Mitigating the Risks of a 21st Century Climate Switch (to global cooling) and Running Out of Oil and Gas: There is an urgent need to prepare the world for a 21st century climate switch to a cooling phase, and this current grand solar minimum is a prime time for that switch. The world will face natural climate change-related risks during the current grand solar minimum—risks dismissed or ignored by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) because of its constraining Articles 1 and 2. Solar scientists expert in climate change are warning us of a 21st century global cooling, but the IPCC process has dismissed their science and that of other climate sub-disciplines. Climate-forcing volcanism, Arctic glacier expansion, rapid climate change, and the climate- and volcanic-related catastrophes that occurred during the Little Ice Age are risks that were also dismissed by the IPCC process. Earth actually entered a new Ice Age 8 and 10.5 millennia ago, in the Arctic and the Antarctic respectively. Since the Holocene Climate Optimum 8,000 years ago, Greenland’s temperature declined by 4.90C to its lowest trough in 1700. The subsequent 1700-2016 trough-to-peak temperature rise is the largest temperature increase in 8,000 years. Glacier ice accumulation also started 5,000 years ago, reaching its peak during the Little Ice Age. However, since the mid-19th century much of this glacier ice melted as the sun entered an extreme grand solar maximum phase, which human activity has exacerbated. Section 3 of this book provides best-practice strategies for implementing decentralized sustainable development and switching the world’s energy system to renewable energy. These strategies will be required to mitigate the yet unseen climate and resource supply-related risks that loom on the horizon. This book is pitched at the levels of central governments, local governments, and for you at home, and is a must if you want to know the data-driven facts about natural climate change.

We present the 24th volume of the journal "Advanced Engineering Forum". The volume contains peer-reviewed manuscripts describing the results of engineering solutions and research dealing with actual problems in the study of structural materials, their behaviour and their processing technologies, engineering research in mechanical engineering and construction. Published articles will be useful for professionals in the field of materials, mechanical engineering, construction and for students and academic staff concerned with the related specialties.

Though conflicts continue to arise over land use and land cover changes, the conversion of forest land to cropland or other land uses such as housing and urban development have been on the rise in recent years. Decisions regarding land use and land cover influence climate change as well as various natural processes. While proper changes can minimize the effects and speed of climatic changes, the continued adverse changes may be accelerating the deterioration of the world’s condition. Examining International Land Use Policies, Changes, and Conflicts presents the latest research on the present status of land use and land cover changes throughout the world in order to determine appropriate land use policies that can protect earth’s present and future condition. The findings of the studies investigate the conflicts behind the land tenure and land uses in different countries of the world and examines existing policies and the reasons behind changes in them. Ultimately, the book provides readers with knowledge on how land can be managed in a sustained manner, how landscape models are helpful for predicting and determining future land uses, how land can be managed with the best architectural measures, and how urban forestry is helpful for better environmental management and adapting or mitigating climate change effects. Land users, agriculturalists, urban planners, policymakers, government officials, researchers, academicians, and students looking to improve their understanding of this topic for better use of land in the future will find this book to be an asset to their current research.

This book discusses the evolution of security and privacy issues and brings related technological tools, techniques, and solutions into one single source. The book will take readers on a journey to understanding the security issues and possible solutions involving various threats, attacks, and defense mechanisms, which include IoT, cloud computing, Big Data, lightweight cryptography for blockchain, and data-intensive techniques, and how it can be applied to various applications for general and specific use. Graduate and postgraduate students, researchers, and those working in this industry will find this book easy to understand and use for security applications and privacy issues.

This book gathers outstanding research papers presented in the International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Emerging Power System (ICCIPS 2021), held on March 9-10, 2021, at Engineering College Ajmer. ICCIPS 2021 is jointly organized by the Department of CSE and Department of EE, Engineering College Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. The topics covered in the book are collective intelligence, soft computing, optimization, cloud computing, machine learning, intelligent software, robotics, data science, data security, big data analytics, natural language processing, renewable energy, signal processing, optimization methods for power system, smart grid, micro-grid, energy management, power system, monitoring system, load management, and distributed generation.

