Search Results (40)

Batik, a traditional Indonesian textile art, significantly contributes to Pekalongan’s economy but has severe environmental impacts. The production process depletes groundwater and causes land subsidence. This study evaluates the potential of a water cadastre system to address these issues while preserving cultural heritage. By analysing batik production data, groundwater extraction, and subsidence trends via satellite imagery and field surveys, the research reveals a marked decline in groundwater levels and increased subsidence. The findings underscore the need for integrated water management to protect Pekalongan’s environment and cultural legacy, with a water cadastre system offering a possible solution. Full article

Wastewater is a sustainable water supply which uses reclamation and reuse processes to protect freshwater resources. Biochar application is considered an efficient and low-cost wastewater reclamation and reuse technique in recent years. From this perspective, this paper mainly aimed to obtain reclaimed water using biochar application, with an aim of contributing to a circular economy. The major aim of this study was to assess the quality and reuse potential of treated water through the biochar adsorption process. The assessment was based on the EU (741/2020) wastewater reuse legislation. Turbidity, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD₅), Total Suspended Solid (TSS), and E. coli analyses were performed to determine the effluent quality. In the end of the biochar adsorption process, a Class B reclaimed water quality according to EU legislation was obtained. This study validated that malt-dust-derived biochar is an efficient and low-cost adsorbent and can achieve a high quality of reclaimed water. An average reduction of 31.3% in operational costs was reported compared to an activated sludge system. Full article

Debris flow is a destructive event occurring in elevated terrains, causing significant damage to the affected areas. It results in casualties and significant harm to the environment and society. Hence, a comprehensive evaluation is essential in order to prevent, mitigate, and increase knowledge of the consequences of debris flows. This paper focuses on evaluating the impact of the deposition board. The methodology involved a simulation of two cases to demonstrate the debris flow based on the steepness of the flume slope at 25° angles with full and half openings at the gate. The limestone particles with a total volume of 1 × 10³ m³ acted as debris and were released with water from the tank to the deposition board with an area of 1 m². The force of particle distribution from the flume that hit the building block on the deposition board was determined. Based on the numerical results, the maximum force was about 55.2 N and 47.3 N for each fully open and half open gate, respectively. In actual situations, the maximum impact force (5520 N) can be 100 times greater compared to model values (55.2 N). Research indicates that pressures over 100 kPa cause damage to reinforced concrete structures. Debris flow can pose a substantial risk to the impacted area in real-life scenarios. This study is valuable for conducting risk assessments, creating guidelines, and reducing the likelihood of debris flows in high-risk areas. Full article

This study explores the microwave (MW) drying of Melia dubia wood, with a comprehensive approach that addresses various facets. The primary objectives were to examine drying behavior and the evaluation of drying defects. The drying rates for various treatments were calculated both above and below the Fiber Saturation Point (FSP). The most optimal treatment, characterized by minimal defects, exhibited a drying rate of 0.4 g/min above FSP, 0.29 g/min below FSP, and an overall drying rate of 0.35 g/min. There were no observable drying-induced defects in the dried wood, suggesting a promising aspect of MW drying. Static bending and compression tests parallel to the grain were carried out to analyze the impact of MW drying on the mechanical properties. MW-dried wood exhibited reductions of 7 ± 3%, 10 ± 2%, and 9 ± 2% in the modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and maximum compressive strength (MCS), respectively. The decline in mechanical properties may be attributed to the micro-cracks or damage in its microstructures. These findings emphasize the need for a balanced approach in optimizing MW drying methods to mitigate the reduction in mechanical properties while capitalizing on the advantages of reduced drying time and uniform drying. Full article

The invasion of exotic plants threatens biodiversity, affecting ecosystem services and ecological processes in native ecosystems. Road construction creates new environments and contributes to the introduction and spread of exotic and invasive plants. This study aimed to evaluate the representation of different functional groups (annual/biannual herbs and grasses, perennial herbs and grasses, shrubs, trees) in the invasion of exotic species within the assemblage on roadside slopes in the Austrocedrus chilensis forest in northwest Andean Patagonia, Argentina. Roadside slopes (RS) and nearby reference areas (RA) were selected, and the cover of native, exotic, and invasive species from the functional groups was evaluated in 1 m² plots using the Braun-Blanquet method. It was found that invasive perennial herbs and grasses predominated on RS, with a cover (19.6 ± 3.0%) higher than that of RA (8.9 ± 1.5%). Agrostis capillaris and Rumex acetosella were the most abundant invasive species. Native shrubs and perennial herbs and grasses were predominant on RS, with Baccharis rhomboidalis and Acaena pinnatifida being the most abundant. This study demonstrates that the roadside slopes of the Austrocedrus chilensis forest harbor invasive exotic species that can invade nearby natural areas. Early detection of these species is important for proper management and control, thus promoting the conservation of biodiversity in forest environments. Full article

