Ecological Engineering Methods Research Articles

The Contributions of Climate and Human Activities to Water Use Efficiency in China’s Drylands

In the context of global warming, terrestrial ecosystems have undergone significant variations. China has implemented a variety of ecological engineering methods to enhance carbon stocks. However, understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of carbon and water in drylands under climate change remains limited. Here, our research elucidates carbon and water dynamics in China’s drylands over the last two decades, with a focus on understanding spatial–temporal changes and the effects of ecological engineering on the carbon–water cycle. Furthermore, this study investigates the relationships among climate change, water use efficiency (WUE), and its components—Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) and Evapotranspiration (ET)—identifying key climatic drivers and assessing possible directions for enhancing WUE under changing climate conditions. Our research indicates that both GPP and ET have significantly increased over the past 20 years, with growth rates of 4.96 gC·m−2·yr−1 and 4.26 mm·yr−1, respectively. Meanwhile, WUE exhibited a slight declining trend, at a rate of −0.004 gC·mmH2O·yr−1. This confirms the positive impact of vegetation restoration efforts. We found that fluctuations in interannual WUE were influenced by human activities and climate change. Precipitation (Prec) was the key climatic factor driving the GPP increase. Both solar radiation (Solra) and Prec were crucial for the interannual variation of WUE. Interestingly, WUE was the main factor affecting GPP development. The decline in WUE in drylands is linked to interannual variability in WUE and increased Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) due to warming. Seasonal variations in how WUE responds to climatic factors were also observed. For instance, fall rainfall increased WUE, while spring rainfall decreased it. Fall WUE was highly sensitive to VPD. Spatially, we found higher WUE in China’s eastern and Xinjiang regions and lower in inland areas and the Tibetan Plateau. Geomorphologic factors and soil conditions were the main drivers of this spatial variability in WUE. Temperature (Tem), Solra, VPD, and relative humidity (Relah) also played significant roles. Our results show a generalized inverse persistence in WUE variability. This suggests a potential for increased WUE in the eastern regions and a risk of decreased WUE on the Tibetan Plateau. Addressing the threat of vegetation decline in arid regions, particularly within the Tibetan Plateau, is crucial. It is essential to adapt forestry practices to complement the carbon and water cycles in these landscapes.

Good eutrophication status is a challenging goal for coastal waters

Our objective is to understand the effectiveness of local and international nutrient pollution mitigation efforts when targeting better water quality in the region’s coastal waters. To this end, we developed an integrated modeling framework for the Archipelago Sea located in the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe, conducted what-if analyses for various ambition levels of nutrient abatement, and studied the long-term consequences at the sea basin scale. We demonstrate that in outer parts of the Archipelago Sea, a good eutrophication status can be achieved if the current internationally agreed policy goals for nutrient abatement are successfully met. In inner coastal areas, current goals for phytoplankton biomass could be reached only through extreme mitigation efforts in all polluting sectors and large-scale application of yet poorly tested ecological engineering methods. This result calls for carefully considering the relevance of current threshold values for phytoplankton and its role as a dominant indicator of good ecological status.

Strategies for Environmental Protection and Optimization of Ecological Business Economic Growth from the Perspective of Sustainable Development

The concept of ecological commercial economy refers to the use of ecological economics principles and system engineering methods to change production and consumption patterns within the scope of the carrying capacity of the ecosystem in order to tap into all of the available resource potential. It develops some economically developed and ecologically efficient industries and builds a culture with reasonable systems, a harmonious society, and a healthy ecological environment. This paper aims to use deep learning algorithms to study environmental protection and the optimization of ecological business economic growth from the perspective of sustainable development. In this regard, this paper proposes a theoretical model of environmental regulation, which aids in the study of the sustainable development of the ecological economy. Through experimental analysis, this study determined that the non-renewable resources of the two cities designated M and N dropped from 82% and 99% in 2017 to 78% and 79% in 2021, a decrease of 3% and 20%, respectively. This shows that the non-renewable resources of the four cities in area A generally showed a downward trend. The experimental results show that the deep learning theory and the environmental regulation model play a specific and effective role in the researching of the ecological business economy.

