Based upon the upper bound limit analysis, the stability numbers have been developed for a two-layered soil slope both for an associated flow rule material and for a homogeneous slope with non-associated flow rule material. The failure surface was assumed to be an arc of logarithmic spiral and it automatically ensures the kinematics admissibility of the failure mechanism with respect to the rigid rotation of the soil mass about the focus of the logarithmic spiral. The effect of the pore water pressure and horizontal earthquake body forces was also included m the analysis. For a non-associated flow rule material, the stress distribution along the failure surface was developed with the assumption of interslice forces given by Fellenius and Bishop. The stability numbers have been found to reduce appreciably with increases m the (i) horizontal inclination (β) of slope, (ii) pore water pressure coefficient, ru and (iii) horizontal earthquake acceleration coefficient (kh). The values of the stability numbers for a non-associated co-axial flow rule, with dilatancy angle ψ =0, have been found to be considerably lower as compared to the associated flow rule material. For a given height of the slope, with associated flow rule, the values of the stability numbers have been found to increase with increase in the thickness of a layer with greater value of the friction angle Φ. The results have been given in the form of non-dimensional stability charts, which can be used for readily obtaining either the value of the critical height or the factor of safety The methodology can be easily extended even for multi-layered soil slopes with different values of cohesion (c), bulk unit weight (γ) and friction angle (Φ). An attempt has also been made in this thesis to study experimentally the effect of the frequency of the excitation and the addition of non-plastic fines on the liquefaction resistance of the material Shake table studies, generating uni-axial sinusoidal horizontal vibrations, were earned out for this purpose. During the period of excitation of the material, the settlement at the surface of the sample increases continuously with time up to a certain peak value and thereafter, it becomes almost constant. For the excitation of the material with higher frequency, more number of cycles was seen to reach the final settlement. With the continuous excitation of the material, the magnitude of the pore water pressures increases up to a certain peak value and there after, its magnitude decreases till it again becomes the hydrostatic pressure as it was before the excitation of the material. The peak magnitude of the pore water pressure tends to be higher for the excitation with smaller frequency especially at greater depths from the ground surface. The addition of non-plastic fines tends to increase the magnitude of the settlement as well as the increase in the pore water pressure.

The valuation of ecosystem services requires first and foremost, that the current level or stock of a service first be estimated. Here, I investigate the relationship between the fields of environmental science and ecological economics in their research effort of ecosystem services and the implications this may have on the ecosystem valuation research program. I investigate two ecological functions described as ecosystem services within specific ecosystem types: the flood control provisioning services of wetlands and pollination service provisioning by pollinator populations in agroecosystems. I examined the environmental literature to provide quantitative estimates of a) the distribution of the level of service delivered as well as b) the ability of environmental scientists to predict this level of service. The results presented here suggest a moderately strong correlation between research efforts in environmental science and ecological economics at the pooled level of ecosystem types and services. I suggest however, an integrated research enterprise between social and environmental scientists may provide greater efficiency by means of a global ecosystem service research network and repository. I found that, on average, consistent with conventional wisdom, wetlands do indeed have a positive effect by reducing the frequency and magnitude of floods, increasing low flows, and increasing water storage. In the same vein, I found on average and consistent with conventional wisdom, there is a consistent and comparatively strong association between pollinator abundance and agroecosystem productivity as inferred from measures of plant fertilization success. In both investigations however, metaregression analysis indicated that our current ability to predict either pollination or flood control services is poor to modest at best. The low predictive power combined with the observed heterogeneity in effect size in both investigations suggest that flood control service delivered by wetlands or pollination services delivered by natural pollinator populations in agroecosystems and the expected changes in the level of services delivered under a candidate management scenario, will have a large uncertainty. Such uncertainty should be explicitly incorporated into estimates of both the current economic value of ecosystem services, as well as estimates of how these values are likely to change under alternative management scenarios. Given these, I suggest that the implications for the development of Market-based instruments (MBIs) or any payment of ecosystem services to conserve ecosystem services: that the associated ecological function(s) must be few and well characterized, and we must agree on what endpoints ought to properly be used to characterize these functions. If this condition is not met, an ordinal ranking is the best we can do and in the absence of obvious enthusiasm for more detailed scientific research which leads to the conclusion that perhaps alternate strategies like command and control may be the better alternative to protect ecosystem services.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2006--Regensburg.

