This study aimed to develop a multi-stakeholder analysis to identify the best strategies for the integration of a new Digital Energy Management Platform (DEMP). The municipality of Loulé (South of Portugal) was used as a case study. A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) framework combined with an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) framework and a TOWS Matrix was employed to analyse the stakeholder’s perceptions to propose strategies for integrating the DEMP. Five focus stakeholder groups were involved. Results showed that stakeholders considered that the positive aspects of DEMP outweigh the negative aspects by approximately 36%. Strengths were ranked with 34.4%, Opportunities with 33.8%, Weaknesses with 20.2%, and Threats with 11.6%. The sequence of factors with the highest overall score by stakeholders was O1(12.7%) > S2(11.1%) > W2(7.4%) > T3(4.1%). Based on stakeholder perceptions, the most suitable strategies were those that use Strengths and Opportunities of the system (SO strategies), and strategies that take advantage of Opportunities while dealing with Weaknesses (WO strategies), achieving a prevalence compared with the other strategies of 34% and 27%, respectively. Therefore, the participation process involving stakeholders’ groups in the implementation and monitoring of the DEMP provided an action plan and consensus capable of meeting the environmental and municipal energy management challenges.
The surrounding area of the Roxo stream sub-basin (basin of the Sado River, Portugal) has completely sterile sections, jeopardizing the productivity of the agricultural activities practiced there. This may be due to the inflow of the Água Forte stream, which has characteristics of Acid Mining Drainage (AMD). The objective of this study was to test the efficiency of heavy metal removal from the Água Forte stream using the macrophyte floating bed technology (Vetiveria zizanioides and Phragmites australis) in a pilot plant, monitoring and evaluating the water quality and performance of macrophytes. Two experiments were carried out in 2019 over 6 months (January to June). Both experiments were performed in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tanks with the nominal capacity of 1 m 3 each. The tanks were filled with about 0.8 m 3 of water coming from the Água Forte stream, which was renewed monthly. The floating beds consisted in a high-density polyethylene floating system and an organic plant support mat filled with a plant density of 285 plants m-2. The heavy metal removal rates obtained from the Vetiveria zizanioides and Phragmites australis floating bed were Fe = 40%; Zn = 33%; Cu = 23%; Mn = 14% and Fe = 27%; Zn = 19%; Mn = 17%; Cu = 14%; respectively. The order of heavy metals accumulation in Vetiveria zizanioides and Phragmites australis in plant biomass was Fe> Zn> Cu> Mn and Fe> Zn> Mn> Cu, respectively. The growth of Vetiveria zizanioides and Phragmites australis in leaf biomass was 7.1 ± 0.3 cm/month and 2.5 ± 0.0 cm/month and in root biomass 3.8 ± 0.1 cm/month and 4.1 ± 0.1 cm/month, respectively. The growth of macrophytes showed the ability to survive in the AMD-containing waters without severe damage in their external and anatomical morphology, although their growth suffered inhibition. The results suggest that the floating bed technology may be an environmentally sustainable alternative, allowing long-term heavy metal removal.
Ecuador is one of the least diversified countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, depending heavily on oil and agriculture. This policy paper examines how services and innovation can play a role in transforming the Ecuadorian economy from one based on natural resources to one based on knowledge and services. The paper assesses the performance of the services sector and its contribution to other sectors. The paper shows that services make a significant contribution to the country's economic growth (albeit below the average for the region). However, the services sector in Ecuador performs poorly in productivity and trade competitiveness. Further, services do not add enough value for export providers and users over time. The deficit in the integration of business services, especially knowledgeintensive business services, is particularly high, affecting the competiveness of all sectors and their value chains. Among the drivers of productivity and competitiveness, innovation is the key quality and differentiation factor (as distinguished from price-related, regulatory, and competition factors). Innovation in Ecuadorian services firms does not significantly affect performance (for example, sales and exports), although innovation in manufacturing does improve the performance of manufacturing firms. Finally, the paper provides some conclusions and meaningful crosscutting policy recommendations for a services-related policy aimed at fostering competitiveness and innovation. Services need action in innovation policy (innovation programs could be better adapted to services innovation specificities), but also in areas such as coordination at the institutional level; internationalization and foreign direct investment; and quality, regulatory, and competition issues affecting the investment climate.
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