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Books in Social sciences

The Social Sciences collection forms a definitive resource for those entering, researching, or teaching in any of the many disciplines making up this interdisciplinary area of study. Written by experts and researchers from both Academic and Commercial domains, titles offer global scope and perspectives.

Key subject areas include: Library and Information Science; Transportation; Urban Studies; Geography, Planning, and Development; Security; Emergency Management.

    • The Metaverse and Smart Cities

      • 1st Edition
      • February 28, 2024
      • Zaheer Allam + 1 more
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 2 2 3 5 1 8
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 2 2 3 5 0 1
      The Metaverse and Smart Cities: Urban Environments in the Age of Digital Connectivity explores the intersection between the rapidly growing metaverse and the future of cities. The metaverse is a virtual world that is increasingly gaining attention as a new frontier for human interaction and commerce. At the same time, cities are undergoing significant transformation as they face challenges such as population growth, urbanization, and environmental degradation. Urban planners and city administrators will find valuable insights on how the metaverse can be integrated into the planning and development of smart, sustainable, and future cities.The book begins with an introduction to the concepts and technology of the metaverse as well as its history. It then sheds light on the current and future challenges and opportunities that the metaverse presents to cities and the quality of life of urban dwellers. It delves into the ways in which the metaverse can change cities, both in terms of their physical and virtual environments, and the impact it can have on the lives of those who live in them. It brings together the latest research and perspectives from experts in the fields of virtual reality, urban planning, and sustainability, to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of this rapidly evolving field.
    • Practical Aviation Security

      • 4th Edition
      • November 19, 2024
      • Jeffrey Price + 1 more
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 1 3 5 3 8 5
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 1 3 5 3 9 2
      Practical Aviation Security: Predicting and Preventing Future Threats, Fourth Edition is a guide to the aviation security system, from crucial historical events to the policies, policymakers, and major terrorist and criminal acts that have shaped the procedures in use today, as well as the cutting-edge technologies that are shaping the future. Using case studies and practical security measures now in use at airports worldwide, readers learn the effective methods and fundamental principles involved in designing and implementing a security system. This expanded fourth edition covers new threats and technologies to reflect the latest knowledge in the field from the past decade.This book will be ideal for airport, airline, charter, government, and others with aviation security responsibilities to better implement their security programs, evaluate the ever-changing risk environment, and respond appropriately and responsibly.
    • Being a Sustainable Firm

      • 1st Edition
      • May 30, 2024
      • Maria Cristina Longo + 1 more
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 1 4 0 6 2 4
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 1 4 0 6 3 1
      Being a Sustainable Firm: Takeaways for a Sustainability-Orien... Management addresses the key strategic issues that firms encounter when entering the complex world of sustainability. Faced with a proliferation of approaches, regulations and procedures, the text outlines the contours of the meaning of being a sustainable firm and provides a theoretical framework within which to place the environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategic decisions.The volume critically retraces the way in which companies approach sustainability starting from the EU SDG goals content and the set of indicators for sustainable business. It pays particular attention to SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 12: Ensure Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns for their interrelationships and implications on the firm competitiveness and the development of cities of the future. In addition, it unfolds across the broad spectrum of international standards and sustainability reporting guidelines, as relevant voluntary socio-environmental reporting systems recognized at international level. Understanding the logic of sustainability reporting and applying sustainable reporting models to specific business areas offers critical insights and application tools for organizations committed to integrating sustainability into their business and creating new sources of value starting from a common vision of sustainable development and social responsibility. The book highlights these aspects by linking them to the firm challenges and sustainability models in sectors particularly interested in sustainable development, including fashion, tourism, and public-private partnerships for sustainable local communities.The book provides useful support for students and scholars of managerial disciplines, interested in the topics of innovation management, sustainability-based strategies, sustainable entrepreneurship, socio-environmental reporting systems and performance evaluation. The delineation of the regulatory framework and sustainability reporting standards within which strategic decisions are placed constitutes a valuable guide for consultants and entrepreneurs interested to deepen the state of the art of the tools connected to corporate sustainability management and provides takeaways for managers and practitioners on sustainable practices implementation and reporting of activities.
    • Handbook of Labor Economics

