Impacts of Large Dams: A Global Assessment

Impacts of Large Dams: A Global Assessment

Author: Cecilia Tortajada

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-02-02

Total Pages: 415

ISBN-13: 3642235700

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One of the most controversial issues of the water sector in recent years has been the impacts of large dams. Proponents have claimed that such structures are essential to meet the increasing water demands of the world and that their overall societal benefits far outweight the costs. In contrast, the opponents claim that social and environmental costs of large dams far exceed their benefits, and that the era of construction of large dams is over. A major reason as to why there is no consensus on the overall benefits of large dams is because objective, authoritative and comprehensive evaluations of their impacts, especially ten or more years after their construction, are conspicuous by their absence. This book debates impartially, comprehensively and objectively, the positive and negative impacts of large dams based on facts, figures and authoritative analyses. These in-depth case studies are expected to promote a healthy and balanced debate on the needs, impacts and relevance of large dams, with case studies from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America.


Water Supply Planning

Water Supply Planning

Author: David W. Prasifka

Publisher:

Published: 1994-01-01

Total Pages: 266

ISBN-13: 9780894648380

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As a source of reference material for the practising water engineer or water manager, this book outlines a strategy for projecting water consumption for specific types of land use and selecting a water conservation programme to maximise the beneficial use of a limited natural resource - a situation that typifies new development nationally and worldwide.


The 1993 Flood on the Mississippi River in Illinois

The 1993 Flood on the Mississippi River in Illinois

Author: Nani G. Bhowmik

Publisher:

Published: 1994

Total Pages: 160

ISBN-13:

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The lessons learned from this flood focus on the performance of the levees, governmental responses, the effects of flood fighting, change in stages due to levee breaches, flood modeling, and the lack of information dissemination to the public on the technical aspects of the flood. These lessons point out information gaps and the need for research in the areas of hydraulics and hydrology, meteorology, sediment transport and sedimentation, surface and ground-water interactions, water quality, and levees. The report presents a comprehensive summary of the 1993 flood as far as climate, hydrology, and hydraulics are concerned.


Handbook of Geotechnical Investigation and Design Tables

Handbook of Geotechnical Investigation and Design Tables

Author: Burt G. Look

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2007-04-26

Total Pages: 356

ISBN-13: 020394660X

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This practical handbook of properties for soils and rock contains, in a concise tabular format, the key issues relevant to geotechnical investigations, assessments and designs in common practice. In addition, there are brief notes on the application of the tables. These data tables are compiled for experienced geotechnical professionals who require a reference document to access key information. There is an extensive database of correlations for different applications. The book should provide a useful bridge between soil and rock mechanics theory and its application to practical engineering solutions. The initial chapters deal with the planning of the geotechnical investigation, the classification of the soil and rock properties and some of the more used testing is then covered. Later chapters show the reliability and correlations that are used to convert that data in the interpretative and assessment phase of the project. The final chapters apply some of these concepts to geotechnical design. This book is intended primarily for practicing geotechnical engineers working in investigation, assessment and design, but should provide a useful supplement for postgraduate courses.


Adapting Buildings and Cities for Climate Change

Adapting Buildings and Cities for Climate Change

Author: David Crichton

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2009-10-26

Total Pages: 398

ISBN-13: 1136444564

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From the bestselling author of Ecohouse, this fully revised edition of Adapting Buildings and Cities for Climate Change provides unique insights into how we can protect our buildings, cities, infra-structures and lifestyles against risks associated with extreme weather and related social, economic and energy events. Three new chapters present evidence of escalating rates of environmental change. The authors explore the growing urgency for mitigation and adaptation responses that deal with the resulting challenges. Theoretical information sits alongside practical design guidelines, so architects, designers and planners can not only see clearly what problems they face, but also find the solutions they need, in order to respond to power and water supply needs. Considers use of materials, structures, site issues and planning in order to provide design solutions. Examines recent climate events in the US and UK and looks at how architecture was successful or not in preventing building damage. Adapting Buildings and Cities for Climate Change is an essential source, not just for architects, engineers and planners facing the challenges of designing our building for a changing climate, but also for everyone involved in their production and use.


Environmental Engineering Dictionary and Directory

Environmental Engineering Dictionary and Directory

Author: Thomas M. Pankratz

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2000-09-22

Total Pages: 340

ISBN-13: 1420032534

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Like most technical disciplines, environmental science and engineering is becoming increasingly specialized. As industry professionals focus on specific environmental subjects they become less familiar with environmental problems and solutions outside their area of expertise. This situation is compounded by the fact that many environmental science