Conservation of a Critically Endangered Endemic Halophyte of West Portugal: A Microcosm Assay to Assess the Potential of Soil Technology for Species Reintroduction

The soil system has been frequently overlooked during plant reintroduction planning and practice since working with soils and plant roots can be difficult, particularly in saline environments. Coastal saline environments are major contributors to regional and global biodiversity and an important source of endemic species. However, various species are in decline or considered threatened, particularly halophytes (salt tolerant) due to negative anthropic impacts. The Lusitanian endemic halophyte Limonium daveaui formerly had a large distribution range along the west coast of Portugal but currently it shows a restricted distribution in the Tagus estuary. Field surveys revealed that this critically endangered species forms few local populations with small size invaded by exotic species. In this study, we investigated the potential utilization of Technosols, an innovative sustainable, ecological engineering method combined with brackish water irrigation for potential L. daveaui reintroduction in native habitats. Seed germination percentages were evaluated in different environmental conditions. Through a microcosm assay, a Technosol was constructed using a saline Fluvisol with a mixture of low value inorganic and organic wastes, which were chemically characterized. Plants were cultivated in the Fluvisol and Technosol and irrigated with brackish water collected in the nearby area. To assess plant growth, morphometric parameters and the plants’ physiological status were assessed and the fresh and dry biomass determined. Results showed that seed germination was higher on moist filter paper with distilled water than in Fluvisol or Technosol. Plants grown in Technosol had a greater development, with higher values of photosynthetic indexes and biomass production than in Fluvisol. Our findings provide a basis for future in situ conservation studies and support the idea that eco-friendly soil technology approaches are beneficial to conserve rare halophyte species.

Experimental Study on the Effects of a Vertical Jet Impinging on Soft Bottom Sediments

Artificial downwelling, which is an ecological engineering method, potentially alleviates bottom hypoxia by bringing oxygen-rich surface water down below the pycnocline. However, the downward flow is likely to disturb sediments (or induce sediment resuspension) when reaching the bottom and then have unwanted side effects on the local ecosystem. To evaluate this, our paper presents a theoretical model and experimental data for the sediment resuspension caused by artificial downwelling. The theoretical model considers the critical conditions for sediment resuspension and the scour volume with the downwelling flow disturbing sediment. Experiments with altered downwelling flow speeds, discharge positions relative to the bottom, and particle sizes of sediment were conducted in a water tank, and the results were consistent with our theoretical model. The results show that the critical Froude number (hereinafter Fr) for sediment resuspension is 0.5. The prevention of sediment resuspension requires the downwelling flow speed and the discharge position to be adjusted so that Fr < 0.5; otherwise a portion of sediment is released into the water and its volume can be predicted by the derived formulation based on the Shields theory. Furthermore, sediment resuspension has side effects, such as a water turbidity increase and phosphorus release, the magnitudes of which are discussed with respect to engineering parameters. Further study will focus on field experiments of artificial downwelling and its environmental impacts.

A Study on Application of Ecological Engineering Methods to a River Pollution Remediation – Case study of Liuchuan River

The Liuchuan River is an urban river in Taichung City of Taiwan. It was been affected by the pollution of domestic sewage and commercial wastewater for many years, resulting in the degeneration of water quality in rivers. Because of the hard bank revetment along the coast, the urban blue ribbon are unable to interact with residents. In order to improve water quality pollution and waterway environment, the Taichung Water Resources Bureau prioritizes water quality improvement. Under the goal of ensuring flood control and drainage, it actively diversifies the waterway space to enhance the city’s local culture and life value. The purpose of this study is to analyze the improvement of water quality through the discussion of low-impact development engineering remediation projects. The water permeability of the riverbank before repair is almost 0%. After the improvement, the water permeability is increased by 50%, the green area is increased by 3,322 square meters, and the water quality RPI index is reduced from 7.25 “serious pollution” to 5. “moderately pollution”. This result shows that the Liuchuan River remediation project has successfully improved the water quality and river channel. Re-injecting green elements to create a hydrophilic environment for urban blue-green belts, improving the quality of residents’ living environment, and promoting the benefits of surrounding businesses and tourism.

