Scientific Review Engineering and Environmental Sciences (SREES)

Estimating mean groundwater levels in peatlands using a Bayesian belief network approach with remote sensing data

2024-12-31T10:08:20+00:00

Large-scale management, protection, and restoration of wetlands require knowledge of their hydrology, i.e., the status and dynamics of the groundwater table, which determine the evolution of the wetland ecosystem, its conservation value, and possible economic use. Unfortunately, in many cases, hydrological monitoring data are unavailable, resulting in the search for a proxy for the average annual depth of the groundwater level (GWL). This study presents an approach to estimating the mean GWL in peatlands using a Bayesian belief network (BBN) model, leveraging long-term hydrological and remote sensing data in the Biebrza National Park in Poland. The remote sensing data employed includes the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) backscatter coefficient, peat subsidence, rate and distance to watercourses. The BBN model achieved a predictive accuracy of 83.3% and 73.1%, depending on the validation approach used. Among the remote sensing variables considered, the SAR backscatter coefficient was the most sensitive in predicting the GWL in the peatlands. However, the model presents multiple uncertainties resulting from limitations of the available remote sensing data, low variability of class combinations in the conditional probability table, and lack of upscaling to other regions performed. Despite these uncertainties, the developed BBN model remains a valuable next step in reaching the goal of efficient peatland monitoring and management.

Application of potassium co-amended with boron for improving the potassium, boron, growth and yield components of wheat under the dry climate condition of Lasbela Balochistan

2024-12-31T10:08:12+00:00

A field experiment was performed to assess the impact of potassium co-amended with boron at different application rates on organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and boron in the soil, also in terms of plant height, spike length, pedicel length, leaf area, spike weight, grain weight, biological yield, fresh biomass and dry biomass of wheat under the dry climate of Uthal. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with the combined application of both K and B fertilizers with a replicate of three times, treatments were T₀ control, T₁ 70 K kg×ha^–1 and 0.6 B kg×ha^–1, T₂ 140 K and 1.2 B kg×ha^–1, T₃ 210 K and 1.8 B kg×ha^–1of potassium and boron respectively. Furthermore, boron was applied in three split doses (time of sowing, maturity of plant, and booting stage); whereas potassium was used in two split doses (before sowing and maturity). The obtained results demonstrated that plant height was increased, ranging from 77.68 to 83.00 cm, with T₃, biological yield 14,150.0–19,186.67 kg×ha^–1 with T₃, in-soil N 0.04–0.069% with T₃, in-soil P 3.42–3.89 mg×kg^–1 with T₃, in-soil K 82.00–120.00 mg×kg^–1 with T₃, in-soil B 0.11–0.22 mg×kg^–1 with T₃ than control treatment. The uptake NPK, and B by the wheat plant was increased, ranging from 1.17–1.66% with T₃, 0.33–0.54 mg×kg^–1 with T₃, 2.32–2.72 mg×kg^–1 with T₃, and 1.12–1.14 mg×kg^–1 with T₃ as compared with the control treatment. The plant fresh and dry biomasses and soil organic matter were increased at T₃ over that of the control soil. Overall, the findings of this study indicated that the co-application of potassium and boron at 210 and 1.8 kg×ha^–1 doses can be successfully used to enhance grain and yield parameters of wheat, particularly those cultivated in dry climatic conditions.

The impact of utilizing red brick powder and plastic pellets as fine particles on the compressive strength and absorption of water in paving blocks

2024-12-31T10:08:26+00:00

The construction industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact. Traditional paving block production often relies on non-renewable materials and contributes to waste generation. The need for sustainable and durable paving block alternatives is evident. This study investigated the potential of incorporating waste red brick powder and polypropylene (PP) plastic pellets as a fine aggregate in paving block production. Various formulations were tested, with varying percentages of these materials. The resulting paving blocks’ compressive strength and water absorption were evaluated against SNI 03-0691-1996 standards. The results indicate that the innovative paving block formulation incorporating 25% plastic pellets and 25% red brick powder achieved a maximum compressive strength of 12.19 MPa. In comparison, a mixture containing 15% plastic pellets and 25% red brick powder exhibited a minimum compressive strength of 3.08 MPa. The average water absorption for all formulations was 14.80%. These findings highlight the potential of waste materials as viable alternatives in construction, promoting a more sustainable approach to urban infrastructure.

