Earth Sciences, Geography & Environment Books

Book SynopsisSoil is a fundamental and critical, yet often overlooked, component of terrestrial ecosystems. It is an extremely complex environment, supporting levels of diversity far greater than any ecosystem above ground. Bringing together existing knowledge in the areas of soil biology and physics, this book explores the key characteristics of soil spatial architecture, including how it develops and the consequences this has for life underground. The effects of soil's physical and biological components on their interactions and functions are used to demonstrate their roles in ecosystem dynamics.Table of Contents1: Views of the Underworld: in situ Visualization of Soil Biota 2: Modelling Soil Structure and Processes 3: Microbial Regulation of Soil Structural Dynamics 4: The Zoological Generation of Soil Structure 5: Biotic Regulation: Plants 6: Biota-Mineral Interactions 7: How do the Microhabitats Framed by Soil Structure Impact Soil Bacteria and the Processes that they Regulate? 8: Fungal Growth in Soils 9: Sensory Ecology in Soil Space 10: Managing the Interactions between Soil Biota and their Physical Habitat in Agroecosystems 11: Contaminated Soils and Bioremediation: Creation and Maintenance of Inner Space 12: Biological Interactions within Soil Profiles Engineered for Sport and Amenity Use

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Book SynopsisAt a moment when a new generation of power stations and weapons are being developed, Fallout is a measured and fascinating exploration of our most misunderstood energy source and asks: what can we learn from our past mistakes, and what role should nuclear play in our future? Hiroshima. Bikini Atoll. Windscale. Chernobyl. Fukushima. These names no longer denote a place, but a disaster. In a few syllables, they evoke the heights of human ingenuity clashing with the worst of human error. Individually, each place has its own sobering story to tell; together, they form a timeline of the nuclear age. In this compelling and deeply researched book, Fred Pearce investigates the greatest nuclear incidents and accidents of the past 80 years by visiting their now iconic landscapes. He tours former power stations and abandoned testing sites in the company of scientists and engineers, and in previously toxic wastelands, where radioactive wolves now stalk the streets and genetically-malformed flora blooms, he witnesses the surprising resilience of nature. As well as the physical legacy, Pearce also considers the psychological impact of these disasters. Amid rumours of state cover-ups, corporate deception, and hushed-up medical epidemics, Pearce weighs the evidence on either side of the argument to disentangle the facts from the fear.

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Book SynopsisWith Britain’s islands holding more than three-quarters of the Earth’s stock of heather moorland, it is an extraordinary fact that it stands as one of the world’s rarest habitats. A landscape beloved by millions, it’s renowned for the tranquillity and solace it provides – however, this tranquillity is an illusion. Britain’s moorlands have, in less than a decade, moved from a position of benign consensus to the epicentre of the bitterest conflict within UK conservation. This insightful book sets out to examine and expose the hidden issues surrounding UK moorland conservation, giving a voice to the many people who work and live there and who feel that what they have to say is often ignored, if it’s even heard at all. The fate of our uplands is in our hands, and it is important that an alternative narrative, from the perspective of the practitioners who have cared for these places for generations, are considered. It may be that those with power chose to ignore these facts and sweep them away, but at least now they cannot say they didn’t know.Trade ReviewTackling the big questions, Moorland Matters is as ambitious as it is entertaining. Although the subject matter is hard-hitting, Ian Coghill’s wonderful turn of phrase and anecdotes would put the best after dinner speakers to shame.One of the most important books to be published on the heated subject of moorland management. This is a powerful book that every MP should read.They're a unique and wonderfully wild part of Britain's landscape. In this cri de coeur, one conservationist blasts back.This is a masterful book and it’s written in such a refreshing way. It offers such pragmatic solutions that the reasonable majority of which Coghill often writes cannot fail to appreciate the nonsense of the position taken by so many bodies and institutions in the current, toxic eco climate. -- Dominic Wightman * Country Squire *It is without hesitation I recommend this book... it is a volume long overdue and proves to be a wonderful tool in aiding knowledge growth to anyone with even a passing interest in country sports, the environment and ecology. Ecology affects us all, and books such as this should be treasured, for the learning opportunities they provide us with on our wondrous heather moorland. -- Ben Skipper * Baily's Hunting Directory *Far more than just an uncontrolled rant - it picks at the fabric of decisions being made about our uplands...I would highly recommend it to people on both sides of the debateTable of ContentsContents Foreword vi Glossary of abbreviations and acronyms ix Prologue xi Introduction 17 Moorlands matter 23 A burning issue 31 Does grouse shooting cause floods? 55 Never mind the quality, feel the width 67 Curlew calling 77 There must be an alternative 85 Tourism and eco-tourism Energy generation Increased pastoral activity 7. Let’s just leave it to nature 95 8. Predation and its control 103 9. The road to hell is paved with regulation 117 10. A licensing department and how not to run one 129 From simplicity to chaos Gulls and the advantages of countryside living Stoats, just when you thought it couldn’t get worse The end of the road 11. Raptors 151 12. The stoat’s tale 175 13. The tale of two vegetarians 185 The mountain hare The red deer 14. Ticks 195 15. The search for a level playing field 199 16. Grouse shooting and its community 211 17. Economics 223 18. Ethics and politics 227 19. What should happen 235 Epilogue 249 References and further reading 252

