1,721,010 research outputs found
Multi-criteria decision aiding model for the evaluation of agricultural countermeasures after an accidental release of radionuclides to the environment
No full textMulti-criteria decision aid has emerged from the operational research field as the answer given to a couple of important questions encountered in complex decisions problems. Firstly, as decision aiding tools, such methods do not replace the decision maker with a mathematical model, but support him to construct his solution by describing and evaluating his options. Secondly, instead of using a unique criterion capturing all aspects of the problem, in the multi-criteria decision aid methods one seeks to build multiple criteria, representing several points of view. <p>This work explores the application of multi-criteria decision aid methods for optimising food chain countermeasure strategies after a radioactive release to the environment. <p>The core of the thesis is dedicated to formulating general lines for the development of a multi-criteria decision aid model. This includes the definition of potential actions, construction of evaluation criteria and preference modelling and is essentially based on the results of a stakeholders’ process. The work is centred on the management of contaminated milk in order to provide a concrete focus and because of its importance as an ingestion pathway in short term after an accident.<p>Among other issues, the public acceptance of milk countermeasures as a key evaluation criterion is analysed in detail. A comparison of acceptance based on stochastic dominance is proposed and, based on that, a countermeasures’ acceptance ranking is deduced.<p>In order to assess “global preferences” taking into account all the evaluation criteria, an ordinal method is chosen. This method allows expressing the relative importance of criteria in a qualitative way instead of using, for instance, numerical weights. Some algorithms that can be used for robustness analysis are also proposed. This type of analysis is an alternative to sensitivity analysis in what concerns data uncertainty and imprecision and seeks to determine how and if a model result or conclusion obtained for a specific instance of a model’s parameters holds over the entire domain of acceptable values for these parameters.<p>The integrated multi-criteria decision aid approach proposed makes use of outranking and interactive methodologies and is implemented and tested through a number of case studies and prototype tools.Doctorat en Sciences de l'ingénieurinfo:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe
The clock is ticking
Full text linkIf it can be made to work, fusion energy offers the potential for unlimited, clean energy. This prospect has seen substantial investment in the science and engineering behind fusion in order to demonstrate its viability. As key societal stakeholders, the opinions and actions of publics can shape the success of emerging energy technologies. To date, however, there have been relatively few studies focused on the public acceptability of fusion. The current study provides insight into public perspectives about fusion in five European countries (Belgium, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia and Spain). Using a qualitative ‘World Caf´ e’ type method, participants (n =10–25 per country) were provided with basic and balanced information about fusion, before being invited to discuss the risks, benefits and drawbacks of the technology and investment in its development. Transcripts from each World Caf´ e were subject to template analysis. The results indicated that while awareness of fusion was low in each country, participants were broadly supportive of fusion. This support was, however, tentative due to its commercially unproven nature. This stimulated questions about the value of investment in the technology, particularly given the urgency of addressing climate change. While there was some variation in the sub-topics raised and discussed in each country, the principal themes raised were broadly comparable. These findings add to our systematic understanding of the ‘mixed feelings’ held about fusion and have implications for future public engagement and communication efforts relating to the technology
Is internet a missed opportunity? Evaluating radon websites from a stakeholder engagement perspective
No full textAbstract: Exposure to indoor radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, is one of the main causes of lung cancer worldwide. Although radon tests are easily accessible in most countries, and protective actions are effective and relatively easy to apply, the levels of radon testing and subsequent home remediation remain lower than aimed for. Public engagement, particularly through internet, may contribute to addressing this value-action gap. Given their role as common interaction points between citizens and public services, this research analyzed radon websites from a stakeholder engagement perspective. The rich database assembled, of websites in eight European countries with highly radon prone areas, provides for the empirical novelty of the study. The website evaluation relied on internet communication metrics adapted for radon risk mitigation. This included availability of radon information, accessibility, stakeholder interaction, dialogue, responsiveness, content and design, and transparency and openness. Unexpectedly, results show that availability of radon information on the internet in radon prone areas is often limited and poor, as for instance only three internet pages dedicated to radon have been found. Radon websites should be improved with consistent information supported by engaging stories, provide for personalized features, support stakeholder feedback and dialogue, and include the use of social media. We conclude by consolidating the analysis into a list of recommendations for health communication practitioners, which should support radon risk mitigation, and contribute to improving public health, particularly decreasing the numbers of lung cancers. The effect of radon information available on internet pages on changing protective behaviors is suggested for future research
