Search results for ""Whittles Publishing""

The first book to explore in detail the wrecks of these two vessels from Force Z which in December 1941 was sent to defend Singapore. It grippingly narrates the lead up to the siege of Singapore and the battle far out at sea in which Force Z was decimated in the Royal Navy's greatest loss in a single engagement. The force was attacked by 85 Japanese torpedo bombers, with huge loss of life. It was the first time a modern battleship had been sunk by air power and the loss of Prince of Wales is seen as marking the end of the era of the battleship. The wrecks are explored in detail with illustrations of them on the seabed and underwater photographs.

Read more less

Under a Yellow Sky paints a canvas of life aboard a Merchant Navy ship in the early 1970s. Simon, a dreamer who steps into this different world, uncovers much of the magic of the sea, although also encounters brutality, dizzying hard work and frightening bouts of violence. From the rigidity of naval college, to the debauchery of the East, this is a vivid portrait of a world now disappeared. A well-written book that will appeal to all who are interested in ships and shipping, modern and maritime history, and those who enjoy well-told traveler's tales of fascinating people and places.

Read more less

With contributions from international academics and practitioners, this International Conference of the British Land Reclamation Society, addresses the current issues and challenges for restoration and regeneration of land and communities during a period of economic uncertainty and recovery. The conference is to be held from 7th to 9th September at the University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, South Wales. In this area, over the past 40 years, land reclamation has resulted in major transformations providing new sites for commercial, residential and environmental renewal. Hence, the area provides an ideal backdrop from which to consider the technological and engineering developments that can be applied on an international scale. It will focus not only on the technical aspects of land restoration but also on regeneration including planning and community involvement in the successful environmental, economic and social recovery of such sites. Topics covered include: * Planning, regeneration and economics * Tackling contamination * Risk assessment * Remediation of difficult sites * Legislation and legal liability * Biodiversity and reclamation * Soils and reclamation * Improving water quality * Innovative techniques * Reclamation and regeneration case studies including: Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site Bargoed - regeneration of a town and its environs after closure of the colliery Coed Darcy - a former oil refinery site with particular issues regarding contaminants Ebbw Vale steelworks - a huge and complex site for decontamination and redevelopment Brecon Beacons - soil and ecological restoration after pipeline construction

Read more less

A comprehensive manual that examines the systems available for data capture and photogrammetic processing, and provides an opportunity for readers to apply photo-interpretation, reconnaissance and photomapping techniques to many planning, resource harvesting, pollution prevention, civil engineering, disaster mitigation and containment requirements. Included within the 12 chapters are the principles of digital systems, digital aerial photography, cameras, survey-camera mountings, survey navigation, GPS and (d)GPS systems. In addition there is sound coverage of soft-copy photogrammetry, gorund survey control and a final chapter devoted to typical digital air surveys worldwide.

Read more less

The autobiography of Tony Bentley-Buckle, a child of the Empire who was left to grow up in the care of maiden aunts. Having joined the Royal Navy before the war, he found himself on the Northern Patrol during the blockade of Germany and as a teenager in command of captured ships. When he brought a ship through the minefields into Scapa Flow, the young Midshipman Bentley-Buckle was interviewed by the famously ferocious Admirax Max Horton who recommended him for advanced promotion. In a fit of derring-do he volunteered for 'special service' without knowing what this meant and began training for one of Britain's secret navies. As a beach commando he was one of the first ashore at the Allied landings on Sicily and one of the first Allied officers to cross the Straits of Messina. On Reggio beach he became one of the few people to order General Montgomery to stop talking and not to block the exit of the beach! He was soon seconded even deeper into British secret services when he was lent to MI9, the escape and evasion agency, helping to rescue hundreds of British prisoners of war in Italy. He was captured in a fierce hand-to-hand battle with the Germans, escaped, recaptured and was badly-beaten, eventually reaching Prisoner-of-War Camp 'Marlag O'. There he helped organise one the cheekiest escapes from a prisoner-of-war camp by making the eyes for a dummy known as 'Albert RN'. Post-war he learned to fly, sailed a small boat to East Africa and founded a shipping empire and an airline. This is a remarkable and exciting true story including escape and evasion behind enemy lines in Italy, Yugoslavia and Germany; life in a prisoner-of-war camp and adventure in the Indian Ocean.

Read more less

A new edition of this established text has been expanded and updated, treating this important field in a holistic manner. The structure of the previous book has been retained, but enhanced with new text and illustrations, and more numerical problems with a wider scope. Readers will find much on the background to the industry and details of such centrally important operations as refining, heat exchange, cracking, polymerisation and hydrogenation. There is a chapter on offshore matters, which includes some incidents that occurred since the first edition. National and international standards are considered as these relate to such things as site layout. The coverage of the fire and explosion behaviour of hydrocarbons has been extended, in particular in relation to flash points. The topic of leaked gas detection has been introduced, and there is considerable extension of the coverage of static electricity hazards. There is more on liquefied natural gas (LNG), including details of processes for its regasification. Natural gas condensate features, having grown considerably in importance since the first edition.Re-refining of crude oil products that have previously been used as lubricants or as hydraulic fluids has also experienced growth, and this too has its place in the book from the perspective of safety. Tight gas and coal bed methane feature, as does the controversial matter of hydraulic fracture to obtain them. The chemical processing chapter has been extended to include hydrocracking, hydrodesulphurisation and hydrodenitrogenation. The COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) regulations are covered and sign conventions for hazards are explained with illustrations.

Read more less

Neil M. Gunn is celebrated as one of Scotland's foremost novelists of the 20th century. Less well known is that he was also a perceptive and meditative essayist and accomplished writer of short stories. Most of his short stories were written in the 1920s and 1930s in parallel with his early novels, which they influence and inform. This collection draws some of its short stories from two previous collections but others are published for the first time. Although most are set against a Highland background, they are not in any way parochial; they touch on universal themes, which invite the serious reader to ponder and enjoy. Topics explored are: childhood and a sense of wonder; love in its deepest and most subtle sense; death as part of the cycle of existence and the place of land and sea in the development of those in search of greater self-understanding. The stories are attractive in their own right and have a freshness and immediacy that give a clarity and accessibility to the rich subject matter. They are also a gateway to a greater understanding of Gunn's essential thinking on life and living.

