scholarly journals Rockfall Analysis for Preliminary Hazard Assessment of the Cliff of Taormina Saracen Castle (Sicily)

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Mineo ◽  
Giovanna Pappalardo ◽  
Michele Mangiameli ◽  
Santo Campolo ◽  
Giuseppe Mussumeci

A rockfall analysis at one of the most relevant cultural heritage sites of northeastern Sicily (Italy) is presented herein with the aim of assessing the hazard arising from the unstable conditions of the rock cliff of Taormina city, upon which the Saracen Castle is perched on its top. Several rockfalls affected this area in the latest years, representing a serious threat for the safety of inhabitants and tourists. Therefore, the qualitative Evolving Rockfall Hazard Assessment (ERHA) was applied for the hazard zonation, supported by rock mass surveys and Terrestrial Laser Scanner prospecting. Kinematic analysis revealed that the unstable rock failure patterns are represented by planar/wedge sliding and toppling, while simulation of potential rockfalls allowed studying the impact of future events in terms of trajectory and energy. This is higher at the foot of scarps and in steeper sectors, where the application of ERHA identified a critical zone close to the inhabited center, which is one of the main elements at risk, along with a pedestrian tourist path. Achieved results represent a starting point for the definition of risk management strategies and provide a scientific contribution to the study of hazard and risk arising from rockfall occurrence.

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 353-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Galeazzi ◽  
Holley Moyes ◽  
Mark Aldenderfer

AbstractThis research aims to investigate the potential use of three-dimensional (3D) technologies for the analysis and interpretation of heritage sites. This article uses different 3D survey technologies to find the most appropriate methods to document archaeological stratigraphy, based on diverse environmental conditions, light exposures, and varied surfaces. The use of 3D laser scanners and dense stereo matching (DSM) techniques is now well established in archaeology. However, no convincing comparisons between those techniques have been presented. This research fills this gap to provide an accurate data assessment for the Las Cuevas site (Belize) and represents a starting point for the definition of a sharable methodology. Tests in Las Cuevas were conducted to compare both accuracy and density reliability in cave environments using two different techniques: triangulation light laser scanner and DSM. This study finds that DSM is the most economical, portable, and flexible approach for the 3D documentation of archaeological sites today. In fact, DSM allows the 3D documentation process to be done more efficiently, reducing both data acquisition and processing time. Nonetheless, the quantitative comparison presented in this paper underscores the need to integrate this technique with other technologies when the data acquisition of micro-stratigraphy is required.


2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 221-230
Author(s):  
Dejan Filipovic ◽  
Bogdan Lukic

In compatibility with actual recommendations and policy which leads to improvement and preservation of integral environment and especially its natural values, it is necessary to implement active and integral approach to all variety of planning documents. In order to visualize the impact of highway through Belgrade on its surroundings, the solutions of the traffic artery were analyzed from the aspect of the protection of the environment in the sense of definition of harmful impacts and proposals of measures for their prevention or removal. The basic starting point was to get the answer whether and which, from ecological aspect, protection measures should be taken. The paper will show specific details of making the Belgrade highway environmental impact study.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_K) ◽  
pp. K4-K8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gérald Simonneau ◽  
Marius M Hoeper

Abstract At the 6th World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension (PH), it was proposed that the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) threshold used to define PH should be lowered from ≥25 mmHg to >20 mmHg. The rationale for this change is that the ≥25 mmHg threshold is arbitrary, whereas the revised threshold is based on scientific evidence. For the definition of all forms of pre-capillary PH, the inclusion of a pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) ≥3 Wood Units was also proposed, placing greater emphasis on an elevated PVR to identify pulmonary vascular disease. Here, we discuss the possible impact of the revised definition of PH on future clinical management. This change may facilitate earlier PH detection, particularly in at-risk patient groups that are already undergoing screening programmes, e.g. those with systemic sclerosis or mutations associated with PH. As an mPAP above the upper limit of normal (>20 mmHg) but <25 mmHg is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality compared with a normal mPAP, early identification of patients in this group is important to enable close monitoring and timely treatment initiation once clinically indicated. Treatments currently approved for PH are not necessarily suitable for patients with an mPAP 21–24 mmHg, as the management of this group has not been widely examined. The revised definition may facilitate inclusion of these patients in prospective trials, allowing the evaluation of appropriate management strategies.


