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Soil erosion is a global issue—with gully erosion recognized as one of the most important forms of land degradation. The purpose of this study is to compare and contrast the outcomes of four machine learning models, Classification and Regression (CART), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machine (SVM), used for mapping susceptibility to soil gully erosion. The controlling factors of gully erosion in the Piraí Drainage Basin, Paraíba do Sul Middle Valley were analysed by image interpretation in Google Earth and gully erosion samples (n = 159) were used for modelling and spatial prediction. The XGBoost and RF models achieved identical results for the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC = 88.50%), followed by the SVM and CART models, respectively (AUROC = 86.17%; AUROC = 85.11%). In all models analysed, the importance of the main controlling factors predominated among Lineaments, Land Use and Cover, Slope, Elevation and Rainfall, highlighting the need to understand the landscape. The XGBoost model, considering a smaller number of false negatives in spatial prediction, was considered the most appropriate, compared to the Random Forest model. It is noteworthy that the XGBoost model made it possible to validate the hypothesis of the study area, for susceptibility to gully erosion and identifying that 9.47% of the Piraí Drainage Basin is susceptible to gully erosion. Furthermore, replicable methodologies are evidenced by their rapid applicability at different scales.

This study presents a novel Lytag-silica fume concrete (LSFC) for structural and other construction applications. The evaluation of compressive strength development and stress strain relationships of the LSFC light weight was carried out to determine the strength growth in LSFC and for the development of the proposed beam design equation. Four different mix compositions were adopted for concrete grade 20, 30, 40, 50 at cement dosage of 260, 330, 450 and 570 kg/m3 on 24 concrete samples. A rectangular parabolic stress block was derived using representative stress-strain curves, and the results show that the parameter kbal that defines the ultimate design moment in the compressive zone was equal to 0.107 compared to kbal value of 0.167 for a normal weight concrete according to Eurocode 2. The ultimate compressive strain obtained for LSFC was 2.18‰ after 28 days for the LSFC compared to that of the normal weight concrete (NWC) of 3.5‰. The result also shows that 94.15 % of the compressive strength of LSFC was developed within 7 days of age due to the high pozzolanic chemical composition of Lytag and Silica fume. A reduction in embodied carbon was evident on reduction in water to cement ratio. The analysis and design results compared with NWC shows that Lytag-silica fume light weight concrete reduces reinforcement to 47 % with an increase in shear resistance. Scanning Electron microscopy analysis shows that the pathology and microstructure of the lytag-silica fume concrete is characterised with high micro pores with increasing water to cement ratio while the low water to cement ratio exhibit low distribution of pores which is an attribute of good mechanical properties of LSFC. The stress strain behaviour does not display a strain softening phenomena which is indicative of good flexural strength.

Conservation units are strategic territories that have a high demand for public use, as they protect attractions of great scenic beauty, geodiversity sites, and numerous leisure areas. However, when carried out in an intensive and disorderly manner, tourist activity in these areas tends to catalyze environmental degradation, triggering, for example, water erosion processes caused by intensive soil trampling on the trails. In this sense, the aim of this study was to determine the soil’s physicochemical characteristics, and to spatiotemporally monitor the microtopography of those areas degraded by erosion along two trails on Serra da Bocaina National Park coast of the Paraty Municipality. The findings verified that intensive trampling, the values of some soil physicochemical characteristics, and the specific meteorological conditions of the coastal region of this protected area were factors that contributed significantly to the evolution of erosion features monitored on these trails. Finally, strategies for appropriate management and recovery actions for these degraded areas are proposed in order to not only stop the erosive processes and re-establish the local ecosystem balance, but also avoid accidents involving the numerous tourists who visit the coastal region.

Pavement thickness is a very vital component during the design stage of a road construction project. Pavement design helps to determine the costs of the project over a certain period to ascertain how the cost of road pavement construction affect the life cycle cost of the road. Road pavements are designed based on the type of subgrade material and the expected traffic load to help clients and decision-makers make decisions on the project. In this study, expansive road subgrade materials were improved using lime and cement and their California Bearing Ratio (CBR) was used in road pavement design. The study used the Design and Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) as a guide to investigating the effect of stabilised expansive road subgrade with varying CBR values on road pavement design. The mineral structure, characteristics, Atterberg limit, compaction CBR, swell and microstructural analysis (scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX)) of stabilised subgrade materials were investigated. The results show an increase in California Bearing Ratio (CBR) values and a reduction in swell values while curing age increased for stabilised subgrade materials. Treated samples show high Calcium Silicate Hydrate (C-S-H) gel formation after 7 and 28 days of curing. The thickness of road pavement was observed with an increase in CBR values. The study established that the thickness of road pavement and overall construction cost can be reduced using cement and lime as additives in subgrade stabilisation.

The need to transit to greener options in soil stabilisation has revamped research on the use of industrial and agricultural by-products in order to cut down on the current carbon footprint from the use of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and lime related binders for the treatment of problematic soils. This study is a review on the use of geopolymers constituted by alkali activation of several industrial wastes such as pulverised fuel ash (PFA), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), metakaolin (MK), glass powder (GP), palm oil fuel ash (POFA), silica fume (SF), rice husk ash (RHA), volcanic ash (VA), and marble powder (MP) for the stabilisation of weak clays. The performance of stabilised clays as subgrade and subbase materials for road pavement construction was evaluated by comparing the 7 day UCS of the treated clays with the strength requirement for stabilised materials as outlined in BS EN 16907-4. The result of the study shows that geopolymers can be employed in improving the engineering properties of problematic clays to meet practical applications. Strength improvement was observed in the stabilised clays with increased precursor content, molarity of alkaline activator, and curing period.

