and geomatics can make important contributions: mosquito-borne and tick-borne diseases; water-borne diseases; air quality and extreme heat effects; and geospatial indicators of vulnerable human populations. EO has also demonstrated potential during the COVID-19 pandemic as an efficient provider of data on rapid environmental and socio-economic changes and impacts. Remotely sensed data are particularly useful for risk modelling and mapping projects to help generate information on occurrence and spatio-temporal trends of disease risk. Similarly, EO can be used to identify risk factors for disease risk or emergence detected in surveillance, and support development of early warning systems. Risk maps enable public health professionals to anticipate and prepare for health threats, and they can support responses to infectious disease epidemics or existing endemic conditions. This book emerged from the collaboration of the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Space Agency with contributions of international experts. Their findings will be of great value to public health and EO professionals interested in developing and applying geospatial applications in the risk assessment and management of public health issues.
Earth Observations and Geospatial Science in Service of Sustainable Development Goals: 12th International Conference of the African Association of Remote Sensing and the Environment (Southern Space Studies)
by Souleye WadeThis book provides a unique insight into the research and recent developments undertaken among the African Remote Sensing community in regard to the environment. It includes reports of the latest research outcomes in the field of remote sensing and geospatial information technologies, analyses discussions around operational topics such as capacity building, Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI), applications of advanced remote sensing technologies (LiDAR , Hyperspectral) in Africa, big data, space policy, and topics of high actually in the field of climate changes, ocean and coastal zone management, early warning systems, natural resources management or geospatial science for sustainable development goals. The book comprises the contributions of the AARSE (African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment) international conference which is conducted biennially across Africa, alternately with the AfricaGIS conference. It is the premier forum in Africa for research on remote sensing technologies and geospatial information science, gathering leading scholars from the remote sensing and related communities. The conference is co-organised by the Arab Academy of Science and Technology, in partnership with the National Authority for Remote Sensing & Space Sciences (NARSS) of Egypte, and continues a long series of successful AARSE conferences which started in 1996, in Harare (Zimbabwe) and has been held in Abidjan (Cote D'Ivoire) in 1998, Cape Town (South Africa) in 2000, Abuja (Nigeria) in 2002, Nairobi (Kenya) in 2004, Cairo (Egypt) in 2006, Accra (Ghana) in 2008, Addis Abeba (Ethiopia) in 2010, El Jadida (Morocco) in 2012, Johannesburg (South Africa) in 2014, and in Kampala (Ouganda) in 2016. The book is mainly addressed to practitioners and experts from academia, politics and industry.
Earth Pressure
by Karl-Eugen Kurrer Achim HettlerThe subject of earth pressure is one of the oldest and most extensive chapters in soil mechanics and foundation engineering and is one of the pillars of structural engineering. First the development of earth pressure theory is comprehensively described. The descriptions range from the first approaches to the determination of earth pressure through continuum mechanical earth pressure models to the integration of earth pressure research into the disciplinary structure of geotechnics. The main part of the book comprises a selection of current calculation basics. The aim is to provide a collection of working instructions for foundation and structural engineers in construction companies, consultants and in building supervision as well as students. In order to further theoretical understanding, the essential basics of the determination of earth pressure are first presented. Then the most important processes for active and passive earth pressure and at-rest earth pressure for practical application are dealt with, with spatial effects also being taken into account. The book sets out to provide brief information about rarely encountered questions with references to further literature. In recent years, the dependency of earth pressure on displacement has been paid ever more attention. This applies not just to the passive but also to the active case. Questions are repeatedly passed to the DIN committee "calculation processes". A selection of these is dealt with in the commentary to DIN 4085, which came out in September 2018. The history of earth pressure theory is supplemented by 40 selected short biographies of scientists and practical engineers, who have taken up the subject and further developed it over the years. The book also has two appendices with terms, formula symbols and indices as well as earth pressure tables.