Read more less

'...His ambition and desire to experiment are without parallel in the last 40 years of structural engineering...Within the pages of this book you'll find yourself enthralled by the effectiveness and originality of his work. Time and again he has brought structures of astounding ingenuity to life. Structural engineers that dream on the scale of Tony Hunt are few and far between'. Extract from Foreword by Sir James Dyson Tony Hunt spent the six decades of his professional and personal life interacting with the elite in the fields of engineering, architecture and industrial design - this is his story. His life and career are described, showing how he formed lasting relationships with architects, patrons, artists, photographers, industrial designers, writers, critics and with his own staff. Connexions demonstrates the way in which he was able to adapt his engineering solutions in collaboration with architects in the formative stages of the design process to find structural solutions sympathetic to their architectural aspirations.It examines the quest for technological advance and Hunt's passion for industrial and product design which led him to favour an industrialized component-based approach to engineering in architecture. He showed an unerring ability to identify and express key components within a design, concentrating on the way they connected together, and demonstrated a practical knowledge and experience of the technology required for their manufacture. The results of Hunt's contribution, and the many prestigious commissions he received, when working with the generation of acclaimed architects emerging from the Architectural Association, the Royal College of Art and from Yale University scholarships in the early period of his career, are well-documented and publicised. Direct comparisons with the great European and American architect engineers such as Richard Buckminster Fuller, Charles Eames, Fritz Haller and Jean Prouve are justifiably made. Connexions also concentrates on the personal and professional relationships that Hunt formed during his career and, by reference to past and contemporary architects, engineers, industrial designers, artists, etc., the place that Tony Hunt occupies in the history of UK design.

Read more less

The barn owl is a 'flagship' species, at the top of the food chain, and its presence or absence is a good indicator of the health of the countryside. This is the enjoyable and informative story of the author's success in restoring this beautiful bird to areas of the country where its numbers had catastrophically declined. From an upbringing in the Lake District, the author developed a deep interest in natural history which became an all-consuming passion. As a 'licensed rehabilitation keeper', he cared for a wide range of injured and orphaned wildlife, giving individuals a second chance by returning them to the wild. He reveals how and why he later graduated to barn owl conservation. The author describes his many encounters with barn owls, from the acquisition of his first breeding pair; 'Barney', a completely humanised owl; to stories of the fascinating array of people involved in releasing, studying, and simply marvelling at this beautiful bird. Although there is a funny side to most situations, there are also the inevitable disasters and disappointments of conservation work, such as the accidental or deliberate sabotaging of releases or the killing of released birds. The reader shares in the author's disappointment and frustration at the sheer cost in time and money and his frequent self-doubt about the success of the whole exercise. However, there are descriptions of more enjoyable activities such as bird ringing, watching home-grown birds metamorphose from ugly pink scraps into creatures of ethereal beauty, and the seemingly limitless energy and enthusiasm of countless landowners and volunteers who are totally committed to the reintroduction of the barn owl. After almost 20 years, there is now evidence of a marked increase in barn owl numbers in areas where the author has worked. During this period, he bred and released around 250 birds, put up nest boxes and advised on barn owl-friendly approaches to land management. These activities helped to reverse the decline in population as areas were repopulated and also created reservoirs of wild breeding barn owls, whose offspring colonised other under-populated parts of the country. The return of the barn owl not only heralds a brighter future for the British countryside, but also shows, at a time of great public concern about the state of planet Earth, that the negative effects of human activity on the environment can be reversed with effort, goodwill and determination.

Read more less

Hillwalking is a way of life for Robin Howie, whose name is very well-known in Scottish hillwalking circles and whose knowledge of the Scottish high tops is second to none. For over ten years his popular weekly hillwalking column has appeared in The Scotsman where his pleasure of walking in the hills is apparent to the reader. Some claim to buy the paper solely to read his column while others have long-demanded that his walks be made into a book. Generous with his help and advice to other walkers, this collection of shorter, lower-level walks will appeal to families and those less sure of venturing to the high tops. Conveniently arranged within shires with a location map, each walk has a useful factfile that summarises the map, start point, distance, terrain, duration of walk, height to be climbed and the all-important nearest refreshment point. 100 Scotsman Walks is a distillation of a lifetime of highs and lows, enhanced by the artist's eye and the wordsmith's descriptive powers. It will be a delight for active or ex-walkers, for the would-be explorer or armchair enthusiast, for the whole family, young or old - a book in fact for everyone.

Read more less

Life with Birds uncovers the fascinating story of our interdependence with birds. The author weaves an amazing web of inter-relationships, from the Parsi funeral in Mumbai where birds of prey eat the dead; to collecting eider down from nests in Iceland and standing on the once body-strewn battlefield of Agincourt where birds won the day for the English army. From the earliest days of human existence we have exploited birds; for food, for their feathers, to satisfy our blood lust, to entertain us with their beauty, to inspire our art, our advertising, classical music, popular songs and much more. Cage birds are kept for their beauty and song but this book also investigates the repugnant illegal rare bird trade, and the organised crime it has spawned involving around 1.5 million birds a year. Criminals will go to unbelievable lengths when smuggling rare birds for sale and the 1.5m birds in this annual trade threaten the survival of several exotic species. Since time immemorial birds have exploited us too. Birds can use our homes to make theirs and can ruin farmers' crops in minutes. Some of the most impressive birds have set up home on high-rise buildings, exploiting the city slicker pigeons that live off discarded fast food and much else. Life with Birds contains intriguing examples of the huge range of interactions between birds and people. How undercover law enforcement in the US is tackling a cruel and bloodthirsty 'sport'; how birds are being used to smuggle drugs into a prison and across borders; controversial practices such as bird sacrifice in religious ceremonies; and how some Kenyan tribesmen are guided by a bird to find a food they both value. Many myths, magic and religious practices involving birds are exposed such as whether they can predict deadly mining disasters; whether they have killed anyone; and whether the eerie night-time calls in the precipitous mountains of Madeira are the souls of shepherds who have fallen to their deaths. If you have ever wondered what a nest made solely of bird saliva, considered a delicacy in some countries, tastes like or whether you knew Chairman Mao's 'kill a sparrow' campaign in the 1950s resulted in many millions of Chinese dying of starvation, Life with Birds will provide enlightenment as well as a hugely enjoyable read.

