"The papers presented at this conference were organized in the following thematic units : Resources management towards sustainable development, Advances in solid waste management, Underground mining quality/mining heritage, Advances in geophysics, Advances in surface mining, Advances in ground water modelling, Advances in industrial minerals applications, Advances in metal recovery from primary and secondary resources, Advances in remediation technologies, Advances in geotechnics and geomechanics, Advances in processing and energy related issues, Advances in liquid waste management, Advances in surface mining environmental impacts, Advances in environmental impact - risk assessment - monitoring techniques."--Préface
The International Conference of Computational Methods in Sciences and Engineering (ICCMSE) is unique in its kind. It regroups original contributions from all fields of the traditional Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Medicine and all branches of Engineering. The aim of the conference is to bring together computational scientists from several disciplines in order to share methods and ideas. More than 370 extended abstracts have been submitted for consideration for presentation in ICCMSE 2004. From these, 289 extended abstracts have been selected after international peer review by at least two independent reviewers.
Risk, Reliability and Sustainable Remediation in the Field of Civil and Environmental Engineering illustrates the concepts of risk, reliability analysis, its estimation, and the decisions leading to sustainable development in the field of civil and environmental engineering. The book provides key ideas on risks in performance failure and structural failures of all processes involved in civil and environmental systems, evaluates reliability, and discusses the implications of measurable indicators of sustainability in important aspects of multitude of civil engineering projects. It will help practitioners become familiar with tolerances in design parameters, uncertainties in the environment, and applications in civil and environmental systems. Furthermore, the book emphasizes the importance of risks involved in design and planning stages and covers reliability techniques to discover and remove the potential failures to achieve a sustainable development. Contains relevant theory and practice related to risk, reliability and sustainability in the field of civil and environment engineering Gives firsthand experience of new tools to integrate existing artificial intelligence models with large information obtained from different sources Provides engineering solutions that have a positive impact on sustainability
Excessive levels of heavy metals can be introduced into the environment, for example, by industrial waste or fertilizers. Soil represents a major sink for heavy metals ions, which can then enter the food chain via plants or leaching into groundwater. In Heavy Metal Ions in the Environment, the author looks at where heavy metals ions come from, how they interact with the environment and how they can be removed from the environment – by a process known as remediation. This book serves as a valuable addition to an increasingly important field of study, which is, at present, served by a limited number of archival texts. Includes comprehensive coverage of heavy metal ions in the environment Is practical and easy to read Is suitable for students and researchers in environmental science and environmental or chemical engineering
Sensing and Monitoring Technologies for Mines and Hazardous Areas: Monitoring and Prediction Technologies presents the fundamentals of mining related geotechnical risk and how the latest advances in sensing and data communication can be used both to prevent accidents and provide early warnings. Opencast mining operations involve huge quantities of overburden removal, dumping, and backfilling in excavated areas. Substantial increases in the rate of accumulation of waste dumps in recent years has resulted in greater height of dumps and also has given rise to the danger of dump failures as steeper open pit slopes are prone to failure. These failures lead to loss of valuable human lives and damage to mining machinery. This book presents the most recent advances in gas sensors, methane detectors, and power cut-off systems. It also introduces monitoring of the gas strata and environment, and an overview of the use of Internet of Things and cloud computing for mining sensing and surveillance purposes. Targeted at geotechnical and mining engineers, this volume covers the latest findings and technology to prevent mining accidents and mitigate the inherent risk of the activity. Presents complete details of a real-time slope stability monitoring system using wireless sensor networking and prediction technique based on multivariate statistical analysis of various parameters and analytical hierarchy process methods Discusses innovative ideas and new concepts of sensing technologies, mine transport surveillance, digital mining, and cloud computing to improve safety and productivity in mining industry Includes slope stability prediction software, downloadable through a companion website, which can be used for monitoring, analyzing, and storing different sensors and providing audio-visual, SMS, and email alerts Covers the latest findings and technology to prevent mining accidents and mitigate the inherent risk