The role of wetland in water quality purification and maintenance of coastal reservoirs: a case of Qingcaosha Reservoir

Qingcaosha Reservoir (QR) is typical fresh water storage and salty water avoidance featured coastal reservoir, which is located in south branch of Yangtze River Estuary, China. Due to the location of QR, pollutants and short-term salt tides have threatened the clean fresh water intake of the reservoir. There are 289 km 2 shoal wetlands in upstream of QR. After the continuous purification of wetlands, water quality of raw water has been improved. Qingcaosha shoal, Zhongyangsha shoal, Beixiaohong shoal and Dongbeixiaohong shoal are on the circumference. From the water quality monitoring data after the reservoir operation, the average value of NH 4 + -N, NO 3 - -N, TN, TP in the outlet are 81%, 65%, 77% and 66% of the inlet respectively after flowing through the natural wetland in the reservoir. The wetlands can solve two major problems facing the coastal zone reservoirs that enhance intake water quality and stabilize water quality. In the design of coastal reservoirs, we suggest that we should make the full use of existing wetlands, enhance the function of wetland water purification through ecological engineering methods, and construct artificial wetlands as a supplement.

Sustainable Management of Eutrophic Lakes and Reservoirs

Eutrophication of lakes and reservoirs is a major water quality problem that poses significant environmental, economic and social threats around the world. Monitoring and managing lakes and reservoirs to prevent or limit eutrophication, therefore, has significant value. The literature has been reviewed to study ecological engineering and management methods that have been and can be applied to improve water quality. Ecological engineering has the potential to be utilized to improve the design and operation of lakes and reservoirs through monitoring and active management of biological, chemical and physical components. Phosphorus concentrations can be reduced by effective and sustainable management practices to improve water quality.

Peculiarities of the Design of Vocational Training Content of the Environmental Engineer in the Sixth Technological Paradigm

The article considers the problem of unavailability of the modern system of design for vocational training content of the environmental engineer to the requirements of the upcoming in the near future sixth technological paradigm. The literature review showed the lack of scientific and methodological proposals to solve this problem, the objective reason of which was the cause of the inertia of the system of engineering and environmental education which is focused on the fifth and fourth technological paradigms. The author of the article seeks to identify common features of designing for vocational training content of the environmental engineer in the new technological paradigm. An innovative approach is suggested in the framework of which the decomposition of the definition of the sixth technological paradigm into components, then the analysis of each of these components with the aim to identify potential environmental problems of the future and predict the expected ecological engineering methods for solving of such problems is done. The results of such decomposition and analysis are synthesized to highlight relevant features of designing for vocational training content of the environmental engineer in the future. This approach has been tested by the author on the example of one of the key technologies of the sixth technological paradigm - nanotechnology, resulted in identifying a new type of contaminants in the sphere of nanotechnology use, namely nanoparticles; their possible negative impact on human health is also considered. At the same time the author made an attempt to predict the emergence and nanotechnological solutions in the field of environmental protection, which at the level of the microcosm will allow developing robotic systems of fighting with nanopollution. The obtained results allowed to identify common features that must be taken into account in the vocational training of the environmental engineer for the period up to the middle of the XXI century as well as to propose appropriate practical recommendations. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s5p205

Urban River Water Purification Experiment by Strengthening Ecological Engineering Methods

