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The article describes the remediation of contaminated groundwater during the ex situ remediation of coal tar contamination following the closure of a coking plant in the Moravian-Silesian Region (Czech Republic). The aim of the article is to point out the advantages of ex situ soil remediation via the excavation of the contaminated geological environment combined with thermal desorption, a method of removing contaminants both from soil and groundwater. Its advantage is the absolute qualitative and quantitative control over the contaminated soil with the possibility of precise segmentation into contaminated and non-contaminated soils. Next, all contaminated groundwater may be pumped off upon the construction of sealing walls to control groundwater flows. To excavate the soil, it is necessary to reduce the contaminated groundwater level inside the sealing walls and thus create conditions for the extraction of contaminated soils using standard machinery. In detail, the article describes the removal of the contaminated groundwater and compares the quality of the pumped and inflowing water before and after the remediation. The locality is characteristic of a high horizontal and vertical grain-size heterogeneity of gravel-sand, which led to a varying filtration coefficient affecting the capacities of pumped groundwater quantity during the remediation. At the start of the remediation process, the contaminant levels exceeded the limits by the Czech Environmental Inspectorate several times. The post-remediation monitoring showed that all the contaminant levels were below the limit. Surprisingly, the overall groundwater contamination amounted to 232.86 t of contaminants as non-aqueous phase liquids, and 6872.9 kg of dissolved contaminants. As much as 12,200 t of contaminants were removed from the soil. Web of Science 14 14 art. no. 2182

The study proposes a methodology for the construction of a thematic map of the suitability of the Quaternary shallow alluvial sediments for heat pumps. This map was compiled on the basis of the minimum groundwater temperature, specific capacity of a well, the aquifer thickness, the groundwater temperature range (amplitude), and ranking of the months according to the lowest groundwater temperature. A second methodology allows the creation of a thematic map of the groundwater energy potential. This map is based on two criteria: 1. the specific capacity (l s−1 m−1) of the borehole and 2. the temperature change due to the consumption of heat energy. The calculated energy in kW was classified into one of seven usability categories. The highest rated categories in both maps coincided with areas with the largest sediment volumes (the widest alluvia and the highest sediment thickness) coinciding with the highest river flows. Suitability decreases considerably at higher elevations (mountainous) river catchments with a small volume of sediment as characterized by narrow valleys and low sediment thicknesses. There is a logical link between these factors in relation to the potential for heat pumps exploitation.

The aim of this research was to produce a new methodology for a special river bottom hazard mapping for the stability purposes of the biggest Polish water power plant: Włocławek. During the operation period of the water power plant, an engineering-geological issue in the form of pothole formation on the Wisła River bed in the gravel-sand alluvium was observed. This was caused by increased fluvial erosion resulting from a reduced water level behind the power plant, along with frequent changes in the water flow rates and water levels caused by the varying technological and economic operation needs of the power plant. Data for the research were obtained by way of a 4-year geodetic/bathymetric monitoring of the river bed implemented using integrated GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), RTS (Robotized Total Station) and SBES (Single Beam Echo Sounder) methods. The result is a customized river bottom hazard map which takes into account a high, medium, and low risk levels of the potholes for the water power plant structure. This map was used to redevelop the river bed by filling. The findings show that high hazard is related to 5% of potholes (capacity of 4308 m3), medium with 38% of potholes (capacity of 36,455 m3), and low hazard with 57% of potholes (capacity of 54,396 m3). Since the construction of the dam, changes due to erosion identified by the monitoring have concerned approximately 405,252 m3 of the bottom, which corresponds to 130 Olympic-size pools. This implies enormous changes, while a possible solution could be the construction of additional cascades on the Wisła River.