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 5
      • December 5, 2024
      • English
      • Hardback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 2 9 7 6 4 9
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 2 9 7 6 5 6
      Volumes 5 and 6 of the Handbook of Labor Economics will systematically review the research topics, empirical findings, and methods that constitute frontier research in the field. The focus will be on the most important research advances that have taken place since the publication of the previous Handbook Volume 4 almost 15 years ago.
    • Technological Pathways for Africa's Net-Zero Economy

      • 1st Edition
      • August 30, 2024
      • Samuel Chukwujindu Nwokolo + 3 more
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 3 1 4 8 6 5
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 3 1 4 8 7 2
      Technological Pathways for Africa's Net-Zero Economy: Technology Solutions to Unlock Africa’s Sustainable Future explores the potential of African countries to transition towards a net-zero economy. It highlights sustainable development challenges and opportunities Africa faces and provides insights on technological pathways toward this goal. The book emphasizes the importance of harnessing renewable energy resources, promoting green innovation, and building resilient infrastructure for a sustainable future. It calls for strong policy frameworks and international collaboration to support African countries in their transition. The book outlines seven scenarios supporting Africa's technological paths to a net-zero economy: leapfrogging, hybridization, adaptation, decentralization, sustainable development, promotion, and finance.These scenarios aim to adopt innovative technologies and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Investing in education and capacity-building programs is crucial for African countries to effectively implement sustainable energy solutions, so the book also highlights the role of education and awareness in fostering a culture of sustainability among African communities and empowering them to actively participate in climate action initiatives.
    • Smart City Assessment

      • 1st Edition
      • August 13, 2024
      • Azzam Abu-Rayash
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 1 4 1 4 3 0
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 1 4 1 4 2 3
      Smart City Assessment: A Novel Framework for Development and Evaluation of Smart Cities outlines a new assessment model for smart cities, including energy, environmental, and economic factors. It introduces a new paradigm to the understanding of smart cities by defining it using eight main domains, each domain using four specific performance indicators. This book defines a smart city as one with a smart environment, smart economy, smart society, smart culture, smart governance, smart energy, smart infrastructure, smart transportation, and one that is resilient to pandemics and global emergencies.This book begins by outlining these basic elements of a smart city, from sustainability to transportation networks. It then proposes a framework for evaluation, before analyzing both technological and socioeconomic factors in more detail. Central to the reader’s understanding are the wide range of detailed case studies based on real-world cities, analyzing their smart-ness and demonstrating the application of a Smart City Index ranking based on the assessment criteria. The application of this novel and comprehensive methodology is applied on 20 cities worldwide and trends, relationships between indicators and domains are assessed to better understand the dynamic connections in this composite network of indicators. Providing the theoretical background as well as the practical assessment tools necessary, this book offers a timely discussion of the criteria and development for smart, sustainable urban living.
    • Introduction to Emergency Management

      • 8th Edition
      • August 7, 2024
      • George Haddow + 2 more
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 2 3 7 0 1 0
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 2 3 7 0 2 7
      Introduction to Emergency Management, Eighth Edition sets the standard for excellence in the field and has educated a generation of emergency management professionals. This trusted resource provides a comprehensive overview of core concepts in emergency management and instructs in their application, addressing why the emergency management profession exists, what actions its professionals and practitioners are tasked with performing, and what achievements are sought through the conduct of these various efforts. Students and new professionals alike will gain an enhanced understanding of key terminology and concepts, enabling them to work with emergency management specialists.Fully updated throughout, the new edition includes revised workflows and communications; explanations of FEMA, state, and local emergency management organizational policies; the growing role of the private sector in emergency management; Covid-19 pandemic preparedness and response; and the impact of climate change on emergency management policies and practices, among other timely examples and application areas. Each chapter features all-new case studies on recent disasters, key terms, summary points, and self-review questions. Student and faculty use is supported by an expanded ancillary package, featuring a fuller instructor manual, lecture PowerPoint Slides, and linked documents, data sets, references, and video examples.
    • International Perspectives on Public Transport Responses to COVID-19