Based on the biological purification technology combined with the engineering measures, the enhanced nitrogen purification biological experiment is implemented in Wenyu River in Beijing. The water in the river mainly is the outflow from the sewage treatment plant, in which the ammonium (NH4-N) has been effectively removed for the deeply nitrification, while treatment of the nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) and total nitrogen (TN) is incomplete due to the denitrification. The water has low C/N value and has poor biodegradability. In this study, aiming at the water feature of low C/N and poor biodegradability, the effective way to strengthen denitrification by some enhanced techniques, such as increasing the microorganisms number and biodegradability (ie, improved nitrogen ratio), changing denitrification rates and so on, has been studied. The experimental results show that under the condition of water flow (Q) as 15 ~ 27L/hr, hydraulic detention time as (HRT) 10 ~ 18h, concentration of nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) as 12.20 ~ 31.44mg / L, and total nitrogen (TN) as 14.50 ~ 34.71 mg / L, the removal rates of NO3-N and TN are over 30%.

Can ecological engineering restore Mediterranean rangeland after intensive cultivation? A large-scale experiment in southern France

Ecological restoration has been identified as one of the possible ways to replace biodiversity loss. While ecological engineering methods can successfully restore some ecosystem attributes, restoration is generally incomplete, mainly due to lack of target species propagule dispersal, unsuitable abiotic conditions and negative biotic interactions, especially after intensive cultivation. How best to restore reference ecosystems is therefore a vital research objective, not only on a small experimental scale but also on a large scale. This study aimed to determine which ecological engineering techniques are the most suitable for large-scale restoration of a low-productive species-rich ecosystem after intensive cultivation. Experiments were carried out at La Crau in southern France, within a 357ha land rehabilitation project whose aim was to recreate a herbaceous sheep-grazed habitat. We investigated: (i) covering species seeding, (ii) topsoil removal, (iii) hay transfer, and (iv) soil transfer as methods to restore a steppe plant community in this rehabilitated area, using the last remaining French Mediterranean steppe as a reference ecosystem. Species-richness, diversity and composition of vascular plant communities were monitored over three years. The rehabilitation made it possible to recover a large area dominated by grasses but with vegetation different from that of the steppe. Hay transfer was successful in transferring some target species, but the number of target species did not significantly increase by the end of the third year. Covering species seeding seemed to provide a suitable area for target species colonization, but probable competition with grasses needs to be monitored. The greatest similarity in richness, diversity, and composition with the reference ecosystem was obtained with topsoil removal and soil transfer, which made it possible to recover the species-richness and, to some extent, the composition of the steppe. Our findings show that current ecological restoration and ecological engineering techniques can lead to at least partial restoration of some ecosystem attributes. However, they also underline the importance of in situ conservation of natural habitats rather than restoring them after their destruction.

以人工湿地为基础建构水资源可持续利用系统之战略规划

随着全球气候变迁的影响日益显著，不论台湾还是中国，在水资源管理上，从政策到制度都有许多不足之处，因此，使得原本就处于极易出现干旱灾害的环境，更加的不稳定。水资源不足已是大家公认的事实，在降雨开源不可期待的情况下，只有从储水与废水再生等途径寻求新的供应源。自迈入21世纪以后，人口迁徙已成常态，都市化成为趋势，水资源的消耗更是大增，废水的产量也有增无减。所以，采用生态工法，实现就地取材，减少碳足迹，同时增加生物栖息的空间，依此建构人工湿地土地处理系统，在低成本、环境冲击小的考虑下，完成污水再生，并将再生水用于浇灌、地下水补注及冲厕杂用等，如能因应地区特性与需要，把生态旅游与环境教育纳入规划，则水资源可持续利用的意义将更加完备。 Water Resources Management has assumed greater significance in Taiwan and China as a result of the impact of global climate change. However, from policies to actual operation models and systems, several problems are identifiable. Hence, under current water resources management interventions, it has been difficult to deal with drought disasters. It is a generally accepted fact that water storage and wastewater regeneration are the only ways of seeking new sources of supply when there is a water shortage, and water shortage has become an even more pressing concern because of urbanization. In the 21st century urbanization has still shown no signs of slowing down and further population migration to cities or the rampant development of a city-style life has led to an even greater consumption of water resources and an elevated increase in the output of waste water. It is within this context of a high water shortage that ecological engineering methods become very important. Ecological engineering allows for the realization of local resources, reduces carbon footprints, and increases habitat space. Using ecological engineering, an artificial wetland treatment system can be built that allows for waste water regeneration and the use of reclaimed water while decrease the environmental impact and cost. If ecological engineering programs also take into account regional characteristics and needs and if ecological tourism and environmental education are also included in the overall plan, sustainable utilization of water resources will be greatly enhanced.

