scholarly journals A Capabilities-Led Approach to Assessing Technological Solutions for a Rural Community

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1398
Author(s):  
Xinfang Wang ◽  
Rosie Day ◽  
Dan Murrant ◽  
Antonio Diego Marín ◽  
David Castrejón Botello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Community ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Energy Services ◽  
Grid Systems ◽  
Technological Interventions ◽  
Solution Design ◽  
Improve Access

To improve access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy in rural areas of the global south, off-grid systems using renewable generation and energy storage are often proposed. However, solution design is often technology-driven, with insufficient consideration of social and cultural contexts. This leads to a risk of unintended consequences and inappropriate systems that do not meet local needs. To address this problem, this paper describes the application of a capabilities-led approach to understanding a community’s multi-dimensional energy poverty and assessing their needs as they see them, in order to better design suitable technological interventions. Data were collected in Tlamacazapa, Mexico, through site visits and focus groups with men and women. These revealed the ways in which constrained energy services undermined essential capabilities, including relating to health, safety, relationships and earning a living, and highlighted the specific ways in which improved energy services, such as lighting, cooking and mechanical power could improve capabilities in the specific context of Tlamacazapa. Based on these findings, we propose some potential technological interventions to address these needs. The case study offers an illustration of an assessment method that could be deployed in a variety of contexts to inform the design of appropriate technological interventions.

scholarly journals Techno-Economic Analysis of a Cogeneration System for Post-Harvest Loss Reduction: A Case Study in Sub-Saharan Rural Community

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasaq Lamidi ◽  
Long Jiang ◽  
Yaodong Wang ◽  
Pankaj Pathare ◽  
Marcelo Aguilar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Community ◽  
Cold Storage ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Payback Period ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Cogeneration System ◽  
Electricity Tariff

Over 90% of global yam production is from West Africa where it provides food and income for above 300 million smallholders’ farmers. However, the major challenge of yam is 10–40% post-harvest losses due to the lack of appropriate storage facilities. This paper assesses a biogas-driven cogeneration system, which could supply electricity and cold storage for ‘yam bank’ within a rural community. Considering 200 households’ Nigerian village as a case study, crop residues are used as anaerobic digestion feedstock to produce biogas, which is subsequently used to power an internal combustion engine. Result shows that the system could store 3.6 tonnes of yam tubers each year and provide enough electricity for domestic and commercial activities. At the current electricity tariff of USD0.013·kWh−1 for rural areas, the system is unable to payback during its life span. The proposed USD0.42·kWh−1 by Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency seems good with less than 3 years discounted payback period but brings about extra burden on poor rural households. Based on the income from cold storage, electricity tariff of USD0.105·kWh−1 with an interest rate of 4% is suggested to be reasonable which results in 6.84 years discounted payback period especially considering non-monetary benefits of renewable energy system.

scholarly journals TOURISM IMPLICATIONS ON LOCAL WASTE MANAGEMENT. CASE STUDY: NEAM COUNTY, ROMANIA

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florin Constantin MIHAI
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Local Scale ◽  
Household Waste ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Waste Generation ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Management Case Study

The paper examines tourism as a potential source of waste generation inurban and rural areas from Neam County. An assessment method is proposed andthe final result is mapping the process at local scale. In order to analyzethe tourismimpact on the local waste management system, the waste generated by tourists(estimated values) is related to local household waste generation. Thispaper outlines the disparities within cities and communes and it alsoanalyses the bad practices of tourists supported by field observations

scholarly journals Collaborative Patterns of Long-Term Sustainability in Community Social Enterprises: An International Comparative Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunna Kovanen
Keyword(s):  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Transformative Power ◽  
International Comparative ◽  
Community Enterprises

AbstractThe article presents results from a research on the relevance and challenges of collaboration for the long-term sustainability of rural community enterprises. The study relies on Communities of Practice and Degrowth theories. Methods include semi-standardised interviews and focused ethnography in two community enterprises in rural areas in Germany and Portugal. Main results confirm the relevance of collaborative relations with residents, public sector, peer organisations and within the teams for both stability and transformative power of the organisations’ work. Respectful handling of privileges and balance in participation and professionalisation support sustainability, whereas institutional stagnation and involuntary degrowth may risk it.