The influence of urban building orientation on the risk of heat stress from being in the courtyard area during the peak summer period

2024-12-31T10:08:17+00:00

Research contains assessing of the risk of heat stress and the improvement of the comfort of being outdoors for the urban population. The specialized TownScope program, banks of monitoring data of the Copernicus Climate Change Service and the Borys Sreznevsky Central Geophysical Observatory were used for the calculations. Calculations were made for the first climatic zone of Ukraine. On the example of the city of Kyiv and the Kyiv region, a widespread U-shaped construction scheme of a five-section, nine-story residential building was chosen. In the calculations, the influence of the surrounding buildings was excluded, and the surface of the courtyard was decided to be free of trees and bushes to exclude the influence of unpredictable shading in the calculations. To obtain calculation data, the authors prepared a corresponding 3D model of the building and exported it to the 3Ds format. The temperature of the facades and the courtyard at different orientations with respect to the cardinal points was calculated. Graphs of the dependence of the amount of direct solar radiation falling on the surface per hour during daylight hours are plotted. The heating temperature of the surfaces of building facades and the underlying surface from solar radiation during one hour of daylight was determined according to the formula of A.M. Shklover. This research makes it possible to apply relevant innovative technologies of “green construction” both at the design stage and during the operation of the existing building.

Use of an ejector to reduce the time of air injection during testing of the containment system at nuclear power plants

2024-12-31T10:08:15+00:00

The containment system (CS) is the last barrier to the release of radioactive substances into the environment in the event of a nuclear accident. After each overload, this system is tested for its ability to perform its functions by determining the integral leakage, which should not exceed a certain value. The tests are performed at an overpressure in the CS of 0.72 kgcm–2, which is achieved by injecting air with a compressor. The paper considers the use of an ejector to accelerate the injection process, which has a positive effect on the technical and economic performance of a nuclear power plant (NPP) power unit by increasing the amount of electricity generated, which is very important today, when the NPPs provide the maximum share of electricity generated in the country. Previous studies have evaluated the use of an ejector for this purpose, but they did not consider the need to install filters on the intake air stream. In addition, they used numerical methods that generate an error. The present work uses a mathematical apparatus that provides a more accurate result. The obtained calculated compressor injection time coincides with the actual injection time for the Rivne NPP power units. The design of the ejector ensures the minimum injection time is determined. The optimal ejector module is equal to 8.6 (the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical mixing chamber to the critical cross-sectional area of the working air nozzle). This reduces the injection time by 38.8%. The suction air must be free of dust and moisture. Suitable filters have a total aerodynamic resistance of 0.2 bar. Taking these air filters into account slightly reduces the efficiency of the ejector. The final time of air injection using the ejector is 2.56 h, which reduces the time of air injection for testing by 35.5%.

Exploration and implementation of a smart tourism destination with the 6As framework & TOPSIS (case study: Wakatobi, Indonesia)

2024-12-31T10:08:22+00:00

Wakatobi represents huge potential for smart tourism due to the rich natural, cultural, and man-made resources available. The objective of the research is to identify and analyze the tourism potential of Wakatobi by using the 6As framework (attractions, accessibility, amenities, available packages, activities, and ancillary services) and applying the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method to rank the potential tourist destinations. Field observations, collection of secondary data, and stakeholder interviews were conducted to arrive at comprehensive data on the tourism assets of the islands. The result of the exploration successfully recorded 160 attractions in the form of geographical destinations and activities with a variety of visitor facilities around them, which were measured using the 6As framework. The TOPSIS results indicated that Wangi-Wangi Island had the highest rank (0.87) in overall tourism potential compared to the others due to better infrastructural conditions, diverse attractions, and better facilities. Furthermore, it revealed major discrepancies among the islands, thus requiring focused improvements related to accessibility and services for less developed areas like Kaledupa (0.28), South Kaledupa (0.26), and Tomia (0.25). This study provides the basic insights for policymakers and stakeholders to invest in the right areas to ensure balanced and inclusive growth, increasing the tourism attractiveness of Wakatobi with a focus on sustainability and community involvement.