Subgrade materials refer to the original ground underneath a road pavement, when these materials are made up of expansive soil it is referred to as expansive subgrade. Sometimes, these materials do not have sufficient capacity to support the weight of the road pavement and traffic load, which means they require some form of modification and re-engineering to enhance their load capacity. Chemical modification techniques using traditional stabilisers (such as cement and lime) have proved to be an effective means of subgrade stabilisation. However, high costs and environmental concerns associated with the use and production of these additives have highlighted the need for more sustainable and environmentally friendly substitutes. This study reviews the use of industrial by-products and other waste materials used for subgrade stabilisation, focusing on the sustainability of using processed wastes and how they alter the engineering properties of weak subgrade, compared to the use of cement and also reviews the availability of processed waste materials in quantities sufficient to meet the current demand for subgrade stabilisation. The findings illustrate that, processed waste is less expensive and has better sustainability credentials compared to cement. Moreover, processed wastes are available in sufficient quantities to meet existing demands for subgrade stabilisation. Therefore, it is recommended that the use of processed wastes should be promoted and utilised to improve and enhance the geotechnical properties of weak subgrade materials where possible.

Road pavement defect has been a major issue in the construction industry leading to a high cost of maintenance and sometimes a total reconstruction of the road. Expansive road subgrade materials are one of the major causes of these road defects. In this study subgrade materials with varying plasticity index were formulated at a ratio of 25% bentonite + 75% kaolinite, 35% bentonite + 65% kaolinite and 75% bentonite + 25% kaolinite respectively. Cement and lime were used as binders to improve the engineering properties of these expansive subgrade materials to make them usable in road construction. A road pavement defect analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of varying California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and traffic load on treated road subgrade in terms of failure. Atterberg limit, compaction, characteristics, mineral structure, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), Swell and microstructural properties (Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX)) of the subgrade were also investigated in this study. The results show an increase in CBR value with a reduction in swell values translating to lesser stresses within the pavement structure which reduced rutting, fatigue and permanent deformation of the road. The study concluded that the service life of the pavement can be prolonged by reducing road pavement defects using cement and lime as binders in subgrade stabilisation.

Environmental concerns over the effects of construction sector activities necessitate meaningful measures to be taken. Despite worldwide increases in the uptake of environmental management systems (EMS), implementation of EMS across the construction sector of the U.S. remains slow. To date, stakeholder opinions about the uptake of EMS in the construction sector of the U.S. remain unexplored. The purpose of this study is to investigate the views of U.S. stakeholders towards the benefits and barriers of implementing EMS, and how these compare internationally. Underpinned by a positivism philosophy, an online questionnaire survey was used to collect the views of construction professionals (n = 50). Weighted average analysis scores reveal that the benefits of EMS are seen to improve the public perception and credibility of an organization/company and reduce waste levels and are a tool to improve the environmental standards of the U.S.’s construction sector; in contrast, the barriers of EMS are an absence of sub-contractor cooperation and resistance to change in existing company structure and policy, plus the requirement for additional employee training. The potential impact of this work demonstrates not only the role that the U.S. construction sector can play in advancing environmental and sustainability matters using EMS but also the obstacles that need to be addressed to enable their success. Understanding these benefits and barriers at an organizational level could enable them to devise more effective business strategies/policies, where evidence-based practices could be used to support EMS implementation.

In recent years, responsible sourcing and procurement (including green supply chain management) across the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sectors have become notable contributors to sustainable construction strategies. This study aims to provide a systematic review of responsible sourcing literature across the AEC sectors of the UK to identify a suite of opportunities and obstacles to adopting ethical and environmentally supportive practices and to highlight avenues for further investigation. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) review process was adopted to identify, screen, and select (n = 80) articles (from 2000–2020) for review. Analysis of these articles identified the most frequently reported opportunities: (i) stakeholder value (40%); (ii) improved supply chain performance (39%); and (iii) competitive advantage (30%). The most frequently reported obstacles relating to the uptake of responsible sourcing are the following: (i) cost (44%); (ii) industry constraints (28%); and (iii) lack of frameworks/information and lack of awareness (25%). Given the industry importance of these themes, it is proposed that there is a necessity to explore and unravel the perceptions of industry experts about these issues so as to clarify the progress and possibilities for more widely adopting responsible sourcing across the AEC sector and, moreover, for clarifying their contribution towards achieving national and international sustainability targets (e.g., UN Sustainable Development Goals).

Reconstituted clays have often provided the basis for the interpretation and modelling of the properties of natural clays. The term “intrinsic” was introduced to describe a clay remoulded or reconstituted at moisture content up to 1.5 times its liquid limit and consolidated one-dimensionally. In order to circumvent the difficulties of measuring an intrinsic constant called “intrinsic compressibility index” (C*c), a machine learning (ML) approach using traditional non-parametric tree-based and meta-heuristic ensembles was adopted in this study. Results indicated that tree-ensembles namely random decision forest (RDF) and boosted decision tree (BDT) performed better in C*c prediction (average R2 of 0.84 and root mean square error, RMSE of 0.51) compared to stand-alone models. However, models’ hyper parameters combined meta-heuristically, produced the highest accuracy (average R2 of 0.90 and root mean square error, RMSE of 0.34). The greatest capacity to distinguish between positive and negative soil classes (average accuracy of 0.95, precision and recall of 0.86) were demonstrated by meta-ensembles in multinomial classification.