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Book SynopsisNeighbourhood Planning (NP), introduced by the Localism Act of 2011, is the right for communities to decide the future of the places where they live and work. This book examines the experience of neighbourhood planners, analysing what communities have achieved, how they have done so and what went well or badly. Comparing NP with other forms of community planning and highlighting the main lessons learned so far, it acts as a navigation tool for people already involved in neighbourhood planning, as well as those contemplating participation.Trade Review'This book is essential reading for the 'citizen planner' because it reflects on the experiences of others to demonstrate how Neighbourhood Planning can meaningfully harness the social capital of communities, while also highlighting the challenges involved.' - Chris Bowden, Navigus PlanningTable of ContentsForeword; Preface and Acknowledgements; Chapter 1: Introduction; Chapter 2: What is Neighbourhood Planning?; Chapter 3: Communities and the Planning System; Chapter 4: Relationships in Neighbourhood Planning; Chapter 5: Stages of Neighbourhood Planning; Chapter 6: Challenges in Neighbourhood Planning; Chapter 7: Opportunities and Ideas for Neighbourhood Planning; Chapter 8: Reflecting on Neighbourhood Planning; Chapter 9: References, Resources and Further Information; Glossary; Index

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Book SynopsisForestry in Ireland has never been so contentious. Over the last century the area of Irish woodland has increased tenfold, mostly through the planting of imported conifer species; government policy is to plant more trees to supply industry and to tackle climate change, both urgent priorities. But there has been a backlash from farmers, local communities, environmentalists and EU regulators. The rate of planting has plummeted. And up to one-third of new plantations in Ireland are failed forests that should never have been planted in the first place. How did we end up in this peculiar situation? Island of Woods traces the history of Irish forests over the last 10,000 years. It explains why Ireland lost so much of its forest cover, before a burst of tree-planting over the last few decades. It examines the state of Irish forestry today and sketches a way forward for our woods that balances commercial, environmental and social goals – a vision of a different type of forestry that could transform the Irish landscape and re-establish a genuine tree culture in the country. This engaging examination of Irish woodlands relates historical events to present-day concerns and controversies, drawing out crucial themes that continue to shape the Irish landscape.Trade ReviewA thorough and lucid job -- Michael Vinney * The Irish Times *Praise for Feeding Frenzy ‘A passionately argued book … a compelling argument for radical agricultural reforms’ * Sunday Times *Praise for Feeding Frenzy ‘A highly readable book. Written in short, clear sentences and rarely lapsing into jargon, McMahon succeeds brilliantly in describing the food supply challenges we currently face’ * TLS *Praise for British Spies and Irish Rebels 'A fascinating new study … McMahon writes lucidly and sensibly on a subject that often attracts fevered treatment.’ * The Irish Times *Praise for British Spies and Irish Rebels 'A very fine book … such a good read. There are all kinds of nuggets in it.’ -- Ronan Fanning * RTE Radio 1 *Table of Contents Introduction 1. Going Native 2. Early Humans 3. Celtic Ireland 4. Medieval Invaders 5. Conquest and Commerce 6. The Two Irelands 7. Reforesting Ireland 8. Grinding to a Halt 9. A Sylvan Future?

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Book SynopsisSimms and his team's meticulous work are proof positive that well-built social housing can add immensely to the tone and style of a city. His work remains a touchstone and an inspiration.

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Book SynopsisPhilip''s Big Easy Read Scotland Road Atlas is an exceptionally clear guide to the best of Scotland from the market-leading map makers. Reliable and up to date, the fully indexed mapping is accompanied by town plans, tourist and planning information, and spectacular scenic routes including the celebrated North Coast 500. The detailed yet easy-read maps show national parks, cultural and historical attractions, long-distance footpaths and much, much more. Exceptional clarity with large-print place names and large-scale maps Large-print index Super-sized A3 pages for easy reading on the go Shows most of Scotland at a scale of 1 inch to 2.37 miles (1:150 000); most islands and north Scotland at 1 inch to 3.16 miles (1:200 000) and 1 inch to 3.95 miles (1:250 000) Packed with ideas and details about places to visit Easy to read mapping with the NC500, long-distance footpaths, national parks, museums, castles and more Town centre maps, fully indexed for easy navigation Clear travel-planning information - trains, planes and ferries Hard-wearing and practical A3 format with spiral binding

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Book SynopsisA brand new edition of our popular, award-winning Higher Geography Study Guide, which won the Overall Book Prize Winner at the 2015 SAGT (Scottish Association of Geography Teachers) Conference. Fully up-to-date with the very latest SQA course and assessment changes. The aim of this book is to help you to achieve success by providing you with concise and engaging coverage of the CfE Higher Geography course material. It is recommended that you use this book in conjunction with your class notes to revise each topic area, prepare for unit assessments and the assignment, and in your preparation for the final exam. Supplementary online material can be found on the BrightRED Digital Zone, including activities, tests and videos.Trade ReviewTwelve 5* reviews on Amazon.co.ukTable of ContentsPhysical Environments: Biosphere, Physical Environments: Lithosphere, Physical Environments: Hydrosphere, Physical Environments: Atmosphere, Human Environments: Population, Human Environments: Urban, Human Environments: Rural, Global Issues, Index

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Book SynopsisA beautifully designed practical guide to creating luxurious, safe, and effective natural beauty products in your own home.In this charming book you?ll discover how to prepare a huge range of products using plants, some of which you?ll be able to find around you or grow yourself. It includes comprehensive, easy-to-follow recipes for: Rich moisturizing cream with daisy extract Shampoo with chamomile for glossy hair Body scrub with sugar and honey Ginger oil to treat breakouts plus a wealth of other delights such as body butter, hair conditioner, lip balm, deodorant, bath oil, and even toothpaste. Also included is a selection of fragrance products for your home, such as a lavender and pine room spray made with vodka!Each easy-to-follow recipe gives a complete description of the making process so you can?t go wrong, and there are handy visual guides to the plants you?ll be using, accompanied by ravishing photography. Armed with this book you?ll be able to create a whole beauty counter of products, both for yourself and for gifting, and you?ll save money too!

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Book SynopsisThis book contributes to the transformative and revolutionary use of small, unmanned vehicle systems for three-dimensional geospatial data acquisition and mapping, which is considered to be a paradigm shift in the science and technology of geomatics. The book presents a systematic and comprehensive approach for the use of small mobile unmanned systems for robotic geomatics research and applications. Emphasis is placed on aerial unmanned mapping systems as aerial data collection provides better perspective and coverage of an area, and offers the ability for targeted coverage.