Read more less

Palm oil is the quintessence of West Africa - it is complex, an acquired taste and reckoned to be rather unhealthy. Small chop is the addition of ingredients that make it palatable for European taste. From the unique perspective of working aboard merchant ships trading to the area, the author provides a viewpoint of the first 25 years of West African independence - it is simultaneously the story of the final years of many of the British Merchant Navy's liner trades where fortunes largely depended upon imperial routes. The author served in ships of three very different shipping companies, two British and one Nigerian, and from this unusual breadth of experience, a fascinating story of ships, their crews, their cargoes and the peoples from Senegal to Angola is told. The last of the famous surf ports, the navigation of the twisting waterways of the Niger Delta and the ascent of the great Congo River are vividly described. A colourful picture is painted of the astonishing variety of cargoes and how ships almost literally felt their way across treacherous mudbanks, picked their way through mangrove-bordered creeks with local pilots boarding from canoes. The reader also meets the local inhabitants who include hard-working men from the desert interior, their more wily brethren from the coastal regions, itinerant traders and plausible rogues, the cowed workers of Portuguese Angola and, above all, the famous Kroomen of Freetown who helped work the ships around this intriguing coast of crashing surf and foetid creeks. With the fortunes of the new nations faltering, the Palm Line ships are forced to find work in other trades. The author experiences daily life in Poland under martial law, later finding himself on voyages to Brazil, the Indian sub-continent and Australia aboard ships primarily designed for the West African ports. Told sympathetically, yet with a keen eye for the absurd and downright funny, this is a lively, informative story of ordinary people trying to make a living in a world where events, over which they have no control, change their lives irreversibly.

Read more less

This is a new and expanded second edition of the best-selling first edition. The author has provided an in-depth historical account with new information on a number of prisoners including the eminent Professor Klaus Eggers; Karl Haensel, a former rear gunner who remained in Caithness after his release and Dr. Albert Bisping whose tragic story of a lost love unfolds. There is also the remarkable account of former Cameronian Alan 'Nobby' Noble who was given the vital role of establishing the camp. The impact in Caithness of Hitler's Ayrian policy is also described as well as new stories of lost friendships and lasting legacies. The camp held a number of SS officers including prominent prisoners such as Gunter d'Alquen, the journalist; Otto Kretschmer, the 'Wolf of the Atlantic'; and Paul Werner Hoppe, former commandant of Stutthof Concentration Camp in Poland. The history of its inception and creation are described, as is the daily life of the prisoners. Local people give their account of the camp with many having fond memories of the theatre groups and orchestras; one of which played at a local girl's wedding! The camp had a profound effect on Caithness which endures to this day through the friendships built up over its time as Prisoner of War Camp 165. It brings together a plethora of information with links to other camps, not only in the UK. The role of the London District Cage, infamous for its interrogation of prisoners of war, is also explored as is its impact on the camp's history, including the case of the scientist Paul Schroder who worked on the V2 bomb

Read more less

Luftwaffe over Scotland is the first complete history of the air attacks mounted against Scotland by Nazi Germany during World War Two and undertakes a detailed examination of the strategy, tactics and politics involved on both sides, together with a technical critique of the weaponry employed by both attackers and defenders. Extensive figures on Scottish civilian casualties have been included, together with a full list of all Scottish locations that were bombed and details of German aircraft losses. From the relentless hit-and-run attacks up the east coast of Scotland to the calamities of Clydebank and Greenock, Luftwaffe over Scotland not only offers a detailed analysis of exactly what happened, but also provides fresh new evidence and claims regarding many aspects of the war in Scotland - some of them specifically at odds with the more traditional British portrayals of World War Two. Some of the controversial issues raised include Why was there no 'Phoney War' in Scotland? Did the Battle of Britain begin over Orkney in April, 1940? Why were more people killed in Glasgow than at the target of Clydebank? Why were the Greenock raids such a disastrous failure for the Luftwaffe?Why did Hitler personally ensure Aberdeen became Scotland's last raided city? Why was the last air battle in Europe fought off the Aberdeenshire coast? Luftwaffe over Scotland draws on a wide variety of sources, such as official archives, articles, letters and personal testimonies, including information about German Luftwaffe operations, to paint the first full and accurate picture of the dramatic and often brutal air attacks that took place in almost every village, town and city in Scotland during World War Two. From a detailed analysis of the attacking German forces, to an explanation of the strengths and weaknesses of the air defences around Scotland, this is an important and long-overdue contribution to the full understanding of this dramatic period in the history of the modern Scottish nation.

Read more less

From the comfort of an armchair and with the aid of this new book, the reader can travel to the Breadalbane and Argyll of Duncan Ban Macintyre; the Skye and Raasay of Sorley Maclean; and the Caithness and Sutherland of Neil M. Gunn. Photographs, maps and place-names linked to key passages in the texts will immerse readers in the landscapes which songs, poems and tales have described and enlivened over the ages.For those who wish to brave the weather, the insects, the sheer drops, the morasses and the vast spaces, the book can be used as a field guide taking the same walks followed by the author. The touch, smell and landmarks of song, poem and tale can be experienced.The author has immersed himself further in the Gaelic literature of place so that readers, with book in hand, can make the past come alive and appreciate the extracts about a place and what has happened there. As an adult, Neil M. Gunn saw himself as a boy, sitting on a slab in the middle of the river cracking hazelnuts with a stone. Through the eyes of Duncan Ban Macintyre see Ben Dobhrain and the journey of the deer to the holy spring, from the vantage point of Patrick's stone. On Dun Cana sit at the centre of the swirl of place-names in Sorley Maclean's Hallaig. Journey around the north and east coasts of Caithness and Sutherland in the wake of the White Heather and the Seafoam, in the Silver Darlings.

