No abstract

Silicone rubbers (SIRs) are common industrial materials which are often used for electrical insulation including weather sheds on non-ceramic insulators (NCIs). While SIRs are typically resilient to outside environments, aging can damage SIRs’ favorable properties such as hydrophobicity and electrical resistance. Detecting SIR aging and damage, however, can be difficult, especially in service. In this study we used hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and previously investigated aging methods as a proof of concept to show how HSI may be used to detect various types of aging damage in different SIR materials. The spectral signature changes in four different SIRs subjected to four different in-service aging environments all occurred between 400––650 nm. Therefore, remote sensing of NCIs using HSI could concentrate on bands below 700 nm to successfully detect in service SIR damage.

This chapter reflects primarily on the supply-side issues and on the reality of successfully harnessing tourism and achieving desired impacts in developing countries. Specifically, drawing on the experiences of the past three decades as well as a cohort of over 80 World Bank Group tourism-related lending and advisory projects between 2000 and 2019 in 62 countries, the chapter highlights lessons and ex-post evaluations and observations drawn from these projects and the consequential dialogues with governments and the private sector. It also suggests some guiding principles for tourism development activities going forward. In addition, the demand-side is examined from the perspective of the influencers of changing demand patterns and distribution channels, such as global value chains and disruptive technologies, and the effects they are having on destinations and their ability to respond.