Sustainable futures necessitate a concomitant requirement for both sustainable buildings and sustainable behaviours under one roof. The defining principles behind Earthship buildings are to promote the use of local, recycled, waste, natural and renewable materials in their construction, for the adoption of a passive solar design for internal heating/cooling, collection of rainwater as a potable water supply, and encourage the onsite recycling of used water for plants to aid food production. However, despite growth in Earthship buildings constructed across many countries of the world, their appeal has not yet made a noticeable contribution to mainstream housing. Therefore, this study is the first to attempt to explore public perceptions towards the benefits and barriers of Earthship buildings as a means of understanding their demand by potential home builders/owners. Opinions were sought through questionnaire surveys completed by visitors to the Brighton Earthship building. Results reveal that the public believe that the reclamation of rainwater and greywater, renewable energy consumption and use of recycled materials included in the design/build are the major benefits of Earthship buildings, whilst the opportunity for a modern living style in a conservative lifestyle/setting, having a building that is cheaper than an ordinary home and the possibility of living totally off grid are considered the least beneficial reasons for building Earthship homes. Results also reveal that the public believe acquiring necessary permits/permissions to build may be more complicated, securing financial support (mortgage/loan) may be more challenging, and identifying/attaining suitable building plots are major barriers of Earthship buildings, whilst the futuristic/alternative building design, being built from waste materials and being entirely dependent on renewable resources (rainfall/wind/sunshine) are considered the least important barriers to building Earthship homes. Notwithstanding the participants included in this study already having an interest in Earthship buildings/lifestyles, it is concluded that the general public deem the general principles of Earthships as an acceptable choice of building/living but it is the formal means of building or buying an Earthship home that is the greatest hurdle against the uptake of Earthship buildings. Therefore, if sustainable futures are to be realized, it is proposed that a shift away from traditional house building towards Earthship building will require the involvement of all stakeholders immersed in the building process (architects, planners, builders, investors, lawyers) to path an easier journey for Earthship buildings and sustainable living.

This study investigates stakeholder opinions of the major benefits and barriers of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) to the Nigerian construction industry, and the perceived issues to EMS adoption among organisations in the industry. The study highlights the environment as an important stakeholder in the industry because it affects and is affected by construction activities on a regular basis. It identifies the importance of ISO 14001 in ensuring adequate consideration for the environment is maintained on construction projects. The research adopts a quantitative approach by analysing responses from an online survey among construction industry professionals in Nigeria. The questions on the survey were drawn from a similar study carried out in Asia and the results were analysed using the Weighted Average and Standard Deviation statistical approach. Results reveal that the major benefits of EMS to the Nigerian construction industry were improved efficiency in waste management and environmental protection, as well as an overall increase in employee motivation due to better opportunities for training and development. Lack of technological support in organisations and the high cost of implementing EMS were viewed as the major barriers towards its uptake in construction companies. The findings also indicate that a feasible EMS implementation strategy must not ignore the unique nature of the Nigerian construction industry, which comprises mostly small and medium enterprises. The study concludes by recommending the use of a waste management plan based on the Reuse-reducerecycle-Recover model and an employee training plan to ensure continuous improvement in the organisation’s environmental management strategy.

Marble spoil waste is an environmental nuisance. The effects of adding waste marble fines (WMF) on the plasticity, strength and permeability of a lateritic clay have been investigated for its potential use as a soil modifier or stabilizer of road pavement layer materials or earth-building materials. The chemical compositions of the WMF and soil were determined using X-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption spectrometry, respectively. The specific gravity, Atterberg limits, compaction, strength and permeability characteristics of the soil were determined for varying proportions of the soil-WMF blends. The properties of the natural soil – classified as clay of low plasticity (CL) andA-7-6(7), according to unified soil classification and AASHTO classification systems, respectively – were improved after the addition of 10% WMF such that it behaves like a silt of low plasticity. Therefore, WMF is recommended as a low-cost soil modifier or stabilizer for lateritic soil and well-suited for road construction applications.

