| 1. |
- Coello-Balthasar, Zairis, et al.
(författare)
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Problems faced by a national water utility in an urban area, case study : Tegucigalpa, Honduras
- 2013
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Ingår i: International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning. - 1743-7601 .- 1743-761X. ; 8:4, s. 508-522
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The capital of Honduras, Tegucigalpa, has suffered a shortage of piped water, since the 1980s. The national utility company in charge of supply, SANAA, opted to supply water intermittently, which poses a problem for the population who cannot afford water storage facilities. Interviews were conducted with the various authorities involved in the water sector to reveal why SANAA has not been able to incorporate new sources of water and therefore satisfy the needs of the growing population. The research revealed that SANAA's operations have been hindered by the fast and unorganized growth of the city, the failure of other governmental agencies to comply with their mission efficiently, and also by the intervention of the Central Government in its operations. Stability of SANAA's management and coordination between governmental agencies are essential for the efficient operation and long-term planning of and investment in the water sector.
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| 2. |
- Haraldsson, Mattias, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
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Economic evaluation of grocery store nets in cities : a model approach
- 2007
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Ingår i: International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning. - : WIT Press. - 1743-7601 .- 1743-761X. ; 2:3, s. 353-362
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The rapid transformation of the grocery business in cities from small to larger units during the last decades has resulted in grocery store nets with fewer nodes. Cost reductions as well as cost increases associated with the structural change are present, with a poorly understood net effect. Earlier research indicates that retail trade is subject to an increasing-returns illusion when increasing consumer participation in performing the service reduces the amount of service actually performed by the firm. This is still to a large extent an unexplored issue of utmost policy relevance. In this paper a total cost model will be presented that focuses on this research question. Its components, grocery prices in retailing and consumers transport cost functions, are estimated from empirical data and derived from a specific spatial structure respectively. Our conclusion is that the increasing returns are not an illusion but due to external costs somewhat exaggerated. The costs associated with the transport and time use by consumers are more than well compensated by the scale economies related to larger stores. When the transport network is severely congested, however, we have a situation closer to the scenario with an increasing-returns illusion. But we can clearly state that the structural change in grocery retailing is welfare enhancing when the capacity utilization in the transportation system is balanced. From a policy perspective the results of this study clearly suggest that issues regarding local service should be an integral part of strategic urban transport planning. With infrastructure and transportation systems that enable easy and affordable access with cars in the city, a significant number of people will find it optimal to use large stores for grocery shopping. Restrictive policies at the more detailed level, currently applied in many countries, will clearly be ineffective since they are counteracted by forces released by more strategic choices.
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| 3. |
- Haraldsson, Mattias, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
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The tragedy of local service shortage in cities : a willingness to pay study
- 2008
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Ingår i: International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning. - : WIT Press. - 1743-7601 .- 1743-761X. ; 3:4, s. 367-376
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The transformation of the grocery retailing business witnessed in many countries during the last decades has resulted in sparser retailing networks, wherein firm efficiency has improved at the expense of store proximity. This process is welfare enhancing in most cases, but one potential source of market failure remains to be explored. There might exist a degenerative process, caused by uncoordinated individual interaction, creating unmatched demand for local service. The purpose of this paper is to test if local grocery retailing service is a utility plagued by a social dilemma. When a social dilemma is at hand, each individual realises that the impact of his/her choices is too small to make a difference, if others cannot be trusted to act in the same manner. Under this hypothesis, more local service would be observed if individual actions could be coordinated. In a stated preference study, more than 2000 respondents have stated how they would distribute their grocery purchases between a local store 300 m from their homes and a larger, but cheaper, store 10 km away. In a first scenario they do this under the condition that their choice does not affect the existence or design of any of the two stores. This mirrors the realistic case with uncoordinated decisions and negligible individual influence. In a second scenario, the respondents make the same choice but are now informed that the share they buy in the small store will affect the price level and ultimately the survival of the small store. In this way we mimic a case where individuals could trust each other and make short-term sacrifices for a long-term benefit. Based on the answers we estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) for local grocery service. It is found that WTP would be higher if the shopping behaviour could be coordinated. With some sort of binding agreement between the customers, the local store would survive and offer better service and more favourable lower prices than if people act independently. A policy recommendation is to support local grocery stores, not by direct regulations, but through a transport system and a land use pattern that makes local service more favourable.
