Ken Atkinson – författare

Fundamentals of the Physical Environment has established itself as a well-respected core introductory book for students of physical geography and the environmental sciences. Taking a systems approach, it demonstrates how the various factors operating at Earth’s surface can and do interact, and how landscape can be used to decipher them. The nature of the earth, its atmosphere and its oceans, the main processes of geomorphology and key elements of ecosystems are also all explained. The final section on specific environments usefully sets in context the physical processes and human impacts. This fourth edition has been extensively revised to incorporate current thinking and knowledge and includes:a new section on the history and study of physical geographyan updated and strengthened chapter on climate change (9) and a strengthened section on the work of the winda revised chapter (15) on crysosphere systems - glaciers, ice and permafrosta new chapter (23) on the principles of environmental reconstructiona new joint chapter (24) on polar and alpine environmentsa key new joint chapter (28) on current environmental change and future environmentsnew material on the Earth System and cycling of carbon and nutrientsthemed boxes highlighting processes, systems, applications, new developments and human impactsa support website at www.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415395168 with discussion and essay questions, chapter summaries and extended case studies.Clearly written, well-structured and with over 450 informative colour diagrams and 150 colour photographs, this text provides students with the necessary grounding in fundamental processes whilst linking these to their impact on human society and their application to the science of the environment.

In recent years, highway maintenance has become a high profile topic, owning to the greater travel potential of the general public and to the impact of roadworks on commerce following the swing away from rail transport. Highway maintenance was once a low-key activity, but it is now being treated as an important consideration in the overall cost of providing the nation's infrastructure. Roads have assumed an increasingly important role in this process, particularly during the past 30 years as a result of the motorway building programme.This new edition of the popular Highway Maintenance Handbook has been thoroughly revised and updated to provide the very latest information on current regulations and technology, and concentrates on ‘general maintenance’, and area in which most money is commonly spent. The book deals with the huge and ongoing task on maintaining Britain’s vast network of roads in a safe and satisfactory condition. It gives an insight into some of the facets of highway maintenance which are either currently being practised or are under developments, to aid both the engineer engaged in the discipline and those needing to know more about this field. Vastly increased volumes of road traffic and constraints on local authority expenditure have intensified the need to find efficient and cost-effective methods of looking after our roads. This well illustrated book provides a lucid commentary on the wide range of methods and options that are available.Based on the various authors’ experience gained in local governments, contracting, academic research and consultancy, Highway maintenance handbook analyses both concrete and bituminous carriageways, highlighting the advantages or problems of each while explaining the repair methods and options available, together with the structures and facilities needed for modern highways and their management.