Managing landscapes effectively requires the involvement of a wide variety of stakeholders. The views and interests of these different groups can be effectively integrated by agri-environment 'collaboratives' — a type of bridging organisation which can be found in varying forms in Europe. Using data from Germany and the Netherlands, a study concludes that these groups make important contributions to landscape management, ranging from implementing policy to generating income.

The lifetime environmental impacts of non-electrical consumer products, such as clothes, could be cut by over 40% if consumers maintained them in a more environmentally friendly manner, new research suggests. The study found the impacts of eco-designed products fell significantly when user guidelines were included in the eco-design.

Researchers have developed a methodology that allows the analysis of how an existing product design meets design guidelines required for the circular-economy perspective, and which guidelines would need to be incorporated to create a better circular-design product. The results, based on a case study of small electrical equipment in Spain, indicate that the most urgent priority is to incorporate circular-design guidelines related to extending life span and to product/components re-use, while there is a moderate need to include guidelines related to the use of simple removable connections or a modular product structure.

The impact of climate change on the distribution of tree species is likely to have economic implications for the timber industry. A new study has estimated that climate-induced shifts in range could reduce the value of European forest land for the timber industry by between 14 and 50% by 2100. At the higher end of this estimate, this could equate to a potential loss of several hundred billions of euros.

Despite their general absence from climate policy discussions, the world’s mountain grasslands and shrublands (MGSs) store between 60.5 and 82.8 billion metric tonnes of carbon, a new study estimates - more than three times that of ocean and coastal ecosystems. This research, which is the first to provide a global inventory of carbon stored in MGSs, argues that these ecosystems should be accounted for in climate policy.

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced during the decommissioning phase of nuclear power plants may have been underestimated in previous assessments, new research suggests. The study estimated that the decommissioning process for a German plant resulted in 1 651 265 tonnes of CO₂ (or equivalent) emissions, or 0.825 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per tonne of waste. While the researchers acknowledge that impact is highly dependent on the unique characteristics of each decommissioning project, these results raise questions as to whether this phase has been accurately assessed in earlier research.

Huge amounts of soil carbon have been discovered up to 1 metre below grassland in a recent UK study. Yet most carbon inventories do not assess soil deeper than 30cm. Furthermore, this research suggests that intensive management of grassland, involving high rates of fertiliser use and livestock grazing, may deplete carbon at these depths.

Manufacturing solid state lighting (SSL) with light emitting diodes (LEDs) for easy disassembly at end-of-life will facilitate potential end-of-life uses, thereby reducing life cycle costs and environmental impacts, according to a recent study.

Flat screen televisions and computer monitors should be designed so they can be quickly dismantled for recycling, a recent study says. The researchers calculated that in order to ensure the recycling process remains economically viable, it must be possible to disassemble small screens in less than 11 minutes. Good design could lower the costs of recycling and enable near-total recovery of precious metals from the waste screens.

Ship recycling at the end of a ship’s useful life aims to make the shipping industry more environmentally sustainable and is a major source of employment in developing countries. However, there are associated health, safety and environmental concerns. This study argues these concerns are due to inappropriate design and explains how ‘design for recycling’ can reduce the costs and risks of ship recycling.

By using design tools to increase sustainability at every stage of production, researchers have developed a new eco-light. The light, which uses low wattage LEDs and recycled plastic, has a substantially lower environmental impact than the traditional equivalent LED lights.

A new pomegranate-inspired design is the basis of a longer-lasting lithium-ion battery created by US researchers. They designed a battery with an anode made from ‘silicon pomegranates’, which doubles the amount of energy that can be stored compared to a standard carbon anode.

Marine litter not only causes environmental damage, but has significant economic costs for industry. A recent study has now estimated that marine litter in the Asia-Pacific region is likely to cost over US$1.26billion per year in damage to marine industries. Policy options for reducing this cost are explored.

Bharti Airtel has awarded a multi-million-dollar contract to IBM to deploy a blockchain -based pan India network which will allow the telco to protect its 284 million subscribers from pesky calls and messages

People who live in the most ‘activity-friendly’ neighbourhoods do up to 1.5 hours more physical activity a week than those in the least supportive neighbourhoods. This is according to a new international study which measured levels of exercise — mainly walking for recreation or transport — in relation to the urban environment across 14 diverse cities. The results show how urban design — such as parks and local amenities — can promote healthy lifestyles which also bring environmental benefits, such as better air quality, through reduced car use.