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Book SynopsisFully automated interpretation and understanding of remotely sensed data by a computer has been a challenge for many decades, and many approaches have been developed over the years. Significant advances in knowledge-based image understanding, machine learning and artificial intelligence has led to this topic being the focus of much research in recent years. This book highlights the different theoretical and application-oriented aspects and potential solutions to the topic of automated remote sensing data analysis. Thereby, both classical knowledge-based as well as modern machine learning-oriented concepts are described. A field such as this is specialized and dynamic and also interdisciplinary and multilayered. Written by an international team of experts, the book has therefore been split into parts dealing with the concepts and applications, and the focus is on elucidating the complementarity of different lines of research rather than providing the complete set of scientific approaches.Part A of this book gives insight into the basic theories and concepts of feature extraction, image understanding and the respective assessment strategies as well as into geometric, radiometric and sensor-related fundamentals of remote sensing technology. Part B focuses on various scientific and practical applications of remote sensing data analysis. These range from the automatic detailed reconstruction of complex 3D environments to visual tracking of objects in image sequences as well as monitoring natural and anthropogenic long-term processes on a regional scale. Part C sketches recent trends in automatic analysis of remote sensing data.Table of ContentsPart A: Methodology Introduction; Object, data and sensor modelling; Feature extraction from images and point clouds: Fundamentals, advances and trends; A short survey on supervised classification in remote; Context-based classification; Toward a framework for quality assessment in remote sensing applicationsPart B: Application From raw 3D point clouds to semantic objects; Traffic extraction and characterization from optical remote sensing data; Object extraction in image sequences; A process-based model approach to predict future land-use changes and link biodiversity with soil erosion in Chile; Interferometric SAR Image analysis for 3D building reconstruction; Detection and classification of collapsed buildings after a strong earthquake by means of laser scanning and image analysis; A settlement process analysis in coastal Benin - confronting scarce data availability in developing countriesPart C: Conclusion Benchmarking - a basic requirement for effective performance evaluation; Remote sensing and computer vision image analysis: summary and recent trends

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Book SynopsisThis stunningly beautiful and informative book celebrates the Arctic, one of the last great wildernesses on the planet; a place where animals have survived for thousands of years protected only by fur and feathers. Humans also survive in the Arctic, but only those who have adjusted to the climate over millennia and who clad themselves in the skins of the animals they hunt. For the casual visitor, this is a place where survival for any extended period requires taking advantage of the best that modern technology can offer. But the rewards are immense: the Arctic can be harsh, but it is also stunningly beautiful - days during which the sun glints on ice, nights illuminated by the ethereal dancing light of the aurora and with a glimpse of some of the most remarkable animals on the planet. Many travel to the Arctic to see the animals, the land mammals, the whales and seals, and the birds. However, the Arctic also has an absorbing human history. The origins of the Inuit in North America, and the array of Eurasian northern peoples, from the Sami of Scandinavia to the Yuppik hunters from Asia's Bering Sea coast, are still debated, while the discovery, just a year or so ago, of the second ship of Franklin's doomed expedition to find the North-West Passage has reopened the arguments over exactly what did happen to more than 100 Royal Navy seamen. The Arctic provides not only an understanding of the formation of the Arctic but the science of snow and ice including the phenomena of aurora and parhelia, and the way in which the area's wildlife contends with the chilling harshness of its climate. This fascinating, magnificent area is now under severe threat. Global warming is causing the sea ice to shrink, in both area and volume. This allows easier access to its probable resources and, ironically, this access merely adds to the threats to the area and its wildlife. Due to feedback mechanisms, the Arctic warms about twice as fast as the Earth. The area therefore acts in the way that canaries once acted in coal mines, giving an early warning of danger: melting sea ice not only threatens the local wildlife but indicates the threat to the Earth as a whole. This is a truly remarkable book encompassing the diverse facets of this magnificent area and its vital importance as an indicator of the planet's health.Trade Review`…should be required reading for all those who have influence over the future direction of the world’s economies, its threatened environment and ever-growing population’. John O’ Groat Journal -------------------- `This is an extremely well laid-out book, written by Richard Sale and with photos by Per Michelson on almost every page helping the reader to understand the subject under discussion. To read it was a fascinating experience... ...absolutely fascinating... ...illustrated by amazing photographs... Reading the book I was in awe at the vast knowledge of the author. This is not a book about one aspect of the Arctic but of a wide range of complex topics. The compilation of such a book, and its photographic illustrations, are a credit to Sale and Michelsen'. Wildlife Detective, The blog of Alan Stewart -------------------- `...a true celebration of the Arctic Wilderness... ...is essential reading for both Arctic "aficionados" and ordinary travelers to the Arctic, anyone indeed, with real interests in the future of the physical and human environment of the hugely extensive and beautiful wilderness of the Arctic'. ECOS

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Book SynopsisIn their 112-year history, the many special characteristics of Calcium Aluminate Cements have led to their use in all kinds of applications that are beyond the capabilities of other cements, such as Portland cements. This encompasses characteristics such as chemical resistance, rapid hardening properties, high temperature resistance, and an ideal component for blended systems and many more. The first International conference on calcium aluminate cements was held in London in 1990 and since then there have been further events in Edinburgh (2001) and twice in Avignon, France (2008 and 2014). This volume presents the fifth conference in this series and once again provides essential reading for anyone interested in the subject. This volume contains over 60 international contributions with the most up to date information about calcium aluminates and their unique properties. Topics covered include new types, hydration and durability studies including blended systems, the latter are now widely used and some of these have significantly different hydration chemistry to the pure calcium aluminates. A variety of applications of these interesting cements is covered, including traditional applications such as concretes for contrasting marine situations (seabed and coastal), temperature-resistant refractory applications, formulated blended systems within the building chemistry sector along with the necessary admixtures and the many uses in corrosive biogenic situations that give sewage system infrastructure a considerably longer lifespan. Other new applications are also explored including 3D printing, thermochemical storage encapsulation, oil well cements, and ettringite-based repair systems. The peer-reviewed papers presented in these proceedings include a wide variety of techniques used by the authors to deliver new understanding of aspects of these cements and will undoubtedly drive future research into the various aspects of these cements.

