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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.

Freight Transport Planning

  • 1st Edition
  • Volume 14
  • November 14, 2024
  • Lóri Tavasszy + 2 more
  • English
  • Hardback
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 6 1 3 6 - 0
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 6 1 3 7 - 7
Freight Transport Planning highlights new advances in the field of transportation, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors. Specific chapters in this new release include E-commerce, Decarbonization, Equity, Climate resilience, Spatial patterns and investments, Regional planning, Urbanism, Drones, Stakeholder engagement, and Digital twins.

Dynamic Relationality Theory of Creative Transformation

  • 1st Edition
  • November 13, 2024
  • Kerimcan Ozcan + 1 more
  • English
  • Paperback
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 3 0 1 5 9 - 9
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 3 0 1 6 0 - 5
Dynamic Relationality Theory of Creative Transformation: Grounding Machinic Ecosystems in Life Experiences introduces a visionary approach to understanding the evolving relationship between technology and human experiences. It delves into the transformative potential of Machinic Generalized Intelligence (MGI), where AI and human intelligence converge harmoniously, creating a new paradigm of interactive, machinic life experiences. This book challenges the traditional tech-centric view, advocating for a life and experience-first perspective. It presents the Dynamic Relationality Theory (DRT), a novel conceptual framework that redefines our interaction with technology, emphasizing cocreative, emergent experiences over mere digital platformization.Through an interdisciplinary approach combining philosophical insights and social theories with practical applications, this book navigates the complexities of digitalized life ecosystems, employing concepts and tools from assemblage theory, category theory, sheaf theory, differential topology, and gauge theory. For readers grappling with the complexities of AI and its societal implications, this book offers clarity and direction. It provides a robust theoretical framework to understand the changing landscape of human–technology interaction. Furthermore, it integrates philosophical insights and ethical considerations into the discussion of AI and technology, providing a well-rounded perspective that aids in ethical decision-making and responsible innovation. It also delves into practical applications and future implications of AI, aiding readers in applying these concepts in real-world scenarios.By moving beyond a purely technological focus, this book equips readers with the insights needed to navigate the ethical, philosophical, and practical challenges posed by the integration of AI into daily life. A crucial resource for academics, professionals, and policymakers, this book serves as a guide to making informed decisions and fostering responsible innovation in the age of AI.

Forensic Serology

  • 1st Edition
  • November 11, 2024
  • Shanan S. Tobe
  • English
  • Paperback
    9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 1 2 9 6 8 - 5
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 1 2 9 6 9 - 2
Forensic Serology provides a comprehensive and complete synopsis of forensic serology. The book includes background information on different biological substances that can be detected, how the serological tests work, what the testing looks like, how to interpret the results, and what those results tell us. Coverage includes all aspects of serological testing, including basic presumptive testing, confirmatory testing, and new methods of testing, such as mRNA, methylation, proteomics, and much more. The book is written at a level that anyone with basic knowledge of science can fully understand, thus filling a gap in the market.

The Sustainability Handbook, Volume 3

  • 1st Edition
  • November 1, 2024
  • Mark Von Rosing
  • English
  • Hardback
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 3 3 7 5 6 - 7
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 2 1 9 4 4 - 3
The Sustainability Handbook: How to Go About Disruptive Sustainability Innovation, Volume Three provides a comprehensive and holistic understanding of sustainability, bridging the gap between academic theory and business practices. Using numerous specific case studies and insights from industry leaders, the book shows how to strategically integrate sustainability into an organization, with extensive focus on policies, incentives, measures, operations, production, consumption and lifecycle management. Aimed at those who have already established a mature Sustainability Portfolio Management approach, it explores the “why” of Disruptive Sustainably Innovation and how to capture and use Sustainability Drivers and Requirements.Global climate change poses enormous environmental challenges, and societies across the world must adapt and innovate to further the goals of sustainability for present and future generations. The private sector especially must find new ways of doing business to align their 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 actually means in different contexts. This book will be ideal for researchers, students and businesspeople at all levels and sectors.

Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine

  • 3rd Edition
  • October 26, 2024
  • Jason Payne-James + 1 more
  • English
  • Hardback
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 2 1 4 4 1 - 7
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 2 1 4 4 2 - 4
Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Third Edition builds on the strength of its predecessor whilst providing a more modern, digital-friendly infrastructure. Unlike the previous A-Z approach to chapter organization, it is thematically structured around sections and topics via a taxonomic approach, thus making navigation far easier for the user. New to this edition are articles encompassing the history, application, future trends, and clinical/pathological professional issues of the discipline, including topics on: forensic taphonomy, non-fatal strangulation, coercive control, forensic biology, extrajudicial-summary or arbitrary executions.This modern, fully up-to-date, easy to navigate edition, with its electronic platform and logistically and consistently structured chapters will be ideal for readers from a variety of disciplines.

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.

Change Management in Information Organizations

  • 1st Edition
  • September 10, 2024
  • Zhixian Yi
  • English
  • Paperback
    9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 1 2 3 7 - 2
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 1 5 8 0 - 9
Against the background of the acceleration of change caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Change Management in Information Organizations presents topics in change management for information organizations that are of practical help for rapidly adapting to, and managing, changing circumstances. As organizations re-examine practices, services and resources, and innovate for competitive advantage, the book offers theoretical and evidence-based material: including empirical research and insights from academic library directors. It introduces fundamental concepts of change management enabling professionals to conceptualize, plan, set up, carry out and evaluate change. Across twelve chapters, this book provides a solution for those managing change in information organizations, bringing them up to speed on models, approaches and methods of change management. The book enables information professionals, academic librarians, archivists, museum specialists, library managers and administrators, university administrators, and graduate students in library and information science to successfully negotiate the new realities.

International Encyclopedia of Public Health

  • 3rd Edition
  • September 2, 2024
  • Stella R. Quah
  • English
  • Hardback
    9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 9 9 6 7 - 0
  • eBook
    9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 7 2 8 0 - 2
The International Encyclopedia of Public Health, Third Edition, Seven Volume Set is an authoritative and comprehensive guide to the major issues, challenges, methods, and approaches of global public health. Spanning across 7 volumes, 13 subject areas and 398 chapters, this new edition takes a multidisciplinary approach and presents the history, methodology, and latest advances in biomedical research and related scientific fields, including social sciences, life sciences, and bioengineering to address public health research, disease, health processes, and disciplines. The book offers readers evidence-based analysis and information on solutions to real-world problems in global and local health through a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach.Covering all dimensions of the field, from the details of specific diseases, to the organization of social insurance agencies, the articles included comprise the fundamental research areas of global public health: historical roots, scientific research methodology and approaches, public health of vulnerable population subgroups (the aged, children and adolescents, at-risk populations), environmental and occupational epidemiology, and much more.

Technological Pathways for Africa's Net-Zero Economy

  • 1st Edition
  • August 30, 2024
  • 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.