| 1. |
- Petersson, Jesper, 1974
(författare)
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Medicine At A Distance In Sweden: Spatiotemporal Matters In Accomplishing Working Telemedicine
- 2011
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Ingår i: Science Studies. - 0786-3012. ; 24:2, s. 43-62
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper examines the accomplishment of making technology work, using the discourse around telemedicine in Swedish healthcare during 1994-2003. The paper will compare four projects launched in the mid-1990s and policymakers’ visions of healthcare through telemedicine. I will employ a sociotechnical approach developed within Actor-Network Theory that understands functioning technology not as something intrinsic but as an outcome of an ongoing process of negotiations. In the paper, I will extend the sociotechnical approach of what constitutes working technology to include spatiotemporal matters. I will also approach the closely related issue of space that has become a concern of Actor-Network Theory scholars interested in the accomplishment and continued workings of technology as it travels. In this discussion, an emphasis on fixed relations (network space) has been challenged by investigations into changing relations (fluid space). This paper suggests that in order to travel well, technology must be both fixed and fluid.⁰
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Wilhelmsson, Kenneth
(författare)
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Automatic Question Generation from Swedish Documents as a Tool for Information Extraction
- 2011
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 18th Nordic Conference of Computational Linguistics NODALIDA 2011. ; , s. 323-326
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- An implementation of automatic question generation (QG) from raw Swedish text is presented. QG is here chosen as an alternative to natural query systems where any query can be posed and no indication is given of whether the current text database includes the information sought for. The program builds on parsing with grammatical functions from which corresponding questions are generated and it incorporates the article database of Swedish Wikipedia. The pilot system is meant to work with a text shown in the GUI and auto-completes user input to help find available questions. The act of question generation is here described together with early test results regarding the current produced questions.
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| 4. |
- Jonsson, Anna, 1967-, et al.
(författare)
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Defining goals in participatory water management: merging local visions and expert judgements
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. - Oxfordshire, UK : Informa UK Limited. - 1360-0559 .- 0964-0568. ; 54:7, s. 909-935
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Management by objectives is intrinsic to the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Swedish environmental policy. We describe three approaches to formulating objectives via model-assisted dialogue with local stakeholders concerning eutrophication in a coastal drainage area in south-eastern Sweden: a WFD eco-centred approach based on 'natural state'; Swedish environmental policy reformulated into quantified reduction goals; and a participatory approach based on local stakeholder definitions of desirable environmental status. Despite problems with representation, we conclude that local stakeholder participation in formulating local goals could increase goal functionality and robustness when adapting and implementing national and EU WFD goals at the local level.
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| 5. |
- Palm, Matilda, 1979, et al.
(författare)
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Barriers to plantation activities in different agro-ecological zones of Southern India
- 2011
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Ingår i: Regional Environmental Change. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1436-3798 .- 1436-378X. ; 11:2, s. 423-435
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper analyses environmental and socio-economic barriers for plantation activities on local and regional level and investigates the potential for carbon finance to stimulate the increased rates of forest plantation on wasteland, i.e., degraded lands, in southern India. Building on multidisciplinary field work and results from the model GCOMAP, the aim is to (1) identify and characterize the barriers to plantation activities in four agro-ecological zones in the state of Karnataka and (2) investigate what would be required to overcome these barriers and enhance the plantation rate and productivity. The results show that a rehabilitation of the wasteland based on plantation activities is not only possible but also anticipated by the local population and would lead to positive environmental and socio-economic effects at a local level. However, in many cases, the establishment of plantation activities is hindered by a lack of financial resources, low land productivity and water scarcity. Based on the model used and the results from the field work, it can be concluded that certified emission reductions such as carbon credits or other compensatory systems may help to overcome the financial barrier; however, the price needs to be significantly increased if these measures are to have any large-scale impact.
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| 6. |
- Xie, Kefan, et al.
(författare)
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Research on the group decision-making about emergency event based on network technology
- 2011
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Ingår i: Information Technology and Management. - : Springer. - 1385-951X .- 1573-7667. ; 12:2, s. 137-147
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In order to improve decision-making efficiency about emergency event, this paper proposes a novel concept, i.e., Agile-Delphi Method, which is an integration of agile decision and Delphi Method implicating that the decision-makers instantly deliver, respond, treat, and utilize information via Delphi process while conducting group decision-making about emergency event. The paper details the mechanism of group decision-making about emergency event based on network technology and Agile-Delphi Method. Finally, the paper conducts an empiric analysis taking the “111 event”, i.e., the liquid ammonia spill event happened on November 1, 2006 in a phosphorus chemical company in China, as an example.