Numerous investigations on the quaternary depositions of natural calcareous sediments and their use for soil conditioning have been carried-out in the Baltic region. Locally sourced freshwater limestone were formerly introduced (1950s) for soil liming, due to the absence or limited availability of appropriate industrial materials. Nowadays, with a greater awareness and understanding of the CO2 issues surrounding the production of industrial lime (intensively heated during manufacture), together with increasing costs of its production and transport, attention has returned to previous approaches. The main aim of this study was the identification of geological distribution peculiarities of freshwater limestone depositions, spatial and vertical geochemical variation and modelling of their previous agricultural use in acid soils regions. Geochemical composition data of local lake limestone has been lacking in Lithuania. Studies reveal that the quality parameters of sediments mostly align with the minimum for standard lime requirements (EN ISO 12945:2008), but materials are geochemically diverse even between layers of the same deposit. Tests show calcareous materials are especially rich in total manganese (3500 ppm) and slightly lower was total barium concentrations (490 ppm). Just a few mg kg−1 less were total concentrations of silver, boron, cobalt, chromium, copper, gallium, nickel, lead and vanadium. Former use of these sediments for liming purposes with regard to the national hygiene norm (HN 60:2004) controlled elements disclaim direct risks of soil pollution by higher heavy metals and rare elements accumulation. Previous liming studies indicate natural limes offer slow acting degradability compared to industrial products (dust limestone) and longer lasting liming effect. However, heavy metals and rare elements applied to soils are locked in topsoil (diffusion is mainly limited to depth of soil tillage). Unfortunately, cessation of liming and accelerated soil acidification promotes increased element mobility, which raises the risk of higher accumulations in crops, and their transfer to the food chain and/or their transport to groundwater. Santrauka Baltijos jūros regione atlikta nemažai tyrimų, kurių sudėtinė dalis – kalkingųjų kvartero nuosėdų tyrimai ir jų naudojimas dirvai gerinti. Gėlavandenės klintys buvo naudojamos dirvožemiams kalkinti trūkstant pramoninių kalkinių medžiagų. Šiuo metu jomis vėl domimasi, nes jos leidžia išvengti CO2 emisijų, susidarančių gaminant pramonines kalkines medžiagas (kaitinant klintis), jų naudojimas yra ekonomiškai patrauklus. Pagrindinis atliktų tyrimų tikslas – nustatyti geologinio paskirstymo ypatumus gėlavandenėse kalkingosiose nuosėdose, horizontalųjį bei vertikalųjį geocheminį pasiskirstymą ir ankstesnio šių medžiagų naudojimo žemės ūkio paskirties rūgščių dirvožemių regionuose išliekamąjį poveikį. Geocheminė gėlavandenių klinčių sudėtis anksčiau Lietuvoje nebuvo tirta. Atliekant tyrimus nustatyta, kad kalkingosios nuosėdos dažniausiai atitiko minimalių standartinių kalkinių medžiagų reikalavimų kokybės rodiklius (EN ISO 12945:2008), bet geocheminė šių medžiagų sudėtis yra labai įvairi net skirtinguose to paties klodo sluoksniuose. Buvo nustatyta, kad išanalizuotose kalkingosiose nuosėdose yra ypač daug suminio Mn (3500 ppm) ir šiek tiek mažesnė Ba koncentracija (490 ppm). Tik keli mg kg−1 ar mažiau buvo rasta suminių Ag, B, Co, Cr, Cu, Ga, Ni, Pb ir V. Modeliuojant buvusį šių nuosėdų naudojimą kalkinimo tikslais, vertinant pagal higienos normoje (HN) kontroliuojamų elementų koncentracijas, paneigtas tiesioginis dirvožemio taršos pavojus sunkiaisiais metalais ir retaisiais elementais. Šiomis medžiagomis kalkintuose dirvožemiuose sunkiųjų metalų ir retųjų elementų atsargos yra ilgam imobilizuotos (mobilesnės iš esmės yra tik armens sluoksnyje). Tačiau dėl nutrauktų kalkinimo darbų spartėjant dirvožemio rūgštėjimui, šių elementų mobilumas didėja, taip pat padidėja grėsmė susikaupti augaluose, patekti į mitybos grandinę ir užteršti gruntinius vandenis. Reikšminiai žodžiai: geochemija, horizontalioji ir vertikalioji variacija, dirvožemio kalkinimas, dirvožemio rūgštėjimas, higienos normos