Univ., Diss.--Kiel, 2003.

The diploma thesis focuses on problematics connected to the flood and individual kinds of anti-flooding measures in agriculturally used landscape. Theoretical part of the thesis is devoted to the general description of flood problematic. It contains basic terms connected with floods, mentions causes and flood categories, and also the factors that influence it's progress. Thesis includes precautions and solutions of the anti-flood protection. In the practical part of the thesis is characterised chosen region with flood risk. Analysis of the present state includes field research. As a result of the discovered risks have been selected appropriate anti-flood measures for stated location.

Introdução. A cidade de São Paulo vem adotando medidas no enfrentamento das inundações, como a implantação dos Reservatórios de Contenção de Cheias \"Piscinões\", que no período de estiagem, após as precipitações, propiciam a formação de criadouros de culicídeos, especialmente nos componentes hidráulicos. Objetivos. Avaliar os aspectos ecológicos da fauna de culicídeos nos Reservatórios de Contenção de Cheias Caguaçu e Inhumas, verificando a diversidade, dominância, similaridade e riqueza de espécies. Correlacionar fatores abióticos com a abundância numérica de mosquitos. Materiais e Métodos: Coletas mensais de culicídeos, no período de março de 2006 a fevereiro de 2007, empregando-se os métodos de conchas e aspirador à bateria. Em laboratório, após o desenvolvimento das larvas, os adultos foram identificados até a categoria de espécie. Resultados. Foram coletados 8.917 espécimes de culicídeos, dos quais 7.750 larvas e pupas e 1.167 adultos. Os espécimes identificados foram distribuídos em 4 gêneros e 13 espécies. Observou-se a dominância de Culex (Culex) quinquefasciatus, que representou 98% dos espécimes coletados no Inhumas e 92% no Caguaçu. A maior freqüência de mosquitos foi registrada no Piscinão Inhumas (6.378 larvas e 930 adultos) e maior riqueza de espécies no Caguaçu (11 espécies). Verificou-se correlação positiva entre a temperatura a e abundância numérica de imaturos nas duas áreas, correlação positiva no Piscinão Caguaçu e correlação negativa no Inhumas entre a precipitação e a abundância numérica de imaturos. As análises estatísticas demonstraram que os fatores abióticos analisados exercem pouca influência na população de adultos. Conclusões. A espécie Culex quinquefasciatus mostrou-se dominante e mais freqüente nos dois ambientes. Medidas de controle da espécie nos piscinções estudados se fazem necessárias tendo em vista seu potencial epidemiológico na transmissão de agentes patogênicos. / Introduction. The City of São Paulo has been adopting highly measures to enable it to face up to the problem of flooding, among them being the construction of Reservoirs for the Containment of Flood Waters, known as \"piscinões\". In the dry season, after the occasional rains, these reservoirs, especially their hydraulic machinery, serve as breeding places for the Culicidae. Objectives. The assessment of the ecological aspects of the Culicidae fauna in the Reservoirs for the Containment of Flood Waters at Caguaçu and Inhumas to establish their diversity, dominance, similarity and species richness and, further, to correlate a-biotic factors with the numerical abundance of the mosquitoes. Materials and Methods: Monthly collections of Culicidae were undertaken during the period from March 2006 to February 2007, using the shell and battery aspirator methods. Results. A total of 8,917 Culicidae specimens were collected, 7,750 of which were larvae and pupae and 1,167 adults. The specimens were identified as belonging to 4 genera and 13 species. Culex quinquefasciatus, accounting for 98% of the specimens collected in the Inhumas Reservoir and 92% of those collected in Caguaçu, was the dominant species. The greatest frequency of mosquitoes was registered in the Inhumas Reservoir (6,378 larvae and 930 adults) and the greatest species richness in the Caguaçu Reservoir (11 species). A positive correlation was found as between the temperature and the numerical abundance of immature forms of the two areas and a positive correlation in Caguaçu and a negative correlation in Inhumas between the rainfall the and numerical abundance of immature forms. The analyses demonstrated that the a-biotic factors analyzed exercised little influence on the adult population. Conclusions. The species Culex quinquefasciatus was the dominant and most frequent species in both environments. Methods for the control of the species in the Reservoirs studied are necessary in view of their epidemiological potential in terms of the transmission of pathogenic agents.

