RIT 2009 Symposium Workshop Summary: Evaluation of Natural Resources
May 20, 2009 by Brian Butler | Filed under: Evaluation of Natural Resources
Please follow the link below for a powerpoint presentation highlighting the findings from this workshop.
Recent posts in Evaluation of Natural Resources
Research
May 1, 2009 by Brian Butler and | Filed under: Evaluation of Natural Resources
This study by the British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Range was conducted to determine the infestation and destruction of pine trees by the mountain pine beetle and the effect of short and mid-term timber supplies. The Ministry, in conjunction with the Canadian Forest Service, developed an infestation model using forest cover maps, aerial views, and stand level mortality information in order to predict the spread of infestation. This information was used to plot salvage harvesting while dead wood was still useable over the short term under the belief that forest stands would recover over the long term. Additional modeling was used to determine the best course of action to take in order to maintain an economically viable harvest and ensure the establishment of new stands. Potential economic impacts, such as the ability to use timber destroyed by the beetles and the dependence of local economies dependent on harvesting were considered with several mitigating actions identified such as alternative uses of wood, including bioenergy and alternative wood products. Other impacts were also considered for mitigation, including effects on hydrology, undergrowth, biodiversity of tree species, and wildlife. This article provides a good overview for the timber industry in consideration of strategic planning for sourcing and supply. From a process standpoint, it provides a model for future study that relies on cause-consequence modeling.
Research
May 1, 2009 by Brian Butler | Filed under: Evaluation of Natural Resources
Limits of acceptable change have been a useful process for dealing with recreation issues in the wilderness, such as recreation carrying capacities. The process follows a framework of six questions that focus on bringing balance to change:
1. Identify at least two goals that are in conflict.
2. Identify goals that will need to compromise for successful change.
3. Establish a hierarchy, or importance of goals.
4. Develop indications and standards for the implementation of the identified goals. The goals must be monitored to ensure the indicators are valid.
5. Modify the compromised goals to reach the develop standard.
6. Compromise the remaining goals to make sure the standard is not violated.
For proper implementation, LAC must be useful for evaluating future situations. LAC is not useful, or cannot be used in situations where goals are not in conflict, cannot be set into a hierarchy, or if the developed standards would violate the identified goals. LAC can be a useful process for evaluating issues commonly encountered during project planning and management. This article provides an overview of a tool that was developed for use in natural resource planning that can be used during a management of change process.
Research
May 1, 2009 by Brian Butler | Filed under: Evaluation of Natural Resources
The US Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory conducted a study to assess power generation needs versus the availability of fresh water in the United States. It was determined that power generating capacity will increase by 18% between 2005 and 2030; therefore, regional power demand must be compared to regional fresh water supply to determine areas where water supply could become a critical issue. In the case of power generation, the bulk of water used is to cool and condense steam generated to drive turbine generators back into liquid. An experimental model was developed to look at the increase in generation and water use under five different circumstances. As part of this study, population expansion in regards to water use and implementation of carbon capture and sequestering (CCS) technology was also evaluated as strains on the water supply (CCS technology requires electricity to operate, increasing demand). The study showed that while fresh water withdrawal will decrease by 5% by 2030, consumption will increase by 40%. Regions in the South and Southwest, which have experienced spikes in population growth, will have supply issues. The NETL will be able to assist with the minimization of supply issues by working to identify non-traditional water sources, water reuse and recovery systems, advanced cooling technologies, and advanced water treatment and detection systems. This article provides a good overview for the electrical utility industry in consideration of strategic planning for expansion. From a process standpoint, it provides a model for future study and identifies a potential partner for energy related industries and organizations.
Workshop: Evaluation of Natural Resources
April 2, 2009 by Brian Butler , AROMAKE AFIEGBE , John Morelli , John Morelli , John Morelli , John Morelli , John Morelli and John Morelli | Filed under: Evaluation of Natural Resources
The workshop is about the potential role of the evaluation of natural resources in the life of corporations and/or in general.The objective of this workshop is to clarify the main points where a corporation has a share in evaluating changes in natural resources. This workshop will be structured as follows:
-At the beginning of the workshop a short description of the essence of evaluation of natural resources will be presented
-Some key issues of the workshop will be highlighted and discussed with the participants (with the possibility for further discussion of more questions/issues)
-Followed by a moderated debate about:
- the role of the evaluation of natural resources to business
- how can the results be used in the life of corporations?
- when do the corporations have a share in evaluating changes in natural resources?
- Summarizing the comments
This workshop will be moderated by Dr. Zsuzsanna Szerényi and Dr. Ágnes Zsóka.
“>Dr. Zsuzsanna Szerényi has been working at the Corvinus University of Budapest since 1986. She is currently head of the department. From the mid-1990 she has been dealing with the topic of evaluation of natural resources. She has dealt with the contingent valuation and choice experiment method in detail. Besides researching, she teaches environmental economics at undergraduate and graduate levels, and her special subject at the graduate level is connected to the topic of the workshop (evaluation of natural resources), so it is a topic keen to her.
Ágnes Zsóka is an economist and has been working for the Department of Environmental Economics and Technology at Corvinus University of Budapest since 1997. As senior assistant professor she teaches corporate environmental management, eco-marketing, environmental strategy, environmental economics, as well as learning and research methodology. Dr. Zsóka’s specialization areas in research are the sustainable behavior of companies and the society, as well as sustainability indicators.
Evaluation of Natural Resources
Description of this topic will be forthcoming.