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| 7. |
- Ahlborg, Helene, 1980
(författare)
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Drivers and barriers to diffusion, implementation and management of renewable energy systems in rural Tanzania and Mozambique – interaction between stakeholders
- 2011
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Ingår i: http://www.stockholmresilience.org/download/18.1af8fee012f95b1467880002363/ws12+Ahlborg.pdf.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Renewable energy technologies are increasingly being used to electrify rural areas in developing countries. This study is based on semi-structured stakeholder interviews and field visits in Tanzania and Mozambique during eight weeks in 2010, identifying what energy sector stakeholders from national and local level perceive as drivers and barriers to rural electrification using decentralized renewable energy systems (RES). The interaction between national and local stakeholders is described and how they perceive the potential for RES; it is further analyzed whether different perspectives and understandings may create conflicts or barriers to successful implementation and management. The two neighboring countries face similar challenges, with high levels of rural poverty and low electrification levels (around 2 % of rural people have access to electricity). Due to long distances and high costs, many areas will not be covered by national electricity grids within a foreseeable future. Therefore, in some areas decentralized systems are the only economically feasible short-term alternatives. In most cases, this means costly and unreliable diesel generators. Replacing diesel generators with small-scale renewable energy systems such as solar PV systems, micro-hydro, wind or biofuels represents an opportunity to improve rural people’s lives and diminish the dependency on fossil fuels. Currently, both Tanzania and Mozambique have national policies and newly established government agencies promoting renewable energy rural electrification, but there are interesting social and political differences impacting implementation and management. In Mozambique, the diffusion of decentralized systems (solar PV and diesel generators) is a top-down process, where local participation is taking place on a consultancy and contractual basis. Civil society is very weak and there is little industry or private business in rural areas. In comparison, Tanzania has a strong civil society and there are local initiatives and private sector actors that play a part in electrifying the countryside. Still, rural poverty poses a difficult challenge working as a barrier to successful management and economic viability in projects. In both countries the top-down structure and low institutional quality of the energy sectors create financial and political barriers for local actors and non-governmental organizations. However, although RES are of limited technical capacity and face economical difficulties, their introduction work as a driver for increased demand and social development, improving the customer base for future grid extension.
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| 8. |
- Ahlborg, Helene, 1980, et al.
(författare)
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Drivers and barriers to rural electrification in rural Tanzania and Mozambique – interaction between stakeholders
- 2011
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Ingår i: Working paper: NESS 2011. Power landscapes – histories and futures. Theme: The power of power. June 14-16, 2011. Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Mozambique and Tanzania are countries with very low rural electrification rates – far below 5 % percent of the rural population use electricity. The pace of rural grid electrification is slow and for most remote areas access to the national electricity grids will not occur within a foreseeable future. Off-grid (decentralized) electricity grids are seen as a complement and fore-runner to the national grid, making electricity available many years in advance and creating demand and a customer base. Most off-grid systems are supplied by diesel generators which entail unreliable and costly electricity. Alternative off-grid energy sources exist in the region, such as biofuels, wind, micro-hydro and solar PV; but there are significant barriers to adoption, adaptation and diffusion of such renewable energy-based technologies.In this study, the specific drivers and barriers for rural electrification and off-grid solutions in both countries are explored across a stakeholder spectrum. By qualitative methodology, data was collected in semi-structured interviews carried out with energy sector stakeholders from national to local level; and in visits to off-grid projects in Tanzania and Mozambique during eight weeks in 2010. Findings illustrate country-specific institutional, financial and poverty-related drivers and barriers to grid and off-grid electrification, as perceived by different energy sector stakeholders. The interaction between national and local stakeholders is described and how they perceive the potential for renewable energy sources; it is further analyzed whether different perspectives and understandings may create conflicts or barriers to successful implementation and management. In both countries the top-down structure and low institutional quality of the energy sectors create financial and political barriers for local actors and non-governmental organizations. However, although renewable energy sources are of limited technical capacity and face economical difficulties, their introduction work as a driver for increased demand and social development, improving the customer base for future grid extension.
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| 9. |
- Ahlborg, Helene, 1980, et al.
(författare)
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Drivers and barriers to rural electrification in Tanzania and Mozambique – grid extension, off-grid and renewable energy sources
- 2011
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Ingår i: World Renewable Energy Congress 2011 – Sweden, 8-11 May 2011, Linköping, Sweden. - : Linköping University Electronic Press. - 1650-3740. - 9789173930703 ; 10:57, s. 2493-2500
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mozambique and Tanzania are countries with very low rural electrification rates – far below 5% percent of the rural population use electricity. The pace of rural grid electrification is slow and for most remote areas access to the national electricity grids will not occur within a foreseeable future. Off-grid (decentralized) electricity grids are seen as a complement and fore-runner to the national grid, making electricity available many years in advance and creating demand and a customer base. Most off-grid systems are supplied by diesel generators which entail unreliable and costly electricity. Alternative off-grid energy sources exist in the region, such as biofuels, wind, micro-hydro and solar PV; but there are significant barriers to adoption, adaptation and diffusion of such RE-based technologies. In this study, the specific drivers and barriers for rural electrification and off-grid solutions in both countries are explored across a stakeholder spectrum. It is part of a larger research effort, undertaken in collaboration between Swedish and African researchers from natural, engineering and social sciences, aiming at an interdisciplinary assessment of the potential for an enhanced utilization of available renewable sources in off-grid solutions. By qualitative methodology, data was collected in semi-structured stakeholder interviews carried out with ten national level energy sector actors. Findings illustrate countryspecific institutional, financial and poverty-related drivers and barriers to grid and off-grid electrification, as perceived by different energy sector stakeholders.
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| 10. |
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