Representations of Incident Reporting as a Collective Learning Process
No full textIn the context of vulnerability analysis, it is now widely aknowledged that social factors should be taken into account, alongside technical ones. Depending on the particular approach adopted, these social factors are considered to influence “coping capacities”, “adaptive capacities” or “resilience”. The ability of a socio-technical system to learn from past incidents and accidents seems to have a positive influence on its vulnerability, as it increases its capacity to adapt properly in case of future unwanted envents. To that regard, incident reporting systems are of first importance as they are supposed to constitute a collective memory of past incidents, to initiate a collective share of information and to foster collective learning and adapations. Yet, the theoretical assumptions about the ability of a reporting system to imply collective learning have still to be demonstrated. This paper proposes a methodology addressing this issue. To do so, we conduct a number of semi-structured interviews in a nuclear facility with various types of actors (managers, lab responsibles, technical workers), and in different risk contexts. In addition, participants are requested to produce a mental map of the reporting system they are concerned with. These inputs are then analyzed following a “cross-case analysis” procedure in order to identify patterns of actors' representations of the reporting system, and to link these patterns to potential learning processes fostered by the system. This constitutes the first step of an inductive research process aiming to identify and characterize the link between reporting systems and collective learning. In the next steps, the link between the identified patterns of representations and collective learning processes will be tested quantitatively. The final aim being to elaborate ways to improve Incident Reporting Systems to improve collective learning
Industrial hazards and social factors: a question of vulnerability
No full textIn order to analyze and try to mitigate the potential consequences of a hazard threatening a complex socio-technical system, the risk analysis framework is classically used. Many risk analysis models recognize now widely the importance of integrating social aspects into the analysis. Another way to deal with potential consequences of hazards is to analyze the vulnerability of the system considered. This paradigm overcomes the shortcomings of risk analysis in situations when the knowledge about the probabilities and the outcomes is incomplete or insufficient. Studies in the literature considering natural hazards show that socio-economic factors are integrated more often and in a natural way in vulnerability analysis models. Nevertheless, it seems that such considerations are missing into models aiming at evaluating the vulnerability to an industrial hazard, especially at a very local level where the technical aspects seem to be predominant. What can we learn from the analysis of the models addressing vulnerability to natural hazards in terms of the integration of social factors? To answer this question, we realized a systematic literature review from scientific journal papers on vulnerability analysis published in the last two decades. We synthesize this review and we propose an integrated vulnerability analysis model; in order to test this model we use as a case-study the incident reports collected in a nuclear facility in Belgium. This confrontation allows us to highlight important factors to be taken into account for a vulnerability analysis conducted in such a context
How are we vulnerable? Opening industrial hazards vulnerability analysis to participation
No full textThe risk analysis framework has been the dominant theoretical framework used to address the uncertainty of a potential hazard bypassing the system's safeguards and protection. In essence, this involves the evaluation of the probability and the magnitude of the consequences of the undesired events that can transform the hazard into actual damage. Despite the technical premises, the importance of integrating social aspects into the analysis is now recognized by an increasing number or risk analysis models. Another way to deal with potential consequences of hazards is to analyze the vulnerability of the system considered. This paradigm overcomes the shortcomings of risk analysis in situations when the knowledge about the probabilities and the outcomes is incomplete or insufficient On the one hand, studies in the literature show that socio-economic factors are often integrated in a participative way in vulnerability analysis models especially in the natural hazards research field. On the other hand, it seems that such considerations are rarely integrated in the models aiming at evaluating the vulnerability to an industrial hazard. What can we learn from the analysis of models addressing vulnerability to natural hazards in terms of the participatory integration of social factors? What could be the reasons to apply such participation tools in order to assess the vulnerability to industrial hazards? These are the questions we address in this contribution. To do so, we realized a systematic literature review from scientific journal papers on vulnerability analysis published in the last two decades. From this review, three main arguments can be found arguing for the use of participation for vulnerability analysis. Indeed, participation allows (1) context-based assessments, that may (2) foster the development of adaptative capacities (3) both for short and long-term. Based on those arguments, we identifiy possible paths to foster participation for context-based industrial vulnerability analysis
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