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Book SynopsisThere is an enormous need to map cities, rivers, coasts, roads, industrial installations and infrastructure in general, and also vulnerable areas in full three dimensions. It has to be done accurately and in detail. The main technologies for detailed 3D mapping are based on imaging devices (photogrammetry) and Lidar sensors (laser scanning). These geodata acquisition technologies routinely acquire point clouds of billions of points and have matured rapidly since the mid-1990s. They have become key geodata sources for 3D city modelling, creation of digital twins and smart cities, and inspection of roads, railways, and natural features. Many GIS analysts extensively use point clouds in the form of digital elevation models. Pointcloudmetry is the specialized branch of geomatics that encompasses the acquisition and processing of point clouds captured by Lidar devices as well as point clouds derived from photogrammetric images. The technology allows accurate and detailed geo-information about earth-related objects, including the bare earth surface, to be obtained. This book covers the entire chain from the principles of geo-referencing and the basics of electromagnetic energy up to the generation of 2.5D and 3D geoinformation. The book provides vital knowledge about the fundamentals, idiosyncrasies and unparalleled potential of point cloud technology and is an indispensable aid to acquiring competent knowledge on the processing steps necessary for converting raw data into high quality 3D geo-information.Table of ContentsSetting light on the landscape; Electromagnetic energy; Laser light; Photogrammetry and 3D computer vision; Airborne Lidar; Ground-based Lidar; Survey peculiarities; Digital elevation models; Interpolation; Ground filtering; Feature detection from images and point clouds; Point cloud processing software; Pilot studies and applications

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Book SynopsisAs a ten-year-old, the author contracted TB and was sent to an isolated sanatorium, deep in the Cheshire coun-tryside. There he was bedridden for six months. On fine days, nurses would push the young patients, in their beds, out onto a large veranda and it was there that his love of birdwatching developed. On leaving hospital, he shared his passion with three schoolmates and over the next five years this small band of birders explored wildlife locations on and nearby the Wirral. Their travels and love of nature was epitomised when, aged 16, they spent part of their summer on Bardsey, a remote island off North Wales as part of a small, professional team of naturalists. As a young birdwatcher, the author is fascinated when he observed nature first-hand and began to grasp the basics of the science of evolution. This is a 'rites of passage' story of one lad's journey through those early formative teenage years during 1957 to 1962 when birdwatching sat easily in his life alongside football, girls, radical politics and rock bands. Each chapter traces the boy's expanding world of nature and then, in later life, he reflects on those times. A passion for nature has stayed with him throughout his life and as an adult, he explores the way views are formed and become a base reference framework to work out his personal ethics and morality. On revisiting all his old haunts each visit triggers further questions, reflections and musings. How does nature manage, over all those years, to continue to inspire and stimulate him? What does it mean to be part of nature? How does nature manage to heal? An Eye for Birds is a series of reflections of an individual, trained in the sciences, revisiting his teenage wildlife haunts and looking back to those times with mature perspective and sentiment that add their own colours to the story.Trade Review'...I found easy to re-wrap myself in alongside Bruce's recollections. The style is light and detailed without getting too flowery or sentimental. ... In short, what's not to like?' Fatbirder -------'I'm sure this will engage with many readers... The language throughout the book is superb. It is as descriptive as I have seen in any book and it was a pleasure to read. ...was a fascinating read and I'm sure it will be enjoyed by many readers whose childhood nature interest developed along similar lines to that of the author'. Wildlife Detective, the blog of Alan Stewart

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Book SynopsisHave you ever wondered about the place-names that appear on Scotch whisky bottles? What language the names come from, what they mean or if they are even real places? If you feel baffled about where to start looking for such information, then this reliable and informative book is for you. Within its pages, you will be able to find out about the derivation and identity of any of these place-names. This book discusses each place-name that is concerned in some way with Scotch whisky, either as the name of the whisky itself, or as the name of the distillery. For each of these names the author provides an informative discussion of the origin, history and development of the name from a linguistic and historical perspective. He also offers an early spelling of the name, the original meaning (where known) and the correct pronunciation. Where applicable he has added curious information, such as a proverb or extract of poetry that mentions the place-name. No special linguistic or local knowledge is assumed. Additionally, there is an introduction for the educated non-specialist dealing with the various languages of Scotland: Gaelic, Scots, English, Norse and Pictish. At the end is a full list of sources used, and an appendix identifying some 'lost' distilleries. Peppered throughout the book are information boxes about particular pertinent topics, such as Inver- and Aber- names and tautological names. As a professional place-name researcher, the author has ensured that the material in this book derives from primary sources (many of which are unpublished) and has been rigorously researched, allowing the reader to distinguish between genuine and spurious names. Interest in Scotch whisky, the Highlands, Gaelic, Scots and place-names has never been higher, and there is an increasing demand for reliable works on these subjects. This is an informative and entertaining book that sets the standard for whisky place-names.