Frank, Philipp, 1884-1966

The impact of climate change on the distribution of tree species is likely to have economic implications for the timber industry. A new study has estimated that climate-induced shifts in range could reduce the value of European forest land for the timber industry by between 14 and 50% by 2100. At the higher end of this estimate, this could equate to a potential loss of several hundred billions of euros.

Although most energy in homes is used for heating and hot water, significant amounts of energy are also used when a house is built. A lifecycle assessment of a low-energy, affordable timber house indicates that large energy and carbon savings can be made when alternatives to traditional methods of construction are used.

Researchers have explored the influence of indicators in transport policy in two case studies at the EU and Member State levels. In both cases indicators were widely used, however, this did not always translate into direct influence on policies. Involvement of policymakers themselves in the development of the indicators and good links to achievable goals were thought to increase the likelihood of policy influence.

A substantial amount of energy is needed to manage all the water used in the mass cultivation of microalgae for biodiesel. A recent study suggests that seven times more energy is required to manage the water, than is delivered by the biodiesel when it is used as fuel.

New research into how landscape architects approach the retrofitting of urban areas with sustainable urban drainage systems to manage stormwater has identified 11 main challenges. Importantly, the study also discusses solutions for how to overcome them.

A study on how diet can affect water usage in the EU has concluded that a vegetarian diet is the most sustainable, but any reduction in meat consumption would be a move towards more sustainable water use.

The world could experience the highest ever global sea-level rise in the history of human civilisation if global temperature rises exceed 2 °C, predicts a new study. Under current carbon-emission rates, this temperature rise will occur around the middle of this century, with damaging effects on coastal businesses and ecosystems, while also triggering major human migration from low-lying areas. Global sea-level rise will not be uniform, and will differ for different points of the globe.

There has been a significant increase in cybercrime against women, especially sextortion, during the COVID-19-induced lockdown with "caged criminals" targeting them online, say experts.

Facebook said advertising revenue was roughly flat in the first three weeks of April compared with the same period last year

AI-based recognition systems, and smart security video networks have led to a paradigm shift in the architecture of security video systems.

A recent study has described a simple method to screen the toxicity of materials used in consumer products. Using utility meter products as examples, the study found, for example, that stainless steel and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) had high toxicity potentials and suggests less toxic, but equally effective and priced, alternatives that could be used instead.

Today I decided to revisit a topic I covered a few years ago: loading discrete signals in a simulation.... read more >>

Someone recently challenged me to convert the curling simulator we published a few years ago (See this post and this post) to take advantage of new features not available at that time: App Designer and Stateflow for MATLAB.... read more >>

Global air quality will significantly deteriorate by 2050 unless further steps are taken to cut current emissions from human activities, according to recent research. Most people around the world will be affected by worsening air quality with hotspots of particularly poor air occurring in China, northern India and the Middle East.

A recent study demonstrates, for the first time, a method for tracking nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and applies it specifically to soils. The ‘chemical fingerprinting’ method allows soil NOx to be distinguished from other sources of NOx, such as vehicles and power plants. It, therefore, paves the way for a more precise understanding of agriculture’s contribution particularly to air pollution, climate change, ecosystems and environmental damage.

Transforming public spaces with plants that decontaminate soils can add functional, ecological, economic and social value to derelict areas. A new study calls for consideration of social and environmental factors, as well as remediation needs, to produce effective and innovative landscape design.

Zillow web traffic on for-sale listings and requests to connect with Premier Agents have ticked up recently after slowing in the early days of the U.S. coronavirus pandemic in mid-March

The median list price of homes on the market in the U.S. is slightly higher than a year ago

CULPEPER — The Virginia Department of Transportation invites the public to attend one of three upcoming location and design public hearings about a...

The post Furniture reflects four generations of Australian design appeared first on The Lead SA.

BRISTOL – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will hold a design public hearing tomorrow to show plans for the widening of a half-mile section of Business Route 23 in the Town of Wise.

