Exposure of Fauna to Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Traffic on Sandy Beaches

Driving of off-road vehicles (ORVs) on sandy beaches is common and widespread, but is not universally embraced due to putative environmental impacts on beach biota. For ORVs to impact the beach fauna, traffic areas must overlap with faunal habitat: a fundamental pre-requisite for impact assessments but as yet un-quantified for sandy beaches. Thus, this study quantified the spatial and temporal patterns of ORV traffic on five Australian beaches, and measured the degree to which the distribution of intertidal macro-invertebrates overlaps with traffic zones. Traffic volumes on beaches can be considerable (up to 500 vehicles per day). The position of beach traffic across the beach-face is principally governed by tides and driver behavior. Despite driver education campaigns to the contrary, a considerable fraction of vehicles (16–67%) traverses the soft, upper shore near the foredunes. The majority (65%) of burrowing invertebrate species of the intertidal zone is directly exposed to traffic, save for species inhabiting the swash zone. Because beach traffic presents a formidable management challenge, a fundamental first step in identifying whether ecological impacts are indeed likely, is to assess the potential for spatial and temporal conflict between human pressures (e.g., ORVs) and biological resources (e.g., beach fauna). Although this potential is certainly substantial for sandy shores used by ORVs, the actual ecological impacts on the intertidal fauna can only be predicted in situations where the responses (e.g., direct mortality, behavioral changes) of individual species to beach traffic are known.     

Designing Coastal Management Strategies for Populations with Distinct Needs: The Case of Learning Disabilities

The Disability Discrimination Act (1995, amended 2005), Equality Act (2010 Equality Act. 2010. Equality Act. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents#openingWholeMod (accessed May 17, 2012) [Google Scholar]), EU Disability Action Plan (2003 –2010), and EU Disability Strategy (2010–2020) were designed to make equal opportunities a “reality.” As 16% of the EU population, is statutorily disabled there are considerable implications for beach management. Research examples of beach users include swimmers, anglers, etc. - but rarely people with learning disabilities (LD). This paper considered beach users with LD and their appreciation of three different coastal classifications in South Wales. Because of their disabilities, the research applied a participatory photo interpretation methodology (photovoice). A comparison of the LD ranking of beach issues was made with rankings provided by the general public at the same beaches. Results demonstrated some similarities between LD and general public coastal needs, but identified the need for specific considerations to be made by beach managers for LD users, including informed self-advocacy, use/application of signage, instructive access and a requirement for baseline information gathering. The research proposes an integrated coastal access model from which coastal management/gatekeepers can consider LD needs within coastal strategies. Finally, findings highlight the use of photovoice in coastal research projects and the need for innovative methodological considerations when researching certain groups.     

Fisheries in Iwaki after the Fukushima Dai'ichi Nuclear Accident: Lessons for Coastal Management under Conditions of High Uncertainty?

This article evaluates factors driving perception of risk and uncertainty in fisheries in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, following the Fukushima Dai'ichi nuclear accident. Particular attention is paid to lessons that may be learned for managing uncertainties and risks in coastal management more generally. The 2011 accident has had profound effects on Fukushima fisheries. Commercial coastal fisheries have been stopped since, and efforts to understand and monitor the effects of marine radioactive contamination on produce from the sea continue. Small-scale trial fisheries have, however, re-commenced with a view to gradually re-starting Fukushima fisheries over time. Drawing on in-depth interviews, discussion groups, and field observations from Iwaki and Fukushima Prefecture more widely, three factors are discussed: the role of trusted local-level points of contact; the value of transparent monitoring and screening that acknowledges remaining limitations and uncertainties; and the importance of taking seriously the cultural dimensions of rapid and potentially irreversible environmental change.     

海平面上升对沿海工程顶面高程确定的影响

随着海平面的上升,沿海地区的年最高水位的极值及重现期已发生变化,对沿海工程顶面高程的确定产生了重大影响。以吴淞为例,以码头顶面高程为研究对象,用纯经验曲线法计算重现期;并根据IPCC第5次评估报告假定情景下的海平面上升情况,计算各情景下港口码头顶面高程的变化。结果表明海平面上升对码头顶面高程确定的影响非常明显,对顶面高程较低的码头的影响尤为显著。     

舟山蚂蚁岛海堤地基稳定性有限元分析

海堤填筑过程中,如何保证堤防地基稳定性是制定施工方案的关键。针对浙江舟山蚂蚁岛海堤工程,采用有限元强度折减法建模分析了典型断面的地基稳定性,结果表明:不同断面的稳定性安全系数与滑动类型不同;各断面的滑动破坏类型与地基土体性质、断面形状直接相关。同时,以典型断面的爆破地基处理方法对地基稳定性影响进行的研究表明,受爆破冲击荷载作用的海床极易发生滑动破坏。研究成果对海堤施工方案的制定提供了参考依据。     

江苏沿海港口吞吐量影响因素及预测分析

目前江苏沿海地区综合开发已上升到国家发展战略层面,沿海港口建设正在迅猛开展。港口吞吐量的预测对于港口的建设有着极其重要的意义。以港口和腹地之间的互动关系为出发点,分析了可能影响江苏沿海港口吞吐量的若干因素,采用主成分分析法提取了过去10年影响港口吞吐量的最关键因素,剖析了江苏港口发展的内在影响机理,并提出了基于影响机理的预测模型。最后使用模型对江苏港口吞吐量进行验证分析,模型为江苏沿海港口新一轮发展提供了有力的数据支撑。     

沿海集装箱港区港内锚地面积确定方法

设置港内锚地,是沿海集装箱港区缓解航道拥堵,提高港口服务水平的有效途径之一。为完善港内锚地面积确定方法的理论研究,基于计算机仿真技术,建立设置港内锚地的沿海集装箱港区船舶航行作业系统仿真模型,研究计算期内可能同时占用港内锚地的船舶数量及船型组合;计算不同锚泊方式下所需的港内锚地最大面积。仿真结果与分析结论为沿海集装箱港区港内锚地的规划建设及改造扩建提供参考。     

滨海核电站防洪体系的设计优化研究

目前我国已在核电站选址及防洪要求方面初步建立起了法规和标准体系,今年发生在日本的福岛核事故再次凸显了滨海核电站防洪设施的重要性.以国内、外几个核电站工程为例,针对进一步加强滨海核电站防洪设计、优化综合性防洪措施、建立防洪预警系统和防洪应急程序等方面的技术问题进行深入探讨,提出相关见解和对今后工作的建议.     

泛地主港模式对浙江沿海港口的借鉴作用

以嘉兴港实践地主港模式作为实证研究对象,对其成效和存在的问题进行剖析,提出以泛地主港模式进行港口建设的思路,介绍泛地主港模式的运作方式和程序,就泛地主港模式对浙江沿海港口的借鉴作用进行论述.     

船型组合对沿海散货港区航道通过能力的影响*

基于到港船型的多样性和随机性,建立不同船型组合下的沿海散货港区船舶航行作业系统仿真模型,定义到港船舶吨级的加权平均值为船型组合的特征吨级,研究船型组合对港口航道通过能力的影响。仿真结果表明,船型组合对沿海散货港区航道通过能力有显著影响;航道通过能力与船型组合的特征吨级之间呈指数函数关系;并且通航历时越大,航道通过能力对船型组合越敏感。