Read more less

Practical Design of Steel Structures presents practical design examples and calculations for a multi-bay, steel-framed industrial building under the actions of a variety of loads (travelling crane loads, dead and imposed loads and wind forces). For the first time, engineers and students alike can appreciate the complete design process through the analysis of the whole structure and the design of structural members, all in compliance with Eurocode (EC)3. The calculations are presented in a simple and lucid way, employing a step-by-step approach stating the design philosophy, design considerations and clarifying the referred clauses of the code of practice. However, before analysing the structure and the design of its structural elements, it is necessary to understand the theoretical background and how the structure behaves under the actions of various loads, based upon practical design and field experience. The author considers the structural arrangement with respect to selection and availability of construction material, the cost within the scheduled construction programme and the overall budget. In addition he examines the buildability of the structure with regard to space restriction, method of construction and the geotechnical conditions of the site. The essence of this book is the simplicity and clarity of approach in the complete analysis of the whole structure and the structural design of every member. Augmented by design sketches, this book will prove valuable to practising engineers in design offices and students on structures courses

Read more less

Mount Everest is known to everyone - but what of the person after whom it was named? This book traces the life and profession of that person, George Everest. In particular, it covers his life dedicated to surveying in India during the first half of the 19th century. George Everest went to India at the tender age of 16 but within a few years was leading survey parties into the remotest areas of the subcontinent. His particluar passion was geodesy - the determination of the size and shape of the earth - and he soon ecame Superintendent of the Great Trigonometrical Survey. In addition, he spent many years as Surveyor General of India. This book draws heavily on original correspondence archived in India, offering a good flavour of his character both as a person and as a manager. Everest was a surveyor, linguist, engineer, astronomer and religious philosopher, but in the pursuit of his goals he did not suffer fools gladly. It was recorded that he was so indefatigable that his contemporaries were accustomed to speak of him as "Neverrest". The book provides insight inot the life of a remarkable man and shows why the earth's highest peak now bears his name.

Read more less

This work offers contractors, engineers, consultants and specifiers authoritative coverage of the design, installation and performance of sprayed concrete. It includes current information on materials technology, plus detailed applications to new construction, rock stabilization and support, tunnelling, refractories, fire-damage repair, and repair of retaining walls, arches and curved roofs. The work covers both US and UK standards throughouts. The book is aimed at practising and consulting engineers, contractors and academics in civil and structural engineering, concrete and materials technology. It should be also useful as a reference for postgraduates and advanced undergraduates in these disciplines.

Read more less

The Outer Hebrides is an island archipelago on the remotest north-western periphery of a bigger island archipelago, itself part of Europe’s Atlantic coastline. And what is Atlantic Europe if not the north-western tip of the vast land mass of Eurasia? Here is an unrivalled sense of place, on the edge, the periphery, the brink. Bruce Kendrick has been visiting these islands, regularly, since 1970. Art & Nature in the Outer Hebrides combines his highly commendable nature writing with fascinating stories of folk he has met over the years who create wonderful art and crafts in these remote islands. How do these artists, be they painters, potters, photographers, or poets, interpret their world of nature, their culture, their heritage, here in the wilds of the north-east Atlantic Ocean? Like many worthwhile things in life, making art is not without its challenges. There will be setbacks on any lifelong journey but there will be triumphs too. If there is one trait these Hebridean-based artists do have in common it is their single-minded determination and persistence to create art, in all its many guises, from out of the deep well of their own imagination and their inescapable world of nature’s beauty and inspiration. Bruce is also an accomplished nature photographer and his supporting images of both art and nature in these islands only add to the book’s appeal. So come along and enjoy Bruce’s fine narrative style as he travels from Lewis in the north to Vatersay in the south where nature prevails and art flourishes.

Read more less

A dramatic day-by-day account of the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August 2021, the events that led to it, and the chaotic evacuation. Recounted by the last British Ambassador to Afghanistan and one of the last civilians to leave in August 2021

Read more less

Lighthouses have been used as aids to maritime navigation for centuries. They are highly recognisable and beloved features of our coastline and waterways, treasured by communities and captivating visitors. But how many are there and is it really possible to visit them all? The British Lighthouse Trail is the only book of its kind to provide a comprehensive listing of all lighthouses in Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Channel Islands accompanied by practical advice on how to reach them. The author, an avid pharologist, set off on a quest in 2012 to visit all lighthouses around the British coastline only to find that there were many more lighthouses to be discovered. This comprehensive book is the result of further extensive research and significant travel. Over 600 lighthouses are featured - from the perilous beauty of Shetland's Muckle Flugga Lighthouse to the elegant serenity of Jersey's Corbiere Lighthouse. Complete with helpful maps highlighting the location of every lighthouse in each region and colour photography of a broad selection of our nation's most weird and wonderful aids to navigation throughout, this book is an indispensable guide to visiting and seeing some of our nation's most majestic, historical and isolated buildings. Each listing features a description of the structure, its light characteristic as well as any notable designers. Access information offers the best ways to reach or see each lighthouse, and whether it is possible to explore inside the tower. Nearby or related places of interest, such as other notable aids to navigation and relocated lighthouse optics, are also included. Experience the secluded joy of visiting tidal islands, watch waves lapping against some of the most remote rock structures, and feel the magic of walking in the footsteps of the lighthouse keepers inside the towers. This book will guide you on countless journeys never to be forgotten.

Read more less

This new book is a substantially updated and expanded edition based upon the successful and acclaimed Basic Environmental and Engineering Geology by the late Professor Fred Bell. It incorporates the changes that have occurred since and also addresses some aspects of the discipline that have developed a much higher profile over the past few decades. The book is underpinned by two fundamental premises: that environmental and engineering geology represents a single coherent discipline that has a broad remit; and it is a vocational subject and not an academic pursuit, that aims to provide the societal means for safe, economic, and environmentally sustainable planning and development. The early chapters underpin the discipline and deal with: geology and geochemistry; geomorphology; engineering soils and rocks; pedological soils; hydrology and hydrogeology. A thorough appraisal of the various stages of site investigation is followed by nine chapters on the application of environmental and engineering geology. These chapters cover a broad range and draw on case studies taken both from the authors own files and those published elsewhere. In all examples the aim is to illustrate the way case studies have improved our knowledge and developed the science of environmental and engineering geology. The final chapter addresses some of the new issues that environmental and engineering geologists are now facing that were not considered in the first edition, including climate change, renewable energy, geoconservation, geoforensics, and modern military applications. In addition, the requirement for skills that are beyond subject knowledge required by practitioners are introduced, such as project management, health & safety, and seeking professional recognition. An extensive list of additional reading is provided for each of the chapters in the book, allowing readers to explore the rich literature that underpins this fascinating and important subject.

