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Air quality at national parks may be as bad as the US’ largest cities

Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & Environmental

Millions of tourists will soon begin their treks across this great land during their annual summer vacations. Many of these people will find their way into America's national parks. They will come for the physical beauty, the nature, the outdoors, and the fresh air. Or so they think. As it turns out, we’re not breathing in the such clean air in the great outdoors of the National Park System. According to a new report, even our most well-known parks are covered with dangerous levels of pollution; roughly 96% of national parks are struggling with significant air quality issues.

Enjoying the results of the Civilian Conservation Corps

Cindy Belt Recreation & Leisure

Whenever we travel, we look for evidence of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). It was formed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933 to provide jobs for young unmarried men to help bring the country out of the Great Depression. From 1933 to 1942, approximately 3 million men worked on planting trees, building roads and bridges, constructing fire towers, fighting fires, installing drainage systems, stringing telephone lines, and developing state and national parks.

Advancements in AI that are disrupting, reshaping the oil and gas industry

Joseph Zulick Science & Technology

The oil and gas industry has a reputation of being relatively slow to adopt new technologies. Within the past few years, though, it has moved beyond reliance on paper and pencil, physical labor, and machines. Volatility in world commodities markets has pushed companies to optimize efficiency and reduce costs. And because of the Fourth Industrial Revolution industry players are finding attractive solutions. This article examines the ways in which oil and gas companies are looking at AI as a tool to optimize performance.

Study: More mosquito-borne infections associated with early season hurricanes

Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied Healthcare

Hurricanes and other heavy rainfall events (HREs) can affect the transmission of vector-borne infectious diseases in the southern coastal United States and other temperate areas of the world. Stagnant water left in the aftermath of a heavy rainfall event provides rich breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which increases the likelihood of human infection. The timing of a hurricane has a significant influence on a storm’s effect on the spread of these infections, such as West Nile virus, Zika, chikungunya and dengue, according to the result of new study published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

Proposed California plastics law could be a game-changer for fighting pollution

Seth Sandronsky Waste Management & Environmental

California is the most populous state in the U.S. and the world’s fifth biggest economy. If enacted, the proposed California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act could be a game-changer in reducing plastic production and promoting a clean recycling economy. "The legislation will establish a comprehensive framework to address the pollution and waste crisis, and sets a statewide goal that manufacturers reduce the waste generated by single-use packaging and products by 75% after 2030," according to a statement from state Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica.

Observing the latest hospitality tech from HITEC 2019 in Minneapolis

Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

I was in Minneapolis recently for HITEC 2019 (Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference), marking the third time I attended the conference's exposition. This time, I paid special attention to the new technologies and products on the exhibition floor, such as those using facial recognition or AI in providing robotic services. I was unable to recognize any revolutionary innovations at the exposition, but I believe two of my observations may warrant some discussion.

Phoenix Sky Harbor submits 20-year master plan for improvements

Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & Automotive

Phoenix is an airport on the move, and if the FAA agrees, it could soon be spending $5.7 billion on upgrades to achieve a new 20-year plan. With aging infrastructure and a hemmed-in location, its owners have decided that now is the time to deal with the issues hindering its potential. The airport confirmed that the city’s mayor and council voted on June 11 to send its Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Comprehensive Asset Management Plan (CAMP) to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for approval.

Department of Energy: Renewables create massive savings for facilities

Scott E. Rupp Facilities & Grounds

For business organizations, renewable energy can be a costly capital investment, but more companies are experiencing the successes of their efforts to reduce the energy used within their buildings and plants. One program created to help facilities leaders explore the opportunity of renewables is the Better Buildings Initiative from the U.S. Department of Energy. According to the agency, the program is meant to work "across industries to provide guidance and to document effective approaches for installing renewable technologies including solar, wind and geothermal." Per the government’s reporting on the issue, many organizations are making headway with solar.

5 surprisingly simple cost-cutters to employ at your hospital

Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare Administration

As a hospital administrator, reducing expenses is always a top priority. There are many technologically complex strategies you can use to cut expenses. Sometimes, however, simple logic can be your best bet. Researchers have identified a number of simple but highly effective ways hospitals can save money and increase patient safety. You can put them into practice immediately. Try these recommendations.

As Arctic permafrost deteriorates, EPA elects to lift coal emission rules

Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & Environmental

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is lifting coal emissions limits in the U.S.' latest environmental deregulation move. This comes at a time when scientists from northerly latitudes have released sensitive data regarding the planet's warming. You've heard the word "permafrost" but aren't sure why it’s important, right? Arctic permafrost is the frozen layer beneath the ground surface that remains frozen for two years or longer. Described as "the glue that holds the northern landscape together," scientists and climate change activists have been sounding the alarm. The glue is disappearing before our eyes: some even suggest up to 70 years earlier than expected.

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