A comparison of alternative technologies to de-carbonize Canada's passenger transportation sector

Using a full systems model of Canada's economy, six alternative scenarios to de-carbonize the personal passenger vehicle fleet are compared to a business as usual non de-carbonized scenario in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, trade disposition of energy commodities, and the physical resources required for energy production. Three scenarios are analyzed to compare the impacts of increasing either ethanol 85, hydrogen, or electricity powered vehicles into the vehicle fleet, with each starting to penetrate the light vehicle stock in 2010 to reach 100% of the new vehicle market by 2050. For each of these three scenarios, we then construct a variant scenario that considers the additional effects of de-carbonizing electricity production. With a de-carbonized electricity sector, net emission reductions are 29% for ethanol 85, and 31% for both hydrogen and electricity. When considering the transportation sector only, net emission reductions equal 13% for ethanol 85, and 14% for hydrogen and electricity. However, although the ethanol scenario results in the lowest reduction in total emissions, it has significant impacts on other parts of the physical resource base. By the time ethanol reaches 5% of the fuel mix in 2015, domestic consumption of grains increases by 20%, in turn impacting crop trade disposition. At this point, emissions are reduced by less than 0.5%, owing to the fossil fuels required since most ethanol is still grain based. By 2050 it is projected that almost all ethanol will be cellulose based, generating a more significant emission reduction but in turn requiring potentially unsustainable amounts of crop residue.     

Modeling discrete choices with augmented perception hurdles

Through creating latent perception hurdles associated with each attribute considered in a stated conjoint experiment, this article describes a model that augments the conventional approach by utilizing the importance ratings provided by respondents prior to the discrete choice stage. The resulting perception hurdle logit (PHL) model has both advantages and disadvantages compared to the conditional logit (CL) and mixed logit models. Although the proposed model may not have the best within‐sample fit, it outperforms the other two models in predicting choices in a hold out sample. In addition, the proposed model is also used to reveal that depending on their own characteristics and the process of the survey, respondents may employ an array of different decision strategies.     

论铁路旅客伤亡事故的赔偿责任

7·23铁路动车组列车特别重大事故发生后,伤亡旅客的赔偿标准成为人们争议的焦点。针对赔偿数额的法律依据,在上位法缺失的情况下,限额赔偿制度的合法性等问题,从旅客伤亡赔偿责任的性质入手,分析探讨旅客伤亡赔偿责任的法律适用条款,并就7·23事故赔偿标准的合法性进行解读,提出对铁路部门的警示,从而有效推进铁路法律、法规的修改和完善。     

客家文化导向下的梅州旅游景区农朽居民感知与态度分析

本文以广东省梅州市客家文化旅游景区当地农村居民为研究对象,根据Doxey愤怒指数理论,采取问卷调查和访谈相结合的方法,从旅游经济正负面感知、社会文化正负面感知、环境正负面感知及整体感知四大方面分析旅游景区农村居民对旅游发展状况的感知与态度。调查结果表明：农村居民对旅游发展的感知处于“融洽”阶段;农村居民对旅游的正面经济影响感知强烈,对旅游负面经济影响感知也有所认识;居民对社会文化正面感知和环境正面感知强于负面感知,但其负面影响也开始有所彰显。基于此,分别从政府视角、旅游企业管理视角及个人视角提出了相应的政策建议。     

The study of building integration into the surrounding rural landscape: Focus on implementation of a Web-based MC-SDSS and its validation by two-way participation

Everyday people are tackling various decisions. Decision problems in the spatial planning sense often are involved with many alternatives because of their complicated characters and are evaluated on multiple-perspectives based. This paper deals with the implementation of a Web-based Multi-Criteria Spatial Decision Support System (MC-SDSS) and its validation by two-way participation aimed at assessing the suitability of new rural tourism buildings integration occurred in Spanish landscapes. The proposed system focuses on the methodology combined with Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) that borrows Geographic Information System (GIS) capabilities. Several parameters with an overlay and index method are used to evaluate the suitability of a case study area in Spain. Based on the results of a previous work where the authors defined the first phases of a conceptual framework implementation and prototype application with the methodology, this paper presents the final web implementation and its validation. The implementation was consisted of four consecutive sections with improvements from the previous one. Then, it showed the validated results with radar diagrams, reflecting the different perception of spatial models based on the qualitative two-way content and survey data, public and academic participation, according to the sense of place and field concept. The results contribute consensus on recommendation and new knowledge within the broader field of the analysis and interpretation of the building integration with the Web-based MC-SDSS, which is fundamental to support proper land-uses and decision alternatives through accurate and efficient tool, and to able to apply other destinations.     