Read more less

Shorebirds, or waders, are a large group of small to medium-sized birds that occur worldwide, in a wide range of predominantly coastal or wetland habitats. Some species are largely sedentary whilst others are amongst the world's most migratory bird species, travelling thousands of kilometres in a few days. In addition to describing physical behavioural traits such as feeding, breeding, migration, and particular physiological adaptations, Shorebirds in Action also covers territorial behaviour both when feeding and breeding. There is detailed discussion of the range of species and their different lifestyles together with feeding strategies, flocking, roosting and the avoidance of predators. The seasonal features of shorebirds' lives are included, such as the various plumages that they have when breeding, or not breeding, together with the intervening periods of moult, during which the birds change from one plumage to the next.Shorebirds in Action is in two parts - firstly basic behavioural information and then a photographic section that explains the specific behaviour being illustrated for that particular shorebird at the time the photo was taken.Consequently, the book can be read as a general text, split into chapters that provide the basic behavioural information and also by reference to the extended photograph captions which explain the details of the particular behaviour shown. The book contains excellent photographs of about 180 shorebird species - over three-quarters of the world's total - and therefore provides a general reference for the identification of shorebird species and the recognition of their various plumages. It will be relevant to readers worldwide, including Europe, North America and Australasia. This comprehensive work can be read as a general text and also the photographs can be enjoyed separately in their own right. Detailed references to source material are provided.

Read more less

This accessible introduction to animal behaviour provides an authoritative yet reader-friendly guide for the interested naturalist. It presents current knowledge about the way animals behave and will enable the reader to derive more pleasure from their observations of animals by gaining a deeper understanding of their behaviour. The concepts are presented in an easily appreciated way with which everyone can associate.In the first part of the book, the author explores how animals behave by considering the physical processes involved in the way animals perceive their environment and what determines how they respond to it. This is followed by the 'why' of animal behaviour in which the author examines many topics under the overall issue of expressing behaviour, and the evolutionary forces that have shaped - and continue to shape - the detailed form of more complex behaviours. Therefore questions such as why animals forage in the way they do and how that foraging pattern may be refined to optimal efficiency; why animals adopt a particular reproductive strategy and breeding behaviour and why some animals live as solitary individuals, while others live in groups and so on.The book is copiously illustrated throughout in support and interpretation of the text. While the pictures enhance understanding of the written text, the text also showcases the exquisite illustrations of wildlife artist Catherine Putman.

Read more less

This book recounts the efforts over many years to dive wrecks that contained treasure in one form or another. The often prolonged and sometimes dangerous expeditions tell of dives to many ships that were wrecked while carrying tons of gold or other valuables. Many of the wrecks came to lie at great depths which demanded considerable diving expertise using rebreathers which allowed longer dives to be performed.The authors are both diving experts and in addition to the accounts and historical pictures they have added their own photography to convey to the reader the challenges of the dives undertaken. The technical demands were considerable, from adjusting the camera housing to accommodate the depth to diving at particular times of the year because many of the wrecks were situated in areas of high seas and extreme currents. Many of these wrecks have been the subject of concerted efforts from salvage teams but success could never be assumed.It took several years to visit and photograph the wrecks mentioned in the book which provides a fascinating account of the vessels and their treasure, and the challenges of diving in what can be a dangerous environment. Each entry provides details and a brief history of the vessel and the means of its demise, enhanced by a modern diving account with photographs. As such the book will be of great interest to all divers whether active or armchair, and to anyone with an interest in maritime/military history.

Read more less

Tenerife is a remarkable island, dominated by Mount Teide, an active volcano higher than any mountain in mainland Spain. The island has extraordinary volcanic landscapes, and thousands of species of plants and animals that are found only there. The authors' love of Tenerife stems from its enormous variety of habitats with their complex plant and animal communities. They have explored the island from the laurel forests of eastern Anaga to the cliffs of Los Gigantes in Teno, from the semi-deserts of the extreme south to the richly vegetated slopes along the north coast, and from remote black sand beaches to the lavas of Las Canadas and the craters of Teide and Pico Viejo. Local Spanish experts have guided them to remote places and have contributed accounts of their own special interests. most studied of all volcanoes.

Read more less

Having worked for over 20 years on otter conservation of all 13 species, the authors wished to share their experiences of these beautiful animals. People may be familiar with the Asian small-clawed otters, often found in zoos, or the sea otter, well-known for lying on its back cracking open shells, but may not be aware that there are more fascinating species. It is hoped the book will increase public support for the work of the IOSF (International Otter Survival Fund) and awareness of the terrible plight of otters which in many countries are on the verge of extinction. Each species is listed in the IUCN Red Data List and yet little attention is given to their predicament. The illegal wildlife trade in otters is huge - not just for furs and body parts but as pets. In some parts of the world otters are disappearing rapidly and unless urgent action is taken they will be gone forever. The Hairy-Nosed Otter was thought to be extinct in 1998 but funds provided by the IOSF led to a survey in southern Thailand where a small population was found. Since then populations have been found in Vietnam, Cambodia and Sumatra, but these are small and very fragile.This type of conservation work is vital because so often the plight of otters is overlooked for other high profile species such as tigers and elephants. Otters stand at the top of the food chain on both land and water so they are an ideal indicator of a healthy environment. With greater awareness and support the IOSF will be able to do more on the world stage to conserve otters - PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THIS BOOK WILL GO TO THE IOSF. Otters of the World is an introduction to the magical world of otters and is complemented with many wonderful photos, with distribution maps for each species.

Read more less

This is the story of lightkeepers’ contributions to the natural history of lighthouses in conjunction with the history and maintenance of the manned navigation beacons – their primary function of course – ‘for the safety of all’. Since keepers were first engaged to maintain lighthouses around our coast they have encountered wildlife, and in some cases developed a keen interest and expertise on the subject. Towards the end of the nineteenth century keepers were encouraged to submit annual returns of bird movements enabling reports on bird migration and several authoritative books to be compiled. As a result, ornithologists began to recognise how many lighthouses were well-placed to establish bird observatories – a few were in redundant lighthouses, often on offshore islands. However, lightkeepers also recognised that in certain weather conditions and during migration times, flocks of birds were attracted to the beam, resulting in many fatalities. While the problem is now better understood and considerably reduced, the automation of all British lighthouses has resulted in there no longer being lighthouse keepers to monitor the situation and report bird, sea mammal, insect and bat movements. The Natural History of Lighthouses highlights the contribution made by lighthouse keepers over the last century or two to the study of natural history, and ornithology in particular. Much of this is discussed in the words of the keepers themselves, set in the context of lighthouse history. Scotland has an especially rich lighthouse tradition, mainly due to a dynasty of Stevenson engineers covering over a century, all of whom also had a profound understanding of weather and geology – and indeed natural history – so important in the placing of their lighthouses. Several redundant lighthouse buildings still function as bird observatories as well as wildlife viewpoints and study centres, museums, hotels, restaurants and private homes. The lanterns themselves are still maintained in this digital and satellite age, monitored remotely from a strategic control centre.