This study investigated a time series model using a moving average (MA) for predicting rainfall trend in seven areas (Panggang, Gedangan, Kedung Keris, Ngawen, Wanagama, Tepus, and Playen) located in the Gunung Kidul Province, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. A database with daily rainfall data covering the period of 2010–2019 obtained from the Central Statistical Body of Gunungkidul District (BPS), Indonesia, were analysed. In this study, the MA was developed using Microsoft Excel. Six performance indicators, including Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Index of Agreement (IA), were used to evaluate the goodness-of-fit of the time series model. The results specify that the MA is a reliable model, with the RMSE and IA values in the ranges of 10.7–18.3 and 0.80–0.85, respectively. Small error and high agreement rates between the observed and predicted values indicates that prediction using MA method has good potential to be used as one of the prediction tools for rainfall modelling. Full article

Büyükçekmece District, located on Istanbul’s European side, faces flood risks due to climate change, uncontrolled urbanization, and inadequate stream rehabilitation. This study aims to develop a flood-risk map of the district and link it to socioeconomic factors for the purpose of developing improved flood-management strategies. Key factors such as slope, elevation, land use, proximity to rivers, and precipitation were weighted, using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), to generate risk maps. The results indicate that 54% of Neighborhood 9 (Dizdariye) and 59% of Neighborhood 18 (Mimarsinan) fall into very high risk categories. Additionally, the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), calculated through Principal Component Analysis (PCA), revealed that Ahmediye and Kumburgaz neighborhoods exhibit the highest socioeconomic vulnerabilities, while Alkent 2000 and Sinanoba have the lowest. The research identifies the need to prioritize high-risk neighborhoods and integrate social vulnerability into flood management to reduce risk and enhance community resilience in Büyükçekmece District. Full article

This study investigated the relationships between air pollutants (PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, O₃, CO) and meteorological parameters (wind speed, relative humidity, ambient temperature) across urban, suburban, and industrial areas in Malaysia from 2017 to 2021. Using data from six monitoring stations, this research employed descriptive analysis, trend analysis, and Granger causality testing to uncover complex interactions. The results revealed distinct patterns: suburban areas showed strong ambient temperature-ozone (p-value = 0.0063) and relative humidity–nitrogen dioxide relationships (p-value = 0.0411); industrial zones exhibited bidirectional causality between SO₂ and PM₁₀ and had a strong nitrogen dioxide–PM₁₀ relationship (p-value = 0.0292); urban areas exhibited complex multi-pollutant interactions. Notably, the 2020 Movement Control Order significantly improved air quality. This research provides crucial insights for targeted air quality management strategies, contributing to public health improvements and aligning with global sustainability goals. Full article

India is renowned for its rich medico-cultural heritage. The chemical constituents of medicinally significant plants form the basis of host plant identification by butterflies. The documentation of such therapeutically significant food plants of nymphalinae butterflies (Family: Nymphalidae) along with the recognition of their medicinal potential was undertaken across the Himalayan landscape of West Bengal, India. Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), Utilization Value (Uv) and Fidelity levels (F_L) were determined, followed by the calculation of Host Plant Specificity (HPS) and Polyphagy Index (P_i). An ICF value of 1.000 was cited for diseases of the digestive and respiratory system. The maximum F_L was noted for Artemisia vulgaris, Dioscorea deltoides and Mimosa pudica. Urtica dioica and Hygrophila auriculata displayed the maximum Uv. Furthermore, Junonia lemonias, J. orithiya, Hypolimnas bolina and H. misippus possessed the highest HPS. A maximum P_i value was determined for Junonia lemonias. Besides providing an immense benefit to traditional healers, such plants enable the sustenance of butterflies through life history stages. Full article

