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Small-scale biogas technology in Southeast Asian countries: current state, bottlenecks and perspectives
Roubík, Hynek ; Banout, Jan (advisor)
Biogas produced via the anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic waste materials is considered as an important technology in improving the environment because it solves waste management problems and simultaneously produces biogas as a main product and digestate as a by-product, which can also be used as a fertilizer.
Within the rising expectations for the substitution of fossil energy with renewable energy as one of the solutions to cope with climate change, the environmental aspects of small-scale biogas plants, as widely used method for energy creation, should be evaluated in a holistic and systematic way. The use of small-scale biogas plants is mostly common for energy creation from waste in Southeast Asia.
This source of energy is mainly lauded for its low costs, clean production and high fertilization effects of digested matter for crops. There are number of advantages of small-scale biogas production on farms, including also savings on firewood or fossil fuels and reduction in odour and greenhouse gas emissions from using other fuels. However, biogas plants are often poorly managed and there is lack of proper distribution systems for biogas. That results in methane being release inadvertently through leaks in digesters and tubing, and intentionally when production exceeds demand. As methane has a global warming potential 25 times higher than that of carbon dioxide, environmental advantages of small-scale biogas plants might be compromised.
This dissertation intends to provide in-depth understanding about the issue with taking into accounts possible risks. Investigating of such a topic is within continuing concern about small-scale biogas technology in rural areas of developing countries. For this reason technical, social, economic and environmental assessment of small-scale biogas technology will be done. Methods of data collection will consist of questionnaire survey and focus group discussions among randomly selected owners of biogas plants, semi-structured personal interviews with local authorities and facilitators and observation. Furthermore, prediction of future development of this technology will be created.
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Local Political Coalitions in the Statutory City of České Budějovice
Valenta, Martin ; Čmejrek, Jaroslav (advisor) ; Markéta, Markéta (referee)
Municipal policy is quite a new discipline within political science, and especially in the Czech environment it has been an object of attention in recent two decades only. While political scientists abroad have dealt with municipal policy for a long time, in the Czech environment the research of local problems has been in the margin for years.
The subject of this dissertation is not focused on the research of the Czech municipal policy as a whole, but it is concerned with the research of the particular local political system in České Budějovice in recent 25 years. As the city is a large regional capital, there might be implied a certain link between municipal and national policies, which can be noticeable not only in the representation of individual parliamentary parties in the city council, but also in the process of creating individual post-election coalitions.
Methodically the present work is a kind of comparative study which is based on the theoretical conception applying to local democracy, participation of citizens in public life, party systems, an electoral process and forming of election and executive coalitions at a local political level.
In the practical part the degree work is based on the study and analysis of local authority documents of České Budějovice, the programmes of Czech traditional political parties and other parties which, in some cases, became parts of the local political system in České Budějovice. The practical part is also to a large extent based on comparison of election data from the Czech Statistical Office.
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Winter Bird Assemblages in Different types of Rural Settlements along the Czech-Polish Border
Moravec, David ; Zasadil, Petr (advisor) ; Šmejdová, Lucie (referee)
In the last few years there has been a significant decrease in the of number of wild birds across the Europe. It is mostly concerns synantropic species and species related to agricultural landscapes. The main cause of this decrease could be the changes in agriculture and also changes in the character of village surroundings and therefore the connection to a decrease of livestock.
In this thesis a comparison of the differences in the bird community in winter months has been made, focusing on a sparrow in the Czech-Polish borderlands. There have been found differences between the agriculture development and development of rural settlements in each of these countries especially in the second part of the 20th.century. At the end of my thesis there are the comparison results of my thesis and the research, that was carried out in the summer months of 2014.
The main research was done between December 2015 and January 2016 along the CzechPolish border. 16 villages were chosen and in each village there were 2 research areas the the dimensions of 100 x 100 meters. The total study consists of 64 research areas in different types of environments. The data collection was done twice in each area.
The results show that in the Czech republic there occurred more birds and also birds species. It has been demonstrated, that poultry farming has a major impact on sparrow numbers. Out of the six surveyed habitats the one with the most birds was found to be found in the middle of a village with a factory farm and the most bird species were found on the outskirts.
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The role of communication in the knowledge management
Hudcová, Šárka ; Macák, Tomáš (advisor) ; Tichá, Ivana (referee)
The theoretical part of the dissertation thesis called "The Role of Communication in the Knowledge Management" strives to identify the relationship between communication and knowledge management and results in finding that communication plays a critical role both in implementation of knowledge management and in the phase when knowledge management is implemented. The communication can shape environment for knowledge management as well as can be a tool for knowledge sharing. The research was focused on the situation of implemented knowledge management where the role of communication interferes to both the environment and the knowledge sharing. The research is based on three case studies that describe knowledge communication and its context in three similar successful and recognized organizations. Facts identified in the case studies are analyzed and discussed with experts in the area of personnel management and internal communication. Findings from the empirical research create basis for the design part which is aimed at identifying the way how to leverage the role of communication in knowledge management and how to use it to positively contribute to knowledge management goals. It results in a proposed system of tools of internal communication that supports knowledge communication. The system prefers face-to-face communication but includes also other tools of internal communication. The system is put into a broader context which is built out of knowledge management strategy, organizational culture and internal communication. There are recommendations defined for each of the elements that should support the right function of the knowledge communication. Rules and guidance for the knowledge communication are part of the thesis as well. Everything is based on practice of the researched organizations, was discussed with selected experts and validated with representatives from one of the organizations. The validation ensures feedback indicating practical applicability of the proposed system and defined guidance.
