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Article
Publication date: 13 April 2022

Aniruddha Dey, Sheikh Tawhidul Islam, Biplabketan Paul, Swarnabha Bandyopadhyay, Piu Sengupta, Nandini Sanyal, Krishna Prosad Mondal, Al Jubaer and Rangeet Mitra

The purpose of this paper is to develop a replicable model that ensures Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage as well as water treatment facilities at the community level by…

163

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a replicable model that ensures Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage as well as water treatment facilities at the community level by providing total service coverage at community scale. An intervention was implemented in one of the low-lying areas of Basirhat Municipality (West Bengal, India) that included a number of action programs in order to address household- and community-level water-induced challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

A research study was undertaken to identify the root causes of the problems that are generally spawned from geomorphological, hydro-fluvial, climatic factors and processes and the situation becomes complicated when many other cumulative problem-contexts layovers the existing ones. A number of social and technological innovations were tested in the field and this paper critically examined the intervention processes and outcomes. It was implemented through participatory process by involving related stakeholders working at that scale so that necessary public acceptance is received for scaling up, at least, in the similar physical, social, economic and institutional contexts.

Findings

The problem conceptualization process, spatial assessment for contextualizing the problem, design of interventions for different scales, development of project deployment strategies from field-based learnings contributed in developing a total solution based on fusing of household-level technical solutions, social innovations and actions for community engagements towards sustainability. Mobilized community members in addressing local inundation and waterlogging crisis. Satellite image-based maps shown to make them understand the upper-lower connection of drainage. People also developed their own action plans and engaged themselves in resuscitation of an old canal, removed the garbage that resulted in improved drainage conditions in the area.

Research limitations/implications

Pandemic due to COVID 19 and its related prolonged lock down, West Bengal State Assembly Election, closure of municipal governance system due to the forthcoming municipal election, closure of educational institutions, closure of Anganwadi Centre in the field area were the limitations. Due to the lock down, it was difficult for the team to maintain the time frame as well as the budget. As per the Election’s Code of Conduct gets released no public meeting was allowed without permission, people in the vicinity became suspicious, hence movement of the team members got restricted.

Practical implications

Due to the COVID protocols, the team could not organise mass training programs. It was difficult for the team members to commute in public/private transport, hence filed work got impacted. As the team could not access data from the health department, they developed a strategy of generation data on body mass index, mid-upper arm circumferences and waist-to-hip ratios to understand the status of health and nutrition of the community. It was difficult to access the Public Health Engineering Department’s laboratory situated in the municipality for water sample test. Cost escalated due to extension of the project time.

Social implications

During the second phase (wave) when people lost access to health facilities they requested the team to stop field visit. Women’s empowerment through acquiring knowledge and skill on treatment and safe storage of drinking water at home. Men appreciated and recognized this, which improved the status of women in the society. Children after expressing their willingness to learn the new technology of water purification were given handholding training by their mothers and knowledge transfer has taken place in the next generation. Mobilized community members in addressing local inundation and waterlogging crisis. Satellite image-based maps to understand the upper-lower connection of drainage helped them develop their own action plans and engaged themselves in resuscitation of an old canal, removed the garbage that resulted in improved drainage conditions in the area.

Originality/value

Household-level solutions include supply of low cost, easy operable, sustainable water purifiers, community-level solution focused on securing water-related challenges at social/public gathering places and wider catchment area level solutions include the engagement of local communities to drain out stagnant waters by clearing drains, creating/digging small canals through collective actions. Geo-spatial techniques (topographical mapping, spatial survey, water quality tests) along with social methods such as participatory appraisals for gathering information on human health, public awareness campaigns and partnership development with local government agencies were the major activities performed as part of the implementation of interventions. It is imperative to mention that water-related challenges in the low-lying settlement areas of Basirhat Municipality have effectively been addressed by relying on necessary theoretical underpinnings (Disaster risk reduction/humanitarian principles) transmitted through application of scientific techniques and mediated through local people and their agencies.

Details

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, vol. 13 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1759-5908

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 January 2020

Thomas Thangam, Muthuvel K. and Hussein A. Kazem

Increased investment of a photovoltaic (PV) array makes it essential for the client to attain better results from the PV system. The nonlinearity of the PV array and the…

127

Abstract

Purpose

Increased investment of a photovoltaic (PV) array makes it essential for the client to attain better results from the PV system. The nonlinearity of the PV array and the revolution and rotation of the earth require the appliance of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) to the system. Accordingly, grid connected PV systems have turn out to be renowned, because they do not require battery back-ups to accomplish MPPT. Stand-alone systems could also attain MPPT; however, they require appropriate battery back-ups for this function.

Design/methodology/approach

This survey intends to formulate a review on the PV-based microgrid (MG) systems. Here, the literature analyses on diverse techniques associated with PV-based MG systems. It reviews 65 research papers and states the significant analysis. Initially, the analysis depicts various controllers that are contributed in different papers. Subsequently, the analysis also focuses on various features such as PV capacity and inverter topology, and it also analyses the renewable grid source that are exploited in each paper. Furthermore, this paper provides the detailed study regarding the chronological review and performance achievements in each contribution. Finally, it extends the various research issues which can be useful for the researchers to accomplish further research on PV-based MG systems.

