Andrew Baldwin

Investigation of thermal comfort and the nozzle usage behaviour in aircraft cabins

In order to understand passengers’ demand for thermal comfort in aircraft cabins, we carried out a measurement of thermal environment parameters and thermal comfort field survey in an aircraft cabin under cruising at altitude in both summer and winter. The results showed that the air temperature studied was always kept within the range of 25℃ to 28℃ and the relative humidity was maintained within the range of 20% to 35%. The Mean Thermal Sensation Vote (MTSV) of passengers’ back and feet was higher than other local body parts, with lower air movement sensation. The MTSV of passengers in winter was higher than that in summer. Due to the muggy thermal environment, more than 60% of passengers advocated that it was necessary to utilize the personal ventilation system. In their usage of the personal ventilation nozzle, more than half of these passengers chose to cool upper body parts, only a minimum number of passengers opened the nozzle to direct airflow to their head. Therefore, we concluded that the position of the personal ventilation nozzle should be as close to the upper body part of a passenger’s body as possible, making it more convenient and effective to regulate passengers’ thermal comfort.

The Generation, Composition, Collection, Treatment and Disposal System, and Impact of E-Waste

The problem of e-waste has forced governments of many countries to develop and implement environmentally sound management practices and collection schemes for E-waste management, with a view to minimize environmental impacts and maximize re-use, recovery and recycling of valuable materials. In developed countries, e-waste management is given high priority countries, while in developing countries, it is exa‐ cerbated by completely adopting or replicating the e-waste management of developed countries and several problems including, lack of investment, technological, financial, technically skilled human resources, lack of infrastructure, little available information on the e-waste situation, recovery of valuable materials in small workshops using ru‐ dimentary recycling methods, lack of awareness on the impacts of e-waste, absence of appropriate legislations specifically dealing with e-waste, approach and inadequate description of the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders and institutions involved in e-waste management, etc. This chapter provides the definition of e-waste, and presents information on generation of –andcomposition of e-waste, collection, treat‐ ment, and disposal systems. It also discusses the overview of e-waste collection schemes in different parts of the world with regional focus, and the best current prac‐ tices in WEEE management applied indeveloped and developing countries. It outlines the illegal e-waste trade and illegal waste disposal practices associated with e-waste fraction. In this chapter, the terms “WEEE” and “E-waste” are used synonymously and in accordance to the EU, WEEE Directive.

A comparative analysis of solid waste management in developed, developing and lesser developed countries

Solid waste (SW) management is a challenge across the globe due to the increasing diversity of waste characteristics and lack of effective implementation of consistent waste policies accompanied by changing lifestyles, increased production processes and rapid urbanization. To date, fewer papers have been published in international literature on a comparative analysis of SW management in developed, developing and lesser developed countries. To fill that gap, this comparative review aims to analyse SW management pratices in lesser developed, developing and developed countries, using existing data from 2005 to 2015, from major scientific journals, Waste Management; Resources, Conservation and Recycling; Journal of Environmental Management and Waste Management and Research, covering both quantitative and qualitative data to draw experiences from developed countries for improving SW management efficiency in lesser developed and developing countries. The findings from the comparative review indicate that SW management in lesser developed and developing countries is not well established and inefficient. Key issues were identified around lack of cooperation among stakeholders, institutional structural weaknesses, lack of legislated recycling, ad hoc and uncoordinated approaches. This paper provides the critical aspects that could be useful to policy- and decision-makers when developing, designing, and making adjustments and implementing efficient SW management systems in developing and lesser developed countries.

Information Management for Sustainable Building Projects

This chapter explains why information management for sustainable building projects is essential. It reviews the concepts of modeling information flows and the use of building information modeling (BIM), describing these techniques and how these aspects of information management can help drive sustainability. An explanation is offered concerning why information management is the key to ‘lifecycle’ thinking in sustainable building and construction. The chapter also demonstrates how modeling information flow can benefit designers, highlighting the advantages it brings. It is argued that adoption of BIM considerably aids the staged processes, which are relied upon, to continually improve the delivery of sustainable buildings. It is only with this approach that all aspects of a building’s construction and performance can be evaluated. Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of this chapter, readers will be able to: (1) appreciate information flows in the construction management process, (2) have a basic knowledge of BIM, (3) understand the role of technology in information transfer, (4) comprehend how integrated thinking impacts on the construction process, (5) discuss the benefits that BIM delivers in the context of sustainable built environments, (6) have knowledge of information flows in a building’s life cycle and the comparative nature of BIM and traditional management models, and (7) gain insight into construction management science, and information and modeling technology.