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Book SynopsisFootsteps in the Snow recounts a life shaped and dominated by Antarctica, a multi-facetted account of a life dedicated to Antarctic science, policy and governance. It is also the story of growth from callow youth to Antarctic professional in the most challenging of environments. Joining the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) straight from university in 1966 meant two years as a scientist at an isolated British research station with all the challenges of wintering in the hostile environment half a century ago. After just two years he became one of the youngest men to be made a base commander, and as Sir Vivian Fuchs (then Director of BAS) recounts ‘proved himself one of the best we ever had under the most testing conditions’. The story recounts the many challenges of those testing conditions, while developing scientific ideas and accomplishing engineering feats with his team and on occasion looking death in the face and surviving. There were new developments in building research stations on the ice shelf, and the discovery of the ozone hole that gripped the world. Then followed the transition from research scientist to policy maker and diplomat when he became Deputy Director of BAS and advisor to the British delegation at the Antarctic Treaty. Tragedy struck at a base resulting in the author leading the first ever British midwinter flight into Antarctica. Since retiral, the author has become a polar historian “of repute”, and his efforts have been directed to writing and being a guide for Antarctic tourism. This book allows the reader to feel the wonder, awe, excitement and passion for Antarctica which drove John Dudeney throughout his career, and which is as fresh today as it was on first encounter half a century ago.

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Book SynopsisThe Scottish Highlands have a strong appeal to the public imagination. Indeed, as a result of the writings of Sir Walter Scott, they are now symbolic of Scotland as a whole: a land of mountains, glens and lochs, of golden eagles and red deer; a land with a rich cultural history of clans and clanship, of kilts and castles, of crofts, crofting, Highland cows and sheep, of music and dance. But does this imagined landscape relate to the actuality? Is it in fact a wild landscape which has escaped the pressures of the modern world, or does such untrammelled wildness only reside in the mind? The aim of this book is to answer this last question by taking an objective look at the history of the Highland landscape, how it has changed over the centuries and how it is still changing. It challenges the view that the Highlands are, to quote the famous ecologist Frank Fraser Darling, ‘a devastated landscape’ – that is a landscape damaged by centuries of overgrazing and human exploitation. Instead it points out that the evidence suggests that the traditional unwooded Highland landscape of open hill and moor is one of the most natural remaining in northwest Europe, showing only minimal signs of human impact over the millennia; apart, that is, from the areas of human settlement. The occurrence of woodland as only isolated fragments scattered across the land is in fact a key biodiversity feature of the Highlands, distinguishing the far northwest of Britain from most of western Europe, where woodland would undoubtedly be the dominant habitat. There certainly were significantly more trees in the past but the woodland declined naturally over the millennia for a complex variety of reasons. Hence the current approach of putting trees back in the landscape, nowadays termed ‘reforesting’ or ‘rewilding’ is in fact destroying the very essence of the land. Similarly, the current activity of ‘restoring’ peatland can also result in a loss of the naturalness of the landscape. Indeed, loss of natural habitat is seen as a serious global issue, with humans slowly taking over for themselves the whole planet, leaving little space available for the wildness of nature. It is not only reforesting and peatland restoration which is destroying the naturalness of the Highland landscape, but also the continuing encroachment of infrastructure, whether hill tracks, wind turbines, dams, phone masts, ski development, fences, and commercial forestry plantations. At the current rate of attrition, the wild landscape will soon remain only in the imagination, the open hills and moors having been dumped into the dustbin of history. The Highlands, sadly, will be like everywhere else in the world: developed and managed to extinction! Why can we not just let the hills be? After all, this is how they were for thousands of years until landownership entered the Highlands following the Battle of Culloden.

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Book SynopsisHuge strides have been made in many countries of the developingworld towards universal sanitation coverage, and the major factor behindthis progress has been Community-Led Total Sanitation or CLTS.CLTS is rooted in a model of community empowerment andmobilization, and has radically transformed global sanitation policy focusfrom toilet construction to the process of collective behaviour change. Ithas spread to more than 66 countries across Asia, Africa and Latin Americawhere more than 40 million people are now living in open defecation free(ODF) environments. CLTS has also been mainstreamed in the sanitationpolicies of more than 30 countries in these regions.

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Book SynopsisIn recent years there has been an explosion of interest in organic and biodynamic produce. Although once marginal and 'alternative', escalating concerns about the environment, health, food quality and animal welfare have brought organics into mainstream consciousness. Biodynamics, a unique development of the organic approach, does not narrowly focus on agricultural techniques. It was conceived as a new way of thinking about farming, nutrition and the world of nature, allowing for a revitalized relationship with the living soil, the elemental world and the cosmos. Originating from a series of eight lectures given by Dr Rudolf Steiner in 1924, biodynamics broadens the outlook of agriculture and the science behind it, leading to a holistic perspective that incorporates astronomical rhythms and unique preparations for plants and earth. The author describes the foundations on which not only biodynamics but also the wider organic movement is based. He builds bridges between mainstream science and Steiner's insights, making it easier for the wider organic and ecological movement to approach biodynamic concepts and practise. This book has much to offer to the beginner as well as to those already involved with biodynamics. Its broad range of topics - including the ecology of the farm organism, food quality and nutrition, community supported agriculture, planetary influences, seed quality, and the vitality of water - contribute to a deeper understanding of the subject. The author is also concerned to promote innovation so that biodynamics moves with the times. An appendix includes details for contacting various elements of the biodynamic world.

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Book SynopsisThe Permaculture Way shows us how to consciously design a lifestyle which is low in environmental impact and highly productive. It demonstrates how to meet our needs, make the most of resources by minimizing waste and maximizing potential, and still leave the Earth richer than we found it.

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Book SynopsisIn How to Read the Landscape Patrick explains everything from the details, such as the signs which wild animals leave as their signatures and the meaning behind the shapes of different trees, to how whole landscapes, including woodland, grassland and moorland, fit together and function as a whole.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive hands-on guide for builders - both self-builders and professionals - and an essential handbook for designers that includes many construction details. Straw bale buildings are warm in winter and cool in summer. The natural materials used create beautiful healthy homes that also have a low environmental impact. For self-builders, working with straw is affordable and enjoyable. In professional construction, a positive relationship between quality, price and long-term savings can easily be achieved. Straw bale is also especially suited to community-based projects as it generates curiosity and often needs groups of enthusiastic volunteers. This complete guide gives detailed descriptions about how straw bales react to different applications and enables anyone to design and build these natural homes in different climates. Included are: * Step-by-step instructions for many processes * Tips, tricks, advice and warnings * Over 600 photos, drawings and diagrams * Materials, tools and building techniques * Solutions to common problems * Plans for a practice straw bale building Since every build is unique (availability of materials, skills, budget, climate etc.), many different and varied building techniques are explained. Self-builders will learn a vast array of skills and the confidence to build on their own, while professionals will be enabled to successfully incorporate bale building into their portfolios.