This book contains an introduction and 20 studies, each describing a recent research investigation in the area of sustainable and resilient buildings, built environment infrastructure and renewable energy. Contributions are from many different countries of the world and on a range of topics, representing a sample of research within the ‘sustainable energy and buildings’ field. The book begins with chapters on the sustainable design of buildings, followed by descriptions of issues relating to the renovation, restoration and reconstruction of existing buildings, or in one case a railway wagon. The next part of the book covers factors that form barriers or impediments to low or zero carbon buildings, followed by studies of issues relating to policy and certification. There then follow four chapters on various topics related to sustainable buildings – undergraduate courses, insurance issues, biophilia relating to buildings and thermal conductivity measurement. There are several chapters relating to renewable energy, followed by two chapters with a sustainable transport theme, one relating to electric vehicles, and the other about a sustainable road infrastructure. The final chapter is on the manufacture of sustainable building components for the UK housing sector. The book is of use to engineers, scientists, researchers, practitioners, academics and all those who are interested to develop and use sustainability science and technology for the betterment of our planet and humankind, and to mitigate climate change reality.

Amid economic uncertainties, fluctuating oil prices, and a rising environmental consciousness, the need for sustainable and efficient food production has become dire. The Vertical Farm: Scientific Advances and Technological Developments systematically navigates the realm of vertical farming (VF), rooted in a robust, scientific foundation. Unveiling the intricate convergence of plant biology, environmental science, and agronomy, it provides a profound understanding of contemporary agriculture. The book spans lighting systems and climate control mechanisms, focusing on sustainability. From small urban initiatives to significant commercial endeavors, real-world case studies showcase VF's adaptability, scalability, and resilience. Addressing multiple challenges, the book explores economic considerations and public perceptions, recognizing their roles in fostering meaningful advancements in agricultural innovation. A volume in the Nextgen Agriculture series, this book is valuable to scientists, practitioners, and students in urban agriculture and planning, horticulture, engineering, landscape architecture, and plant/technology sciences.

This volume is part of the Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceeding (CESP) series. This series contains a collection of papers dealing with issues in both traditional ceramics (i.e., glass, whitewares, refractories, and porcelain enamel) and advanced ceramics. Topics covered in the area of advanced ceramic include bioceramics, nanomaterials, composites, solid oxide fuel cells, mechanical properties and structural design, advanced ceramic coatings, ceramic armor, porous ceramics, and more.

This fundamental book provides a cross-sectoral, multi-disciplinary view on the biobased economy. It explains opportunities for the value-adding production and use of bioresources, while also discussing the main drivers and obstacles involved. The book is divided into three major parts, the first of which introduces readers to the basics of bioresource economics and engineering. In terms of economics, it discusses decision-making from the policy, producer, investor, and citizen perspectives; in terms of engineering, it addresses key technologies and the processing of bioresources, as well as the development of biorefineries for high-value products on large and small scales. In turn, the book’s second part presents cases focused on different types of energy use, and written by practitioners. The cases illustrate the businesses and technologies involved, as well as the roles of citizens, social organisations and policies. The book’s third and last part highlights opportunities in sustainable agriculture, valuable industrial products and innovative services, while also outlining key conditions for success. Written by a team of scholars and practitioners from various engineering, natural-science and social-science disciplines, the book is primarily intended for undergraduate and graduate students, and for practitioners in business and policy who wish to explore the sustainable production and use of bioresources. All theoretical issues are explained with the aid of real-world examples, making the content highly accessible.

Entrepreneurship plays an exceptional role in the development of economies and is a vital source of change in all aspects of society. This book tries to facilitate a fundamental rethinking of entrepreneurial activity and how it is manifested. It addresses a critical shortcoming in much of the research, education, and economic development work that deals with entrepreneurship. Instead of the general theories of entrepreneurship, the book lays a foundation for developing theories of different kinds of entrepreneurial ventures. As the reader navigates these pages, he or she should hopefully broaden their entrepreneurial landscape and identify critical factors that drive contemporary entrepreneurship.