Wastewater from infected leprosy patients is expected to contain considerably higher concentrations of pathogens than standard domestic wastewater and, therefore, is more infectious. Isolation of lepers' is thought to prevent the spread of a wide range of infectious diseases that could potentially be contacted through direct or indirect exposure from an infected person's wastewater in the surrounding environment. However, inappropriate management of wastewater and sewage from these camps has led to contamination of the surrounding environment, typical in Nigeria. This study aims to recommend safe, efficient and sustainable management of wastewater and sewage in a lepers' colony in Ogbomosho, south west Nigeria. The case study is privately owned, with three camps and a leprosarium. Information and data (primary and secondary) were collected from medical personnel (doctors, matrons and nurses), management staff and lepers in each camp, through handdelivered and orally explained questionnaires and physical observations. Wastewater samples could not be collected for analysis because there were no septic tanks or drainage for sewage and wastewater disposal. Two of the camps have no sanitary disposal system, with the remaining camp occupying one pit latrine, which is inadequate in prevention of environmental pollution. The leprosarium itself uses the pit latrine as an improvised bathroom and for defecation. Therefore, a further aim of this work is to provide a sewage treatment facility to cope with the problem of unsanitary disposal of excreta. The majority of wastewater is generated from bathing, personal washing, ward clean-ups, patients' services and general house-keeping activities. The approximate quantity of water being used per head per day was found to be 64-79 litres, resulting in 60 litres of wastewater that was discharged without treatment. To ameliorate environmental risks that leper colonies are responsible for, the pour-flush toilet was recommended based on its suitability for the physical condition of lepers, its ease of operation, maintenance and sustainability, minimum water usage for flushing and low construction costs. However, this must be fed into a well designed and sited septic tank and soak-away pit to receive foul sewage and sullage, respectively. Ideally, construction of a proper in-built bathroom is recommended for both the leprosarium and camps. Santrauka Manoma, kad raupsais užsikrėtusių pacientų naudoto vandens nuotekose gali būti padidėjusi patogeninių organizmų koncentracija, palyginti su nuotekomis iš gyvenamųjų namų. Manyta, kad raupsuotųjų izoliavimas sulaikys šios infekcinės ligos plitimą didesniu mastu, nes mažiau infekuotųjų nuotekų pateks į aplinką. Vis dėlto netinkamas nuotekų tvarkymas Nigerijoje lėmė stovyklas supančios aplinkos užteršimą. Darbo tikslas–pateikti rekomendacijų, kaip saugiau, efektyviau ir tvariau sutvarkyti nuotekų valymo sistemą Ogbomosho kolonijoje pietvakarių Nigerijoje. Teikiant rekomendacijas remtasi trijų privačioje teritorijoje esančių stovyklų ir leprozoriumo pavyzdžiu. Kiekvienoje stovykloje informacija ir duomenys (pirminiai ir antriniai) buvo surinkti iš medicinos sektoriaus personalo (gydytojų, seselių), administracijos ir raupsais užsikrėtusių žmonių užpildytų anketų ar apklausus žodžiu bei apžiūrėjus fiziškai. Nuotekų mėginiai negalėjo būti paimti, nes nebuvo surinkimo tankų ar nuotekų kanalizacijos sistemos. Dvi stovyklos neturi sanitarinės šalinimo sistemos, trečioji stovykla turi vieną iškastą duobę. Tai visiškai neatitinka aplinkosauginių reikalavimų. Pačiame leprozoriume iškastos duobės naudojamos kaip improvizuoti vonios kambariai ir tualetai. Tolesnis šio darbo tikslas–numatyti valymo įrenginius, kurie padėtų įveikti šias problemas. Didėlė dalis nuotekų susidaro maudymosi, skalbimo, palatų valymo, pacientų aptarnavimo ir buities darbų metu. Apytiksliai venas žmogus per dieną sunaudoja 64–79 litrus vandens, gi nesutvarkytų nuotekų išleidžiama apie 60 litrų per dieną. Dėl raupsais užsikrėtusių žmonių kylančiam pavojui aplinkai sumažinti rekomenduota naudoti vandens nuleidimo sistemą tualetuose. Vandens nuleidimo sistemos įdiegimas yra tvarus sprendimas, nes nėra brangus, o pasiekiama, kad vandens būtų sunaudojama minimaliai. Be to, nutekamasis vanduo turi būti surenkamas tam skirtuose tankuose ir duobėse. Idealiu atveju–ir leprozoriume, ir stovyklose rekomenduotina įrengti tinkamus vonios kambarius. Резюме Считается, что в сточных водах из колоний зараженных проказой людей может быть увеличена концентрация патогенных организмов по сравнению со сточными водами из жилых домов. Ранее предполагалось, что изоляция зараженных проказой людей предотвратит распространение этой инфекционной болезни в большом масштабе благодаря уменьшению возможности попадания в окружающую среду инфицированных сточных вод. Однако изза характерной для Нигерии плохой очистки сточных вод окружающая колонию среда оказалась загрязненной. В работе приводятся рекомендации, как безопаснее и эффективнее оборудовать систему очистки сточных вод в колонии Огбомошо на юго-западе Нигерии. Рекомендации приводятся на примере трех лагерей и лепрозория, находящихся на частной территории. Информация и другие данные (первичные и вторичные) в каждом лагере были получены у медицинского персонала (врачей, старших сестер и др.), администрации и зараженных проказой людей, которые опрашивались устно, осматривались физически или заполняли розданные им анкеты опроса. Образцы сточных вод не забирались, так как не существовало танков для сбора стоков или канализационной системы. В двух лагерях не было санитарной системы для удаления стоков, в третьей была выкопана одна яма, что совершенно не удовлетворяет природоохранных требований. В самом лепрозории выкопанные ямы использовались как импровизированные ванные комнаты и туалеты. Поэтому целью работы было способствовать внедрению очистных сооружений, которые могли бы решить существующую антисанитарную проблему. Большую часть сточных вод составляет вода, загрязненная во время купания, стирки, уборки палат, обслуживания пациентов и бытовых работ. Один человек за день использует приблизительно 64–79 литров воды, в то время как за день спускается около 60 литров неочищенных отходов. Для того, чтобы снизить опасность для окружающей среды от прокаженных людей, было рекомендовано использовать систему спуска воды в туалетах в зависимости от физического состояния зараженных проказой людей, что улучшило бы возможности использования воды и приведения в порядок системы стока. Внедрение системы спуска воды является наиболее приемлемым решением, так как не требует больших материальных затрат и ограничивается минимальным количеством используемой воды. Сточная вода должна собираться в предназначенных для этого танках и ямах. В идеальном случае оборудование соответствующих ванных комнат рекомендовано как для лепрозория, так и для лагерей. Reikšminiai žodžiai: nuotekos, tvarkymas, aplinka, politika, infekcija, sanitarinė įranga, tvarumas Ключевые слова: стоки, приведение в порядок, окружающая среда, политика, инфекция, санитарное оборудование

