131,227 research outputs found
Capacity Gaps in Post Disaster Waste Management: Case Study in Sri Lanka
No full textDisaster waste is one of the major consequences aftermath of any disaster, impacts on public and environment, rescue and emergency services, provision of lifeline support and socio-economic recovery of affected areas. Thus, management of wastes created by disasters has become an increasingly important issue to be addressed in responding to a disaster. This chapter intends to present the prevailing gaps in disaster waste management and approaches to minimize the impacts on disaster management at developing countries with special emphasis to Sri Lankan context. Findings revealed that, unavailability of single point responsibility and provisions for disaster waste in existing policies and capacity constraints of the prevailing peace time solid waste management practices as major capacity gaps. Establishment of a regulatory body and enforceable rules and regulations with necessary levels of capacities were identified with seven areas for capacity building for post disaster waste management. The research enabled to attain sustainable post disaster waste management for future resilience
High-speed flow with discontinuous surface catalysis
No full textIn a reacting gas flow both gas-phase chemical activity and surface catalysis can increase the rate of heat transfer from the gas to a solid surface. In particular, when there is a discontinuous change in the catalytic properties of the surface, there can be a very large increase in the local heat transfer rate. In this study numerical simulations have been performed for the laminar high-speed flow of a high-temperature, non-equilibrium reacting gas mixture over a flat plate. The surface of the plate is partly catalytic, with the leading region non-catalytic, and a discontinuous change in the catalytic properties of the surface at the catalytic junction. The surface is assumed to be isothermal, and cold relative to the free stream. The gas is assumed to be a mixture of molecular and atomic forms of a diatomic gas in an inert gas forming a thermal bath, giving a three-species mixture with dissociation and recombination of the reactive species. The calculations are performed for a gas with atomic and molecular oxygen in an argon bath, but a full range of gas-phase chemical and surface catalytic effects is considered. Kinetic schemes with frozen gas-phase chemistry, and partial or full recombination of atomic oxygen in the boundary layer are investigated. The catalytic nature of the surface material is given by a catalytic recombination rate coefficient, which varies from zero (non-catalytic) to one (fully catalytic), and the effects on the flow and the surface heat transfer of materials which are non-, partially, or fully catalytic are considered. A self-similar thin-layer analytical model of the change in the gas composition downstream of the catalytic junction is developed. For physically realistic (O(10-2)) values of the catalytic recombination rate coefficient, the predictions from this model of the surface values of the atomic oxygen mass fraction and the catalytic surface heat transfer rate are excellent when the only change in the composition of the gas comes from the surface catalysis, and reasonable when there is partial recombination of the gas in the boundary layer due to the gas-phase chemistry. In contrast, when the surface is fully catalytic, the streamwise diffusion terms play a significant role, and the model is not valid. These results should apply to other situations with an attached boundary layer with recombination reactions. A comparison is made between the calculated and experimental measurements of the heat transfer rate at the catalytic junction. With a kinetic scheme which allows partial recombination in the boundary layer, good agreement is found between the experimental and predicted values for surface materials which are essentially non-catalytic. For a catalytic material (platinum), the experimental and numerical heat transfer rates are matched to estimate the value of the catalytic recombination rate coefficient. The values obtained show a considerable amount of scatter, but are consistent with those found in the literature
Challenges in Creating a Disaster Resilient Built Environment
No full textWith the increase in occurrences of high impact disasters, the concept of risk reduction and resilience is widely recognised.