scholarly journals Tecnologias descentralizadas apropriadas para tratamento de esgoto doméstico em áreas rurais

ForScience ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e00995
Author(s):  
Mariza Silva Bitarães Dias ◽  
Alex Cardoso Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Rural Community ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Rural Families ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Minas Gerais ◽  
Domestic Sewage ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Hydrographic Basin ◽  
Water Courses

A ausência de sistemas de tratamento de esgoto doméstico é uma das principais causas de insalubridade e degradação ambiental, além de ser uma forte ameaça à segurança alimentar das famílias rurais brasileiras. O estudo teve como objetivo fornecer subsídios para a elaboração de um programa de implantação de tratamento de esgoto doméstico na área da microbacia hidrográfica do Córrego do Mato, situado na comunidade rural São Braz, Simonésia, Minas Gerais. Foi investigada a situação do abastecimento de água e do esgotamento sanitário de 67 domicílios. Foi encontrado um cenário preocupante em relação à disposição final do esgoto doméstico, sendo que 96% dos domicílios estão em situação inadequada - disposição in natura em cursos d’água ou fossas rudimentares. Foram propostas alternativas adequadas para o tratamento do esgoto doméstico de acordo com as necessidades e condições locais da área de estudo. As alternativas escolhidas são tecnologias sociais e ecológicas com replicação e já implantadas em outras localidades rurais. Palavras-chave: Águas residuárias. Desenvolvimento rural. Bacia hidrográfica. Decentralized technologies appropriate for treating domestic sewage in rural areas: case study for a rural community in Simonesia - Minas Gerais Abstract The absence of domestic sewage treatment systems is one of the main causes of unhealthy and environmental degradation, in addition to being a strong threat to the food security of Brazilian rural families. The study aimed to provide subsidies for the elaboration of a program for the implementation of domestic sewage treatment in the area of the watershed of the Córrego do Mato, located in the rural community of São Braz, Simonésia, Minas Gerais. The situation of water supply and sanitation for 67 households was investigated. A worrying scenario was found in relation to the final disposal of domestic sewage, with 96 % of households being in an inadequate situation - in natura disposal in water courses or rudimentary cesspits. Appropriate alternatives have been proposed for the treatment of domestic sewage according to the needs and local conditions of the study area. The alternatives chosen are social and ecological technologies with replication and already implemented in other rural locations. Keywords: Wastewater. Rural development. Hydrographic basin.

scholarly journals A Case Study of Undergraduate Students Computer Self-Efficacy from Rural Areas

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3.20) ◽  
pp. 270
Author(s):  
Rajermani Thinakaran ◽  
Rosmah Ali ◽  
Wan Nor Al-Ashekin Wan Husin
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Item Questionnaire ◽  
Research Show ◽  
Computer Self Efficacy

In students’ learning process, self-efficacy plays an important part. In Malaysia, there are a number of researches on students’ self-efficacy. However, none of the studies focuses on undergraduate students’ computer self-efficacy from the rural areas. This article presents a quantitative research on undergraduate students’ perceived computer self-efficacy. A total of 128 first semester undergraduate students participated in the survey, employing a 27-item questionnaire measuring computer self-efficacy. The items were pilot-tested before being administered to the respondents. Outcome of the research show that computer self-efficacy level is high for basic and advanced skills. The result of the research shows that rural community has accepted the ICT as part of their lifestyle.   

scholarly journals Determining rural areas vulnerable to illegal dumping using GIS techniques. Case study: Neamț county, Romania

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florin Constantin MIHAI
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Household Waste ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Carpathian Region ◽  
Illegal Dumping

The paper aims to mapping the potential vulnerable areas to illegal dumpingof household waste from rural areas in the extra- Carpathian region ofNeamț County. These areas are ordinary in the proximity of built-up areasand buffers areas of 1km were delimited for every locality. Based onvarious map layers in vector formats ( land use, rivers, buil-up areas,roads etc) an assessment method is performed to highlight the potentialareas vulnerable to illegal dumping inside these buffer areas at localscale. The results are corelated to field observations and currentsituation of waste management systems. The maps outline local disparitiesdue to various geographical conditions of county. This approach is anecesary tool in EIA studies particularly for rural waste managementsystems at local and regional scale which are less studied in currentliterature than urban areas.

