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Scale The measurable dimensions of phenomena or observations. Expressed in
physical units, such as meters, years, population size, or quantities moved or
exchanged. In observation, scale determines the relative fineness and coarseness
of different detail and the selectivity among patterns these data may form (MA
2005a).
Scenario A set of assumptions about a system such as its key inputs, conditions,
and functioning.
Secondary Data Data that has been previously collected by an entity other than
current researchers (e.g., census data).
Secondary Sector The manufacturing sector of the economy.
Security Through Obscurity Security through Obscurity is a tactic, often unintentional or implicit, of protecting data by minimizing its findability, accessibility, and interoperability.
Security The ability of people to have affordable, reliable, and high-quality access
to their basic FEW needs so that they can live healthy and productive lives
unconstrained by existential resource limitations; security implicates attributes
of availability; access; utilization; and, stability reliability.
Sedimentation The deposition of particles, typically after having been suspended
in and/or transported by water, such as in a river delta or floodplain. The size
and sorting of the deposited particles typically depend upon water velocity, with
larger rocks transported by faster water and generally settling out more quickly
as water velocity decreases, with silts and clays staying in suspension longer and
settling out in quieter water further downstream such as lakes and large rivers.
Sensitive Data Data for which there are significant sensitivities or risks involved
in disclosure.
Sensor Systems Networks of sensors used to make large volumes of observations
and measurement automatically.
Separated FEW Systems Considering the three food, energy, and water systems
or sectors individually.
Serious Games Games, including role plays, that include a purpose other than just
entertainment; see, for example, MIT’s Serious Game Lab: http://gamelab.mit.
edu/tag/serious-games/.
Short Supply Chains (SSCs) Supply chains that are more environmentally
friendly due to reduced transportation distance and fewer intermediaries.
Social Costs and Benefits Costs and benefits as seen from the perspective of society as a whole. These differ from private costs and benefits in being more inclusive (all costs and benefits borne by some members of society are taken into
account) and in being valued at social opportunity cost rather than market prices,
where these differ—sometimes termed “economic” costs and benefits.
Social Impact or Civil Society Organization A human organization that is organized around a mission of collective action, shared values, interests, or purposes.
These include nonprofit entities such as charities, identity and faith-based organizations, community groups, professional and trade organizations, social movements, advocacy groups, and other entities that are neither governmental nor
for-profit in purpose.
Glossary
Scale The measurable dimensions of phenomena or observations. Expressed in
physical units, such as meters, years, population size, or quantities moved or
exchanged. In observation, scale determines the relative fineness and coarseness
of different detail and the selectivity among patterns these data may form (MA
2005a).
Scenario A set of assumptions about a system such as its key inputs, conditions,
and functioning.
Secondary Data Data that has been previously collected by an entity other than
current researchers (e.g., census data).
Secondary Sector The manufacturing sector of the economy.
Security Through Obscurity Security through Obscurity is a tactic, often unintentional or implicit, of protecting data by minimizing its findability, accessibility, and interoperability.
Security The ability of people to have affordable, reliable, and high-quality access
to their basic FEW needs so that they can live healthy and productive lives
unconstrained by existential resource limitations; security implicates attributes
of availability; access; utilization; and, stability reliability.
Sedimentation The deposition of particles, typically after having been suspended
in and/or transported by water, such as in a river delta or floodplain. The size
and sorting of the deposited particles typically depend upon water velocity, with
larger rocks transported by faster water and generally settling out more quickly
as water velocity decreases, with silts and clays staying in suspension longer and
settling out in quieter water further downstream such as lakes and large rivers.
Sensitive Data Data for which there are significant sensitivities or risks involved
in disclosure.
Sensor Systems Networks of sensors used to make large volumes of observations
and measurement automatically.
Separated FEW Systems Considering the three food, energy, and water systems
or sectors individually.
Serious Games Games, including role plays, that include a purpose other than just
entertainment; see, for example, MIT’s Serious Game Lab: http://gamelab.mit.
edu/tag/serious-games/.
Short Supply Chains (SSCs) Supply chains that are more environmentally
friendly due to reduced transportation distance and fewer intermediaries.
Social Costs and Benefits Costs and benefits as seen from the perspective of society as a whole. These differ from private costs and benefits in being more inclusive (all costs and benefits borne by some members of society are taken into
account) and in being valued at social opportunity cost rather than market prices,
where these differ—sometimes termed “economic” costs and benefits.
Social Impact or Civil Society Organization A human organization that is organized around a mission of collective action, shared values, interests, or purposes.
These include nonprofit entities such as charities, identity and faith-based organizations, community groups, professional and trade organizations, social movements, advocacy groups, and other entities that are neither governmental nor
for-profit in purpose.
Glossary