      • 1st Edition
      • July 30, 2024
      • Takeru Shibayama + 1 more
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 1 3 2 9 5 7
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 1 3 2 9 4 0
      International Perspectives on Public Transport Responses to COVID-19Internationa... Perspectives on Public Transport Responses to COVID-19 examines the pandemic response of transport policymakers around the world and analyzes what can be learned to prepare for the next epidemic—or any other critical event that threatens transportation services. It combines theoretical analysis with a compendium of country-focused case studies to provide scientific evidence and decision-making support for the actions that each transportation official must make going forward.This book begins with Part 1, a thematic and comparative section on response and recovery efforts. It provides insights into topics such as mitigation strategies and preparedness of the public transport sector to epidemics prior to COVID-19; responses during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery from it; public transport services in urban and rural areas during the pandemic; and social (or physical) distancing and any other protective on-board measures. Part 2 then offers a set of international case studies, wherein various authors from different countries review their governments’ and operators' responses. Each chapter is guided by a set of common research questions based on disaster mitigation theory. Part 3 then focuses on learnings and comparative analysis from the COVID-19 pandemic for future epidemic mitigation strategies in the public transport sector.Governments, public transport authorities and operators, as well as students and researchers will learn what has and has not worked well during the COVID-19 pandemic. These insights will help them to mitigate, prepare, respond, and recover from unexpected disruptive events like pandemics in the future.
    • Digital Twins for Smart Cities and Villages

      • 1st Edition
      • October 17, 2024
      • Sailesh Iyer + 3 more
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 2 8 8 8 4 5
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 2 8 8 8 5 2
      Digital Twins for Smart Cities and Villages provides a holistic view of digital twin technology and how it can be deployed to develop smart cities and smart villages. Smart manufacturing, smart healthcare, smart education, smart agriculture, smart rural solutions, and related methodologies using digital twins are discussed, including challenges in deployment, their solutions and future roadmaps. This knowledge, enriched by a variety of case studies presented in the book, may empower readers with new capabilities for new research as well as new tasks and strategies for practical implementation and real-world problem solving.The book is thoughtfully structured, starting from the background of digital twin concepts and basic know-how to serve the needs of those new to the subject. It continues with implementation to facilitate and improve management in several urban contexts, infrastructures, and more. Global case study assessments further provide a deep characterization of the state-of-the-art in digital twin in urban and rural contexts.
    • The Sustainability Handbook, Volume 1

      • 1st Edition
      • November 30, 2024
      • Mark Von Rosing
      • English
      • Hardback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 3 3 3 7 5 4 3
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 9 0 1 1 1 6
      The Sustainability Handbook, Volume 1: The Body of Knowledge around Substantial Sustainability Innovation provides a comprehensive and holistic understanding of sustainability, bridging the gap between academic theory and business practices. Global climate change poses enormous environmental challenges, and societies across the world must adapt and innovate to further the goals of sustainability. The private sector must find new ways of doing business to align practices with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the international community. Using a conceptually structured framework throughout, the book examines the latest academic research to summarize what environmental, social, and economic sustainability means in different contexts.Using numerous specific case studies and insights from industry leaders, the book shows how to strategically integrate sustainability into the organization, with extensive focus on policies, incentives, measures, operations, production, consumption, and lifecycle management. Volume 1 explores the concept of Substantial Sustainability Innovation within an enterprise and why it is important. It clarifies the difference between environmental, social and governance aspects of sustainability and how they relate to each other. With examples from local sourcing to C02 reduction, business ethics to sustainability portfolio management, green business process management to gender diversity, this volume explores how you can use sustainability to innovate and identifies which components to use to build an effective sustainable strategy.For researchers, students, and businesspeople at all levels and sectors, this handbook is an essential reference of the latest sustainability tools and methodologies required to adapt and innovate towards sustainability.