Green roofs are one of the most widely used nature-based technologies, but there are no consolidated design standards to estimate their rainwater volume retention at both the national and international levels. So, the goal of this study is to analyze the annual rainwater retention capacity of different types of green roofs based on experimental real-time monitoring data collected for 12 months. The experimental setup was installed at Ballerup in Denmark and consisted of three pitched roofs, each one with 25 m² of surface area. The green roofs presented variations in their annual rainwater retention capacity, ranging from 20% to 50%. Peak flow attenuation varied from 10% to 90% in both green roofs, depending on rain intensity and the duration of dry periods. These findings can be used as a baseline to support future studies addressing the definition of design standards and guidelines. Full article

The expansion of the sugar industry has resulted in large amounts of untreated effluent, necessitating the development of energy-efficient treatment technologies, like microbial desalination cells (MDCs). However, the high cost and potential toxicity of chemical cathode catalysts limit MDC performance, making biocathodes a promising alternative. This study investigates the efficiency of a Scenedesmus obliquus-inoculated photosynthetic microbial desalination cell (PMDC) in the cathode chamber to treat sugar industry effluent, desalinate water, and generate electricity. The performance of the PMDC is compared to that of traditional MDCs. The results showed that the PMDC achieved 21.6% desalination, 73.8% anode COD removal, and a maximum power density of 6.8 mW/m², outperforming MDC by 6.43%, 18.5%, and 112.5%, respectively. These results demonstrate that the PMDC offers an effective, energy-efficient alternative to MDCs with added benefits of nutrient removal and algal biomass production at the cathode, making it a promising solution for water and wastewater treatment. Full article

Emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, heavy metals, and microplastics are a growing ecological risk affecting water and soil resources. Another challenge in current wastewater treatments includes tracking and treating these pollutants, which can be costly. As a growing concern, emerging pollutants do not have lower limit levels and can be detrimental to aquatic resources in minuscule amounts. Thus, the assessment of multiple emerging water pollutants in community-based water sources such as surface water and groundwater is a prioritized area of study for water resource management. It provides a basis for the ecological health management of arising diseases such as cancer and dengue caused by unsafe water sources. Accordingly, by utilizing artificial intelligence, wide-range and data-driven insights can be synthesized to assist in water resource management and propose solution pathways without the need for exhaustive experimentation. This systematic review examines the artificial intelligence-assisted modelling of water resource management for emerging water pollutants, notably machine learning and deep learning models, with proximity dependence and correlated synergistic health effects for both humans and aquatic life. This study underscores the increasing accumulation of these emerging pollutants and their toxicological effects on the community and how data-driven modelling can be utilized to assist in addressing research gaps related to water treatment methods for these pollutants. Full article

The ZnO/hydroxyapatite nanocomposite was prepared by attrition in a planetary mill from hydroxyapatite (HA) and ZnO nanopowders. The photocatalytic degradation of synthetic dye, methyl orange (MO), was evaluated under stirring and UV irradiations by measuring the spectroscopically UV-VIS absorbance of the solution in order to determine the remanent dye concentration. The samples CZH3 (75% ZnO) and CZH4 (25% ZnO) highlighted the best MO retention from aqueous solution by adsorption and photodegradation effects. The high absorbance of the proposed nanocomposites showed their potential to be used as photocatalysts for wastewater treatment to enable the retention of organic pollutants. Full article

The authors provide a list of the alien fish species that have entered the Romanian ichthyofauna fauna and specify the year, place of signaling and the ecological impact of the respective species. Further on, the authors describe some behavioral aspects of the following species: Lepomis gibbosus (pumpkin seed sunfish), Carassius auratus gibelio (silver crucian carp) and Pseudorasbora parva (topmouth gudgeon). Full article

All urban and agricultural water distribution networks (WDNs), irrespective of their physical and operational characteristics, encounter substantial leakages which result in significant water losses, environmental degradation through increased carbon emissions, and noteworthy economic burdens. The current work aims to quantify both the environmental impact, estimated in terms of CO₂ emissions, and the economic implications associated with leakages and evaluate the effect of the most widely used leakage reduction strategies. The current approach is applied to the water distribution network of the city of Patras in Western Greece. Full article