Read more less

The author has acquired a vast wealth of knowledge, data and experience in boat angling, sport and wreck diving over a period of almost 50 years and has written various wreck books, including two volumes about shipwrecks off the north-east coast of England. However, this book is far superior. No other single publication has so much information about the shipwrecks and crews that were lost over this huge region of the North Sea from Whitby to Berwick and up to 40 miles offshore. There are 285 wrecks in total, including 22 located in an area known ominously as the 'Graveyard', about 30 miles off the River Tyne, that has never previously been written about, plus dozens of almost certainly virgin wrecks that are just waiting to be explored! The book is absolutely jam-packed with valuable information and technical data including the ship's builders, past owners, dates and name changes and in many cases the captains' names. Precise WGS84 GPS positions are supplied for each wreck and these have been meticulously checked over several years to ensure they are correct and as accurate as humanly possible. Many of the wrecks are in depths of between 80 and 100 metres - well beyond the range of normal sport divers - but with new technological advances in equipment they offer exhilarating future projects. However, for the boat angler they will be paradise found! Where possible, the ship's previous service history has been supplied, followed by a detailed account of its final voyage/patrol and its demise. Some of the Board of Trade Wreck Reports, survivor and witness statements tell of harrowing and terrifying anecdotes. This is Ron Young's best book to date.

Read more less

This is a boisterous, roller-coaster of a story about Mike Tomkies' extraordinary adventures after he quit his full-time career as a celebrity journalist and began working as a logger with the lusty men of the wild Canadian forests - men who led a free way of life now long gone. During his first enforced visit back to Hollywood to generate some funds, Tomkies' companion was Booto, a stray wild dog who had adopted him in the Canadian wilds and who enjoyed the attention of stars such as Cary Grant, Omar Sharif and Peter Finch during interviews. The two also travelled around Mexico and Belize, where Tomkies spent hours with Dean Martin on the outdoor location of "Five Card Stud", even photographing the star doing his own dangerous stunts. Tomkies was the first to test the new Tartan athletics track in Mexico City for the 1968 Olympics for the "Daily Express", much to the annoyance of the workmen on site!Mike and Booto climbed the Pyramid of the Sun, hacked through rough tracks to the ancient ruins of Palenque, and visited the terrifying Well of Sacrifice at Chichen Itza where the ancient Mayans sacrificed young humans, hearts torn out first, to assuage the rain god Chac. Back in Hollywood, Mike was invited to the Oscar awards ceremony where, even in his old truck, he was mistaken for Warren Beatty with compere Bob Hope joking that Beatty was so confident of winnings Oscars for Bonnie and Clyde he had brought a big truck to take them all away!After another year in the wilds of Canada, Tomkies left Booto behind and returned to Hollywood for more amazing experiences with major film stars. He went motorbiking in the Mojave Desert with Steve McQueen; spent days with and gained extraordinary insights into the life of the greatest box office star of all time, John Wayne; while Doris Day, 'America's sweetheart', offered him a film test! Tomkies had several feisty meetings with Hollywood's greatest maverick and wit, Robert Mitchum, who actually 'laid a joint' on him when he asked if Mitchum was still on pot! The book ends with Tomkies hiring North America's greatest Red Indian guide, Clayton Mack, when they went on dangerous treks deep in grizzly country and saw 21 bears in three days - and were lucky to escape with their lives. There is a final poignant farewell to old Booto as Tomkies leaves for his new life in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands.

Read more less

It continues to build on the three previous outstandingly successful conferences, attracting over 300 authors from 30 countries across five continents. There were over 3000 registered delegates and guests from 98 countries participated, making it a truly global phenomenon. This volume of 100 papers provides an invaluable state of the technology review and assessment, enabling readers to appreciate developments and potential in a number of exciting fields. It is a focal point for access to information from researchers and industrial practitioners in the field of intelligent systems and soft computing techniques and their application in diverse areas within manufacturing.

Read more less

Details the state-of-the-art regarding the numerous aspects of advanced micro technologies with respect to a range of materials, and the development of fresh production platforms for micro systems-based products. This work provides an overview of this rapidly moving subject and an insight into key research and development areas.

Read more less

With the increasing development of brownfield and landfill sites, ground gas is a common problem encountered by engineers and scientists and this book not only raises awareness of the phenomenon but also provides practical solutions to the difficulties experienced. This vital new handbook provides practical guidance to engineers, regulators and designers about assessing ground gas risk and the design of appropriate protection measures. It includes a great deal of information that has never before been available in one volume and draws on the collective experience of the authors. The book discusses the assessment of ground gas for Part II A sites and also includes information on the assessment of vapours. Detailed information on gas generation and the analysis of gas flows in the ground are included, including the design of gas protection systems. There are many worked examples throughout the book that help to explain the concepts and calculations that are described. It explains how to use the most recent assessment methods published by CIRCA, NHBC and BSI and highlights the differences between the various methods.The final sections cover the design and installation of gas protection systems to buildings and in ground barriers. Most importantly, it includes advice and recommendations about the validation and testing of protection systems as they are installed. Readership: This handbook will be of immense value to professionals and advanced students within geotechnical engineering, geo-environmental engineering, ground engineering and environmental health, including engineers and applied scientists in these disciplines. Researchers, regulators and design offices will also find this book to be of great use.