A geopolymer is a solid aluminosilicate material usually formed by alkali hydroxide or alkali silicate activation of a solid precursor such as coal fly ash, calcined clay and/or metallurgical slag. Today the primary application of geopolymer technology is in the development of reduced-CO2 construction materials as an alternative to Portland-based cements. Geopolymers: structure, processing, properties and industrial applications reviews the latest research on and applications of these highly important materials. Part one discusses the synthesis and characterisation of geopolymers with chapters on topics such as fly ash chemistry and inorganic polymer cements, geopolymer precursor design, nanostructure/microstructure of metakaolin and fly ash geopolymers, and geopolymer synthesis kinetics. Part two reviews the manufacture and properties of geopolymers including accelerated ageing of geopolymers, chemical durability, engineering properties of geopolymer concrete, producing fire and heat-resistant geopolymers, utilisation of mining wastes and thermal properties of geopolymers. Part three covers applications of geopolymers with coverage of topics such as commercialisation of geopolymers for construction, as well as applications in waste management. With its distinguished editors and international team of contributors, Geopolymers: structure, processing, properties and industrial applications is a standard reference for scientists and engineers in industry and the academic sector, including practitioners in the cement and concrete industry as well as those involved in waste reduction and disposal. Discusses the synthesis and characterisation of geopolymers with chapters covering fly ash chemistry and inorganic polymer cements Assesses the application and commercialisation of geopolymers with particular focus on applications in waste management Reviews the latest research on and applications of these highly important materials
Presents a unique study of Integrative Problem-Solving (IPS). The consideration of 'Decadence' is essential in the scientific study of environmental and other problems and their rigorous solution, because the broad context within which the problems emerge can affect their solution. Stochastic reasoning underlines the conceptual and methodological framework of IPS, and its formulation has a mathematical life of its own that accounts for the multidisciplinarity of real world problems, the multisourced uncertainties characterizing their solution, and the different thinking modes of the people involved. Only by interpolating between the full range of disciplines (including stochastic mathematics, physical science, neuropsychology, philosophy, and sociology) and the associated thinking modes can scientists arrive at a satisfactory account of problem-solving, and be able to distinguish between a technically complete problem-solution, and a solution that has social impact.
This book focuses on advances in monitoring and controlling wastewater treatment processes using recent technologies. It also discusses new and groundbreaking developments in the field of organic-inorganic pollution. As a comprehensive book, it takes a broad view of the subject and integrates a wide variety of approaches. Written by leading experts in their fields, this book is highly recommended for readers and scholars interested in environmental and human health.
Masonry walls constitute the interface between the building’s interior and the outdoor environment. Masonry walls are traditionally composed of fired-clay bricks (solid or perforated) or blocks (concrete or earth-based), but in the past (and even in the present) they were often associated as needing an extra special thermal and acoustical insulation layer. However, over more recent years investigations on thermal and acoustical features has led to the development of new improved bricks and blocks that no longer need these insulation layers. Traditional masonry units (fired-clay bricks, concrete or earth-based blocks) that don’t offer improved performance in terms of thermal and acoustical insulation are a symbol of a low-technology past, that are far removed from the demands of sustainable construction. This book provides an up-to-date state-of-the-art review on the eco-efficiency of masonry units, particular emphasis is placed on the design, properties, performance, durability and LCA of these materials. Since masonry units are also an excellent way to reuse bulk industrial waste the book will be important in the context of the Revised Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC which states that the minimum reuse and recycling targets for construction and demolition waste (CDW) should be at least 70% by 2020. On the 9th of March 2011 the European Union approved the Regulation (EU) 305/2011, known as the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and it will be enforced after the 1st of July 2013. The future commercialization of construction materials in Europe makes their environmental assessment mandatory meaning that more information related to the environmental performance of building materials is much needed. Provides an authoritative guide to the eco-efficiency of masonry units Examines the reuse of waste materials Covers a range of materials including, clay, cement, earth and pumice