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Strategy of the Innovations of Vehicle Inspection Emission Stations
Marušková, Helena ; Růžička, Miroslav (advisor) ; Tichá, Ivana (referee)
The doctoral thesis Strategy of the Innovations of Vehicle Inspection Emission Stations is engaged in marketing strategies and innovations of the vehicle inspection emission stations in the Czech Republic. The theoretical part is dedicated to the references and describes marketing environment, SWOT analysis, marketing strategies, marketing mix and several "P". It also focuses on the innovation and innovation strategies, the different types of marketing research, the exhaust emissions of combustion engines, the homologation regulations and the periodic emission measurements at the vehicle inspections emission stations in the Czech Republic and in the world. The aim of this thesis is to describe and analyze the current situation and work up a strategy of the innovations of vehicle inspection emission stations.
The practical part is devoted to analysis of the marketing environment (PEST analysis and the microenvironment), from which a SWOT analysis of vehicle inspection emission stations and further describes the individual components of the marketing mix SME. The chapter Marketing research SME is divided into quantitative and qualitative marketing research, which lists the various questions, charts and answers resulting from marketing research. Quantitative research is conducted through a questionnaire survey and qualitative marketing research obtains answers based on structured interviews.
The paper concludes with several suggestions of the innovation, evaluation of research questions and a summary of the individual chapters, which shows that too stringent emission limits will not lead to their real reductions. Regular tests for SMEs are set up properly and does not need to be changed. Creating a central information system (one for both STK and SME) and the implementation of video surveillance - these changes are needed not only for technical inspections stations, but also emission inspection stations. Due to the increasing number and age of vehicles and especially the fact that the current emission tests of vehicles in no-load mode engines are not able to detect all faults, the new methodology of measure emissions is needed.
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Analysis of selected factors affecting occurrence of Chalara fraxinea in the environment.
Havrdová, Ludmila ; Šrůtka, Petr (advisor) ; Jaroslava, Jaroslava (referee)
Extensive investigation of ash dieback impact on different rural vegetation types (solitaires, scattered plantations, riparian stands, scree- and ash-alder alluvial forests) was performed in the Lusatian Mts. (the Czech Republic) between 2011 and 2013. The rate of ash dieback and 27 environmental variables were investigated in 80 research plots with a total of 1045 evaluated trees. The developed model (GLM) explained ca 27% of the disease variability. Particular models for each vegetation type importantly differed from each other and explained 28--46% of the disease variability. The variables that positively affected the disease impact included the host crown area, ash area and rate of ash in the stands, tree layer area, canopy closure, north aspect, shrub and herbaceous layer canopy, vertical heterogeneity and standard deviation of TPI. Tree height, the distance and damage of the nearest host as well as the water source distance, slope and its standard deviation affected it negatively. The coincidental attack of the trees by Armillaria sp. and Hylesinus fraxini positively affected the disease progress, whereas the presence of Nectria sp. and Aceria fraxinivorus conclusively decreased progress, most likely via the induction of secondary metabolites. The highly conclusive regression of ash dieback on the number of days with an air humidity of >95% between 6--11 a.m. in the main period of ascospore spread was identified. Because the air humidity near the ground was highly affected by local factors, a GLM model explaining the variability of air humidity with that of investigated factors was developed. This model explained 77% of the variability attributed to air humidity, local factors (TPI and SD of TPI, aspect, slope, altitude, distance from open water, tree and shrub layers canopy, tree stand height, etc.) greatly affected the disease impact related to air humidity. The landscape form was identified as a factor (most likely via air humidity) that affects the impact of the disease -- for example, the stands on mountain tops and slopes were less affected than the stands in valleys. The vegetation types highly differed in the disease extent. In general, the solitaires and scree forests were significantly less damaged than mixed ash-alder forests and riparian stands. The smaller stands were less affected than the more extended, the stands enclosed in canopy of other forests were less damaged than comparable vegetation in open landscapes and stands with higher humidity (riparian stands and mixed ash-alder forests) were more damaged than those without water. The outcome clearly supports the possibility of development and usefulness of appropriate forest and landscape management of the disease.