Findings

This paper has presented a detailed review on PV-based MG systems that were enumerated in the above sections. Here, various controllers along with their better achievements were analyzed and described. From the review, it was known that several PV-based MG systems were really at the point for enabling better power output and conversion efficiency. In conclusion, this paper reviewed about 65 research papers and declared the significant analysis. Initially, the analysis also focused on various controller classifications in PV-based MG systems that were reviewed in this paper. Subsequently, the analysis also focused on various features, such as PV capacity and inverter topology. The analysis also reviewed the performance achievements and renewable gird source that were exploited in PV-based MG systems. At last, this paper has presented various research issues which can be useful for the researchers to accomplish further research on the features of PV-based MG systems.

Originality/value

This paper presents a brief analysis of PV-based MG systems. This is the first work that uses PV-based MG systems for better regulation of MPPT.

Details

World Journal of Engineering, vol. 17 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1708-5284

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 December 2023

Imon Chowdhooree, Tasfin Aziz, Md. Jubaer Rashid and Meherab Hossain

Urban areas, especially in the coastal region of Bangladesh, face environmental degradation due to rapid urbanization, uncontrolled socio-economic activities and experiencing the…

138

Abstract

Purpose

Urban areas, especially in the coastal region of Bangladesh, face environmental degradation due to rapid urbanization, uncontrolled socio-economic activities and experiencing the adverse impacts of climate change. Nature-based solutions (NbS) as options for restoring, preserving, maintaining and elevating natural features or systems are becoming popular for reducing vulnerabilities caused either by natural hazards or human-induced activities. With this understanding, this study aims to explore the need of practicing NbS by studying the condition of a tidal canal (known as Thakurani Khal) and its peripheral areas of Mongla Port Municipality, a coastal and seaport town in Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study-based research uses multiple inquiries, including focus group discussions, pair-wise comparison, observation, GIS-based mapping, key informant interviews and secondary climate data review, to understand the spatial development of the area and community reactions to the changes in the urban environment.

Findings

The natural water flow of this canal is controlled by sluice gates that indirectly allowed the dweller to encroach its lands and convert the canal into a solid waste dumping area. These human-induced activities as well as the climate change-induced events (i.e. extreme heat, intensive and irregular rainfall, increased number of cyclones, etc.) have made the adjacent areas prone to waterlogging and drainage congestion. In this context, the revival of the original natural quality of the canal has been identified as an alternative to ensuring an adaptive urban environment.

Originality/value

This research highlights the importance of practicing NbS for developing urban resilience in the context of climate change.

Details

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, vol. 15 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1759-5908

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 May 2024

Md. Jubaer Rashid, Imon Chowdhooree, Tasfin Aziz and Meherab Hossain

In an urban environment, different types of actors (individuals, households, community groups, institutions, governmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGO)…

63

Abstract

Purpose

In an urban environment, different types of actors (individuals, households, community groups, institutions, governmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGO), community-based organizations (CBO) and public and private organizations, etc.) play critical roles in enhancing urban resilience to adapt to the impacts of climate change. To identify and prioritize aspects of climate resilience planning, this study aims to examine the potential impacts of climate change on diverse urban systems and evaluate the capacities of various actors to adapt to climatic stress.

Design/methodology/approach

This research selects Mongla, a coastal as well as port town in south-western Bangladesh that faces climate risks including frequent cyclones, storm surges and salinity intrusion due to sea-level and temperature rise, as reported in the National Climate Vulnerability Index 2018. This research uses the methodology proposed by ICLEI South Asia’s Climate Resilient Cities Action Plan and accesses different urban actors’ adaptive capacity for contributing to enhancing climate resilience based on three broad characteristics: the capacity to organize and respond, availability of resources and access to information. The cumulative scores of these characteristics aid in determining the climate adaptive capacity of each urban actor.

Findings

The identified 53 actors are grouped into four categories: government (local and national); international/local NGOs, CBOs and associations; community representatives and private sectors and groups and individuals. The group of NGOs, CBOs and associations has a higher overall adaptive potential than all other actor groups, according to the study. When it comes to practicing adaptive capacity, government institutions are in the second-highest position. But, the Khulna development authority, the government agency that is in charge of overseeing all forms of urban development, scored poorly on all fragile urban systems. However, the performance of the fourth group of urban actors is very subpar when it comes to adapting to climatic stress, which emphasizes the need for focused interventions.

Research limitations/implications

Variations in adaptive capacities to climate change across different actors are particularly useful for targeting actors with lower levels of climate adaptive capacities in Mongla town.

Originality/value

This paper particularly addresses the research gap in assessing the adapting capacity of urban actors in Mongla port-town. Policymakers and practitioners can create and carry out targeted interventions that address the particular needs and concerns of vulnerable actors by making use of the insights obtained from this kind of study, thereby assisting in the development of climate resilience in any urban area.

Details

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, vol. 15 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1759-5908

Keywords

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