Read more less

With exclusive contributions from Richard Dawkins, Noam Chomsky, Martin Rees, Aubrey Manning, Richard Holloway, Daniel C. Dennett, Randal Keynes, Brian Charlesworth, Ken Ham and others. This is the first book on Darwin and Darwinism that wholly concentrates on his time spent in Scotland and the key contributions to his future insights made by the Scottish Enlightenment and the University of Edinburgh. Darwin developed his theories because he attended Edinburgh University - although he participated little in formal tuition, it was through interaction with his tutors, peers and extracurricular groups that he was exposed to an ethos of naturalistic philosophy rooted in the Scottish Enlightenment and, by direct descent, the Ancient Greeks. If he had bypassed Scotland and gone straight to Cambridge, his education would have been theologically-based and unlikely to have given him the perspective that led him to question the prevailing doctrine. It is also the first book to explore the subsequent impact of his work on modern day biologists at the University of Edinburgh. How far have we moved on since Darwin made his discoveries? Are his theories still relevant to modern-day science? Can we say if they will be relevant in the future? And, what should we be teaching future generations? The relevance of Darwin in debate is as important and volatile now as when "The Origin of Species" was first published a century and a half ago. Science and religion seem to have reached an impasse. Intelligent Design, the conflicting view to Darwin's theory of natural selection, is the new kid on the block that the science gang wants nothing to do with. All the major issues in evolutionary study are covered here, through interviews with scientists, educators and creationists. They include some of the world leaders in the biological sciences at Edinburgh University, and they are most revealing about what Darwin has meant to them and their work.

Read more less

This is a broadly chronological account of the decorative and innovative use of Portland cement-based concrete. Contrary to the oft-held belief that concrete is a dull material that is used unimaginatively, this book demonstrates that it can be used in an exciting and inspiring way while benefiting from being a highly durable building material. After tracing the decorative use of concrete back several thousand years, its development is followed into the 20th century with the invention of Portland cement and its subsequent use in vast volumes. As concrete was used more widely, it also was used more creatively and accounts are included of some of the early exponents of the material such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Nervi, Lubetkin and Arup. The brilliance of these and other designers and engineers has provided a legacy of economy and form that is akin to today's current vogue of minimalism. The variety of scale and form is remarkable and after considering decorative processes and techniques, the book moves into the sphere of art, demonstrating the flexibility of the material. The book contains a wealth of illustrations, and in the later chapters the author considers the work of selected designers and then presents a large number of examples from around the world. The final chapter looks ahead, taking in current developments in high strength concrete that allow thin, slender applications, also novel self-cleaning concrete and even transparent concrete! Of one thing we can be certain - concrete is not dull!

Read more less

From a chance acquisition of a battered leather-bound notebook, an extensive and extremely well-written narrative was revealed which recounted the life of a midshipman in the East India Company, through to the time when he owned his own vessels and settled in Tasmania. "Chronometer Jack" is an outstanding autobiography by John Miller, an Edinburgh-born Shipmaster and Coastguard officer, an educated man whose working life commenced on board East India Company ships. It provides many insights into the tough but sometimes amusing life under William Younghusband on the Lord Castlereagh, the tyrannical Tommy Larkins on the Marquis Camden and Thomas Balderston on the Asia. Seconded to an opium vessel and the associated risks of trading in opium in the 1820s, Miller experienced the trauma of capture by the Chinese. Returning to Scotland, he married Jessie Adamson, the sister of John and Robert, famed pioneers of photography. Later, Miller set up in business as a master-shipowner in the convict colony of Tasmania, trading mainly with Sydney and Port Phillip. The gripping narrative is full of incident and unforgettable characters and his first-hand observations on society in Van Diemen's Land when still a convict colony make compelling reading. Bankrupted, Miller and his family were forced to return to Britain where circumstances forced him to join the Coastguard, serving in Northumberland, Tynemouth and Lincolnshire. His frustrations with bureaucracy, the higher status accorded former Royal Navy Officers and, in his recruiting capacity, the relatively poor quality of seamen joining the Royal Naval Reserve, constantly surface in the text - a rare insight into the occupation and tribulations experienced by a Coastguard officer in the 1850s and '60s. Although Captain Miller's original manuscript included numerous references to people identified only by an initial letter, most of these were subsequently identified, providing his narrative with a rich and well-attested circumstantial context.

Read more less

A well-known naturalist, forester and nature photographer, Don MacCaskill died in May, 2000 while out for a walk in the forest he loved, his camera as ever at the ready. Faced with a collection of between three and four thousand transparences, his wife, Bridget felt that so many of these were outstanding examples of both a gifted photographer and a dedicated naturalist, that some should be made available to others interested in similar pursuits. It quickly became apparent that they also formed a kind of photographic autobiography of the man himself, his concern for nature and his need to try to demonstrate, through his photography, the responsibility of Man to that natural world of which he is a part. Don's 'mate' in most of his endeavours (and a keen naturalist herself), Bridget has put together a book of stunning photography, with text that gives the reader a delightful taste of Nature throughout the seasons and an appreciation of the nature photographer's tasks over the year. The whole work is complemented by the poetry of Jim Crumley, each poem inspired by one of Don's photographs. 'He was a professional forester and a brilliant self-taught naturalist and wildlife photographer. Above all, from our point of view, he could communicate his enthusiasm to others...a huge portfolio of nature photographs of the highest quality. Now we are able to share some of them with her [Bridget]. What I find uncanny, is that in writing the text, she has found and reproduced Don's distinctive 'voice'. Extract from the Foreword by Julian Pettifer.

Read more less

This is a mixture of folk-tale, magic, myth, love story and hymn of praise to the natural world of Scotland's high and low lands, their landscapes and creatures, and the poet-guardians who timelessly maintain their care for them. It is the legend-story of the mysterious Wanderer, who comes from the North to Striveling (Stirling) and its great Castle Rock, and the tales he tells to the five men and a woman who befriend him there. Who is this Wanderer, who seems ageless, who has profound affinities with animals and birds, who can take on the shape of swans and what is his mission to the South? Who are these friends, whose friendship becomes more, as they begin to realize that they are part of the strange, timeless and mythic destiny of a country older than civilization? What is the meaning of the unearthly love of the Wanderer and the mysterious Bella?