Recent disasters have highlighted the exposure of urban cities to natural disasters and emphasised the need of making cities resilient to disasters. Built environment plays an important role in every city and need to be functional and operational at a time of a disaster and is expected to provide protection to people and other facilities. However, recent disasters have highlighted the
vulnerability of the built assets to natural disasters and therefore it is very much important to focus on creating a disaster resilient
built environment within cities. However the process of making a disaster resilient built environment is a complex process where
many challenges are involved. Accordingly the paper aims at exploring the challenges involved in building a disaster resilient built environment. Paper discusses the findings of some expert interviews and three case studies which have been conducted in Sri Lanka by selecting three cities which are potentially vulnerable to threats posed by natural hazards. The empirical evidence
revealed, lack of regulatory frameworks; unplanned cities and urbanisation; old building stocks and at risk infrastructure; unauthorised structures; institutional arrangements; inadequate capacities of municipal councils; lack of funding; inadequacy of qualified human resources; and corruption and unlawful activities as major challenges for creating a disaster resilient built environment within Sri Lankan cities. The paper proposes a set of recommendations to address these prevailing concerns and to build a more resilient built environment within cities
Academic network for disaster resilience to optimise education development : Global Assessment Report 2015 input paper (GAR 2015)
No full textLife cycle process model of a market-oriented and student centered higher education
No full textThere is not a single definition/explanation about market-orientation education. Two opposite definitions/explanations of pure market-oriented education (Cato, 2010) and social-market-oriented education (Amaratunga, 2009) are provided in the paper. Integrated multiple criteria analysis at the micro-, meso- and macro-levels are needed to increase efficiency of the market-oriented higher education reforms. Market-oriented higher education reforms management involves numerous aspects that should be considered in addition to making educational, pedagogical, didactical, economic, political and legal/regulatory decisions. These must include social, culture, ethical, psychological, environmental, technological, technical, organizational and managerial aspects. This article presents a Life Cycle Process Model of a Market-Oriented and Student Centered Higher Education (developed during BELL-CURVE (Built Environment Lifelong Learning Challenging University Responses to Vocational Education) project's activities) for such considerations and discusses certain composite parts of it. To demonstrate the application of this research, two Case Studies from Lithuania are submitted for consideration
State of Disaster Risk Reduction at the Local Level: A report on the Patterns of Disaster Risk Reduction Actions at Local Level
No full textDisaster Risk Reduction in the Built Environment in Sri Lanka- An overview
No full textNatural disasters have long-term implications on sustainable development. They mainly destroy
the built environment thereby hindering economic and social development, and causing
environment degradation. Reducing the risk of natural disasters within the built environment is
therefore critical for ensuring sustainable development. The paper in this context, aims to
assess the current state of disaster risk reduction in the built environment in Sri Lanka.
Empirical data was collected employing semi-structured in-depth interviews which were
conducted with a group of professionals who were involved in disaster risk reduction in the
built environment in Sri Lanka. The data was analysed following thematic analysis. The paper
reveals the current state of disaster risk reduction in the built environment requires to be
improved to achieve a satisfactory level of success whilst highlighting a number of barriers that
hinder the desired progress. Deficient funds and weak regulatory framework are identified as
major barriers for successful implementation. Central and local government authorities are
identified as the primarily responsible parties for disaster risk reduction in the built
environment in Sri Lanka in the paper. The paper further presents various recommendations on
how to improve the current situation
Priorities for EU-South Asia cooperation in research and innovation to address societal challenges
No full textA briefing paper highlighting the priorities for EU-South Asia cooperation in research and innovation to address societal challenges has just been published as part of the CASCADE (Collaborative Action towards Societal Challenges through Awareness, Development, and Education ) project led by GDRC’s Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga.
This paper examines the policy and interests of seven countries in South Asia with respect to the seven thematic societal challenges identified under the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme: Health, demographic change and wellbeing; Food security, sustainable agricultures, marine and maritime research and the bio-based economy; Clean and efficient energy; Smart, green and integrated transport; Climate action, resource efficiency and raw materials; A changing world - inclusive, innovative and reflective societies; and, Secure societies - protecting freedom and security of the country and its citizens.
Other key points include the need for EU linkages with Asian countries given the region’s rapidly growing research and innovation capacities; urgency to address major concerns shared by citizens in Europe, South Asia and elsewhere; and eleven priorities identified for cooperation in research and innovation to address societal challenges
Capacity gaps in post disaster construction & demolition waste management
No full textPurpose
– The purpose of this paper is to focus on the identification of the existing capacities of post disaster C & D waste management in developing countries, with a special emphasis on Sri Lanka to determine the capacity gaps and related influencing factors.
Design/methodology/approach
– Multiple case studies and expert interviews were conducted to gather primary information on the existing capacities of disaster C & D waste management. Three case studies, including 15 individuals and six experts representing government, non-government institutions and others, were selected.
Findings
– The results revealed the existing capacities, capacity gaps and influencing factors for post disaster C & D waste management in the areas of skills and confidence building, links and collaborations, continuity and sustainability, research and development, communication and coordination, organisational implementation and investment in infrastructure.
Research limitations/implications
– This study limited disaster C & D waste to debris generated from totally or partially damaged buildings and infrastructure as a direct impact of natural disasters or from demolished buildings and infrastructure at rehabilitation or at early recovery stages.
Originality/value
– The research enabled an analysis of existing capacities and identified capacity gaps in post disaster C & D waste management with influencing factors developing countries
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