Week 4 Infrastructure Systems

Question 1

What are the four ways that infrastructure systems depend on each other?

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

What is Network theory?

Answer 2

A collection of interconnected nodes that are connected by edges or links to represent a wide range of entities and their relationships.

Question 3

How to determine the size of the network.

Answer 3

Number of nodes

Question 4

How to determine the shortest path

Answer 4

The shortest distance (number of links) between two nodes.

Question 5

Define Network Diameter

Answer 5

Length of the shortest path between most distanced nodes.

Question 6

What is Beta-index?

Answer 6

A Simple measure of network complexity.

beta = L/N

Question 7

What is the degree of connectivity?

Answer 7

The ratio of actual to potential number of links.

Question 8

What is a Node Degree?

Answer 8

The number of connections on node i.

Question 9

What represents a distributive network?

Answer 9

One to many

Question 10

What represents a complex network?

Answer 10

Many to Many

Question 11

What represents a collective network?

Answer 11

Many to one

Question 12

What represents a simple network?

Answer 12

One to one

Question 13

What is a distributive system

Answer 13

One point source many end users

Question 14

Why is energy an important system

Answer 14

energy is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity the world faces today

Question 15

What is the Energy System

Answer 15

all components related to the production, conversion, delivery and use of energy

Question 16

What is a primary energy source

Answer 16

original or undisturbed state (sun, crude oil, coal)

Question 17

What is a secondary energy source

Answer 17

converted from primary energy (electricity, heat)

Question 18

What is the trend in energy consumption (last 100 years)

Answer 18

Increased sharply post WW2 from massive spike in fossil fuel use

Question 19

What sectors consume the most energy in NZ

Answer 19

Transport and industry

Question 20

What are the main sources (fuel types) of electricity (global)

Answer 20

1. coal 2. gas 3. hydropower

Question 21

What is special about NZ electricity generation

Answer 21

~80% renewable

Question 22

What are the components of the electricity grid

Answer 22

generation - transmission - distribution - consumer

Question 23

What is are the issues with the availability of freshwater

Answer 23

• not always available when and where it is needed
• not uniformly distributed across globe
• good quality freshwater less available

Question 24

Components of modern water supply

Answer 24

• storage
• treatment
• distribution
• network (pumps, pipes, storage, treatment)

Question 25

Where do CO2 emissions come from in the water supply system

Answer 25

energy inputs (pumps, moving water, extracting groundwater etc)

Question 26

Main sources of freshwater consumption in NZ

Answer 26

1. irrigation 2. drinking 3. industrial

Question 27

Water supply system innovations

Answer 27

- desalination plant - purple pipes

Question 28

What was the driver for the development of the global food network

Answer 28

transportation

Question 29

Main source of emissions in the food system

Answer 29

Livestock (enteric fermentation)

Question 30

What is special about the NZ food system

Answer 30

- 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

Question 31

Similarities between water supply, food and energy systems

Answer 31

- distributive systems - require energy inputs

Question 32

How to mitigate emissions from the energy system (production side)

Answer 32

move away from fossil fuels

Question 33

How to mitigate emissions from the energy system (consumption side)

Answer 33

improve energy efficiency

Question 34

How to mitigate emissions from the electricity system (production side)

Answer 34

zero/low carbon electricity generation

Question 35

How to mitigate emissions from the electricity system (consumption side)

Answer 35

minimise energy use

Question 36

How to mitigate emissions from the water supply system (production side)

Answer 36

energy efficiency improvements

Question 37

How to mitigate emissions from the water supply system (consumption side)

Answer 37

reduce demand for treated water

Question 38

How to mitigate emissions from the food system (production side)

Answer 38

- decrease emissions from enteric fermentation - decrease energy and fertiliser requirements

Question 39

How to mitigate emissions from the food system (consumption side)

Answer 39

decrease demand for high emission products