Read more less

This true and dramatic story begins with the finding of the last expedition diary of a forgotten Edinburgh cartographer - Keith Johnston. The diary was lying in the Royal Geographical Society of Scotland's storeroom and concerns his last, fatal expedition into the interior of Africa. Johnston's family background in 19th-century Edinburgh is described as is the profound influence of his father, one of the great figures in the development of geography and cartography. As curator of maps to the Royal Geographical Society, Keith Johnston became embroiled in the great controversies of the time surrounding Livingstone's claims to finding the source of the Nile. Frustrated with his deskbound job, he conducted a survey of the Paraguayan-Brazil border, where his adventures were to establish his reputation as a competent explorer and ultimately led to his leadership of the Royal Geographical Society's expedition to find a feasible trade route to the central lakes of Africa. The influence of David Livingstone and his tense encounters with H.M. Stanley provide a background to the final fraught relationship with his colleague, Joseph Thomson, during their prolonged stay in Zanzibar.Shortly after the expedition into the interior began, Johnston contracted dysentery and tragically died in the village of Behobeho at the early age of 34.

Read more less

When we survey the landscape around us, we are continually reminded of the efforts and creative genius of engineers - whether in the form of a new road bridge, an opera house, a town centre development, an airport or perhaps more in the public focus, major projects such as the Channel Tunnel. This book gathers together contributions from 30 UK and overseas engineers who have influenced civil engineering in recent times. They were invited to write about their career and what encouraged them to be an engineer; who inspired them; what they found of interest; what fundamental principles they learned and carried with them; and more. The result is an accumulation of anecdotes, helpful advice and wisdom. The book should appeal to anyone in the industry, but especially to young people who may be considering a career in this profession.

Read more less

In the developed world the design and construction of all aspects of the built environment are regulated by rules and procedures which help prevent failures. When compared to the volume of construction undertaken, the number of failures of buildings and other structures is thankfully small. However, this reality is not reflected on a global basis. Failures do occur, some making headline news, and for a variety of reasons. As such information about failures is vital to make construction even safer. This book has been written by a number of distinguished international experts, and considers numerous facets of what has become termed by many forensic engineering. It covers the spectrum of this discipline with chapters on: risk assessment and management; aspects of the law and construction insurance; limiting the incidence of failures; how failures have been investigated; and remedial works carried out. Numerous case studies and examples from across the world cover not only modern buildings, structures and elements, but some buildings that can truly be described as historic. The spread and depth of topics covered is remarkable and illustrates the importance of this subject in modern engineering and design.

Read more less

This illustrated portfolio is produced upon the 50th anniversary of cessation of hostilities and as a remembrance of the ships of Task Group 96.8. Through extensive research the author has gleaned information about the multi-national taskforce, including numerous photographs. Ships of the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal Netherlands Navy, Royal Thai Navy, and the Republic of Colombia Navy all served in the West Coast Support Group known as Task Group 96.8 with the authority and resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations. That so many nations rallied to the cause was proof of the worth of that newly-formed organization. Britain and the older nations of the Commonwealth rapidly legislated for their reserves to be mobilized, and so largely from Europe and the West came those who would assist the USA to liberate the Republic of South Korea from the aggression of its northern neighbour. Many ships had fought in World War II with the most recent combatant being HMS "Amethyst", whose ship's company, and also that of HMSs "London" and "Conrad", suffered fatalities and wounds.

Read more less

This is a comprehensive work concerning the basic principles of plate theory and its methodology, in which the author includes both plastic and elastic responses in his discussion. The reader is taken from relatively elementary aspects of the topic right through to the most recent research findings. The less experienced reader should benefit from the revision of basic mathematics in the preliminary chapter, and from the worked examples and exercises throughout the book. For the reader with some previous knowledge of plate theory, there is a stimulating discussion of the geometry of surfaces, reference to the most modern applications of plate theory, and an annotated bibliography. The features new to this edition include a treatment of the lower bound methods for plate collapse load studies, and the introduction of a new chapter on the new technology - externally reinforced concrete.

Read more less

Carbonate rocks are of fundamental importance in many respects: in the manufacture of cement, as building stone and aggregates, and they form the reservoirs for about 40% of the world's oil reserves. In engineering terms they frequently underly the most intractable geotechnical problems and often provide the foundations for coastal structures and offshore structures. This book provides the geological background to carbonate sediments and rocks and furnishes basic information on the compositions, origins, and distributions of carbonate sediments. The descriptions that follow provide models for the earth scientist and a predictive framework for engineering works in such areas. It provides a basic reference tool for the geologist and a reference framework in which the practising engineer unfamiliar with terms is able to understand and evaluate reports provided by experts from other fields. Case studies provide further elucidation. Readership: practitioners and students in earth science, engineering geology, petroleum geology, foundation and civil engineering.

Read more less

In his introduction, Don MacCaskill wrote modestly, 'I think I became a naturalist'. He was, in fact, one of Scotland's foremost naturalists and a remarkable wildlife photographer as well. In a flashback to his early years in Kilmartin, a village in Argyllshire, we learn of his awakening interest in man's relationship with the wildlife all around him - why was it necessary to kill it? And when accident, or fate, took him into a career in forestry, an inborn love of trees, both in woodland and forest, flourished and became his life. Photography came a little later, mostly as a record of what he was discovering in the natural world, but is of a remarkable quality in a time when modern aids to getting that special photograph of mammal or bird did not exist. This book is an account of his first year at Ardgarten, as a young forester newly out of college. Full of enthusiasm and confidence, he thought he knew everything and there was many an occasion when he had to discover that he didn't! It is an honest and often humorous account of forestry in the days after the Second World War when the forest folk of that time, who often lived in isolated communities 'far from the madding crowd', were genuinely interested in the work they were doing. There were some fascinating characters too! Trees are surely the supreme example of a life force stronger than our own, wrote Don. Some, like the giant redwoods of North America, live for thousands of years. Some, like our own oaks and pines, may live for centuries. All, given the right conditions, will regenerate their species and survive long into the future. Don wrote, 'I love trees'. It was true - he couldn't help it.

Read more less

A page-turning story of travel, adventure, people and places. Laugh-out loud funny in places, yet at times poignant and sad.

Read more less

Peter Clutterbuck recounts his lifelong experience and love of adventure as he crosses oceans, mountain ranges and continents. This is an astonishing story of risk, jeopardy, achievement and wonder.

Read more less

A beautiful and lavishly illustrated book which presents the complexities of solitary bee diversity, biology and evolution in accessible form.

Read more less