Earth Pressure and Earth-Retaining Structures
by Chris R.I. Clayton Rick I. Woods Jarbas MilititskyEffectively Calculate the Pressures of SoilWhen it comes to designing and constructing retaining structures that are safe and durable, understanding the interaction between soil and structure is at the foundation of it all. Laying down the groundwork for the non-specialists looking to gain an understanding of the background and issues surrounding g
Earth Repair: A Grassroots Guide to Healing Toxic and Damaged Landscapes
by Leila DarwishMillions of acres of land have been contaminated by pesticides, improperly handled chemicals, dirty energy projects, toxic waste, and other pollutants in the United States alone. This toxic legacy impacts the environment, our health, our watersheds, and land that could otherwise be used to grow healthy local food and medicines. Conventional clean-up techniques employed by government and industry are tremendously expensive and resource-intensive and can cause further damage. More and more communities find themselves increasingly unable to rely on those companies and governments who created the problems to step in and provide solutions.Earth Repair describes a host of powerful grassroots bioremediation techniques, including:Microbial remediation-using microorganisms to break down and bind contaminantsPhytoremediation-using plants to extract, bind, and transform toxinsMycoremediation-using fungi to clean up contaminated soil and waterPacked with valuable, firsthand information from visionaries in the field, Earth Repair empowers communities and individuals to take action and heal contaminated and damaged land. Encompassing everything from remediating and regenerating abandoned city lots for urban farmers and gardeners to recovering from environmental disasters and industrial catastrophes such as oil spills and nuclear fallout, this fertile toolbox is essential reading for anyone who wishes to transform environmental despair into constructive action.Leila Darwish is a community organizer, urban gardener, and permaculture designer with a focus on using grassroots bioremediation to address environmental justice issues in communities struggling with toxic contamination of their land and drinking water.
Earth Retaining Structures and Stability Analysis: Proceedings of the Indian Geotechnical Conference 2021 Volume 6 (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering #303)
by Kasinathan Muthukkumaran Balunaini Umashankar N. Kumar PitchumaniThis book comprises the select peer-reviewed proceedings of the Indian Geotechnical Conference (IGC) 2021. The contents focus on Geotechnics for Infrastructure Development and Innovative Applications. This book covers topics geotechnical challenges in tunnel construction, related performance of temporary secant pile wall, soil nail walls, rock-fill embankment dams, performance of MSE wall, stability analysis, dynamic stability and landslide simulations, landslide early warning system, among others. This book is of interest to those in academia and industry. This book is of interest to those in academia and industry.
Earth Science for Civil and Environmental Engineers
by Richard E. JacksonThis carefully targeted and rigorous new textbook introduces engineering students to the fundamental principles of applied Earth science, highlighting how modern soil and rock mechanics, geomorphology, hydrogeology, seismology and environmental geochemistry affect geotechnical and environmental practice. Key geological topics of engineering relevance including soils and sediments, rocks, groundwater, and geologic hazards are presented in an accessible and engaging way. A broad range of international case studies add real-world context, and demonstrate practical applications in field and laboratory settings to guide site characterization. End-of-chapter problems are included for self-study and evaluation and supplementary online materials include electronic figures, additional examples, solutions, and guidance on useful software. Featuring a detailed glossary introducing key terminology, this text requires no prior geological training and is essential reading for senior undergraduate or graduate students in civil, geological, geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering. It is also a useful reference and bridge for Earth science graduates embarking on engineering geology courses.
Earth Space Moon Base
by Ben Joel PriceOuter space, a moon base, and . . . bananas? Discover Ben Joel Price's quirky extraterrestrial world and its unusual trio of guardians. A spaceman, a robot, and a cheeky monkey use a most unusual method to protect Earth from hungry, googly-eyed moon aliens. Ben Joel Price's offbeat rhymes and colorful, retro-style illustrations evoke a funny little world away from ours, which will captivate readers young and old.