2007 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 129-134
Author(s):  
Michael Nagenborg

In this paper I will argue that artificial moral agents (AMAs) are a fitting subject of intercultural information ethics because of the impact they may have on the relationship between information rich and information poor countries. I will give a limiting definition of AMAs first, and discuss two different types of AMAs with different implications from an intercultural perspective. While AMAs following preset rules might raise con-cerns about digital imperialism, AMAs being able to adjust to their user‘s behavior will lead us to the question what makes an AMA ?moral?? I will argue that this question does present a good starting point for an inter-cultural dialogue which might be helpful to overcome the notion of Africa as a mere victim.


Author(s):  
Tzu Yang Loh ◽  
Mario P. Brito ◽  
Neil Bose ◽  
Jingjing Xu ◽  
Natalia Nikolova ◽  
...  

The maturing of autonomous technology has fostered a rapid expansion in the use of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). To prevent the loss of AUVs during deployments, existing risk analysis approaches tend to focus on technicalities, historical data and experts’ opinion for probability quantification. However, data may not always be available and the complex interrelationships between risk factors are often neglected due to uncertainties. To overcome these shortfalls, a hybrid fuzzy system dynamics risk analysis (FuSDRA) is proposed. The approach utilises the strengths while overcoming limitations of both system dynamics and fuzzy set theory. Presented as a three-step iterative framework, the approach was applied on a case study to examine the impact of crew operating experience on the risk of AUV loss. Results showed not only that initial experience of the team affects the risk of loss, but any loss of experience in earlier stages of the AUV program have a lesser impact as compared to later stages. A series of risk control policies were recommended based on the results. The case study demonstrated how the FuSDRA approach can be applied to inform human resource and risk management strategies, or broader application within the AUV domain and other complex technological systems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 442
Author(s):  
Joelle Mitchell ◽  
Derrick O'Keeffe

This study will provide a longitudinal account of how the Australian offshore petroleum industry has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the response has evolved over time, and will provide a regulatory perspective on the future challenges arising from the changes that have occurred during the industry in response to the pandemic. Since March 2020, the National Offshore Safety and Environmental Management Authority has been actively collecting information about the approach taken by the offshore petroleum industry to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial response focused on infectious disease control measures, identifying strategies to prevent disease transmission on offshore facilities and to respond should an outbreak occur offshore. The next phase considered the potential consequences of the infection control measures on facility safety and integrity, including the impact of reduced personnel on board on safety critical maintenance activities and emergency response capability, assurance of competence profile requirements being sustained on facilities, the long-term consequences of delayed routine maintenance, supply chain disruptions and access to specialist workforce. It became apparent that a rapid recovery to pre-COVID-19 conditions was unlikely, and the impacts would likely continue for some time; and psychosocial and fatigue risk management strategies were explored. Data collection methods included: surveys of operators, workplace inspections, review of documents and records, interviews with members of the workforce and participation in industry working groups.


Author(s):  
W. J. Wouter Botzen

Increasing natural disaster losses in the past decades and expectations that this trend will accelerate under climate change motivated the development of a branch of literature on the economics of natural disaster insurance. A starting point for assessing the implications of climate change for insurance and developing risk management strategies is understanding the factors underlying historical loss trends and the way that future risks will develop. Most studies have pointed toward socioeconomic developments as the main cause of historical trends in natural disaster risks. Moreover, evidence reveals that climate change has been a contributing factor, which is expected to grow in importance in the future. Several supply and demand side obstacles may prevent natural disaster insurance from optimally fulfilling its desirable function of offering financial protection at affordable premiums. Climate change is expected to further hamper the insurability of natural disaster risks, unless insurers and governments proactively respond to climate change, for example by linking insurance coverage with risk reduction activities. A branch of literature has developed about how the functioning of insurance should be improved to cope with climate change. This includes industry-level responses, reforms of insurance market structures, such as public–private natural disaster insurance provision, and recommendations for addressing behavioral biases in insurance demand and for stimulating risk reduction. In view of the rising economic losses of natural disasters, this field of study is likely to remain an active one.


2011 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-181
Author(s):  
Wendy Goff

This article explores the effects of cyberbullying in relation to a school's duty of care. By examining the impact of cyberbullying through an increasingly common scenario, it becomes apparent that the strategies for Australian schools in maintaining their duty of care may be unclear and uncommunicated. Findings suggest that Australian law in its current form has failed to keep up with the advances in technology and does not effectively deal with the problems surrounding cyberbullying, both within society and within our schools. Such findings suggest that this lack of direction within Australia could be potentially detrimental to the perceptions of the value and use of the internet both within Australian schools and within Australian households, and support the need for global unity in the development of risk management strategies to deal with this growing phenomenon.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document