Week 4 Infrastructure Systems Flashcards
What are the four ways that infrastructure systems depend on each other?
Physically: Share a direct material connection.
Informatively: Connected via information flow.
Geographically: Connected by geographic proximity.
Logically: Any other connection type, e.g. Policy, societal, economic, etc.
What is Network theory?
A collection of interconnected nodes that are connected by edges or links to represent a wide range of entities and their relationships.
How to determine the size of the network.
Number of nodes
How to determine the shortest path
The shortest distance (number of links) between two nodes.
Define Network Diameter
Length of the shortest path between most distanced nodes.
What is Beta-index?
A Simple measure of network complexity.
beta = L/N
What is the degree of connectivity?
The ratio of actual to potential number of links.
What is a Node Degree?
The number of connections on node i.
What represents a distributive network?
One to many
What represents a complex network?
Many to Many
What represents a collective network?
Many to one
What represents a simple network?
One to one
What is a distributive system
One point source many end users
Why is energy an important system
energy is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity the world faces today
What is the Energy System
all components related to the production, conversion, delivery and use of energy
What is a primary energy source
original or undisturbed state (sun, crude oil, coal)
What is a secondary energy source
converted from primary energy (electricity, heat)
What is the trend in energy consumption (last 100 years)
Increased sharply post WW2 from massive spike in fossil fuel use
What sectors consume the most energy in NZ
Transport and industry
What are the main sources (fuel types) of electricity (global)
- coal 2. gas 3. hydropower
What is special about NZ electricity generation
~80% renewable
What are the components of the electricity grid
generation - transmission - distribution - consumer
What is are the issues with the availability of freshwater
- not always available when and where it is needed
- not uniformly distributed across globe
- good quality freshwater less available
Components of modern water supply
- storage
- treatment
- distribution
- network (pumps, pipes, storage, treatment)
Where do CO2 emissions come from in the water supply system
energy inputs (pumps, moving water, extracting groundwater etc)
Main sources of freshwater consumption in NZ
- irrigation 2. drinking 3. industrial
Water supply system innovations
- desalination plant
- purple pipes
What was the driver for the development of the global food network
transportation
Main source of emissions in the food system
Livestock (enteric fermentation)
What is special about the NZ food system
- emissions skewed towards meat and dairy
- agriculture main export in NZ
- not only emissions but also water use and quality are consequences of the food system
Similarities between water supply, food and energy systems
- distributive systems
- require energy inputs
How to mitigate emissions from the energy system (production side)
move away from fossil fuels
How to mitigate emissions from the energy system (consumption side)
improve energy efficiency
How to mitigate emissions from the electricity system (production side)
zero/low carbon electricity generation
How to mitigate emissions from the electricity system (consumption side)
minimise energy use
How to mitigate emissions from the water supply system (production side)
energy efficiency improvements
How to mitigate emissions from the water supply system (consumption side)
reduce demand for treated water
How to mitigate emissions from the food system (production side)
- decrease emissions from enteric fermentation
- decrease energy and fertiliser requirements
How to mitigate emissions from the food system (consumption side)
decrease demand for high emission products