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Book Synopsisideas and inspiration for those looking to reduce their household waste Is recycling really the answer to household waste? How do we eliminate microplastics from our wastewater? How do we avoid consumer goods that are designed to break? How do we stop the oceans being trashed? Towards Zero Waste offers practical tools for change in your own kitchen, on your weekly shop and around your home, as well as in the wider world. Feidhlim Harty explores how and why we need to go zero waste, firstly looking at where waste currently goes, and revealing the hidden world of food and product miles and embodied energy. He shares how to reduce waste room by room, at events, parties, during our travels, and at work. Having minimised waste for over two decades, Feidhlim and his family share their clever ideas to eliminate junk, buy wisely, free yourself from useless packaging, reduce not only your eco footprint but your household bills, compost all biodegradables, and reuse, repair and reroute. They share five simple steps to zero waste and inspire us to be active and push for change. There is a hunger now within society to address the root causes of plastic waste, right back to the point of oil and gas extraction. People want no part in adding to plastics in the oceans or spreading microplastics into our water, soils and food. Nor do they want to be subjected to the cynical betrayal of consumer built-in obsolescence. Patience with government policy and corporate greenwashing is wearing thin. Towards Zero Waste offers clear guidance for anyone wanting to actively be part of the solutions and not the problems.

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Book SynopsisPacked with stunning colour photographs, The Woodland Year is an intimate month-by-month journey through Ben Law's yearly cycle of work, his naturally attuned lifestyle and his deep understanding of the wood in which he lives. Each month includes guest contributions from woodlanders in other parts of England and Wales. The Woodland Year provides a fascinating insight to every aspect of sustainable woodland management; the cycles of nature, seasonal tasks, wild food gathering, wine making, mouthwatering and useful recipes, coppice crafts, round pole timber frame eco-building (pioneered by Ben in the UK), nature conservation, species diversity, tree profiles and the use of horses for woodland work. This is a profound book that is both practical and poetic. It describes a way of life that is economically and ecologically viable and sets a new standard for managing our woods in a low impact, sustainable way. As such, it holds some of the fundamental keys to how we can achieve a lower carbon society. AUTHOR: Ben Law has always had a passion for healthy, biodiverse farms and woodlands. Having gained an Advanced National Certificate in Agriculture, Ben became a shepherd and set up a conservation landscaping business, specialising in ponds and wild flower meadows. Bens appearance on Channel 4's Grand Designs is the most watched in the series history, is the hosts and publics favourite episode and was one of the 25 programmes chosen to represent Channel 4's 25th anniversary. Ben visited the Amazon in the late 1980s looking for positive solutions to deforestation and on his return set up and directed the charity, The Forest Management Foundation, working primarily with community forestry in Papua New Guinea. He has also worked for Oxfam as a permaculture consultant. Ben was a founding member of the Forest Stewardship Council and has lived and worked at Prickly Nut Woods in West Sussex, UK, since 1991; training apprentices and running courses on sustainable woodland management, eco-building and permaculture design. He runs a specialist eco-building company, The Roundwood Timber Framing Company Limited. 318 colour photographs

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Book SynopsisHow will automated vehicles change our lives? Where are the opportunities and challenges? Future streets require planning today. This timely book envisions ways in which changes to urban mobility and technology will transform city streetscapes and, importantly, how cities can prepare. It is a reflection on the relationship between new technologies and urbanism, as well as an agile urban design manual with pictures illustrating potential spatial arrangements enabled by the new technologies. Two case studies in the central urban cores of London and Los Angeles will be presented to show how neighborhoods can be redesigned for the better and how to apply good urban design principles across towns and cities worldwide.Table of ContentsPart I: Cars, People and Urban Design1. Cars as Makers and Destroyer of Space2. Setting the Scene3. CAVs Principles for People Centric Urban DesignPart II: Visions for the Future4. London vs Los Angeles5. London6. Los Angeles7. A Way Forward

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Book SynopsisNo such area in Britain, or perhaps the world, displays such a variety of rock types in such a small area. Shropshire was visited by some of the great pioneers of geology and many fundamental terms and principles of geology are based on the county’s geology. This book explains the geological history of Shropshire, a story based on Shropshire’s incredible journey, lasting 500 million years, from the Antarctic Circle through the Tropics and across the equator to our present latitudes, a distance of 12,000km. This journey, often near to plate boundaries, has resulted in Shropshire displaying rocks of ten of the twelve recognized geological periods of time.

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Book SynopsisThis is the work of a man who has known and loved the Scottish Cairngorms for more than 30 years. Jim Crumley marries a poet's instincts to an uncompromising passion for the Cairngorm's arctic character, and for those wildlife tribes which thrive there. He marks nature's rhythms with thoughtful observations of bird and beast, flower and landscape. In the process he strives for a purer empathy with the wilds, seeks out the nourishing bond of man and landscape. Ultimately, the book asserts that the Cairngorms are nature's place. Crumley proposes a radical solution to safeguard the mountains from a threatening array of forces ranged against them. In his conclusion he invokes what Seton Gordon called "the spirit of the high and lonely places".