Even in urban areas reliable and precise information about possible floods and related water levels as well as inundation areas are needed to minimize potential damages. One main requirement for this issue is to correct the stage-discharge relations which are sometimes not available. This paper reconsiders the use of historical hydrologic data in urban areas which have fundamentally changed even concerning the river beds, cross sections and floodplain areas. By means of an historical approach the flood statistics has been updated with surprising results.

The target of diploma thesis is to design and review flood protection in Prostejov, especially for district Vrahovice. Flow capacity of river Romze will be determined too, because the river flows through the area of interest.

The valuation of ecosystem services requires first and foremost, that the current level or stock of a service first be estimated. Here, I investigate the relationship between the fields of environmental science and ecological economics in their research effort of ecosystem services and the implications this may have on the ecosystem valuation research program. I investigate two ecological functions described as ecosystem services within specific ecosystem types: the flood control provisioning services of wetlands and pollination service provisioning by pollinator populations in agroecosystems. I examined the environmental literature to provide quantitative estimates of a) the distribution of the level of service delivered as well as b) the ability of environmental scientists to predict this level of service. The results presented here suggest a moderately strong correlation between research efforts in environmental science and ecological economics at the pooled level of ecosystem types and services. I suggest however, an integrated research enterprise between social and environmental scientists may provide greater efficiency by means of a global ecosystem service research network and repository. I found that, on average, consistent with conventional wisdom, wetlands do indeed have a positive effect by reducing the frequency and magnitude of floods, increasing low flows, and increasing water storage. In the same vein, I found on average and consistent with conventional wisdom, there is a consistent and comparatively strong association between pollinator abundance and agroecosystem productivity as inferred from measures of plant fertilization success. In both investigations however, metaregression analysis indicated that our current ability to predict either pollination or flood control services is poor to modest at best. The low predictive power combined with the observed heterogeneity in effect size in both investigations suggest that flood control service delivered by wetlands or pollination services delivered by natural pollinator populations in agroecosystems and the expected changes in the level of services delivered under a candidate management scenario, will have a large uncertainty. Such uncertainty should be explicitly incorporated into estimates of both the current economic value of ecosystem services, as well as estimates of how these values are likely to change under alternative management scenarios. Given these, I suggest that the implications for the development of Market-based instruments (MBIs) or any payment of ecosystem services to conserve ecosystem services: that the associated ecological function(s) must be few and well characterized, and we must agree on what endpoints ought to properly be used to characterize these functions. If this condition is not met, an ordinal ranking is the best we can do and in the absence of obvious enthusiasm for more detailed scientific research which leads to the conclusion that perhaps alternate strategies like command and control may be the better alternative to protect ecosystem services.

This thesis deals with the river basin flood protection Loučka. The goal of the thesis is to assess the need of flood control measures supplement in the watershed. The first part deals with exploration of river basin, acquiring geographic factors and obtaining information about the topic, establishment and application of rainfall model used for solving the problem. The second part deals with improving of flood protection at critical selected places by using design of reservoir system with retention effect and by increasing river basin capacity. For basin schematisation was used ArcGIS program and the simulation of rainfall-runoff process was made by Hydrog program.