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Methodology of design multidimensional databases in the farm environment
Vasilenko, Alexandr ; Klimešová, Dana (advisor) ; Toman, Prokop (referee)
This dissertation thesis is focused on bulk unsolicited messages which are present in
current time in all sectors of electronic communications. It is not only e-mail
communication, but also in online forums, discussion contributions, social networking
and more. Analyze spam messages is therefore an essential element in preventing
flooding user mailboxes.
Antispam countermeasures is a set of processes, software tools and methods. It is
necessary to harmonize all these components into one cooperating piece of service.
Administrators of email servers are trying to keep their servers optimally configured. The
problem is that spammers trying continuously these defense mechanisms and filter bypass
to enhance spam processes. Their work is very sophisticated and this fight does not yet
have a clear winner. After enhancement techniques either processes takes place after a
certain time to balance the advantages and disadvantages.
For these reasons it is necessary to have a tool which can be analyzed in depth junk
messages with dynamic data views. This tool can be Online Analytical Processing (OLAP
below), which is very suitable for this purpose.
Presented a method of data extraction and transformation and preparation for storage in
a warehouse DT-MEZ (Data Pump - metadata email messages). This method is part of
the methodology ASOLAP (Antispam - OLAP).
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Socially Excluded Localities and Their Revitalization. Case Study: Ústecký Region.
Zoubková, Věra Thea ; Maier, Karel (advisor) ; Jakub, Jakub (referee)
The dissertation deals with the incidence and revitalization of socially excluded localities in a defined study area. The aim of this contribution is to identify and visualize the situation of the Ústecký Region in order to find common patterns of urban deprivation occurrence and to establish the guiding principles of revitalization policies in the Czech Republic. The research took place from September 2010 to June 2015. It combined qualitative and quantitative methods, in-situ and desk research. An analysis of primary and secondary data revealed 130 excluded localities in 42 towns and cities out of 354 in the region. The majority of deprived localities (87 %) can be found in highly urbanized areas. Two thirds of localities are small areas with up to 100 inhabitants. Socially excluded areas emerge in the centre, residential districts as well as on the outskirts of towns; however, three fifths of localities are not spatially segregated. Prefabricated housing estates are the largest and most populated deprived areas. Every other inhabitant of socially excluded localities in the Region lives in a prefabricated house. Brick houses are the most proliferated type of housing facility used as accommodation for socially excluded people. They can be found in every other deprived area. Vast majority of them was built before 1989. Family houses are deprived very scarcely; however, they belong to the most dilapidated part of socially excluded housing estate. Two thirds of localities have developed naturally, while the other third has been created by a regulated relocation of socially excluded people. Vast majority of deprived areas have existed for more than 5 years. Private property prevails. Half of the localities have entered the process of revitalization to improve the urban environment, human resources and security. Applied policies aim to keep the inhabitants in place and improve the quality of public space and service. However, involvement of residents in local regeneration policymaking is weak and ineffective. The renewal process depends on grants and subsidies. Europeanization is strong especially in big cities; nevertheless, most localities are small and therefore don't qualify for the sources of the built environment programs which prefer large areas of intervention. Results of revitalization process differ from one locality to another. Areas of housing and employment fall behind in particular. As far as property regeneration is concerned, the best owners are municipalities, house unit owners associations and housing associations. Not in one case, however, reaches the share of regenerated housing units 50 % of deprived properties. In any case, the market prices of local flats stay low compared with those of correspondingly equipped properties elsewhere in town.
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Burnout syndrome
Jeřábková, Martina ; Kebza, Vladimír (advisor) ; Daniel, Daniel (referee)
The theme of the diploma thesis is Burnout syndrome. This thesis deals especially with burnout syndrome and with problems that are related to it.
The aim of this work is to determine in which of the two selected groups of workers is the highest incidence of this syndrome, or more precisely its symptoms. Research is conducted on employees where their main job is based on frequent communication with people and on people who are working at assisting profession.
The theoretical part is focused on basic terms concerning the issue of burnout syndrome. In the introductory part, there are described certain definitions of burnout, its most common symptoms, risk professions and risk factors. Additionally, there are also described other negative mental states, the development of burnout syndrome, there is characterization of the research methods of burnout and in the end is explained in more detail the prevention and therapy of burnout.
The analytical part is based on the survey, which was conducted through an internet questionnaire portal to random workers. Results are processed and interpreted in the end of this work.
Another important part is the chapter Discussion and recommendations, which summarizes and connects acquired results and detected data and based on that it determines specific recommendations.
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Research of polymeric composites based on biological filler solved by experimental approach
Mottl, Jan ; Müller, Miroslav (advisor) ; Hrabě, Petr (referee)
The thesis is focused on research of polymer composites with natural fibers. The theoretical part is an introduction to composite materials with a focus on natural fiber reinforcements and polymers. For the needs of the experimental part of the work also deal with theoretical issues of bonded joints. Experimental part deals with the influence of natural substances added to the bond formed polymeric adhesive and the resulting composite. Made composites were tested and evaluated from the mechanical and technological-economic terms.
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