Abstract Hydraulic engineering projects provide essential functions and services, including flood regulation, hydroelectric power generation, and agricultural irrigation. Additionally, they offer benefits such as navigation, water purification, recreational opportunities, and biodiversity maintenance for upstream and downstream regions. To comprehensively describe the overall functioning of hydraulic engineering as an ecosystem, evaluate its contributions to human well-being, assess its support for economic and social development, and understand its ecological linkages across regions, it is essential to scientifically account for the comprehensive benefits of these projects. This study uses the Lianhu Reservoir in Lishui, Zhejiang Province, as a case study to assess the Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) before and after the construction of the hydraulic engineering project. The results show that before the construction of the Lianhu Reservoir (in 2021), the total GEP within the construction area was 206 million yuan. The value of regulating services was 197 million yuan, accounting for 95.6% of the total GEP, with climate regulation and flood control contributing 175 million yuan and 21 million yuan, respectively. The value of provisioning services was 9.06 million yuan, accounting for 4.4% of the total GEP. After the construction of the Lianhu Reservoir, the total GEP within the construction area increased to 1.42 billion yuan. The value of regulating services was 781 million yuan, accounting for 55.0% of the total GEP, with flood control and climate regulation contributing 480 million yuan and 297 million yuan, respectively. The value of cultural services was 498 million yuan, accounting for 35.1% of the total GEP, while the value of provisioning services was 141 million yuan, accounting for 9.9% of the total GEP. The results indicate that compared to the pre-construction period, the GEP after the construction of the Lianhu Reservoir increased by 1.21 billion yuan, representing a 588% increase. Except for the services of agricultural product supply, carbon sequestration and oxygen release, and air purification, all other service items were enhanced.
Abstract Understanding the spatial distribution characteristics and formation mechanism of urban facilities (city functional components) constitutes the basis of urban layout optimization. Currently, research on the overall distribution of the various types of city functional components is lacking. In this study, by applying the gradient analysis method common in ecology, we considered 13 types of city functional components (80,214 individuals in total) in large, medium and small Chinese cities (9 cities in total) to carry out quantitative analysis of the distribution of components along urban–rural gradients through density distribution curves. The results indicated that: (1) a higher density of city functional components near the city centre revealed an obvious aggregated distribution; (2) the spatial distribution dynamics of city functional components were related to the city size, providing a reference for the rational distribution of components in cities of different sizes; (3) the distribution of city functional components was affected by their ecosystem services. This study offers a new perspective for the application of ecological methods in the examination of the distribution of city functional components.
Prevailing hypotheses recognize cities as 'super-organisms' which both provides organizing principles for cities and fills the scalar gap in the hierarchical living system between ecosystems and the entire planet. However, most analogies between the traits of organisms and cities are inappropriate making the super-organism model impractical as a means to acquire new knowledge. Using a cluster analysis of 15 traits of cities and other living systems, we found that modern cities are more similar to eukaryotic cells than to multicellular organisms. Enclosed industrial systems, such as factories and greenhouses, dominate modern cities and are analogous to organelles as hotspots that provide high-flux goods and services. Therefore, we propose a 'super-cell city model' as more appropriate than the super-organism model. In addition to the theoretical significance, our model also recognizes enclosed industrial systems as functional components that improve the vitality and sustainability of cities.
The present study aimed to examine the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with a standard municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration facility situated in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, China. The assessment of GHG emissions comprised an analysis of both direct and indirect emissions stemming from the incineration process, in addition to assessing the potential for carbon sequestration through electricity generation process. The present study quantified the direct GHG emissions, especially CO2, N2O, and CH4, originatingfrom the fossil carbon content of the waste stream during incineration.The indirect carbon emissions arising from the electricity consumption of and auxiliary fuel were also considered. Finally, measures to mitigate GHG emissions were proposed based on the findings of the study. The results of this research suggest that the use of natural gas and heat recovery technology can be effective strategies for mitigating GHG emissions stemming from waste incineration operation. The implementation of smart production processes, and the use of lower-carbon fuels were also identified as potential strategies to reduce carbon emissions from MSW incineration power plants. This study offers meaningful contributions regarding the indetification of GHG sources and sinks within MSW incineration power plants. Further investigations is warranted to enhance comprehension of the environmental remifications of such strategies and to formulate more comprehensive and sustainable waste management approaches.
Abstract The structure and “metabolism” (movement and conversion of goods and energy) of urban areas has caused cities to be identified as “super‐organisms”, placed between ecosystems and the biosphere, in the hierarchy of living systems. Yet most such analogies are weak, and render the super‐organism model ineffective for sustainable development of cities. Via a cluster analysis of 15 shared traits of the hierarchical living system, we found that industrialized cities are more similar to eukaryotic cells than to multicellular organisms; enclosed systems, such as factories and greenhouses, paralleling organelles in eukaryotic cells. We further developed a “super‐cell” industrialized city model: a “eukarcity” with citynucleus (urban area) as a regulating centre, and organaras (enclosed systems, which provide the majority of goods and services) as the functional components, and cityplasm (natural ecosystems and farmlands) as the matrix. This model may improve the vitality and sustainability of cities through planning and management.
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