The impact of perception and other factors on the adoption of agricultural technology in the Moret and Jiru Woreda (district) of Ethiopia

The objectives of this study arc to examine both the significance of the impact of farmers' perceptions regarding new technology for the adoption decision and how perceptions themselves are influenced by the decision to adopt new technology. The study is based on data from 96 wheat farms in the Moret and Jiru woreda (district) of Ethiopia. The probit approach is used to analyse the adoption decision, while the variables relevant to farmers' perceptions are modelled using the ordered probit methodology. A simultaneous equations model combining the probit and ordered probit approaches provides a useful approach to modelling the two-way relationship between perception and adoption. Variables such as farm size, farm income and soil type have a key role to play in the model. Perception is measured by eight different components and as there is a strong collinearity among these various measures, a principal components analysis is attempted to draw the best possible linear combination of variables.     

How farmers perceive and cope with bowalization: A case study from West Africa

Bowal, a particular form of land degradation occurs only in tropical regions. This study aims at assessing the perceptions of farmers on the causes and consequences of bowalization and the developed strategies to cope with it in semiarid and sub-humid climate zones in Benin. Data were gathered using semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. Representatives from 279 households of nine ethnic groups in the semiarid zone of Benin (Peulh, Bariba, Dendi, Nagots and Mocolé) and in the sub-humid zone (Fon, Mahi, Holli and Adja) were interviewed. Pearson Chi-square Test was performed to analyze the perceptions on the causes, consequences and coping strategies with bowé in the two climate zones. Simple correspondence analysis was used to evaluate the coping strategies according to the ethnic groups. Bowalization was reported to be induced by non-adapted land use and soil erosion. An increase of farmed land and animal-drawn tillage was more perceived in the semiarid zone as cause of bowalization. Bowalization leads to loss of biodiversity in the two climates zones. Its consequences for the production of crops consist mainly in reducing water retention capacity of the soils, rooting difficulties for crops and increase of soil temperature. Farmers in the semiarid zone have adopted planting of cowpea and groundnut on bowé. Adapted cropping techniques in the semiarid zone consist in using a hoe for manual tillage and weed control. Ethnic groups of both climate zones that depend mainly on livestock herding have to practice transhumance and use food supply for the animals. The Bariba and Dendi in the semiarid zone modified their practices of tillage, weed control, sowing, fertilization, and livestock feeding most. The Mahi, Holli, Fon and Adja of the sub-humid zone mostly reduced their farmland, changed the crops and fields and adopted new off-farms activities. The Peulh mostly practiced transhumance independent from the zone. The type of coping strategies to bowé is dependent on the climate zone and ethnic group.     

胶济客运专线运输能力问题分析及对策

随着近年来客车开行数量增长和旅客列车开行结构变化,胶济客运专线运输能力趋于饱和。分析胶济客运专线运输能力存在的问题,提出提高胶济客运专线运输能力的对策：改造固定设备和优化列车开行方案,以满足山东半岛日益增长的内部和对外铁路运输需求。     

Air transport policy and its impacts on passenger traffic and tourist flows

This paper attempts to derive policy indices to quantify the restrictiveness of the aviation regimes in the Asia-Pacific region, and use the indices to establish the relationship between people movement and liberalisation in policy. Australia and Singapore have the most liberalised environment in this region. Evidence has been found that passenger traffic between city-pairs has been hampered by the restrictive air transport policies. Restrictions on the air transport sector also have a substantial negative impact on bilateral tourist flows. Further liberalisation in this sector could help build up a stronger tourism industry.     

What are passenger perspectives regarding airlines' environmental protection? An empirical investigation in Taiwan

Many airlines recognize the importance of environmental protection. The airlines implement a number of environment-friendly activities related to in-flight services and wish to trigger passengers' support and therefore inquire as to their preferences. Because these activities are not identical between airlines, it is not known which items are actually supported and which items are opposed. In this paper, major airline environmental protection activities were collated, and the Smart partial least square software was used to analyse data from 442 passengers who have experienced air travel in the past 3 years. The results showed that in general, passengers would prefer to choose airlines that supported environmental protection activities. However, several activity items would be rejected if passengers felt their rights or interests being compromised. It was also indicated that people from countries at different stages of economic development had varying preferences regarding their support of airlines' environmental protection activities, and the young generation had more concern about environmental protection than others. The findings of this research could be beneficial for airlines setting up their differentiated marketing strategies for enhancing both environmental protection efforts and business performance.