The paper aims to analyse the remediation of soils contaminated by black coal tar and other contaminants in relation to risk limits in the different geological environments. The research was implemented as a case study in one of the most expensive remediation projects of contaminated soils in alluvial sediments, in the locality of a former coking plant Karolina in an industrial city of Ostrava in north-east of the Czech Republic. Based on the level of risk, three contaminated geological environments (layers) were selected, which were examined for chemical limits that must be complied with after remediation using ex situ thermal desorption. Around 1.5 million tons (10,720 wagons of 72 m3 and 14 m) of contaminated soils were dug out, which were subsequently treated ex situ by means of thermal desorption. In total, 12,200 t of contaminants were removed, among which non-polar extractable substances (NPES) amounted to 67.94% (8289 t), benzene to 12.25% (1494 t), naphthalene to 11.27% (1375 t), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) to 6.43% (784 t), benzo(a)pyrene to 1.11% (135 t), phenol to 0.82% (99 t), arsenic to 0.16% (20 t) and mercury to 0.02% (3 t). The most hazardous in terms of contact with humans was the top layer of quaternary alluvial fine-grained soils (3664 t of removed contaminants, 30% of all contamination—layer I). However, the most contaminated layer was the lowest, permeable layer of quaternary alluvial gravel sediments (7479 t of removed contaminants, 61% of all contamination—layer III). The contamination penetrated into the highly permeable layer due to gravity and could not migrate further due to the abundance of impermeable Miocene grey–blue clay.

Even though satellite positioning has been used in ground penetrating radar (GPR) measurements for years, there are no studies ruling out the influence of modern satellite positioning receivers on the operation of GPR antennas. In order to rule out mutual influence between devices, a field study was carried out to determine the possible influence of a Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receiver on the results obtained from GPR. To this end, several equipment combinations based on two receivers were compared. This was followed by a numerical analysis of selected samples from the recorded data sets. The following were calculated: average values of signal amplitudes, their standard deviations and the signal-to-noise ratio, coefficient of variation, and signal stability parameters. We also suggested using a modified standard deviation based on the properties of the reference signal. Based on the results, we concluded that there were rather significant changes between the data sets for various equipment combinations, which may indicate that a GNSS receiver affects GPR data in some way. However, the influence was not significant enough to result in the qualitative misinterpretation of data.

One of the most important factors that influences the performance of geomorphologic parameters on urban lakes is the water level. It fluctuates periodically, causing shoreline changes. It is especially significant for typical environmental studies like bathymetric surveys, morphometric parameters calculation, sediment depth changes, thermal structure, water quality monitoring, etc. In most reservoirs, it can be obtained from digitized historical maps or plans or directly measured using the instruments such as: geodetic total station, GNSS receivers, UAV with different sensors, satellite and aerial photos, terrestrial and airborne light detection and ranging, or others. Today one of the most popular measuring platforms, increasingly applied in many applications is UAV. Unmanned aerial system can be a cheap, easy to use, on-demand technology for gathering remote sensing data. Our study presents a reliable methodology for shallow lake shoreline investigation with the use of a low-cost fixed-wing UAV system. The research was implemented on a small, eutrophic urban inland reservoir located in the northern part of Poland—Lake Suskie. The geodetic TS, and RTK/GNSS measurements, hydroacoustic soundings and experimental aerial mapping were conducted by the authors in 2012–2015. The article specifically describes the UAV system used for experimental measurements, the obtained results and the accuracy analysis. Final conclusions demonstrate that even a low-cost fixed-wing UAV can provide an excellent tool for accurately surveying a shallow lake shoreline and generate valuable geoinformation data collected definitely faster than when traditional geodetic methods are employed.

This paper deals with the engineering-geological investigation of uncontrolled dumpsites that are abundant in post-communist countries. The sites may be redeveloped in an optimal manner by using the applied methodology of engineering-geological investigations. The research tool is a case study dealing with hazardous uncontrolled dumpsites chemically contaminated by various substances, particularly carcinogenic chromium. The dumpsite is located in the alluvial sediments of an oxbow lake of the Nitra River in the Slovak Republic. The hazard is seen in the fact that the alluvial sediments are permeable and thus the contamination may spread easily. At the same time, it is located near a river, which makes the hazard greater. Apart from the risk of contamination, another risk is related to the methane generated by the dumpsite and thus the risk of self-ignition. In order to identify the uncontrolled dumpsite body, the research was grounded in the different physical properties of the diverse geological environments. Quasi-homogenous blocks of the dumpsite body and its alluvial surroundings were well identified by using the combined three geophysical methods, namely dipole electromagnetic profiling (DEMP), electrical resistance tomography (ERT) and spontaneous polarization (SP). In order to eliminate the risk of contamination spread, redevelopment measures for the uncontrolled dumpsite in the form of sealing walls and surface sealing foil were proposed. A system of methane drainage boreholes was proposed to eliminate the risk of self-ignition. The methodology in this case study is well applicable for other uncontrolled dumpsites, which is an important outcome of the study.

