The Influence of Covid-19 on Perceived Health Effects of Wetland Parks in China.

Wetland parks are designed to support urban ecological protection, flood control and human well-being. Existing research mainly focuses on their influence on ecology and economy. However, their influence on human well-being and health is rarely studied.

Radiation and Energetic Analysis of Nanofluid Based Volumetric Absorbers for Concentrated Solar Power.

Recently, several publications gave attention to nanofluid based solar absorber systems in which the solar radiation energy is directly absorbed in the volume of the fluid. This idea could provide advantages over conventionally used surface absorbers regarding the optical and thermal efficiency. For the evaluation of this concept, a numerical approach is introduced and validated in this contribution.

Exploring the utility of Bayesian Networks for modelling cultural ecosystem services: A canoeing case study.

Modelling cultural ecosystem services is challenging as they often involve subjective and intangible concepts. As a consequence they have been neglected in ecosystem service studies, something that needs remedying if environmental decision making is to be truly holistic. We suggest Bayesian Networks (BNs) have a number of qualities that may make them well-suited for dealing with cultural services.

Correcting a fundamental error in greenhouse gas accounting related to bioenergy.

Many international policies encourage a switch from fossil fuels to bioenergy based on the premise that its use would not result in carbon accumulation in the atmosphere. Frequently cited bioenergy goals would at least double the present global human use of plant material, the production of which already requires the dedication of roughly 75% of vegetated lands and more than 70% of water withdrawals. However, burning biomass for energy provision increases the amount of carbon in the air just like burning coal, oil or gas if harvesting the biomass decreases the amount of carbon stored in plants and soils, or reduces carbon sequestration.

Plant health and global change--some implications for landscape management.

Global change (climate change together with other worldwide anthropogenic processes such as increasing trade, air pollution and urbanization) will affect plant health at the genetic, individual, population and landscape level. Direct effects include ecosystem stress due to natural resources shortage or imbalance. Indirect effects include (i) an increased frequency of natural detrimental phenomena, (ii) an increased pressure due to already present pests and diseases, (iii) the introduction of new invasive species either as a result of an improved suitability of the climatic conditions or as a result of increased trade, and (iv) the human response to global change.

Approaches to integrating indicators into 3D landscape visualisations and their benefits for participative planning situations.

In discussing issues of landscape change, the complex relationships in the landscape have to be assessed. In participative planning processes, 3D visualisations have a high potential as an aid in understanding and communicating characteristics of landscape conditions by integrating visual and non-visual landscape information. Unclear is, which design and how much interactivity is required for an indicator visualisation that would suit stakeholders best in workshop situations.

Scenario-visualization for the assessment of perceived green space qualities at the urban-rural fringe.

The provision of green space is increasingly being perceived as an important factor for quality of life. However, green spaces often face high developmental pressure. The main objective of this study is to investigate a prospective approach to green space planning by combining three-dimensional (3D) visualization of green space scenarios and survey techniques to facilitate improved participation of the public.