To promote sustainable agro-environmental development in the highlands of South-East Asia, an international multidisciplinary research team examined the effectiveness of selected agronomic and soil conservation treatments (both modified and novel cropping practises) using farmer-managed runoff plots. The study sites were located in the highlands of Yunnan Province (Wang Jia Catchment), China and Mae Honson Province (Pang Mapa District), Northern Thailand. Project lessons relating to co-operation, research partnerships, time horizons, multidisciplinarity, income generation, information dissemination and education are discussed. Santrauka Tvariajai žemės ūkio plėtrai skatinti Pietryčių Azijos aukštumose tarptautinių tarpdisciplininių mokslinių tyrimų grupė ištyrė pasirinktų argonominių bei dirvos apsaugos būdų efektyvumą (taikyta ir modifikuotieji, ir nauji žemdirbystės būdai) dirbamuose ūkininkų laukuose. Tyrimo vietos pasirinktos Junanio provincijoje (Wang Jia baseine) Kinijoje ir Mae Honson provincijoje (Pang Mapa srityje) Šiaurės Tailando aukštumose. Straipsnyje aptariama projekto pamokos, susijusios su bendradarbiavimo plėtojimu, mokslinių tyrimų partneryste, investavimu, tarpdisciplininių metodų taikymu, pajamų augimu, informacijos sklaida ir švietimo klausimais. Резюме С целью содействовать рациональному развитию сельского хозяйства на возвышенностях юго-восточной части Азии группа ученых, занимающаяся междисциплинарными научными исследованиями, исследовала эффективность некоторых агрономических и почвоохранных мер с применением как модифицированных, так и новых способов земледелия на обрабатываемых сельскохозяйственных полях. Для исследований были выбраны места в провинциях Юнань (в бассейне Wang Jia) в Китае и Мае Гонсон (Pang Mapa) на возвышенностях Северного Таиланда. Проанализирован опыт, полученный при осуществлении проекта и касающийся развития сотрудничества, партнерства в сфере научных исследований, инвестирования, применения междисциплинарных методов, роста доходов, распространения информации и вопросов просвещения. Reikšminiai žodžiai: Kinija, šiaurės – pietų bendradarbiavimas, dirvožemio apsauga, INCOPLAST, pietų – pietų bendra darbiavimas, šiaudų mulčas, tvarioji plėtra, Tailandas, “laiko horizontas” Ключевые слова: Китай, сотрудничество между севером и югом, почвоохранные меры, INCOPLAST, сотрудничество между югом и югом, соломенная мульча, рациональное развитие, Таиланд, «горизонты времени»

Tree‐ring growth analysis can provide information about tree development for forest inventory, environmental assessment, atmospheric and soil monitoring. Metal concentrations in wood increment correlate with metal concentrations in the environment and can indicate local environmental contamination sources. One of the most important steps of tree analysis is tree‐ring sampling. To determine trace metal (TM) concentrations precisely in a separate ring, the possibility of random errors during wood sampling must be eliminated. This guides to choose a precise tree‐ring sampling method. This paper examines three tree‐ring sampling tools (common chisels, arched chisels and a plane) and compares TM concentrations (Mn, Zn, Ni, Cr, Cu, Pb,) in wood samples collected by each of the methods employed. Average values of metals in tree rings sampled with common chisels, arched chisels and plane were 17.0±0.16 mg/kg for Mn, 4.7±0.21 mg/kg for Zn, 0.49±0.20 mg/kg for Pb, 0.29±0.02 mg/kg for Cu, 0.21±0.02 mg/kg for Ni and 0.12±0.01 mg/kg for Cr and were in the range of typical concentrations in investigated region as well as for Pinus sylvestris L. The average values were calculated for the three methods used. Statistical analysis (Anderson–Darlin test, Kruskal–Wallis tests, median and percentage coefficient of variation) revealed no significant differences between metal concentrations determined in tree rings which were sampled using common chisels, arched chisels and planing. Various techniques – common chisels, arched chisels and plane – can be successfully used for tree‐ring sampling, however, an increment borer provides possibility of sampling a non‐felled tree. Santrauka Medienos metiniu rieviu analize suteikia informacijos apie medžio vystymasi, svarbios inventorizuojant miškus, vertinant aplinkos poveiki, atliekant aplinkos oro ir dirvožemio monitoringa. Sunkiuju metalu koncentracijos metinese rievese susijusios su metalu koncentracijomis aplinkoje ir gali nusakyti vietines aplinkos taršos lygi. Vienas iš svarbiu medienos analizes etapu yra metiniu rieviu eminiu emimas. Siekiant tiksliai nustatyti sunkiuju metalu koncentracija metineje rieveje svarbu išvengti atsitiktiniu paklaidu. Šiame darbe aptariami trys metiniu rieviu eminiu emimo metodai (iprastiniai kaltai, lenktieji kaltai ir obliavimas) ir lyginamos pagrindiniu sunkiuju metalu (Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cr, Pb) koncentracijos eminiuose, paimtuose kiekvienu iš minetuju metodu. Vidutines sunkiuju metalu koncentracijos, nustatytos šiais metodais, sieke 17,0±0,16 mg/kg Mn, 4,7±0,21 mg/kg Zn, 0,49±0,20 mg/kg Pb, 0,29±0,02 mg/kg Cu, 0,21±0,02 mg/kg Ni ir 0,12±0,01 mg/kg Cr ir buvo panašios i koncentracijas, aptiktas Pinus sylvestris L. medienoje nagrinejamoje teritorijoje. Apskaičiuotos vidutines vertes. Atlikus statistine analize (Anderson ir Darlin testas, Kruskal ir Wallis testas, variacijos koeficientas) tebuvo tik nereikšmingas sunkiuju metalu koncentraciju metinese rievese skirtumas, eminius emus aptartais metodais. Ivairūs metodai – iprastiniai kaltai, lenktieji kaltai ir obliavimas – gali būti sekmingai taikomi metiniu rieviu eminiams imti, tačiau “amžiaus” gražtu eminius galima imti nenukertant medžio. Резюме Анализ годичных колец древесины предоставляет информацию о развитии дерева, что важно для инвентaризации леса, оценки воздействия на окружающую среду и мониторинга воздуха и почвы. Концентрации тяжелых металлов в годичных кольцах древесины зависят от их концентрации в окружающей среде и могут свидетельствовать об уровне загрязнения местности. Одним из важных этапов анализа древесины является взятие проб годичных колец. Для точного определения концентрации тяжелых металлов в годичных кольцах древесины важно избежать случайных погрешностей. В статье анализируются три метода взятия проб годичных колец древесины (дробление обычным долотом, круглым долотом и строгание) и сравниваются концентрации основных тяжелых металлов (Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cr, Pb) в пробах, взятых каждым из названных методов. Средние концентрации тяжелых металлов при их измерении указанными методами достигали 1,695±0,161 мг/кг для Mn, 0,471±0,206 мг/кг для Zn, 0,487±0,202 мг/кг для Pb, 0,290±0,021 мг/кг для Cu, 0,210±0,023 мг/кг для Ni и 0,117±0,010 мг/кг для Cr. Эти концентрации тяжелых металлов аналогичны концентрациям в древесине сосны (Pinus sylvestris L) на данной исследуемой территории. При помощи статистического анализа [тест Андерсона–Дарлина (Anderson–Darlin), тест Крускаля–Валиса (Kruskal–Wallis), коэффициент вариации] выявлена лишь незначительная разница между концентрациями тяжелых металлов в годичных кольцах древесины, взятых уже названными методами. Методы дробления обычным долотом, круглым долотом и строгания могут успешно применяться для взятия проб годичных колец древесины, однако сверло „века“ предоставляет возможность взятия пробы без спиливания дерева. First Publish Online: 10 Feb 2011 Reikšminiai žodžiai: „amžiaus“ grąžtas, kaltas, medienos ėminiai, metinė rievė, obliavimas, sunkieji metalai. Ключевые слова: сверло „века“, долото, пробы древесины, годичные кольца, строгание, тяжелыe металлы.