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Book SynopsisThis best practice guide to using hydraulic lime mortar is the result of a research project by the UK Limes team which studied the performance application and classification of hydraulic limes for the construction industry. It will prove invaluable for all building practitioners, contractors and tradesmen specifying or handling hydraulic lime on site. Containing many useful tables and charts to assist the practitioner, along with colour illustrations showing lime mortar in use, it also offers practical guidance on: the functions and properties of hydraulic lime; the constituent materials; mixing, reworking, protection and aftercare; and, mortar selection for durability, and health and safety issuesTrade ReviewThere is much meticulous research behind this book and it show. In format, if not is style, the text is clear and usable. There is helpful advice on aggregates, on methods of mixing and on selection of different mortars depending on location, a useful glossary, and clear photographs. SPAB Lime mortars are one of the most strongly debated topics of traditional construction. This book covers in depth the composition and use of hydraulic lime mortars in an accessible manner. This book is a must for any professional involved in the specification of lime. It also has much information that the tradesmen on site will find useful. Building Conservation Journal If you work with lime in mortars or renders you will want two copies (one to keep beside your mixing bath and one for your bookshelf). Ecclesiastical and Heritage World It is unlikely that more definitive, clearly presented information on this subject will become available will become available for a long time. In the absence of suitable British or European Standards, the book is an indispensable reference for anyone intending to specify hydraulic lime mortar for masonry. Context The use of colour photographs to emphasise particular points is to be commended, as is the extensive glossary contained at the back of the publication. Overall, this publication provides an informative text addition to this subject area, from which practitioners and students alike can either further their knowledge, or concentrate on more specific performance characteristics of the material. Building EngineerTable of ContentsPreface; Introduction; Materials; Mortar mix design; Mortar properties; Workmanship; Design for strength; Mortar selection for durability; Evaluation of conformity; Craftsman's best practice guide; Bibliography; Further reading; Glossary; Appendix A: Scheme for assessment of conformity of site-made mortar; Appendix B: Additions; Appendix C: Microstructure of mortars.

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Book SynopsisMammals are among the most popular of all wild creatures. Otters, hedgehogs, dormice-everyone has a soft spot for them. The experts at the People's Trust for Endangered Species have compiled this introduction to the mammals in the UK and around its coast.

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Book SynopsisOtters in this country are a conservation success story. When Paul Chanin first started studying otters their numbers were so low that they had disappeared entirely from most of England. Over the last forty years they have recovered until, in 2011, otters finally returned to Kent, and are once more present in every English county.

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Book SynopsisA handy, splash-proof aide memoir with all the weather information people find hard to remember such as Sea Areas, Coastal Stations, cloud systems, how to predict the weather around lows and highs, times of broadcasts and the terms used in broadcasts. The perfect book to keep onboard as a reference guide. Made from splash proof paper means these guides can be used at any moment and then easily stored in your pocket.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Weather maps; Highs, lows & fronts; Predicting wind; Forecasting; Wind modification; Clouds & rain; Fog; Thunderstorms; Terminology; Drawing a weather map; Sources of forecast

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Book SynopsisFilled with practical tips as well as insightful reflections, "Saving the Earth" provides tools for change while showing how the Buddhist philosophies of interconnectedness and compassion are of immense use in our efforts towards preserving the natural world. Not only does Akuppa help you to discover new ways to reduce your impact on the Earth but he also helps you to deal with the feelings of panic and despair that news of the environment can often evoke. Never driven by panic, but with an ultimately positive view he champions the human ability to change and celebrates the enormous difference this can make.Trade ReviewWhat welcome wisdom comes our way in this book! If you want to stay sane, motivated, and productive while working for the healing of our world, read these pages of priceless and pleasurable advice. It is like having a heart-to-heart with a trusted and savvy friend.A" Joanna Macy, author of 'World as Lover, World as Self'

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisTowns, villages, islands, mountains, lochs and rivers of Scotland - all are listed, and the derivation of their names - some curious - some extraordinary - is given throughout. All have a story to tell, and Scotland's rich history is apparent in these place names. Celtic, Nordic and Anglo-Saxon influences that span 2,000 years from the beginning of the Common or Christian Era to the 11th century are shown. And as the incoming Celts did not find an empty land, some names can be traced to Pictish times. With the arrival of the Scots in the 6th century, Gaelic names began to appear, and then, a century later, Anglian names appeared from the south, to later be influenced by French and Dutch, becoming the 'Scots' tongue of the Middle Ages. The advent of the Norsemen in the 9th century produced Norse names in the North, the Northern and Western Isles and the South-West. Many names are Scots transliterations of Gaelic. Auchenshuggle, long thought of as an appropriate destination for Glasgow's tramcars is simply a Scots version of the Gaelic for 'rye field'. The book explains how, over successive generations with political, economic and cultural changes, while Scots became established, place names were not renewed or translated - they were merely Scotticised. And so today, with English as the common tongue, we can be reminded of the past at just about every turn. This book provides a fascinating journey that might take you from Aberbrothock to the Butt of Lewis, Cruachan to Dunnet, on to Ecclefechan and Friockheim, Gretna, Hoy, Ibrox, John o' Groats, Kells, pausing at Lanark before seeking out Mealfuarvounie, Nick, Oxgangs, Patna, Quanterness, Rum, Sciennes, Talisker, Uig,Voe, Waterloo, Yell and Zetland - your journey has just begun!