The paper presents analysis of determination of vertical movement of the surveying boat called “heave” with the use of Robotized Total Station (RTS) technique. The classical geodetic Total Station was used for sub-centimeter calculation of water level changes during hydroacoustic measurements on the fragment of Vistula river behind the dam and hydropower in Włocławek in Poland. The power station work causes up to 1.7 m movement of vertical reference water surface in aspect of local bathymetric survey. The experimental, hydrographic surveys on the river were conducted where the water level was changing significantly over time depending on the operational schedule of the power plant. Verified hydrographic data had to be brought to the common water level. To determine the final water level, data on the height of the Robotized Total Station prism positioned on the boat during sounding was considered. The RTS technique with 0.02–0.05 m vertical accuracy proved to be very useful and essential in engineering inland bathymetric measurements.

We investigated changes in the spatial distribution of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) in the deep, mesotrophic Lake Hańcza. The raw data collection, supported by global navigation satellite system (GNSS) positioning, was conducted on 79 sampling points. A geostatistical method (kriging) was applied in spatial interpolation. Despite the relatively small area of the lake (3.04 km2), compact shape (shore development index of 2.04) and low horizontal exchange of water (retention time 11.4 years), chemical gradients in the surface waters were found. The largest variation concerns the main biogenic element – phosphorus. The average value was 0.032 at the extreme values of 0.019 to 0.265 mg L−1 (coefficient of variation 87%). Smaller differences are related to nitrogen compounds (0.452–1.424 mg L−1 with an average value of 0.583 mg L−1, the coefficient of variation 20%). The parts of the lake which are fed with tributaries are the richest in phosphorus. The water quality of the oligo-mesotrophic Lake Hańcza has been deteriorating in recent years. Our results indicate that inferences about trends in the evolution of examined lake trophic status should be based on an analysis of the data, taking into account the local variation in water chemistry.

Reliable knowledge of marinas is crucial for the water tourism. The tourist information base of sailing ports on inland waterways should be updated every year. In addition to the basic information about the marinas, aerial photographs of the port and its surrounding are now in demand. A small four-rotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) can be an ideal tool for such an inventory. Unlike airplanes or fixed-wings, small and cheap unmanned aircrafts do not require much open space to start an air mission. A properly configured Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) can bring camera equipment to the location where the pictures are to be taken. The drone can hover over an object allowing the operator to take the right shots. After the mission, a UAV can automatically return and make a safe landing. Photos taken with the drone provide potential users (sailors or fishermen) with basic information about the object’s location: size, number of mooring spaces for boats, the difficulty of manoeuvring in the ports, as well as attractiveness of the adjacent area. The article presents an example of the application of DJI Phantom 4 Pro to the inventory of sailing ports on the route of the Great Masurian Lakes in Poland.

Unfortunately the first name of the third author the small letter has been used instead to be capitalized. The name should be read.

Most of the inland lakes do not have up-to-datebathymetry. However, a significant progress in surveyingtechnologies creates a possibility to quickly and accuratelydescribe the underwater environment. Modern geodeticand global positioning techniques integrated with hydroacousticsystems provide a great opportunity to study thebottom shape with high resolution. Our study presentsa reliable methodology for investigation of bathymetryand morphometric parameters with the use of GNSS positioningtechniques and single beam echosounder. Theresearch was implemented on the deepest, glacial reservoirin the central part of European Depression - LakeHancza. Direct hydroacoustic and geodetic measurementscompleted by sediment study were conducted by the authorsin 2010-2013. After performing a field survey the DigitalElevation Model was constructed and the new bathymetricmap and morphometric card were elaborated. Themaximum depth was confirmed to be 105.55 m. The finalconclusions show that the available bathymetric data andmorphometric parameters of lakes are highly dependenton the research methodology used, the precision and accuracyof measurement techniques, proper water level determination,digital elevation model and bathymetric mapelaboration processes.

Since almost 40 % of the world’s largest lakes have not yet been studied, their volumes are therefore approximated (SHIKLOMANOV and RODDA 2003). The most challenging situation is with smaller reservoirs and inland lakes. Due to high costs and time required for acquiring bathymetric data some inland reservoirs have not been investigated. There are some probes to estimate certain morphometric parameters using existing, publicly available datasets (HOLLISTER and MILSTEAD 2010 ;H OLLISTER et al. 2011).