Attitudes to maintaining dune diversity are changing under the realization that existing dune stabilization techniques are fixing dune landscapes, causing ‘coastal squeeze’ and loss of habitat as shorelines retreat. Instead, it is recommended that a natural, dynamic, migrating dune system is much more appropriate and that blown, unstable sands are encouraged to act as mobile coastal defence barriers. Lack of appropriate monitoring techniques has limited progress in understanding the role of sediment dynamics in dune environments over long timescales. Therefore, this paper outlines the role of straightforward and inexpensive photography, from fixed points and angles, as a useful approach to long‐term, decadal monitoring of the evolution and migration of dynamic dune landforms. The case study, on the Morfa Dyffryn dunes, Gwynedd, mid‐Wales, United Kingdom (National Grid Reference SH563240), identified particularly dynamic mobile fo‐redunes, with cyclical morphological development, paralleling to an overall landward recession. A cyclical trend of sand encroachment, followed by stabilization with growing vegetation, is documented for semi‐fixed dune pastures, while the hind dunes remained stable. A general relationship between foredune morphology and erosion/accretion processes was established, offering the prospect of predicting future dune morphological changes in other dune systems, if increased blown sand activity is encouraged as a management technique. Santrauka Požiūris išlaikyti kopų įvairovę kinta, suvokiant, kad esamos kopų stabilizavimo priemonės, formuojant kopų kraštovaizdį, nepadeda išvengti pajūrio ruožo susiaurėjimo ir arealo praradimo atsitraukiant kranto linijai. Kita vertus, rekomenduojama išsaugoti natūralią dinamišką ir migruojančią kopų sistemą, kad nupustomi labilūs smėliai atliktų mobilių kranto apsaugos barjerų funkciją. Dėl tinkamų monitoringo priemonių trūkumo sulėtėjo patirties apie ilgalaikę nuosėdų dinamiką kopų aplinkoje kaupimas. Darbe aprašomas tiesioginis ir didelių išlaidų nereikalaujantis fotografijos metodas, kuris galėtų būti taikomas minėtoms problemoms spręsti. Metodas pagrįstas fotografavimu fiksuotuose taškuose ir tomis pačiomis kryptimis. Tai gali būti naudingas būdas ilgalaikiam monitoringui – stebėti dinaminių kopų sausumos darinių migraciją dešimtmečius. Tiriamoji vieta – Morfa Dyffryn kopos, Gwynedd, Velso vidurinėje dalyje Jungtinėje Karalystėje (nacionalinėje koordinačių sistemoje SH563240). Tai ypač dinamiškos priešakinės kopos. Joms būdinga cikliška morfologinė raida, prilygstanti bendrajam atsitraukimui iš sausumo pusės. Cikliška smėlio įsibrovimo tendencija, po kurio vyksta augalijos stabilizavimasis, būdinga pusiau sutvirtintoms kopoms, kai užnugarinės kopos lieka stabilios. Darbe nustatytos bendros sąsajos tarp priešakinių kopų morfologijos ir erozijos/akrecijos procesų, siūlomas morfologinių pokyčių numatymo būdas, kuris galėtų tapti valdymo priemone ir kitose kopų sistemose, kur smėlis ypač pustomas. Резюме Мнение о том, как сохранить разнообразие дюн, меняется, если принять во внимание, что существующие способы стабилизации дюн формируют ландшафт с дюнами, „сжимают“ приморье и теряют ареал из-за отступления линии берега. С другой стороны, рекомендуется сохранить естественную, динамичную и мигрирующую систему, чтобы сдуваемые, подвижные пески служили мобильными барьерами для защиты берега. Из-за нехватки соответствующих средств мониторинга замедлилось получение сведений о многолетней динамике отложений в среде дюн. С целью восполнить пробел в статье описывается не требующий больших затрат метод фотографирования. Он основан на фотографировании в фиксированных точках и в тех же направлениях и может стать полезным способом осуществления многолетнего мониторинга миграции динамичных дюн. Исследования проводились в динамичных передних дюнах Morfa Dyffryn, Gwynedd, в средней части Уэльса в Англии (в Национальной системе координат SH563240). Для них характерно цикличное морфологическое развитие, соответствующее общему отступлению со стороны суши. Цикличная тенденция наступления песка, после чего стабилизируется растительность, характерна для отчасти укрепленных дюн в том случае, если задние дюны остаются стабильными. Установлена связь между процессами морфологии передних дюн и эрозии/аккреции, предложен способ предвидения морфологических изменений в качестве средства управления процессом и в других системах дюн, в которых усилилась деятельность подвижного песка. First Published Online: 14 Oct 2010 Reikšminiai žodžiai: pakrantės kopų valdymas, fotografinė apžvalga, erozijos/akrecijos procesai, pedogeninis vystymas, pakrantės kitimas. Ключевые слова: управление процессами, происходящими в прибрежных дюнах, фотографический обзор, процессы эрозии/аккреции, педогенное развитие, изменение берегов.