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| 4. |
- Hassan, Osama, 1969-
(författare)
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Remediation Of Chromium-contaminated Soil Using Blast Furnace Slag
- 2011
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Ingår i: International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning. - : WIT Press. - 1743-7601 .- 1743-761X. ; 6:1, s. 81-90
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper, it is attempted to study the capacity of blast furnace to stabilize cr(VI)-contaminated soils. The slag samples are incorporated with soils in different proportions and the resulted leachate is tested using batch and column experiments to simulate static and dynamic flows. furthermore, the mechanism by which the chro-mium in the soil is reduced by the iron slag is discussed. The study demonstrated that blast furnace slag can effectively stabilize cr(VI)-contaminated soils.
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| 5. |
- Ivehammar, Pernilla, et al.
(författare)
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Estimating the costs and benefits of the closure of a local grocery store
- 2014
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Ingår i: International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning. - : WIT Press. - 1743-7601 .- 1743-761X. ; 9:2, s. 301-316
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Grocery stores, especially local stores in rural areas, are decreasing in number. The closure of a local grocery store may be caused by a market failure due to consumers’ inability to coordinate their behaviour. This study develops a questionnaire method to estimate the costs and benefits caused by the closure of a local grocery store. We explain why the closure of local grocery stores is a social dilemma for consumers, and we outline the costs and benefits of such closures identified in previous research. To quantify and evaluate the effects of local closures, we asked all households living in the market area of two recently closed local grocery stores detailed questions about their purchases of groceries before and after the closure of the local store. We also estimated their average willingness to pay to have access to a local grocery store. We present here a cost–benefit analysis for the two studied cases and discuss the ways to sustain local grocery stores.
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| 6. |
- Khudair, Marwa Yass, et al.
(författare)
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Groundwater Quality and Sustainability Evaluation for Irrigation Purposes: A Case Study in an Arid Region, Iraq
- 2022
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Ingår i: International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning. - : International Information and Engineering Technology Association (IIETA). - 1743-7601 .- 1743-761X. ; 17:2, s. 413-419
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Water resources are of great importance in the world's agriculture, especially regarding the scarcity of these resources. That calls for attention appropriate for analysis, study, and research in all issues and aspects that would contribute to the development and maintenance of those resources and achieve the maximum possible levels of quality and efficiency of use. The study was conducted during the fall season of 2020 to study groundwater quality (well water) in the city of Al-Qaim of Anbar Province to explain its suitability for agricultural exploitation in the region. The study included seven sites in Al-Qaim (Rtemi, Medicis, Eastern Akash, Okesha, Sawab, Albu-Hayat, and Al-Karah) to assess the validity of irrigation. The pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), positive ions (K+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+), and negative ions (HCO3, Cl-2, SO4) and CO3 were measured. The results showed that the studied well water is acceptable for irrigation purposes in terms of pH value, as for the electrical connection, it was six wells within the class (C2), which is adequate for irrigation for medium-salty crops, except for one well, which is a fine well within class C3 suitable for irrigation of high salinity crops. The total hardness values were low and did not pose any risk; as for the positive and negative ions, they were within the permissible limits within the specified classifications. By measuring the positive ions, the Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) value was calculated and determined to be within the class S1, which means that the groundwater in the region is suitable for irrigation.
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| 7. |
- Lindskog, Staffan, et al.
(författare)
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Sustainability of nuclear energy with regard to decommissioning and waste management
- 2013
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Ingår i: International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning. - 1743-7601 .- 1743-761X. ; 8:2, s. 246-264
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sustainability aspects of nuclear power are analysed with regard to such environmental liabilities that are associated with decommissioning of nuclear facilities and with nuclear waste management. Sustainability is defined and evaluated based on information searches that also include energy from combustion of coal. It is concluded that the claims on sustainability put forward by different parties are inconsistent and that coherent methodologies for evaluation are needed together with appropriately structured knowledge bases. Examples are presented from the perspective of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority. It is found that nuclear power can qualify as sustainable only if the nuclear liability associated with protection of health and the environment - now and in the future – is appropriately managed. Sustainability awareness is analysed in a historic perspective, and it is found that it has been around for at least as long as agriculture, and that at least some of the shortcomings are actually modern inventions. Comprehensive perspectives are essential, since sustainability awareness may appear as trends. It is a historical fact that planning for decommissioning and estimation of associated costs are frequently treacherous exercises. However, costs must be relatively accurately estimated already at early stages so that adequate funds are available at the time when they are needed. Thus, the timing of the technical planning is often governed by the needs for financial planning. It is the duty of the present generation to assess what is adequate and to find responsible solutions. But the next generation should also be asked to carefully consider the perspective that they provide to us.