SALEM – The Virginia Department of Transportation encourages race fans driving to and from Martinsville Speedway for the race on Saturday, September 29, to follow recommended traffic patterns as posted on signs and message boards. VDOT will place signs and changeable message boards throughout the region to assist travelers. Vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be heavy. Watch for the speed limit to be reduced from 65 mph to 45 mph on the Route 220/Route 58 Bypass as you approach the speedway. From Roanoke and areas north of Martinsville: Race fans traveling south on Route 220 can take the exit onto Route 58 to Martinsville to reach the track or they can continue on the Route 220/Route 58 Bypass to the speedway interchange. From Danville and areas east of Martinsville: Motorists on the Route 58 Bypass should follow signs directing them to use the track’s back gate. This entrance is located off the bypass, east of the track. From Greensboro and areas south of Martinsville: Motorists should watch for electronic message boards and obey police directing traffic. Through traffic should use the left lane. From Stuart and areas west of Martinsville: Motorists should stay on Route 58 east and follow signs and message boards to the track. Those attending the race should closely follow directional information.

SALEM – The Virginia Department of Transportation encourages race fans driving to and from Martinsville Speedway for the race on Sunday, October 28, to follow recommended traffic patterns as posted on signs and message boards. Drivers travelling from Roanoke to the Martinsville Speedway for the race events this weekend should plan for possible delays due to a left lane closure on Route 220 southbound approaching the Boones Mill area. VDOT will place many signs and changeable message boards throughout the region to assist travelers. Vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be heavy. Traffic is being routed to the speedway in certain patterns to minimize overall congestion as much as possible. Watch for the speed limit to reduce gradually from 65 mph to 35 mph on the Route 220/Route 58 Bypass as you approach the speedway. From Roanoke and areas north of Martinsville: Race fans traveling south on Route 220 are encouraged to allow for extra travel time. A left lane closure is in place for a pipe failure in the median about eight miles south of Roanoke and 1.7 miles north of Boones Mill. Drivers can take the exit onto Route 58 to Martinsville to reach the track or they can continue on the Route 220/Route 58 Bypass past the speedway interchange and turn right onto the access road that leads into the speedway. The entrance is located one mile east of the Route 220 interchange and may provide easier access. Signs are in place designating the entrance to the speedway.  From Danville and areas east of Martinsville: Motorists on the Route 58 Bypass should follow signs directing them to use the track’s back gate. This entrance is located off the bypass, east of the track. From Greensboro and areas south of Martinsville: Route 220 northbound traffic will split into three lanes shortly before reaching the speedway.  Motorists should watch for electronic message boards and obey police directing traffic. Through traffic should use the left lane. From Stuart and areas west of Martinsville: Motorists should stay on Route 58 east and follow signs and message boards to the track.  ADA Parking: Race fans needing ADA Parking are encouraged to enter the Speedway via Old Sand Roa Those attending the race should closely follow directional information and plan to arrive early and expect heavy traffic and delays. Martinsville Speedway has shared the attached graphics for drivers entering and exiting from the race.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a Location and Design public hearing concerning improvements to Route 11 (South Valley Pike) and Route 704 (Cecil Wampler Road) in Rockingham County.  The meeting will take place from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, December 6, 2018 at Bridgewater Town Hall, 201 Green Street, Bridgewater, Virginia  22812.  The inclement weather date is Thursday, December 13, 2018, same time and location.

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Primary care health workers now have a guide for conducting remote consultation of suspected COVID-19 patients, developed by a team of researchers from Singapore and the UK....

Algeria has been pursuing foreign partnerships to boost output and exports.

Not in the gift-giving mood for chocolates, flowers and racy lingerie this Valentine's Day? Consider these 10 lust-worthy home design picks sure to please any s

On the hunt for the perfect Valentine's Day gift? Consider these handmade and eco-friendly home accessories that not-so-subtly say 'amore.'

Two spacecraft have detected a possible signal of dark matter, the mysterious, invisible stuff that makes up most of the material universe.

A new generation of do-it-yourselfers is bringing back a trend that started long ago with classic Volkswagens: turning standard vans into full-featured campers.

Women's cheeks get redder when they are the most fertile, but this color change is so subtle that it is undetectable by the human eye.

Don't miss your chance to make a difference during the Weekend Without Oil.