Mountain Roads Design Using Ecological Engineering Methods and Traditional Engineering Methods Comparison Study

This study shows that the traditional engineering method of mountain road construction has not only caused local ecological disturbance directly, but also through each of the stages of the preparation, such as material gathering, construction, continual maintenance, and the diminishing of recycling potential, whereas ecological engineering method, with safety as its main priority, could offer a better ecological condition for construction projects. Through studying the local environmental features and using the proper construction method, the most suitable, corresponding engineering method ought to be adopted. This research uses Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with surveys completed by field experts. This research contains three dimensions: Road Characteristics, Roadside Characteristics, Biological Characteristics. Additionally, actual samples of practical application of ecological engineering would also be discussed to further prove the result and the accuracy of the AHP. Research shows that in the overall planning of a mountain road construction project, ecological engineering method serves to be the better approach.

发展生态经济，促进湿地保护—以西洞庭湖自然保护区为例<br> Development of Ecological Economy, Accelerate Wetland Conservation—The case study on West Dongting Lake Nature Reserve

西洞庭湖自然保护区自成立以来，充分运用生态经济学原理和系统工程方法来改变自然保护区内生产和消费方式，本文阐述了西洞庭湖自然保护区在生态系统承载能力范围内，充分利用湿地资源大力发展生态旅游和有机渔业生产等生态经济，有力地促进了湿地生态环境的保护，并对今后发展湿地生态经济提出了合理建议。Since established, the West Dongting Lake Nature Reserve has taken full advantage of ecological economics theories and system engineering methods to change the production and consumption patterns. This article expounds that the West Dongting Lake Nature Reserve makes the best of the wetland resources to develop ecological economy, such as ecological tourism, Organic Fisheries and so on within the ecological capacities, and effectively promotes the protection of the ecological environment, and offers reasonable proposals for the future development of the wetland ecological economy.

Design Concept and Application of Ecological Engineering Methods of Artificial Wetlands Embankments

Ecological Engineering methods are engineering methods that follow the laws of nature and accord with the natural environment. Based on the ecological laws of the land and water margins, this paper practice and apply the design concept and method of ecological engineering methods in the artificial wetland revetment design for the purpose of revetment conservation and appreciation.

The Comparison between Ecological Engineering Method and Conventional Engineering Method for the Mountain Area Roadway Design

This study shows that the traditional engineering method of mountain road construction has not only caused local ecological disturbance directly, but also through each of the stages of the preparation, such as material gathering, construction, continual maintenance, and the diminishing of recycling potential, whereas ecological engineering method, with safety as its main priority, could offer a better ecological condition for construction projects. Through studying the local environmental features and using the proper construction method, the most suitable, corresponding engineering method ought to be adopted. This research uses Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with surveys completed by field experts. This research contains three dimensions: Road Characteristics, Roadside Characteristics, Biological Characteristics. Additionally, actual samples of practical application of ecological engineering would also be discussed to further prove the result and the accuracy of the AHP. Research shows that in the overall planning of a mountain road construction project, ecological engineering method serves to be the better approach.

Engineering protection of territories and buildings in the system of engineering and environmental protection

This article examines the role and place of engineering protection of territories, buildings, and construction objects in the overall ecological safety, engineering, and environmental protection methods. It is shown that traditional systems of engineering protection of territories, buildings, and construction objects should be included as subsystems of a more general system of engineering and ecological protection.