Rural Sustainability : An Examination Of The Practice of Sustainable Development Principles in a Rural Community in Malaysia

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Ngah
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Rural Life ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Rural People ◽  
Rural Sustainability ◽  
Mode Of Transport ◽  
Sustainability Principles

This paper examines the extent to which sustainable development principles are practiced in rural life in Malaysia. The first part of the paper defines the concept and principles of rural sustainability. The second part highlights the findings of a case study on rural sustainability practice of a rural community in Malaysia. These include the practice of recycling and reuse of materials, utilization of electricity, water and chemical substances, mode of transport, diversification of economic activities and social cohesion. The study indicates that the level of awareness and the practice of sustainability principles are still low among rural people. Few measures are suggested to promote greater awareness and the practice of rural sustainability in rural areas.

Rural Sustainability : An Examination Of The Practice of Sustainable Development Principles in a Rural Community in Malaysia

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Ngah
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Rural Life ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Rural People ◽  
Rural Sustainability ◽  
Mode Of Transport ◽  
Sustainability Principles

This paper examines the extent to which sustainable development principles are practiced in rural life in Malaysia. The first part of the paper defines the concept and principles of rural sustainability. The second part highlights the findings of a case study on rural sustainability practice of a rural community in Malaysia. These include the practice of recycling and reuse of materials, utilization of electricity, water and chemical substances, mode of transport, diversification of economic activities and social cohesion. The study indicates that the level of awareness and the practice of sustainability principles are still low among rural people. Few measures are suggested to promote greater awareness and the practice of rural sustainability in rural areas.

A Case Study of Industrial Resettlement: Milpitas, California

1955 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-20
Author(s):  
Felix Keesing ◽  
Blodwen Hammond ◽  
Bernice McAllister
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Behavioral Science ◽  
Current Trend ◽  
Student Group ◽  
Science Field ◽  
Bay Area ◽  
Industrial Community

Decentralization of industry from urban to suburban and rural areas is a notable current trend. One zone where it is particularly marked is the rapidly expanding "Bay Area" around San Francisco, where a number of planned industrial communities are springing up. This is a first general report of a study being made by a staff and graduate student group at Stanford University of the movement of industry into a semi-rural community within that area. A prime purpose of the study, which will continue over a period of years, is to assess the special contributions the behavioral science field of social anthropology can make to research on industrial community development.

scholarly journals Quantitative Assessment Method of Illegal Dumping in Small Rivers Case Study: NeamÈ› County, Romania

2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 397-402
Author(s):  
Florin Constantin MIHAI
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Quantitative Assessment ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
The Other ◽  
Small Rivers ◽  
Waste Collection ◽  
Carpathian Region ◽  
Illegal Dumping

Poor waste management facilities  from Romanian rural areas lead to uncontrolled waste disposal on improper sites. These bad practices are frequently   in the the proximity of built-up areas , therefore, the  small rivers inside these areas are susceptible  to waste dumping. The paper aims to develop  a quantitative  assessment  method  of waste disposed into  such small rivers from extra-Carpathian region of Neamț county. The lack of organized waste collection services from 2003 lead to high values of waste disposed in such rivers frequently over 15  t/yr  for each one. Despite some improvements compared to 2003 the small rivers inside  built-up areas of villages are still highly exposed to waste dumping. The values vary depending on demographic and geographic features of each locality and on the other side, due to the presence of an organized waste collection system.The results and  comparative analysis between 2003 and 2010 show some positive changes but the illegal dumping issue is far from being eliminated. 

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