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Book SynopsisSome ten thousand years ago, hunter-gatherers moving through a landscape newly emerged from the grip of the last Ice Age reached four islands on the western seaboard. The shores they landed on were deserted. After making camp, they struck out to hunt and explore. We know this because the evidence of their presence has been preserved down the millennia - in traces of flint and quartz, in charred fragments of grain and animal bone, in great heaped piles of ancient shellfish. The islands were Rum, Eigg, Canna and Muck - four distinctive shapes rising from the waters of the Inner Hebrides between Ardnamurchan and Skye. Collectively, they are known as the Small Isles. From those first moments on, people have been working these islands and using their resources, adapting each landscape to suit the changing needs of the communities they served. In this definitive new book, archaeologist John Hunter searches for the stories of the Small Isles in the evidence that survives - from the fragmentary physical remains of dwellings, defences, places of worship and monuments, to the records of early antiquarians, historians and travellers. This is a journey to rediscover communities that were erased by the mass migrations of the nineteenth century, and the rise of the Victorian sporting estate. Within a few generations cultural identity on the islands disappeared and a new order developed. Placenames were changed, buildings and structures abandoned, and traditions forgotten. The Small Isles became islands without memories. This comprehensive guide - illustrated with a wealth of photographs, maps and drawings - takes readers on a tour of both place and time. Crisscrossing the landscapes of four fascinating and evocative islands, it reveals traces of a forgotten past in everything that has been left behind.Trade Review‘lucidly written and beautifully produced ... a wonderful introduction to this often overlooked group of islands’ * Current Archaeology *

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Book SynopsisWritten with fell walkers and other countryside enthusiasts in mind this thoroughly engaging and absorbing book shows that there is much more to the Lake District than simply 'stanes and watter'. Have you ever wondered why Scafell is different from Skiddaw, or why the east side of Helvellyn is different from the west side, or why Ullswater is different from Windermere, or why the summit of Helm Crag is, well, a bit craggy? If so, this book will provide some answers, together with a deeper understanding of how the fell country acquired its special characteristics. The physical landscape of the Lake District acts like a giant magnet, attracting several million visitors every year to the fell country. From John Constable to Alfred Wainwright, via William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter, the Lake District has inspired visitors and residents alike. Although often romanticised in words and pictures as static and enduring, the mountains of the Lake District are dynamic elements of nature undergoing constant change. Media interest in climate change, storms, floods and landslides has done much to increase the public's perception of a 'dynamic' rather than a 'static' physical landscape. For those who think they know all there is to know about the mountains of the Lake District this book provides details of a different facet that is accessible to all who take the time 'to stand and stare'Table of ContentsPreface vii Acknowledgements ix Preamble xi CHAPTER ONE: Introduction 1 CHAPTER TWO: The geology of the Lake District 13 CHAPTER THREE: The pre-glacial landscape 33 CHAPTER FOUR: Glaciation and related landforms 45 CHAPTER FIVE: Periglacial processes and landforms 87 CHAPTER SIX: Hillslope processes and landforms 111 CHAPTER SEVEN: Rivers, Lakes and Tarns 127 CHAPTER EIGHT: Limestone landforms 167 CHAPTER NINE: Man-made landforms 179 CHAPTER TEN: Finale 191 Further Reading 195 Societies 204 Index 205

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Book SynopsisWritten by a team of international experts, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the major applications of airborne and terrestrial laser scanning. The book focuses on principles and methods and presents an integrated treatment of airborne and terrestrial laser scanning technology. Laser scanning is a relatively young 3D measurement technique offering much potential in the acquisition of precise and reliable 3D geodata and object geometries. However, there are many terrestrial and airborne scanners on the market, accompanied by numerous software packages that handle data acquisition, processing and visualization, yet existing knowledge is fragmented over a wide variety of publications, whether printed or electronic. This book brings together the various facets of the subject in a coherent text that will be relevant for advanced students, academics and practitioners. After consideration of the technology and processing methods, the book turns to applications.The primary use thus far has been the extraction of digital terrain models from airborne laser scanning data, but many other applications are considered including engineering, forestry, cultural heritage, extraction of 3D building models and mobile mapping.Trade Review'The authors and editors are to be congratulated for this effort at bringning together the knowledge of the technology, data handling and applications of laser scanning in a comprehensive book for the first time. I would recommend it as essential reading for any student or professional in the fieldof geospatial technology and its applications.' GIS DEVELOPMENT '...the editors ... did a tremendous job and provided a comprehensive and coherent textbook... The book ... is a must-have textbook for students which are interested in the large field of airborne and terrestrial LiDAR and will surely become an important reference for practitioners involved in the acquisition and use of laser scanning data.' Photogrammetrie Fernerkundung Geoinformation '...a comprehensive work... This text provides a comprehensive account of airborne and terrestrial laser scanning. ... This will likely become a core textfor undergraduate students, but will doubtlessly also appeal to a broader range of readers, including those engaged in academic research and commercial practice.' Geomatics World '...this book will form a useful reference work... ...an excellent basic text... ...will serve as a reference book for the many users who need to understand the technology and principles of airborna and terrestrial laser scanning. There is no better alternative today.' International Journal of Digital Earth 'A valuable addition to laser scanning literature... For advanced undergraduates or postgrads, Chapters 1 to 3 are an excellent introduction to the technology, and for practitioners, the applications chapters show how laser scanning data is processd to produce the products they use in many, diverse disciplines. An excellent purchase for either group.' GEOconnexion InternationalTable of ContentsIntroduction. Laser Scanning Technology (J.-Angelo Beraldin, National Research Council Canada, Francois Blais, National Research Council Canada and Uwe Lohr, Lohr Consulting Germany). Visualisation and Structuring of Point Clouds (George Vosselman and Reinhard Klein). Registration and Calibration (Derek Lichti, University of Calgary, Canada and Jan Skaloud, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology [EPFL]). Extraction of Digital Terrain Models (Christian Briese, Vienna University of Technology, Austria). Building Extraction (Claus Brenner, Leibnitz Universitat Hannover, Germany). Forestry Applications (Hans-Gerd Maas). Engineering Applications (Roderick Lindenbergh, Technical University of Delft, Netherlands). Cultural Heritage Applications (Pierre Grussenmeyer, INSA Strasbourg, Graduate School of Science and Technology, France and Klaus Hanke, University of Innsbruck, Austria). Mobile Mapping (Hansjorg Kutterer, Leibniz Universitat Hannover, Germany). Index

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