Earth System Monitoring
by John OrcuttModern Earth System Monitoring represents a fundamental change in the way scientists study the Earth System. In Oceanography, for the past two centuries, ships have provided the platforms for observing. Expeditions on the continents and Earth's poles are land-based analogues. Fundamental understanding of current systems, climate, natural hazards, and ecosystems has been greatly advanced. While these approaches have been remarkably successful, the need to establish measurements over time can only be made using Earth observations and observatories with exacting standards and continuous data. The 19 peer-reviewed contributions in this volume provide early insights into this emerging view of Earth in both space and time in which change is a critical component of our growing understanding.
Earth Systems Protection and Sustainability: Volume 1
by James N. Furze Kelly Swing Saeid Eslamian Safanah M. RaafatEarth Systems Protection and Sustainability qualifies imperatives and discusses the use of mathematical approaches to assess and achieve sustainability in threatened and vulnerable Earth systems globally. Mathematical advances in this context include both operational and Boolean methods, as well as linguistic, logic-based Bayesian approaches and generative mathematics relevant to scenario formation. The mathematic methods are refined into functional areas and deeper learning, which enable the use of searching algorithms to achieve optimal solutions for the circular nature and application of sustainability. Pertinent sections and synergistic elements are covered in order to synthesize key informative nodes, advising of the very real dangers facing planet Earth and its biodiversity. Each volume stands in its own right. Analytical and scientific chapters are blended with social resilience and socio-economic development consideration, thus enabling the settings of sustainability within varying scenarios of climatic forces and species dynamics.Volume 1 focuses on ground-breaking evolutionary expansion assisting with life’s continuation on Earth, sustainable management of pathogens and halophyte uses in agroecology, bioremediation methods in drilling waste management, conservation and sustainability of diversity, climate change mitigation strategies, displacement management in a large scale ongoing crisis, risk reduction and management policy, sustainably intelligent-driven markets, sustainability consensus in an uncertain environment and path planning in static and dynamic environments. Pictorial contributions made from across the world refine particularly urgent problems for attention, and provide solutions and methods of environmental sustainability operated in communities, complementing the descriptive chapter sections. Both volumes are targeted for a global audience of academic, professional, classroom, governmental, unit and community members, and seek to include all sectors to ensure ongoing and comprehensive Earth Systems Protection.
Earth Systems Protection and Sustainability: Volume 2
by James N. Furze Kelly Swing Saeid Eslamian Safanah M. RaafatEarth Systems Protection and Sustainability authorises imperatives to achieve sustainability and protect our threatened and vulnerable Earth. Mathematical advances in context incorporate operational and Boolean, as well as linguistic, logic-based Bayesian, and generative methods for scenario formation. Functional areas and deeper learning enable the use of searching algorithms, proffering optimal solutions for the circular nature of sustainability in natural ecosystems and human dominated settings. Key informative nodes are provided in the hope that we may moderate the very real dangers facing planet Earth and its biodiversity. An arena of insightful chapters is blended with social resilience and socio-economic development coverage, accentuating integrity, protection and sustainability within divergent climatic forces and species dynamics on Earth. Volume 2 focuses on bioaccumulation; climate change and resilience for co-operative socio-economic and ecosystem management via policy frameworks across sectors; mathematical modelling of freshwater in coastal regions in arid and semi-arid zones; decision making in natural disasters; peat solidification for environmentally sustainable geotechnical engineering; green energy conversion; flood risk mapping; rainfall analysis; exposure, safety, and security amidst increasing environmental contamination; remote handling vehicles; wind turbines; and deep learning and its environmental applications. Earth Systems Protection and Sustainability is addressed globally to communities, schools and researchers in professional, governmental and unit operations; descriptive and illustrative sections include all sectors to ensure Earth Systems Protection as our capacity reaches an unsustainable climax.
Earth and Rockfill Dams: Principles for Design and Construction
by Christian KutznerThis text methodically demonstrates the basic rules for the design criteria of earthfill and rockfill dams. It expertly guides the reader from preliminary work through the design of various embankment dams and on to the construction and finally the control of safety in completed structures.