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| 8. |
- Pusch, Roland, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term performance of contacting concrete and smectite clay in deep disposal of highly radioactive waste
- 2016
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Ingår i: International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning. - 1743-7601 .- 1743-761X. ; 11:5, s. 740-750
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Disposal of highly radioactive waste (HLW) can be environmentally acceptable if radionuclides are kept isolated from the groundwater, which has inspired planners of repositories to work out multibarrier concepts that postulate defined functions of the host rock and engineering barriers. Assessment of the role of the host rock involves groundwater flow modelling and rock mechanical analysis, which are both highly speculative and ignore future changes in rock structure, stress conditions, and groundwater flow. This makes use of engineered barriers necessary and possible technical solutions for isolating containers with highly radioactive waste by clay and concrete seals have been described in the literature. The present paper examines the performance and interaction of such seals in very deep boreholes with respect to chemical reactions and their impact on the sealing functions.
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| 9. |
- Sanei, Mohsen, et al.
(författare)
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Is Bottled Water More Reliable Than Tap Water in Mexico? A Case Study of Household Mental Health Conditions in Two States
- 2024
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Ingår i: International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning. - : International Information and Engineering Technology Association. - 1743-7601 .- 1743-761X. ; 19:6, s. 2115-2123
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Most Mexicans do not trust the water provided by the public network to be healthy enough to drink. This has made Mexico a key consumer of bottled water worldwide. Besides the inadequate quality of water and health concerns, there are other studied reasons for promoting bottled water usage among Mexicans, such as debilitated regulatory frameworks and the power of multinational corporations. Therefore, an argument arises of how much the Mexicans' distrust of the public water network is based on the actual quality of water. This article contributes to this argument by analyzing national household survey data. The association between the two dominant types of drinking water (containers/bottles and public tap water) and mental health conditions (remembering difficulty, depression, and nervousness) are studied in Chihuahua and Nuevo León states, where the usage rates of the two water types are the closest (to minimize biased results). Our results illustrate different conditions for the states demonstrating that, considering mental health conditions, not trusting the quality of public network water in all Mexican regions may not be appropriate. Nevertheless, there might be rightful health concerns in some regions. The outcomes are helpful for authorities to prioritize policies to address water quality management/education actions.
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| 10. |
- Sjöblom, Rolf, et al.
(författare)
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Management of intergenerational environmental liabilities : example of decommissioning of nuclear research and development facilities
- 2012
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Ingår i: International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning. - 1743-7601 .- 1743-761X. ; 7:2, s. 135-158
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The character is described of various prerequisites for and obstacles against fulfilment of the polluter pays principle in the case of decommissioning of old nuclear research and development (R&D) facilities, and the relevance to other areas is analyzed. Background is compiled in the areas of Swedish old nuclear R&D facilities, environmental liabilities in some areas, and legislation. Two completed decommissioning projects and two under planning are described together with some findings on planning for decommissioning and on cost estimation. Also, an example is given on developing a basis for regulation relating to small facilities. It is concluded that although the polluter pays principle is easy to understand, it may be complicated to implement, especially in cases where there is a gap in time between the operations and the decommissioning. Pitfalls may be plentiful and extensive awareness and substantial efforts are warranted for adequate funds to be available at the time when they are needed. Thus, it is essential that internationally available advice and knowledge be utilized, information exchanged, and necessary knowledge acquired. It is also important to realize that the planning is usually dictated by the needs for financial planning, and that there is a substantial difference between end of license and end of liability. A need for information exchange between different areas of technology is identified and it is hoped that the present work might contribute to such processes.
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