The use of mineral magnetic concentration parameters (χLF, χARM and SIRM) as a potential particle size proxy for soil samples collected from the Isle of Man (British Isles) is explored as an alternative means of normalizing particle size effects. Comparison of soil‐related analytical data by correlation analyses between each magnetic parameter and individual particle size classes (i.e. sand, silt and clay), more discrete intervals within classes (e.g. fine sand or medium silt) and cumulative size fractions (e.g. clay + fine silt) are reported. Both χLF and χARMparameters reveal significant (p

Safety, health and environmental (SHE) management is becoming a priority as construction companies (i.e., contractors) strive to reduce construction accidents and negative environmental impacts, conform to regulatory requirements, and sustain their competitiveness. Consequently, construction firms are expected to adopt and implement innovative SHE management systems to mitigate SHE risks effectively and efficiently. For construction firms to effectively do this, they need to have the adequate capability in respect of integrated SHE management. However, there is limited empirical insight regarding the integrated SHE management capabilities of construction companies. Furthermore, there is limited insight regarding the mechanisms for ascertaining the integrated SHE management capability of construction companies to guide such organisations towards SHE management excellence in their operations. Drawing on the capability maturity model integration (CMMI) concept, this study, by applying expert reviews (i.e., Delphi technique and the design methodology for capability maturity grids), developed an integrated Safety, Health and Environmental Management Maturity Model (iSHEM-CMM). The model offers capability maturity assessment on a five-level scale within five thematic categories and 20 integrated SHE management capability attributes. Based on an industrial validation by construction professionals, it is concluded that the maturity model is a useful assessment framework or tool for industry stakeholders, particularly construction firms, to evaluate the status of their current SHE management capabilities, identify strengths and improvement areas, and accordingly prioritise strategies/actions for improving their SHE management. Furthermore, clients who appoint construction companies could use the model as part of prequalification arrangements in selecting construction companies with an adequate SHE management capability.

Sewage sludge can be used to improve forestry soil properties, because it is rich in phosphorus, nitrogen and organic material and, thus, can enhance the growth of tree seedlings in poor quality soils. Our study was performed on a site amended with industrial sewage sludge and aff orested with birch and pine seedlings. To evaluate the growth of tree seedlings, tree dry biomass, height, diameter, root/shoot ratio, specific root length, shoot and root length were calculated. Higher concentrations of heavy metals and no significant increase in the biomass of trees on sewage sludge amended soil suggest an inhibitory effect of heavy metals on tree biomass growth. The site treated with sewage sludge had signifi cantly higher soil moisture content, soil pH, total copper and total lead concentrations and significantly lower exchangeable acidity. Tree tissues at the sewage sludge treated site contain significantly higher concentrations of copper and cadmium. Therefore, both positive and negative impacts of treatment are apparent. In terms of management strategies, it is recommended that the chemical quality of sewage sludge is analyzed prior to possible field applications and only sewage sludges with toxic heavy metal concentrations below accepted safety limits are applied.

Biogeotextiles constructed from the leaves of Borassus aethiopum and Mauritia flexuosa are investigated at the Kaltinėnai Research Station of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture, which is participating in the EU-funded BORASSUS Project. Biogeotextiles are potentially excellent biodegradable and environmentally-friendly materials useful for soil conservation. Field studies on a steep (21–25°) roadside slope in Lithuania suggest biogeotextile mats are an effective and sustainable soil conservation technique. Biogeotextiles have a potential as a biotechnical soil conservation method for slope stabilization and protection from water erosion on steep industrial slopes and may be integrated with the use of perennial grasses to optimize protection from water erosion. The investigations demonstrated that a cover of Borassus and Buriti mats improved the germination and growth of sown perennial grasses. The biomass of perennial grasses increased by 52.0–63.4% under cover of Borassus mats and by 18.6–28.2% under cover of Buriti mats. Over 2 years, the biogeotextiles (Borassus and Buruti, respectively) decreased soil losses from bare fallow soil by 90.8% and 81.5% and from plots covered by perennial grasses by 87.9% and 79.0%, respectively.