Building automation systems and digital technologies are highly relevant for the environmental and energy performance of buildings. However, a clear gap remains between architectural engineering and the use of such technologies. Building Automation and Digital Technologies shows how to assimilate automation and digital technologies into making buildings smarter and more environmentally sustainable. This book shows why architects need smart and digital systems in building design and construction and promotes innovative technological tools for improving sustainability. It focuses on the development of automated environmental conditions and how new technology informs architectural engineering. The book also provides new evidence on the impact of building automation systems and digital technologies, such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and information and communication technology for developing a performance-based approach to the environmental sustainability of buildings, and provides a key reference for architects on how digital technology can inform their practice. Its four chapters cover: developing strategies for improving sustainable and smart buildings; architectural practice and construction technology; creativity and innovation in building automation systems; and the use phase of buildings. Building Automation and Digital Technologies meets a critical need for a sustainable and smart built environment from an architectural perspective, providing an important reference to architects and professionals in related fields by demonstrating the assimilation of the latest information and automation technologies.
Renewable Polymers and Polymer-Metal Oxide Composites: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications serves as a reference on the key concepts of the advances of polymer-oxide composites. The book reviews knowledge on polymer-composite theory, properties, structure, synthesis, and their characterization and applications. There is an emphasis on coupling metal oxides with polymers from renewable sources. Also, the latest advances in the relationship between the microstructure of the composites and the resulting improvement of the material’s properties and performance are covered. The applications addressed include desalination, tissue engineering, energy storage, hybrid energy systems, food, and agriculture. This book is suitable for early-career researchers in academia and R&D in industry who are working in the disciplines of materials science, engineering, chemistry and physics.
Handbook of Impact Modifiers provides key information on how to modify structure and morphology, improve mechanical performance, and prevent changes during the use of polymeric products through proper selection of impact modifiers. The book brings analyses of important publications found in open and patent literature, with special attention given to recent findings that have brought many new essential developments. Sections cover an analysis of chemical origin and related properties of impact modifiers, which are analyzed in general terms to highlight the differences in their properties. This handbook contains the essential theoretical knowledge required for proper selection and use of impact modifiers, including their morphological structure and distribution in a polymer matrix, the effect of polymer crystallization in the presence of and without impact modifiers, important influences on impact modification, mechanisms of modification, and effective methods of incorporation of impact modifiers.
Handbook of Rheological Additives covers how these additives are commonly applied in a wide range of industries, providing readers with information on over 300 organic and inorganic additives. This information is presented in individual tables for each product, whether commercial or generic. Data is divided into General Information, Physical Properties, Health and Safety, Ecological Properties, Use and Performance. Sections cover their state, odor, color, bulk density, density, specific gravity, relative density, boiling point, melting point, pour point, decomposition temperature, glass transition temperature, refractive index, vapor pressure, vapor density, volume resistivity, relative permittivity, ash content, pH, viscosity, rheological behavior, and more. Other notations include updates on NFPA classification, HMIS classification, OSHA hazard class, UN Risk phrases, UN Safety phrases, UN/NA class, DOT class, ADR/RIC class, ICAO/IATA class, IMDG class, packaging group, shipping name, food approvals, autoignition temperature, self-accelerating decomposition temperature, flash point, TLV ACGIH, NIOSH and OSHA, maximum exposure concentration IDLH, animal testing oral-rat, rabbit-dermal, mouse-oral, guinea pig-dermal, rat-dermal, rat-inhalation, mouse-inhalation, ingestion and skin and eye irritation.
Seismic Imaging Methods and Application for Oil and Gas Exploration connects the legacy of field data processing and imaging with new research methods using diffractions and anisotropy in the field of geophysics. Topics covered include seismic data acquisition, seismic data processing, seismic wave modeling, high-resolution imaging, and anisotropic modeling and imaging. This book is a necessary resource for geophysicist working in the oil and gas and mineral exploration industries, as well as for students and academics in exploration geophysics.
Heterocyclic Mesomeric Betaines and Mesoionic Compounds, Volume 137 in the Advances in Heterocyclic Chemistry series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on a variety of topics, including Heterocyclic Mesomeric Betaines, Type A Mesoionic Compounds (1980-2020), Type B Mesoionic Compounds (1980-2020), Recent Developments in the Chemistry of Heteroporphyrins, Carbaporphyrins and Related Systems, Heterocyclic Zwitterions Based on Coupled Polymethines, Meso-ionic Compounds reproduced from Adv. Heterocycl. Chem. 1976, 19, 1-122., and Meso-ionic Heterocycles (1976-1980) reproduced from Tetrahedron, 1982, 38, 2965-3011.
The Alkaloids, Volume 88, the newest release in a series that has covered the topic for more than 60 years, discusses key aspects of alkaloid chemistry, biology and pharmacology. Sections in this release include chapters on the Biology of quinoline and quinazoline alkaloids, Synthesis of pyrimidine-containing alkaloids, and much more.
Disaster prevention and the mitigation of climate change effects call for global action. Joint efforts are required among countries, economic sectors, and public and private stakeholders. Not surprisingly, international organizations, such as the United Nations agencies, propose policy frameworks aimed at worldwide influence. The 2015–2030 Sendai Framework seeks to create consensus about the need to act for disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation. A key goal is to promote investments in risk reduction and resilience. But how useful is this policy framework? What does it say, and what does it overlook? How can it be implemented among vulnerable communities, in historic sites, and in other sensitive locations affected by disasters?In this book, prominent scholars and practitioners examine the successes and failures of the Sendai Framework. Their case studies show that, despite its good intentions, the Framework achieves very little. The main reason is that, while avoiding a political engagement, it fails to deal with disasters’ root causes and guide the difficult path of effective implementation. The authors bring a fresh look to international policy and design practices, highlighting cross-disciplinary research avenues, and ideas and methods for low-income communities, cities and heritage sites in Portugal, Haiti, the United States, the Philippines, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, among other countries.Global action requires collaboration between heterogeneous stakeholders, but also the recognition of inequalities, power imbalances, and social and environmental injustices.
Innovations in Thermochemical Technologies for Biofuel Processing broadly covers current technologies in alternate fuels and chemical production, a few of which include biomass-to-liquid, biomass-to-gas and gas-to-liquid biomass conversion technologies. The topics in this book include elaborative discussions on biomass feedstocks, biomass-to-liquid technologies (liquefaction, pyrolysis and transesterification), biomass-to-gas technologies (gasification), gas-to-liquid technologies (syngas fermentation and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis), co-processing technologies, fuel upgrading technologies (hydrotreating and reforming), novel catalyst development for biorefining, biorefining process optimization, unit operations, reaction kinetics, artificial neural network, and much more. The book comprehensively discusses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of notable biofuels (e.g., bio-oil, biocrude oil, biodiesel, bioethanol, biobutanol, bio-jet fuels, biohydrogen, biomethane, synthesis gas, hydrocarbon fuels, etc.).
Petroleum Industry Wastewater: Advanced and Sustainable Treatment Methods discusses the status of different approaches and advanced processes involved in the treatment of petrochemical and petroleum industry wastewater. The book focuses on advanced, sustainable, and environmentally friendly technologies for removing toxic pollutants from contaminated waters. The book also explores the environmental aspects and impacts of the petroleum industry discharge wastewater, their effect on aquatic life, and possible ways to deal with these effects. Keeping the global water crisis and fast depletion of natural fresh water in mind, more immediate knowledge, information, implication, and effective utilization of available resources are required than we anticipated. The book brings a wide range of methodologies and perspectives under one roof in a comprehensive manner.