Discussions on the Potential, Function and Reconstruction Method of Landscapes in Urban Industrial Wasteland

The objective of this study is to provide a basis for the landscape reconstruction in urban industrial wasteland. The study shows that the urban industrial wasteland has the following landscape potentials: providing the urban green space, improving the urban leisure system, enriching the urban history and culture, and meeting the development trend of the environmental protection. After reconstruction, the landscapes in urban industrial wasteland would have the following functions: ecology education, leisure and recreation, “Habitat Patch” and disaster prevention. The urban industrial wasteland can be reconstructed into urban theme parks, developed with industrial tourism and urban sight-seeing agriculture, or constructed into the zones for preserving and restoring the biological diversity through ecologic suitability analysis, landscape structure planning, and landscape ecology planning and ecological engineering methods. To form an ecology-economy-society integrated system is a new approach to the wasteland treatment.

Ecological engineering analysis and eco-hydrodynamic simulation of tidal rivers in Shenzhen City of China

A comprehensive approach using ecological engineering analysis and eco-hydrodynamic simulation was conducted on the tidal rivers in Shenzhen City of China in this study. A tidal river along a near-shore city should be evaluated and regulated from a multidisciplinary point of view, focused especially on ecology, in order to maintain and enhance the ecological structure and function of the river. Firstly, eco-hydrodynamic control can be used, based on simulated modeling of tidal water circulation, to trace the distribution of pollutants and to predict circulation of tidal water. Using findings from this modeling effort, some water control facilities, such as additional channel connection and water gates, can be established. Appropriate operation strategy is to use tidal energy to promote effective water exchange in the water bodies and thereby improve water quality in the tidal river. Secondly, ecological engineering methods should be integrated with hydraulic measures to further improve the environment. Appropriate plant communities for this ecological engineering can be selected. Based on the simulated results of eco-hydrodynamic model, the optimum locations for adding reclaimed land can be determined. These ecological engineering methods are as follows: (1) it is necessary to calculate the ecological water requirements for the tidal river. The water effluent from the sewage treatment plant can be considered as reclaimed water and pumped to upstream of the tidal reach for reuse; (2) well planned aquatic plant systems composed of emergent, floating, and submergent plants can be used to promote water treatment; (3) the configuration of the engineered landscape should give preference to indigenous plants and appropriate non-indigenous plant species; (4) constructed wetlands, especially mangroves at coastal city sites, can also improve the tidal river aquatic environment.

Improvement of Baltic Proper Water Quality Using Large-scale Ecological Engineering

Eutrophication of the Baltic proper has led to impaired water quality, demonstrated by, e.g., extensive blooming of cyanobacteria during the premium summer holiday season and severe oxygen deficit in the deepwater. Sustainable improvements in water quality by the reduction of phosphorus (P) supplies will take several decades before giving full effects because of large P storages both in soils in the watershed and in the water column and bottom sediments of the Baltic proper. In this article it is shown that drastically improved water quality may be obtained within a few years using large-scale ecological engineering methods. Natural variations in the Baltic proper during the last decades have demonstrated how rapid improvements may be achieved. The present article describes the basic dynamics of P, organic matter, and oxygen in the Baltic proper. It also briefly discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different classes of methods of ecological engineering aimed at restoring the Baltic proper from eutrophication effects. Preliminary computations show that the P content might be halved within a few years if about 100 kg O2 s(-1) are supplied to the upper deepwater. This would require 100 pump stations, each transporting about 100 m3 s(-1) of oxygen-rich so-called winter water from about 50 to 125 m depth where the water is released as a buoyant jet. Each pump station needs a power supply of 0.6 MW. Offshore wind power technology seems mature enough to provide the power needed by the pump stations. The cost to install 100 wind-powered pump stations, each with 0.6 MW power, at about 125-m depth is about 200 million Euros.